Weekend Bush fest

The support workers are lining up ... there's a growing eagerness to work another great campaign ... there's a need to pull Republicans together again. Jeb has the backing and it's growing.

Making the case for Jeb Bush in 2016

The 2016 presidential election is on everyone's minds, and names are bantered back and forth on both sides of the political aisle.

For Republicans, the name "Jeb Bush" is heard more and more. Some have "Bush" fatigue, others insist no one other than a tea party pick is conservative enough. As for me ... I like Jeb. He was a very popular governor during his leadership in Florida. He was actually the Bush son most thought would run for the presidency. I think Jeb should run.

I'm not alone in that thinking. From writer Gary Stein at the Sun Sentinel:

No offense to Barbara Bush, who seems like a fabulous grandmother, and  certainly has been a wonderful mother and wife, raising a future president and being married to another one.

But Barbara, I hope son Jeb doesn’t take your advice not to run for President.

You famously said last week that “We’ve had enough Bushes” when talking about Jeb’s presidential possibilities in 2016.

Actually, if the 2012 Republican presidential hopeful field was any indication, we  haven’t had enough.

It seemed like every week, another right wing kook was in the lead for the Republican nomination. They finally went with boring Mitt Romney, and you remember how well that worked out.

I disagree that Governor Romney was "boring" and felt that his problems were more that he was running against the Democratic incumbent which may have been one reason Jeb Bush declined to run.

Mr. Stein goes on to make the case for Jeb:

Jeb would be refreshing for a GOP candidate, in that he is sane.

As governor of Florida, he may have done some things you didn’t like, but he was very popular. And he didn’t come across as crazed.

So I ask you, who do you like for the Republicans in 2016 if it’s NOT Jeb Bush?

Marco Rubio? Rand Paul? Paul Ryan?

Like I said Jeb looks better every second.

Yep, it's still early in the race but Jeb is becoming more visible and making appearances around the country. I'll be keeping up with this Bush son who is a conservative leader, no matter what his last name. Jeb Bush for President? I say bring it on.

Gratefully remembering President George W. Bush

 

George W. Bush, my favorite president and hero. I was thinking of him this morning after talking yesterday with a friend and political mentor about this amazing pragmatic conservative leader who led us in the dark days after 9/11, loves America, loves our soldiers (and continues to support them with his Wounded Warrior projects), and remains a statesman in the swamp that is politics. Thank you, Mr. President....

George Allen nails it with 'Freedom to Work' Agenda

 George Allen

George Allen knows how to govern. His Blueprint for America's Comeback, a pro-growth plan of action for jobs, competitiveness, freedom, and opportunity, shows that Allen has a vision of the American dream for all Virginians, and that what has been presented in Washington, DC, the past three years is not it.

Today he unveiled his "Freedom to Work" plan at Dynax American Corporation in western Virginia, a company that moved to Virginia in 1996 during Governor Allen's administration, specifically because the Commonwealth was a right-to-work state.

The Freedom to Work plan reinforces the right-to-work status of Virginia, encourages job creation and growth of business, protect the rights of hard-working citizens, and complements Allen's Blueprint for America.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has additional details.

FREEDOM TO WORK ACT

Virginia’s and America’s opportunities and freedoms in the workplace are under assault. At a time when almost 14 million Americans are out of work and many more are underemployed, Washington is making it harder for job creators to expand and hire new workers while displaying open hostility to the Right‐to‐Work tradition and the laws in effect in 22 States.

George Allen appreciates the original and laudable goals of labor unions and supports the right of Americans to freely join a union if they wish – and their right to choose not to join or be compelled to pay dues or fees as a condition of keeping a job. He is a vigorous defender of Virginia’s Right‐to‐Work law and saw first‐hand as Governor how it helped encourage investment and expansion of businesses in Virginia.

In the United States Senate, George Allen will advance a three‐part Freedom to Work agenda to help businesses create jobs, save taxpayers money, and protect the liberty of working men and women.

Freedom of Movement: Expressly protects the right of an employer to decide whereto conduct business in the United States.

o Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide in law that the NLRB has no power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.
o Applies to any open complaint and ensures that no future company or workers will be intimidated or threatened as was Boeing and its employees.

Freedom to Contract: Promotes and ensures full, open competition on government funded and assisted construction projects.

o Prohibits restrictive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) requirements on federal and federally‐assisted construction contracts, reversing Executive Order 13502, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.
o Prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against bidders for declining to adhere to anti‐competitive and costly PLA agreements.
o Repeals the Depression‐era Davis‐Bacon wage laws that diminish competition and inflate costs taxpayers pay for construction when the federal government is involved.

Freedom of Association: Protects the right of America’s working men and women to freely choose to join a union, or to choose not to join or pay union dues or fees.

o Amends the National Labor Relations Act to prevent workers from being compelled to pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job.
o Ensures that union elections are open and fair by guaranteeing workers the opportunity to cast a secret ballot before a union can be organized.

The Freedom to Work Act complements George Allen’s Blueprint for America’s Comeback to further make sure America’s businesses have available every possible tool to create jobs.

George Allen for U.S. Senate

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

Ted Nugent: American voters allowed anti-Americans into leadership

One thing you can always say about Ted Nugent: he tells it like he sees it. His feelings are on his sleeve ... he doesn't mince words. No fence-sitter like many he describes in today's op-ed in the Washington Times:

Barack Hussein Obama did not sneak into power. An army of clueless, disconnected, ignorant Americans invited him to bring his Marxist, glaringly anti-American jihad into our lives. This president's overtly destructive, clear-and-present-danger agenda is surpassed in transparency only by his ultra-leftist public voting record and overall lifetime conduct of consorting with the enemy as a child and student of Marxism, socialist and racist community organizer, congregant of the blatant America-hating black-theology- and social-justice-spewing Rev. Jeremiah Wright and close personal friend of convicted communist terrorists like Bill Ayers, and by his unflinching appointment of an array of communist czars, including Van Jones, Cass Sunstein, Anita Dunne, et al.

He speaks the truth....

Former President Bush will interview with NBC's Matt Lauer

From his Facebook page, former President George W. Bush announced an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer on November 10, 2010. I'm a little disappointed he did not go with one of the very capable Fox News anchors in interviewing after the release of his book, "Decision Points."

The message from his Facebook page:

President Bush is looking forward to sitting down with Matt Lauer in his first one-on-one interview since leaving office. He will talk about his upcoming book, Decision Points, and discuss the defining decisions of his life. The interview will air in primetime on Monday, November 8th as a special “Matt Lauer Reports....” President Bush will also appear live on the “Today” show on Wednesday, November 10th.

Not friendly territory....

"Blame Bush stragedy won't win mid-terms ... 10 reasons Democrats are toast"

Mark McKinnon at The Daily Beast has bad news for Democrats:

Voters know whose hands are at the helm now. And with the elections less than 100 days away, here are the 10 telling signs that blaming bad times on Bush is not a winning strategy.

Check out his list. If you're a Republican, you'll smile. If you're a Democrat, better have the botox handy because those worry wrinkles are going to get deeper....

Sarah Palin to join Glenn Beck on 8/28 at Lincoln Memorial

Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck announced on this morning's Glenn Beck radio show that she will be joining him on August 28, 2010, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to honor our troops.

There will be much more coming out about those who will take part in this calling of conservatives to Washington....

Home schoolers ... raising a responsible generation

As a 16-year home school veteran who taught two children through high school graduation, I know a thing or two about home schooling.

My observation of most home schooling families has been a sense of raising a responsible generation that is held accountable for learning, working, and respecting their God and country. Home schoolers generally are more patriotic and more involved in the voting process, whether it's privately or publicly. Future conservative leadership will come from their ranks.

A friend who shared the home school journey, Bob at The Journey, warns of the dangers of universal/global control over Americans. Parents may no longer be allowed to raise their children as they see fit ... they would be held accountable to the world power that is advanced by Barack Obama and liberals who want America to become like Europe. You know, the Europe that is now failing in health care and finance, and whose standard of living is behind the U.S.

These are unsettled times ... being asleep at the wheel is dangerous and no longer acceptable.

George Allen's book tour

Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen is on a whirlwind book tour with the publication of his new book, What Washington Can Learn from the World of Sports, featuring a foreword by Deacon Jones and afterword from J.C. Watts.

Here is video of Gov. Allen's appearance to discuss the book on Sean Hannity's Fox News television program on Tuesday.

For more information check out www.georgeallen.com.

Wednesday media appearances:

7:08 a.m. - York's Morning News with Gary Sutton
WSBA 910-AM York, PA
http://www.wsba910.com/

7:45 a.m. - The Big John Show
WIND 560-AM Chicago
http://www.560wind.com/

8:05 a.m. - Joe Thomas in the Morning
WCHV 94.1-FM, Charlottesville, VA

8:30 a.m. - America’s Morning News
Nationally Syndicated
Available: http://www.freedom570am.com/

10:10 a.m. - The Frank Beckman Show
WJR 760-AM, Chicago
http://www.wjr.net/

10:30 a.m. - The Martha Zoller Show
WXKT 103.7-FM, Gainesville, GA
http://fm1037talk.com/

6:15 p.m. - Nothing But Truth with Crane Durham
Syndicated – American Family Radio
http://www.afa.net/Radio/ListenLive/

7:00 p.m. - America’s Nightly Scoreboard w/ David Asman
Fox Business Network

"Celebration of Our Christian Heritage" ... David Barton wows 500 with non-PC history lesson

Texas resident David Barton was the keynote speaker at Monday's Valley Family Forum sold-out dinner, "A Celebration of Our Christian Heritage," at James Madison University.

"I am grateful to Almighty God for the blessings which, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, He had conferred on my beloved country...." - Charles Carroll, last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence

David Barton is one of the premiere historians on American history, someone who tirelessly travels the country educating Americans about our Christian heritage against a negative sea of liberal misinformation. Through his website, Wallbuilders, he provides the tools necessary to learn, and his materials were part of my home school curriculum over the years.

Monday night Valley folks were fortunate to have him as the keynote speaker for the annual Valley Family Forum dinner in Harrisonburg, an event that sold out more than a month ago. The reason it was sold out was simple: David Barton knows his history and he has an entertaining way of passing it along to his audiences.

A regular on the home school circuit over the years, he has now become a regular on Glenn Beck's Fox News television show, appearing weekly for the Friday "Founding Fathers" series. He is able to offer his expertise as well as provide artifact books and documents that he has collected over the years.

On one recent Glenn Beck show, Mr. Barton had the first Bible printed in the United States ... a Bible printed by the U.S. Congress for use in the schools.

What?

Yep ... a Bible printed by the government to be used in the schools. Responding is what Mr. Barton does best as he provides rebuttal to the liberal pablum that is dished out on a daily basis from the public schools to higher education to the mainstream media and, now, the current White House administration.

With a power point presentation providing insight into documents, pictures and information about the Founders, and quotations from many Declaration of Independence signers as well as a number of not-so-famous ones, the 45-minute talk seemed more like 10 minutes.

David Barton provided enough information in that 45 minutes to write 10 posts about his talk. The crowd was captivated and left wanting more after it was over.


Many folks were there. Besides Dean and Janet Welty, others included Sen. Mark Obenshain and his wife Suzanne, Sen. Emmett Hanger, Chaz Evans-Haywood, Marsha Garst, Lowell Barb, Steve Waters, Del. Bob Marshall, Victoria Cobb from the Family Foundation, Larry Roller, Luis Padilla, David and Sherry Huffman, Tommy and Donna Moser, Tony Wilt, Greg the Fifer, "George Washington," and many others. The delegates, usually in attendance, were at a House of Delegates retreat.

At our two tables were friends Suzanne Curran (portraying Mrs. Mullenburg), Frank and Nancy Summers, my neighbors Richard and Ellen, Tara Bowman, SWAC Husband, and some of those from our ladies conservative book club including Debbie Summers, Peggy Bell and her husband Don, Marcia and Dave, Ginger, and Debbie Harper.


Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
24 May 2010

Candidate Forum Friday: Tony Wilt & Carolyn Frank

Three candidates are running for the special election on June 15 to fill an empty seat left when Del. Matt Lohr was tapped by the McDonnell administration. However, only two candidates will face off since the Democrat decided to skip the forum.

Sponsored by the Valley Family Forum, here is the announcement:

You are invited and encouraged to attend a Candidates’ Forum at 7:00 p.m., this Friday, May 28, with independent Carolyn Frank and Republican Tony Wilt. The event will be held at the Cornerstone Church on Lake Shenandoah.

Along with Democrat Kai Degner, they are campaigning to represent the people of the 26th District in the Virginia House of Delegates, a seat that was formerly held by Matt Lohr. The special election for this seat will be held on June 15.

Degner Rejects Invitation
Unfortunately, Degner has just informed us that he will not participate in this or any other event sponsored by the Forum. That flies in the face of a public challenge he issued earlier this month for “the greatest number of opportunities possible to hear the positions of the candidates.”

Our Purpose
The Forum is a non-partisan organization whose goal is to help provide Valley voters with essential information on what the candidates believe and how they would plan to vote on key issues, especially those regarding faith, family, and freedom that come up regularly in the General Assembly. It goes without saying that voters need that information before the election rather than being kept in the dark until afterward, when it is too late.

The Program
We will use the same two-part format that we used last October with candidates Gene Hart (D) and Matt Lohr (R), and that Rick Warren introduced with John McCain and Barack Obama in 2008.

The first part will consist of general questions to each candidate separately. The second part will focus on more specific issues and bills that are likely to come up in the House of Delegates next year.

The event is open to everyone, whether they live in the 26th District or not, so we can share the information with others who may not be able to attend. Members of the media are also invited.

If you need additional information, please call Forum coordinator Rita Dunaway at 438-9543 or write to rita.dunaway@gmail.com.

See you there!

The Rush Limbaugh victory

The New York Times takes a look at Rush Limbaugh and his conservative leadership at a time when Barack Obama and the Democrats singled him out to criticize (and, while doing so, raised his profile even more):

There are many theories for why very conservative Republicans seem to be doing so well lately, taking their party’s Senate nominations in Florida, Kentucky and Utah, and beating Democrats head-to-head in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Some attribute this to a generalized anti-incumbent mood. Others say it reflects the tendency of parties in power to falter in midterm elections. Recently it has been fashionable to ascribe right-wing success to the Tea Party movement.

But the most obvious explanation is the one that’s been conspicuously absent from the gusher of analysis. Republican success in 2010 can be boiled down to two words: Rush Limbaugh.

Mr. Limbaugh has played an important role in elections going back to 1994, when he commanded the air war in the Republican Congressional victory. This time, however, he is more than simply the mouthpiece of the party. He is the brains and the spirit behind its resurgence.

Interesting analysis. H/T to Fox Nation.

Trixie Averill -- candidate for 6th District Chairman

Trixie Averill, Virginia 6th District chairman candidate, outside The Depot Grille in downtown Staunton's historic wharf area. She was wearing a t-shirt featuring her beloved New Orleans Saints who were the 2010 Superbowl Champions.

She has been busy traveling up and down the Shenandoah Valley speaking at mass meetings and other events to ask voters to sign up as delegates for the 6th District Convention and cast a vote for her. This week found 6th congressional district chairman candidate Trixie Averill in Staunton where we met for lunch and talked about all things Republican.

As she continues to pick up delegates leading to the May 22 Sixth District Convention in Lynchburg, I'm rooting for her victory. Her experience and knowledge of the 6th District, and her access to those in leadership, are an asset at a time when our country is in unrest because Democrats have jammed unwanted bills such as cap-and-trade and government-run health care down the throats of citizens.

Trixie has been part of the grassroots for years ... a boots-on-the-ground presence not only during Republican campaigns but also organizing bus trips with Americans for Prosperity and others so that citizens would have their voices heard in Washington and Richmond. She has worked hard and, hopefully, on May 22 she will be voted into that leadership position.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
15 April 2010

David Barton coming to Harrisonburg

David Barton of Wallbuilders.com will be the special guest speaker at the Valley Family Forum luncheon at James Madison University on Monday, May 24.

Headlining "A Celebration of Our Christian Heritage," the lunch will be held from 12:00-1:30 p.m. and costs $25 per person. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, May 18.

From Dean Welty, Director of Valley Family Forum:

Seats are still available for the "Celebration of Our Christian Heritage" luncheon with David Barton, which will be from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., on Monday, May 24, at the JMU Festival Conference and Student Center. However, the deadline for reservations is Tuesday, May 18, so it is important to confirm your seats as soon as possible.

The Program
Barton will be speaking about "Keys to Good Government - According to Our Founding Fathers" -- principles that are just as important to us now as they were 223 years ago. Barton has been featured recently on FOX news with Glenn Beck, talking about the faith of our Founding Fathers.

"Gen. George Washington" will also be with us in full dress uniform, with colonial-era fifer Greg Hernandez and pianist Miriam Clark. WHSV-TV's Kay Norred will moderate the program, along with Pastor John Sloop, and Cong. Bob Goodlatte will join us as well.

Who Is David Barton?
Barton is the Founder and President of Wallbuilders and one of America's foremost authorities on our Christian heritage and the faith of our Founding Fathers. He is an award winning author, nationally acclaimed speaker, featured guest on numerous media outlets, and frequent advisor to legislators and educators. (For more information, go to www.wallbuilders.com.)

Reservations
You can reserve your table(s) or individual seats by writing to family@valleyfamilyforum.org or by calling (540) 438-8966. Seats are $25/person, or $200 for a table of eight. After confirming your reservations, send your check to the Valley Family Forum at 3465 Izaak Walton Dr., Harrisonburg, 22801. Business and individual sponsorships are also still available.

Can We Attend Both Lunch and Dinner?
The dinner is already sold out, but if you already have confirmed seats for it and would like to attend the lunch as well, you are more than welcome. The topic, the menu, and the program are all different, so you will be able to enjoy both. It's a great double-header.

It's a great opportunity to see David Barton and hear more about our American Christian heritage.

House economic recovery working group launches YouCut

From Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)

It is no secret that the American people are facing a very tough economic climate. Families and small businesses are cutting back on expenses. As economic uncertainty continues, many across our nation are looking to the government for leadership during this difficult time.

In these challenging economic times it is even more important for government to control spending. The federal government must work to both eliminate every cent of waste and squeeze every cent of value out of each dollar our citizens entrust to it. With families and small businesses all across our nation making tough decisions each day about what they can and cannot afford Congress should not be allowed to ignore these tough decisions when creating spending policies for the federal government.

Today I joined with House Republican Whip Eric Cantor and other members of the Republican Economic Recovery Working Group in launching a one-of-its-kind initative, YouCut, a project designed to reverse the culture of spending in Washington to a culture of savings. Beginning today, people from Virginia’s 6th Congressional District and around the country can vote -- both online and on their cell phone -- on spending cuts they would like to see the House of Representatives enact.

House Republicans will then offer an up-or-down vote on the spending cut that receives the most public support. The people of my district will have direct input on what they feel is the best way for the government to save money, each and every week. I urge everyone to log on to the YouCut website and vote today!

Does Mollohan defeat in WVA signal trouble for Boucher in VA?

Is neighboring West Virginia a bellweather of things to come in Virginia's 9th Congressional District?

In West Virginia, long-time Democrat incumbent Alan Mollohan (1st CD) was defeated by state Sen. Mike Oliverio in the Democratic primary. Politico reported:

In coal-dependent West Virginia, Mollohan also found himself taking heat for the ambitious Democratic push for climate change legislation. In the final weeks leading up to the primary, Oliverio was endorsed by a handful of area newspapers that pointedly criticized Mollohan for not speaking out more strongly against the cap-and-trade bill and for not voting against the bill until the last minute.

Mollohan also found himself under fire from his former allies in the pro-life movement, who targeted the veteran congressman over his support for the health care reform bill. The Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group, launched radio ads and robo-calls in the district targeting Mollohan during the primary. West Virginians for Life pulled their longtime support for him and endorsed Oliverio.

Rep. Rick Boucher in Virginia's coal-rich 9th Congressional District could be facing the same scrutiny from voters over his votes for cap-and-trade and Nancy Pelosi's leadership of the House.

2010 Americans for Prosperity Summit

Mark your calendars ... contact Trixie Averill for more info....

2010 AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY SUMMIT
August 27-28, 2010
Washington, DC

We will be attending Glenn Beck's RESTORING HONOR Rally
in conjunction with the summit.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS YEAR!!!
Details will follow as they are available.

Activism is more than just talk!!!

Contact Trixie Averill for more
information and to reserve a seat on the free bus.

In the words of Reagan ...

"You can't be for big government, big taxes, and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy." -- President Ronald Reagan

I'll bet Alinsky didn't expect Americans to stand up to Rule 8

Radical Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals included Rule 8: "Keep the pressure on. Never let up." Barack Obama and his administration appear to be following that rule with everything they have jammed down the throats of Americans the past year.

But did Alinsky expect the American people to react to Rule 8 by protesting overreaching government? I don't think so.

Alinsky, who died in 1971, had seen a nation of sheep full of apathy and misplaced priorities. Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected everyday, ordinary Americans to react so negatively to Rule 8.

For the first time in memory, conservatives are openly thumbing their noses at Alinsky's Rules for Radicals and are rewriting history.

Look at the tea party movement that began early in 2009 ... look at the citizens who attended townhall meetings held during the summer of 2009 ... look at the 1.2 million conservatives who marched in Washington on September 12, 2009.

Millions again gathered nationwide on April 15, 2010, as they continued to protest against Democrats, Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi's strong-armed passage of ObamaCare, cap-and-trade, banking and private company buyouts, and much more over the past year.

America is at a crossroads.

In 1971 Saul Alinsky's rules may have worked. However, it's 2010 ... a sleeping giant has been awakened ... and many Americans are well aware of what Barack Obama and the liberal Democrats are trying to do to this country.

Somehow, I don't think Alinsky ever had an inkling this would happen. It makes me want to shout, "God bless America!"