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Tuesday, January 31, 2006Palestinian Christians take a 'wait and see' approachBefore we read into the tea leaves too deeply, sometimes it's worth reminding ourselves that for as much as we might think Democrats and Republicans are separated on some issues, there are some places in the world where those divisions seem rather inconsequential: 'I was shocked,' said Rami Giacaman, 19, a Catholic student at Bethlehem University whose family owns a souvenir shop on Manger Square in Bethlehem, West Bank. 'I didn't imagine that Hamas would win. I am just a little bit concerned about things changing that may hurt us.'Just in case a little perspective is needed... Waldo Jaquith: Herring 0wnz Staton....and if there's any question as to whether or not what you are seeing now isn't the result of a realignment, allow Waldo to convince you: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the shift is underway. To centrist Republicans, let me be the first to say "welcome." We're a big tent party. We'd love to have you. I recommend that those considering joining do so as early as possible, as we'll feel particularly indebted to those of you who make the jump now, rather than later. We look forward to working with you.Time for the GOP to sober up. Did we ever have a true majority? If so, what did we accomplish of which Reagan would have been proud? Democrats Victorious, But...Whatever redeeming remarks President Bush's State of the Union Address might have had, they were entirely erased by Governor Tim Kaine's Democratic Response. Adding insult to injury, Mick Staton lost handily to now Senator-elect Herring in a 2 to 1 romp. Chad Dotson over at Commonwealth Conservative summarized the election with one word: "Ouch." Ouch is right. All along we've been arguing that if we ran a true Republican, we'd win. Moderate Republicans are being scapegoated for the loss, but is that so? According to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) Democrat Mark Herring received $96,750 from his party’s state, local, leadership, and campaign committees. If you include individuals listed as Democrats, that jumps to $100,200.Kaine hit it home. He connects very well, and even I couldn't help but be drawn in by the speech he gave. Democrats and Republicans working together to get results -- that's the message that will win Congress for the Democrats in 2006. What do conservatives do now? Too Conservative, often criticized for being a moderate, worked awful hard for Staton today. Over at Commonwealth Watch, Poli Amateur is looking forward and asks the question which will it be, retain the majority or concede on principle: Virginia Republicans, it’s decision time. Do the math. Population growth in the part of the Commonwealth where we are bleeding seats like there is no tomorrow. Our days in power are numbered if we do not change course.Poli Amateur takes me to task on a post I made previously, with the following quote: I would rather be a minority party firm on conservative principles of Reagan and Goldwater, than a majority party more attuned to the demands of liberals like Tim Kaine.This myth of a Republican majority has enabled Tim Kaine to embarass our Republican President. Perhaps it's high time to realize the moderates were never with us to begin with? Look, I'm sure there are a bunch of Republicans highly upset that the myth has been broken, but understand this -- voters that vote Democrat are not Republican. I've made this argument once before, but it stands to be heard again: I've argued that 2004 was a realignment year on the order of 1960 and 1932. If the Democrats wise up (and I'm not sure what it would take for them to do that - a convention of sorts?) and take the necessary step to the right that will make them competitive again, that would certainly justify my belief.I wrote that in October, folks. SkepticalObservor: Delegate Parrish in HospitalJames Young reports that Delegate Harry Parrish is in the hospital and will not be returning during the session. Our prayers go with Delegate Parrish, a gentleman who's been a delegate as long as I've been alive. The Objective StandardI had the compulsion to entitle this blog entry "Randroids Unite!", but the angels of my better nature forced me to refrain... I've never read Ayn Rand beyond the requisite reading of Atlas Shrugged, and so I'm not entirely familar with objectivism other than the criticism from philosophy professors past. Objectivists are good for one thing though - they keep Kantians honest. Now it seems as if several Virginia objectivists have started a journal of their own, entitled The Objective Standard. Sounds like a version of First Things, only centered around Rand rather than Catholic culture. Still, it looks like an interesting project. Might even pick up the first copy. Monday, January 30, 2006Charity vs. Social AssistanceCologne's Cardinal Meister on the implications and insights of Deus Caritas Est: Cardinal Meisner said the charitable work of the Church is not "a social pastime that the Church engages in when it befits her, but rather it belongs to the essence of her mission. When worship is not united to charity, it becomes an empty ritual. When the proclamation of the Gospel is not carried out nor bears fruit in charity, it becomes ideology. And when charity is not united to the proclamation of the Gospel and worship, it becomes mere social assistance."I've been reading the encyclical (about one/third of the way through) and it is a powerful encyclical. Good stuff, and given the fact that it is in many ways John Paul II's very last encyclical and Benedict XVI's first makes it all the more meaningful. Under the CoversJason Kenney (Kenney the Younger as he is commonly known) has his radio show up as a Podcast. Check it out and download for nothing but Jason and cover songs. FLS: Office-space plans go forwardAnything that brings more office space to Downtown Fredericksburg is a good thing. We want to drive to Fredericksburg to work... that's the goal! Sunday, January 29, 2006CNS: Hamas victory worries Holy Land ChristiansFr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, is signaling some of the discomfort Palestinian Christians and moderate Palestinian Muslims are feeling over HAMAS's recent parliamentary victory: Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, said the Hamas movement's willingness to use terrorism for political ends was one of the most troubling elements.Time will tell. Space ElevatorCurious to know what one might look like? Click here for a very cool picture. FLS: University professor must have hoped no one would noticeCraig Vasey is one of the best professors at UMW, so I forward this letter to the reader a bit tongue in cheek. Still, the points it makes ring true: Asserting that the argument of the editorial is inconsistent, the professor drops the name of several com-mon logical fallacies (hasty generalization, petitio principii , ad hominen , red herring).Great letter! Substantiation above all else, what a great letter. Saturday, January 28, 2006The Debate Continues...Too Conservative was kind enough to respond to the concerns I had below. I don't know what the dynamics are in Northern Virginia when it comes to malcontents, but I felt I should offer the following rejoinder to this thought: I can't believe you would condone the running away of precious voters...as without these voters we have no party.Fighting for the middle gains us nothing but the middle. Don't dream for a second that the liberals have any intention of compromising their beliefs, as every tax hike, every growth of government, every imposition of the state is a victory to them. Bush's numbers only dipped into the low 30's when he approved of moderate SCOTUS appointees. How many conservatives are staying home because a select few seek moderation with our political adversaries over ideological principle with our (supposed) friends? I happen to think Colonel Black is a good man, and the only people who label him extremist are those who feel the abortion industry should continue to consume unabated. That's extremism. Colonel Black saying it should end and passing around plastic visualization tools is one way of pointing that out. What I find ironic is that some liberals find this to be distasteful, yet they can approve of the actions that would kill children the same size... I'm not saying that adversarial politics should be the norm. I deplore it, I don't approve of it, and the politics of Northern Virginia notwithstanding I do my best to discourage it. But so long as otherwise conservative individuals are willing to give in to political pressure, I have no respect for that. It's a character weakness of the most despicable sort. I would rather be a minority party firm on conservative principles of Reagan and Goldwater, than a majority party more attuned to the demands of liberals like Tim Kaine. Ultimately, our elected officials have to decide whether they are going to continue to press forward on principle, or simply remain in power for it's own sake. If the former, I applaud it and say let us continue. If the latter, I'd much rather not be a member of a party that stands for nothing other than being in power. If I wanted that, I'd be a Democrat. Friday, January 27, 2006Too Conservative: TC's Ramblings ContinuedLudwig von Mises in his seminal book On Socialism outlined two systems of governance. One was based on individual action, the other based on the collective action of society. For the former, they were termed as individualists. The latter were appropriately named socialists. Individuals believe that individual action is best for creating good societies, while socialists believe that social action through government is the best way to acheive those ends. Over the past 50 years, since the advent of Russell Kirk and the challenge of socialism, the response of American political philosophy has been conservativism. Not the conservativism as meant by Europe, but an American conservativism born out of the classical liberalism championed by such thinkers as Locke, Sydney, Jefferson, Grotius, and ultimately finding its deepest roots in Aquinas and Aristotle. It is a theory based on the natural law that promote free societies as the bedrock of a free people. Push past the high-minded philosophy lesson, and we come down to the question of what it means to be a conservative today? Furthermore, does the Republican Party truly embrace conservative ideals? Since 1964 when Goldwater became the GOP nominee for president, that answer has been an unequivocal yes. When Reagan became president in 1980, conservatives rejoiced. Here, now, it was "morning in America" and Reagan was going to beat godless Communism and deal the death blow to FDR's social programs once and for all. It didn't happen. Fast forward to today. Under Republican administrations, we've seen the Federal budget double, the deficit balloon, civil liberties erode (thanks Kelo), had pro-choice SCOTUS nominees pushed upon us, and worse yet on the state level, Virgnia's state government has exploded. All under a Republican majority that remains silent as the bureaucracy the Democrats built continues to expand, expand, expand... So when I hear Republicans lament as to why conservatives are so upset, I think the issue deserves a thoughtful response. Over at Too Conservative, the argument runs thusly: The old moderates (Group A) are being run out on a rail by the new conservatives (Group B). In summary: Message to GROUP B - Do you not understand you are running people into the arms of the Democratic Party?Allow me to explain very clearly - and in equally heartfelt terms. Yes we do understand this, and here's why. Those who expand the size and power of government are not conservatives. They act in the interests of those who wish to extend the power of government, and that is an intolerable sin against conservative principles. There is no middle ground, there is no discussion, and those who believe social action should trump the uniquely American virtues of self-reliance and individualism have vivisected themselves from the Republican Party. The government - state, federal, local - consumes more than 40% of the average Virginian's income. 40%. The Founding Fathers dumped tea into Boston Harbor for fewer reasons. Yet some Republicans feel it necessary to raise taxes $1.5 billion for "unmet needs." Pick the excuse. The problem is we're drifting into socialism. Can anyone truly name just one thing you do on a daily basis that isn't touched by the hand of big government? It didn't use to always be this way folks... If conservatives are in decline and a new political philosophy different than what the Democrats have to offer is approaching, that's fine. Identify it. Clearly define it's boundaries and what it desires to achieve. Unfortunately for the moderates in the GOP, their problem is they have no vision, no philosophy, no identity other than running the machine the Democrats built more efficiently, forgetting entirely that bureaucracies by nature expand. This is a game of "which side are you on." There is no middle ground, there is no quarter. I'd have more respect for the moderates if they actually proposed a "third way" to govern, but they have no principle other than appearing to act in moderation. Moderation relative to what? Communists had moderates. Nazis had moderates too. I'm sure there are moderates in al-Qaeda. Moderation is a relative term that signifies nothing. Individualism or Socialism? There is no other question to resolve. Deus Caritas EstPope Benedict XVI's first encyclical was printed last Wednesday! Deus Caritas Est. I'm going to read it this evening. Given the fact that the marriage amendment has been the topic of the week in Virginia, this is a rather nice cap. How cool is it to have a faith that publishes long-anticipated theological treatises every few years or so? I'll tell you the answer: it's awesome! SST: And then it is heard no more; it is a taleWyatt Coleman gives us some perspective on the dynamics of lobbying the General Assembly. Thursday, January 26, 2006OMT: Guns Don't Kill People...Well this will do wonders for open carry. Wednesday, January 25, 2006NLS: House of Delegates RecapBen Tribbett puts the final nail in the House of Delegates races. All in all, not a bad showing. Something to think about: the official end of the 2005 election season ends with the Stanton-Herring race next week, which means the NLS experiment for it's first election year finally comes to a close. To say it's been fairly successful would be an understatement, and attaboys are in order for a very well balanced and incisive blog. Tuesday, January 24, 2006Delegate Chris PeaceIt's official, Chris Peace will be going to Richmond, beating what had to be one of the nastiest races ever proffered by a Democrat in recent times. I stood out at Ladysmith Elementary in Caroline County this afternoon/evening (which Peace carried). I'm also pleased to report that Peace carried Spotsylvania, which is something McDougle did not do against Montgomery in 2001. Congratulations Chris! It's a well deserved and hard fought win. Monday, January 23, 2006"Abortion should be banned"Wow! A bill that would ban abortion in the state will be introduced within the next two days.The liberals are right you know. Either you are pro-abortion and want to protect abortion rights to some degree, or you are pro-life and therefore every abortion is a murder that must be stopped. How many politicians have the courage to stand up and say "I am 100% pro-life" anymore? And why aren't we pro-lifers calling out every pro-abortion liberal as the extremists? Aren't they the ones defending what should be indefensible; the decimation of an entire generation of children? Abortion should be banned. It's an offense against women, minorities, the poor and undereducated, and an offense before God Himself. Kudos to South Dakota's legislature. May the example be repeated far and wide until the culture of abortion and expendable life ends. UPDATE: You know, I always wonder why after the March for Life, the press never reports on the number of protestors. Estimates gauged by the event organizers put the number at 100,000. Ethics and the New Journalism: Weblogs and Virginia PoliticsDuring the Sorenson Institute Virignia Blog Summit, there was a great deal of conversation about what ethical blogging was, and how ethics could be imposed on the Virginia blogosphere; voluntarily or otherwise. There was much fanfare and talk afterwards, but little results. Earlier I mentioned that, after picking up a my first copy of Virginia Quarterly Review (thanks to Waldo), I saw in the very back a Call for Papers for the University of Mary Washington's Virginia Humanities Conference on Ethics. I submitted a paper proposal entited "Ethics and the New Journalism: Weblogs and Virginia Politics," and received word last week that the proposal has been accepted. The abstract is as follows: Online journals have slowly crept into the public square in Virginia, offering commentary and insight into Virginia politics. This “new journalism” contributes to the political atmosphere with considerable range. Elected officials, candidates, activists, pseudonymous characters, and even anonymous tipsters all engage in the online community created by weblogs, and the quality of these online media outlets can range from high-quality breaking news to rank and dubious slander.I'll be presenting my paper at Mary Washington on March 10-11, a paper which I hope will offer at least one in-depth analysis of Virginia's blogosphere, and perhaps a road towards a solution. QandO: The tipping point in IraqA great post on the Iraqi elections over at QandO. Go read it now (unless you're on the way to the March for Life, in which case go there now). Sunday, January 22, 2006Ethical CalculusSo I want to find a good paper on ethical calculus. Something innovative, something interesting, something that offers a frest idea rather than all the stale ones you might find elsewhere. What do I find instead? Term papers for sale. Yes, I guess there's a market for such a thing, but if that isn't against the entire spirit of the free exchange of ideas, I don't know what is... Chris Peace ad during halftimeAnyone else catch the Chris Peace ad during halftime? Excellent ad. Haven't seen a Montgomery ad yet, but it was a very, very effective counter to some of the more negative ads his Democratic opponent has been running in the 97th. The Interesting Case of Jacques PlussJacques Pluss was a part0time history professor at Farliegh-Dickinson. Taught well, loved by his students. Loved that is, until the student newspaper found an anonymous letter from Ireland alleging Pluss was not only a neo-Nazi, he was also a member of the IRA and had participated in a drive-by assassination. An investigation followed. Pluss did indeed hold radical beliefs way beyond the mainstream, in fact he had a radio show hosted by the National Socialist Movement. While Farliegh Dickinson never questioned why a neo-Nazi would be travelling in Irish Republican Army circles (socialists and nazis don't exactly get along), the issue of what to do about Pluss and concerns about intellectual freedom came to light. Pluss certainly never preached his beliefs on campus... and leftist radicals (and professors) were allowed to come, speak, and hold radical beliefs all the time. So what did Farliegh Dickinson do? They fired him, but not for his beliefs -- rather they fired him for absences that coincidentally became problems right around the same time as his "beliefs" came to light. "Beliefs," you say? Why the quotation marks? Because Pluss never held those beliefs. Rather, he is a very close student of another Jacques: Jacques Derrida: Pluss did this with an unprecedented -- some would say nutty -- piece of guerrilla theater that just came to light the other day. At this time last year, Pluss was a quiet and otherwise unremarkable part-time history teacher at the Fairleigh Dickinson University campus in Teaneck. Then in March, the student newspaper received a mysterious letter postmarked from a small village in Ireland. The letter alleged that Pluss was a member of a neo-Nazi group in America and was also, among other things, an Irish Republican Army member who was being investigated concerning a recent drive-by killing in Belfast.Game, set, match. Now not only are the leftists at FDU upset if not angry at Pluss' exposition of their lack of tolerance for divergent viewpoints, the neo-Nazi's are upset because of Pluss' portrayal of them, phoning in death threats and other acts of violence! All of this, in fact, was a great history experiment in the tradition of Derrida and Foucault: It now turns out Pluss is not a Nazi; he's just a post-modernist. The other day, Pluss posted an article on the History News Network Web site (http://hnn.us/) titled "Now It Can Be Told: Why I Pretended to Be a Neo-Nazi." The episode, he writes, was inspired by the great French deconstructionists Jacques Derrida and Michele Foucault, who had insisted on "the need for the historian to 'become' her or his subject.And so, Pluss is writing a book based on his hypothesis, experimentation, and the result from not only the neo-Nazis, but the very similar rhetoric and response from the enlightened Ivory Tower types at FDU: "The theory behind my actions came from legitimate scholarship," Pluss said. "I thought to myself, 'Let's do a method-acting approach to the study of history and see how it works.' I chose the Nazis because they were absolutely the most obnoxious, whacky group I could find."Pluss risked reputation, career, and personal safety for what has to be one of the most risky historical/sociological immersion experiments I have seen in my lifetime. How come no one questioned the Nazi-IRA connection? This at a university? All this having been said, Derrida and Foucault would be proud indeed. Pluss has not only delved into the neo-Nazi movement, he also has the experience of delving into the reaction of leftist groups and understanding the tension between arch-socialists and neo-Nazis. I might not agree with how he did it, but certainly the conversation at FDU amongst the students and the public at large (those paying attention anyhow) should certainly create some conversation as to what really separates ideological fanatics in the end. I have to go back to this comment by Pluss: "I had thought there would at least have been some more academically and intellectually oriented responses," said Pluss, whose Ph.D. in medieval history is from the highly respected University of Chicago.Why wasn't he extended that courtesy, when unquestioned socialist heroes such as Mao, Che, and Marx are celebrated as pioneers by some faculty nationwide? A debate could have ensued in the student newspaper, questions about what to do regarding the belief system of any professor on campus, how it influenced what they taught in the classroom, etc. Instead, that never happened. Were leftist professors who held obstensibly offensive beliefs way beyond the mainstream - those how epitomize such brutal and murderous leftist ideologues such as Che Guerrera and Mao Tse-Tung - afraid that they too would be scrutinized? Held to their own standard? Rather than set an equitable bar, they took the road of exclusion rather than inclusion, of restriction rather than freedom, of inquisition rather than instruction. Ideological purity might be good for a political party, a church, or any place where a certain set of beliefs must be imposed via indoctrination. But not at a university, which is precisely the point Pluss makes in dramatic fashion. Saturday, January 21, 2006Georgetown 87, Duke 84Not that I'm bragging or anything... but GO HOYAS! Man-Computer SymbiosisWant to read the paper that got the Internet started? Of course you do. Here it is! Friday, January 20, 2006OMT: START ChatterFrom Norman over at OMT, we get the scoop on why 2006 won't be 2004: However, rather than waiting until all of the other major players put their plans out in the public eye, Chichester went first (I had in bass-akwards this morning). This is not typical behavior. He also seems to have left his plan open to debate and compromise -- another break with past behavior.I've been very quiet about dipping my toes into the speculation regarding the tax hike. Mostly, I get this melancholy sense of inevitability. I've been wrong before... Stop ShulerFOr those interested, former Redskins QB Heath Shuler is running for the Democratic nomination for North Carolina's 11th U.S. House District. Needless to say, whenever there's an opportunity where Redskins fans and Republican politics can coincide, you gotta take advantage, right? And so, dear Reader, I present to you Stop Shuler for your viewing pleasure and "my God, how far have we come" commentary. Thursday, January 19, 2006SST: Conservatives on Mark WarnerOld Zach over at Sic Semper Tyrannis makes an interesting observation on former-Governor Mark Warner: It is interesting that even conservatives are beginning to notice Mark Warner's potential for being the anti-Hillary, particularly in light of HRC's embarrassing 'plantation' comment this week. If Mark Warner is somehow able to grab his party's nomination for President in '08, just remember who he'll have to thank for it. That's right, a group of Virginia Republicans, who single-handedly turned a floundering Governorship without any major successes into a supposed 'blueprint' for Democratic success in the South.I wish conservatives would quit thinking defense and start playing offense, otherwise 2006 might be tougher than we'd ever like to imagine. Wednesday, January 18, 2006Better Well than SaidThe Wall Street Journal offers Ben Franklin's thoughts on the need to keep secrets from Congress and the president's authority to act against perceived threats: Benjamin Franklin (whose 300th birthday is today) would not have thought so. In 1776 he and his four colleagues on the Continental Congress's foreign affairs committee (called the Committee of Secret Correspondence) unanimously agreed that they could not tell the Congress about the covert assistance France was giving the American Revolution, because it would be harmful to America if the information leaked, and "we find by fatal experience that Congress consists of too many members to keep secrets."Interesting indeed. Great reading. NFL Referee Gets Rock Thrown Through WindowRidiculous: One night after his notorious reversal of an onfield interception threw NFL referee Pete Morelli into a national storm - and nearly sent Denver packing for Indianapolis - Morelli found himself between a hard place and a rock.Refereeing is a thankless job, because no matter how you make the call, approximately 50% of the people watching the game are going to call for your head on a plate. I certainly hope this was motivated by something other than a bad call on Sunday. This does nothing for the sport of football, and everything to heap shame upon reckless fans. Commonwealth Conservative: Repeal the Death TaxI am absolutely stunned that Democrats justify the death tax by any means possible, with one Virginia Centrist even going so far as to say "it's the most uniquely American Tax that I can think of." I kid you not. The inheritance tax is one of the most uniquely un-American taxes, and as a matter of fact was endorsed by none other than Karl Marx. Hence, as I posted on CC, the inheritance tax (death tax, estate tax, etc.) is really a question of whether or not you think Karl Marx was right. Or wrong... China e-Lobby: Iran must be liberatedD.J. McGuire over at the China e-Lobby makes his point: The Khomeinist mullahs who have imprisoned the Iranian people for over a quarter of a century appear to be very close to becoming a nuclear power. This has forced many around the world to finally take notice of the regime, and ponder what should come next. Some have supported a negotiated solution of some kind, while others have advocated a limited military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. Neither is acceptable. Iran must be liberated.First Iraq. Next Iran. Syria. Venezuela. North Korea. Cuba. The People's Republic of China. Not only is there a theme of co-operation, there is a theme of anti-American sentiment that goes far beyond sentiment - it is systematic policy. Iran must be liberated, proving to be part of a seven-headed Hydra that must be attacked one by one. The more we deprive Communist China of its friends, the more likely those living under oppressive regimes will be able to live freely and perhaps even liberate themselves. Self-determination is the name of the game, and in a free-market society it is the cost of participation and the legacy American power must bequeath to the world. Those societies that refuse to democratize do so at their own peril, and under the ever-watchful eye of the United States. FLS: Tax yourself (with pride)!Spotsylvania is on the road to getting rid of those universally hated county stickers. You know the ones where you have to stand in line to pay your dues for whenever you get a new car, or when the 15th of whatever month comes in. Well the editors at the Free Lance-Star say shame on you for not wanting to be taxed! What's more, you should be gratified - nay, honored to wear your county seal and be taxed with pride! Yes, going to the courthouse to buy the decal is inconvenient for newbies, and pasting it, sticky side up, in the awkward angle between glass and dash--after first scraping off last year's sticker with a blade sharp enough to behead Robespierre--requires care.Yes friends, they edit the news you and I read... County decal taxes are the most hated of all, not in terms of cost, but in terms of the time. Take into account mailing, printing, etc... you get the drift. It's a hassle that exemplifies the worst of government taxation methods. It is one springtime ritual I will not miss. Difference Between Left and RightA good friend of mine e-mailed this to me, and while I rarely if ever post e-mail forwards, this one was too good not to share. Don't know why, but it was! One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful." Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between left and right. Good Sense: Question of the DayIf you haven't gotten in on the action quite yet, there is a great theme going on at Good Sense with his Question of the Day. Typically, it is a philosophical or political quote. The trick is to attribute the quote (without looking it up or using Google, of course). I think this is great stuff, not to mention the commentary is top-notch! Beats Weenie of the Week anyhow! Tuesday, January 17, 2006Meetings + Meetings = Not Crazy DeliciousHaving too many meetings? Feeling tired and exhausted after being pinged on? It's not you, it's the medically researched and verifiable fact that meetings are bad for you: They devised a pair of hypotheses, educatedly guessing that:So the question is whether the American worker/manager is spending too much of their time in meetings. The answer is yes according to one study as early as 1973, and technology seems only to have made the problem worse. Interesting. Not that I offer any solutions to the problem (what's the fun in that?), but interesting nonetheless. Goin' to Pluto!Almost... the launch was supposed to happen today, but was delayed due to high winds. The launch of the satellite has been delayed until Thursday at 1:16pm EST, where it will begin a nine-year journey to the last unexplored planet in the solar system. Pretty cool! Web Users Judge Websites in a BlinkEveryone asks how they can drive users to a website. Any web developer will tell them good design is key, but that's always been an assumption. Until now. Researchers say that most users judge websites in one-twentieth of a second, and furthermore the first impression usually taints their time navigating the website - if they stick around at all. All the more reason for graphic designers to work hand in hand with solid web layout and design principles. Too often you find solid design but poor visuals, or great visuals and terrible design. Hopefully this website makes the cut in both departments! Monday, January 16, 2006SkepticalObservor: Hypocrisies Among Our "Moderate" FriendsOr better titled: "May God Save Sean Connaughton From His Supporters." Don't just take my word for it, take James Young's word. Too Conservative (the website, not the pseudonym) is slowly becoming an embarassment, which is rather unfortunate considering the gentleman who runs the blog is a very articulate young man. James is right. The moderates' collective inability to maintain a modicum of intelligent discourse hurts them badly, and if the good folks at "Too Conservative" don't get the point very quickly, someone else might have to (and should) clue them in before they destroy what has the potential to be a very good blog. My US$0.02 for what it's worth... but then again free advice is always worth what you pay for it! Sunday, January 15, 2006CNN: Chavez denounces Catholic cardinalVenezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez is now threatening the Catholic Church: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused a Roman Catholic cardinal Sunday of conspiring against him after the clergyman chastised the leftist leader for eroding democracy and abusing his power.The offense? This statement by Cardinal Rosario Castillo after Sunday Mass: "A government democratically elected seven years ago has lost its democratic path and shows signs of dictatorship, where all powers are in the hands of one person who exercises them in an arbitrary and despotic way," Castillo said.Is it not true? Chavez is a socialist who has used thugs to impose his will, eroded civil rights, and corrupted elections to stay in power. All of our bishops and cardinals should be so brave as to make statements such as these in the face of injustice. American prelates take note. If you'd like to fight back, here's one way to start: don't go to Citgo, don't go to 7-11's who use Citgo gas, and be sure to tell others. CITGO is partially owned by the Venezuelan government (qua Hugo Chavez). Pope critical of China, IranIt's rare for a modern pope to directly call out another country with regard to it's actions, so when Pope Benedict XVI does so in such vague fashion, it's a gentle reminder to both the Communists and the Islamic regime that the Vatican is watching: In effect, the thesis that "truth can only be attained in freedom" is typically Ratzingerian. It leads to the conclusion that "no government can feel free to neglect its duty to ensure suitable conditions of freedom for its own citizens without thereby damaging its credibility to speak out on international problems." In these words from the pope, Parsi recognized "a more authoritative defense than ever of the ethical superiority of liberal and democratic systems."In effect, Pope Benedict gave a verbal thumbs-up, and spoke towards a universal truth: Truth can only be attained in freedom. Commonwealth Conservative: Go Steelers!After a blown interception call by the refs, a touchdown plus conversion, then a fumble by none other than Jerome Bettis himself, it looked as if Indianapolis was going to pull off a miracle comeback. It didn't happen, much to the relief of Steeler fans such as Chad. I'm liking the Steelers. For the counterpart to my Skins, if you have to root for an AFC team the Steelers are the way to go. Mythbusters Lost Experiments!For those of you not familiar with Mythbusters, they take all of these urban-myths and other such nonsense and debunk them all (or prove them true) via scientific verification and experimentation. Check 'em out! Redskins and PatriotsAfter watching the Redskins lose after much talk about Coach Gibbs opening up the playbook in Seattle, my wife had the opportunity to watch her Patriots fall apart turnover after turnover after turnover. The good news is the Redskins have a great team to build off of next year. The Patriots have a few staff positions to fill, not to mention a few key positions as well. I'm liking the Redskins in September, no question. Saturday, January 14, 2006Pope John Paul II: Marxist?Now this is an interesting article: When a Polish supplementary tribunal for John Paul II?s beatification began work in Krakow this November, a key task was to examine the late Pope's pre-papal writings, for the light they threw on his firmness of faith and loyalty to Catholic doctrine.Now lectures under a communist regime always might be colored by playing to their concerns - which also means criticising unfettered capitalism. However, no one can read encyclicals such as Centisimmus Annus and say John Paul II was a Marxist. The article continues: Catholic Social Ethics is densely typed on cheap paper, and contains sections on Personalism, Liberalism and Individualism, as well as "Totalism" and "Solidarism". Yet the bulk is written as a conscious response to Marxism. The detailed contents table includes subtitles such as "Communism in its Historical Dimension", "The Issue of Revolution” and “Marxism’s Ethic of Class Struggle".Interesting. Les MiserablesLast night, Missy and I went to the National Theatre to see Les Miserables on what should be it's final tour in the United States. Definitely my favorite musical of all time, and certainly better than any stuffy pre-inaugural dinner. Friday, January 13, 2006Pope's first encyclical expected in two weeksDeus Caritas Est is expected to be released on 25 January, the first papal encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI: Deus Caritas Est is reportedly a document of about 40 pages. By tradition a papal encyclical takes its title from the first words of the text; thus it appears that the Pope begins with a quote from the Epistle of St. John (4:8). The document is said to be a deeply theological meditation on the centrality of Christ, divine love and human love; but the text also speaks at length about the concrete expression of love in charitable action.Pretty cool. Very interested as to what face this pope will present to the world, and I think many of the pope's detractors will be surprised as well. Thursday, January 12, 2006Potts Keeps His ChairmanshipHe ran against Kilgore!!! And how do we reward him?! Disgusting, spineless, and absolutely embarassing... that's what this is. I'm sure the Democrats in the Senate were tapping their toes with glee as the votes came down... I am now convinced there is no cure for liberal Republicans other than complete evisceration. No compromise, no debate. This must end. It's time for a game of "which side are you on," because this nonsense is ultimately going to destroy the Republican Party if we don't end it in 2007. Potts violated every principle of big tent politics. What is left now? Let it be noted that many of the moderates in the Senate did come around when it came to party unity, a move that is noted and appreciated. I'm not looking for ideological purity, but consensus on core issues should be the very least we can acheive. Wednesday, January 11, 2006FLS on Kaine, abortion, and CatholicismThis morning's Free Lance-Star goes over Governor-elect Tim Kaine's spirituality. An amazing background without question, Jesuit-influenced and all. Can't help but be impressed by that. So what has my dander up? The equation between the gravity of Catholic teaching on the death penalty and abortion: Kaine pledged that, while his Catholic faith led him to personally oppose abortion and the death penalty, he would uphold the law.First of all, when at any point in time did the Kilgore campaign call Tim Kaine out on abortion? Fact: it didn't. Here's the problem. Tim Kaine may personally disbelieve in abortion and the death penalty. But when the Kilgore campaign attacked Kaine on the death penalty, Kaine's response was that he drew a line between his private beliefs and the way he will govern. This naturally raises eyebrows, not only for the dichotomy concerning Kaine's past on the death penalty, but in Catholic eyes, it raises heckles about his obligations as a Catholic to defend and promote the culture of life. This is not a question of debate or palatability. One cannot be a Catholic and be passive on the issue of abortion. Period. You can compare this to the adjoining FLS article where Attorney General-elect Bob McDonnell is grilled for his support of the death penalty. McDonnell, on the other hand, says he sees no contradictions between his Catholic beliefs and supporting the death penalty.No such treatment for Kaine on the issue of abortion, even though the very same encyclical (Evangelium Vitae for those interested) has this to say on the subject of abortion: Abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. From the very beginnings of the Church, the apostolic preaching reminded Christians of their duty to obey legitimately constituted public authorities (cf. Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-14), but at the same time it firmly warned that "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). In the Old Testament, precisely in regard to threats against life, we find a significant example of resistance to the unjust command of those in authority. After Pharaoh ordered the killing of all newborn males, the Hebrew midwives refused. "They did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live" (Ex 1:17). But the ultimate reason for their action should be noted: "the midwives feared God" (ibid. ). It is precisely from obedience to God—to whom alone is due that fear which is acknowledgment of his absolute sovereignty—that the strength and the courage to resist unjust human laws are born. It is the strength and the courage of those prepared even to be imprisoned or put to the sword, in the certainty that this is what makes for "the endurance and faith of the saints" (Rev 13:10).What is happening here is issue of dissent over the death penalty (which is allowed amongst Catholics) is being confused with the issue of dissent over abortion (which is not permitted amongst Catholics). These articles blur the lines in terrible fashion, thus the effort by to turn Kaine's death penalty debacle into a free pass on abortion. Not so slick. What makes this worse is the nominal Catholic who read these articles will simply hold them up as an imprimatur for their dissent with Catholic teaching. Their only problem? Kaine's position of sanctioning abortion still isn't consistent with his professed faith, and has only received the approval of a fawning press and the extreme liberals within the Democratic Party. Time will tell if Governor Kaine has the courage to reconcile the two, and I sincerely hope he does. How to Tear Phone Books (or State Budgets)Ever wonder how it was done? Now you too can learn the secrets of tearing phone books. Question is, which delegate/seate senator could do it to the state budget? Tuesday, January 10, 2006The It-Sucks-To-Be-Me GenerationDaniel Gross over at Slate.com takes aim at Generation Y as a bunch of whiny complainers. Humph. Now I was born in 1978, straddling the Gen X and Gen Y fence, though I have to say with younger brothers in tow I was definitely more influenced by Generation X than my youngest brother. I've noticed the differences too. Gen X'ers are more tech-savvy than Gen Y. Gen X'ers are more professional and clean cut, while Gen Y is more... not slovenly, but neat and tidy is the opposite of whatever it is. Gen X'ers blog, Gen Y'ers use MySpace. Gen X'ers have PDAs, Gen Y'ers have iPods. You get the drift. The point here is that Mr. Gross takes aim at a problem that most twenty to thirty somethings feel is universal, pejoratively of course: Oh, it's so hard to be young these days! Just crack open Generation Debt: Why Now Is a Terrible Time To Be Young, by Anya Kamenetz, or Strapped: Why America's 20-and-30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead, by Tamara Draut, and you're plunged into a world of darkness and sorrow.Gross goes on to lambast Generation Y complaints about the future: And so, here we are again. Now, today's twentysomething authors are clearly onto something. College is more expensive today in real terms. There's been a shift in student aid—more loans and fewer grants. The Baby Boomers, closer to retirement, are sucking up more dollars in benefits. There's more income volatility and job insecurity than there used to be. So, why are these books—Generation Debt in particular—annoying?Here's the problem. I never graduated college, yet financially I'm better off than most of my peers who did go on. Why? I have no debt, I pay my bills, I make good money, I own my own home, and best of all I pay my college education a few classes at a time. Contrast this to any of my peers. Most are saddled with $50,000 of college debt (more if they are in graduate or law school), most live on credit, paycheck to paycheck, most rent becasue it's the only affordable housing they can get, most work part-time jobs upon getting out of college, and few of them are doing what they majored in. Mutually assured destruction? Why yes, thank you. That would definitely get rid of my credit card debt, my student loans, and heck - maybe in the aftermath of nuclear winter and fighting off my fellow survivors for food, I might be able to have a patch of real estate to call my own... As for the "great insight" Mr. Gross adds, it is simply this: Today's twentysomethings, by contrast, have their whole lives in front of them. Want a cheaper house? Quit Manhattan and move to Hartford, Conn. Want to make more money? Pick a different field.Ah yes... I'll draft a banner and walk through the poorest neighborhoods of New York and Los Angeles. Crowds will follow, and we'll march to cheaper places such as Fresno or Hartford, find those jobs, and live happily ever after... Only in order to be able to afford to live in Fresno and Hartford, the jobs are in New York and Los Angeles. Then you have to commute. And let's talk about entry level jobs. That does the average political science or psychology major do with their degree? Straight to retail my friends. Or in the Fredericksburg area, Capital One or Geico. Sure, they might be able to get a job in Northern Virginia or Washington, but $30K is about what you can expect if you're lucky. $24K if you're working in Fredericksburg. Is it any small wonder why college graduates go back home to their parents? Gross heaps further disdain upon Generation Y: Kamenetz also makes cavalier statements about economics and career development. "The job market sucks," she proclaims. It may not be as good as it was in the 1990s, but suck is a pretty strong term. She complains that a $700 personal computer, a necessity for any young person, is expensive. Huh? Computing is incredibly cheap. The first PC I bought, that crappy, tiny Mac, cost $2,000 in 1990 dollars.Yes... how could any of the reading public be mistaken. $700 is chump change; a whole two weeks of salary for crying out loud! What is she complaining about, that ingrate! Of course, the target of Gross' angst is nothing less than a 2002 Yale graduate. Heh. If that's the top of the stack, where her skills should be the most marketable, then why on earth would Gross (or anyone) assume that Generation Y has is any easier for the average college graduate? What stacks against Gen Y? 1. Housing costs. Average rent in Fredericksburg is $1000/mo. Let's say someone pulls down $30K coming out of college... after paying taxes, credit cards, car payments, and student loans, how much of the ol' budget do you think is being swallowed up by housing alone? Want to buy a house? Forget it - not until you're married and can bring two of those incomes to bear. 2. Student loans and other debt. Let's face it. Everyone has a credit card, and most people use them when they are in a pinch. Student loans being the only way to pay for college nowadays, and yes - it's going to add up. All that money goes into a deep, dark hole never to be seen again. Best piece of advice for anyone getting out of college or in college is to tear up that credit card and never, ever use it. Get the gas card your parents got you when you were in high school (and if they didn't, get one yourself) and use it for gas only, save it forever. That counts towards your credit rating as (1) an old line of credit you (2) have responsibly paid off. Everything else, burn. 3. Car payments. Gotta drive to get from point A to point B. If you are fortunate enough to live in the city, you're still paying $3/day for Metro fare. That adds up folks... 4. Job market. Taxes, loans, credit, car, housing. Is $30K a year a fair salary for someone with no experience? Sure it is. Is it enough to cover the expenses of your emerging college graduate? Probably not. Now lest I be lambasted myself for being a protectionist, Gen Y "hand me everything" snob, let it be known that I am huge on entrepreneurship. I firmly believe in free enterprise, the lack of entitlement, fair and moral business ownership that takes care of employees rather than collective labor dictating demands, etc. But what I am saying (and what most of Gen Y is saying) is that the cards are stacked against us financially - for better or worse. Taxes take our money, student loans take our money, credit takes our money, car payments take our money, housing takes our money... what's left to be happy with? In a Jeffersonian sense, one might argue that we have life and liberty, but what of the sin against our property? What makes the Gen Y complaint relevant is not that it's a rehash of the "Me Generation" that complained because they wanted more. Gen Y complains because what they are earning is being taken through one conduit or another. This doesn't excuse bad choices. You rack up credit card bills, you owe. You buy the tricked out Lancer, you owe. But taxes? Rising education costs? Housing? These are things policy makers have control over and Gen Y'ers do not, either by reducing the tax burden on those who can least afford it, quit giving in to every cost increase proffered by higher education, and quit making stupid decisions on land use when it comes to affordable housing. In Virginia, is it any small wonder why the up-and-coming coinservative Republicans (bloggers, VCAP challengers, etc.) are all younger guys? This is not a problem that will go away with the quip "get a (better) job." That might be appropriate for the 1960's, but Gen Y is working hard and looking for financial relief. UK Telegraph: Ideas win elections, glamour doesn'tCourtesy of SST, we find this little article from the UK Telegraph reminding us that ideas trump style every time: But here's my point: right now the polls in Her Majesty's snowbound dominion show the Conservatives are ahead and poised to topple the incumbent Liberals on January 23. And what's the name of the glamorous metrosexual matinee idol who has brought the Canadian Tories to the brink of electoral triumph?Canadian liberals have resorted to that nefarious of all extra=Amercian Kool-Aid: that of blaming the United States for all the world's problems. Canadian voters will punish the liberals accordingly, just as Americans punished the Democratic left in 2004. What's more, this offers a lesson for us state and local politicos as well. Ideas - good ideas - first and foremost. OMT: The Ebb TideNorman over at One Man's Trash posts his thoughts on the election of Shannon Valentine to House of Delegates, bringing the Democratic total in the House to 40 delegates: While it's true that the district has tended to favor Democrats on the statewide ballot, the result should be unsettling for the Virginia GOP.Indeed. Conservative Republicans - it seems - are much more content to see liberals with D's, rather than see liberals with R's next to their names. However, what we still haven't accomplished is identifying what that long pole of the big tent really is. Limited government? Pro-life society? Lower taxes? Efficient government? Until we answer the real questions as to what the GOP is all about, the Dems are going to continue to chip away. There isn't anyone to blame, we just need to find the answer to the question, and quickly. j's notes: SAY MY NAME (or go to jail)From Jason Kenney, I see that the law is catching up with the irresponsible: It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity.Thus always to pseudonymous and anonymous posters, though now the problem of enforcement comes into play. This comes on the heels of the scandal surrounding 'Minnesota Democrats Exposed' mentioned last Thursday. Incumbency Over IdeasFrom the Wall Street Journal: The real House GOP problem isn't about lobbyists so much as it is the atrophying of its principles. As their years in power have stretched on, House Republicans have become more passionate about retaining power than in using that power to change or limit the federal government. Gathering votes for serious policy is difficult and tends to divide a majority. Re-election unites them, however, so the leadership has gradually settled for raising money on K Street and satisfying Beltway interest groups to sustain their incumbency.Read it all. Cantor says he has votes to be whipThe RTD is reporting that a confident Rep. Eric Cantor is in position to become House Majority Whip: Not since 1845, when Democrat John W. Jones was House speaker, has a Virginian held one of the top three House leadership posts. No Virginians have served as majority whip or majority leader, positions that were established in the late 1800s.Not too bad for a fella who got elected in 2000 - despite the late entry of two competitors. Monday, January 09, 2006HB71I couldn't help but chuckle just a bit at Del. Bobby Orrock's HB71, which "(p)rovides that the party chairman or official who certifies candidates for the party primary or as party nominees shall not be a candidate for that primary or election." During the June Primary, Bobby had to certify his signatures with the 54th District Chairman. That individual was... me. It was a bit awkward, but it ended smoothly enough. I entirely understand why a change in the code would be justified. Between less honorable men, it could have erupted into a big problem. Still, how many people can claim that part of the Code of Virginia was changed based off of a scenario involving their own actions? Stupid question, great replyDecember 9, 2005 (CNN). While interviewing an anonymous US Special Forces soldier, a Reuters News agent asked the soldier what he felt when sniping members of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The soldier shrugged and replied, "Recoil." Courtesy of OSINT. Jon Henke: Real Wage Slaves?Jon Henke of QandO fame takes a critical look at the supposed argument against the Bush Adminstration that "real wages" have not risen: With the economy growing rapidly and the unemployment rate hovering around 5 percent, it's getting harder and harder for critics to find current economic statistics about which they can register concern. Gone are the days when pundits (or political candidates) could compare the current economy unfavorably with the 1970s with a straight face. Economic criticism -- dropped with a poker face during the ?04 campaign -- has become an exercise in slogging through obscure statistical data to dig up ever smaller "ah-hah" moments.Not everyone is going to have the time or patience to read this article. For those willing to learn, this is a real eye-opener against the "real wage stagnation" argument. Finally, it’s also worth noting that Real Disposable Personal Income -- the inflation-adjusted portion of compensation that we the proletariat get to pocket (i.e., spend or save) -- has risen by 3.1 percent, 2.4 percent and 3.4 percent over the past three years.One of many gold nuggets in this article. Kudos, Jon. Virginia Partisan Makes Good SenseWell, I'm at home sick again thanks to a stomach bug (last week it was the general flu - which was much more preferable). So as the Kenney family drops one by one like so many flies, I get to proudly announce that Virginia Partisan has changed his website over to Good Sense. Good read, too. Saturday, January 07, 2006PAYBACK!Washington 17 | Tampa Bay 10 HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!! Thursday, January 05, 2006Oh noOne more reason to root for the 'Skins and against Tampa Bay. What did they do? The Bucs decided during their halftime show against the New Orleans Saints that it was appropriate to play - wait for it - "Rock You Like a Hurricane": Corry says, 'The first song that I hear is 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' by The Scorpions and I thought to myself, 'Is it me, or is this just totally out of place and inappropriate?"Damn. That's terrible. Proof tax-hikers are indeed the vocal minority...From the Spotsylvania County Citizen Satisfaction survey: Raise taxes/raise services: 19% Keep taxes and services the same: 62% Doesn't sound like anyone in Spotsylvania is demanding a VRE gas tax or a real estate hike this year, does it? Anon blogger unmasked as GOP political operativeAnonymous and pseudonymous bloggers beware: An anonymous Minnesota blogger, who took pains to poke fun at Democrats and question their qualifications for elected office, has been unmasked as a -- gasp! -- Republican political operative.Reminds anyone of the NLS speculation amongst Virginia bloggers, eh? Of course, the only reason why parallels can be drawn between NLS and this is the political tabloid that anonymous and pseudonymous bloggers allow Ben Tribbett's site to become. It's not isolated -- pick any website and the nastiest, most virulent comments come from either the anonymous or pseudonymous bench. Can 'em all, I say. If there was one thing I would change about the blogosphere, it would be the elimination of pseudonyms and anonymous comments. It's road rage syndrome -- you'd be amazed what people would do if given just a little bit of anonymity... and the blogosphere isn't immune. Wednesday, January 04, 2006CNet: Blogosphere goes wild for Firefox P2P extensionYou should too. Just might be enough to get me to switch up to Firefox. Restoration of moral sanity: Turning away from the weird moral obsessions of the LeftProbably the most interesting analysis of the psychology of the American left I have read in a long time: The rejection of the universal moral law leads one to fill the resulting inner vacuum with false moral absolutes. This is the source of the weird moral fetishes of liberals. These weird fetishes result in the banning of Christmas and turning tolerance and privacy into moral absolutes that result in morally insane public policies. When tolerance is an absolute, ideas of good and evil, and right and wrong, are rejected. When privacy becomes an absolute, evil is shielded, and law enforcement and the war on terror become impossible.Now how accurate is that? The only problem I might have is that the cultural left in America really isn't all that radical compared to their European counterparts. This having been said, the idea of tolerance uber alles promoted by liberals/progressives (what are they calling themselves these days?) ends in little other than embracing the very worst of the practices of the French Revolution. Great article, though you might want to print it out and read it over lunch. The Virginia PartisanSpeaking of hard core conservatives, check out the Virginia Partisan, because anyone who reads and links to The New Criterion must be cool. Courtesy of Commonwealth Conservative. Virginia Centrist: Where are the staunch social conservatives?Virginia Centrist asks the burning question as to where the social conservatives are in the Virginia blogosphere: Why are Virginia's conservative bloggers more socially libertarian than the rest of the state? I'm not trying to claim that they support gay marriage or abortion rights. I'm just saying that for most VA Conservative bloggers, social issues are not at the forefront of their focus. They usually say "live and let die." Shaun Kenney, Jim Bacon, Will Vehrs, Chad Dotson, Norm Leahy, etc - their main focus is on issues of taxation and spending, not hot button social issues.Sorry to disappoint! I'd agree 100% that most of us weigh in as a bit more libertarian (lowercase l) then most. That having been said, VC and others miss the big picture. As Republicans in general are looking for that long pole of our big tent, the marketplace of Republican ideas has settled on one: limited government in both size and scope. How does that translate into social conservative issues? Easy. (1) Pro-life issues. What do you think happens when government stops funding Planned Parenthood, condom distribution programs, sex education programs that advocate "safe sex" alternatives that arguably cheapen individuals into objects for sex, etc? Get government out of the picture, and now pro-abortion liberals have to contend with the marketplace of ideas without the assistance of government funding. I don't think they can compete. As a Catholic, you can bet I took Kaine to task for his personally pro-life, yet publically pro-abortion stance. The atrifice constructed by pro-abortion extremists who consider the killing of a baby to be morally just or acceptable wouldn't survive a day without the crutch of government-imposed funding. What's even more egregious, the fact that most abortions happen to either (a) the underprivileged, (b) the undereducated, or (c) to minority women doesn't mean that choice is the prime concern -- it means we're consciously exterminating the underclass as policy. That's wrong. Let me debate the crackpot liberal who'll honestly defend that kind of barbarism, please. (2) Homosexual marriage. Yet another institution that wouldn't survive without the sanction of government. Flat out: it doesn't exist. There's no such thing. It's a square peg in a round hole. I don't care what people do in the privacy of their own homes, and if you want to get "married" in a gay church, by all means. But obtaining the imprimatur of the state? What gives? Quo vadis? (3) Prayer in school. Even better - give me a voucher so I can send my kid to a school of my choice. I absolutely love the rationale liberals use that argues "hey, you shouldn't have the choice to send your kid to the school you want, but if you wanted to kill them in the womb... now THAT'S a choice!" Pathetic. So why haven't we been addressing them? I think it's a question of first things. Note that not a single one of the solutions I have proffered involves the interference of big government. In fact, they subsist in the de-evolution of functions traditionally held by society and confiscated by socialist-minded government-cures-all types. All of these solutions do have one common theme. Government is involved in our lives way too much, and a limited government that quits addressing every social problem is the best form of governance. I'd be more than happy to extend this into chairties and non-profit organizations being superior to the vast entitlement system that is bankrupting our government, both federally and statewide. What I find more revealing is the total lack of left-wing radicals in the Virginia blogosphere. Where are the feminazis? The watermelon environmentalists who think all humans are evil, destructive creatures? Where are the anti-business liberals? Where is the drumbeat to increase the minimum wage and promote organized labor? Where is the call for statewide healthcare? Where is the call for affirmative action and reparations to minorities? Where is the call to squash utterly the private/parochial school system that has sprung out of the inadequacies of state-imposed public education? I submit the conservatives are here and in force. Not only that, but the Virginia blogosphere is not only miles ahead of Republicans statewide, but they have the best answer for Virginia's future that marries conservative concerns for the way the state imposes alternate ethical values alongside the best selling points for libertarian policy; limited government that prizes individualism above all things. Moderates love to bill themselves as commonsense alternatives, when all they really amount to in the end is watered down socialist that offer no ideas other than a preservation of the status quo. True alternatives barter in ideas, and right now it's not a stretch to argue the Virginia Republican blogosphere has a monopoly on that discussion. Israeli PM Sharon Suffers StrokeThis time it doesn't look good: A few minutes later, Mor-Yosef emerged to say that initial tests showed Sharon had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding inside his brain.Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has taken over during a very delicate time in Israeli history, just shortly after the controversial Gaza pullout. Free Lance-Star jumps on the blog bandwagonMoreso than what many Virginia news outlets attempt to do, the FLS is dipping it's big toe into the Virginia blogosphere with five blogs from their reporters and editors. It's a noteworthy start. 12 Miners Found!They keep saying miracles happen in West Virginia... Great news on what seemed to be such dire prospects. Nothing yet on how they survived, but I'm sure we'll have more details by morning. UPDATE: Drudge Report is reporting that 11 of the 12 have died, and the sole remaining miner has been hospitalized. Developing... Tuesday, January 03, 2006Raiders fire Coach TurnerYet another victim in the NFL's impatience with coaching staff: Norv Turner didn't produce the quick turnaround expected of him in his two seasons as coach of the Raiders, so Davis fired him Tuesday -- his third coaching change in five years.Let's be blunt here. Short of Jesus Christ Himself, nothing is going to resurrect the Raiders. Not now, not next year, and not in the next five years. Turner grew up in nearby Martinez rooting for the Raiders. His firing leaves eight coaching vacancies in the NFL.Eight coaches?! That's ridiculous! Take for instance Mariucci. Good coach, but terrible team and terrible team culture in Detroit. And guess what happens when he gets fired? The team *miraculously* bounces back! Short-sighted owners attribute their superior management skills in firing a coach, but whose staff is running the team? Whose players? Whose recruits? Whose training? Same with Tice, Sherman, and Martz. Same with Coach Fassell a year before with the Giants. Same with Denver head coach Mike Shanahan a couple years back when the Broncos were experiencing their growing pains. The boo-birds and naysayers were floating then too, and now Shanahan is a genius once again. Steve Spurrier (yes, I'm a Run-and-Gun fan) is another great example of a great coach getting run out by owners who know the business end, but simply don't know how to coach football. All the vacancies should make the Redskins very, very pleased we were able to hold onto Coach Williams for the next three years. Still, Norv Turner had the last word: "The No. 1 thing I've learned in this league, and what everyone's looking for, is the quick fix," Turner said. "I'm not sure there's such a thing."Players and teams need time to develop. Cultures of losing that inspire backbiting and negativity can change, and they do, but only over time. Case in point would be the Redskins, who burned through coach after coach until they settled on Gibbs return. But how many teams can draw on a great coach in their past to pull themselves out of the fire? Is it working in Dallas with Parcells? And what defensive or offensive co-ordinator is going to risk their reputation to work with hyperactive NFL owners? God forbid they go to college football for new coaches - Chan Gailey and Steve Spurrier have already been burned by NFL owners too impatient or obsessive to allow coaches to coach. The NFL seems to have this collective amnesia about their players and their coaches and what they need to succeed. Three years is the amount of time any coach should have to turn around a football program (free from upper managment interference). 8-8 isn't a bad year, neither is 6-10 in a rebuilding year. Nor (I'll go this far) 4-12 in an organization so desperately in need of restructuring as the Raiders or the Lions. Let the bad blood burn themselves out, get the young talent in, roll the dice, and build for the future. It's going to hurt, but that's part of building a culture of winning. If that culture isn't there, then it doesn't matter how good your players are (note the 2000 Redskins vs. the 2005 Redskins). Owners can do quite a bit to build that culture, and I'm glad to see that in Washington good ol' Danny Snyder has finally gotten the message. Congratulations Senator McDougleWith a resounding 81% of the vote, Ryan McDougle trounced his Democratic opponent in the 4th Senate District. No big surprise, but I do have to say I was a tad bit concerned when I walked (dragged more accurately, I am not feeling well) into the polling station in the Battlefield Precinct and saw only 44 votes tallied at 3:30pm. Regardless, the path is now clear for Republican Chris Peace to step up to the plate in the 97th HOD District. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Chris, and he will make a great conservative addition to the House of Delegates. Still no word on the 17th Senate District as of yet, although Governor-Elect Kaine will be making some announcements tomorrow morning which I'm sure we'll all be keeping an eye on. RedState: Do What's Right vs Do What You're Told RepublicansGreat post over at RedState. YawnMrs. Kenney isn't feeling well, and it seems as if Caroline and Matthew are also not 100%. Meaning I am wide awake at oh-dark-thirty in the morning. In the meantime, I have come to the conclusion that after being away from all things online for a week in the middle of the Ozarks, there is absolutely nothing going on in the news. Back to web designing... Sunday, January 01, 2006CW: Potts to Join Kaine Administration?Poli Amateur over at Commonwealth Watch has confirmed a rumor that I have heard: that Russ Potts might be joining the Kaine administration. What bothers me about this is that it also confirms the other rumor we have been hearing in the 17th Senate District -- that Edd Houck is being considered for not just one, but two possible positions under Tim Kaine. At first glance, you think "Why two positions? Edd would be a natural choice for Secretary of Education?" But if you can peel off Russ Potts and make your administration look more balanced (though with Potts, imbalanced might be more appropriate), you certainly drive the wedge between moderate and conservative Republicans all the more... which is certainly a viable Democratic strategy. This would of course contradict the rumor-mill over at NLS that Edd will not be leaving the 17th. From what I have heard, (1) Edd has been telling those who have been asking that he is not going to become Secretary of Education, yet (2) the Democrats seem to be hunting for a successor. Could 15 January be the day that Potts and Houck resign? Dunno... it certainly wouldn't hurt Chichester, and it would certainly become an excellent guiding post for those elected officials who appreciate sticking their finger in the wind before they vote up or down on tax hikes. Idle speculation at the moment, but we'll see. Jaquith: Virginia General Assembly RSS feedWaldo Jaquith offers what every Virginia blogger should have, a Virginia General Assembly RSS feed. Merry Christmas indeed! What a great thing to have. Happy New Year!I have returned from Fort Leonard Wood in one piece, obstensibly well rested and ready for 2006. Best wishes to all. For those of you who are still keeping track, Merry Christmas as well (the Christmas season not officially ending until the Feast of the Epiphany on 06 January)!
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JEFFERSONIAD POLL: Whom do you support for Virginia Attorney General?1) John Brownlee2) Ken Cuccinelli AboutShaunKenney.com is one of Virginia's oldest political blogs, focusing on the role of religion and politics in public life. Shaun Kenney, 30, lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia.ContactThe Jeffersoniad
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