Medicaid expansion: Local hospital says yes; Landes, Cline, Bell and tea party say no

Governor Terry McAuliffe will be visiting the Shenandoah Valley this afternoon, making a stop at Augusta Health's Heart and Vascular Center in Fishersville at 2:00 in his effort to close the gap in medicaid coverage.

Augusta Health has been an advocate for increasing coverage. CEO and president Mary Mannix wrote, "The gap in health insurance coverage created by the Affordable Care Act has left thousands of people in our community without access to affordable coverage. ... This coverage gap is not only a source of hardship for our uninsured patients; it also puts an enormous financial strain on our hospital."

Today's visit will be countered by protesters from Americans for Prosperity and local tea party groups who plan to gather in the hospital parking lot with signs against the proposed expansion. Local state delegates Steve Landes, Ben Cline, and Dickie Bell have scheduled a 3:00 news conference at a private business a mile from the hospital's campus to protest expansion and its affect on small businesses.

It should make for an interesting Saturday afternoon in Augusta County.

Former Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins makes a run for 6th Congressional District Chairman

Former Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins and his wife at
October 2010 Tea Party Convention in Richmond. (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)

In a battle that's shaping up for 6th Congressional District chairman, former Virginia House Speaker and delegate Vance Wilkins is challenging the incumbent chairman, Wendell Walker.

Vance Wilkins was Republican Speaker of the House -- an historic first in the Commonwealth -- for a little over two years before resigning in 2002 after allegations of misconduct. While serving as delegate from 1978-2002, he was instrumental in helping build the Republican Party into a majority that loosened the Commonwealth from its long-time Democratic grip.

Vance Wilkins' reemergence on the political landscape could be seen in 2007 when he was adviser to a candidate who unsuccessfully ran against Augusta County's State Senator Emmett Hanger (R-24th). Since that time, Wilkins has been seen working Republican events, most recently at the Republican Advance in December, and has been a moving force recruiting current chairmen throughout the 6th. Known in the past as conservative, he has in recent years lined up with the tea party wing of RPV.

Wendell Walker, who has served as chair in Congressman Bob Goodlatte's district the past three years, may have cause to be concerned. It's obvious Wilkins is putting his trademark tenacity to work as he pulls out the call lists of leaders and former leaders in the Sixth and works the phone to gain support. His hard work is legendary from the 1980s and '90s when he recruited and campaigned for Republican delegates, bringing a majority to the House. There's been no word yet from anyone who has received a phone call from Walker but he surely must be working his lists, too, in this battle that will culminate at the 6th District Convention on April 26th.

Anyone interested in attending the 6th Congressional District Convention will be required to attend their local committee mass meeting to become a delegate. Information for all committees can be found at the Republican Party of Virginia website. The Augusta County Mass Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at 6:30 pm at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

[Update: Word was received after this post was published that confirmed Walker has been contacting convention delegates and making the rounds of meetings in the 6th District.]

Election Day in SWAC area ... ongoing updates

It's Election Day 2013 in Virginia. The polls are open ... voters are voting, candidate supporters are greeting them, and volunteers are sending them out the door with "I Voted" stickers.

The weather is good ... a cold, frosty start to the day with temps in the 20s is expected to lead to a high in the 50s under overcast skies.

What an odd year it has been with some newspapers refusing to endorse anyone for governor while others encouraged write-in votes for Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. Many are happy to see this election cycle finally come to an end.  For many, it marks the finish of the daily barrage of campaign emails, robocalls, and television ads.

Virginia is being considered a bellwether for the country. The tea party and Libertarian wings of the Virginia Republican Party have their dream team of candidates in Ken Cuccinelli, E.W. Jackson, and Mark Obenshain for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Four years after the Republican team led by Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling swept into office with historic leads, will it happen again?

This is a notoriously red area of the Commonwealth so what's going on in the central Shenandoah Valley area that includes Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County? I'll pass along news as I hear it.

10:15 a.m.: Churchville precinct had light but steady turnout. The voting location within Churchville Elementary School had been moved with only one table for check-in as opposed to the usual two. About half a dozen people were in line to sign in; two machines were in use. Interestingly, there was a card table set up with a McAuliffe sign and materials but no presence from the Republicans.

2:00 p.m.: Wilson Precinct. Steady, light turnout continued.

7:10 p.m.: Polls have closed and the wait begins for returns to be posted and announced.

U.S. House schedule for Thursday, July 18, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office....

THURSDAY, JULY 18TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. Last votes expected: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

Begin Consideration of H.R. 5 - Student Success Act, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee)

The rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:

Rep. Kline / Rokita Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Young (AK) / Gabbard / Hanabusa / McCollum Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Tony Cardenas Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Amendment #5 (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Kerry Bentivolio Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Reed / McKinley / Owens Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Dan Benishek Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Joe Heck Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Schock / Meehan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Scalise / Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Moore / Wilson (FL) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Rob Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Paul Tonko Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Brooks / Polis Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Polis / Petri Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Scott Garrett Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Paul Broun Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. John Culberson Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Fitzpatrick / Meehan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Amendment #24 (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Cantor / Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. George Miller Amendment (10 minutes of debate)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Oversight & Government Reform Committee hearing on “The IRS’ Systematic Delay and Scrutiny of Tea Party Applications” (Thursday, July 18th, at 11:00 a.m.)

Printable PDF

Bolling's Va Mainstream Project PAC taps 6 candidates for HoD support

In the second wave of flexing his political muscle, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's "Virginia Mainstream Project" (VMP) has made six more political endorsements backed with financial support and radio campaign ads leading into contested primaries on June 11.

With the goal of electing mainstream, conservative Republicans to public office, VMP announced it had endorsed the following candidates for their Virginia House of Delegates races, some who are being challenged by tea party or Ron Paul candidates and are in particularly contentious contests:

- House District 15 – Delegate Todd Gilbert
- House District 28 – Speaker Bill Howell
- House District 29 – Delegate Beverly Sherwood
- House District 33 – Delegate Joe May
- House District 54 – Delegate Bobby Orrock
- House District 85 – Mr. Scott Taylor

In addition to financial support, 60-second radio ads have been purchased and are airing for Orrock and Sherwood.

This is on the heels of VMP's endorsement and financial support to Delegate John Cosgrove who was successful in his May 9 firehouse primary seeking the Republican nomination for the 14th Senate District.

Bolling has stepped to the plate with his PAC, his experience, his reputation, and his willingness to endorse candidates interested in effective, common sense governing. That includes a pro-business attitude, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to work toward searching for bi-partisan, pragmatic solutions. Reinforcing that commitment, Bolling noted:

"If we are going to win elections in Virginia, we must nominate candidates who will appeal to Republicans and Independents and attract new people to our party.  I believe these candidates will help us accomplish that goal, but they need your help to win."

The two-term lieutenant governor, who had been very involved and inviting with the grassroots of the party and conservative bloggers during his years in Richmond, unexpectedly found himself in his new leadership role as senior statesman after stepping away from the 2013 gubernatorial race. A series of maneuverings within RPV led to the takeover of the state central committee by the tea party and Libertarian activists who then reversed an earlier vote for a 2013 primary to a much more controlled convention, the one that recently took place in Richmond.

Because of that change, Bolling briefly flirted with the idea of running as an independent but decided against it in March, prompting the Lynchburg News and Advance to editorialize:

Bill Bolling is no tax-and-spend liberal, no R(epublican) I(n) N(ame) O(nly) as uber-conservative activists have tried to portray him. He’s a traditional Virginia conservative, a public servant who labored for his constituents as a Hanover County supervisor, then state senator and finally lieutenant governor for almost eight years.

But the type of public servant Bolling is just isn’t what’s in fashion with the Republicans right today. An elected official who actually believes government has a role in society but who wants it to operate efficiently, leanly and unobtrusively is not the politician the tea party loves who sees government as a beast to be starved.

In May, Bolling reflected on his new role in Virginia Republican politics with reporter Errin Whack at the Washington Post:

“I found myself in a position of being the voice of a lot of mainstream Republicans across the state who were trying to call our party back to a more mainstream approach to politics and policy,” Bolling said in an interview. “It’s not a role I envisioned playing, but it’s a role I was thrust into because of the way things have evolved, and it’s a role I’m comfortable playing.”

It all led to the Virginia Mainstream Project. As the News and Advance wrote in the conclusion of their editorial:

In announcing his decision earlier this week, Bolling lamented what he — and we — see as the “Washingtonization” of Virginia politics. Political battles, achieving the label of most ideologically pure, hyper-partisanship and just plain meanspiritedness seem to be oozing their way into the halls of the state Capitol.

That’s not Bill Bolling’s way of leading. That’s not “The Virginia Way” of governing, or at least it hasn’t been.

Bill Bolling stands his ground

Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling addressed the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, sharing the jobs record of Governor Bob McDonnell and, in the process, standing his ground about current Republican politics in the Old Dominion.

For some, political tolerance comes with experience, and the LG has plenty of both. Standing by his belief that extremes on both ends of the political spectrum are not good for Virginians, he commented to those attending the meeting, as reported by Virginia Watchdog:

“I learned a long time ago in government that governing has to be about more than breaking the dishes,” said the two-term lieutenant governor who has served under both a Democrat and a Republican governor. “It has to be about solving problems and getting things done. And to do that, sometimes you have to compromise.”
...
“I think our party is a party in search of an identity,” Bolling told Watchdog.org. “It all starts with the kind of candidates we nominate and the kind of campaigns we run.

“Clearly the (Virginia GOP) is prettily solidly controlled by tea party groups and the Ron Paul folks. The result of that has been the party has been pulled further to the right and that makes it more difficult to connect with moderate and independent voters you need to win elections in Virginia and it makes it more difficult to govern once you get elected.”

Perhaps with a nod toward his recently organized Virginia Mainstream Project PAC, Bolling added:

“The solutions to the challenges facing our state will not be found in the extremes,” Bolling said. They won’t be found on the right extreme, and they won’t be found on the left extreme. The answers to the challenges facing Virginia will be found in the mainstream.”

RPV convention analysis from the Valley

Dr. Kurt Michael of Fishersville sat down Friday with news reporter Tom Dempsey of WHSV TV-3 to discuss the Republican Party of Virginia's convention to pick candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.

From the WHSV TV-3 interview:

On top of choosing the nominees, former Augusta County Republican Committee Chairman Dr. Kurt Michael says one of the main goals of the convention will be to bring the party together.

"What's important about this convention is Ken Cuccinelli will have to pull together three factions within the Republican party. Currently, we have Ron Paul libertarians, establishment Republicans, and Tea Party activists," he explained. "It's extremely important that the Republican party moves as a unit into November's election."

Dr. Michael also said the importance of the convention cannot be understated.

After Virginia went to President Barack Obama and Senator Tim Kaine last year, Republicans must get back on track in 2013 or risk severe consequences.

"If we do not win the governor's seat, that could set the Republican party back 15-20 years," said Dr. Michael. "We are in a purple state. It's turned blue. The Democrats will be pouring all their resources into the state of Virginia to win this seat and to solidify a base...."

Dr. Michael has been involved in Republican politics for more than 20 years. He is a contributor providing political cartoons about current issues to the Virginia Politics On Demand (VPOD) news source that is covering the RPV Convention, and VaPoliticalPineapple.com.

IRS targeted liberal groups, too

In the midst of news that the Internal Revenue Service targeted tea party groups comes news that they also set their sights on liberal groups, according to Bloomberg News, who reported:

The Internal Revenue Service, under pressure after admitting it targeted anti-tax Tea Party groups for scrutiny in recent years, also had its eye on at least three Democratic-leaning organizations seeking nonprofit status.

One of those groups, Emerge America, saw its tax-exempt status denied, forcing it to disclose its donors and pay some taxes. None of the Republican groups have said their applications were rejected.

Progress Texas, another of the organizations, faced the same lines of questioning as the Tea Party groups from the same IRS office that issued letters to the Republican-friendly applicants. A third group, Clean Elections Texas, which supports public funding of campaigns, also received IRS inquiries.

In a statement late yesterday, the tax agency said it had pooled together the politically active nonpartisan applicants -- including a “minority” that were identified because of their names. “It is also important to understand that the group of centralized cases included organizations of all political views,” the IRS said in its statement.

The Washington Post weighed in on the issue, writing:

This doesn’t get the IRS off the hook, however. Legal experts tend to agree that the IRS should carefully scrutinize all would-be 501(c)(4)s that tread the line between “social welfare” and politics. But, they add, it’s important for the IRS to stay neutral and not appear like it’s putting an unfair focus on certain political views. That’s why the IRS Cincinnati office’s push to flag all Tea Party groups for review was deemed “inappropriate.”

“It’s part of [the IRS's] job to look for organizations that may be more likely to have too much campaign intervention,” Loyola law professor Ellen Aprill said yesterday. “But it is important to try to make these criteria as politically neutral as possible.”

The Post  also looked into the why and how the IRS vets groups for 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. Meanwhile, fallout from the controversy has forced the IRS Commissioner to resign:

President Obama on Wednesday demanded and accepted the resignation of the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Steven T. Miller, as part of a multi-pronged effort to quell controversies that threaten to dominate his second term.

Stories of the IRS targeting specific groups or individuals are legendary. In light of the latest, more people are speaking out about their experiences with this powerful government agency, including Franklin Graham who is president of his father's Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as well as the international humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse. Earlier this week VPOD's Adam Frost reported on the IRS’s targeting of Jewish pro-Israel groups as early as 2010.

The IRS is now being investigated by six congressional committees as Congress looks for answers about who is investigated, and why.

Revolt within Virginia Tea Party Federation

Oops. There is open revolt within the tea party ranks in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Tea Party Federation that includes the Shenandoah Valley Tea Party, along with a tea party PAC, got together last week and decided to vet the nine Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Their final choices were Prince William County Supervisor Chairman Corey Stewart and State Senator Mark Obenshain.

That didn't set well with some members of the tea party. Today there was open revolt in the blogosphere from Greg Letiecq, Chris Beer, Tito Munoz, Joshua Huffman, and Willie Deutsch. Apparently there are candidates they consider not "tea-party" enough.

A state of confusion now seems to have settled over the Commonwealth. Chris Beer at Mason Conservative wrote:

I don't know who's what anymore.  Who's a RINO, who's establishment, who loves liberty, who's a real conservative?  It's getting so confusing!

The Tea Party Federation of Virginia endorsed Corey Stewart today, and apparently it's to the bewilderment of the Tea Party.  First off, allow me to say that the fact there is a large "federation" of Tea Party seems counter to what the Tea Party of 2009-10 stood for.  Anyways, apparently the Federation's choice is not the choice of the local (ie real) tea parties. [emphasis added]

It didn't take long after the Virginia Tea Party Federation's endorsements for this open revolt to hit. Now the federation side is pushing back: "The sore losers are on the emotional politics rampage. There was nothing 'rigged' about the process."

The Republican Convention is just a few weeks away. Stay tuned ... this could get interesting.

Cross-posted at Va Political Pineapple

Mataconis: 'The GOP and the Conspiratorial Mindset'

The post, "The GOP and the Conspiratorial Mindset," pulls some current political issues out of the shadows as is typical of Doug Mataconis who has never been afraid to face the difficult subjects head on. His latest post at Outside the Beltway addresses the split now going on within the Republican Party.

He began by noting some conspiracy theories that have floated in groups that have moved into the GOP:

Ever since Barack Obama became President, indeed while he was still running for office, there has been a cottage industry of conspiracy theories on the right making seemingly outrageous allegations about the President. They’ve ranged from the now familiar birther conspiracy that, even with the release of the President’s long-form birth certificate, still refuses to die, to claims that the Administration was conspiring to confiscate weapons from legal gun owners. For the most part, though, these conspiracy theories were mostly the province of the Internet and a segment of conservatism that most mainstream Republicans tried as best they could to distance themselves from.

His comment, "Mainstream Republicans tried as best they could to distance themselves from" the constant conspiracy theories, resonates. He then documents that some Republican elected officials have bought into those conspiracies, something that may appease a small but vocal portion of the population.

It reminded of an event in Augusta County in 2009.

In April of 2009, one of the first tea party rallies was held in Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton with a group of about 50 gathering to declare their disapproval of ObamaCare. Immediately following that small gathering, another rally was held at Expoland in Fishersville. The building filled with citizens against one-size-fits-all health care who cheered as speakers talked about fighting against it.

Then the truthers began speaking about 9/11 and accused the U.S. Government of being behind the attacks on the Twin Towers, and something about highway cameras were more than just traffic monitors, and more. It was a stunning turning point for those attending. Almost in unison, at least three-fourths of the crowd rose from their seats and began filing toward the doors, many shaking their heads and wondering who had organized the event. It was organized by the Constitution Party, another of the groups that are part of the overall tea party federation. Their conspiracy theories drove a previously enthusiastic crowd out the doors.

Mataconis ended his post with this sobering comment:

This isn’t to say that every Republican and every conservative is a conspiracy theorist or a birther, of course. There are plenty of them who aren’t and who have a perfectly rational opposition to the President and his policies that doesn’t include the need to allege that he’s involved in some vast conspiracy to destroy the country. The problem is, as it always has been for the past four years, is that these voices tend to get drowned out by the shrill voices of the Obama Derangement Syndrome crowd, and it’s that crowd that becomes associated in the public mind with the party and the movement. That is the price the GOP is paying for giving these people space to grow rather than denouncing him in the manner that they should have been.

I saw Bush Derangement Syndrome during the administration of President George W. Bush and did not like it. Now I see my side of the aisle doing the same to President Barack Obama. Sadly, those voices tend to drown out the voices of others who understand that this country can better move forward with rational, pragmatic, bipartisan leadership.

GOP and tea parties should remain independent

On Thursday, Rep. Eric Cantor made news with his decision to remain independent of Rep. Michelle Bachmann's (R-MN) tea party caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives .

Rep. Cantor, who is the Republican Whip and second ranking Republican in the House, commented on his decision by noting:

"Part of what is so inspiring about the Tea-Party movement is that it is not structured like a political party and, instead, is a truly organic, grass-roots effort. The movement was born outside of Washington and includes people of all political stripes -- Republicans, independents, and Democrats -- who have come together out of frustration with their government in an effort to force it to change . . . .The millions of Americans who are part of the Tea-Party movement will no doubt have a major voice this fall when the bad policies of the past two years come up for review."

The Richmond Times-Dispatch concurred with Rep. Cantor's decision in their Friday editorial:

Although the Tea Party clearly stands closer to the GOP's professed principles, the movement should be wary of becoming a faction within a single party. If the Tea Party identifies with the Republican Party, then it could sacrifice support from disaffected Democrats and independents. (The Tea Party's appeal to Democrats seems negligible, to tell the truth; among GOP-leaning independents the movement's appeal appears strong. The Tea Party itself resembles a 2010 update of Ross Perot's 1992 campaign.)

There are others who have cautioned that the tea party movement should remain independent including Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush. While many may consider him just a GOP political hack, Rove had some thoughts about this very subject in February when he wrote:

There has been a lot of talk about combining the tea party movement with the Republican Party. And on a small scale, that seemed to happen last week in South Carolina after state GOP representatives agreed to create a "Tea Party Republicans" group to coordinate activities with tea partiers in Greenville and Spartanburg.

This week, however, those arrangements fell apart as some tea party groups dissented from the decision. Other attempts to draw tea party groups into formal alliances are running into similar difficulties. That is a good thing. The tea party movement will be more effective than it otherwise would be if it refuses to allow itself to become an appendage of either major political party.

The tea party movement appears to primarily be a fiscally concerned group of citizens who are worried about the deep debt our country faces in light of controversial legislation that has been spearheaded by Democratic President Barack Obama and passed by the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. That concern encompasses Democrats, Independents, Constitution Party, Green Party, Ron Paul supporters, and others upset with massive spending and taxes involved with cap-and-trade, bank bailouts, the stimulus bill, auto company bailouts, and the mammoth government health care bill.

In other words, the tea party is not made up of just Republicans or social conservatives. The common denominator for all is fiscal conservatism. Beyond that, there are significant differences. Some within the ranks are 9/11 "truthers," "birthers," and those calling for states to secede from the U.S.

While some may be upset with Rep. Cantor for not joining forces with the tea party, there are many others who will agree with his decision. He is a leader in the Republican Party, not the tea party, something the Times-Dispatch also noted:

Institutional issues also argue in favor of Cantor's position. As the GOP's whip (and its majority leader if the party wins a majority in November), he must not be seen as part of any ideological faction. His viability and success depend on his ability to forge close relations with Republicans of diverse philosophical inclinations. There is nothing wrong with joining caucuses based on geography or interest, but Cantor would court difficulties if he formally aligned himself with a movement that has challenged GOP incumbents in primaries.

Karl Rove, while advising that tea parties should remain independent of political parties, also touched on the issue of Republicans trying to become part of the tea party:

The GOP is also better off if it forgoes any attempt to merge with the tea party movement. The GOP cannot possibly hope to control the dynamics of the highly decentralized galaxy of groups that make up the tea party movement. There will be troubling excesses and these will hurt Republicans if the party is formally associated with tea party groups.

Mr. Rove had a final suggestion for both the GOP and the tea parties as he concluded:

The Republican Party and the tea party movement have many common interests right now. But they are, and should remain, distinct from one another. This is one instance when, if they merged, the sum would be less than the parts.

The Times-Dispatch agreed. "Cantor," they wrote, " ... has made the prudent call.

Cross-posted at The Washington Examiner

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!"

Americans for Prosperity at Staunton Tea Party

Ben Marchi, Virginia Director of Americans for Prosperity, addressed the tea party at Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park on Thursday. His message of responsible spending and lower taxes resounded with the crowd, many who have traveled on the AFP buses to Washington and Richmond to send that message to elected representatives.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
15 April 2010

George Allen brings down the house at Staunton Tea Party

George Allen addressed the Staunton Tea Party from Gypsy Hill Park's bandstand stage.

"Hello, patriots all!" boomed George Allen at Thursday night's tea party event in Staunton. "Nowhere is it more patriotic than in the Shenandoah Valley!"

Over 500 residents stood and cheered for the still-popular former Virginia governor and U.S. senator, a crowd that was a mix of Republicans, tea party patriots, Constitution Party, libertarians, independents, and even some Democrats who dropped by to check out the event.

Allen was a few minutes late arriving from his previous appearance at the Harrisonburg tea party about 30 minutes away. The crowd waited and then cheered as he hurried onto the bandstand stage wearing khaki pants and a navy blazer, looking fit and in campaign shape. Rumors had been flying that he would challenge Jim Webb for the U.S. Senate seat in 2012 and, indeed, many in the crowd mentioned "rematch" and "we'll win this time."

His enthusiasm lit up the gathering. He reminded folks of Ronald Reagan's quote about government overreaching: "If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." The crowd laughed and nodded their heads in agreement. Allen said that Reagan had turned things around with a tax cut, which brought applause, and he added that taxes needed to be lowered so citizens could compete.

"Americans are addicted to freedom!" he added ... and the crowd cheered.

He talked about how the U.S. is #1 in energy mainly because of our coal but instead of looking at those natural resources as a gift, our government looks at it as a bad thing and Americans, he said, are tired of that attitude. With oil and gas deposits off the Virginia coast, we should be able to drill and keep 37% of the royalties for Virginians.

The laws are not made by politicians, he boomed ... the laws are made by Americans who are We the People! In his trademark closing, his voice rising, he declared, "Always stand strong for freedom," and a roar rose from the crowd of patriots who were on their feet cheering and applauding someone many were clearly ready to support if he decided to run for public office again.

Since he was the last speaker of the evening, a relaxed George Allen talked afterwards with many locals who clustered around him for 45 minutes as they shared stories, had photos taken with him, and passed along bits of information. It was vintage George Allen and the central Shenandoah Valley appeared ready to see more from him in the future.

Bob Stuart covered the event for the Waynesboro News Virginian. Also coverage from NBC-29 and WHSV TV-3.

Cross-posted at The Washington Examiner
Cross-posted at GeorgeAllen.com
Cross-posted at Virginia Virtucon

Staunton tea party ... faces in the crowd

Friendly faces in Gyspy Hill Park ... folks talk with Gov. George Allen. David Karaffa is on the left, lots of Karaffas in the background, Horace Studwell behind them, and Yankee Phil mugging for the camera.

"Yeah, r-i-g-h-t," Debbie seems to be thinking as Ben Marchi tells something that has Chris rolling his eyes while Tim checks his messages.

Local resident Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Barth Berry (left) greets Gov. Allen as Waynesboro News Virginian reporter Bob Stuart waits in the background. Sorry for the blurry photo ... it was getting dark and my little point-and-click Nikon didn't do very well.

Christine, a fellow home school mom and my very first friend when we moved to Augusta County 14 years ago. Still friends after all these years, we made plans to meet for lunch very soon. David and Sandy Karaffa were in the background.

Ben March, director of Virginia's Americans for Properity, with Tim Nussbaum while George Allen talks with folks in the background.

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
15 April 2010

George Allen: "Hello, Shenandoah Valley!"

"Hello, Patriots all!" former Governor George Allen (R-VA) boomed to the crowd of 500 on its feet to welcome him to the tax day tea party in Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton.

More photos to follow....

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
15 April 2010

Powhatan Tea Party

My parents slipped out of Chesterfield Saturday to attend the tea party in Powhatan and Mom reported back that is was a great event. They ran into Hanover's Tom White from Virginia Right! who sent over a photo he took of Mom. Had trouble uploading it ... will try to post later. Wonder if my folks took the autographed "Don't Tread On Me Flag" that Ken Cuccinelli gave them after last year's election since he was a guest speaker?

Meanwhile, Tom has a photo gallery of the event with lots and lots of pictures that you will want to check out.

Brent Bozell on hypocrisy of liberal left and MSM

“What an exercise in hypocrisy. Some of you in the left-wing so-called ‘news’ media have actively participated in insulting conservatives with vulgar ‘tea bagging’ jokes. You’ve done it on live national television, snickering at your own snarky gay sense of humor. And if you haven’t done that, you have been a coward, doing nothing to condemn your colleagues for their disgusting behavior. Don’t you dare give us any more lectures on civility. You hypocrites disgust me.” --Brent Bozell (Media Research Center)

Amen.

H/T to Gateway Pundit

Liberal coffee parties never perked as only a few drips turned out

What a bust! The liberals tried to generate an alternative caffeine wave in America ... and failed miserably.

Donald Douglas has a good follow-up at American Power as he writes, "I followed the 'coffee parties' over the weekend, and at most we say maybe 40 people turn out for any individual event."

Kind of funny because liberals are working on revenge against the tea party movement and, as we all know, revenge often is not a motivator. Tea parties are fueled by love of country and a passion to retain the freedoms we all enjoy and that were fought for by our veterans. Check out Donald's post for links to others.

SWAC conservative breakfast

Mike Thomas and Kurt Michael talk at February's SWAC Conservative Breakfast where 55 people turned out. Mike led the Pledge of Allegiance. A number of regulars were in Washington, DC, at the CPAC Conference.

Mr. Speedy Hite (second from left) was recognized for his years of military service during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Suzanne Curran offered information about the Tea Party Nation convention in TN. A firecracker activist, she will be attending the upcoming Suzanne Curran Republican Women's Retreat named after such a hard-working volunteer.

Folks from all walks in life who consider themselves conservatives attend the monthly breakfasts. It is a non-partisan event open to all.

Mr. Hite addressed the group as another military veteran looked on. We are thankful to these men for their sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
20 February 2010