Democrats put up 'single most outrageous ad of the campaign'

“Outrageous” … “Shameful” … “Extremely Offensive” … “Almost Beyond Comprehension” … “Disgusting”

Mitt Romney punches back

To View This Press Release Online, Click Here: http://mi.tt/MHWNMm

ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “The Single Most Outrageous Ad Of The Campaign…” KARL: “But the single most outrageous ad of the campaign comes from a Super PAC supporting the president and run by his former spokesman.” (ABC’s “World News Tonight,” 8/9/12)

Former Clinton Adviser Lanny Davis: “Bill Burton Needs To Go Back To Ethics School. … The Ad Is Misleading And Disgusting…” “Bill Burton needs to go back to ethics school. … He knows perfectly well that the ad is misleading and disgusting and he needs to apologize for it.” (Steve Portnoy, “‘Disgusting’ Pro-Obama Ad Criticized By Democrat,” ABC News’ The Note, 8/9/12)

CNN’s Erin Burnett: “Just Plain Wrong.” BURNETT: “Blaming Mitt Romney personally for her death is just plain wrong.” (CNN’s “Out Front,” 8/9/12)

Chicago Tribune: “What A Vicious, Shameful Ad. … A Disgrace.” “What a vicious, shameful ad. … Mr. President, lift the campaign. Call this ad what it is: a disgrace.” (Editorial, “Scraping Bottom,” Chicago Tribune, 8/9/12)

The Wall Street Journal: “Smear…” “A postmodern postscript: The Obama campaign was at first more than happy to slipstream behind the Priorities USA smear, refusing to disavow the cancer ad and deflecting questions by claiming not to "know the specifics" (Robert Gibbs) or "know the facts" (deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter).” (Editorial, “The Postmodern President,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/9/12)

The Washington Post’s Nia-Malika Henderson And David Nakamura: “Widely Skewered As Over-The-Top And Irresponsible…” “The anti-Romney ad released this week by Priorities USA has been widely skewered as over-the-top and irresponsible, condemned for insinuating that Mitt Romney is to blame for the death of a woman whose husband lost his job and health insurance after Bain Capital bought his steel mill.” (Nia-Malika Henderson and David Nakamura, “Obama, Romney campaigns Run Provocative Ads To Draw Attention In Crowded Media Landscape,” The Washington Post, 8/9/12)

CBS News’ Brian Montopoli: “Nasty … Unfair … Not True.” “The story is certainly affecting, and it fits into the Obama camp's narrative that Romney doesn't care about working people. There's just one big problem: It's not true. … And the Obama campaign's refusal to disavow the spot speaks to just how nasty the campaign has already gotten - a full three months before Election Day.” (Brian Montopoli, “Due Diligence: An Unfair Attack On Mitt Romney,” CBS News, 8/9/12)

The Hill’s A.B. Stoddard: “It’s Extremely Offensive.” STODDARD: “The implication is that Mitt Romney is responsible for her death, and it’s extremely offensive.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 8/9/12)

Fox News’ Trace Gallagher: “All Facts In This Case That Prove Why Many Publications Have Given This Four Pinocchios.” (Fox News Channel’s America Live, 8/9/12)

The Washington Post’s Charles Krauthammer: “Almost Beyond Comprehension.” KRAUTHAMMER: “Look, this is plain language. The guy is saying that he doesn't realize what he has done to anyone. He’s talking about the woman. To link Romney to her death is almost beyond comprehension.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 8/9/12)

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen to join Mitt Romney's Virginia bus tour

 

Henrico, VA – On Saturday, August 11^th, George Allen will join the “Romney Plan For A Stronger Middle Class” bus tour in Virginia with stops in Norfolk, Ashland and Manassas.

WHAT:	Norfolk Victory Event
WHEN:	August 11th, 2012 at 9:05 AM ET
WHERE:	The Back Patio Nauticus Museum 1 Waterside Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23510

WHAT:	Ashland Victory Rally
WHEN:	August 11th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ET
WHERE:	Crenshaw Gymnasium Randolph-Macon College 103 E. Patrick Street Ashland, Virginia 23005

WHAT:	Manassas Victory Rally
WHEN:	August 11th, 2012 at 4:15 PM ET
WHERE:	Harris Pavilion 9116 Center Street Manassas, Virginia 20110

###

www.georgeallen.com

Lt. Gov. Bolling joins Mitt Romney on Virginia bus tour

 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

 

8:30 AM

Norfolk Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney

Nauticus

1 Waterside Drive

Norfolk, VA

 

Lieutenant Governor Bolling will be participating in a Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney, Governor Bob McDonnell, Former Governor George Allen and other special guests. 

 

 

12:40 PM

Ashland Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney

Randolph Macon College, Crenshaw Gym

103 East Patrick Street

Ashland, VA

 

Lieutenant Governor Bolling will be participating in a Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney, Governor Bob McDonnell, Former Governor George Allen, Congressman Eric Cantor and other special guests. 

 

 

3:45 PM

Manassas Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney

Harris Pavillion

9116 Center Street

Manassas, VA

 

Lieutenant Governor Bolling will be participating in a Victory Rally with Governor Mitt Romney, Governor Bob McDonnell, Former Governor George Allen and other special guests.

Gov. McDonnell joins Mitt Romney in Virginia bus tour

 

Governor McDonnell Participates in "Romney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class" Bus Tour

Saturday, August 11, 2012

 

8:45a.m.                 Tour of the USS Wisconsin Battleship

                               USS Wisconsin

                               1 Waterside Drive

                               Norfolk

                              

 

9:05a.m.                 Norfolk Victory Rally

                               The Back Patio, Nauticus Museum

                               1 Waterside Drive

                               Norfolk

 

12:35p.m.               Romney for President Stop-by

                               Homemades by Suzanne

                               102 North Railroad Avenue

                               Ashland

                              

 

1:00p.m.                 Ashland Victory Rally

                               Randolph-Macon College

                               Crenshaw Gym

                               103 East Patrick Street

                               Ashland

 

4:15p.m.                Manassas Victory Rally

                              Harris Pavilion

                              9116 Center Street

                              Manassas

The continued bloodletting of the Republican Party of Virginia

The bloodletting of the Republican Party in Virginia continues.

An article written at Blue Virginia by Paul Goldman, Democratic strategist to former Governors Mark Warner and Doug Wilder, offered pointed insight into what has recently been occurring in the Virginia GOP.

In his post, "Romney, Allen, McDonnell being sacrificed in Virginia GOP bloodletting," Goldman noted:

"The continuing RINO hunt by the self-described anti-incumbent 'real conservatives' in the Virginia GOP is the developing big story in 2012 Virginia politics."

After a series of circumstances that have included the unprecedented reversing of the previous State Central Committee's vote from primary to convention in 2014, an even more troubling event has transpired involving a post on a Facebook status that is directed at Republican Party of Virginia First Vice Chairman Mike Thomas and those who voted for his reelection at a party meeting last weekend.

Because of it, many in the Republican Party who have spent years as volunteers and in grassroots leadership feel that the mean-spiritedness is reaching a crescendo.

Newly elected 3rd Congressional District Chairman Chris Stearns has an intimidating Facebook post on his Wall (see below) to threaten people who vote a certain way. The post, added by someone else but left in place by Stearns who "liked" it, suggests those who voted for Mike Thomas will be hunted down and somehow retaliated against in an unnecessary witch hunt.

Poster reads: "YOU VOTED FOR MIKE THOMAS.

WE LOOKIN' FOR YOU, WE GON' FIND YOU."

Many believe that type of behavior is unprofessional and inappropriate for a district chairman who sits on the State Central Committee. Leadership requires winning the hearts and minds of people through hard work and actions, not strong-arm back room Machiavellian politics.

The anti-incumbent group should rethink going after fellow Republicans and concentrate their effort on more productive pursuits, a fact noted by Goldman:

"Except: As we know now, it is already August, and the RINO hunt by the 'true conservatives' continues, played out once again at today's Republican state party meeting in contests for toothless, honorific party posts, with US vs THEM challenges."

Goldman expressed surprise that Mike Thomas, campaign manager for George Allen, was targeted in this battle:

"This kind of internal party feud -- easily postponed until after November -- is all DOWNSIDE for any Republican running this year. Believe it or not, one of the RINOs being targeted for defeat is actually the campaign manager to George Allen! Brilliant."

Republican National Committeewoman Kathy Terry and National Committeeman Morton Blackwell have indirectly encouraged Stearns by rewarding this type of behavior with an appointment to the Platform Committee at RNC.

At a time when unity within the party is at stake, Goldman offers this chilling assessment:

"Let me say this: What is happening in the Virginia GOP right is the best possible news for the President, Tim Kaine, and Terry MAC, far more important than the polls and whatever."

If we lose to Barack Obama and Tim Kaine in November, the blame can rest squarely on behavior such as displayed by Stearns.

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

"Pants On Fire" ... PolitiFact editor Fiske and his Democratic votes

Some are wondering if accusations that PolitiFact leans left are justified now that it's been disclosed its editor, Warren Fiske, has been a regular voter in Democratic primaries.

There have been rumblings for a while about the self-described unbiased political fact-checker sporting a decidedly liberal slant. PolitiFact Virginia, one of eleven states working under the St. Petersburg-based news agency, judges political statements with a Truth-O-Meter ranking of True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True, False, or Pants on Fire. There's also the No Flip, Half Flip, and Full Flop.

The rumblings became a roar in July when the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) came out with a massive, in-depth 86-page report documenting many instances of bias from PolitiFact Virginia against Republican candidates.

On top of that, the PolitiFact Bias blog has kept a running list of infractions since 2011 showing an inconsistent basis of measuring "facts" between Democrats and Republicans.

Interestingly, Bill McMorris of the Washington Free Beacon did a little fact-checking of his own and discovered that PolitiFact Virginia editor Warren Fiske voted in a number of recent Democratic primaries:

Warren Fiske, editor of Politifact Virginia, has voted in Democratic primaries in all but one of the last 6 major election cycles. Virginia does not have party registration, allowing voters to select the ballot of their choice during the March primary. Fiske opted for a Republican primary ballot in 2005 when then-Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine ran unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Let's double-check two of Fiske's primary votes:

- 2001 Democratic primary where Tim Kaine was running for the nomination for Lieutenant Governor
- 2006 Democratic U.S. Senate primary where Jim Webb faced off against Harris Miller

A startling example of PolitiFact's bias was revealed when it fact-checked 2012 U.S. Senate candidates Republican George Allen versus Democrat Tim Kaine:

Politifact’s coverage of the dead-heat Senate race between Allen and former governor and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine has drawn the most scrutiny from political insiders. About forty percent of Allen’s statements received some degree of false ratings compared to 18 percent for Kaine. Politifact has used different metrics in some of its ratings to skew the budgetary track record of the candidates, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis.

The fact checkers ignored the impact inflation and skyrocketing federal spending on programs like Medicaid had on spending increases while Allen was governor, declaring the Republican’s claim of fiscal hawk “false.”

Fiske has not made the same mistake when analyzing Kaine’s record.

Politifact adjusted for inflation to downplay the dramatic spike in college tuition under Kaine’s watch, as well as to cast his spending record in a more positive light. When Kaine said that the “general fund budget shrank when he was governor,” fact checkers discounted federal spending, failed to mention that Kaine attempted to hike taxes rather than cut costs and left the state with a multi-billion dollar deficit at the end of his term.

The claim received a “True” rating.

In a profession where neutrality should be an essential ingredient but that has been caught grading Allen and Kaine on an uneven playing field, Fiske's ability to write with an unbiased eye has definitely been called into question.

Jim Riley at the conservative Virginia Virtucon blog cut to the chase when he wrote:

"You see, Warren, that is what people like to call a 'double standard.' They don’t like it in their politicians and they increasingly don’t like it in their media.  All journalists have to sell their stories to people is their credibility.  With you at the helm of Politifact Virginia, that is an area sorely lacking."

The Washington Free Beacon noted that Fiske's actions would violate ethics policies set in place by the Roanoke Times'  newspaper whose gidelines state, "Staffers should … avoid active involvement in partisan political causes—including participation in primaries or meetings to choose political candidates—community affairs, social actions or demonstrations that could compromise or seem to compromise our ability to report, edit or photograph fairly."

Fiske did not return phone calls from the Free Beacon when asked about the significant increase of slanted negative ratings for Republicans:

Under Fiske’s leadership, the site has faced mounting criticism from the state GOP for perceived bias against Republican Senate candidate George Allen and Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The RPV document pointed out, "PolitiFact Virginia purports to sit in objective judgment on the truthfulness of factual assertions by leading public figures, yet it fails to meet the very standard it claims to enforce."

Even though PolitiFact claims to be unbiased, journalist Matthew Vadum noted while investigating the organization in 2009:

When reporters claiming to be neutral political fact-checkers go beyond mere reporting to state with absolute certainty things they cannot possibly know, they run the risk of churning out political opinion masquerading as high-minded investigative journalism.

Because of an editor who has clearly demonstrated a preference at the polls that has been reflected in his work, PolitiFact receives a Fact-O-Meter rating of Pants On Fire.

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

McDonnell: I-95 express lanes construction begins today in NoVa

~Groundbreaking marks new era for transportation choices~

PRINCE WILLIAM – Surrounded by elected officials, transportation engineers, and dignitaries, Governor Bob McDonnell held a groundbreaking ceremony today to begin construction of the I-95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. The project will build 29 miles of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County, and will connect the I-95 Express Lanes to the I-495 Express Lanes currently under construction to provide a seamless network of new lanes to reduce congestion, encourage carpooling, and providing public transportation options never before available.

“For the first time, commuters will have transportation choices they never had before when traveling the I-95 corridor, said Governor McDonnell. “This innovative public-private partnership will result in express lanes for carpoolers, sluggers and buses, while at the same time providing new transportation choices for all motorists to reach their destinations faster.”

Governor McDonnell was joined by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton, Virginia Congressmen Rob Wittman and Gerry Connolly, House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell, the chairs of the Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties boards of supervisors, and numerous other state and local officials.

When completed, there will be two new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95, extending nine miles from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road. North of Dumfries, existing I-95 HOV lanes will be improved for six miles from Route 234 to Prince William County Parkway. North of the parkway, I-95 HOV lanes will be expanded from two to three lanes for 14 miles to Edsall Road as well as connect to the soon-to-be-completed 495 Express Lanes. The project also includes expanding and adding commuter parking lots. The project is expected to open to traffic in early 2015.

Vehicles with three or more people will be able to ride the express lanes for free. Vehicles with one to two people can ride the express lanes for a variable toll or travel in the general purpose lanes for free. Tolls will be electronically collected using E-ZPass, eliminating the need for toll booths.

“I-95 Express Lanes will provide needed added capacity to help reduce traffic congestion,” said Connaughton. “The expanded HOV options include first-time HOV access in Stafford County and a direct link to the new Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway and into Tysons Corner. The 495 and I-95 Express Lanes combined will create a region-wide, reliable pathway for carpoolers and buses, connecting major Virginia employment centers and military sites.”

The project is being delivered by a public-private partnership between VDOT and 95 Express Lanes LLC (a joint venture between Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc.). This allows the commonwealth to leverage private-sector resources to build the nearly $1 billion project. The private sector is providing $854 million in funding while VDOT’s contribution is $71 million. VDOT will maintain ownership of I-95 and oversee 95 Express’ activities.

The project will also have significant economic benefits, including:

·         Construction will contribute $1.54 billion to the state’s economy (its Gross State product)

·         New personal earnings of $464 million that will accrue to the benefit of workers residing in Virginia

·         Direct and indirect spending will support more than 12,600 jobs over the construction period

·         The benefits will be particularly realized in the communities along I-95, with nearly 2,500 jobs supported in Fairfax County, 2,600 jobs in Prince William County and nearly 900 in Stafford County

“With construction beginning today, VDOT urges motorists to pay extra attention as they are traveling through the I-95 corridor,” said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley. “You will see a lot of construction activity, including traffic shifts, lane closures and tree clearing along the median. VDOT is committed to keeping the public informed of construction activity and impacts, and will do everything it can to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible during construction. When the project is finished, this region will have a top-notch transportation facility that will ease congestion and advance the use of carpooling, vanpooling and transit.”

During construction motorists can expect:

·         Existing HOV lanes will be narrowed and shifted with construction barriers installed for workers to resurface pavement, install new signage and tolling structures.

·         HOV lane shoulders will be narrowed with emergency pulloffs located approximately every mile.

·         Field offices and equipment staging areas will be setup along the 29-mile corridor to support construction.

·         Nightly HOV lane closures are expected for the next two years.

·         There will be no closures on I-95/395 general purpose lanes or HOV lanes during rush hour. In general expect 10 to 15 minutes of additional traffic delays through the construction zone during lane closures.

·         Trees will be cleared from the median to expand the existing roadway south of Dumfries and along the sides of the highway to build new sound walls.

·         Construction of nine new bridges will get under way, including four flyover ramps adding new and improved access to and from the 95 Express Lanes

For more information, lane closure details and to sign-up for alerts, visit www.VAmegaprojects.com. Project information is also available at www.95expresslanes.com.

McDonnell announces 400 new jobs in Frederick County

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Navy Federal Credit Union will make a multi-million dollar investment to expand its member service operation in Frederick County. The credit union will construct an additional facility on its Winchester, Virginia campus, adding 400 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Florida for the project.

           

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “400 new good-paying jobs are coming to Frederick County. Navy Federal Credit Union is the world’s largest credit union, and it has thrived since its inception in 1933. Now, this significant investment will expand the company’s footprint in Frederick County. The region boasts an impressive workforce and business environment in which the credit union has found great success, leading to the growth of the Frederick County operation. Today’s announcement furthers the strong relationship between the Commonwealth and Navy Federal, which has its headquarters in Fairfax County. We look forward to Navy Federal’s continued growth as it serves its worldwide membership.”

“With more than 220 Navy Federal branches worldwide, millions of members around the globe are served from the member service operation in Frederick County,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “With this expansion, the credit union is able to construct an additional facility on its undeveloped property adjacent to the current operation and further increase its presence and size in Virginia. The addition of 400 new jobs is significant for the region, and we thank Navy Federal for its continued investment.”

           

Navy Federal Credit Union is the world’s largest credit union with $50 billion in assets, four million members, more than 220 branch offices, and more than 10,000 employees worldwide. The credit union serves all Department of Defense military and civilian personnel and their families. For additional information about Navy Federal, visit www.navyfederal.org.

“Virginia is home to Navy Federal,” said Cutler Dawson, Navy Federal President and CEO. “We have tremendous team members that work at our Winchester facility. This expansion will allow us to bring aboard even more in the future.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Frederick County and the Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Frederick County with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment, training and retraining activities.

           

“We are pleased that Navy Federal Credit Union has chosen Frederick County for its expansion,” said Richard Shickle, Chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors. “Navy Federal has operated its member service operation in Frederick County for six prosperous years, expanding to more than 500 employees in that time. At the completion of its expansion, Navy Federal will be one of the largest employers in our community, providing quality job opportunities for our residents.”

Bob McDonnell: 'Obama decree guts bipartisan consensus'

By GOV. BOB MCDONNELL
Richmond Times-Dispatch

In 1996, President Bill Clinton worked with Republicans in Congress to reform our nation's costly and ineffective welfare programs. Upon signing the bipartisan bill into law, Clinton noted that the measure would "[restore] America's basic bargain of providing opportunity and demanding, in return, responsibility." And he was right. Most would agree that the measure has been a great success — except, apparently, President Barack Obama, whose administration last month took steps to remove one of its central requirements.

The Obama administration's recent decision was both unexpected and unexplainable, defying what we have learned from history and what we know about good government. Our nation was built on a commitment to the dignity and necessity of work. That commitment and its rewards have been passed down from generation to generation. And, in the 1990s, welfare reform ensured that value remained part of the laws governing our nation.

Building on successful state programs, like our groundbreaking legislation here in Virginia that I was honored to carry in the legislature as a delegate, Congress strengthened the welfare safety net by adding a requirement that individuals receiving financial support must also look for and find work. It's known as "welfare-to-work" for short. And while some were concerned that the measures in this reform were too tough, their doubts were soon erased.

Welfare caseloads that had remained unchanged for 40 years were quickly cut in half. The poverty rate among welfare recipients, especially children, plummeted. The percentage of single mothers with a job grew from 58 to 75 in less than a decade. Millions of Americans were moving off the welfare roll and moving up life's ladder.

Over the course of 16 years, welfare reform has proven to be a historic achievement. But, ignoring this record, the Department of Health and Human Services last month announced that it would allow states to propose programs that did not comply with federal work requirements. With a stroke of a pen, decades of bipartisan efforts to tie welfare to work were undone, and the heart of welfare reform was gutted.

As a candidate, the president claimed that he supported welfare-to-work policies. He once professed that work should be "a centerpiece of any social policy." He has now apparently changed his mind.
Worse still is the way this recent decision unfolded. President Obama did not work with Congress to secure legislative approval. He did not tell the American people about his decision — or ask them for their support. He simply decided that he did not like the existing law, and then chose to work around it.

By unwinding our nation's welfare-to-work requirements, the Obama administration is making a tragic mistake. Millions have benefited from this bipartisan reform. And while the Obama administration has given no indication that it will reverse this decision, this November voters will have a chance to elect someone who will.

When he was governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney was a strong proponent of welfare reform and fought hard to ensure it was implemented in accordance with federal guidelines. He understands that linking welfare to work reflected our country's most important principles and that the dream of overcoming hardship — and moving from government dependence to economic independence — is one that America must never turn away from.

This is yet another example of the very clear choice that Americans have before them in the coming election: a choice between President Obama's old-school liberal policies and government handouts, and Governor Romney's vision of increased economic freedom and opportunity.

What President Obama does not understand is that we don't want handouts — nor do we want to go back to the failed policies of the past. Instead, we want a president who can deliver an economic recovery, and the employment opportunities that so many of our fellow Americans still need. We want a president who will make sure our dreams of economic success can be realized. Those dreams are what made America great, and Mitt Romney will make sure they remain within reach for future generations.

We have a chance this November to elect a president who understands that while tough times don't last, tough people do. And Americans are tough. We may be experiencing hard times, but we will bounce back. This is at the heart of what makes our country great — and what made welfare reform successful.

President Obama's welfare policy accepts that tough times are here to stay, and jobs will remain in short supply. But what our country is experiencing doesn't have to be permanent. If we elect Mitt Romney as our next President, we can usher in a new era of opportunity and prosperity.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Jaclyn Oakes ... Miss Augusta County Fair 2012

Jaclyn Oakes, who was the winner in Saturday's Miss Augusta County Fair pageant, will move on to the next level of competition at the Homestead in January. 

Jaclyn Oakes, 18, was crowned Saturday as the new Miss Augusta County Fair. A 2012 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton and the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School in Fishersville, she will be attending Randolph-Macon College this fall.

Jaclyn is the daughter of Kenneth and Andrea Oakes of Staunton.

George Allen: 'Where Does Tim Kaine Stand on Democrats’ Military Voting Days Lawsuit? '

On Monday, George Allen issued the following statement regarding the Democrats’ decision to sue the state of Ohio for accommodating service members attempting to vote.

“Virginia and all States should be commended for facilitating voting by our military personnel who protect our freedom. It is blatantly egregious for President Obama’s campaign and the highly-partisan Democratic National Committee (DNC) to challenge Ohio’s accommodation for service members voting. Tim Kaine was handpicked to lead the DNC until he declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. He should tell his successor to immediately drop this lawsuit.”

George Allen for U.S. Senate

Mom's birthday: Celebrating a life of achievement

Sunday afternoon was a gathering of our family at my sister's house in Midlothian to celebrate that special day with my mom who was the youngest of ten children, born during the Great Depression, and attended high school during World War II. The sole survivor of her siblings, she reached a milestone birthday surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family members.In a festive atmosphere of balloons and crepe paper, photos were displayed around the house from years past, and that included Mom's high school diploma from Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County.

A special pin for a special birthday girl.

SWAC Niece took the decorating outdoors to the front sidewalk to welcome "Granny" as she approached the door for her surprise party. The surprise was executed well ... Mom had no idea anything was up until we pulled in the driveway and she saw all the familiar vehicles and personalized license plates.

This is a photo of my parents on their first date taken at Maymont Park in 1947. Years later, my friends and I would spend Sunday afternoons in Maymont, walking the footsteps that my parents had left years earlier when they were the same age.

Mom was thrilled at the photos that were given to her, a reminder of a life lived to the fullest during years of challenge.

These were photos from her working girl days in downtown Richmond when she worked for the State Corporation Commission and for one of the judges. Later she became a woman in a man's world as she achieved success and awards in the sales and marketing community of Richmond in the 1960s and 1970s, breaking through the glass ceiling where women had not previously participated.

Because Mom grew up during the war, she learned that almost anything could be accomplished if willing to work hard enough for it. She instilled in my two sisters and me a work ethic that propelled us to achieve all we could. She taught us to work hard, and that any job worth doing was worth doing 150%. Her advice when I entered the ranks of the working was to learn all I could about every job situation and, if I completed a task, help someone with theirs because it would teach me a new skill.

Photo circa 1990 of the surviving siblings at that time. All are now gone except my mom. Her brother Clarence was killed in Europe during World War II, and brother Walter passed away twenty years before this photo was taken at my cousin Bobby Waldrop's estate on the James River (later sold to Jimmy Dean).

It was an old fashioned ice cream social complete with all the fixings along with a barbershop quartet that stopped by to entertain with songs of the era.

Flowers ... lots of flowers for the birthday girl.

... and that was the look of surprise when Mom saw so many familiar faces.

My Texas sister and her husband -- the nuts! -- joined us by Skype from Houston. Mom was shocked to see them on the computer screen ... how technology has changed over the years.

So, as Mom would say, there's more than one way to skin a cat. To get a photo with her middle daughter, she posed with the monitor ...

... and then they had a chance to visit face-to-face. The afternoon was fun and heart-warming as the house rocked with laughter and music. My youngest sister and SWAC Niece did a great job and, amazingly, the surprise birthday party was, indeed, a surprise.
Happy birthday, Mom!

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell & SWAC Daughter
August 5, 2012

Back in the homeschool classroom: How to begin ... what you really need to know

Are you thinking about homeschooling?

Get your questions answered and use the information from this seminar on Thursday, August 16, to prepare for a successful homeschool experience! Maximize your success with practical ideas from Yvonne Bunn, a veteran homeschool mom who has helped thousands of families begin homeschooling.

This informative seminar will help you focus on the things you really need to know for a successful homeschool year, including how to prepare, the ins and outs of the Virginia law, testing and evaluation options, how to choose curriculum, how to teach several levels at once, how to get the support you need, where to find the best resources, some things to avoid, and some secrets of success.

Date: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: HEAV Office and Resource Center, 2248-G Dabney Road, Richmond. Get directions.
Cost: $20/HEAV members; $25/non-members; spouses are free, as always.
Childcare: Not available
Pre-registration: Register by calling the HEAV office at 804-278-9200. We accept Visa or MasterCard. Registration is available at the door, but pre-registration will guarantee a seat and allow us to notify you of any schedule changes or space limitations.
Questions: Call 804-278-9200, or e-mail questions to info@heav.org.

George Allen: 'Defense cuts will devastate Virginia's economy'

George Allen has been traveling on the Virginia Voices tour and listening to families and small businesses crippled by Washington policies.

In a trip to First Line Technology in Chantilly, Allen heard from a small business directly impacted by impending Defense cuts that could cost Virginia over 200,000 jobs:

“The impending defense cuts are creating a lot of uncertainty in our industry, hindering our ability to plan, invest in new opportunities and hire more employees. We’re glad to hear from George Allen that he supports reversing these defense cuts to ensure that Virginians have the jobs to provide our military with the protections and tools they need.

“It gives you a much better context,” Mr. Allen said of the visit. “These are real people, creative small businesses, that are helping our troops, and could better help our troops that are being prevented from doing so because of the failures in Washington.”

George Allen for U.S. Senate

Karl Rove: Shifting of the electoral college map

Karl Rove has updated his Electoral College map -- check it out here -- and noted:

Each candidate saw three states change in his favor in the latest Electoral College map, with 2.3% movement in Barack Obama's direction and 5.3% in Mitt Romney's direction.

Romney gained ten "safe" EC votes as Missouri shifted from "toss-up" to "safe Romney" status, bringing his number to 111, while Obama's total fell fifteen points to 179 with New Mexico and Minnesota moving from "safe Obama" to "lean Obama." This is the lowest number of "safe" EC votes for Obama and the highest number for Romney since this map was first released in April.

There are nine states (101 EC votes) that "lean Obama" as Colorado, Michigan, and Ohio moved to "lean Obama" status, five states (71 EC votes) that "lean Romney," and six states (74 EC votes) that are "toss-ups."

However, it is important to remember that there are several reliable Republican states - South Carolina, Texas, South Dakota, Kentucky, and Tennessee - still labeled "toss-up" or "lean" due to lack of polling. If these states are included in Romney's total, which they inevitably will be, he actually beats Obama in the number of "safe" EC votes, 180 to 179.

Both candidates continue to poll neck-in-neck.

August's Blue Moon is last until 2015

If you look out the window tonight, you'll see a full moon in the sky, the first of two full moons for the month of August. The second will occur on August 31st.

In an unusual phenomenon, the second one is called a Blue Moon -- the name given to the second full moon in a month. The next time this happens will be in 2015 and, thus, the saying, "Once in a Blue Moon."

It should be beautiful watching the moon rise tonight over the Blue Ridge Mountains....

George Allen campaign announces three additional U.S. Senate debates

Henrico, VA – The George Allen for U.S. Senate campaign today announced a final agreement for three additional debates this fall with Democrat U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Kaine.  These debates will bring George Allen’s debate participation total to eight debates, including two previous debates with Tim Kaine and three previous GOP Primary debates. 

“George Allen has welcomed this election’s debate opportunities to contrast his vision and record with that of Tim Kaine,” said Mike Thomas, Campaign Manager for George Allen for U.S. Senate. “We are pleased to announce that George Allen will participate in three debates this fall for a total of eight debates this election. We are grateful to the debate hosts for their leadership in providing an opportunity for Virginians to hear directly from the U.S. Senate candidates. In these debates, Virginians will see a clear difference in George Allen’s record of less government, lower taxes and more jobs versus Tim Kaine’s record for more government, tax increases and fewer jobs in Virginia.”

The Allen and Kaine campaigns have reached agreements with three debate hosts for the following debates:

-          September 20, 2012

U.S. Senate Debate Hosted by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce

McLean, Virginia

-          October 8, 2012

U.S. Senate Debate Hosted by the AARP, League of Women Voters Virginia, WVCE Public Radio and WTVR CBS 6 TV

Richmond, Virginia

-          October 18, 2012

U.S. Senate Debate Hosted by WSLS NBC 10 TV and Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Additional debate details will be released by the debate hosts.

U.S. House schedule for Thursday, August 2, 2012

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2ND
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
First votes expected: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Last votes expected: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches (5 per side)

H.Res. __ - In the matter of allegations relating to Representative Laura Richardson (Privileged Resolution, One Hour of Debate) (Ethics Committee)

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2139 - Lions Club International Century of Service Commemorative Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Pete Roskam / Financial Services Committee)

2) H.R. 5986 - To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to extend the third-country fabric program and to add South Sudan to the list of countries eligible for designation under that Act, to make technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States relating to the textile and apparel rules of origin for the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, to approve the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee)

H.R. 6233 - Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012 (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate)
(Sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas / Agriculture Committee)

H.R. 6169 - Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act of 2012 (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. David Dreier / Rules Committee)

The rule provides for one hour of general debate, two hours of debate on the subject of reforming the tax code, and makes in order the following amendment:

Rep. Louise Slaughter Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (20 minutes of debate)

Postponed Vote on H.Con.Res. 127 - Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived (Suspension) (Sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono Mack / Energy and Commerce Committee)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power Hearing on “The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on Growing Differences for Energy Development on Federal vs. Non-Federal Lands” (Thursday, August 2nd, at 9:00 a.m.)

Chick-fil-A in Waynesboro CRUSHED with supporters

 It's Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and, from the looks of the lines at the Waynesboro location as well as reports from Chick-fi-A restaurants all around the Commonwealth and across the nation, it sounds like a success.

 I read there were protesters at some locations but that wasn't true in Waynesboro. In fact, we made it a point to tell them we were there to support them and they thanked us. Truth be told, Chick-fil-A has some of the friendliest, most courteous employees.

 Lunch. We stopped by at 11:00 to be ahead of what we knew would be a huge crowd because we live in the conservative Shenandoah Valley.

 Vehicles patiently waited in lines and in the parking lot, and everyone was courteous.

 After shopping at nearby Kohl's, Michael's, and Target, we checked back at the Chick-fil-A and found the lines wrapped around the building, out the side street and onto another side street, and backed up through the traffic light on Rt. 340.

I don't "do" boycotts. I still buy Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie frozen yogurt -- conservatives have been calling for boycotts of them for years -- even though I certainly don't agree with their liberal political viewpoints. On Tuesday I was enjoying a frappuccino at Starbucks.

However, Chick-fil-A has been a good steward in the communities where they are located and have helped raise money for charities, local schools, civic groups, and have given away so much food throughout the years that it's a wonder that they make any money at all. They are closed on Sundays to honor the day of rest as called for in the Bible, provide an excellent product for those who want chicken, have clean restaurants, courteous employees, and are family friendly.

In calling for a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee wrote on his Facebook page, "The goal is simple. Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1."

I was moved to participate because Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has a right to his opinion. He's a Christian, the predominant religion of the United States, and he practices the biblical views taught in Christianity. If we shut down his right to voice an opinion in this country, we may as well throw all our freedoms out the window.

I only hope the mainstream media covers this phenomenon that is occurring throughout America.

More coverage:

-  Hot Air: Rick Warren reports Chick-fil-A sets sales record on Wednesday
- Smitty at The Other McCain found lots of diners at his local Chick-fil-A
- Fellow blogger and attorney Ken Falkenstein offers rational thoughts
- Washington Examiner has 45 photos from across the country
- Wall Street Journal covers the First Amendment angle of this issue.
- Time weighs in on the controversy.
- ACLU defends Chick-fil-A
- Chicago citizens mob the Chick-fil-A.
- Donald Douglas has photos from the Irvine, California, Chick-fil-A on American Power.
- Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion has more photos.
- Lonely Conservative has photos
- Gateway Pundit has photos
- Hot Air
- PJ Media
- The Daily Caller
- The Weekly Standard 
- Fox News
- CNN offers First Amendment discussion
- Mark Holmberg, WTVR: 'Shut up Chick-fil-A?'

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 1, 2012