[Astro]turf Wars

Town Hall Meetings

The same people who wanted their activists to go out an 'get in people's faces' are surprised that informed citizens are actually showing up at town hall meetings and asking good questions. Moveon.org and the others are trying to paint real dissent as ugliness. The trouble is their 'manufactured' ugliness never looked like real dissent.

American Power Has This [click to read] about the White House response to real grassroots.

So: Who Are the Real Astroturfers [click to read].

The Real Astroturf [click to read].

"The White House and Congress claim the anti-ObamaCare uprising is artificially organized. But the violent — even racist — union counterattacks, urged on by Democrats, are the real Rent-a-Mobs." -- Investor's Business Daily

Worldview is Everything [click to read] when it comes to understanding the real battle in the healthcare debate. Cal Thomas has these thoughts.

Cragslist and George Soros [click to read]. Michelle Malkin knows 'Astroturf' when she see's it.

'Just Pipe Down' [click to read]. More good stuff from Michelle Malkin.

The Illustrated Guide [click to read] to Obamacare Human Props.

ht/SWACGirl

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Town Hall Meetings and Junkets Announced...

JIM WEBB

We spoke to Linda in Sen. Webb’s office. She said his scheduler is finalizing his plans for town hall meetings now. She told us to sign up on his e-mail list and that the complete list of his meetings should be sent out soon. We’ll let you know as soon as we receive it.

Unfortunately, it appears that Senator Webb left Sunday on a two-week, five-nation tour of Asia to “explore opportunities to advance U.S. interests in Burma and the region.” With Congress trying to spend more than half a billion dollars on luxury jets, we think this is really bad timing on Sen. Webb’s part. We wish that Sen. Webb would have finalized his meetings with constituents before he finalized meetings in Burma.

MARK WARNER

His schedule is still being finalized as well. Once it is (and it should be soon according to his office) it will be posted on his website at: http://warner.senate.gov/public/

TOM PERRIELLO

Our hat is off to Rep. Perriello for holding 21 public events in the district during the recess (in less of a town hall setting and more of an office hours format.) He's already done a few of them. They are called “Tom In Your Town.” The details are below:

Greene County 08/10/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Ruckersville Elementary School (Cafeteria)105 Progress Place

Charlottesville 08/11/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Charlottesville High-MLK Performing Arts Center1400 Melbourne Rd.

Fluvanna County 08/17/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Fluvanna County School Board Office14455 James Madison Highway

Charlotte County 08/18/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM 250 LeGrande AvenueCharlotte Court House

Lunenburg County 08/19/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Kenbridge Community Center Auditorium511 E. 5th Ave., Kenbridge

Nelson County 08/20/09 5:30 - 7:30 PM The Nelson Center8445 Thomas Nelson Hwy., Lovingston

Mecklenburg County 08/21/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Mecklenburg County School Board Office175 Mayfield Drive, Boydton

Brunswick County 08/22/09 1:00 - 3:00 PM Tiger Express137 W. Hicks St., Lawrenceville

Buckingham County 08/24/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Buckingham Middle School (Auditorium)1184 High School Road

Prince Edward County 08/25/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Prince Edward Middle School (Cafeteria)35 Eagle Drive, Farmville

Cumberland County 08/26/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Cumberland Restaurant1465 Anderson Hwy

Albemarle County 08/27/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Victory Hall401 Valley Street, Scottsville

Campbell County 08/28/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Campbell County Technical Center, 194 Dennis Riddle Drive, Rustburg

Franklin County 08/29/09 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning50 Claiborne Avenue, Rocky Mount

Appomattox County 08/31/09 6:00 - 8:00 PM Appomattox Community Center220 Community Lane

* “Tom In Your Town” is a chance for constituents to meet one-on-one with Tom to discuss policy issues, give suggestions, or to get help with federal programs like Medicare, Social Security, or veterans’ benefits. Here’s how it works: come by anytime during the time period and sign in. Meetings are on a first-come, first-served basis. After the constituent meets with the congressman, one of the staff members will be there to follow up with any concerns. All are welcome.

Twenty Questions for Tom [click to read].

Mythological Beasts

Global Warming and Unicorns


Seen at the North Carolina Aquarium.

Left Wing Extremists

Moveon.org at Perriello 'Town Hall' Meetings

Smells Like Astoturf to Me [click to read].

Ursus Americanus

Black Bears at Big Meadows

Lynn Has Some Great Pictures [click to read] of Black Bears at Big Meadows. I've seen three while hiking in Shenandoah Park this Summer but the only good photo of a bear I got this year was at Maymont Park in Richmond. I have a few 'black blurs in the woods' photos to show for it though.

Coastal Sunrise

Atlantic Morning.

Something to Think About

Kaine and Abel...

Is our own Governor Tim Kaine, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, responsible for the 'Angry Mob' commercials airing on TV?

Call in 'Ask the Governor' (Jimmy Barrett's program that airs on WRVA Thursday at 9:00 am), email Kaine's office, write letters to the editor asking the Governor:

--Did he authorize the ad?
--Did he know about it?
--Did he watch it before it was aired?
--Does he realize he is trying to denigrate and intimidate his fellow Virginians who are genuinely concerned about losing their healthcare/ insurance?

ht/Richmond Tea Party

Meanwhile Michelle Malkin Tells Us Who the 'Angry Mob' Really is [click to read].

News You Can Use...

Rx for Patients Who Oppose
Government Take-over of their Healthcare

Contrary to what you hear in the mainstream media, physicians are NOT on board with ObamaCare.

Here is a way to help get physicians involved in our efforts. Richmond Tea Party has drafted a letter for you to take to your physician. Use this letter on your own letterhead. Put the letter in a sealed envelope marked "Confidential", with a sticky note attached that asks your Dr. to read it and sign it; let him or her know that you will be by in a day or so to pick it up.

Click Here for a Draft of Letter Between Doctor and Patient [pdf]

Click Here for a Draft of Letter Between Doctor and Patient (word doc - editable ]

By asking your doctor to sign this letter with you, you are allowing your physician an opportunity to voice his own concern about government take-over of the current health-care system. Working Together, doctors and patients can make a difference.Once you and your doctor have signed the letter, make several copies and send them to all of your elected representatives. For addresses to offices of our elected representatives,click here.

ht/Richmond Tea Party

A.Z. Rainman Photoshop Satire

Church in the Park

No 'Brooks Brothers' Suit, No Problem...

Church isn't the building.

What is the essence of worship? This will be the third time Staunton Alliance Church brings 'church' to Gypsy Hill Park. Curious? Come and see what 'church' looks like when its an outdoor event for the whole family.

News You Can Use

You Can Read HB3200 For Yourself

Even if They Don't in Washington [click to read].

It's not the finalized version yet, but its 'only' 1,017 pages so I thought you might like to read it at the beach!

News You Can Use...

How to Find a Representative or
Senator's Town Hall Meeting

Lynn Has the Scoop [click to read] at SWAC Girl.

Feeling underrepresented yet? Why not go and ask some questions. You don't even need a Brooks Brothers suit.

News You Can Use...

How to Tell Real Grass from 'Astroturf'

All the President's men are scared. The people showing up at town hall meetings are articulate, well informed and they ask some pointed questions. 'Obviously' they are 'Brooks Brothers' protesters put out there by the insurance companies and the Republican Party.

Funny, I don't own a Brooks Brothers suit, I don't even like dealing with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and I'm not exactly Michael Steele's biggest fan but as an informed American I sure don't want the government running healthcare and taxing energy into oblivion. That is why I go to Tea Parties and I will show up at any Senators' town hall meetings in my area and [take heed], your answers WILL show up in this blog

Just because some 'community organizers' create demonstrations does not mean that people like me need some ACORN-like conservative organization to drive us.

Real Grassroots [click to read]. SWAC Girl Knows how to tell real grassroots from 'manufactured' protests.

News You Can Use...

How to Tell an Iranian Sniper
from a Wookiee

From the UK Guardian [click to read].

Dollars for Dystopia

Big Brother Update

'Cash for Clunkers' Website [click to read] takes over your computer. Glenn Beck points out that the TOS agreement on the website makes your computer 'government property.'

Beck also pointed out an interesting fact on his show. The government buys the old cars and requires their destruction. Kind of reminds you of some of FDR's farm programs where hogs were killed and crops destroyed.

"In May [of 1933], the Agricultural Adjustment Act became law. Among other provisions, it established acreage and production controls, paying farmers not to grow or raise wheat, corn, cotton, hogs, etc., and to plow under crops and destroy livestock. The aim was explicitly to raise the prices of all farm commodities. The preposterous economic “theory” behind this was that if prices and wages were jacked up, that would increase “purchasing power,” which was the way to lift the country out of the Depression. In the two years of the AAA’s existence, before the U.S. Supreme Court declared it to be unconstitutional, it distributed some $700 million to farmers to restrict production and destroy their crops, in an attempt to make food (and textiles) dearer for consumers. And that at a time when millions were going hungry." -- Ralph Raico, Future of Freedom Foundation [click to read]

ht/SWAC Girl

Freedom from Religion

The Anti-Christian Litigation Underwriters

When I was younger a fellow student asked if I would be interested in joining the American Civil Liberties Union. They were promoting 'First Amendment Rights' so I took a pamphlet. Of course I made the 'mistake' of reading some of their literature and told my friend that there was no way in a very hot place that I could EVER join the ACLU.

The ACLU was founded ninety years ago by Roger Baldwin. He was a socialist thinker who said things like: "America must follow the example of Stalin's Soviet Union where greater freedoms exist than anywhere else in the world". Wow, I never would have known from the history I read!

Knowing America would never follow the path to 'social u[dys]topia because of her Judeo-Christian foundations, Baldwin set out to diminish the influence of Christianity in America.

For 80 years the ACLU has twisted the Constitution to exclude Christianity from the public square and the public discourse. That sense of mission is what drives the endless stream of lawsuits against prayer and Christian expression. That is why your kid's 'religious' message is excluded from the poster contest. That's why the school 'Winter Holiday' assembly is devoid of sacred traditional music. Thankfully there is the Alliance Defense Fund [click to read] which was founded to counter this destructive movement.

The Real Sergeant Crowley

He's a Class Act!

From American Power [click to read]. The Picture says it all.

No need to elaborate.

"In my own dealings with the wealthy and powerful, I have always found that the way to quickly capture the moral essence of a person is to watch how they treat those who are less powerful. Do they understand that the others are also human beings with feelings? Especially when they think nobody is looking."

ht/SWAC Girl

'Pro Abortion' Healthcare Reform

It's Not 'Pro Choice' if I'm Forced to Pay for
[or Perform] Abortions

Tucked away in the massive heathcare bill that no one seems to have time to read is a provision that mandates all insurance would have to cover abortions. An attempt to add conscience exclusions for providers failed in committee.

House and Senate committees continue to work out the details of the health care reform bills and, thus far, every effort to explicitly remove the abortion coverage and include conscience protections for health care workers has been shot down.
We now expect the vote on health care to come in September.

Let's be honest, we know who's paying big money and worked hard to elect this president. Still, conscience protection has always been a fundamental part of American life. Members of the Society of Friends and Mennonites are excluded from military service because of their beliefs and that is no different from a nurse holding the view that preborn life is not to be takeen.

Forcing those who object on moral or ethical grounds to fund and perform abortions goes against everything fundamentally American.

Pro-life citizens give a lot of money and time to support alternatives to abortion. Pregnancy help centers are an amazing resource and provide pre-natal care, counselling, resources and support to those facing unexpected pregnancies. It is not only immoral, but insulting to suggest that they need to be forced to support something that is against their beliefs.


Dogwood blossoms.

Update:

Randy Alcorn Writes About The Bill [click to read] and makes a number of important points about this legislation.

Meet Your New Doctor...

200 Protest in Bristol


[click on the image to
read more...]

The President went shopping at Kroger today. He was in Bristol pushing his 'urgent' healthcare reform but if you read the AP story [state-run media, no less], some pretty savvy and articulate people were among the protesters.

'Fixing Things' Chicago Style

Thuggery Becomes Standard Operating Procedure

Michelle Malkin is To the Point [click to read]

Walter Williams on How They Get Away With It [click to read]

Thomas Sowell: Disaster in the Making [click to read].

Michelle Malkin Discusses 'Culture of Corruption' [click to read] and Matt Lauer reacts.

FDR's Folly

Jim Powell Takes on Depression Mythology

Here's another resource for understanding the truth behind why the Great Depression lasted sixteen years. Powell, a fellow at the Cato Institute makes a more detailed case for getting the government out of the business of 'fixing' the economy, etc.

Principles and Ideas

David Karaffa Brought Both to the Campaign

SWAC Girl Has This Report [click to read] on the man who clearly stood on principle and brought substantial discussion of ideas to the table. The Man Who So Clearly Explained a Trillion [click to read] represents a trend I hope continues. There are so many young people who are becoming knowledgeable and articulate about the issues that affect us.

The fact that a young [25 years old] man electrified the room with substantial discussion should hearten us.

Here's the News Virginian Report [click to read] of the candidate's forum. They note that Karaffa addresses unfunded Federal mandates. Indeed, it is imperative for candidates at the state level to be well versed in matters Federal, since there is already a complex overlay of Federal involvement in matters the Tenth Amendment would have us believe belong to the states. Bob McDonnell is right to inject discussion of such issues into the governor's race.

Eight Candidates for 20th District Seat

Strong Contenders Emerge for Saxman's Seat

Here's the Daily News Record Article [click to read] detailing who has announced that they are running for delegate for the 20th district.

I'm excited that in an important election some energetic candidates are emerging who have the ability to communicate well and represent the people of this area.

Update:

Here's an Interesting 'Endorsement' [click to read] from The Augusta Free Press. Chris Graham, an honest progressive, pretty much proves everything Rush has been trying to tell the Republican Party.

ht/SWAC Girl

David Karaffa Explains a 'Trillion'

This is Brilliant...

Here's What a Trillian Dollars Looks Like [click to read].