MASON CONSERVATIVE

Follow The Money . . .

. . . and where did it come from? A network television buy is usually around $200K or so. So where did Janet Oleszek get all this money? Her last filing doesn't seem to indicate that she had $200,000 to play around with like this. So where did the money come from? The DCPost reported that Oleszek had only about $77,000 cash on hand, now suddenly she's on air? Whats going on here?

Oh. My. God!

"For The Kids"

This is brilliant:

"How To Manufacture A Macaca Moment"

Wizbang shows us the way.

Whats With NOVA Democrats?

Walking the streets this weekend for both Cuccinelli and Jeannemarie this weekend, I noticed that the Democrat doorhangers were generic and all the same. The only difference was that they had pictures of the candidates that matched the district. But everything else, including what the candidates stood for, where exactly the same. On the other hand, Ken and Jeannemarie had distinct and informative door hangers that were specific to each district and candidate.

If NOVA Democrats have all this money, why is the DPV paying for generic mailers with minimal information?

Will Faisal Gill Pull This Off?

Perhaps we've been blinded by the attacks on the blogosphere, which has subsided since he won the nomination, but I was really shocked to see on Virtucon today that Faisal Gill has won the endorsement of The Potomac News:

Republican Faisal Gill comes out the winner when we compare the two newcomers vying for the spot being vacated by Michele McQuigg in the 51st Virginia House of Delegates District.
Gill is an intelligent, good-humored man, who doesn't appear to take himself too seriously.

He seems to have a strong grasp of the issues that face his district and definite ideas of how to deal with them.

Though we don't agree with every stand he takes, we think he has the best interest of his constituents at heart and that he will serve them faithfully.

Despite all the misinformation about his law practice and its supposed protection of illegal immigrants, Gill does have a solid plan of action when it comes to the issue, including a plan to hold employers accountable for hiring illegal immigrants.

People under threat of legal deportation often do need law advice and advocacy. Gill should not be penalized just because his law practice is willing to offer that.

We don't agree with the draconian idea of handing out felonies to all businesses which hire illegal immigrants, as Gill does, but we think holding them accountable is the way to go.

As an immigrant himself, Gill, offers a rare perspective on immigration, and we think his immigrant experience gives him more authority on the issue of illegal immigration.

Gill will also fight to keep our school system classy and competitive.

He wants to keep school funding focused on the classroom and he thinks we should start by ensuring that our teachers' salaries are competitive with other jurisdictions. That way we can keep the best and brightest for ourselves.

Gill's opponent, Democrat Paul Nichols, has much to offer as a candidate.

However, his misleading fliers about Gill show that when it comes to politics he has no qualms about crossing the ethical line.

That is not somebody we want as a delegate.

We think that Gill will be an effective, level-headed and creative legislator, and we hope members of the 51st District will vote for him on Nov. 6.

Even frequent Gill tormenter BVBL is predicting a razor-thin Gill victory. So it seems that the predictions of Gill's demise were premature at best. It sounds like Gill has done a great job attacking the pavement, getting with the people, and putting forth his vision. One can't help but wonder if Paul Nichols figured that all the problems surrounding the convention and the controversy among some that Gill's candidacy presented that he would cruise to election day.

Now THIS?

Again, NRO's The Corner has another lamebrain idea for the Virginia Senate. This time its Ted Olsen. Gilmore is my man. These guys are looking for a Webb-like gimmick candidate as a quick fix. Jim Gilmore is the right man right now, a conservative who has won statewide twice and will actually work at building the party. I've becoming convinced going through this election cycle in 2007 that the biggest problem for the RPV is that we lack organization. Nominating a gimmick candidate and wait for our opponent to say "maccaca" is a one-in-a-million occurance. Gilmore will do the hard work, and he is to be commended for being willing to take on Mark Warner. Win or lose, we need a candidate who will work for the party as well as themselves. No trick candidate can get that done. And with a candidate as good as Mark Warner, we can't throw some newbie candidate out there.

Support Jim Gilmore.

Cornejo Case: The Arrogance of Power

The Washington City Paper has picked up on the murder case of Steve Cornejo, which has been extensivley covered at the Democrat blog Bluewwds and bullhorned by Providence resident and CA candidate Patrick McDade. Horan and Morrogh have been in power much too long, and this drastic case proves that they do not feel accountable to the public anymore. THIS is the most galling part:

Gotwalt was never arrested in the killing, and even before the corpse was cold Horan began mounting a very public and ultimately bogus defense of the shooter, telling local media that Gotwalt was only being a good Samaritan who had prevented a drunk Cornejo from beating a woman, and that Gotwalt only used the gun in self-defense. Horan, known as a hardball law-and-order man in his several decades in power, took the odd (for him) step of not making any recommendation to indict when the case was presented to a grand jury. No witnesss to the killing testified before the grand jury, and no indictment was returned.

Horan’s failure to prosecute Gotwalt has looked almost criminal ever since Cornejo’s survivors sued Gotwalt for wrongful death in Fairfax County civil court. The plaintiffs won a verdict against Gotwalt of $1.96 million for the killing, plus $15,588 for funeral expenses.

Testimony in the civil case was devastating. Though Horan had insisted to Cornejo’s family members that nobody had seen the killing, two men in separate apartments heard Cornejo yelling, “Why are you trying to take my life?” as Gotwalt beat him in the head with the .38 caliber pistol, just before shooting him in the back. Evidence at the civil trial showed that there was no basis in fact to Horan’s version of Gotwalt as Good Samaritan: There was no woman being assaulted when Gotwalt encountered Cornejo. There wasn’t even a woman on the scene.

A travesty. This might help explain why the liberal Falls Church News-Press endorsed McDade over Morrogh.

Which Colgan?

Senator Chuck Colgan has a new page on his website called "Colgan Straight Talk," where he attempts to make clear where he stands. The record suggests otherwise:

Colgan: I do NOT SUPPORT any increase in the gas tax
Colgan sponsored legislation that would have increased the gas and diesel taxes by 7 cents per gallon. (SB 357, 2004)

Colgan voted for an additional 5% tax on gasoline. (2/17/06 Floor Vote on SB 708, 2/14/06 Finance Vote on SB 708)

Colgan said "I would place a 5-percent sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline and diesel fuel." (Gainesville Times)

"Colgan said a gas tax would be a much simpler way to raise money for roads."(7/27/07 Potomac News)

"Senator Chuck Colgan is correct. His position is that if more money is needed for roads then increase the gas tax and do away with the punitive draconian new rules on fines for only Virginia motorists." (8/6/07 Potomac News Letter to the Editor from Colgan Supporter)

"I would have much preferred a simpler bill. For example, a modest increase in the gasoline tax is the ultimate user fees. (8/16/07 ColganforSenate.org)

•Colgan: I do NOT SUPPORT allowing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
Colgan voted to give in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants. (2/19/03 Floor Vote on Saslaw Substitute to HB 2339)

Colgan voted to give in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants. (1/23/2007 Floor Vote on SB 1204)

Colgan recently affirmed his support for giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. (2007 Virginia Catholic Conference Survey)

• Colgan: I do SUPPORT changing the State transportation funding formula to return more money to our region
When asked if he supported changing the transportation funding formula at the Committee of 100 Forum on October 4, Senator Colgan said:

"I don't know whether that I would favor that frankly!" and "We have 40,000 outhouses in Southwest Virginia. We have to be concerned about those people. If we have to take some money out of Northern Virginia and give it to these folks, God bless them and I hope we can."

• Colgan: I do not support state benefits for illegal immigrants
Colgan voted against denying non-emergency state benefits to illegal immigrants. (2/25/2005 Floor Vote on HB 1798 and 2/8/2005 Floor Vote on SB 1143)
Colgan recently affirmed his support for providing illegal immigrants with state subsidized worker's compensation (2007 Virginia Catholic Conference Survey)

• Colgan: I am against registering illegal immigrants to vote
Colgan twice voted against closing a loophole that allowed illegal immigrants and other non-citizens to register to vote. (2/26/2006 Floor Vote on SB 313 and 2/27/06 Floor Vote on HB 170)

•Colgan: I fought against the abuser fee hard than anyone else in the Senate
Colgan voted for abuser fees that only Virginians would have to pay. (4/4/2007 Floor Vote on HB 3202)

The very fact that there is so much confusion over Colgan's record is troubling. The guy has been around too long, and this game of do one thing in Richmond and say another in Prince William has got to end. With Bob FitzSimmonds you get what you vote for. There is going to be no mistaking where a Senator FitzSimmonds wil stand on the issues and on his votes. On taxes and illegal immigration, Bob won't steer you wrong. Colgan represents a lot of whats wrong with the Democrats on immigration. They know there is a problem but can't reconcile their own ideals of political correctness and the fact that the issue helps Republicans to convince themselves to do anything about it. So they vote against all real immigration reforms in the GA and then come back home promising to do more next session or that they already have. For this district, lets end the madness. Elect Bob Fitzsimmonds.

Why We Need Vellie Hall for Supervisor

Bad things are happening in Mason District. A good friend of mine lives there and tells me over and over how crime is growing. Gang crime. Mason Distirct's ineffectual supervusor, Penelope Gross, does nothing but follow Gerry Connolly's lead when it comes to crime and illegal immigration in Northern Virginia--she puts her head in the sand. Its the ravings of Republicans, claims Connolly, Gross, and their ilk. The two have nothing to do with each other, they claim. The problem is that Mason District is feeling the overflow from Arlington County's sanctuary policies and, yes, illegal immigration does = more crime. Gross, Connolly, Vivian "One Of Us" Watts . . . they are all the same. In the name of openess, "diversity," and all that blather . . . what does Mason District get?

The Republican candidate knows more about immigration and diveristy than any of these Dems could pray for. Vellie Dietrich Hall not only has an compelling immigrant rags-to-riches story, but she's conservative and actually has ideas to deal with the problem instead of hiding it so nobody can knock over the hosue of cards that is the Fairfax Democrats. And she's not holding back. Check out these powerful mailers she's sent out . . .

Can Vellie win? Who knows, but Republicans in Fairfax need more candidates like her, Marc Cadin, Patrick McDade, and Dave Hunt--young activists who are committed to challenging Democrats, keeping them honest, and advocating our views. There is a story to be told on clowns like Connolly and Gross . . . and people will only hear it when candidates like Vellie step up. A race at this level, its impossible to figure out how it will shape up. Gross is clearly the favorite, but she's never won by much here. If Gary Baise does well, who knows.