The Mason Conservative

In Which I Agree With Brian Moran

From The DCPost:

"The gas tax is regressive, and when someone is drowning, it's no time to throw him an anchor,"

Oh HELL Yeah!

The newest trailer for The Dark Knight

Bad. Ass.

Its Over, Cruella

More Reasons To Celebrate Stombres

I have had a couple of birdies chirping in my hear that my esteemed state senator, J. Chapman Petersen, is furious that Steve Stombres was not just elected last night, but that he finished so high.  Its like icing on the cake, isn't it?

Fairfax City Results (GOOD NEWS UPDATE)

Mayor Rob Lederer has, sadly, cruised to reelection.  So expect more traffic congestion and more local  businesses to be squeezed out of the city.  The City Council reelected two members, two retired, and one was defeated. 

1. Steve Stombres     -  1,974
   
2. David Meyer         -  1,974
   
3. Jeff Greenfield      -  1,836
   
4. Gary Rasmussen  -  1,793
   
5. Joan Cross            -  1,717            
   
6. Dan Drummond   -  1,664
   

Couple things strike me here.  First off, its a BIG night for Steve Stombres and David Meyer, who as first-time candidates out-polled every incumbant city councilmen.  Chap Petersen protege Drummond also made the cut, though barely.  I'm rather suprised, given that his mailers where pasted with Chap and Bulova, that he didn't do better.  It should be interesting to see where the Council goes from here.  Only three incumbants remain, so change is afoot.  Ideologically, I roughly put it at 3-3, with the three on the Dem side going further left with Drummond and the three on the GOP side go further right with Stombres.  Should be fun to watch.

This is a good night for Republicans, too, with Stombres.   A star is born, friends, just in the fact that in the heart of Fairfax County Congressman Eric Cantor's chief-of-staff could win an election in this manner.  He was able to reach across the spectrum, earning the vigorous endorsement of outgoing councilman Scott Silverthorne.  I've gotten to know Stombres a little bit during this brief campaign, and wish I could have done more to help, but his victory has made my week.  He's a great guy, will be a great councilman, and he has a  bright future.

ANOTHER UPDATE!

More great news.  Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis has been RE-ELECTED MAYOR! Huzzah for my old home-town, where my folks lived while I was at Mason.

Here is the State Board page.

RWL: Warner-to-English Translator

Blogging at its best.  Here is my favorite:

"We brought more fairness to our tax system."

We told those fools in Northern Virginia that if they paid even more through the nose, that we would use the money to fix roads - and they fell for it.

How To Beat Mark Warner

I can't put it any better than D.J. McGuire does:

Finally, throw the GOP legislature under the bus: Luckily for the GOP, either candidate (Gilmore, who as Governor ruffled a lot of feathers, and Marshall, the gadfly of the House caucus) is in prime position to do just that.  The voters made abundantly clear last year what they thought of Messrs. Howell and Stosch.  They’re likely hoping no one even mentions them during this campaign, but they are an easy - and deserving - target.  Odds are the party base will be more energized, not less, by a nominee willing to criticize them when necessary.

In short, Mark Warner won in 2001, and succeeded afterwards, because he refused to be defined by his party.  However, there is a down side to that, in that other Democrats won’t feel as obligated to defend him 24/7.  The opportunity is there for the GOP nominee to out-Warner Warner, reach out to limited government Democrats (there aren’t many, but just about all of them are here in VA), and use them to build credibility as a right-of-center alternative - even if said Dems just agree with the nominee on the issues without endorsing him.

There is one more thing I would add.  Republicans need to get over Mark Warner, mentally.  We have to realize that we can win.  Look, the one thing I do have great respect for our friends on the left is their absolute belief that they can, and will, win every election.  It doesn't matter if your George Allen with huge approval ratings and two nobody opponents.  Republicans need to wake up again and realize, with John McCain on the ticket a national Democrat Party quickly tearing itself apart, we can win this.  Virginia has a history of taking candidates of inevitability and taking them down:  Andrew Miller, Wyatt Durrette, Mary Sue Terry, Marshall Coleman, Steve Agee, George Allen, and it goes on and on.  Virginia has a historical streak of independence that doesn't like being told who will win before the voters decide.

 

My Fairfax City Ballott Tommorow

For Mayor:

• Rosemary McDowell

On July 14, 2005, Mayor Lederer stated that “It is the city’s       opinion that…change in the traffic pattern and the redevelopment will       enhance the value of the existing businesses and properties. The new businesses       will attract more people, which will translate into more customers for businesses       on Main Street.”

In an informal poll of existing businesses, there has been a 40% drop in       revenue during and after the Redevelopment and street changes; for new businesses,       50% less customers/revenues than anticipated.

      Mayor Lederer stated, “there are no guarantees regarding the (proposed)       impacts. …Ultimately, the streets can be converted back to a one-way       pair…”

      Traffic congestion has increased during the day; however, we managed smooth       traffic flow during rush hours. If people cannot get into the City for lunch,       how will we increase revenues? And increasing the business tax only squeezes       out our small businesses that add to our City’s small town charm.

Well, you look at the numbers! Is it working? Are we listening to our business       owners? Do we want our residential real estate taxes continue climbing upward?

When your voting, remember what Fairfax City is becoming.  Mayor Lederer is abandoning homegrown businesses in exchange for national chains who will make no bones about leaving, who have no attachment to the city.  Ask TT Reynolds, ask Rain, ask Belissimo, hell even ask Subway, and all the other small business up and down Main Street, University Drive, and Chain Bridge that are loosing money.  The small bistros and restraunts aren't making any money because of the mayor's North Street Boondoggle.  Two-way traffic, which the then-Councilman Lederer mocked, has become a reality because the Mayor's developer pals convinced him that (think Gordon Gekko here) "Gridlock Is Good."   The redevelopment might be asthetically pleasing, but what good has it done.  None of the new businesses there are doing particualrly well anyways, and its hurt all the old small business owners who are the backbone of the community.  The Mayor's campaign of four years ago promised to fight exactly what he has become.  Its time for a change.

For Fairfax City Council:

• Jeff Greenfield
• Patrice Winter
• Joan Cross
• Steve Stombres

I Can't Believe I'm Saything

Buuuuuut . . .

GO FLYERS!!!

I'm sorry, if you make me pick between anyone that Pittsburgh Penguins, I HAVE to chose "anyone."  The Penguins are going to be tough to beat, to be sure and if I had to put money on it I would go with them . . . but as a true blue Caps fan I just cannot in good conscience root for Pittsburgh.  As it is, this should be a tremendous Keystone Series. 

VP Madness!

This is cool.

Who is your choice?

Could Brandon Webb Win 30 Games?

He's 7-0 now, and its only the beginning of May.  The last winner was Denny McLean back before I was even a twinkle in my dad's eye.  But Webb's start is astounding, and he's backed up by the best overall team in all of baseball.  Arizona has to be the favorite now in the NL, and I love the way they play.  But their consistanty is whats most impressive, and there isn't an easy out in the entire lineup.

But Webb has to be baseball's premier pitcher, even better than Santana or Beckett.  I really think that 30 wins is in his future.  And so could a World Series title.

A Sign Of Things To Come?

A party chairman with the backing of the entire political establishment, endorsements up and down his district, went down in flames yesterday.  That would be, according to Bearing Drift, 2nd District Chairman Bruce Meyer.  I inquired in the post whether his opponent, Gary Byler, was a supporter of Jeff Frederick.  Turns out, he is.  The 2nd district is perhaps the best microcosm of what is going on in Virginia.  In 2007, we lost four very close races that we absolutely had to win.  I don't know Bruce Meyer enough to know whether this was a good move or a bad one, but its proof that the grassroots is beginning to have enough of all this, and Jeff Frederick could be a suprise winner at the Convention. 

Fimian Gets Some National Press

Keith Fimian is in the news today, in a feature on FoxNews.com about Republican House candidates who can self-fund their own campaigns, helping to ease the money burden on the cash strapped NRCC:

“It would be foolish to rely on any NRCC money right now,” said Travis Smith, spokesman for Keith Fimian, the presumed Republican nominee for the Virginia House seat left open by retiring GOP Rep. Tom Davis. It is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the year, and Fimian so far has put $325,000 of his cash into it. The Democratic candidate for the district has not been chosen yet.

Republicans hope Fimian, as the founder and former chairman of a successful home inspection business, can do more than help fund his own bid. Supporters say he could prove to be a formidable candidate, making the transition from businessman to successful politician.

“People say he is buying the election, but it’s not true,” said Smith, who noted his boss wasn’t recruited, but rather started raising money months before Davis dropped out in anticipation that the congressman was going to run for Senate. Davis has since decided not to run for retiring Virginia GOP Sen. John Warner’s seat.

“I don’t know if [Fimian] would consider himself a ’self-funded’ candidate,” said Smith. “It’s not like he is going to pump a ton of his own money into the race. He loves the fund-raising, he loves to talk to people. For someone with no political experience at all, he’s phenomenal.”

Let me just say this, YES it is a huge help to have a candidate with money, and anyone saying otherwise is ridiculous.  Look at Mark Warner, who's deep pockets have funded his entire political career.  So I don't want to hear Democrats complain about Fimian's $$$ when their plumbed knight has done the same thing.  Secondly, little birds here in the 11th have chirped in my ear that Fimian's money was given right at the start of the campaign, and all the rest he has raised, over $800K, has been from donors and voters.  But the greater point of the article is important, and in a tough year it keeps this race competative.  But Fimian's business background is an important contrast between himself and Gerry Connolly, who I believe will be the Democrat nominee.  There has never been a donor or deep-pocketed developer that Gerry Connolly won't do a favor for after getting some cash.  In the table, behind close doors, or in plain sight Connolly takes money from interests he oversees.  Keith Fimian has all the money in the world, who's going to buy him the way ChairGer has been bought?  In a strange way, with self-made millionaire candidates there is a political honesty that many who need to beg cosntantly just don't always have. 

In this regard, the difference between Fimian and Connolly will be striking.

Conservatives Take Over . . . LONDON!?!

Thats right.  Conservative candidate Boris Johnson defeated "Red Ken" Livingstone to become mayor of London.  In fact, conservatives all over England swamped to victory in local elections yesterday that have dealt a serious blow to John Major Gordon Brown's government.  Labour was awfully quick to toss aside pro-American Tony Blair, but I can't help but wonder if they don't miss him now.   I can't imagine how David Cameron won't become England's next Prime Minister.

There is a lesson to be learned in European politics right now for America.  We are right now on the brink of walking the road much of Western Europe has just finished treading.  Huge government spending, universal health care, and government-enforced multiculturalism have left post-Cold War Europe weakened and vunerable.  But in the last several years, despite its reputation, Europe has become to move back to the right because so much of the European left's promises have failed.  Before last night, the most important victory was that of Nicholas Sarkozy in France, but also includes Silvio Berlusconi's return to power in Italy and Angela Merkel's election as Chancellor of Germany.  (Let us not forget about Harper of Canada and Calderon of Mexico)

The potential presidencies of either Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama will lead America down the same path that has destroyed Europe.  It would be foolish to march down a path that even Europe is now abandoning.  All the more reason to have President McCain joining Prime Minster Cameron, President Sarkozy, Prime Minister Berlusconi, and Chancellor Merkel as allies against the Islamo-Facists who mean to destroy all our ways of life.

Another Friend Joins The Cause

D.J. McGuire, the muckraking author of Right Wing Liberal and fellow unapolegetic Civil War Unionist, has announced his support of Delegate Jeff Frederick for Chairman of the RPV. The Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus writes thusly:

The painful fact is this: the Republican Party of Virginia has lost its way. Ever since the tax hike of 2004 (when lest anyone forget, the Senate Republican caucus demanded a tax hike twice the size of what the Democratic Governor requested), we have over-relied on the nuts and bolts of campaigning, at the expense of the message that won us our victories in 1993 and 1997.

I remember the excuses the Richmond Republicans used in 2004 - it was a one-shot deal, a once-in-a-generation move. Less than two years later, the Senate Republicans were demanding another tax hike, and last year, the Bill Howell acquiesced. Thus our party’s legislative caucus has been split between one group that wanted three tax hikes in four years (the Senate GOP) and won that “held out” for only two tax hikes in four years (Howell and the House GOP leadership).

What has John Hager done in response to this during his (admittedly brief) tenure as leader? He has all but ignored it. I know organization is important; I appreciate the value of fundraising, but I don’t get any indication that Chairman Hager understands the need to shift gears on our message and return to the low-tax, limited government policies that the legislators have abandoned. This was no more painfully obvious than during the party’s Advance last December, when the RPV staff tried to rally the troops with the motto “Republican for a Reason” - without any mention of just what that reason was

I agree, of course. There is something D.J. touches on here that is important. As a party, we have spent the last few elections looking for one silver bullet, one single action that will make people wake up and say, "hey, these guys are right." Politics doesn't work that way. The problem of Transportation is proof of that. Now I supported HB 3202, and I think still there was plenty of good in that bill. To be honest, if I were a delegate or senator (one day, Mom, one day), I would have voted for it. But its fatal flaw was the bill itself. Rather, for Republicans it was a failure, even a refusal, to put together a full plan or alternative grounded in philosophy and principle. Instead, it was based on necessity. Allow me to us a baseball analogy. Instead of playing a total game--base hits, stolen bases, excellent defense, and timely hitting--we sat back and waited for a juicy fastball to come over the plate at only 80 mph to demolish. Unfortunatley, our opponents are smart enough not to throw that ball, but we have become content to swing for the fences rather than manufacturing runs through hard work and distinct philosophy. RPV's job is provide leadership on our philosophy and help build towards that hard work. Fundraising is great, but where has it gotten us? We have lost the confidence of the people because we aren't what we say we are, and when difficult questions come up we look for a quick fix instead of doing the hard work needed. We have a business model where I work -- "take care of the customers, and the profits will follow." It applies here, if we take care of the folks through sticking by our principles and give excellent service to the commonwealth, the votes will come.

I'm confident Jeff Frederick is dedicated to doing that hard work.

Tom Coburn For Anything

I know, I know . . . it'll never happen, but I felt like it had to be said.  As it is, I think Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is the single most impressive member of Congress in either chamber from either side.  Witness Senator Coburn's recent article at Human Events (Warning:  Reading this might make you cry):

Congress’s inability to distinguish what is a true national priority from a local, parochial interest illustrates this problem. For instance, while many Americans enjoy a bike ride on one of the bike trails in their local communities, few Americans would want to fund bike paths at the expense of bridge repair and maintenance. Yet, Congress did just that last year. By a vote of 80 to 18 senators went on record defending their right to earmark $12 million in new funds for bike paths instead of waiting until the more than 150,000 structurally deficient bridges were repaired.

Congress also last year voted by 68 to 26 to protect their parochial pork projects instead of ensuring that every child had private or public health insurance. The amendment I offered would have prohibited the $470 million worth of earmarks in last year’s Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill from being funded until the secretary of Health and Human Services certified that each child in America younger than 18 is covered with either a private or public health insurance plan. Despite a lot of rhetoric about the need to provide health care to kids, the Senate showed that it was more committed to its pork

The biggest lesson to be learned from Coburn is this:  the money is there!  Washington has enough money to fix nearly every problem we face from the national debt to health care.  But as, Coburn says, too many politicians have put their local survival ahead of the country.

This is the "I bring him the bacon" phenomenon that our current and outgoing congressman from the 11th district has perfected, and it is indeed a bipartisan issue.  Americans have become trained to believe that a successful politician is one that spends federal money on local projects.  Entire states have been put on the federal dole (Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi).  Yet their senators and congressmen of both parties are continually returned to Washington because they buy voters alligiance with short-sighted federal projects over actually creating and sustaining growth in their states to help it grow from within.  Look at how George Allen and Jim Gilmore revitalized Virginia, Bill Owens in Colorado, and especially Jeb Bush in Florida. 

I don't know what it is, perhaps is a the way we are taught now.  The defination of success for a politician is very different than from what the founders intended, I'm afraid.  We care more about how much money they spend vs. how much money they save.  Its almost enough to make me want to move to Oklahoma. 

What I'm Reading Now

I am currently reading a book I originally got as an assignment in graduate school and now re-reading it for leisure rather than for study.  Scalawags:  Southern Dissenters In The Civil War And Reconstruction by James Alex Baggett is a great look at southern unionism during the Civil War.  Part of it is predictable, that most dissenters came from poorer regions of the south, usually following the spine of the Appalachian Mountains.  But what is interesting about this book is that its not a classical political narrative, but rather a broader study of Scalawags, their roots, and what they were doing on a local level.   I usually don't like bottom-up history, but in this case its done fairly effectively.  In fact, Baggatt's study is almost mathematical in its precision and study of what percent of post-war scalawags served in the Confederacy or in exile.  I can't really do it justice, but what is clear is that each state was different and Southern dissenters weren't all the same.  Factions, based on geography and ideology, emerge.  Secondly, Scalawags aren't the villains southern revisionist of the Dunning School would have you believe.  Many were true Unionists, dating back to 1860 and support for either John Bell or Stephen Douglas.  These men where rich and poor, driven by both economic and political motives.  Something people forget is that for many Southerners, there was a difference between slavery and equal rights.  While many despised slavery, they did so because of the power it gave to the planter class, it often had nothing to do with the slaves themselves.  But this book is a very surgical look, state by state, of where these folks came from, how they acted, and why they ultimately failed.  Its not too long, so it moves swiftly and its easy to follow.  Scalawags have been slimed through much of history and in the historiography of Reconstruction, but this book gives us a look into a much more diverse and fractured South that went into the Civil War and emerged from it.  I recommend it without hesitation.

Howell's "Operation Loudoun"

According the DCPost, Speaker Bill Howell has his sights set on Loudoun County where there are some strong potential pickups in the House of Delegates in 2009.  This is doable with Bob McDonnell heading the ticket, who did quite well in Northern Virginia in 2005. 

"I know this sounds self-serving, the presidential stuff is important, but next year we've got House of Delegates seats, and there's a couple that are representing Loudoun and parts of Loudoun County that I know we can win back," Howell told a meeting of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

This, of course, means Dels. Chuck Caputo and David Poisson.  This is great news, because both of these guys are vunerable.  Caputo, after winning by 18 points in 2005 saw that margin cut down to 5 against a rookie candidate.  Poisson also got a much closer-than-expected race against Lynn Chapman.  If I could throw my two cents in, I would heartily endorse Marc Cadin to give Caputo another run in 2009.  He was a  good candidate in '07, got his name out there, ran tough, and almost won.  He didn't lose because he messed up or committed some horrible gaffe, he cut deeply into Caputo's previous margin of victory.  As for Poisson, I'm not as familiar with the terrain but I believe Supervisor Lori Waters is in his district and she would make an real formidable challenger if she wanted to leave the BOS. 

I'm glad the Speaker is trying to go on the offense, its good to start now because we are going to have a very strong and very effective statewide triad running and I think close loses in 2007 could turn into big wins in 2009 - especially if Tim Kaine is successful in raising the gas tax.

Tim Kaine: RAISE THE GAS TAX!

If any Republican in the General Assembly votes to raise the gas tax, they should be primaried and targeted for defeat.  Gov. Tim Kaine told WTOP today that he wants to raise the gas tax.  I understand that its "fair" because in-state and out-of-state drivers will equally carry the burden.  But lets face it, those who will be hurt the most are you and me and every other resident of Virginia who already fork over $3.65 a gallon for regular. 

And you want to see the arrogance of Dick Saslaw again?  Check out THIS quote:

"When it's already at $3.50 a gallon, it's not like you are going to notice an extra 3 cents,"

Are you kidding me?  Its a fundemental lack of respect of the voting electorate, and a further lack of respect of our tax dollars - as if they are something to just play around with.  And didn't Tim Kaine campaign on NOT raising taxes until there was a transportation lock box?  Mark Warner raised taxes in 2004 on the promise that he would fix Virginia, yet here we are just four short years later worse off then we were then.  Clearly, raising taxes didn't work then, why should it now? 

But its not like we didn't ask for this.  If this does happen, its our own fault.  Well, not mine, but everyone who voted for a Democrat senator last fall.  I know my new senator campaigned on raising the gas tax.  But in the face of raising fuel costs, rising food costs, and just about the price of everything middle-class America needs - are Kaine and the Democrats dumb enough to force people to spend even MORE without any sort of mechanism to gaurentee that the money will be spent on Transprotation?  The Governor himself even tried to take money out of the Transportation pool earlier this year.  When will Northern Virginia have enough of Democrats in Richmond and in the Governor's Mansion making promises they know they won't keep?  And, yes Virginia, there is an alternative plan.

Meanwhile, gas goes up and up and up and Tim Kaine wants it to go even higher.  And so does  Senator >insert name here<

"Make It Rain For McCain"

Bill O'Reilly just had a fascinating interview with syndicated radio host Warren Ballentine about the state of the 2008 race.  Ballentine, a black radio host, said that black voters who call into his show are so angry with (large "d") Democratic process that if Hilary Clinton steals this nomination from Barack Obama, as Ballentine puts it, black voters will "make it rain for McCain."

I still believe that Obama will be the nominee, but things aren't going well.  Not only is he stuck in the quicksand of Jeremiah Wright, but yesterday North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley announced his support for Sen. Clinton, which is hot on the heels of Hilary coming up fast in the Old North State.  If Hilary can win North Carolina, it would be an astounding victory because NC is a southern state with a large black vote that one would think would back Obama big time.   (As an aside, I think whoever the Dem nominee is should give Gov. Easley a hard look for VP)

Its looking like Obama will come into Denver with more delegates, but Clinton will have more votes.  If Hilary wins, could the threats made on Ballentine's show come true?  If the Republicans wanted to pick the friendliest face we could find for minorities in America, its Senator McCain.  I do not believe he is the kind of Republican that would repulse Black America.  I think that very threat might cause the superdelegates to back Obama for fear of loosing such an important constituency.

All I know is this:  if the Democrats end up with a broken convention because of this convoluted system that punishes candidates that actually win and, in effect, help disenfranchise their own voters, I NEVER want to hear about Florida 2000 again.

In Your Heart, You Know He's Right

For regular readers of this blog, many know that I was not comfortable with Jim Gilmore's candidacy for the US Senate.  I boosted many candidates, most notably Eric Cantor.  But in the end, nobody stood up and I respected Gov. Gilmore for taking on a tough election instead of passing like several members of our congressional delegation (I'm looking at you Davis, Cantor, and Forbes).  So I backed Gilmore and I've resisted every attempt to go back on it.

But I have been severely tempted recently by the engaging and uncompromisingly honest conservative delegate from Prince William, Bob Marshall.  He shows up everywhere, talks about anything, and most of all his defense of being conservative.  But I've seen a lot of Marshall lately and there is one thing missing - national issues.  Marshall runs like he's running for a statewide seat in the House of Delegates.  Gilmore runs like he is running for the United States Senate.  While Marshall should be proud of the marriage amendment and his fight against the unconstitutional amendments of Gov. Kaine on HB 3202 (and let me remind all of you that much of HB3202 was upheld and much of it has done a lot of good.  And its not just my judgment, but that of Marshall's fellow PWCer Scott Lingamfelter), I remain unimpressed with Marshall's answers on the critical questions of Iraq, terrorism and most importantly - energy.

No issue dominates my thinking domestically more than energy.  Readers of this blog know that I am fascinated and trumpet alternative energy.  The Republicans in the legislature have, foolishly in my opinion, refused to fund a full study of Virginia s potential for wind, solar, and wave energy.  But nothing is more important right now than the price of gasoline at the pump.  All the alternative energy we want is there for the taking, but its needs more support to full fruition.  Right now, America needs to do one thing and that is expand our domestic oil exploration and . . . yes I'm not afraid to say it . . . DRILL.

Gas prices will be over $4 this summer, nevermind diesel, and the Democrats in Congress are more concerned with the existence of the caribou and pleasing their left wing masters than actually helping average Americans like myself who over in the $30-40,000 a year range that have to budget gas into their finances.  Sadly, Senator McCain has fallen under this spell as well.  And its not easy.  This country is at the complete mercy of foreign oil barons that would make John D. Rockefeller blush.  They control the more aspects of day-to-day life of Americans than our own government based on all of this.  And of all the candidates for the US Senate, Jim Gilmore is brave enough to say we must drill.  Mark Warner is in the pocket of Big Enviro and Bob Marshall talks about clean coal or soemthing like that that won't help our gas prices.  Gilmore not only trumpets this, but he also has a plan.

The DCTimes has more on Gilmore and energy:

Former Gov. James S. Gilmore III said yesterday that if elected to the U.S. Senate in November he would push for more domestic oil production to combat high gas prices — a message he hopes will reconnect him and the Republican Party with Democrat-dominated Northern Virginia.

Mr. Gilmore told an audience of about 40 people at the Fairfax Rotary Club that the federal government should explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. "That's what we have to do," he said.

Mr. Gilmore, the presumed Republican front-runner to replace retiring Sen. John Warner, also a Republican, also said it is time to expand offshore drilling — including off Virginia's coast — to tap into the estimated 86 billion barrels of oil in the intercontinental shelf.

"Increased domestic production, I can assure you, is going to make a big difference in the world oil market and gas prices can hopefully be going down," he said. "This affects real people. It affects people in Northern Virginia seriously, where gas prices are usually a little higher up here."

Mark Warner and the Democrats say its "a simple solution."  Damn right it is, but its the right position to take.  Its simple economics, no?  The Arab barons control the oil of the world, but if we are able to find our own sources that we control (AND, don't forget, winning in Iraq so we can get some of that as well), we suddenly can leverage the Arabs on this.  We can help flood the market with American oil to offset costs.  Now I'm not some fancy city economist and I know there are other things going on but this is the most important and correct step this country can take to yank this country back from the Arab barons and really help the regular folks at the pump who's wallets are getting murdered just trying to fill up a Ford Focus, nevermind a large SUV or minivan.  Gilmore has also outlined a four-point plan that won't sit well with the Warners and Pelosis of the world, but its something that needs to be done to bridge this country to total energy independence through alternative energy:

1.  Drill in ANWR
2.  Explore offshore drilling
3.  Build new oil refinaries
4.  Explore nuclear power, the cleanest and cheapest of all energy options out there.

Its fashionable to be green now, even Newt Gingrich will cut a commercial with Nancy Pelosi on a couch for this cause.  Its great, don't get me wrong.  American ingenuity knows no bounds and we must cultivate every avenue of energy independence.  But not at the exclusion of oil and nuclear power which can help us immediately and protect Americans from being at the mercy of the people who support those who kill us.  With the political climate what it is both nationally and in the commonwealth, Gilmore's candor on this issue is both refreshing and brave.  That is why I'm supporting him over the more trendy Bob Marshall.  I recently blogged about Barry Goldwater and his campaign slogan applies to what Gilmore is advocating here (fully aware of the outcome of Goldwater's campaign).  For Gilmore's stance on energy:

In Your Heart, You Know He's Right