Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. I will be spending the day in Falls Church with family.

Warner and Webb Vote To Move Health Care To The Floor

Virginia's two Democrat senators voted with their leader, Harry Reid, to move Health Care to the floor. This is a clear sign that the Dems have the votes to pass their bill, which will allow a government takeover of 1 sixth of the US economy.

Warner and Webb have always claimed to be moderates, but if they vote for this there is no way for them to claim to be anything other than liberals.

VDOT Sues Daycare Center

From today's Richmond Times Dispatch comes an editorial blasting the Virginia Department of Transportation(VDOT)

"Two years ago, as Angela Pellerano of WTVR first reported, the City of Richmond asked VDOT to acquire part of Beavers' property -- about half the front yard -- so German School Road, which could use widening, would get some. VDOT offered the underwhelming sum of $6,683. Beavers made a counter-demand: $30,000.

So VDOT took her to court, filing for condemnation under the state's eminent-domain power. It wound up losing badly. A jury ordered VDOT to pay Beavers and her business partner -- her mother -- $52,216.

The agency should have quit while it was behind. Instead, it has appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. So far, VDOT has shelled out almost $61,000 in attorney and appraiser fees. Why isn't the attorney general's office, which is a shop full of house lawyers for the state, handling the case? Because there are too many condemnation cases and not enough lawyers to do the job. For decades, condemnations routinely have been farmed out to attorneys in private practice.

State Senator Mark Obenshain attacked VDOT saying:

"Not only did VDOT fail to take the "fair compensation" requirement seriously in this eminent domain fight, but the Department now appears on track to pay considerably more in court costs -- to say nothing of the fair-market value of the seized property, which the court will likely order them to pay -- than they would h...ave by offering a reasonable sum in the first place.

This isn't about whether the taking is permissible; it appears to be a relatively clear-cut case where the state is permitted to use its eminent domain authority. The constitutional requirements don't end there, though: just compensation is also required. By trying to circumvent that obligation, the Department has made life miserable for a day care facility -- and is wracking up a far larger bill for the taxpayers to pay in the process!"

Your tax dollars at work.

Kaine Explains Why Deeds Lost

In an interview with the Washington Post Governor Tim Kaine claims that Deeds lost because he failed to enthusiastically embrace Obama, and therefore failed to energize the Democrat base vote. Kaine who is currently the Chairman of the DNC told the Washington Post:

"After the [June] primary was done, his advisers basically said, distance yourself from the president. We think we have our base locked down, we've got to win independents. And we're going to win by being negative about McDonnell," Kaine said. "That was the basic strategy they pursued, despite some significant urging to the contrary."

Perhaps Kaine genuinely believes that Deeds needed to run as an Obama Democrat, but lets face it, as the head of the DNC, Kaine has to say that.

McDonnell Names Transition Team

Governor Elect Bob McDonnell has already named his transition team. There will be five co-chairmen, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling; Attorney General Bill Mims; Tom Farrell, president of Dominion Power; Bobbie Kilberg, president of the Northern Virginia Technology Council; and Kay Cole James, a conservative activist who served in George Allen's and George W. Bush's administrations.

In addition to his five co-chairman, McDonnell is also being advised by former U.S. Reps. Tom Davis and Thelma Drake, former GOP Chairman Ed Gillespie, and Glen Huff, a prominent Virginia lawyer.

Trouble on His Left

2nd District Rep. Glen Nye may have some trouble with his liberal base. It seems many 'progressives' are upset that Nye voted against the Reid-Pelosi health care bill.

Let's face it Nye cast the right vote Saturday night, both in terms of policy, and politics. The fact is the 2nd district is Republican leaning; there is no way he could do both, voted for that bill, and get reelected in November.

However, the left wing Progressive Change Campaign Committee sent out an email denouncing Nye and all the other blue dogs that voted against the bill. I love it, maybe the liberals/progressives will find a primary challenger.

Republicans Pick Up Another House Seat

Last night Republican Ron Villanueva was declared the winner of the 21st House of Delegates seat which represents Virginia Beach. Villanueva led Democratic Del. Bobby Mathieson by just 14 votes, and Democrats are already claiming that they want a recount.

As they say, every vote counts!

Virginia State Spending increased 74 percent Over the Last 10 Years!

Liberals always like to complain about cuts in government spending, but if a new report is to be believed, there is nothing to worry about. Seems a new joint legislative audit and review commission report released on Monday finds that state spending has increased by 74% over the last 10 years.

The main reasons for the massive spending increases? The report cites population growth, inflation and federal mandates, but despite those reasons it still seems to me that we spend way too much money. Let the cutting begin!

House Democrats Pass 'Health Care Reform'

How the Virginia House Delegation voted. A no vote is the right vote.

R-1st Whitman-No
D-2nd Nye - No
D-3rd Scott-Yes
R-4th Forbes - No
D-5th Perriello- Yes
R-6th Goodlatte - No
R-7th Cantor - No
D-8th Moran - Yes
D-9th Boucher - No
R-10th Wolf - No
D-11th Connolly - Yes

I predict Perriello's vote will cost him his seat.

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

Most Virginians have never heard of Democrat state senator Edward Houck, but control of the Virginia state senate may be in his hands. There is speculation that Governor elect McDonnell might try to appoint Houck to a cabinet office thereby opening up the senate seat, which Republicans probably would pick up. One more seat and the GOP, with the vote of the Lt.Governor, would control the body. According to today's Washington Post:

One key senator Friday did not rule out the possibility of accepting such an offer. Sen. Edward Houck (D-Spotsylvania) , a longtime school administrator who was considered for secretary of education under both Kaine and Warner, said he would be willing to discuss an administration job.

"I would certainly be willing to talk to the governor-elect and his staff about whatever they want to talk about," he said. "I'm not looking for that, I'm not seeking that, but I'm willing to talk to them about anything."

Could be a great move on McDonnell's part, bring the moderate Houck into his administration, and in exchange pick up the state senate.

Are Nye, Perriello, and Connolly Vulnerable?

In the wake of McDonnell’s big win on Tuesday I have to wonder if members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have taken note? Specifically three freshman Democrats, Gerry Connolly, Glen Nye, and Tom Perriello, whose districts McDonnell carried. And with a health care vote scheduled this week I doubt they can afford to vote with Pelosi and Hoyer.

Rep. Glenn Nye who last year won Virginia's 2nd congressional district, which includes Hampton Roads and Norfolk, by beating Thelma Drake in a close race. No doubt Nye benefited from a great Democrat year, which he saw Obama carry the district with 50.5% of the vote. Since his election Nye has tried to distance himself from his fellow Democrats by expressing opposition to defense cuts, which of course won’t play well in Norfolk, he also voted against cap and trade. However, McDonnell carried the district by a 24-points, so Nye may not be able to vote with the Democrats on something as big as healthcare.

Freshman Rep. Tom Perriello won Virginia's fifth congressional district by a mere 727 votes. He benefited from a great Democrat year, but ordinarily the 5th district is pretty conservative - McDonnell carried the district with 61.4 percent of the vote. The district is suffering from high unemployment and Periiello helped make matters worse with his vote in favor of the liberal cap-and-trade bill. I doubt he can afford to vote for the Democrat health care takeover. Perriello has to be worried that it looks like he will have a tough opponent next year, veteran state Sen. Robert Hurt, a district native, is already raising money.

Gerry Connolly is another one to watch. Last year he won the 11th congressional district, which includes much of Fairfax County. The 11th has been trending blue for several years and Obama easily carried the district with 57% of the vote. So far it seems Connolly has been voting like he is in a deep blue district, voting with the Democrat leadership on all major issues, starting with the stimulus package and expressing support for cap and trade and health care. However, on Tuesday Connolly watched his left leaning district elect McDonnell with 55% of the vote, and with a well funded challenger in Keith Fimian, Connolly has got to be getting a little nervous.

I doubt these Virginia Democrats can afford to vote with Pelosi and Hoyer very often, if they do they will more than likely be defeated next November.

Kudos to Pat Mullins

On Tuesday Virginia Republicans recaptured the Governors Mansion after 8 years in exile. Bob McDonnell ran a great race, but there are others who deserve some credit. State party chairman Pat Mullins is one who deserves a thank you from all Virginia Republicans. His leadership, his ability to raise money, and rally state party activists was crucial.

Back in May I endorsed him for chairman, writing:

Pat has the grass-roots experience, and a record of success that we need in Richmond. He is a man of principle who has held fast to his conservative values while at the same time reached out to moderates and Independents. Pat believes in a big tent that includes conservatives.

Thanks Pat for a job well done.

The Washington Post loses Big

I wonder if the Washington Post’s reputation will survive after all their statewide candidates lost. Yes Virginia, they backed the entire Democrat ticket, only to see them lose badly, and even lose in largely Democrat Northern Virginia.

No doubt the Post worked hard for Deeds, endorsing him 2 times in 5 months, first in the primary and then for the general election. Every Northern Virginia driver saw the blue Deeds signs proclaiming, “Washington Post endorsed”. In an effort to save the flailing Deeds campaign the Post wrote dozens of stories about Bob McDonnell’s college thesis, when virtually every other paper in Virginia refused to talk about it, rightly calling it irrelevant.

Think about it, if the Post had its way the buffoonish Deeds would be Governor! That has got to hurt the reputation of the Post.

McDonnell Wins!

Election Day

I voted today at Lemon Road school in Falls Church, the turnout was light when I voted. I will be spending the rest of the day campaigning in McLean. Hopefully it will be a good night for us.

I will report once returns come in.