In perusing Facebook, I've noticed very little mention of the disaster in Norway since yesterday. Dozens of young Norwegians were murdered yesterday in the name of politics; but yet, so few of us are even noticing.
Granted, we're aghast at the continued mess in Washington right now, especially with the "President's" display on national television yesterday evening, but we aren't even mentioning what happened in Norway. Is it because it wasn't an Islamic terrorist? If it had been, would we be all over Facebook and Twitter posting about the evils of terrorism and how we need to react? This was close to 90 youths who were attending a political, summer camp who were killed yesterday by a madman who dressed up as a policeman, called the kids to come out, and then shot them, some of them even trying to escape into the water, but yet being murdered by him anyway. Some of these kids drowned trying to get away; but yet, we have almost no mention by those of us who are usually so on top of everything going on.
Sometimes, we become so immersed in everything political that we forget to stop and look at what's going on around us. It's incredibly hot out there, but it's still a beautiful day. It's summer, and most of us have families and friends to spend a Saturday afternoon together. We need to remember that there's a whole other world out there that's beyond our politics. It might be too hot to stop and smell the flowers, but we can at least stop and listen to the laughter of our children.
Unfortunately yesterday, close to 90 families lost that ability. We need to remember that there is a world out there beyond our politics, and we need to remember to mindful of all that is going on out there. As much as we love it, not everything needs to be political. And sometimes, we need to be careful of the things that do become just that.
Keeping it real...
23 July, 2011
21 July, 2011
Who Can Really Beat Bert Dodson? Mark Peake.
OK, I'm going to be taking a hard look at a few of the races going on in Virginia right now, and one that really jumps out to take notice is the race for the new, 22nd State Senate District. I've listened to what each of the candidates for the Republican nomination have to say, and I have to write that, in all reality, not one stands out to be able to beat the Democratic nominee, Bert Dodson, unless it's someone who can beat him on his own turf - meaning Lynchburg.
Now, I'm not meaning to sway that the seat has to come from Lynchburg, but the candidate to beat him is going to have to know him well enough to capitalize on what Bert has within his own base. No one else can do that than Mark Peake.
Bert is a likable guy. He's jovial. He's pretty smart. He's a great partier. But, he's also popular with quite of few of the Dems in Lynchburg, which will transfer into his getting theDemocratic vote throughout the new 22nd. I don't care how much one guy pulls the Tea Party vote from around the 22nd, the Republican candidate to receive the nomination after the primaries on 23 August HAS to be able to beat Bert Dodson. This isn't a beauty contest. It's a political contest, with the only goal for the Republicans to be beating Bert Dodson. A guy from Louisa County, Tom Garrett, is not going to be able to do that. A lobbyist with a background of a very damning lawsuit behind her is not going to be able to beat Bert Dodson. A college professor from Prince Edward County, Brian Bates, is not going to be able to beat Bert Dodson. Mark Peake knows Dodson and has worked in the same, political realm as Dodson. He's beaten the Dems on the same playing field. He has a proven background in the game of winning political elections against the other side. His closest opponent to be able to pull off the win in the real world of Republicans vs. Democrats and getting the Independent votes in between would be Bryan Rhode; but as great a guy as he is, he's on the opposite side of this new district and won't be able to pull the strong base that Bert will have in Lynchburg.
Now, this isn't a matter of anyone thinking that the seat has to be in Lynchburg; but when the Democratic candidate IS from Lynchburg, it takes that advantage to be able to pull off the win. Mark Peake is the only one with that going for him, regardless of what Claudia Tucker wants to portray. Her business background as a lobbyist and farmer is not going to be enough to pull off the win against a well-funded, Democratic candidate. Let's not be under any illusions. The Dems are going to go after this seat in a very big way, and they're going to throw what they have into it. It's going to take someone who can challenge Dodson on his own turf to be able to keep that seat from going to the Dems.
Again, the race for the Republican nomination for that 22nd State Senate District candidacy isn't a beauty contest. It's a matter of who can actually BEAT Bert Dodson. That has to be Mark Peake.
Now, I'm not meaning to sway that the seat has to come from Lynchburg, but the candidate to beat him is going to have to know him well enough to capitalize on what Bert has within his own base. No one else can do that than Mark Peake.
Bert is a likable guy. He's jovial. He's pretty smart. He's a great partier. But, he's also popular with quite of few of the Dems in Lynchburg, which will transfer into his getting theDemocratic vote throughout the new 22nd. I don't care how much one guy pulls the Tea Party vote from around the 22nd, the Republican candidate to receive the nomination after the primaries on 23 August HAS to be able to beat Bert Dodson. This isn't a beauty contest. It's a political contest, with the only goal for the Republicans to be beating Bert Dodson. A guy from Louisa County, Tom Garrett, is not going to be able to do that. A lobbyist with a background of a very damning lawsuit behind her is not going to be able to beat Bert Dodson. A college professor from Prince Edward County, Brian Bates, is not going to be able to beat Bert Dodson. Mark Peake knows Dodson and has worked in the same, political realm as Dodson. He's beaten the Dems on the same playing field. He has a proven background in the game of winning political elections against the other side. His closest opponent to be able to pull off the win in the real world of Republicans vs. Democrats and getting the Independent votes in between would be Bryan Rhode; but as great a guy as he is, he's on the opposite side of this new district and won't be able to pull the strong base that Bert will have in Lynchburg.
Now, this isn't a matter of anyone thinking that the seat has to be in Lynchburg; but when the Democratic candidate IS from Lynchburg, it takes that advantage to be able to pull off the win. Mark Peake is the only one with that going for him, regardless of what Claudia Tucker wants to portray. Her business background as a lobbyist and farmer is not going to be enough to pull off the win against a well-funded, Democratic candidate. Let's not be under any illusions. The Dems are going to go after this seat in a very big way, and they're going to throw what they have into it. It's going to take someone who can challenge Dodson on his own turf to be able to keep that seat from going to the Dems.
Again, the race for the Republican nomination for that 22nd State Senate District candidacy isn't a beauty contest. It's a matter of who can actually BEAT Bert Dodson. That has to be Mark Peake.
Claudia Tucker Obviously Doesn't Get It
In reading today's AP news article, "GOP Hopefuls Rake Va. Guv for Urging Debt Accord," it's obvious that Claudia Tucker just doesn't get it as to how real government has to work and the effects of this debt-ceiling debacle on the state of Virginia, for which she wants a State Senate seat. Does she really think that her "conservative" principles would keep Virginia from a devastating blow to one of the best, state economies in the country? Sorry folks, but standing by principle isn't reality. Principle is that which we believe in and stand by; but when reality comes knocking at your door in the guise of losing that necessary AAA bond rating, looking like the specter of death, you don't just stand there and let him walk in to take your family and everything you have to the netherworld. That's what we're looking at here if Virginia loses that bond rating.
In an economic melee, that AAA bond rating is crucial in being able to not only continue Virginia's success, but to be able to even keep our heads above water. If we think that times are tough right now in Virginia, it will be nothing when we start to feel the weight of the full, economic disaster that sound, ecomonic principles - yes, ecomonic principles; not moral principles - have averted in this state. Do we really want to end up like California? Or worse yet, do we want to be lead into the same abyss that our country is headed into?
Playing hardball with the federal government is admirable; but when it comes time to look at this real mess, you sometimes have to realize that your guns just aren't going to be big enough for this fight. It's gone on too long already. And for more of that reality, neither side is accomplishing what needs to be done to get this country back on track.
The Obama administration capitalized on the failed, economic policies of the Bush years and then took them to monumental proportions with their spending sprees, destroying any hope for a turnaround. We'll be paying off that debt for longer than this country will probably remain standing at this rate. And, we've elected a Republican House of Representatives who has luckily been standing ground to keep the spending from its same course. But, we have to be realistic that this is not going to be fixed by each side drawing a line and not then stepping over it here and there to get things fixed. Compromise is going to be essential to moving forward. Now, I'm not saying that compromise is giving up, but it's knowing when to look at reality and assessing that you have to work with what you have to keep progressing forward. It's kind of like a sinking ship. Do you stand your ground and go down with the ship, or do you look at the life raft that you have to work with and get it back to solid ground?
It sounds like Claudia Tucker would rather we just stand on that sinking ship. No thanks.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VA_DEBT_TALKS_MCDONNELL_VAOL-?SITE=VAPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
In an economic melee, that AAA bond rating is crucial in being able to not only continue Virginia's success, but to be able to even keep our heads above water. If we think that times are tough right now in Virginia, it will be nothing when we start to feel the weight of the full, economic disaster that sound, ecomonic principles - yes, ecomonic principles; not moral principles - have averted in this state. Do we really want to end up like California? Or worse yet, do we want to be lead into the same abyss that our country is headed into?
Playing hardball with the federal government is admirable; but when it comes time to look at this real mess, you sometimes have to realize that your guns just aren't going to be big enough for this fight. It's gone on too long already. And for more of that reality, neither side is accomplishing what needs to be done to get this country back on track.
The Obama administration capitalized on the failed, economic policies of the Bush years and then took them to monumental proportions with their spending sprees, destroying any hope for a turnaround. We'll be paying off that debt for longer than this country will probably remain standing at this rate. And, we've elected a Republican House of Representatives who has luckily been standing ground to keep the spending from its same course. But, we have to be realistic that this is not going to be fixed by each side drawing a line and not then stepping over it here and there to get things fixed. Compromise is going to be essential to moving forward. Now, I'm not saying that compromise is giving up, but it's knowing when to look at reality and assessing that you have to work with what you have to keep progressing forward. It's kind of like a sinking ship. Do you stand your ground and go down with the ship, or do you look at the life raft that you have to work with and get it back to solid ground?
It sounds like Claudia Tucker would rather we just stand on that sinking ship. No thanks.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VA_DEBT_TALKS_MCDONNELL_VAOL-?SITE=VAPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
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