Blog Archives
The Gentleman from "Statewide"
So…Del. Ward Armstrong (D-Henry) is looking to run for statewide office in 2013. I wonder how this will affect Terry McAuliffe’s bid.
House Speaker Bill Howell reacted to the news quite well by acknowledging Armstrong’s ambition on the House floor.
Is this Teacher a Paid Political Operative?
Recently, the Fairfax Education Association held a press conference to discuss the budget. Also, on the agenda was discussion of the 41st House District, and one of those speaking was a teacher and FEA member who spoke out against Kerry Bolognese and his positions being tailored to score political points. This teacher might have had an interesting past…go figure!
Wilder: Time for a Shakeup
In a recent Politico op-ed, former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder suggested that President Obama needs a staff shakeup to help the President accomplish his goals. He also criticized former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s job as DNC Chair.
“I am an admirer of Tim Kaine, whom I backed in his current position and as one of my successors as Virginia governor and even recommended for the vice presidency. But a spate of recent losses in races that Democrats should have won underscores what has been obvious to me for a long time: The chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee is the wrong job for him.”
OUCH! I thought it was too soon for this call. I mean after the gubernatorial losses in New Jersey and Virginia, and Martha Coakley losing the Senate race in Massachusetts, one could have assumed the calls for Kaine’s head would be in the pipeline. Actually, it would be great if Obama keeps Kaine in charge of things at the DNC and focus on ridding himself of others in his Administration.
Sign-gate!
Today was a beautiful day to knock doors for Steve Hunt. In fact, my friend went door to door and braved the freezing cold, while I made phone calls for Steve. My friend called me around 12:30 p.m. and indicated that he had heard something interesting from a voter in the Fairview precinct in Braddock District.
When he went to knock on this one door, he was greeted by a woman, who had indicated that she was a lifelong Democrat, but angered at Dave Marsden’s campaign…so much that she would not vote for him. When my friend asked her what happened to make her change the decision, she said that Marsden’s campaign had placed a sign in her yard, when she did not request one. This voter also mentioned that several of her neighbors had the same thing happen to them. Ordinarily, this voter said it’s one thing to request a sign and place it in your yard to show support, but it’s another when you are not asked by the campaign to have a sign in her yard.
Wow…it goes to show that someone is desperate for votes when they put a yard sign in your front lawn without your permission.
Is the Health Care Bill Repealable?
Yes, Virginia, the Senate Democrats are simply out of control. I know this is not exactly the news that puts you in the Christmas spirit, but the Senate health care bill continues to prove their reckless behavior. With one more procedural vote, the Senate will be voting on their version of the health care bill on Christmas Eve and compromising the very liberties and freedoms we have when it comes to selecting the right health coverage for our needs.
However, what happens if it passes? Can certain aspects of the bill be repealed? It will be difficult, but there is one provision that will not be able to repealed by future Congresses. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) indicated that on page 1020 of the Senate health care bill, there is a provision that says, “it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection.” This would make the Independent Medicare Advisory Board permanent.
Basically, this would compromise everything our Founding Fathers had envisioned for our country and for the legislative bodies. If a legislative body can not go in and modify previously passed legislation, then what good is it? Not very good or serviceable.
Michael McPadden, who is running for the Republican nomination in the 5th District of Virginia released this statement.
“No Congress has the right to tell future Congresses what to do. Un-repealable, just watch us Harry.”
I agree with McPadden. Perhaps, it is time to throw Harry Reid and the corrupt Democrats out come November 2010 and start with a clean slate of patriots willing to do the work for the people.
CCC Airheads of the Month: The Democrats in Congress
Actually, the CCC Airhead of the Month segment should belong to the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am usually just looking for one apple that has fallen out of the tree in a unique, laughable way, however, this month, it was like a monsoon of bad apples just dropping. Of course, I could just give this to just one particular individual…but after today, I have to bestow this honor on the House Democrats.
Here is a little background information:
Yesterday, Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) offered a resolution in the House of Representatives forcing Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) to step aside as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. The basis of this has to deal with Rangel’s many acts of corruption, like not paying taxes and failing to disclose properties. Sadly, this amendment was killed by a vote of 243-156.
This vote alone earned the Democrats in Congress the honor of being Airheads of the Month. Of course, their fearless spokesperson, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) went on MSNBC to defend Rangel. According to The Hill, Waters said that many in Congress have faced the same disclosure issues and that Rangel should stay in his leadership position. Really, Maxine? You are saying that there are more to look out for…thanks for the clarification.
When will the Democrats state their positions on Taxes?
Republican Party of Virginia Chairman, Pat Mullins, along with House Speaker Bill Howell and Del. Terry Kilgore, have called on Democratic candidates to declare whether or not they support Creigh Deeds in his promise to raise taxes if elected. Deeds wants to raise $1 billion in taxes, and this will cost you at the pump with a higher gasoline tax.
“This is just the absolute wrong time, as Governor Kaine has recognized, to be raising taxes – when you’re in a deep, deep recession. Particularly the gasoline tax, which is a very regressive tax that impacts the people who can least afford to pay it the most,” said Speaker Howell. “I would be interested in knowing where the other Democrats are on this. Do they support their gubernatorial candidate or not?”
“I think it’s a clear defining issue between our candidates and their opponents,” said Kilgore. “Particularly in my part of the state, where people have to drive long distances just to get to work, raising the gas tax at this time is just the wrong idea. But we want to know where the House candidates stand.”
Deeds is facing opposition to his proposed tax increases. State Sen. Edd Houck (D-17), in an email to constituents, said the worst thing would be to increase the burden on the taxpayer during these troubled economic times. “Fortunately, Governor Kaine’s proposals contain no tax increases,” Houck wrote in an e-mail that largely dealt with efforts to balance Virginia’s budget. “With salaries remaining stagnant or worse individuals losing their jobs, a tax increase is unneeded.” Also, Democratic challenger to Del. Steve Landes (R-25), Greg Marrow, said he does not support tax increases.
In this economy, people can not afford additional taxes. Deeds’ plan only adds to the economic burden that many families are facing, and there are other viable solutions that do not involve raising taxes, like cutting an unnecessary department or a program that has no proven impact on Virginians.
I'm Sorry We're NOT Rocket Scientists…
I received this email from one of my good friends today reminding me why the “rocket scientists” in control of Congress might not be capable of leading.
A DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of ‘why’ our country is in trouble!
1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman (Carol Shea-Porter) (D) ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!)
2. I got a call from a Kansas Congressman’s (Moore) (D) staffer (Howard Bauleke), who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, and then he interrupted me with, ”I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts.”
Without trying to make him look stupid, I calmly explained, ”Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa ”his response — click.
3. A senior Vermont Congressman (Bernie Sanders) (D-Socailist) called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando . He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that’s not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.
He replied, “don’t lie to me, I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state!” (OMG)4. I got a call from a lawmaker’s wife (Landra Reid) who asked, ”Is it possible to see England from Canada?”
I said, ”No.”
She said, ”But they look so close on the map.” (OMG, again!)5. An aide for a cabinet member (Janet Napolitano) (D) once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. I pulled up the reservation and noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas . When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, ”I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time.” (Aghhhh)
6. An Illinois Congresswoman (Jan Schakowsky) (D) called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 a.m., and got to Chicago at 8:33 a.m.
I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois , but she couldn’t understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.7. A New York lawmaker (Jerrold Nadler) (D) called and asked, ”Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?’ ‘ I said, ‘No, why do you ask?”
He replied, ”Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I’m overweight. I think that’s very rude!”
After putting him on hold for a minute, while I looked into it. (I was dying laughing). I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, Ca. is (FAT – Fresno Air Terminal), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on his luggage.8. A Senator John Kerry (D) aide (Lindsay Ross) called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, ”Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?”
9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman, Bobby Bright (D) from Alabama who asked, ”How do I know which plane to get on?”
I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, ”I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.”10. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) called and said, ”I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?”
I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, FL on a commuter plane.
She said, ”Yeah, whatever, smarty!”11. Mary Landrieu (D) La. Senator called and had a question about the documents she needed in order to fly to China . After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded her that she needed a visa. ‘Oh, no I don’t. I’ve been to China many times and never had to have one of those.”
I double checked and sure enough, her stay required a visa. When I told her this she said, ”Look, I’ve been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!”12. A New Jersey Congressman (John Adler) (D) called to make reservations, ”I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York ..”
I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, ”Are you sure that’s the name of the town?”
‘Yes, what flights do you have?” replied the man.
After some searching, I came back with, ”I’m sorry, sir, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a rhino anywhere.”
”The man retorted, ”Oh, don’t be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!”
So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, ”You don’t mean Buffalo , do you?”
The reply? ”Whatever! I knew it was a big animal.”
Now you know why the Government is in the shape that it’s in!
Wow, I’m speechless!
