Skeptical Observor - Wesley Clark: Four-Star Moonbat

My fellow ODBA blogger at Skeptical Observor has a good post about this fiasco. He covers Clark's comment and the hypocrisy of the left and I agree with his post. James writes

"I'll vote for John McCain, with grave reservations based upon some of his positions (hostility to the First Amendment, for example), but it's clear that the moonbat Left finds little in his military record to commend him."

I am with ya James. McCain scares me with his McCain/Fiengold/Kennedy legislation. I do not believe he will secure our borders by building Duncan Hunter's border fence. I don't trust him on denying amnesty for illegal aliens either. That said...He towers above Barack Hussein Obama in leadership and experience.

Technorati Tags: Wesley Clark, Barack Hussein Obama, John McCain

Tax Me Till I'm Blind

To Be Right has info on how Virginia gets it's revenue...You need to see this.

"We even have a Public Rock Oyster Tax. What? Are you kidding me?"

Don't forget the Oyster Inspection Tax. My God...When will it end.

Technorati Tags: Taxes, Tim Kaine, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Bitterly Clinging to Guns & Religion

“No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.” —Thomas Jefferson

I have to have me one of these! Click that picture and get you one too!

Technorati Tags: 2nd Amendment, Guns, Barack Hussein Obama

Ahhhh...The French Military

H/T to Jerry.

16 wounded in French military demonstration
By The Associated Press
Paris - A military shooting demonstration in southeast France on Sunday left 16 people wounded, including children, when real bullets were used instead of blank ones, officials said.
A Defense Ministry official said the incident occurred during a demonstration of hostage-freeing techniques at the Laperrine military barracks. The official said investigators will look into why real bullets were used. (link)

The only people safe around the French military are its enemies. Type "French Military Victories" into Google and hit the I'm Feeling Lucky button.

Indeed.

Technorati Tags: French, French Military

Drilling in ANWR - The Animals

A picture is worth a thousand words indeed.These two pictures are from The Prudhoe Bay area that accounts for 17% of U.S. domestic oil production.
Check out Yankee Phil for more.

Technorati Tags: ANWR, Oil

The Statler Brothers inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame

SWAC Girl informs us that Staunton Virginia's home boys made it into the Hall of Fame. The quartet was popular in my household as a youth. My parents still play their Christmas albums. I have a Statler's channel on Pandora.

Remember this song about The Strand in Staunton?

Technorati Tags: The Statler Brothers, Virginia, Music

Man's Best Friend Includes Pit Bulls

A frantic mother called 911 to report her 3 year old child missing. Police searched and found the boy a half mile from his home.

The little boy was unharmed and was accompanied -- and aggressively protected -- by the family's two pet dogs, especially a purebred pit bulldog named "Baby." Also accompanying David was the family's Jack Russell terrier, "Sassy."(LINK)

Very Cool.

Technorati Tags: Dogs, Pit Bulls

"the hell with the rest of the world"

This is a post I published in 2006.

I was 8 years old in 1973 when Gordan Sinclair had this to say. You can listen to the original audio here. I suggest you do just that. Does anyone else remember this? How it made you feel at that time? How it makes you feel now?

The Americans

The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the world.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Well, Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did, that's who.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Mississippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. And I was there. I saw that.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan... the Truman Policy... all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. And now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or a woman on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are right here on our streets in Toronto, most of them... unless they are breaking Canadian laws... are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the Americans get out of this bind... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the bonds, let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both of them are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name to me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their noses at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters... with the year less than half-over... has taken it all and nobody... but nobody... has helped.

ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND AUDIO
COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD.
(c) 1973 BY GORDON SINCLAIR

After all these years what has changed? Read about why Gordan wrote this here. Sound familiar?

Technorati Tags: America, Politics

Stay Out Of My Apples

My Blue Jay problem is solved. Yes my friends...She sleeps and waits on them in the tree tops. Amazing. Look at that face!

What happens to yapping Chihuahua dogs when they encounter the lady of the land? This pic says it all. I have never seen a cat like this...Dang scary.

Technorati Tags: Cats, Apples, Pictures

Obama's Fake Birth Certificate

Every reader should check this out. Just why would the campaign release this fake certificate? Is Obama a natural citizen? Why is he not addressing this issue? All good questions.

Obama's race is listed as "African"...? There is no state seal on the BC...? Very odd indeed.

Technorati Tags: Barack Hussein Obama

A Sweet Fundraiser for Bob McDonnell

SWAC Girl has three posts and pictures up here.

I whole heartedly support the McDonnell/Bolling ticket. Can you help these two great conservative leaders?

Bill Bolling
Lieutenant Governor for Virginia
$

Bob McDonnell
Governor for Virginia
$

Technorati Tags: Virginia GOP, Virginia, Virginia Politics, Bill Bolling, Bob McDonnell

Blog Fu - Mexican Mafia: “United States Is Stupid”

BVBL has the story so go check it out.

Most of you know I have family ties in Chicago. My cousin Billy was a outlaw and I remember him telling this story about the Mexican Mob. They used teenage boys to mule a couple kilos of powder to the Big Windy. Then the youngsters turn themselves into immigration and are shipped back to Mexico only to return with a couple more kilos the month or two. In other words, The USA and our tax dollars are paying one way transportation cost for the drug lord's mules.

Yes....I think we are stupid. Secure the damn border.

Technorati Tags: Immigration, Illegal Immigrant, Dope

I want Ted Nugent for President

There was a time for an actor to represent the greatest nation in the world, perhaps today is the right time to be thinking about a rock star doing the same- he would get my vote for sure!

The following is a Teditorial from Ted Nugent. I chose to put it all here for your viewing pleasure and because I understand following a link is tough for some ( ok, that part was for Kilo who is always ragging on me for not following links).

DC Gun Ban Blown Away

As I swab down one of my hundreds of privately owned, individually possessed firearms again this fine morning, I snicker and shake my head in disbelief that there are four "justices" on the "supreme" court that do not believe Americans have individual rights. Sure, I am somewhat pleased that we now have a SCOTUS confirmation of the self-evident truth and God given individual right to keep and bear arms, but the 5-4 ruling is another painful example, like Guantanamo and the decree against the death penalty for child rapist decisions that indicate a divisive culture war raging on, and four supreme justices frighteningly disconnected from the heart and soul of America.

Certain that God gave each of us the individual gift of life, and so very relieved that our founding fathers were prudent enough to write these self-evident truths down on paper for future reference, everybody I know needs no confirmation whatsoever that self defense, individual self defense is not only a God given right, but a moral imperative in the hearts and souls of good people everywhere.

Just as we wouldn't need confirmation that our choice of religion is indeed an individual right, or that we could possibly need a government permit to express our individual thoughts in speech, good Americans will continue to fight for the return of our sacred 2nd Amendment rights where someday soon we will not need a government issued license to keep and bear arms. After all, from the supreme court of common sense on the not so mean streets of America, everybody I know understands clearly that "keep" means one thing and one thing only: "It's mine and you can't have it". We know without question that "bear" can only mean, "Yes, I have it right here in my hands or within instant grasp", nothing more and nothing less. And dare I explain “shall not be infringed?" I hope not.

That these self-evident truths have been bastardized to the point of "gun free zones" is nothing less than heart breaking in America today. Everybody knows that it is in these anti-American, anti-Constitutional "gun free zones" where innocent people are forced into unarmed helplessness and where the highest body count of innocents are stacked up by evil perpetrators celebrating the condition of helpless sheep to slaughter. Since the insane gun ban, Washington, D.C. has been a violent criminal's dream environment where they are assured no resistance. That is a bizarre, immoral condition and a direct result of the cult of feel good liberals who could care less about dead good people as they wring their hands worrying about the rights of the most evil amongst us. For shame.

I am responsible for my personal defense and the defense of my family. Our Founding Fathers clearly believed this as well. Evidence shows that 9-1-1 is a last-ditch call for a clean up crew to sift through the aftermath of criminal activity. I can’t imagine allowing myself to be unarmed, helpless and reliant upon the heroes of law enforcement, who, though always do the best that they can do, cannot and will not be there when we need them. They represent damage control all too often, when quality control is in the hands of responsible individuals. The same Supreme Court determined long ago that cops have no lawful obligation to protect us from anything. Self defense is our job.

Thank God the Supreme Court got it right by striking down the D.C. gun ban, legalizing personal protection in the nation’s capitol and now across America, thereby guaranteeing our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, rights bestowed to us by God, the supreme authority.

D.C. has been a cesspool of crime for years. This ruling confirms the rights of good people the ability to defend themselves against bad people. Who could possibly find fault with that supreme dose of common sense?

Banning guns hasn't worked to deter crime or make communities safer, in fact just the opposite. All gun bans have ever accomplished is the creation of guaranteed victims. This has been supremely sad, wrong-headed and dangerous. Most of us cannot imagine the thought process by which bureaucrats and courts could force laws on good people rendering us disarmed and helpless, then turn around and send us the bill for their armed security. Obama, what say you?

Various thugs, punks, crack heads and other devils who have victimized innocents at will are on a long overdue notice with this ruling. Good ultimately conquers evil as it should be.

With Independence Day right around the corner, the Supreme Court has affirmed that indeed Americans are independent and have the right to the most basic of rights -- the right to defend themselves against tyranny whatever ugly form it may take. Now the good people of America must fight harder and relentlessly to regain all of our lost Second Amendment rights in each state and city where unarmed helplessness continues, Mayor Daley.

Technorati Tags: Gun rights,Ted Nugent,Supreme Court,right to carry

I Agree with the BHC...Will it Snow Today?

The background and story can be found here. The BHC today writes

No justice for the Cross family

If you’re a Tennessee dentist and kill someone, you apparently can buy your way out of prison and even get the crime expunged from your record.

That is the specter facing the family of Wayne Allen Cross, 63, who died two Father’s Days ago from a boat accident caused by dentist Wray West Chaffin II.

Under a “no contest” plea worked out and unveiled in court Thursday, Wray will never have to answer publicly questions about this Boone Lake accident. He might avoid any jail but at worst will get a slap on the wrist.

One question we’d like to ask Wray is, does he seriously expect us to believe that he mistook the fishing pontoon he ran over in his speedboat for a log? That’s what Wray told authorities as the reason why he left the accident scene.

This investigation was tainted from the start when Tennessee authorities refused to identify Wray for nearly two weeks after the accident until pressed by this newspaper.

James Clark, a friend of Cross’, was injured during the incident.

The case has dragged for two years, compounding the grief of the victims’ families and leaving the appearance that if you have the wherewithal, you can game the system – even the justice system.

Very troubling indeed.

Technorati Tags: Murder

Good Sense Live Blog

Charlie will be live blogging with presidential candidate Bob Barr's son Dereck Wednesday, July 2 at 6:30 pm. Here are the details. Very Cool.

Technorati Tags: Bob Barr, Virginia, Politics

Friday Night Video

When Rock N Roll was real.....

Technorati Tags: Music, Video

Right To Bear Arms - Washington, D.C., will become a safer place to live

Excerpt from Linda Chavez

Washington, D.C., will become a safer place to live and work thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday against the city's absolute ban on handguns. The Court ruled that the Second Amendment's guarantee of the right to bear arms is an individual right, not just one that permits states to maintain militias, striking down one of the nation's toughest anti-gun laws. As someone who lived in the District at the time the city imposed its ban 32 years ago, I say it's about time.
I bought my first gun in 1974 after my husband was mugged in broad daylight just blocks from the White House. My husband was picking up our 6-year-old son from school when a man approached him and demanded money. When my husband refused, the man picked up a two-by-four and hit him on the back of the head, knocking him to the ground.
The event traumatized all of us and sent me to a local gun shop to purchase a handgun. I properly registered the .357 Magnum, according to the District law in effect at the time, learned how to shoot it, and kept it safely in my home for the next two years. Click to read it all.

One can only wonder how many victims could have protected themselves from criminals if they could have been armed.

Technorati Tags: 2nd Amendment, Guns

Bill Shirley Elected Chairman of the Augusta County Republican Committee

Congratulations Sir! SWAC Girl writes

Bill is a retired Buffalo Gap High School football coach, and he conducts his own football quarterback camps around the state. His education includes an undergraduate degree from Hampden-Sydney College and a master’s degree from Old Dominion University. Active in the Victory Worship Center in Staunton, he is the father of two grown sons and the grandfather of two. He and his wife, Susan, live in the North River District of Augusta County.

It sounds like they elected a good man. This whole fiasco is now over. The appeals of the Emmett Hangerites went to the state level and were rejected using commonsense. The party now moves on, gaining strength....Like it or not.

Technorati Tags: Augusta County GOP, Virginia Politics, Virginia

2nd Amendment

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” ~ Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

“The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” ~ Samuel Adams

It is a shame this language was ever challenged. The Patriot Post has a great essay here. The fight has only just begun.

Technorati Tags: 2nd Amendment, Guns

SWAC Girl - No Kaine Tax Hike

The Americans for Prosperity were in Richmond fighting the good fight. SWAC Girl has the covered with words and pictures. Keep up the good fight my friends.

Technorati Tags: Tim Kaine, Taxes, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Justice Anthony Kennedy - Hero to Child Rapists

The Old Virginia Blog has the story.

"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four liberal colleagues joined him, while the four more conservative justices dissented."

Charlie Daniels has the solution.

As far as I'm concerned there ain't no excuse
For the raping and the killing and the child abuse
And I've got a way to put an end to all that mess
Just take them rascals out in the swamp
Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump
Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest

Indeed.

Technorati Tags: Child Rape, Capital Punishment

Rick Boucher - Phone Home

Ole Feckless is in the headlines - Boucher Collected Thousands From Telecom PAC, Switched Phone Vote.

BY NEIL H. SIMON
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON – Southwest Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher received $25,000 from telephone companies that he voted last week to legally protect under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Boucher, D-9th, was one of 94 House Democrats who reversed course last week in support of the telephone companies.

He was the fourth-highest telecom recipient among the 94 Democrats. The top was South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, who has received $29,500 from the AT&T, Verizon and Sprint political action committees since 2005, according to an analysis by the campaign finance watchdog group, MAPLight.org.....

Jerry has more here - Boucher: 'Pay No Attention To That Pile Of Cash' We await the outcry of corruption from Waldo and Raising Kaine.

Technorati Tags: Rick Boucher, Virginia, Telecom Pac

Illegal immigrant pleads guilty to rape of 12-year-old

No, this is Spark it Up, not Blog Fu.

An illegal Mexican immigrant will be deported after he serves an 18-year sentence for raping a 12-year-old girl, according to a state prosecutor.(LINK)

Good.

Technorati Tags: Illegal Immigrant, Rape

Getting High?

When I was young, Cocke County, TN. was legend. If you ever traveled there or anywhere around Del Rio, you could smell it in the air. They have a big bust every year, but this year they hit the jackPOT - 357,500 marijuana plants.

Here is the new twist -

"They just live in it, move in, grow, and that's all they're there to do is grow marijuana," Special Agent Jason Poore said of the growers.

Poore is part of the Governor's Task Force on Marijuana Eradication, which is a cooperation among several agencies, including the Alcohol Beverage Commission, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.

Poore says the task force is seeing more and more of the DTOs, which he says are usually manned by illegal immigrants who spend four months at a time doing nothing but harvesting the crops.

Interesting.

Technorati Tags: Marijuana, Potheads

Wise County Power Plant - Air Board Approves Both Permits!

The vote is in and both permits were approved! Lets build the plant and mine the coal! Great news for Wise County.

The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board has approved permits for a $1.8 billion coal-fired plant in southwest Virginia. The board's vote Wednesday in Wise was 5-0 to approve the Dominion Virginia Power plant. LINK

Technorati Tags: Coal, Coal Mining, Wise County Virginia

Debating Waldo

This is just too dang funny! Waldo issues a challenge and Spanky accepts. Then, Waldo clarifies what he is looking for-

document your claim that Jim Gilmore left the state without a shortfall and in good financial shape. I’d like to think that I have an open mind about this. (In fact, were I more certain of myself, I’d put some money on it.) Can anybody produce a contemporary newspaper article that supports these claims?

Spanky replies

He is challenging us not to debate the issues, rather find a Main Stream Media article that says Governor Gilmore properly led the Commonwealth of Virginia in regards to it's finances.

Typical Waldo. His next move will be to publish a picture of Gilmore's mother and make fun of the way she looks. We all remember Waldo doing that very thing with Terry and Jerry Kilgores mom.

Technorati Tags: Jim Gilmore, Mark, Virginia Politics

George Carlin Quotes

"When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league, bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all time champion of false promises and exaggerated false claims - Religion."

"The only good thing ever to come out of religion was the music."

Ha Ha Ha...Carlin was a leftest who thought religion was bad and Keith Oberman was God. Sorry, I have better things to worry about. A real hero is buried today and my thoughts are with his family.

Technorati Tags: George Carlin, Death

German Eye

I just got this one.

Technorati Tags: German Eye, Knives, Steel, German Steel

Lazy Sunday

There was a rabbit tail on the deck this morning. No blood, no guts, just a tail. Look guilty?

Technorati Tags: Cats, Rabbits, Blogging, Life, Virginia

The Old Dominion Blog Alliance Welcomes Two New Members

I want to welcome the ODBA's two newest members to the blog family.

A big welcome to Harry and his blog To Be Right ~ His tag line

"Right in Thought, Right in Action, Right in Politics"

Be sure to check out his latest post - The Biggest Lie. He writes

We can’t drill our way out of this. Oh - that’s rich. Do these politicians and Bill O’Reily think we’re stupid? OF COURSE WE CAN.

From what I understand, between the outer continental shelf, the North Dakota/Wyoming shale deposit and ANWR, we have enough to nearly eliminate the need for foreign oil. So why don’t we do it?

In a word: Power.

The politicians use oil as a political weapon to get and keep power. By remaining in good favor of the communist, environmentalist nutbag, Bush hating, America hating, Chicken Little, worry wart, Marxist, Democrats, the offending politicians hold on to power. How do they remain in good favor? By providing huge amounts of pork for the aforementioned groups for research on all of their phantom excuses, while at the same time proposing, and in many cases passing, legislation that keeps them on favorable grounds. It’s sick. (GO READ IT ALL)

I agree 100%. To Be Right is a wonderful addition to the ODBA family.

Next we welcome Steve Rossie. He is the primary blogger at The Family Foundation Blog.

The Family Foundation of Virginia is the Commonwealth’s oldest and largest pro-family organization. Our mission is to strengthen the family through accurate research and education prompting civic activism and affecting public policy outcomes.

Since 1985, The Family Foundation has been at the forefront of critical public policy debates helping Virginia citizens, lawmakers and business leaders better understand and apply the principles of life, marriage, parental authority, religious liberty and constitutional government. Click on the following links to learn more about our mission, our history and how you can help sustain our work for maintaining traditional family values in Virginia.

Welcome Steve and Harry! We are the ODBA.

Technorati Tags: Old Dominion Blog Alliance, Blogging. Life, Blogs, Virginia, Virginia Politics

More On Emmett Hanger - Out of the Closet Part #3

Via Hangers Closet we have the latest video - "I Can't Handle the Truth" Watch this!

Amazing video. Does anyone else think this will be Emmett's last term? We can only hope so.

Technorati Tags: Emmett Hanger, Virginia Politics, Virginia GOP

Cigars and Mason Jars - Bella Vanilla

CAO Bella Vanilla

The CAO Bella Vanilla is made from the highest quality vanilla beans found in Madagascar, recognized as the finest source for vanilla in the world! Not only do they taste good, they fill the room with a wonderful vanilla aroma.

Indeed. This petite corona leaves the competition in the dust. I tried the Heaven, I tried Acid's flavored cigars, this one kicks their ass to the curb. (Yes Spanky...They are better than Acid and cheaper)

The vanilla flavor is rich from start to end, but it does not hide the rich tobacco taste. The burn and draw were perfect. I enjoyed the smoke with a nice cup of coffee after I drank my dinner. This cigar is a 9.3 on my 10 scale. If you have not tried CAO Flavours, please pick up a pack. You will thank me! Five more to go and I am looking forward to it.

Technorati Tags: Cigars, CAO Cigars

John McCain - Please tell me again why I should vote for him?

'Spanish the 1st language of Arizona'

H/T - Crystal Clear Conservative

Is this the straw that breaks the camels back? Indeed. Greg is ranting and rightly so. It seems McCain has "no comment" on this meeting.

This is who the GOP has nominated? As Jerry says...For the love of God. Maybe the McCain supporters can call Mike Huckabee some names and start another bloggers against Huck website.

I have said it for months. The GOP will get exactly what they deserve, and that is looking like it will be Barack Obama. Eat your cake boys, you deserve it. Bloggers against Huck indeed.....

Technorati Tags: John McCain, Barack Hussein Obama, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Immigration

Blog Fu Slaps John McCain

Greg takes McCain to the woodshed - John McCain Can BITE ME!

This amnesty stuff is why my man Duncan Hunter would not endorse McCain. He said McCain failed the first try, but he would keep trying and this pretty well proves that to be true. One of the many reasons you wont see me working to support McCain. I will say he is better than Obama, but that's about all I can say.

Technorati Tags: John McCain, Immigration, Amnesty

In Memoriam - Roy Fugate

My blog brother and fellow ODBA member Charlie Fugate lost his father to a massive stroke.

Roy Fugate - 1935~2008

ABINGDON, Va. – Mr. Roy S. Fugate, 72, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2008, at Johnston Memorial Hospital.
Born in Indian Springs, Tenn., on Nov. 30, 1935, he was raised by an uncle and aunt, Charlie and Madge Patrick. Roy graduated from Meadowview High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea and was in the U.S. Army Reserves for two years. Roy retired from UPS in Bristol after 33 years. He was a member of Rosedale Baptist Church in Abingdon for 32 years and a member of the senior adult Sunday school class. He was also a member of the UPS Retired Drivers Breakfast Club.
Roy was preceded in death by his aunt and uncle, Madge and Charlie Patrick; his sister, Mildred Larkins; and his brothers, Spencer Lewis and Bill Fugate.
Roy is survived by his loving and caring wife of 40 years, Laquita Ladd Fugate of the home; his son, Charlie Fugate of Abingdon; his mother-in-law, Virginia Pearl Ladd of Bristol; his brothers, Jim Fugate and J.C. Fugate of Kingsport, Tenn., Bruce Lewis of Atlanta and Charles Lewis of Kingsport; an aunt and uncle; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Roy also had lots of friends that cared about him.
The funeral service for Roy Fugate will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, with the Rev. Carl Young, Dr. Don Paxton and the Rev. John Stapleton officiating. Music will be by the Rosedale Baptist Church Choir and David White. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. The burial will be on Monday, June 23, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Bristol Virginia, with military graveside rites by the Highlands Veterans Honor Guard. Those attending the graveside service are invited to meet at the cemetery by 10:45 a.m. on Monday.
Pallbearers will be Jack Clark, Gary Wallace, George Johnson, David White, Gene Ladd and George Hearl. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Waters, Darrell Salyers, Bobby Jones, Danny Patrick and UPS drivers.
The family would like to thank Dr. William Baker and Dr. Ernest Henry for their care of Mr. Fugate, and they also thank Roy's special friend, Tara Salyers.
Those wishing to share memories or express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700, is serving the family of Roy Fugate

A veteran, husband, and father. Keep Charlie and his family in your prayers.

Technorati Tags: Life, Death, Salvation, Old Dominion Blog Alliance

Who is Jon Bowerbank?

He is running for Lt Governor as a Democrat. He makes his money off coal mining by pipelining natural gas, like Halliburton and Equitable Resources, etc. That should sit well with the NOVA anti coal loons. He is from England, lives in Russell County, CEO of EMATS. No word on his website about his family or if he has kids. He is silent on the Wise County Power Plant, scared to talk about it is my guess. You can read about that on blogs I don't link to. He is courting the Raising Kaine crowd and that spells defeat for him in SWVA. Bill Bolling has supported the power plant and coal publicly since the process started. Bowerbank is silent as he courts the Sierra Clubbers in NOVA. That will not be forgotten come election time. Anyway, here is the man that Bill Bolling will defeat.

Technorati Tags: Jon Bowerbank, Bill Bolling, Virginia Politics, Virginia

Caterpillar and Jeff Burton in 2009

For a Jeff Burton fan from the coalfields this is awesome news!

Caterpillar Inc. and Richard Childress Racing have agreed to a multi-year partnership for the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton beginning with the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season.

Burton, a 20-time winner in Cup Series competition, is currently second in the 2008 point standings with one victory, four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in the season's first 15 races. The No. 31 team has made the Chase the past two seasons, finishing seventh in 2006 and eighth last year.

"To represent a well-known global brand like Caterpillar is an honor," team owner Richard Childress said. "Cat products have played a big part over the decades in construction projects at RCR, Childress Vineyards and Yadkin River Angus. Jeff and I look forward to meeting the Cat dealers and customers who loyally follow NASCAR racing."(LINK)

I will admit that the #31 ATT car looks awesome. That orange and blue ATT globe look killer.....But Jeff Burton sitting in the black and yellow cat car will be powerful. Hopefully, Burton will navigate the Cat team to victory lane where they belong. Burton and Caterpillar...I am a happy man!

Rumor has it that Burton's teammate, the evil Kevin Harvick will have new sponsorship also. The Hoover Vacuum car. I can see the ad's now - The #29 Harvick piloted Hoover Vacuum Team - We Suck.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Caterpillar, Jeff Burton, RCR, Racing

Catching Up on NASCAR News

Dale Jr finally wins...Of course the NASCAR official that held Matt Kenseth in the pits deserves some credit. Anyway...I'm glad he won so maybe the announcers will talk about something else. My man Jeff Burton had a terrible day. He is still holding 2nd place in the series points. He is 32 points behind series leader Kyle Busch and 52 points ahead of Dale Jr.

The big story is sexual harassment and racial slurs...

Lawsuit -

As an aspiring racing official, Mauricia Grant had grown used to working in a man's world.

When she finally made it into NASCAR, Grant was appalled at the way she says she was treated beginning from her first day on the job until her firing last October.

Now she's suing NASCAR for $225 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

NASCAR responds saying Ms Grant never made a formal complaint. Was there sexual harassment and racial slurs? Rule Number One for new NASCAR fans - Never trust or believe NASCAR the organization.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton

Thank You For the Support

I want to thank my friends, readers, and fellow bloggers for your support and well wishes this week. A big thank you to those who hit the tip jar to buy me and Wise Girl a drink! I am feeling pretty good and healing up nicely. Still bleeding a little, bruised and sore, but life is good.

A special thank you to my Old Dominion Blog Alliance family and their support. The group is a blessing to me and my family.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Life, Health, Surgery, Old Dominion Blog Alliance

Virginia Air Pollution Control Board Meetings At Wise - Be There!

The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board will hold a two-day meeting this Tuesday and Wednesday in the J.J. Kelly High School auditorium in Wise. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. both days.

• On Tuesday, the board will hear public comments on the proposed air emissions permits for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center. Sign-in to speak will end at 11 a.m. Speakers signing in will be asked to indicate whether they support, oppose or take no position on the permits.
• On Wednesday, the board will hear presentations by Department of Environmental Quality officials and Dominion Virginia Power representatives. Then the board will deliberate on the proposed permits.

The handful of local anti coal loons will be there with their bused in supporters from NOVA and beyond. Power Plant supporters are organizing and will be there in force also. I will be there supporting the plant, my county, and our coal. If you are planning to attend, drop me a email. Spark it Up HQ is one mile from JJ Kelly and the doors are always open.

Technorati Tags: Coal, Coal Mining, Wise County Virginia, Virginia

Virginia Air Pollution Control Board - No Comment on Coal Fired Power Plant...Indeed

Their job is simple - Issue the permit.

“The goal is to issue a permit that meets the laws and regulations and is both protective of human health and the environment,” he said. “But I’m sure some won’t be happy because it’s too high and others because it’s too low.” ~ Board Chairman Richard Langford

Read that quote again. The permit will be issued and the tree huggers will cry and gnash their teeth. Coal miners will mine coal, trucks will haul it, and the power plant will spark it up. The revenue provided will solidify 50% to 60% of Wise County's tax base providing citizens with a brighter future. Lets mine that coal!

Technorati Tags: Wise County Virginia, Coal, Coal Mining, Power Plants

Jim Gilmore Can Win

Bearing Drift covers a few talking points in this post. Take a few and go read it.

This battle will boil down to the price at the pumps and what can be done about it. Gilmore has the plan- Drill Now. Mark Warner has vetoed offshore drilling legislation before. Gilmore will slay Warner debating energy policy. Spank That Donkey and Bloggers For Gilmore are sparking it up on this subject.

The next issue is taxes. Gilmore cut taxes, Warner lied and raised taxes. Those two issues are the bread and butter for this race. The Tax Cutter vs the liar

FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Charles W. Jarvis, chairman and chief executive of Virginia's United Seniors Association, today announced an aggressive "Mark Warner Lied" campaign to expose Governor Mark Warner's flip-flop on taxes.

"In October 2001, candidate Mark Warner said, 'I will not raise taxes.' In December 2003, Governor Warner proposed the biggest tax increase in Virginia's history. There's no way to deny it: Mark Warner Lied," Charlie Jarvis said.(LINK)

It wont be a hard choice for working Virginians.

Technorati Tags: Jim Gilmore, Mark Warner, Virginia Politics, Virginia

Barack Hussein Obama - No Muslim Women Allowed

Damn right Obama is for change! It is that back of the bus kinda change.

Two Muslim women at Barack Obama’s rally in Detroit on Monday were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women’s headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate.
The campaign has apologized to the women, both Obama supporters who said they felt betrayed by their treatment at the rally.(LINK)

And the this guy is the hero of the left? Macaca!

H/T - From On High

Technorati Tags: Barack Hussein Obama, Muslim, Prejudice, Racism, Dumb Ass

Friday Night Video - You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive

"Where the sun comes up about ten in the mornin'
And the sun goes down about three in the day
And you'll fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin'
And you spend your life diggen coal from the bottom of your grave"

Technorati Tags: Patty Loveless, Coal, Coal Mining

Kilo Update

1. Resting

2. Bleeding

3. Bitching

Dare I say it is a good day here at Spark It Up HQ? Trust me, He is a lousy patient but I am grateful for each and every minute I get with him.

Tag Teaming It

When it comes to Kilo I am pretty certain that there is not one guardian angel but there are a few and they tag-team the job. He has been known to keep them very busy. Carl is back home and resting as well as he can. He will be a grumpy one for a couple days but I think I found something that will please him when he is up to it. In a way it is another tag team effort. Check this out:

A percentage of each purchase price will be donated by Jim Beam Distilleries to Operation Homefront. Not only can you be enjoying a fine bourbon but you can raise a toast to those who are keeping this land free and safe. Not a bad team at all.

I would also like to thank all who have sent their well wishes our way. Carl is very proud of the amazing blog friends he has and once again you have stepped up and proved him right. I have no doubt that after that first toast to healing and the second toast to our troops that Carl will be raising a third toast to each of you who bless him with your friendship. Actually it might be hard to keep him from toasting each of you personally instead of collectively.

Technorati Tags: Jim Beam,Operation Homefront,healing,guardian angels

Kilo - Out of the Mix

I will be gone for a few days. I am having surgery tomorrow. Wise Girl is at the controls. This video pretty well sums up my feelings. I hope my guardian angel is as tough as the one in this video. Catch Y'all Later~CK

"('Cause) It's not my time,
I'm not going
There's a fear in me
It's not showing
This could be the end of me
And everything I know
Oh, I won't go"

Technorati Tags: Surgery, Music, Fear, Hope

Another Wonderful Gift

Wise Girl set me up again! After showing interest in trying more flavored cigars, she gave me this CAO Flavours Sampler.

CAO Gold Honey utilizes the highest quality of orange blossom honey in the world. The Honey is derived from a single floral honey that"s found exclusively in the finest orange groves in Florida. CAO complements this honey with the finest tobaccos, which results in a delicate bland that has a bright, faintly citrus flavor.

CAO Bella Vanilla uses the highest quality vanilla beans found in Madagascar, recognized as the finest source of vanilla in the world. The complex flavors of these delicate, exquisite beans are imbued into a blend of rich Cuban seed tobaccos.

CAO Eileen"s Dream is a combination of Irish Cream & white chocolate truffles. Superior Irish Whiskey, frothed cream, and coconut milk composes the Irish Cream. The delicacy of white chocolate truffles is a sublte mixture of hazlenut paste, white chocolate, ground almonds, cocoa, and vanilla extracts. This avalanche of flavours is infused into a cigar with Grade One Cameroon wrapper and mild Dominican fillers to complete this five-star reverie.

CAO Earth Nectar pays homage to the earth and the rich area of Italy"s famed Tuscany region. An all-natural mixture of toasted almonds, cocoa, honey, and raisins are combined with the finest infused chianti. This blend is complemented by a Cameroon wrapped cigar and Cuban seed dominican fillers to acheive a mild, satisfying smoke. Enjoy Earth Nectar, and let the taste and aroma of nature"s fruits settle the mind and soothe the soul.

CAO Moontrance is an intricate and unique blend on 100% all natural exotic fruit and bourbon vanilla extracts. Bourbon vanilla a type of vanilla bean renowned for its caramel-like sweetness is married with ripe Georgia peach nectar and then mixed with other organic fruit extracts. A splash of white honey from Hawaii is then added, selected for its tropical essence. Moontrance is a flavor that is unique and complex and promises to captivate the palate.

CAO Karma sutra splash: an exotic concoction of sweet Hawaiian mango nectar and mint chocolate chip ice cream. The Grade 1 Cameroon wrapper and mellow Dominican filler leaves issues a sweet citrus flavor backed by rich, chocolate. Refreshing and smooth.

Throw in six Gurkha Master Selects to go with that and it has been a great Monday.

This aged old Havana 2000 Wrapper beautifully blends with the complex flavors of the Honduran Filler and the Dominican Binder. This is a rich and full body smoke for the true cigar aficionado.

Havana 2000 Wrapper, Dominican Binder, Honduran, Dominican, Nicaraguan Ligero Filler.

Indeed. These Gurkha cigars are legendary among smokers. The Gurkha Legend says

At the height of the British rule in India, colonial soldiers
began to make their own cigars from the local tobacco.
The fondness of the British for these legendary Nepalese
fighters inspired them to name their cigars “ Gurkhas.”

After the rule of the Raja Waned, British expatriates
living in India continued to smoke Gurkhas produced in
the Portuguese territory of Goa. Eventually, However,
The Gurkha cigars simply lapsed into obscurity.

Steeped in legend and history, the Gurkha cigars,
created more than a century ago has been reborn
and remains true to its roots in faraway India. Today,
the legend lives on in the premium brand cigars “ Gurkha.”

Those six are now resting in the Humidor. I plan on letting them rest there a couple weeks before I spark one up. Thank You Baby!

Technorati Tags: Cigars, CAO Cigars, Gurkha Cigars

Cigars and Mason Jars - CAO Brazilia

I just finished my first CAO Brazilia. The Cigar was introduced in 2001. I had never tried one because I love the CAO Italia...I was wrong. The Brazilia is the real deal.

Wrapper - Brazil

Binder and filler - Nicaragua

Size - 7x50 Ipanema

This one is a keeper and I am kicking myself for not trying it sooner. This cigar was enjoyed with a glass of water....Thats right..no booze. The construction and burn were excellent. The stick never got hot and the draw was perfect for me. The flavor was full and earthy with a great finish. I loved it! It was not as spicy as I expected and IMHO this cigar beats the Italia hands down.

This cigar is a 9 on the 10 scale.

Technorati Tags: CAO Cigars, Cigars

Sons of Confederate Veterans - Flags in Tampa and a new Statue for Richmond

SCV unveils the flag in Tampa

TAMPA — The Sons of Confederate Veterans say they will permanently install a giant Confederate flag near the junction of Interstates 4 and 75 to counter what they consider increasing slights to Southern heritage.(LINK)

What a flag! It measures 30' by 60'. In Richmond, the SCV is wanting a full statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis at Tredegar Iron Works.

By WILL JONES
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
A life-size statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis could stand with the one of Abraham Lincoln at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is offering to donate a bronze statue of Davis for placement at the National Historic Landmark site to mark this year as the bicentennial of his birth.
The $100,000-plus statue by Lexington sculptor Gary Casteel would help educate the public about the Confederate president and how his family took in a mixed-race orphan and serve as a counter to the Lincoln statue that was dedicated in 2003, said Brag Bowling, a Richmond resident and a board member with the national Southern-heritage group.
"There were two sides of the war," he said.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans fought the Lincoln statue, which depicts him with his son Tad on his visit to the burned-out Confederate capital in 1865. Bowling said the group isn't trying to cause an uproar but sees a need for historic balance at Tredegar.
"The acceptance of that statue would soothe some feelings of Southerners from a few years ago," he said.
Representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans are expected to meet next Tuesday with officials from the American Civil War Center, which controls the Tredegar site through an agreement with its owner, NewMarket Corp.
See Full Story

A very fitting place for the statue.

Technorati Tags: Civil War, Confederate History, Virginia

Fathers Day

SWAC Girl shares her memories of her father with us - "One More Day" ... with Dad. Her words touched me so I am sure they will touch you also. Show your Dad some love today because there are many people like SWAC Girl who wish they could.

We may not shower him with praise
Nor mention his name in song,
And sometimes it seems that we forget
The joy he spreads as he goes along,
But it doesn’t mean that we don’t know
The wonderful role that he has had.
And away down deep in every heart
There’s a place that is just for Dad.....
Author Unknown

Indeed.

Technorati Tags: Fathers Day, Dad