Quotes of the Day

"The thought of Barack Obama and this crowd of socialists, after just ramming through the trillion-dollar “porkulus” bill, lecturing America on “fiscal responsibility” is absurd. It’s like the town drunk going on an unbelievable drinking binge on Friday, only to send out invitations on Monday to a seminar he’s hosting on responsible consumption.

But that’s the “logic” we get when liberal Democrats are in charge..."


"Every military man in America knows that after years of war and deployments in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, our military needs billions of dollars to rebuild, refurbish and resupply. But that’s not a priority in the president’s budget. Such short-sighted thinking could leave us vulnerable to our enemies."

Gary Bauer
Campaign for Working Families

"Thought Crimes" Bills on Fast Track

www.americansfortruth.com warns about the Orwellian legislation being pushed in Congress.

Note the Right Kind of “Hate” Victim. In 1996, pro-family activist and pastor Ralph Ovadal was punched in the left ear from behind by a homosexual activist while protesting a pro-”gay” school event in Madison, Wisconsin. Ovadal was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital with serious injuries from the blind-side assault.

Although police first charged the attacker with “substantial battery,” Dane Country prosecutors did not attempt a “hate crimes” conviction and Ovadal’s assailant ultimately was not even charged with a misdemeanor (he received a mere ordinance violation). Pastor Ovadal continues to suffer neck and leg pain from the brutal attack, which is fully documented with police reports.

Now imagine that the circumstances were reversed and Ovadal — a vocal opponent of organized homosexuality — had assaulted a well-known “gay” activist. Most likely he would have been charged with a “hate crime,” the media would have lavished coverage on the case, and Ovadal would have served jail time.

To paraphrase George Orwell, in the politically correct world of “hate crimes,” some victims are more equal than others.

TAKE ACTION: Call Congress at 202-224-3121 to protest two “Thought Crimes” bills, HR 256 and HR 262 today.

From our good friend and youth advocate Linda Harvey, founder of Mission America. TAKE ACTION by calling your Congressman and U.S. Senators at 202-224-3121 or through www.congress.org; politely urge them to oppose all new “Thought Crimes”(Hate Crimes) legislation.

HATE CRIMES BILLS predicted to move fast in U.S. House

There are two bills now in U.S. House of Representatives on so-called hate crimes, and both need to be OPPOSED for lots of reasons but the most egregious element is the “sexual orientation” language and opportunities for violation of religious freedom and further legitimizing of ‘gay’ behavior. They are also pork-laden, social engineering bills that are unnecessary in a time of what should be budgetary conservatism.

Just remember,the key problem with hate crime legislation is that the crimes supposedly only covered through such bills are, in fact, already crimes, and can already be prosecuted under current laws. All the “sexual orientation” category does is add extra penalties if opposition to homosexuality (the “wrong” attitude) is determined to be a factor.

Both have been referred to the House subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. They are likely to be reconciled at some point into one piece of legislation.

H.R. 256 The David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

This is a gun control bill, but it also would add the sexual orientation language to our existing hate crime statutes, for crimes involving interstate and foreign commerce.Just think about the Internet and the free speech about homosexuality that might now be interpreted as “inciting hate crimes” especially if the site sells anything (the “commerce” requirement).

H.R.262 The David Ray Ritcheson Hate Crimes Prevention Act

This is a pork bill, providing victim’s assistance, housing, tax breaks and even family leave to victims of hate crimes. Will act as an incentive to be labeled a victim of a hate crime.

This bill also adds the “sexual orientation” category.

This bill grants $10 million for the next five years for the federal Department of Education to make grants to local schools for “hate crime prevention education.” Imagine what this will open up regarding anti-Christian teaching.

What can you do? Call House members from your state.

Call toll-free 1-877-851-6437 or toll 1-202-225-3121.

New anti-faith bills launched in Congress

Mathew Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel notes, " It is shocking how fast President Obama and Congress are moving."

"While most Americans are focusing on the economy, the stealth political attacks on our faith and freedoms are increasing!

Our staff at the Liberty Center for Law and Policy in our Nation's capital have alerted me to two bills in the 111th Congress that threaten to undermine the rights of people of faith.

These "hate crimes" statutes elevate "sexual orientation" to a special protected status and essentially criminalize Christian beliefs about marriage and homosexuality.

In addition, our sources now tell us that the Obama administration and Congress may well try to implement the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" by giving it a different name and avoiding a clear, honest vote in Congress.

Is Obama using the economy as cover for his real agenda?

All this begs an important question...

If America is truly in the worst financial crisis in 70 years, why are President Obama and Congress unleashing new attacks almost daily on our faith and families?

The White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, is on record as saying,"Never let a serious crisis to go to waste, and what I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things that you didn't think you could do before."

The so-called "stimulus" bill proved this point. Ultraliberal politicians are using people's fears as a cover for a massive political makeover of our Nation!

Their strategy is to profit off the misery of others in order to move forward a very liberal agenda. Such a strategy is just as deplorable for elected officials as the actions of profiteers who gouged people at the gas pumps following the hurricane Katrina disaster!"

Quote of the Day

Does He Think We’re Stupid?

"Today at the White House President Obama is hosting a “Fiscal Responsibility Summit.” Yes, you read that right. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Just one week after signing the biggest spending bill in American history, which doubles the historic budget deficit already at $1.2 trillion, the president has suddenly decided that it is time to show some interest in “fiscal responsibility.”

If it weren’t so serious, it would be laughable. Over the weekend, the White House signaled how it intends to implement its fiscal plans for the future, and it’s anything but responsible. On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that Obama’s initial budget blueprint calls for “raising taxes on business and the wealthy and … slashing spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

So when we are still at risk from Islamofascist terrorism (and actually sending more troops to Afghanistan), President Obama is gutting spending on the war. And in the middle of what the president is describing as the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, he proposes to do what most rational economists would say is the absolute worst thing to do in an economic downturn – raise taxes and take money away from people and businesses so they can’t invest in the economy or create new jobs.

The Post column also warned that Obama’s budget will “press aggressively for progress on the domestic agenda Obama outlined during the presidential campaign. This would include key changes to environmental policies and a major expansion of health coverage that Obama hopes to enact later this year.” Translation: Socialized health care, which we warned you about two weeks ago, and a carbon cap-and-trade tax scheme, which, as we warned in Friday’s report, will dramatically increase energy costs and kill economic growth."

Gary Bauer
Campaign for Working Families

Using Smoke & Mirrors to Prop Up Kaine and Warner

Reducing Or Eliminating Corporate Debt
Is The Way To Fix The Financial Mess

By James S. Gilmore III
Published: February 21, 2009
Culpeper Star Exponent

On Feb. 8, the Star-Exponent published a by James Clements extolling the fact that after four years of ineffective governance, Gov. Tim Kaine had finally found his legacy: banning smoking in restaurants and bars. This is pretty thin gruel for a four-year governor's administration (“Smoking ban will be Kaine's legacy and help preseve our health”).

In the column, Clements also expressed appreciation for Gov. Mark Warner's “four years streamlining government.” I will leave to the reader whether rocketing Virginia's budget from $52 billion when I left office to $76 billion, funded by tax increases, is “streamlining.”

The current headlines show that the unrestrained growth of Virginia's government spending during the Warner years was not sustainable during the Kaine downturn.

But Clements' article also took a little shot at my governorship, saying, “Jim Gilmore did much in his four years in office to show Warner that sometimes it is better if they don't remember you after you leave.”

I care what the readers in the Culpeper area think of me, especially with my family's Madison County roots. So I want to state here that I hope the people of Culpeper do remember my gover-norship.

Read the full editorial here.

Stop Geithner from Robbing the Community Chest!

Americans for Limited Government reports that Geithner's $2.8 trillion bank bailout robs from the taxpayer to give to banks.

ALG CTA: The latest $2.8 trillion bank bailout could be the final nail in the coffin of the American economy.

Go to StopBailouts.net and sign the petition to put an end to the bailouts once and for all!

Contact your Congressmen and Senators and tell them that enough is enough with the bailouts and that not another cent should go to Wall Street or Washington!

The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

Read More

Obama: Don't Free Terrorists!

It's difficult to see how our "Great Leader" is acting in the best interests of America and our military. Military Families United has the story

Breaking News: Obama Releases Al-Qaeda Terrorist w/ Video - UPDATE This morning, Military Families United learned that the Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed landed in England at 8:30 EST - a free man. Mohamed was captured in Pakistan in April, 2002, and has admitted to training at various Al-Qaeda training camps and is alleged to have plotted multiple attacks on American soil. Included in his laundry list of terrorist activities are: Training at various Al-Qaeda training camps, where he specialized in firearms and explosives Being taught by senior Al-Qaeda leaders how to falsify documents Receiving money by Al-Qaeda leaders to travel to the United States Tasked by senior Al-Qaeda leaders to blow up high-rise apartment buildings in the United States Holding meetings with Saif al Adel (a top level al Qaeda planner and leader) and Khalid Sheik Mohammed (9/11 mastermind) This unprecedented release puts the national security of our country and our allies at SERIOUS risk. Now that Binyam is back in England, British police have proclaimed the unfathomable – that it is “unlikely Mr. Mohamed would be arrested.” WE NEED YOUR HELP - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW We have to take action now before Binyam rejoins the fight to kill innocent Americans. Please visit www.DontFreeTerrorists.org and sign the petition that lets President Barack Obama know that we need to protect our country and keep terrorists locked up. Military Families United has also released a new advertisement about this. To see the ad click here. We need your help to let everyone know about this so please forward this to your friends and family and ask them to sign the petition. We cannot sit idly by and watch our country be put in danger.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTS ON BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

Senate and House of Delegates adopt competing budget proposals. Differences to be resolved in Committee of Conference

February 21, 2009

As the 2009 session of the Virginia General Assembly enters its final week, the Senate and House of Delegates have adopted competing proposals for balancing the Commonwealth’s $78B budget. There are big differences in the budgets adopted in the Senate and House of Delegates, and these differences will have to be resolved before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment on February 28th. Two significant events preceded the General Assembly’s budget actions. First, Governor Tim Kaine revised his revenue projections for the coming year, conceding that his initial budget estimates missed the mark by some $821M. The Governor had previously estimated the state’s budget shortfall at $2.9B, but declining revenue projections now show that the actual budget shortfall is $3.7B. The Governor’s revised budget estimate did not come as a surprise to most Republican members of the General Assembly. We have been saying for months that the Governor’s budget was based on overly optimistic revenue projections and that the shortfall was considerably higher than $2.9B. Second, we have obtained additional details on the economic stimulus package approved last week by the United States Congress. It appears as though Virginia will receive a one-time infusion of $4.5B from the stimulus package over the next 18 months. While some of this money is targeted toward one-time capital projects, most of the funds are intended to offset the immediate need for spending reductions in ongoing government programs. The House of Delegates adopted its budget recommendations on February 12th, before the Governor’s revised revenue projections were released and before details on the federal economic stimulus package were received. The Senate did not adopt its budget recommendations until February 18th, after the Governor’s revised revenue projections were released and after details on the federal economic stimulus package were received. Because of the different approaches taken by the Senate and House of Delegates, there are significant differences in their budget recommendations. For example, the House budget includes revenue estimates that are overstated by $821M, but it does not include any money from the federal economic stimulus package; while the Senate budget reduces revenue projections by $821M, but includes the money Virginia will be receiving from the federal economic stimulus package. These differences will be resolved in a Committee of Conference that will begin meeting on Monday. The Committee’s task will be to bring forth a compromise budget recommendation before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment on February 28th. As discussed in past editions of The Bolling Report, adopting revised budget recommendations in the midst of the Commonwealth’s current economic downturn has dominated this year’s General Assembly session. I have maintained throughout this process that we should have two fundamental goals: First, we should balance our budget through spending reductions and not tax increases. Fortunately, it appears as though there is consensus on this approach and the tax increases that had been proposed by Governor Kaine have been rejected in the Senate and House of Delegates. Second, we should base our budget on realistic revenue projections and not prop it up through budgetary gimmicks or attempt to pay for ongoing government programs with one-time money. Unfortunately, I remained concerned that this will be the case, particularly so since the state will be receiving significant one-time revenues from the federal economic stimulus package. My views on the federal economic stimulus package have been discussed in past editions of The Bolling Report. While some of these federal funds can be used to fund one-time capital projects and be of benefit to the Commonwealth and our efforts to get the economy moving again; the vast majority of these funds are merely intended to lessen the short term need for spending reductions in core areas like education, health care, public safety, etc. and I do not believe that they will have any meaningful stimulative impact on economic growth. Our initial analysis of the federal economic stimulus package indicates that Virginia will be receiving about $4.5B in federal funds over the next 18 months. As mentioned above, some of this funding is directed toward one-time capitol expenses and could very beneficial for the Commonwealth. For example, Virginia will be receiving $698.5M for highway construction and $136.6M to improve public transit and rail projects. We can certainly use this money to help pay for needed transportation improvements in our Six Year Highway Plan. In addition, Virginia will be receiving significant funding to help expand broadband access to underserved areas and help pay for upgrades to water and wastewater facilities. These types of capital projects represent a good use of one-time federal funds. Their completion can help address legitimate needs and help create economic growth. However, the vast majority of the money included in the federal economic stimulus package represents one-time funding for ongoing government programs. For example, we estimate that Virginia will be receiving: $1.4B for Medicaid, a federal and state health insurance program for low income families. $370M for K-12 education and another $120M for higher education $355M for food stamps $48.3M for various public safety programs $100M to insulate and heat low income homes $81M to improve water quality $100M for unemployment training and vocational education $38M to subsidize day care $34M to build low income housing $25M for homelessness prevention programs Another provision of the federal legislation would create a general pot of $218.9M to restore funding for any other government service at the discretion of the Governor and the General Assembly. While these may all be worthwhile programs, spending money on these types of programs will do little to stimulate the economy. That is why the Wall Street Journal estimated that only 12% of the federal economic stimulus package would actually stimulate the economy, while the other 88% simply represents spending on general government programs. Nonetheless, it is likely that the final recommendations advanced by the budget conferees will include these funds to offset many of the budget reductions that had previously been proposed by Governor Kaine. While the use of these funds can help alleviate the need for short term spending reductions in areas like education, public safety, health care and other government programs, it is important to remember that these are all one-time funds that will expire on September 20, 2010. We must make certain that the receipt of these funds does not create an intoxicating delusion that our fiscal troubles are behind us. They are not. This is at best a short term solution to a long term problem. By relying on one-time federal funds to balance our state budget we are not addressing the fundamental structural problem in the budget. Simply put, we are spending more money than we are taking in and we cannot continue to do that. Unless the economy begins growing at a very rapid rate in the next 18 months, which most experts do not expect, we will once again be left with a budget that is out of balance when these one-time funds expire. Going forward our full attention must be directed toward effective proposals to get out economy moving again. We can do that by reducing taxes for families and businesses, eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens, directing more resources to aggressively recruit new business and industry to Virginia and empowering the private sector to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of America. That is what will ultimately get our economy moving again, not continual financial bail outs from Washington. In next week’s edition of The Bolling Report, I will highlight some of the other legislation that has been considered by the General Assembly this year. Lieutenant Governor William T. "Bill" Bolling bill.bolling@billbolling.com

Quote of the Day

"Every good leftist knows that if you are going to socialize health-care and nationalize the banking industry and totally transform a country into a Socialist Nation, you MUST control the media!"

Chris Carmouche
www.grasstopsusa.com

It's Not Always Greener on the Other Side

Old Media gleefully contemplates the overthrow of American society.

Think American Capitalism Is Stumbling? Take a Look How European Socialism Is Faring

"We Are All Socialists Now"

So proclaimed Newsweek magazine in its brazen February 7, 2009 cover story.

That headline constitutes wishful thinking more than it does objective reporting by the notoriously left-leaning Newsweek. It symbolizes, however, the eagerness on the part of liberals to leverage the current economic downturn toward seismic economic and ideological reorganization in America.

Read more now at the Center For Individual Freedom.

Fiscally Responsible Is Not Racist

Project 21 reacts to Democrat hate-mongering.

It's Not "Racist" to Refuse Stimulus Money, Black Activists Say
Congressman's Race-Baiting on Stimulus Attacked

Washington, D.C. - Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), the third-ranking member of the congressional leadership, has engaged in unnecessary and harmful race-baiting in his criticism of governors wary of accepting money from the so-called "stimulus" package, say members of the African-American leadership group Project 21.

"Trepidation about accepting a federal handout is rational, not racist," said Project 21 Chairman Mychal Massie. "For Congressman Clyburn to claim that refusing stimulus money would hurt blacks is the last gasp of a desperate politician revealed to have been making a career out of the loathsome practice of pushing set-asides, pork projects and increased government intrusion."

In remarks to reporters on February 19, Congressman Clyburn called opposition to the stimulus package "a slap in the face of African-Americans." In particular, he was referring to opposition by southern governors such as Rick Perry of Texas, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Mark Sanford of Clyburn's home state of South Carolina.

These governors - all Republicans - are concerned about federal mandates that may be attached to the acceptance of stimulus money. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Governor Perry wrote: "I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up." Perry and several other critical governors are grudgingly accepting stimulus-related money.

Project 21 member Kevin Martin said: "Liberals such as Congressman Clyburn have always employed tactics such as the race card to shame critics into accepting their heavy-handed demands. This stimulus package is unpopular pork, and the American people are angry. To use race as a means of cramming it down these governors' throats is reprehensible, and people should take notice as to how far these people are willing to go to get their way."

Massie added: "The 10th Amendment to our Constitution protects the rights of states from federal encroachment. These governors are concerned about the tremendous debt and regulatory strings this spending package will saddle their constituents with in the future. But Congressman Clyburn is essentially saying that being fiscally responsible and protecting the integrity of the Constitution is racist and antagonistic to blacks. It is an affront to reasonable minds."


Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research, has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at (202) 543-4110 x11 or project21@nationalcenter.org, or visit Project 21's website at www.project21.org/P21Index.html.

The Dhimmi Party?

A former appointee of Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA), who once urged Muslims to "the jihad way," is seeking the Democrat nomination for Delegate in the 35th District. Jihad Watch has the story.

Former President of American Muslim Brotherhood group enters race for Virginia House of Delegates seat

And what is the Muslim American Society? The Muslim Brotherhood.

Read More

Muslim Honor Killings: America's Hidden Epidemic

Islam keeps proving to be, not quite what they would have us believe it to be. From the Traditional Values Coalition...

Beheading of Woman in Upstate NY

Muslim Husband Accused of ‘Honor Killing’

Read More

No Room in America for Tyrants

S.O.S. – STOP OBAMA’S SOCIALISM!

"My friends, you are not alone! More and more Americans are waking up and realizing what is happening to our great country. This morning there was a near revolt on the floor of the Chicago stock exchange. If you haven’t seen it yet, you have to watch this video.

But wait, there’s more… When Obama went to Arizona yesterday to announce his latest bailout plan, $275 billion for subprime mortgages, press reports indicate that he was greeted by 500 to 600 protesters, some with signs reading, “Don’t tread on me,” “I’ll keep my freedom! You keep the change!” and “B.O. smells and so does Socialism.” A new poll released by Rasmussen Reports today finds that only 38% of Americans support this latest bailout.

I don’t know about you, but I am encouraged by these developments. People are upset by the direction Obama and the Democrat-dominated Congress are taking us and they are fighting back! I was also very encouraged by the response to yesterday’s appeal for funds. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to the plate and made an investment in this work.

If you have not contributed yet, please watch that video above and take action by going to www.cwfpac.com to make the most generous gift you can to help us take back Congress in 2010, just as we did in 1994. In the meantime, GOP conservatives are already being attacked in a TV and radio ad blitz in their districts. We must defend them!"

Gary Bauer
Campaign for Working Families

Second Amendment Victory

Good news from the NRA...

Major Victory for American Workers Right to Self-Defense

Fairfax, Va. – Today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in support of allowing employees to store legally owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots. This decision upholds NRA-backed legislation passed in 2004.

“This is a victory for the millions of American workers who have been denied the right to protect themselves while commuting between their homes and their workplace,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “This effort was aimed at skirting the will of the American people, and the intent of legislatures across this country while eviscerating Right-to-Carry laws. This ruling is a slap at the corporate elitists who have no regard for the constitutional rights of law abiding American workers.”

In March 2004, the Oklahoma legislature passed an amendment holding employers criminally liable for prohibiting employees from storing firearms in locked vehicles on company property. A number of corporations subsequently filed suit in opposition to the new laws, alleging they were: unconstitutionally vague; an unconstitutional taking of private property; and preempted by various federal statutes. The lower court ruled in favor of the injunction.

“This issue was contrived by the gun control lobby who goaded corporations into doing their dirty work for them,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “However, this ruling is a vindication for every hardworking and lawful man and woman whose basic right to self-defense was taken away on a whim by corporate lawyers. NRA is prepared to defend this right and to ensure the safety of every American worker.”

In October 2008, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals the lower court decision to strike down the NRA-backed worker protection laws. Today’s proceedings handed down by Circuit Judges Paul J. Kelly, Bobby R. Baldock, and Michael W. McConnell reversed the lower court’s grant of a permanent injunction.

-nra-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

If You Think We Are a "Nation of Cowards," Thank a Democrat

Trying to talk about sensitive issues with the perpetually offended is a no-win situation. Tony Perkins, Family Research Council Action has more...

Black Cloud Hovers over Holder

Attorney General Eric Holder has made more headlines with one speech than most government officials make with a hundred. To a roomful of Justice Department staff, Holder touched on the sensitive topic of racial reconciliation yesterday and ruffled many feathers in the process. "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot," he said, "in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards..."

Today his remarks have been plastered on newspapers and become the subject du jour on the talk shows. Many people, including conservatives, have recoiled at Holder's observation, which ironically, only seems to prove his point. "Though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race." I think the Attorney General is correct, Americans have cowered to political correctness and as a result we avoid topics like race. The solution to racial reconciliation, however, is not to be found in a more aggressive Department of Justice but in a more aggressive church where we unite around ideals rooted not in skin color but in Jesus Christ.

As Bishop Harry Jackson and I write in Personal Faith, Public Policy, blacks should not work with whites, or visa versa, out of obligation to right past wrongs or to advance personal or political agendas. We should work together because we're brothers and sisters in Christ, and He's called us to be unified around a biblical agenda that advances all of society.

Additional Resources
FOX News: Attorney General's Remarks Ignite Debate Over Race Relations

Republicans Rock!

This is going to be a great convention!

No Fairness Doctrine Here:
Sean Hannity Coming to GOP Convention

While the Democrats try to shut him up by bringing back the "fairness doctrine," Fox News' Sean Hannity will be speaking up loud and clear, articulating our conservative principles this spring along with Attorney General and gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell at the Republican Convention in Richmond May 29-30.

Read more.

We Were Once All Pre-born

From

12-year-old steals day with pro-life speech

Despite facing threats of disqualification, a 12-year-old girl took first place in a speech contest when she eloquently argued for the rights of unborn children – after an offended judge quit.

Read More

Quote of the Day

"After promising to ban "special interests" from his recovery plan, the new administration just handed his party's keys--and $2 billion of your tax dollars--to groups like ACORN, the liberals' get-out-the-vote powerhouses. The move is one of many political payoffs in the liberal swag bag known as the stimulus bill. Unfortunately for conservatives, it will go a long way toward creating the permanent liberal majority in Congress.

Unlike the old days, when ACORN had to go through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its share of the federal pie, the stimulus bypasses the middleman and wires the money directly to the group--without the typical lobbying restrictions it might experience under HUD. To an unsuspecting American, these "Neighborhood Stabilization Programs" sound like perfectly legitimate ways to jump start the economy. To those of us who have watched entities like ACORN, it's an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars."

Tony Perkins
Family Research Council Action

"We" the Governent: Just Ripping Off the Tax Payers

Erick Erickson , Editor, RedState.com has a tale of woe for those who think more government is the answer.

This is Why Government is Legalized Theft

Forced by court order to repay the taxpayers, the government will increase taxes make the repayment.

Imagine you are the head of a company that loses a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Then imagine the public outcry if you announced that you were going to raise your prices to pay off the lawsuit. Would the public get incensed? Would you lose business? Likely both. It's even somewhat likely in this litigious climate in which we live that the decision to raise prices to payoff the lawsuit would spawn yet another lawsuit against you. Ah, but we are talking business, aren't we?

Now imagine that you are a city government and a court finds out that you've ripped off hundreds of thousands of your city water customers by wildly overcharging them for installing new fire hydrants. Imagine that you've been ordered by the courts to rebate $22 million to those city water customers. And then imagine that you announce that the rebates will be paid for by taxing the city water at an even higher rate than before.

In other words, you, the city, will be expecting the water customers to pay for their own rebates by charging them higher rates to fund that same rebate. Yes, the same "customers" that have no competition for water and no choice but to pay through the nose will be paying themselves their own rebate.

Well, then welcome to Seattle where this is precisely the case. And also welcome to a perfect example of why government is legalized theft.

SOURCE

Question of the Day

Our simple question to the President is,

“President Obama, won’t you also protect the precious lives of the pre-born, the weak, the sick, and the dependent? Won’t you protect the most vulnerable members of our society? Won’t you protect the innocent in our nation who cannot protect themselves?”

Rob Schenck
Faith and Action

Please, sign the online
“Appeal to President Obama to Protect the Innocent.”
Then forward it to as many people as possible!

We're All Rubes Now

It was a natural fit - the former Democrat governor responsible for the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia did cartwheels for a chance to cast a Senate vote for the largest tax increase (all that spending will be paid for by tax payers) in the history of the United States. Still, Mark Warner has to justify this betrayal of his constituents by continuing to blow smoke.

You can trust the government, he assures Virginians. It's run by Democrats.

That would be the same government (run by Democrats) that started the mortgage crisis by forcing banks to loan money to people who couldn't repay it and then covered up the crisis with obstruction and denial.

"Thank you for contacting me with your views on the economic stimulus package. In order to best represent you as your United States Senator, it is vital that I hear your view on this and other important matters.

I recognize that many Virginians still have concerns about the need for a stimulus package. There has also been a good deal of misinformation surrounding this legislation, both about what is included and how it will be implemented. On February 10, 2009, I joined a majority of the Senate in approving a bipartisan compromise to restart the economy through a responsible mix of tax cuts and investments that will create jobs. The compromise includes more than $360 billion in tax relief and roughly $460 billion in short-term spending over the next two years on roads, rail, water and sewer projects, as well as additional health care and jobless assistance for the unemployed. The agreement was widely supported by our nation's leading business groups, and I was pleased to work with a centrist group of colleagues to craft the proposal that passed the Senate, which was signed by the President on February 17, 2009.

President Obama and the relevant Congressional committees have been in close consultation with state and local officials and a wide range of economic experts to develop an approach that represents a prudent and effective path to economic recovery. Their consensus found that if nothing is done in the face of this economic crisis, catastrophic consequences could face small businesses and working families across the country.

The Administration and Congress have provided for unprecedented oversight, accountability and transparency in the measure so that taxpayers' money is handled carefully and used in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Moving forward, I will continue to work for Virginians to ensure that the funds in the stimulus package are directly targeted to job creation and "shovel ready" initiatives. You should know that a Recovery Act and Transparency Board will also oversee the disbursement of the funds and a website provided by the White House, www.recovery.gov, will post detailed information about recovery spending.

The Recovery and Reinvestment Act is but one component of a three-part plan to restore our economy. We still have important work to do to address the foreclosure crisis and shore-up the real estate market and we also must take steps to repair our banking system so that credit will begin flowing again to consumers and small businesses.

Again, thank you for your input. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns"

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Mr. Warner claims that there is "considerable misinformation" about this spending bill. Well, since no one who voted for it even read it, there were no hearings, no opportunity for public input, and no opportunity for Republican input, one might assume that the misinformation here is coming from Mr. Warner.

He also asserts that three RINOs make a bad bill bi-partisan and, contrary to his claim, this spending bill was widely denounced as nothing but a patronage bill for Democrat special interest groups which will do little to create jobs.

All we have to do is trust the government, according to Warner. It's run by Democrats.

Here's a few items in the spending bill which Warner neglected to mention:

Questionable or Non-Stimulative Spending in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)

-$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts

-$2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, providing funds to organizations such as ACORN, which has been accused of practicing unlawful voter registration in recent elections

-$10 million for the inspection of canals in urban areas

-$100 million for grants to small shipyards

-$198 million to authorize payments to certain Filipino veterans from WWII

-$300 million for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

-$2 billion to support the manufacturing of advanced vehicle batteries

-$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants

-$1.3 billion for Amtrak, including $450 million for a new rail security grant program not included in either the House-passed or the Senate-passed bills

-$300 million for federal procurement of plug-in and fuel efficient vehicles

-$8 billion for a High Speed Passenger Rail Program, after the House did not include any funding for the program and the Senate included $2 billion, which will fund at least one project from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

-$15 million for historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities

-$170 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to research the cause, effects and ways to mitigate climate change

- $200 million for Americorps and other paid "volunteerism" programs

-$400 million for NASA to accelerate climate research missions

-$5.5 billion for federal buildings (GSA), including $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings into "high-performance green buildings" and $450 million for a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security

-$210 million for a new grant program to modify and upgrade local fire stations

-$142 million for the Coast Guard to alter or remove 4 obstructive bridges

-$25 million for the Smithsonian Institution for maintenance backlogs

-$1 billion for expenses in conjunction with the 2010 decennial census

-$650 million for Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupons

-$1 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund, which can be used for sexually transmitted disease (STD) education and prevention programs at the CDC

-$500 million to replace a 30-year old computer system at the Social Security Administration

-$500 million for a health professions training program-funding which an earlier committee report said were allocated because, "a key component of attaining universal health care reform will be ensuring the supply of primary care providers."

Just trust the government intones Mr. Warner. It's run by Democrats. Oh, and it'll all be on the web site... the same way this spending bill was posted online for public perusal and given lengthy debate in the House and Senate.

Don't worry. It's run by Democrats. It must be a crisis.

Quote of the Day

"This weekend, Obama vowed honesty after the fact. "Once the plan is put into action, a new website... will allow any American to watch where the money goes and weigh in with comments and questions..." Unfortunately for those of us paying the bill, the transparency is too little too late."

Tony Perkins
Family Research Council

Start with the New Administration

Making the email rounds...

algore: An American Menace

RenewAmerica reports on the latest antics of America's biggest blow-hard.

Unstoppable global warming

E. RALPH HOSTETTER — Former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Albert A. Gore Jr. was in the news again. Braving an ice storm, he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in its first hearing in the new Congress to plead his case on global warming. The real purpose of his appearance should send shivers down the spine of every American taxpayer... (more)

Note to Obama: Demagoguery is not Leadership

Erick Erickson, Editor at RedState.com finds an apparent contradiction in the new administration's stated goals.

Obama to Hold 'Fiscal Responsibility Summit'... So Who's Gonna Teach HIM?

Just days before he took the oath of office, Obama told reporters that he wanted to clean up the budget process and make sure government didn't spend wildly while he helmed the ship of state.

Obama has pushed for and is about to sign the biggest spending bill in American history. Worse, he has taken no part in the creation of this bill while Congress has larded this "crisis" legislation with every manner of pork that can be imagined. Never has there been a bill more stuffed with needless spending and Obama didn't raise his voice once while Congress wallowed in pork barrel proposals.

Yet, Obama thinks he is the one to lead a "fiscal responsibility summit"? It gives rise to the question, who's going to teach him ahead of this summit what "fiscal responsibility" even means?

This weekend, the administration made like budget hawks.

"Along those lines, White House budget director Peter R. Orszag has committed to instituting tougher budget-discipline rules - once the economy turns around. Those include a mandate that any "nonemergency" spending increases be offset by equal spending cuts or tax increases."

This is all well and good and nearly every president makes the claim that they will insist on spending cuts. Of course, what the administration, any administration, does not tell the people is that Congress controls spending, not the White House. The only way a president can affect the budget is by leadership and leadership is exactly what Obama did not exemplify during the creation of this porkulus bill.

SOURCE

Quote of the Day

“If government spending would fix our economy, we would have the best economy in the world.”

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Barry Obama: We're still waiting for your real birth certificate!

Alain's Newsletter is chock full of interesting articles. Here is a sample:

Daily Kos, Factcheck and Snopes or
How to Vet a Presidential Candidate

Even though the main stream media ignores the Obama birth certificate controversy it still rages on the internet in articles and blogs. Is it extraneous nonsense, conspiracy claptrap and internet hype. Not by a long shot. Here’s why.

Read More
http://www.alainsnewsletter.com/read.php?sid=111

The Bolling Report

THE RIGHT-TO-WORK IS UNDER ATTACK IN WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND

Efforts to undermine the right-to-work could affect Virginia’s economic development success

February 15, 2009

It has been my privilege to serve in state and local government in Virginia for the past 18 years. During that time I have worked hard to make certain that Virginia remains a great place to do business.

My philosophy of government is simple. I believe that we get the money we need to do the things government must do by growing the economy. That’s why it is so important for us to make certain that Virginia remains a business friendly state.

When we create an environment where existing businesses can prosper, succeed and expand; and new businesses want to make Virginia their home, we grow the economy. That’s good for both the private sector and the public sector.

Growing the economy means more investment and more job creation, and that means that more people are employed and paying taxes. That results in more money for state government, money that can be invested in education, public safety, healthcare, transportation, etc.

So in a sense, nothing that government does is more important than creating a pro-business environment.

When I started out in local government several years ago I had the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Metropolitan Economic Development Council and the Greater Richmond Economic Development Partnership.

The Metropolitan Economic Development Council was a public sector organization that sought to recruit new business and industry to the metropolitan Richmond area. It did a good job, but as a government only group it did not benefit from the involvement of the private sector.

When I was Chairman of the Metropolitan Economic Development Council, I proposed expanding that organization to include the private sector. After some effort we were successful and the Greater Richmond Economic Development Partnership was created.

The Greater Richmond Economic Development Partnership enabled us to involve private sector leaders in recruiting new business and industry to our region, and it enabled us to double the size of our economic development budget.

During my service in state government, I have also worked hard to create a pro-business environment in Virginia. By keeping taxes low, by reducing unnecessary regulations and by supporting investments in economic development programs, Virginia has been recognized as the most pro-business state in the nation.

I am pleased that my efforts to promote a pro-business environment in Virginia have not gone unnoticed.

During my service in the Senate I received a 100% pro-business rating from the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic education (Virginia FREE), and just two years ago I received the National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business Award.

While there are a lot of things that have enabled Virginia to be successful in our economic development efforts, nothing has been more important than the fact that we are a right-to-work law state and we have faithfully protected the right-to-work.

Virginia’s right-to-work law stands for a simple proposition – everyone who chooses to do so has a right to work, and no one, or no organization, can interfere with the right-to-work.

Businesses like the right-to-work law because it helps create a stable work environment in Virginia. Businesses in Virginia don’t have to worry about the impact of widespread work stoppages or slowdowns like those that frequently occur in other states.

As a result of our tax and regulatory policies, our investments in economic development, and our right-to-work law, Virginia is viewed as a business friendly state and that has been of tremendous benefit over the years.

Unfortunately, the right-to-work is under attack at both the federal and state level and Virginia’s ability to remain an attractive place to do business could be impacted by the success of these attacks.

In Washington, union organizations and their supporters are pushing a terrible proposal called Card Check. If Card Check is approved it could make it much easier for businesses to become unionized and it could take away one of the most important rights that workers currently enjoy – the right to vote in a secret ballot before their workplace can be unionized.

Currently, a two step process must be observed before a business can be unionized.

First, a majority of the workers must express their interest in unionization by signing a card stating that interest. While many workers voluntarily sign such cards, history has shown that other workers sign these cards because they feel pressured by unions or their supporters to do so.

If a majority of the workers express interest in unionization, the question is then decided in a secret ballot where workers have the opportunity to vote on whether or not their workplace is unionized. In a secret ballot workers can vote their conscious without fear of intimidation or retribution.

The secret ballot has always been a very important part of elections in our country. To take that right away from workers would be a terrible mistake and it could result in widespread union activity unlike anything we have seen in the past.

The right-to-work is not only under attack in Washington, it is also under attack in Virginia.

During this year’s session of the General Assembly, Democrat legislators have introduced numerous proposals that would expand union activity, and they have rejected common sense proposals to protect Virginia’s right-to-work law.

For example, this year we proposed legislation to give Virginia’s right-to-work law constitutional protection. While that legislation passed the House of Delegates, it was rejected by Democrats in the State Senate.

In addition, recent news accounts reported that all three Democrat candidates for governor recently walked a picket line in support of strikers at a Hilton Hotel in Northern Virginia. They were joined by Jody Wagner, a Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

This is the first time we know of when a candidate for statewide office in Virginia has walked a picket line in support of a strike against a Virginia business, and it sends a terrible message to existing businesses as well as businesses that may be considering making Virginia their home.

The editorial writers at the Richmond Times Dispatch took note of the Democrats willingness to walk the picket line at Hilton. An editorial in the RTD on February 9^th made the following observations:

….. “we will note with some irony that the march on the Hilton came just a couple of weeks before Gov. Tim Kaine announced Hilton Hotels Corp. was moving its headquarters from Beverly Hills to Fairfax. Perhaps the company decided to ignore the earlier assault on its good name.

“In the long run, though, businesses will not ignore any decline in Virginia's reputation as a state that respects workers' rights by protecting their right-to-work. Across the river in Washington, Democrats are preparing an assault on secret ballots and American job creation. The times they may be changing in the Old Dominion, but we suspect Democrats are sorely mistaken if they believe Virginians are prepared to let our next governor turn their state into a Southern version of Michigan.” (emphasis added)

“Supporters of the GOP's candidate for governor, Bob McDonnell, are no doubt delighted to see his opponents lining up for the unions. It might be the first strike in reversing Virginia's blue streak.”

It is terribly ironic that all of this is occurring at the same time that one Democrat candidate for Governor, Terry McAuliffe, is running TV ads touting his support for efforts to create jobs and get Virginia’s economy moving again.

If Mr. McAuliffe is serious about getting Virginia’s economy moving again, he needs to stop walking union picket lines, publicly state his opposition to Card Check and support giving Virginia’s right-to-work law constitutional protection.

Are these attacks on the right-to-work in Washington and Richmond a coincidence or do they signal that Democrat lawmakers and union activists have decided that now is the time to launch a coordinated effort to promote widespread union activity and take away the right-to-work?

Time will tell what their intentions are and what success they have, but let’s hope that the Times Dispatch editorial writers are correct and Virginia voters will remember which party has truly worked to maintain a pro-business environment in Virginia and which party merely talks the talk.

Lieutenant Governor William T. "Bill" Bolling
bill.bolling@billbolling.com