Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Local School Board members endorse Bolognese
February 23, 2010
Contact: Mick Bransfield
(703) 597-6764
(West Springfield, VA) –Kerry Bolognese, the Republican nominee in the 41st District Special Election, received the endorsements of both Fairfax County School Board members representing the district. Liz Bradsher, the member for Springfield District, and Tessie Wilson, the member for Braddock District, both endorsed Bolognese as the best candidate for Fairfax County schools.
"Kerry Bolognese is a strong advocate for education in Fairfax County,” said Tessie Wilson. “Kerry's years of experience in higher education give him the unique insight on helping our children prepare for college and the work force.”
“Kerry Bolognese, a parent of three county graduates and now a grand parent with a grand child in Orange Hunt, has been personally invested in our county schools for years. He continues to be a caring member of our community and his experience in higher education will strengthen his efforts to bring more of our county tax dollars back to our schools and students,” said Liz Bradsher. “Kerry has been and continues to be invested in our schools, our community and county. He will be a strong advocate for all of us in Richmond.”
Bolognese is a Vice-President of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, which serves public universities and research institutions in America, including George Mason, UVA and VirginiaTech. He has three children who graduated from Fairfax County High Schools, and a grandchild currently at Orange-Hunt Elementary.
“I’m proud to have the support of our local school board members,”said Bolognese. “I hope to have the opportunity to work them in keeping more of our Fairfax County tax dollars in our schools, rather than sending them downstate.”
The special election will be held Tuesday, March 2nd. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at their normal voting location.
The 41st District of the Virginia House of Delegates includes parts of Springfield, Burke and Fairfax Station. The seat became vacant when then-Delegate David Marsden was elected to the State Senate.
Danny Goad for 6th District Chair
Danny H. Goad Announces He Is Running For Chairman of Republican Party, Sixth Congressional District
Citizens of the Sixth Congressional District,
It is with great anticipation and a strong sense of duty to serve that I write to you. After encouragement of many throughout the district I want to let you know that I am running for Chairman of the Republican Party of the Sixth Congressional District of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I believe as a nation and a state our best days are yet to come and that freedom fought and died for by our Founders is resurging. Great encouragement should be taken in the activity we are seeing in groups in our localities like the tea parties and Constitutional advocacy groups. For freedom to endure we must set the stage for it to be nurtured. We cannot sit idly by and think that business as usual will accomplish the task. We must be deliberate in what we do. We must have a plan for correcting the things that we are not doing well as the Republican Party.
As Chairman of the Sixth Congressional District I will work hard to strengthen the local units in accomplishing our stated goals and to grow the Party. The purpose of the Republican Party is threefold. First, we have an obligation to advocate the principles of the Republican Party and represent those electing us in our respective units. Second, we have an obligation to work hard to get Republican candidates elected to office. Lastly, we have an obligation to assist elected Republican office holders as they have need to attend meetings or otherwise assist them. I believe the Sixth Congressional District does a good job working on campaigns and assisting elected Republicans.
As we reflect on the events of the last year we recognize that our district is not what it was one year ago. Something has changed. Citizens are on their own volition speaking out in a constructive manner on the issues of liberty and the role of government. Once again citizens are talking about the Constitution like it means what it says. While Republicans recognize that this resurgence of liberty is a good thing, we must be true to ourselves and acknowledge it did not originate in the Republican Party. We must ask ourselves right here in the Sixth District what we must do differently to nurture this freedom.
We have a great opportunity to participate in this renewal of freedom. Our greatest strength is our principles. What we say we believe is the only thing that makes us different from the Democrat Party. The principles of the Republican Party are quite simple and are expressed concisely in the Virginia Republican Creed. Of particular note is the fourth clause of the Creed which refers to Constitutional limitations. As I have intently listened to many citizen groups in the last year I get the sense they feel the Republican Party has let them down in the Party’s failure to abide by Constitutional limitations. Specifically, they say, “On what authority does the federal government have the permission to dictate what health care plan we have? On what authority do you pass the TARP legislation and provide no accounting of the funds? On what authority do you pass ex post facto legislation that targets specific individuals and takes their assets?” These are but a few examples of concerns of the citizen’s groups. Many citizens feel to a large degree that the response of the Republican Party has been silence. Recognizing our weakness is the first step in gaining the confidence of those who feel our actions do not match our rhetoric. As Chairman of the Sixth District I will not be silent on these issues.
We declare that we are a grassroots organization when we need someone to volunteer with the campaign but we sometimes cringe when we are asked by a volunteer why an elected Republican took a certain position on an issue. I think this is a natural human response. We don’t like it when the actions of elected representatives that we campaigned for are questioned. However, we must be willing to hear the concerns of citizens and be willing to advocate for them when we view their concern and recognize it as consistent with the Republican Creed and Constitution.
The Sixth District Republican Party has the opportunity to embrace freedom in a manner not paralleled in recent history. If we embrace the principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, the Republican Party will grow. As Chairman I will lead that effort.
Very briefly I will tell you some of my political experience and I’ll follow-up with more at a later time. In 1992, I joined the Republican Party and went to my first state convention in Salem. In 1993, I was elected Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Hampton and was responsible for organizing the city-wide campaign of more than 300 volunteers. Simultaneously, I was City Coordinator for Mike Farris for Lieutenant Governor. 1994-Elected to Hampton City School Board, organized North for Senate campaign in Hampton. 1997, 1998-Elected Chairman of the Giles County Republican Committee. 2001-SW VA Area Director Jay Katzen for Lt. Governor. 2006,2008-Elected Vice-Chairman of the Botetourt County Republican Committee. I have a record of growing the Republican Party.
By trade I am a Mechanical Engineer, licensed in two states, and hold an engineering degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the College of William and Mary. I am also a graduate of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding. I am married and have six children.
We have a fantastic opportunity to more fully embrace the ideals of our Founders: the opportunity to pass a greater freedom to our posterity. Let’s work together to promote liberty in the Sixth District. Will you join me in reaching out to Virginians who share our vision of limited government who have not been active in a political party? Will you join me in my campaign for Chairman of the Sixth Congressional District? Please call or email me and I will let you know how you can get involved in my campaign.
Sincerely,
Danny H. Goad
(540)354-9556
dhgoadpe@msn.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
House Majority Leader Del. Morgan Griffith forms campaign committee
State Del. Morgan Griffith of Salem has taken a formal step toward becoming a Republican candidate for the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, forming a campaign committee and releasing a statement of support from Republican state legislators in the 9th Congressional District.Update:
Griffith said this afternoon that he has not made a final decision to get in the race, but acknowledged that "clearly, I'm on the edge of a decision."
Statements of support for Griffith's candidacy were issued in a press release with the heading, "Morgan Griffith for Congress." Griffith also said he has taken the steps to form the committee. But he said he wants to speak with more unit chairman in the 9th District before fully committing to running for the seat.
Here's the press release:
9th District Legislators Declare Support for Griffith for Congress
Griffith wins early backing from General Assembly members representing Southwest
Richmond, Virginia, 23 February 2010: House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) received strong support to make the race for Congress today, as members of the General Assembly representing the 9th Congressional District in the Virginia General Assembly threw their support behind his possible candidacy.
“Morgan has been a strong voice for Southwest in Richmond, and the values of the people of Southwest would be better represented if he were their voice in Washington,” declared Delegate Charles W. “Bill” Carrico (R-Grayson). Carrico was the Republican nominee against incumbent Congressman Frederick C. “Rick” Boucher (D-VA09) in the 2006 election.
“Morgan is the best candidate to represent our values in Washington,” said Delegate Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott). “He’ll make a great nominee and he’ll be a great congressman. He will bring common sense to Washington.”
“I’ve lived in Southwest Virginia all my life, and my father and I have fought for the values of the people of Southwest,” noted Senator William C. Wampler Jr. (R-Bristol). “I know that Morgan is the best opportunity for the 9th District to have a voice that reflects their values in Washington.”
“Southwest needs Morgan in Congress,” said Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-Wythe). “He’s been looking out for the people of our region in the House of Delegates, and he’s demonstrated time and again his effectiveness as a strong leader and effective representative for Southwest Virginia.”
“Morgan and I both represent parts of the 9th Congressional District, and we work closely together on a host of issues that are vital to Southwest,” remarked Delegate Charles D. Poindexter (R-Franklin). “Morgan has been able to make a real difference in Richmond, and when he goes to Washington the people of Southwest will have a representative that will vote their interests on the key issues of jobs, energy, and government spending.”
“Coal is the lifeblood of Southwest, and Morgan Griffith will stand up for coal and against the job-killing cap-and-trade scheme that would cripple our industry,” noted Delegate James W. “Will” Morefield (R-Tazewell).
“Morgan understands how essential Virginia Tech and Radford Universities are to job creation, research and the economic viability of Southwest Virginia,” noted Delegate David A. Nutter (R-Montgomery).
“Virginia is the best state to do business because we work to keep taxes low, and Morgan has been a consistent opponent of higher taxes,” said Senator Ralph K. Smith (R-Botetourt). “He has been a fighter for conservative principles.”
House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) represents the Eighth District in the Virginia House of Delegates. The Eighth District is comprised of the City of Salem and portions of Roanoke County.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Iran Now a “Nuclear State”
Earlier this morning, an announcement was made that will forever change the course of history. We couldn't control the announcement, and we (under this administration) couldn't control the product, but what we can control is our reaction.
In front of tens of thousands in the Azadi Square, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is now a nuclear state. He further specified that Iran is now capable of "producing weapons-grade uranium" and "had produced its first batch of 20% enriched uranium, with the capability to enrich to far higher levels".
"That indicates to us," President Obama said after the announcement, "that despite their posturing that their nuclear power is only for civilian use, that they, in fact, continue to pursue a course that would lead to weaponization, and that is not acceptable to the international community, not just to the United States."
The President went on to say that the U.S. is preparing sanctions for Iran to "isolate them from the international community." Well Mr. President, I hate to tell you but 1) we've already tried sanctions, and they don't work and 2) this "isolation" is exactly what they WANT.
So while we sit in our overstuffed lounge chairs sipping coffee and discussing how to "put Iran in time out (so that they can plot their revenge in private)", freedom minded Iranians are being oppressed in more ways than we can fathom - internet freedoms being taken away, rigged elections, free speech ban... the list goes on... all being enforced by a "violent" security force.
The ball is in our court. Iran is waiting for our reaction. Will it be weak and ineffective (sanctions)? Or will we stand for our values and forcefully ensure that Iran is incapable of producing weapons of mass destruction? I hope the latter.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Obama bows to Tampa Mayor

What in the world does he think he's doing?! Does he hold any respect for his office? British Ambassadors used to refuse to bow to any foreign kings (much less a local MAYOR) out of respect for their country and the position they held.
RedState puts it best HERE when they say –
"The mayor of Tampa isn't a Third World potentate, totalitarian dictator, or terrorist leader so I can't understand why Obama would be in full-bow mode. Is bowing now the standard way the President greets people these days? Is he misoriented, for some reason, and thinks Tampa is a terrorist stronghold or an enemy of the United States? Does the US owe Tampa a boatload of money and the bow just good business practice?"
What has our country come to…?