Free Republic

Virginia’s new law sends mixed messages to state employees, especially law enforcement officials. Imagine a state trooper pulling over a speeder and finding out through an ID check that the FBI has an alert for the driver as a suspected al-Qaeda operative. What should the trooper do if he knows or suspects the driver is a U.S. citizen? Do his duty and detain the suspect, which violates Virginia law? Or simply write the speeding ticket and send the driver on his way, not telling the FBI or the military, consequences be damned? Although the federal government has no inherent constitutional...

Va Gov. Bob McDonnell has been called out to perform his mandatory duty.  http://www.facebook.com/groups/53783122419/  Republican Party of Virginia BeachVirginia has the laws to civilly and criminally nail BHO on eligibility grounds. Does it have the patriots to do so?   http://www.facebook.com/groups/259834004101186/268642163220370/ All citizens have both duties and rights."Section 15. Qualities necessary to preservation of free government.That no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles; and by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as well as rights, and...

Talk of a Mitt Romney-Rob Portman GOP presidential ticket, a leading pick among Republican insiders, picked up a flashy endorsement Wednesday from long-time political pundit and MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. “Portman’s probably the best bet,” Matthews told the American Bankers Association convention of the Ohio senator. The former Carter speechwriter and top aide to legendary House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, suggested that the second best pick for Romney would be Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. “I think he’s looking at Virginia and Ohio” as states Romney must carry to beat President Obama, added Matthews. It's an assessment GOP officials...

by John HillStand With Arizona The U.S. economy is suffering its worst bout of sustained unemployment since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans are out of work and hurting. They struggle to pay their bills, pay their rent or mortgage, and find work to feed their families. Meanwhile, millions of illegal aliens take jobs that Americans need , undercut wages, steal identities of Americans to sustain their employment fraud, and illegally collect welfare and social services to which they have no right. As American incomes decline, the amount of cash illegals send back to their home countries is at a...

Amid continued protests from Democrats, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell on Wednesday signed into law a controversial bill requiring Virginia women to undergo an ultrasound procedure prior to having an abortion. The bill sparked national debate this month over a provision that would have required many women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds, which opponents decried as medically unnecessary and physically invasive. McDonnell, a conservative who opposes abortion rights, ultimately requested that mandate be stripped. The Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version last week that allows women to "reject" a transvaginal ultrasound and instead opt for an abdominal ultrasound, which generally...

As I perused Governor Bob McDonnell's Facebook page the other day I couldn't help but notice the nastiness posted from left-wing radicals regarding the recent ultrasound abortion bill. Compounded with the attacks from liberal shills like the Daily Kos, Saturday Night Live, and MSNBC I'd say the battle is raging. Clearly the liberal hate squad is working their groupthink attacks in full force. As usual, they have taken a legitimate bill designed to save lives and attacked it with the demagogic, fear-based, shock-valued ridiculousness that we have come to expect from the far left. At issue is the Virginia bill...

C-SPAN's coverage of the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) continues Friday with speeches by the leading presidential candidates and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The three top GOP candidates for the Republican nomination -- former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum -- are taking a break from the campaign trial to address attendees. Rep. Ron Paul was invited to speak but will instead continue campaigning.

WASHINGTON - A day after the governor of Maryland said he would like to institute a percentage tax on gasoline, the chief executive of Virginia said he would not seek any additional taxes during a recession, particularly on gas, despite a significant demand for more transit projects. Both states have looked to sales tax to resolve their transportation funding woes. On Monday, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said he would like to do away with a ban on sales tax for gasoline, to add to its existing 23-cent flat tax. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has a different approach. "I will not...

Virginia's governor has thrown his support behind Mitt Romney. Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Friday morning that he's endorsing the former Massachusetts governor. "As I have said throughout this primary process, we need a governor to serve as our next president,” Governor McDonnell said in a release. “America needs leadership and that's what governors do: they lead. Governors actually have to find solutions and bring all parties together in order to get results for their citizens – they can't just sit back and cast votes." Although pressed for months to offer an endorsement, McDonnell has steadfastly withheld commitment until now....

Gov. Bob McDonnell said this morning that he's endorsing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney today before heading to South Carolina to campaign for the Republican presidential candidate ahead of the Palmetto State's primary Saturday. Virginia's governor discussed his endorsement of Romney on CNBC's show, "Squawk Box," and planned additional interviews with CNN and FOX News. Those interviews coincide with McDonnell's travel to New York City for a economic development meeting this morning. The governor will head to South Carolina this afternoon for a rally in Charleston and remain in the state into Saturday for other Romney campaign events tonight and...

Virginia abortion clinics that perform first-trimester abortions will have to submit to stricter regulations, which could result in most of them being shut down by next year. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the new rules into law Thursday after they received approval from Virginia’s departments of Planning and Budget and Health and Human Resources. Taylor Thornley, deputy director of communications for Gov. McDonnell, said that the new regulations had strong support from both parties in the General Assembly. “These regulations are a product of an amendment that passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support,” said Thornley in a statement....

Paul Goldman, a Richmond lawyer who is a former Virginia Democratic party chairman, is helping represent a conservative group in challenging Newt Gingrich's disqualification from the Old Dominion ballot on March 6, Super Tuesday. Bill Pascoe, executive vice president of Citizens for the Republic, said: “We are teaming up with former Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Paul Goldman to make sure the voters of the Commonwealth have a fair and transparent presidential primary process. ...

Texas allows the children of undocumented immigrants to attend state colleges and universities at the in-state rate — a lower tuition rate than that paid by out-of-state and documented foreign students. Asked if illegal and undocumented immigrants should be treated as in-state students, 77 percent say no (67 percent strongly approve of ending that deal) and only 17 percent say it should continue... More than half (58 percent) say they would support an end to bilingual education in Texas public schools. Attempts to put an "English-only" amendment into the Texas Constitution have failed for years, getting bogged down in the...

Our friend Bill Kristol seemed distraught after the GOP debate Thursday evening, about to break into Chris Christie's office, open the window and threaten to jump from it if the Big One did not run for president. But we who share his emotions and love for the governor may still wonder why so many Republicans unhappy with their options are fixed upon Christie alone. Why not his classmate here in Virginia, who was elected governor on the same day that he was, and has proven just as successful, if quieter? While confrontational Chris has gone viral with dozens of videos,...

  Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) announced Thursday that Virginia has finished its fiscal year with a surplus of $544.8 million through higher-than-expected tax revenue and savings.Last month, McDonnell announced that the state had a surplus of $311 million on June 30, the close of the year, but Thursday told legislators his administration has been able to save an additional $234.1 million. Virginia law calls for the bulk of the money to be put into the state’s rainy day fund and spent on K-12 education, transportation and Chesapeake Bay cleanup.McDonnell has proposed giving some of the unspent balance to sheriff’s offices...

Gov. Bob McDonnell is asking Virginia State Police to review a video released this week that appears to be hidden-camera footage of an exchange in a Richmond Medicaid office in which a staffer advises a man not to disclose a drug and prostitution business on a Medicaid application. The 9 minute, 29 second video was posted on the website of Project Veritas as the fourth in a series of "undercover investigations into Medicaid fraud." On Friday, Richmond officials announced that the city will join forces with the Virginia attorney general's office to review the matter. The attorney general's office has...

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Friday the federal government is taking too long to decide whether some Virginia police officers should be authorized to deport illegal immigrants. Last August, the governor asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow a group of 28 select officers to deport illegal immigrants who have engaged in terrorism, committed major drug and gang offenses, committed violent crimes like murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery and kidnapping, or found driving while intoxicated. On Friday, he released a letter he sent last month to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last month,...

According to a National Rifle Association (NRA) email alert sent to its Virginia members today, "[o]n January 14, Governor McDonnell issued a directive to the [Virginia] Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease enforcement of § 4VAC5-30-200 which prohibits open carrying of firearms in State Parks and has immediate effect." This action follows though on a legal opinion McDonnell issued as state Attorney General regarding the state regulation banning open carry in state parks in which he declared that "[a] person’s right to carry a firearm openly is considered universal within the Commonwealth." . . .

Governor Bob McDonnell has declared a state of emergency for Virginia as a precaution ahead of this weekend's storm. Forecasts on the storm have changed several times this week, with the latest forecast now suggesting as much as seven inches could fall on the Richmond area. Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, and the peninsulas could see more. The declaration allows the National Guard to call up soldiers, and other agencies to preposition resources. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has been holding conference calls with the National Weather Service as well. The Governor is especially concerned because December 26th is...

Politico ran a story Monday morning about newly elected Republicans from swing states who may get a look for the GOP's national ticket in two years. What caught our eye wasn't who made the list, but who it omitted. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a subject of some national speculation since taking office early this year, didn't merit a mention in the article even though his counterpart in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie, did. The 2009 elections of McDonnell and Christie are viewed by many as the beginning of the Republican resurgence -- following several cycles of Democratic dominance -- evident...

There he goes again. Carl P. Paladino, the Republican candidate for governor, promised he would be politically incorrect. He wasn’t kidding. On Thursday, during a rally in Hicksville, N.Y., he called the state’s junior United States senator, Kirsten E. Gillibrand, “Schumer’s little girl.” It was an apparent reference to Ms. Gillibrand’s close relationship with Senator Charles E. Schumer, but Mr. Paladino’s dismissive description of the only woman to hold statewide elected office in New York jolted the political world. His comments were reported on the Web site of Newsday and by NY1. Mr. Paladino, a businessman from Buffalo, has previously...

Virginia will increase speed limits to 70 mph on 680 miles of interstates by the end of the year. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced the change Wednesday. It will affect interstates located in areas that are rural or less populated. It includes segments of Interstate 66, from Faquier County to Interstate 81 and Interstate 95 from south of Fredricksburg to Ashland and from Prince George County to the North Carolina border. The Virginia Department of Transportation outlined the plan at a meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board on Wednesday. State officials said in a statement that the change should help...

Virginia officials reacted with bipartisan dismay on Monday to Defense Department budget shifts that will cost the state thousands of jobs in coming years and will dramatically impact the economies of the Norfolk area and Northern Virginia. Most of the immediate reaction revolved around Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's proposal to close the U.S. Joint Forces Command. It is a major employer in Hampton Roads, including Norfolk and Virginia Beach, whose elimination could translate into the loss of 6,100 military, civilian and contractor jobs in the region. But a proposal to slash the Pentagon's budget for military contractors over the...

This week there were cheers heard throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Governor Bob McDonnell jubilantly proclaimed that the state had achieved a budget surplus. There’s only one little problem. It is not true. Simply put, the surplus announcement is nothing more than the final act in a well constructed play. It’s political theater aiming to yet again pull the wool over the eyes of the public while kicking the problems down the road for future legislative sessions to deal with. In short, it is the same old rancid political game that got our nation and Virginia into the fiscal mess...

Story at link....also has a poll http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/244946

Northrop Grumman has chosen Northern Virginia as the new home for its global headquarters, ending a heated competition among Virginia, Maryland and the District for the prestige of playing host to the defense contracting giant. Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell announced the decision Monday in a joint statement with Northrop, describing the selection as a victory for what he called his administration's commitment to promoting business development. "To gain the corporate headquarters of one of the largest global security contractors in the world is a testament to the strong business climate that we are focused on continually improving," said McDonnell ......

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia's governor led a ceremony at the state Capitol to mark the third anniversary of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history at Virginia Tech. Gov. Bob McDonnell on Friday read a proclamation at a gathering at the Capitol bell tower honoring the 32 who died and those who were injured in the shootings. He also said the state would observe Virginia Tech Remembrance Day each April 16 during the four years of his term. The crowd observed a moment of silence, and McDonnell then read the names of each of the students and faculty fatally...

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local_90-days-poll_0411,0,7134266,post.poll

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has quietly declared April 2010 Confederate History Month, bringing back a designation in Virginia that his two Democratic predecessors -- Mark Warner and Tim Kaine -- refused to do. Republican governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore issued similar proclamations. But in 2002, Warner broke with their action, calling such proclamations, a "lightning rod" that does not help bridge divisions between whites and blacks in Virginia. This year's proclamation was requested by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. A representative of the group said the group has known since it interviewed McDonnell when he was running for attorney...

The other day I wrote that Republicans faced a choice in Virginia. This was in reference to newly elected Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell proposing policies that seemed to be the opposite of what candidate McDonnell supported while claiming to be a "fiscal conservative" and "anti-stimulus" Republican.Voters sent a strong message in November when they elected McDonnell by a landslide margin. However, they did not elect him to go knocking on Obama's door for stimulus cash on behalf of Virginia. Yesterday, Anita Kumar with the Washington Post covered McDonnell's latest "stimulus" scheme. McDonnell, along with former Virginia Governor and DNC...

Republicans and conservatives throughout the country are near giddy as they survey the prospects for the 2010 elections. As the policies of Obama and the mobbed-up Congress of Nancy Pelosi become more exposed, the American people are running from them in droves. All predictions are that the GOP will have a banner year and may reclaim a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. And while the odds are that Harry Reid's Democrats retain their Senate majority, it is certain to be much more narrow a margin. But scratch the surface of this euphoria and a nagging fear is prevalent....

Newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will deliver the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday.

Gov. Bob McDonnell may have ended plans to transfer to Germany a killer serving two life terms in Virginia. The issue, however, might not be over. Before he left office last week, then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine approved a request from the German government asking the U.S. Department of Justice to transfer Jens Soering, 43, to his native Germany.

RICHMOND, Va. -- After several weeks of heavy snow and sub-freezing temperatures, the sun came out and the snow began to melt in Richmond last Saturday for the inauguration of Republican Bob McDonnell as Virginia's new governor. There were more minorities among the estimated 5,000 who attended than I have seen at any recent GOP function. The tone was different, too. Boxes were placed at entrances, inviting donations to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. There were several references to the earthquake in Haiti and calls for donations to relief efforts there. McDonnell is not a stereotypical Republican. Should he...

We gather today on the steps of our magnificent and newly renovated State Capitol. From this hill the land rolls gently down to the James River, the waterway of the Settlers in 1607. From this place, the sweep of history has moved us forward to today. This is the cradle of democracy for Virginia and America. Governor Thomas Jefferson designed this Capitol building. Governor Patrick Henry came here for the laying of its cornerstone I am humbled today to follow in their historic footsteps. The General Assembly first convened in this new building during the first term of America's first...

Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he would cut his Cabinet's paychecks after he took office in a ceremony that would cost dramatically less than prior inaugurations, setting up an austere transition of power to reflect the bleak economy. McDonnell, who will be sworn in Jan. 16, pledged an economical ceremony marked by visits to food banks, a jail and a homeless shelter along with the traditional parade and balls. The incoming governor said he planned to raise $1.5 million to pay for the inauguration, with major state employers such as Dominion, MeadWestvaco and Altria contributing to the event, according...

The Lesson of Bob McDonnellby Charlie SpieringA week before the election, Virginia candidate for governor Bob McDonnell was asked in a radio interview if he would veto state funding for Planned Parenthood.“We shouldn't be doing that (funding Planned Parenthood) in Virginia,” answered O’Donnell. “That's common sense I think, and that will be part of what we get done.”Pro-choice activists were furious and quick to condemn his remarks. To them it was one more reason why McDonnell was “out of step and out of touch with voters.” But McDonnell, with his common sense approach to politics, proved that you can still...

A Video Tour Of The Virginia Governor's Mansion

Fox News just called the Virginia gubernatorial race for Republican Bob McDonnell. Exit polls show him defeating Democrat Creigh Deeds in a landslide. Republicans also have captured the Lt. Governor and Attorney General spots, making it a clean sweep.

McDonnell just declared victor in VA Governor's race by the Associated Press. Just reported on WNIS-AM in Norfolk.

An early voting report from Virginia's 1st Congressional District, epicenter for today's expected GOP tsunami in the Old Dominion. I reside in York County, not far from Fort Eustis and the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center. The district is heavily Republican; John McCain got more than 60% of the vote here last year. Polls open in Virginia at 6 a.m. I arrived at my voting place (a local elementary school) at 6:45. The parking lot was 80% full at that hour, and more cars were arriving by the minute. The level activity seemed comparable to what I saw during the...

3 Points in 3 Months: VA Gov Contest Polling Ends Just About Where It Began, with GOP Sweep of VA Races: Three months ago, when SurveyUSA began polling on the Virginia Governor race, Republican Bob McDonnell led Democrat Creigh Deeds by 15 points. Today, 3 months and 7 polls later, McDonnell leads by 18 points, essentially unchanged over the last three SurveyUSA releases, and essentially unchanged since late July. Today, it's McDonnell 58%, Deeds 40%, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted for WJLA-TV Washington DC, WDBJ-TV Roanoke, WTVR-TV Richmond, and WJHL-TV in the Tri-Cities. McDonnell has never polled below...

If the economy and transportation are the two top crises facing Virginia, then the question is: Which candidate for governor has the best chance of solving those intertwined problems? And the answer has to be: Bob McDonnell — although there are portions of his platform that we question. We say this with great respect for his opponent, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, whose district includes portions of our community. We know him well and admire his record of service. But for overall strategy and capability, the nod goes to Mr. McDonnell. Let’s take transportation first. Mr. Deeds would tackle the...

The latest SurveyUSA poll showing Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell with a 19% lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds (which would be the biggest win for any Virginia Governor of either party since 1961) has some interesting internals. One of the strangest findings is that McDonnell is getting 31% of the African American vote. Is this possible? Well, the smart money would say no. But if you want to construct an argument for SurveyUSA being correct, consider the following: (1) In 2006, George Allen came about as close as he could have come to dropping an "n-bomb" on a person...

In the final days of the gubernatorial campaign, a new poll shows Bob McDonnell with an 18 point margin over his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds, according to a statewide survey conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University. The poll finds 54 perfect of likely voters support or lean to McDonnell, 36 percent support or lean to Deeds. A 56 percent majority of independents are siding with or leaning to McDonnell, 29 percent of independents are siding with or leaning to Deeds. The poll also indicates both candidates do well with rank-and-file members of their respective political parties. Even though some observers have...

McDonnell expands lead again Raleigh, N.C. – Bob McDonnell now leads the race to be Virginia’s next Governor 55- 40, up from 52-40 a week ago. Democratic voters have been showing gradually less interest in the election over the last month as it has becoming increasingly clearer McDonnell is the likely winner. A month ago 37% of likely voters were Democrats. That declined to 33% a week ago and now to 31%. McDonnell is winning 94% of the Republican vote while Deeds is at only 84% of the Democratic vote. McDonnell also has a 59-34 lead with independents. Deeds’ favorability...

ARLINGTON, Va. - With one week until Virginia's gubernatorial election, an exclusive poll for WJLA-TV shows Republican Bob McDonnell retaining his commanding lead. The SurveyUSA poll dated Oct. 27 shows McDonnell with a 17-point lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds, 58-41. McDonnell maintains his lead across most demographics, including age, sex and income. Independents are breaking 2-1 for McDonnell, 60-38. Thirty-eight percent of abortion rights supporters say they will vote for McDonnell, twice the percentage, 19, of anti-abortion voters who say they will vote for Deeds. The poll also shows McDonnell with a 58-41 lead across Northern Virginia, where Democrats have...

It is surely one of the most unusual pitches in this year's gubernatorial elections -- a Tony Soprano-like figure defending New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent efforts to close the gun show loophole and warning Virginians not to get too attached to their Second Amendment freedoms "if ya know what's good for ya." Bloomberg underwrote a commercial in April that attacked former Virginia Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell for his pro-gun positions and pushed for the closure of the state's "gun show loophole." Now Bloomberg is running for re-election, McDonnell is running for governor and the nation's larger gun lobby --...

With one week to go before voters in Virginia head to the polls, Republican Robert McDonnell has a double-digit lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds according to a new Washington Post poll. Here are selected crosstabs from the new poll of 1,206 likely voters. Q. If the election were being held today and the candidates were Creigh Deeds, the Democrat and Bob McDonnell, the Republican, for whom would you vote? Deeds McDonnell All likely voters 44% 55% More results and question wording from the poll can be found here. Men 39 59 Women 48 50 White 34 64 African American 89...

Republican Robert McDonnell carries a double-digit lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds into the final week of the campaign for Virginia governor, according to a new Washington Post poll. The Republican, briefly buffeted in the polls by voters' initial reaction to the publication of his 1989 graduate school thesis, has rebounded to big advantages on the top issues, particularly taxes, and is now seen as the more effective leader, more honest and more empathetic. McDonnell is also buoyed by support outside of Northern Virginia, where he is currently outperforming all other top-of-the-ticket Republican candidates this decade. Statewide, McDonnell now leads Deeds...