SO WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

As predicted, Mitt Romney won the Florida presidential primary (see here). Next up? Caucuses in Nevada and Maine on February 4th (here). Since the Florida primary was only open to registered Republicans (from here), I thought Romney’s victory particularly disappointing.

If Romney wins the Republican nomination, I believe the odds favor Obama in the general election. Other than the fact he is not Obama, Romney has done little to distinguish himself. Romney claims he can create jobs, but his record and his political philosophy provide little support for that claim. As the creator of Romneycare, the program model for Obamacare, Romney has proven himself almost as Liberal as Obama. Big government does not create jobs. In fact, such unethical programs destroy nations.

So what will happen in the general election? Obama cannot run on his record. It’s a disaster. So Obama will run negative ads against Romney. At the same time, Romney cannot easily run on his record. He made lots of money as an investor, but as governor of Massachusetts, he imposed Romneycare. If  he talks about it enough, that disconnect will become too obvious. So Romney will do what he has been doing, running negative ads. And they have already been lots of negative ads.

Lost in all the attacks is the relevance of the election. After we elect our president, what is he going to do? How would we know? If the candidates spend all their time attacking each other and defending themselves, when are they ever going to have time to tell us how they would run the country? In fact, when was the last time we had an election when the candidates spent most of their time discussing how they would run the country? Yeah, we get useless platitudes, but do we ever get any substance?

You want more of this nonsense? You want another four years of Obama? Then listen to all the stupid attack ads. Otherwise, do some research online. Find out for yourself what the candidates have done, and check their websites. See what they say about what they plan to do. Then make it clear to the candidates you want to hear what they plan to do, not how much we should despise their opponents.

And what will I do here. So long as they are in the race, I will talk up Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

 

Posted in 2012 Election, Information Warfare | 8 Comments

VIRGINIA BLOGS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Posted on January 31, 2012 by

If Romney is the Republican nominee, Obamney Care is not an issue from Disrupt The Narrative explains the point of the post in the title. However, what the post reveals about the extent of Mitt Romney‘s Liberalism is more than you might expect.

In The Media Freak Show Over Romney’s Money, United Conservatives of Virginia links to article about the Liberal news media bias. What are we suppose to make of a bunch of wealthy reporters complaining about another man’s wealth? They are jealous?

Remember the Stimulus by Fishersville Mike reminds us of the waste perpetrated by the Obama administration.

In Comment on Newt-mare by Steve Vaughan, another Democrat graciously offers to help Republicans pick their nominee. Such a kind soul!

In McDonnell criticizes Gingrich over attacks on Romney’s character, (where the bearing is drifting) a potential running mate speaks up for Mitt Romney, the guy who started the attack ad war in Iowa?

Virginia Virtucon studies the polls in See-Saw Polls Continue and What a Difference Two weeks Can Make, Romney Down to 24% support. Except for the ones we take when people actually vote I usually find articles about polls boring. These two articles are mercifully short.

With Gingrich smears Romney on income – again, The right-wing liberal takes up the cause for Mitt Romney. Why Newt Gingrich launched these stupid attacks, I don’t know. Romney would be much easier to take down as a flip-flopper, but I guess that would cede a big advantage to Rick Santorum. Santorum has been a relatively consistent Conservative.

Thus far, the media has manipulated us quite well. Romney panders. With enough money, he thinks he can buy enough ads to bury both his opponents and his record. Even though his record screams MASSACHUSETTS LIBERAL, Romney still leads the pack. Gingrich sometimes forgets to be a Conservative, but as the Speaker he did a pretty good job. Santorum has a good record, but the media has tagged him as a frothing at the mouth Social Conservative; they just want us to ignore him.

With that in mind, I suggest you check out this video, H/T to At The Point Of A Gun via  Video: “Turn This Ship Around”.

DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

THEN HERE IS THE QUESTION.

WHICH CANDIDATE DO YOU BELIEVE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND?

Don’t know? Do you suppose you could study the record of these candidates

BEFORE YOU VOTE?

Posted in 2012 Election, VA-Blogs | 1 Comment

DELEGATE RICH ANDERSON’S REPORT ON THE 2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY: WEEK 3

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Here is Delegate Rich Anderson latest report on the General Assembly.

Week #3 Legislative Report

Staying Connected:Capitol Update 2012-3

Dear Prince William Neighbors,

This afternoon, we completed the third week of our eight-week legislative session of the 2012 General Assembly. This has been a busy week filled with presentation of bills to House subcommittees and full committees. Next week, the first of my bills will be on the floor of the House of Delegates for debate and a final vote before making its way to the Senate for action.

This week, my House Bill (HB) 1056, which deals with burial of veteran remains with honors in state veteran cemeteries, earned full committee approval and is headed to the House floor.  It was combined with a similar bill and is now numbered as HB 439 (for those of you who follow the progress of bills at the Virginia Legislative Information Service at http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm). Additionally, two other bills made it out of committee: One that deals with retention and destruction of records by Clerks of Court, and one that deals with zoning appeals by localities. Unfortunately, my HB 1053, which sought to elevate “Texting While Driving” charges from a secondary to a primary offense, did not receive committee approval. I strongly believe that distracted driving is a significant threat and will pursue this bill again next year.

This week, we made significant progress toward providing for our fellow citizens who have intellectual disabilities (ID) and developmental disabilities (DD). We are moving forward with a program to allow people to remain in the community and avoid institutional care. We’re doing so through 4,710 new ID waivers and closing four of five centers around the state. Last year, I joined with other legislators to patron HB 2533, which invested $30 million into a trust fund to transition ID citizens from institutional care to community-based care.

Although this past week has been unseasonably warm, we are vulnerable in the coming weeks to adverse winter weather. VDOT has therefore unveiled a new tool for you to track the status of roads and  snow removal efforts in our area. Click here for more:  http://tinyurl.com/7pc4lfw.For current info or to report conditions to VDOT, please call 1-800-FOR-ROAD or go to www.511Virginia.org.

As we move through the 2012 legislative session (which ends on March 10th), I need and value your input on issues before the General Assembly. We’ve posted an on-line survey to our House website, and I invite you to click here and provide us with your views: http://tinyurl.com/7r46cza. I hope to also hear your thoughts via email, phone calls, a telephone town hall in the coming weeks, in-person town halls when we are home on weekends, and your visits to our Capitol office here in Richmond (we are in Room 406 of the General Assembly Building).

During the week, you may reach me and Ryan M. Galloway (my legislative assistant) in Richmond at 804-698-1051. If you have an urgent need on the weekend, please call me at home (703-730-1380) and I will be happy to assist you or even meet with you in person. My direct email address is DelRAnderson@house.virginia.gov, and Ryan’s direct email is RGalloway@house.virginia.gov.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you at home and in Richmond, and I hope that you can visit us at Mr. Jefferson’s Capitol between now and March 10th…the red carpet will be out!

Warmest regards,,

RICHARD L. ANDERSON
Delegate, 51st House District

Posted in Delegate Rich Anderson, Legislative Updates | Leave a comment

DELEGATE SCOTT LINGAMFELTER REPORTS ON THE 2012 SESSION: WEEK 3

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Here is Delegate Scott Lingamfelter‘s latest report on the General Assembly.

Session Update 3: Moving Legislation

Dear Patriots,

This was another busy week with my own legislation. Here’s a quick recap:

My Veterans Trust legislation, HB 922, passed without opposition. It addresses a correction of the statute that codified the Constitutional Amendment passed by the citizens of the Commonwealth in 2010 that created an exemption from property tax for 100 percent disabled veterans. When we passed the original implementing stature, we failed to clarify that property held in a trust by a 100 percent disabled veteran actually qualifies for the exemption as real property. This caused a lot of trouble for vets who had their property in a trust. This bill fixes the problem.

The Governor requested that I carry his transportation bill this year which I will. We are working the details right now, but from a top level this is what it will do. First, it will grow the percentage of future revenue growth that is available for transportation. It also will take the first $500 million in highway funds in any given year and focus 25% of that money on bridge construction (and maintenance), 25% on high priority statewide projects, 25% on deteriorating interstate and primary road paving, 15% public-private partnerships, 5% unpaved roads and 5% smart roadway technology. This focus is really important to make sure we are getting the best value for the top priorities. This bill also enhances the requirement for localities and the Virginia Highway Department to synchronize their planning to ensure both are in step with each other as well as tamp down on big changes in those plans, particularly after money has been put to work. It is a complete waste to spend lots of money on a plan and then change it at the last minute. The bill also creates a toll road authority to provide oversight of toll road operations to ensure that they are done right.

On the Appropriations Committee we continued our hearings and plunged into the tons of budget amendments that many legislators tossed our way. Some are good, but others that seek wild increases in programs will face a tough fate. Our mission, at least from my point of view, is to keep spending under control and focused on core responsibilities.

I continue to get a trail of folks who come by when they are here for a visit. So if you are coming to Richmond, let me know and drop in for a visit. Just call our office in Richmond at (804) 698-1031 or email us at delslingamfelter@house.virginia.gov and we’ll make sure to set some time aside for you.

You can help me by answering the survey I mailed out to you recently on a range of issues. If you didn’t get it in the mail, you can take it online at my website www.va31st.com, or visit the link on the left side of this email and tell me what you think.

Have a great weekend!

Sic Semper Tyrannis,

Posted in Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Legislative Updates | Leave a comment

SENATOR MARK OBENSHAIN’S REPORT ON THE 2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WEEK 3

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Here is Senator Mark Obenshain‘s latest report on the General Assembly.

Never a Dull Moment: Week 3 in the Senate of Virginia

It has been said that laws are like sausages: one prefers not to see them made. Rarely has that been more true than this week, as the General Assembly got bogged down in disputes over moving forward on the nominations of two judicial candidates to whom no one actually objects, then stumbled into a committee blunder that will force a “redo” and could imperil the passage of many good bills – including some on Second Amendment rights.

It’s just been that sort of week. An inadvertent breach of Senate Rules basically nullified everything the Courts of Justice Committee took up in a six hour marathon meeting on Wednesday, and we’re still trying to sort out the carnage. The bills have to be taken up again, and some hard-fought victories will be revisited.

One of those now-jeopardized victories dealt with repealing Virginia’s constitutionally suspect “one gun a month” law, which interferes with the right of law-abiding citizens to purchase firearms. I certainly hope that, when we take the bill up again, we’ll get another favorable committee vote – but I’d certainly rather not be doing this all over again. Plenty of people are upset right now, and understandably so. But that’s life in the Senate of Virginia: never a dull moment.

And as if that battle weren’t enough, there’s always congressional redistricting. Last year, when Democrats controlled the Senate, but not the House or the Governor’s mansion, Senate Democrats decided to roll the dice and block passage of a fair and sensible congressional redistricting plan supported by a bipartisan majority in the House and by the state’s entire congressional delegation. Now that Senate Democrats are unable to block redistricting in the legislature, however, they’re taking to the courts, arguing that we missed our chance to redistrict last year. They want the courts to do their work for them.

I won’t get into all the technical arguments being advanced by both sides, but suffice it to say, I believe that the Constitution of Virginia allows us to redistrict this year – though I’m still disappointed that Senate Democrats played games with redistricting when we tried to take care of it last year. Stay tuned; this is going to be a big issue for a while.

In some more positive news, my bill banning government-mandated “project labor agreements” made it out of committee this week, and I’m looking forward to it receiving a floor vote. The bill, SB 242, will eliminate an unacceptable end-round of Virginia’s Right to Work laws, ensuring that contracts entered into by state and local governments do not contain provisions requiring closed shops or establishing prevailing wages.

“Project Labor Agreements” is government-speak for “union-only,” an anti-competitive arrangement where hard-working Virginians lose and out-of-state Big Labor wins. A full 96% of Virginia’s workforce is non-union, and these PLAs would disqualify all of those Virginia workers in favor of largely out-of-state closed shops. In short, PLAs leave most Virginian workers out in the cold and run up costs on taxpayer-funded projects.

We’re already seeing it on Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail’s Silver Line expansion. We don’t need to see it any more, and my bill will address that issue. I’m pleased to say that every member of the Republican caucus has signed onto my bill as a copatron, and a companion bill patroned by Delegates Comstock, Hugo, and Ramadan enjoys similar support in the House. Virginia doesn’t need the failed union policies that destroyed Detroit to undermine our fragile economic recovery. My bill will ensure that job-killing PLAs don’t gain a foothold here.

Another of my bills, SB 158, just passed the Senate 27-13. The bill prevents magistrates and clerks from releasing on bail those charged with truly violent offenses without the concurrence of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Obviously, judges have the power to set bail — but lesser officers of the court shouldn’t be releasing potentially dangerous individuals into the community without a judge’s order or the Commonwealth Attorney’s consent. This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. We’re talking alleged murderers, rapists, and drug kingpins. What my bill requires is just common sense — and soon, I’m confident, it will be law.

Also this week, the Senate passed a bill eliminating history and science SOL testing for third graders. I outlined my opposition to this move in a Roanoke Times op-ed, which you can read here.

Finally, thanks again to all of my friends from back home who stopped by this week. I had visitors from the Farm Bureau, the Credit Unions, two of my local Chambers of Commerce (Warren-Front Royal and Harrisonburg-Rockingham), Eastern Mennonite University, the Blue Ridge Arts Council, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, local animal shelters, several of my Commissioners of the Revenue, and a number of students. It’s always good to see familiar faces, especially in a week as crazy as this one.

And there’s always next week..

With best regards,

Mark D. Obenshain
Virginia State Senator

Posted in Legislative Updates, Senator Mark Obenshain | Leave a comment

HOW AN ACCUSATION SPREADS

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

We often let our emotions, particularly anger and hatred, carry us away.  Even the most respected people can be targeted by rumors and innuendo. Thus, a when Pastor Rick Warren said Christians and Muslims must work together (see here, here and here), he became the target of an accusation. Here and here are examples.  However, Warren has denied the accusations (see here and here).

Was the accusation true or a smear? Supposedly, Warren advocates something called Chrislam. Some, apparently regard both the Bible and the Qur’an as true and sacred texts. How anyone would reconcile the two, I have no idea.  Nevertheless, at least a few journalists have covered Chrislam (see here and here).

So why am I mentioning this? When bloggers don’t check the veracity of their sources, we spread rumors and innuendo, sometimes really silly rumors and innuendo.

So what kind of pastor is Warren? I don’t attend his church, but you can visit his church’s website. I am currently enjoying the Christian Apologetics webpage.

Posted in religion, US Blogs, VA-Blogs | 1 Comment

2012 PRESIDENTIAL PROS AND CONS: MITT ROMNEY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

BEWARE OF THE PERVASIVE POISON OF BIG GOVERNMENT

Here, in the seventh post in a series on Mitt Romney, we will talk about his attitude towards environmental issues (See 2012 PRESIDENTIAL PROS AND CONS: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON MITT ROMNEY for the first post and links to the remaining posts in this series.).

The Environment

In 2008, like other Republicans Romney offered a plan to “End Energy Dependence”. Romney wanted a national energy plan that involves subsidies and research. He mentions everything from ethanol subsidies to liquefied coal to offshore oil drilling to energy conservation. His justification?

“The United States must become energy independent. This does not mean no longer importing or using oil. It means making sure that our nation’s future will always be in our hands. Our decisions and destiny cannot be bound to the whims of oil-producing states.” (Governor Mitt Romney, Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007) (from here)

Romney’s acquiescence on alcohol subsidies, of course, makes his promises with regard to spending cuts a bit harder to take seriously.

In 2007, Grist.org provided a synopsis of Romney’s environmental proposals and his record as Governor of Massachusetts (here). Grist.org has since then grown more unhappy with Romney.

Where does Mitt Romney stand on climate change and energy issues? Brace yourself: He doesn’t have that flip-flopper reputation for nothing. (continued here)

That article goes on to observe that as recent as June 2011 Romney expressed concern over Climate Change (aka Global Warming). By October 2011, Romney swiveled around on his climate views. Thus, Romney’s “Believe In America” speaks to environmental issues in two sections. Romney offers an Energy Policy that he says would ensure that environmental laws properly account for cost in regulatory process. In particular, he supports and he offers a Regulatory Policy that he says would eliminate unnecessarily costly environmental regulations. In particular, Romney would eliminate “Amend Clean Air Act to exclude carbon dioxide from its purview.”

Here is how his regulatory reform proposals sound now.

Reform Environmental Regulation

As president, Mitt Romney will eliminate the regulations promulgated in pursuit of the Obama administration’s costly and ineffective anti-carbon agenda. Romney will also press Congress to reform our environmental laws to ensure that they allow for a proper assessment of their costs.

  • Ensure that environmental laws properly account for cost in regulatory process
  • Provide multi-year lead times before companies must come into compliance with onerous new environmental regulations

(from here)

In this campaign, Romney’s focus is jobs.  So he has either honed his message to please the most people, or he has flip-flopped.  Take your pick.

It appears that Romney’s most solid accomplishment as the governor of Massachusetts was signing a law to reduce mercury pollution (here).

Posted in 2012 Election, Environment, Mitt Romney | 1 Comment