Monthly Archives: April 2009
Supreme Court Justice Souter to Retire
NPR reports that Supreme Court Justice David Souter will be retiring at the end of the court term. This will be President Obama’s first court appointment, and no doubt, this opens the door for a potential appointment of Elena Kagan, who has been rumored to be one of Obama’s top choices. No doubt, whoever it is, the nominee will most likely have a cloud of controversy over him/her.
Stay tuned for future developments.
Ken Cuccinelli on Immigration
Illegal immigration is one of many issues that an Attorney General will be focused on during his tenure. With the rise of illegal immigrants in Virginia, it is important that the Attorney General address any legal issues that may arise in a fair manner. There is no doubt that we have a candidate seeking the Attorney General nomination, who has a noted legislative record on handling illegal immigration, and that candidate is Ken Cuccinelli.
Ken Cuccinelli is a founding member of the national organization for State Legislators for Legal Immigration. He will ensure that legislation is passed to crack down on illegal aliens who repeatedly break laws, such as identity theft and joining violent criminal gangs. If they break the laws, then they get deported.
Cuccinelli has also passed legislation that requires employers to do background checks and ensure that only legal residents are hired. (Reference SB517). Additionally, Cuccinelli has always supported E-Verify (even though, a certain AG candidate has accused Cuccinelli of being soft on illegal immigration and being against E-Verify). Cuccinelli has also been successful by passing legislation that will give local municipalities legal authority to investigate illegal boarding houses.
So, if you think Cuccinelli is soft on illegal immigration, you are wrongly mistaken. Throughout his legislative career, Cuccinelli has been working hard to make Virginia a safe place to live, work, and conduct business. He has always been strong on adhering to both the Virginia and U.S. Constitution, and this is why I am supporting Ken Cuccinelli on May 30th.
**Cross Posted at Bloggers 4 Ken Cuccinelli
Things are getting a little heated
At a recent Democratic Governor’s Forum in Danville recently, there was a smackdown of epic proportions over whether or not Terry McAuliffe would support offshore drilling. In this video, Brian Moran simply calls McAuliffe out for his lack of silence on whether he supports offshore drilling. This is where things really start to get heated. McAuliffe starts attacking Moran on supporting legislation that would increase the development of natural gas. Watch the drama unfold.
Now, let the festivities begin as the Democrats are eating themselves alive.
Obama's First 100 Days
What has Barack Obama done for America lately? He has destroyed the free market economy by subscribing to Keynesian hack theories, subscribing to even more bailouts, pushing for card check unionization (which would shove America under the union’s lock and step), and he has advanced his social agenda by promoting hate crimes legislation, disrespecting human life (think recent confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius, cheerleader for Planned Parenthood).
Has Obama’s first 100 days been successful? In my opinion, he has not been successful. If Obama is making his priority to continue FDR’s legacy, then our country will be paying for these decisions for a long time. History will be a judge of Obama’s legacy with the first 100 days.
Update: I could not pass mentioning this video.
Why did Snarlin' Arlen Switch Parties?
He was desperate to save his political career. You see, Specter is a classic example of what the GOP does not need, and for once, I am glad to see him go back to where he rightfully belongs. However, Specter knows that he has alienated his base, and by switching, he might have the chance to get re-elected. Specter also abandoned the core principles of fiscal responsibility and fighting for limited government. In a sense, he was a unprincipled hack.
But, who’s waiting in the trenches??? That’s right…Pat Toomey. Toomey is a true conservative, who will fight tooth and nail against Obama’s fiscal policies. The polls show that Specter is trailing Toomey by 20%, which does not look good.
Au Revoir Arlen Specter, and I hope you will enjoy your status in the minority (if re-elected) in 2010.
Arlen Specter is switching parties…FINALLY!
Breaking news: Sen. Arlen Specter (PA Liberal) is switching parties from the GOP to the Democrats. All I have to say is “Bye bye now…hey, hey Goodbye now”
More to come later…
McDonnell/Bolling Energy Plan Released
The McDonnell/Bolling Energy Plan was released today with proposals of more energy and more jobs for Virginia. This plan will include a great focus on green jobs and promoting Virginia as the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.” With oil and natural gas located off the coast in Virginia, there would be more jobs created and this will assist in reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Here are some of the highlights from the plan:
- Supporting Virginia’s coal industry and nuclear energy
- Expedite the permitting and approval processes for energy facilities
- Support affordable Energy Efficient improvements
- Improve Energy Reliability and Affordability through SMART Grids and Buildings
McDonnell said during his speech at Old Dominion University:
“This morning I traveled to Old Dominion University to launch our energy plan at The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium. The Consortium is researching and developing the energy solutions of the future. However, to do this work for tomorrow they need the energy of today. And that is what our “More Energy, More Jobs” energy plan is about. We need more energy in Virginia at a reasonable price, and that means we must utilize all the resources available to us. Thankfully in Virginia the resources are plentiful, and if we fully develop them all we can be the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.”
McDonnell continued, “Right now Virginia is the second largest importer of electricity behind California. The time has come for bold action to harness the energy available to us today, while continuing to develop the energy sources of tomorrow. In a McDonnell administration we will safely drill offshore for natural gas and oil, and reap the significant economic benefits documented in recent studies. We will use a portion of the revenues from this effort to fund alternative and renewable energy research and development and a portion to fund transportation infrastructure. We will support Virginia’s coal industry which supplies 43% of our energy, creates thousands of jobs in Southwest Virginia and Hampton Roads, yet is under constant attack from national special interest groups. We will leverage Tobacco Commission funding to make Southside and Southwest Virginia a hub of energy research and development. We will expedite permitting and approval for new energy facilities to reduce bureaucratic delays in getting necessary projects underway. And we will make Virginia a national leader in the burgeoning field of green energy by establishing the Commonwealth as a “Green Jobs Zone” which will bring entrepreneurs, and the jobs they create, to Virginia. We need more energy, we need more jobs. We need our lights to stay on at an affordable price, while we develop our future energy sources. Our comprehensive energy plan will power the Virginia of today and tomorrow and create thousands of good paying jobs for our citizens in the process.”
Bolling mentioned the anticipated success from this plan.
“As Governor and Lieutenant Governor we are committed to supporting a comprehensive energy policy – a policy that recognizes the importance of developing new sources of energy, like wind, solar, biofuels and the like; while at the same time doing more to expand traditional sources of energy like nuclear power, clean coal, oil and natural gas, all of which are in abundance in Virginia.”
Bolling added, “As we all know, the most important issue currently facing our state is the need to get our economy moving again and create the jobs Virginians need to protect their economic security. We are determined to do just that. At the same time, we all know that our nation faces another important challenge, the need to protect our national energy security. Fortunately, we have developed a strategy to help our nation enhance its national energy security, while at the same time helping Virginians protect their own economic security.
There is no doubt that the energy crisis will be a difficult challenge, but there is no doubt that we need to be looking at common sense solutions in this economy.
**Cross Posted at Virginia News Platoon and YR Dominion
First 100 Days: Obama's Spending Spree Causes Government Expansion
Since we are almost at the 100 Day mark for the Obama Administration, it is time to look back and ask, “What has Barack Obama done for you lately?” If you are like me, your answer will be to spend taxpayer dollars like it’s going out of style, push his radical social agenda on Americans, and having his DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano consider all those who have opposite political views considered extremists. In order to make this brief, he has done nothing for anyone.
Fox News shares the news that Obama’s spending spree has caused an even larger expansion of the federal government since World War II. Many economic experts are warning that more challenges face Obama. For example:
Among the warning signs: The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that states need help covering the cost of overseeing their share of the massive federal stimulus program.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told a congressionally appointed oversight panel this week that America’s banks are still broken, despite all their bailout billions. And an inspector general assigned to the bailout program concluded this week that a private-public partnership designed to buy up bad assets is tilted in favor of private investors and creates “potential unfairness to the taxpayer.”
Add to this, if more government programs are created, it will become a challenge to cut them in the future, as many jobs will be lost placing the U.S. into higher unemployment rates.
Sunday Scenes: Luray
Today, I decided to take a drive away from the suburbs of Northern Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley. I had no agenda, but I just sought the wide open spaces and peace for a change. I ended up in the town of Luray, which is home to the Caverns. Once arriving, I took a walk on the Luray-Hawksbill Trail, which encompasses the town of Luray. Although it was quite hot outside and resulted in a nasty sunburn, the scenery was gorgeous. The mountains in the distance just made the scenery breathtaking. Spring’s beauty is back again.
Al Gore Gets Grilled by Marsha Blackburn
It was smackdown on Capitol Hill today with Al Gore testifying before Congress on climate change. Al Gore received quite a few contentious questions from several Congressmen about a possible kickback that he will be receiving from one of his clients. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was one of the Congressmen who questioned Gore on the kickback, and here is the video:
Blackburn was right to grill Gore for where this money will be headed. Gore does not care about the well being of American people, especially since he is a big supporter of cap and trade policy. With cap and trade proposals, there is no doubt that more regulations will be placed on businesses, in addition to posing an economic threat for both low and middle income families. American families will be spending more on gas, food, and heating fuel. The Wall Street Journal reports about the damaging effects this policy will have on many families and businesses in America. Here are the real effects of cap and trade, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Congressional Budget Office — Mr. Orszag’s former roost — estimates that the price hikes from a 15% cut in emissions would cost the average household in the bottom-income quintile about 3.3% of its after-tax income every year. That’s about $680, not including the costs of reduced employment and output. The three middle quintiles would see their paychecks cut between $880 and $1,500, or 2.9% to 2.7% of income. The rich would pay 1.7%. Cap and trade is the ideal policy for every Beltway analyst who thinks the tax code is too progressive (all five of them).
But the greatest inequities are geographic and would be imposed on the parts of the U.S. that rely most on manufacturing or fossil fuels — particularly coal, which generates most power in the Midwest, Southern and Plains states. It’s no coincidence that the liberals most invested in cap and trade — Barbara Boxer, Henry Waxman, Ed Markey — come from California or the Northeast.
Coal provides more than half of U.S. electricity, and 25 states get more than 50% of their electricity from conventional coal-fired generation. In Ohio, it totals 86%, according to the Energy Information Administration. Ratepayers in Indiana (94%), Missouri (85%), New Mexico (80%), Pennsylvania (56%), West Virginia (98%) and Wyoming (95%) are going to get soaked.
Wouldn’t this tell one that Obama’s policies to improve the environment will only intensify the damage to the economy? We already know that Obama’s environmental policies are destroying prosperity.
