Barticles takes a look at RK ... which begs the question, "Where is the Republican equivalent of RK?"

From On High writes:

"When I found out that the fellas behind the popular weblog Raising Kaine were paid employees (or agents) of the Democratic Party of Virginia, I quit reading it. I get the Party's press releases emailed to me; why bother?

He then includes the link to an article by Bart Hinkle at the Richmond Times-Dispatch that shows their flip-flopping on "what the Republicans should do" and says:

Read the whole thing. Mr. Hinkle cites a number of examples where the kids at Raising Kaine criticize Republicans for shamelessly pandering ... and for shamelessly not pandering. Ricocheting off the walls like adolescents who really don't have a clue.

I had been blogging for a while before I heard RK was made up of paid staff. It explained a lot ... and also made me realize we were blogging on an uneven playing field. While conservative bloggers were standing up for their candidates and causes at night, before work, on the weekends, or as time permitted ... the RK gang was being paid to sit behind a computer and gush out a continuous drill of democrat talking points.

That, in and of itself, struck me as odd. Perhaps they should be in another "political" blogosphere ... the one that is paid people ... and leave this one to those of us who are volunteers? I figured they had all kinds of research tools at hand, and talking points being fed to them, and research at the click of a finger from the democrat party.

As I read RK and some others, they sounded the same ... the same themes, the same talking points, the same anti-Republican rants. In fact, RK began to sound like some of the blogs I had come across at Daily Kos.

I'm still new at this game ... but the dots are being connected. To the RK propaganists and others (RD, NLS?) this is a job that pays money. Not bad to be paid for spending all those hours on a computer promoting your Party.

So my question is, "Where is the Republican equivalent of RK?" Where are the paid Republican bloggers? Where is the Republican equivalent of Daily Kos? Who is the "George Soros" in the Republican circles who can fund endless amounts of money to pay volunteers to get the message out?

Where are the GOP techie guys who know how to search the layers of liberal deceit such as sarahrxpkatherine and thalassaziv and all the others they use to google bomb their opponents and possibly build their own numbers?

Where is Google, which reportedly has given 98% of its political donations to democrats, to investigate? They refused ads that attacked MoveOn.org ... yet they let a google bombing of the Republican President of the United States run for several years before finally fixing it.

Where are the ethical democrat bloggers when their own attack conservative bloggers with profanity and false accusations?

Why is oppositional research done by democrats against Republican bloggers? Why is it ethical to use such research against VOLUNTEERS? Where are the ethical bloggers to stand up to this?

In my short 18 months in the blogosphere I have discovered anything goes for the democrat bloggers. Their MO is intimidation ... attack, badger, harrass, "out" by real name (there are nuts in the blogosphere and that is reason enough to be anonymous), belittle and ridicule. Their debating style is, for many but not all, juvenile and petty. They resort to name-calling and profanity.

I again ask, "Where is the Republican equivalent of RK?"

Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley ... a rainy day

Western Augusta County

Finally! After forecasts calling for rain fizzled twice in the past week, I woke during the night to hear the soft but steady sound of rain falling on leaves. Perfect sleeping weather ... temps in mid 50s with a cool breeze ... and rain.

This morning is it gray outside ... a light but steady drizzle continues ... the mountains are obscured by fog. The promised cooler temps are here ... this weekend's predicted overnight lows may bring our first frost.

It is also raining leaves as they let go and fall in the wind and rain. At higher elevations that will leave bare trees but here in the Valley there are plenty of trees in the process of changing colors so there will continue to be a color show after the precipitation passes.

I love a rainy day. Fall is in process....

Photo by SWAC Girl

Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy posthumously awarded Medal of Honor by President

Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy was a hero of extraordinary proportions. He faced death under withering enemy fire ... he radioed for help ... he kept firing even after being shot ... he looked out for his men. And he died.

Yesterday he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in an emotional White House Ceremony. Marine Veteran Spank That Donkey writes about and remembers Lt. Murphy.

May God bless Lt. Murphy's family. A thankful nation is grateful for their supreme sacrifice in keeping us safe and free.

Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee: Never forget ... remembering a young Marine K-9 handler

In Memory of Cpl Dustin Jerome Lee
KIA March 21, 2007

Dedicated to Marine Cpl Dustin Jerome Lee, 20 ... a Marine K9 handler attached to 3rd Recon Battalion in Fallujah when the attack happened. His dog Lex received injuries but they were not life-threatening. Dusty's family is in the process of adopting Lex.

Dustin was born in Meridian, MS, on April 7, 1986, and graduated from Quitman High School in 2004. He was stationed at MCLB, HQ BN in Albany GA, before deploying for Iraq. He was killed in action on March 21, 2007, in Fallujah, Iraq.

May we never forget....

[Someone who comes into my site on a regular basis led me to this site dedicated to the memory of this young man. I wanted to share it.]

Move out and draw fire!

Move out and draw fire!

Military vet Pete Hegseth signs each of his Vets for Freedom correspondences that way. It is a military phrase that can be applied to politics.

We all know someone who"draws fire" ... that person who gets out in front of an issue and catches the most flack ... flack from the media, from those who disagree with them, from people who do not want to "get involved."

In Republican politics those drawing fire are the ones on the front line ... leading ... pushing the issues ... going up against the democrats ... taking on the liberal bloggers.

I can look around me and see who "moves out and draws fire." They wear the battle scars from the war, work tirelessly for the effort, stand up to wiltering criticism, and work with others as a team. They are leaders.

And I can look around and see who sits back in the safety of non-controversy. Safe, yes ... but effective? A mover-and-shaker? Someone who makes a difference? No.

"Move out and draw fire."

Pete Stark apologizes to President Bush

"I want to apologize first of all to my colleagues, many of whom I have offended, to the president, his family, to the troops that may have found (offense) in my remarks as were suggested in the motion that we just voted on, and I do apologize. ... With this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be and we can return to the issues that do divide us but that we can resolve."
-- Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) after making comments last week suggesting President Bush was sending troops to Iraq to get their "heads blown off for his amusement"

According to Fox News:

The apology came after the House voted 196-173 with eight members voting present to table a resolution introduced by House Minority Leader John Boehner censuring Stark.

See if the MSM reports on this....

Why the Surge is working

No "Nightmare" -- Why "Surge" Is Working by Pete Hegseth
New York Post -- October 23, 2007

The former top commander in Iraq - Army Lt.-Gen. Ricardo Sanchez (ret.) - recently called the situation in Iraq "a nightmare with no end in sight." Citing insufficient prewar planning and a strained military, he painted a dismal picture of American prospects there.

War critics painted a similar picture when violence in Iraq peaked in '05 and '06 - using terms like "civil war" and "sectarian violence" - as they pushed for a rapid draw-down or immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces. An Iraq "at war with itself" shouldn't be America's problem, they argued. In fact, the existence of a "religious civil war" remains the chief antiwar talking point to this day.

Problem is, the new U.S. strategy has changed the facts on the grounds.

A year ago, the assertions of Sanchez and the antiwar critics were an accurate description of the violence throughout Iraq: Armed death squads freely roamed the streets in Baghdad and outlying areas, responding to massive bombings committed by al Qaeda. And vice versa. Each week saw hundreds of innocent Iraqis - the victims of sectarian attacks and reprisals - kidnapped and killed. Worst of all, compromised members of the security forces (Iraqis in uniform) were complicit in many killings.

I was in Samarra on Feb. 22, 2005, the day al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents destroyed the dome of the Golden Mosque, and am very familiar with the violence that followed. That event was a catalyst for widespread violence in Iraq. Destroying a Muslim place of worship was indicative of al Qaeda's overall strategy: foment violence, maintain instability, and intimidate the local population. And it worked.

The critics had a point: American soldiers were simply caught in the middle - not permitted to take action to stop the violence, and yet still very much in harm's way. But what the critics failed to see was that it didn't have to be that way - that what the troops lacked was an adaptive strategy that recognized and addressed underlying causes of the violence.

Enter Gen. David Petraeus and a strategy that did just that. (The term "surge" is far too simplistic, as it implies simply throwing more forces at the problem, when Petraeus' changes in tactics are even more important).

The new counterinsurgency approach - namely, to take territory from al Qaeda, hold it, secure it and empower tribal sheiks to work together and rebuild their communities - finally provides an effective "counteroffensive" to the chief tactics of al Qaeda militants and Shiite death squads.

America's enemies in Iraq, radical insurgents living and fighting among the general public, understand that they can't continue their fight without capitulation from ordinary Iraqis. Finally, after almost four years, the U.S. military understands this as well.

Whereas we used to emphasize overwhelming firepower (even when I was there in 2006), we now emphasize firepower as a last resort. Whereas we used to rush to the scene after the violence occurs, we're now there to repel it or deter it altogether.

This commitment - up and down the chain of command - has made a major impact on the tit-for-tat death toll that was threatening to tear the country apart. Sectarian violence has been severely curtailed.

Since last December, sectarian deaths throughout Iraq have dropped over 50 percent; overall attacks against civilians are down 50 percent. In Baghdad - the focal point of Petraeus' strategy - sectarian deaths are down almost 80 percent in 10 months and large al Qaeda-style truck and suicide bombings have dropped over 50 percent.

Moreover, ordinary Iraqis are providing far more tips and other information. We now get some 23,000 tips a month, four to five times the level of a year before. This measure - which directly correlates to the trust and support of the population - is promising.

These are significant and consequential numbers and indicate real successes in stomping out the civil war. But it's not just numbers that make the case that the civil war is ending. Look, too, at what the new strategy lets commanders do in their now-daily discussions with ordinary Iraqis.

Petraeus reports that foreign (non-Iraqi) recruits conduct over 80 percent of al Qaeda's attacks; and therefore, by refocusing local tribal leaders on this fact, American commanders are making a convincing argument to the sheiks: Why launch an indiscriminate reprisal against another sect, ratcheting up the level of violence, when you can simply tell us and Iraqi security forces where the foreign insurgents are and we'll go get them? The numbers say that's exactly what's happening.

A people drowning in sectarian violence and warped by perpetual vengeance aren't going to immediately engage in political reconciliation. Security improvements must first dampen the violence, lower tensions and restore humanity. This is exactly what Petraeus has done, and we have finally begun providing the tangible security improvements necessary for lasting political solutions at the local and national levels.

Although many hope to convince America otherwise, the Iraq war has fundamentally changed in '07. It's not a civil war anymore. It's the people of Iraq vs. al Qaeda and Iranian proxies, with the U.S.-led Coalition helping the Iraqi people swing their sword of sovereignty.

That's the kind of good news that people on both sides of the aisle should appreciate.
-------
Pete Hegseth, a first lieutenant in the Army National Guard, is executive director of Vets for Freedom. He served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division from September '05 to July '06.

Follow-up: Daily Kos-MoveOn.org's manipulation of Staunton poll

Jerry at From On High has a follow-up on my post about the Staunton newspaper (known locally as the Misleader) and its biased poll question against Congressman Bob Goodlatte that was picked up by Daily Kos and MoveOn.org.

As posted here, the local newspaper put up a poll about Congressman Goodlatte's support of the veto override vote on the SCHIP issue. Daily Kos, made up of MoveOn.org members, posted about the poll and encouraged their members from across the country, who have nothing to do with politics in the Valley, to vote. The poll was was google bombed -- targeted by Daily Kos in order to skew the results.

Remember ... that's the same newspaper that said anyone -- anyone-- short of a ficus plant should run against Goodlatte.

That's the same newspaper that said Delegate Ben Cline should stick to washing Bob Goodlatte's car.

That's the same newspaper that has lost credibility in more ways that I have space to write.

I stopped subscribing to them in June when they called the local Republican volunteers "snakes." At a time when everyone bemoans the fact that citizens do not get involved in the political process and that voter turnout is low, the newspaper makes fun and mocks volunteers and calls them names and belittles at every chance they get.

The poll has been removed so I do not have the final tally. It was running about 80% against the Congressman but that is not a true reflection of the citizens of the Shenandoah Valley.

Barak Obama ... no respect for America's symbols?

Democrat Presidential candiate Barak Obama stopped wearing an American flag pin on his lapel weeks ago ... and yesterday, as all the other candidates stood at an event and placed their hands over their hearts for the national anthem, Barak stood with hands clasped -- no hand over heart. If someone is going to be the leader of the United States, there are certain things I expect them to do especially showing respect to the American flag, a symbol that members of our armed forces fight and die for, and that many of us fly on a daily basis to show our love for this great country. We are at war ... we have young men currently fighting under that flag. Why would anyone want a President who has no respect for America's symbols?

SW Virginia Law Blog: "A visit to SWAC Country"

Steve over at SW Virginia Law Blog posted today that he visited Staunton last weekend, and had dinner with Judge Jim Welsh and his wife, Libby (I know them both) and others.

He posted:

I did not see the SWAC Girl in my short trip to Staunton, but noticed that she has been posting some excellent photographs.

Thanks, Steve. With beautiful scenery around like what we have here, all I do is click the camera ... the mountains do the rest.

And if I had known you were heading this way I would have rolled out the red carpet and waved an American flag. Glad you had a nice trip to SWAC Country ... come on back and see us again!

Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley ... weekend scenes from the backyard

Early morning sunrise....

Pyracantha bush is loaded with berries....

Palmer Kitty

Vegetables from the late October garden ... tomatoes, green peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos....

Fallen leaves....

Ash tree leaves have turned yellow....

Red maple tree beside deck....

Sassafras leaves turning scarlet....

Photos by SWAC Girl
October 21 & 22, 2007

Just a reminder ... have you forgotten?

For those lefty liberals who think Delegate Todd Gilbert and Delegate Clay Athey "are spreading lies about a mosque and a Moslem organization in order to attempt to link Governor Kaine and other Virginia Democrats to terrorism," here's a reminder of what happened six short years ago.

Over 3,000 innocent lives were lost when terrorists struck our country. Thanks to the diligence and leadership of President George W. Bush, we have not been attacked since. Thanks to the diligence and leadership of Delegate Gilbert and Delegate Athey, hopefully there will not be an attack in Virginia.

You should be thanking these public servants for their willingness to protect your family but, instead, you are on a political rant. Get over politics for a moment and give thanks that you are safe.

What part of "No bombs dropping on your head" do you not understand?

Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley ... crisp nights, warm days

Many trees in Western Augusta County are colorful.

Great hiking weather ... beautiful scenery in the national forests.


This stream still flows from a strong spring but many are dried up as we continue through a drough with fire bans in place and high fire danger.

We woke to a crisp 39 degrees this morning with an expected high today in the upper 70s. It is another gorgeous autumn day in the Shenandoah Valley ... sunny, clear skies and the trees are putting on a magnificent show for all to see.

The mountain tops are at peak this weekend which means the Valley will probably peak next weekend. Already colors at these lower elevations are bright and colorful. The forecasted thunderstorms did not materialize on Friday so the trees were not stripped of as many leaves as expected.

This is it ... the waning days of October ... as we enjoy a mild fall....

Republicans win Louisiana governor's race ... another GOP young rising star

Another of the young rising stars in the Republican Party won yesterday's gubernatorial election in Louisiana, making him the youngest governor in the nation.

Congressman Bobby Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, is 36 years old. He had run for the governor's seat four years ago when he lost to Kathleen Blanco. After Hurricane Katrina and the debacle that ensued concerning Gov. Blanco's leadership, voters went with the GOP.

Congressman Jindal was included in the latest edition of RNC's "Rising Tide" magazine listing forty-two of the rising stars of the Republican Party who are young, energetic, and dedicated to advancing the Party at the local, state, and national levels.

An Oxford Rhodes Scholar, he was appointed secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals at the age of 24. In 2004 he was elected to Congress at age 33. Now, three years later, he is heading to the governor's mansion.

Governor-elect Jindal will take office in January.

Delegate Ben Cline ... rising young star of the GOP

They are 40 and under ... the rising stars of the Republican Party nationwide ... and they are young and energetic and dedicated to advancing the Party at the local, state, and national levels.

One of them is our own Delegate Ben Cline of the 24th House District. He was first elected in 2002 at the age of 30 ... and he has been recognized in the new issue of RNC's "Rising Tide" magazine along with forty-one other "under 40" Republicans from throughout America.

Delegate Cline is currently the President of New Dominion Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm providing marketing and public relations assistance to new technologies seeking to expand their presence in rural Virginia.

An enthusiastic part of the local Republicans, his District covers the southern part of Augusta County and points south including Lexington and Amherst. He is respected and well-liked by SWAC grassroots volunteers.

Delegate Cline has been a dedicated representative for the people of the 24th House District ... and we look forward to working with him for a long time.

SWAC-GOP offers our congratulations to Ben Cline on his selection as one of the GOP's young rising stars.

Daily Kos & MoveOn.org manipulate Staunton poll to slam Goodlatte

The Staunton News Leader's latest online poll is being manipulated by Daily Kos and MoveOn.org. The poll, put up on October 19, 2007, asks:

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, has again voted against extending the State Children's Health Insurance Program. If a challenge is mounted against Goodlatte in 2008, who will you vote for? Goodlatte or the challenger?

Less than 24 hours later there were over 5,000 votes at a newspaper that is lucky to get 300 votes in a poll.

An investigation began ... and it was discovered a tie with Daily Kos, the nationwide extremely liberal democrat blogging network, to spam or google bomb the News Leader poll by urging thousands of liberal bloggers to vote against Congressman Goodlatte.

Here is what was posted on Daily Kos:

The Daily Kos post says:

Now with CUTE PIC!!! SMURF this poll on Repub S-CHIP vote!!!
by condoleaser
Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:13:25 PM PDT

UPDATE: if you recommend this diary, and it gets on the recommended list, even for a short time - we'll have a decent chance to blow this poll away - and maybe encourage a Dem challenger to this R!!!

UPDATE 2: Recommended!!! Thanks! We will hand them their ass.

UPDATE 3: Ass-handing accomplished! As of 8 pm EDT, the forces of Good stand at 76.1%!

Please treat yourselves to something extra-nice tonight, with my compliments!

Here's an opportunity to spend a brief moment sending a message to Virginia's voters - and to Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, who voted to sustain the pretzelnit's unconscionable veto.

Take this brief jump through hyperspace with me...

condoleaser's diary :: ::

if you go here, you'll find a poll from the NewsLeader, in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Rep. Goodlatte, R-Rubberstamp, voted to prevent the S-CHIP program from being adequately funded.The poll asks, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, has again voted against extending the State Children's Health Insurance Program. If a challenge is mounted against Goodlatte in 2008, who will you vote for? Goodlatte or the challenger?

Now, clearly, this poll is being "FReeped" by wingnuts, who vote, then clear the newsleader cookies from their browser, then vote again, over and over and over.

Don't any of you be seen doing something such as that, though.

As of 9:00 this morning there had been 5,620 votes cast. An hour later there were 6,195. By 1:00 this afternoon it was up to 6,811, and by 4:00 there were 7,830 votes.

Liberal bloggers from across the country -- who have nothing to do with Virginia politics -- are voting to try and influence the poll. It is MoveOn.org and Daily Kos manipulating politics in the Valley. They are going after Congressman Bob Goodlatte by verbally attacking him at Town Hall meetings, videotaping his appearances and then posting them online, making fun of his support of President Bush's Iraq policy by calling him "SurgeBob" complete with graphics, and now they are manipulating this online poll.

This poll is a reflection of the underhanded dirty tricks of the liberal leftist democrats and is not a true reflection of the way the people of the Shenandoah Valley area feel about Congressman Goodlatte.

The poll may be reading blue ... but the Valley is RED.

Goodlatte & SCHIP: "We must work together to put children first"

[From Congressman Bob Goodlatte ... October 19, 2007]

Last week the House of Representatives voted to sustain the President’s veto of H.R. 976, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. This flawed legislation should have reauthorized the vital State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by ensuring that all eligible low-income children are enrolled in the program. Instead this legislation provides health coverage for more adults, families earning upwards of $80,000 per year and illegal immigrants at the expense of our most vulnerable children.

When Congress first created SCHIP there was no question that this new program was intended to help low-income, uninsured children. I strongly supported this program when it was initially created in 1997 and I strongly support continuing SCHIP today. Unfortunately, H.R. 976 does not stay true to the original principles of the program.

Instead, this legislation, which takes the first steps toward pushing all Americans into government-run health care, expands the original SCHIP in numerous ways, including expansions in some states that could result in coverage of children whose families have an annual income up to $83,000. It is estimated that over 2 million children currently covered by private health insurance plans would be taken off these plans and put on government assistance.

To pay for these expansions, H.R. 976 increases the cigarette tax by 61 cents to $1 per pack. This tax increase falls disproportionately on low-income individuals in order to pay for the expansion of SCHIP, which is designed to assist these same low-income families. This revenue source is constantly declining and therefore will not adequately fund the program. According to a recent study, to produce the revenues that Congress needs to fund SCHIP expansion through such a tax would require 22.4 million new smokers by 2017. This is hardly a desirable result.

H.R. 976 also weakens the requirements preventing illegal aliens from accessing government benefits. It is estimated that this provision will cost the federal government and the states an additional $6.5 billion. This is hard earned taxpayer dollars being spent on individuals who are illegally in the country and should not be qualified to receive these benefits.

Perhaps most alarmingly, H.R. 976 provides for a significant expansion of SCHIP without guaranteeing that our most vulnerable children have health insurance.

A recent Gallup Poll indicated a majority of Americans agree that the primary goal in reauthorizing SCHIP should be providing health insurance to low-income children. Right now there are more than 500,000 low-income children eligible for the program but not covered, including tens of thousands here in Virginia. Meanwhile, some 700,000 adults currently receive SCHIP benefits, including 87 percent of all enrollees in Minnesota and 66 percent of the beneficiaries in Wisconsin.

If we allowed this vetoed SCHIP legislation to pass, the intent of the original SCHIP program, which is to provide health insurance to children from low-income families who are unable to afford private coverage, would be lost. Republicans and Democrats have a historic opportunity to work together to ensure that SCHIP covers more low-income American children without using budget gimmicks that put the program in financial jeopardy and without forcing children off of private health insurance, but most importantly any reauthorization of SCHIP must put low-income children first.

Congressman James Atticus Bowden?

West Point graduate ... military veteran ... author ... conservative leader ... grassroots activist ... 1st District Chairman ... Bacon's Rebellion contributor....

Jim posted at Deo Vindice this week that he was resigning as 1st District Chairman. He wrote:

I resign because I am seriously considering running as a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. House of Representatives, First District Virginia.

Jim is a friend, a mentor, and someone I greatly respect. He would serve the people of the 1st District well as their representative in D.C.

Bacon's Rebellion has some reflective thoughts here.

Pete Stark rebuked by Nancy Pelosi ... "inappropriate" remarks

Nancy Pelosi told fellow liberal democrat Pete Stark that his remarks directed at Republicans during a debate on the House floor were "inappropriate."

Stark still owes the President an apology for these anti-American remarks:

"You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

The White House, when asked how they felt about Stark's remarks, said, "I see absolutely no reason to dignify those remarks with a comment."

H/T From On High

Travis Smithdeal ... Republican endorsed by Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell

Republicans Travis Smithdeal, Pastures candidate.

“I strongly endorse Travis Smithdeal for Augusta County Board of Supervisors. A fellow veteran, Travis has demonstrated a commitment to making his community and country a better place. Travis will bring a fresh perspective to the Board and I encourage voters in the Pastures District to vote for Travis Smithdeal this November.” -- Attorney General Bob McDonnell