Big Freshman Class for 09'

There will be a rather large freshman class in both the House and Senate scheduled to be sworn in January of 2009. 44 People will be leaving or have already left Congress and Senate due to death, retirement, resignment, and in some cases criminal investigations. Some of these known absences have already been filled by special elections, but those filling them will still be considered "freshmen" in 111th Congress which convenes in January. These numbers affect Republican held positions more than Democratic positions and include such political power players as former Speaker of the House Rep. Dennis Hastert and former Presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter one resignation, the other as a result of retirement. Both sides will aggressively go after each and everyone of these positions. The Democrats currently hold majorities in both the House and Senate, but neither is by large numbers and they would like nothing better than to put some depth in the bench so to speak. The Democrats are clearly taking this election season seriously and have opened an unprecedented 6 regional offices here in the 6th Congressional District to support their candidate Mr. Sam Rasoul in his bid to unseat Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte who has run un-challenged for many years. The following list shows the 44 in seats mentioned:

House of Representatives:
Alabama: Rep. Bud Cramer (D). Retiring
Alabama: Rep. Terry Everett (R). Retiring
Arizona: Rep. Rick Renzi (R). Retiring and under federal indictment.
Arizona: Rep. John Shadegg (R). NOT Retiring: Convinced by colleagues to reverse earlier decision to not seek re-election
California: Rep. John Doolittle (R). Retiring
California: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R). Retiring
California: Rep. Tom Lantos (D). Died. Rep. Jackie Speier (D) sworn in after winning special election
California: Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D). Died. Laura Richardson (D) seated after August 2007 special election
Colorado: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R). Retiring
Colorado: Rep. Mark Udall (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate
Florida: Rep. Dave Weldon (R). Retiring
Georgia: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R). Died. Paul Broun (R) seated in July 2007 special election
Illinois: Rep. Dennis Hastert (R). Resigned. Bill Foster (D) sworn in after winning March special election
Illinois: Rep. Ray Lahood (R). Retiring
Illinois: Rep. Jerry Weller (R). Retiring
Indiana: Julia Carson (D). Died. Carson's grandson, Andre Carson (D), seated in special election
Louisiana: Rep. Richard Baker (R). Resigning. Don Cazayoux (D), wins May special election
Louisiana: Rep. Bobby Jindal (R). Elected Governor. Steve Scalise (R) wins May special election
Louisiana: Rep. Jim McCrery (R). Retiring
Maine: Rep. Tom Allen (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate
Maryland: Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R). Defeated in Republican primary
UPDATED JUNE 19:
Maryland: Rep. Al Wynn (D). Defeated in February Democratic primary by Donna Edwards. Wynn retired before end of term, allowing Edwards to compete in June special election, which she won. Edwards sworn in
Massachusetts: Rep. Martin Meehan (D). Resigned. Niki Tsongas (D) seated in October 2007 special election
Minnesota: Rep. Jim Ramstad (R). Retiring
Mississippi: Rep. Chip Pickering (R). Retiring
Mississippi: Rep. Roger Wicker (R). Appointed to Senate.Travis Childers (D) seated after May 2008 special election
Missouri: Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R). Vacating seat to run for governor
New Jersey: Rep. Mike Ferguson (R). Retiring
New Jersey: Rep. Jim Saxton (R). Retiring
New Mexico: Rep. Steve Pearce (R). Vacating seat to run for Senate
New Mexico: Rep. Tom Udall (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate
New Mexico: Rep. Heather Wilson (R). Vacating seat to run for Senate
New York: Rep. Vito Fossella (R). Retiring
New York: Rep. Mike McNulty (D). Retiring
New York: Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R). Retiring
New York: Rep. Jim Walsh (R). Retiring
Ohio: Rep. Paul Gillmor (R). Died. Robert Latta (R) seated in December 2007 special election
Ohio: Rep. David Hobson (R). Retiring
Ohio: Rep. Deborah Pryce (R). Retiring
Ohio: Rep. Ralph Regula (R). Retiring
Oregon: Rep. Darlene Hooley (D). Retiring.
Pennsylvania: Rep. John Peterson (R). Retiring
Virginia: Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R). Died. Robert Wittman (R) seated after December 2007 special election
Virginia: Rep. Tom Davis (R). Retiring
Wyoming: Rep. Barbara Cubin (R). Retiring
In the Senate ...
Those who have left, leaving, or have died, by state:
Colorado: Sen. Wayne Allard (R). Retiring
Idaho: Sen. Larry Craig (R). Retiring
Mississippi: Sen. Trent Lott (R) Retired. Rep. Roger Wicker (R) seated by gubernatorial appointment
Nebraska: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R). Retiring
New Mexico: Sen. Pete Domenici (R). Retiring
Virginia: Sen. John Warner (R). Retiring
Wyoming: Sen. Craig Thomas (R). Died. John Barrasso (R) seated by gubernatorial appointment

This list shows that there many important political races going on all throughout America as well as the races many of us follow and are involved in right in VA.

If you believe in the conservative movement, if you believe in Ronald Reagan's vision, if your concerned with our energy crisis, and if your very nervous about Americas future in the hands or people like Sen. Obama, Majority Leader Reid, and Speaker Pelosi than you must stand and be heard.

Seek out your local Republican Committee and tell them that you want to help support candidates the take Americas future serious and have solutions not platitudes.

My Blood Pressure is going up part 1

I've ruminating on this post for several days because I really try to avoid charactor assination and high BP enducing rants, however I feel if a rant is how this gets said, than so be it.

I don't know where to start but I'm highly irritated with the Speaker of the House Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, so lets start there. This congressperson (godforbid I use a gender specific term and offend her) has MISARABLY FAILED the people she is swown to serve. Speaker Pelosi spends nearly all of her time blaming both President Bush and the Respublicans of both congress and senate (I didn't know Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needed help with that) for everything from global warming to the price of gas and everything inbetween (I would not be surpriced to see her blame them for a run in her hose). News Flash Speaker, you've had some of the lowest approval ratings of any speaker since they started recording such things and at one point only 11% percent of Americans approved of your Congressional leadership. In case you forgot, this is the same Speaker who actually listed changing the names of post offices as a priority for Congress. I could list the utterly questionable things she has done all day long, such as telling the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet Command to move all Navy vessels from the harbor area around San Franciso because of the "visual plight" they create, but don't want carpal tunnel that bad. Lets focus on things everyone knows about like closing congress when key issues had not been dealt with like GAS PRICES. She ordered the lights turned off, microphones turned off, and even C-Span cameras shut off. Why would she do this you might ask, when such important issues are still on the table? She did this because she knows that her completly indefenceable position on oil drilling and getting us away from foriegn oil would likely be the begining of the end for the Pelosi dynasty. Speaker Pelosi knows that if domestic oil exploration and drilling were to get an actual "Up or Down" vote in congress she could no longer hide behind smoke and mirrors. The Speaker has flat out told members of congress that this vote will never happen. She knows that if it does, there are enough Republicans and isle crossing Democrats to pass which then puts those against it on a formal roll call. The Speaker won't do this in such a contentious political season because she knows that Americans who are tired of paying $4.50 per gallon (yes even Prius drivers pay this) for gas will hold members of congress responsible who vote against this.

Since the Speaker shut the doors and turned off the lights she has been intervied several times and has refused to give an honest or straight forward answer to her actions. Oh, but wait, I'm wrong, she has answered this question: WE HAVE A PLANET TO SAVE which she repeats till she is red in the face. Some information on this can be seen here:

As the Speaker has stated and shown in reported interviews she cares more for her and her cronies political survival than she does for the people she is sworn to serve. She goes as far as to admit that Americans don't support her point or view and that it will make them vulnerable in elections.

It drives me nuts that people can't see what these democrats are doing our country and the embarassments we deal with through there leadership (lack there of). If your as ticked off as I am, go here and sign the petition at http://www.callcongressback.com/ to force Speaker Pelosi and the other Democrats back to Congress to do their Jobs.

Drill Here Drill Now Save Money!

Now thats a grill

This Speaks For Itself

Hail To The Queen

Kudos to Lynn Mithchell over at ***SWAC Girl*** for recently being listed at Blog Net News as the most influential conservative blogger in VA. At the time of this blog post, she was 3rd overall in VA, which is quite a feat in and of itself. This is quite an accomplishment when you consider the number of conservative bloggers in VA who frequently (some multiple times per day) post their comments and opinions on a number of important issues.

For those of you who know Lynn, you know that she is deeply passionate about the grassroots conservative movement, family issues, 2nd Amendment rights, and home schooling just to name a few. When Lynn starts on a passion / project she puts more time, interest, and quite frankly soul into it than most people ever will on any project in their lives. Lynn deeply believes in the candidates and causes she supports and the candidates all take her seriously and ALL want her support.

Well I guess this proves that the alternative media (including bloggers) have considerable influence and readership. This might upset certain newspaper editors (who will remain nameless for fear of a lawsuit.) One comment on the aforementioned editor: GROW UP!

The Republican Party and specifically the Shenandoah Valley area are very lucky to have Lynn in our midst.

Long Live The Queen

Priceless

Priceless was the only thing I could think of when this was sent to me from a friend.

"If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the policeman's credibility...
Q: "Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?"
A: "No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away."
Q: "Officer -- who provided this description?"
A: "The officer who responded to the scene."
Q: "A fellow officer provided the descri ption of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?"
A: "Yes, sir. With my life."
Q: "With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?"
A: "Yes sir, we do!"
Q: "And do you have a locker in the room?"
A: "Yes sir, I do."
Q: "And do you have a lock on your locker?"
A: "Yes sir."
Q: "Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?"
A: "You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room." The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called."

Don't you love honest Cops.

Funny Stuff

I simply couldn't resist passing this on to all of you. I laughed so hard, I nearly split a rib.

"A woman from Los Angeles, who was a tree hugger and an anti-hunter, purchased a piece of timberland, near Grants Pass, OR. There was a large tree on one of the highest points in the tract. She wanted a good view of the natural splendor of her land so she started to climb the big tree. As she neared the top she encountered a spotted owl that attacked her. In her haste to escape, the woman slid down the tree to the ground and got many splinters in her crotch. In considerable pain, she hurried to the nearest doctor. She told him she was an environmentalist and an anti-hunter and how she came to get all the splinters. The doctor listened to her story with great patience and then told her to go into the examining room and he would see if he could help her. She sat and waited three hours be fore the doctor reappeared. The angry woman demanded, 'What took you so long?' The doctor replied, 'Well, I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management before I could remove old-growth timber from a recreational area. I'm sorry, but they turned me down."

As Larry The Cable Guy often says "that's funny, I don't care who you are".