How the Media Will 'Spin' a Win...

If Republicans Capture Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General They'll Be Ready with an 'Explaination'

Remember the 'angry white male' from the 1994 elections when Congress was taken from one-party domination? That was the 'explaination' given for the upset. No doubt, he'll be back as an explaination of any new surge for Conservatives in election results.

Public Servants who lose touch with their constituents probably won't get a mention. There is a REASON the voters are upset with elected representatives.

I grew up with Davy Crockett as a hero. I still remember the part where he rode through the night to defeat the Indian Bill, a bad piece of legislation that cost him his congressional career for opposing it. Davy Crockett was one of us! There was no question. Saying: "you can go to hell, I'll go to Texas!," Crockett was probably the first angry white male! he, unlike many politicians today, refused to leave his roots and join the 'elite.'

Fast forward to 2008 and you have two 'public servants' who let their hair down with their elite buddies and say things like: "You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. … And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Or consider this quote: "One of the things you are going to see is a coalition that is just about completely taken over the Republican Party in this state and if they have their way it’s going to take overstate government. It is made up of the Christian Coalition, but not just them. It is made up of the right-to-lifers, but not just them. It’s made up of the NRA, but not just them. It is made up of the Home-schoolers but not just them. It’s made up of a whole coalition of people that have all sorts of differing views that I think most of us in this room would find threatening to what it means to be an American." [1.]

Scary stuff! The man responsible for the second quote is a Senator from the State of Virginia. If you are a person of faith, believe in G-d, understand the Second Amendment, hold unborn human life sacred or educate your children at home you are 'threatening to what it means to be an American' to the ruling 'elite.'

But they disrespect the American people and their long-held values at their own peril. The first remark above cost Barack Obama the Pennsylvania primary. The second cost Mark Warner his credibility as a representative of Virginia's people. Even a fawning press can only protect you so much when you lose touch with the people you are elected to serve.

The 2009 Governor's race has seen a steady stream of negative advertising aimed at making you think Bob McDonnell is 'threatening to what it means to be an American.' He's been excoriated for his pro-life stance [which many of us share with him]. He's been painted as 'anti-woman' [though I know a lot of intelligent women who support him]. He's been painted as the 'tax and spend' candidate in advertisements delivered in a 'folksy voice' so we'll believe he's one of us. The ad goes on to tell us McDonnel supported the Bush tax cuts 'for the rich' and that his plan for transportation is to raid money from education. Wow, all that in one ad! Problem is the ad assumes we the voters aren't all that smart. If he's going to raise all those taxes and power company rates he's creating whole new revenue streams. Why would he have to "steal" money from education? -- except it sounds vlllainous in a sound byte. Even as the press debunked the ad's points pretty thouroughly it continued to play on the Christian Radio station I listen to. The ad had actually very little to say about political matters and a lot to say about how intelligent the Deeds Campaign thought the voters were. They just didn't seem to think we were all that smart.

The polls would tell you otherwise though. Just like in 1994 there is a message of limited government and respect for the people's instincts in a free market. That is key. That is coupled with a respect for the values that have long been the bedrock of our way of life. That will be the real reason for a strong showing on Tuesday. Success is NOT guaranteed, by the way. It is time for all of us to step up to the plate. Tuesday's election must be the 'shot heard around the world' for Conservative principles in government.

But don't expect the media pundits to get it right the first time. We'll need to remind them again in 2010.

Waynesboro Republican Rally

Some pics of the Republican Rally are available here, here, here, here, here, and here

Hundreds turn out for Shenandoah Co. assessment meeting

"What do you do with all this money that y'all are taking from us?"
--Fred Parker, Shenandoah County resident, addressing Board of Supervisors (10/29/09)

Hundreds of Shenandoah County residents angry at huge increases in their real estate assessments turned out Thursday night for a meeting with supervisors in the high school gymnasium. From the Northern Virginia Daily:

At the largest supervisors meeting in years -- perhaps in history -- several hundred people filled Central High School's gymnasium seeking answers on the increased reassessments and likelihood of a tax increase as a result.

This takes place six months after Augusta County supervisors saw the largest crowd in history -- 1,000 strong -- turn out to protest their high real estate assessments. The paper continued:

With hundreds of people angry about the recent real estate reassessments present, the chairman of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors conceded Thursday night that a meeting with the appraisal group to get justification of its findings was needed.

County Administrator Vince Poling offered a presentation to explain the reassessments:

In the presentation, [Poling] noted that the new reassessment does not necessarily mean a person's taxes will go up, which elicited laughter from the crowd and one person yelling, "Tell us another one."

Thursday's meeting was in place of the scheduled Tuesday meeting that was cancelled after residents showed up at the Government Center.

What is occurring in Shenandoah County happened earlier this year in Augusta County as landowners fear that higher taxes and out-of-control spending by electeds will cause them to lose their homes.

We have been involved with the Augusta assessment issue since the beginning in February 2009 when an overflow crowd of 600 people turned out on a snowy February night for a planning meeting of Augusta Citizens Against Unfair Assessments to hear from attorney Francis Chester and Supervisor Tracy Pyles.

Petitions were circulated throughout the county ... 30+ businesses allowed them in their stores including Tractor Supply, that farm equipment store that has a finger on the pulse of the rural community.

Signatures were collected from more than 10,500 residents and taken to Augusta supervisors ... over 1,000 residents turned out for the supervisor meeting in March, the largest crowd ever in the county's history ... over 50 speakers addressed supervisors at the meeting. In March 2009 this blog reported:

There is a groundswell of discontent among those who pay taxes and feel those taxes are increasingly being squandered by the government. Tough times have hit Americans, something that is evident in the SWAC area of Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County after local companies laid off hundreds of employees ... Invista, Mohawk Carpet, American Safety Razor, Gem Ply, Unifi, Hershey ... as home prices dropped 18% the last quarter of 2008, as housing starts dropped to their lowest level since 1959. Baby boomers have seen half their retirement savings disappear as the Stock Market dropped ... others lost their investments. Unemployment in Augusta County has been reported at over 9%.

Nothing has improved since that time ... in fact, the financial and job situation has become worse. Mohawk Carpet announced they will close down in December. Layoffs have been announced for McQuay in Verona as well as Western State in Staunton.

Yet there is a disconnect between the supervisors and the general population.

Instead of dealing with the assessment issue, Augusta County sued Churchville attorney Francis Chester asking for financial sanctions against him for having the audacity to represent pro bono 10,500 county residents in a lawsuit against the county.

Taking a cue from Augusta, Shenandoah County filed a lawsuit earlier this month against a county resident who is currently a supervisor candidate for having the audacity to ask questions of the board.

The electeds are there to serve the community ... they are paid by citizens ... they are not there to intimidate and humiliate those same taxpaying residents who ask questions and want answers and a transparent government. At what point do they realize Americans cannot shoulder much more of the government's debt?

Suffolk poll - McDonnell up 14

Suffolk University has a poll, and has Bob McDonnell leading 54-40.

Roanoke College poll - McDonnell up 17

Roanoke College's poll gives Bob McDonnell a 53-36 lead, matching the margin of this week's Survey USA poll.

Research 2000 - McDonnell up 10

The good news for Creigh Deeds - Thursday's poll has him closest to Bob McDonnell of all polls this week.
The bad news - he still trails by 10 points (54-44) in the Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll.
Those looking at the numbers include:
Blue Virginia
Virginia Virtucon

VCU poll - McDonnell up 18

The Wilder School of Government at Virginia Commonwealth University adds to the final week polling, showing Bob McDonnell ahead by 18 points - 54-36. It's the largest lead of the final polls released this week.
Looking at this poll are:
Decision Virginia
Below the Beltway
Posts noting both of today's polls
Tertium Quids
Times Dispatch
NRO's Campaign Spot
Augusta Free Press

Rasmussen - McDonnell up 13

Rasmussen Reports joins the list of polls this week giving Bob McDonnell double-digit leads. They have him up 54-41, a 13-point margin.
Those looking at the numbers include:
Below the Beltway
Fishersville Mike
Tertium Quids
Times Dispatch
NRO's Campaign Spot
Augusta Free Press

PPP - McDonnell up 15

On President Obama's birthday in August, Public Policy Polling released a poll showing Bob McDonnell up by 14 points.
Tuesday, McDonnell tops the high water mark from that group, leading Creigh Deeds 55-40.
The August poll had party ID of Republicans plus 3, and Tuesday's poll was Republican plus 2.
With Survey USA's poll also out this morning, many links are the same as that post earlier. They include:
Black Velvet Bruce Li
Blue Virginia
Virginia Virtucon
SWAC girl
Bearing Drift
NRO's Campaign Spot
Tertium Quids
Sun versus Wind
Mason Conservative
Too Conservative
Below the Beltway (PPP only)

Survey USA - McDonnell up 17

Survey USA's latest poll gives Bob McDonnell a 17-point lead, down from 19 points three weeks ago. Party ID is Republican 37 percent, Democratic 32 percent.
Those looking at the poll include:
Black Velvet Bruce Li
Blue Virginia
Virginia Virtucon
SWAC girl
Bearing Drift
NRO's Campaign Spot
Tertium Quids
Sun versus Wind
Mason Conservative
Too Conservative
Below the Beltway

Local Repubs KA---CHING ! ! !

Republicans in the 20th, 24th and 25th District races all raised more than $12,000 during the period between Oct. 1 and Oct. 21. None of the Democratic candidates in those races raised more than $5,000 for the same period. See more in today's Newsleader

Shenandoah County Considering Residential Wind Turbines

Members of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors are reviewing information on residential wind turbines used to produce electricity.

The hope is to gain enough knowledge so the board can make educated decisions on a draft ordinance, according to Joyce Wegryniak, Shenandoah County zoning and subdivision administrator.

A preliminary ordinance has been drafted using language from other community ordinances that allow residential wind turbines.
See more here

WaPo poll - McDonnell up 11

Now we know why President Obama will be in Norfolk instead of Northern Virginia for a Creigh Deeds rally.
It would be embarrassing for the crowd to be reading the hometown newspaper's poll story - Deeds down 11 points - while waiting for the President to speak. Maybe the story will be below the fold or off A1 in the Hampton Roads.
Others looking at the latest poll include:
Virginia Virtucon
Tertium Quids
Write Side of My Brain
Below the Beltway
Blue Virginia
NRO's Campaign Spot
Real Clear Politics
The Atlantic

PPP - McDonnell up 12

Public Policy Polling brings out its latest poll - Bob McDonnell leads Creigh Deeds 52-40.
Their thoughts are on their blog.
Other thoughts come from
NRO's Campaign Spot
Blue Virginia
Fishersville Mike
Tertium Quids
Below the Beltway
Shad Plank

Survey USA - McDonnell up 19

Survey USA gives Bob McDonnell his biggest lead of the election season, 19 points. What's the party ID? Republican 33 percent, Democrat 32 percent, Independent 33 percent.
Looking at the poll are:
Virginia Virtucon
Bearing Drift
Blue Virginia
NRO's Campaign Spot
Crystal Clear Conservative
SWACgirl
Instapundit

Clarus poll - McDonnell up 8

Clarus Research Group returns to the polling field, showing Bob McDonnell leading 49-41 with 10 percent undecided. Five weeks ago, Clarus had McDonnell leading by five points with 20 percent undecided.
Those looking at the numbers include:
Blue Virginia
Tertium Quids
Write Side of My Brain
Bearing Drift
Augusta Free Press

CNU-Virginian Pilot poll - McDonnell up 14

A trio from Hampton Roads - WVEC, the Virginian Pilot and Christopher Newport University - teamed up for a poll released Monday evening. Bob McDonnell holds a 45-31 lead, with 21 percent undecided just over two weeks from Election Day.
Those looking at the numbers include:
PW Conservative
Too Conservative
Virginia Right
Bearing Drift
Time to close this post since Clarus released a poll Tuesday morning.

Augusta County votes more spending over taxpayers' objection

Augusta resident Ed Long presents facts to try and persuade BOS not to spend $60,000 a year on new cell phones.

~We will REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER 2011.~

Ignoring county citizens who spoke before the board of supervisors Wednesday night to ask that the county postpone unnecessary spending until the financial atmosphere improves, Augusta County supervisors unanimously voted 6-0 (Supervisor Tracy Pyles was on a business trip) to provide new cell phones and Blackberries for employees at a minimum cost of nearly $60,000 a year.

County resident Ed Long had charts showing the depressed economy with research that showed a huge never-before-seen drop in consumer confidence, Virginia unemployment that has continued to rise, home foreclosures that have continued to rise, median home prices that are down 20%, home sales that are down 11% the past year, and a state budget that projects a $3.3 billion deficit for 2010.

David Karaffa echoed Mr. Long's concerns and ask that supervisors consider making do with current cell phones until the economy improves.

It fell on deaf ears.

My own cell phone is a used model that was provided to me when my phone failed ... it is old and battered ... and I would like a new one but have held off because my husband had taken a 15% pay cut this year to help his company and we have cut back expenses.

But our tax money is paying for new equipment for county employees. Meanwhile, supervisors wonder why county residents are upset with their lack of representation when citizens are dealing with lost jobs, repossessed houses, decreased salaries, and furloughs.

SWAC bloggers respond....

- Bob at The Journey writes Why it's time to retire the Augusta County BOS:

"Get real! My cell phone is several years old. I'll replace it when it breaks. Then I'll buy the nicest one I can afford."

- David Karaffa at the Augusta Conservative notes an Augusta County Board of Supervisors wasteful spending alert!

Rasmussen - McDonnell up 7

Rasmussen Reports polled during Monday's gubernatorial debate and found Bob McDonnell leading 50-43. Rasmussen releases numbers for those set on their candidate along with one including leaners, and both numbers give McDonnell a seven-point lead.
Two weeks ago, Rasmussen had McDonnell up by nine points.
Those looking at the poll include:
Tertium Quids
Right Wing Liberal
Augusta Free Press
Below the Beltway

Mason-Dixon poll - McDonnell up 8

A poll on a holiday weekend? How about that?
Mason-Dixon joins the group giving Bob McDonnell an eight-point lead with just over three weeks to go in the campaign.
Those looking at the poll include:
Below the Beltway
SWAC girl
Too Conservative
Contemporary Conservative
Blue Virginia

WaPo poll - McDonnell up 9

The Washington Post released its latest poll Thursday, and has Bob McDonnell leading Creigh Deeds 53-44.
Those looking at the poll include:
NRO's Campaign Spot
Blue Virginia
Too Conservative
Decision Virginia
Bearing Drift
Virginia Right
Virginia Virtucon
Roanoke Valley Republicans
Below the Beltway
Tertium Quids
Commentary Magazine

RPV Borrows from Bon Scott

The latest Ad from RPV uses one of the great songs from Bon Scott and ACDC. It links Creigh Deeds to the ACDC song Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

For those of you who don't know, Bon Scott was the lead singer of the heavy metal group ACDC from 1974-1980.On February 19, 1980, Bon Scott, 33 at the time, passed out after a night of heavy drinking in a London. He was left to sleep in a car owned by an acquaintance named Alistair Kinnear. Kinnear found Scott lifeless, and alerted the authorities. Scott was rushed to King's College Hospital in Camberwell, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Pulmonary aspiration of vomit was the cause of Scott's death,[14] and the official cause was listed as "acute alcohol poisoning" and "death by misadventure".[15][16] Scott was cremated and his ashes were interred by his family in Fremantle, Western Australia, the area to which they had moved when he was a boy.
For those interested in the ad, see it here

Survey USA - McDonnell up 11

Survey USA jumps back into the polling game with a survey six days since the last one. Bob McDonnell leads by 11 after leading by 14 last week. This week's poll has a survey pool that's plus-five Republican, after last week's pool was plus-three Republican.
Republicans lead the Lt. Governor and Attorney General races as well.
Those looking at the poll include:
Tertium Quids
Blue Virginia
NRO's Campaign Spot
For comparison sakes, Republican Jerry Kilgore held a two-point lead over future governor Tim Kaine in a Rasmussen Reports poll four weeks from election day in 2005.

Augusta BOS: "Be careful how you speak out against our decisions"

Staunton News Leader cartoon by Jim McCloskey

~Board seeks financial sanctions against local citizen~

Churchville attorney Francis Chester goes to court today in a return of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington ... Augusta County style.

In exercising his First Amendment right and representing over 10,500 citizens against the County of Augusta, the board of supervisors, and commissioner of the revenue Jean Shrewsbury, Mr. Chester has been smacked up side the head by Augusta County government with a lawsuit asking for financial sanctions against him for having the audacity to question his public officials.

Today's Staunton News Leader editorial, appropriately named "The fly and the hatchet," illustrates the reality of the little guy going up against City Hall when City Hall has unlimited taxpayer funds to fight against the very taxpayer who dares to question the public servants he voted into office.

The News Leader wrote:

An irritating little fly has landed at the Augusta County Government Center. It's notification of a lawsuit filed in circuit court claiming the Board of Supervisors erroneously assessed real estate values in the most recent reassessment.
...
The county in turn asked its lawyer to file a motion asking the judge not only to dismiss Chester's lawsuit — it's frivolous, after all, because there's no such thing as a class action lawsuit in Virginia — but they also asked the judge to sanction Chester for filing it. In other words, ask for attorney's fees and related charges.

In doing so, the county has raised a hatchet to kill the irritating little fly.
...
In asking that Chester, a county resident and a spokesman for thousands of residents angry about what they saw as unfair property assessments, be sanctioned, the supervisors are sending a clear message — be careful how you speak out against our decisions. [Emphasis added]

County attorney Pat Morgan admitted to News Leader reporter Trevor Brown that this action is extremely unusual ... but the county is going through with it anyway:

"It is kind of an unusual procedure," Morgan said of his decision to move for the sanction, "but I did not file it on behalf of the defendants lightly."

The News Leader editorial concluded:

Rather than asking for sanctions against Chester, the supervisors need to let it go. Let the case go before the judge and let justice rule. No need for a hatchet, no need for recrimination. No need to send the message that disagreement will not be tolerated.

This time when the supervisors picked up the hatchet to kill the irritating little fly, they didn't realize the fly had landed on their own forehead. [Emphasis added]

Because of their actions, the Augusta Board of Supervisors has come across as extremely arrogant to the citizens they were elected to represent.

The county has indicated it wants all 10,500 cases be tried individually in the court system. The court filing fees alone for that many cases would equal almost $1 million, and the sheer number of cases could tie up the court for years, something Mr. Chester was trying to avoid to save taxpayer money and time.

Augusta is a microcosm of the larger taxpayer unrest going on nationwide as manifested by the tea party events and the 9/12 March on Washington three weeks ago. As pointed out in this editorial, the supervisors have little interest in working with the "little people."

The hearing is today, October 1, 2009, at 1:30 at Augusta County Circuit Court at the corner of Johnson and Augusta Streets in downtown Staunton. The public is invited and ecouraged to attend.

We will remember in November 2011.

Recent articles about today's court action:
- Staunton News Leader: Judge to hear reassessment case
- Waynesboro News Virginian
- SWAC Girl: Augusta pursues lawsuit against local tax assessment hero
- Staunton News Leader editorial cartoon

is the DNC Dumping Deeds?

The Democrat National Committee is apparently withholding $5 million from the Deeds Campaign. I guess they figure he lost already.
See more here