Live From the NFRW Campaign Management School in Richmond...

We're almost 4 hours into an all day NFRW Campaign Management School. It has been both informative AND very interesting. The class is being taught by Campaign Consultant Holly Robichaud from Massachusetts. She is a fireball who is a wealth of great information.

I've been to classes on other topics where the speaker was primarily hawking his or her own services, but that's certainly not the case here. Holly is more than willing to share all that she's learned over the years to help assure that candidates and campaign managers are equipped with the information needed to WIN an election.

We're learning about writing a campaign plan, what elements are needed for a campaign, things to assess in both your candidate and in the opponent, media coverage,fund raising, voter contact and more! I don't want to give out any secrets, but I will encourage my readers to find out when the next CM School is being held and sign up for it. It's well worth the $75 investment!

Live From the Attorney General Debate in Roanoke...Post 2

Hey folks, this is live blogging by a VERY slow typist, so I've done my best. What you're going to read is not to be taken as a direct quote. If you were there and feel that I've "misquoted" one of the candidates, please let me know. Thanks!

Question: What exceptions should there be to abortion?

Response:

KC: Life begins at abortion. It should be protected from the moment of conception until end of life. Only candidate with a record that shows that I will stand in the same place the day after the election as I did during the election. When the life of the mother is at risk we should allow the mother to protect herself.

JB: Life begins at conception. I will do everything in my power to protect that. Using movie about a pregnant teen as an example of the power of using the facts to change people's mind. I agree with Mr. Cuccinelli that when the life of the mother is at risk we should allow the mother to protect herself.

DF: Restrict abortions further. Seek concensus that would restrict abortions. Have not drawn a line in the sand as to where the line should be drawn. Personally I oppose abortion. Rape and incest and life of the mother would be instances where it should be allowed.

Question: Role of AG in rate cases for Energy Corp Commission.

Responses:

JB: Look at facts and law to determine if Power company should be forced to lower the rates. The role of the AG is not to be the legislator. it's to get the facts and the law and make a determination as to where that leads. if the law, in fact dictates that the little guy wins, then that's where it goes, and the same with the companies.

DF: Expedite energy projects. Virginia Share not tied up in red tape. Off shore drilling should be OUR decision, not the Fed Gov. Expedite the projects so it's not 10 years out.


KC: Needs of consumers and realistic market analysis. These are not free companies. Don't want to let regulatory agency help them to get what they want, higher rates. Most recently re-regulated electricity. AG advocate for all of us in regards to power rates.

History of AG bailing and running for Governor. Will you pledge to remain as AG and support Bill Bolling in 2011 if he runs for Governor?

KC: Fools errand to run against Bill Bolling after he stepped aside for Bob McDonnell. I would not run against him.

JB: What Bolling did was something special. It is an important precedent that should be followed. I will support him and let him run. I'm going to support him for what he did for the party.

JF: I certainly would not expect to run against Bill Bolling. I'd have to have a really good reason. I'm here to help get them elected.

Question from JB re: "Triggerman" legislation that was passed. Every Rep has voted to override this bill. Can I get s pledge that you will fight to overcome this bill.

JF: Bad bill. Should be able to go after those involved. The man who drives the vehicle is no less culpable than the man who pulls the trigger. I support repealing the Trigger Man Rule.

KC: There are many exceptions to the triggerman rule that I support. Vote against Dem efforts at moratoriums on the death penalty. I am against the complete abolition of the Trigger Man Rule.

Question from Dave Foster: John, you've never run for public office. Ken, you won each time with an increasingly smaller margin. What do you bring to the table in this race?

JB: I come to this from the courtroom. Spent my life fighting for justice. Voters will ask, "Who is best prepared to protect my family and make my neighborhood safer?" Your races were regional races. Ken's support of transferring 10% of educational resources to his region shows that he runs a regional race. I'm the only candidate who's done the job that the voters will look for.

KC: The legislation I wrote would not have cost this area or any other area a penny. Grabbed future funding. All without raising taxes. Yeas Northern VA is tough. I've won in N. VA on the same issues that the voters are looking for.

Question from Ken Cuccinelli: Jay, you were County Coordinator for ___________. Did you donate funds to either John Warner and ___________Miller?

DF: I don't remember, but I think I did to John Warner because I was working with his campaign.

JB: I'm confident that I supported John Warner.


Question: Votes you regret? Where is it OK to bend your principles and where is it not?

DF: Votes I lost. Charter schools. Sharing bus rides with private school students.

KC: On property rights...Still fighting for property rights. Have built bi-partisan votes and will do it again.

JB: Problem is regional candidates with regional issues running statewide.

Question: If the General Assembly passes a bill you don't agree with...how will you handle that, especially enforcing those laws?

KC: Decisions have to be run through a constitutional filter. When an Attorney General knows that a statute that was passed is unconstitutional he should not defend it. If the law is constitutional he has to defend it, whether he likes it or not. My clients are the people of Virginia. If I don't like a law that was passed I can go to the legislators and try to get that changed, but until then I have to defend it.

JB: Another layer or test is, "Is it moral?" Also say I concur that it is our duty to defend the laws of the Commonwealth.

DF: I don't apply that additional personal filter. If it is a constitutional law that is passed, it's the Attorney General's responsibility to defend it.

Would you support a move toward non-partisan redistricting?

KC: There is a need for a more unbiased system. The grassroots people of Virginia would benefit the most from an unbiased system.

DF: Would be interested in exploring that. People want to know there is bi-partisan work going on to defend them. It would be in the interest of the Commonwealth, the people, and any businesses we hope to attract here.

JB: We have to win these races in November to have any hope. I trust the voters to make a decision on these issues and then the delegates will vote on it. I support taking a look at this, but I'm not so sure about it. What does that mean, non-partisan. My focus is on winning elections.

Question: In 18 months since report from VT shooting, have we done enough to increase Campus security?

DF: No, not enough. Will take a multi-layer emphasis. Need to do a better job of communicating to responsible authorities when people who are troubled need help. Local autonomy sometimes yields better solutions.

JB: Not enough yet.. Folks are still working on it., I had to respond to it personally at VT. Stayed there till all removed from crime scene. Part of my plan to increase overall safety at all schools. Educators, architects. Doors didn't have deadbolt locks. They would have saved lives. Have a lot of work to do in VA.

KC: Doing things that are already making our communities more secure. Need to plan ahead for the future. Years long effort.

Closing Statements:

JB: Thanked all involved in this debate. Received endorsement of 6th District Bob Goodlatte today and also from Thelma Drake. Offering bold, new leadership that comes from the courtroom. I've spent a lifetime in the court rooms trying to bring justice and make a safer Virginia.

KC: Thanks to all involved. We need to build as ap party. Foundations should be built on core principles. Bolling and McDonnell lost my districts in 2005, and I can bring 10's of thousands of votes to the table. Proper foundation for good policy. Doesn't do any good to elect someone who won't follow their core set of values and principles. I'm the only one who has a track record for that. I'm the only Republican of 10 senators in N. Virginia, covered by the endangered species act up there!

DF: 7:30-9am tomorrow AM at Mill Mountain Coffee downtown. We've talked about a lot of issues, but the biggest issue is the economy. It's not going to be done the way they're doing it in Washington. We need someone who knows how to deal with businesses here and I'm the one who's had 28 years experience in dealing with businesses.

Live From the Attorney General Debate in Roanoke...Post 1

Things are under way now. The auditorium is packed. Tonight's moderator is Jay Warren. Although many in the crowd may have already made up their mind in regards to who they are supporting in this important primary, there is still an opportunity to sway the minds of the undecided.

Dave Foster - Arlington.
John Brownlee - Roanoke County.
Ken Cuccinelli - Fairfax County.

Opening Statements:

Cuccinelli: 18th year in grassroots politics. Only Republican of 10 State Senators in Northern VA. Run and won on Death Penalty, Pro-life, leader in Gen Assembly on Property Rights. Protecting traditional family avalues. Fighting tax and spending issues since in Senate. Long record as a conservative. Can look at my votes and tell what I believe. Running, legislating,and winning in N. Virginia without sacrificing my principles.

Foster: I can do the most to elect Bolling/McDonnell in November. Electability and Jobs Creation. Electability - Won 2 elections in Arlington. Won with over 50% and re-elected with over 62%. Teaching English as a Second Language. Jobs Creation: Election about ...3 decades working with businesses. Know what attracts businesses to states and drives them away.

Brownlee: Regardless of who you pick you're going to get a good solid conservative. But it takes more than that. You've got to nominate a prosecutor. As a matter of record, voters pick prosecutors. Our opponent is a prosecutor and I'm the only prosecutor and a military Veteran.

Question: What in your legal career makes you most qualified to be AG?

Response:
DF: AG runs the 3rd largest law firm in the country. My background is that I'm practiced in one of the largest law firms in Virginia. Had experience in all of the areas of law that the AG deals with.

KC: Has worked in both a large firm and started my own firm myself. Also bring a large amt of experience in this area in the legislative area. Corporate counseling experience...It makes a difference on who you choose based on the Core Issues.

JB: We've re-defined job to fit the need. AG is our state's top prosecutor. I'm the only candidate who's run a law firm just like this position. Criminal...Civil...

Gearing up for the Attorney General Debate in Roanoke, VA...Live, Tonight!!!

In just under 1-1/2 hours the three Virginia, Republican, Attorney General Candidates will take the stage at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, VA for a live debate. We will be blogging live to give you up-to-date information on what the candidates have to say on the issues that are important to you! Make sure you join us online if you can't be here in person!

Thoughts From Today's "Senate Watching"

I have to say, I've never had an opportunity to watch our legislators in session. Yes, I know, in Virginia you can go online and watch live via streaming video, I just haven't taken the time to do that. It's been an interesting experience watching the debate between opposing sides and hearing the passion with which each side defends its viewpoint.

I really never thought about the process in which a bill is passed into law. Well, I take that back...School-House-Rock had a great teaching about a Bill becoming a law, that I remember from when my kids were little! LOL! Ok, other than that, when I was in school US Government was NOT my subject of choice!

Everything we observed today on the bills that were discussed has to be repeated in the House of Delegates...each bill has to go through the particular committee that it's related to and go through whatever changes they make. From the House Committee it will go to the House Floor and be discussed, go through three formal readings, and then be voted upon, with whatever changes or amendments they decide upon. After a bill is passed in both the Senate and House it goes to the Governor's office for his changes and final approval or disapproval.

I have a renewed interest in the Legislative process after being here today, and appreciate the fact that I live in a country that operates under a republic and allows me to not only observe my lawmakers in action, but to sit here with my laptop and report what's happening without censorship. May we never lose that right.

Live From The Virgina State Senate Gallery...Choose Life License Plate

There was a small amount of debate on this issue. There is a state requirement that in order for a new plate to be considered, the patron must show a demand of at least 50 citizens who are requesting the specialty plate. Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R) reported that he had in his office 450 DMV applications (complete with payments in check form) for the Choose Life license plate in anticipation of the bill's passage. I am excited to report that the Senate Bill allowing a state license plate promoting "Choose Life" has been approved. Now it's on to the House of Delegates for another round of discussion and review.

Live From The Virgina State Senate Gallery...Bio-Diesel Mandate For State Fleet

Wow! What debate there has been on S.B. 1146! The bill is in regards to mandating the State motor vehicle fleet to use Bio-diesel fuel, not to exceed 5% more than the cost of petroleum-based diesel. There have been some very good arguments from both sides of the bill.

Passage of the bill would help provide incentives for development of new bio-diesel technology and companies. It would also be a move toward less dependency on foreign fuels. It has also been shown that bio-diesel is better for engines and can increase the life of the engine.

But, it could also potentially cost VDOT an additional 1-5% more than petroleum based diesel. One of the problems that some senators have had is that it would impact the buget without going back through the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Whipple, the bill's patron, assured everyone that the Transportation Dept has already stated that they are able to absorb the cost into their budget.

There was also discussion about the impact on agriculture in Virginia. It was pointed out that bio-diesel is made from a variety of sources including algae and other oil-based products.

I can see good points from both sides...

This Senate Bill passed 29-11. As with everything else that has passed today, this bill will now be on its way to the House of Delegates for the next leg of legislative review.

6th District Republican Women On The Move...

I just came back from a meeting in Lexington earlier this afternoon. Today was the annual President's Meeting for all of the 6th District Republican Women Club Presidents and our VFRW (Virginia Federation of Republican Women) 6th District Representative. There were nine of us in attendance (the D.R., 5 Presidents, and 3 other wonderful officers) and we covered a lot of ground in the 2-1/2 hour meeting. I wanted to share some highlights of upcoming events.

February 7, 2009: VFRW Board Meeting in Richmond. Lunch Buffet is $25.
February 21, 2009: Campaign Management School in Richmond. This is open to any Republican who is interested in learning what is involved in managing a campaign or who may possibly run for office in the future. The cost is $75 for the day and includes lunch.
March 7, 2009: VFRW Officer's Training in Roanoke, VA. This training is a "must" for any officer in a Republican Women's Club. Cost is $15 which covers lunch.
March 14, 2009: St. Patrick's Dinner and Dance at the Vinton War Memorial in Vinton, VA. This is a Non-Political event...just dinner and dancing. There will be a Live 20-piece Jazz Band playing and the event is being held in the Main Ballroom. Tickets are only $15 per person! A Professional Photographer will be on hand to take pictures and there will be a silent auction as well.
April 24-26, 2009: VFRW Convention in Richmond, VA. If you've never been to one of the VFRW Conventions, you really need to come to this one. There will be some great speakers who will share about how Republican Women are influencing our Nation's politics, Teaching on how you can become more involved on a grassroots level, and lots of great fellowship with Republican Women from around the State.
May 29-30, 2009: 2009 RPV Republican Convention. Get with your local GOP group now if you want to be a Delegate for this event.

More later, gotta run....
P.S. If you have questions about any of these events feel free to call my cell: 540-819-8389.

Some Video From the 2009 March For Life and a Look at Planned Parenthood

Wow! We can really trust Planned Parenthood:

On The Sanctity of Human Life

This is a fitting topic for my first political post. Being the survivor of a failed abortion attempt myself, and having lost two siblings to abortion, the topic is one that is very real and personal to me. To top it off, when I was pregnant with my first child and separated from my husband of about a year, my family encouraged me to have an abortion. I was 17 years old, and they counseled me to "cut my losses" and be able to go on with my life.

Thank God that the ultrasound was incorrect on how far along I was in my pregnancy. It looked like I was far enough along that I'd have had to travel out of state to have the "procedure." Again, I can't praise God enough for sparing the life of my oldest son, Troy, who's now 26 years old and married with 3 children of his own. Three grandchildren I'd never have had...a wonderful daughter-in-law that I'd never have had. There is so much that abortion robs a person of...

Today I had the opportunity to load onto a bus with 50+ other people, a mix of Protestants and Catholics, young and old, who are all like-minded in the belief that Life begins at Conception. We traveled the 4 hours up to our Great Nation's capitol, Washington, DC to participate in the annual March for Life, an event that has taken place every year since Roe vs. Wade rocked the moral fiber of our country.

I haven't heard any official numbers, but I've heard estimates that approximately 400,000 people took part in the rally. It was so encouraging to see the variety of people who were there...there were "Punkers for Life", "Rockers For Life", Christians, Jews, Democrats and Republicans. The event crossed generational, political, ethnic, and religious boundaries.



On the platform there were men and women (including Shirley, our wonderful group leader who still suffers the aftermath of the two abortions she'd had years ago) who'd lost children to the lie of abortion. They bravely held signs that declared, "I Regret My Abortion" and "I Regret My Lost Fatherhood."



A large number of our nation's Pro-Life Congress men and women spoke on behalf of the Preborn children who are murdered at a rate of 4000 per day. Members of the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish clergy gave powerful appeals to our new President, who just today signed legislation that provides for the use of our tax dollars to fund the atrocity of baby-killing.

The most powerful speaker, in my mind, was Pastor Luke Robinson. I'll quote from an article written by Tom McFeely on the National Catholic Register earlier today:

Robinson, who is the pastor of Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Frederick, Md., said while African-Americans constitute 12% of the American population, African-American babies constitute 34% of the country’s total abortions.

“We need change now,” Robinson declared to a chorus of “amens” as he invoked one of Obama’s own campaign themes. “We need to change this picture. We need to stop the slaughter of the innocent unborn, preborn. Please, Mr. President, be the agent of change … commute the sentence of almost fourteen hundred African-American children, and over three thousand children from other ethnic groups, every day in this country. We need change!”

“Abraham Lincoln helped America to be free from slavery. Please help us to be free from abortion,” Robinson continued. “No doubt when President Lincoln came to the White House, he did not understand the full magnitude of why God had called him at that hour. But he grew to the point that he could see that this nation could not live half divided over the question of slavery. And we can not live and survive as we slaughter our children and be divided over this issue. We need change now!”

Said Robinson, “Unless we repent, unless we repent a righteous God must bring this nation and any nation that kills its children to its knees. President Obama, we pray that God can be upon you for the deliverance of our nation by standing up for the life of children in the womb. The blood of the innocent is crying out from the ground, for God to send us a deliverer. Why won’t you let that deliverer be you? We need change now!”
— Tom McFeely

In one appeal to our new president, President Obama, his own words from his inaugural speech were spoken back to him in an impassioned appeal, with the addition of a few words [noted here in all CAPS]:

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing THE terror OF ABORTION and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

So powerful!

Life begins at conception...period. In Jeremiah 1:5 God said, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Not only our life, but the plan of God on our life, is established before we are born. Genesis 1:27a says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;" and in Psalm 139:14 we're told that we're "fearfully and wonderfully made".

In Psalm 106:34-48 we read about the Israelites' sin of intermingling with the heathen people. in verses 37-38 we read a particularly heartbreaking verse:

"Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood."

The Children of Israel had disobeyed the command of God and began to dabble in the heathen practices of other religions. It got so bad that they were giving up their own sons and daughters as blood sacrifices for those heathen gods.

We are no different today. But instead of Baal and Ashtoreth and so forth, we go whoring after the gods of convenience and self-pleasure. The voices of our preborn children are drowned out by the small minority that has so far succeeded in dictating the laws that govern the unwilling majority.

Won't you let your voice be heard? God gave YOU the Gift of Life. I saw a sign today that said, "Funny, everyone who is For abortion, had the opportunity to be born themselves." How can we be so quick to snuff out the gift of life for countless thousands of babies daily when we ourselves had a chance to wake up this morning to live out another day?

I could go on and on, but I'll leave you with some pictures from the March instead.