WEBB: "Obama wont take your guns"...

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Back during the last Presidential campaign I recall hearing several radio messages from my Virginia Senator Jim Webb (D) telling me that Obama supports my gun rights and would not take them away from me…

Recently Virginia citizens with valid Concealed weapons permits have been allowed to carry their acceptable weapons in National Parks within Virginia as long as it was concealed and properly maintained. I am a avid hiker of the trails in Virginia and also a CWP holder and appreciated the ability to be able to defend myself while on the trail if needed. In my years of hiking the trails within Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway I have had many enjoyable hikes. Unfortunately I have also run into people on the trails who make it a habit to stay at the shelters on the trail during the weekends who tend to drink and become “Rowdy”…

Recently there was an individual who was convicted in killing two hikers many years ago and served time in prison for the crime. He was then released and in a very short time later he shot two other individuals on the trail very near the location he committed the murders of two hikers…

A federal judge has now blocked the ruling permitting law abiding Virginia citizens with proper concealed weapons permits from defending themselves while in the parks. Washington Post reports: “A federal judge yesterday blocked a last-minute rule enacted by President George W. Bush allowing visitors to national parks to carry concealed weapons.”

“She noted that the government justified its decision to forgo an environmental analysis on the grounds that the rule does not "authorize" environmental impacts. Calling this a "tautology," she wrote that officials "abdicated their Congressionally-mandated obligation" to evaluate environmental impacts and "ignored (without sufficient explanation) substantial information in the administrative record concerning environmental impacts" of the rule.”

“Bryan Faehner, associate director for park uses at the National Parks Conservation Association, said his group is "extremely pleased" with both the court decision and the fact that Interior is now conducting an internal review of the rule's environmental impact. "This decision by the courts reaffirms our concerns, and the concerns of park rangers across the country, that this new regulation . . . has serious impacts on the parks and increases the risk of opportunistic poaching of wildlife in the parks, and increases the risk to park visitors”…

Environmental impacts?… What environmental impact are they looking for? I can understand Park Rangers being worried about people carrying loaded weapons in the parks but here is the little secret that many Gun Control advocates ignore…
CRIMINALS DISREGARD GUN LAWS AND ARE SUCH THE ONLY ARMED INDIVIDUALS IN GUN FREE ZONES!!! Refer to the Virginia Tech incident and see what happened there…

Senator Webb… Any comment?…

Devil's Marbleyard VA...

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Hiked up to Devil's Marbleyard to have a look around for the first time this year. It is a great hike before the trees block your view from the trail. Once you get there you will find an eight acre field of large boulders and no trees or vegetation....

Directions and great write up available at Hiking Upwards...

Augusta County G.O.P Supporting Jeff Frederick...

A.C.R.C votes on resolution to support RPV Chairman Jeff Frederick

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RPV CHAIRMAN JEFF FREDERICK

Whereas, the Augusta County Republican Committee believes that the strength of the Republican Party comes from the grassroots up, not the top down.

Whereas, in June 2008, the State Republican Convention elected Jeff Frederick as the State Chairman with an overwhelming vote ot the delegates.

Now, therefore, be resolved, that the Augusta County Republican Committee:

1] Fully endorses and supports the Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Jeff
Frederick.

2] We call on Republicans across the Commonwealth to focus on the elections
at hand. Chairman Frederick is doing the job he was elected to do, namely
to make the state party the servant of the local unit and not its master.

3] We call on the State Central Committee and senatorial caucus to also
fully endorse Chairman Jeff Frederick and assist him unconditionally to retake
the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Republican Party.


Members of the Augusta County Republican Committee voted by resolution to support Jeff Frederick as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia...


The majority of those attending this meeting voted to support Frederick as our Chairman after discussion of the known issues. Some of those who voted against Frederick in this resolution presented their viewpoints but the majority of those voting against the resolution agreed that they did not have enough facts to support a resolution. Discussion also progressed as to why the State Central representative for Augusta County was not present to provide information and facts on this matter to help members make a informative decision...


It appears that many members at the "Grassroots" level are being left out of the matter and that it will be left to the State Central members to decide what is "Right" for the Republican Party as they see fit(?)...

More over at Spank That Donkey

At least Obama knows who to quote...

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"Looking at all of you, I'm reminded of a greeting President Reagan once offered the guests at this gathering. 'On St. Patrick's Day,' he said, 'you should spend time with saints and scholars. So I have two more stops to make.' "

-President Obama, speaking at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's St. Patrick's Day Lunch at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday...

Raines: $24.7 Million in fines but "this is an agreement to disagree"...

A little background info on those who claimed "Everythings fine" over at Fannie Mae and Freddie-Mac...

Watch the video then read what was reported by the Seattle Times...

WASHINGTON — "Former Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines and two other top executives have agreed to a $31.4 million settlement with the government announced today over their roles in a 2004 accounting scandal."

"Raines, a Seattle native and prominent Washington figure who was President Clinton's budget director, is relinquishing company stock options, proceeds from stock sales and other benefits. His part of the settlement is worth $24.7 million"

Raines' total compensation from 1998 through 2004 was $91.1 million, including some $52.6 million in bonuses, according to OFHEO

"Fannie Mae paid a record $400 million civil fine in a settlement with OFHEO and the Securities and Exchange Commission. It also agreed to make top-to-bottom changes in its corporate culture, accounting procedures and ways of managing risk."

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling ~S.A.W. Breakfast~

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Lt. Governor Bill Bolling attended the monthly S.A.W. (Staunton-Augusta County-Waynesboro) breakfast at Mr.s Rowe’s restaurant this morning to a full room of local Republican grassroots and elected representatives…

Delegate Steve Landes

The event started off with comments from several people including Delegate Steve Landes, Delegate Chris Saxman, 6th District Scott Sayre, Staunton Chairwoman Ann Taetzsch, and Augusta Chairman Bill Shirley…

Delegate Chris Saxman

Lt. Governor Bolling is one of those speakers who can speak for 45 minutes but still holds your attention as if it was only 10 minutes. He can also present an incredible amount of information and facts, as evident of NewsVirginian reporter Bob Stuart who had multiple pages of notes, but yet he does not bog down the speech with a overabundance of information.

Scott Sayre

The Lt. Governor spoke about many topics regarding the actions and policies being developed, maintained, increased, and “Dreamed Up” in Richmond by the elected representatives. With the present economic situation here in Virginia and nationwide that issue received considerable focus. He spoke about how Virginia has gotten itself into a deep deficit because of the economic downturn but also because of Richmond counting on unrealistic revenue projections in Governor Tim Kaine’s (D) budget. And we will be looking at even a higher deficit due to the budgeted projection of 4-½% revenue increase projection for this year. Fortunately for Democratic Governor Tim Kaine (Also Chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the same time) he will be getting a substantial “Bailout” from Washington and his buddy President Obama, but what happens when that “Magic-money” runs out?…

Augusta County McDonnell \ Bolling coordinator Chris Green

Lt. Governor Bolling then spoke about the letter to the Secretary of the Interior that Governor Tim Kaine wrote requesting a suspension of the efforts to explore and develop known Natural Gas and Oil reserves off the coast of Virginia. Lt. Governor Bolling responded by sending a letter of his own stating the economic, energy, and jobs that this exploration and development will bring to Virginia if allowed. He include projections of the millions of tax revenue that this energy would bring to Virginia which could be used to help solve the States transportation issue. He also spoke of the challenge that Attorney General-Governor Candidate Bob McDonnell made to the three Democratic Party Candidates for Governor to support these important efforts to develop American sources of energy off our coasts and the refusal of the Democratic Candidates…

Energy will sure to be a major topic in the near and far term future and we must develop our own sources of energy for the obvious reasons. Like President Obama and many from the Democratic party side it would be foolish to ignore our known sources of Natural Gas and Oil only to focus on Wind, solar, and other new technologies as they are. Democratic Governor now Senator Mark Warner sidetracked efforts to develop Virginia offshore energy sources when he had a bill on his desk and now Democratic Governor Kaine is doing the same. Will we wait for $4 a gallon gasoline or worse before we do what is right?…

NewsVirginian article by Bob Stuart...

Obama: "Quick!, send a Intern to the White House Gift Shop"!!!...

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The Prime Minister Gordon Brown visits the new President of the United States and showers him with thoughtful gifts... President Obama returns the favor with a box set of DVD's?...

"Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks."

"The Prime Minister gave Mr Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet.
The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that has sat in the Oval Office in the White House since 1880."

As reported in the Daily Mail, yeah, they noticed...

Available now at E-bay for only $19.99 ...

"In addition, Mr Brown and his wife showered gifts on the Obama children giving Sasha and Malia an outfit each from Topshop and six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America."
"In return, the Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John."

"But following Mr Brown's his recent troubles - the UK entering recession, soaring job losses and home repossessions, Labour struggling in the polls and threats of leadership challenges - he may be pleased at being able to settle down for a quiet night in front of the ultimate feel-good movie: It's A Wonderful Life."

Bahia-honda Bridge ~Tidal Energy \ Water Turbine Project~

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Anyone who has driven South on U.S 1 from Miami to Key West know of the 100+ small bridges, and one BIG 7-mile bridge, along the 150+ mile ride to KW...

I have made this ride numerous times and fished around many of these bridges during slack-tide and full range of tide changes. There is an incredible amount of water moving under these bridges going and coming between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. And this changing of tides happens 4 times a day...

The Key West Citizen paper reports that there are efforts being made to harness this energy with a water turbine that will be moved by the tidal water flow running thru it...

"Keys Hydro Power late last month received a state Department of Environmental Protection permit to test a Fiberglas composite underwater turbine in the channel off the old Bahia Honda Bridge, said group founder Douglas Bedgood."

"Keys Hydro Power has been asked to install rigid, cage-like mesh near the front and back of the turbine to keep the marine life from being snagged in the rotors. The excluder will keep out anything larger than 4 inches wide. Anything smaller can pass through unharmed, Bedgood said."

"Keys Hydro Power plans to test one turbine in the Bahia Honda Channel for 60 days to determine whether it can efficiently harness power from the ocean. The turbine would yield energy by having the currents pushing the rotors. Keys Hydro Power has been working with several Florida engineering firms on designs for the underwater turbine that would be placed a half-mile south of the bridge. If the test is successful, the group wants to place more turbines, or farms of turbines, off the Florida coast."

Are we headed towards $4 a gallon GAS again?...

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Republican Candidate for Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell asked a simple question of the potential Democratic Party Candidates to join him in calling for the exploration, development, and distribution of known energy resources off the coast of Virginia.

The reply from the potential candidates for Democratic Party Candidate for Virginia Governor was a resounding NO and inline with the present Democratic Party Governor and\or DNC Chairman (depends what hat he has on at the time) Tim Kaine…

"The issue is simple. Virginia has the opportunity to be the first state on the Eastern Seaboard to lease exploration and development rights for natural gas and oil off of our shores. Exploration would take place in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner, 50 miles off our coastline, far out of sight from our beaches."

"According to one estimate, there are 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas off Virginia's coast. A study by a professor at Old Dominion University, forecasts that natural gas production alone off Virginia’s coast would create 2,578 new jobs, and produce $271 million in state and local revenue. Unfortunately, the Democratic candidates said no to Virginia jobs and yes to the special interests."
http://bobmcdonnell.com/

So we are headed to $4+ a gallon gasoline again. We are headed towards higher fuel and energy costs to heat and cool our homes. We are headed to increased production and transportation costs on products we consume. We are headed towards even more dependency on foreign sources of energy. We are headed towards the Obama administration wishes of a carbon use tax that will fund much less efficient energy sources like solar and windpower…

The Washington Times had a great article written by Ed Feulner who outlines the
Situation with the new Obama administration Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar…

“It takes years to develop an oil field, which is why we should get started this year, while prices are still low. Mr. Salazar's own Interior Department estimates there are 19 billion barrels of oil available in U.S. waters, and such estimates tend to be on the low side. But we won't know until we start looking. This isn't the first time Mr. Salazar has opposed exploration, by the way. Last summer, when the Bush administration wanted to sell some public land in Western states so oil companies could take a closer look at harvesting fuel from oil shale, Mr. Salazar disliked the program. "A fire sale will not lower gas prices. It will not accelerate the development of commercial oil shale technologies," he wrote in The Washington Post. Again, true as far as it goes. But without exploration, we'll never know if oil shale can be made to work.
Our country needs more oil exploration, as quickly as is prudent. Otherwise, prepare for the eventual return of $4 or higher gasoline.

"Democrats" in their own words....

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For my friends in Harrisonburg who are quick to defend the "New" administration and blame any problems on the prior administration...