MASON CONSERVATIVE

Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley OFFICIAL

Its not vs Pacman, but Floyd Mayweather it is more than a suitable substitute.  Fight fans have been eying Pretty Boy Floyd vs. Sugar Shane for a long time, since Mosley was tearing apart the lightweight division and Floyd was making his way up to junior welterweight.  Mosley beat de la Hoya twice, but lost twice to Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright that hurt his standing, and after a brief comeback he got beat by Miguel Cotto and many assumed Mosley's best days were behind him.  But around the Cotto loss Mosley beat Fernando Vargas twice, Luis Collazo, and Ricardo Mayorga.  But Mosley announced his return to elite status even at age 37 with his complete destruction of the previously indestructible Tiujuana Tornado Antonio Margarito last January.  Mosley hasn't fought since.

Mayweather is perfect as a fighter.  Not a single loss.  He capped his reach to the top by beating and impressive list of welterweights:  Zab Juddah, Carlos Baldimor, Oscar de la Hoya, and Ricky Hatton before taking a year respite from the support.  He returned last fall and took apart a blown-up and out of his class Juan Manuel Marquez.  After the Pacquiao fight fell apart and Pacman booked himself with super-tough Joshua Clottey, Money Mayweather had to take a real fight too. 

This will be it.  I give Floyd the edge in speed and pacing, but Mosley looked like an animal in both the Mayorga and Margarito fights.  But he's never dealt with someone as fast and skilled as Mayweather.  On the other hand, Mayweather has never fought someone as polished, skilled, and battle-tested as Mosley.  Sugar Shane has been in there with the best of his generation and both won and lost.  Nothing will surprise him and nothing Mayweather will do will shock him.  Floyd needs to use his speed and skill, but Mosley right now is as good as he's ever been.

Bring on May 1st!

Floyd Mayweather's greatest hits:

Shane Mosley's greatest hits:

Kudos To The President

Seriously, he went to Baltimore and let House Republicans ask him questions and he answered them.  Not a lot of guys would do that.  But despite what he says, how bipartisan DC is is all up to him and the Democrats in Congress.  They control everything, its their choice whether Republicans get a seat at the table or not.  And so far, both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have shown no interest in doing so.  So while Obama complains about Republicans being the party of no, its him and the congressional leadership that have shut them out completely so they have no chance to do anything.  So of course they fight back.

This was a nice first step, but lets see if Obama is willing to back up his words and do more that "talk" to Republicans, that HE will actually incorporate GOP ideas into the jobs bill, into health care.  I'm not holding my breath.

The Definition Of Ankle-Biting

Suprisingly, the one primary in Virginia that has me most fired up isn't the 11th, despite some reason posts.  Its the 5th, where I see millionaire candidates trying to buy a congressional seat in the guise of tea party activism.  The most egregious case is Laurence Verga, a real estate magnate who seems to be running less as a conservative and more a campaign centered on pretty viciously attacking State Sen. Robert Hurt. 

First, if I had a vote in the 5th it would be for Ken Boyd, a good conservative with good experience tested in local government, both in on the school board and the board of supervisors.  So there's that.

But Sen. Robert Hurt is no liberal, and I have a problem with a millionaire like Verga telling us who Hurt is when Hurt has been the one in the last ten years putting himself before the voters year after year, and they keep voting for him.  The latest is this screed emailed out about Hurt being allowed to raise money during the General Assembly session.

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA – Today the Attorney General of Virginia issued an opinion that State Senator Robert Hurt may legally raise funds for his congressional account during legislative session. Verga responded to the news, saying "Although it may be legal, it certainly isn't ethical. The American people are tired of career politicians like Senator Hurt who put their personal aspirations above their ethical obligations."

 

Verga continued: "The intent of Virginia's ethics law is to prevent lobbyists from buying votes. His current position will simply allow special interest groups to influence his voting through donations to his congressional campaign account. If Hurt wishes to be ethical, then he will respect the law's intent and reverse his unfortunate decision."

Come on.  The point of the law is with regards to state business, and there is nothing wrong with Hurt raising money for a federal race.  But I guess its easy to preach when you can just cut yourself checks and then claim grassroots support.  And while a lot of people have said things about Hurt, this is close to calling him corrupt and I have a problem with this kind of hot language from a guy who's never been before the voters against someone who has over and over.

"Not True"

Turns out Samuel Alito was right when he attempted to stand up to the bullying for President Obama and the Senate Democrats standing behind them trying to intimidate a CO-EQUAL branch of government. 

The Great Brad Smith lays out Obama's claims:

Tonight the president engaged in demogoguery of the worst kind, when he claimed that last week's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, "open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."

The president's statement is false.

The Court held that 2 U.S.C. Section 441a, which prohibits all corporate political spending, is unconstitutional. Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibiting from making "a contribution or donation of money or ather thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication."

This is either blithering ignorance of the law or demagoguery of the worst kind.

What a shock, I know.  Barack Obama, nose firmly in the air, attacking an equal branch for doing their job - standing up for the Constitution.  Much more must be said about Obama's attack of the Court, but history has shown us what happens when a president starts messing with the Court.  But its so telling of Obama's real treatment of those who disagree with him, for in the same speech he called for a renewed civility and bipartisanship he then attacks the Court in a manner never seen by lying about their decision.  The Supreme Court is a guest of the Congress and the President at this event, and they should be shown the respect their offices demand. 

Its just the microcosm of the State of the Union.  A long list of half-truths and doublespeak.  While calling for bipartisanship, he was partisan.  While calling for fiscal restraint, he talked about programs and spending.  While saying we must look forward, he spent time blaming every problem he had on George W. Bush, then refusing to take responsibility for the bank bailout disaster, for the health care disaster, for the debt ceiling being risen, for the deficit skyrocketing under his budget and his watch.

I would like to see Justice Alito break the Court's silence and come on to one of the Sunday shows and explain exactly what the decision means and how Obama was simply dead wrong, lying, and used that lie to rile up Americans.    

Tremendous Job By Gov. McDonnell

It was quite the contrast.  McDonnell was easy-going, down to earth, and clearly comfortable talking in the well of a chamber he served in for years.  He was, as they advertised, clear and concise.  I particularly enjoyed the setting, it gave some air to the speech so he's not just sitting in a chair in a room. 

There was no lecturing from McDonnell, no insisting that Americans are just not listening hard enough, that we just don't get it.  McDonnell had a basic message of jobs created by lower taxes and less regulation, and the most effective government is the one closest to the people - state and local.  A one-size fits all approach will not work, and the federal government is ding too much.

I was highly impressed by Gov. McDonnell, who seemed to finally break the SOTU response jinx.  I'd say we should keep our eye on him in national politics.

Why Would You Tell Us This?

The whole point of drawing up a plan is so the other side doesn't know about it.

Unless your the Democrats in Congress.

Congrats, Sen. Menendez.  Well done.

OK, I Might Buy This Book

The Politician. 

John Edwards is scum, pure and simple.  To think this man was even mentioned in the same breath as the words "President of the United States."  Its frightening. 

But hey, I love salaciousness as much as the next guy.  It might be a train wreck, but I'll probably finished it in a day. 

The Gilded President

Here is the definition of the word "Gilded," per Dictionary.com

having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth.

And then I present to you this, the President of the United States speaking before sixth graders in Falls Church. 

Yeah.

Why Would Virgil Run As An Indey?

It makes no sense to me.  If Virgil Goode wants to run for his House seat, he should do it in the Republican Primary instead of sitting out the hard work and then try and swoop in at the end.

Mike Pence Leads Evan Bayh

From Rasmussen:

• Pence:  47%
• Bayh: 44%

More importantly Pence has very strong favorable/unfavorables at 54/25.  Bayh has 58 favorable, but 38 unfavorable.

Senator Mike Pence?  THAT my friends is something to get excited about because it could lead to bigger and better things for one of the last honest men in Washington.