VA Driver “Abuser fees” are just so not fair…

.

There has been much traffic lately in the topic of recently imposed “Abuser Driver” fees in Virginia and how these fees do not apply for out of state drivers.
It has been interesting to watch how the debate and comments have gone off in different directions such as political, economic, criminal, and class warfare, but usually avoids the road safety aspect of the issue.

Notice how many have used this issue to spin it into a tool to push their agenda and whine how it is not fair for the criminal to pay such a high fee for their actions? It is also interesting to watch how these same people will whine about the fee but yet avoid talking about the “Abuser” who is actually guilty of reckless driving, drunk driving, and other motor vehicle felonies.

There have been those like our local “Liberal Democrats” who have focused on attacking the Republican Delegates and assembly with this issue at every opportunity. As usual they have gotten the outstanding support from the local media and “Guest Columns” from the Left have become familiar. A local vocal, how cool is that phrase, Liberal had himself a “Guest Column” in our local liberal daily where he advocates using a “European fee” system where the offender pays as he is able depending on his prior years income average. Thus the CEO or evil fat Republican will pay a greater fee for we all know that they have too much money that they did not earn and that too is just not fair either. He trots out the Liberal favorite “The Rich need to pay their fair share” on this issue but yet avoids completely the safety issue of this whole thing. What happens to the habitual loser who has been convicted of drunk driving \ reckless driving or the likes in the past but yet only made poverty wages the year before? Will he only pay a $20 fine for that is all he can afford as this “European” scale will dictate? What if he is actually way above poverty level for much of his “Income” comes from cash or even worse, illegal income? And if he cant afford that will the government subsidize his fine and pay it also so to be “fair”? What value does this “European” system put on the lives of the family of four that was run off the highway into a bridge column by the “Lower income” Drunk\reckless driver?

Many have made this a political issue by blaming high fees on the Republican Delegates at every opportunity. With the help of the local Liberal rags they have been blaming this new system on the Republicans whenever possible. Fortunately the truth usually finds it way to sunlight and it has been discovered that the DEMOCRATIC Governor Tim Kaine is the one who actually removed the out of state drivers from this legislation… Surprise, surprise, surprise…

Even the Democratic Party candidates have used this issue as a campaign tool:
“Democrat State Senate Candidate David Cox stated at a recent town hall meeting that “The fees are contradictory. For the state to raise the money expected Virginia drivers must continue to speed on the highways. Should motorists improve their driving habits, then the fee system would prove to be an unreliable funding source” Slick move Dave and we should be so lucky to have a problem like safer highways to deal with. If in fact the revenue slows due to better driving habits lets then look at cutting the waste in Virginia government for additional sources of revenue. You telling me that there is not at least 5-10% of waste in the Virginia budget? And how will you spend our Virginia tax revenues if elected to office in November? And how about your concern for that family of four? Or is this just a campaign issue for you?

This week there was a widely reported story of a VA driver who was caught driving for the fifth time on a suspended license and how this has gone to court because the “Astronomical” (the term favored by the Staunton NewsLeader newspaper to describe these fees) fine\fees are unconstitutional and must be decided in court. There is so much focus on how these high fees are unfair to the driver and how un-fair it is that out of state drivers are excluded but in all of the stories covering this guy nobody ever brought up the fact this is his FIFTH offense for driving on the suspended license!!! How fair is that?

Next time you read about that family of four that was killed on the highway after being forced off the road by a drunk driver, reckless driver, careless driver, or Yes even the family member of the four who was driving the vehicle, who has committed these habitual offenses how much of a high fee is “unfair”… Take a look at the party who has continually turned this into a political issue instead of a safety issue… Think DONKEY or Jack-ass…

"Take it away from them" !!!...

.

"Big insurance companies, big drug companies,big oil companies, they are not going to negotiate. They are not going to give away their power. The only way they are going to give away their power is if we take it away from them"...

Statement during last Democratic Party debate...

This is the statement made by John Edwards (D) during the last Democratic Party debate held this week. A fine attitude for a trial lawyer which Edwards was and where he made his Millions, but is this what we want in a Presidential candidate? Notice how he did not go after his trial lawyer buddies in the above statement and how does he feel about "Tort Reform" that would limit clue-less jurors from awarding millions to clumsy idiots who spill coffee in their laps and should have known "Contents are HOT"?...

A few questions for Presidential Candidate John Edwards (D) from the Democratic party:

If you do indeed go after the "Big Drug companies" and take away their power are you referring to the companies Profits? If so and you take away much of those profits why would a company risk millions on research & development of new and safe drugs to the market if you and the Liberal Democratic Party are only going to limit\take away those profits???

If you do indeed go after those "Big Oil Companies" and take away their power as you say are you referring to the companies profit? If so and you take away much of those profits and\or set price ceilings on fuel costs, will we have gas shortages like in 1970's when the price was fixed? If those companies no longer risk\invest their profits in developing\obtaining new sources of both petroleum and other sources of energy, what will your Democratic Party do to provide that needed energy sources to Americans?

If you do indeed go after those "Big Insurance companies" and take away their power as you say are you referring to the companies profits? Will this be a version of the government run "Universal Healthcare" package that your Democratic Party so loves and strives for? If you force insurance companies out of the free market system and you determine how much medical professionals are allowed to be paid will you take care of the American people when there is no profit\Incentive to maintain the high level of healthcare service we now have. Is Castro's Cuba healthcare system the way to go and if so would you send a member of your family to Cuba for treatment as endorsed by Liberal Democrat Michael Moore???

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

.

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…

.

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?!...

.

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

.

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...

.

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...

.

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...

.

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...

.

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