Snow, Snow, and More Snow!

Okay, here are the pictures of the snow around my house. Sure is great to have a new friend with a plow!

Virginia has All Hands on Deck for Snow.

In this mornings News Virginian is a run down and review of the preparation for the largest snow storm in decades. One very interesting detail, mail is planned to be delivered even if the snow is two feet deep! Reminds me of the United States Postal Service un-official Creed inscribed on the Post Office in New York City, "Neither Snow nor Rain nor Heat nor Gloom of Night stays these Couriers from the Swift completion of their Appointed Rounds" A great story for a Snow Day.

Obama puts Health Care in the Backseat.

Today in the Richmond Times Dispatch, President Obama is reported to be putting Health Care on the back burner and focusing on the economy and jobs, he stated at a Democrat event. The president says he would like to see the Republicans, Democrats, and other experts sit down to work on the bills. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, has stated that is exactly what he has been after and awaits the White House invitation. No invitation has yet been offered to Republicans. Most likely, that invitation will never materialize.

We must be vigilant that Health Care doesn't sneak in under the radar.

Pro-Choice/Pro-Abortion license plate in Virginia!

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch this morning, Planned Parenthood has been successful in having a Pro-Choice Specialty Licence Plate which reads, "Trust Women/Respect Choice," introduced to the General Assembly. Sen. Janet D. Howell, D. Fairfax has proposed the legislation for the specialty plate out of, what she calls it, fairness. Last year, Pro-Life advocates were successful in obtaining the "Choice Life" licence plate. Sen Howell explains that this specialty plate is just voicing the other perspective.

I just don't understand this. Why would we as a Commonwealth want Pro-Abortion advertised on our licence plates, might as well say, "Virginia is For Lovers, Just not Babies." Sen. Howell has crossed the line with this legislation, especially since part of the proceeds of the plate go to Planned Parenthood. The spokes person for Planned Parenthood states that the funds wouldn't go directly to pay for abortions. Like that is supposed to make it all feel better? It is well known that Planned Parenthood fully supports abortion.

I will be keeping especially sharp watch on my representatives in the General Assembly on this one. God willing Sen. Hanger doesn't vote for this horrible license plate. I also want to put out a call to all those Conservatives in Fairfax, Virginia. Now is your time, Dig Deep and replace Sen. Howell in the Virginia Senate. I will be more than happy to send you money and volunteer my time.

Fiscal Conservative Democrats Conflicted.

Congressional Democrats, like Senator Conrad of North Dakota, are conflicted about the rising deficit, rising unemployment, rising food costs, and party loyalty. According to the the Wall Street Journal, Sen. Conrad is feeling the heat of the $3.8 Trillion dollar Obama Budget. The most informing part of the WSJ article was this;

"Most economists agree that the country's public-debt burden-now at $7.75 trillion and growing- poses a threat to economic security. Interest payments devour nearly one-tenth of federal revenues and are projected to more than triple over the next 10 years. Spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid consumes an additional 57%. The administration projects that those entitlement programs, as they are know, plus interest on the debt, will absorb 80% of all federal revenues by 2020."

So, does Sen. Conrad and other Congressional Democrats abandon Mr. Obama and his deficit spending and help save the country from economic disaster, or do they go down with the sinking ship called the Democrat Party?

Virginia Senate Smacks down ObamaCare Mandate!

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Virginia Senate has passed a bill that declares it illegal to mandate someone to purchase health insurance and rejects the federal government or any other institution from imposing a fine for not having health insurance.

This a tremendous victory for Constitutional Freedoms. Republican Senators have said this is less about health care and more about individual freedom of choice.

Another reason legislators don't need to impose a fine is, if the poor can't afford a health insurance plan, what makes you think they can afford a fine? And, how exactly does that help them when they get sick?

Good Job Delegate Dickie Bell.

In today's News Leader, 20th District Delegate Dickie Bell's Education Bill, House Bill 76, has passed in the Education Committee and goes before the full General Assembly for vote. The bill, Delegate Bell explains, requires school districts to spend at least 65% of its annual budget in the classroom on instruction, not on administration costs. This idea is not new to the General Assembly, it was introduced 4-5 years ago by Delegate Albo of Springfield. However, Delegate Bell, being a teacher, drafted the bill better to the committee's liking and was successful at getting it passed. Delegate Dickie Bell is a special education teacher from Augusta County and a freshman delegate this year in the Virginia General Assembly.

Delegate Albo explained that the bill will have a tough time getting through the General Assembly and even harder time getting through the Virginia Senate because the Teachers Unions are opposed to the measure. The Teachers Unions also represent the Administrative staff and explain that the bill would result in layoffs of administration in order to comply with the mandate.

Obama Budget Cancels NASA Constellation Program!

Today in the Richmond Times Dispatch, President Obama unveiled his budget proposal, all $3.83 Trillion, which brings on Billions of Debt, and increases the deficit. Gee, saw that coming, so much for fiscal responsibility. However, the biggest thing that jumped right out of the page... Cancelling the Constellation Program at NASA! Legislation was written into NASA's funding last year to prohibit this without congressional approval.

According to cnet.com and other known news sources, the Obama Administration is cancelling the Next Generation of NASA's manned spaceship. The current Space Shuttle Fleet, which did most of the heavy lifting in construction of the International Space Station (I.S.S.), and pride of the American Space Agency is scheduled for decommission at the end of this year. The problem was seen many years ago that a replacement would be needed and ready to maintain the crews and supplies aboard the I.S.S.

So the Constellation program was born, two different types of rockets, for many different applications. The Ares I rocket was designed to take the new Orion Space Capsule up into space. The Ares I rocket and Orion Space Capsule could be used to bring crew back and forth from the I.S.S. The Ares V rocket was the heavy lifter for supplies and possibly a Next Generation Lunar Lander. Another words, the two could have worked together or separately in order to satisfy the necessity of the mission and save money.

Click Here to see a YouTube video of the Constellation Program in Action!

Now, The Obama Administration, wants to scrap the Constellation program all together and rely on commercial or private companies to provide the rockets and the capsules to get our astronauts to the station. However, none of the current "commercial" companies have a rocket that can fulfill the needs of NASA by NEXT YEAR! So, if the commercial companies aren't able to come up with a transportation system quick, in order to keep the American Manned Space Program alive than we better really start working on our relationship with the Russians.

Currently, the Russians are the only other country on the PLANET capable of getting crew and supplies to the I.S.S. Lets review, how is our relationship with Russia anyway? Hmmm, lately, its been quite strained. So, I certainly hope we don't upset the Russians while we have an American on the International Space Station. Oh, and what exactly is Obama's plan if the Russians refuse to carry our astronauts up? The Russians must really like this, they could basically take squatters rights to the most sophisticated piece of technology ever created, this is CRAZY!

Click Here to read about everyday technologies that were born because of NASA research.

Not Climate Change Again.......

Has anyone noticed how every time President Obama says, "Climate Change" we get blasted with snow? Its like God was listening at Copenhagen and said, "Climate Change, I'll give you climate change" and we got one of the biggest snows in more than 30 years. Now, at the State of the Union address, President Obama said "Climate Change" and I wake up to 6 inches of snow.

Mr. Obama, could you please stop talking about Climate Change by May at the latest, I would like to enjoy my summer. Thanks.

Hey Washington!

U.S. Senate Desk.

"Its the People's Seat!"

Sen. Elect Scott Brown during debate.

A U.S. House of Representatives Chamber Chair.

Its the People's Chair!

The United States Senate Chamber.

Its the People's Chamber!

The United States House of Representatives Chamber.

Its the People's Voice!

Its the People's House!

Its the People's Country!

Hey Washington, Can you hear us now?

Sen. Scott Brown win will be studied.

The New York Times has an in depth look at the Scott Brown senate victory. The story studies the actions of the liberals, Democrats, Independents, Republicans, conservatives, Martha Coakley, Scott Brown, Capital Hill, the White House, etc. Senior Advisor to the President, David Axelrod, said, "It was a classic case of everyone getting caught napping."

The story also heralds the coming of a new element in the political arena, The Tea Party Movement. They look at how the Tea Party has become a heavy weight in national politics and must be reconciled with by the Republican party. The reality is, along with Scott Brown and his dedicated volunteers, the Tea Party Movement was the first to come in and nationally support Brown and brought in reinforcements from around the nation.

This amazing race will surely be studied in schools for political science. One thing is definite, Democrats will be on a sharp lookout across the nation for other independent, conservative, Republicans to stand up to the Democrat machine currently running Washington D.C.

Waynesboro has Surplus!

Today in the News Virginian, Waynesboro City Council has been told they have a revenue surplus! To the tune of $560,000 dollars. The debate is whether to spend it or save it. I know that answer. With the fiscal year 2010 looking more grim for local governments than the 2009, the wise move would be to save the money to maintain core services of government in the future. According to the story, the city council will hold a hearing to let the public give opinion about the funds. No date has been set.

Honorable move by Sen. Webb?

Senator Jim Webb released a statement after Senator-elect Scott Brown won in Massachusetts on Tuesday. In the statement Senator Webb said that the Senate should suspend votes on Health Care Reform until after Senator Brown is seated to represent his state. This was an interesting move on behalf of the Virginia Senator. The Richmond Times Dispatch congratulates Sen. Webb with his decision in today's paper. However, was Sen. Webb being honorable or finding a way to get back into good graces with the conservative state he represents? Do you think that Sen. Webb sees the writing on the wall in terms of his own re-election? Lets face it if Massachusetts can elect a conservative representative because of what is happening in Congress, surely Virginia can.

But for now, however, I am proud that Sen. Webb has decided to take this stand. It is important that the duly elected representatives be seated to carry out their trust in the name of the people. Moving forward on Health Care Reform without Senator Brown would be a disgrace to the United States Senate and the United States Constitution and all it stands for.

Rest Stops Open, One Promise Kept.

This morning in the Richmond Times Dispatch was the headline "McDonnell gets the OK to re-open rest stops." Gov. McDonnell keeps a promise within one WEEK of being in office. Good job Gov. keep it up. All rest stops will be open and operating by April 15 with the first being re-opened next month. McDonnell commented that the closed rest stops had sent a bigger signal to those driving through Virginia, that the Commonwealth was closed for business. McDonnell says that opening up these rest stops was important for showing how serious he was about keeping his promises.

The Commonwealth is exploring public-private partnership programs for the rest stop areas and the transportation agency is looking at ways to bring down the additional $7.5 million dollar price tag to keep the rest stops in operation.

Fascinating...

This was on RedState today, Unplug Education, No Computers in Schools. Is computer integration into the classroom really benefiting our students between the ages of 8-18? According to the New York Times this age group already gets 7 1/2 hours of multimedia exposure. The post goes further to say that students need to get back to mastering the basics and then bring in the technology. Interesting...