Heritage WebCast with Rep. Paul Ryan This Afternoon!

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), a leader in the fight for principled conservative solutions on health care and other issues, will offer his thoughts on the next steps for conservatives in the wake of Obamacare's enactment. Heritage President Ed Feulner will deliver brief introductions. Ryan's remarks are presented by the Dallas/Fort Worth Committee for Heritage.

Watch the event live online on MyHeritage.org.

http://events.vcall.com/VCall/ParticipantLogin.aspx?BID=1&room=105830

Please Support Virginia AG Cuccinelli's Efforts!

Here is the latest from Virginia AG Cuccinelli...

Fellow Americans,

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law a healthcare bill of historic proportions. That bill includes an individual mandate on Americans that declares that they must buy health insurance or face penalties. This overreaches the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause and is therefore unconstitutional.

Buying health insurance can be said to be an act in commerce. However, if someone doesn't buy insurance, they are by definition not engaging in commerce. This legislation greatly oversteps the Commerce Clause.

Please join in Virginia's fight to overturn the individual mandate on health insurance. I ask that you indicate your support by signing the petition below. Please also forward this to your friends.

Sincerely,
Ken Cuccinelli
Attorney General of Virginia

Click here to read and sign the petition

Petition in Support of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's Suit
to Overturn the Health Care Individual Mandate

WHEREAS, the health care bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama includes a mandate requiring Americans to purchase health care insurance, and

WHEREAS, federal officials claim that the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution gives the federal government the authority to force citizens to purchase health care insurance, and

WHEREAS, by definition, a person who refuses to purchase is NOT engaging in interstate commerce, and

WHEREAS, a citizen who is not engaging in commerce may not be compelled to engage in commerce by the federal government, and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Congress may not regulate non-commercial activities using the commerce clause, and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia has passed a law protecting Virginia's citizens from this unconstitutional mandate,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned citizens of the United States support the lawsuit brought by the Commonwealth of Virginia to declare the health care individual mandate unconstitutional.

Click here to read and sign the petition

Fuzzy Math

Washington, D.C.'s Education Department says it spends $17,542 per student annually, but hidden costs bring the true price tag to $28,170, or approximately two and a half times the median cost of sending a kid to private school in the Washington area, the Cato Institute says.  By listing spending for construction, pensions, debt service, and other items in separate accounts, the 18 school districts studied by Cato could claim they spent an average of $12,500 per child, even though the actual amount was $18,000, according to the report titled, "They Spend WHAT?"  the Los Angeles Unified School District, for example, says it spends $10,053 on each of its 737,000 students, but its accounts show the real per-kid cost as $25,208.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Details CBO's Score of the Health Care Reform Bill

Last night, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) called in on The Mark Levin Show last night to brief Mark and his listeners on what's going on in Congress on the health care reform bill.  This is "must listen" radio.  Ryan does a fantastic job of detailing, in simple terms, the games being played by the Left on this bill.  Here is the link to the Ryan interview:

http://www.marklevinshow.com/Article.asp?id=1738089&spid=32364

President Obama Coming to Fairfax, Va. (George Mason University) March 19 to Discuss Health Care Reform

Attention all Northern Virginia Conservatives!

President Obama will be coming to George Mason University's Patriot Center in Fairfax on Friday, March 19 to discuss the health care reform.  This is an obvious attempt to pursuade Rep. Gerry Connolly in his home district to move from "undecided" to "yes".  Connolly is make a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from both Obama and the health care issue, but it's not working.  He knows he's in a no-win situation.  If he votes "yes", he is in serious jeopardy of becoming a one-term member; if he votes "no", he'll be in Pelosi and Obama's doghouse and could jeopardize the bill's passage.

The event at the Patriot Center is first-come in terms of attendance.  The more Conservatives in attendance and/or rallying outside the facility, the better we can make our position clear to attendees and the media.

Here is a link regarding the event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=367623438109&ref=mf

RC Blog Review of Joe Bonamassa's "Black Rock"

On Tuesday (March 23), blues/rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa will release his 10th solo studio album, all since 2000.  RC Blog received a pre-release copy late last week and has given it a thorough listen (about 15 times...).

At each 32, with more than 20 years of professional experience, Bonamassa has created perhaps his finest, and most mature, work of art.  The new album, Black Rock, was recorded at Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece in 2009 and features an ecletic 13-track collection of originals and covers and he wields a wide range of sounds from Zeppelin-like riffs to slow ballads. 

He rejoins his fantastic studio and touring band of the past few years, featuring Rick Melick (keyboards), Carmine Rojas (bass), and Anton Fig and Bogie Bowles (drums), and Kevin "The Caveman" Shirley returns to produce his fourth JB studio album.  The combination of a maturing master of his craft, along with a tight band, innovative producer, local Greek musicians, and relaxing studio atmosphere and you have what should be JB's first Grammy-nominated album.  Joe's vocals on this album are, by far, the best of any of his recordings.  His weight loss over the past few years, coupled with the right blend of red wine at night, has put his voice in the zone.

Here is the album lineup by track (preview samples available at Amazon):

1. Steal Your Heart Away (Bobby Parker)
2. I Know A Place (John Hiatt)
3. When The Fire Hits The Sea (J. Bonamassa)
4. Quarryman's Lament (J. Bonamassa)
5. Spanish Boots (Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, and Ron Wood)
6. Bird On A Wire (Leonard Cohen)
7. Three Times A Fool (Otis Rush)
8. Night Life (Willie Nelson, Walter Breeland, and Paul Buskirk)
9. Wandering Earth (J. Bonamassa)
10. Look Over Yonders Wall (James Clark)
11. Athens to Athens (J. Bonamassa)
12. Blue and Evil (J. Bonamassa)
13. Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind (Blind Boy Fuller)

As usual, JB picked the perfect song to start it off -- "Steal Your Heart Away", which begins with a hard classic JB guitar riff and then launches into a more traditional blues sway.  His cover of The Jeff Beck Band's "Spanish Boots" is a step above the original version sung in 1969 by Rod Stewart.  The first single released from the album, "Blue and Evil", has a number of guitar phrases where you would swear you were listening to Zeppelin in the day.

Listening to "Look Over Yonders", one can definitely hear a distinctive Clapton/Cream sound.  I only wish Cream would have grabbed this song in the '60s.  My daughters' favorite is the last track "Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind". While listening, one can envision this one-take track getting laid down on tape the day before they packed up their belongings in Greece and headed home.  This is "Relaxed Joe" sitting back strumming the acoustic and singing while the band sips their beverages and feels the beat. It is a perfect and unique ending to a must-have album.

For me, the climax of the album is JB's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Bird On A Wire".  The song begins with a soft saxophone intro that blends into JB's acoustic guitar playing and soulful voice.  Sounds like some of the local Greek musicians are playing a variety of instruments in the background as well.  Very cool song and captures the best of JB.

One can not review this album without acknowledging the duet blues fans have been seeking for decades -- the new kid on the block, Joe Bonamassa, alongside one of his childhood heroes and the Living Legend, B.B. King.  By this point, everyone knows their history and how King made Bonamassa a national name in the blues world at age 12.  Twenty years later, they have finally joined forces on a song -- Willie Nelson's "Night Life".  This is the equivalent of Buddy Rich and Neil Peart playing drums together on the same stage (one could have only dreamed...).  You can hear in JB's voice how thrilled he was to have this opportunity to play alongside King in the studio.

I thought I would leave you with Joe's album notes from "Black Rock":

Hello friends,

Once again it's time to breakout the old Scully 8 track, solid state logic and a few cables to bring you another installment of our brand of 21st century R&B.

Our mandate was clear -- first introduction: play loud.  Second: play reckless.  Third: channel the music that inspired you to pick the damn thing up in the first place.  Fourth: have fun with it.  The result is an album that is the product of good times, reckless abandonment and the environment in which it was recorded.  The usual cast of characters, artisans, dilatants and shady (though well dressed) men are all in attendance.  Mr. Shirley once again serves us a wonderful sound of blues-rock opulence.  Mr. Ludwig adds the final touch, which befits his reputation.  So, ladies and gentlemen, sit back and enjoy "Black Rock".  Turn it up as loud as you want.  It's a good thing.

Oh, by the way, a longtime friend stopped by.  He needs no introduction -- Kings never do.

Love,

Joe Bonamassa

B.B. and I:

Mr. King and I met in 1990 at a festival in Rochester, N.Y.  He was as kind and gracious to a little boy with a telecaster as he would have been meeting the President of the United States (and the President would have been as nervous as I was).

B.B. King means the world to me professionally, personally, and musically.  The fact that he has honored me by playing on this album is something I will never forget and could never repay.  Thank you for believing in me, for inspiring us all and being the definition of the word "gentleman".

Your Friend,

Joe

To wrap this up, buy the album.  You will not be disappointed.  Also, check out Bonamassa's web site for tour information.  For those of you in the Washington, D.C. area, I hope to see you on April 23 at GWU's Lizner Auditorium.  The only thing better than Joe in the studio is Joe live...

Liberal Hypocracy In Action...

First and foremost, Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Here are two items I stumbled across in a recent issue of National Review that are worth reprinting....

Frank Rich of the New York Times calls Sen. John McCain "unpatriotic" for criticizing President Obama.  Forty years ago, McCain was getting his teeth broken off in a North Vietnamese prison while Rich reviewed avant-garde theater for the Harvard Crimson, but never mind; Obama is The One, McCain has criticized him, therefore McCain is unpatriotic.  A few days later John Brennan, a deputy national-security adviser, said that "politically motivated criticism" of the administration's anti-terror policies will "serve the goals of al-Queda."  Now even Bill Nye the Science Guy has chimed in, applying the term "unpatriotic" to climate-change skeptics.  It wasn't so long ago that Hillary Clinton declared herself "sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic"; Al Gore and John Kerry, among many others, expressed similar sentiments.  The slogan "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" turns out to have been the lowest form of opportunism.

------------------------------------------------------------

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama paid tribute to a Navy corpsman -- only he said "corpse-man" each time he got to the word.  We all make mistakes, and even brilliant, Nobel Prize-winning presidents might tell an Austrian reporter, "I don't know what the term is in Austrian." (Obama probably doesn't know the term in German, either.)  A hot book in the 1980s was Reagan's Reign of Error, which was supposed to prove what a doofus the president was.  Humility on all sides is called for:  even when Reagan is in office; even when Dan Quayle or George W. Bush is in office.

C-SPAN to Launch New Searchable Video Library

For all you C-SPAN junkies (like me...), the network will launch a new searchable video library that includes all of its programming dating back to 1987.  All told, C-SPAN is putting online 160,000 hours of searchable content on Wednesday.

AG Cuccinelli Responds to Attackers on the Left

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli seized the opportunity in yesterday's Richmond Times to dispel the slanderish propaganda spewed by his detractors on the Left who have viciously attacked his recent his statement on Virginia laws regarding nondiscrimination policies at Virginia colleges and universities.  This was the first real opportunity by the Left since the start of Cuccinelli's term to target his statements and/or actions in a feeble attempt to brand him as a racist, bigot, religious nut, and/or homophobe. Sadly, this is a losing battle that the Left has been playing with Cuccinelli since he first became a State Senator in 2002.  Thankfully, AG Cuccinelli is able to clearly and articulately explain his position, which just happens to be the same position as the five previous Commonwealth AGs.   Here is AG Cuccinelli's Op-Ed in the March 14 Richmond Times:


Current Law Sets Agencies' Boundaries

I firmly believe that the commonwealth's colleges and universities comprise the best public university system in the nation. A proud product of that system, I feel that the controversy over my recent statement of Virginia law as it relates to nondiscrimination policies at our state institutions of higher learning deserves to be addressed.

While it is understandable that some are angry or confused about that statement of law, it is important to recognize it for what it was and remains. It is my permanently and long-held belief that government should not single out anyone for negative treatment.

Each day, more than 200 dedicated attorneys and staff work in the Office of the Attorney General to provide guidance, advice, and counsel to agencies impacting every aspect of the life of Virginians, from transportation to health care to public safety to education. Part of that job is advising state agencies that might be inadvertently taking actions not authorized by the law of the commonwealth. Much like local governments that are subject to the so-called Dillon Rule, public colleges and universities have only the powers granted to them by the General Assembly.

Over the past six weeks, I received a number of inquiries about the inclusion of sexual orientation as a specially protected class in the nondiscrimination polices of our colleges and universities. A review of the law and the opinions of no less than five of my predecessors -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- demonstrated that any decision regarding the creation of a specially protected class belongs exclusively to the General Assembly. A public university simply lacks the power to create a new specially protected class under Virginia law.

While our colleges and universities are governed by Boards of Visitors with broad rights and powers, those powers are not unlimited. Virginia's public universities are, at all times, subject to the control of the General Assembly. They have no authority greater than that which has been granted them by the General Assembly. As the attorney for the public colleges and universities, and for the commonwealth as a whole, I provided legal advice reflecting the law as it is.

As a legal matter, this statement of Virginia law has not been seriously challenged. While issues related to sexual orientation are among the most emotional and controversial, they do not change this fundamental proposition of Virginia law. My now well-publicized letter simply stated the current state of Virginia law; it did not advocate for any particular legislative position. Should the General Assembly change the law, my advice will be consistent with it.

The General Assembly has considered and defined the protected classes for purposes of nondiscrimination statutes. It has specifically defined unlawful discrimination at educational institutions. The Virginia Human Rights Act states that it is the policy of the commonwealth to "safeguard all individuals within the Commonwealth from unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, or disability, in places of public accommodation, including educational institutions." In addition to this affirmative statement, the General Assembly has on numerous occasions, including this session, considered and rejected creating a protected class defined by sexual orientation. No state agency can reach beyond such clearly established boundaries.

Nothing I have said or written authorizes unconstitutional discrimination against any person. My letter in no way addresses the legislative issue of including sexual orientation in non-discrimination policies. I believe that our colleges and universities do not illegally discriminate against any class of persons. Likewise, I do not believe they can or will after my restatement of Virginia law.

The people of the commonwealth, through their elected representatives, determine Virginia's laws. I cannot bend the law to fit a particular outcome, no matter what a person or group might wish, myself included. I have simply stated what is and is not currently permissible under the laws of Virginia. That is my job as attorney general.

The Family That Eats Together....

Another reason to gather around the table:  Late last year, Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse released "The Importance of Family Dinners V."

"Simply put: Dinner makes a difference," the survey says.

In terms of substance abuse, "Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are: twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana; and more than one and a half times likelier to use alcohol."

Eating together also impacts academics: "Compared to teens who have five to seven family dinners per week, those who have fewer than three family dinners per week are one and a half times likelier to report getting mostly C's or lower grades in school," the survey reported.

And, most important, family togetherness results in family closeness:  "Teens who have frequent family dinners ... are likelier to say they have excellent relationships with their parents."

This also relates to faith:  "Teens who have frequent family dinners are also likelier to attend religious services at least weekly compared to teens who have infrequent family dinners."

"Bless us, O Lord ..."

Scott Walker's Plan to Help Create 250,000 Wisconsin Jobs

After getting slammed by The Left for his recent proposal to create 250,000 new jobs for Wisconsin if elected governor, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has gone on the offensive and produced a short, but effective commercial detailing his proposal (see video below).  In addition, his campaign has created the web site http://www.250000jobs.org. 

Walker is the right man for Wisconsin at the right time in history.  Kudos for him to have the guts to stand up, go out on a limb, and develop an aggressive plan and goal.  I'd rather see someone who is looking to make a difference instead of just going with the status quo.  Many in Washington could learn from Walker.  He is going to be a major national player in the GOP for years to come.

Virginia AG Cuccinelli Follows Law, Gets Ripped

From the Family Foundation web site:

Late last week it was revealed that Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent a letter to the Commonwealth’s taxpayer funded colleges and universities informing them that, without General Assembly approval, they do not have the authority to issue non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. Apparently, the Commonwealth’s public colleges and universities had issued such policies without the approval to do so.

And thus started a media firestorm. Essentially the Attorney General, the office designated to instruct state entities on the law, told them to actually follow the law. But Democrat leaders and homosexual activists immediately pounced, calling Cuccinelli’s advice “hate” and vowed to revive legislation that died last week that would add sexual orientation to the Commonwealth’s anti-discrimination policy.

Today, several legislators are literally screaming about the issue on the floor of the House of Delegates all but accusing Attorney General Cuccinelli of hatred. They are urging the House General Laws committee to act on legislation, SB 66, that was defeated in subcommittee last week, when the committee meets this afternoon.

It is quite interesting to listen to proponents of this major change in Virginia’s public policy. In three separate presentations before committee and subcommittee, advocates for making sexual orientation a protected class have admitted that 90 percent of Virginians don’t think there should be discrimination. They have admitted that the last three governors have had policies, either written or verbal, that they will not allow such discrimination. At no point has any actual evidence of discrimination been presented. Late last year the Washington Post editorialized that there are “thousands of homosexuals” working in state government.

Usually, the General Assembly passes legislation to remedy a problem. They often defeat legislation that, as is said, is a “solution in search of a problem.” That is exactly the problem with this legislation.

So what is the goal? It really is not about discrimination. It is about government recognition – acceptance – of the homosexual lifestyle. Make no mistake, this debate is a serious one and it will have long term consequences for not just state government but private businesses and ultimately our marriage amendment. The goal is not anti-discrimination – it is forced acceptance of a lifestyle that many Virginians find antithetical to their faith.

The rhetoric at the Capitol today is heated and not very tolerant. It seems that those who oppose creating a special class for homosexuals are hateful and bigoted, which is an easy accusation to make when you have no other argument and no ability to make your case.

Must See TV! Tea Party Angers MSNBC Host

Check out this video of MSNBC's MS-LSD's Dylan Ratigan interviewing Tea Party Express's Mark Williams. Ratigan yells, screams, and walks off his own set, and alleges that tea partiers carry signs calling for the death of blacks and Jews. And as the veins were bursting in his head he then demanded that Mark Williams' microphone be cut off so he could be heard.

We're not exaggeraring folks. Watch this amazing video clip of a complete meltdown - and a bizarrely fascinating display of hypocrisy as MS-LSD does a propaganda segment on "Anger in America" and then shows us exactly what it looks like. Isn't the left the party of known racists (Sen. Byrd) and bigots ("Rev" Jackson)?

Paul Ryan: Hiding Spending Doesn't Reduce Spending

Back in town again and will start posting...

I definitely wanted to get Paul Ryan's attack on Obama's health care reform on the site. This is from last week's "bipartisan" health care summit in Washington. For the record, Obama spoke more than twice as long as all Republicans added together.

Survey: Walker Owns 9% Lead Over Barrett in Wisconsin Governor Race

On the day Republican Gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker said he would create 250,000 new jobs in Wisconsin, a poll came out showing he still holds nearly a double-digit lead on his Democratic counterpart.

Rasmussen Reports came out with a survey poll putting Walker, currently the Milwaukee County Executive, ahead of Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, in a head-to-head race.

He leads Barrett, now Milwaukee's mayor, by nine percentage points, 49% to 40%.

Last month, Walker led the poll by a 10% margin.

Walker made his jobs promise at a meeting of Wisconsin business leaders in Madison.

"I will create 250,000 new jobs and 50,000 new businesses by the end of my first term."

Barrett also spoke at the event and told those at the meeting that jobs would be his first priority.

The survey group also said that Barrett trails the other Republican candidate, Mark Neumann, 44% to 42%.