novatownhall blog

We are evolving into a nation of moochers, a process which has been apace for years but the twist now is we are mooching off of Americans who do not yet pay taxes and in fact have not yet been born. It is happening at the state level – thank goodness, not so much in mine – but it is the federal government we should all be very concerned about right now. The theft taking place under the Democrats, who have controlled Congress since 2007, and President Barack Obama is unprecedented in its scale.

As Smitty notes in one of the best blog posts I’ve seen in weeks:

Remember, this hairball has been a century in the making, and will, at bare minimum, require a decade of your best effort just to get that hydra chopped down to something reasonably un-lethal. Incumbency is the enemy. We The People can either rule, or enjoy slavery.

Go read it all, read it again, and then get your game face on for the campaign season which is about to begin.

Our focus must be 100% on the Democrats in public office who are pushing us further into debt slavery.

Just some recent examples to highlight the absurd level of heedlessness these larcenists are operating at:

- $23 million to promote abortion in Kenya.
- $192 million on signs promoting the utterly failed $797 billion “stimulus” boondoggle.
- $22 million to provide high-tech training … to workers in South Asia.
- And now they are poised to steal billions more to reward reckless borrowers in mortgages they can’t afford. You and your children and grandchildren will be paying the moochers’ bills.

This is all being financed with money our country does not have – debt imposed on future generations.

The federal government is filthy with programs we cannot afford and institutions which never should have existed in the first place. There needs to be a housecleaning of Robespierrian proportions, a slash-and-burn campaign on the federal budget. The federal government is meant to provide national security: Everything else should be on the chopping block. Our rule of thumb going forward should be “take it over and shut it down.”

Those who pay for the government must be in charge of the government. Those people, companies, industries and factions who are financially supported by it will receive only what we decide to give them.

To be sure, it has taken both Democrats and Republicans to get us into this mess. A bipartisan line of personages stretching from decades in the past up to the present day deserve a pox on their houses. We can’t separate all the wheat from the chaff along party lines. So if the Republicans currently holding office and the ones we will be putting in office from 2010 through 2014 do not take immediate action to reverse the criminal direction of the federal government we need to end their political careers with extreme prejudice. But let’s face it, the GOP is our only hope. Republicans certainly contributed to our precarious financial situation but Democrats have taken the theft to an entirely new level and one from which our nation may never be able to recover.

It should be more than evident simply by who brought us Obamacare and who did not which party needs to be chastened and which one needs to be tossed in the dustbin of history.

Anyone with the gall to run for public office under the Democrat party banner must be laughed out of all public forums and if they will not slink from the stage they must be shamed and scorned, because they no longer deserve to show their faces in civil society. This cabal of Democrat office holders is guilty of the attempted murder of American liberty. Their misdeeds must be memorialized in perpetuity so the destructive path of our current federal government is never taken again. Having a “D” after your name should be treated as the equivalent of membership in Cosa Nostra and assigned a similar degree of respect in American public life.

There are many problems facing our country and voters are motivated by different concerns, but the threat which should have our laser focus is the one that is in the process of turning us into a third-world nation over the next 20 years. Debt slavery should have every American’s attention. Those who will do the hard work of liberating us should have our undying support. The primary racketeers – elected Democrats, public employee unions, ACORN spin-offs and all the other leftist organizations – are threats to our nation’s future and should be viewed with all appropriate seriousness.

I think we should all be able to agree on one point of fact: Barack Obama is presiding over the most secretive, corrupt and incompetent presidency in American history. In addition, by virtue of his complete lack of managerial experience, he is the least qualified individual to ever hold the office.

These propositions seem so obvious at this point I believe discussion is unnecessary. However, since we have been in a state of semi-hiatus here at NVTH, with just a few of us posting periodically, I would like to propose that the title of this post become a theme for future work – especially as we approach the 2010 elections.

Understanding and explaining history usually requires some sort of “model” or prism through which analysis is conducted. I think this should be ours. Thank you; please enjoy the remainder of this Memorial Day weekend.

Wow. I’ve heard of blatant “vote buying” but this takes the cake. In an article on unions wanting their own bailout (through strong arm tactics against companies and non-labor union employees, Ben Brubeck, a director with the Associated Builders and Contractors (a union group) is quoted as saying “This is incredible when you think about it, after all the promises that were made, we are coming off a pretty unsuccessful year for organized labor … After all the money they invested into electing Obama and the Democratic Congress, you would think they would get something”. While the guy is frustrated about what is happening, remember that unions got a deal with the health care reform bill. They are exempt from the “Cadillac” tax. And Obama just appointed Becker while congress was out.

I doubt the Obama administration will investigate themselves … they don’t go after anyone that helps their cause … there is no justice.

Remember November.

The national debt we see as a killer and rightfully so. People are all upset about it and we know it stinks. But it seems we lose sight of it the closer it comes to home.

The county has been financing capital projects with debt it for what seems like forever. Every single ballot item for bonds related to building schools has been passed every year I’ve been here. What does it cost us now? A whole lot more than the 30 million or so that is going to put 290+ people out of work because the county budget needs to be cut. (Plus much larger classroom sizes, and we already have students that won’t be able to take AP courses because we don’t offer them every year.) Why? If you ask me it is because we don’t know fiscal responsibility.

“It’s the economy, stupid” applies to nearly everyone. As a single income household, attempting to live on a teacher’s salary, I don’t have a choice of using credit to pay for things. Some of you might be thinking that means I have to use credit … NO! Just the opposite. I cannot afford to use credit to pay for things. If I used credit, then I wouldn’t be able to stay a teacher, I’d have to find another job. How many of the problems with the economy are from people defaulting on loans? Debt is a killer for people as well as the county.

What’s more, the debt that kills the people is the reason people think it is “okay” to contract debt for the county. (If people buy a $3000 TV with debt … really stupid idea, people … then why wouldn’t they think that a county with a couple of billion budget should contract a debt of a $100 million or so for a school?) Both lead to the same disastrous consequences; the entity that does this ends up spending more and more of the total income on debt than the things it needs to survive. Buy a TV on debt? Why not? Buy a school on debt? Of course!

That brings us to the country as a whole. Elect idiots that believe that the “entitlements” cannot be touched and that it is okay to have debt (financially irresponsible people like us) and what happens? We have a national debt that is so high that we are facing national bankruptcy if the interest rates go up by just a little. Remember when mortgages where 16% a year … what happens if the interest rates triple yet again?. The interest per year triples as well. Look at our current proposed county budget; it includes $151 million in debt service (notice they do NOT break out principle and interest, so we can easily see how much waste is included). Waste? What do we get for the interest? Nothing … spending money to have today rather than tomorrow is the most essential waste I can imagine. I want it, and I want it NOW! Wait a year and you can pay cash, or you pay three times as much. (In other words, how stupid is it to put appliances on a mortgage rather than pay cash? Why pay $4500 for a $1500 washer/drier?)

Which brings us to the federal budget as well. How much do we spend on interest? What have we done electing people that think nothing of increasing our debt instead of paying it off? We are electing people that are as stupid as we are. WAKE UP! If Loudoun had never borrowed to finance building, we would not have the tax rate we do today, let alone the need to lay off 290+ LCPS employees (not that there isn’t waste in the school system as well … I’m not saying anything about that.) Wake up! If we want the future to be anything near reasonable, pay off the debt. I’d rather see a tax increase and a mandated unbalanced budget (i.e., a mandate for a surplus every year) than have the tax remain the same and not pay down the debt. $150 million is more than enough to lower taxes *and* provide full funding for the LCPS budget. If we had been paying as we go, it would have saved enough to build every school in the county we have now (even at the insanely small size we build schools). For the federal government, it may have taken longer, but the situation is exactly the same.

It is insane to borrow money except for an emergency, or something that is a one-time expense which is greater than the yearly income an entity generates. It is also insane not to pay off that debt as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we have a situation in which we are paying interest (total waste of funds) for what gets us nothing in return. If the freezer breaks down with $500 of food in it, it makes sense to buy a new freezer to save the $500 in food, but pay it off! It does not make sense to carry debt. In fact, it makes sense to save money so when an emergency happens (as it always does) you have the money to pay for the fix. If we have six months of income in the bank, there are few emergencies that would force us to borrow money. That is true for the county, the state, the federal government, or even individuals.

by Brian Withnell

History shows that when a significant percentage of a population is enraged with the government, the government fails. Mostly through some kind of revolution; sometimes through despotism, sometimes through a popular uprising. That percentage historically has always been less than 30% (find any country in which 30% of the population is angry about the government in which the government has remained … I don’t think it possible). Right now, there is a large percentage of people in this country that are enraged with what congress has done. It may be that the change of government will be peaceful … we do have an election in November coming. But knowing how polarized the country has become I’m not confident we can continue in a peaceful exchange of power any more.

The present government came about because of liberals being enraged over Republican policies (not what I would call conservative policies, but what Bush I and Bush II did). There were a high percentage of people angry about government then. Now there is a similar percentage of people angry about the government. In a very real sense, there is little ability for the country to cut a “middle ground” as the polarization becomes more and more complete.

The fundamental issue that presses is the proper role of government. If one group hears “We are from the government; we’re here to help” as a curse, and the other hears the same words as a blessing, there is little way to have reconciliation and compromise that will satisfy either group. Those that see government take over of everything as a curse will be upset by a government that imposes itself in more and more of life. Those that see government take over of everything as the only way to be “fair” will by upset unless government does take control. Even a middle ground is excluded, both side will dislike it.

My hope is many people see the problem, and realize this could be the end of the republic.

The time to remember is November…both 2010 and 2012…. Let us hope that we can pass through one more change (in both congress and executive branches) and that the people will remember how they were betrayed by those they elected.

by Joe

Dagnabit this is inspiring, and I sincerely hope we can maintain this level of citizen activism in November 2010, November 2011 and November 2012. Especially, 2010 and 2012 – unless we can get an impeachment movement going, which would take some pressure off the 2012 aspect. I have not yet begun cataloging my issues with Joe Biden, although I am sure there are many. (I do have a feeling that the key to running against Joe Biden is, let Joe be Joe.)

For Loudoun County Republican Committee Chair, Jacob supports Mark Sell. See here and here.

Greg Stone and I support Candace Strother. More here and here.

Since I run the blog and pay for it and do all the nasty behind-the-scenes work and field all the complaints, I get to put Candace in the sidebar with her photo – but make no mistake about it: We NVTH people are divided as to who should be the next LCRC leader. But as a testament to our corporate wonderfulness, let it be spoken that the NOVATownHall bloggers are divided, yet free to speak our minds. If he were not so backlogged and short of sleep, we’d probably even let Grigsby chime in.

In any case, I appreciate the diversity of opinion. Whatever happens on Saturday, I am certain we will all be on the same page on Sunday.

And if he is half the man I think he is, Jacob will likely trump this post with another that sends this one lower down the page.

That is a good question and I have some thoughts on the subject.  I consider now to be the optimal time to start campaigning for President in 2012.  Why, you ask?  Here’s my thoughts.

Huckleberry, Giuliani and Palin have been beating the stump regularly, staying in the public’s mind.  That is smart because the names are remaining familiar.  Obama and the Dems are mis-stepping , shooting themselves in the foot, thumbing their noses at the general public’s wants and jumping ship because the fire is too hot under the frying pan they are sitting in.  CONSERVATIVES are becoming the voice and movement of choice.  Even the libs are beginning to research what this constitutional document is all about.  Remember that “perfect storm” thing?

The ones beating the drum now are getting name recognition.  What this does is allow the opposition to work on “what if” strategy if these people become candidates.  That is good for everyone because it will bring any skeletons out of the closet EARLY.  We, the citizens, will be able to vet these people long before they can become the ticket.  Also, those candidates that make a stance on issues NOW will show us whether they blow with the prevailing winds or stand tall and pat as Cuccinelli did.  That is VERY GOOD for us all.

I personally would like to have a long time to research fully and understand potential candidates to weed out those that are only looking for power or snow you now to enslave you later.  My advice is to pay attention to who is talking now and what is being said.  If you have a favorite in mind, write them and tell them to test the waters.  There are good candidates out there and I really don’t feel like picking from “changlings” or “pseudos” all the time.  After all, should Romney be the GOP choice because he’s better than Obama?  ANYONE is better than Obama.  Palin scares everyone.  The Tea Partiers scare the Dems, GOP and the libs.  Huckleberry scraes me.

Who would be your favorite conservative to set this country right?  We already know the Dems can’t do it.

When I read this, I thought “You have got to be kidding me”. Either this guys is pure stupid, is dangerous beyond belief, or just doesn’t read what his speeches say prior to giving them (which implies incompetent, but we already knew that). The part that is most salient is:

“Like it or not, we have to have a financial system that is healthy and functioning,”

So our president thinks that we might not like having a financial system that is healthy and functioning. The connotation of the phrase “like it or not” is that even though the thing being spoken of is negative, wrong or evil, it is necessary. So our president believes a healthy and functioning financial system is not a good thing. 2012 can’t come quickly enough.

Obama supporters, are you embarrassed by him yet? I’m beyond embarrassed at this point, and I didn’t even vote for him (though he is an embarrassment to every American). I’d suggest he ought to resign, but that would put the worst succession of power chain up that anyone could imagine (Biden … yuck, Palosi … even worse). At least Obama is incapable of getting things done … the damage will be limited while he is in office.

First, Massachusetts; soon, Virginia.

It’s time to think about nominating the best possible opponent to defeat Democrat Sen. Jim Webb in 2012. Webb cast a critical vote to pass ObamaCare in the Senate, and he has to go. (More about the bill Jim Webb voted for here, here, here, and here.)

In my opinion Bob Marshall will be the best candidate to take that seat in 2012, represent Virginians in the U.S. Senate and help turn this country around. Now is the time to give Bob a nudge and let him know he will have a LOT of support.

• A general on the front line of Virginia’s approaching battle against the scoundrels and moochers in Washington, DC, Del. Bob Marshall (R-13th District) is author and chief patron of HB 10, Virginia’s challenge to ObamaCare.
• Bob Marshall nearly won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate over Jim Gilmore in 2008, after only campaigning for several months.
• Bob Marshall has spent his career in the Virginia House of Delegates fighting the status quo and he will continue to do so in the U.S. Senate.

Contact Bob Marshall and tell him, “Bob, I will support you if you run for U.S. Senate in 2012.”

Call his office at 703-361-5416, or use the form at www.delegatebob.com/contact.

Take a moment and send Bob Marshall a note of support right now.

Things can only get better.

First, you must read ACTivist’s kick off to the New Year. What a great blog post for 2010.

Second, continuing on the “kicking” theme: Reflect for a moment on the fact that 2010 will be the commencement of continuing kicks to the faces of all Democrats in elected offices, everywhere, culminating in the kicking them out of said offices throughout the next three years. It’s a beautiful thing, and many will live to see it.

Third – on another related note – “Obama” becomes officially an epithet in the American lexicon.

Fourth and finally, let us thank Barack Obama for reminding everyone why liberalism is so horrible by attempting to implement liberal policies, and thereby reminding the basically conservative American people why they voted for Republicans for all those years despite the terrible damage Republicans caused by straying from conservative policies. What would it take to undo the political damage caused by the Bush administration? It took one Obama, one Reid, one Pelosi, and a host of Democrat office holders.

Barack Obama has been the best thing that could have happened to the Republican Party in general.

Now, it seems, he has been the one thing that could propel Sarah Palin into the role as a credible candidate for president.

But then a funny thing happened: In November, Mrs. Palin debuted her memoir “Going Rogue” with great sales, which was not a surprise, but also with a luminous and successful press tour, which was. The interviews she gave in promotion for her book (at least the ones that I saw) were much improved from those given during the 2008 presidential campaign. Palin seemed to speak about both herself and national issues with greater verve and confidence.

Other stars are aligning for Palin:

Several of her potential rivals for the 2012 Republican nomination find themselves suddenly, perhaps fatally, compromised by recent events.

Read it all.

Certainly the whole issue of “not ready for prime time” will have been eliminated by next year as it becomes painfully clear to the entire world that we just had a president who was not even ready for daytime soap commercials or Saturday morning cartoons.

Sarah does not have a very high bar to climb. From all appearances, she is exceeding the bar by a long shot.

One of the few people in Loudoun County who I suspect might be to the “right” of me on public policy issues has announced support for Candace Strother for chairperson of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

Here is Greg Stone’s message of endorsement of Candace Strother.

Merry Christmas all :

I hope the Holiday Season finds you well.

As many of you know our current Chairman Glenn Caroline, has chosen not to seek re-election. Glen has decided to concentrate more of his time to family, his career and his passion, youth baseball. Although, I am disappointed we will be without Glenn’s leadership, Glenn spending his time on Family, The Cause of Freedom and Youth Sports, is a pretty good set of priorities if you ask me. Glenn was a terrific Chairman of the LCRC. His leadership and laser like focus came at a crucial time in this committees history. His shoes will be hard to fill.

You may also be aware that Candace Strother has stepped up and decided to throw her hat in the ring to be our next Chair. Candace has a broad range of support from LCRC members, Republican Elected Officials to include our current Chairman and much of the LCRC leadership team. I as a member of the committee and in my capacity as the Potomac District Chairman , I wholeheartedly support Candace Strother as our next LCRC Chair. Going back a few years, I have gotten to know and admire Candace Strother. Her intellect, conservative principles and leadership skills equip her well for the task at hand. One only needs to examine Candace’s resume to discover the wide range of experience she brings to the table. It is this experience at the highest levels of past Republican administrations and her work at the Heritage Foundation that will enable her to be principled and disciplined leader.

We live in very uncertain times. A very left of center Democrat party has taken over Washington, negatively effected the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as drive the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors off a cliff. Our County, State and Federal Governments are broke, yet some continue on a reckless path of spending and Government expansion. It is we Conservatives, we Republicans, who must begin to make the needed corrections at all levels of government. That work having already begun with our election victories in November, must continue. In order to sustain and build on that success, we must have effective and focused leadership. That leadership begins here in Loudoun County with Candace Strothers.

I ask you you to join me in supporting Candace Strother as our next LCRC Chair. Please take time to examine Candace’s biography and resume on her new website candace4chair.

I further ask you to reach out to Candace via this site with messages of endorsement or questions pertaining to her take on issues, or her vision for the LCRC moving forward. I promise you will be impressed.

Again, Merry Christmas.

–
Greg Stone
Potomac District Chairman
Loudoun County Republican Committee

Candace L. Strother

Shortly after Glen Caroline announced he was stepping down as LCRC chair, almost two weeks ago, news came that several people whose opinion I respect were supporting Candace Strother to take the helm next. A few of these were people I agree with on many things, and one was a guy I agree with on everything – but this was not a clique and I learned of each separately.

Put in touch with Candace last week, I asked her several questions regarding her priorities and tenets, and what I should expect when I rejoin the committee. Here are her answers, which I think should make it evident why I am supporting her to lead the LCRC.

[Below the fold is her very impressive bio - another major reason for my endorsement - along with further reasoning from me, such as it is, and my take on Mark Sells' candidacy for the position.]

The Task at Hand:
 
On November 3, 2009, as a result of the hard work and dedication of hundreds of wonderful volunteers in Loudoun County and countless more across all the counties of Virginia, the political calculus in our Commonwealth changed.  On that night our conservative candidates regained control of the Statehouse and the House of Delegates. This great victory brings us in Loudoun County both enormous opportunity and great responsibility.  We Republicans must now work with state and national party officials to build on this momentum by setting the tone and vision for our party, while effectively managing our party process to implement winning grassroots strategies for our candidates in Loudoun in 2010 and 2011. There is so much at stake in those two elections for our County, for our Commonwealth and for our Nation. The LCRC needs a Chair with the experience, the skills, the strength and vision to bring together the teams, the resources and the ideas necessary to develop the current momentum for victory in those elections. 
 
My Beliefs:
 
I am running for LCRC Chair because I believe it is imperative to keep the momentum going from our tremendous wins statewide and the gains we made here in Loudoun County.  I believe that holding to our core values and promoting the central conservative issues of fiscal responsibility, limited government and lower taxes is the winning model, as it was for the McDonnell, Bolling, and Cuccinelli ticket. I believe there is still much to do to grow that model at the County level.  I believe I have the experience and the leadership necessary to deliver this strategy and most importantly, expand the grassroots organization and unified team effort put in place by our outgoing Chair, Glen Caroline.  I will assemble a team of seasoned and new leaders that will build and expand the party in 2010, laying the groundwork for a strong win in our 10th District Congressional race.  Strengthening the party in 2010 will position us to keep fiscally responsible Republicans in the winning column in the myriad of local Loudoun races in 2011. With strong wins in 2010 and 2011, we will position Loudoun to enter the 2012 Presidential election cycle unified, organized and mobilized.   I am confident I can bring the Party together, focused on these goals and motivated as a winning team. I believe I am the seasoned leader who can be the catalyst for this vision.
 
My Promise:
 
As LCRC Chair I will work with our local party members and elected officials, state and national party officials, be a leader that sets the tone and vision for the local party, reach out to like minded constituent groups, improve fundraising and effectively manage the process and procedure of local party business. I will use the McDonnell, Bolling, Cuccinelli model to unify the party and implement winning grassroots strategies in order to ensure future victory for our candidates in Loudoun in 2010 and 2011 AND 2012.  

More below the fold.

continue reading…

Controversy is not too strong a word for the fact there is now an official race for chairmanship of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

Candace Strother, who announced her desire to take the helm over a week ago, has the support of a large segment of committee members who were instrumental in the LCRC’s rebirth during the last election cycle. After getting largely pounded in the 2007 and 2008 elections, as well as riven with internal conflict, the committee under the leadership of Glen Caroline rebounded this past November with an across the board clobbering of Democrat candidates in Loudoun County.

Now that Mark Sell has announced he is also running for LCRC chair, there should be an interesting debate. Mark is a great conservative whom I have spent a little time in the trenches with over the years, while Candace is someone I do not know at all (but hope to eventually). However, I think what allowed local Republicans to create such an overwhelmingly positive turn was unity and an end to internal division. With all that is facing our country right now, conservatives need to form a solid front and there is no other place to do that than within the Republican Party.

As a part-time worker but not being even a member of the LCRC I realize my opinion matters little for what will ultimately happen, but my preference is to continue the positive example that Glen Caroline set – getting people who are in agreement on 80% of the issues to agree to disagree on the 20% opinions they don’t share.

I am all for keeping everyone honest, and Mark more than anyone has earned the right to contest the chairmanship position. But let’s be sure the final result is complete unity.

My leaning, based on an appraisal of the variety of people who have already announced their support for Candace Strother, is to support Candace Strother, for the simple reason that we have to win in November 2010 and November 2011 and November 2012 – because this pack of idiots, these drooling-moron Democrats who currently occupy so many elected positions from Leesburg to Washington, DC, need to be rode out of town on a rail. They need to be not merely defeated but humiliated and disgraced, sent home packing under such an aura of failure that their party never wins another major election again. Their name itself – the “Democrat party” – needs to become a term of opprobrium, a linguistic flourish akin to “pinko” that, when wielded, will evoke howls of indignation.

The only way all this comes to pass is for conservatives who are 80% in agreement to join forces.

I heard of a recent local event at which a rousing speech by perhaps the most important newly elected official in our state was followed by an ice-water-bath speech highlighting internal divisions within the Republican party. That, my friends, is what we need to put a stop to, pronto, and I will make it my mission in life for the next two years to discredit anyone who persists in that sort of asininity. Our country is at stake. Democrats need to be thrown out of every office they currently hold, period. I am looking solely for the most efficient way to make that happen.

Yesterday’s videos and photos of walking around the 9-12 Project/ “Tea Party Express” demonstration in Washington DC give a decent sense of the size and composition of the crowd, and the general tenor of the afternoon.

(Press reports have the crowd up to 2 million people, although like all these DC marches it’s guesswork. In any case the size rivaled that of Barack Obama’s inauguration – which is fitting since this was like an inauguration, only in reverse.)

We had some discussion in yesterday’s thread about the message of the Tea Party demonstrators; after giving it some thought and reviewing the videos and photos, I think the overall theme was simply “it’s time to take our country back.”

With a sub theme of, “Barack Obama, you sure turned out to be somebody we do not want in the White House.”

See what you think.

UPDATE: Stacy McCain makes a good case for over a million people.