Wait until September for the "Surge" report...

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Some of the news from Iraq & Afghanistan that we are not hearing in the media or mentioned in those late night slumber parties being held in Congress by Harry Reid (D)...

Interesting information and article found on StrategyPage.com...

Like the Swamp that Nancy Pelosi promised to drawn in Washington this shows that corruption and abuse is in the middle east but for a different reason...

The Real War and Why It's Ignored
"July 17, 2007: There are several large scale counter-terror operations going on. Each one has five to ten thousand troops (usually about a third of them Iraqi) sweeping through an area long used by terrorists for bases.) One such operation, "Marne Torch" reports that, after six weeks, 1,152 buildings were searched, 83 terrorists killed, 278 arrested or captured (depends on if they were armed and shooting when caught), 51 weapons caches found, 51 terrorist boats (used to move men and weapons via water) destroyed and 872 suspects entered into the electronic database. That last item, the database, is proving more valuable as time goes by. With nearly half a million people entered in it so far, more of the usual suspects are being identified and eventually arrested. Fingerprints and retinal scans eliminates the language barrier. When troops catch a suspicious character, and quickly get a positive ID for someone who has been caught elsewhere in the country, but without enough evidence to keep him confined, you know you have someone you need to have a chat with. Or at least run the test to see if he has handled explosives lately. Or maybe ask the neighbors if this guy has been bothering anyone. You know, the usual death threats against anyone who might give information to the Americans or police. Troops let it be known that cash rewards will be quietly paid for any useful information. The IDs of these informants are not shared with the Iraqi police, to make sure the informant is not found and killed by the terrorists. The war in Iraq is mostly about information, and these days the terrorists have less of it, and Iraqi and coalition troops have more of it."

But the war is still not the major problem. Corruption and incompetent government are.

Healthcare for all, paid for by some…

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Healthcare for all has been in the news for years and was a main part of the Democratic Party’s platform and promise during this past election. The national parties have been talking about it for years, Mikey Moore has another “Documentary” out about it, the Staunton NewsLeader editorial board has provided “some” information, and the local Augusta County coalition has been marching about it for years. But yet there seems to be numerous discrepancies in the numbers that they have been using or not reporting at all… Libertarian Larry Elder provided some numbers in his article:

“Nearly 50 million "Americans" lack health care insurance. At least, director Michael Moore makes this claim in "Sicko," his new "documentary" about America's supposedly awful health care system.”

But some more reliable sources provide numbers that appear to be more accurate and reliable.

“Nearly 50 million? For what it's worth, the Centers for Disease Control puts the number of uninsured at 43.6 million, and the Census Bureau at 44.8 million. “

And who makes up that number that Mikey trots out there, inflated like himself, and all?…

“Second, when Moore asserts that 50 million Americans lack coverage, he most assuredly includes some of the 11 million to 20 million illegal aliens. Of people born here, 86% are covered. For noncitizens, only 57% have insurance.
Now examine those who lack health care insurance.”

The Democratic Party has been blurting out 40-45 million Americans are uninsured for the last two major elections and I am sure it will be trotted out once again in the upcoming campaigns. Yet they do not describe who these “Americans” are, how long they remain un-insured, or if they choose not to be insured.

“Nearly half go without only for four months or less, usually while between jobs. Others with jobs could easily add insurance through their work for a small premium. Many without health care insurance are young people (18 million uninsured are 18 to 34) who consider themselves — given their youth and good health — unlikely to face large health care costs.”

And is it true when the Party and the Coalitions claim that people who are not insured are that way because they can’t afford insurance?

“Over 14 million of the uninsured, according to the Census Bureau, live in households earning $50,000 or more a year. Over 7 million are in households earning more than $75,000 a year. These people could afford coverage, either out-of-pocket or by making minor adjustments to their lifestyles. A small number of the uninsured include criminals. Should taxpayers provide health care for them, as well? “

How bad is the system that we now have? Is it as bad as the Democratic Party, the NewsLeader, and their “Coalitions” claim?

“But according to an ABC News-Kaiser Family Foundation-USA Today survey, 89% of Americans with health care insurance say they are, in fact, satisfied with the quality of care they receive.”

Mikey Moore and many of his friends claim that we would be much better off if we switched to a system like the ones in their favorite “Socialized” countries…

“Canada? A recent government study said only half of ER patients receive care in a timely fashion. Lindsay McCreith of Ontario was supposed to wait four months for an MRI, and then wait several months more to see a neurologist for his malignant brain tumor. Instead, McCreith — like many other ill Canadians — came to the U.S. for life-saving surgery.”

Moore advocates a more “Universal” single-payer healthcare system to correct the problems(?) of the healthcare system that now operates on a more private sector \ free enterprise system which provides the most technological and overall best healthcare system in the world.

Just another example of when the government takes control of our lives and determines what is “Best” for us…

“France? Nearly 13,000 people died in the summer of 2003. Why? The number suffering from the heat so overwhelmed the French health care system that hospitals stopped answering their phones, and ambulance attendants told people to take care of themselves. Most of the 13,000 died from simple dehydration.”

http://www.townhall.com/Content/51d75bc8-7485-40c3-91f1-e6e7538eb331

VA. abuser fee exceptions was Democratic Governor Kaines idea?!...

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The "Mason Conservative" found an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch which shows that the exclusion of out-of-state drivers from paying the new "abuser fees" was actually our Democratic Party Governor Tim Kaine's doing...

"The Richmond Times-Dispatch has come out with an article that shows the Kaine Administration admitting that they were the ones who excluded out-of-state drivers from having to pay the abuser fees."

http://masonconservative.typepad.com/the_mason_conservative/2007/07/the-suddenly-si.html

The Mason Conservative also points out the lack of this tid-bit missing from almost all of the Virginia Political blogs that were quick to blame the "abuser fee" issue on the Republican House...

I myself will be looking hard for the article or report of this fact in my local newspaper The Staunton NewsLeader...

Wish me Luck...

DOW Jones Avg... 7,000 to 14,000

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Back in 2002 the Dow Jones Average was at 7,ooo and this was just after the confirmed Clinton recession and the effects of the attacks on 9/11. Today it broke into new territory at 14,000 but yet coverage on the great economy has been lacking. Our local paper here the Staunton NewsLeader has always gone to great lengths to avoid giving President Bush any "Positive" acknowledgement or credit when they can but its getting harder and harder to avoid the great economy we now have...

The NewsLeader has instead focus on more pressing issues and always looking to take a swipe at the President and they managed to do it again today in their editorial page. Their editorial was talking about the waste of money spent to maintain ICE in a ready status to respond to disaster events such as hurricanes. Now last year it was predicted that we would have more MAJOR hurricanes then the year of Katrina but little evolved. Thats another story, but the NewsLeader was able to end their editorial with a cheap swipe at the President with the following: "Unless — unless we could be missing something here ... could this have been the Bush administration's secret plan to combat global warming? It's a chilling thought" ...
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/OPINION01/707170307/1014/OPINION

But lets take a look at this economy that the NewsLeader seems to be avoiding. Donald Lambro of the Washington Times had a good article about this and the shrinking defecit that we have but gets little attention from the media.

"The Office of Management and Budget announced last week that the annual deficit, estimated at $400 billion just a few years ago, will be $205 billion by the end of this fiscal year (which ends in September). "

But remember back before the Bush taxcuts went into effect all of those who claimed reducing taxes would only result in a shortfall for government revenues?

"These are the same people who said President Kennedy's tax-rate cuts would lead to years of red ink and all sorts of economic dislocations when, in fact, they led to a budget surplus by 1969 and a much stronger economy. "

Wait. I thoughe JKF was a Democrat? Did he understand the value of lowering taxes to improve the economies growth?

"The same people said President Reagan's tax cuts would wreak havoc with the government's fiscal solvency, weaken the economy and worsen inflation. But the economy came roaring back after the worst recession since the Great Depression, inflation abated, the deficit eventually began to come down and we ended up with budget surpluses in the 1990s."

And they came out of the woodwork once again when President Bush proposed his tax-cut package, back when the Dow was at 7,000...

"And the same people said President Bush's tax cuts would produce a long-term fiscal disaster and deficits as far as the eye could see. In fact, the well-timed tax cuts pulled the U.S. economy out of its sharp decline in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the resulting economic growth they triggered has produced steadily rising tax revenues that have steadily eaten into the deficit year after year."

Now some have claimed this is just a "Bump" and there is no real growth...

"A resurgent economy has been expanding for 22 consecutive quarters with a growth rate (GDP) that has averaged 2.9 percent a year since Mr. Bush came into office. "On an inflation-adjusted basis, the economy is now more than 16 percent larger than in 2001," OMB reported."

And don't forget the un-employment rate...

"Since the Bush tax cuts fully took effect in 2003, the American economy has created more than 8.2 million new jobs, cutting the unemployment rate to 4½ percent. That rate, by the way, is on average lower than the rates for the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, OMB says."

The good news is that it appears the growth will continue but unfortunately this also puts more of our tax money into the hands of the politicans to spend. Not a total bad thing if they spend it wisely like taking care of the Social Security problems but let's wait and see on that one...

"Here's a startling fact that puts these numbers into sharper perspective: The economy has had the longest stretch of nonstop job-creation growth since June 1990. That's why federal tax receipts have risen by more than 37 percent over the last three years and will grow by another 7 percent this year."
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/OPINION01/707170307/1014/OPINION

Now chances are you still will not see anything about the positive economy in the editorial pages of the NewsLeader but be sure to look for the positive comments on the "John Edwards (D) Poverty Tour" and how it's all the Presidents fault...

Antiwar Peacenik shot by soldier on 4th of July...

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Actually it was the other way around with the “Gunman intending to make an antiwar statement” shooting the U.S. Airman in the chest, but this seemed the best way to get many to read this since the mainstream media has decided this story was not that important.

"An Air Force airman was shot by antiwar protestor on July 4th, but the establishment media and liberal blogs yawn. Airman Jonathan Schrieken, 22, is fighting for his life after being shot in the heart by a gunman intending to make an antiwar statement, while standing outside his home near McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on July 4th. Airman Schrieken, a loadmaster with the 6th Airlift Squadron based at McGuire, remains in critical condition at a Camden, New Jersey hospital."
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/07/media_silence_on_antiwar_viole.html

The antiwar protestor then finished his ‘Statement” by turning the gun on himself and in effect taking out the trash himself for the rest of us.

WILLINGBORO — "The Pennsauken man who shot and wounded a member of the U.S. Air Force before killing himself left suicide notes that indicated he was “angry at the government and wanted to make a statement” on Independence Day, one of the man’s relatives said yesterday." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19644931/

You would think that a U.S. Military person being shot in the chest by a antiwar protestor on the 4th of July would be covered by the majority of the Mainstream media outlets. Instead this story made its way up thru the sites like “Little Green Footballs.com” and then picked up by Investors Business Daily and MSNBC. Like the above photo and title that attracted attention to this post, what if the incident was the other way around?

"If Airman Schrieken had been an abortionist or homosexual, this story would be front page news for the New York Times and the lead story on CBS News with Katie Couric for at least the next month. But since Schrieken is serving in the military, even his hometown newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, has ignored this story."

Look, even the Peacnik idiot that attempted murder did not get the coverage he wanted out of the mainstream media…

"Marren’s aunt, Terina Henderson of Trion, Ga., said she spoke to Marren’s mother yesterday who told her Marren left two notes, one in his home and one in his car, indicating he was upset with the government.
She said she did not know the exact wording in the notes, but said Marren was “mad at the government and wanted to make a statement … that’s why he did what he did on the Fourth of July.”

John Murtha (D) "Failed" Accusations...

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Looks like Democratic Representative John Murtha has “Failed” in his accusations against our proudly serving and fighting U.S. Marines in Iraq. Democratic Representative Murtha was quick to claim that several U.S. Marines committed the murder of 3 Iraqi men.

“An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.”

It is apparent that the Democratic Representative Murtha jumped on the opportunity to attack both the efforts and the mission of the U.S. Marines serving in Iraq to advance the ’Failed” mission of the new Democratic Party leadership in Congress…

"To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq," Ware wrote.

Maybe the Democratic Representative Murtha got himself some “faulty” intelligence that he based his accusations on?

Good show of faith in our military personnel and their mission Johnny-Boy…

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,288879,00.html

48 foot-long Pizza Delivery Truck...

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I had the opportunity tonight to ride along with the "Tower 1" truck of the Harrisonburg Fire Department delivering Pizzas and checking Smoke & Carbon Monoxide detectors.

This was part of a community service program promoted and sponsored by the Harrisonburg Fire Department, CiCi's Pizza, and Lowe's Heroes, programs.

CiCi's customers ordering delivery pizzas had their pizza delivered by representatives of the Harrisonburg Fire Department alongwith a Lowe's associate who were riding along for this promotion.

The Firefighters then checked all of the detectors in the house to ensure they worked properly and if needed new batteries or detectors were provided at no charge to the homeowner. If the house did not have a detector one was provided and installation arrangements were provided if needed.

CiCi's provided the pizza free to the homeowner\customer and Lowe's provided the detectors and batteries free as their part of the Community service...

Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team Response...

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Point Pleasant (NJ) First Aid Rescue Dive Team members responded to a reported Dive accident near Gull Island in the Mannasquan River on Sunday and found CPR in progress upon arrival. Dive Team members Flo Melo, Tom Conroy, and Brandon Caladzo were all active EMT’s on site and 1st Lieutenant Gerry Meany performed transport duty.

Upon arrival the Dive Team members found a crowd of Scuba Dive students gathered around the Dive Instructor who was performing CPR on the student who had been removed from the water unconscious and not breathing.

Rescue Dive Team EMT members took over CPR and control of the accident scene and began standard operating procedures for a dive accident investigation. Witness interviews were performed to obtain important information on the victims training status, physical condition, time spent in water, location in water, water conditions, and other pertinent information to assist First -Aid Medics efforts. Dive Team members also secured and transported the victims Scuba equipment for further inspection and investigation by the proper authorities.

I received my training and PADI Divemaster certification from this Rescue Dive Team Instructor and continue to have the opportunity to train and practice skills with this team. I know all of the members who responded on this call and they are very serious about their training and performance. This team is a credit to the Point Pleasant First-Aid Squad and a true benefit to the community...

The Asbury Park Press had the following report on this incident:

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS/707100314

2007 Stuarts Draft Firemen's Parade & Lawn Party...

The Firemen's parade went off at 6:30pm and lasted about 1 hour 15 minutes with the mile long route full of people gathered once again for the yearly favorite Parade & Lawn Party... The South River District of the Augusta County Republicans hosted a float and numerous Republican Representatives were in attendance and welcomed by this Strong Republican district...

(left to right)

Candidate Michael Shull - Riverheads District Supervisor, Randy Fisher - Sheriff, Jean Shrewsbury - Comm of Rev, Carter & Courtland - co-V.P.'s of Cougar Inc, Congressmen Bob Goodlatte - 6th District, Richard Homes - Treasurer, Candidate Jeremy Shifflett - Beverly Manor Supervisor, David Beyeler - South River District Supervisor...

Congressmen Bob Goodlatte walked the parade route with his wife Mary Ellen as he does every year and was greeted with many applauds and greetings from the crowds...

Virginia State Senator and Candidate Emmett Hanger greeted people along the parade route and was welcomed by many who supported him during the recent Republican primary. Senator Hanger doubled back to watch much of the remaining parade and to meet with many of those in attendance...

Delegate Chris Saxman (20th district) walked along with the Republican float and is a favorite of this parades attendance. Many people in the South River District have come to know Delegate Saxman and he receives strong support from this area...

Jean Shrewsbury, Chris Saxman, and Randy Fisher get ready to walk the sidelines greeting those gathered for the parade and a chance to see their elected representatives. Many people approached the representatives during and after the parade to say hello and take the opportunity to talk "local issues"...

Treasurer Richard Homes worked the "Candy Line" along the route ...

South River District Supervisor David Beyeler represented the South River contingent of the Augusta County Supervisors and hosted the parade for the Republican Party..

Michael Shull is the Republican Candidate for Supervisor in the Riverheads District...

Jeremy Shifflett is the Republican Candidate for Supervisor in the Beverley Manor District...




The parade ended at the entrance to the Stuarts Draft Fire Department lot where the Firemen's Lawn Party was in full swing...

Solution to Virginia’s Transportation Woe’s : Al Gore Jr.

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It has been reported that the 24 year old Al Gore III was stopped for driving almost 100 mph in a Hybrid Prius (only after over winding the rubber band) in California at which time the Police Officers found Pot & prescription drugs. Turns out the prescription drugs did NOT have prescriptions with them.

"The deputy smelled marijuana and searched the car, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino. The search turned up a small amount of marijuana, along with prescription drugs including Valium, Xanax, Vicodin, Adderall and Soma. There were no prescriptions found, he said."
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0428148420070704?feedType=RSS&rpc=22&sp=true

Looks like this is nothing new for the son of the former Democratic Vice-President Al Gore jr.

"In 2003, he was charged with marijuana possession in Maryland after police stopped the car he was driving for not having its headlights on. In February 2004, he entered a substance abuse program as part of a plea agreement.
Gore was charged with reckless driving in North Carolina in 2000 for allegedly driving almost 150km/h, and in September 2002, military police arrested him on suspicion of drunk driving near a military base in Virginia."

This guy is the perfect solution to the Transportation issue here in Virginia. With the new “Astronomical”, as the Staunton NewsLeader likes to call them, fees now in place here in Virginia for abusive and habitual offenders, WE HAVE OUR ANSWER!!!

All we have to do is get this guy to drive like the apparent “Spoiled Druggie Brat” that he is in the state of Virginia and we will have the transportation “crisis” beat!!!. Al Gore Jr. would probably end up paying the fees with donations he got from Buddhist Monks but that’s another blogpost…

But the truth is we would rather not have Gore "the Third", or anybody else like him, on our roads here in Virginia and that is why we have new fees to help deter drivers like this and hold them accountable. The new “Astronomical” fees as the NewsLeader likes to call them were put in place to hold this type of driver accountable for their dangerous actions on the Virginia roads. The NewsLeader has attempted to portray these fees as the penalty for minor infractions such as “rolling through a stop sign” when in fact they are meant to deter and hold much more aggressive, dangerous, and habitual offenders accountable for their actions.

“Speedy Gore” has been busted twice for speeding at about 100mph, caught with Pot use another two times, and driving drunk. This is the type of driver responsible for many deadly motor vehicle accidents on our highways and the reason why the recently instated fees are needed to make our roads safer.

"He was ticketed for reckless driving by North Carolina police in August 2000 when he was clocked going 94 mph. Military police arrested him for drunk driving near a military base in Virginia in September 2002."
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/12/20/gore.son/

So somebody please ask the editorial staff of the NewsLeader if these “Astronomical” fees would be “Unfair” if Speedy Gore III. was stopped on a Virginia roadway…