16 April 2007
Intriguing Posts
In process of researching Presidential Candidate John Cox, I came across the gentleman who runs the Blog for Cox website, Adam Graham. His personal website has a series of posts regarding conservative blogging and is a sort of "how to" for those who are interested in starting and even for those who have been blogging for a while. I'll include the most recent post in the category. I'm still in the process of reading the series, but it seems to be worth the effort so far.
15 April 2007
New Addition
Yes, there's a new addition to the sidebar to the right. I've added a banner and link to Fair Tax.org . I support the imposition of a National Sales Tax and the repeal of the income tax and the abolishment of the IRS. I've long held that taxation on income is inherently immoral and punitive.
At any rate, I'm sure some of his supporters would rather lay low (understandably) but Virgil Goode deserves kudos for signing on as a co-sponsor of HR 25 (Fair Tax Act of 2007). Thank you Representative Goode for standing up for Virginians and our rights to keep what we have earned. I appreciate your efforts to this end.
At any rate, I'm sure some of his supporters would rather lay low (understandably) but Virgil Goode deserves kudos for signing on as a co-sponsor of HR 25 (Fair Tax Act of 2007). Thank you Representative Goode for standing up for Virginians and our rights to keep what we have earned. I appreciate your efforts to this end.
11 April 2007
Final Four... Yes, it is true.
As promised to my friends in the ODBA, here are my four finalists in Charlie's GOP Presidential sweepstakes. This will be a relatively long post, so keep reading please. Keep in mind, these are in no particular order of preference.
1.) Duncan Hunter - My friend Kilo at Spark It Up will be glad to know that Mr. Hunter has made the final four. I cannot ignore what the record plainly states about Mr. Hunter and his service to the country. His support of life issues is well known and Mr. Hunter makes no bones about his support of legislation declaring the personhood of unborn children and a Right to Life Amendment to the Constitution. This stance is in line with my personal beliefs and is consistent with my conservative stance on the issue. Second, his support for an Marriage Protection Amendment is consistent with both my political views and more importantly, with my religious convictions that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Period. In the area of foreign policy, Mr. Hunter believes, as I do, that Israel is more than just a strategic partner in the Middle East. He believes that Israel is our most important ally in the region. Also, I support Mr. Hunter's decision to sponsor legislation seeking a pardon for Agents Compean and Ramos, formerly of the U.S. Border Patrol. These men are American heroes and deserve accolades, not imprisonment.
2.) Fred Thompson - I admited to thinking about a Thompson candidacy while proclaiming support for one of the big three candidates. Fred Thompson is a veteran of legislative wars on Capitol Hill and in the trenches as Minority Counsel for the House Watergate Committee. Senator Thompson is pretty reliable when it comes to support for conservative causes. He has stated he is pro-life, is pro-gun and pro-business. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Thompson on two occasions while living in Nashville. In both instances, his personal charm and native conservatism shown through. Mr. Thompson has proven to be an effective advocate for smaller government through his tenure as Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman. Senator Thompson has made a lot of friends in Virginia, as he has throughout the United States. I will be continuing my research into positions, votes and speeches he has given.
3.) Newt Gingrich - I will take some flak from fellow evangelicals for including Speaker Gingrich in my Final Four since his revelation about an extramarital affair during the Lewinski saga during the Clinton administration. However, Mr. Gingrich was one of the architects of the Contract with America. This united effort was reminiscent of an emboldened Lady Thatcher in Great Britain taking on the unions in the United Kingdom in the late 70's. The Contract outlined a bold initiative to reign in government spending, control taxes to encourage private capital to invest in American business and to provide tax relief for working Americans. Oh, that the GOP would have stuck to its guns with regard to the Contract. We stood for something back then. We need to stand for those same principles again. We proved they were a winning combination. Mr. Gingrich is included in my Final Four, because he is the closest thing to a conservative intellectual the GOP has. However, I was a bit disappointed with his performance in the so called debate with John Kerry.
4.) John Cox - So, you're saying, who the heck is John Cox? Truthfully, until about a month ago, I didn't know who he was. He is a business leader in Illinois and a former Cook County GOP Chairman. He is an extreme darkhorse, and is almost prohibitively strapped for cash in a campaign that will cost an extraordinary amount of cash. However, in matters principle, cash never trumps character. However, John Cox's website lists several specific issues that are noteworthy to me. First, he calls for the abolishment of the IRS and the income tax and to replace it with a National Sales Tax. This argument takes Steve Forbes pet issue of a "Flat Tax" and makes sense of it. Second, he is pro-life without exception and calls for legislation defining personhood to include unborn children and that recognizes that life begins at conception. Third, he calls for the immediate repeal of No Child Left Behind. Mr. Cox properly recognizes that education is a matter best suited for state and local officials and states that the government school monopoly is the problem, not the solution. He advocates the voucher system for parents to give them greater choice in the childrens education. Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Cox calls for the repeal of the hideous McCain-Feingold free speech restriction, noting that immediate disclosure is the solution.
I have also promised to give you reasons why Mitt Romney is no longer deserving of my support. First, when he states that he is a lifetime hunter and supporter of gun owners, and then backtracks to say he hunted rabbits as a child. I have no problem with a recent convert to hunting or even to gun rights, but be honest and upfront about it. Don't 'frame' yourself to be something you're not. Second, I'm just not convinced that he is firmly within the pro-life camp. I know the lead counsel for the NRLC has endorsed him, but I have doubts when the caveats are thrown out there. Example, pro-life EXCEPT in the cases of rape, incest, yada, yada, yada. A child born from rape or incest has the same right to life as a child who is born into a loving, nuclear family. The third issue is purely personal. In order to be elected Governor as a Republican in a deep blue state such as Massachusetts, one surely must have some appeal to the hard left of the Democrat party. I just question where Mr. Romney was when the battle for the heart and soul of the GOP was being waged.
There you have them, my friends. My Final Four. I have labored in putting together some reports for my personal perusal and have compiled this list that represents (in my view) the best hope conservatives have in the upcoming primary season. I realize that Jim Gilmore is in the race and have considered him equally along with the other candidates (I even reconsidered supporting Mr. Romney.)
1.) Duncan Hunter - My friend Kilo at Spark It Up will be glad to know that Mr. Hunter has made the final four. I cannot ignore what the record plainly states about Mr. Hunter and his service to the country. His support of life issues is well known and Mr. Hunter makes no bones about his support of legislation declaring the personhood of unborn children and a Right to Life Amendment to the Constitution. This stance is in line with my personal beliefs and is consistent with my conservative stance on the issue. Second, his support for an Marriage Protection Amendment is consistent with both my political views and more importantly, with my religious convictions that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Period. In the area of foreign policy, Mr. Hunter believes, as I do, that Israel is more than just a strategic partner in the Middle East. He believes that Israel is our most important ally in the region. Also, I support Mr. Hunter's decision to sponsor legislation seeking a pardon for Agents Compean and Ramos, formerly of the U.S. Border Patrol. These men are American heroes and deserve accolades, not imprisonment.
2.) Fred Thompson - I admited to thinking about a Thompson candidacy while proclaiming support for one of the big three candidates. Fred Thompson is a veteran of legislative wars on Capitol Hill and in the trenches as Minority Counsel for the House Watergate Committee. Senator Thompson is pretty reliable when it comes to support for conservative causes. He has stated he is pro-life, is pro-gun and pro-business. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Thompson on two occasions while living in Nashville. In both instances, his personal charm and native conservatism shown through. Mr. Thompson has proven to be an effective advocate for smaller government through his tenure as Senate Governmental Affairs Chairman. Senator Thompson has made a lot of friends in Virginia, as he has throughout the United States. I will be continuing my research into positions, votes and speeches he has given.
3.) Newt Gingrich - I will take some flak from fellow evangelicals for including Speaker Gingrich in my Final Four since his revelation about an extramarital affair during the Lewinski saga during the Clinton administration. However, Mr. Gingrich was one of the architects of the Contract with America. This united effort was reminiscent of an emboldened Lady Thatcher in Great Britain taking on the unions in the United Kingdom in the late 70's. The Contract outlined a bold initiative to reign in government spending, control taxes to encourage private capital to invest in American business and to provide tax relief for working Americans. Oh, that the GOP would have stuck to its guns with regard to the Contract. We stood for something back then. We need to stand for those same principles again. We proved they were a winning combination. Mr. Gingrich is included in my Final Four, because he is the closest thing to a conservative intellectual the GOP has. However, I was a bit disappointed with his performance in the so called debate with John Kerry.
4.) John Cox - So, you're saying, who the heck is John Cox? Truthfully, until about a month ago, I didn't know who he was. He is a business leader in Illinois and a former Cook County GOP Chairman. He is an extreme darkhorse, and is almost prohibitively strapped for cash in a campaign that will cost an extraordinary amount of cash. However, in matters principle, cash never trumps character. However, John Cox's website lists several specific issues that are noteworthy to me. First, he calls for the abolishment of the IRS and the income tax and to replace it with a National Sales Tax. This argument takes Steve Forbes pet issue of a "Flat Tax" and makes sense of it. Second, he is pro-life without exception and calls for legislation defining personhood to include unborn children and that recognizes that life begins at conception. Third, he calls for the immediate repeal of No Child Left Behind. Mr. Cox properly recognizes that education is a matter best suited for state and local officials and states that the government school monopoly is the problem, not the solution. He advocates the voucher system for parents to give them greater choice in the childrens education. Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Cox calls for the repeal of the hideous McCain-Feingold free speech restriction, noting that immediate disclosure is the solution.
I have also promised to give you reasons why Mitt Romney is no longer deserving of my support. First, when he states that he is a lifetime hunter and supporter of gun owners, and then backtracks to say he hunted rabbits as a child. I have no problem with a recent convert to hunting or even to gun rights, but be honest and upfront about it. Don't 'frame' yourself to be something you're not. Second, I'm just not convinced that he is firmly within the pro-life camp. I know the lead counsel for the NRLC has endorsed him, but I have doubts when the caveats are thrown out there. Example, pro-life EXCEPT in the cases of rape, incest, yada, yada, yada. A child born from rape or incest has the same right to life as a child who is born into a loving, nuclear family. The third issue is purely personal. In order to be elected Governor as a Republican in a deep blue state such as Massachusetts, one surely must have some appeal to the hard left of the Democrat party. I just question where Mr. Romney was when the battle for the heart and soul of the GOP was being waged.
There you have them, my friends. My Final Four. I have labored in putting together some reports for my personal perusal and have compiled this list that represents (in my view) the best hope conservatives have in the upcoming primary season. I realize that Jim Gilmore is in the race and have considered him equally along with the other candidates (I even reconsidered supporting Mr. Romney.)
Pro-Gun Candidates
For those readers who are pro-gun, and are still undecided (as I am) as to which candidate to support for the GOP nomination, here's a helpful resource. The Gun Owners of America has a page to check out the positions of the various candidates, both GOP and Democrat. I personally believe that the GOA is the most reliable and consistent gun lobby in the nation.
Check it out, see what the GOA has to say on your candidate on 2nd Amendment issues.
Check it out, see what the GOA has to say on your candidate on 2nd Amendment issues.
Double Standards?
It's politically correct to bulldoze Don Imus for his remarks. It is politically correct for all the liberal special interest groups to "band together" to fight this "dragon". The Mason Conservative has an excellent post up with a counterpoint to all this chest beating by the liberals.
The Duke men's lacrosse team deserves an official apology from the state of North Carolina, the Attorney General's office, AND the mainstream media for indicting, trying and convicting these young men without having ever stepping into a court room. Where is the outrage? Where are the leading 'social justice activists'? Where is the justice for these young men?
I will be honest, I've never watched a minute of Don Imus, and could really care less about his show. I have listened to the remarks he made. Were his remarks insensitive? Yes. Were his remarks crude? Yes. Were his remarks racist? Probably, although just about anything can be warped into a racist comment these days. Should the man be fired? No. Lest we forget, the man was a radio talk host before obtaining the simulcast on MSNBC. Suspend him, reprimand him and then let the man go back to work. (If that's what you want to call what he does.) For the sake of clarity, I do NOT condone what Imus said, and find his remarks in poor taste.
To be sure, the Rutgers women's baseketball team should be very proud of its accomplishment of getting to the Final Four and the outstanding season it had.
The Duke men's lacrosse team deserves an official apology from the state of North Carolina, the Attorney General's office, AND the mainstream media for indicting, trying and convicting these young men without having ever stepping into a court room. Where is the outrage? Where are the leading 'social justice activists'? Where is the justice for these young men?
I will be honest, I've never watched a minute of Don Imus, and could really care less about his show. I have listened to the remarks he made. Were his remarks insensitive? Yes. Were his remarks crude? Yes. Were his remarks racist? Probably, although just about anything can be warped into a racist comment these days. Should the man be fired? No. Lest we forget, the man was a radio talk host before obtaining the simulcast on MSNBC. Suspend him, reprimand him and then let the man go back to work. (If that's what you want to call what he does.) For the sake of clarity, I do NOT condone what Imus said, and find his remarks in poor taste.
To be sure, the Rutgers women's baseketball team should be very proud of its accomplishment of getting to the Final Four and the outstanding season it had.
05 April 2007
Coach Robinson Dead at 88
A true coaching legend and man of football passed away yesterday. Eddie Robinson is dead at 88. Many remember his love for football, but his players have all spoken about the love he had for his players. Condolences to the Robinson family. I'd like to share on quote from this article:
The real record I have set for over 50 years is the fact that I have had one job and one wife," Robinson said. We couldn't have said it better Coach!!
The real record I have set for over 50 years is the fact that I have had one job and one wife," Robinson said. We couldn't have said it better Coach!!
Washington County Politics
Friends,
If you've driven through any part of Washington County, Virginia in the past few weeks I'm sure you've seen the yard signs popping up. Yes, it's that time again. LOCAL ELECTIONS!!! As I've mentioned before, I love local elections. The candidates have to have good shoe leather and a strong hand shake. I'll be posting more on these elections in the weeks to come.
However, I have decided to make my first endorsement in this campaign. The race for Circuit Court Clerk is shaping up to be the most competitive in years in Washington County. As it stands right now, it is a three way race between Tricia Phipps, who is seeking the Republican nomination, Mark Graham, local Democrat big wheel, and Lisa Andis, an independent. I've decided to support Tricia Phipps. This was more of a difficult decision because I happen to like Mr. Graham, and think he is a talented attorney.
I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Phipps yesterday evening as she was campaigning door-to-door in my neighborhood. She has been working in the Clerk's office for 17 years and is the current Chief Deputy Clerk. She has participated in the mandated training that was implemented by the current Clerk Kathy Crane. Her vital, hands on experience makes her the best candidate in the field. If you live in Washington County, please check out her website at:
http://www.phipps4clerk.com and see for yourself.
If you've driven through any part of Washington County, Virginia in the past few weeks I'm sure you've seen the yard signs popping up. Yes, it's that time again. LOCAL ELECTIONS!!! As I've mentioned before, I love local elections. The candidates have to have good shoe leather and a strong hand shake. I'll be posting more on these elections in the weeks to come.
However, I have decided to make my first endorsement in this campaign. The race for Circuit Court Clerk is shaping up to be the most competitive in years in Washington County. As it stands right now, it is a three way race between Tricia Phipps, who is seeking the Republican nomination, Mark Graham, local Democrat big wheel, and Lisa Andis, an independent. I've decided to support Tricia Phipps. This was more of a difficult decision because I happen to like Mr. Graham, and think he is a talented attorney.
I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Phipps yesterday evening as she was campaigning door-to-door in my neighborhood. She has been working in the Clerk's office for 17 years and is the current Chief Deputy Clerk. She has participated in the mandated training that was implemented by the current Clerk Kathy Crane. Her vital, hands on experience makes her the best candidate in the field. If you live in Washington County, please check out her website at:
http://www.phipps4clerk.com and see for yourself.
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