Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Powhatan's Festival Of Life March 10th, 2007



Powhatan’s

“ Festival of Life ”

Saturday, March 10th 1-4:30p.m.


Powhatan High School Auditorium

1800 Judes Ferry Rd., Powhatan, Va. 23139

An array of powerful and profound speakers on todays compelling pro-life issues.

Rev. Clenard H. Childress, Jr.: Author of “No Shepherd’s Cry” speaks unabashedly about the atrocities of abortion and black genocide.

Olivia Gans: Director of American Victims of Abortion candidly shares her painful experiences with abortion, the road to healing and becoming an advocate for LIFE.

Graham T. Jennings, Jr. : Local pro-life attorney untangles the misconceptions of “Living Will” vs. “Will to Live” and EUTHANASIA, the so called, “Good Death.”

Dr. Kelly Hollowell, JD.,Phd: Author of “Struggling for Life (How Your Tax Dollars and Twisted Science Target the Unborn)” intertwines her scientific and legal expertise to clarify the issues surrounding the stem cell debate.

Sponsored by: The Virginia Society for Human Life

Powhatan Chapter

Contact (804) 598-3987 or (804) 598-8041 for questions

No admission charge


Pictured above are the feet of "miracle baby" Amillia Sonja Taylor, born at 22 weeks gestation. AP photo.


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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Fight For Me

Here's a great song and video by Citizen Reign that I hope all of our Troops get to see.

Hat tip to Brat who, along with some other great patriots, is holding down the fort for The Tanker Brothers while they Fight For US.

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Monday, February 26, 2007

Nail Meet Coffin: Warner Backs McCain's Presidential Bid

The divisive and controversial Sen. John Warner (r)VA has given what could be called the cold kiss of death to Sen. John McCain's presidential aspirations.

Warner Backs McCain's Possible '08 Bid
By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON

RICHMOND, Va. Feb 26, 2007 (AP)— Republican Sen. John W. Warner, the former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, on Monday endorsed Sen. John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination.

The five-term Virginia senator cited McCain's service in the Navy and his familiarity with military issues in a statement backing his longtime friend, who is expected to formally announce his candidacy next month.

"America's next president will be challenged by a range of diplomatic and security issues of unprecedented complexity largely due to growing, worldwide terrorist threats," Warner said in the statement, released by McCain's presidential exploratory committee. "Senator McCain's long experience with, and understanding of, our military coupled with his proven, unquestioned courage and leadership, provide him with the essential qualifications for our next president."

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Email From Cargosquid

This just in from Cargosquid somewhere in the Sandbox:
So, what's been going on? Is that old fart John Warner still in office? I can't believe the way he's voting.

Just because he "feels guilty about all of those kids he sent to Vietnam in support of Johnson's policies". If he's going to vote because of his feelings then he needs to resign for health reasons. He's not to be trusted with difficult decisions.

Murtha/Warner. Same thing.

Gilmore needs to run for the Senate if he's not serious about the Presidency. I've been picking him in any and all polls I find him in. Still no mention of him on the news.

And don't get me started on the the mayor of Richmond joining the Bloomberg fanatics.

See, we do get some news here.

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Sunday, February 25, 2007

Lee Brothers On WRVA Richmond Monday & Tuesday



ARE FILLING IN FOR MAC WATSON ON 1140 WRVA!

3-6pm MONDAY FEB. 26th
AND
3-6pm TUESDAY, FEB. 27th

Steaming live on www.1140wrva.com
Call us at 1-804-345-1140

BREAKING NEWS...
DURING THE MONDAY, FEB. 26TH SHOW THERE WILL BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE LEE BROTHERS ON 1140 WRVA!

Virginia Citizens/American Patriots
Thanks for your support!
www.theleebrothers.com
Scott and Richard Lee


Click logo for more info/links.

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Saturday, February 24, 2007

Inside the Military Mind of a Liberal

Some of you may remember several weeks ago there was an article written by Washington Post columnist William Arken, chastising American soldiers for asking the American people to support President Bush and the men and women who are fighting the Iraq war. Well, his comments didn’t sit well with military men and women of America, or some of the American people and a firestorm erupted.

I posted a response to Arken's letter on the Washington Post’s site and also to this site which you can find here. This prompted some interesting responses directed at me. Of the many responses (over 30 of them, by this time) only three letters were from moonbats who were outraged at my outrage. One was a slab of anti-Bush obscenities not worth repeating. Another expressed his pity for me, and the last was the most interesting one.

The last letter was a two-pager in questionnaire form designed to convince me that the “American people” are the Commander in Chief, not President Bush. I have removed the individuals name and vital info. The value of the letter is that it shows just what type of ideas and mentality with respect to the military are ticking inside the head of those who would support Arken's position. He asked me for my comments, which I will post here later this evening.

******

Dear Mr. Pope,

I am not William Arkin, and so you haven't invited me to discuss your thoughts that you shared on the second of February; nevertheless, I was wondering if I might ask you a few questions. (I am not an employee of the Washington Post, nor, for that matter, any media organization. I'm a programmer in the private sector who just happened to read your statement.)So that we're sure we're on the same page, to the column entitled "The Troops Also Need to Support the American People" you responded at 8:33 AM EST with a reply that began:"Dear Mr. Arken;I'm almost not sure what to write, as what I would really like to say is 1.) not (or should not be) printable, and 2.) would be below the decorum of a former soldier who served this great country in Gulf War I, and is now grateful that he did...."I noticed (with some dismay) your final paragraph:

"Soldiers do have a paycheck, healthcare at military hospitals (not all hospital visits and treatments are free by the way.) But these things are not things that require them to cow-tow to public opinion. They are benefits earned by people who do the most important job in this country; protecting us from all enemies foreign and domestic. Thanks for giving the United States a look at what liberal socialists really want in exchange for all the free healthcare, food stamps, and all the other "freebies" the government gives. You are thereby a bought-and-paid-for slave of the ruling class of government utopia, and in exchange they will tell YOU what to think. Anything outside of this earns you a slap from King Arken on his throne at the Washington Post. Long live the dictator." [Emphasis added.]

I had a few questions, and perhaps a few comments that I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on.

1) Washington DC is a city of around 600,000 people. There are perhaps 700-800 "politicians" (President, his direct staff, the various Senators and Representatives, Secretaries and Under- Secretaries of the various departments) and perhaps 4,000-5,000 people who could be said to work in the political "industry" (and this includes the more political think-tanks, lobbyists, political staffs of congressmen as well as party-affliated organizations).Even if my estimates are off and you double the total politically involved population, at least 95% of the city (and thus 99.75% of the 4 million or so in the "Washington DC Metropolitan Area") are not political as such. They are programmers and soldiers, bureaucrats (delivering your pension) and NIH research scientists (finding cures for diseases so your children and mine have a better life). They are, for lack of a better phrase, "real people".Do you really think DC is "un-American", full of people who are not "real", etc? On what basis do you make that claim (and frankly, why do you feel that you have the right to say another American citizen is less "American" than you, much less 4 million other citizens)?

2) Who do the soldiers in the US armed forces work for? I am not asking on whose behalf do they labor, but rather who is their ultimate master, their highest superior? The President may be the highest operational manager, the Congress may be the paymasters, but the armed forces work for the citizenry, and so isn't it the latter's right to comment in any way they see fit on the people they've hired to do their bidding? Military service may entail risk, but that risk isn't different in kind than working on an oil rig or in the construction of a skyscraper, is it? (It may differ in the quantity of risk, but all three are occupations that involve the realistic possibility of bodily harm or death)

3) Given that, in a sense, the Armed Forces are my employees (and yours, and my neighbor's, etc), doesn't their behavior reflect on me far more directly than that of a poorly organised mob in Iraq? Whether or not some insurgents cut off heads, don't I have a responsibility (to say nothing of my right) to judge how my employees conduct themselves?

4) I grant completely that our military isn't paid well enough. I feel the same way about the civil service, although certainly the degree to which the military is underpaid may be higher. I do feel that we could stand to reduce our military procurement budget (by sharing development costs with close allies for example) and some of those savings should certainly be passed on to direct wage increases, as well as paying for better (and more) training.

5) "Soldiers do have a paycheck, healthcare at military hospitals (not all hospital visits and treatments are free by the way.) But these things are not things that require them to cow-tow to public opinion." Given that the public represents the highest political authority, and that the Armed Forces are constituted under an organisation "owned" by the public, don't our troops _owe_ the public their loyalty, respect, and regard? Our troops have a right to their own views, of course, but to the extent that it is often held to be inappropriate within the military to criticise the President, don't you find it odd that so many soldiers are willing to condemn the American public?

6) Opposing the war is not a minority view now; you do realise this, don't you? It seems odd to condemn Mr. Arkin as a dictator for having views on the military that are, at least in broad strokes, in agreement with most Americans. It is also a bit strange to single out those citizens who feel that a greater governmental role in lifting up the less fortunate may be warranted as a "ruling class" out to tell others "what to think". I have no doubt you say this because you incorrectly assume that every liberal is an anti-war activist and that all liberals hate the military.

7) Do you really think the military serves the most vital need our population has today? We have no credible military threats; those with armies large enough, and developed enough to harm us are either our allies (Europe, whatever you might think, is very cooperative with us in every sphere other than Iraq. Half of the troops in Afghanistan are from the militaries of EU member state.) or have insufficient naval resources to transport troops to our shores even if we had no armed forces (China).Terrorism is a concern, but with greatest respect, our military is useless against it. The FBI and the CIA are the appropriate entities to defend us against _those_ threats, and evidence of this can be seen in the recent thwarting of airline-based attacks in London. It was their law enforcement and intelligence agencies that detected and prevented those attacks, not their Army, Navy or Air Force. Our Armed Services cannot police our cities (and one of our oldest laws prohibits them from doing so, to boot). I am not condemning our military when I say that today's security threats are not in their job description.

8) The above reminds me, you aren't under the misapprehension that Iraq was connected to 9/11, are you? The 9/11 Commission (bipartisan and filled with national security experts) concluded that there was absolutely no link between the two, and between Iraq and Al Qaeda in general.

Well, if you choose to read this email, I look forward to reading your throughts on my comments.Have a good day.

[Signature info removed]

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Friday, February 23, 2007

General Assembly To Families: We Own Your Children HB2035

After heavy-duty lobbying by Merck, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB2035, a bill that requires little girls be vaccinated with a brand spanking new cervical cancer vaccine called Gardisil before they enter 6th grade or they cannot attend public school.

Parents can opt their daughters out of the vaccine but they must justify this decision to the state.

How many parents will be aware of the following report?
The National Vaccine Information Center yesterday warned state officials to investigate the safety of a breakthrough cancer vaccine as Texas became the first state to make the vaccine mandatory for school-age girls.
Negative side effects of Gardasil, a new Merck vaccine to prevent the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, are being reported in the District of Columbia and 20 states, including Virginia. The reactions range from loss of consciousness to seizures.
"Young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision and some girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures," said Vicky Debold, health policy analyst for the National Vaccine Information Center, a nonprofit watchdog organization that was created in the early 1980s to prevent vaccine injuries.
There is also the matter of Merck money clouding the issue. It would be interesting to do some follow up on the money trail in Virginia, especially after what is being reported in Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff met with key aides about the human papillomavirus vaccine the same day its manufacturer donated money to his campaign, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Chief of staff Deirdre Delisi's calendar shows she met with the governor's budget director and three members of his office for an "HPV Vaccine for Children Briefing" on Oct. 16.

That day, New Jersey-based Merck & Co.'s political action committee donated $5,000 to Perry and $5,000 total to eight state lawmakers.

The calendar and other documents obtained by the AP show Perry's office began meeting with Merck lobbyists about the vaccine as early as mid-August, months before social conservatives, who are now those most outraged by the order, helped re-elect him in November.
Did Merck contact Virginia legislators and government officials prior to passage of this new mandate to usurp parental authority? Is there a money trail?

Unlike measles and mumps, the HPV viruses which cause certain types of cervical cancer are not contracted by sitting in classrooms no matter how crowded.

With all due respect, I cannot think of a single person in the Governor's office or the State Legislature that I would trust to knowledgeably order a medical directive like this concerning anyone, much less children.

Previously on UCV: NO to mandatory HPV vaccinations

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General Assembly To Business: We Own You HB2422

HB2422 passed the House and the Senate. It prohibits smoking in privately owned restaurants unless a "Smoking Permitted" or "No Smoking" sign is displayed.

I assume we are supposed to be grateful that this unconstitutional restriction to enterprise and personal freedom still allows smoking at all.

Somehow, I am not grateful, because this encroachment by government, minor as it may seem, is symptomatic of the slow but relentless suppression of free enterprise and individual liberty that affects each and every one of us.

HB2422 will be hailed as another necessary compromise by its proponents. I say there is no compromise possible when we lose our freedom. It is a matter of degree, sometimes lesser, sometimes greater, but extremely dangerous none the less.

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Kids Understand the True Hillary

I have heard more "Hillary"jokes over the last two weeks than I heard in two years of her husbands presidency. This one, though is the best so far. It's funny because it is so close to the truth:

Hat Tip: JDZ @ Never Yet Melted

TOO KOOL!

What is your favorite Hillary joke (other than the one in the Senate now?)
Post it.

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Thursday, February 22, 2007

Says VCAPS' Radtke: Potts Retirement A Return to Virginia Conservativism


Jamie Radtke of the Virginia Conservative Action PAC in a press release called the Retirement of Russ Potts "a significant sign of a conservative renewal in Virginia:"

*****

Richmond, VA— "The retirement of Russ Potts is a significant sign of a conservative renewal in Virginia in reaction to the continued insistence of higher taxes and big spending", the Virginia Conservative Action PAC commented today.

“Russ Potts is a tax-raising liberal who delighted in killing conservative initiatives,” VCAP Executive Director Robin DeJarnette said. “He knew if he ran this year, conservatives would unite to defeat him with VCAP leading the charge.”

Potts voted to reverse the car tax cut, voted for the biggest tax increase in Virginia’s history, and supported numerous tax increases in the past two sessions. As Chairman of the Senate Health & Education Committee, he repeatedly led the charge to kill all pro-life legislation. He did all this despite running in 2003 as a pro-life, tax-cutting conservative.

“He knew he couldn’t get away any longer,” DeJarnette continued, “and he knew VCAP would be coming after him with a strong challenger in Jill Holtzman Vogel.”

“The purpose of VCAP is to restore a governing conservative majority,” VCAP Chairman Jerry Parker said. “We are doing this by challenging tax-raising, socially liberal incumbents. We defeat some and some see the writing on the wall. This is welcomed news.”

DeJarnette announced that VCAP would support Jill Holtzman Vogel in her efforts to win the seat being vacated by Potts. Jill also enjoys the endorsement and support of delegates Athey, Frederick, Gilbert, Hugo, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Saxman and Senator Newman.

“Jill Vogel is everything Russ Potts is not,” DeJarnette said, “she is conservative, courageous, and principled. She will be a great Senator.”


###

Russ Pott's stands vexed many on the Republican side, so much so that, in his 2005 Race for Governor of Virginia against Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore and Democratic candidate Timmothy Kaine, the Winchester Republican Party refused to support him:

"On March 7, 2005, the Winchester City Republican Committee declared that it no longer recognizes Potts as a member and called on him to resign his Senate seat. [1] Some Republicans believed Potts' gubernatorial campaign as an "independent Republican" would split the Republican vote between Potts and Jerry Kilgore, but most polls have shown Potts' votes coming from both Kaine and Kilgore. "

I for one, will not miss his influence on Virginia politics.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

SWAC Girl: "America is not at war ... America is at the mall."#links

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Satire: DNC Unleashes Unstoppable Super Candidate

More great satire form B.L.U. at "Where Have You Gone, Ronald Reagan"

DNC Unleashes Unstoppable Super-Candidate: Oprack Winframa
"If elected, I promise a new car to every American soldier who will cut-and-run."

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Monday, February 19, 2007

SSGT. FRANK WUTERICH, OUR SON, OUR HERO

Our son is Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich the squad leader at Haditha. Most of you know the circumstances of Haditha, the ambush, the IED explosion, the loss of a comrade, the ensuing firefight, the aftermath of the engagement and then the media frenzy condemning our son and his squad. We would now like you to know a little bit about our son.

As a young boy in elementary and middle school, Frank always wanted to be challenged to do his best and accomplish as much as possible. He had been in the gifted and talented program, the Target program, the Odyssey program, the College Science program, played the trumpet in the school band, participated in baseball and soccer. High school was no different, except that there were numerous other activities, Drama Club, drum major, jazz band, tennis, soccer, wrestling, to name a few.

Frank had been considering a military career for a couple of years. He enlisted in the Marine Corps under the Delayed Entry Program on July 1, 1997, just a few months before he began his senior year in high school. Although he had planned to play in the Marine Corps band, things didn't work out and he enlisted in the infantry. We were always amazed at how he was able to juggle the Maine Corps, school, sports, a part-time job and a social life but he did so with determination.

A few days after high school graduation Frank was sent off to basic training at Parris Island, S.C. How proudly we stood and watched as he graduated from boot camp. Our son had accomplished his goals. He had become a dedicated, well-disciplined Marine, a man. All he could be. He is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA.

Haditha was Frank's first combat tour of duty. He wasn't afraid to go although he would certainly miss his family. He was anxious, willing and ready to serve his country, confident that he and his fellow Marines had the best training possible and were well prepared. He wrote to us as often as he could, always telling us "not to worry." "We are all doing our jobs extremely well here and making it extremely hard for the insurgents to operate." We prayed every day, every night, every minute he was in Iraq, that he and his fellow Marines would come home safely.

On November 12, 2005, Haditha happened. Word came that he was okay but had lost one of his fellow Marines, two were injured, the rest were safe. In January 2006 he was recommended for the "Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device" by his platoon leader Lt. William T. Kallop for his leadership at Haditha. This recommendation has since fallen through the cracks and the medal has not been awarded.

Frank returned to the states in April 2006. He and his family were planning on relocating closer to the east coast when he was discharged in June 2006. He hoped to pursue a career in music production. That never happened! In May of 2006 the allegations began. We were deluged with media at our doorstep and phone calls from every news source in the U.S. and beyond. We continue to be called upon whenever any new headlines emerge. We know our son is innocent, we know he has done nothing wrong, we know he was following the "Rules of Engagement." He is a Marine who was doing the job he was trained to do. To Time magazine, John Murtha and Alan Colmes we say: "How dare you? How dare you condemn our Marines for doing their job? There have been NO Article 32 hearings, NO convictions, NO confessions! Yet you deem it necessary to tarnish their reputations without any facts." The misinformation, the "leaks", the media "sensationalism" makes our blood boil and our hearts break.

There isn't a day that goes by that we don't shed tears. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't say prayers. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of Frank and his squad. To those of you who have expressed your support for Frank and his felllow Marines via mail, phone calls, the internet, etc., we can only say that we will be eternally grateful! You make it a little easier to get through each day.

We have continuously talked to various news media, been on local and national television defending our son. Dave and our daughter-in-law have appeared on Hannity & Colmes. Our family and friends will continue to support our son. We hope and pray that you will too. We truly believe in his innocence.

Through all of this adversity Frank has maintained his innocence with dignity and held his head up high. He is a great Marine, a loving son, father, husband and brother. He is kind, has great character, and loves his country. He is OUR SON, OUR HERO!

"Through tears of sadness hopefully there will be tears of joy"!

Rosemarie & David Wuterich, Meriden, CT

www.frankwuterich.com

Hat tip FreeRepublic.com

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Sunday, February 18, 2007

Remember Me?

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Saturday, February 17, 2007

NFL Whimps Out On Border Patrol Ad

Border Patrol Ad Too Tough for NFL Publication
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
February 15, 2007

CNSNews.com) - For the rough and tumble National Football League, a recruitment ad for the U.S. Border Patrol was deemed "too hard-hitting."

The agency tasked to protect the land and sea borders of the United States sought to buy print advertising in the 242-page program for Super Bowl XLI, sold at the stadium on game day and over the Internet. The program featured articles on the teams and players, interspersed among ads for credit cards, beer, soft drinks, hotels and laundry detergent.

"It's a light-hearted publication," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Cybercast News Service.

The Border Patrol recruitment ad, on the other hand, was anything but lighthearted, McCarthy said, explaining the NFL's decision to reject it.

"As Border Patrol agents, it'll be your responsibility to prevent the entry of terrorists and their weapons into the United States," it said.

"You'll help detect and prevent the unlawful entry of undocumented aliens into the U.S. and apprehend violators of our immigration laws. In addition to those important duties, you'll play a primary role in stopping drug smuggling along our borders."

The NFL offered the federal agency a chance to submit an alternative ad, McCarthy said.

"Something less hard-hitting or jarring would have been accepted," he said. "This particular ad brought readers into territory they were not necessarily ready for."

Further, the NFL didn't want to appear as if they were taking a side in the debate over illegal immigration, McCarthy added.

"We don't take a position on this. We're sitting on the 50-yard line," he said. "The language in this particular ad was too hard-hitting."

Thus far, the NFL is the only sports league to reject the ad.

The National Basketball Association will feature the ad in its program for the NBA All Star Game, while the publications for NCAA Final Four and Pro Bull Rider magazine will also carry the ad, said Mike Friel, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees the Border Patrol.(Read More)

The Border Patrol should have added a disclaimer that agents may be incarcerated at the whim of the Justice Dept. and allied judges and placed in general population where they may be beaten within an inch of their lives. Also, agents and their families are responsible for all legal fees incurred. Other than that it is a great ad.

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Friday, February 16, 2007

Iraq War Debate In The House: Thank You Randy Forbes!

Congressman Randy Forbes gave a stunning speech on the floor of the House of Representatives this week. I thank him from the bottom of my heart and urge all Virginians to visit C-Span to watch and hear him. They have a full page of video links to speeches on the current Iraq War Debate listed by state.

Randy Forbes moved me to tears of pride.
Tom Davis made my face burn with shame.
UPDATE 12:18pm: Rep. Bobby Scott is speaking live on C-Span. Another embarrassment for the Old Dominion.

A sampling of Virginia Troop Supporters covering the debate:
SWAC Girl, Virgil Goode gave 'em hell..., Thank you, Rep. Bob Goodlatte
BadRose, Thank You, VirgilFrom On High, We Choose To Lose, We Choose To Lose II
Hello Iraq, A Call To Arms
Two Conservatives, To Many Winning Is No Option
Spark It Up!, Virgil Goode Tells It Like It Is
Skeptical Oberver, Bitterly Disappointing
Journal of Civilized Man, You're Psycho If You Don't Agree With Virgil

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Moroccan Man Attempts Hijack, Wants Political Asylum in France

This just in…

MADRID, Spain — A fast-thinking pilot, with the help of passengers, fooled a gunman who had hijacked a jetliner flying from Africa to the Canary Islands, braking hard upon landing then quickly accelerating to knock the man down so travelers could pounce on him, Spanish officials said Friday.

A lone gunman brandishing two pistols hijacked the Air Mauritania Boeing 737, carrying 71 passengers and a crew of eight, Thursday evening shortly after it took off from the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott for Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands, with a planned stopover in Nouadhibou in northern Mauritania.

He wanted to divert the plane to France so he could request political asylum, said Mohamed Ould Mohamed Cheikh, Mauritania's top police official.

The hijacker has been identified as Mohamed Abderraman, a 32-year-old Mauritanian, said an official with the Spanish Interior Ministry office on Tenerife, another of the islands in the Atlantic archipelago. He spoke under rules barring publication of his name. Mauritania has said the hijacker was a Moroccan from the Western Sahara.

The hijacker ordered the pilot to fly to France, but the crew told him there was not enough fuel.



There may be some hope for Spain after all. The real heroes in my opinion are the travelers who had to jump this guy. With two guns and God knows what else under his clothes, it was a true show of courage. Maybe with new leadership, Spain may be ready to rid the likes of Al Qaida in their country – maybe even a good ally in the War on Terror again.

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Full House At Joe Blackburn Fundraiser

An impressive turnout tonight leaves no doubt the Joe Blackburn for Virginia Senate campaign, is primed, buffed and ready to take on Sen. Walter Stosch.

Jamie at The Conservative Voice reports back: Blackburn fundraiser should scare Stosch.

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Mitt Romney in '08?

Just to make sure I put a post up on the blog to cover it, Mitt Romney announced a few days ago that he would seek the Republican nomination for president in 2008. I don’t know a whole lot about Mitt Romney. He has not been a name that I have covered a lot in my political travels. What I do know from news articles and word of mouth is:

1. He is a former governor of Massachusetts
2. He is “a successful venture capitalist who amassed a fortune”
3. The “ ‘savior’ of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympic Games”
4. He has been married to his wife Ann since 1969, and have five married sons and 10 grandchildren.
5. “As governor of Massachusetts, Romney was credited with closing a $3 billion budget deficit without raising taxes and pushing a comprehensive overhaul of health insurance system" in his state.
6. If elected, he would be the first Mormon elected to the presidency.

I know it sounds bad, but this is how I feel; presidential or congressional candidates who calls themselves a “conservative” and come from further north than Virginia sets red flags off in my mind – especially Massachusetts. I think, with the exception of Rick Santorum, I can’t think of very many politicians on the Republican side that would fit the Reagan mold. For clarity, this is what I would consider true conservativism:

-Pro-life
-Anti-Affirmative Action
-Pro-equal rights
-Pro-Second Amendment
-Pro-limited government
-Pro-low taxation
-Pro-military and national defense
-Pro-flag and strong American national identity
-Recognize the Bible as the foundation of American law, government, and society
-Recognize marriage as only between one man and one woman.
-Strong border security and enforcement of immigration laws
-Pro-capitalism
-Anti-trade deficit, Pro-domestic manufacturing
-Fair, strong law enforcement and judicial system

That’s the prism that I look at he world through. And that’s what I am looking for when I look at the votes OVER TIME of a candidate who wants to have my vote. Now I will add that once I get to the state and local level, I can give lee-way on a few items, but I never deviate far from these “rules of thumb.”

Now, a couple of things in this article caught my attention (and caused red flags.) First, was his statement that Abroad, he called on the United States ot “regain its standing in the world and he called for the United States' role to be defined not only in terms of military might but also by its willingness to lead, serve and share.” What does that mean? We are the leader of the free world, already. We serve the world already. We sent military ships with aid to Indonesia and other countries after the tsunami – a partially Islamic country that hated us before our aid and still does after our ships have left. We take the surplus of crops that we grow and sell and/or give them to other countries in the name of “humanitarian aid.” We prop up entire countries with monetary support and military aid, and even house and fund the United Nations, a despotic, anti-American and anti-Semitic organization if there ever was one.

Other areas of concern for me are his letter During his Senate run again Ted Kennedy where he “[promised] a gay Republican group he would be a stronger advocate for gays and their rights than Kennedy” and his statement that “regardless of personal beliefs, abortion should be safe and legal.” All of these positions are in contrast to what he is saying now, so I ask, which version do we believe?

Anyone with any more details, answers, or examples, both good and bad post them. We need this information to make a clear decision, and, so far, not a lot by the way of deeds have been forthcoming to give him the benefit of the doubt.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Painting Border Enforcement as KKK Propoganda

More linking of opponents of illegal immigration to the KKK by the Associated Press:

“Fears over illegal immigration are fueling a resurgence in membership to the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina and across the country, according to Klan officials and organizations that track hate groups.” “The group wants to increase its numbers so it can influence local and national politics. The Klan's goals include military border enforcement and ending taxpayer-funded services to illegal immigrants” and “ Klan members often associate with racist skinheads or neo-Nazis, and illegal immigration is a top issue for all of them, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project for the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center.”

The article quotes a Charlotte, NC imperial wizard who, while railing “The illegal immigrants are taking this country over,” reminisces about the good-old-days, noting that those days are days past; “We were strong in the ‘60s…We’re not that strong now. We’re hoping to get there.” Citing that “North Carolina reflects a ‘surprising and troubling resurgence’ around the country,” growth of hate groups in North Carolina is credited with 35 total “extremists groups,” up from 27 groups five years ago. This they use as a foundation (with the help of the Poverty Law Center) to rail against this as a national trend.

The real story here is at what point will politicians on both sides of the aisle take seriously the problem of illegal immigration. Their lack of action on this is what is allowing the situation as a whole to fester. I have no fears that immigration (illegal or otherwise) will allow groups like the Klan to come back into power on a wide-spread scale and bring cross-burning back again. I have much more faith in Americans than that, and this is evidenced by groups like the Minuteman, who state prominently on their web site: “MMP has no affiliation with, nor will we accept any assistance by or interference from, separatists, racists, or supremacy groups.” I know some of them, and have found them to be honest and true to this statement.

What’s really happening here is open-borders proponents trying to paint all opponents to their agenda as race-haters and bigots. I’m not falling for it. Secure ALL of our borders and enforce immigration laws that are on the books. Now! It’s the law. If you don’t like it, change the law through the political process. That’s how our system works.

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Monday, February 12, 2007

God Save Our Marines

...they are being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness by lawyered-up, bureaucratic, prigs from hell.

Justin Sharratt - My Son
by Darryl Sharratt

I am the father of L/Cpl Justin Sharratt. On August16th, 2003 the dreams of a little boy became reality. My son Justin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school graduation. Since the age of six, Justin dreamed of a military career. The combat boots, camouflage fatigues and helmet he wore as a child would soon become his uniform of the day as a United States Marine. To serve and protect the United States of America from all enemies both domestic and foreign; a duty he did not take lightly.

Justin’s first combat tour of duty was the city of Fallujah, Iraq. It was here, in the heat of the Iraqi desert, a boy became a man. Sharratt, Stone, Mitchell, Stevens and Wolf soon became ‘brothers by different mothers.’ In a battle known as “Hell House” they fought toe to toe with Iraqi insurgents bent on the destruction of U. S. Marines. They formed a bond forged in the furnace of combat; a bond that will last a lifetime. Semper Fidelis.

Upon his return from Iraq Justin joined us while on leave. He was transformed into the man all fathers dream and hope they will be. While on leave, Justin broke his ankle and was put on medical leave. It was at this time I realized what it meant to him to be an infantry rifleman, a grunt. He stared me in the eyes and said “Dad, all I want to do is get my ankle healed. I have to return to Iraq with 3-1 Kilo Company. The guys are counting on me to cover their six and I will never let them down.” Discussion ended—my son the warrior.

The city of Haditha, Iraq was the destination of 3-1 Kilo Company on Justin’s second deployment. Known to be a hot bed of Iraqi insurgency, the Marines of 3-1 Kilo Company could only envision what to expect. Seasoned from their tour in Fallujah, most of the Marines were on their second Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, many their third. They were experienced combat veterans, drilled on the Rules of Engagement yet sensitive to their alien environment and the Iraqi populace.

On November 19, 2005, a convoy of four Marine humvees was ambushed on a city street in Haditha. A massive IED explosion ripped the fourth humvee in the column apart. One Marine was killed and two were seriously wounded. 3rd platoon, 3-1 Kilo Company, my son’s unit, was now in a firefight for their lives. There was no time for rage or revenge. Justin needed to apply his Marine Corps training and experience to preserve the lives of his fellow Marines. All the Marines in 3rd platoon responded in like manner- to preserve the lives of fellow Marines. Reinforcements were called in and an ambulance was needed to attend the wounded. Marines were positioned to defend their precarious position and a comm link was established to FOB Sparta. All done in the best of Marine Corps tradition and training while taking enemy fire.

In the aftermath of this engagement, 24 Iraqis were killed. A U.S. Congressman has called these Marines murderers. Time magazine has enlisted the propaganda of foreign journalists to sell its political agenda. Iraqi civilians have been schooled in making false statements. An Iraqi girl missed a day of school because she was afraid the bomb blast would injure her. Interesting reading, but I truly believe the American people can see through this barrage of media conjecture. I ask you not to prejudge my son, not to prejudge these Marines. They have served this country with honor, truth and diligence. I say unto you. the Few, the Proud, the Marines………..

War is a tragic thing. The enemy we are fighting has had centuries to prepare. They wear no uniforms, fight by no Rules of Engagement or follow the Geneva Convention. Using civilians as human shields is a common practice and their hatred for non-Islamic cultures is endemic.

The United States government has taken 12 months and spent millions of dollars and countless man-hours investigating the Haditha engagement. On December 21st, 2006, four NCOs and four officers were charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. My son, LCpl Justin Sharratt faces three counts of unpremeditated murder. This is not the forum to discuss these charges but my son stands strong in the fact he followed the Rules of Engagement, protected his fellow Marines and did nothing wrong. All of these men are innocent of these charges. In the aftermath of 9-11, these men have risen to honorably serve their country. Some have given a lifetime of dedicated service, others were just beginning. They have demonstrated to the world there is “No better friend, No worse enemy” than a U.S. Marine.

For now, the handshakes will be tighter, the hugs will be longer and the tears sliding down my face are not a sign of weakness- they affirm a father’s love for his Marine son.

Darryl Sharratt Canonsburg, Pa.

www.justinsharratt.com

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The AP Admits That US Did Kill Some "Suspected" Terrorists

The Associated Press actually published a story saying that US soldiers in Iraq have actually killed some terrorists:

“US Airstrike Kills 8 Suspected Insurgents Near Bagdad”
“BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. airstrike killed eight suspected terrorists and destroyed a building south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said Friday. The attack occurred Thursday night in Arab Jabour, a mostly Sunni Muslim suburb south of Baghdad. American troops came under "heavy enemy fire during a raid targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists and foreign fighter facilitators," the U.S. military said in a statement. Coalition aircraft swooped in, dropping precision bombs on a building where eight suspects had barricaded themselves, the statement said. All eight were killed. No U.S. forces or Iraqi civilians were injured in the attack, the military said. An Iraqi army officer, who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media, confirmed the raid and number of people killed. He added that Iraqi soldiers did not take part in the clashes.”

Of course, the rest of the article is dedicated to supposed mistakes made by American forces, including an accompanying picture of “a man injured in a US Army air raid…in a hospital in Fallujah….”

“A separate U.S. airstrike hit a Kurdish position in northern Iraq, killing at least five Kurdish troops and wounding six, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Friday.
Kurdish officials put the casualty toll at eight killed and six wounded, and said the men were guarding a branch of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan — led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a key supporter of U.S. efforts in Iraq.
The U.S. military said the attack was launched after ground forces identified armed men in a bunker near a building they thought was being used to make bombs. The troops called for the men to put down their weapons in Arabic and Kurdish and fired warning shots before helicopters fired at the bunker, the military said.”


No word from the “crack” reporters for the Associated Press as to why the soldiers did not put down their arms when told to, why they didn’t communicate who they were, or why the Kurdish authorities didn’t say who they were, OR if the men were confirmed to be Kurdish or Iraqi at all, for that matter. It’s not like they haven’t found foreign fighters in Iraq before. Is it possible that they didn’t speak Kurdish or Arabic? Hmmm.

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Nominee For Best T-Shirt Of The Year

Go see it over at Medium @ Large. Heh.

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

MEMORANDUM: FROM THE DESK OF THE ALMIGHTY

Concretebob sent this. I just couldn't resist posting it. ~f.m.

MEMORANDUM: FROM THE DESK OF THE ALMIGHTY
TO: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines

SUBJ: WHICH MILITARY SERVICE IS BEST

Gentlemen, all branches of the United States Armed Forces are honorable and noble. Each serves America well and with distinction. Being servicemen in the United States Military represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute and dedication. Be proud of that.

Sincerely,
GOD, USMC (Ret.)

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

I Heart This Guy

Del. Bob Marshall speaking on the decision to remove the cross in the chapel at William & Mary by Pres. Gene R. Nichol:
"We need to have some candor here and we need to have this cross placed back," Marshall said, gesturing toward a poster-sized photo of the cross. "This is not intimidating. Only Dracula would shrink from this."
DailyPress.com Feb. 8, 2007

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The New American Revolution Coming To A Neighborhood Near You

These are photos of participants in a march in Hollywood, CA opposing illegal immigration and in support of imprisoned Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean and Rocksprings Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez.









I pray our elected officials and party leaders are listening.
I fear that most of them are not.

Photos by Ladycalif.

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Friday, February 09, 2007

A Grandfathers' Love

With all of the negative press going on over the last week about whacked-out fathers killing or torturing their children I though we could use some good news about the dedication of a Grandfather to his grandson:
“SAO PAULO, Brazil — A 66-year-old man saved his grandson from the grip of a 16-foot-long anaconda by beating the snake with rocks and a knife for half an hour, authorities said
Thursday.

"When I saw the snake wrapped around my grandson's neck I thought it was going to kill him," Joaquim
Pereira told Brazil's Agencia Estado news service. "It was agonizing, I pulled it from one side, but it would come back on the other."

Pereira's 8-year-old grandson, Mateus, was attacked by the anaconda while wandering near a creek on his grandfather's ranch in the city of Cosmorama, about 250 miles northwest of Sao Paulo.

While the boy was playing with friends, the snake attacked and wrapped itself around him, police officer Hudson Augusto said. Anacondas are not poisonous, but kill their prey by coiling around them and squeezing until victims suffocate.

It brought me to the ground and bit me," the boy told Globo TV. "Then it started crawling up my neck and began suffocating me."

Mateus' friends ran to get his grandfather, who reached the scene and battled with the snake until he had hurt it so badly that it let go of his grandson.”
*****
I don’t pretend to know exactly why people do what they do, when they hurt a child. I do know that inside each person is the strength to do the impossible when a loved one – especially a child is in danger. I know I would do whatever I could to protect mine. This story, hopefully, can balance out some of the negative images of dads over the last few days.

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Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Nanny-ism on Display; It's New York, AGAIN.

You know, there are voluminous reasons why I won’t live in New York. The first is hight cost of living and high taxes spent badly. Among my other reasons are the constant barrage of legislative nanny-ism like the cell phone ban, the trans-fat ban, certain smoking bans, and now this:

"Sen. Carl Kruger will propose a bill that would ban using an iPod — and any other electronic device that is a distraction — while crossing traffic, he told FOX News on Wednesday.
"I think it's necessary if we just look at the statistics that bear out the argument that people while being too into their electronic gadgetry are tuning out the rest of the world. They are becoming a statistical fatality, they are being part of an accident scene. They are basically jeopardizing their well-being as well as the well-being of others around them," Kruger, a Democrat, said.
The bill would levy a $100 fine against those who use iPods, cell phones and BlackBerrys while in a crosswalk in all of New York's major cities. WNBC reported that the ban would only be in effect in Buffalo and
New York City."

I bet more people have accidents due to changing the station on a car radio than from listening to ipods while crossing the street. When are they going to ban car stereos? If they would simply ban cars from New York City, then the ipod problem would be fixed, right? More government nanny-ism in areas where they should not even be. I just hate it.

Watch. Later on, there will be some liberal in Kalifonia who will say "Look at what a great step forward they have taken. there're progressive. They're modern. They are taking action to correct a vital wrong. We should follow." That's how cigarette ban, and cell phone bans got started. More pet peves expressed as legislation.

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More Anti-Jew Hatred from Iranian TV


Understatement of the week:

An anti-Semitic cartoon recently shown on Iranian TV shows a Jewish rabbi planting a Nazi swastika, covering it with dirt, watering it and watching as a giant star of David grows in its place.

For those that follow any of the blogs that watch the Middle East media, only this particular ad is new. The racist anti-Jew media spots and programs have been going on for years. This one is said to have started its run in Islamic media in January of this year:

“Iran, having vowed to wipe Israel off the map, appears to be fomenting anti-Semitic sentiment through its media.”
“The clip is currently being broadcast on the Web site of the Middle East Media Research Institute's (MEMRI) TV project.
Yigal Carmon, the president of MEMRI, said the message from the cartoon is clear.
"The idea the that they are trying to show is that Zionism [the worldwide Jewish movement that resulted in the creation of Israel] comes out from the seed of Nazism. They're saying that it is the technical Jew who nurtures it and who plants it and who grows it and who irrigates it and all that," Carmon said. "Usually they would say they are not against Jews they are only against Zionists, but here you see they are saying that in fact there is no difference," Carmon said about the cartoon. "It’s the Jew who plants the swastika image and from the swastika comes Zionism."”

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The left: There Aren't Enough Troops, but Don't Send Any

Just Asking…wasn't one of the original “beefs” of the left was that there were not enough troops in the Iraqi theater? So why now, the big push to keep more troops from being sent to Iraq? Why criticize someone for not doing something, and then criticize them again for doing what you originally criticized them for not doing? That is the very semblance of a “partisan attack,” and apparently, the rest of us are not supposed to remember what the leftist Democrats were saying as recently as last November. This is a prime example of why Bush should not listen to the left – they are critics, and only critics. They have no real answers. Bush says “blue,” they say “red.” Bush says “on” they say “off.” No matter what the issue is or which side is the correct side. They are just trying to get ahead by pulling backwards those who are leading the way. Politics, pure and simple.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that House Democratic leaders are drafting their own non-binding resolution on Iraq that signifies opposition to troop escalation.

The resolution is being written by Reps. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Tom Lantos, D-Calif., chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Amendments will not be permitted on the resolution, to be debated over three days and wrapped up before the President's Day recess on Feb. 19, Hoyer said.

The House resolution will be based on a Senate model that was pushed back Monday when Republicans deprived Democrats the opportunity to rebuke the White House for President Bush's strategy to add 21,500 troops in Iraq to help end sectarian violence. House Democrats were going to wait for the Senate to act first on a resolution, and decided to go forward after Monday's Senate gridlock.

The vote on a motion to proceed was 49 to 47, well short of the 60 votes necessary to stop discussion and move toward debate of a non-binding resolution sponsored by Sens. John Warner, R- Va., and Carl Levin, D-Mich. Republicans opposed cutting off debate because they wanted votes not only on the Warner-Levin resolution but also on a separate resolution by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., supporting the Iraq troop surge and another one by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., rejecting any future effort to cut off funds for ongoing military operations in Iraq.”

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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

CNN: "Anti-immigrant Sentiment" Fueling Klan?

CNN is launching a pre-emptive strike tonight at 8pm on those who support border security suggesting that they are exploiting "anti-immigrant sentiment to further its cause" to proclaim the white race as the master race.

Paula Zahn asks:
Is the Klan making a comeback? Is it exploiting anti-immigrant sentiment to further its cause? Find out about a possible rise in hate groups. Tune in Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.


So, in CNN's view, anyone who objects to open borders and tons of illegal immigrants is worthy of being KKK now? This type of comparison will be par for the course in the border security debate, especially with Democrats in charge of the House and Senate. Wonder who they will classify as a "hate group"; Republicans particularly or conservatives in general.

Here's an idea: how about doing a story on how race tensions may be rising due to the import of racism by illegal immigrants with stereotypes like this.

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Monday, February 05, 2007

Battle for the Soul (and Survival) of Virginia's GOP

Wall Street Journal
“Political Diary”
Feb 1, 2007
by Stephen Moore

There's a civil war going on within the Republican Party in Virginia and the outcome will likely determine whether Democrats can capitalize on the infighting and capture this important state for many years to come.

One faction of the GOP, made up of conservative Republicans in the House and state Attorney General Bob McDonnell, is drafting a transportation-financing plan to reduce congestion in gridlocked Northern Virginia while avoiding a major tax increase. In the other corner is Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Chichester and at least two more liberal Senate Republicans, who on Tuesday proposed a $600 million spending plan to be paid for with a 5% gas tax and a series of car fees.

Mr. Chichester, who is a bigger champion of spending than most of the Democrats in Richmond , opposes the House Republican plan because he says it would spend money out of the general fund on transportation. In turn, the Chichester plan "simply won't fly with conservatives," Attorney General McDonnell tells me.

The problem for Richmond Republicans is that just three years ago they got suckered into a $1 billion sales tax increase sponsored by then-governor Mark Warner. Ever since, Republicans have been on the losing end of most statewide races, including a governor's race and last November's senate race (won by the Democrats' new wonder-boy, Jim Webb). Another GOP tax increase would almost certainly lead to a Democratic takeover of the Senate in the next election. Ed Gillespie, the state Republican chairman, agrees that the party faces a quandary. "If we don't solve the transportation problem, we lose the Senate. But if we raise taxes, we lose the Senate." Last year, three Senate Republicans from the Fairfax County vicinity managed to win by very narrow majorities, and the county seems to grow more Democratic with each passing month.

Why liberal Republicans feel compelled to raise taxes yet again is a mystery in the Cavalier State . Democratic Governor Tim Kaine has proposed a $650 million tax increase to pay for roads, and Republicans could go to the polls running against this tax-and-spender. Instead, the Republican plan actually inoculates Gov. Kaine from charges of being a big-spending Democrat. Making matters worse, the state has had rapid economic growth, so the state coffers in Richmond are $1 billion in surplus. House Republicans say they won't countenance another statewide tax hike when the state's budget has grown by nearly 30% in the last ten years above the rate of inflation and population growth.

The only political solution is to allocate more money for roads -- and allow for smart roads through tolls and congestion pricing -- and to pay for these projects by cutting the growth in other state programs that have been growing like weeds in recent ears. That's the program that Mr. McDonnell, who wants to run for governor in two years, and other conservatives are seeking. Mr. Chichester and his liberal cronies who run the Senate won't go for that. The GOP would be a lot better off without them.

Stephen Moore is the founder and former president of the Club for Growth and a contributing editor of National Review. He also serves on the economic board of advisers for Time magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Human Events, and Reader's Digest.

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Thursday, February 01, 2007

NO to Mandatory HPV Vaccinations

CWA-VA has some facts about the HPV Vaccine and the legislation to be voted on in the House of Delegates this Friday. The idea of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is wonderful. The problem here, in my opinion, is the lack of statistical data on long term effects on developing girls and the difficulty parents will have opting their children out of the immunizations.

I don't believe our General Assembly at this time is qualified to make these decisions for parents, especially when this is such a new medical development. Let's see what the professionals are saying after a few more years of research before making this mandatory for girls to attend the 6th grade.

Meanwhile, thanks to an aggressive television ad campaign, the public is becoming aware of the vaccine and parents can look to their family doctors for advice.
Bill Number: HB 2035
Bill Title & Summary: Human papillomavirus vaccine; added as required vaccination.
Requires females to receive three doses of properly spaced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The first dose shall be administered before the child enters the sixth grade. This bill contains a delayed effective date of September 1, 2008.
Next Action: House Floor
  • HPV infection is a serious problem in our sex-saturated society. It is easily transmitted not only because condoms do not completely protect against it, but because it can be transmitted skin to skin as well as in sexual intercourse.
  • Annually, two and a half million American women experience an abnormal Pap smear; a majority of those have an HPV infection. HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer (99 percent). Cervical cancer is diagnosed in 13,000 women a year with almost 5,000 deaths annually.
  • HPV is associated with several other cancers as well: oral, vaginal, vulva, penile and anal cancer.
  • Recently, a vaccine against the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This vaccine, Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, is available in a three-shot regimen over a period of six months.
  • The vaccine has shown to be effective against HPV types 16 and 18 which are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers and HPV types 6 and 11 which are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts (another manifestation of HPV infection). There is no evidence that it reduces the risk for cervical cancers caused by other HPV types which cause the remaining 30 percent of cervical cancers [Statement from the Medical Institute for Sexual Health on HPV Vaccine].
  • There are more than 100 types of HPV; the vaccine is effective against four of them, albeit they are the ones which cause most of the problems. According to its manufacturer the vaccine will not protect against HPV types to which patients have already been exposed, and it will not protect against other diseases that are not caused by HPV.
  • Since the vaccine is most effective before a girl becomes sexually active, many are recommending that girls be vaccinated at nine to 12 years of age. There have been no long-term studies on the effects of the vaccine.
o No one knows for sure how long the antibody titer necessary to produce an immune response will last. Some have suggested that a booster shot will be necessary in five years.
o If a girl is vaccinated at age 11, her maximum immunity would be declining by age 16 the age at which many girls become sexually active.
o The vaccine has been approved only for less than a year.
o It does not prevent all cervical cancer. Girls and women will still be required to get a regular Pap smear to detect cervical cancers caused by other HPV types. Having had the vaccine might give women a false sense of security.
  • Some have said it gives a message to our youth that we expect them to be promiscuous.
  • Parents, not the state, should make medical decisions for their child.
  • Because of the newness of the vaccine and the unclear status of long-term effects and efficacy, should our children have to be the state’s guinea pigs? Many worry that there are no statistics on carcinogenicity, or genotoxicity or chromosomal damage. Since this vaccine will be given to mostly pre-pubescent girls, shouldn’t we have the facts on that?

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To The Post's Arken: Leave The Troops Alone

The following is an open letter to William M. Arken, writer for the Washington Post:
(RE: “The Troops Also Need To Support The American People”)

*******

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Dear Mr. Arken;

I’m almost not sure what to write, as what I would really like to say is 1.) not (or should not be) printable, and 2.) would be below the decorum of a former soldier who served this great country in Gulf War I, and is now grateful that he did. Your tirade at the American Armed Services “The Troops Also Need To Support The American People” is off-base and ill-founded. I’m not sure what version of the “American people” you associate with, but I can offer this one piece of advice: get out of Washington a LOT more often than you currently are and talk to some REAL American people. I can give you a few thoughts to take back to your “American people” and share with them.

First, your assertion that the “American people” have “indulged” the troops by supporting them through “every Abu Ghraib…,Haditha,…, rape and murder” is a plain falsehood. There was only one Abu Ghraib, one Haiditha, and very few instances of rape or outright murder in this war. If your assertion that our troops were roving bands of pillagers and rapers were true, there would be thousands of cases, not the few you outline. Incidents like you describe ARE the EXCEPTION, not the Rule. In fact, we go to great lengths to make sure that we protect innocent life wherever we can -- as much as one can in a war theater. The training that we provide our troops, drills them on avoiding innocent casualties (versus our adversary Al-Qaeda, for whom killing innocent people is as natural as breathing.) Further, we know that the majority of our troops have grown up in our American society that supports the preservation of human life and the value of people (again, versus our adversaries who train their children from day 1 to kill anyone who is different, doesn’t agree with them and/or won’t convert to their way of thinking.) Our enemies do not value life and use children and young adults – men and women – as human time bombs. It is for these reasons that we support our troops so steadfastly. This is not an “indulgence” it is a confidence in them, their training, and their humanity.

Next, our soldiers are NOT paid a decent wage (especially enlisted personnel) over all, and struggle to make ends meet while not being able to take on part time jobs as regular Americans do because they are considered “on Duty” 24 hours a day, and must be available at a moments notice. As a private (E-2) in the Army in 1988 with a wife and new son, I was eligible for food stamps, and other forms of public assistance because the pay was so low. I never took the government up on it, because I was taught that I was responsible for feeding my family, not the government. Others who came after me are following that same track. Frankly, our veterans and active-duty soldiers deserve more than what they get, for practical reasons, and for reasons of gratitude. Our soldiers certainly aren’t paid well compared to the risks they take with their lives, but they accept this as part of the job.

Further, you say “…even at anti-war protests, the focus is firmly on the White House and policy.” This thought pattern may make you feel better, but it, too is patently untrue. Their have been numerous demonstrations that I have been witness to, and the focus is NOT solely on White House and policy. Many engage in personal attacks, obstruction, and outright physical confrontation. The soldiers in question who earned your ill-placed ire ARE, thought, talking policy and White House. You should applaud them for that. You say “We just don’t see very man[sic] “baby killer” epithets being thrown around these days, no one in uniform is being spit upon.” So, because you chose not to spit on the troops and call them stupid names when they came home they now owe you loyalty to your opinion of the war? That’s insane. You are wrong; people are still doing those same old tired-ass Vietnam era anti-war tactics. A few of you have refined your tactics, though, to use oh, say, a newspaper column.

Soldiers do have a paycheck, healthcare at military hospitals (not all hospital visits and treatments are free by the way.) But these things are not things that require them to cow-tow to public opinion. They are benefits earned by people who do the most important job in this country; protecting us from all enemies foreign and domestic. Thanks for giving the United States a look at what liberal socialists really want in exchange for all the free healthcare, food stamps, and all the other “freebies” the government gives. You are thereby a bought-and-paid-for slave of the ruling class of government utopia, and in exchange they will tell YOU what to think. Anything outside of this earns you a slap from King Arken on his throne at the Washington Post. Long live the dictator.

Sincerley,
Alpheus O. Pope
Formerly; Specialist, United States Army
f22strike@yahoo.com

PS. Should you want to debate this further, you can reach me at the above address. I would be delighted.

******
Previously:
WaPo to Military: You Can Help Yourself But Don’t Take Too Much

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