Free Republic

Iceskater -- Our nation will take an important step forward today to bring greater accountability to Wall Street and provide greater security to folks on Main Street. Every Virginian has a stake in the comprehensive financial reform legislation that becomes law today. Eighteen months ago, our nation was on the verge of an economic catastrophe. Many families became over-extended and a lot of businesses got overleveraged, triggering a financial storm that also hurt many Virginians who were playing by the rules: retirement savings and college saving funds were devastated, home values plummeted, and many of our small businesses had to...

So yesterday, I went to the shooting range for the very first time in my life. If you had asked me 10 years ago would I go to the range and decide to buy a guy, I would have laughed. But times change and so have I. I have to say, it was pretty interesting. I'm not sure what I expected. But it was loud - even with the hearing protection. I tried 3 different guns - I liked the revolver better than the 9mm's. I did keep my target. I can see that this is going to become a...

The landmark vote on health care by the House of Representatives March 21 affirms The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles that declares health care is a “basic human right,” the top executive of the denomination’s social action agency said. "For decades, the General Board of Church and Society has worked alongside thousands of United Methodists to achieve health care for all in the U.S.," said Jim Winkler, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. "This vote brings us closer to that reality." The majority of United Methodist lawmakers in the House voted against the plan. However,...

There is nothing more to say. I weep for our Country. The light of Freedom in the world has just gone out.

I've never done an AAR so forgive me if it isn't quite up to snuff. I attended the Washington DC Tea Party with about 2000 of my closest friends. Things got rolling around 9:30am with some music by some band I never heard of - "Pokerface". Sorry I'm not so much up on pop culture. The location was the Upper Senate park. We were right in the shadow of the capitol building. Awesome location. Anyway, there were lots of speakers. One of the first was one of the organizers, Lisa. Single mom, small business owner. Great perspective on how government...

OK I can't sleep until I get this down. I have never felt that our country was at such a crossroads as it is now. Even 9/11, as horrible as it was, was an external threat. I think that the more imminent threats to our country are internal. And, frankly, they scare me more than Al Quaida. If you can go to a Tea Party tomorrow, I hopw you will go. I'm going to the one in my city. I never thought I would ever do such a thing but here I am. If you can't go to a Tea...

Richmond's Tea Party is Wednesday, April 15th at Kanawha Plaza, South 8th St near the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank. Masters of Ceremonies: WRVA's Doc Thompson & Jimmy Barrett with Pope Andre, Mid-Atlantic Christian Artists John Taylor, Virginia Institute of Public Policy The Lee Brothers (listen: What is a Patriot?) Todd Vanderpol, Matthews Well Matt Whitworth, VCU Student Virginia Patriots American Family Radio's JimmyG, Chris Kinsel & Kimberly Braine-Tillem Jim Trautz, Independence Caucus Todd Rojcewicz, Powhatan Taxpayers Alliance Patriot Pipes & Drums Jim Smyers (Introducing the Petition) Coby Dillard, Virginia Tea Party Laura Glover, We Surround Them Ned Ryun, American Majority...

Dear iceskater, We’re coming down to the wire on this Pelosi/Reid/Obama trillion dollar spending bill and I'm asking you to join me at a rally in Richmond tomorrow to put pressure on our two Virginia senators -- Mark Warner and Jim Webb. And beyond just putting pressure on these two senators to vote NO, by attending the rally you'll send a message to the media in attendance that there is a strong, energized grassroots movement rallying against the big government, pork barrel politics in Washington, DC. Here are the details on the NoStimulus event: When: Tomorrow, Tuesday February 10, 2:00pm...

Judge has denied NAACP lawsuit asking that Virginia polls be kept open later than 7pm. GOP is also suing Virginia regarding military absentee ballots. Suit claims that ballots mailed out too late for military voters to return ballots by deadline.

My Friends, Last night, I was able to thank the people of Wisconsin and Washington for bringing me one step closer to securing our party's nomination for president. Today, I want to specially thank my online supporters for your hard work that has brought me to this point. As we move toward officially securing the nomination, I am actively working to unite our party for the great contest that we face in November. If I am to succeed in this endeavor, I will need your help as a valued and active member of my team. We have traveled a great...

In what appeared to be a peaceful coup, Republican senators shoved aside their leader, Sen. Walter A. Stosch of Henrico County, yesterday and elected two conservative senators to new leadership positions. Stosch was made Republican leader emeritus, a new position. Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. of James City County, who had been floor leader, will now be the leader. Conservative Republican senators had been pushing for a leadership change after the loss of the party's majority in the state Senate in the Nov. 6 election. Sen. Stephen D. Newman of Lynchburg, who had been a leader of conservatives seeking a...

The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis says Virginia is facing a $1.2 billion deficit over the next two-year budget cycle. The current budget, by official estimates, is $200 million short. Institute Executive Director Michael Cassidy says the tax hike in 2004 did help Virginia's long-term outlook. However, since then, Cassidy says lawmakers have cut various taxes, taking away revenue. Cassidy is not publicly advocating another tax increase to fix the situation. He claims he is just trying to get the debate started. The size of the deficit could be a big problem for Governor Tim Kaine, who wants to spend...

Friends, Many of you have contacted me recently about abuser fees. I hope the following information will answer your questions and address your concerns. House Republicans championed the adoption of a comprehensive approach to improving Virginia's transportation network. Components of the Comprehensive Transportation Funding and Reform Act of 2007 (HB 3202) include addressing accountability and efficiency at VDOT, incorporating land use changes to prevent sprawl, injecting $3 billion in additional funding for important projects, and increasing highway safety by more appropriately assessing those drivers who repeatedly abuse the rules of the road. Because the need to increase safety through monetary...

Webb To Speak at VCU’s Commencement Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., will be the featured speaker at Virginia Commonwealth University’s 2007 spring commencement ceremony. Sen. Jim Webb Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., will be the featured speaker at Virginia Commonwealth University's 2007 spring commencement ceremony. Webb, sworn in as Virginia's 56TH United States Senator in January, is a highly decorated Marine combat veteran who served in the Vietnam War. His victory in the November election attracted national attention as it tilted the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. He received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1975 and subsequently served...

Just heard on local radio (WRVA) that the House has overridden the governor's proposed smoking ban in restaurants. No link on WRVA web site yet. The nanny state loses one!

Dawg the cat scoured trash bins for food while struggling to survive in Iraq. Then she had the good fortune of meeting the 45 members of Alpha Company. The unit from Sandston, part of the Virginia Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, found the kitten in November. The hungry feline had wandered onto their base in Al Taqaddum, about 60 miles west of Baghdad. The men had been stationed there since February 2006. "She would move around the buildings and go from soldier to soldier," said Shane Leipertz, a chief warrant officer. "She'd hang around and play. She...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was asked on national TV yesterday if he's interested in being the Democrats' candidate for vice president in 2008. Webb, who's held elective office for little more than two months, sidestepped the question from host George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week." "I'm still finding my way around the Senate," he said. ....snip... Webb so far is better known for his longtime opposition to President Bush's handling of the Iraq war and for his populist spotlighting of economic fairness issues. ...snip... According to a Webb spokesman, he supports a new resolution by Senate Majority Leader...

A person who saw three men on Richmond International Airport property videotaping airplanes taking off and landing notified Henrico County police, leading to the arrest of one of the men on a charge of possessing a sawed-off shotgun, police said. ......... Police found the shotgun in the vehicle, along with the video camera and tape of the takeoffs and landings, Crook said. The driver of the car was arrested on the shotgun charge. The other two men were questioned but not arrested, Crook said. The airport police and the Joint Terrorism Task Force were notified, he said. It was unclear...

Your humble servant was asked to give a talk on transportation yesterday.... For instance, one might question the received wisdom that the Commonwealth faces a transportation crisis. Six years ago, according to AAA, the average daily commute to work in America was 25.5 minutes.... The average commute in 2006 actually has shrunk -- to 25.1 minutes. It's now 24 seconds shorter than it was six years ago. (Thanks to Jim Bacon of www.baconsrebellion.com for unearthing this datum.) And contrary to the agonizing screams of frustration that you hear from Northern Virginia, commuting times around Washington aren't that much longer --...

Governor Timothy Kaine (D) wants to increase the sales tax on car to five percent, making it equal to the sales tax on most other goods. Overall, the Governor says his funding proposals would raise $800 million annually for transportation. Kaine also wants a $15 increase in the vehicle registration fee. The proposals are very similar to what Kaine prosposed last year. The General Assembly did not pass a transportation plan during the 2006 session. House Republicans are already shooting down the idea. Del. Leo Wardrup (R-Virginia Beach) says a two percent increase in the sales tax would be "a...