Thursday, July 31, 2008

A rainy day, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and roaming the back roads....

The Blue Ridge Parkway ... that was one of my destinations today. The weather forecast did not call for the drizzly rain that fell most of the day in the Valley and surrounding mountains. The original forecast for a hot 90 degrees and sunny materialized into a foggy, rainy day in the mid-70s ... perfect for a solo trek. I love rainy days even in the mountains, and I enjoy camping in the rain (minus young children who turn a cozy experience into a miserable expedition because they don't want to curl up with a book in the tent and listen to the rain).


Afton was straight ahead as I headed for the Blue Ridge on I-64....


The foggy view from Afton Mountain....

The foggy view of the Rockfish Valley from the Parkway....

It wasn't weather that blocked this view. Perhaps it's time for a "Rename the Sign" contest?

The Blue Ridge near Wintergreen with wisps of clouds....

One thing about a foggy day ... the deer will be out during the day and this was no exception. I saw a number of them along the way including this one drinking from a puddle. She paid me no mind ... looked up for a moment, then went back to drinking. I moved on.... I had turned off the Blue Ridge Parkway onto the Howardsville Turnpike (background), the highway that was used years ago to cross the mountains from the Shenandoah Valley to the Rockfish Valley. I was heading down that gravel roadway through the national forest to Sherando.


Back Creek follows Howardsville Turnpike down the mountain. In the background are the mountains where I was on the Parkway before heading downward to the Valley.

At the end of Howardsville Turnpike, I pulled into the church parking lot to look back at Humpback Rock and the Blue Ridge (background)....
It was a good day.

Photos by SWAC Girl

Near drowning at Waynesboro Moose Lodge

Two young brothers had a close call in the Waynesboro Moose Lodge pool on Wednesday but were pulled out and resuscitated by a babysitter. It is a reminder that the fun of summer can quickly turn to tragedy ... thankfully, this time that did not happen due to the quick action of bystanders. The Waynesboro News Virginian has the front page story.

Calling them on it....

"Middle-School Tactics For Me, But Not For Thee".... Thanks, James Young at Skeptical Observer, for succinctly expressing what I've wanted to say since this latest round of name-calling was started by the leftosphere....

Snake Oil for Sale!

Guest post by Jerome Walus
Augusta County, Virginia

Snake oil for sale! This is the elixir of life! It will cure any and all your ailments! I have traveled the world in search of miraculous cures and brought this elixir from the exotic forests of Indonesia where people use it to live 100 to 150 years while still retaining the looks of a 20 year old.

The elixir of life will grow back hair on bald scalps! It makes you feel young again! Apply to wrinkles and they magically disappear! I am the only one with this secret potion and if you act now I will throw in an extra bottle for the one low price of $19.95, but wait ...
I could go on and on and on. We have heard the pitch of false hope and promises before, and we hear it today on infomercials. This pitch of bait-and-hook has been around for as long as man has existed. We are now witnesses to a new, improved, modern medicine show and bait-and-hook is the major part of the act. This new snake oil salesman is selling himself as hope and change but who exactly is he and what changes will he make?

We know that he is a man who is a skilled lawyer. We know he is a polished orator. We know he dislikes free market and enterprise. We know he plans to financially punish employers with additional burdens. We also know he is a control freak. We know he once made his living from shaking down banks with lawsuits forcing bad housing loans to poorly informed people which in turn placed families in houses for which they could hardly make payments on even the interest.

Maybe he should be known as “Sub Prime Mortgage Man,” able to force banks to lend large amounts of money to those not ready for the mansion, those with a smaller house income, and those with little, no, or bad credit and thus set up people for failure or a federal bail out which only prolongs the failure.

We know he is planning to cut our wages through taxation. We know he plans to steal from the evil rich and give to the poor. (Side note: If you work, you are rich and evil.)

He plans to enact a third world government-run health care system where everyone will wait their turn and be told their condition is inoperable, not because it can’t be cured, but because someone younger bumps you out of line or you are not worth the cost of the treatment, similar to Canada.

We know that we already have a huge monetary burden taken from our gross pay for social security and we know there is no guarantee we will ever receive anything in return for our investment.

What makes anyone believe that our federal government, which misappropriates social security money, can manage health care?

I am convinced that every working person will have a payroll deduction from what is left of their current take-home pay to fund the free Government Health Care, and that the cost will be equal or greater to the deduction for FICA.

He says we do not need to increase the supply of fuel but, rather, that we Americans drive too much so he advocates a Federal tax on gasoline equal to that which the Europeans pay. He predicts it will push the price at the pump to well over $12 per gallon and will curtail our evil driving habits and, while he did not say it that way, that is the way it comes across.

We know he has a disdain for our armed services and does not have a rational conception of evil. He and Neville Chamberlain would be giving each other accolades and high-fives for getting tyrants' agreements (fingers crossed behind their backs) that Adolf wouldn't aggress further and try world conquest. And when Mahmoud gets nuclear capabilities, he won’t nuke Israel, Europe or the USA no matter how many times he proclaims it publicly.

In an earlier age these traveling show salesmen were known as flim-flam men and snake oil salesmen. A few years back they were known as shake-down artists and con men.

Today he is known as Obama -- and about that hope? He hopes you can afford him.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Global warming is a hoax....

From the "Global Warming is a hoax" category comes Global warming and the faith of the brainwashed:
I probably have significantly punier scientific knowledge than Al Gore, but it is fairly obvious that Gore’s entire premise for his misleading documentary, that we are causing global warming, is questionable at best, and most likely false.

What is truly upsetting about all of this is not that so many of us were duped. It’s that so many of us are still duped.
Nathaniel Shockley's piece on Icecap dashes global warming myths. He says:
Still convinced that “the entire global scientific community has a consensus on the question that human beings are responsible for global warming,” like Al Gore purported?

Please.
Read the rest here. And be sure to check into Icecap's website on a regular basis to read about global cooling, Alaska's possibly coldest summer on records, ice caps growing, and more. Read it to expand your mind ... if you dare....

My laugh of the day....

From Ben Tribbett's "Not Larry Sabato" blog....
Barack Obama is in Union, Missouri - very close to Kaine's hometown.

Kaine cancelled an appearance in Baltimore tonight with no reason given.

DON'T DO IT BARACK
NLS was for Hillary before she lost out to Obama. There is disunity on both sides of the aisle, and Tim Kaine has certainly caught his fair share of flack from NLS and RK. This is further proof....

Thanks for the laugh, Ben.

German home school parents sentenced to 3 mos in jail ... for teaching their kids

Their crime? They were parents who educated their children at home ... who cared too much about their children's education ... hands-on parents participating in building a strong foundation for their children.

Their punishment? Three months in jail, according to German authorities. World Net Daily reported:

A newspaper reporter in Hesse, Harald Sagawe, said the parents previously paid fines because "they did not send their children to school, for religious reasons."

He continued, "The parents, Christians who closely follow the Bible, teach their children themselves. Two years ago the court had also dealt with the Dudeks. That case, dealing with the payment of a fine, had been dropped."

Judge Peter Hobbel, who imposed the fines, criticized school officials for refusing to answer the family's request for approval of their "private school."

But Arno Meissner, the chief of the government's local education department, said he would enforce the mandatory school attendance law against the family, and he said he resented the judge's interference.
[emphasis added]
The education department apparently has no interest in offering an opportunity for parents to educate their children at home, thereby leaving no avenue other than to break away and disobey the law for those who do not agree with the state government-run schools.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) out of Purcellville, VA, has followed this case from the beginning:
Unfortunately, it appears that the issue for this German judge, and too many others, is less about academic preparation and respecting the rights of parents and the family and more about asserting its autocratic will on families who wish to educate their children at home in accordance with their conscience.

After reading the judges’s opinion, Mr. Dudek [the home school parent] said that he couldn’t believe the hardline totalitarianism it represented. Mr. Dudek reported that this judge referred to the infamous Konrad case decided by the German high court in 2006 that said that homeschooling could not be allowed because it would lead to the creation of “parallel societies.”
World Net Daily also notes:
Practical Homeschool Magazine has noted one of the first acts by Hitler when he moved into power was to create the governmental Ministry of Education and give it control of all schools and school-related issues.

In 1937, the dictator said, "The youth of today is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of this community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Reich stands, and it is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this new Reich will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education and its own upbringing."
Even the family's plans to move from the area will not prevent prosecution, according to the German government. Reportedly:
HSLDA [Home School Legal Defense Association] officials estimate there are some 400 homeschool families in Germany, virtually all of them either forced into hiding or facing court actions.

Just weeks ago, WND reported the Dudeks warned about a new German federal law that
also gives family courts the authority to take custody of children "as soon as there is a suspicion of child abuse," which is how the nation's courts have defined homeschooling.
An outpouring of support and encouragement for the Dudek family has come from around the world. Hitler? Government interference with families? And to think there are some who believe America should be more like Europe....

Today - Jim Gilmore in Charlottesville

U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore will be in Charlottesville today, Wednesday, July 30, at 2:45 p.m. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and welcome our Republican candidate.

Sam's Kitchen is located at 1403 Emmett Street (just south of the Rt. 250 bypass across from Bodo's). Drop by or, if you know you can make it, give a shout to Debbie.

Cross-posted at Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore

Olympics: "Let the censoring begin!"

China and the Olympics ... an oxymoron? It would have seemed so ... until the Games were awarded to China. Now we will see how that secretive country handles the world coming to its soil.

Immediately out of the gate it does not look promising. Media are going to be limited in their internet access by Chinese officials during the Olympics, according to Breitbart.com, who reported:
China will censor the Internet used by foreign media during the Olympics, an organising committee official confirmed Wednesday, reversing a pledge to offer complete media freedom at the games.

"During the Olympic Games we will provide sufficient access to the Internet for reporters," said Sun Weide, spokesman for the organising committee.
[emphasis added]
With the Chinese government censoring unspecified websites, it could be a clash of the West meeting the East ... the Western journalists who are used to having most everything their way ... and the Chinese government that is used to having most everything its way.

"Let the censoring begin!" The fun starts 8-8-08.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Why?

I have not been able to write today ... my mind has been somewhere else ... and it's like a roadblock and probably will be there until I get it out. A cloud of sadness hangs over me ... it has colored my day and mood ... and it all has to do with shocking news that was passed on in a phone call from my mom.

One of the children living in the house next door when I was growing up had passed away. The shocking news was that it was at her own hand.

Flashback:When I was 11 years old, we moved next door to a family that had three boys (my family had three girls so that made for some jokes). One of the boys was my age; one was older, one younger.

A few years after we moved there, the family adopted the most precious little baby girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes ... and she captured my heart immediately. For someone who loved children and always gravitated to them, this new baby was right there next door and I was allowed to see her anytime I wanted. I was her babysitter ... and her mother laughed one time when I was grown remembering how I used to go to their door and pretty much say, "Can she come out to play?" That was not exactly how it went ... but it said how much that little girl meant to me.

When I married, that adorable six-year-old was my flower girl. Photos show her standing with the other attendants with her little velvet dress and flower basket. I moved away to my own house and went on with my life. She did, too, growing into an attractive young lady whom I would see occasionally when I visited my parents. When my folks moved to another neighborhood, I didn't see her for a while ...

... until she was 23. We saw each other under sad circumstances when her older brother, the one who was my age, was killed in an automobile accident. He and I were both 39 at the time and he was the first childhood friend to die who had been that close to me. At the funeral, there she was, still adorably cute as a young lady, mourning the loss of her brother. I hugged her.

Even though I saw her mother occasionally in the following years, I was living out of state and I never saw her again. Our mothers have stayed in touch over the years.

Last night's phone call rocked my world and opened my mind to a myriad of questions ... why? What would make a young, healthy 41-year-old, at the peak of her life, take that life? How do you make that decision and not turn back? Or maybe she tried to turn back ... but it was too late?

The questions continue today even as the memories of that little brown-eyed child flood my mind. Family friends know the details ... but that only causes more questions.

Why?

Washington Post: "Who is Obama?" ... the unknown, untested candidate

Richard Cohen writes in the Washington Post about "Obama the Unknown":
"Just tell me one thing Barack Obama has done that you admire," I asked a prominent Democrat. He paused and then said that he admired Obama's speech to the Democratic convention in 2004.

I agreed. It was a hell of a speech, but it was just a speech. On the other hand, I continued, I could cite four or five actions -- not speeches -- that John McCain has taken that elicit my admiration, even my awe.

First, of course, is his decision as a Vietnam prisoner of war to refuse freedom out of concern that he would be exploited for propaganda purposes. To paraphrase what Kipling said about Gunga Din, John McCain is a better man than most.
Read more....

Roanoke region GOP headquarters opens

The Roanoke region Republican headquarters opened yesterday with Congressman Bob Goodlatte and other GOP electeds representatives there to kick off the campaign season. The Roanoke Times has more.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Do you think Denver is regretting DNC Convention yet?

The Rocky Mountain News is reporting (by way of the Drudge Report) that upwards of 50,000 protesters are looking to "camp out" in the parks around the convention center. The mayor has said no.

First thing I think of with that many people: sanitation. Ugh. Denver would be a sewer.

Second thing: security.

Not only did the mayor say "no" to camping but added that if crowds were not out of the parks by the 11:00 p.m. curfew, the city may turn on the sprinklers.

With all the radical protesters threatening to make this a remake of the summer of 1968 when riots broke out during the Democrat Convention in Chicago, it makes me wonder if Denver is questioning their decision as the site of the DNC Convention....

Kewl ... Cuil, that is

Two of Google's brainiacs broke away and formed "Cuil" (pronounced "cool"). Will they be able to give Google a run for its money? I played around with it for a while to see what would come up and how fast. Different format ... I liked it ... it could work. Wonder if they would leave their political prejudices out of it....

H/T Barticles

Citizen Tom has the complete skinny on Gilmore-Warner

Wow. Citizen Tom delves into the 2008 U.S. Senate race with this indepth post comparing all things Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner.

Mr. McGregor's garden, Peter Rabbit, and SWAC Husband's garden

I grew up on Beatrix Potter tales and especially loved Peter Rabbit. As a small child, I sat wide-eyed listening to my mother read about all the characters that Miss Potter brought to life in the miniature children's books full of colorful illustrations. My imagination worked overtime as I heard the opening lines of the Peter Rabbit story:
ONCE upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.
I would get lost in all things Beatrix Potter. While Peter's sisters were good and went hunting blackberries, Peter went straight to Mr. McGregor's garden where he had been warned to stay away from, and got into all kinds of mischief. The illustration that stands out to me the most of Miss Potter's drawings is the one of Peter slipping under the fence (above).

Yesterday, the story of Peter Rabbit's trials and tribulations in Mr. McGregor's garden came back to me.

SWAC Husband had put up a wire fence around the garden, as he does each year, to prevent as many critters as possible from partaking of the goodies growing there. It is impossible to keep everything out ... but it helps to limit some of the wildlife we have here in western Augusta County.

When SWAC Husband went out to look over the garden yesterday, a baby rabbit was sitting squarely in the middle of the squash plants. Well ... he used to be a baby and was able to easily slip in and out of the wire fence ... but he is about half grown now. When SWAC Husband gave chase, the bunny took off for the fence and got stuck, squirming to make his hind quarters squeeze through before making his escape.

And that was where the tale of Peter Rabbit popped into my brain. I laughed and called SWAC Husband "Mr. McGregor" all afternoon because he had chased Peter out of the garden and, if that bunny had been wearing a blue jacket, as Peter did in the fairy tale, its buttons would have been caught on the wire fence and the jacket surely would have been left behind.

Perhaps that is why I so enjoyed the charming movie, "Miss Potter," the story of Beatrix Potter's life that intertwined the creatures around her as animated figments of her imagination. Miss Potter's world was brought to life in the biographical film.

Peter, that naughty rabbit, in my garden helping himself to the squash ... I smile even as I think of it....

SWAC-GOP volunteers for summer activities

The SWAC area Republican volunteers have been busy this summer with candidate appearances and events throughout the central Shenandoah Valley. Representing Presidential candidate John McCain, U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gilmore, and local congressmen including Bob Goodlatte, we have distributed yard signs, bumper stickers, information, and answered questions of voters.

4th of July: Alex Davis forwarded the names of those who worked the 4th of July Republican booth in Staunton and the GOP float. Over 50 Republicans were involved from Staunton and Augusta County.

Win the War Signs: In an impromptu sign-up for Win the War signs (because there are none currently available), another 25 people from the community left their names and contact information. The signs were on the GOP float, and two were given to local Army Reservists who had been looking for them. Part of the activity was stirred on by a letter in the Staunton newspaper on July 4th questioning what else those who had Win the War signs and bumper stickers were doing for the soldiers. As most people in this area know, there is much that is being done for our military members and their families.

Churchville Fireman's Parade: At the Churchville Fireman's parade on July 19, Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Del. Chris Saxman were part of the Republican float, and they were joined by 25 others who walked, rode, handed out candy and Goodlatte balloons, and generally showed a great GOP presence in the District.

Bridgewater Fireman's Parade: Again, Congressman Goodlatte and Del. Saxman were on hand for the Bridgewater parade on July 18. A great response from the local Republicans made for a great evening.

McGaheysville Fireman's Parade: Friday's McGaheysville parade had Republicans Bob Goodlatte and Del. Steve Landes as well as GOP volunteers again handing out candy and balloons to the crowd.

The Bergton Lawn Days Festival is later this week with Republican volunteers already lined up to help.

Upcoming events include the Augusta County Fair (Aug. 5-9), Rockingham County Fair (Aug. 11-16), Green County Fair (Aug. 12-16), and fall festivals that will start up in September.

We are looking forward to an exciting and busy August and fall campaign season.

Anchorage, Alaska ... coldest summer ever?

Global warming? Heh.

Back in the 1960s Anchorage had a "green" winter when the temps stayed warm and prevented much snow. Global warming? No, just climate changes.

Fast forward to the summer of 2008 and Anchorage has been under clouds and cool temperatures most of June and July. According the the Anchorage Daily News, this has been a right nippy summer.

The global warming fanatics haven't given up hope, however, claiming that this is just part of "global warming."

This ties in with something I read on Jerry's "From On High" blog this morning. There are a growing number of scientists worldwide who believe we are entering a 30-year cooling cycle for earth, not warming, according to an article in Forbes magazine.

In our short amount of recorded weather history, do scientists really think they know what the earth's climate will do next?

Obama apologizes for U.S. in Germany

Barack Obama's tour of the Middle East and Europe continues to fuel debate. The three major network anchors traveled with him, an event that is practically unknown in journalism circles.

Many have joined in the discussion including News Max. In their look back at Obama's trip, they noted his appearance in Germany, writing:
Obama told his German audience he was sorry about his country because “I know my country has not perfected itself.” [This comment was made in the former seat of Nazi power. A letter to editor published in Obama’s hometown Chicago Tribune noted the irony: “While America may not be perfect, there is no reason to apologize to the Germans, architects of the Holocaust.”]

As for America’s role in saving Germany from the onslaught of Stalinist communism and the subsequent Cold War, there was nothing.

There was a rhetorical flourish about the Berlin Wall coming down, but nothing about the great American sacrifice, not to mention how our military might made President Reagan’s call -- “Tear down this wall, Mr. Gorbachev” -- a reality.
There will probably be more commentary from others in the days ahead.

NY Gathering of Eagles moonbat alert - recruiting station attack

From Dan Maloney, State Coordinator, NY Gathering of Eagles....

Fighting the Insurgency at Home ... Action Alert
Major Hardcore Insurgent Street Protest at Times Square Recruiting Station!

The hardcore domestic insurgents are planning a rally outside the Recruiting Station at Times Square on Saturday, August 2nd at High Noon. They are putting out the word to bring their lemmings and stooges in from all the surrounding areas. Early estimates are that they will be able to have a turnout in the neighborhood of 2-3,000 at this event. We need a strong turnout to prevent the radicals from damaging the station or claiming to have shut it down.

We will arrive before the moonbats at 11:00 am to secure the area.

Where: Armed Forces Recruiting Station, Times Square. West 43rd St and Broadway.

Maplink: http://tinyurl.com/58gnz4

When: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

The insurgent theme for this event is "Stop War On Iran" with red octagonal shaped images on their signs. If you have the time to make up signs we suggest a "GO Victory" or "GO Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force" theme. Use the color green as much as possible. Use your creativity to come up with other patriotic statements on road sign themes. Possibilities include Stop Treason, Stop Domestic Insurgency, Yield to Victory, etc... Try to keep sign messages short and to the point to be more effective.

The link to the insurgent website is here.Check their listing for local actions for New York or other state in case they are planning an action in your city or town.

Bring friends, fellow patriots and American flags to show the radicals they are not welcome at the Times Square Recruiting Station. If you are coming to Times Square, do not bring any wooden or metal flagpoles. They are not permitted. Get a five to ten foot length of 1" PVC pipe to serve as a flagpole and use plastic tie wraps to secure your flag to the pole.

Monitor the New York Gathering of Eagles website for updates.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

NY Gathering of Eagles moonbat alert - recruiting station on Aug. 2

From Dan Maloney, State Coordinator, NY Gathering of Eagles....

Fighting the Insurgency at Home ... Action Alert
Major Hardcore Insurgent Street Protest at Times Square Recruiting Station!

The hardcore domestic insurgents are planning a rally outside the Recruiting Station at Times Square on Saturday, August 2nd at High Noon. They are putting out the word to bring their lemmings and stooges in from all the surrounding areas. Early estimates are that they will be able to have a turnout in the neighborhood of 2-3,000 at this event. We need a strong turnout to prevent the radicals from damaging the station or claiming to have shut it down.

We will arrive before the moonbats at 11:00 am to secure the area.

Where: Armed Forces Recruiting Station, Times Square. West 43rd St and Broadway.

Maplink: http://tinyurl.com/58gnz4

When: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

The insurgent theme for this event is "Stop War On Iran" with red octagonal shaped images on their signs. If you have the time to make up signs we suggest a "GO Victory" or "GO Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force" theme. Use the color green as much as possible. Use your creativity to come up with other patriotic statements on road sign themes. Possibilities include Stop Treason, Stop Domestic Insurgency, Yield to Victory, etc... Try to keep sign messages short and to the point to be more effective.

The link to the insurgent website is here.Check their listing for local actions for New York or other state in case they are planning an action in your city or town.

Bring friends, fellow patriots and American flags to show the radicals they are not welcome at the Times Square Recruiting Station. If you are coming to Times Square, do not bring any wooden or metal flagpoles. They are not permitted. Get a five to ten foot length of 1" PVC pipe to serve as a flagpole and use plastic tie wraps to secure your flag to the pole.

Monitor the New York Gathering of Eagles website for updates.

Batman ... Bush ... and other principled leaders?

Both my kids saw the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," on opening night, and they loved it. On Friday, Rush was talking about the article by Andrew Klavan in the Wall Street Journal that compared Batman with George W. Bush, both going to the defense of a people in need.

I asked my kids if the movie seemed to be a conservative message and if they could see a comparison with the President. They both agreed with Mr. Klavan's conclusions:
There seems to me no question that the Batman film "The Dark Knight," currently breaking every box office record in history, is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war. Like W, Batman is vilified and despised for confronting terrorists in the only terms they understand. Like W, Batman sometimes has to push the boundaries of civil rights to deal with an emergency, certain that he will re-establish those boundaries when the emergency is past.
Batman is a box office hit right out of the gate and is generating talk nationwide especially among the young 20- and 30-somethings. Hollywood flops when it makes anti-moral/anti-America movies ... conservatives flock to theaters when offered movies of hope and moral clarity with good winning over evil. Klavan asks:
Why is it then that left-wingers feel free to make their films direct and realistic, whereas Hollywood conservatives have to put on a mask in order to speak what they know to be the truth? Why is it, indeed, that the conservative values that power our defense -- values like morality, faith, self-sacrifice and the nobility of fighting for the right -- only appear in fantasy or comic-inspired films like "300," "Lord of the Rings," "Narnia," "Spiderman 3" and now "The Dark Knight"?
...
Doing what's right is hard, and speaking the truth is dangerous. Many have been abhorred for it, some killed, one crucified.
When we find someone, even within our ranks, who holds a moral compass that points to right over wrong, they are often vilified much as the President has been vilified for doing what he knows is right to preserve the freedoms and, indeed, the very lives of the citizens in the country he loves.
The true complexity arises when we must defend these values in a world that does not universally embrace them -- when we reach the place where we must be intolerant in order to defend tolerance, or unkind in order to defend kindness, or hateful in order to defend what we love.

When heroes arise who take those difficult duties on themselves, it is tempting for the rest of us to turn our backs on them, to vilify them in order to protect our own appearance of righteousness.
Mr. Klavan draws the following conclusion that closes his WSJ piece:
... when our artistic community is ready to show that sometimes men must kill in order to preserve life; that sometimes they must violate their values in order to maintain those values; and that while movie stars may strut in the bright light of our adulation for pretending to be heroes, true heroes often must slink in the shadows, slump-shouldered and despised -- then and only then will we be able to pay President Bush his due and make good and true films about the war on terror.
Maybe not heroes ... but we have knights amongst us who take up the pathway of morality and principles, and who face ridicule and contempt by those who do not understand....

Preparations continue for 2008 Republican National Convention

St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center is in the process of being transformed for the 2008 Republican National Convention in five weeks. At that time, John McCain is expected to be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, and President George W. Bush will be in attendance. It is building up to be an exciting week for GOP delegates from around the country.

In the latest press release, updated plans were revealed:

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The 2008 Republican National Convention today released a behind-the-scenes, time lapse video of the ongoing transformation of the Xcel Energy Center into the podium for the Republican Party's nomination of Sen. John McCain. In the week since work began at the venue, workers have removed 3,000 seats, built workspace for staff and media, and began technological enhancements needed to support the 45,000 participants expected. We invite you to view our progress by clicking here.

Stay tuned! The 2008 Republican National Convention plans to release a new video each Sunday, so that all can follow along with the six-week transformation.

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event.

For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website and join our social network sites on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Only five weeks to go....

Augusta Government Center landscaping

While at the Government Center for a meeting this week, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful blooming annuals in front of where I parked. Amongst the concrete and blacktop, the greenery and color of the annuals help break up the industrial feel of what used to be a truck terminal.

Photo by SWAC Girl

Why did Obama cancel his visit to wounded troops?

The debate continues after Barack Obama canceled a planned visit to wounded troops when it was disclosed he could not take cameras, reporters, and a platoon of campaign people in with him ... in other words, it would not be made into a campaign stop. As the leftie bloggers try to spin it into the President's fault and anyone else they can blame, the debate continues.

Check this out from ABC News:
I asked him to explain the controversy about his canceled trip to visit with wounded troops at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. … "So rather than go forward and potentially get caught up in what might have been considered a political controversy of some sort," Obama said, "what we decided was that we not make a visit and instead I would call some of the troops that were there. So that essentially would be the extent of the story."
Read the entire article and the comments below. To be continued....

Saturday, July 26, 2008

2008 Republican National Convention block schedule

As we approach the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, more and more information is being forwarded to the delegates.

Maria Cino is the Chief Executive Officer and President for the convention ... in other words, she's running the show ... which means the convention is in good hands.

I first met Maria during the Bush for President campaign in February 2000 when she and her crew from Austin, including my sister, came into Richmond 10 days out from the primary and set up shop at GOP headquarters.

Maria never let up. She was in charge of the whole operation and she worked harder than anyone else. I particularly remember the cell phone seeming to be permanently attached to her ear as she pulled it all together. She and my sister were role models in how to put your nose to the grindstone to work these campaigns ... it is a lesson I have never forgotten.

For that campaign, my Bush-employed sister had called me back home to Richmond from Augusta County, and she had pulled in my Chesterfield sister, and the three of us worked that campaign 12 hours a day for 10 days until the job was done. George W. Bush won, they moved on to the next primary state, and I came back to Augusta County to work the campaign from this end. I've been at it ever since.

I saw Maria again at the GOP Convention in Philly that summer of 2000 where George W. Bush became the Republican candidate for president. My mom, both sisters, and I were there to witness it all. What a wonderful opportunity it was to watch history in action.

I haven't seen Maria since but have kept up with her accomplishments through my Texas sister. I hope to say "hello" while in St. Paul.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Maria Cino, Chief Executive Officer and President for the 2008 Republican National Convention, today announced the program block schedule for the upcoming Republican National Convention. The program blocks are as follows:

Monday, September 1: 2:30 - 10:00 p.m. CDT*
Tuesday, September 2: 6:20 - 10:05 p.m. CDT
Wednesday, September 3: 6:20 - 11:20 p.m. CDT
Thursday, September 4: 6:20 - 10:15 p.m. CDT
*Note: there will be a 30-minute break at 6:30 p.m. CDT

"We are pleased to announce the official block schedule for the 2008 Republican National Convention and are confident this year’s compelling program will be one of the most exciting in GOP convention history," said Cino. "The convention will showcase Sen. John McCain and his vision for America to the 45,000 convention participants joining us from around the country and the millions more participating from home."

About the Republican National Convention
The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event.

For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website and join our social network sites on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, here we come! Only five weeks to go....

Obama backs a military surge in Afghanistan

"Oddly enough, my opponent advocates the deployment of two new combat brigades to Afghanistan -- in other words, a surge. We're left to wonder how he can deny that the surge in Iraq has succeeded, while at the same time announcing that a surge is just what we need in Afghanistan. I'll leave all these questions for my opponent and his team of 300 foreign policy advisors to work out for themselves. With luck, they'll get their story straight by the time the Obama campaign returns to North America."

- John McCain (on Obama's trip to Afghanistan - listen to audio version)

Bibeau has the in-depth report on Cuccinelli's visit

Jason Bibeau over at the Augusta Water Cooler has an indepth report on Republican Sen. Ken Cuccinelli's stop in the SWAC area last week. Senator Cuccinelli is running for Attorney General in 2009 so, in his I-81 travels, he stopped in to meet new faces and visit with those he already knew. He is well respected in this area for his conservative stand and his willingness to stand up to his own Republican counterparts in Richmond when he does not agree with them. Check out Jason's update.

Obama: No camera allowed? No visit with troops....

From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube...
A U.S. military official tells NBC News they were making preparations for Sen. Barack Obama to visit wounded troops at the Landstuhl Medical Center at Ramstein, Germany on Friday, but "for some reason the visit was called off."

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama's representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition,
"Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama's visit."

The official said "We didn't know why" the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. "He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him."
The Bush administration had nothing to do with it, as was claimed by RD, but the lefties will continue to push whatever version of the story they want to tell....

Get that foot healed, Trixie ... there's GOP work to do!

Everyone's favorite Valley Republican activist came back from vacation in July with an unusual remembrance of her trip ... a broken foot. Now, some may think Trixie Averill accidentally broke her foot ... but I have another theory.

I think she wanted to extend her vacation.

Instead of driving up and down I-81 to every fair, lawn party, and parade during the summer madness of campaigning, she has been behind her keyboard with her foot propped up in the air-conditioned comfort of her home. With the "kids" yapping around her, she has enjoyed the luxury of being home instead of sweating in the 90-plus degree heat walking behind a candidate's float....

Yard signs? "I can't go out out."

Campaign lit? "I can't drive."

Parade? "I can't walk."

Hmm.....

I'm kidding, of course ... because Trixie, one of the hardest working Republicans in the Valley and the Republican Party of Virginia's Western Vice-Chairwoman, is about to go stir-crazy with that broken foot that has kept her from driving or running around doing all the many things she does for the GOP. Her keyboard has been working overtime as she has continued getting information out from home ... but imagine if you were suddenly cut off from driving ... from extensive walking ... from being there for your GOP candidates?

Thankfully, the prognosis is good and she will be ready to go for the Republican Convention coming up in September in Minneapolis. Trixie Girl, we need you! And we're thinking of you!

Break a leg ... er, foot ... er, get well soon!

Valley Family Forum barbecue overlooking Massanutten

Lake Shenandoah and the Massanutten Mountain range were the perfect backdrop for Friday night's Valley Family Forum barbecue at the home of Dean and Janet Welty, the directors of that group. Sitting on their deck overlooking the lake and mountains on a pleasant Shenandoah Valley summer evening, this group of active conservatives ranging in age from teenagers through retired folks gathered for the 7th annual event to fellowship and discuss upcoming events for the year. Look for more good things to come out of the Valley Family Forum over the upcoming months....

Friday, July 25, 2008

McCain closes in on Obama in 4 battleground states

Republican John McCain has closed in on Democrat Barack Obama in four battleground states, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll. Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin show gains by John McCain.

Quinnipiac reported current and previous results:
Sen. McCain has picked up support in almost every group in every state, especially among independent voters and men voters. The Republican now leads Obama among independent voters in Michigan and Minnesota. Overall results show:

- Colorado: McCain is up by a nose 46 - 44 percent, compared to a 49 - 44 percent Obama lead June 26;
- Michigan: Obama tops McCain 46 - 42 percent, compared to a 48 - 42 percent lead last time;
- Minnesota: Obama edges ahead 46 - 44 percent, compared to a 54 - 37 percent Obama lead;
- Wisconsin: Obama leads McCain 50 - 39 percent, compared to 52 - 39 percent.
We are still in summer polls ... most Americans are not paying that much attention yet to the fall campaigns. It will be interesting to see how these numbers change over the next weeks but especially after the Republican Convention in September.

H/T GOP Rock

"He ventured forth to bring light to the world...."

Satire? Or what some believe?

Dems received thousands of $$$ in tax-free gasoline in Denver?

“The committee hosting the Democratic National Convention has used the city's gas pumps to fill up and apparently avoided paying state and federal fuel taxes. . . . Downs said the contract with the host committee started in March and that $9,700 in fuel and services had been purchased from the city so far."
The hypocrisy is amazing. Democrats, who are constantly calling for more taxes even in this time of high gasoline prices appear to have received thousands of dollars in tax-free gasoline while in Denver preparing for the August Democrat Convention, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

When the story got out, there were angry reactions from those in Denver government as well as nationwide. The Internal Revenue Service said non-profits were not exempt from paying state and federal taxes but they would not comment further to the press.

The RMN reported:
Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, said the city's arrangement with the DNC host committee was "appalling."

"I'm hoping this is not the first of many stories about how Colorado taxpayers are apparently subsidizing the Democratic convention," Wadhams said.
I am sure conservative bloggers in Colorado will be watching as preparations continue for the quickly-approaching Democrat Convention.

Let Freedom Ring Ad: "Both Ways Barack"

What do you get when a candidate agrees with both sides of an issue? Instead of a "flip-flopper," you end up with "Both Ways Barack."

The conservative group "Let Freedom Ring" has zeroed in on Obama's stand both for and against a variety of issues from gun control to the war in Iraq. The ad is currently playing locally in the Shenandoah Valley as well as on national media outlets such as MTV.

"Let Freedom Ring's" website described the ad:
The 30-second spot, now airing across several cable channels, including MTV, opens with a folksy-voiced narrator claiming, "People are saying that Senator Obama's recent changes of position have made him a flip-flopper." Newspaper headlines appear on the screen, stating, "Obama aide signals shift on Iraq troop withdrawal," "Shift on war hits Obama's liberal base, " "Obama's Enigma" and "Obama's Changes Raise Issue: Can You Believe Him?"

The question "Flip-Flopper?" flashes, and the narrator says, "He's not! Flip-floppers only hold one position at a time." An image of Obama pointing his finger is then transposed to the other side of the screen as the narrator adds, "Senator Obama is different: He holds two positions at the same time."

Using mirror images of Obama's head pointing in opposite directions, the ad then claims Obama has voted both for and against banning handguns, public campaign financing and withdrawing from Iraq. It cites sources including ABC News, the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. "He wants to have them all both ways," says the narrator. "He's 'Both Ways Barack' - worse than a flip-flopper!"
Flip-flopper? Or both-ways? It would be nice if the mainstream media put away their smelling salts and began to hold this candidate accountable.

H/T GOP Michelangelo

Shenandoah Valley McCain leadership team announced

The Harrisonburg Daily News Record announced the John McCain for President leadership team for the Shenandoah Valley. Headquarters will be opening in the areas, beginning with Roanoke City on Monday, and local headquarters opening in August. Shirt sleeves are being rolled up to get to work....

Passages....

A friend in her mid-30s celebrated her birthday Thursday ... she was talking with me a few days ago about growing older. I told her she should never regret growing older .. just think of the alternative.

A neighbor in her mid-40s passed away earlier this week of a brain tumor, something she had struggled with for a few years. How sad for her family ... she was taken away far too soon. Celebrate life....

Name-calling by liberals....

I have been browsing the Minnesota Blog Net News headlines recently to get a feel for the blogosphere where the Republican National Convention is going to be held in September.

One of the "most clicked" posts today was titled "Woo-Hoo! I'm # 1!!" It was from a conservative blog called Shot in the Dark who was commenting on being this week's #1 most influential blog on BNN/Minnesota.

Noting that he had been called names by the lefty bloggers, he offered some words of advice to other conservative bloggers which I found amusing and oh-so-true for our part of the blogosphere, too:
(Note to new conservative bloggers: when they call you “ridiculous,” “thin-skinned,” or worse, it’s because they’ve bounced all their intellectual checks, and are digging for rhetorical change under bus seats.)

The mission is proceeding according to plan.
This guy has a sense of humor that weaves throughout his posts ... but I also found his profile of interest because he expressed what many of us say about why we're in the blood sport of politics:
... if we forget our history, we might not live to repeat it. My kids and I - they’re why I’m out there doing my little bit to try to change this culture (and Party) for the better, so they have a country worth living in someday. And the flag.
Those were thoughts I certainly identified with from Shot in the Dark's Mitch Berg of Minnesota. I'm looking forward to being in his part of the world in five weeks.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Augusta BOS meeting ... fireworks between supervisors

Wednesday night's Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting had a moment when there was an exchange of terse words between Chairman David Beyeler and Vice Chairman Tracy Pyles. The firewords were not unexpected but this particular heated exchange was not where the fireworks had been expected to come from.

Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles, who had questioned the budget for a proposed road plan in a development hoping to locate in Fishersville, mentioned several times that he was not allowed to speak at Monday's staff briefing. He reiterated it throughout his presentation and, when he finished his presentation, Mr. Beyeler, with voice shaking, informed him that there was something introduced about the development a month earlier that Mr. Pyles had missed, and when supervisors went to "view" the project Mr. Pyles was not there, and he testily said, "I don't want to hear it." Mr. Pyles and Mr. Beyeler then went back and forth with Mr. Pyles adding that he was not allowed to speak, and his fellow Board of Supervisor members did not speak up for him ... they did not stand up for his right to speak. Whew! It was refreshingly not boring!

But before all that occurred, Mr. Pyles accused the other board members of trying to rush the project, saying it was on a fast track when it was presented with only two days notice and no time to look over the multiple-paged proposal, study facts and figures, or delve into costs. He said there was no opportunity to vet the numbers with outside sources because they had been accepted by the other members of the Board of Supervisors, and argued there were steps to go through before spending the taxpayers' money ... qualifications that must be accounted for.

This is not the first time Mr. Pyles has rocked the boat. As reported by Bob Stuart in the Waynesboro News Virginian:

... supervisors overwhelmingly agreed that the road, a half-mile portion of Route 636, was needed.

The road would serve as an eventual connector between U.S. 250 and Augusta Medical Center.

Supervisors also agreed that Crescent’s 420-unit project of townhouses, duplexes, single-family homes and apartments was being put in the right place.

The development will be located in Fishersville directly across the entrance from Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, the Augusta County Schools offices and three Augusta County schools.
The proposal was tabled at Mr. Pyles' request on Monday because of the lack of notice in order to investigate. He expressed a frustrated feeling of being made to feel guilty by his fellow supervisors because he was asking questions and digging into figures.

That digging into figures was what caused him to find the $100,000 mistake in the figures presented by the contractor, figures that had been across the desks of the county manager Pat Coffield, the commissioner of revenue Jean Shrewsbury, the county attorney, and VDOT, according to Supervisor Wendell Coleman. The developer admitted the mistake and said it was an honest oversight.

Mr. Pyles, whom I have called "Mr. Numbers" for years because of his ability to take a spread sheet and make it quiver at the very thought of his prying eyes canvassing the page, then launched into his findings.

Traffic impact studies, the Fishersville Small Area Plan, the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2007, and other tools were used in his research. School overcrowding, street overuse, lack of traffic light at Rt. 250 entrance, more traffic for the overburdened Rt. 608 interstate bridge, fire and rescue buildup. When, he asked, were they planning to do these necessary items of business ... or was they going to be dumped on the back burner like so many other projects that are waiting to be done?

The one item that stood out the most to me, for some reason, was seeding of grass which was in the contract for something like $6,000 an acre but when the figures were scrutinized it ended up costing $11,000 per acre. Mr. Pyles dryly remarked that instead of the projected $78,000 cost, he and his sons could do it for $50,000.

The rebuttal to Mr. Pyles' accusations and questions came from Wayne Supervisor Wendell Coleman who responded on most levels in a sufficient way. The project is in Mr. Coleman's district. The deal was already in the bag ... Mr. Pyles was going up against the other six supervisors on this one. However, they had worked with the developer for a deal that they felt was best suited to the county's favor. Mr. Coleman said the county is in a habit of building everything when it's already too late ... classroom trailers populate school grounds before additions are finally added to the building ... traffic backs up at congested intersections before we finally build the roads to alleviate the backup. This road, he stressed, was a proactive measure that was a win-win situation for the citizens of Augusta County.

A humorous part came when Mr. Coleman was explaining how the contract was set up and how they had redone the numbers to remove the $100,000 mistake ... and then Mr. Pyles asked if it said the county would pay only for contractors' invoices, and Mr. Coleman responded ... and they actually almost started renegotiating the contract as they went back and forth! I found it hilarious to watch.

Tracy Pyles is my supervisor and we have certainly had our differences during the past year. I was particularly distressed when his claws came out during a debate between himself and the Republican candidate running against him last fall ... I felt he unfairly took some cheap shots that were not necessary from an old warhorse like himself. It was not dignified for the incumbent to say some of the things he said.

However, he is fiscally conservative, and I am always amused when he goes up against the rest of the board. He stands alone, one stubborn Democrat, determined that even when he is facing odds that are not in his favor, he is going to speak up for what he thinks is right. That's what we saw at Wednesday's meeting.

The vote was, predictably, 6-1 with Tracy being the only one voting against the project.

Fireworks at Augusta's BOS meeting Wednesday night...


There were definitely fireworks tonight at Augusta County's Board of Supevisors meeting ... and it was between Chairman David Beyeler and Vice Chairman Tracy Pyles. Too late tonight to write it out ... will post about it tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Veterans for McCain ... moving video from brother Joe McCain

Earlier this week, the McCain campaign announced their Veterans Coalition in Virginia. We have 31 regional coordinators across the Commonwealth, assisted by deputies to implement an aggressive grassroots effort in Virginia.

In press conferences in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, former Prisoners of War Everett Alvarez (Vietnam), Paul Galanti (Vietnam), Ron Young (Iraq) and other leaders like Admiral Hank Giffin spoke about John McCain’s service, sacrifice and commitment to veterans.

A particularly moving portion of the Arlington press conference was when Joe McCain (a fellow Vietnam veteran) talked about his brother’s flight jacket.

Footage, taken by O.P. Ditch, can be seen HERE and HERE.

John McCain 2008

Are we still persecuting smokers?

I am sitting at my desk in an air-conditioned house listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio with a lamp illuminating my keyboard. Surely I must be breaking a law somewhere ... because what else could explain this?

Does anyone remember when Montgomery County, Maryland (home of Bethesda), tried to pass the law that would have prohibited people from smoking in their own homes if the smoke could be smelled by a neighbor?

Qualifier: I don't smoke and never have. I'm allergic to cigarette smoke. With that said, trying to legislate smoking in this way is ridiculous and I would join others in being outraged at adding more stupid laws to the books. Americans cannot walk down the street without tripping over a nanny-state law.

H/T Riley at Virginia Virtucon

"Use the Force, Luke"

"Use the Force, Luke."
Obi Wan Kenobi

Good vs evil ... corruption vs right.

"I'll never turn to the Dark Side."
Luke Skywalker

McCain's column that was censored by the NY Times

Richmond Times-Dispatch Editor's note: This is the column John McCain submitted to The New York Times that The Times declined to run without changes. The Times did not commission the piece. Newspapers are under no obligation to publish unsolicited manuscripts.

However,
The Times previously had featured a column by Barack Obama, which prompted the McCain response. When the Richmond Times-Dispatch uses columns by political candidates, it allows their competitors opportunities to reply. We edit for grammar and accuracy but not for content.

We would have accepted the McCain piece and would not have suggested changes; if the McCain piece had run first, we would have welcomed an Obama rebuttal. And, the episode plays entirely to McCain's advantage. It affords him and his column far more attention than they would have received if
The Times had run the piece. We will run Obama's Iraq column when -- and if -- we receive permission.

WASHINGTON -- In January 2007, when Gen. David Petraeus took command in Iraq, he called the situation "hard" but not "hopeless." Today, 18 months later, violence has fallen by up to 80 percent to the lowest levels in four years, and Sunni and Shiite terrorists are reeling from a string of defeats. The situation now is full of hope, but considerable hard work remains to consolidate our fragile gains.

Progress has been due primarily to an increase in the number of troops and a change in their strategy. I was an early advocate of the surge at a time when it had few supporters in Washington. Sen. Barack Obama was an equally vocal opponent. "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there," he said on Jan. 10, 2007. "In fact, I think it will do the reverse."

Now Sen. Obama has been forced to acknowledge that "our troops have performed brilliantly in lowering the level of violence." But he still denies that any political progress has resulted.

Perhaps he is unaware that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has recently certified that, as one news article put it, "Iraq has met all but three of 18 original benchmarks set by Congress last year to measure security, political, and economic progress." Even more heartening has been progress that's not measured by the benchmarks. More than 90,000 Iraqis, many of them Sunnis who once fought against the government, have signed up as Sons of Iraq to fight against the terrorists. Nor do they measure Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's newfound willingness to crack down on Shiite extremists in Basra and Sadr City -- actions that have done much to dispel suspicions of sectarianism.

THE SUCCESS of the surge has not changed Sen. Obama's determination to pull out all of our combat troops. All that has changed is his rationale. In a New York Times op/ed and a speech [last] week, he offered his "plan for Iraq" in advance of his first "fact-finding" trip to that country in more than three years. It consisted of the same old proposal to pull all of our troops out within 16 months. In 2007 he wanted to withdraw because he thought the war was lost. If we had taken his advice, it would have been. Now he wants to withdraw because he thinks Iraqis no longer need our assistance.

To make this point, he mangles the evidence. He makes it sound as if Prime Minister Maliki has endorsed the Obama timetable, when all he has said is that he would like a plan for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops at some unspecified point in the future.

Sen. Obama is also misleading on the Iraqi military's readiness. The Iraqi Army will be equipped and trained by the middle of next year, but this does not, as Sen. Obama suggests, mean that they will then be ready to secure their country without a good deal of help. The Iraqi Air Force, for one, still lags behind, and no modern army can operate without air cover. The Iraqis are also still learning how to conduct planning, logistics, command and control, communications, and other complicated functions needed to support frontline troops.

No one favors a permanent U.S. presence, as Sen. Obama charges. A partial withdrawal has already occurred with the departure of five "surge" brigades, and more withdrawals can take place as the security situation improves. As we draw down in Iraq, we can beef up our presence on other battlefields, such as Afghanistan, without fear of leaving a failed state behind. I have said that I expect to welcome home most of our troops from Iraq by the end of my first term in office, in 2013.

But I have also said that any draw-downs must be based on a realistic assessment of conditions on the ground, not on an artificial timetable crafted for domestic political reasons. This is the crux of my disagreement with Sen. Obama.

SEN. OBAMA HAS said that he would consult our commanders on the ground and Iraqi leaders, but he did no such thing before releasing his "plan for Iraq." Perhaps that's because he doesn't want to hear what they have to say. During the course of eight visits to Iraq, I have heard many times from our troops what Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond, commander of coalition forces in Baghdad, recently said: that leaving based on a timetable would be "very dangerous."

The danger is that extremists supported by alQaida and Iran could stage a comeback, as they have in the past when we've had too few troops in Iraq. Sen. Obama seems to have learned nothing from recent history. I find it ironic that he is emulating the worst mistake of the Bush administration by waving the "Mission Accomplished" banner prematurely.

I am also dismayed that he never talks about winning the war -- only of ending it. But if we don't win the war, our enemies will. A triumph for the terrorists would be a disaster for us. That is something I will not allow to happen as president. Instead I will continue implementing a proven counterinsurgency strategy not only in Iraq but also in Afghanistan with the goal of creating stable, secure, self-sustaining democratic allies.

John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
And the bias of the mainstream media continues with this latest episode by the New York Times....

Augusta BOS meeting tonight ... fireworks?

Why was a proposed county development project off by $100,000 to the company's favor, a mistake that has been admitted by the company after being called to their attention by Supervisor Tracy Pyles?

Those same figures had been looked at by the county administrator Pat Coffield, county commissioner of revenue Jean Shrewsbury, county attorney Patrick Morgan, and VDOT, according to the News Leader which was going by what Supervisor Wendell Coleman told them.

Mr. Pyles sent a letter to the editor earlier this week expressing his dissatisfaction at the deal and pointing out the $100,000 mistake. Today's News Leader reported:
Pyles accused the developer of overestimating the cost of the road project so that the county would end up having to pay up to $3.7 million while the developer would end up paying nothing.

Pyles also said he found a miscalculation in the deal that would cost the county about $100,000.
The developer says it's not true while admitting the $100,000 error was an honest mistake. So who is right?

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting is tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona. There could be fireworks.

Adventures in Romania....

My globe-trotting Texas sister and her husband are in Romania this week on business. She's emailing photos and updates along the way so we can enjoy a virtual tour of that part of the world.

Something stood out to me in one of her correspondences since Americans are in a debate about Iraq and how long we should stay.

In talking about the Romanians, whom she described as "fabulous, funny and fiercely smart," she expressed enjoyment at spending time with her husband's colleagues as they all talked about the progress of Romania since the 1989 revolution ended communism. In her words:
Bottom line is, Romania's still struggling to rebuild even these many years later. It's come a long way, but even locals admit that Romania's admission to the EU may have been premature. Still, they're trying. And with more and more foreign investment trickling in and greater transparency in the public sector – as required for EU membership -- prospects are good for a rebuilt economy and more jobs.

It's a case study in the difficulties of rebuilding a country.
That last line really caught my attention ... "It's a case study in the difficulties of rebuilding a country." Their revolution occurred almost 20 years ago and, yet, they are still in the rebuilding process ... and liberal Democrats are complaining about the lack of or slowness of progress in Iraq?

Some people need a better grasp on history. Rebuilding a country does not happen overnight ... and Romania is yet another example of that.

Another snippet of her email included this Virginia note:
Romania has, traditionally, been a huge pork producer. ... So guess who’s got a big presence here with pork production? Smithfield of Virginia. Since about 2004.
American companies have always been there to help around the world, sharing their technology and experience, and this is yet another example.

Jim Gilmore blog chat with Washington Times today

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 12 Noon

Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia and current Senate candidate, will be taking your questions at Noon, Wednesday July 23rd. To ask a question, you must be registered with WashingtonTimes.com. To register, click the gray word "REGISTER" on the top right-hand corner of the page, then follow the instructions.

Once you're registered, come back to this chat page and then click the orange link that says "Ask a Question."

"It was a dark and stormy night...."

Remember when the Peanuts cartoon strip would have Snoopy sitting on top of his dog house typing his novel that always began, "It was a dark and stormy night...."? I lived it tonight.

It's after midnight and I just got in after driving from the Fishersville area of Augusta County to my home in the western end of the county through one of the worst thunderstorms I've driven in for a while. When I left Fishersville, it was extremely blustery and lightning was streaking across the sky with rolling thunder.

In the mountains the thunder always rolls because it bounces from mountain to mountain....

I hit the interstate and the wind picked up, buffeting my vehicle which made it difficult to steer ... while the lightning continued. What a light show! Zigs and zags, going horizontally and vertically ... the lightning lit up the sky. Some of the bolts lit up the entire area for a split second, almost as if a giant flashbulb had gone off.

The rain started, first a little, and then building up until it was driving in sheets across the roadway ... wave after wave of rain which caused difficulty seeing through overworked windshield wipers.

By the time I turned onto the rural road heading to my home, the storm was in full fury with small limbs and leaves blowing across the road surface. In the big curve, two limbs were down partially blocking my lane but I made my way around them and continued on in the pouring rain, buffeting wind (weather reports said 50 mph winds accompanied the storm out my way), and electrifying lightning with huge booms of thunder.

I was so glad to finally be home on this "dark and stormy night"....

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Warner rock star treatment ... Staunton NL questions use of non-profit facilities

"How come Gilmore wasn't invited for a celebrity jaunt in the famous limo? " -- Staunton News Leader, 7/22/08

I can't believe I'm going to say this but ... I agree with today's Staunton News Leader editorial. In fact, I wrote about this issue twice last week on this blog, questioning the use of tax-subsidized non-profit organizations and city resources to welcome a political candidate who, in this case, happened to be Mark Warner who is running against my candidate of choice, Jim Gilmore.

The NL editorial board also looked questioningly on the red carpet treatment that was afforded Mark Warner at the expense of taxpayers. They wrote:
... what looked out of place was Beverley Street closed down so Warner could use a microphone outside the Dixie Theatre and tell his supporters what he would do for Virginia if elected. He didn't seem like a politician stumping for support — he looked more like a celebrity offering his fans cherished face time.
Not only was Beverley Street closed down but the parking in that entire block of the Dixie Threater was blocked the day before which disrupted shopping at all the stores along that end of the street. The microphone set up on the stage on the street that Warner used to address 50-75 people made me wonder if Democrats thought more people would show up ... otherwise, that small group could fit inside the Dixie Theater.

Saying they have nothing against candidates campaigning through the Valley, the News Leader added:
But when the city and publicly funded entities like the Dixie Theatre and Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library roll out the red carpet for a campaigning politician, something is wrong.
...
The Staunton Performing Arts Center put in the request to have Beverley Street closed, and it was done. Then he was whisked away for a ride in President Wilson's Pierce-Arrow for a trip to the presidential library. The pomp and circumstance would be wonderful for an elected representative who has actually gotten something done for the library, but for a candidate? How come Gilmore wasn't invited for a celebrity jaunt in the famous limo?
...
When taxpayer money supports organizations, their respective boards need to be careful how they get played by political parties welcoming candidates.
Wonder how much taxpayer money was spent to have police on standby and the street closed down ... wonder how much revenue was lost by local businesses who suffered through blocked parking on Wednesday and a blocked street on Thursday ... wonder how much it cost the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and Blackfriars to open their facilities and welcome Mark Warner? How much did it cost to have the Pierce-Arrow carry Mark Warner around town?

And, most of all, I wonder who made the decisions for all of this to take place.

See McCloskey's political cartoon.
See Chris' post here.

Cross-posted at Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore
Jim Gilmore for Senate

Homestead Resort ... the other "wild" life....

Parked in front of the Homestead last weekend....

Photo by SWAC Daughter

Email theft results in conviction

Email theft? In North Carolina a woman has pleaded guity to stealing email from a former employer.

According to the Kannapolis Citizen:
Teresa Gamble Treadaway, 49, pleaded guilty in federal court in Greensboro to one count each of wire fraud, computer fraud and unlawful access to stored communication for commercial advantage.

Treadaway faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, and a federal judge can order her to make restitution to her former company ECOFLO.
After being fired, this woman continued to intercept emails to her old company even after she was hired by a competitor. Check out the rest of the article here.