Snapped Shot - Ye Olde Dominion

We've Built A World Blind to Race and Color

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:15:48 -0600

... except for Senate seats, apparently:

Betcha didn't know that the elected office of Senator of the United States of America was a color coded position? Apparently, Laura Washington of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks it is, anyway, because she is warning that Obama's "black Senate seat" will be lost because of this mess with Governor Rod Blagojevich getting arrested for trying to sell that "black seat" to the highest bidder.

In hers headlined "Black leaders see Senate seat being hijacked," Washington is ostensibly reporting on what black community leaders and politicos in Chicago are saying about who should be appointed to fill Obama's vacant seat. Still, Washington injected quite a lot of her own feelings into the tale of this gnashing of teeth and rending of cloth over the fate of that same seat to the effect that she endorses the idea that Obama's position in the Senate is officially a "black seat" and should stay that way.

One suspects that the Time-to-Denunciation (my ever-trusty measure of "TTD") I would experience upon declaring that Virginia has two "white Senate seats" approaches zero seconds.

But apparently, for a black woman to suggest that a Senate seate is reserved for race is not a racist statement in the least.

Good to know.

You can read the original screed here, if you have the stomach for it.

Gerry Connolly's Largesse County

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:23:39 -0600

One day, our government will rediscover the important lesson that money does not grow on trees:

Fairfax County’s looming budget shortfall has swollen to as much as $648 million, budget staffers said Monday, the starkest outlook so far for county revenues battered by a deepening recession and housing crash.

The fiscal 2010 budget gap, which spans the county government and its school system, is more than $200 million larger than what officials projected six months ago. It also dwarfs the proposed spending cuts agencies have laid out in recent months.

Of course, considering that the voters here in Fairfax County—the population of which tends to be transients moving here from New York and California for a short stay before moving on to Florida's sunnier counties—never fail to vote for spending increases during each and every election we have, is it any wonder that we've gotten our financial affairs into such dire straits?

I'd say it's high time we delete the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and start over, but it would seem that we've already missed the chance.

Ah, the joy of living under Democratic Party dictatorships.

Spending Money You Do Not Have 101

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:38:00 -0600

You know, with Fairfax County projecting a $58-fricking-million-dollar budget shortfall next year, one would have thought that the mere mention of tossing grand sums of County money at a sports franchise would've been summarily laughed off of the agenda, and the person making such a suggestion helpfully escorted to the nearest asylum.

Fortunately for us, such commonsense actions would seem to escape Fairfax County entirely.

What better way to tell your grandchildren you love them than to vote them into fiscal slavery, right?

By a narrow vote Dec. 2, Loudoun's supervisors rejected a proposal to form a marketing partnership with the Redskins for a fee of $250,000. The money also would have gone toward plans for a Redskins hall of fame to be built in Loudoun.

Now, Fairfax is looking to pick up the ball and run with it.

During a board meeting Dec. 8, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors approved a proposal to look at using tourism dollars to attract the Redskins.

“Any kind of partnership with the Redskins would be advantageous to a jurisdiction like Fairfax County for the economic development and tourism tax dollars it could bring in,” Supervisor Patrick Herrity (R-Springfield) said in a written statement.

Continue reading "Spending Money You <i>Do Not Have</i> 101"

Springtime in Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County!

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:45:29 -0600

I can't believe I'm finally going to see the day:

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-at large) officially submitted his resignation from the board Dec. 8 to begin his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives' 11th District.

Connolly's official last day as chairman will be Jan. 2, 2009, and his official first day as a congressman is Jan. 3. He said he picked Jan. 2 in part because he wants to be furloughed along with the rest of county staff and other board members.

I'd like to think that we Fairfaxians like to live by the age-old American maxim that it's better to send our crooks to Congress than it is to keep them around locally. I'd be wrong, of course, but it wouldn't be the first time.

High Class and Culture in Rockville, MD

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:59:34 -0600

What, you mean stabbing postal workers in broad daylight is déclassé around these parts?

A postal worker was in critical but stable condition today after being stabbed while delivering mail in Rockville, police said. Investigators do not have a motive for the attack.

....

Her wallet was not taken, police said, and U.S. Postal Service inspectors were trying to determine whether mail was taken from her postal truck. Police are looking for a Hispanic male who was seen in the area at the time of the stabbing. He was wearing a black shirt and may have gotten into a green vehicle.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call 240-314-8938.

Why the Episcopal Church is Collapsing

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:02:00 -0600

Let the following be an object lesson to churchgoers everywhere—A church which does not base its Sunday teachings on God and Scripture is nothing more than a social club, sans the booze:

Recently, Episcopal Church Bishop John Chane of Washington, D.C., delivered a jeremiad against Israel at the largest Episcopal congregation in the nation’s capital (excluding the National Cathedral). The nearly 2,000 word “sermon” almost never cited God, except for a reference to the Trinity in the first line. Otherwise, it read almost like the editorial of a left-wing, secular European newspaper.

Considering how many other social clubs there are out there, is it really any wonder that your parishioners would rather spend their time elsewhere on Sunday?

Splitting Heirs

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:26:11 -0600

Were we dastardly conservatives really responsible for splitting the Episcopal Church?

Merv ponders the question, and answers it in a most excellent way.

Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County Annandale

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:39:36 -0600

Illegal missile dealing? In my Fairfax County?

That's impossible:

Two Annandale men have been arrested in an FBI sting that uncovered visa fraud, gun smuggling and references to Lebanon, Yasir Arafat and bombing the Pentagon with a missile.

According to a recently unsealed U.S. District Court affidavit, an FBI informant met with Annandale resident Amjad Hamed, a Jordanian native, in April 2006.

Hamed provided the informant with six valid Palestinian passports and asked him to obtain U.S. visas for them.

According to the affidavit, Hamed revealed that he was part of an international visa fraud scheme. "I challenge anyone in the world who can bring so many passports without being inspected," he is quoted as saying.

(Nevermind about that last part—This has been a sting in progress since April 2006. Glad to see the good guys get one, even if it did take two years to get awesome amounts of Ye Olde Evidence!)

Update: At present, Fox is discussing Natalee Holloway. As tragic as it may be, is that case really more newsworthy than potential terrorism, right here on American soil?

Tabloid journalism at its finest.

Update 2: Soccer Dad reports that the D.C. Examiner reported on this story way back on the 12th. I repeat: Where the heck is the rest of the media on this story?

Update 3: Fox News is now covering a small Cessna that's been circling Van Nuys Airport for the past half hour, and will most likely land safely within the next 10 minutes or so. Now that's the kind of lasting news that will impact people for generations to come.

See-Also:

The Jawa Report, Atlas Shrugs, Jihad Watch

On a Positive Note

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:39:04 -0600

My new neighborhood here in deep liberal Fairfax County, Virginia went 60%+ for McCain.

I will sleep well tonight in the knowledge that I live amongst sane people. With lots of guns.

Semper Fi, y'all!

Let the Games Begin!

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:04:58 -0600

My humble prediction, which is almost never accurate: McCain wins for President. Warner wins for Senate. Connolly the crony wins for House.

Be sure to make your own map over yonder.

Peace And Tolerance in Gainesville, "Real" Virginia

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:19:00 -0500

Just another peaceful day in the "real" Virginia... that's almost exclusively populated by "peaceful" and "tolerant" Democrats:

Real Virginians don't do this.

(h/t Mosquewatch)

Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:55:29 -0500

Can I resist two Gerry Connolly-bashing stories in a row?

I can not. Bashing Gerry Connolly is what I do.

The latest news flash is that here in Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County, officials are preemptively rejecting absentee votes cast by active duty U.S. Military servicemen and women.

This is the same Fairfax County that's encouraging shiftless young college students to vote illegally, of course.

Gee, I wonder where the difference in the interpretation of election law comes from?

Gerry Connolly's Great Smackdown!

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:34:52 -0500

Keith Fimian and his ad people are absolutely frickin' brilliant:

For full disclosure, Gerry Connolly's company just happens to be the same company I work for. Also for the record, they have yet to "reward" me for "accidentally" relocating billion-dollar public works projects to right outside their doorstep.

I Like This Guy

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:32:00 -0500

... and I must say, his car is full of awesome—Though I do think the lanterns on the side just might be just a touch over the top.

Behold, the Awesome!

What Liberal Media?

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:38:53 -0500

An Instylanche? Awesome!! I bet none of you have heard the press report on this assassination plot, foiled in nearby Fairfax, Virginia. We always have plenty more around here to read, so please feel free to browse around and check out the fun stuff we have over this way!

Click for maximum regurgitation.

Compare and contrast: The official Barack Obama campaign talking points for this evening's debate,

versus:

An article written by the "non-partisan" and "unbiased" The New York Times.

See title above, rinse, repeat.

(h/t Prairie Pundit, Sweetness & Light)
Continue reading "<i>What</i> Liberal Media?"

Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County Town of Vienna

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:42:00 -0500

Just stabbing the "innocent restaurant patrons" that Americans won't stab:

A man was stabbed in the hand at a Vienna restaurant on Oct. 11.

Police were called to El Punto Restaurant on Cedar Lane in Vienna on Saturday night. There, officers encountered a male victim with wounds on his wrist and hand. He was taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Alexis Lopez-Canacas, 26, has been charged with malicious wounding.

Of course, by "innocent restaurant patrons," I mean "gang-banging scum." Not that the distinction matters in this case.

And far be it from me to point out to Gerry Connolly that inviting illegal aliens, amongst whom some of the worst gang-bangers in the County hide, is not a good way to increase law-abiding business in the County.

Of course, if Gerry plans on doing in Congress what he's done so well in the County Board of Supervisors—namely, pander in the worst way to his friendly "undocumented Americans"—we can surely plan on having even more delightfully tolerant incidents like this!

On a related note, people in Springfield are positively atwitter at the City's latest plans to salvage... er, make that "revitalize" Springfield Mall, which is often a topic of discussion around these parts.
Continue reading "Gerry Connolly's <strike>Fairfax County</strike> Town of Vienna"

FCPS: Not News To Me

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:20:00 -0500

What, books with a "Christian viewpoint" aren't welcome in Fairfax County Public School libraries?

The shock!

On the contrary, I'm willing to bet dollars. to. donuts. that such "values-neutral," completely viewpoint-free books as King & King and Daddy's Roommate are featured prominently on FCPS library shelves, and have even been used in our classrooms to ~~indoctrinate our children into the Stalinist mindset that is expected of them~~ oops, I mean "educate them about the core value of tolerance.*"

How dare we scary Christians even try to interfere with the State Religion of Sodomy! After all, we pay our fair share of tax money into the school system. Why can't we get the message and just shut up for once?

The nerve, I tell ya.

What's next? Threatening the sanctity of the Sacrament of Environmental Absurdism?

(*Tolerance towards Christians excluded.)

Obama's 2005 Solution to the Mortgage Crisis?

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:02:00 -0500

He voted present.

On the bill that would've helped resolve some of the regulatory problems with Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

Talk about change you can believe in!

See-Also:

Lorie Byrd, The American Pundit

On Regrets

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:15:16 -0500

Why is it that Democrats only ever "regret" comments they've made if the comments in question threaten their electability?

Warner has made no mention of his prior positions before, but now that his "commentary" on we ignorant Virginians is making the rounds, he suddenly finds it necessary to apologize.

At least by saying you didn't stand by his past remarks, we know that we'll need to "selectively" listen to his future ones.

Life in Liberal-Infested Territories

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:35:19 -0500

It's this blissful.

Earlier today, when I was stopped at a stop sign going through Gerry Connolly's diverse and tolerant Vienna, Virginia today, another driver flew right up next to me in his silver Acura.

He then proceeded to lean out the window, shake his fists at me, and yell in my general direction pretty loudly.

Of course, seeing how I drive a nice and cozy Saturn Aura, and my windows were up, I didn't hear a word of what he said. Which means Saturn has worked wonders in sound-proofing the car, no?

I'm guessing that he must be a fellow fan or something. It's a mystery to me.

Anyway, while I'm on the topic, and before I go and pass out, the Mrs. has pointed me to a group of Russians celebrating American politics, as only Russians can.

With poetry, yo!

To wit, a poem which will evoke the very essence of America's own Walt Whitman:

И как бы демы не пытались (No matter how hard the "Dems" try)
Надеть стране тюрбан чумазый, (to make the country [America] wear a grimy turban)
Мы победим, не зря ж старались - (We [Republicans] will win, we didn't do it for nothing)
Утопим сучек в нефти с газом ("Da b*tches" will drown in oil and gas)

More neo-classic Russian poetry beyond the fold.
Continue reading "Life in Liberal-Infested Territories"

Life in Gerry Connolly's Fairfax County

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:40:46 -0500

Means asking the kinds of questions that we all want to know. The kinds of questions that should never really need to be asked in a "civilized" nation.

Sadly, at least as far as Fairfax County goes, I think I already know what the answer is going to be.