Governor 2014 ... giving Terry McAuliffe a chance

On Saturday Terry McAuliffe became Virginia's 72nd governor. The baton was passed. Republicans lost, Democrats won ... time to govern for ALL the people of Virginia.

He follows an impressive listing of famous Virginians who have served before him:

Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson Jr., Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Randolph, Henry Lee, James Monroe, John Tyler, Peyton Randolph ...

... Harry F. Byrd, Mills Godwin, Linwood Holton, John Dalton, Chuck Robb ...

... George Allen. Douglas Wilder. Jim Gilmore. Mark Warner. Tim Kaine. Bob McDonnell.

Governor McAuliffe's Cabinets picks have been bipartisan. In the words of the Washington Post:

In the nine weeks since Election Day, political observers say, Terry McAuliffe (D) has been shockingly gubernatorial.

With moderate Cabinet picks and an ardent courtship of Republicans, the colorful former Democratic National Committee chairman and political fundraiser has projected an image of seriousness, caution and bipartisanship that critics had doubted he could muster.

Some of the comments I've heard remind me of when I entered high school and the tradition for the upper classmen to harass the freshmen. I vowed that year that when I was an upper classman, I would not join in on that tradition, and I didn't.

As Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe takes the reins of Virginia, some conservatives are not willing to allow this man to get a day, never mind a General Assembly session, under his belt before judging. If we were to go on their words, he's doomed before he ever begins. As one who is tired of the vitriol from both sides of the aisle, I like what he's done so far and am willing to give this new governor a chance.

Congratulations, Terry McAuliffe ... you're off to a good start. Four years to go....

- McAuliffe sworn in as Virginia governor

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
January 10, 2014

PBS lists Virginia State Capitol as #1 of top 10 buildings that changed America

We're number one. We're number one. We're #1!

The Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates had reason to be proud today as he announced that the Virginia State Capitol has been chosen by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) at the top of 10 influential buildings that changed America in the way we live, work, and play. Of course, we Virginians already knew that the architecturally appealing, historic capitol building that echoes with the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Madison, and James Monroe played a big part in the birth of America.

Speaker Howell said it best:

"Virginia's beautiful and historic State Capitol is a source of true pride for all Virginians. The Capitol is an architectural masterpiece, historical treasure and monument to Democracy. Its design has inspired numerous other capitol buildings, including the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. Its history and traditions are rivaled by few other single buildings in America. It is the foundation for modern Democracy and an enduring sign of the strength of our Commonwealth and our nation."

The one-hour show will air next Sunday, May 12, at 10 p.m. EST.

Virginia actually ended up with two buildings in the Top 10 list with the inclusion of Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia.

The list of the Top 10 buildings that changed America:

1. Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, Virginia
2. Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts
3. Wainwright Building, St. Louis, Missouri
4. Robie House, Chicago, Illinois
5. Highland Park Ford Plant, Highland Park, Michigan
6. Southdale Center, Edina, Minnesota
7. Seagram Building, New York City
8. Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia
9. Vana Venturi House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California

The program is hosted by Geoffrey Baer, an Emmy Award-winning producer and program host, best known for his popular feature-length specials about Chicago architecture and history.  The program is written and produced by Dan Protess, who has been creating critically-acclaimed television programs for WTTW in Chicago for more than a decade.

Grave of Patrick Henry's mother

Historic Winton Plantation in Clifford, Virginia.

Sarah Winston Henry, mother of Virginia Founding Father Patrick Henry, is buried in the family cemetery of this property that is now home to the Winton Country Club. It was sold to Mrs. Henry's son-in-law, Col. Samuel Meredith, in 1770, and she spent her last years at Winton. It is on the National Register.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 21, 2013

"Give me liberty ... or give me death"

Patrick Henry was a fiery speaker with perhaps his best remembered speech delivered within St. John's Church in Richmond. On the eve of the American Revolution, he took a public stand in words that still stand out today:

Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Every Sunday through the summer there is a free reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention held in March 1775. Henry's immortal words were proclaimed in front of more than one hundred of Virginia's leaders including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Henry Lee.

If you're going....

Where:
St. John's Church, 2401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23223

Dates:
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, September 04, 2011

Time:
1-3:00 pm

For more information check the website:  
Historical St. John's Church

235 years ago today ... "Give me liberty or give me death"

James Young reminds that it was 235 years ago today that Virginia patriot Patrick Henry stood in St. John's Church in Richmond and issued the words that still ring out today:

Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

The entire speech can be found here.

As a young student in Chesterfield, I memorized Patrick Henry's Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech in 4th grade while studying Virginia history. Those powerful words have stayed with me throughout my life.

On March 11, 2007, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling visited the SWAC area and I was the recipient of his "Patrick Henry Award," an award that was very special to me. Even today I am thankful to him for that moment in time.

Today the words still ring out, "Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"

Those who walked before us light the pathway even now at this time in history....

Patrick Henry on overreaching government

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
--Patrick Henry
Virginia Patriot

Fighting back

"The point which strikes me most strongly is SusanAnne's emphasis on the courage to fight, which requires the willingness to become a target. Americans love a fighter." --Robert Stacey McCain (The Other McCain)

Mr. McCain takes a look at a post on RedState by SusanAnne who researches and fills in the blanks that are overlooked or ignored by others, and she specifically slaps Michael Barone on the wrist for not following through. For example, she takes Mr. Barone to task for not fully explaining the Al Franken win in Minnesota:

In analyzing the Franken-Coleman senatorial race, it doesn’t simply come down to ‘if only 157 Franken voters would have voted for Coleman, then Coleman would have won’ mentality. When, in fact, on election night:

Mr. Franken trailed Mr. Coleman by 725 votes after the initial count on election night, and 215 after the first canvass.

York does not mention this fact as well as the main factor in overturning the election results was the strategy to challenge the rules to secure a victory with a proven technique.

The Democrat’s strategy from the start was to manipulate the recount in a way that would discover votes that could add to his total. The Franken legal team swarmed the recount, aggressively demanding that votes that had been disqualified be added to his count, while others be denied for Mr. Coleman.

So to simply say that ‘if only voters voted for Coleman, then’….one cannot do.

Mr. Barone does a good job in his analysis and I agree with him ... but SusanAnne makes an extremely important point. Too often Republicans let the press define their issues and frame the story without rebutting. An example is Hurricane Katrina, which she also addresses:

Katrina, although a state and local issue, in addition to a personal responsibility issue as the residents did have mandatory evacuation orders, the GOP and Bush administration took the fall, rather than the irresponsible residents who violated the mandatory evacuation order and mismanagement by Democrat mayor and Democrat governor of Lousiana.

It continues to this day as the MSM give Barack Obama a pass on issues they would have excoriated President Bush about. Currently the Obamas are in Hawaii on Christmas vacation even though a terrorist attack took place in Detroit on Christmas Day. There have been no howls of protest from the MSM about Obama being away from Washington, and nothing about his silence for two days after the foiled attack.

After Katrina, the MSM took the opportunity to turn on President Bush:

... it was at this time that the MSM started its ground assault of the Bush administration and mauling of the GOP. And the GOP never fought back. Bush never fought back.

With this defeatist attitude, the MSM reshaped conservative thought to hate Bush, creating apathy and division in the Republican party, and ultimately causing Republicans to vote Democrat or stay home on election day in 2008.

I do not believe it was a "defeatist" attitude that kept the Bush administration silent but, instead, it may have been their desire not to get into a mud battle with the media. In retrospect that may have been a miscalculation but we all would like to have 20/20 hindsight especially in politics.

SusanAnne go on to add:

In reality, the American people crave a party to take on the media, Democrats, and corruption. Just look at Joe Wilson, Sarah Palin, Michelle Malkin, Andrew Breitbart, Rush, Hannity, Beck, Tea Partiers, and our own Erick Erickson. Look at Fox’s sky-high ratings. All signs of the American people’s thirst for knowledge and someone–anyone–to stand up against Obama, Congress, the media, and the left. And those who do get major support from the GOP base.

Mr. McCain noted that Americans love a fighter, and that definitely applies to Virginians. We are, after all, the home state of Patrick "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Henry.

"Restoring Virginia's Promise" ... Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's vision for the Commonwealth

"We face a number of very serious challenges in our state today. The responsibility of our administration will be to find solutions to these challenges and help restore Virginia's promise. It just seems like a perfect theme for what we need to do right now." -- Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling

With the historic inauguration coming up on January 16, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who won reelection to a second term in November, will host his own events. One of particular interest to many will be the reenactment of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at historic St. John's Church in Richmond on January 15, 2010. Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell will also attend the event.

For more information about the Lt. Governor's inaugural events, check out his website or contact Carli Mugford, Bolling's
Inaugural Director, at 804-612-9122 or carli.mugford@billbolling.com.

Our congratulations to Lt. Gov. and Mrs. Bill Bolling as they prepare to continue their work with the citizens of Virginia.

An award for Sarah Palin ... a strong, independent leader

As Virginians who thrive on the words of Commonwealth native Patrick Henry to "give me liberty or give me death," Sarah Palin embodies the individuality and spiritedness that we have coarsing through our veins.

Bob at The Journey has come up with "The Dr. June McCarroll Award" to celebrate brilliance and persistance ... and he has decided who the first recipient should be.

Who is Dr. June McCarroll? As Bob writes:

After she was run off the road by a truck, [Dr. June McCarroll] came up with the idea for a dividing line to be painted down the center of roads. When she took the idea to the government, they politely ignored her. She made her point, however, by painting a center line on one mile of US 99 in Indio, California. Her invention was then impossible to ignore and became part of highway history.

So who does Bob think deserves the first-ever "Dr. June McCarroll" award?

This year's award goes to a young mother who sought to make her own community better.

In 1992 she ran for city council of Wasilla, AK, and served there until 1996 when she became mayor.

She was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and served as Ethics Commissioner from 2003 to 2004. She resigned and exposed corruption in the commission, fingering prominent members of her own party. Her credentials as a reformer clearly established, she ran for Governor in 2006 and defeated incumbent Republican Governor Murkowski in the primary. She went on to win the general election and became, at 42, Alaska's youngest Governor in history.
...
People are unnerved by her appeal to the common man and she is now routinely villified by media and entertainment 'elites.'

Bob goes on to cite Gov. Palin's current favorable opinion of 76% in a Rasmussen poll. He concludes:

Sarah Palin represents a rebirth of that Jeffersonian ideal where people from ordinary life go up to Washington to represent us and then come home! She's no Washington insider in a grey suit. She got involved in the first place because she cares.

It is with great pleasure that I nominate her to receive the first ever Dr. June McCarroll Award, given here this day, July 9, 2009.

Hear, hear!

Go to The Journey to read the entire post.

Patrick Henry words of wisdom

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."

Patrick Henry
Virginia Patriot

Patrick Henry was at Augusta tax protest

Photo by Bob Kirchman
"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past."
Patrick Henry Speech at Virginia Convention
Richmond (March 23, 1775)

We had a voice from the past at Wednesday's tax revolt tea party. An Augusta County resident who dressed in period costume held a "DON'T TREAD ON ME" flag as he stood in solidarity with his fellow citizens in the tax battle.

A series of events led up to Patrick Henry's famous speech in St. John's Church in Richmond on March 23, 1775. American colonists rebelled on Dec. 16, 1773, by dumping tea into the Boston Harbor which caused the British to send troops to settle the rabble rousers. In the fall of 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia at which time they rebelled against England by forming militia units for the colonies.

Virginia, the largest American colony, held a meeting of her delegates at St. John's Church in Richmond on March 23, 1775, where Patrick Henry delivered his now famous speech.

As noted, "He spoke without any notes in a voice that became louder and louder, climaxing with the now famous ending. Following his speech, the vote was taken in which his resolutions passed by a narrow margin, and thus Virginia joined in the American Revolution."

Hear, hear for the Virginians!

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.

Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.

Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.

I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.

Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.

The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

March 11, 2007, Patrick Henry Award from Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling

Patrick Henry: "The war is inevitable ..."

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come."
--Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech
March 23, 1775 - St. John's Church, Richmond, VA


Following the Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16, 1773, in which American Colonists dumped 342 containers of tea into the Boston harbor, the British Parliament enacted a series of Acts in response to the rebellion in Massachusetts.
...
On March 23, 1775, in Virginia, the largest colony in America, a meeting of the colony's delegates was held in St. John's church in Richmond. Resolutions were presented by Patrick Henry putting the colony of Virginia "into a posture of defense...embodying, arming, and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose."

Before the vote was taken on his resolutions, Henry delivered his "Give me liberty or give me death" speech, imploring the delegates to vote in favor.

He spoke without any notes in a voice that became louder and louder, climaxing with the now famous ending. Following his speech, the vote was taken in which his resolutions passed by a narrow margin, and thus Virginia joined in the American Revolution.

--From History Place