Spank That Donkey

I posted the YouTube of our Chairman introducing Gov. Mark Warner at the Shad Planking here.

Interesting enough The Shad Plank has this post up, and it includes:

So why is Warner getting introduced by Republicans during his kick-off tour and courting old school conservatives that hang with Alan Vanasse? It's basic math really.

Warner knows that the state Democrats are solidly in his corner. He helped revive the party by winning the gubernatorial race gave Democrats a huge victory in 2004 with the tax increase for education and other core services and has been a fundraising machine for the party every since. He's got those votes - unless Macaca hits.

Warner also knows that Gilmore doesn't have the GOP base locked down - as evidenced by Marshall's run. Gilmore feuded bitterly with many Republican leaders in the General Assembly, especially over his signature issue - repealing the car tax. The animosity was so bad that when former Senate Finance Chairman John Chichester was asked by the Daily Press to compare the governors he worked with he rattled off nice things about Warner, Timothy Kaine and George Allen but refused to even say Gilmore's name.

There is no doubt that Chichester and Potts leadership in the Senate led to undoing our GOP Senate majority.  That is beyond dispute.  Those two and every Senator that went with them looked the gift horse in the mouth (Jim Gilmore), and refused to eliminate the Car Tax that swept them to power.

I am sure the conversation goes like this...

"Screw all that ideological stuff Jim, what about the money interests that get us elected too!  Who's looking out for them?"

The preceding was not an actual quote, but I bet it was heard in or about the Governor's office during the Gilmore administration.  Sacrifice you Conservative principles, and find your self out of power.  Think I'm full of crap?  Ask the Republicans that got thrown out of power in Congress in 2006.

Locally, that is why I supported Scott Sayre over Senator Hanger, point blank.

Spark it Up is highlighting something pretty disturbing revelations about Del. Bob Marshall's 2A voting record:

January 27, 2000

Dear Del. Bob Marshall

The Virginia Citizens Defense League is the largest grassroots gun-rights group in the Commonwealth. We led the effort to reform Virginia's Concealed Carry law and we have continued to lead the fight for gun-rights in Virginia.

Your bills, HB 350 ( http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB350 )
and HB 351 ( http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB351 ), would clearly infringe upon the right to bear arms. In Virginia it is legal to carry a firearm or knife in an open manner. Why do you want to make it a crime to do so on taxpayer property? Whether your bill would exempt Concealed Carry Permit holders is a matter of legal interpretation. You can bet that anti-gun localities such as Alexandria and Fairfax would use your law to harass law-abiding gun-owners.

Del. Marshall - your bills do not "mirror Project EXILE". Project EXILE was targeted at convicted felons. Your bill will create felons out of otherwise law-abiding folks!

Del. Marshall - on behalf of gun owners across Virginia I ask you to withdraw these dangerous gun control bills! I am sure you will hear from other concerned citizens, please listen to us!

Sincerely,

Paul W. Moog, Jr. President Virginia Citizens Defense League

is this just a tad bit too chummy?

Steve Winslow's Conservative Viewpoints has a good post up here explaining that winning magic that RPV needs to get back too, such as:

The moral of this story is simple; don’t mess with a motivated conservative who stands in a united front with those that refuse to lose sight of the greater goal which is to promote principles that unite and empower people by operating government as it is intended.

It really sounds a lot like Jeff Frederick and what he can transform RPV into, and just get away from the empty rhetoric mouthpiece that RPV has always been, at least since I have been involved in politics.  I can't wait to get down to Richmond and vote for that guy.

Talking grassroots is one thing, actually promoting them and giving them the tools necessary to get the job done is another.  RPV to me has just been an empty shell that is just a puppet organization for whomever the Top Dog in Republican politics.  That former top dog was Senator George Allen.  I don't sense in LG Bill Bolling or AG Bob McDonnell, who both have great grassroots networks that either of them would want to take RPV back into a lap dog type status.

I am sure it wouldn't be that way if we can get Jeff Frederick the chairmanship this May 31rst.  He'd be the Democrats worst nightmare, whereas LG John Hagar is a fine gentleman, his idea of Partisanship is to work for the other side in Governor Mark Warner's administration!  How in the world can anyone take seriously his desire as the chair of RPV to really defeat Warner this November?

It's time for a change at the tiller and unfurling of some new sheets so we can gather in those sails all of the Conservatives and Independents in Virginia and get back on course for limiting government and lowering the tax burdens on all Virginians.

You know I've heard a lot of talk about Del. Bob Marshall being the only US Senate candidate that stopped HB 3202 from becoming law, and that is why we should support him. You know that bill that would allow unelected bodies to have taxing authority over our Commonwealth's Citizens.  The theory being, only Marshall could be trusted to stop new taxes in their tracks!

Well, let us confirm that is Governor Jim Gilmore who used the power of the veto to stop Del. Bob Marshall from creating one of those unelected bodies and give them the authority to tax our citzenry. It seems:

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Summary as passed: (all summaries)
Virginia Regional Economic Development Authority. Allows two or more localities to create such an authority for the purpose of enhancing the economic base for the member localities by developing, owning, and operating on a cooperative basis one or more development areas for commercial enterprises. An authority shall be a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and its powers shall include the power to sue and be sued in its own name; adopt bylaws, rules and regulations; enter into agreements with any other political subdivision of the Commonwealth for joint or cooperative action; enter into voluntary economic growth-sharing agreements; determine the locations of, develop, establish, construct, operate, regulate, and maintain facilities to the extent necessary or convenient to accomplish the purposes of the authority; acquire, own, hold, lease, use, sell, encumber, transfer, or dispose of, in its own name, any real or personal property or interests therein; enter into contracts of any kind; expend such funds as may be available to it for the purpose of developing facilities; fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect rates, rents, fees, or other charges for the use of facilities or for services rendered in connection with the facilities; borrow money from any source for any valid purpose; issue bonds; receive from participating localities contributions of taxes levied within the district; distribute its revenues according to an agreement among participating localities; and, with the concurrence of the member localities, levy an incremental real property tax for capital investment and special services within the district. This is a recommendation of the Commission on the Condition and Future of Virginia's Cities.

Wow, can you believe it? Luckily Governor Jim Gilmore wielded the veto pen, and wrote:

Pursuant to Section 6 of Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill No. 1474. House Bill No. 1474 allows two or more localities to create a Regional Economic Development Authority to develop, own and operate for those localities, one or more development areas for commercial enterprises.

Establishing a process to make it easier for local governments to work together on projects that are of regional economic benefit are vital in ensuring greater government efficiency and reducing wasteful spending. These steps, however, should not involve a delegation of taxing authority, or the creation of an undefined tax district, which is what House Bill No. 1474 purports to do.

I believe that there is a model of regional cooperation that will allow these efficiencies to provide the regions of the Commonwealth the tools they need to compete nationally for high paying jobs and investments. I have always believed in local economic development through the cooperative efforts of localities, and initiatives like the Regional Competitiveness Act is one example of how effective those efforts can be.

While House Bill No. 1474 takes some important steps in creating the proper economic incentives for collaboration between regions, unfortunately, it also blurs the distinction between regional governments and regional authorities, potentially creating an unelected entity with the critical sovereign powers of government.

Therefore, I am returning this bill without my approval.

and who voted for it?

(floor) 02/15/00 House: VOTE: PASSAGE (74-Y 25-N)

 

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YEAS--Abbitt, Almand, Amundson, Armstrong, Barlow, Baskerville, Bennett, Bloxom, Bolvin, Brink, Broman, Byron, Callahan, Christian, Clement, Councill, Cranwell, Crittenden, Darner, Day, DeBoer, Deeds, Diamonstein, Dickinson, Dillard, Drake, Grayson, Hall, Hargrove, Hull, Ingram, Jackson, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Larrabee, Marshall, May, McClure, McDonnell, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Moran, Morgan, Moss, O'Brien, Orrock, Parrish, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Rhodes, Robinson, Ruff, Scott, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Tata, Tate, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Watts, Weatherholtz, Williams, Woodrum--74.

 

NAYS--Albo, Black, Blevins, Bryant, Cantor, Cox, Davis, Devolites, Dudley, Griffith, Hamilton, Harris, Howell, Katzen, Landes, Louderback, Nixon, Reid, Rollison, Rust, Suit, Wagner, Wardrup, Ware, Mr. Speaker--25.

 

ABSTENTIONS--0.

 

Shazam!  I just wonder, if this had passed would Del. Marshall have named him self in the law suit when he set out to end these unelected authorities with taxing power?  Marshall even voted for it in committee, so much for not knowing what the bill was all about.

Note here, since I am all about Republican Unity, I will spare some of my closest blogging friends links to the numerous, numerous, numerous posts, and comments that have never spared the rod for the Good Governor Gilmore in regards to HB3202, or his 'Big Govt' ways.  Feel the Love.

But now we know, Governor Gilmore is the only US Senate Candidate that has saved us from these ghastly, unelected bodies with taxing authority.