MASON CONSERVATIVE

Question For Connolly Campaign?

Why are you spending thousands of dollars this week advertising on 630 WMAL that Keith Fimian is pro-life?  For those who don't listen to the station that carries Fred Grandy, Chris Plante, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin; the DCCC sponsored the newsperson every 20 minutes to actually read a script that says Keith Fimian is anti-choice.  This isn't a radio spot, its an actual read scrpit.  Why would Connolly and the DCCC advertise on the most conservative radio station in the capitol area that Keith Fimian is pro-life?  Its a sign of how out of touch the DCCC is and how paniced the Connolly folks are that they would go along with nonsense. 

Cook Report: VA-11 Toss-Up

Come on, VA-11 Republicans!  POUR IT ON!  This race is within our grasp now.  Close the show this weekend.

Fimian Hits Connolly, But Doesn't Run

So Connolly is gonna throw mud around about Fimian's company, might as well see Connolly defend his hit n' run that he got away with because of who he is.  From the campaign's website:

Congressman Gerry Connolly has consistently dodged questions about his record of raising taxes, increasing spending and failing to fix our economy. Maybe instead he will explain the preferential treatment he received for his hit and run traffic accident, a charge that could cost an ordinary Virginian a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Tim Edson, Campaign Manager for Keith Fimian said, "According to police and court records, then Supervisor Gerry Connolly committed a hit-and-run, colliding with a car whose passengers included a baby and a pregnant woman. The judge said Connolly acted wrongly, but let him off because he was a powerful politician. Then Connolly punished the police force for issuing him a citation by firing the police chief."

It was clear from witness accounts that Connolly knew he hit the other car, even looking at the driver before speeding away.  The judge even said that idea that Connolly didn’t know he had hit another car ‘is perhaps subject to some incredulity on the part of many.’ He added ‘there was certainly good reason’ for Fairfax police to charge Connolly.’

Connolly committed a hit and run. Connolly was cited for it. The judge even suggested Connolly was guilty. But then, the judge let Connolly off, saying ‘position and his duties have caused him to be oblivious to what is going on in his car.’
Edson said, “Once again we see Connolly taking special privileges for himself. He gave himself a 31% pay raise and then he gets a court case dismissed because he was a powerful politician."

But getting special privileges was not enough for Connolly.  In retaliation for investigating the hit-and-run, Connolly passed over acting Fairfax County Police Chief Suzanne Devlin for a promotion.  ‘One of the main reasons they passed over her was she had the nerve to charge the great Gerry Connolly with a hit and run,’ said former Board of Supervisors chairman Jack Herrity at the time.

"Whether committing a hit-and-run, or punishing the police for doing their job or taking a 31% pay raise, Gerry Connolly’s ego is so large that he believes he doesn’t have to answer why he used his political influence to beat the rap," Edson said.

Sources: The Washington Post, 10/27/04  Centre View Connection, 5/27/04 Great Falls Connection, 10/28/04

"Sincerely, Sharron Angle"

Classic move by soon-to-be Senator Sharron Angle in response to professional TV yenta Joy Behar's rant about Angle being a b*tch and that she's going to hell.  She sent her flowers.

"Joy,

Raised $150,000 online yesterday — thanks for your help.

Sincerely, Sharron Angle"

Will Webb Run?

The Fix outlines Jim Webb's pourous fundraising, who along with deadduck Sen. John Ensign, has the lowest fundraising numbers of any 2012 incumbent.  So that begs the question, is Webb running again?  I do believe that Webb is the strongest candidate the Dems can run . . . his military background, plain-spokeness, and roots in both Northern Virginia and Southwest makes for an interesting personality. 

I've speculated endlessly about the possible GOP nominees, but what happens if Webb retires or takes a job like Secretary of Denfense?  Obviously Tim Kaine would be the odds-on choice, but what if a new-school Democrat like Don McEachin decied to run?  Anyways, very interesting to see exactly what Sen. Webb will do.  He's a different kind of guy, and i'm not sure he entirely enjoys being a senator, or at least the campaigning aspects of the job. 

And to continue my mindless speculation, if Webb did take a cabinet position, what does McDonnell do?  I actually think Webb would be a logical choice to replaced Robert Gates because a) most Dems like him, b) he is one of the few elected Democrats with real defense and foriegn policy credentials.  Annapolis grad, officer, veteran, secretary of the Navy, and US senator?  Would McDonnell find an old bull Republican like Walter Stosch, a close confidant like Ed Gillespie, or a potential protege like Scott Rigell? 

But Webb is the key, he unlocks a lot of doors for a lot of different people if he decides to retired.  Skiddish potential GOP candidates might feel their oates a  little more if Webb retires, and it would open the flood gates on the Democratic side between old school professional Democrats would no doubt back Kaine while new-school progressive could finally see their chance to break through in the party. 

Should be fun.

Rubio Defines The New Conservative Generation

I'd have no problem if Marco Rubio decied to actually run for an office that I could vote for in two years.  Some folks just get it, and he's one of them.  This is an amazing closing argument that everything conservative should mimic.

 

FOIA On FCPS/Clifton Elementary Mess

I haven't been following this as closely as others because a) I don't have kids, and b) I'm not as familiar with the players as others are.  However, I didfind that there was some pretty serious stuff found in the emails recovered by the FOIA request on this issue with regards to the Fairfax County School Board, school officials, and community groups.  It boils down to Springfield's Liz Bradsher making a deal with Dean Tiszdalt to move West Springfield up the ladder for renovation in exchange for supporting closing Clifton Elem.  Pretty serious stuff here, actually and its especially gauling galling that this was basically a colusion on all fronts to keep this from the public.

HERE and HERE is what I found.  No wonder 2/3 of the School Board is retiring.

Bob Marshall Comes Out Against Repeal Amendment

Deep down, I think Bob Marshall on some level just loves tweeking Bill Howell.  In an Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial, Del. Marshall comes out against Speaker Howell's idea of allowed 3/4 of the states to repeal federal legislation . . . .essentially nullification.  For the record because I see people throwing around John Calhoun around these discussions, nullification allowed for seperate states to nullify acts as they saw fit and was based on Calhoun's Compact Theory of Government.  Its different.  Calhoun and his southerners reasoned that the states had formed a compact, or an agreement, to be a federal entity but still had the power to get out just as they had gotten in.  Calhoun's theory was a nation of 20-odd states working together seperately and could do whatever they wanted.  This was, of course, simply a shadow to protect federal intervention into slavery . . . well, only federal intervention in freeing slaves, "states rights" southerns certainly had no problem using every single lever of federal power in teh 1840s and 1850s to ensure slavery's existence from congresisonal acts to Supreme Court decisions.  But I digress.

Marshall simply argues that the Repeal Amendment abolishes the idea of federalism.  At its heart, federalism is about the states and federal governments following their constitutional boundries and enumeriated powers.  Marshall argues that the Repeal Amendment destroys that theory:

Repeal Amendment advocates want the power to "repeal any provision of law" now on the books or passed in the future. If this amendment is passed by Congress and ratified by the states, then two-thirds of the states could repeal treaties, parts or all of our Constitution, military appropriations bills, Social Security, declarations of war, civil rights laws, and more.

In addition, no provision answers: Who keeps count of the states' repeal resolutions? For how long would a repeal action of a state be valid? Could a state vote to repeal a federal law one year and undo it the next? Which action counts? Could a "repeal resolution" be hidden in a multi-thousand-page bill (just as $130 million in new fees and taxes were hidden in Virginia's 2010 budget at the last minute without separate recorded votes)? Could state legislatures repeal a federal law without a recorded vote so the public would not know how legislators voted?

Its nice to see people actually talking about this kind of stuff again, though.  We've been braindrained into think that the federal government can solve all of our political, economic, and even culture problems in America and it can't.  Its impossible.  But to reach that goal, a sort of federally enforced "fairness" in society, it requires a gigantic growth in government and the ebbing of our personal liberties.  Government can't grow in power while the individuals maintain liberty to the utmost.  Its impossible. 

In The "I'll Admit It File," Joe Miller Is In Trouble In Alaska

He may still win because of how unpredictable a write-in campaign can be, but he has not handled the pressure of being a big time candidate well.  Its too bad because he's the best of the bunch if you ask me, someone who's talking about shrinking government and mandates in a state that's all but lives off of federal dollars.  He has a great background and a great message, but his campaign continues to make gaffes. 

I will say this though about the"journalist" who was handcuffed, it looks like it was actually a left-wing blogger . . . so it wasn't exactly Walter Cronkite, but still the headlines hurt. 

Raese Endoresment Exposes Moderate Dem Dilemma

I was fascinated this morning with the Charleston Daily Mail's endorsement of Republican John Raese for the US Senate and its reasoning.  While they like Gov. Joe Manchin, the paper no longer believes that moderates have any power in the federal Democratic power structure in Congress.  For years Democrats across rural America have gotten away with being liberal in Washington because they were able to a) be conservative at home in rhetoric, and b) bring home the pork.  There is a revolt against federal spending right now, so bringing home pork doesn't help.  And in the past, the Democratic leadership has understood this model and given these Democrats cover . . . Bill Clinton, being a southerner, was masterful at understanding that this paradigm because he lived it as a southern governor being overtaken by a liberal president's party in 1980.  Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have no such experience, and come from hometowns and backgrounds that aren't competative politically so they can coast to reelection every year nad just push for more and more progressive measures.

Any other year, I believe Joe Manchin would stomp the floor with John Raese, but Obama and Pelosi have made the climate so toxic for Democrats, its taking a ton of people down with them.