Spank That Donkey

 Myron and Chris are both hunters.  One day they go out hunting and Chris notices that Myron is now chewing Red Man 'tobacky' which is made by Joe.  This strikes Chris as weird because both of us always enjoyed Levi Garrett, which is made by Jim.

Chris points out to Myron that he has always preferred Levi Garrett, and besides it's made by our friend Jim.

We have always liked Jim, because of his philosphy for running his company was to deliver a good product at a lower cost.  Joe on the other hand sold a product that didn't really taste any better, but was much more expensive.

Chris says:

"Myron, are you selling us out, and now supporting Joe? 

Myron replies:

"I am not supporting either one, and I am quite preturbed by your implying such!"

Chris says:

"That's just wrong Myron, and I am going back and telling Billy Bob and Cooter!"

Myron Shoots Jim's wife, and Myron's  friends blame it on Chris.

This folks actually makes sense to some people. 

We had such a good carnival last year for Memorial Day, I figured I would republish it for this year with some editing taking out the non -Memorial Day themed entries.  Enjoy!

 Welcome the VA Blog Carnival 2006 Memorial Day Edition. I would like to Thank each VA Blog that has submitted post/posts. As advertised in the submission guidelines, all entries with a Memorial Day theme will go first followed by the other submissions.

In the spirit of Memorial Day, our purpose is to acknowledge all American Veterans who fought and died for our Freedoms. Being a Southerner at Heart, and rather enamored with our history, I think one of the most important battles ever fought was on Pennsylvania soil at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg National Cemetery is pictured above, (please note, all images are thumbnails, click for full size)

 No one battle in our history created as many casualties, and to set the tone for our carnival I present to you the following statement by our 16th President,  in text, and an audio file from the Library of Congress. The recording is by W.F. Hooley (speaker) from the New York E Berliners Company via Gramophone, 1898.  He reads slow,(you may have to let play then restart), but I think you will enjoy it. The thumbnail to the left is the only known photo of President Lincoln at Gettysburg. Link to LOC here.  The text of the Gettysburg Address, and the controversy surrounding it makes for interesting reading.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we cannot consecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that this government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth.

 On to our submissions, first up are two posts from one of my favorite blogs United Conservatives of Virginia.  This blog is unique in that it is made up of serious hardcore activists, and Flora McDonald is a Patriot in her own right, in this post "For the Fallen", a poem from the First World War, the Great War that was supposed to end all wars, because of its ferocity, and carnage, we are reminded (in this poem) of the "Reality of War".

 Her second submission, "Remembering a Hero: Captain William Meara" is a portrait of the Heart Break of war for those left behind, an excerpt here:

The article states, “The commanding officer of Company B, Captain William Meara, immediately turned the lead elements of his Company around in order to go to the aid of his besieged platoon…Deeply concerned about his stranded platoon, Captain Meara rose to his feet and personally led an assault on the first enemy bunker in their path. Disregarding the extremely heavy hostile fire, Captain Meara succeeded in knocking out the first bunker and killing two NVA. Again he rose to his feet and led another assault against the second bunker, killing one enemy soldier before he himself was mortally wounded…”

Next up, NOVA Town Hall Blog, who know a thing or two about Serving Our Country (and Thank You for it !!!), submits "Supporting The Troops, but Not The War?".  Excerpt as follows:

To say you don’t support the war is to say you don’t believe in that for which we are fighting. Therefore, America’s current military actions are in vain, and those who have sacrificed life and limb also did so in vain. How is this support of the troops?

 This post from Spark It Up!!!  is fitting indeed, "Memorial Day".  

Also a post here from a new blog, Greater Richmond Young Republicans, an appropriate excerpt:

As everyone gets ready for a long weekend of BBQs, travel and relaxation, I feel it is important to take a moment to remember the real reasons for the Memorial Day holiday, and offer our thanks to the men and women in uniform who have served and sacrificed so much for our nation.

 Another Great conservative Blog, (do you see a pattern here i.e. the call went out to big "D" Dems specifically)  The Cat House Chat !!! who is vacationing in our Nation's Capital this week end and has Two, Count em Two (giving Flora a run for the $$$) Posts !!!  First up, "God Bless our Veterans", and Rolling Thunder Takes over DC.

 Ah, Rocinante's Burdens answers the call for posts here, with "More on Defense Priorities".     Not exactly the Memorial Day theme I was hoping for, but if you read Roci's most excellent blog you know he's not a "conformist".  I am quite sure he is pointing out that our military industrial complex has not always given our troops the right weapons/systems, and that future wars could be far less "costly" in lives lost; if we acquired what is really needed, and not just politically expedient, and or fruitful to some. 

Wrapping up the  Memorial Day Theme Submissions is my post "It's an Honor to Meet You". Our WW2 and Korean Veterans are truly a "dying National Asset", We owe so much to them, it is hard to put into words. 

 Remember, Be kind to animals...

 Please listen to this podcast on the New Dominion featuring Scott Sayre and Emmett Hanger.  Chris Graham asks Emmett point blank about the current projected budget shortfall and how it will affect this campaign.  Emmett says the finance committee looked at this last year and acknowledged that business is cyclical, but yet they went ahead and spent a 6.5% increase in projected  revenues only to fall short as the revenues are only projected to increase 3.5%.

What's my point?  The professional politicians who make up our Senate Leadership don't have enough grasp on business affairs that they couldn't see that rising interest rates would slow down the hot new homebuilding market that has driven the higher state revenues of the past three years.  Now we are talking about the same Leadership that has taken these higher revenues and spent them doubling our state budget in just the past ten years, while the overall population has only grown 10%, and inflation has remained about 2% - 3% annually.

 These 'Leaders' have spent every tax dollar we have generated for them and incessantly explained to us why we need to raise taxes even more to pay for an even larger government.  Now, how long is it going to take before higher taxes are called for to 'bridge the gap', lest the VA Bond Rating become jeopardized, the children go uneducated, and the roads unpaved?  Seriously, these guys spend what they haven't received, and then return to the trough for more.

Back to the podcast.  Please take this time to listen to Emmett Hanger, and at the end ask yourself, did he really answer Chris and Crystal's questions, especially the question of the looming budget shortfall.  I think the only thing he answers clearly, although it gets pretty long winded is that he will not run as an independent if he loses this Republican Primary. 

Mr Sayre goes next, and its obvious what kind of match up we have here in the 24th.  A professional politician versus a businessman.  Be prepared, Scott hits Hanger pretty hard on spending and taxes.

(Click on the Wall)

 AG Bob McDonnell has done an awesome job creating a 'Wall of Honor" for all the Virginians who have sacrificed all in the War on Terror.  This memorial starts with Virginians serving on the USS Cole to the present.  This was a great idea, and I am glad that the AG has paid our Virginian Heroes this honor by creating this memorial.

H/T Spark It Up