MASON CONSERVATIVE

Chris Saxman's Triumph

From Newt's American Solutions:

Good news today from Virginia on offshore drilling.  

HB6006

, a bill that would allow vital oil and natural gas exploration off the Virginia coastline, passed the House of Delegates by 56 to 39.

The bill would also use the 

revenue from the offshore drilling

 to help pay for Virginia's transportation needs.  With Congress refusing to take action to drill here and drill now, it's nice to see the states take some initiative.

Delegate Chris Saxman, the bill's author, said this in a press release:

“Though federal officials will ultimately decide whether to lift the ban on offshore drilling, it is important for Virginia, possessing potentially significant offshore resources, to prepare for that possibility now. By passing House Bill 6006, the Virginia General Assembly can send a strong message to Congress that we are ready to act.”

Thanks to all the Virginians who called their Delegate asking them to support the bill.  Now, we need you to call your State Senator to encourage them to support offshore drilling as well. 

We all know that the biggest boogeyman in the energy debate is the old NIMBY argument.  Well Virginia Republicans have stood up in the House of Delegates and said "YES," we will drill here too.  While the bill clearly is mostly symbolic because the federal government is the ultimate arbiter in the decision, its still important to take a stand.  This is a huge wild-card issue and thanks to guys like Chris Saxman we are at least attempting to find new issues that we can win on and make them work for our benefit instead of just standing around and yelling, "I'm Conservative!" with nothing else to follow.

I'll Take These 54

, , , ABC News did a piece on 5 soldiers, two of whom were supporting Hilary and the other four were backing Obama.  What they failed to mention is that this was in a group of 60 soldiers, and a full 54 of them said they were voting for McCain.  Why is that for all the talk about Democrats and the troops, when the troops actually head to the polls they vote Republican for president?  They chose Bush over the veteran Kerry!  I have a feeling that, though soldiers live with a proud political silence, if one could accurately poll them I would suspect that Senator McCain will win that vote in a landslide.  And these troops are savy, being a veteran doesn't ensure anything as Bush's victory over Kerry can attest too.

So one can see why a mouthpiece like ABC News would "forget" those 54 troops, its hurts their narrative.  They want to show that the troops support the Ds, so they push the six over the 54.

FINALLY, Sense Prevails!

I respect him for his decision, but there is a small morsel of me that hopes Barrack Obama wins so he can take Tim Kaine with him to Washington and deliver Bill Bolling to Virginia as governor:

RICHMOND

 – Early this morning, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned Sine Die, ending the Special Session on transportation that had convened on June 23rd.  In response to this action, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling issued the following statement: 

“I am very disappointed that the General Assembly was unable to make any meaningful progress toward addressing Virginia ’s transportation challenges during this Special Session.  The failure to do so does not reflect well on anyone involved in this process, and it leaves one of the major challenges facing Virginia unresolved 

“Unfortunately, much of the responsibility for this failure rests on the shoulders of Governor Kaine, who decided to call legislators back to Richmond without building any consensus around a possible transportation solution.  In my judgment, the Governor’s decision to call the Special Session without first developing a framework for success was a mistake.

“In addition, Governor Kaine complicated the effort to find a transportation solution by introducing a transportation proposal that had very little, if any, support in the General Assembly.  The Governor’s bill, which relied on massive statewide and regional tax increases, was not even supported by the members of his own party, and it was clearly not the right solution given the economic challenges that Virginia is currently facing.

“I am also disappointed that Democrats in the General Assembly systematically defeated common sense Republican proposals that would have helped us address Virginia ’s long term transportation needs, at least in part.  I was particularly disappointed that Democrats rejected legislation that would have:

• Directed potential revenues associated with offshore drilling in Virginia to transportation.

• Enabled Hampton Roads localities to keep the tax revenues derived from the Port of Virginia and use those revenues to fund transportation projects in their region of the state

• Enabled Northern Virginia localities to keep the tax revenue derived from the Dulles International Airport and the Ronald Reagan International Airport and use those revenues to fund transportation projects in their region of the state.

• Amended the Constitution of Virginia to prohibit the use of transportation dollars to pay for other government programs without super majority approval of the members of the General Assembly

• Ordered an external management review of the Virginia Department of Transportation to make certain that our transportation dollars are being spent effectively and efficiently and directed to our state’s highest transportation priority – congestion relief.

“These were commonsense proposals that should have received widespread bipartisan support.  By rejecting these proposals without serious consideration or debate, Democrats showed that they are unwilling to seriously consider any solution to our transportation challenges that do not involve higher taxes.

“Fortunately, the General Assembly meets every year, and we will have another chance to address this issue in January.  It remains my hope that the members of the General Assembly will work to craft a transportation solution that relies on existing revenue sources and innovative transportation alternatives, not higher taxes.”

I feel the same exuberance that DJ and Reilly are feeling right now.  This is good news for Virginia and good news for Republicans.  Now we start looking for real solutions instead of bandages.  Conservatism won today, and as Ben points out, Tim Kaine most certainly LOST.  BD has a good write-up too.

Bottom line, good people in the Assembly, leaders back home, and bloggers like so many of us decided to finally fight to stop the continuous bleeding of Virginia taxpayers wallets.  

Obama: This Is What I'm Talking About

DARE WE TAKE A CHANCE ON THIS GUY AND STAY HOME FOR MCCAIN?

The McCain Alliance

This is the kind of message that John McCain needs to be getting out there . . . rhetoric vs. reality.  The rhetoric of Barrack Obama vs. the reality of McCain's entire career.  For all the "change" that Obama's been promising, its McCain who has fought and won change over and over his entire Senate career. As for Republican candidates across the country, this kind of campaign - for country - is one that all factions can rally around without being bound to some of McCain's more moderate views. If Republican candidates can attach themselves to McCain in the manner of his personal popularity. Make this about experience, about what the country will face with a president in training pants. We don't have to love McCain, we just have to respect him. In close Senate races with GOP incumbents (Sununu of New Hampshire, Smith of Oregon, and Coleman of Minnesota come to mind), McCain has the caliber of appeal that can help these three come across the finish line. In open races here in Virginia and in Colorado, McCain's kind of appeal can really help the brand and with two candidates (Schaeffer and Gilmore) who are coming from behind but are in traditional red states. Furthermore, its hard to link Schaffer and Gilmore to Bush because one retired in '03 and the other in '02 

But its up to McCain to embrace his ticket mates and help them. McCain needs to start showing voters who like him that he needs senators like Sununu, Coleman, Smith, Gilmore, and Schaffer to help put America back on track through experience and knowledge rather than taking a flyer on America's most least-prepared presidential candidate in all of her glorious history. I'm worried that McCain has bought into the strategy of electing himself first and resigning himself to a Democrat Congress (one that reminds us of Richard Nixon, who won reelection with every state in America but one, yet failed to bring a Republican Congress with him, and he didn't seem to care). McCain's great purpose, in my opinion, is to finish the war Bush has wages courageously for seven years. The War on Terror has never been unpopular with Republicans, and McCain can dovetail his personal popularity with moderates and independents with conservatives who believe defeating Islamo-Fascism is America's paramount mission of the 21st Century. 

Building the McCain Alliance will require a lot of people to swallow a lot of pride. But it must be done for our candidates and for our countries. Because, and I believe this to my core, that its this party's mission to keep the world free; and as patriotic as the other side is, I just believe their September 10th view of the world is wrongheaded. The rush to military isolationism, a theory of force replaced by words, is dangerous when dealing with an enemy who speaks solely in force. And whatever you think about John McCain, he is the Republican Party's most potent spokesman for this particular cause. Its okay that Jim Gilmore and John McCain disagree on immigration and ANWR, we can have that fight here. But lets have that fight with a President McCain rather than being wholly defeated as the steamroller of Obama-style socialism cripples America. 

For this party to stave off disaster, a disaster that will be much more than a political setback, I urge every activist who can hear my voice and read these words to put aside - for the moment - the things you dislike about Senator McCain and understand the consequences of and Obama Presidency that will once again use small issues of social justice to domestically hypnotize us and once again fall asleep to the threat that shadows our existence. John McCain, as his own personal history shows, will defend this country and has defended it in every step of his life. Whether flying bomb missions, being tortured so others can go free before him, to entering academia and government, and finally in his service as a congressman and a senator; John McCain has, as tacky as it sounds, fought for his country. I've been asked a lot how a conservative like me can be such a strident McCain supporter now. It really is quite easy when you think of it like I have laid out here. I plan on working to build that McCain Alliance.

Bob Marshall Leads

And Jim Bowden explains why.  You know, i've been reading these Lyndon Johnson biographies and there is a great quote in one by Sam Rayburn where he says, "it only takes a jackass to knock a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one."  It struck me as something that Virginia Republicans should think about.  We need carpenters, and Bob Marshall isn't just a conservative saying "no no no," he's actually putting out a plan that can work.  The continuing inability of the Assembly Republicans to rally around a unifying message is the nexus of all our problems as a party up and down.  The absolute most important measure that must be taken is this:

"HJR 6007: Lock up the Transportation Trust Fund so transportation dollars are 
not diverted for other means. Over the last18 years, more than $1.2 billion 
have been diverted to non-transportation uses. This must stop.

This has to be the beginning of any discussion on transportation.  Mind you, the very reason many conservatives like me have gotten on board in the past for regional taxes was because we just did not believe that the money we sent down to Richmond would ever come back to us.  For there to be any trust rebuilt between the Republicans and Virginia, it has to start with locking up the Transportation Trust fund from the greedy hands of governors like Tim Kaine and senators like Dick Saslaw.

Read the rest of Delegate Marshall's recommendations below:

Continue reading "Bob Marshall Leads" »

Last night I said that I couldn't find a way for Forrest Griffin to defeat Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for the coveted UFC Light Heavyweight Title (the deepest and best division in the UFC).  Well, Griffin did it and did it in the only way he could.  Take an ass-kicking for five rounds and wear down Rampage, which he did.  It was a tremendous fight, maybe the best of the year.  There is some controversy, some felt that it was a draw and Rampage should have retained.  I think Forrest did enough to win.  

Griffin is an interesting fighter, in that he never dominates.  You'll never see Forrest Griffin steamroll over opponents the way Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson have in the past.  But you will also never see him get steamrolled, either.  Forrest is a smart fighter, and perhaps the best in the world when it comes to taking a beating and fighting through it.  

There is talk now of Rampage getting a rematch, but I'm not sure about that.  Liddell never got one.  In September, Liddell is fighting the undefeated Rashad "Sugar" Evans, and the winner of that fight will probably get Griffin's first title defense.  Jackson, meanwhile, will have to exercise his past demons and get past Wanderlei Silva (who beat Rampage twice in Pride) to get another shot.

This is a big night for the UFC.  Forrest Griffin helped put the sport on the map when he won the first Ultimate Fighter show against Stephan Bonnar in an incredible fight watched by millions.  He's UFC-home grown, born and bred.  The Ultimate Fighter has become a great farm system for UFC, and Griffin's title victory has helped validate that.  

-In other news from UFC 86, if Patrick Cote is now the top middleweight now, Anderson Silva has nothing to worry about.

-Joe "Daddy" Stevenson is back, and perhaps he and Sean Sherk will battle to see who gets another crack at BJ Penn

-Josh Koscheck continues to roll along, bloodying and beating Chris Lytle, but he didn't show a killer instinct.  One more tough win and he could get a shot at Georges St. Pierre.  Pehaps Matt Hughes?

A boring undercard was overcome by a tremendous title match and I was thrilled to see Griffin win the title.  But with the beatings he takes, I'm not sure how long he can hang on with the competition out there like Rampage, Iceman, Wanderlei, Evans, et al.  

I want . . . I really want . . . to see Forrest Griffin win this title over Rampage Jackson. But like the guys over at Bloody Elbow, I just can't find a good enough reason to pick him. Right now, I can't think any. Rampage is the man, and though Griffin's brutal tap-out victory over Shogun Rua was incredibly impressive, I don't think anyone can stop Rampage. He's the total package. Strategy-wise, Forrest needs to get down on the mat with Rampage, the same way he fought Shogun. Rampage needs to win like he did over Lidell, by striking.

As usual, this parade is great fun and always well attended.  Like last year, the Fairfax City GOP came in full strength.  And like last year, we had a truck plastered with campaign signs for McCain, Gilmore, Fimian, and McDonnell.  Keith Fimian and Pat Herrity were our noted electeds to show up for the parade.

As for the sign wars?

WINNERS:  Keith Fimian and Mark Warner

LOSERS:  Gerry Connolly, Jim Gilmore

Mark Warner's people were really out in force (and he was supposedly going to be there, I couldn't tell if he made it from Dale City in time, though).  One the GOP side, like I said, Keith Fimian was really well organized and had a lot of people and a lot of signs out there.  The majority of our contingent was for Fimian.  McCain also did a good job getting the word out and being prepared with signs and what not.  McCain also elicited some good reactions from the crowd.  I actually shocked that I saw almost nothing for Obama . . . now I didn't see the entire Democrat-cade but they were just behind us and damned if I saw one single Obama sign.  

But the parade in total is always a blast, the city does a great job every year putting it on and its great fun for everyone, from kids to adults.   

The Weekly Standard has this interesting anecdote.  Take it for what it is:

McCain Sets Foot in Colombia, Hostages Freed

Minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn in on January 20, 1981, Iran released the 52 U.S. diplomats it had been holding hostage for more than a year. Hours after John McCain arrived in Colombia today, U.S. hostages held by FARC are freed. McCain may work in hours as opposed to minutes, but the parallels are clear.

Forrest Griffin: King Of UFC

Last night I said that I couldn't find a way for Forrest Griffin to defeat Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for the coveted UFC Light Heavyweight Title (the deepest and best division in the UFC).  Well, Griffin did it and did it in the only way he could.  Take an ass-kicking for five rounds and wear down Rampage, which he did.  It was a tremendous fight, maybe the best of the year.  There is some controversy, some felt that it was a draw and Rampage should have retained.  I think Forrest did enough to win.  

Griffin is an interesting fighter, in that he never dominates.  You'll never see Forrest Griffin steamroll over opponents the way Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson have in the past.  But you will also never see him get steamrolled, either.  Forrest is a smart fighter, and perhaps the best in the world when it comes to taking a beating and fighting through it.  

There is talk now of Rampage getting a rematch, but I'm not sure about that.  Liddell never got one.  In September, Liddell is fighting the undefeated Rashad "Sugar" Evans, and the winner of that fight will probably get Griffin's first title defense.  Jackson, meanwhile, will have to exercise his past demons and get past Wanderlei Silva (who beat Rampage twice in Pride) to get another shot.

This is a big night for the UFC.  Forrest Griffin helped put the sport on the map when he won the first Ultimate Fighter show against Stephan Bonnar in an incredible fight watched by millions.  He's UFC-home grown, born and bred.  The Ultimate Fighter has become a great farm system for UFC, and Griffin's title victory has helped validate that.  

-In other news from UFC 86, if Patrick Cote is now the top middleweight now, Anderson Silva has nothing to worry about.

-Joe "Daddy" Stevenson is back, and perhaps he and Sean Sherk will battle to see who gets another crack at BJ Penn

-Josh Koscheck continues to roll along, bloodying and beating Chris Lytle, but he didn't show a killer instinct.  One more tough win and he could get a shot at Georges St. Pierre.  Pehaps Matt Hughes?

A boring undercard was overcome by a tremendous title match and I was thrilled to see Griffin win the title.  But with the beatings he takes, I'm not sure how long he can hang on with the competition out there like Rampage, Iceman, Wanderlei, Evans, et al.  

UFC 86: Rampage vs. Forrest

I want . . . I really want . . . to see Forrest Griffin win this title over Rampage Jackson. But like the guys over at Bloody Elbow, I just can't find a good enough reason to pick him. Right now, I can't think any. Rampage is the man, and though Griffin's brutal tap-out victory over Shogun Rua was incredibly impressive, I don't think anyone can stop Rampage. He's the total package. Strategy-wise, Forrest needs to get down on the mat with Rampage, the same way he fought Shogun. Rampage needs to win like he did over Lidell, by striking.

Fairfax City 4th Parade

As usual, this parade is great fun and always well attended.  Like last year, the Fairfax City GOP came in full strength.  And like last year, we had a truck plastered with campaign signs for McCain, Gilmore, Fimian, and McDonnell.  Keith Fimian and Pat Herrity were our noted electeds to show up for the parade.

As for the sign wars?

WINNERS:  Keith Fimian and Mark Warner

LOSERS:  Gerry Connolly, Jim Gilmore

Mark Warner's people were really out in force (and he was supposedly going to be there, I couldn't tell if he made it from Dale City in time, though).  One the GOP side, like I said, Keith Fimian was really well organized and had a lot of people and a lot of signs out there.  The majority of our contingent was for Fimian.  McCain also did a good job getting the word out and being prepared with signs and what not.  McCain also elicited some good reactions from the crowd.  I actually shocked that I saw almost nothing for Obama . . . now I didn't see the entire Democrat-cade but they were just behind us and damned if I saw one single Obama sign.  

But the parade in total is always a blast, the city does a great job every year putting it on and its great fun for everyone, from kids to adults.   

John McCain and Columbia

The Weekly Standard has this interesting anecdote.  Take it for what it is:

McCain Sets Foot in Colombia, Hostages Freed

Minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn in on January 20, 1981, Iran released the 52 U.S. diplomats it had been holding hostage for more than a year. Hours after John McCain arrived in Colombia today, U.S. hostages held by FARC are freed. McCain may work in hours as opposed to minutes, but the parallels are clear.