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?