100 Years Ago

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." - Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Who was paying attention?

H/T AGT

Technorati : Immigration, Theodore Roosevelt

The Chad Dotson Podcast

The Bearing Drift crew has a podcast with Wise Virginia's own Chad Dotson. Chad tells all about his trail to a judgeship. I have mixed feelings about this. I always thought Chad would make a great statewide candidate and a strong conservative voice for the Republican party. In that sense, Virginia loses. On the flip side Wise County has a new Judge that I am sure will make us proud. I have always admired Chad for returning to his home town. His accomplishments as Commonwealth Attorney are numerous. His blogging is legendary in this state. Through his blog he became the most known CA in the commonwealth. I mean how many other CA's are as well known? Awesome stuff for a Wise County boy! Good luck Chad!

Reminder to myself - Pay those tickets off soon Kilo. Dang sure don't want to face Hanging Chad.

Technorati : Bloggers, Blogging, Chad Dotson, Government, Old Dominion Blog Alliance, Podcast, Politics, Republicans, Virginia, Virginia Politics, Wise County, Wise County Virginia, Wise Virginia

Jim Webb's letter to Condoleeza Rice

"Here is a letter Jim Webb sent to Condoleeza Rice on January 29, 2007 requesting a direct answer to a question he previously asked her at a Senate Foreign Relations hearing on January 11, 2007." LINK

The letter can be viewed here. I would also like to see the answer. This could get very interesting!

Technorati : Bush, Iran, James Webb, Jim Webb, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Duncan Who?

"Duncan Who?" I wish you could have seen the look on Kilo's face when I hit him with that. "Duncan Hunter," he replied ever patient with me. Now I am pretty certain that with such a cool name I would have remembered it had I ever heard it before. Today I can safely answer that "Duncan Who?" question thanks to Kilo.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, refers to himself as the most conservative Republican currently running to be the our next president. His name will soon be synonymous with these three words: Peace Through Strength.

Kilo sent me to this video to get an understanding of who this man is. I was impressed. Here is a man who understands the need for fences and can prove that they work. I think fences make good neighbors. Here is a man who understands the need for a good front door policy that allows us to properly welcome in those who deserved to be allowed in, and to refuse entry to those we don't want or need here. Is this not how every American household works? Company always comes in through the front door and only if we open it. Only family and friends use the back door. I have always wondered why it is so easy for illegal aliens to get into this country from some of those countries that make it hard for Americans visit.

Duncan Hunter tells of the Chinese trade situation. I had no idea. I was actually speechless for a while digesting that one. Speechless is rare- Kilo would tell ya that. Why are we Americans not more outraged? Could it be that like me, you have not heard these statistics? Is this why steel mills up north are being turned into malls?

Watch the video, visit Duncan Hunter's website then you weigh in on "Duncan Who?". Duncan Hunter= Peace Through Strength. Sounds like a great name to this girl!


Technorati : Duncan Hunter, Presidential Campaign, Republican

There She Blows!

U.S. Navy welcomes the USS Bill CLINTON.

Technorati : Bill Clinton, Navy

Duncan Hunter

“Peace through strength is my belief and conviction”- Duncan Hunter

With the strong field of Republican candidates already in the running, Duncan Hunter throws in as well. I like him. I like his record. In my opinion he is the true conservative candidate for 08. I agree with Mason that his message needs to get out. He raised $300,000 in a few hours this weekend, but that is far from the $100 million he would need.

The Website is here.

Webb Watch

DJ noticed this conflicting statement made by Copperhead Jim Webb. In his SOTU rebuttal Copperhead Jim stated

"The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military"

Then yesterday in his lackluster Face The Nation gig, Webb said

"I don't believe that there is any politician who has the right to say that he or she is speaking for the troops, for the military"

Amazing what a few days will do in the rhetoric of Jim Webb. I would like to see Webb back up that statement about military support. I don't think he can. Here is my favorite quote from FTN.

"First of all, who's the enemy? Who they talking about? Are they talking about Iran? Are they talking about the insurgents? Are they talking about al-Qaeda?"

Yes Jim....I would say all three fit into the category. Geeesh.

Technorati : Democrats, Iraq, Islamic Extremism, Jim Webb, Military, Virginia, Virginia Politics, War

The Virginia Blog Carnival

Fellow Old Dominion Blog Alliance member Southwest by Southeast has this weeks VBC available for viewing on the internets.

Technorati : Blog Carnival, Bloggers, Blogging, Carnival, Carnivals, The Virginia Blog Carnival, Virginia Politics

Jim “Copperhead” Webb

This essay by A.A. Cunningham is worth your time. Cunningham is "an active duty officer with more than 25 years of service" It is not a short read with a little over 2000 words. This essay covers all the bases. He writes:

Webb opines that we have lost opportunities to defeat the forces of international terrorism. Where? When? How many plots must we foil before the Democrats will admit that we are winning the overall war on terror and Iraq is but ONE theater in that larger war?

Indeed. He also takes Webb to task about this mostly unnoticed line from Webb's rebuttal.

Senator Webb says in one paragraph that he does not want a precipitous withdrawal but wants our troops gone in short order. Are these weasel words Senator? You are a writer. The written word is your craft. Please explain for the public the difference between precipitous withdrawal and short order.

He also reveals the state of today's Democratic party.

What we are witnessing today is the return of the worst hits of the Democratic Party. Going back to the American Civil War, Democrats were against THAT war and tried mightily to undermine President Lincoln. Those Democrats became known as Copperheads or Peace Democrats and, these were labels of which they were proud. They wanted the president to negotiate a peace with the Confederates and put an end to a far more bloody war than the war in Iraq when things were going so very wrong for the Union. So there is a long history of this behavior in the Democratic Party. There was a time they could only envision defeat, not victory. This was NOT true during WW I or WW II, but now the Democrats love to bring up Vietnam and the loss suffered there, and it remains for them the measuring stick against which all US military action MUST be compared. James Webb is a product of that policy failure and he is clearly embittered by it.

The author nails it! Read the whole essay here.

Q&O Fact Checks Jim Webb. It looks like Copperhead Jim is fibbing again.

Technorati : Democrats, George Bush, Government, Iraq, James Webb, Jim Webb, Vietnam, Vietnam War, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Delegate Kristen J. Amundson (D-44) Needs To Explain

Delegate Kristen J. Amundson (D-44) blog 7 West has this post today:

Kenton, the prodigy of Virginia bloggers, is at it again. This time, he has posted a map of Virginia's predominant religions by county.

Take a look. Never again will you ask us, "Why DO those downstate folks vote that way?"

posted by Kris Amundson on 01.26.07@ 2:56 pm

I think she needs to explain what she is implying. One commenter had this to say:

Excuse me Delegate, but what exactly are you saying?

I live "downstate" and am an active Democrat but I get a very uneasy feeling from your post that you are somehow looking down at us because of the religious composition of our citizens.

I would appreciate it if you would clarify your statement for me.

By Ray on 01.26.07 3:52 pm

This looks a lot like bigotry to me. I would like to hear her explain this statement. Everyone should. If this had been a Republican from "downstate" the toupee's would be flying. I am not holding my breath for a lefty blog to question her statement. We in the blogoshere have long understood that moral outrage only works one way.

Technorati : Bigotry, Democrat, Democrats, Kristen J. Amundson, Religion, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Webb Watch – Where is Jim Webb?

Where was Sen Webb? He dang sure wasn't helping Virginia. No wonder Virginia is upset with the new Senator. Will his ratings drop into the thirties next month?

Technorati : Democrats, Government, Jim Webb, Politics, Transportation, Virginia Politics

Does Virginia Approve of Jim Webb?

Click to embiggen

The answer is NO. His approval ratings are lower than the last poll on Sen Allen. Interesting fact is that over 20% of Democrats disapprove of our new Senator. That did not take long.

Update-What about next month? Read this. Will Webb drop to the thirty percent range?

Technorati : Jim Webb, Polling, Polls, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's Blogger Event

I could not attend this event because it is 400 miles away. To be honest, that is just a bit more car time than I can take as of late.

From all accounts posted, the Lieutenant Governor went out of his way to ensure a great day. Flora has the event covered with links to a bunch of blogs. Kat also has a good post with pictures and links. The infamous NLS says

"At the end of the event, Randy and Bill asked for input for next years Bloggers Day. I can honestly say that I have no suggestions on how to make the event better. Awesome job by all."

It is a breath of fresh air to see Republican Bill Bolling accepting the blog media. It is a very smart move!

Be sure to check out Spank that Donkey for a good laugh! It seems a lefty blogger was upset she was not invited to the event and Chris offers palms. I don't understand why she would be upset at not being invited. I mean she has only personally attacked most of the right leaning bloggers, myself included, using vulgar language in comments at NLS and other sites. If you were not invited, there was a reason I'm sure. I would not expect to be invited to Tim Kaine's blogger event...If he had one. Heh.

Technorati : Bloggers, Blogging, Blogs, Government, Lt Governor Bill Bolling, Republican, Virginia, Virginia Politics

A Statement from Judge Chad Dotson

The news is all over the blogosphere. Today Wise County Commonwealth Attorney Chad Dotson was awarded a district Judgeship. Living in Wise County I have had the privilege of watching Chad's work in court. We also know the legend of his blog the Commonwealth Conservative. Judge Dotson has released this statement to Spark it Up.

"I am humbled by the responsibility given me today by the General Assembly. This is an opportunity and a challenge to make a difference by making decisions that shape the lives of others in my community, the community that I love. This is another area of public service, and I look forward to dedicating myself to being the best judge that I can be.

A judge should be impartial, compassionate, wise, and prepared. I will seek to live up to those ideals every single day."

There is no doubt he will live up to that standard. I applaud this man for all his hard work. He could have practiced law anywhere, but he chose to return to his home in Wise. Thank you for your service sir!

You Can Read More Here.

Technorati : Bloggers, Blogging, Blogs, Chad Dotson, Virginia, Virginia Politics, Wise County Virginia

SOTU Live Blog

Bearing Drift is live blogging the SOTU. Head on over.

Technorati : Blogging, News, Politics, SOTU

Its Kilo's Birthday!

42 years ago today, a baby boy was born in a Chicago area hospital. It was a very tough beginning for this child. Born addicted to drugs to a Mother who could not properly care for him and soon decided that she could not keep him. 42 years ago a child was born and God knew him and loved him and watched over him and protected him until he was delivered into a proper home and loving family. He was raised up by God fearing parents who believed in tough love and stood beside him, and prayed for him and showed him unconditional love. No matter where this child went, he always knew that God was with him, that his parents were praying for him and that he had a home.

When almost 41 years of age, this man nearly lost his life to a horrific accident but God watched over him and protected him. This past year has been spent fighting for each new day- not much different then his first year of life really, only this year was spent fighting infections and cancer- different demons but still it required all the fight he has within him. Kilo, I just have to thank God for those who have loved you and supported you along the way to me, and I thank Him for giving you the amazing spirit of fight and determination that you have. Over this past year I have watched the answers to prayer come, one by one and I praise the Lord for each of those. Kilo, you are my hero, my very best friend and the keeper of my heart. Happy 42nd Birthday Baby! p.s. I am planning on celebrating atleast 40 more birthdays with you- I figure sometime between now and then maybe I can be trusted with that stack cake recipe!

Update- I was reminded by Flora to Kilo's birthday post last year.

Thank you for all the nice comments!-Carl

Technorati : Birthday

As the Saints Go Marching Home- Bears win 39-14

The Chicago Bears are Super Bowl bound! That number one ranked Saint's offense was held to 14 points. The Saints managed only 56 yards rushing for the game. Big Stone Gap's own Thomas Jones carried the ball 19 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears looked very good today on defense. On offense Rex Grossman did all that was needed of him-No Interceptions. On a interesting side note, Chicago coach Lovie Smith is the first black coach to take a team to a Super Bowl, so say the broadcast crew. Very cool! Add colts coach Tony Dungy to the list also!

The Bears will play the Colts after a great comeback! There will not be a 1985 repeat Bears vs Patriots as I wanted. I bet my buddy The Mason Conservative is wondering just what the heck happened.

Some good info about the 1985 Bears in the comments.

Technorati : Big Stone Gap, Football, NFL, Sports, Thomas Jones, Virginia

The Games before THE GAME

Kilo is a bit under the weather tonight and asked me to post his thoughts about the upcoming Bears game. It is no secret to Spark-It-Up readers that Kilo is a Chicago Bears fan. After all, he spent the first thirteen years there as a child. He also returned there after high school to work and experience big city life adult style ( oh the stories!). To him, nothing compares to the Monsters of the Midway and Solider Field. It is a shame that Kilo's love for this team will have nothing to do with the outcome of the game Sunday. The Bears play a red hot New Orleans team. The odds and money line favor the Saints. Chicago can win this game with stellar performances by Rex Grossman and the line-backing crew. No doubt Kilo's heart is with the Bears but the money is on the Saints. Me, I will sit quietly and keep the snack trays full and the drinks topped off!

Technorati : Chicago Bears, Football, New Orleans Sain

Big Stone Gap-The Movie

There is a lot of local hoopla about the possibility of a movie being filmed here in Wise County. Jerry From on High has the scoop. Jerry cites that "State Sen. William Wampler Jr., State Sen. Phillip Puckett(D) and Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, announced Wednesday a $300,000 pledge grant in incentives to help woo a movie production to Big Stone Gap, the setting of a novel on which the film is to be based." (link)

Brian Patton has this on his blog.

"House Caucus Chairman Brian Moran is pledging his support to help keep the movie in Big Stone Gap. Via press release, I see that Chairman Moran has proposed "a budget amendment [that] seeks up to $3 million in additional state funding for the Virginia Film Office to provide incentives that ensure the movie is filmed in the Commonwealth." (Bold print by me)

My board of supervisors are also playing the spend game. The deal is that only one week of filming will be in Wise County. They want the whole film produced here, taking an estimated 38 weeks.

"Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority Executive Director Geneva O'Quinn, in a recent interview, stated that the estimated total production time for the movie, if shot locally, would be about 38 weeks. As things stand now, only one week of filming is set to take place in Big Stone Gap."

Tax dollars being spent to ensure this movie is filmed here? What a gamble. I remember when the hit movie Coal Miners Daughter shot a few scenes in Wise. The economic highlight was actor Tommy Lee Jones getting drunk as a skunk and visiting the Wise County Jail. Let us not forget that movie was a huge hit. I really doubt this one will be. Get this from a Wise County Board member:

Bob Adkins, who represents District Two, said he is very excited about the "Big Stone Gap movie" , and added, "Anything that calls positive attention to our area is a very positive thing."

Well, the book and movie are called Big Stone Gap Bob.....what benefits has that provided so far? None. Another member says:

"Putting money into the film incentive package is a wise investment, added vice-chairman Steve Bates, who represents District Two. Plenty of money would flow back into the local economy with a film crew set up in Big Stone Gap, he noted."

You giving odds on that bet Mr Bates? This best selling book has been out a while. Can you show me local revenue generated from that?

I see this as a burden on the locals. Traffic problems, film crews consisting of non bathing smelly hippies, smoking pot with intentions of impregnating our women folk. Lets not forget the trash and burden on our struggling land fill. We also have our local water supply to conserve. No sir, I don't like it. The benefits will not outweigh the cost. 3 million is serious money guys. I would like to see my tax money better spent. Here is my plan. Offer a group rate at the luxurious Trail Motel, one dollar off coupons at the Dairy Queen, and a 9pm curfew. If they want to make the movie here so be it. But paying them to do so is crazy. Of course if they offer me a starring role, that could change my mind.

Technorati : Big Stone Gap, Movies, Virginia, Virginia Politics, Wise County Virginia

Benny Parsons

Benny Parsons lost the battle today. He was 65 years old. Darrel Waltrip has a great article here. He writes:

Last week in Charlotte, I spoke to Benny's second wife, Terri, and we were talking about what a fighter Benny was. I said, "If anybody can pull through this, he can." But I guess it was just too much. The lung cancer was more than he could overcome. This time, it's a race that he lost.

Benny Parsons was a champion. He was a great ambassador for our sport. People who knew him and had ever met him loved him and had a lot of admiration for him. I know I did to win the championship the way he did in 1973, have the kind of career he had and the reputation. You are known by your reputation. Benny Parsons had an impeccable reputation, one that I am envious of and one I'm sure his fans, family and friends are all proud of.

In lieu of flowers, the Parsons family asks that you send a contribution to the Victory Junction Gang Camp or the

Connie E. Parsons Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 443
Ellerbe, N.C. 28338

There will never be another Benny Parsons. Not only did we lose a great NASCAR champion, we lost one of the sweetest men that ever walked the face of the Earth. God bless you Benny. God bless your family. May you rest in peace. (Read it All)

It is a sad day for us old NASCAR fans.

Technorati : NASCAR, Racing

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling - 2007 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

BUILDING A BETTER VIRGINIA

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling - 2007 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

During his first year in office, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling kept his campaign promise of staying in touch with the people of Virginia. During 2006 Lieutenant Governor Bolling traveled across the Commonwealth, meeting with business, civic and political leaders to talk about the important issues facing Virginia. On the basis of these discussions, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has crafted an aggressive legislative agenda for the 2007 session of the Virginia General Assembly - an agenda that focuses on the issues that matter most to Virginia's families.

Public Safety

One of the primary responsibilities of state government is to keep the people of Virginia safe from the threat of crime. During 2006, Lieutenant Governor Bolling's public safety focus was on three issues: 1) combating the increasing problem of gangs and methamphetamine drug use, 2) cracking down in Internet sexual predators and child pornography, and 3) doing more to help enhance the salary and benefits of law enforcement professionals. To accomplish these goals, Lieutenant Governor Bolling is supporting the following legislative initiatives during the 2007 General Assembly session:

• Gang Prosecution - Gangs are a growing problem in almost every part of Virginia. Unfortunately, these gangs are becoming more and more prevalent and more and more violent. To crack down on violent gangs and hold them accountable for their actions, Lieutenant Governor Bolling is supporting the following legislative initiatives:

• Elimination of the Triggerman Rule - HB2348 (Gilbert) - This legislation provides that accessories to capital murder may also be eligible for the death penalty in addition to the actual perpetrator.

• Witness Protection - HB 2347 (Gilbert) - This legislation provides that the willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of any witness under subpoena in a criminal case for the purpose of interfering with the person's duties in such case is punishable as capital murder.

• Mandatory minimum sentences for the possession and distribution of methamphetamine -HB2324/SB 1234 (Gilbert/Obenshain) - Methamphetamine use has been a scourge on Virginia for several years. This drug is most oppressive in rural Virginia, in particular, in the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia. Methamphetamine-related convictions are ten times more common in these areas than in other parts of the state. While cocaine is still the primary drug plaguing Virginia, methamphetamine is not far behind in rural areas. To address this issue Virginia must take strong action against those who push and use this narcotic. For this reason, the penalties for methamphetamine crimes must have minimum standards that match the minimum standards that are currently in place for cocaine

• Operation Blue Ridge Thunder - Putney Budget Amendment - Keeping our children safe on the Internet is a growing concern for law enforcement professionals. Virginia is fortunate to have a state of the art Task Force in Bedford County - Operation Blue Ridge Thunder - that monitors internet traffic throughout the Commonwealth to identify and arrest child predators. Unfortunately, Operation Blue Ridge Thunder cannot be as effective in Hampton Roads or Southwest Virginia as it is in Bedford County and Central Virginia. Sheriff Mike Brown, the Director of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, has attempted to expand the operation of the program in these regions of the state, but that has been difficult due to funding constraints. Accordingly, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has proposed additional funding of $500,000 to help expand Operation Blue Ridge Thunder into Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia.

• Law Enforcement Retirement - HB1756 (Kilgore) - To recruit and retain the best law enforcement officials we must enhance their salary and benefits. Currently, some local governments provide enhanced retirements benefits for law enforcement officers while others cannot. There should be no discrepancy between localities when it comes to providing retirement benefits to law enforcement officers. Accordingly, Lieutenant Governor Bolling supports the Virginia Sheriffs' Association's request that the Commonwealth include Sheriffs' Deputies in the Law Enforcement Officers Retirement System (LEOS). In addition, the Lieutenant Governor supports the Association's request to increase the retirement multiplier from 1.7 percent to 2.0 percent for all Sheriffs and State Police Officers and giving local governments the option of enhancing their Deputies' retirement multipliers to 2.0 percent.

Illegal Immigration

Many Virginians continue to be concerned about the problem of illegal immigration. America is a nation of immigrants, and we should support efforts to make it easier for people to come to our country for legitimate reasons. However, we cannot tolerate the flagrant violation of our immigration laws. While addressing the immigration issue is primarily a federal responsibility, there are additional steps that should be taken in Virginia to address this issue. Lieutenant Governor Bolling will support the following legislative initiatives in 2007:

• Local Immigration Enforcement - HB 1618 (Frederick) - This legislation would require the Governor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) that would allow the Virginia State Police and local law enforcement agencies to enforce civil immigration laws.

• Prohibit In-State Tuition to Illegals - HB 2623 (Reid) - This legislation would prohibit persons who are in Virginia illegally from paying in-state tuition at Virginia's colleges and universities.

Health Care

Throughout Lieutenant Governor Bolling's service in state government, one of his primary areas of interest has been health care. During 2006 Lieutenant Governor Bolling conducted a series of health care forums across Virginia. He met with doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, citizens, business leaders and others to discuss the health care challenges currently facing Virginia. On the basis of these discussions, Lieutenant Governor Bolling will advance the following health care initiatives in 2007.

• Small Business Tax Credits - HB 1616 (Frederick) - More than 1 million Virginians do not have health insurance. Many of these uninsured Virginians are employed by small business owners who cannot afford to pay for health insurance. If these employees are also low income workers, they may have no recourse for their medical care, or they may have to rely on the state's Medicaid program for medical care. To address this issue and make it possible for small business owners to provide health insurance for their employees, Lieutenant Governor Bolling supports legislation to provide a tax credit to small businesses which pay at least 50% of the annual health insurance premiums of their employees.

• Recruiting Doctors to Rural Areas - Governor's Budget Amendment - Access to health care is becoming a serious problem in many parts of Virginia. Rural medical salaries cannot compete with salaries in larger, urban medical centers. Newly graduated doctors have little choice but to choose the higher salaries of urban hospitals in order to pay off their student loans. The Virginia Physician Loan Repayment Program attempts to address this issue by offering tuition reimbursement to physicians who agree to practice in medically underserved areas. The Program currently awards $600,000 a year to 31 recipients throughout Virginia. Lieutenant Governor Bolling has joined with Governor Tim Kaine to propose a budget amendment to increase this funding by $250,000 in 2007. This will enable us to recruit more physicians to practice in rural parts of Virginia.

• Childhood Obesity - School Nutrition Study - HJ637 (O'Bannon) - Over the past decade Virginia's children have become less active and an alarming percentage of our children are now overweight or obese. This means that they stand a greater risk of developing juvenile diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related illnesses. It is important for state government to identify responsible ways to address this issue. Accordingly, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has introduced legislation to create a Joint Study Commission within the Virginia General Assembly to examine nutrition, activity and education programs in our public schools and make recommendations on how these programs can be expanded.

• Provide Cervical Cancer Vaccine - Governor's Budget Amendment - One of Lieutenant Governor Bolling's current health care initiatives is Ending Cervical Cancer in Our Lifetime. (see www.billbolling.comfor more information) Most cervical cancer is caused by the sexually transmitted HPV virus. While the best way to prevent HPV is through sexual abstinence outside of marriage, limiting the number of sexual partners and practicing safe sex techniques; one of the most exciting recent developments in the fight against cervical cancer is the approval of a vaccine that could immunize women against most forms of HPV. Unfortunately, not every woman in Virginia can afford this vaccine. To help advance the fight against cervical cancer, Lieutenant Governor Bolling supports a budget amendment to make the cervical cancer vaccine available to low income women in Virginia.

Tax Reform

• Real Estate Tax Notifications - HB2127 (Hugo) - In recent years many Virginia families have been adversely impacted by rapid increases in property assessments and local real estate taxes. Many times, local government officials boast of reducing the real estate tax rate, when in fact real estate taxes increase do to the impact of property reassessments. To make certain that the impact of reassessments on real estate taxes is fully communicated to property owners, Lieutenant Governor Bolling will introduce legislation to require local governments to notify taxpayers of the specific impact that reassessments and the adoption of revised real estate tax rates will have on their individual taxes.

Eminent Domain

• Plugging The Kelo Loophole - In 2005 the United States Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision that drastically expanded the powers of local governments to exercise the power of imminent domain. In the Kelo case the Supreme Court ruled that local governments could seize private property when the reason for the seizure was enhancement of the localities tax base or other economic development purposes. Lieutenant Governor Bolling disagrees with the Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo, and he was the first statewide official in Virginia to support the "core principles" to protect private property rights that are being advanced by the Commonwealth Alliance for Property Rights. During this year's session of the General Assembly, Lieutenant Governor Bolling will support the passage of legislation to clarify that no governmental body in Virginia can condemn private property if the primary purpose for such condemnation is economic development or tax base enhancement.

Economic Development

During 2006 Lieutenant Governor Bolling set aside the first week of every month to tour a different part of rural Virginia. During these tours the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need for state government to be more aggressive in recruiting new business, industry and jobs to rural Virginia. To help provide incentives to encourage economic development in rural Virginia, the Lieutenant Governor will support the following budget amendments and legislation this year:

• Governor's Development Opportunity Fund - Governor's Budget Amendment - The Commonwealth appropriated $15M for fiscal year 06-07 to the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund and nothing for fiscal year 07-08. To compete effectively with other states, this funding needs to be increased. Lieutenant Governor Bolling has joined with Governor Tim Kaine in proposing an annual increase of $5M in the amount of money appropriated to the Fund.

• Governor's Development Opportunity Fund - HB 2468 (D. Marshall) - Once funding for the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund is increased, legislative changes need to be made to make the fund more accessible to smaller economic development projects in rural Virginia. To accomplish this, Lieutenant Governor Bolling will introduce legislation to lower the qualification thresholds for access to the Fund in areas with extreme unemployment. This will enable more projects in rural parts of Virginia to qualify for incentives offered by the Fund.

Miscellaneous

• Internet Filters - HB2197 (Nixon) - One of the most significant public safety concerns facing Virginia today is the threat of Internet sexual predators and child pornography. To help address this issue, Lieutenant Governor Bolling supports legislation that requires every public library that receives state funds to install filtering software on their computers to make certain that these computers cannot access pornographic websites.

• Coal Miner Certification and Mine Safety- SB1091 (Puckett) - Following the coal mine disasters that occurred in West Virginia and Kentucky last year, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has been working with mining officials to look for ways to make mining safer for Virginia's coal miners. As a part of this effort, the Lieutenant Governor will support legislation to require that all mine workers in Virginia take and pass a comprehensive drug screening prior to employment.

• Indian-American Day/Korean-American Day -HJ809/HJ632 (Albo/Hugo) - As Lieutenant Governor Bolling has said many times, "the face of Virginia is changing." In recent years, the number of Indian-Americans and Korean-Americans living in Virginia has increased dramatically, and these new Virginians are making a significant contribution to the better of the Commonwealth. In recognition of their presence and contribution, Lieutenant Governor Bolling will introduce legislation to designate January 13^th as Korean-American Day and January 26^th as Indian-American Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Technorati : Bill Bolling, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Terry Kilgore

Del Terry Kilgore (R-1) has introduced HB1715- Casting garbage. Increases the fine for dumping garbage into the waters of the state from a maximum of $100 to $2,500. And HB1842- Dumping on highway, right-of-way or private property; penalty. Allows, in the event of dumping from a motor vehicle, the court, in lieu of confinement, to suspend the convicted person's driving privileges for up to 12 months and assign such person to clean up litter on roadways or streams or to work in recycling for up to 250 hours of community service.

Good Stuff Del Kilgore! I hope this legislation passes.

Technorati : Virginia, Virginia Politics

Jim Webb on the Confederacy

It seems there are many opinions going around about this subject. Take time to read Jim Webb's Speech here. You should study it. Look at who he quotes and why. And before you make judgment understand his ending when he says:

"we are also the caretakers of the memory, and the reputation, of those who performed their duty -- as they understood it -- under circumstances too difficult for us ever to fully comprehend."

After reading the comments on other blogs we see the selective outrage from the left and some on the right.

Technorati : Civil War, Jim Webb, Military

Girls Gone Wild or Just Girls Gone?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Tennessee state senator is tired of girls going wild on raunchy late-night TV ads, so he introduced a bill to fine cable companies up to $50,000 for airing ads for obscene products.

Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, said he got the idea after seeing commercials for "Girls Gone Wild" videos that show young women baring their breasts and acting out other sexual situations.

"This is being interjected right into our living room," Jackson said Friday. "People feel like, as they sit in their living rooms, they just have to surrender; there's nothing that can be done.(LINK)

I am torn on this one. I find it hard to call those commercials obscene with everything else that is on cable. I think Sen Jackson may be reaching a little far with that definition. You can read the full text of SB0014 here. Similar legislation coming anytime soon in Virginia?

Charles has a good idea in the comments.

Technorati : Politics

Two Coal Miners Killed

Sad news this morning from West Virginia. Two miners were killed in a collapse at the Brooks Run mines. 35 other miners were not injured. The miners were pulling pillars-Retreat Mining is the proper term. The mine is owned by Virginia based Alpha Natural Resources. My thoughts and prayers are with the families.

Technorati : Coal, Coal Mining

Webb Watch

Sen Webb was on PBS last night after the the speech. You can listen to that here. He was asked a couple questions and after watching the show and listening to it again, I still have not heard him answer with any clarity. What we got was the same old recycled "I was an early voice against the War"....campaign rhetoric. Will he support the plan? Webb gives no clear answer. He said he wont support funding the building projects over there because Iraq is a very entrepreneurial culture and they can work out these problems themselves. Then he contradicts that by saying they are a fragile government and he doubts they can do anything....Webb provided no answers on the show. In fact he sounded confused. The campaign is over Sen Webb. Where is the leadership you promised?

Technorati : Iraq, Jim Webb, War

Troops respond to Bush Plan

"There's a new direction. It's because of the Samarra bombing last February - al-Qaida did that and set a new direction in motion," Wright said. "Now we need to readjust our track for this new dynamic."
But he said he feared that politics would derail the effort. Democrats have opposed the troop buildup and other critics have expressed skepticism that this plan will work, pointing out that similar efforts have failed in the past.

"What I'm afraid of is shortsightedness and impatience from folks at home. Six months from now, people could be saying, 'You had a new strategy and what have you done?' To stand up an Iraqi army, you can't do that in just three or four years." - Maj. Web Wright (LINK)

This new plan did not come from Bush, but from the troops.

"This new strategy comes from us, not Washington. The new defense secretary came here and sat down with one of my battalion commanders," he said. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited military and political leaders in Iraq in late December. - Col. Michael M. Kershaw, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.

We will give the troops the time they need? Not if the Democrats have their way.

Technorati : Iraq, News, Politics, War

Attorney General Bob McDonnell gets it!

Great video on CBS channel 6 about AG Bob McDonnell and blogging.

Technorati : Bloggers, Blogging, Blogs, Politics, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West

The long awaited movie Obsession is now available. Alton has a 12 min clip online here. CNN's R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr writes:

"Obsession," is one of the most riveting films I have seen about the roots of the struggle the civilized world now faces. The film establishes that those roots are in fundamentalist readings of the Koran, but it adds another seedbed, Nazism. In the 1930s, though Osama bin Laden's forbearers were not Aryans they were welcomed to Germany by the Fuhrer. His agents visited them in the Middle East. Both proclaimed the same goal, the elimination of the democratic West and the Jews. (LINK)

Read what others are saying here and here. This is the movie the anti war left does not want you to see. Don't ignore what is happening all around the world.

Technorati : Islamic Extremism

The Virginia Blog Carnival

Cathouse Chat has the first VBC of 2007 online and ready for viewing on the internets.

Technorati : Blog Carnival, Bloggers, Blogging, Blogs, Carnival, Carnivals, Virginia Blog Carnival, Virginia Politics

Good Advice from a Proud Marine

The Kingsport Times has the story of Marine Daniel Cantor. Cantor is ready to embark on his second tour in Iraq. The wisdom this young man shows is admirable.

Daniel Canter lost a friend in the war in Iraq, but he's lost six friends at home to drugs and drunken driving. Canter, who turned 21 while serving in Iraq, says he'd rather risk his life over there for something that matters than over here for the troubles he says have consumed much of his generation.

"I've seen it destroy a lot of people's lives," he said of the drug problem in the region. "It bothers me to see my friends on drugs and dying and stuff."

He says we are making progress.

"If people over here could see all the weapons and all the bombs we've got over there, that we've discarded, took away from the bad people, they'd see that we're doing a lot over there," he said.

"We can't stop terrorism, but we can put a big dent in it."

Indeed.

Meanwhile, those who are critical of the war in Iraq should stand back, take a look in the mirror and pay more attention to the problems here at home, he said.

"I think people around here need to quit worrying about what's going on in Iraq and start worrying about what's going on around here," he said. "There's drug problems … that's what they need to worry about."

Good advice from a young man. Read it all here.

Technorati : Drugs, Iraq, Islamic Extremism, Military, War