Crooked what?

Before the claws come out, I’m a supporter of bluegrass and mountain music in every way possible. However, I have a few questions about this “music trail.”

 

1. Has this designation created one new manufacturing or farming job in each of the counties the road winds through?

2. Does this designation entitle Virginia’s Ninth District to a special place at the appropriations table in Congress? Do we benefit in some unseen way?

3. What happens if the Crooked Road becomes straight?

 

I challenge anyone to name one job that’s been created or attracted here because of the “Crooked Road.”  There is however, a place in the upper end of Washington County that could attract a medium or large capital company to create jobs. It is called “The Glade Highlands Industrial Park.” Where are the jobs that were promised? The almost $1 million dollars in low or no interest loans have done little to nothing to draw companies willing to invest in the community or the county instead we keep drawing in transitory cash from the truck stop. Our capital is being send north with the truckers.

Never mind the almost 1,200 jobs a year that Virginia stands to lose if Cap and Tax is enacted.Instead, Washington County is becoming the Meth capital of Southwest Virginia and Rick Boucher and his union cronies are smiling all the way to re-election each term. Kilo sparks things up with his observation about the Feckless One’s inability to deliver on good paying, permanent jobs.

It’s not about trying to chase a pot of gold, it’s not even about trying to get the finer things in life, in some instances, one of these jobs could be the difference between standing in line at the free clinic in Meadowview or being seen by a specialist at The Campus for the kids. A job that a man can hang his hat on and feel secure at. Come on Rick, give us something better than the Crooked Road.

Ninth District politics

While Delegate Morgan Griffith will pick up the Ninth District GOP nod to run against Rick Boucher and has extensive experience within the House of Delegates, I submit that politics as usual will not cut it in the Ninth this year. Need an example? This year is the first in recent memory that a true independent candidate is running. Jeremiah Heaton has already been on the stump in significant ways.

Traditionally, the Ninth has reelected Boucher on the strength of his efforts in the coalfield counties such as Buchanan, Wise and Dickenson. Why does Boucher perform well in coal country? He’s in the pocket of Cecil Roberts and the UMWA. Boucher will spend most of his time in District in Abingdon or in the coal counties. I can understand that, one has to keep his bread buttered. I submit that this year may present a different outcome.

Current dissatisfaction with Congress is not necessarily limited to just Democrats. Anger with incumbents reach across party lines. Mr. Morgan, Mr. Heaton and Mr. Boucher would all be well advised to remember this. The American people and the people of the Ninth District want real solutions. They want real, good paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. They want our coal jobs to remain where they are, in the Ninth District. The people of the Ninth District do not want politics as usual.

Washington County is in dire need of good manufacturing jobs to bolster a sagging economy. The new Lowe’s has provided much needed jobs, but we have several industrial parks sitting empty with infrastructure available to companies who would be willing to invest in the site and in the community. Companies rumored to have been interested are TRW, Toyota among others. Why is the Glade Highlands Industrial Park sitting empty? Where are the good paying jobs Mr. Boucher assured us would come.

Perhaps the most indicative indicator is Mr. Boucher’s support of the so-called Cap and Trade legislation. According to the Heritage Foundation, Virginia will lose 26,604 jobs while raising electricity prices by $532.18 per household. These numbers are for the timeframe 2012 – 2035, or 23 years.On average, Virginia will lose almost 1,200 jobs a year. Why did Boucher vote for Cap and Tax?

Last year, Crystal Clear Conservative asked if Boucher could kiss his seat goodbye. At the time, I was skeptical. Now, not so much.

Obama a citizen

Ok, while I don’t consider myself to be a “birther” I believe that it was key to be certain in order to maintain constitutional integrity. However, now that Obama’s citizenship has been confirmed, let’s move on and make this about ideas. Conservatives should know that we have the superior ideas and there is no need to bring gimmicks into the fray.

First, we know that government interference in health care will only lead to lesser quality  and rationing of care. Bureaucrats have less interest in our personal health than in their ability to “streamline” the process. This is ironic because there is no such thing when dealing with the federal government.

Second, we know that bailouts, in any form, are destructive and subsidize failure. The bailouts give no incentive for improved production and ethical management. To the contrary, bailouts do nothing but incentivize poor management. Solution: repay every red cent of the multi-billion dollar corporate welfare program to the taxpayer and slash entitlements.

Third, we know that Obama’s judicial philosophy is predicated upon race. Judge Sotomayor’s well publicized “wise Latina” remark is proof positive that racial discord will be hallmarks of the Obama judicial appointments. The rule of law has been replaced by La Raza… return our government to its constitutional mandated limits which starts with Judges who are dedicated to an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.

These are but three areas where conservatives have the superior ideas. Oh, wait, nothing is superior anymore, we don’t want the poor politicians to have low self esteem.  I say, throw the bums out.

Ron Paul: Right on the Money

This article from Ron Paul articulates the correct view of health care. In the market, health care is a good, not a right. Give this a read.

Obama Blame Game

If you are interested at all in what ideas are being put forth by House Conservatives, I highly recommend bookmarking the Republican Study Committee website. From legislative bulletins to Money Monitors, this caucus of House Conservatives will provide ammunition against liberals and their agenda.

 

Why tour when your boss won’t listen

According to a press release issued by the Rural America Solutions Group, a subset of the House GOP, Barry’s Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Danville,VA as part of a so-called listening tour through rural America. I repeat the question above. Why bother touring when your boss won’t listen to the voices in rural America.

With the passage of Waxman-Markey National Energy Tax in the House, Barack Obama is hell-bent on draining American’s wallets to promote George Soros’ agenda. Any fool can see that jobs will be lost if the Senate passes the bill in the same form as the House.

Thoughts from Cornfield County

Yes, sophisticated reader, I watched Hee Haw for years with my grandfather. I came across this little snippet. Wonder what Junior Samples would say about the Democrats now?

RSC Sunset Caucus

I’ve been paying attention to the Republican Study Committee and the legislation that its members have been proposing with some degree of satisfaction. The RSC bills itself as “The Caucus of House Conservatives.”  If you are like me, there are particular programs that you would like to see eliminated. The RSC Sunset Caucus exists to undertake that very objective. My personal program that I’d like to see done away with is NASA. For thirty plus years, it has done little to nothing to justify its expenditures. Please click the link above to make a recommendation as to a program you’d like to see eliminated.

Wow, I’m underwhelmed

This is what the staff of the House Judiciary Committee is paid to do? This is 487 pages of leftist pabulum that seems more at home in a Che Guevara documentary than it does in an official document of the United States government. I know this has been out for a while, but I’m starting to read it and I have to be honest, this report is pejorative and contains little substantive contribution to any conversation about the Bush presidency.  At the very least, a less pejorative title would be in order.

Coal – It’s what’s for US

At least that’s what one would think Rick Boucher and Cecil “I Own Rick Boucher” Roberts would believe. After all, a vast portion of the Ninth District is “Coal Country.” Apparently not, according to this release by Roberts’ UMWA. I’ll restate the question I previously asked: How does cap and tax protect good paying coal jobs? Answer: It doesn’t. Capping carbon emissions and then allowing trade allowances for these credits will do nothing but enact a National Energy Tax and thus seriously threaten the coal industry. That’s the whole point behind the Waxman-Markey bill. They want to tax coal out of usage in the United States. What does that leave? Hundreds of miners out of work with no prospects for jobs that pay equally as well.

What benefits would the United States gain environmentally under a cap and trade system? Little to none according to the Heritage Foundation:

 

Waxman-Markey Bill: Dumb and Dumber

• Waxman-Markey Global Warming Tax: The cap-and-trade tax proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) is disguised as environmental legislation when it would have little impact on global temperatures. In fact, it is a massive energy tax that promises soaring household energy bills, major job losses, income cuts, and a sharp left turn toward big government.
  • And It Keeps Getting Worse: The original draft of Waxman-Markey was so bad for the economy that moderate Democrats demanded it be changed. The new version, believe it or not, is much worse. Compared to no cap and trade, real GDP losses increase an additional $2 trillion, from $7.4 trillion to $9.6 trillion
  • And Why Is It Getting Worse? Attempts to reduce costs to consumers in the current bill do ease some near-term economic pains, but because "pollution permits" are handed out as subsidies, debt is driven up, interest rates increase, and businesses significantly reduce the investments that drive the overall economy, resulting in a more costly bill.
  • Green Jobs Are a Myth; Real Job Losses Are Not: For every "green job" created, others are wiped out. Compared to no cap and trade, average unemployment increases in the new bill an additional 261,000 jobs, from 844,000 lost jobs to 1,105,000 lost jobs in the current version
• Your Family Will Pay: Waxman-Markey will raise electricity rates 90% after adjusting for inflation, gas prices 74%, natural gas prices 55%, and an average family's annual energy bill by at least $1,500.

And What Do We Get After We Tax the Weather?

• The Ultimate Outsourcing: India and China have repeatedly said they would not match U.S. environmental goals in order to protect their economies. Cap and trade will merely move manufacturing jobs to China and India.
• Environmental Status Quo: All of the outrageous costs associated with this bill may at best result in 0.2 degree drop in temperature by the end of the century, and most likely even less.
• Massive Corruption: The New York Times reports that cap and trade "is almost perfectly designed for the buying and selling of political support through the granting of valuable emissions permits to favor specific industries and even specific congressional districts" (May 20, 2009).
• An Alternative That Supports American Taxpayers: Instead of appeasing a radical environmental agenda, President Obama should give us access to all energy sources, including domestic oil production, nuclear energy, coal, and new renewable fuels. Instead of new taxes, the President should aim to lower gas and electricity prices. When government impediments are lifted, America's energy entrepreneurs can develop innovative and market-driven solutions to our energy needs.

The problem is that Cecil Roberts and the UMWA are sweeping Boucher's support of Waxman-Markey under the rug. I posted about this, but no seems to be paying attention, I know you all read stuff, but the complicity here is staggering considering Roberts' rhetoric. The question we ought to be asking Roberts, Boucher and the UMWA, is how does cap and tax protect good paying coal jobs? Boucher's song and dance routine about being middle of the road is getting him nowhere. We've all seen the protest at his DC office and the arrests that followed. Being middle of the road does nothing but get you hit by a tractor and trailer.He should stick with being liberal, he's better at it.

Cecil Roberts - Clueless

In this press release, Cecil “I Own Rick Boucher” Roberts comes to the Feckless One’s defense citing “protections” in the Waxman bill. How does cap and tax protect coal jobs Mr. Roberts?

 

“Coal is America’s most abundant energy resource. We have more coal than any nation on earth. As the debate over climate change has evolved over the past two decades, we have not only insisted on the preservation of coal mining jobs, but argued as well for the essential part that coal plays in sustaining our national economy and ensuring our independence from foreign oil.

“While we still have concerns about this legislation, it contains many items that Rep. Boucher and others worked hard to attain and which we support, including over $100 billion to advance and deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

The fact of the matter remains that cap and tax will create a huge bureaucracy to handle the trade of “allowance” in carbon emissions and will effectively create a National Energy Tax which will discourage the use of coal and other sources of energy which are readily available to us now. This cap and tax system, by Obama’s own admission, will cause electricity rates to “skyrocket.” Don’t believe me? Hear now the Spender-in-Chief:

This is simply about partisan politics and the fact that Rick Boucher is owned and funded by Roberts and the UMWA.  I suggest that Mr. Roberts read HR 2300, the American Energy Innovation Act to see the right approach to energy solutions for the United States. Until he does, he remains clueless as to what Americans really want.

Boucher is protested

H/T to Article XI:

 

Looks like the Feckless One is getting hammered from both sides. I have no sympathy for these idiots who disrupt public business, but I find it amusing that our Congressman is protested by environmental groups when he supports Waxman’s horrible legislation.

As to the protesters, come to Buchanan or Dickenson Counties and try that. You’d be run out and tarred and feathered. These idiots don’t realize that coal drives the electricity they use to blog by, it drives the electricity that heats their water when they shower. Idiots!!!

These type of protests accomplish nothing but a criminal record and bad press for your cause. You want to protest? Fine. Find a place where no public proceedings will be interrupted. As to Congressman Boucher, I hope he realizes that coal UMWA is what is keeping him in office. He sells out again, he may be out of a job come 2010.

Binding Arbitration

Here’s an informative video on the second disturbing provision of the Forced Union Bill (or EFCA).

Pass H.R. 1176

The Democrats in Congress and their handlers the union bosses, want the passage of the Card Check Forced Unionism Bill, or under the misnomer, the Employee Free Choice Act, H.R. 1409. This piece of legislation contains two provisions that are disturbing and deserve to have the spotlight placed upon them.

 

1.) The EFCA removes the secret ballot and replaces it with the card check. Here is the section that provides for this:

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, whenever a petition shall have been filed by an employee or group of employees or any individual or labor organization acting in their behalf alleging that a majority of employees in a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining wish to be represented by an individual or labor organization for such purposes, the Board shall investigate the petition. If the Board finds that a majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for bargaining has signed valid authorizations designating the individual or labor organization specified in the petition as their bargaining representative and that no other individual or labor organization is currently certified or recognized as the exclusive representative of any of the employees in the unit, the Board shall not direct an election but shall certify the individual or labor organization as the representative described in subsection (a).

 

Streamlining Union Certification? It’s called the destruction of the secret ballot process.

However, there’s another provision that is equally disturbing. It’s called binding arbitration. If the union and the employer cannot reach an agreement on a contract after 120 days, the government will send in an arbitrator and said arbitrator will settle the dispute. The contract is binding on both parties for 2 years.

`(h) Whenever collective bargaining is for the purpose of establishing an initial agreement following certification or recognition, the provisions of subsection (d) shall be modified as follows:

`(1) Not later than 10 days after receiving a written request for collective bargaining from an individual or labor organization that has been newly organized or certified as a representative as defined in section 9(a), or within such further period as the parties agree upon, the parties shall meet and commence to bargain collectively and shall make every reasonable effort to conclude and sign a collective bargaining agreement.

`(2) If after the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which bargaining is commenced, or such additional period as the parties may agree upon, the parties have failed to reach an agreement, either party may notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of the existence of a dispute and request mediation. Whenever such a request is received, it shall be the duty of the Service promptly to put itself in communication with the parties and to use its best efforts, by mediation and conciliation, to bring them to agreement.

`(3) If after the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the request for mediation is made under paragraph (2), or such additional period as the parties may agree upon, the Service is not able to bring the parties to agreement by conciliation, the Service shall refer the dispute to an arbitration board established in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Service. The arbitration panel shall render a decision settling the dispute and such decision shall be binding upon the parties for a period of 2 years, unless amended during such period by written consent of the parties.'

This is little more than an attempt to force unionism on workers and to undermine the relationship between employee and employer. The good news is that there is legislation introduced that will protect employees right to secret ballot election. The Secret Ballot Protection Act, H.R.1176 Write your Congressman, politely ask him/her to vote yes on H.R. 1176 when it comes to the House floor.

Watergate vs. Waterboarding?

Spanky has this interesting post about Madam Speaker’s knowledge of waterboarding. What did she know, and when did she know it? Sound familiar? It should.

Maybe Warren Buffet, who owns a big chunk of this money losing rag knows that people are not reading it anymore, because it is akin to Pravda?

Tell us what you really think there Spanky!!! Don’t hold back.

American Energy Innovation Act

The House Republican Study Committee introduced the American Energy Innovation Act in conjunction with the Congressional Western Caucus on Thursday. This comprehensive energy package offers solutions in three key areas of energy policy: Innovation, Conservation, and Production. This approach is commonly known as “all-you-can-create.” Some of the key points in this legislation include:

 

Innovation

• Repeals ban on unconventional fuels
• Incentives for renewable technologies
• Permitting and tort reform
• Renewable facility tax preference
• Natural gas as a viable commercial fuel

 

Conservation

• Energy efficient buildings deduction
• Credit for energy efficient homes
• Credit for low rise and commercial buildings
• Incentives for carbon sequestration

 

Production

• Outer Continental Shelf leasing plan
• Development of the Arctic Coastal Plain
• Attainable nuclear energy production
• Develop alternative sources of fuel
• Energy impact statement required
• Creates Deficit Reduction Trust Fund

 

According to the RSC and the Western Caucus, the savings this legislation will bring forward will be dedicated to deficit reduction. This piece of legislation is fairly comprehensive and should merit a closer look by both Republicans AND Democrats. Long term growth of the United States is closely linked to our energy output and consumption. I’m not expert, but it seems as if this involves a more focused approach than the cap and trade approach espoused by the Spender-in-Chief.

Ridge, Specter? Any difference?

Bill Pascoe, at CQPolitics, reports that Tom “RINO” Ridge refuses to back Toomey over Specter. Why doesn’t this surprise me?

Ridge, a pro-choice Republican, has not been a favorite of conservatives in the GOP for a while. I would suspect that Snarlin’ Arlen and Ridge are  buddies from the Old Guard of the GOP and want to keep things on the down low. I would not be surprised if Ridge endorses Specter outright in the coming months.

Constituent Service?

A month ago, I wrote a letter to Congressman Rick Boucher asking that he stand up against the monstrosity that is known as our federal government.  I asked that he stand up and vote no against additional bailouts for banks, automakers, etc. I also asked that he prove to the Ninth District that he “wasn’t in Cecil Roberts’ back pocket” (that is a direct quote from my letter) and vote NO on the Employee Free Choice Act. Having worked in a Congressional office in DC, I fully understand the hectic pace and long hours that are worked. However, his staff has failed to respond to my letter.

Everyone says, Boucher has excellent constituent service and that is why he keeps getting elected. Hogwash!! A hard copy letter is still the only way to get attention in these offices. I took the time to write a letter and still no reply?  The citizen-lobbyist is an effective tool when it comes to “putting their feet to the fire”, or so I thought. Rick Boucher is interested in little more than pandering to the UMWA and mortgaging the future of the United States.

I’d suggest writing to your Congressman and letting him know how you feel and what you expect of him/her. Just don’t expect a reply from Rick Boucher if you disagree with him.

George McGovern: EFCA is not free choice

In today’s Opinion Journal, former Presidential nominee George S. McGovern lays the case against the EFCA and I must admit, I have to agree with him. Those old enough to remember that McGovern ran as a liberal and was absolutely demolished by Nixon in 1972. Friends, Mr. McGovern is right.

 

My perspective on the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is informed by life experience. After leaving the Senate in 1981, I spent some time running a hotel. It was an eye-opening introduction to something most business operators are all-too familiar with -- the difficulty of controlling costs and setting prices in a weak economy. Despite my trust in government, I would have been alarmed by an outsider taking control of basic management decisions that determine success or failure in a business where I had invested my life savings.

When it comes to labor disputes, both parties should be guaranteed a real chance for compromise under the joint economic threat of contract breakdowns. George Meany, president of the AFL-CIO for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1979, had it right in condemning mandatory arbitration as "an abrogation of freedom."

 

Even though he has this right, notice his one phrase “Despite my trust in government”  There’s the rub for most conservatives. We don’t trust government to do things that we can do for ourselves. Should I decide to join a union, it must be my choice and those of my co-workers, not an open-ended process that leaves too much room for coercion and for the removal of individual liberty and autonomy. The binding arbitration clause in the bill is almost as scary as the destruction of the secret ballot.

So, it’s only $11 million right?

In another example of old school, pork barrel politics, Boucher and the usual suspects (Warner and Webb) announce $11 million for a water resource project at the John H. Kerr Reservoir and Philpott Reservoir. It never ceases to amaze me  that our politicians in Southwest Virginia continue the old Byrd style pork games that made Byrd so popular, almost everything is named for him in WV.

With all due respect to Congressman Goodlatte’s proposal to scrap the Internal Revenue Code, spending reform must be the first priority. After that, abolish the Fed and return a hard currency system to its rightful and Constitutional authority, Congress. Then and only then can we think to undertake reform of the deeply flawed and unconstitutional income tax.

As to Mr. Perriello, I will leave comment on his actions to the voters in his district.