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Ken Vaughn for Congress
I wished I could still vote in the 11th District. After all, I now live in the 8th District, where we have a Congressman more interested in getting himself arrested or screaming at constituents (including a 27-year Army Veteran).
In the 11th District, there are two Republicans running for the nomination: Ken Vaughn and Chris Perkins. I have had the opportunity to look over the materials for both candidates, and I believe that Ken Vaughn is the better candidate for the nomination.
Vaughn is a strong defender of the Constitution, and will defend/protect our liberties. After all, Vaughn understands the fiscal issues facing our country and has a plan to get our budget back in order. Additionally, Vaughn is solid on the issue of protecting life (where his opponent has been largely silent). The real issue that completely persuades me to support Vaughn is his positions on liberty. Vaughn realizes that both the PATRIOT Act and TSA have been an infringement on our liberties. With the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need someone who will fight to make sure we are within Constitutional means of declaring war (Congress formally declaring, not just following the leader).
After listening to Perkins speak at a YR meeting, I gathered he is not a big fan of Ron Paul (and his supporters). He admitted that to a few of us, who inquired about his positions on SOPA and some economic issues. Rob at The Liberty Zone even added that he is not very interested in Second Amendment related issues and that he will not end entitlements.
As a strong Ron Paul supporter, I am not too keen on Perkins after talking with him about the issues that should concern many in the 11th District. Vaughn offers a refreshing change and could provide Connolly with a strong challenge, if he gets the nomination.
While it is a shame that I am no longer in the 11th, there is no doubt that this primary will be one to watch.
Recap from the Fairfax County Republican Convention
After awaking at an ungodly hour this morning, I ventured out to the Fairfax County Republican Convention to vote for a new party chairman. I made it pretty clear that I was supporting Matt Ames for Chairman, and I was optimistic that he was going to emerge victorious. After arriving, I noticed there was a heavy presence for his opponent, Jay McConville, so it became clear that this race was going to become more interesting.
While I did not have an opportunity to listen to the speeches, I heard that Matt gave a great speech to the delegates at the convention. Delegates also heard from Jay, as well as many of the U.S. Senate and Congressional candidates. There is no doubt that many of the delegates were energized to move the party forward. Anthony Bedell, who was the outgoing chair gave some great remarks as well. Thanks to Anthony for his leadership over the past two years.
Congratulations to Jay McConville, who was elected unanimously as Chairman of the committee. It will be interesting to see if Jay will succeed in moving the party forward and be open to new ideas that will motivate the grassroots in the next two years.
Springing Back into Things
First, I owe all my readers an explanation on where I have been lately. Don’t worry…nothing bad has happened to me, but work had been hectic (which is good), and the last thing I want to do at the end of the day is to turn on the computer.
I have also resumed half marathon training and have decided to take a few Bikram and Vinyasa yoga classes. This has taken me off circuit for a while too.
However, it is politics that burn me out. Honestly, I would rather share my love of fitness or baking. After all, there is a great need to be well rounded. You will see more of this here.
There will still be some political stuff. After all, we need more liberty and less government in our lives.
Be on the lookout for more posts. I’ll try to post a recap of the Fairfax County Republican Committee Convention, as well as a race recap from my first race of 2012.
So…what have I missed and any predictions for the start of the baseball season?
-Krystle
Talk about hitting the jackpot…
…and continuing to mooch off the system.
Why doesn’t it surprise me that people are allowed to take advantage of the welfare system in the U.S.? After all, the government gives money to those who need it (note: NEED, meaning they specifically show their fiscal status, etc.). However, need has gone a step further, as we have seen from a Michigan woman, who won the lottery, and did not take the responsibility to report her winnings to the state. With her lottery prize, she bought a new car, new house, and still remained on welfare benefits, receiving $200 a month for food. Below is the video that has caused an uproar around the country:
This makes me sick. Again, your tax dollars (especially if you live in Michigan) are being wasted by oversight. As soon as the woman won the lottery, the state agency responsible for her welfare benefits should have ended them. Clearly, if she had enough money to buy the car and a house, she could clearly provide food for herself and her family.
Thankfully, the woman has lost her benefits (not to mention that there could be legal action taken against her), and the Michigan legislature is considering a bill that would require the state lottery agency to report to the Department of Human Services if a recipient of welfare funds wins the jackpot.
Best Remark of the Day
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is definitely not afraid of speaking his mind. There is no doubt I agree with his comments regarding Warren Buffett. Buffett has repeatedly called for higher taxes on those who are rich, and this is coming from a man who owes taxes going back to 2002.
Christie said:
Cut a check and shut up, that’s what I say, okay? I’m tired of hearing about it. He wants to pay more taxes, pay more.
Christie is right on the money with this comment. Perhaps, Buffett should do what’s right and pay more taxes. God knows he makes enough, and if he wants to pay more, then by all means, he should pay more.
Welcome to the Nanny State…School Lunch Inspections?
Remember the days when you could take a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, along with a snack bag of Doritos and a Twinkie to school for lunch. Well, those days are gone like the wind.
Welcome to the Nanny State, where state officials can take your lunch and replace it with what they feel is the healthier option. Recently, a student at West Hoke Elementary School in North Carolina had her lunch removed, because a government inspector thought her lunch was not healthy enough.
According to the John W. Pope Civitas Foundation, the student brought a lunch packed by her mother, which contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, apple juice, and a snack bag of potato chips.
What is so unhealthy (maybe with the exception of potato chips) about the rest of the student’s lunch? The real question that should be brought up: Whatever happened to parental rights? Is it not the right of the parents to pack a lunch that best fits the nutritional needs of their children, without government intervention?
So, what did the government give the child in return for the so-called unhealthy lunch? Chicken Nuggets. They are supposedly healthier than a turkey and cheese sandwich, apple juice, and a banana. I wonder where the government official and school system took their nutritional courses.
Welcome to the Nanny State…where parental rights are assaulted every day and a freedom destroyed.
Journey into Bikram Yoga
You knew this post was eventually coming, and I forewarned you that I was going to write about other things outside of politics. So, without further adieu, I present to you the first into my series focusing on fitness.
With health care costs increasing significantly every year and with obesity rates at 36%, exercise is the best preventative medicine around (along with eating right…but I’m not going to go all Michelle Obama on this post). It gives you energy and for the most part, it provides focus and clarity.
Today, I ventured into a Bikram Yoga class. It was not my first time encountering a 104 degree room and holding poses. I had been before, but I was not thoroughly convinced that it would be the perfect alternative to running. However, after today’s class, I feel this could be an alternative.
Bikram Yoga has many benefits including increased flexibility through intense stretching, and allows the ability to sweat out the toxins. Of course, you need to drink lots of water before, during, and after practice to remain hydrated due to the excessive amount of sweat loss.
Running has caused a few injuries along the way, and lately, I have been feeling frustrated by the fact that I am in pain a few hours after a long run. It is great cardio, and one that has contributed to my overall weight loss. From being overweight in high school, I bought my first pair of running shoes during my freshman year in college, and the first run was painful. Needless to say, I have been running strong over the years with several races under my belt (a 5-K, 8-K, 10-K, and a 10 miler), and a goal to run a half marathon this year.
However, I need balance. I tried CrossFit, but I feel like that it is taking away from my overall flexibility. Yes, I like weight lifting, but I really don’t need to add muscle mass or bulk to my petite frame. Yoga feels like a natural complement to running. I just feel flexible and peaceful after class, which is a good thing.
In the end, if you can take the heat and are willing to embrace your inner self through the practice, you should definitely try Bikram Yoga (or another form, if you are not a big fan of the heat). The health benefits are tremendous, and there is no doubt that you will leave with a peaceful feeling at the end of practice.
Susan G. Komen Foundation Pulls Grant from Planned Parenthood
In business, there are times when you need to look over a budget carefully and decide whether or not you can give grants to certain organizations. Sometimes, it is feasible and other times, it is not quite possible to make grants to other organizations.
Yesterday, news broke that Susan G. Komen Foundation was not giving grants to Planned Parenthood. It was a move to strengthen their granting process and free up money for services to help women, who might not have access to care. According to a statement from Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Founder and CEO Ambassador Nancy Brinker, the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood was based in part to a strategy that was meant to safeguard donor dollars, and it was not based on politics.
Since the decision was made, there has been backlash from many who support Planned Parenthood and feel the decision was made for political reasons. Planned Parenthood has been under scrutiny and investigation for their organization’s practices, involving abortions. Supporters of Planned Parenthood have been attacking Susan G. Komen on their Facebook page and on social media outlets, such as Twitter. There has been a surge in donations to Planned Parenthood in response to the decision.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation made the best decision for the future of their organization. If anything, perhaps they realize that the Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices might harm their reputation. It is also pretty bad, considering that an undercover investigation discovered that a majority of their clinics do not offer mammograms. A Susan G. Komen Foundation donor (and potential donors) might want to know how Planned Parenthood used the money. There is no doubt that this had to be a factor in the decision to eliminate the grants.
Cross posted at Bearing Drift
Does Rand Paul Look Irate to You?
Just watch the video and tell me does Sen. Rand Paul look irate about being detained at the Nashville Airport.
He doesn’t look angry to me. Perhaps, the TSA officials at the airport that day might have added too much drama when referring to the incident.
Whatever the case may be, Sen. Paul’s incident has brought to light that it is time that the effectiveness of TSA be questioned. In an recent op-ed that appeared in The Washington Times, Paul wrote about TSA’s work should be on police work, instead of violating our Fourth Amendment rights.
If a federally funded TSA is going to exist, then its focus should be on police work and it must respect the rights of citizens. The TSA should not universally insult all travelers; it should however research, track, monitor and target people that are, in fact, threats to our nation.
This blatant violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects Americans against unwarranted search and seizure, has insulted many citizens, and rightfully so. I, along with many other travelers, do not view traveling as a crime that warrants government search and seizure. In fact, I view traveling as a basic right, for Americans are free to travel from state to state as they please.
I refused an unnecessary patdown and stood up for my rights as an American citizen. This is a battle Americans face every time they fly. It is my firm belief that TSA should not have such broad authority to violate our constitutional rights in ineffective and invasive physical searches, thus I will further push for the reinstatement of traveler privacy and rights. I will be proposing legislation that will allow for adults to be rescreened if they so choose.
I couldn’t agree more with Sen. Paul’s points. As Americans, we should not be subjected to a groping fiasco before boarding our flights, rather we should be able to go through a screening process that respects our privacy.
Mark Plotkin Out at WTOP
For those in Northern Virginia, if you listened to WTOP on Fridays, you would typically hear Mark Plotkin’s Friday Politics Program. This program would often feature Plotkin’s interviews with various local politicians and candidates about the issues facing the area. It was a great program, even if Plotkin’s politics were liberal leaning.
Imagine my surprise when I read that Plotkin and WTOP have parted ways, creating a void on Fridays. The Washington Post reported today that the decision came as a surprise to many Washingtonians who listened to his commentary, especially when it came down to voting rights in D.C. WTOP would not release any additional details, but it has been speculated that Plotkin’s behavior could be the cause of the separation. Prior to WTOP, he hosted a show with WAMU about politics. He left WAMU in 2002.
While Plotkin’s presence on the airwaves will be missed by some in the D.C. Metropolitan area, it will be interesting to see who will fill the void at WTOP in the meantime.
Cross posted at Bearing Drift
