Cantor criticizes Obama's 32 Czars

House minority whip, and Virginia Congressman, Eric Cantor wrote an op ed piece in today's Washington Post attacking the Obama administration for their constitutional power grab through the appointments of so called Czars:

To say President Obama failed to follow through on this promise is an understatement. By appointing a virtual army of "czars" -- each wholly unaccountable to Congress yet tasked with spearheading major policy efforts for the White House -- in his first six months, the president has embarked on an end-run around the legislative branch of historic proportions criticizes.

Good job Congressman. Keep the pressure on.

The Virginia Gentleman Interviews Tim Nank

Tim Nank is the Republican nominee for the 43rd Legislative district.


VG: What made you decide to run for the House of Delegates?

TN:My family and I have lived here in Kingstowne for 8 years (the incumbent has been in office for 6 of those 8 years). We have some issues here. I have only seen things getting worse both in education, transportation and now more recently the economy. I would rather nip this in the bud now rather than let it get to a point where it will be much more difficult to correct later. I think I can bring real leadership to the House of Delegates and get things done right for our community and the Commonwealth as a whole. Also, it’s funny I have always been active in politics and campaigning. In fact, I also got my wife and daughter involved (she was a year old when she first started helping with the Bush Cheney 2000 campaign - or rather came with me decorated in stickers as I door knocked for the candidates) and they love it! It brings our family together. So, everywhere I went to work on campaigns as a volunteer -WA, NH, VA - they would always ask me, “Tim when are YOU going to run?” And my daughter, Paige would ask the same question. I always answered, “When I feel I can make a difference.” Life, especially here in Northern Virginia, is very busy. But life, when you are working on things you are passionate about, can also lead you into opportunity. Just like this past Spring when I was asked to run in the 43rd district. I talked about it with my wife, who didn’t even let me finish my question before she said – “You have to do this!” So, I think now, is the time to “make a difference.” So, I am very lucky. I have the support of my family, friends and the great network of Republicans in Fairfax County and my district.



VG: What are some your main concerns about the direction of state government?

TN:Our state government, and our federal government, has fallen into a pattern of extreme partisanship that precludes real debate and the passing of legislation that truly helps the people of the great commonwealth of Virginia. When I go door to door I hear the frustration of voters who don’t feel like they have a voice and are fed up with politics as usual. I think this is the perfect time to rally our base and talk to the many other thousands of voters who are tired of high taxes, government bailouts and getting only approximately a .20 cent on the dollar return for their hard earned tax dollars for education.

VG:Have you enjoyed your time on the campaign trail?

TN:There is nothing more motivating or inspiring than meeting voters, talking to them and listening to their concerns. Especially when they voice their support! And fundraising- asking people for money is hard – but when you get it, and receive money from people who believe in you and who have worked hard for this money – there is such a sense of gratitude and inspiration and responsibility that I feel. That feeling should be shared by, and acted on, by our elected officials when they are deciding how to spend our tax dollars and represent the will of the people. I have to mention that I ran into a voter most recently who has voted democratic all her life. She is fed up and liked what I had to say. Not only did she say she would vote for me but she made a donation to my campaign right there on the spot (and insisted I drinkthe bottled water she gave me in front of her before she gave me the donation - it was 90 degrees out).

VG:Will the Governors race affect your race?

TN:I think most certainly. But, I would first add that I think that what is going on in Washington is terribly upsetting to a lot of people here in Virginia. So, that might help us as well. This November will be the Governor’s, Lt. Governor’s, Attorney General’s and the Delegates’ races. When we are looking at who is going to actually turn out to vote it is mostly because of the top three offices in the state. However, I am not simply going to rely on riding the coattails of someone else’s ticket. I am out there door knocking every weekend, all day and most weeknights. In the end, it is my job to get out there, run a good campaign and turn out the votes to get myself elected.


VG: If someone wants to get involved in your campaign, how can they contact you?

TN:They can go to my web site http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.timnank.com. That is the best way to sign up for a variety of volunteer activities. They can also email me or call me and that contact information is there as well. And, of course I can’t let this go without suggesting that they donate to my campaign which they can do either on our web site or mail a check to Friends of Tim Nank, PO Box 150141, Alexandria, VA 22315.

VG: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

TN: You are welcome.

McDonnell and Deeds Spar in their First Debate

On Saturday Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell held their first debate. Here are some of the reviews:

The Washington Post

“McDonnell was on the offensive for much of the 80-minute debate, repeatedly pressing Deeds to take positions on federal measures that would limit greenhouse gas emissions and make it easier for unions to organize, both of which McDonnell said would hurt state businesses. McDonnell also knocked Deeds for refusing to propose a specific plan to pay for transportation fixes.”

“…McDonnell successfully steered much of the conversation to federal bills that he said would hurt the state's economy.

"I tell you, whether it's a Republican or Democratic Congress, it doesn't make any difference to me," McDonnell said. "As governor of Virginia, if there are policies generated at the federal level that are bad for Virginia, kill jobs and hurt our business and hurt our citizens, I will stand up against them."

“On the key issue of unclogging Virginia's roads, McDonnell put Deeds on the defensive for his claim that he would solve the transportation problem in his first year in office by building a consensus in the General Assembly rather than by advancing his own ideas. McDonnell suggested that Deeds's silence masks his intention to raise taxes for roads and transit, an approach Deeds has supported in the past.

"He's got a wish list. He doesn't have a plan," McDonnell said, at one point even urging debate watchers to visit Deeds's Web site so they could see for themselves.”

The Roanoke Times

Deeds said he would make transportation a top priority in his first year in office, saying "there's no quicker way to create jobs and create economic prosperity in every corner of the commonwealth."

But when McDonnell asked him whether he would increase taxes, Deeds was evasive.

"A lot of options are going to be on the table," Deeds said. "I'm not going to presume what will or will not pass the General Assembly next year."

McDonnell hammered on Deeds' answer, telling the Democrat: "You don't have a plan. You haven't suggested one dime."

Pressed further on the issue by reporters after the debate, Deeds said: "I'm running for governor, I'm not running for dictator."

"A specific funding source would be a lightning rod," Deeds said. "I'm not prepared to throw up any lightning rods."

McDonnell said he would not raise taxes, saying, "I don't think the people of Virginia could sustain another tax increase."

The Richmond Times-Dispatch

McDonnell said Deeds has no transportation plan.

Deeds said he would make transportation his top priority. He refused to rule out a tax increase and said he would call a special session next year to deal with the issue.

"A whole lot of options are on the table, and I'm not going to presume what will or won't pass the General Assembly next year," said Deeds, a state senator from Bath County.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

"Creigh, you don't have a plan. You haven't suggested one dime," McDonnell said, accusing Deeds of proposing only a wish list. "I think you ought to tell people exactly how you're going to fund it."

Deeds said his plan is "pretty specific."When pressed on whether he'd support tax increases to pay for road improvements--as he has in the past--Deeds said that "a lot of options are going to be on the table."

Governor Kaine Takes Cuccinelli's Advice

Ken Cuccinelli is not yet Attorney General but the Governor is already taking his legal advice. Today Virginia GOP Chairman Pat Mullins praised Governor Tim Kaine's decision to agree with Ken Cuccinelli to call the Virginia General Assembly into a special session to fix a prosecutorial morass following the U.S. Supreme Court decision Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. The ruling has caused chaos among Virginia Commonwealth's Attorneys regarding the difficulty in having forensic scientists who test material evidence personally testify at trial. As a result, many criminal cases are having to be dismissed or are lost at trial.

"Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, initially called Ken Cuccinelli's request for a special session a ‘stunt,'" said Mullins. "Well, I guess the governor from his own party disagrees with him. I don't think that's the kind of thing you want to pull if you're arguing to be the state's top lawyer."

In response to Ken Cuccinelli's first call for a legislative fix, Shannon said it was a "stunt," a position he continues to trumpet by posting a supportive editorial on his website.

Perhaps even more embarrassingly, Shannon criticized Cuccinelli for supposedly opposing a bill that never reached the Senate, in which Cuccinelli serves. Inasmuch as Cuccinelli was never able to vote on the legislation, it further reveals that not only is Shannon ignorant of Supreme Court precedent vis-à-vis Virginia law, but he also does not understand the legislative process.

Shannon's House Bill 3086 died in committee in the House of Delegates and was never communicated to the Senate, where Cuccinelli might have had a chance to weigh in on it.

"This is astounding," Chairman Mullins said. "This guy seriously wants to be the attorney general of the Commonwealth, but doesn't get the severity of a Supreme Court ruling and doesn't know that his own bill died in committee. That's almost too funny to make up."

Deeds Lamely Admits Lacking "Any Specific Plan to Fund Transportation"

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today drew a contrast between Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell and his Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds. McDonnell unveiled a comprehensive, expansive plan to refurbish and fund transportation improvements, while Deeds offered a set of amorphous platitudes and an embarrassing admission that he did not have any idea at all how he would pay for any needed improvements to infrastructure and maintenance.

The McDonnell Plan

* Privatize Virginia's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and dedicate proceeds to transportation
* Pass legislation to capture increased revenue from growth in port operations, and invest in regional transportation projects
* Take percentage of sales tax collected in Northern Virginia and put in regional transportation account
* Issue $3 billion in available bonds for transportation, and support future bond issuance of $1 billion for highly congested areas
* Expand 70mph speed limit, currently only allowed on stretches of Interstate 85 in southern Virginia, to sections of other interstates in Commonwealth
* Dedicate percentage of new revenue growth to transportation
* Spend 75% of future surplus funds on transportation
* Dramatically expand Public-Private Partnership agreements for major priority projects
* Protect Transportation Trust Fund
* Audit VDOT to find and eliminate waste and inefficiencies; Seek greater autonomy from time-consuming federal regulations
* Seek federal approval for use of 2nd and 3rd year stimulus dollars for transportation projects now
* Support HOT lanes
* Enact border tolling of traffic coming into Virginia from North Carolina along I-85 and I-95
* Dedicate percentage of revenue from future offshore drilling to transportation
* Prioritize transportation projects. Top of list: Widen I-66 in and out of Beltway; Complete, within budget and on time, rail to Dulles; Complete I-495 and I-395/95 HOT Lane Projects; Upgrade Route 460; Find consensus for Third Crossing and move forward; Build High Speed Passenger Rail; Improve I-81; Coalfields Expressway Completion
* Provide telework tax credits
* Create bipartisan transportation task force, led by former governors and congressmen, to evaluate Virginia's transportation system and propose improvements
* Employ smart traffic technologies, light synchronization and new traffic management systems

The Deeds "Plan"

* The plan must be long-term in scope, with long-range, multi-modal solutions that move people and goods more efficiently;

* The plan must be statewide in conception, so that every part of the Commonwealth has a stake in the outcome; and

* The plan must be creative in nature, incorporating innovative solutions like incentives for telecommuting and bus rapid transit.

McDonnell's War Chest Swells to Nearly 5 Million Dollars

The gubernatorial campaign of Bob McDonnell announced today that it has far more money in the bank, from far more donors, than its Democratic opponent. The McDonnell campaign has almost $5 million cash on hand as of the end of the last reporting period. This total is nearly double the amount reported by the Deeds campaign. Officially the McDonnell campaign brought in over $1.8 million this period from 3,452 donors. That is nearly 1,000 more donors than the Deeds campaign. The McDonnell campaign had 2,181 donors who gave donations of $100 or less. 75% of McDonnell’s donors are from Virginia.

Speaking about the fundraising numbers, McDonnell for Governor Campaign Manager Phil Cox remarked, “Our campaign enters the final four months of the race in a strong financial position to carry our positive message of new jobs and more opportunities to every region of the state. Despite the fact that we were on television for over half of the period, we maintain a nearly 2 to 1 cash on hand advantage over our opponent. Even more remarkable is the difference in where campaign donations are coming from. While a significant amount of our opponents’ money was drawn from the compulsory dues of union members nationwide and the Democratic Governors Association, we were receiving the voluntary support of over 2,100 individual donors who each gave $100 or less. That’s the sign of a campaign that is winning over voters. Today’s report is a further demonstration of the broad appeal, and growing momentum, of our campaign. Virginians are rallying around Bob McDonnell’s positive message.”

The McDonnell campaign did not receive any donations from the Republican National Committee or the Republican Governors Association during this most recent fundraising period. With officially $4.92 million cash on hand, the McDonnell campaign has more money in the bank than the 2005 Kilgore campaign had at this same time.

Obama Approval Rating Declines in Virginia

So Virginia how is hope and change working for you? Not so well, at least according to a new poll. A new Public Policy survey found that in the Old Dominion, 48% approved of the job Obama is doing while 46% disapprove. Among Independents 52% disapprove of the job he is doing, while 38% approve.

With his numbers slipping you wonder if Deeds will want him to come campaign for him. Perhaps Deeds will ask for a flyover..

GOP Ticket Ahead in Latest Poll.

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins today noted the results of a new poll released by the firm Public Policy Polling, which shows each of the three Republican statewide candidates with a clear lead following the Democratic primary election. Candidate for governor Bob McDonnell leads Creigh Deeds by a 49-to-43 margin; Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling leads Jody Wagner by 46-to-40; and Sen. Ken Cuccinelli bests Steve Shannon 45-to-38 in the race for attorney general.

“Several polls conducted immediately after the primary had shown Deeds moving into the lead but it appears his bounce has worn off,” reported PPP in a press release from Dean Debnam, president of the firm.

Additional good news for McDonnell in the poll is his 21-point lead among self-described independents: 54-to-33.

“It’s pretty clear that any boost the Democrats may have gotten from the publicity surrounding their primary election has disappeared,” RPV Chairman Mullins said. “It’s also obvious that the more Virginians tune into the race, the more they like our impressive slate of candidates.”

The poll was conducted between June 30th and July 2nd and contacted 617 likely voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

“It’s clear that voters are hungry for candidates who have innovative ideas for how to bring jobs to Virginia and inject some energy into the economy,” Mullins said. “Our Republican candidates best represent those ideas.”

Details of the poll can be found here: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_VA_707.pdf

“While this is good news, we are aware that this campaign is a marathon and not a sprint,” Mullins said. “We intend to run hard and strong and continue to spread our optimistic message of jobs and economic opportunity for all Virginians.”

Remembering George E. Pickett

On this day 146 years ago the army of Northern Virginia suffered its greatest defeat. The fatal blow was struck in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the final day of battle General George Pickett lead his Virginia soldiers in a last disparate charge. Here is his report of what happened,

"On the Fourth—far from a glorious Fourth to us or to any with love for his fellow men—I wrote you just a line of heartbreak. The sacrifice of life on that blood soaked field on the fatal third was too awful for the heralding of victory, even for our victorious foe, who I think, believe as we do, that it decided the fate of our cause. No words can picture the anguish of that roll-call—the breathless waits between the responses. The "Here" of those who, by God's mercy, had miraculously escaped the awful rain of shot and shell was a sob—a gasp—a knell—for the unanswered name of his comrade. There was no tone of thankfulness for having been spared to answer to their names, but rather a toll, and an unvoiced wish that they, too, had been among the missing. Even now I can hear them cheering as I gave the order, "Forward!" I can feel the thrill of their joyous voices as they called out all along the line, "We'll follow you, Marse George. We'll follow you—we'll follow you." Oh, how faithfully they kept their word—following me on—on—to their death, and I, believing in the promised support, led them on—on—on—Oh, God!

...Poor old Dick Garnett did not dismount, as did the others of us, and he was killed instantly, falling from his horse. Kemper, desperately wounded, was brought from the field and subsequently, taken prisoner. Dear old Lewis Armistead, God bless him, was mortally wounded at the head of his command after planting the flag of Virginia within the enemy's lines. Seven of my colonels were killed, and one was mortally wounded. Nine of my lieutenant colonels were wounded, and three lieutenant colonels were killed. Only one field officer of my whole command, Colonel Cabell, was unhurt, and the loss of my company officers was in proportion."

On this day we should remember those brave Virginians that made that charge.