174,000 Reasons Tim Kaine likes Daniel LeBlanc

As most of you know, I am not happy about Gov Kaine appointing Daniel LeBlanc as Sec of Commonwealth. I do understand that Kaine has over 174,000 reasons to do so. I bet there are 100 folks here that would argue about that.

Technorati : Virginia Politics

Relating To Woody

Slantblog has a good one up about propaganda and how music relates. F. T. Rea shows his great talent as he writes

"It carried me me back to a time when the music of Woody Guthrie(1912-67), and his folksinger ilk, stirred passions and spoke for people who were accustomed to being ignored"....................................

"Thinking about what those heartfelt songs meant, remembering my own raw youthful feelings concerning what those songs were about, I've been Lou Gehrig-ed (tears rolling down cheeks) each time I've listened to it."

Good stuff indeed. Go read it all.

Technorati : Blogging, Propaganda

Polls

The much talked about poll showing Bush at 35% and Cheney at 18% could be hog wash. ABP has this saying the internals show the sampling rate was

37% Democrats / 34% Independents / 27% Republicans (the unweighted sample is 40D/34I/26R). Keep in mind that in 2004 voters were 37% Democrat and 37% Republican.

That makes sense to me. The Blog From On High has the story on another goofy poll here.

Technorati : News, Politics, Polls

Cable TV

I think this is good news for the state. Cable competition could help people like me who pay a outrages price for cable tv and broadband. A the RTD has this and here is a wire from Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. Del Terry Kilgore is mentioned as working hard on this bill. It is on Kaines desk and we shall see if he signs it into law.

Technorati : Virginia News, Virginia Politics

Blog Carnival Update

UPDATE: Alton understands my point and posts his thoughts as well as this from a reader.

I can read a lot of the same stuff in the WaPo on any given day. Some of those folks are pretty bitter. That was my first and last trip to the carnival.

From my own comments Mandy, who has a great non political blog herself commented"

"I'm not really into politics. The past few times I've even looked at the blog carnival, and the first few have been politically motivated posts, I've closed my browser and not looked at any of the blogs."

Doug from Below the Beltway joins in. Doug seems to know a lot about carnivals because if you look at his sidebar you will see links to The Carnival Of Liberty. Doug has also sent emails and posted on the ODBA board about this. Good job Doug!

The Red Stater Chimes in. Great Post!

My original post about this is here.

Technorati : Blog Carnivals, Blogging, Blogs

Virginia Blog Carnival- No link

I used to contribute and look forward to reading the Virginia Blog Carnival.(No Link) When it started it was supposed to highlight Va bloggers talents and leave politics in the rear view mirror. This would would ensure a good response in traffic from the blogosphere. Traffic is the purpose of Carnivals. Readers from other states have little interest in reading about Virginia politics. When Chad started this, it was asked that politics stay out of the carnival. Waldo had this- From CC

"Virginia needs a carnival of its own. Though the well-known Virginia bloggers are all political, I'd like to see a round-up of blog entries on all kinds of topics, one that is decided non-partisan. It'd be a great way to get attention for lesser-known blogs, and for politically-minded people to discover the blog world outside of politics."

Chad said this:

"I would prefer our political bloggers send us something non-political, if possible. Let us see your softer side. That's just a suggestion."

Great comments Waldo and Chad! But that is exactly what the carnival has NOT become as 90% is politics. I fell into that trap and submitted a couple political posts, but I have stopped submitting anything now. There has been some cheap shots taken in the past, and it continues this week. J Sarge has noticed also.

This post has been updated here.

Technorati : Blogging, Blogs, Carnivals

UVA-Wise Lady Highland Cavaliers Heading to NAIA Tournament

This is great news! The UVA-Wise girls basketball team are on their way to the NAIA tournament. You can read some more about them here and some good pics are here. I know that at least 4 of the girls on the team are from Wise County. LaShay Collier, and sisters Rachel and Sarah Helton played at JJ Kelly high school and Terri Ann Hill played at St Paul. I think I am right about that.

This is the first time they have made the tournament. Way to go ladies and good luck in Sioux City, Iowa.

Technorati : Basketball, NAIA, Sports

Race Recap

The race is over and what can you say. Karma bites Tony Stewart in the butt. After his classless act at Daytona, Matt Kenseth wins the Auto Club 500. My driver Jeff Burton in the #31 fought off the reckless Jamie McMurray in the final laps to secure a 5^th place finish. Jeff had followed McMurray for many laps, unable to pass because of the flowing hair gel from Jamie's car. That hair should be considered a weapon! Jamie ended up 6^th. I suggested that when Kurt Bush won his title that his big ears gave him a aerodynamic advantage. Hair gel works the same way. It blows out onto windshields and the track. Nascar needs to look into that. Other drivers from the dark side that did not fair well today were Kevin Harvick( stop hisssssing) He finished 29^th. Stewart ended up last, 43^rd place. Kurt Bush was 16^th, and Kyle Bush finished the best at 10^th for the dark side. Clint Bowyer finished 14^th and had a great race. I like this kid! Elliott Sadler finished a disappointing 23^rd. The series is off next week and will return at Las Vegas on 3/12 for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400.

Brian Patton (who was seduced by the dark side, thus a Harvick fan) has this Nascar post.

Alton has a good post here also.

Technorati : Nascar, Sports

Nascar Race #2

The Nascar race is in Fontana Ca. Many believe this is the start of the real season. I agree with that. I am not a huge fan of the restricter plate races at Daytona and Talladega. My driver Jeff Burton is starting 6^th. Good ole Clint Bowyer is starting 32^nd. Over on the dark side, my girlfriends driver Jamie McMurray starts 25^th. He is listed as "One to Watch" by Fox Sports. I would agree with that, except it should read One to watch out for. That list should include Tony Stewart also. I will have my expert and unbiased analysis after the race.

Technorati : Nascar, Sports

100 workers at Lear lose jobs.

Lear lays off 100 workers in Lebanon. That is 15% of the workforce. Tri Cities.com has this article.

Here are some Lear facts from the article.

The Lebanon plant has been losing jobs for years. In 2003, it employed 850 people, according to Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority documents. By the end of 2004, 791 people worked at the factory, including 80 temporary employees.
As of the end of 2005, plant employment had slipped to 678. The latest layoff of more than 100 employees represented a 15 percent cut to the work force.
Last year, Lear laid off nearly 600 employees elsewhere in Virginia - at factories in Winchester and Covington.

Lets look at that for a minute. They had 850 in 2003, cut down to 791 plus 80 temps by the end of 2004. 791 + 80 = 871. Please explain how that works? They cut 59 good paying full time jobs and replaced them with 80 low paying no benefit temps. Now here is the kicker. Those laid off are Union workers. UAW to the bone. If you can explain how any union would tolerate that you win a prize! I would think that before you lay off a full time union worker all the temps would have to go. I would also bet that there are still temps working at the plant now. How did the company treat those 100 who got laid off? The article reads:

Lear Corp. did not file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN notice. The state ordinarily requires such notices when a company intends to lay off more than 60 workers.
Puchalsky said she wasn't certain why the notification was not filed. Notice is not required in circumstances in which an affected company had no warning of the loss of business that led to the layoffs, she said.
"Obviously, when a WARN notice is required by law, we file one," she said.

Now that is a great company and union! No warning? GM announced their layoff and plant closing months ago. Where is the union I ask. What did these workers pay dues for? Loosing the jobs takes away from all the praise for the high tech jobs that are coming to Lebanon. Jobs workers here cant fill. I posted about that twice before. The first one is here, and the other one is here. Give them a look. I think they prove the high tech jobs Warner-Kaine praised are a crock of ****. Lets not talk about retraining because that is years away. I will close with a quote from one of my earlier posts.

The courses the college offers now don't give students the sufficient education to get jobs with either company, said Sim Ewing, vice chancellor for finance and governmental affairs at UVa-Wise.

Technorati : News, UAW, Unions, Virginia, Virginia News

Charlotte Wyatt

As happy as the post below made me, this breaks my heart. You can read Ms. Malkins post here and visit the families blog here. This makes one wonder if this was an NFL stars kid or a member of the Royal family would this even be in the courts? Think about it.

Technorati : News

Jason McElwain- Put me in coach!

I had to post this. Jason McElwain was a student and water boy for his high school basketball team. His coach let him play in the last few minutes of the final game of the season.

"I just wanted to score a basket," McElwain said.

"I"m just sitting there saying `Let him score just one point,'" his mom, Deb said.

Score he did! 20 points. That was a big deal to Jason and his mom. Jason was born autistic. You can read about autism here. You can read the story and watch two videos here and here.

If these videos don't make you feel good nothing will.

Chad has a great video of this up at CC.

Technorati : Autism, Basketball, News, Sports

SB648- Up In Smoke

SB648 is history. Hats off the the committee who voted unanimously to kill the intrusive bill. The bill was sponsored by Republican Brandon Bell. I said this bill stinks a while back. So don't attack me with that "your a die hard republican" BS. I call it like I see it.

"I would agree people have a right not to breathe secondhand smoke," said Del. John A. Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake. "But that right is brought about by their feet. They have a right not to go somewhere where there is smoking. They have a right and a responsibility to take care of themselves." Link

This bill was intrusive to business owners. Any business can ban smoking right now if they choose. I still say if you don't like smoke, don't go were it is allowed. Spend your dollars elsewhere. End of story.

Technorati : Virginia Politics

More on the Ports Deal

I posted this shorty about us selling some ports a few days ago. Since then I have read a little about the deal and some history behind it. I have to say I have no problem with this deal. The guys at Powerline break it down here. The word Arab has caused some concern. Is that acceptable? Is it moral? Does Arab = Terrorist? No. How would backing out of this deal weigh out in foreign relations? I will admit the word Arab was the problem for me and that is wrong. Others blogging about this are Shaun, The Brown Hound who is a member of the Coast Guard, and Below the Beltway. A good round up of views. I should add all three are ODBA members. You can also take this little quiz at The Evangelical Outpost.

Technorati : News, Politics

Hero's and HB372

Via Ms. Malkin I see another Hero was lost. God bless Sgt. 1st Class Chad Gonsalves and his family. Please take one minute to read this.

I will also say God Bless Delegate Bill Carrico(R-Grayson) for bill (HB 372) I posted about this here. The Senate should quickly pass this bill. Some bloggers made lite of this bill. A couple more posts here and here. Flora over at the UCV blog knows what I am saying and she has this about halfway down in her post. While your visiting Flora check this out also. Carrico is a man of honor. Everyone should support HB372 and I will add HB371. Freedom of speech is one thing. Abuse is another. These guy's deserve some credit also.

Motorcyclists roll to soldier funerals to drown out protesters.

More of the same here

Technorati : News, Virginia Politics, War

Sporting

I know some will disagree, but I think this is a good idea. $15 is still a great deal. Now if they just use the money for what it should be used for. The money that we hunters and trappers contribute pays for many things in state parks that everyone can enjoy, even folks that do not hunt. I have seen the funds raided before and that p's me off. Most hunters and anglers that I know don't care to pay if the money goes where it should. A few other outdoor bills that have passed the house and senate are:

HB 5 Trout fishing; Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to issue special permits for handicapped. Great bill by Carrico!

HB 172 Wildlife diseases; control thereof.

HB 575 Trapping; exempts trappers using body grip traps that are completely submerged.

HB 651 Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act; gives authority to accept federal grant money.

HB 870 Boating safety course; required if convicted of violating boating law.

HB 981 Wildlife and fish restoration; Department of Game & Inland Fisheries to accept federal grant money.

Technorati : Fishing, Hunting, Virginia Politics

Round Up

Here is a short round up of things that interest me.

Ex-Gate City mayor found not guilty of two counts of election fraud. It looks like all those lefty bloggers were wrong in this part of the case. We all read the attacks on Charles Dougherty Jr and the so far still not indicted Scott County registrar. Lets see how many pundits apologize for trying this case in the blogosphere. Charles Dougherty Jr still faces 18 counts of violating absentee voting procedures and 17 counts of making false statements.

Bearing Drift has discovered Bud Phillips. Welcome to my world JR!(More on that below) TC has this on the subject. They also had a great live blog with chairman of the House Transportation Committee Del. Leo Wardrup. This is good stuff. OMT has a couple post's up about the call.

I agree with Will on the Kaine pennies a day plan. Will the roads get better? No promises. Will the taxes go up? Indeed.

Jerry has some more thoughts on the census reports I linked. Dickenson County is in bad shape. That is the above mentioned Bud Phillips district. I can see why Bud hates to increase taxes on Dickenson County residents. Bud has held office for many years and the county has reaped the rewards. Maybe they can build another museum? A hiking trail maybe? I have said it before and I will continue saying it. It is time for a change! Getting Bud out of office is part of that change. A wise man told me one time that it is insane to keep doing the same things over and over, expecting a different result. Voters there need to accept that.

Technorati : Blogging, News, Politics, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Urban Legend

An atheist professor was teaching a college class and he told the class that he was going to prove that there is no God.

He said, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!"

Ten minutes went by.

The professor kept taunting God, saying, "Here I am, God. I'm still waiting."

He got down to the last couple of minutes and a Marine just released from active duty, and newly registered in the class, walked up to the professor, hit him full force in the face, and sent him flying from his platform.

The professor struggled up, obviously shaken and yelled, "What's the matter with you? Why did you do that?"

The Marine replied, "God was busy, so He sent me."

Technorati : Blogging, Urban Legend

Warner For Harris Miller- Raising Dollars

The Richmond Report says Mark Warner will be the special guest at a fundraiser for Harris Miller. The plot thickens! Will James Webb get the Paul Hackett treatment? This is bad news for Webb. Good news for Miller and George Allen. I will enjoy the tussle over this. It seems most of the grassroots bloggers are supporting Webb while the Democratic goldenboy is Raising Kaine Dollars for Miller. I think this is very good for Allen. Comments?

Chad has a post about this also. So does NLS.

Technorati : Democratic Party, Virginia Politics

Blogging in China - Zhao Jing

The WAPO has a informative article about blogging up. It is about a Chinese blogger named Zhao Jing. He blogged about politics and was shut down. The way I understand this, the government would shutdown whatever service that hosted his blog. He moved to Microsofts My Space and guess what?

Four and a half months after he began posting essays challenging the Communist Party's taboo against discussing politics, Zhao published an item protesting the purge of a popular newspaper's top editors. Officials called Microsoft to complain, and Microsoft quickly erased his blog.

I know this story has been around for a while, but this guy Jing's story is interesting. It made me think: "How long would I last there?" We are lucky here to blog about our government freely.

Technorati : Blogging, Microsoft, News

Daytona 500 Blues

If you read my NASCAR post you know the Daytona 500 was a disappointment for me. My driver Jeff Burton was shamelessly attacked by my girlfriends driver Jamie McMurray. Jamie attacked with the wrath of a killer rabbit and Burton ended up finishing 32^nd. Jamie finished 37^th. Was it just me or did Tony Stewart rage around like a bull in a china cabinet? The good thing was RCR's Clint Bowyer finished 8^th in that Jack Daniel's car. Now on to Cali!!

Technorati : NASCAR, Sports

Dickenson County

The BHC had this letter to the editor on Sunday. The writer wonders about the recent census data from Dickenson County. The numbers (if accurate) will amaze you. The writer also questions the leadership -or lack thereof. It is time for a change.

UPDATE- Jerry has some numbers that are different from the letter. I can see how the writer came about his/her numbers by looking at this. I think his numbers would work if it was Dickenson residents working in Dickenson county only. Here are some data sets about this subject.

Technorati : Virginia, Virginia Politics

Coal and Saftey

Here is the best discussion I have read about coal mining and safety. This meeting was hosted by the best:Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Center for Coal and Energy Research at Virginia Tech.

Technorati : Virginia, coal, mining, safety

2nd Amendment Rights...They just dont get it

Another take. Lowell at Raising Kaine has the spin machine in high gear with this post. He is appalled as usual at HB162. He thens quotes this story from the WAPO about a gun accidentally firing and killing a State Trooper. Oh what spin. Let us first know that Virginians can legally carry loaded weapons in their car and on their person. That follows our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The key words being 'keep and bear." Here is the wording of HB162

A. No person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity shall maintain, establish, or enforce any policy or rule that has the effect of prohibiting a person who may lawfully possess a firearm from storing a firearm locked in or locked to a firearms rack in a motor vehicle in a parking lot, parking space, or other similar property set aside for motor vehicles.

B. No person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity shall be liable in any civil action for any occurrence that results from or is connected to the use of a firearm that was lawfully stored pursuant to subsection A, unless the person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity commits a criminal act involving the use of the firearm.

C. Any person may enforce this section by filing a petition for injunction in the court of record of the county or city in which the person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business entity prohibiting the firearm is located. The court shall award actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff.

D. This section shall not apply to (i) § 18.2-308.1, relating to possession of firearms on school property and at school activities; (ii) vehicles on privately owned property to which access is restricted or limited through the use of a gate, security station, or other means of restricting or limiting general public access onto the property; or (iii) vehicles owned or leased by an employer or business entity and used by an employee in the course of his employment.

When companies started making rules that prohibit my right to keep and bear firearms this violates my rights. This bill in no way expands gun owners rights. It does ensure our rights granted under the constitution. If I cant safely keep and store my firearm while at work then that means I cant carry my firearm on the trip to and from work. That violates my rights. In simple terms if I want to hunt or go to the range after work I would not have to make unnecessary trips to get my gun. It also allows me my right to protect myself and property on such a trip. This bill ensures my rights granted under the constitution and clears any business of liability for the gun. That works! The bill passed the house by a 3-1 margin. Good deal! Thanks go out to Puckett, Phillips, Kilgore, and Carrico for supporting our rights. Now the trooper story is tragic, on that I agree with Lowell. It sounds like the trooper did not secure the truck before moving it. I am sure protocol is to search and secure anything in that truck before moving it. While very sad, it most likely was the troopers fault. The telling factor here is what the driver was charged with, and it is not gun related. That rings true with what I have posted. Lowell finishes his spin with this question: "can anyone remember the last time they read about someone using a firearm to protect themselves or someone else in their vehicle?" That is like me asking when was the last time any of my gun carrying friends were robbed or attacked. He is missing the point. I promise you thieves and strong armers will not try to attack people who carry guns. The lady with the 9mm on her side is not the lady who gets robbed or raped. On this note, I will tell a story. I was working at a place who did not allow me to have guns in my car. There was a union organizing happening at the factory and the company had hired thugs with guns everywhere. These thugs were the same thugs used in the famous Pittston strike that Trumka and Lablanc are so proud of. So it was ok for the company to hire armed thugs but deny the workers that same right? Intimidation indeed. This bill is right on target to ensure everyones 2nd amendment rights. This bill also clears liability from penalty to employers and business owners. Don't let the tragic spin of this troopers death cloud that.

Technorati : Virginia Politics

Is Union Money Clean? Can we trust Lablanc?

This post is long, I apologize.

Waldo, in his investigation of AG Bob McDonnell is asking questions now. As far as I can tell he has not found anything yet. Remember the Willie Mae Kilgore investigation that was pounded home during the Kaine campaign? Waldo had this. Raising Kaine had this. Brian Patton had this. To this day not one indictment has been issued against her. Now Waldo wonders why tobacco companies gave to McDonnell. It couldn't be because we grow tobacco here, manufacture tobacco products here, and tax the shit out of tobacco here could it? Is there not legislation now trying to ban smoking everywhere? He is asking about gambling companies giving money. We have horse racing and off track betting don't we? Is there not a movement to make Internet gambling off limits in Virginia? Damn those Party Poker players anyway! I know off hand of some dirty money Tim Kaine and other democrats proudly accept. The name has came up recently with Kaine's nomination of ex AFL-CIO president Daniel LeBlanc as Secretary of the Commonwealth. The name is UNION. Here is a little about LaBlanc's AFL-CIO.

The first documents received from unions in the Labor Department's demand for detailed financial disclosures, for the first time strictly enforcing the 1959 Landrum-Griffin labor reform act, suggest embarrassment by organized labor when the information is made public next month.

Early reports show the AFL-CIO spent $49 million (27 percent of its total annual budget) on political and lobbying activities but only $30 million (or 16.5 percent) to represent its members. That gap contributed to the breakaway from the AFL-CIO of the Teamsters, the Service Employees and other unions. Link.

The Redstate blog digs deep into AFL-CIO here. Let me add this about unions in general.

71% of union members said the government ought to do more to protect union members from corrupt union officials, and that unions should be required to give detailed reporting of union finances to discourage abuse, according to a 2004 Zogby International poll.

According to the FBI, four of the last eight Teamsters presidents have been criminally indicted.

Nearly 50% of the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General's labor racketeering investigations involve pensions and employee welfare benefit plans.

"Schemes involving bribery, extortion, deprivation of union rights by violence, and embezzlement used by early racketeers are still employed to abuse the power of unions," according to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Link.

And don't forget the United Mine Workers. Besides the AFL-CIO is their any other group that has more charges filed against them or a history so rich in violence? I remember 1993 and Eddie York. Richard Trumka was with the UMW then, now he is AFL-CIO.

West Virginia miner shot dead for working during a strike

On the orders of the United Mine Workers (UMW), 16,000 miners went on strike in 1993. One subcontractor, Eddie York (who was not a UMW member), decided it was important to support his wife and three children and crossed picket lines to get to his job. He was shot in the head as he left the job site to go home. UMW President Richard Trumka (now Secretary-Treasurer at the AFL-CIO) told The Washington Times that "if you strike a match and put your finger in, common sense tells you you're going to burn your finger." UMW strike captain Jerry Dale Lowe was found guilty of weapons charges and conspiracy in York's death, and York's widow Wanda sued the union for her husband's wrongful death. The UMW fought the lawsuit for four years, but settled with Wanda York only two days after federal prosecutors announced that they would share evidence from the criminal trial with York's attorneys. Link.

We all know how Lablanc loves to tell how he was arrested protesting here with Trumka and the UMW. It is easy to put the Lablanc-Trumka kinship together. We are not talking fraud here, we are talking murder. I remember a bombing at McClure Virginia also...A Pittston boss shot in his drive way, in front of his wife and kids. This man in no way represents Virginia. So if you are really wanting to know who the crooks gave money to, money made with the blood and sweat of workers you can check out unions here. Union money and endorsements are not always what they seem to be. Unions could be the most law breaking group in America. They pay out millions in fines every year. You don't get fined if you don't break the law. I am sure you will notice Waldo will leave this out of his reporting. I challenge anyone to Google Trumka and see what comes up. Look at the violations and laws the unions break year after year. Then, like me, sit back and wonder why the Democrats are so proud of Union endorsements and money.

Technorati : Virginia Politics

The latest on Randal McCloy Jr and other coal related news.

While we receive good news that Randal McCloy Jr is learning to speak again, another miner was killed in Kentucky. Tim Caudill was killed in a rock fall Thursday while moving his roof bolter. He was 33 years old. There was no media hoopla because as I have pointed out before; the media does not care about miners killed, only miners that are trapped. In other coal related news our tax loving Governor Tim Kaine held a round table at UVA-Wise. The round table was much ado about nothing. In attendance were union reps and operators along with legislators and the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. You can read about that here. I had friends there and they say is was more of the same old bs. The meeting focused on wireless communications in the mines. I have said before that much work needs to be done on those systems. Some good quotes from the meeting are:

Dink Shackleford, executive director of the Virginia Mining Association said "We really need to study it more"

Frank Linkous, chief of the state's mines division, said he is "in favor of workable, effective technology," hinting that he would require it if a reliable system is found.

Technorati : Coal, Mining, News, Politics, Virginia, Virginia News, Virginia Politics

The MSM and Cheney

The Mason Conservative has the best post I have read on the Cheney scandal. It is a must read and I agree with him 100%. Just a taste of the pie:

"I lose sleep over Iran getting a nuclear weapon and giving it to al Qaeda, not Dick Cheney accidentally shooting a friend in a hunting accident."

There is so much more to read. The MSM made fools of themselves this week.

"My family and I are deeply sorry for all that vice president Cheney has had to go through this past week. We send our love and respect to them as they deal with situations that are much more serious than what we've had this week. And we hope that he will continue to come to Texas and seek the relaxation that he deserves." Harry Whittington

Technorati : News

NASCAR 2006

The NASCAR Nextel Cup season is ready to begin. The Daytona 500 is this weekend and my favorite driver is on the pole. The season for Jeff Burton sucked last year. He is off to a great start this season by winning the pole and finishing 7^th in the Daytona Duals today. I have followed NASCAR for over 20 years. It is a great sport, a team sport. They honor the military in some way before every race. They pray before every race. The fans are the best and very loyal to their drivers, teams, and sponsors. That brings up this thought. This year is the 5^th year since Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500. I was not a fan, but I always knew who the man on the track was. His number was 3 and that is causing some questions around the racing scene. NASCAR has never retired a number. Dales crew chief and friend Richard Childress leases that number from NASCAR. Childress wants to retire that number, as does Dale's widow. You can read about that here. My thought on this is no way! There has been many great drivers and their numbers are not retired. To retire #3 would only result in the retirement of many other numbers or show a lot of disrespect to the other drivers families and fans. Here is what will happen. Dale Earnhardt Jr will drive the #3 for Childress in years to come. His contract will end with DEI and he will move to RCR and bring out the #3 car. This will make the Dale Sr fans happy, the Dale Jr fans happy, and both very very rich. Just the T-shirt money will be off the scale. Dale Jr is the only driver that will be accepted by the fans in that #3 car. Does anyone agree?

I have to mention my girlfriends favorite driver is Jamie McMurray. Geesh...Jamie?? She said the car is pretty. Hmmm. I don't think it is the car she likes. My fellow blogger Brian Patton likes Kevin Harvick.(Stop Laughing) He has a NASCAR post here. I am ready for RACIN'

Selling U.S. ports to Arabs?

This sounds insane to me. I don't trust Dubai Ports World but what do I know. Lets sell them some airports too....

Technorati : News

William Donald Schaefer and little girls

William Donald Schaefer(D) and little girls. Is this funny? Odd? Sick? If that D was an R I bet I would know the answer.

Technorati : News, Politics

The Duality of Tim Kaine

The Free Lance Star has this article on the duality of Tim Kaine. I would have thought most people would remember Mark Warner saying this in the debate with Mark Earley.

"Mark, I think I've counted you now saying 13 times that I'll raise taxes It's just not going to work. The fact is I will not raise taxes."

We all know the facts and what followed. The largest tax increase in Virginia history. Tim Kaine learned well from Warner. This op-ed piece is on target saying:

"But Kaine, even more than Warner, is proving to be a man who says one thing in elections and another in office. What's surprising is not that a change is happening-such is the practice of politicians-but how quickly he took off the mask.

The first clues of "the real Kaine" have been laid before us-less than a month since his inauguration. They are twofold: taxes and partisanship."

Indeed! So why is Tim Kaine wanting more of my money with a huge surplus on hand? Because as we say around here "He talks out both sides of his mouth." Then his better way bs during his rebuttal to the state of the union address, calling the whole time for non partisanship, all the while in his speech he blames Bush...what irony. I will stop before I turn this into a rant. Read this article.

Technorati : Virginia Politics

Jim Baker

Wise County lost a friend Saturday. Jim Baker was the announcer on WNVA for 40 years. He was known as the voice of Wise County. His body was found in a local lake and no foul play was suspected. His obituary is here. I listened to him for years and I will miss his voice on the radio. You get used to that in a small town. Rest in peace Mr. Baker. You will be missed.

Technorati : Virginia News

Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney gives the MSM what they have cried about. What is funny to me is he gave the interview to Fox news.
Eat that David Gregory of NBC. Some excerpts

"Ultimately I'm the guy who pulled the trigger that fired the round that hit Harry," Cheney said in his first interview since the incident. "I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend, and that's something I'll never forget."

"The image of him falling is something I will never be able to get out my mind," Cheney said, somberly. "It was one of the worst days of my life."

I hope they are satisfied as I am sick of hearing about this. There were no charges filed and this accident affects no one but the Cheney and Whittington families. The only ones concerned are angry partisans.

Technorati : News

Delegate Bill Carrico’s (R-Grayson) bill (HB 372) and a good read about coal

Via Adam I see Delegate Bill Carrico's (R-Grayson) bill (HB 372) has passed by 100-0 block vote. Some have cried this takes away the right to protest. After reading about the God hates fags bunch wanting to protest at some of the Sago miners funerals I am glad Carrico pushed this bill. From the people I talk to he is being well received here in the 9^th district as he is standing up for the majority of the 9th's morals and values. Did I mention he will challenge Rick (read my mailers on how great I am) Boucher? It is time for a change.

Bacons Rebellion has a post about coal...yes coal. A good read about the return of Coal Barons. I say bring them on! That coal money is the only thing they hear in Richmond. I look for Mike Quillen to be the Don Blankinship of SWVA.

Technorati : Coal, Mining, News, Virginia Politics

Smoking Ban

This bill stinks more than cigarette smoke. The WAPO has this article about SB648 which bans smoking in all public places. I have no problem with banning smoking in tax funded establishments. That makes perfect sense to me. But if Kilo opens a bar and wants smoking allowed, that should be my right. Then it is the anti smokers right not to patronize my bar. Plain and simple. No laws needed. Waldo jokes about this here. I agree with Sen. Hawkins. This is not about clean air, but about business owners rights. I hope the house kills this fast.

SST has this about the bill. NLS has another view. I say let the owners and patrons decide.

Technorati : News, Politics, Virginia News, Virginia Politics

A nice home on the lake

Anyone looking for a home in Florida? A nice home on the lake? Here are some great pictures. If you are interested email me.

Prank phone calls

I received a email about this. I really don't see the big deal about drunken college kids making prank calls but I will link NLS. The only thing I see is some young college student has had her picture posted on his page because of prank phone calls? The picture has been removed and so has her name, but the damage is done. Sounds kinda fishy to me with unnamed sources and all. There are over 200 comments so I guess some people care. Too Conservative is also covering the same story.

I have my own thoughts on this. Prank calls are wrong. So is character assassination. All I see here is that prank calls were made and a college kid is to blame. Big News HUH? I am sure there was a better and more adult way of getting satisfaction on both sides. College kids will be kids. NLS cannot claim that excuse. I for one expected better from him.

The Red Stater has this.

Technorati : Blogging

Forum on Miner Safety

Monday, February 13
Democratic Congressional
Forum on Miner Safety
On C-SPAN at 10am ET
I am looking forward to this. If it is anything like the last time, politicians will get red in the face as mining experts explain how mining is safer than ever with more inspections. At the last meeting the MSHA official walked out. This should be interesting.....To me anyway.

Technorati : Coal, Mining, News, Politics

Peter Benchley

I hated to read this. Peter Benchley died at age 65. He was the author of the novel "Jaws". I still have that old book. He also authored "The Deep" and "The Island". I read them all but Jaws is a classic. I remember going to the movie when I was 10. Pure Terror! I think that book and movie started a media fascination with sharks that continues today.

In addition to the fame he achieved as a novelist, Benchley was a reporter for the Washington Post and Newsweek, wrote for magazines and a speech writer for President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1967 until January, 1969.

Technorati : News

Raising Kaine on Coal-"Waste of Time"

Raising Kaine on Coal

"There is also a waste of time provided in the section on "clean coal", which to me is an oxymoron. Coal should be even more of an anachronism than oil. The recent mining disasters, and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin's emergency halting of coal mining in the state shows that it is a risky fuel to mine, and for our planet, riskier to burn."

Waste of time? You better wake up Southwest Virginia. This from the same blog that praised the United Mine Workers for endorsing Tim Kaine now thinks coal is a waste of time. Think about that. I encourage everyone in the coalfields to take issue with this. Tell your friends. Talk about it at school and church. We here in the SWVA need coal. We don't need democrats hurting our future.

Technorati : Coal, Virginia Politics