Smokin' in the 5th

From On High had me in stitches this afternoon with his post Goode To Smoke Weed Again.

Here are a few more Tokes from al Weed, the Democrats' 5th District challenger to the Honorable Virgil Goode.

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Decrying a Virginia law some say is anti-gay, Democratic congressional candidate Al Weed called General Assembly Republicans “the most modern Taliban in the world” ...gay rights rally

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"Like most of you, I have had the opportunity for higher education – degrees from Yale and Princeton." ...campaign website

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"University workers are the muscle and sinew. The faculty, let's call them the brains. " ...UVA Living Wage protest

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"That's why we need to talk about a draft, so everyone shares in this equal," he said ...news report

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"Who goes into the military today? People who can be bought." ...anti-war forum UVA, sharing the stage with Gael Murphy of Code Pink (you know, the one who protests at Walter Reed Army Medical Center).

...total buzzkill dude.

Richmond Speaks Out On Illegal Immigration

Had enough of the Illegal Immigration madness? It's time to get off the couch folks! There are a couple of events coming up in the Richmond area where citizens can voice their opposition and concerns.

• May 5, 2006, Friday, 4pm - 7-m, Monroe Park. Suggested signs to bring: "No amnesty for illegals", "Guests are Invited", "Guest worker=Amnesty", "Stop benefits for Illegals". IllegalImmigrantProtest.com has the contact information.
  
• May 11, 2006, Thursday - The Minuteman Caravan will be in Richmond. They will also be in Washington DC on May 12th, 2006, Friday. You can sign up to help out here.
  
  

UCV will try to cover these events and will keep the blog updated as new information comes in.

UCV May Meetings

1. Monthly meeting: Wednesday, May 3, 7 pm. Our NEW meeting location is the
Ukrops at the Village, 7035
Three Chopt Road, Richmond, near U of R. We will be planning for our Armed
Forces Day picnic.

2. Book Club: Wednesday, May 10, 7 pm. Same location as the monthly meeting
(Ukrops at the Village). Our
book for this month (again) is The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington.

3. Armed Forces Day Picnic. Saturday, May 20. Time and place TBA.

United 93 Movie

Found this Opinion Journal piece regarding "United 93" via Sons of the Republic. The author is David Beamer. If the last name sounds familiar it should, he is the father of one of the heroes of flight 93, Todd Beamer.

I do not understand what all the whining and complaining is about regarding this movie. Too soon? Huh? Most people, I'm afraid, have already forgotten. We should never forget and never think for a second that there aren't others who would love to see another 9/11. As Mr. Beamer puts it:

There are those who question the timing of this project and the painful memories it evokes. Clearly, the film portrays the reality of the attack on our homeland and its terrible consequences. Often we attend movies to escape reality and fantasize a bit. In this case and at this time, it is appropriate to get a dose of reality about this war and the real enemy we face. It is not too soon for this story to be told, seen and heard. But it is too soon for us to become complacent. It is too soon for us to think of this war in only national terms. We need to be mindful that this enemy, who made those holes in our landscape and caused the deaths of some 3,000 of our fellow free people, has a vision to personally kill or convert each and every one of us. This film reminds us that this war is personal. This enemy is on a fanatical mission to take away our lives and liberty--the liberty that has been secured for us by those whose names are on those walls in Battery Park and so many other walls and stones throughout this nation. This enemy seeks to take away the free will that our Creator has endowed in us. Patrick Henry got it right some 231 years ago. Living without liberty is not living at all.

Never forget.

Who's Your Daddy? Milbloggers Say: CONCRETEBOB!

ConcreteBob, the man who handily dispatched Code Pink protesters from the gates of Walter Reed Army Medical Center will live forever in the hearts of FReepers, Protest Warriors and Wounded Warriors.

From the National Journal/Beltway Buzz coverage of the Milblog Conference, Saturday, April 22 2006 in DC:

At least twice, panelists called attention to "Concrete Bob," an active member of Free Republic who was in the audience. He played a key role early this year in forcing the group Code Pink Women for Peace to relocate its protests outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The protests prompted the milblog community to swarm both virtually and physically. Concrete Bob received a rousing round of applause when Andi praised him for "kicking Code Pink to the curb".

"The people who are in that hospital are not the policymakers," said Ziegenfuss, who spent time at Walter Reed recovering from his injuries. "They are the policy enforcers. ... There's a time and a place for everything, and outside a hospital is not the place."

Cynthia Mckinney Slammed -- ON CNN!

Cynthia McKinney (D-moonbat, GA), assaulter of Capitol Hill police officers got her clock cleaned by CNN firebrand Soledad O'Brien. I have so much respect for this woman, Soledad now. Is it too much to hope that her "go get'em attitiude -- even when there is a democrat on the other side of the table, gets passed on to a few more people at CNN?

Any way, you have go to see the video. You can find it here at Expose the Left. It's totally worth it!

Anyone who doesn't think McKinney is insane after watching this, is already there themselves.

!!!!!!!!!UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! 7:27pm

Further evidence has been submitted to demostrate, not only McKinney's idiocy and political ineptness, but also her REAL uncesnsored arrogance.

Video deposition into evidence here at , again Exposes the Left.

ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 04-26-06

In lieu of the recent events transpiring over the course of the last two weeks, Terry and I thought it would be prudent to discuss the implications of the Fair Tax and how it would possibly cooperate with the immigration discussion. Rest assured, we strive to remain non-partisan, as we both firmly believe that the Fair Tax is an issue that liberals, conservatives, and libertarians can all come together on. This is why I will attempt to refrain from inserting some of my beliefs into this week’s burst as it pertains to the immigration policies Congress is grappling with.

What is one of the most explosive issues within this raging debate? Personally, and I am sure most of you share the concern with what, and to what extent do “illegal immigrants” or “undocumented workers” enjoy in entitlements and governmental resources? Whether you believe that this is a problem or not is somewhat moot, for it is an argument that is infused within the debate.

Insert the Fair tax into the equation, and this argument is nearly gutted in its entirety. With the Fair Tax, and as Mr. Boortz and Congressman Linder state in a better manner than I:

The underground economy, which currently escapes taxes on about $1.5 trillion, would no longer enjoy its tax-free status. The illegal activities in which they engage would not be legalized, but every retail purchase the criminals made - whether a mochachino or a Mercedes - would be taxed the same as yours and mine.

Herein, Mr. Boortz and Congressman Linder are specifically addressing such activities as tax evasion, drug dealing, et al; however, it is not outside the realm of imagination to see just how this would correlate to the problem of “illegal immigrants” not paying their “fair share” of taxes. It is undisputed that they pay little or no taxes based on the arrangement they have with their employers. It is argued frequently that many of them do pay portions of their taxes via fake and counterfeit social security numbers, but this is just a portion and it pales in comparison to what many hard-working Americans pay year in and year out under our current tax system. The Fair Tax would be a definitive solution, for it ensures that every new purchase or service would generate income. Furthermore, it would arguably create an incentive for these immigrants to seek the legal recourse for they would more than likely be precluded from the “prebate” we have discussed before.

Thus, with the advent of the Fair Tax, much of the political rhetoric and strife may be gutted since a tremendous concern of many Americans would be alleviated in the short term.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous and Terry of The Right Track Blog . If you would like to join us, please e-mail Jonathan or Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

Enemy Thy Name is Estabrook

Enemy, Thy Name is Estabrook

This lets you know what goes on in Massachusetts' schools when the teachers get tired of teaching the "three R's" -- do they even do that anymore?

Massachusetts is continuing to fulfill its unofficial mission as a "gay-rights" activism lightening rod. Estabrook Elementary, in Lexington continues the time-honored northern tradition of pushing gay activism early in life through public education. Students were assigned to read the book "'King and King,' the story of [a] prince who is interested in the brother of the princes." And, yes, "interested" in this story means sexually.

This type of thing is nothing new to the school system; "The Estabrook School is the same school that garnered attention last year after another father, David Parker, was arrested when he protested the school's decision to have his 5-year-old son's class read a book depicting gay families."

Mr. Parker was arrested when he refused to leave school grounds till someone assured him that he would be told the next time this type of advocacy was taking place, presumably to remove his child from the premises during such instruction. His reward for exercising his right as a parent to direct his child's education was to be banned from the school grounds. (Take that, you straight-laced, xenophobic, probably Christian, closed minded, uneducated Pat Robertson-type.)

When called out on this latest round of "get 'em while they're young" publicly funded moral insurrection, unnamed "school officials" are quoted defending the action saying "...their goal in exposing the children to such topics was to be inclusive as possible...." Helen Cohen, a "school committee member" went on record defending the indefensible saying "We want all our families and all of the children to feel that they're welcome and included there, and one of the ways to do that is to show different kinds of families."

"The school superintendent, Paul Ash, issued a statement about the latest controversy saying, 'The Lexington school system cherishes diversity...we welcome children and families of all backgrounds, including families headed by same-sex parents."

Note to Estabrook "officials": Get out of the business of authenticating gay "families" to 5 to 10-year-olds. Stick to reading, writing, and arithmetic, and let the church, and the family teach about gay morality issues.

Not taking this sort of thing lying down (no pun intended) parent Robin Wirthlin said "My problem is that this issue of romantic attraction between two men is being presented to my 7-year-old as wonderful and good and the way things should be. We feel like 7 years old is not appropriate to introduce homosexual theme."

So what's the big deal? Why should you be concerned? Because, it only takes one incident in one place to start a movement. If you will remember, government sponsored gay advocacy happened once before when local governments in Massachusetts took it upon themselves to hand out gay marriage licenses. Once they started -- and knowing that what they were doing was unlawful for a public official to do, and with only confused stares as any type of correction, more localities began to follow suit.

By the time the endeavor was put to a halt almost seven states had some version of the illegal marriage ceremonies going on. Once gay couples had a "certificate" in hand there were charges of lawsuits if they were not recognized by employers for health benefits. There were pushes to make every state recognize these marriages, and ultimately, gay divorce and custody issues.

What is even more disturbing in the Parker case, was that the school officials denied Mr. Parker the choice to "opt-out" his child from these teachings. They refused to tell him when his child will be taught such "lessons" so that he could not exercise his right as a parent, and then banned him from school property, disabling him from finding out on his own, except after-the-fact. This is dis-enfranchisement of the worst kind. This may be precieved as a small instance, but "from little acorns, do great Oaks grow."

Link: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/print/8846994/detail.html

Milblog Conference

United Conservatives of Virginia
The morning events were a little late starting but I got a chance to meet Capt B, Taco Bell, and Col David Hunt.
CJ is here and will be speaking shortly.

Boycott the boycott, May 1st

There is a moment coming. A moment when thinking people will realize that there is an issue bigger than any political party can dictate the parameters of. Illegal immigration. No matter what anyone calls it: it is what it is. Semantics cannot change the reality. That is an unusual circumstance in contemporary politics. The socially liberal activists have been adept at re-defining the language to suit their purpose but it’s not working this time. Calling the illegal immigrant an undocumented worker? - What union worker will support that? No matter what you call it: there is someone challenging it.

I believe legal immigrants should have more input in this debate since they have been thru the process. They have as much to loose as anyone; by any reckoning. Legal immigrants come in all colors and degrees of education, from all countries and from all religious persuasions. So do illegal immigrants, although the “movement” is predominantly Hispanic. That brings up an important point.

Is it possible to talk about a group of people without lapsing into categorizing? Historically: no. That is why the nationality-challenged activists keep introducing individuals who immigrated illegally yet are otherwise admirable and law-abiding people. When we say they may not represent the larger mass of illegal immigrants – they say THAT IS RACISM!! In defense: stereotypes are by definition a description of a group or category of people, positive or negative. It is not defined as an untrue statement about a group of people. It may be true or not, it may be negative or positive.

Once upon a time, in my pre-conservative life, when I knew where to get a kilo of weed for $10, I lived in south Texas and most of the people I knew were illegal. I knew a man who had a "wife" on each side of the border. He would live with his "wife" in Texas and send money home to his people in Mexico. Then he'd get picked up and deported. He'd stay with his wife in Mexico awhile then he'd get back into Texas. When I knew him back in 1984, he was in his mid-twenties and had 3 kids north of the border and who knows how many in Mexico. This does not make me an expert on the immigration issue but there is no college degree for that. There are as many perspectives as there are people affected and sooner or later everyone will realize that everyone is affected. That’s just common sense.

The opponents of common sense are trying to control the conversation since they can’t address the facts with any kind of logic. Regular people aren’t falling for it. Most real, legal and patriotic Americans feel the same way about illegal immigration regardless of how deluded the politicians may be. One of my most dedicated liberal (born and raised union) democrat friends sent me this link… you must read this article. I absolutely howled with laughter and believe that there is hope for my friend.

May 1 Is Conservative Shopping Day!

In closing: Please, celebrate the May 1st boycott (Pinko de Mayo) by buying something and then stay home May 5th.

Krauthammer and the I-Know-Better Generals

When my son was involved in Operation Steel Curtain, Rep. John Murtha hit the networks with his anti-Bush, anti-Iraq war bloviating. It was picked up by Al Jazeera and other middle eastern media. Military families with sons & husbands involved in the mission were furious and felt betrayed.

I can imagine what the families of troops involved in Operation Mountain Lion in Afghanistan and ongoing operations in Iraq must have been feeling as the now infamous squad of retired generals rushed to the cameras to denounce their former boss, Donald Rumsfeld.

Charles Krauthammer has an excellent, well-reasoned opinion piece on Townhall.Com that serves as a timely warning. A small excerpt:

The Defense Department waves away the protesting generals as just a handful out of more than 8,000 now serving or retired. That seems to me too dismissive. These generals are no doubt correct in asserting that they have spoken to and speak on behalf of some retired and, even more important, some active-duty members of the military.

But that makes the generals' revolt all the more egregious. The civilian leadership of the Pentagon is decided on Election Day, not by the secret whispering of generals.

We've always had discontented officers in every war and in every period of our history. But they rarely coalesce into factions. That happens in places such as Hussein's Iraq, Pinochet's Chile or your run-of-the-mill banana republic. And when it does, outsiders (including the United States) do their best to exploit it, seeking out the dissident factions to either stage a coup or force the government to change policy.

That kind of dissident party within the military is alien to America. Some other retired generals have found it necessary to rise to the defense of the administration. Will the rest of the generals, retired or serving, now have to declare which camp they belong to?

It is precisely this kind of division that our tradition of military deference to democratically elected civilian superiors was meant to prevent. Today it suits the antiwar left to applaud the rupture of that tradition. But it is a disturbing and very dangerous precedent that even the left will one day regret.

Patriot's Day, Smithfield VA 04-22-06

There is an exciting event coming up in Isle of Wight County, VA! Strolling along the streets of Smithfield this Saturday you may run into a few former President’s - George Washington, John Tyler and Thomas Jefferson.

Robert E. Lee, John Paul Jones, Meriwether Lewis and Patrick Henry will be attending as well. There will be colonial dancing, a quilt show and carriage rides, storytellers, a civil war spy, military camps, Yorktown Fife & Drums Corps and much more.

A complete schedule and directions are available at the Patriot’s Day website.

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 04-19-06

My apologies to Jonathan & Terry for the late posting, but here 'tis:

In honor of everyone's favorite day of the year, Terry and I decided to grab his camcorder and catch up with some of the foot soldiers in the Fair Tax campaign. Of course, April 17th was D-Day since April 15th fell on a Saturday, so we ventured to the main U.S. Post Office for Birmingham, Alabama, camcorder in hand. If you are one of the prudent souls who actually plans ahead in their preparation, watching your fellow denizen is quite comical on Tax Day. A post office branch is no less similar to that of a colony of ants as they scurry about battling their fellow procrastinators.

We hoped to catch some perspectives from fellow volunteers to illustrate the appeal of the Fair Tax, and to illustrate how everyone who reads this BlogBurst can see how easy it is to get involved as we all attempt to have this proposition move forward in Congress. Further, this just goes to show what each of the BlogBurst participants know, but, hopefully, it will move forward in showing how inefficient our current system truly is. Regardless of whether these individuals procrastinated, this is needless wasted time and energy that could be better spent.

Click the link below to view the video. It will open in a separate window.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous and Terry of The Right Track Blog . If you would like to join us, please e-mail Jonathan or Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

A. G. Bob McDonnell Keynote Speaker at Shad Planking

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell will be the keynote speaker at the 58th Annual Wakefield Ruritan Club Shad Planking, tomorrow, April 19th, 2006. McDonnell will speak at 4:00 PM.

What: Attorney General McDonnell Keynote Speaker at 58th Annual Wakefield Ruritan Club Shad Planking

When: Event Begins: 2:00 PM

McDonnell Speaks: 4:00 PM

Where: 3 Miles West of Wakefield on Brittles Mill Road

Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be...

...Assistant Anthropology Professors!


I know there is a Sandy Berger joke here somewhere.

The University of Virginia was the scene last week of a sit in that has been a hoot to follow. A group of students threw a hissy fit, well, they threw themselves on the floor anyway, near the President's office in an area now known as the Time Out Room when they couldn't get their way.

Luckily they didn't hold their breath til they turned blue as it was 4 days before they were removed. Meanwhile, outside, their mommies, daddies and play pals attempted to bring them homework and food. It is not known if it was Gerbers strained or chunky junior but it did not make it into the building. Oh, the humanity!

The womyn pictured above, Assistant Anthropology Professor Wende Marshall, was arrested while attempting to enter the Time Out room in an effort to comfort and wipe noses. There may have been legos in the bag on the floor but that has not been confirmed.

After the trespassing students were arrested (some screaming, some crying), their mommies & daddies complained bitterly about the possibility of their Precious having a criminal record.

On this miserable tax day, with two cars in the shop and cold, gloomy rain dampening the county, I personally want to thank UVA's French Dips for the comic relief they have provided us out here on the green acre.

Up the Comrades!

File this one under red diaper doper babies.

Larry Miller Letter on the Republican Rift

Living on the fringes of the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area, I am grateful that Style Weekly is available online. This week's edition features a letter to the editor written by Larry Miller, admired by many for his successful leadership of the Chesterfield County Republican Committee and for his backbone.

Republican Rift: The Domino Effect

I found your “Fight for the Right” article interesting (Cover Story, March 15). What you didn’t pull together was that the Republican senators who went along with Gov. Mark Warner did immeasurably more damage to the party as a whole than simply repudiating the message of their party.

In handing Gov. Warner the budget victory, they made him look to the rest of the country like an effective Democrat who could get things done with a Republican majority. This helped boost his successor, Tim Kaine, who benefited greatly by wrapping himself in Warner’s success. This, combined with a bungled Kilgore campaign, led to another loss of the Executive Mansion by Republicans. Now we see Mark Warner touted as presidential material. Actions have consequences … and these consequences are good for neither the commonwealth nor the country.

Many of the taxing senators are relics of the time when they had to bend to the will of the majority Democrats. Old habits are hard to break. I guess the old quotation, “You have to go along to get along,” is just another way of saying, “You have to stand for something or you will fall for anything.”

Republicans only thought we had a majority. That will have to wait until either time or the electoral process removes these gentlemen from office and replaces them with senators who realize we don’t have a revenue problem … we have a spending problem.

Larry Miller
Past Chairman
Chesterfield County
Republican Committee

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 04-12-06

By the time the FairTax Blogburst appears next week, millions of Americans will have succumbed to the Internal Revenue Service, dutifully filing taxes on their income by Monday, April 17 at midnight local time. Some will owe the IRS and might not have the money to pay. Others may get a refund, which means that the government used that money for a period of time and did not pay you interest. (Incidentally, if you do owe taxes over a certain amount, the government will not only fine you for having not paid your taxes on a quarterly basis during the year, but will also charge you interest on your money that you kept from them!)

Since this is the time of year where the IRS and the citizens of this nation are most at odds (not that the IRS is ever really “popular”), we thought we’d spend this weeks post highlighting a couple of the abuses mentioned in the Boortz/Linder tome, “The FairTax Book”.

• An AP story on March 22, 1985 was headlined “IRS Tries to Penalize Chemical Company $46,000 for Being a Dime Short”. The story detailed how Rohm & Haas of Philadelphia (they own the Morton Salt brand) sent in a check for payroll taxes in the amount of $4,448,112.88 (that’s almost 4.5 million dollars!). The only problem was that Rohm & Haas actually owed $4,448,112.98. The IRS informed the company that the penalty for failure to pay that dime would be $46,806.37. The company got out of paying that penalty to the IRS, but you have to wonder how much they spent on legal fees trying to do so.



• In the mid-1980s, author and radio personality Neal Boortz was informed by his accountant that he owed $50,000 with the filing of his taxes, $50,000 that he didn’t have. He dutifully filed on time, immediately contacted the IRS, and made arrangements to pay his taxes over the course of the next year. Some time later he received a windfall which allowed him to settle immediately. Contacting the IRS, he was informed that the agent who had brokered his year-long deal had been transferred, and was subjected to what can only be described as the IRS’s version of the Spanish Inquisition, complete with its own female Torquemada. Backing Boortz into a corner of her own design, she managed to file a lien on his office building even though he was attempting to pay his taxes in full before the lien was filed. FYI, if you ever meet an IRS agent, formerly of Atlanta, by the name of Sandra, watch your wallet or purse, this girl’s a go-getter.

There are many more stories of IRS abuses — perhaps you know one or two yourself, and would consider posting your experiences in the comments section of this FairTax Blogburst participant blog. Simply put, at least some in the IRS have morals that make Tony Soprano look like Mother Teresa, and the relentless tenacity of a French waiter pursuing a tip.
Contact your Senator and Representative now and ask them to support the FairTax. With luck, and working together, we can make April 15 “just another beautiful Spring day”.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous and Terry of The Right Track Blog . If you would like to join us, please e-mail Jonathan or Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

FairTax Blogroll

Ogre's Politics & Views
Blue State Conservatives
Oblogatory Anecdotes
Euphoric Reality
Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff
Right Truth
Liberally Conservative
United Conservatives of Virginia
Third World County
Ms. Underestimated
The Buzz Blog
Area 417
Stuck On Stupid
Publius Rendezvous
The Right Track
Cao's Blog
RightWing Nation
KimPriestap
Don Surber

Justin Smith Reports On Illegal Immigration Rally

Justin Smith said...

So I went to the "Equal Rights for Immigrants" rally on Sunday the 9th and almost got arrested. I got there at about 2:15 (the rally started at 2:30) and stood with a few other like minded citizens. My sign ("Being here illegally is not a civil right") was one of a few there with a pro LEGAL immigration message. Some others read, "Secure our Borders" and "No Amnesty". When we got there we were about 40 yards from the nearest person there for "immigrants rights". As the afternoon went on, more there for the rally showed up. As a result of the crowd getting larger, we ended up about 20 yards form the nearest person there for "immigrants rights". A group of police officers told us to move back because we were getting too close. After I explained to him that we had not moved and had been standing there for the last hour, he screamed, "NO ONE HAS GOTTEN ARRESTED YET, BUT IF YOU DON'T MOVE THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS". I politely smiled and told him that we were just there using our constitutional right to peaceably assemble, but that we would move back to avoid further conflict. We moved back far enough so that we were our original 40 yards from the rally, but were again instructed to move back, that we were still too close. They ended up backing us up 100 yards away.

I find it very telling that the majority of the rally was held in Spanish. It was my belief that part of becoming an American citizen was possessing a basic knowledge of the English language. I would dare say that 70%-80% of the people there, are here in our country illegally. The fact that my constitutional right were taken away and ignored, to provide those same rights (denied me) to an illegal alien, (who by the way does not have those same rights, because they are not a citizen of the U.S.) is very disturbing to say the least.

I also find it interesting that some of the sign carried there said "I am not a criminal". Criminal is defined as: "relating to, involving, or being a crime". If a crime is "an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law", than that would make them a criminal if they are here illegally. One of the people there for the rally spit at my feet and said "F**king white people". A few others simply walked by and said "F**k you".

I think what make me the most upset about those backing amnesty is that the majority of them have turned this into a racial issue. One woman who was there called it "racism and nothing else." Most of what is being said about favoring people immigrating legally, is just that, wanting people to enter the country LEGALLY. I don't care if your black, white, Hispanic, or purple, if you don't come here legally, your not welcome.

While I was there, I was interviewed by two local news stations, the local newspaper, and a local radio station. When asked why I was there, I told them that I heard that there was a rally for immigrants rights, and wanted to be a part of it because I am very pro-immigrant. However it is important to note that I am very pro-legal immigrant and that an immigrant is "a person who comes to a country to take up PERMANENT residence".

1:28 PM

Justin posted this in the comments of my After Action Report. His report is much better than mine and while it should be on the front page of the RTD (he got one line) I am posting it here where it is more accessible.

After Action Report: Illegal Immigrant Rally in Richmond

I attended the Illegal Alien Rally/Protest in Monroe Park, Richmond VA 04-09-06. It was a pleasure to run into Mudboy Slim and Insane Hippie and meet some other Patriots.
For a little background on the organizers see Illegals to Protest in Richmond.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Crowd estimates between 2,500 and 4,000. I was told the radio station Selecta had asked that no Mexican flags be displayed. American flags were everywhere.


WE KNOW WHO HECTOR HERNANDEZ IS.
There was no organized counter-protest to the illegals. Citizens came on their own and watched the proceedings.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Immigrants to this country have many rights and protections under the law. Illegal aliens are not immigrants.


WE KNOW WHO HECTOR HERNANDEZ IS.
Common sense, simple truth.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Hmmm. I thought it was a crime to obtain a Virginia Drivers license under false pretenses. Then there is the little matter of car insurance. Maybe they rode Greyhound from Portsmouth.


WE KNOW WHO HECTOR HERNANDEZ IS.
Patriots standing quietly and observing the protesters. They did not go unnoticed.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Unintentionally humorous speech about oppression and repression. Straight from the pages of the World Workers Party handbook. Bad police, bad Amerika... yada, yada, yada.


WE KNOW WHO HECTOR HERNANDEZ IS.
American citizens were told to leave the park by a Richmond City Police officer. When they protested that they had a right to be there and the illegals did not, rather than explain the Permit process the officer started screaming (not an exaggeration) at them to get out NOW!


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Uh-oh! I've been spotted by the Organizadors. Say weren't you guys at the anti-war, anti-leadpaint protest last month?


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
This kid didn't get the flag memo.


WE KNOW WHO HECTOR HERNANDEZ IS.
American citizens interviewed by Channel 12 after being expelled from the park.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Monroe Park in Richmond, VA, USA became a sanctuary for illegals to gather without fear of arrest or harrassment because they had a legal permit to rally. American citizens carrying signs to protest this bizarre event were not allowed to stand on that bit of public American soil.


WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Now isn't that special?

WHO IS HECTOR HERNANDEZ AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?


Hector H. Hernandez is an illegal alien, nationality not known at this time. On April 3rd, 2006 he broke into the home of an American citizen living in Chesterfield County. While sexually assaulting her, he beat her and beat her and beat her, breaking her facial bones among other injuries. His other crimes (theft, etc.) against this woman pale in comparison. Covered in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Nort Spews: Flora McDonald, Arthur Ashe and the Davis Cup

Maybe it's because I've had a few sips of the "recipe" this evening, but this seems to have a Fawlty Towers cachet. I've excerpted the mention of my namesake and Arthur Ashe for posterity.

Clans pining for the new prince
By Robert Philip
(Filed: 08/04/2006)

Not since Charles Edward Stuart rowed ashore at Eriskay on July 23, 1745, had the clans looked forward to an arrival into their midst with such clamorous excitement. Bonnie Prince Andy was coming home to his ain folk.

But when the boat sailed up the Clyde to the Braehead Arena, who walked down the gangplank? Greg Rusedski, of Montreal, Quebec, and Arnold Palmer, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, that's who.

"It's Parmar, dear," whispered a latter-day Flora McDonald to her mystified husband.

"Who?"

"Ar-vind Par-mar."

"I thought Arnold Palmer was a bit long in the tooth. So where's this Andy Murray geezer?"

"He's got a sore leg and Amazonian swamp fever or something, so he isn't playing until tomorrow."

"Then what the hell are we doing here today?"

........................

Before Murray opted out of the opening singles, captain Jeremy Bates voiced the hope that Glasgow would provide a "football-type" crowd generating a "rip their heads off" atmosphere. But without Murray to fire local passions, the Braehead Arena bore little resemblance to the raw hostility of Ibrox or Parkhead.
......................

The main talking point among the audience during the Rusedski-Tipsarevic encounter was whether our visitor was wearing prescription spectacles or 'I am a prat' sunglasses. As the match was played indoors while outdoors it was a typical Glaswegian spring morning of driving rain, sleet and hailstones, the consensus was that Tipsarevic might be a tad short-sighted.

There then ensued a discussion on the number of leading players who wore spectacles (it was that kind of a day). I can remember Jaroslav Drobny, Billie Jean Moffitt/King as was, Clark Graebner, Arthur Ashe and Martina Navratilova, but if you can recall any others I would be delighted to hear from you on this subject.

Haste ye back, Andy.

More on Andy Murray here.

Illegals to Protest in Richmond VA Sunday 04-09-06

Not to be outdone by their counterparts on the left coast, Richmond Moonbats (tinfoil hat required if you click on the link) will be staging a protest Sunday, April 9th, 2006, 2:30pm, Monroe Park.


From the flyer:

We are calling on all immigrants and friends to stop Congress from criminalizing 11 million immigrants, women, men and children.
We will not permit Congress to make criminals of the teachers, doctors, social workers, and clergy that provide help to undocumented immigrants.

A quick look at the sponsors:
1. Mexicans Without Borders. This group sends up some Red flags for sure.

Macrina Cárdenas is a leader of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras (Mexicans Without Borders), a Washington, D.C.-based immigrant rights group. Her organization has been active in fighting against growing harassment of immigrant workers, at the same time addressing the broader social and political roots of immigration. She serves on the steering committee of the anti-war coalition ANSWER. In this interview with Socialism and Liberation’s Brian Becker, Cárdenas explains her group’s perspective on the growing debate over immigration reform.

2. The Virginia Organizing Project. Contact is C. Woodson who is also on the Board of Directors of Richmond Peace Education Project who lately sponsored the March 19th anti-war, anti-lead paint protest in Richmond.

3. The Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality. Another sponsor of the March 19th event.

4. Legal Aid Justice Center Their contact person speaks spanish according to the flyer.

5. La Selecta radio station WVNZ 1320 AM. Owned by the Davidson Media Group.

While the station has a solid advertising base now, Demetrio Flores said, the first six months were hard. Before Selecta was manned during the weekends, Spanish-language programming at another local radio station was yanked off the air suddenly because of a controversial show. That had a negative impact on advertisers, he said, and it took some work to convince them.

"Now we have [everybody] from Wal-Mart to Mi Rinc?n Latino announcing with us," he said.

Lawyers, real estate agencies, an alternative-medicine doctor, churches and even card readers now sponsor half-hour to hour paid programming on the station.

Illegal Immigration commentary:
American Daughter Media Center
Jefferson Mammoth
Save the GOP
Spank Zone
WuzzaDem
Michelle Malkin
From On High and THIS
Tanker Brothers
The Gunn Nutt
Euphoric Reality
Gateway Pundit
The White House
Press Gaggle w/McClellan

Project Hero

One of my regular blog reads is QandO and something I have been meaning to mention over here is their Project Hero. The most recent installment can be found here.

Here is how they describe Project Hero:

PROJECT HERO is an ongoing attempt to highlight the valor of our military as they fight in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We constantly hear the negative and far to little of the positive and inspiring stories coming out of those countries. This is one small attempt to rectify that.

One other thing I have meant to mention is that when I was in the Atlanta airport a few weeks ago there was an announcement on the loud speaker about the service men and women who were there (there were a lot) and asked if we could give them a round of applause. It was really heartwarming. The applause was fairly loud and lasted for a few moments. I wish I could have thanked each and every one of them personally. They certainly deserve it.

The Kaine and Chichester Show

What's going on? Is there a full moon rising? What do these maroons expect us to say?

"Yeah, baby, raise my taxes! Raise 'em til the cows come home! Raise 'em til our gums bleed! Money? We don't need our steenkin' money! We are not worthy!"

Read it and weep.

NBC's Bait Fails at Martinsville

File this under "You-Have-Got-To-Be-Kidding-Me".

NASCAR said it was "outrageous" that "Dateline NBC" targeted one of its race tracks last weekend for a possible segment on anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

NASCAR said NBC confirmed it was sending Muslim-looking men to a race, along with a camera crew to film fans' reactions. The NBC crew was "apparently on site in Martinsville, Va., walked around and no one bothered them," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday.

"It is outrageous that a news organization of NBC's stature would stoop to the level of going out to create news instead of reporting news," Poston said.

"Any legitimate journalist in America should be embarrassed by this stunt. The obvious intent by NBC was to evoke reaction, and we are confident our fans won't take the bait," he said.

NBC/Dateline response:

"It's very early on in our newsgathering process, but be assured we will be visiting a number of locations across the country and are confident that our reporting team is pursuing this story in a fair manner," it said.

UDATE: Kilo's got this - Race Baiting? LOL!

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 04-05-06

In lieu of the recent events transpiring over the course of the last two weeks, Terry and I thought it would be prudent to discuss the implications of the Fair Tax and how it would possibly cooperate with the immigration discussion. Rest assured, we strive to remain non-partisan, as we both firmly believe that the Fair Tax is an issue that liberals, conservatives, and libertarians can all come together on. This is why I will attempt to refrain from inserting some of my beliefs into this week’s burst as it pertains to the immigration policies Congress is grappling with.

What is one of the most explosive issues within this raging debate? Personally, and I am sure most of you share the concern with what, and to what extent do “illegal immigrants” or “undocumented workers” enjoy in entitlements and governmental resources? Whether you believe that this is a problem or not is somewhat moot, for it is an argument that is infused within the debate.

Insert the Fair tax into the equation, and this argument is nearly gutted in its entirety. With the Fair Tax, and as Mr. Boortz and Congressman Linder state in a better manner than I:

The underground economy, which currently escapes taxes on about $1.5 trillion, would no longer enjoy its tax-free status. The illegal activities in which they engage would not be legalized, but every retail purchase the criminals made - whether a mochachino or a Mercedes - would be taxed the same as yours and mine.

Herein, Mr. Boortz and Congressman Linder are specifically addressing such activities as tax evasion, drug dealing, et al; however, it is not outside the realm of imagination to see just how this would correlate to the problem of “illegal immigrants” not paying their “fair share” of taxes. It is undisputed that they pay little or no taxes based on the arrangement they have with their employers. It is argued frequently that many of them do pay portions of their taxes via fake and counterfeit social security numbers, but this is just a portion and it pales in comparison to what many hard-working Americans pay year in and year out under our current tax system. The Fair Tax would be a definitive solution, for it ensures that every new purchase or service would generate income. Furthermore, it would arguably create an incentive for these immigrants to seek the legal recourse for they would more than likely be precluded from the “prebate” we have discussed before.

Thus, with the advent of the Fair Tax, much of the political rhetoric and strife may be gutted since a tremendous concern of many Americans would be alleviated in the short term.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous and Terry of The Right Track Blog . If you would like to join us, please e-mail Jonathan or Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

FairTax Blogroll

Ogre's Politics & Views
Blue State Conservatives
Oblogatory Anecdotes
Euphoric Reality
Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff
Right Truth
Liberally Conservative
United Conservatives of Virginia
Third World County
Ms. Underestimated
The Buzz Blog
Area 417
Stuck On Stupid
Publius Rendezvous
The Right Track
Cao's Blog
RightWing Nation
KimPriestap
Don Surber

Bloggers' Conference Call With A.G. Bob McDonnell

Attorney General Bob McDonnell is one of those men that we want to shake hands with and have our pictures taken standing next to because we know in our gut this guy is going places. To me, as an outside observer, he really seems to have come into his own since he took office as Attorney General.

This evening he held a bloggers' conference call and answered the questions with confidence and depth. Bloggers participating were United Conservatives of VA, The Jefferson Mammoth, One Man's Trash , Too Conservative and Not Larry Sabato.

My question concerned the appeal coming up tomorrow in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Chicago. The ACLU would like to suppress the Boy Scouts of America because their oath contains "duty to God". This suppression would prohibit the Scouts from gathering on government property. That would mean there woud be no 100th Anniversary Jamboree in 2010 at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. AG McDonnell's office has written an amicus brief on behalf of the Scouts and the Dept. of Defense and he was optimistic about the outcome.

Kudos to J. Tucker Martin, Director of Communications for Mr. McDonnell. They could really use you in the White House right now.

JVERITAS - TRANSLATING THE IRAQ DOCUMENTS

JVERITAS - Translating the Iraq Documents is a blog that should be followed closely and illustrates the great potential of the "New Media". His first translation of the newly released Iraq documents appeared on Free Republic.

There is an exellent interview with Joseph Shahda by Patfish on Blogcritics.org. Please take a moment to read it and I think you will be as proud of this man as I am and you will feel your resolve strengthened to Stand the Storm!

I feel a great sense of duty to do the translation of some these documents because that is the least I can do in time of war to serve the United States of America to whom I am in eternal debt and gratitude, and what I am doing is a small payback toward this debt that I can never fully repay no matter what I do. My efforts to do the translation pale in comparison to the great efforts and sacrifice that our brave troops are doing on a daily basis.

I've got JVERITAS entered in my hero book.

UCV Meeting Wednesday 04-05-06 & Other Events

The next meeting of the United Conservatives of Virginia is fast approaching. Meetings are open to conservatives and vast right wing conspiracy types. Parking on the street is easy at 7:oo pm.
UCV MONTHLY MEETING
WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 2006
7:00PM
MARS BAR IN SHOCKOE BOTTOM
115 N. 18TH ST.
RICHMOND VA
Directions

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UCV BOOK CLUB
REVIEWING - THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS and the Remaking of World Order
BY SAMUEL P. HUNTINGTON
WEDNESDAY APRIL 12th, 2006
7:00PM
UKROPS CAFE & GRILL
CORNER OF PATTERSON & THREE CHOPT
UPSTAIRS OVER THE GRILL
Directions

Jyllands-Posten: A Voice Of Reason

This just in from American Daughter, a Virginia website & blog that is part of my daily rounds:

We are extremely privileged to publish an article by Danish clinical psychologist Richardt Thomas Lionheart, A conference of literature on the cartoons and the clash of cultures. We encourage our readers to study his thoughtful exegesis of all twelve Jyllands-Posten cartoons and participate in the conversation that he invites.

Read his article here.

...the radical Islamists are seen as intending to infiltrate and take over the western countries. Against this background, there are reasonable scholars from both the western and eastern traditions who are calling for dialog and understanding. We are deeply pleased to have the opportunity to publish one of them.

Sen. John Watkins Sums Up Transportation Solutions

This morning at the Powhatan Republican Party Mass Meeting, Senator John Watkins (r) informed the assembly that in his opinion there are three options for resolving the Transportation woes facing Virginia:

1. Do nothing.
2. Raise taxes.
3. Put on credit card.

*crickets*