Southwest Virginia Blogs

Election 2006 was indeed a thriller. The GOP definitely has lots to think about but now the burden of leading is on the Democrats. The GOP can take the offensive standpoint. The Democrats need to produce their plans and put them into action instead of saying they have plans.

The GOP needs to rally and get its ducks in a row. Hopefully in 2008 we can retain the Presidency and take back Congress.

George Allen did the right thing today by conceding and not dragging the Commonwealth through another recount. 8000+ votes is too much of a difference to make up. As we saw last year, the recount requester lost and didn’t gained votes. Allen deserves accolades for this and does preserve some of his political prestige. Hopefully Allen will return to public office again one day. However, this campaign may have made that feat very difficult for him to accomplish. I think Allen’s Presidential hopes are sadly toast and he will have an extremely hard time getting elected to another office in Virginia.

So goes another election into the history books.

Election 2006 was indeed a thriller. The GOP definitely has lots to think about but now the burden of leading is on the Democrats. The GOP can take the offensive standpoint. The Democrats need to produce their plans and put them into action instead of saying they have plans.

The GOP needs to rally and get its ducks in a row. Hopefully in 2008 we can retain the Presidency and take back Congress.

George Allen did the right thing today by conceding and not dragging the Commonwealth through another recount. 8000+ votes is too much of a difference to make up. As we saw last year, the recount requester lost and didn’t gained votes. Allen deserves accolades for this and does preserve some of his political prestige. Hopefully Allen will return to public office again one day. However, this campaign may have made that feat very difficult for him to accomplish. I think Allen’s Presidential hopes are sadly toast and he will have an extremely hard time getting elected to another office in Virginia.

So goes another election into the history books.

Election Day is almost upon us. I plan to be out campaigning and helping out on the Saltville side of Smyth County. There is nothing like the fun and excitement of Election Day. Meeting all kinds of people that you know and just chatting with people are some of the nice things about being around the polls.

I still think that George Allen will be prevalent in the Senate race. Granted, it is going to be very close I think. I hope it isn’t so close as to require another recount. I don’t think we need to go through another one of those.

Who has been in charge in the Allen campaign? I can’t believe some of the things that have went down on their watch thus far in this campaign. Allen has went from a commanding lead in the polls to a razor thin margin now. This is totally ridiculous. Sure, the tactics of the Webb people have been deplorable. Allen’s reputation as a serious Presidential candidate in 2008 may now be in shambles due to some of these happenings. I hope he can revive his momentum in the Presidential arena.

In short, we’ll see what happens Tuesday.

Election Day is almost upon us. I plan to be out campaigning and helping out on the Saltville side of Smyth County. There is nothing like the fun and excitement of Election Day. Meeting all kinds of people that you know and just chatting with people are some of the nice things about being around the polls.

I still think that George Allen will be prevalent in the Senate race. Granted, it is going to be very close I think. I hope it isn’t so close as to require another recount. I don’t think we need to go through another one of those.

Who has been in charge in the Allen campaign? I can’t believe some of the things that have went down on their watch thus far in this campaign. Allen has went from a commanding lead in the polls to a razor thin margin now. This is totally ridiculous. Sure, the tactics of the Webb people have been deplorable. Allen’s reputation as a serious Presidential candidate in 2008 may now be in shambles due to some of these happenings. I hope he can revive his momentum in the Presidential arena.

In short, we’ll see what happens Tuesday.

One of the biggest issues facing American companies today are the so-called “antitrust” policies being implemented by the European Commission (EC). Many American companies are being fined and their business practices inhibited on the disguise of consumer protection.

Microsoft has been the largest target for the EC. Microsoft has been ordered to hand over proprietary code to competitors and to pay around a half a billion dollars in fines for refusing to do so. Other large companies such as Intel, Qualcomm, Verizon, etc. have faced similar sanctions and treatment.

The reason for the EC acting this way is very simple. American companies are bigger, better, and more profitable producers than European companies. It is simple micromanagement of America on the EC’s part. The EC’s attempt to tear down American companies not only hurts our economy but it hurts our workers, too. It’s time that someone pushes back and puts an end to the EC’s style of anti-American economic warfare.

Our Virginia congressional delegation needs to be made aware of this issue - specifically, Congressman Rick Boucher. He serves on the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce and issues such as this falls within their purview. Congress needs to act – and we can get the ball rolling by contacting Rick Boucher!

This is a story I’ve been meaning to comment on for several days. Here is the Fox News report.

Recently, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) was trying to enter a Congressional office building. She apparently was not wearing her official lapel pin which identifies Members of Congress and other important staffers to Capitol Police. She was stopped by a U.S. Capitol Police Officer after she went by a metal detector. The officer ordered her to stop, but she apparently kept going and said she was a Member of Congress. When the officer physically stopped her, she allegedly struck him in the chest with her cell phone.

Ultimately, McKinney’s identity was established and she was not arrested. However, the Capitol Police have referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for consideration. If this was a normal citizen, they would have been arrested on the spot—like McKinney should have been for assaulting a federal officer.

Many of McKinney’s supporters have came out and claimed the reason for her treatment was racial profiling because she is African American and a female. Bologna!!!!! This officer clearly was doing his job to protect the Capitol, Members of Congress (like McKinney), and visitors from criminals and possible attacks. McKinney also maintains all the members of the Capitol Police force should be trained to recognize on sight all 535 members and staffers of Congress. Is that really realistic?

McKinney should be charged, arrested, convicted, and censured (if not expelled) by the House of Representatives.

Some sad news. Don Knotts, better known as Deputy Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show has died at the age of 81. Here is a FoxNews report.

The Andy Griffith Show is one of, if not the best, classic television shows.

For the second straight budget, President Bush proposes the elimination of the Upward Bound program. The BHC has this article. Last year, Congress stepped in and restored funding for UB. I hope they do it again this time around. Upward Bound is part of the TRIO group of federally funded programs to assist students with pursuing a college education. The other two programs are Talent Search and Student Support Services. These programs are located at sponsoring higher education institutions across the country and provide a great assistance to students. Upward Bound is the oldest of the programs and started in 1965.

I was a member of the Upward Bound program of Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon during all 4 years of my time in high school. In fact, I was one of the original members when the program started up in this area. The program provided an immeasurable deal of success and resources for me. I participated in many cultural events and trips to many places that I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to do if not for Upward Bound. It also helped me prepare for and selecting a college and preparing the necessary paperwork. Throughout my time in the program, we visited many different colleges and universities for presentations and tours. UB was also instrumental in helping me secure the internship I did with Senator Allen’s Abingdon office in the summer of 2003. UB is a great resource for high school students to ensure that they attend college.

I just don’t see why President Bush doesn’t like this program and disagree with his decision to axe it.

Here the BHC has a story about a church fire in the Konnarock section of Smyth County. Lately in neighboring Washington County and around the whole U.S. there have been a rash of church arsons. I just don’t know what would possess these sick individuals to burn a church that people have put their lives into maintaining. I hope they are all caught and locked up for a good long time.

In this incident, damage was minimal and Smyth investigators have a suspect in this church fire according to the report.

According to this RT-D article, ex Navy Secretary James H. Webb, Jr. says he will file papers to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Republican George Allen. He joins fellow Democrat Harris N. Miller, a technology executive, for the nomination.

If these two are the best the Democrats have to offer, I predict a very successful re-election of Senator Allen. His aspirations to seek the Presidency in 2008 won’t hurt either. Allen remains an extremely popular political figure.

Chad has these thoughts.