I think the state of the "cash for clunkers" initiative is very telling about how bad the government is at predicting the cost of their programs.  While the merits of the the plan can be debated, the money set aside was used up in less than a week and the program has been suspended.  Perhaps when we look at cap and trade and healthcare, we should take their estimates and add..say a trillion dollars or two.

Former Governor Doug Wilder is still causing heartburn for Creigh Deeds.  He continues to blast Deeds for his lack of leadership on issues, and is always very complimentary of McDonnell.  I haven't alway agreed with Wilder on issues, but have always loved his independent thinking.  Apparently, the White House has had no influence on him in their attempt to get his very valuable endorsement.  This is so fun to watch!

Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber are at it again.  They both had separate temper tantrums yesterday about the insurance industry.  Pelosi's tirade was about how evil the insurers are, and Reid was ranting about how the industry makes more money than any other.  "Hey Harry, lets take a look at margins and then we'll talk".  This is the same tired argument they have been using against the oil companies for years.  It's much less effective now because I get the sense that people just don't listen to these fools anymore.  One good idea came out of the Senate this week.  Let's tax botox.  Nancy Pelosi's tax alone could retire the entire national debt!  Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

One clarification on something I said a few days ago.  The membership of the AARP does not support Obamacare.  The leadership ranks up there with the ACLU, NEA leadership, etc as some of he most liberal people in America.  The rank and file who join to get the special rates and coupons are growing increasingly concerned that they are being badly represented.

Do you think passage of the healthcare bill will not effect you personally?  Think again.  The Heritage Foundation has hired a well respected healthcare policy management firm to do an analysis of the effect passage would have on certain areas of the country.  In Virginia, it is estimated that 2.7 million people who currently have private insurance on their own or through their employer could lose that insurance.  That's 55% of the people with private insurance transitioning to the government plan.  After all of this disruption, 29% of those who currently have no insurance, will still have no insurance.  So what is the point of this boondoggle?????

McDonnell is reaping benefits from his winning performance in this weekend's debate.  SurveyUSA polling on the 27th and 28th has McDonnell 15 points ahead of Deeds.  The important breakdown of this poll has McDonnell crushing Deeds 60% to 35% among independents.  In my opinion, this very favorable swing is due to the fact that McDonnell has come to the table with well defined ideas.  Deeds' just talks about what he wants to do and not how he's going to do it.

Chinks in the armour??  With the blue dogs, including Boucher, Nye, Perriello, and Connelly, holding up health reform, one has to wonder if this is an indication of future problems for the democratic strong-hold.  I saw a very telling interview with Maxine Waters, D-CA, yesterday.  She places blame for this at the feet of Rahm Emmanuel.  Her take: he recruited a bunch of young guys to run as conservatives in conservative districts, and they got their clocks cleaned after the energy vote.  They realize now that their political lives are at risk if they make another unpoplular vote in their districts.  It's amazing to me that there are a lot of liberal democrats who are now saying that they should have dealt with healthcare  before energy, because you can only fool these guys into one bad vote.  It's scary to think that these are the people in control of our government.  

I have been spending a lot of time trying to educate myself about this healthcare bill.  The more I learn, the more I hate.  In fact, I was reading what some have written about the "end of life counseling" and it reminded me of a movie I saw many years ago.  Okay I'm going to date myself, but it's a 1976 movie starring Michael York called "Logan's Run".  It's about a future generation that only allows it's citizens to live until they are 30, because they want to preserve their limited resources for the young and strong.  At thirty, they take part in an extermination ceremony in which they are promised to be re-born.  Thirty two years ago this was way-out Science Fiction.  Now it's frighteningly close to our government.

I was sad to hear that Virgil Goode has chosen not to run for the 5^th district seat that he held for 20 years.  I understand that fundraising has been difficult, but I would hope that the 5^th would definitely be a targeted race for the republicans in 2010.  This opens the race to several contenders.  Outside of that bastion of liberalism; Charlottesville, this district should be full of angry constituents.    Tom Perriello has missed a lot of votes and his vote on cap and tax is one that should severely hurt him at the ballot box.  His district stands to lose a lot of jobs if the energy bill passes.  The republicans should hit the ground running in this race.  Show the people of southern Virginia (south of Charlottesville) some love.

I have been struck by the contrasting accounts of Sarah Palin’s last speech as Alaska’s Governor.  The mainstream media, and a lot of elitist republicans, are portraying her as an angry white woman.  I must take issue with that.  I thought her speech was very powerful.  She said a lot of things that some in our party are afraid to say because they might not get invited to that “inside the beltway” cocktail party on Saturday night.  Her message was very clear.  Hey media, start doing your job.  Give us the facts and stop making it up.  Give some respect to the young men and women of our military who are fighting for the freedoms we all take for granted.  Most importantly, she gave a positive message about the future of America if we can get government out of our back pockets and let our innovative, pioneering spirit help to bring this economy back.  Her imagery was beautiful with phrases like dizzying debt, caretaking arms of the government.  Mark my words; we have not heard the last of Sarah Palin!

After a weekend of R&R with the kids I have had time to formulate my opinions on the gubernatorial debate which took place on Saturday.  I clearly think McDonnell won, as did 60% of those polled after the debate.    One of his strongest moments was when he asked Deeds to sign a letter to Senators Webb and Warner opposing the energy bill.  This bill would impose back-breaking taxes on the American people, and destroy the economy in southwestern Virginia.  Deeds declined. He did, however, hint that he could possibly oppose the bill if it resulted in higher energy costs during a recession.  This indicates to me that we will see the same game plan that the democrats have used in the past to get elected.  Run to the right and govern to the left.  The two hot topics were obviously jobs and transportation.   McDonnell wins on transportation because he has put forth a real plan.  His plan to privatize ABC shows he knows how to think outside the box in his attempt to get this state back on track.  Deeds, has put forth his “wish list” as McDonnell calls it, but doesn’t say how he will pay anything

 One note on cap and tax; southwestern Virginia needs to go after Rick Boucher.  His vote on that bill was completely political (Pelosi must have practically ripped his arm off).  Passage will be especially harmful to the people of his district.  It will be interesting to see what he does on healthcare.  He used up a lot of political capital on the energy vote.  A vote in the affirmative on healthcare could be his demise.

McDonnell is currently running ahead in most polls, but I again warn everyone.  We must fight hard.  Corzine is about 15 points behind in New Jersey, and with the current corruption charges that have plagued the municipalities, he has a steep uphill battle.  That makes the Virginia race even more important to the Democrats.  I predict they will not stop at anything to win this race.

Though the O’Bama administration is pressing him hard, Doug Wilder has yet to endorse the Democrat Creigh Deeds.  In fact he hinted that he’s a little tired of the democrats just assuming the black vote will be there for them.  McDonnell has met with Wilder several times, yet Deeds has not yet gotten around to it.  Wilder still wields quite a lot of influence in the areas, Richmond – Tidewater, where Deeds fared the worst in the primary.

I just wanted to clarify one thing.  Mr. O’Bama’s teleprompter gave him some bad information the other day.  The AARP has not endorsed Obamacare.  I mean why would they?  The plan is an assault on their very lives.   They may be old, but they are not stupid!

You may have heard that Sarah Palin signed into Alaska law the other day a measure that affirms state sovereignty over the federal government (the 10^th amendment).  With the crazy spending spree that Congress and the President have been on since January, I think it is more important than ever to draw the boundaries between the states and the federal government.  They are over-reaching to the n-th degree.  Please sign this petition for the Virginia General Assembly.      http://www.PetitionOnline.com/10thwrva/  

Eric Cantor gave a good speech this week on the need for job creation.  This is the topic  that the Republicans could make some real in-roads if they will just make it part of their mantra.  Remember “hope and change, hope and change …..”?  How about "jobs, jobs, jobs"…  the President said himself that this was going to be a “jobs neutral recovery”…huh?  The Republicans have got to start calling him on this stuff.  Newt Gingrich has rolled out a get new initiative called "Jobs Here, Jobs Now, Jobs First".  Check it out at American Solutions. 

Robert Goodlatte, 4^th District, gave a great speech on the floor of the house on Wednesday giving facts on why HR 2300 would be a jobs killing, deficit busting, healthcare rationing bill.  He also mentioned that the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers strongly oppose this bill, along with a majority of the American people.

Republican candidates for house of delegates have raised almost twice as much money as their democrat counterparts.  That's about the only good news, though.  Last month Candidate Deeds outraised McDonnell two to one.  His money came mostly from labor and other national democratic organizations.  The democrats are going to throw a lot of money at this because, to use a popular phrase "this could be Kaine's Waterloo" if he doesn't deliver the state.

Remember the word "post-partisan" that was coined last summer by the O'Bama camp?  The wonderful, mighty Barack was going to transcend all partisan bickering and bring everyone together to sing cum-bay-yah every evening before going home.  Now six months into this highly partisan administration the White House spinners are making an attempt to re-define the meaning of bi-partisanship.  Now it’s, “if we make an attempt to bring those rascally republicans on board we are keeping our promise”.  These guys think we are a bunch of idiots!  However, why not make these ridiculous statements?  They continue to get a pass from most media outlets.

 

Let’s improve our argument. The healthcare issue should be of utmost importance to everyone.  What the democrats are trying to do will destroy, not only the economy, but the superior healthcare system we currently have.  Everyone agrees changes need to be made.  Below is the link to an article which lays out great counter arguments to the myths that the liberals are spouting in order to get this thing rammed through.

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/07/21/the-matter-with-myths/3 

 

AAA has called for Governor Kaine to re-open the 18 rest areas that have been closed along Virginia’s interstates.  The closing of these rest areas is illustrative of the lack of good ideas coming out of Kaine’s administration.  Bob McDonnell has vowed to re-open the rest areas within 90 days of taking office.  He has already approached private business to institute an  adopt-a-rest area program.  Now that’s a good idea!

A very important endorsement for Bob McDonnell today.  Sheila C. Johnson Co- Founder of Black Entertainment TV and entrepreneur extraordinaire.  This woman is a terrific role model for all young women.  She was a big Kaine supporter (to the tune of about $600,000).  Deeds will be hard pressed to bag anyone quite this important.


Please go to this link and sign the petition to adequately fund our military.  Our government is risking the security of our country with their irresponsible military cuts.  OBama's budget rolls military spending back to pre-911 days!
http://www.heritage.org/fourpercent/Default.aspx

The nation's Governors balked at endorsing O'Bama's healthcare plan.  Leading Democrats like Richardson of New Mexico, Bredesen of Tennessee and Gregoire of Washington expressed great concern in the cost.  Of course, Kathleen Sebelius HHS secretary was there to assure that the burden would be that of the federal government.  Boy that makes me feel better!  Of course our Governor stood with O'Bama just two weeks ago and said he was proud to support the plan.  What a lap dog!

I heard a replay of a Friday interview with the former NY Lieutenant Governor, Betsy McCaughey, regarding "Obamacare".  In simple terms - it chilled me to the bone!  This is scary stuff.  Everyone should listen to this.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w4f04zrF2s&videos=7eAOBJ  There is also a very good article at Bloomberg covering the same topic  http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs# .  As they state in the interview, this is an all out assault on the elderly and those who have chronic illnesses.  I don't now about you, but I don't want some government bureaucrat deciding whether my mother or my special needs child are worth trying to save when they become sick.  By the way, in that central bank of medical records, will there also be information on political party affiliation?  Will democrats be higher on the waiting list for heart transplants, MRI's, chemotherapy, etc?  This could be a great way to eliminate the opposition.  Get the word out please!!

Here is a statement from Tom Perriello this week lauding the passage of the Cap and Tax bill.  What an idiot! “And the fact of the matter is I'm sick and tired of going to the gas pump and knowing that my hard-earned dollars are going to support petrol dictators overseas instead of American innovation back at home. Sometimes you have to put America ahead of Ahmadinejad, and this is one of those moments.”  Hey Tom,  we’ve got plenty of oil and natural gas right here in the good ole’  USA.  In fact, California could be out of debt tomorrow if the liberals in this country would just wake up to the fact that 1) we all want to develop clean technology but it’s going to take some time and 2) if we don’t go and get the oil someone else will and the way we do it is a lot more environmentally friendly.

Glen Nye, Tom Perriello and Gerry Connolly all signed on to the ”blue dog" letter to Nancy Pelosi saying they could not support the healthcare bill if it imposes such a large tax burden on small business owners, thus slowing job growth in the US.  The blue dogs have it right.  I’ve heard that some liberals have the audacity of countering this argument by saying that we should not be supporting small businesses because of their high failure rate.  That totally ignores the fact that small business accounts for roughly half of the private sector jobs in the US, and has generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs over the past decade.  Choking this sector of business with the tax burden being proposed will put the final nail in the coffin of a very sick US economy.  The sad fact is that Nancy Pelosi can have 40 defections and still pass this disgusting bill.  There is going to be some extreme “arm twisting”, and it will be interesting how the Virginia democrats end up voting.  I hope everyone puts on a lot of pressure.  The majority of Americans do not want this.

 

I am finding out a little more about Rep Gerry Connolly.  Not only did he have the audacity to vote for cap and tax the other day, but Tuesday on the floor he made a speech to reaffirm his commitment to cap and tax.  the more I find out about this guy the less I like.  This first termer should be another prime target for the republicans in 2010.

Everyone needs to call their representative and call often on health-care.  The plan which was introduced on Tuesday was well over one thousand pages and brings with it a price tag of 1.5 trillion dollars.  And that is a conservative estimate.  Once Pelosi finishes buying the votes she needs to get it passed, there well be many more pages and many more dollars tacked on.  Passage of this legislation will do immeasurable harm to the economy by taxing into oblivion the very people who create jobs.  This kind of spending on top of everything else that has been done since January is unsustainable.

There’s been a lot of talk about the fact that candidate Deeds is being very quiet about his views on Cap and Trade.  McDonnell has made it clear that he thinks the energy bill would be detrimental to the economy.  I think it’s funny that people who are defending Deeds’ silence say that this is a national issue and he should be concerned with Virginia politics.  Trust me, passage of Cap and Tax will very quickly become a local issue for Virginians.  Energy bills will go up and jobs will be lost, especially in coal rich southwestern Virginia.

I was looking at some information on key votes that have already happened this year and found something very interesting.  Remember HR 1105 the huge Omnibus Appropriations Act that was passed in February?  Well our friend Glen Nye from the 2nd District was one of twenty democrats who voted against that bill.  Yeah Rep. Nye!  Of course Tom Perriello was nowhere to be found that day; one of his 47 no-shows.  On the republican side, Mary Bono Mack and Frank LoBiondo, were on the wrong side; just like on Cap and Trade.  Sonny must be turning over in his grave!  Nye is a better republican than these two.

We need to keep an eye on House Resolution 636.  This was introduced by Frank Wolf directing the Attorney General to had over all information related to the transfer of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.  Let's hope this doesn't get ignored by the mainstream.

Friends, we must hit our congressmen and senators hard on this healthcare issue.  It’s unbelievable to me that the democrats are using Medicare as their example of why a public, ultimately single payer, option would be best for the country.  The dirty little secret is (SENIOR CITIZENS PLEASE READ THIS), the only reason Medicare can exist is healthcare providers are still able to take these patients and make a living because of their patients with private health insurance.  Take away the private sector, and there will be a mass exodus of providers.  The rich will privately contract with doctors and hospitals and the rest of us will be rationed.  I will be watching the votes and will hammer any of our guys who are irresponsible enough to vote for this OBAMAnation.

If you are concerned about the healthcare issue go to www.billbennett.townhall.com and sign the petition to free our healthcare from congress.

It looks as though Al Franken has already started to impart his wisdom upon us.  About Sonia Sotomayor – “the most experienced Supreme Court nominee in 100 years. “  Good Lord!  That’s as bad as Al Gore comparing the fight on global warming with the fight against the Nazis!

Hurray for 10^th District Congressman Frank Wolf for blasting Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department for not responding to inquiries about their decision to stop pursuing the Black Panther Party for possible, election day, voter intimidation in Pennsylvania.  While he was at it, he also attacked Holder for not responding to letters sent asking for a plan to deal with terrorists at Guantanamo Bay.  Wolf noted that the President’s promise of transparency is certainly not being kept by the Justice Department. 

I didn't mention Bob McDonnell or Creigh Deeds in my earlier list simply because there isn't much to say right now.  For such an important election, the November governor's race just doesn't yet seem to be hitting the radar.  The Republican National Committe should be working this race hard.  Grassroots Virginians should be working this race hard.  Of the three primary candidates, Deeds is the one we did not want to see as the opposition.  He's more moderate and we saw in November Virginians are fooled by democrats who run as conservatives.  I have seen recently that the democrats are trying that tired offense of "Bush bashing".  Though, I don't think they are going to be able to effectively link McDonnell to Bush.  Deeds is winning in the polls, but the validity of the polling is being questioned on several fronts.  McDonnell is a solid candidate, the best the republicans have been able to put forth in a long time.  Let's not blow it.

I sent a letter to all of the Virginia delegation asking that they pledge not to vote on a healthcare bill until 1) they read it (duh), and 2) they give the American people ample time to read it.  It's just too important to allow passage in the dark of the night like congress did with energy.  Guess what??  I haven't gotten a response..Wait I did find a form letter from "Scary Jim" Webb in my junk folder.  These email servers are smarter than we give them credit for.  One thing I forgot to ask is  that they pledge to be the first to go on any "public option" that they mandate for the rest of us.  Think about it - if congress was on the healthcare plan that they want for all of us...Both Ted Kennedy and Arlen "sell my soul to devil just to get re-elected" Spector would no longer be with us.