And when you were threatened from outside, the Americans left the safety of their own homes to come and defend you. I will never apologize for the United States of America.” Duncan Hunter 11/28/07
My blog is worth $238,235.88.
How much is your blog worth?
Maybe a nice nap across the room.
The flowers are in my great grandmothers biscuit bowl. New curtains and that picture round out the changes. Yes...the picture has some age to it.
Life is good at HQ!
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:02:00 PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - State regulators are giving Dominion the green light for a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Virginia.
The State Corporation Commission gave its approval Monday for construction of the $1.8 billion power plant proposed for Wise County.
The state Air Pollution Control Board must still issue permits for the plant.
Supporters view the plant as an economic boost for the job-hungry region. But environmentalists say the 585-megawatt power plant would pollute the air and endanger health.
The SCC also approved a rate increase to finance the construction of the new plant, but put cost control measures in place. Dominion must prove all additional costs are "reasonable and prudent" before charging customers. (LINK)
This is great news but the battle is not over.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:39:00 PM
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KC has announced his run for Attorney General! I can support him wholeheartedly. He faces the familiar problem of having zero name recognition in SWVA. The cure for that is campaigning here. I believe the people will like what he has to offer.
posted by Carl Kilo at 6:49:00 PM
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It should say $40 million wasted.
Last week's development in the Haditha case -- the dropping of all the charges leveled against Lance Cpl. Stephan Tatum for actions related to Haditha, Iraq -- drives another nail into the shameful accusations made by Time magazine and Rep. John Murtha.
Time magazine, with an assist from the Pennsylvania Democrat, sparked a legal and media inquisition against eight courageous United States Marines. Both Time and Murtha claimed these Marines committed cold-blooded murder in Haditha during a 2005 engagement.
They also alleged the Marines participated in covering up their alleged atrocities.
But after years of litigation and estimated $40 million in taxpayer funds expended, none of the Marines have been found guilty of committing murder or war crimes.
On Nov. 19, 2005, during an insurgent ambush of the Marines of Kilo Company 3rd battalion 1st Marines, 15 Iraqi civilians and nine suspected insurgent ambushers were killed. One Marine was killed in an IED explosion and two others seriously wounded.
Thanks to the battalion intelligence officer, Lt. Jeff Dinsmore, who monitored the daylong engagement, the entire Marine chain of command were given the full story of the engagement that very night and it was agreed that no further action in connection with the civilian casualties was needed.
Months later, a Time story based on the testimony of two known insurgent propagandists and the stories of some Iraqi civilians falsely reported that the Kilo company Marines had wantonly murdered the dead Iraqis as an act of revenge after an IED explosion took the life of a fellow Marine. (LINK)
Jack Murtha(D for Dumb Ass) should apologize...But no..watch the video.
posted by Carl Kilo at 5:57:00 PM
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Dr Andrew Dem Clem got his tail handed to him Saturday. You think he would listen to the voters and accept the fact his views are not wanted or accepted by the GOP voters. This has been going on way to long, and Clem only being able to line up 20 supporters tells the story. Of course he gets praise from democrats like Colbalt 6 and the useless Whackjobs. Party officials are taking notice and it is about time.
posted by Carl Kilo at 10:12:00 AM
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Yesterdays Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway was a good one. Virginia native Denny Hamlin won the race. My favorite driver Jeff Burton, also a Virginia native finished third. Burton moved on top of the points standings holding a 39 point lead over his team mate Kevin Harvick.
Did anyone else notice the large number of empty seats yesterday? Martinsville is worth the trip for the Hot Dogs alone.
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:57:00 AM
1 comments
The Bristol Herald Courier thinks this will surprise people. If you did not know this you must be living under a rock. My fellow ODBA members Adam and Scott have some thoughts on this.
While the process is not perfect, it is the best way to seat the bench. The process is not much different than the feds use. Many of us have seen first hand in Kentucky what happens when judges are elected by popular vote. That process makes you wonder what candidate is supported by drug dealers, pot growers, contractors, etc. Think about it.
UPDATE - This weeks #1 rated blog and ODBA member Below the Beltway has some great analysis here.
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:38:00 AM
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Anne Taetzsch has been reelected by a landslide. She faced perennial trouble maker Andrew Clem and won the vote 58-20.
SWAC Girl has Anne Taetzsch overwhelmingly wins Staunton GOP Chair 58-20!
Spanky tells all with Congratulations Anne.
posted by Carl Kilo at 6:21:00 PM
1 comments
A few names are being mentioned for the next AG over at SWAC Girl's blog. We have Ken Cuccinelli announcing yes or no Monday. Paul Harris has his name in the ring. A commenter brings US Attorney John Brownlee into the mix. About Brownlee
John L. Brownlee was appointed United States Attorney by President George W. Bush on October 16, 2001. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Brownlee is responsible for the prosecution of violations of federal law within the district and with the civil representation of federal agencies.
Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, John was an associate attorney for the Roanoke based law firm Woods, Rogers. He has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, DC, and law clerk to U.S. District Judge Sam Wilson in Abingdon and Roanoke. John is a member of the American Legion, Post 3, in Roanoke, and lectures on trial advocacy at the University of Virginia School of Law.
John received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University in 1987 and his law degree from the College of William and Mary in 1994. Prior to entering law school, John served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army and successfully completed the Army's Airborne and Ranger programs. He also served as a major in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army Reserve.
John is married to the former Lee Ann Necessary of Millers Creek, North Carolina. They attend, along with their daughters Thompson Ann and Catherine Harris, Grandin Court Baptist Church in Roanoke.
Brownlee was a speaker at Blogs United in Martinsville. He was impressive and well received. Brownlee has not announced any interest in the position as of yet. Will there be a draft Brownlee movement? The GOP is in great shape for 09!
posted by Carl Kilo at 11:48:00 AM
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Some more from Congressman Rick Boucher on strip mining coal and the benefits there of. From the Kingsport Times
“Today, I am pleased to report the status has been restored,” Boucher said. “The federal decision recognizes that Alpha and Pioneer can dramatically reduce road building costs by preparing the roadbed as coal is extracted.”
The Alpha/Pioneer study suggests a 50 percent savings in project costs of the $4 billion in estimated costs in 2004, he said, with the number of bridges reduced from 35 to seven, and the length of the corridor shaved by two miles.
“With special federal experimental project status restored, our prospects for construction of the road have never been better,” Boucher said. “The coal companies will (help) build it quicker at half the cost with a better design and higher speed limit than if the road were built by VDOT alone.”
Boucher expressed appreciation to Kaine and Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer “for their unwavering commitment” to the project, and praised Alpha Natural Resources and Pioneer Coal “for their clear dedication to the best interests of our region. Their leadership and assistance to this project have been instrumental, and without them we would not be where we are today.”
Read more here. Boucher, Kaine and Mark Warner have all made it clear that coal mining is a part of our future. Can we trust them?
posted by Carl Kilo at 10:30:00 AM
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The once respected BHC has been hijacked by the ignorance of J Todd Foster. Jerry From on High has the story. A couple weeks ago the poisen pen of the BHC editors published a opinion piece about a meeting they had had with Power Plant supporters. Mark Wooten from Wise scalds him in this LTE. Wooten was there-
Bristol editor’s attack offensive
To the Editor:
Yes, reasonable minds do disagree on the issue of Dominion’s coal-fired power plant in Virginia City. That point has been made by various newspapers that have covered what has become a controversy in Wise County and beyond.
What most newspapers have NOT done is turn their powerful pens into personal weapons. That’s what the managing editor of Media General’s Bristol Herald-Courier did after the newspaper’s editorial board agreed to meet with a group of reasonably minded leaders from Wise County concerned about the paper’s coverage of the issue. In a subsequent “editorial commentary” written by editorial board member Todd Foster, we were the ones ambushed, not the editorial board, as he asserted.
I must respond to Foster’s scathing personal attacks against me and others in that meeting.
First, I most certainly was not looking to buy any favors from the editorial board or the Bristol paper. My remarks on withholding advertising by our company were simply to reiterate what any newspaper company already knows: They sell a product and any potential customer has the freedom to make choices of where they spend their money. Shoddy standards of journalism compromise credibility and that does not go unnoticed by readers and advertisers alike.
Second, our meeting was considered “on the record.” We were not looking to hide our positions, far from it; we wanted them known. We wanted them to hear from us and even publish what we had to say.
But instead of fairly reporting both sides of this conversation, the decision-makers opted to simply react on the opinion page.
Indeed, while everyone is entitled to an opinion, Foster is aware that his opinion is published, circulated and carries with it the power and freedom of the press securely protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment. His editorial commentary and opinions, therefore, ought to be exercised in a professional and responsible manner in keeping with the obvious power he possesses as managing editor of a widely circulated newspaper.
He has every right to disagree with me and others on the power plant, and to even yield the power of the press by publishing and circulating his editorial disagreement with our opinions, or even our expression of them.
What he has done, however, is breach the very duty of fairness he has as an editor and a member of the press; he has unfairly and improperly utilized the power and freedom of the press to wage an ugly personal attack against me, my company and Ron Flanary, a dedicated and highly respected public servant whose services to the region are immeasurable as executive director of Lenowisco Planning District Commission, past chairman of the Crooked Road and a board member of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority.
What he wrote, published and circulated in his March 16 opinion column exceeded the boundaries of fair comment. It was offensive, mean-spirited, vengeful, unprofessional and immature. It did not fully inform nor enlighten. It served no public interest at all, only his personal misguided self-interest.
In closing, it is interesting that the headline of his attack column was “Newspaper’s editorial position is not for sale.” A more fitting title would have been: “Newspaper’s editorial position not open for discussion without fear of reprisal.” Foster has exploited and abused the privilege of editorial comment for his own personal satisfaction and vengeance. What a blatant misuse of his power and responsibility, and what a disservice to the readers of the Bristol Herald-Courier. Shame on him!
Mark S. Wooten
Wise
That is nothing new for Foster. As Swac Girl informed us
Remember J. Todd Foster? He's the guy who used to be at the Waynesboro News Virginian a couple of years ago, the guy who had worked for People Magazine and had that big-city edge to him that went against the grain of many locals. He was sued by a City Council member and left the area soon after that.
They owe Wise Co a apology and Wise Co business should pull all advertising from the BHC. I know of many people that have canceled their subscriptions, and I am sure more will follow.
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:44:00 AM
2 comments
The Coalfield Expressway is back on track...Thanks to the COAL COMPANIES.
POUND, Va. – Coalfields Expressway construction could begin this year since the 52-mile project is back under a special transportation provision, which allows innovative contracting methods that reduce costs and expedites the project, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th District, said Friday.
"Construction of this road will begin in the very near term," Boucher said. "Hopefully, in a matter of months and within this year."
Boucher said the project – which would build a four-lane highway to link Virginia’s top three coal-producing counties to interstate highways in West Virginia – floundered when it lost the Special Experimental Projects status a few years ago after progress on the roadway became stagnant.
"Today, I am pleased to announce that the Federal Highway Administration, at my request and that of Gov. Tim Kaine, is reinstating Special Experimental Project status for the Coalfields Expressway," Boucher said.
The initial status was granted to allow Virginia transportation officials to enter into an agreement with a private firm to design and build the expressway, but the original partner, Kellogg, Brown and Root, did not move forward on the project.
New partners – Alpha Natural Resources and Pioneer Coal Co. – came aboard in September with a plan to mine coal along the proposed roadway and build the highway in the process, Boucher said. The new partnership reduces costs for the project from $4 billion to $2 billion, Boucher said.
"Virginia has abundant coal reserves, and both Alpha and Pioneer, which together control the rights to the reserves along the route of the road, expressed a strong interest in partnering with the state to begin construction of the expressway as part of their mining operations," Boucher said.
The partnership between Virginia road officials and the coal companies is the reason federal transportation officials again granted the project special status, Boucher said.
"With special federal Experimental Project status restored, our prospects for construction of the road have never been better," Boucher said. "The coal companies will build it quicker, at half the costs and with a better design and higher speed limit than if the road were built by VDOT alone."Read All of Kathy Still's Article
That's right! Lets strip mine some coal. I look for the anti coal loons at Raising Kaine to whine and protest as much as they have over Mark Warner saying coal is a must. Heh.
posted by Carl Kilo at 12:01:00 AM
1 comments
Mark Alexander writes
"In ‘04, Kerry was joined in his efforts to embolden Iraqi insurgents by a cadre of congressional Demo-gogues who continued to spew traitorous rhetoric.
A year ago, I participated in high-level security briefings with CENTCOM and SOCOM commanders, one of whom discussed the topic “Media as Terrain” —how our adversaries use the media as a battleground.
Shortly after that briefing, I penned an essay that pointedly condemned Democrats for aiding and abetting the enemy. In “Memo to the American Media from Sheikh Muhammad al-Zawahiri,” I focused on a most revealing quote: “I say to you: that we are in a battle, and that more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media.” That quote was part of an intercepted and authenticated communiqué from Osama bin Laden’s chief lieutenant to the now-departed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Read that quote again, and let it sink in.
Yet Democrats and their media organs continue to crank out cover stories like “We’re losing” from Newsweek."
Take time to go over and read the whole article.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:02:00 PM
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My Fingers Are Crossed!
Fairfax, Virginia, March 28, 2008 – Virginia State Senator
Ken Cuccinelli (R-37th) today scheduled a press conference for Monday, March 31st at 12:30 pm. The press conference will occur in front of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway; Fairfax, Virginia 22035.
Cuccinelli will address his intentions regarding the 2009 race for the Republican nomination for Virginia Attorney General: “Having had some time at home after the General Assembly session, my wife and I have made some decisions about this race that are now final enough to share.”
Cuccinelli, a partner in the law firm of Cuccinelli & Day, PLLC, was first elected to the Senate of Virginia in a 2002 special election. He serves on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and has worked closely with the Attorney General’s office on key public safety and public interest legislation.
posted by Carl Kilo at 3:17:00 PM
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Free Republic Opinion Poll: (3/27) McCain's foreign policy speech makes me more inclined to:
Composite Opinion
Throw up
51.1% 
879
Vote FOR him
21.0%
361
Vote AGAINST him
12.3%
212
Stay home
8.2%
141
Pass
7.4%
128
100.0%
1,721
Not good.
posted by Carl Kilo at 3:02:00 PM
1 comments
Owens has been charged with:
■ Arson of a building owned by the United States.
■ Arson on U.S. property.
Owens is also charged with “knowingly and willfully (making) materially false and fictitious statements and representations.”(LINK)
He could be facing 50 years in the penitentiary.
According to court documents, Owens was seen by two Coeburn police officers at around 3 a.m. on Oct. 31 at the Chevron Station in Coeburn with an unknown individual.
“At about 4:51 a.m. this same day, Owens was seen at the Double Kwik store in Norton by a Norton police officer,” U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Larry Fisher said. “Owens made a statement to the Norton police officer that it would be wild or crazy if someone burnt (sic) the watchtower down.”(LINK)
This dumb ass already confessed
During a hearing last month, a federal forest service investigator said Owens admitted setting the fire when he was questioned just hours before his arrest. Owens previously denied any involvement in the blaze, the investigator testified.
The criminal complaint against Owens alleges that he spoke with Norton police officers about 90 minutes before the blaze and told them it would be "wild or crazy" if somebody burned the High Know tower.(LINK)
Coincidence? I doubt that.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:54:00 AM
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WISE, Va. – Coal must be in the fuel mix as the nation faces the need for fundamental changes in its energy policy, Democrat Mark Warner told party leaders in Wise County on Thursday night...............
Clean coal technology, like the proposed power plant is a must. Warner's views puts him at odds with the loons at Raising Kaine who oppose coal and coal mining. Lets see if the hypocrites attack their rock star hero for his logical views on energy independence.
Note to Warner-We trust you on this issue about as much as we trust you not to raise our taxes.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:39:00 AM
1 comments
I missed this back in September. Hughie Thomasson passed away. Lets go back to 1982 when I saw him with the Outlaws. The song is Hurry Sundown
Gypsies danced around the campfire, shook their tambourines
They were waiting for ghost of an outlaw, Sundown was his name
As the midnight hour drew closer, and the sky began to fall
You could see his shadow in the light of the moon
You could hear the Gypsies ca--------ll
She had hair as black as darkness, her eyes a cold blue green
Oh her voice was soft and tender oh, She loved to sing
She will sing no more or dance again, and shake her tambourines
They have taken her away she's dead and gone, hear the Gypsies sing
Ooh!! Ooh!! Hurry Sundown the Gypsies called
Ooh!! Ooh!! Hurry Sundown
Ooh!! Ooh!! Hurry Sundown the Gypsies cried
Hurry Sundown
Silver doubles in his holsters, stars stuck to his heals
There was fire in his eyes they say, he was dressed to kill
He had hands as fast as lightning, eyes as cold as steel
He came for the one that took her life, lying in boot hill
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:14:00 PM
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The story is here. This kid has Clintonitis..He already confessed to burning the tower.
"According to testimony today in federal court in Abingdon, a forest service special agent, Nicholas Owens admitted he burned the observation tower. "
Idiot.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:55:00 PM
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Damn....I never would have thought this was happening. Check out this post from the CRFVB - UVA Funded By Governments of China, Saudi Arabia.
Unreal!
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:35:00 PM
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My friend and fellow ODBA member Alton has a excellent post up - Three Strikes, You're A Racist!
"The terms “racism” and “racist” have been too loosely thrown about lately. Much too loosely. Today, one can be labeled a racist on the basis of something as benign as a poorly phrased sentence. Or a politically incorrect thought expressed in public.
Any one of us over a certain age know first-hand of racists. Most of us know few, if any, real-world racists alive and active today."
Indeed. There are plenty of folks who are bigoted and prejudiced, but real racists are hard to find. This one is a must read my friends so click on over and tell Alton what you think. I for one will be careful of using that word in the future.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:24:00 PM
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The ODBA is growing again! The College Republican Federation of Virginia Blog has joined the ranks of the ODBA. They bring ten new members to the table!
A heartfelt welcome to the CR's! We look forward to working with the new members. SWAC Girl has more about this here.
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:44:00 PM
1 comments
My friends know I was dreading a showdown between McDonnell and Bolling. We now don't have to worry about that. SWAC Girl says it best-
"Thank you, Lt. Governor Bolling, for taking one for the team, working to try and unite this fractured Republican Party. With two excellent candidates, it was going to be a difficult decision for many throughout the state. This has opened the door for everyone to support each candidate 100%, run them as a ticket, and win back the governor's mansion."
Indeed. Everyone knows I like Bill Bolling. He is SWVA and understands the coal industry. He is most definitely the best public speaker in the party and a good conservative. McDonnell could be the strongest candidate the GOP has offered in many years. Conservative, military background, and sharp as a tack. Now we can add Cuccinelli to the ticket. Despite what the critics say, the GOP is in great shape for 2009. There are some worried democrats out there today.
posted by Carl Kilo at 9:35:00 AM
3 comments
CBS busts her story......Maybe she inhaled?
Scott has more here. Reminds me of another story by a past democratic candidate that said he spent Christmas in Cambodia.
posted by Carl Kilo at 12:00:00 AM
0 comments
What a song! I had two TV channels and a set of boxing gloves. We played outside...The world has changed. The lyrics hit the nails head.
A Different World
Bucky Covington
We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead based paint
No child proof lids no seat belts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are, still here we are
We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside, playin’ outside
Chorus
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world
School always started the same every day
The pledge of allegiance then someone would pray
Not every kid made the team when they tried
We got disappointed and that was all right, we turned out all right
Chorus
Bridge
No bottled water, we drank from a garden hose
And every Sunday, all the stores were closed
Chorus
Chorus
It was a different world
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:22:00 PM
2 comments
Good afternoon, and thank you all or coming.
I have a brief statement that I would like to make and after that I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
For the past 16 years it has been my privilege to represent the people of Virginia at various levels of state and local government.
From 1992-1995 as a member and Chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.
From 1996-2005 as member of the Senate of Virginia.
And for the past two years as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
During that time I have done my best to provide the people of Virginia with aggressive and effective leadership in state government, to focus on finding solutions to the important challenges we face and to consistently support the conservative principles of government that I believe in. I think that effort has been successful and I hope the people of Virginia agree.
I have also enjoyed my public service a great deal.
There is no greater honor someone can be given that the honor of representing their fellow citizens in the halls of government. I have been humbled by the opportunities I have been given and will forever be grateful for the confidence the people of Virginia have placed in me.
I have also made many new friends as a result of my public service, seen many wonderful places and had a front row seat for some of the most significant events in our state’s history.
Those of you who know anything about my background know that I grew up in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia and Southern West Virginia. I have often remarked that if someone had told me when I was little boy - living in that three room apartment above main street in downtown Haysi, VA or in that mobile home on the banks of the Big Coal River where I lived until I graduated from high school and went off to college - that I would one day have a chance to do what only 39 other people have done in the 400 year history of Virginia I would not have believed that possible, but so it has been.
I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities I have been given and to those who have helped make these opportunities possible.
But I have asked you here today to talk about the future, not the past.
Over the past several months, there has been a great deal of speculation about my future political plans. I have tried my best to deflect this speculation, encouraging Republicans to keep their focus on the campaigns of 2008 and not begin speculating prematurely about the campaigns of 2009.
This is a challenging time for our party. If we are going to win the elections of 2008 we need to keep our focus firmly fixed on those campaigns and not become distracted about discussions of campaigns yet to come.
But despite my best efforts, the speculation has continued, and it has in fact intensified in recent weeks. Therefore, I have decided that I need to disclose my future political intentions now and not wait until after the November 2008 elections as I had hoped to do.
If I don’t address this issue now, I fear it will negatively impact our ability to work together and give our maximum effort this November on behalf of Senator McCain, Governor Gilmore and our Republican candidates for the United States House of Representatives.
I have made no secret about the fact that I would like to be Governor of Virginia someday. It would be a great honor to serve in our state’s highest elected office, and I think I would make a great Governor. I have the background, knowledge and experience to do the job, and I have the right vision for the future of Virginia.
But if there is one thing I learned form my campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 2005 it was that a statewide political campaign is a very demanding thing and a campaign for Governor is an all consuming thing
I do not believe that anyone should seek the office of Governor unless they are prepared to make that campaign the most important thing in their life and dedicate their full time and attention to that effort.
Over the past several weeks I have given a great deal of thought to whether or not I am at a point in my life where I am able to dedicate my full time and attention to a gubernatorial campaign in 2009. I have ultimately concluded that I am not.
Unfortunately, I have a number of other personal and professional commitments in my life that currently prevent me from dedicating the time that is needed to run an effective and successful gubernatorial campaign, at least not in 2009.
So, after a great deal of consideration I have decided, and today announce, that I will not be a candidate for Governor of Virginia in 2009.
As you may know, in Virginia the office of Lieutenant Governor is considered to be a part time office. Because I’m not independently wealthy and do not currently have a full time government position, I have to work for a living, just like each of you, to pay the mortgage, college tuition, the power bill and all the rest.
My first responsibility has to be to my family and I have concluded that it would not be possible for me to hold down a very demanding job in the private sector, fulfill my duties as Lieutenant Governor and run a successful campaign for Governor at the same time.
In addition, five years ago I had the privilege of joining a wonderful group of people in starting up a new business operation in Richmond. We have done well, but ours is still a young and growing business. Until that business has matured and reached its goals, I cannot walk away from the commitments I made five years ago to my business associates.
Needless to say, this was a very difficult decision for me and my family. It is difficult to have a goal and be so close to achieving that goal, only to have it deferred to another day. Nonetheless, that is sometimes the cards life deals us, and we have to play them to the best of our ability.
I know that my decision will surprise most people, disappoint many people and it may even make a few people happy. However, I am confident that it is the right decision for me and my family.
I thank all the people who have encouraged me to run for Governor in 2009. Their friendship, confidence and support mean a great deal to me, and I hope they will understand and respect the difficult decision I have made.
Six years ago, when I first started my political travels across Virginia, I did so with a good friend and colleague, Bob McDonnell. Little did we know that we would have the privilege of serving the people of Virginia as Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
Bob McDonnell is a good friend and a good man, and he has done an outstanding job serving as the Attorney General of Virginia for the past two and half years. It has been a privilege to work with him.
As you know, Bob has also expressed an interest in running for Governor in 2009 and I think he would make a great Governor. Should Bob decide to seek the office of Governor, he will have my full, complete and enthusiastic support.
Let me say just one other thing about the 2009 campaigns.
While I will not be a candidate for Governor in 2009, I do plan to seek re-election to the office of Lieutenant Governor.
I have enjoyed serving as Lieutenant Governor for the past two and half years. I believe I have made a positive contribution to the betterment of our state and our party, and I think I am growing into the job with every passing day. I am willing to continue serving in that capacity if it is the will of the people of Virginia.
Let me just close by saying this.
This is a challenging time for our Republican Party. The political dynamics and demographics of our state are changing and we can no longer assume that we will win statewide campaigns just because we are Republicans.
To win future elections we must work hard, we must offer the right vision for the future of our country and our Commonwealth, and we must be united and focused on the task at hand.
Hopefully, my decision to make this announcement today will enable us to accomplish that goal in 2008 without unnecessary distractions and discussions about 2009.
Thank you all very much, and I would now be delighted to respond to your questions.
posted by Carl Kilo at 3:04:00 PM
0 comments
From the RTD
"The notion that Gilmore is somehow tainted by the fall of Bear Stearns is, at best, laughable. As he pursues the Senate seat, he should be judged on his policy positions, his political skills, and his record as governor. His thin ties to Bear Stearns don't deserve a moment's notice."
Indeed. Go read the whole thing.
posted by Carl Kilo at 2:09:00 PM
1 comments
A great letter by Archie Maggard.
I made the trip to Richmond for the last hearing on the Dominion power plant. I was surprised by all the people from the Chesapeake, Fairfax and Northern Virginia area who were there to oppose the plant. I did not know that there were so many people from those areas who knew Southwest Virginia existed.
A lot of those people were there not to just oppose the plant, but to oppose any kind of mining. We do not have the kind of land they do, so we cannot have any major development. They think we should be able to survive with tourism and call centers, which have been created on the very property that has been mined and turned into land we can use for development. It seems we always will be stereotyped as the extremely poor people of the Appalachian region, with our run-down two room shacks and our children running around in the yard with the chickens and the hound dogs -- all caused by the "greedy" coal companies that supposedly rape and pillage our land.
We are currently in an energy crisis; fossil fuels are the lifeblood of our society and many others around the world. Our supply is limited and will eventually run out. That is why it is so important that we continue research to find other means of getting the energy we need to continue society as we know it.
Alternative forms of energy are under development, even though most are only in their initial stages. With increased government and public support, we may be able to speed up these developments and free ourselves from the use of fossil fuels, but to do this we need compromise to meet the rising demand of our electrical needs.
Right now, those needs can best be met with our own coal resources, and the Virginia City power plant, which are the most affordable means of producing electricity. We all need to conserve but even with conservation this will not meet our increasing demand for power. Renewables are not a viable option at this time. Clean coal is our only answer and Dominion is striving to meet the goals set forth for the production of our energy needs.
Even though I support the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Plant and the economic impact it will have on our area, I also have children and grandchildren who have to live in this country. I would like to think that they will have a future and that we can leave them a legacy that we do care for the earth and what happens to it.
I feel that we have to trust the Department of Environmental Quality to do what is right and enforce the laws and regulations set forth by our government agencies in the face of our rising energy needs.
Archie Maggard
Pound, Va.
posted by Carl Kilo at 1:24:00 PM
0 comments
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” —Matthew 28:1-9
Unlike January 1st offers us a new year, Easter offers us a new eternal life....But only if you accept and believe. C.S. Lewis touched on this saying
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” —C.S. Lewis
Indeed.
posted by Carl Kilo at 10:30:00 AM
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The BHC sent out some questions about the FOIA.
A spokeswoman for Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said it is her office’s policy not to answer any questionnaire or survey it receives – although she used the phrase "off the record" twice in a 40-second voicemail providing this answer.
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., didn’t get back with us at all.
Heh. Off course Rick Boucher answered them all...He has nothing better to do.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:07:00 AM
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Comment of the week
I read Buckey Boone’s sad, cold, impersonal, one-sided, uninformed diatribe on the war in Iraq – which was completely devoid of the word "freedom" or any variation thereof. I (and the many veterans who have proudly served their country and "get" it) can only offer up the old saw to him and the people who think like him. For those who have never protected their country, freedom has a flavor which the protected will never taste.
Michael Abbott
Wise, Va.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:00:00 AM
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One hundred workers at the International Automotive Components plant in Lebanon, Va., have temporarily lost their jobs because of a strike by auto workers in five American Axle plants in Michigan and New York.
"We were forced to release about 100 employees on a temporary layoff at our Lebanon facility since the United Auto Workers/American Axle strike began in late February," said David Ladd, executive director of marketing and communications for IAC said Thursday.(LINK)
More jobs lost in SWVA.
posted by Carl Kilo at 7:55:00 AM
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This video got a McCain staffer suspended.
posted by Carl Kilo at 7:19:00 PM
7 comments
RASMUSSEN POLL: McCain Now Leads By Double Digits:
McCain 51% Clinton 41%
McCain 49% Obama 42%
Obama is not being swift boated. Since you mention it, has Kerry released those records yet? Obama chose his path twenty years ago. Presenting the facts about his church is not swiftboating. I use the word church loosely because there is nothing I have watched or read that shows this is a Christ filled church. The story of Obama and his hate filled idol Rev Wright has been around a long time, so don't look for it to go away.
For twenty years Obama attended what looks to me like a hate filled church. Now he wants that to just go away..Poof....Hope...Change...That is not going to happen.
McCain most likely won the job this week. Polls are showing the dems are taking a huge hit. Who is to blame? Barack Hussein Obama. It will take more than a speech to erase twenty years of hate.
posted by Carl Kilo at 12:48:00 PM
2 comments
With an overall spending increase lower than the rate of population growth and inflation, Virginia’s 2008-2010 Budget is fiscally responsible, structurally balanced and limited to the core services of government.
These features make Virginia’s newest spending plan one of the leanest, most fiscally conservative in modern times.(LINK)
It could have been worse.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:43:00 AM
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Barnie Day writes
And there are a couple of other things I know: power companies don’t build power plants for lack of something better to do. They build power plants to meet demand, and that demand is us—all of us.
Indeed. Now go over to From on High and read the whole thing.
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:14:00 AM
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Warrior’s Path State Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, Historic Downtown Blountville, and Rocky Mount Living History Museum are but a few attractions for visitors to Sullivan County, Tenn.
Sure it’s plenty to see, but is it enough to justify a tourism office that costs taxpayers more than $50,000 per year?
County Mayor Steve Godsey doesn’t think so.
He terminated Tourism Director Krisna Goodwin late Tuesday afternoon and plans to cut funding for the county’s full-time director of tourism position from next year’s budget.
"We just really don’t have enough to promote in the county for a full-time tourism director," said Godsey, who called Goodwin a "very capable and good individual."(LINK)
How many jobs in your county are a waste of time and money?
posted by Carl Kilo at 8:01:00 AM
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It looks like some bad reporting by Bob Lewis went down and the Gilmore campaign is calling him out.
March 19, 2008
Mr. Bob Lewis
The Associated Press, Capitol Bureau
State Capitol
Richmond, VA 23219
Dear Bob:
We would appreciate it if you would immediately correct the following factual errors and incorrect implications in your story about former Gov. Jim Gilmore and Everquest Financial which moved on the Associated Press wires last night and has been reprinted by several Virginia media outlets.
1. Everquest Financial is not, and has never been, “subsidiary” of Bear Sterns. It is an independent company.
2. Everquest has not and does not “market” high risk securities. It does not market securities; it buys and holds them in its portfolio.
3. The primary holdings of Everquest Financial are assets based on sound corporate loans.
4. Everquest is an asset management corporation. It is not a “hedge fund” and it does not operate a hedge fund.
5. As a result of sound management, Everquest is thriving and has earned $100 million in revenue for its shareholders.
6. When Jim Gilmore was Governor of Virginia, in the wake of 9/11 and a during a national recession, Jim Gilmore balanced the Virginia budget, gave working families $1.5 billion in tax cuts and left a record $1 billion in the state's Rainy Day Fund.
7. The deficit in the state budget, as defined by Mark Warner, was the difference between state revenues, which had decreased in the recession; and what Mark Warner wanted to spend in future years.
8. This shortfall in his spending plans is what Mark Warner used to justify raising taxes on working Virginians by $1.4 billion in 2003 – a year and a half after Jim Gilmore left office.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Dick Leggitt
Campaign Manager
Jim Gilmore for Senate
posted by Carl Kilo at 3:30:00 PM
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ODBA member Josh Levy was the focus of this Daily Progress article.
When President Richard Nixon addressed a fractured and embittered nation in November 1969 about the United State’s action in Vietnam, he rallied the war’s supporters by addressing part of his remarks to America’s "silent majority."
Now, with the next presidential election around the corner, Josh Levy, a third-year University of Virginia law school student, believes it is critical to speak to what he views as America’s new "silent majority": those who support or could be persuaded that it is in America’s best interest to achieve what Levy and others view as victory in Iraq. Levy organized a "pro-victory" rally in July, when anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan came to Charlottesville, and is thinking about starting a citizens advocacy group to argue, in part, that withdrawal now would mean "retreat."
Check out Josh's blog Win The War. Carry On Josh! Win the War!
posted by Carl Kilo at 2:11:00 PM
1 comments
I want to thank Scott White for hosting and maintaining the Old Dominion Blog Alliance Aggregator.
Over thirty ODBA members have their RSS feeds available there. Thanks Scott for your time and service.
posted by Carl Kilo at 12:56:00 PM
1 comments
By Hastings Wyman
Southern Political Report
March 19, 2008 — The “mass meetings,” as they are called in Virginia, are underway to select an estimated six to nine thousand delegates to the state Republican convention on May 30-31, and initial reports indicate that the early favorite, former Gov. Jim Gilmore, is likely to win the GOP’s US Senate nomination. About 20 counties have already held their meetings and although Del. Bob Marshall is running well in his Northern Virginia bailiwick, in the rest of the state Gilmore’s campaign estimates their candidate is carrying virtually every county. Only Loudon County, which Marshall represents in the legislature, appears to have elected a majority of pro-Marshall delegates.
“The consensus is that Gilmore will win [the nomination], but that it may be more difficult than originally thought,” says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “Marshall is doing well in some of the very conservative county parties, like Loudon and Prince William, up there in Northern Virginia.” Down state, notes Boyd Marcus, a campaign consultant for Gilmore, Marshall is only winning “anywhere from zero to a third” of the delegates. Another candidate, political unknown Robert Berry, is also running for the Republican nomination.
As they say in SWVA- Bob Who? This ones in the bag for Gilmore.
posted by Carl Kilo at 12:27:00 PM
2 comments
Should the Virginia lottery pay Donald Trump half-a-million dollars for his picture to appear on lottery tickets? How about $800,000 for use of the name "Deal or No Deal" and Howie Mandel's image? Delegate Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) says no, and has exposed what he considers wasteful spending of money that could be used for education, the intent of lottery proceeds.(LINK)
SWAC Girl has the story. Delegate Ben Cline is all over this, as he should be. Lets see if any of our other electeds join in to fight this waste.
posted by Carl Kilo at 10:59:00 AM
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The AG was in SWVA recently and had this to say about colleges rights to ban weapons.
Virginia’s colleges have the right to prevent students – even those with concealed-weapons permits – from carrying firearms on campus if college rules prohibit them, the state’s attorney general said here Monday.
Bob McDonnell visited with Appalachian School of Law students during a tour of Southwest Virginia. The attorney general was a guest of The Federalist Society and addressed students on property rights and other constitutional issues.
After his lecture, McDonnell was asked his opinion of whether guns are legal on campus, specifically as it relates to a recent incident at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Earlier this month, student Steven Barber was expelled after campus police found three guns locked in the trunk of his car. Barber, who had a concealed-weapons permit, did not violate any state laws, but did break campus rules prohibiting guns.
Barber’s vehicle was searched after college officials became concerned about a paper he wrote that referenced suicide and included a character who thought about killing a professor. A Scott County judge took away Barber’s concealed-weapons permit, but he is appealing.
The attorney general said some aspects of Virginia’s gun laws are not clear but his interpretation is that a college’s board of visitors or governing body may determine its own policy regarding guns on campus.
A board of visitors has authority over those on campus, McDonnell said.
“That authority trumps the concealed-weapons law,” he said.(LINK)
Interesting. I don't agree with the AG on this one.
posted by Carl Kilo at 10:43:00 AM
2 comments
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