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Annotations & Elucidations

The Gov, POTUS, And Town Hall’s Meet UFL

Today’s news is dominated by Governor Tim Kaine’s announcement that more cuts are going to be made to Virginia’s projected fiscal year spending because the projections — ahem, Jody Wagner! (you have to hear to believe it and you can hear it below) — continue to fall so very, very short of expectations. It’s also dominated by President Obama’s visit to McLean last night on behalf of Democrat Creigh Deeds’ gubernatorial campaign. The POTUS had some interesting things to say, which we’ll look at next week.

Finally, it looks like the constitutional right to petition the government is getting the once over via union intimidation, as we see in an article about a meeting in Florida, one of many circumstances that have transformed these traditional give-and-take town hall meetings into union versions of the Ultimate Fighting League. Have a good weekend, and we hope you survive your local town hall get together with your elected officials. 

News:

Lawmakers: Hard cuts to balance Va. Budget (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kaine: Shortfall may prompt more cuts (Roanoke Times)

Obama stumps for Deeds at Northern Virginia rally (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Obama calls on supporters to aid Deeds (The Daily Press)

Obama throws political muscle to Deeds (Roanoke Times)

Obama stumps Va. for Deeds (Washington Times)

President Tells His Backers To Get ‘Fired Up’ for Deeds (Washington Post) 

Delegation of Hampton Roads lawmakers split on don’t ask, don’t tell (The Daily Press)

Audio:

Blame Jody Wagner? (8:35) (Richmond’s Morning News With Jimmy Barrett/WRVA.com)

National News:

Chaos Erupts at Town Hall Meeting (AOL.com News/CNN)

With Mainstream Media contrived ”controversy” over the hard questions about the proposed socialized medicine plan by passionate and well informed constituents to their Congressmen at summer recess town hall meetings around the country, it is interesting to see Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds taking the opposite route — dodging softball questions from a friendly crowd at one of his own campaign events this week in Tazewell.

Camera shy? Creigh Deeds changes his mind about accepting questions from his own supporters when he spots a Republican campaign camera. What’s he got to hide, except where he stands on the issues? 

If you haven’t heard it by now, and you want a good laugh, listen to Democrat lieutenant governor candidate Jody Wagner’s interview this morning with WRVA’s Richmond’s Morning News host Jimmy Barrett (click here).

Barrett gets right to the point and asks the former Kaine administration finance secretary about her missed revenue projections, which have resulted in consecutive budget deficits and multiple budget cuts. I’ll give her some credit for her answer — she’s at least learned something from the Obama administration, and that’s the one thing it’s good at: blame, blame and pass the buck, with a litany of boilerplate liberal excuses:

» It was the Bush administration’s fault (at least twice);

» At least Virginia isn’t as bad off as some other states (that’ll make people feel secure);

» Passed the buck to economic forecasting agencies, business leaders and groups, and General Assembly leaders (how about that, Dick Saslaw?);

» But the 6.6 percent revenue growth projection in a slowing economy never gave her pause, even as many in the General Assembly warned the Kaine administration it was too high (she emphatically was “not overly optimistic”); and 

» Repeatedly said, “Let’s be clear,” (to the point where Barrett mockingly repeated it himself).

Not to mention her defensiveness when Barrett tried to loft her a softball about her campaign — she thought he was trying to blame her for the recession, for which she blamed George W. Bush (again).

All these excuses inevitably led to contradictions. Follow this bit of illogic: If it’s the federal government’s fault when things are bad, she must then credit it when things are good; if so, we have no reason for state government. So why is she running? She also got defensive when Barrett mentioned the recession came into focus a year ago, and rudely interrupted him to say she wasn’t in office then, as well as when he simply asked how forecasts might be improved in the future.

But we still haven’t heard the classics from her! Here goes:

On the grossly inaccurate revenue forecasts: 

“If I’m powerful enough to be personally responsible for that, then you want me to be your lieutenant governor.”

Then, the absolute best for last: On the Public Policy Poll (a liberal pollster) that shows all three Democrats behind by double digits:

“The Democratic candidates have not yet begun communicating with the public yet and we will be doing that as the campaign moves along.” 

So, that entire primary thing back in June was a what? Those television ads she ran . . . ? Those campaign appearances and interviews . . . ?

There you have it. It has nothing to do with her previous job performance, but that she and her ticket mates haven’t yet communicated with the public. Don’t worry, though. They plan on it. But with interviews like this, Ms. Wagner may want to delay that communication as long as possible.

Governor Huckabee, the host of the number one rated weekend hit Huckabee on the Fox News Channel, is known for his strong stand in defense of the unborn and traditional marriage. A former Baptist minister that ran for and won elected office, he is the embodiment of everything the far left in our nation hates — a combination of church and state! 

I can’t tell you how excited we are that Governor Huckabee will be joining us for the annual Richmond Gala, Monday, October 26. The dinner will be at 7:00 p.m. and a private sponsors reception and photo line beginning at 5:30 p.m.

We’ve moved the Gala up from previous years to accommodate Governor Huckabee’s schedule, and we hope you will be able to come to Richmond to join us for what promises to be an incredibly motivating evening just a week before this year’s crucial elections.

Details for the evening are being finalized, but invitations will be in the mail soon!

The invitation will include details of the sponsorship benefits including the private reception, photo line, and autographed book by Governor Huckabee. A discounted hotel group rate is also being negotiated for people desiring to spend the night in Richmond. 

So please mark your calendar today and plan to be in Richmond the evening of Monday, October 26, to hear Governor Mike Huckabee at The Family Foundation’s Richmond Gala!