March on Washington in September!

Americans from across the nation are taking to the streets of Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 12th 2009, to protest the out of control spending, the bailouts, the soaring deficits, and the big government take over of our health care.

Four buses are being organized to take citizens from the Augusta County area to the event. The buses will begin in Augusta and pick up people along the way to Washington. The cost for the bus trip is $35 and includes bottled water.

The events in Washington will start at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Capital, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument. The actual march will begin at the Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. toward the U.S. Capital, the seat of power for the United States.

Fox News will be covering the event in Washington with a host of speakers that continues to grow by the day. It is estimated that this could be the biggest march on Washington in history.

Contact Lynn Mitchell for more details and to reserve your place on the bus. Sign up (LynnFromVa@aol.com) for the bus ride and get to know other people in our area that believe in the principle of “We The People.”

You can learn more about the event by going to http://912dc.org.

Augusta Farms Scholastic Way Sidewalk Program

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded the Beverley Manor District of Augusta County $300,000 for a pedestrian throughway and sidewalk from the Augusta Farms neighborhood toward the Stuarts Draft public school complex behind it. The grant will complete the funding of all three phases of the project.

Residents in the Augusta Farms neighborhood have long awaited the project so that children could directly access their schools without a need for busing. Design and planning of the project is being worked out by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Augusta County Government Center. Ground is tentatively set to be broken some time in 2010.

Report Your Neighbor to the Government?

Republicans are upset because now the White House is encouraging citizens to turn in their neighbors for opposing the Health Care issue.

According to the White House blog, (www.whitehouse.gov/blog), Linda Douglass, the Communications Director for the White House’s Health Reform Office wants citizens to report “fishy” material to the federal government at flag@whitehouse.gov.

This has caused an immediate backlash for the Obama Administration. There are allegations that the White House is compiling a list of citizens that are exercising their 1st Amendment right to free speech by being opposed to the Universal Health Care plan. Senator John Cornyn of Texas has sent a letter to President Obama demanding an explanation. No answer from the President.

Universal Health Care Update

Americans all across the nation are engaging their Congressional representatives at town hall meetings, public forums, and one on one sit down appointments to discuss the massive Universal Health Care legislation. However, some Democrat representatives are refusing to meet with constituents due to fierce opposition. Many representatives have been faced with angry and upset citizens. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has said that these citizens that oppose the legislation and that are attending these town hall meetings are
Un-American.

U.S. Senators Jim Webb (D) and Mark Warner (D) of Virginia are refusing to hold any form of town hall or public meeting to hear from residents of Virginia on this important issue.

Augusta Revenue Squad Recovery Update

At the August 12th BOS meeting, the Board entered into agreement with a billing agent for the Revenue Recovery Program for the Augusta County rescue squads. The plan says that no bills will be directly received by taxpaying citizens of Augusta for ambulance services. Instead any balance left over from a personal insurance claim will be waived. Also all uninsured citizens will not have to pay for ambulance services, it will be covered by the county.

We Need Term Limits

Congressional service was never designed to become a lifetime career. Representation was designed to be fluid and diverse, constantly changing, keeping in time with the issues and evolving perspectives. However, political careers have taken the place of congressional service and rarely ever producing such service.

Term limits were originally left out of the Constitution because the majority drafting the text felt that people would hardly desire to serve more than one or two terms. Actually, what is defined is the time that one person has to stay in office once elected. Over the last century, “Term Limits” has had time in the spotlight, most times this attention comes during economic hardship because it is felt by more Americans that the institution of government shouldn't be made up of these long-serving representatives who are re-elected without challenge or debate. We have Senators who have been in office for more than 40 years, Congressmen who have been in office for more than 30 years. These “Monuments” as I have come to call them will sooner have their sculpture complete and erected inside of the Capital than return to average citizenship.

Many American voters wonder how these representatives can possibly understand the perspective of the average citizen. A new push for Term Limits is necessary and this time we must prevail. America has every ability to rise above its challenges and see the needs of its people met; however, this can only be accomplished by those elected to public service without the tether of political party or power to hold back the will of the people. Good representation must be refreshed and renewed.

Partisanship

I have had many people come to me and inquire what it was like to be a candidate at the 20th House District Forum. While I am no expert, being that I was only a candidate for a party nomination for 7 days, I do have some insight from the perspective of my generation.

Party politics have become too partisan. Some will not speak with you because of your party affiliation. Some people say things like, “Oh, don't talk to him/her about politics, he is a Republican.” and vice-versa. This mentality is a travesty to the democratic process in America.

We should be able to converse about these topics with respect and without fear of social shun or retribution. Some are labeled as extremists, either Liberal or Right wing. It is interesting to know that the founders of our country such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock all were labeled as extremists; however, they were all respected and never shunned. They fought aggressively to win a debate or prove a point; however, in the end they all signed the Declaration of Independence.

Partisanship is promoted by those in elected office to keep their political prowess. How much power would be in the hands of the people if we spoke with one another and came up with our own plans to fix problems?

The Universal Health Care Bill

A copy of The Universal Health Care Bill, H.R. 3200, can be found Here in PDF format.

David Karaffa, To My Supporters

To My Supporters.

On Monday night, Staunton City Councilman Richard Bell was elected as the Republican nominee for the 20th House District seat by the Republican chairpersons of the encompassing counties and city.

I congratulated Mr. Bell and wished him well in his campaign. I also expressed my willingness to help him in any way while on the campaign trail. I believe that Councilman Bell will represent the 20th District with strength and devotion and he has my full support.

I would like to thank all who supported me in this process. It was surely a team effort. We added to the richness of the discussion on Monday night and engaged in the issues that the Commonwealth is currently facing. I appreciate the overwhelming support and kind words from all of you who have contacted me. Some I have known for years and others I just met. This is truly an exciting time.

Many of you have expressed that I stay involved and I will. I will continue to work with the surrounding communities as we pull together and continue the momentum of individual responsibility, small government, and conservative principles.

Again, I thank all of you for your support and ask you to join me in supporting Councilman Richard Bell in November.

Sincerely,

David A. Karaffa

Christopher DeWald steps out of race for 20th District, throws support behind David Karaffa!!

This morning I received a call from Mr. DeWald. He stated that he was pulling out of the race for the 20th District Delegate position. He sighted some medical reasons for his withdrawal and I understand them. Mr. DeWald was the highest licensed official working at the Department of Health for water treatment and served on the State Water Control Board. He also volunteered at the hospital, Augusta Health, in Fishersville as Santa Claus during the Christmas Season.

He went on to say that he fully supports me in my bid for the Republican Nomination.

"I want to add that I throw any weight that I might have had to Mr. David Karaffa. He is the only one of the 7 that remain that is out there in the public. I have seen and heard him in Gypsy Hill Park. He is out there with the people. The others lack that motivation and drive. We need someone vibrant that is going after the position because he desires to be part of the solution and will work hard for the party. He is young enough to run for many years and not to be just a figurehead. I applaud his efforts in obtaining such medical credentials in such a short time. That shows desire and people skills. That is what the party that I love needs. We do not need someone who will just want the name of the position, but go out and be the reorganized Republican Party."---Christopher J DeWald.

I appreciate Mr. DeWald's kind words and respect him for putting forth his name to serve the people of our district.

David Karaffa for 20th District Delegate!

Good Evening, I'm David Karaffa.

As many of you know, our Delegate, Chris Saxman, has announced that he will no longer be seeking re-election in November, which opens up the Republican nomination. I, like many of you, was surprised that our good delegate was no longer running. I understand the reasons that Delegate Saxman has for stepping aside and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his years of unwavering service to our community, and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Over the last couple of days, many in the community have asked me if I would submit my name for candidacy. After careful consideration of the issues confronting our great commonwealth, input from my family, and quiet prayer, I have decided to put forward my name for the 20th District seat of the Virginia House of Delegates.

We reflect on the peaceful passing of public service from one person to the next that has been in practice ever since the founding of our country. Each time, it has been to a person that shares our faith in a system that puts "We the People" in charge and I share in that belief. If selected I will passionately continue our fight for fiscal responsibility, real estate assessment reform, education, healthcare, a responsible energy policy, government transparency, and job creation. As Delegate Saxman, a great public servant, goes on to travel a different path, we must have strength and courage as a community, to look to the future of our representation and take confidence in our selection.

I want to thank the Republican Committee Chairmen for opening up this nomination so that once again a person who walks among us can step forward, take on the burden of public service, and represent our interests in the Virginia legislature. I look forward to an open and fair process where the will of the people will be respected and the spirit of our democracy maintained.

I am honored by the prospect of representing our great community and I ask you to support me at the Republican Nomination Forum 7 pm July 27th at Buffalo Gap High School.

(Show your support for David Karaffa and a Bold Fresh Perspective by wearing a Red Shirt at the Forum)

Respect for a Leader.

SwacGirl takes some time to reflect on recent events and a great leader, Del. Chris Saxman.

Hold The Presses!!!

Hold the phone, stop the presses, and put the champagne back on ice!  

In a stunning decision by the local Republican committee chairmen, the decision to replace Del. Chris Saxman as the 2009 candidate for delegate has been placed on hold until after a public forum in which any person can contend for the Republican nomination for the 20th district seat of Virginia.  

All residents wishing to submit their name for consideration have to be in to Carl Tate, Chairman of the 20th District Republican Legislative Committee, by Wednesday, July 22nd at 5 p.m.  The forum will be held 7 p.m. Monday, July 27th at Buffalo Gap High School.  The Republican committee chairmen will hear from those that attend and render a decision on the nominee.  

The 20th District of Virginia is sure alive tonight!

 

City Councilman to be handed the 20th district seat of Virginia.

Virginia State Delegate Chris Saxman (pictured on left), from the 20^th district seat of Virginia, has removed his name from the ballot this November.  In an email letter to his supporters the four term Delegate stated “I have recently felt pulled to pursue new opportunities to serve my community and our Commonwealth, I believe the time has come for me to step away from my current elected position.” 

It appears, according to the Rockingham GOP Chairman and The News Leader, that no public nomination process will be sought by the Republican Party to replace Saxman.  Instead, it is anticipated that Staunton City Councilman Richard (Dickie) Bell will be handed the nomination on Saturday, July 18^th, in a closed door process by the chairmen of the Staunton city, Augusta county, Rockingham county, and Highland county units of the Republican party.

We will stay up to date as this story unfolds.

Democratic Congressman laughs about legislators responsibilities!

U.S. Congressman and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland, said Tuesday, July 7th “If every member pledged to not vote for it if they hadn't read it in its entirety, I think we would have very few votes.” He actually laughed and said, “I'm laughing because a)I don't know how long this bill is going to be, but it's going to be a very long bill.”

Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, has created the “Responsible Health-care Reform Pledge,” which commits lawmakers to read the health care bill in its entirety before they cast their vote. The group is also asking that the full health care bill be made available for public view three days before Congress votes on it. It has been revealed that few, if any, congressman read the 1,550 page American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Cap and Trade Bill) or the 1,071 page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ($850 billion Bailout Bill).

The Responsible Health-care Reform Pledge states; “I, (Name inserted here), pledge to my constituents and to the American people that I will not vote to enact any health-care reform package that: 1) I have not read, personally, in its entirety; and, 2) Has not been available, in its entirety, to the American people on the Internet for at least 72 hours, so that they can read it too.”

Readers may also find this interesting. Below is the text for the Oath of Office for Congressmen and women.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Reason would suggest that when you make an oath to discharge the duties of the office in a well and faithful manner that it would include reading legislation entirely before voting on it. Sometimes our elected leaders, even Congressman Steny Hoyer, need to be reminded of their most sacred promise, which is to the people.