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Monday, December 31, 2007How to Become a MillionaireWork hard, don't spend, invest well. Best analogy I've ever read: An Indian lying on a mat in Calcutta has more wealth than the average American. While an American may live better, he lives on credit, and all things considered lives most of his life paying off accumulated debt. The man on the mat on the other hand can never have the mat taken away. What the analogy proves is that material wealth is really a matter of accumulating capital, not in having "things" that are really leased from the true owner over a period of years. Best lesson I've learned in awhile. Fred's Message to Iowa VotersBit long for my tastes, but then again it's not made for 18-30 year olds... it's made for 55 and older crowds. In that respect, this is pretty effective. The production of the video alone Fred Thompson alone answers the "Is Fred Thompson presidential?" question... classic Address to the Nation stance. This is actually worth watching if you want to get to know Fred Thompson. I'd love to see the other candidates do something similar. Sunday, December 30, 2007WE WANT DALLAS!If we win, we're in. GO SKINS! Friday, December 28, 2007So You Want To Play Violin (Again)....Guess what I got for Christmas? I used to play violin when I was younger, though not extremely well. Still, being able to play a musical instrument is one of those things that every cultured individual should be able to do (speaking or reading at least one other language is also in this category). So after some months of waffling between a guitar or picking back up the violin, I went with something familiar... and unique. Surprisingly, I tuned it right up using the piano in the living room as a guide, as was barely able to squeak out "Good King Wenceslas" much to the consternation of Marie. It's not encouraging when your one-year old daughter buries her head in sheets and pillows to get away from the screeching of a poorly played instrument. Nevertheless, I am undaunted. I have all my old books, and am committing myself to at least 30min of practice every evening. If I get any good, I'll share! Netscape R.I.P. (1994-2008)That's right... it's going away. In an email exchange yesterday with Tom Drapeau, Director of AOL/Netscape development, he said that only a handful of AOL engineers are still tasked with keeping the browser updated. Most of their efforts have been aimed at creating a Netscape-skinned version of Firefox with the Netscape look and feel.What a shame... Thursday, December 27, 2007Prostituting 9/11, Rudy Style
Listening to Rudy Giuliani prostitute his "experience" in handling Islamic terrorism is like listening to someone who has witnessed a car wreck assert he is the chief medical surgeon at the local hospital, and saved every life in the accident that day. Bacon's Rebellion: Education for the 21st CenturyJim Bacon is back with his Economy 4.0 series, and this time he has some great innovations regarding a new approach to education in the 21st century. RWL: On the late Benazir BhuttoEverything you wanted to know from Virginia's best foreign affairs analyst. Wednesday, December 26, 2007The Gospel According to Frank CapraProbably the most fascinating article I've read all year: This is why Frank Capra, contrary to popular opinion, is one of the most challenging of all filmmakers and in some ways the most disturbing. Most "serious films"—the "hard-hitting" "uncompromising" films—ask us only to accept, for example, that poverty is bad, relationships are hard, that politics is corrupt. In short, their "challenge" consists precisely in asking us to accept ideas that we already accept anyway, even if we struggle to know just what to do about them. In these comedies, Capra asks us to accept that the old-fashioned American ideals are still good, that David really can whip Goliath, that our prayers do not go unheard, that the meek shall inherit the earth. In other words, he asks us to accept things about which we have grave, grave doubts. And he is uncompromising in his asking: he doesn't ask us to accept these propositions as nice or inspirational or comforting or helpful—he asks us to accept them as true. That, my friend, is a challenging filmmaker. That is serious, avant-garde cinema, if you will.It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmastime staple at the Kenney estate, as has become the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Print this out and read it over your lunch break. (h/t to Conservativa) Tuesday, December 25, 2007Where the Government Spends Your MoneyHere's the 2007 statistics. Note the cost of entitlements (Unemployment and Welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security):
Anyone else willing to make the argument that we need more government? Economist's View: "Life after Peak Oil"Read this: Study of the long economic history of the world suggests two things, however. Cheap fossil fuels actually explain little of how we got rich since the Industrial Revolution. And after an initial period of painful adaptation, we can live happily, opulently and indeed more healthily, in a world of permanent $100-a-barrel oil or even $500-a-barrel oil. ...Endgame? Even with oil at $500/barrel, the impact on the United States would be minimal at best. More compact living and conscientious energy consumption (as in cheap solar or nuclear energy) is the key. I've always been fascinated with the idea of a workplace that was one's home... no driving to work, just the Internet and a home computer (and whatever tasks that lay ahead). Of course, some jobs simply require manpower... but with time, perhaps that can be resolved by technology and a transition to a different economy? Monday, December 24, 2007Old and Busted: Mortgage Crisis. New Hotness? Credit Card Crisis!This article from the Associated Press outlines the new credit crisis, this time of credit card debt. Nevermind the fearmongering from an industry smelling blood in the water after Bush's bailout of the mortgage lenders, this is one that just perplexes the hell out of me, because there are two immediate solutions. First, most people "defaulting" on credit cards and such get caught up in the 19.9% (or higher) cards. Rather than having over $900 million in defaults, why not just ratchet the rate down to something more affordable -- and cut off the credit lines. Second, completely recognizing there are irresponsible people out there, why dangle these 0% for a time interest rates that turn into 9.9% rates after one or two years? When I first went to college, there were specialty cards from MasterCard outlining some minuscule line of credit with a horrendous late fee of 24.9% if you paid late (on a 9.9% interest card). It struck me then as predatory. It strikes me now as predatory. Of course, let's keep in mind that the overall problem is not the credit industry per se. Credit has it's uses, as I used it to fix up the home I'm living in today. But the abuse of credit is something that exists beyond the ability of the credit industry to control. While the temptation of overextending credit exists for some firms, recognizing that it will always be those who either can't be trusted or overextend themselves that will overtax the system is key... ...when that occurs, blame the lender for jeopardizing the other 90% of borrowers who pay on time, borrow modestly, and stay ahead of the curve. In days past, government simply annulled what was owed, and did so at a rate of once every seven years -- at least during the medieval period. Other civilizations such as the Byzantine Empire managed from 1075 to 1204 to impale themselves on credit, monetary debasement, and vacillating leadership, going from the unrivaled power in the East to the humiliating Sack of Constantinople -- from which the Empire never recovered. Any comparision is hyperbole, of course. But it's important to recognize that some principles are indeed timeless. Reckless lending and reckless spending translate into reckless results. Let's hope the industry is wise enough to fix the problem, without the hand of government. Sunday, December 23, 2007RWL: Time (once again) to dispel some myths about AfghanistanD.J. McGuire does it effortlessly. Saturday, December 22, 2007CRFV: "Harry Reid Makes We Republicans Look Like Hawkings-Level Geniuses"Heh. Former PM Tony Blair Converts To CatholicismAs reported by SkyNews, former Britsh Prime Minister Tony Blair has made his conversion to Roman Catholicism official: He said: "For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion."A brave move in a country where connotations of Catholicism are tantamount to political suicide, not to mention an electorate that takes faith seriously and would have immediately questioned Blair's former positions on a variety of issues to be dichotic with his new-found faith. The story is worth reading... because Blair would have to renounce some major positions on abortion and contraception he formerly held in order to become Catholic, as the article explores and affirms. Congratulations, Mr. Blair. In 2007!With no apologies to Billy Joel... Probably the best thing that JibJab has done in awhile, with gratuitous ad afterwards from Ahnold. BLACK VELVET BRUCE LI : The Story Behind The Story (Or Why This Is Not the Hill to Die On)So let me get this straight. The best answer we have against the Washington Post's erratic and monopolistic reporting is, "ur reporter iz teh ghey"? Let's say Tim Craig gets sacked tomorrow (ain't happening, but let's say). What happens? The reporting at the WaPo (a) improves, (b) rolls over to allow anyone else to scoop them on stories, or (c) becomes even more aggressive because a handful of Virginia bloggers have declared war on an organization with a readership of 2.2 million? Appreciate the sentiment... but the timing in this scenario is beyond odd. Think about this: WaPo says liberal bloggers are ineffective, on a backdrop where Craig "enlightens" Tribbett about how roundly he is disliked. Craig piles on, Raising Kaine disputes the effectiveness of liberal bloggers, and all of the sudden... Tim Craig is gay. Gee... whoda thunk it? That'll scare him off... Are bloggers effective? In limited areas, of course. Are they effective where the demographics of the respective party are strongest? Maybe. Have the progressive bloggers singlehandedly picked off a Republican? Hells no. Problem is, so long as certain bloggers are more content with the approbation of the MSM rather than creating innovative content, bloggers will only be as effective as the MSM allows us to be. Jim Webb won with barely 11,000 votes. Every interest group in the Commonwealth takes credit for that win (or on our side of the fence, "if only Allen had done X, we'd have won...") and thumps their chest accordingly. Here's the asskicker: Without the WaPo blaring the macaca story for 18 days straight, does "the blogosphere" get a win? If you say yes, you're a moron and deserve to be mocked. Incessantly. The MSM is drifting towards new media. Welcome to our brave new world. If you intend to blog and be considered part of the public square, you'd best not count on the scraps from the MSM table. With the cacaphony of blogs out there, it's not enough. There's a handful of blogs who might consider themselves big fishes in a small pond. The reality check is that Washington Post (or your favorite local newspaper) is a whale in a bathtub. No one likes it, no one likes the slant or half-done reporting that confined space on a newspaper requires. But responding to an argument with "you're gay" is something most of us left on the playground years ago. Let's not overestimate our importance, guys. When pushed, Washington Post and other MSM outlets can and will punish blogs accordingly with a series of methods: ignoring them, categorizing them as tabloids, or doing some investigative reporting of their own on the authors of said blogs. For you it's a hobby, for them it's a livelihood. See why I've been pounding the table on ethical blogging? Welcome to the big leagues, fellas. The Mason Conservative: Huckabee And CatholicsConfirming earlier suspicions, Huckabee is more than happy to lie down with dogs and wake up with fleas... or in this case, anti-Catholic bigots: I have nothing personally against Mike Huckabee, he seems like a nice guy and a good governor. Now it comes out that Huckabee will be speaking at the Cornerstone Church in Texas. What NRO has discovered is that the pastor at said church, John Hagee, is an anit-Catholic bigot.Now Chris Beer is a Giuliani supporter (we all have our faults), but he does ring home a salient point. Attacking Catholics -- or associating yourself with those who do -- is a stupid, stupid political move. I know Huckabee is under intense scrutiny as the new frontrunner, and I'm more than happy to pile on because of his positions of fiscal policy. But for all the efforts to consolidate the evangelical Christian base, let's hope that Huckabee doesn't do this at the expense of sectarianism. Unfortunately, there are many Catholics who might be compelled to see Romney as "the Mormon Al Smith" and sympathize. Similarily, Catholics as a demographic probably yet to choose their favorite candidate. Someone with strong pro-life credentials and a eye towards social justice will be that person... but not if there is even a hint of prejudice against religious liberty. One more item: Let's remember that Bush captured 57% of the Catholic vote, not because of anything he personally did but rather because of the tremendous backlash against a nominally-Catholic John Kerry. Kerry offended, and Catholic voters today will be very cautious, looking for reasons to vote against a candidate rather than for one. Lesson? Don't give hearings to anti-Catholic bigots. Chris Beer is right. Who Has the Oil?Better Title: Why Energy Independence is a Strategic Imperative, Not an Option. (h/t to Andrew Sullivan) Friday, December 21, 2007First Things: The Celebrity-Industrial ComplexJonathan Last over at the newly-christened First Things Blog talks about the hubbub over Jamie Lynn Spears: Jamie Lynn announced the news on Tuesday and the celebrity-industrial complex went into overdrive. Some of the stories have been kind to the young lady. Many have not been. There’s a lot of clucking on the blogs about rednecks getting knocked up early and whatnot. That’s fine.All too true. Democratic Central: December 21, 1945 -- General George Patton diesDemocratic Central does an overview of the life and death of my favorite commanders, General George S. Patton. I recently found/bought the 1986 TV movie about the final days of General Patton, which starred the slightly older yet equally convincing George C. Scott as Patton. A rare find, but very, very well done if you can't get enough of the original movie. Christmas and movies about the Battle of the Bulge just seem to go together so well. Thursday, December 20, 2007Some Oligarch...Vladmir Putin reportedly has up to $40 billion stashed away, according to reports from the UK Guardian. Odd... considering Putin was the one to rail against the "oligarchs" bleeding Russia during the Yeltsin era... Wednesday, December 19, 2007WaPo: Do Liberal Bloggers Help or Hurt Dems in 2008?Depends on which bloggers we're talking about, and whether Forgit's race in VA-01 are tea leaves worth reading. The bottom line on VA-01 is this: That the DCCC did not play in Virginia's 1st District was a personal embarrassment to Virginia Democrats -- and yes, it demonstrated a lack of confidence in Democratic momentum. It gets worse if you consider the DCCC lost both Ohio (where they did play) and Virginia. That's not a momentum that has merely been slowed. That's a momentum that has been checked. Against the glass. Hard. It gets worse. For all the chest-thumping of the Virginia leftosphere, the WaPo's Tim Craig dwells upon the liberal blogger's effect on the Democrats chances in 2008 and comes to a pretty clear conclusion: Liberal bloggers may have helped Webb win the Democratic nomination for Senate last year, but they have yet to prove they can help a Virginia candidate win a general election in a district in which a majority of voters are more used to voting Republican.In other words, the liberal bloggers can show no forced fumbles. Sure they can point to where candidates came close, but they can't point to a single race where -- on their own efforts -- they knocked a candidate loose. On the other hand, conservative bloggers -- specifically the Old Dominion Bloggers Alliance -- can point to at least one pickup in 2007: the Ferguson/Poindexter race. Republican bloggers forcibly stripped away what was considered a relatively safe Democratic seat by refusing to allow a despicable act from Ferguson's campaign manager (or as the Roanoke Times reports, "political prankster") to go unnoticed, and the electorate responded to the low shot. Whether or not candidates for the 2008 race are going to be able (or willing) to embrace a Virginia leftosphere whose leading lights arguably aren't well respected -- by either the media or party activists -- is another call, one that will have to be answered by Democratic challengers such as Judy Feder and Leslie Byrne as the campaign season picks up steam. What Poindexter's win accomplished for bloggers is that it defined a boundary, albeit a very low one, which political bloggers may not cross. Unfortunately for politics in general, that set ethical bar is awfully low, and it hurts the respectability of our medium in the long run. We're not tabloids yet... but boy are we dangerously close to earning that reputation... As the Virginia blogosphere continues to mature, hopefully it will rise to what all sides (both Democratic and Republican bloggers) originally envisioned where Sorenson Institute meetings, genuine debate, and informative perspective still dreamed to enhance rather than degrade the political process. Virginia's public square should be worth defending. I'm for it. Anyone with me? Slate: The Renaissance of LatinWith a healthy dose of why a British bestseller is starting to move fast in the United States as well: Last year, a surprise best seller hit the British book market: a romp through Latin grammar, by a London journalist called Harry Mount. In Britain, the book was called Amo, Amas, Amat ... and All That, after the first verb (to love) encountered in elementary Latin class. But in the American edition, the title has become Carpe Diem. The phrase was coined by Horace in Odes 1. 11, a poem that recommends instant kicks (bad strained wine, quickie sex), since time is fleeting and the future unknowable. In American culture, however, the phrase has taken on a life of its own; in Robin Williams' famous speech from Dead Poets Society, seizing the day has something to do with self-fulfilment and the realization of the American dream.Interesting article, and apparently an interesting book if you want easy acceptance as one of the literati (of which sadly, I can only hope to become). Congratulations Senator Ken CuccinelliCuccinelli holds on with a 101-vote lead. Outstanding work in what had to be one of the worst environments ever for Republicans in Virginia. NRO: Rep. Jim Moran Says U.S. Troops "Ethnically Cleansed" BaghdadVia The Corner, we get this gem: Why this man is permitted to remain a congressman is beyond comprehension. If this were a lesser blog, we'd be calling for his resignation. Instead, I'll merely allow the reader to come to the conclusion they believe best defends the integrity of Virginia's 8th District and our military. Disgusting. Tuesday, December 18, 2007Nanosolar Is Gunning For CoalPrice of coal? $2.10/watt. Price of NanoSolar? $0.99/watt. I want one. Jim Smith and Dick ToyeRaising Kaine is passing along the news that Spotsy Democrats Chairman Jim Smith and VC Dick Toye are moving on. While I served as Chairman of the Spotsylvania GOP, Jim Smith was an excellent sparring partner on Rappahannock Review, a staunch partisan and an old-style Democrat with whom you could disagree without being entirely disagreeable. Dick Toye -- the "Mayor of Chancellorsville" -- is every bit the gentleman and just a great guy to be around. Sad to see both step down, though I doubt either will move on. Monday, December 17, 2007GOP.comHere's the new Republican National Committee website. I like the video front-and-center, clear path to donate, clear tabs across the top. Essentially, someone has made the decision that videos are the way to go. Probably the right call. The only minus -- and I'm not sure this is the case for a organization as large as the RNC -- is the internal social networking component. Utilizing something like Facebook may have been wiser, but who knows? Definitely worth poking around... RNC has a lot of great stuff they intend to roll out going into 2008. Dukakabee: Merry ChristmasSay what you will about Dukakabee, this is a good ad: Bucky R.I.P.Coming home this evening, in the front of the driveway is a small cat... Avid readers of this blog may know of our new September kitten arrival in the form of Bucky, named after the presumptive father (which the kids named Buckle Up). Adding to the irony, Buckle Up was coincidentally run over this Saturday. Adding still to all of this, Buckle Up was a bit of a mystery as to whom precisely owned him. Turns out the cat whose real name is Stubby was owned by an elderly gentleman living down the road... who had a stroke this morning. It always comes in threes. Of course, I haven't told the kids a thing about the cat (if anything at all). Any ideas? WTOP Interview with Bob MarshallDelegate Bob Marshall spoke to WTOP's Mark Plotkin last Friday regarding a myriad of items. Marshall -- long a favorite of social and fiscal conservatives -- is rumored to be considering a bid for U.S. Senate against former Governor Mark Warner. You can listen to Marshall's interview here. Marshall, if he chooses to run, would present a significant challenge (from the right) against former Governor Jim Gilmore for the U.S. Senate nomination at the 2008 Virginia Republican Convention in Richmond later next year. Democrat Bobby Scott Votes Against ChristmasTrue item. The reason why? Because of an expected veto of SCHIP. Anyone else buy that? Since the vote last week, the nine dissenters — all Democrats — have faced a backlash, particularly from bloggers labeling the nine who voted "no" as "grinches."Guess SCHIP wasn't all that important in September... or perhaps his heart had grown three sizes that day... Sunday, December 16, 2007Reason & Revelation: Huckativity
Lieberman to endorse McCainHoly crap. I mean... wow. You know, Chichester isn't wrong about thisJeff Schapiro with the RTD talks about outgoing Senator John Chichester's remarks at a recent VACO conference. The topic? Myopia at the General Assembly: He (Chichester) griped about raids on the portion of the budget that finances schools, cops and social services. The so-called general fund is bled for car-tax relief and, now, for a transportation fix widely viewed as broken.Now I'm not so certain that Republican leadership really has that much say in who runs for what. Candidate recruitment isn't a strong suit in either the House or the Senate (surprisingly, RPV as an organization has little input in this process). Rather, local party leaders tend to be the power brokers for who comes forward. While ideally one would like to think that unit chairs are "grassroots", by definition they are ultimately grassstops, rarely reflecting the mood of the community and mostly reflecting a strong base of support within the unit committee itself -- not the community writ large. Chichester's ultimate wish to drive the candidate recruitment process towards communities rather than committees seems outright simple... perhaps even laden with common sense. Too often we're quick to promote from within the party, rather than from outside. Yet quality candidate recruitment comes from drawing from the community and using the committee as a prism to shape and advise those candidates. That way, a dualism forms. Community leaders may know the climate, but it's still the grassroot conservatives working their candidates towards election. Both need the other, and woe to a machine that lacks one angle (or both). It's not selling out, it's matching our values with the district. So Chichester has a point. Even a broken clock can be right twice a day. Saturday, December 15, 2007SLANTblog: The Freelancer's InspirationHow an ice storm, a cup of hot coffee and a hot dog, Buffalo Springfield, and an impending war helped bring one freelancer to world peace. Or something like that. Read it all. Israel Questions U.S. IntelligenceFiguratively and literally, according to the Associated Press: Avi Dichter said the assessment also cast doubt on American intelligence in general, including information about Palestinian security forces' crackdown on militant groups. The Palestinian action is required as part of a U.S.-backed renewal of peace talks with Israel this month.There is a tendency to take all Israeli intelligence and lump it into the hyperactive category. I am not one of those people. Unlike most of the world, Israel has no choice but to maintain an active, accurate, and realistic intelligence community. Wondering aloud, we've already seen how NIEs can be influenced by political concerns in the United States. While I don't believe the Iraq NIE was inaccurate, is there a possibility that the American intelligence community believes it must be entirely accurate in its critique, and therefore cannot safely discuss scenarios or possibilities -- even threats? Dukakabee's Regressive Sales Tax SchemeA 23% sales tax on everything you buy: Earlier Friday, on another topic in Boscawen, N.H., Huckabee said eliminating federal income taxes in favor of a national sales tax would help save Social Security - an odd pitch in a state where residents pay no state income or sales taxes.Here's how the folks in New Hampshire are reacting to such a ingenious schematic that punishes working families hardest: It's a tough sell in New Hampshire, where residents do not pay state income taxes or general sales taxes. Scott Sweezey, a programmer at the plant where Huckabee spoke, said he doesn't know how to make a consumption tax treat people fairly.Worse still, as a proportion of your income, you pay more under Dukakabee's plan as a low-income or fixed-income family. Nothing fair about that. TechCrunch: A Knol Too Far?Duncan Riley over at TechCrunch is noticing a trend at Google, moving away from indexing content and towards becoming a content-provider. Whether this is troubling is up to the reader to decide. I for one welcome my new Google overlords (but only if my SWACistan overlords allow me to welcome them). I Hucked UpVirginia Bloggers Against Mike Huckabee forwards the NY Post's headline:
Why the Democratic majority cannot dominateWaldo Jaquith gets the jump, and he cites different reasons than I might, but on the whole his point is not just worthwhile, but worth reading. Not only will the Democratic resurgency in Virginia be brief, it will be brutal, nasty, and mercifully short. What enabled Democrats to take the Virginia Senate? Demographic shifts in NOVA are a fraction of the reason, but point more readily towards a failure to lead on the part of Republicans -- both nationally and statewide. Since the gubernatorial bid of Jerry Kilgore in 2005, conservatives have found sitting on their hands and staying at home as a method of passive protest, a method which erodes the confidence of elected officials in "the grassroots" as something worth investing in. Multiply this times three losses (Kilgore, Allen, and the Virginia Senate), and you get the 2007 election results. Add to the mix a President George Bush who's approval ratings amongst conservatives are low, and you get the picture. Between the Harriet Miers SCOTUS nomination, and the 2007 amnesty bill for illegal aliens, and you get the fuller picture... Republicans aren't winning, because conservatives aren't supporting the leadership (or more accurately, leadership isn't acting on the wishes of the grassroot base, and the "silent majority" is punishing the GOP accordingly). Waldo gets it right with the dominance of the NOVA/ROVA split in the Democratic Party. Much like conservatives and moderates have been eating away at the GOP majority for nearly eight years in Virginia, the same is happening internally to the Virginia Democrats -- only the problem is much more acute for the loyal opposition. Here's where the picture gets more problematic for the Virginia Democrats: This is not a state that has swallowed the blue pill. The marriage amendment in 2006 didn't just pass, it sailed. Despite Kaine's win in 2005, both Lt. Governor Bolling and AG McDonnell won their seats -- Bolling doing so decisively. Out of the 140 seats up for grabs in 2007, it was Republicans -- not Democrats -- that won the plurality of the total votes cast. It gets worse for "progressives" in Virginia. Look towards Hampton Roads, and in the races Democrats won, they did so by running to the right. Jim Webb, no slouch on the 2nd Amendment, is anathema to many of the gun-grabbing leftists in Northern Virginia. Mark Warner runs as a centrist (rather than as a liberal or a progressive) and has a position on Iraq that is decidedly to the right of many of his counterparts. Governor Tim Kaine, though a partisan, joined hands with Republican Speaker Bill Howell on the transportation bill and muscled in the abuser fees... In short, 1 in 7 votes cast in the Commonwealth may be in Fairfax County, but 6 out of 7 are cast elsewhere... and regionalism (and dare I say nativism) still prevails very strongly against first generation Virginians. Here's the clincher: As wealthy, urban districts and their representatives gain influence, they’ll come to play a disproportionate role in the selection and election of our statewide candidates. We’ll witness this very battle take place between now and 2009, when Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Brian Moran face off for the Democratic nomination for governor. I believe that Sen. Deeds is eminently more electable, by virtue of his being much closer to the center than Del. Moran. But it’s that very trait that may prevent him from being nominated, if the center of Democratic power in Virginia lies as far north as I suspect that it does.How long did Republicans in the General Assembly fight for proportional representation on committee seats? How long did it take Republicans to ditch that commitment as we began to lose seats in the House of Delegates and Senate? Not long... though with the loss of the Senate, some have recently rediscovered their "principles". Take another step back. Virginia Democrats run as "centrists", while the conservatives within the Virginia Republicans continue to show strength, to the point of running candidates in primaries against moderate Republicans. This is a luxury the GOP can afford, while regionalism (and the values regionalism connotes) is a problem no primary can resolve. In short, while the battles within the Virginia Republicans are ideological, the battles within the Virginia Democrats are regional, perhaps to the point of being beyond resolution. Given the best climate they possibly could have had in 2007, Democrats barely took the Virginia Senate and still could not take the House of Delegates. Now they have to govern? Given a slightly better national climate (and perhaps an agenda worth fighting for), Virginia Republicans will take back Virginia Senate -- perhaps in spite of redistricting. Statewide seats will continue to drop into the laps of Republicans. Referenda friendly to the conservative mind will continue to gain the approbation of Virginia's voting class. I'm looking forward to 2009. Provided we don't screw it up. Ron Paul Supporters for Cynthia McKinney?So says Third Party Watch, who somehow believes that pro-constitution libertarians are going to support a socialist. Friday, December 14, 2007Viv's Quick HitsRead 'em! Great line on the Jamestown tax: Let me add my voice to those who believe that the $1 vehicle registration fee which was put in place to finance the Jamestown 2007 celebration be allowed to sunset. Lots of reasons for it but they really all boil down to one thing: it’s the right thing to do.Darned skippy. ANOTHER SENSELESS ATTACK AD!When will it ever stop? Ok ok... so Kant deserves it. No one deserves to be called a Kantian. (h/t to Q and O) Thursday, December 13, 2007Raising Kaine: A moment of levity ...Dunno what's the bigger news... that I'm posting this, or that I read Raising Kaine! Nicely done, Obama... I love it when challengers catch politicians being snide. Hillary just can't seem to help herself. CNET: The waterless car washCount me in: The compound--made out of water, coconut extracts, silicone and a bit of salt--gets misted onto your car. Once there, it attracts dirt via electrostatic principles and encapsulates it. The owner then wipes their car with a soft cloth.Seems rather inexpensive too. $20 gets you enough to do ten car washes, and with Virginia droughts here and there... boy does this make sense. Bacon's Rebellion: Could HB 3202 Unravel in January?Jim Bacon says maybe: (O)nce lawmakers begin monkeying with the funding plan, reports Amy Gardner with the Washington Post, the whole finely balanced package could unravel. Some Northern Virginia legislators are particularly worried that reopening the plan could jeopardize some $300 million in regional taxes to support Northern Virginia projects.There are certain elements in the bill that are worthwhile that should remain (bonding authority to build roads, tying land use to transportation projects), but as for the rest... ...well, I've got my opinions on that. Wednesday, December 12, 2007Examiner: Black Woman Beaten on Bus by White KidsThe worst part? No one is talking about it. Read this. Then -- as a conversation starter -- perhaps you can explain why no one is talking about it (at least in terms of racism). Sic Semper Stupid ModeratorsFred Thompson may look back at this moment as the turning point. Excellent, excellent move to an otherwise silly, simplistic, and otherwise sophomoric question. Raising Kaine:: Why did the DCCC Turn Its Back On and Walk Away from Virginia Democrats?Answer: Because you guys are freakin' froot loops. The Pope condemns the climate change prophets of doomFrom your friendly UK Daily Mail, Pope Benedict XVI goes after the enviromentalist wackos: The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.What concern does the Pope have, you ask? Social justice, particularly with respect to how over-blown concerns about the environment could lead to a backlash in public perception. This pope rocks! Mike "Open the Jails" HuckabeeOuch. Tuesday, December 11, 2007The Powell Doctrine of Journalism/BloggingFrom ESPN of all places comes The Powell Doctrine of Journalism/Blogging: "Look, I have got a rule," he said General Powell told him. "As an intelligence officer, your responsibility is to tell me what you know. Tell me what you don't know. Then you're allowed to tell me what you think. But you always keep those three separated."Not bad advice, especially for journalists (or those wishing to be respected as such). (h/t to kottke.org) Roanoke Red Zone: The Keys to a New Republican Majority?Former Senator Brandon Bell says: Offer Democratic Senators Reynolds and Puckett chairmanships... Reynolds and Puckett could also be key to a new Republican majority. Both represent Republican districts. Both will inevitable come into frequent conflict with their more urban counterparts in Northern Virginia and Tidewater... Reynolds and Puckett could declare themselves as Independents and agree to caucus with Republicans. In exchange, they would be given Chairmanships.Given the heartburn within the Senate Democratic Caucus right now between the Northern Virginia Democrats and the old Byrd Machine Democrats further south, this makes more sense than it looks. It all really depends on what is more important to Reynolds and Puckett at the end of the day: partisanship, or the concerns and needs of the voters in their district? So Much for the "Purpling" of VirginiaCONGRESSMAN-ELECT ROB WITTMAN utterly destroys Phil Forgit by a near 2-1 margin. There's a reason the DCCC didn't put money in this race... and it wasn't because they didn't have a good candidate either. Congressional Democrats are wallowing with approval ratings in the teens, and for all the bluster Virginia Democrats put up in 2007, they didn't quite have the blowout year they were boasting of six months prior. Pendulums swing. The defensive backpedaling before the polls even closed should tell you what's going on... Monday, December 10, 2007McDonnell: So the 400 Year Jamestown Anniversary is... um, overWay to go, Bob McDonnell! Attorney General Bob McDonnell wants lawmakers to eliminate a $1 fee added to the cost of vehicle registrations to help fund the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown.Other expenses??? While McDonnell said all can "take great pride" in marking the Jamestown anniversary, he says the commemoration is "now over."Gee, ya think? Sounds like good ol' common sense... then again, this is Richmond in the hands of Democrats... WaPo: As a Republican, I'm on the FringeRobert Maranto -- a moderate by all accounts -- explains in exasperatingly thoughtful prose the leftist slant in American universities and how it's hurting our college students. Gee. Imagine that. (h/t to How to Live Your Life While I Live Mine) December 10th, 1862145 years ago, Confederate soldiers were watching across a cold and frosty Rappahannock as Federal troops nervously prepared for their early morning task -- fastening pontoon bridges across the freezing river for an assault on Fredericksburg City and the heights beyond. General Burnside writes to General Halleck the day before: "I think now the enemy will be more surprised by a crossing immediately in our front than any other part of the river. ... I'm convinced that a large force of the enemy is now concentrated at Port Royal, its left resting on Fredericksburg, which we hope to turn."Lee's left was resting on Marye Heights. General Stonewall Jackson, as it turned out, waited for the brunt of the Federal assault slightly to the south of Fredericksburg... This might be a good week to go visit Fredericksburg, if anything but just to take in the scenery and imagine as it was. After all, quite a bit that defines who we are today as a nation happened in Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania County. Cantor on Pay-As-You-GoMore like pay-as-you-go-raise-taxes. Rep. Cantor exposes the political tricks of the Democratic Congress over at RedState. Sunday, December 09, 2007Below The Beltway: Ron Paul On Legalizing Drugs And ProstitutionDoug Mataconis over at Below The Beltway hosts part one of six interviews between John Stossel and presidential candidate Ron Paul. First item: Drugs, Gay Marriage, and Prostitution. Paul's answers can be summarized briefly as that drug use is distasteful, but a state issue, marriage is a matter between an individual and his church, and prostitution is A-OK -- and none of these items are a concern of the federal government. Paul caps all of this off with a slap at American-style conservativism, and I'll explain briefly: I think when you defend freedom, you defend freedom of choice and you can't be picking and choosing how people use those freedoms.Russell Kirk, often cited as the founder of modern-day American conservativism, argued the converse -- that it was indeed the business of government to legislate virtue among citizens and punish vice. Naturally he had a different definition of "virtue" than what we might consider today (by it, he means moral and civic virtue, not sexual virtue), but the ethos of virtue was one of his principle condemnations of the libertarian movement, whom Kirk criticized as being "libertine" rather than libertarian. While Kirk may have been attacking the libertarian tendency towards hedonism rather than principled actors, Ron Paul (I believe) knowingly chose the phrase "government can't legislate virtue." He's separating himself from the conservative movement. Towards what is the question we have yet to ask... but we'll find out in the next five parts. Sorry to be drooling over the Ron Paul Movement as of late, but I find the entire discussion (or what should be a discussion but what certain members of the Paul movement are turning into a adolescent temper-tantrum) regarding which direction the Republican Party should take -- whether it is conservativism, evangelicalism, fusionism, moderatism, libertarianism, or classical liberalism -- to be fascinating. Scientific American: The Secret to Raising Smart KidsIt's not be emphasizing their intelligence or ability... it's by focusing on effort. One of those great articles you should print out and read over your lunch break tomorrow. Bearing Drift: Was Pelosi for waterboarding before she was against it?Brian Kirwin over at Bearing Drift asks the question. Of course, it's not waterboarding when Ted Kennedy does it.a SST: Mandatory VolunteerismThe multi-talented and multi-blog author Norm Leahy takes a swipe at mandatory volunteerism: Compulsion is compulsion -- there are no special cases. That is why sensible Republicans have shied away from the issue and left it to Democrats -- who are for all sorts of additional compulsions, including the mandatory purchase of health insurance. The state already makes several demands on an individual's time -- primary and secondary schooling being the most obvious. Why does it need more? To serve in the chosen means, and for the specific ends, of the government? That is neither defensible nor acceptable. It is the sort of interference that, in any other column, MacKenzie would decry as petty tyranny.Leahy is responding to an article in the RTD. Good reading on both sides. Craig: Boucher for Governor?Democratic Rep. Rich Boucher is declining to speculate whether he will run for Governor in 2009, amdist what many Democrats have privately confided to be a weak field. Boucher notes that the 2009 governor's race marks the first time in nearly three decades that Democrats do not have an "heir apparent" for governor. In previous election cycles, Boucher noted, a Democratic lieutenant governor or attorney general has been angling for the job.What's interesting is that the two presumptive frontrunners -- State Senator Creigh Deeds and House Minority Leader Brian Moran -- have been jockeying for months. That "Left Field" Payne is even being discussed should send shudders down the "Virginia is turning blue" crowd. It also belies another fact: Virginia Republicans have a deeper bench, and that spells trouble come 2011 when redistricting changes the layout of the General Assembly chessboard. Saturday, December 08, 2007Blogging Virginia PoliticsBob Gibson over at the Daily Progress has joined the Virginia blogosphere... head on over and check it out! Feast Day of the Immaculate ConceptionToday is the day Catholics honor the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Mother of God. It has a fascinating history, especially given the old 13th century rivalries between the Franciscans of Duns Scotus and the Dominicans following St. Thomas Aquinas. Friday, December 07, 2007From On High: Kaine Turns His Back on the 2nd AmendmentJerry Fuhrman has the scoop... is this the second time a Democratic governor has run on protecting the 2nd Amendment and outright breaks his promise when elected? Let's hope pro-2nd Amendment voters remind Virginia Democrats about the pressures of party politics in 2009... especially when they run as their "own man" on firearms (or anything else -- raising taxes come to mind). STD: Price of Beer To Double?NOOOOOO!!! Hold on... hold on... it's a German problem. But one Chris Green fears could visit our humble shores: I am not going to put up with that crap! I can tolerate the price of fuel being manipulated, but not Beer! If the Democrats pursue a policy that increases the price of Beer... by squeezing domestic production as they are doing by not allowing drilling in Anwar, and off of our coast lines.... Even West of Shockhoe might wake up to their evil machinations!Perhaps so. Seems as if barley -- much like domestic feed corn -- is being set aside to grow corn to produce ethanol, thus driving up the price of the oh-so-precious commodity of German beer. Is this a true moment for political unity against the desires of those who would destroy our barley for mere ethanol?! You see... first they came for the corn tortillas... and I said nothing, because I did not eat corn tortillas... Bacon's Rebellion: State Spending: 38 Percent Real Growth Over Last DecadeConservatives everywhere are scratching their heads as the results of the latest JLARC study give an utterly damning condemnation of state overspending during the previous ten years: How could this be? I thought Virginia had been chronically under-funded its obligations thanks to the obstructions of the anti-tax Neanderthals!Adjusting for population growth and inflation, the state budget grew roughly by 3.7% a year in a 10-year span. Anyone else notice a comparable improvement per annum in the quality of our schools? Test scores? Transportation network? Lower college tuition? Responsiveness in state government? Revised property tax codes? Pearl Harbor DayToday is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Thank a veteran today. The Shad Plank: Hey, we're ALREADY taxing 'em... why not pile on?Dave Hendrickson over at The Shad Plank doesn't have a problem with a regressive gas tax, for two reasons: 1. Republicans and Democrats have both proposed them. 2. HB 3202 already imposes taxes on everything else, why not on gasoline? It would be more useful to debate the merits and liabilities of various fund-raising mechanisms -- or even whether there's a need to raise money for transportation projects -- than to reach for ways to couch everything in attack language.Naturally, this mires the debate in "where are we getting the money" angle, thus completely missing the point. The point is that VDOT is receiving plenty of money, and Virginia government shouldn't have to dip into the pockets of working families to get more. The problem isn't cash flow, it's how it's being spent. Furthermore, if the funding mechanism were more, say -- creative, thoughtful, or innovative -- then the debate might be worth having. Instead, Virginia Democrats have chosen to throw more money at the problem without one iota of concern as to how it will be spent... or whom we're taking the money from. The gas tax is both regressive and a short-term pool to draw from -- especially as fuel economies get better over time. I'd like to think this is something lawmakers know and understand, so when regressive gasoline taxes which disproportionately attack working families are attacked in turn, don't be surprised. We should know better than to merely treat the symptomns of tax fatigue. Rather, we should be roundly critical of proposals that are short-term, short-sighted, and regressively punish working families. UPDATE: Vivian Paige scolds me a bit -- not so much for opposing the $136 million raid on the pocketbooks of working familes, but for other things: Shaun - the problem was your headline and post. You made no effort to say anything like what you have posted here in it. You just blamed the Democrats.Pfft. Of course I blame the Democrats. Hanger and Stolle would be quite lonely if not for the insistence from Virginia Democrats that a $136 million gas tax in a $76,000 million budget is worthwhile as policy (it's not). It's a punitive tax and a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. I am glad we are now talking about two things: (1) What's it going to be spent on? and (2) Does it need to be raised in the first place? Good start -- let's discuss. Thursday, December 06, 2007HERE COMES THE $136 MILLION DEMOCRATIC GAS TAX!Wow -- the Virginia Democrats didn't waste any time, did they? A five percent (not cent) gas tax to be levied on every working family, senior citizen, and fixed-income taxpayer in the Commonwealth. Given the most recent statistics on gasoline consumption in Virginia, at $3/gal that's a $136 million tax hike on working families. Welcome to a Richmond in the hands of Virginia Democrats. So much for the party of the working poor... unless their intent is to make us all working poor. Virtucon: Mike DukakabeeI've been rather mum (at least in public) about whom I'm supporting for president. But I do have a short list of people I cannot support. Joining Rudy Giuliani on the short list is tax-hiker and Jimmy Carter wannabe Mike Huckabee... and good riddance. Of course, few candidates are as much of a patent abrogation of Reaganism as Rudy Giuliani. But Huckabee's politics have consistently provent to be the "big government conservativism" that progressives love to parody as the domestic arm of the neo-conservativism movement, and in fact is the precise opposite of what the Ron Paul candidacy is (imperfectly) trying to recapture -- that being the small government and libertarian-leaning Goldwater Republicans. Abuser Fees Only Work if You're SoberOtherwise, abuser fees in Virginia haven't served as much of a deterrent, according to the latest JLARC report: The report, issued by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, raises questions about the effectiveness of the unpopular fees, which have been challenged in courts statewide and emerged as a divisive issue in last month's General Assembly elections.Now I can understand why speeding has gone up... everyone is being extra-special careful not to get charged with reckless (and therefore doing something marginally over the speed limit). The DUIs are inexplicable... guess you have to be sober in order to care about an abuser fee. Wednesday, December 05, 2007Barack Obama Wants to be President...Apparently, the Hillary Clinton campaign thinks this is some sort of scandal. I kid you not. Reason: SF GOP Cancels Straw Poll (You'll Never Guess Why)Ron Paul supporters that they are, Reason Magazine takes umbrage with a cancelled straw poll: To paraphrase the fictionialized Thomas More, it profits a man nothing to lose his soul for the whole world... but for a Republican straw poll in San Francisco?So goes the saying... I wonder if they were bused --- ah, nevermind. Too bad FDT's name was attached to this nonsense. Let 'em participate! (h/t Below the Beltway) J’s Notes: A Return to Ethical Blogging?Every once in awhile, the MSM has to check someone against the glass, and Kenney the Younger (or Lesser if you prefer) is watching the Washington Post pound the crap out of Ben Tribbett. I'm glad the ethics conversation is coming back to the forefront. When bloggers get back to being the watchdogs of the MSM rather than the lapdogs, that's when we're truest to our form. It's a rather tragic observation that since the macaca incident, many Virginia bloggers pay more attention to what the traditional press is saying, rather than adding in ways the MSM never could. Here's the sad part: (F)olks need to hold up a bit before tossing ethical hand grenades (especially Ben Tribbett). If you feel that a citation was missed or a blog has provided an insight that someone has missed, there are usually comment sections where you can add your own words. Of you have your own blog where you can write and link around and do whatever corrections to the record you feel you need to do.The MSM challenging bloggers on ethics? That's not the way it's supposed to work, guys! We're supposed to be the watchdogs of the media, and keep them on their toes. Instead, many Virginia bloggers have found it easier to be the lapdog and thank the press for the scraps tossed their way. UPDATE: This is turning into a bit of a scandal... Leslie Carbone adds her thoughts. I'll have more later, as I'm starting to get some feedback from folks. Wow. Northern Virginia ConservativeNew blog in Northern Virginia picked up by Mason Conservative, and has started out with some firey posts on the nature of conservativism. Worth keeping your eye on. Tuesday, December 04, 2007The Wiggles feat. Black Eyed PeasI'd pay in concert to see this. Watch for 60sec and laugh hilariously, otherwise it gets really old. Marie likes it, anyhow... she's dancing still. Virginia Beats New Jersey... at least when it comes to overtaxing families: Well, today, which state is more frugal with taxpayer dollars? Is it Virginia, home to Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and the legacy of limited government in America - a legacy that crossed over two centuries and made the first African-American elected governor one of the most underrated chief executives in American history?D.J. McGuire has been hammering this one home for years... and it's a statewide embarassment that we can't do better. Be A Fred Thompson Star!In a word: COOL. Submit your own Fred Thompson videos, vote for the best ones, and even post the ones you like. Not bad. Ron Paul Lost?Of course, this is one heck of a time to pick my head up and look around... what is all this nonsense (and it is) about Ron Paul busing in supporters? There are naturally two observations here... first, the GOP faithful probably didn't have Fred Thompson, but George Allen in mind when they voted. While it's not entirely fair to say the grassroots voted Paul, it is entirely fair to make the observation that Thompson did carry the lion's share of the hardcore activists amongst Virginia Republicans. The Paulistas -- or whatever the Revolution is calling itself nowadays -- were largely new folks from just about every background imaginable. ...which leads into point #2. Will those Ron Paul supporters come back? Now I know the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia was re-organized over the weekend to a bit of fanfare, with D.J. McGuire as the newly minted Chairman. Seeing as the RLC is a project of the good congressman from Texas, that might not be a bad way to get the conversation started. What conversation, you ask? The conversation as to what the heck we really believe about smaller, less intrusive government -- and what we intend to do to accomplish it. I will add one item: Ron Paul's supporters on the whole were very polite and energetic. There were those handful of people that you have heard criticized at RedState and such... the nutjobs and self-styled gnostics of conspiracy who belittled the "sheep" in the GOP. Losers. In any event, straw polls are aptly named. It's winning the delegates that matter. Still, given the turnout for Thompson and Paul, it's very difficult to argue that the big mo' is leaning towards the center. In fact, it's leaning towards the Reagan-Goldwater right. Monday, December 03, 2007You know, a guy gets back to blogging......and the first day on the new job, I'm too busy to blog! I'll get back around to folks later. There's not too much I have to share, but it's early in the week. Saturday, December 01, 2007Fred Thompson Finishes Second!This title is the running joke as to how Ron Paul supporters have labeled their straw poll victory at the RPV Advance. (h/t Rick Sincere)
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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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