NOVATOWNHALL

Anyone here going ?
Link

Much time has passed since Feb 17, the day Obama signed his $787 billion economic stimulus package into law. In the days leading up to this, we all heard countless times of the “shovel ready projects ready to go” to put America back to work. Now that nearly 5 months has passed, I have been unable to find a single one. I have traveled widely throughout the state, into areas of MD, WVA, and PA, expecting to see a lot of guys with shovels, after all, $787 billion does buy a lot of shovels, even in this day and age doesn’t it ?

Nope, nada, not a one.

Read today the unemployment rate hit a recent high, one not reached in something like 26 years. Guess this means that others are having the same difficulty finding these projects meant to get America back to work, particularly the unemployed.

So today I would like you all to help me in this quest. Should you find a “Shovel Ready Project” underway, please post information about it here.

What doesn’t count :

 Delegate Tom Rust has arranged for a Town Hall Meeting to discuss Gang Violence in Sterling . Our local elected officials need to hear from all  of us concerned about conditions in our communities brought about by the presence of Gangs and those Illegal Migrants engaged in unlawful activities.

 Please make some time to attend this important event.

(Sterling, VA) — Delegate Tom Rust announced a Town Hall Meeting on Gang Violence to be held in Sterling.  Rust will be joined by Congressman Frank Wolf, Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York and Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio in discussing state, local and federal efforts to combat gang violence.

“After speaking with many residents of Sterling, it is clear that people would like more information about what steps have been taken to stop criminal gangs,” said Rust.  ”I hope this will serve as an opportunity for the public to find out more about the steps their government is taking to combat gang violence, and to give their representatives feedback.  I am especially appreciative of Congressman Wolf, Chairman York and Supervisor Delgaudio for participating in this meeting.”

WHO:    Congressman Frank Wolf, Delegate Tom Rust, Chairman Scott York, Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio
WHAT:   Sterling Town Hall Meeting on Gang Violence
WHEN:   Wednesday, July 1, 2009
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Park View High School Auditorium
400 W Laurel Avenue
Sterling, VA 20164

WHY:      Community Meeting

For more information, please call (703) 437-9400 or email trust@tomrust.org.

But the Supremes did get one right in ruling that the New Haven firefighters were discriminated against because they were not Black.

This may make things a little tricky for S.C. nominee Sotomayor.  It is her ruling that the Supremes just overrode.

Let us hope that this ruling will begin to clear the “disparate impact” garbage from the path to a colorblind nation.

Well, the Supreme Court failed to rule the obvious, that Hillary: The Movie, was a political ad.

Be real, folks.  By their own admission,

Citizens United, a conservative not-for-profit group, wanted to air ads for the movie in Democratic primary states….

That makes the purpose rather obvious, doesn’t it?

Just announced on Fox News.

It is at this juncture that me and all my fellow close-to-50 year old colleagues are nervously adjusting our collars.

Question: Of all the recent celebrity deaths - Carradine, McMahon, Fawcett, Jackson, and now Mays - who are you going to miss the most? My money says the vast majority of Americans would say Mays.

The national suicide legislation commonly known as cap and trade has passed in the US House of Representatives and next goes to the US Senate.

The laws would radically increase prices throughout the United States and would serve the sole purpose of a short-term feel-good for romantic liberals who believe mankind is making the Earth dangerously warm.

If you are not informed about the insanity, please read this, this, and this.

Certainly this.

And definitely, this.

Essentially, cap and trade would change America for the worse forever in the pursuit of a fairy tale.

The best action Virginians can take is to contact our Senators and let them know the legislation is insanity grounded in a hoax.

I recommend calling their local offices repeatedly.

MARK WARNER
459A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2023
Web Form: warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

OFFICES

Washington, D.C.
459A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2023
Fax: 202-224-6295

Abingdon
180 West Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone Number: 276-628-8158
Fax Number: 276-628-1036

Norfolk
101 W. Main Street
Suite 4900
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone Number: 757-441-3079
Fax Number: 757-441-6250

Richmond
5309 Commonwealth Centre Parkway
Suite 401
Midlothian, VA 23112
Phone Number: 804-739-0247
Fax Number: 804-739-3478

Roanoke
129B Salem Avenue, SW
Roanoke, VA 24011
Phone Number: 540-857-2676
Fax Number: 540-857-2800

OFFICES

Danville
308 Craghead Street
Suite 102A
Danville, VA 24541
Phone: 434-792-0976
Fax: 434-972-0960

Hampton Roads
222 Central Park Ave.
Suite 120
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: 757-518-1674
Fax: 757-518-1679

Northern Virginia
1501 Lee Highway
Suite 130
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone:703-807-0581
Fax:703-807-5198

Norton
756 Park Avenue, N.W.
Norton, VA 24273
Mail to: 756 Park Avenue, N.W.
P.O. Box 1300
Norton, VA 24273
Phone: 276-679-4925
Fax: 276-679-4929

Richmond
507 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-771-2221
Fax: 804-771-8313

Roanoke
3140 Chaparral Drive
Building C, Suite 101
Roanoke, VA 24018
Phone: 540-772-4236
Fax: 540-772-6870

Washington, D.C.
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4024
Fax: 202-228-6363

Toll Free Number
1-866-507-1570

That’s the report, anyway.

It is a shame, much of the past 15 years has been a shame. He became a sad figure - and I mean that in the sense you sort of felt sorry for him, with such a wealth of talent and dearth of normalness.

For those who subscribe to the “troika” theory of celebrity deaths, this makes: Farah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson as a set.

The events of the past week have marked the end of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.  Does this mean the regime of the Mullahs will end tomorrow?  No.  However this is the utter end of Iran’s regime being seen by its own people, let alone the rest of the world, as a force or blueprint for expanding Islamic rule.

It appears the neocons where correct after all in this regard - all people want freedom.  To be able to choose ones leadership is a right that is universally sought after, despite protestation of the anti-neocons to the contrary.   In the eastern bloc, millions took to the streets to make this ideal a reality as did thousands in China, India, and elsewhere in the world.

A Spent Ideology
In Iran, the desire for the right to choose ones leadership was made apparent when hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest what was obviously a rigged election.  The people who did this, did so in the face of a brutal, thuggish Islamo-Fascist regime.  These people ’spoke to power’ when it mattered.  They put their lives on the line, unlike the fools who do so here and claim heroism, the actions of the Iranians has been truly heroic.

Like Marxist-Leninism in the eastern bloc in the 80’s, the Iranian revolution in the 21st Century is truly spent.  Thirty years of sharia law has only made western culture all the more alluring.  The imposed cultural wasteland that is Islam has not created a new generation of Islamic zealots.  Instead it has created a generation of secular Persians.  This younger generation is not enamored of the Mullahs; it despises them for they are corrupt, brutal and narrow.  The younger generation is not seeking to export the Islamic revolution, it seeks to be able to import designer jeans.  Much like the youth in the eastern bloc did back in the 70’s and 80’s.

Crossroads
So which path?  Will the Iranians go the way of China or Romania?  In China the communist party made some key reforms in the 70’s that have to this point allowed them to keep power even in the face of the Tianamin Square massacre.  Market reforms have brought wealth to the country. This wealth has allowed the government to stay in power, despite its fundamentally totalitarian nature.

With the market reforms wealth came to China.  The young have their designer jeans, can go out to night clubs and enjoy many other creature comforts we take for granted here in the West.  One of the big drivers in Iran is the economic failings of the central government.  In China the workers are able to get their crust of bread; that is not a small thing.

Iran is one of the largest oil exporters in the world, but they need nuclear power?  Iran, under the Shah, had educated its population, this has carried over into the Republic.  Despite an educated populous, the standard of living in Iran has declined under the Mullahs.  In China the standard of living has improved the past 30 years.  In Romania the standard of living plummeted under its totalitarian socialist regime. The Romanian regime did not survive its bout of unrest at the end of the cold war.

In China, some freedoms where granted in order to keep the pot from boiling over.  Western pop cultural was allowed to enter.  People were allowed to travel.  People were allowed to conduct business, and manage their own affairs.  Though there are still many problems in China, the ambitious, the energetic have been given an outlet.  An unfortunate side effect of all this activity is that the Chinese regime is now swimming in money.  Money it uses to expand its military and to maintain control over the country.

In Romania the Ceaucescu regime reacted to the worsening economic conditions by tightening controls on economic activity and personal freedom.  The end result there was the death of the regime and its leadership.

Hole Cards
The Mullahs have two hole cards. Their regime still has its Basij Militia, and its Revolutionary Guard.  These are the Brown Shirts and SS of the Iranian regime.  The reason they are the hole cards is that unlike the security forces in the socialist regimes of the 20th century, these thugs are still inspired by their beliefs in an Islamic world government.  The socialist credos of the 20th century did not wear well.  If one looked in the eastern bloc and in China one would be hard pressed to find a revolutionary zealot, wild eyed and ready to preach Marxism to the masses.  To find such a nut, must travel to Chicago or some university campus in the West.

So long as the Mullahs have this base they can hold on to power.  If these two groups begin to question the Islamic oligarchy, then the edifice will certainly crumble.  One wild card is the reaction of the Army to the thuggish behavior of the militias.  It appears for now the Mullahs have kept the army in check. For a totalitarian regime to continue, there needs to be a corps ready to inflict violence on the restive masses; the Mullahs for now still have their power base.

Going Forward
China has managed this feat by keeping the masses less restive as noted above, and injecting a new rational into its cause: Chinese Nationalism.  The Chinese secret police and other security organs are believers in an ascendant China. For now the regime there has managed to align itself with the vision of an economically and militarily expansionist China. Which is why they are growing their military to the tune of 10-15% a year and are making exclusive economic deals with anyone willing to sell them raw materials.

The Mullahs do not have that avenue for two reasons. The first is that Persian nationalism is distinctly non-Islamic in nature. The second is that unlike China, Iran is an economic basket case. The future is not certain for Islamic Republic. The question going forward for the Mullahs is will the government reform or will it try to wield its soon to be gained nuclear power. The first choice, may take the Mullahs down a path were they may survive. The second is akin to that of an angry three year old with a loaded pistol; akin to the disaster in North Korea.  The question for the West is weather it will allow another pistol to become loaded.

You know its bad when the historical record shows president Carter is more bellicose than you are.  It is even worse when Vice-President Kerry is telling you to take a braver stand.  From the NYT:

We are all inspired by Iran’s peaceful demonstrations, the likes of which have not been seen there in three decades. Our sympathies are with those Iranians who seek a more respectful, cooperative relationship with the world.

This guy is so far over his head we need to send him an oxygen line, and a lifeboat on the off chance he makes it to the surface.  Righ now, Obama is drowning.  ‘What took you so long?’, was the question of the hour posed by one reporter.  The answer is Obama’s world view allows him to sit down without preconditions with just about any dictator.  But he won’t do an interview on Fox? That folks is a gutless president.

The American tradition is for our Presidents to stand on the side of freedom.  Kennedy in German declared his solidarity with the population of Berlin in 1960.  Reagan called on MR Gorbachev to, “tear down this wall.”  Mr Obama contribution to this conversation is:

“The difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as has been advertised,” 

The messiah misses the point.  The people of Iran voted for change, something one would thing the dolt-in-chief would get.  The people of Iran had an election stolen from them.  The people of Iran are being beaten an shot for demanding that their voices be heard.  This president is not standing with voices that cry for freedom and democracy.  He is worried about antagonizing the Mullahs and bring them to blaim the protest on us, which they did anyway.  That folks is one seriously gutless president.

Just watch, nothing further really needs to be said.

It is amazing that our President and Press have remained as passive as they have in the face of this and countless other such acts in Iran. The real interesting question is what is the source of the unrest, face it both candidates were hand picked by the Mullahs.  Another example:

To intervene or not? Loudoun Insider at TooConservative provide some analysis.  Unfortunately I do not agree, air strikes without boots on the ground will only give the Mullahs a scapegoat with some measure of credibility.  After the past 7 years, our press has so damaged us we cannot engage in such ventures.  Obama’s great ‘I’m sorry tour’ only sealed the deal.  The ideal of American exceptionalism is dead.

UPDATE:
Protest organisers held in Iranian raid - report

Want an efficient, cheap, carbon-neutral fuel?  Buy a wood stove.

Wood comes from trees.  Trees get their carbon from the carbon dioxide in the air.  Burn the wood, put the carbon back in the air, and grow more trees to take it back out again.  Solar power covers all the inefficiencies in the system.

June 21, 2009: the date America officially realizes that it has made a big, big mistake, and the “Democrat” brand becomes the biggest pinata in American political history.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 32% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-four percent (34%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -2. That’s the President’s lowest rating to date and the first time the Presidential Approval Index has fallen below zero for Obama (see trends).

Maybe it should be called the tipping point. Whatever, the jig is up, and the public approval data reflects it, and the trajectory is toward Jimmy Carter.

Fellow conservatives, please bring out your whacking sticks, as it is whacking time.

Are y’all getting the sense the Dipshit is totally out of his league? Personally, I think he knows it. In any case, I think the “peter principle” is a genuinely interesting and relevant business concept because it comes into play so naturally in the real world, and now we have Exhibit A at the top of our very own federal government.

Of course, Obama-to-president is much more like the Hudsucker Proxy than the typical corporate middle manager-to-VP scenario. He is the mailroom guy bumped up to CEO.

And as we are seeing more and more each day, Barack Obama has been promoted to his level of incompetency. And then some.

Obama has no idea what to do about Iran, and he knows it. Our President has always resembled Chance the gardener in Being There. It is easy to imagine that he is acutely aware that a few short years ago he was a State Senator in Illinois and that he is utterly unqualified to deal with matters as weighty as what is now transpiring in Iran.

It is a theme well worth pursuing going forward, and we should continue to pursue the question: In what sense is Obama not a lightweight?

What will Obama do ?

TOKYO — North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July, a Japanese news report said Thursday, as Russia and China urged the regime to return to international disarmament talks on its rogue nuclear program.
Read Story at FOXNews