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Our Memorial Day tribute, courtesy of TimesDispatch.com: Here are some highlights from the annual, and touching, tribute at the state capitol Thursday honoring Virginia’s heroes — those who gave their full measure and made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our country during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The ceremony commemorates the 206 men and women on Virginia’s Wall of Honor, proudly displayed in the Office of the Attorney General, and which contains the pictures of each member of the military who have died in defense of freedom since the U.S.S. Cole attack in 2000. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli led the ceremony at which there were several speakers, including military officers; Governor Bob McDonnell, who started the tribute during his term as attorney general; Lt. Governor Bill Bolling; and Kim Felts, widow of Army Col. Thomas Felts, the 100th Virginian to die in the War on Terrorism. After her speech, a flyover and a gun salute by an Air Force honor guard, each of the 206 names were read aloud. We pray no more will be added this year.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

We can never thank them enough, that we may all live free and secure.

This weekend, if you are like me, you’ll spend time with friends and family, enjoying the holiday. I hope you will also take time to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day — a day of tribute to those who sacrificed their lives on the field of battle for our freedoms.

While we remember those Americans, we must also remember what it is they died for: A nation built on the idea that freedom comes from a Creator — God — not government, and when America fails to recognize God, it will be in peril. We have reached that day.

That is why I invite you to join us Tuesday, June 1, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. in Williamsburg, as we pray to Almighty God to restore our nation to its Christian principles and to heal our land. On June 1, 1774, the Virginia House of Burgesses called a Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer as the American colonists called out to the Lord to intervene when the British closed the harbor at Boston on that same day. We face a similar crisis now as forces across our nation attempt to close down the religious freedoms that we have been blessed with for more than 200 years.

What: A Call to Prayer

Where: Colonial Williamsburg

When: Tuesday, June 1, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

The Family Foundation is joining with an ad hoc group in Williamsburg called Virginians for Liberty to re-enact that important prayer event 236 years later to the day, crying out to God as a genuine expression of love for our country and longing for a return to the values, beliefs and principles on which it was founded.

We will assemble at the Colonial Capitol on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg promptly at 8:00 a.m. and walk to Bruton Parish Church where prayers will be offered along with some 18th century hymns. This will cover several blocks, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. We will finish promptly at 9:00 a.m. Bring a U.S. or Virginia flag and wave it as a symbol of your devotion to this cause.

Parking can be confusing around Colonial Williamsburg. There is a parking lot near Bassett Hall, on 522 Francis Street East, which is very convenient to the Old Capitol. For more information or questions please call Roger Pogge in our office at 804-343-0010. I look forward to seeing you there!

Annotations & Elucidations

Expanded Holiday Weekend Edition

We hope everyone has a long, relaxing and safe holiday weekend, while remembering to give appropriate pause and reflection to those, throughout the decades, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of America. To bide over you news junkies, some who may have an even longer weekend than others, we have an expanded edition of the News Stand (including links to audio and video) to bide you over the rest of the weekend. We hope you enjoy your holiday reading.

News

U.Va. challenges Cuccinelli demand for research (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Cuccinelli’s office says it will reply to U.Va. in court (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

U.Va. seeks to block Cuccinelli’s probe of climate researcher (Richmond Times-Dispatch) 

Dominion CEO will lead Va. panel on higher education (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Dominion chief heads McDonnell’s higher-ed panel (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

State education board allows Richmond charter school to open before traditional schools (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Halt in offshore drilling cuts funds for Virginia’s transportation projects (Washington Post)

Mixed response from Virginia as Obama cancels oil lease sale (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McDonnell says Va. oil lease sales shouldn’t be canceled (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Most state workers will be on furlough Friday (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. won’t seek Race to the Top education funds (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Virginia declines to compete for U.S. education grant funding (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McDonnell may seek roads czar (Roanoke Times)

McDonnell to put private road projects on the fast track (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Democrats continue to criticize McDonnell’s choice of Malek (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McDonnell says his vetting is fine, Malek’s past a ‘non-issue’ (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

McDonnell defends governmental reform appointee (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Staffer: Cuccinelli made no pledge to Navy Vets (Roanoke Times)

Virginia gun rights leader blasts Cuccinelli over GMU campus gun ban (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

GOP, Tea Party split on candidate endorsement (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Political novice Jeffrey Clark could turn Va. congressional race on its head (Washington Post)

Richmond lobbyist heads national GOP election effort (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

O’Brien expected to get out of state Senate race (Woodbridge/Manassas News & Messenger)

Video

Wall of Honor a tribute to Virginia’s war dead (3:16) (TimesDispatch.com)

Audio

Ask The Governor (38:59) (WRVA-AM/WRVA.com)

Ask The Governor (43:23) (WTOP-AM/WTOP.com)

National News

House approves repeal of law banning openly gay military service (Politico/Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Congress moves to end ban on gays in military (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Four Moral Issues Sharply Divide Americans (Gallup.com)

Decision to halt offshore drilling stirs debate (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Obama admin asks Supreme Court to stop AZ from enforcing illegal alien law (AP/GOPUSA.com)

WH had Clinton try to ease Sestak out of Pa. race (AP/GOPUSA.com)

New $23B for teacher subsidies falters in House (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Senate OKs war funding; House to cut spending bill (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Report: Two dozen terror leaders among detainees (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Analysis

Why Obama’s Sinking in the Polls(Dick Morris and Eileen McGann/GOPUSA.com)

CBS: the Toilet Network(Brent Bozell/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary

That Blood of Heroes Never Dies (Richard Olivastro/GOPUSA.com)

It Should Be Our Honor to Honor (Frank Salvato/GOPUSA.com)

Memorial Day 2010 (Oliver North/GOPUSA.com)

Just how much is someone’s ‘fair share?’ (Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)

The Politics of the Gulf Oil Spill (Michael Reagan/GOPUSA.com)

Obama To America: I Am Not Accountable (Christopher G. Adamo/GOPUSA.com)

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on June 16 will Webcast an update on the lawsuit he filed against the federal government’s health care law. It requires, for the first time in American history, that Americans purchase something in conflict with Virginia’s Health Care Freedom Act. Three days ago, the feds filed a routine motion to dismiss the suit.

The commonwealth will respond to this motion by June 7. The federal government then has until June 22 to reply to Virginia’s response. At that point, be prepared, as the case will likely accelerate. Toward that end, the attorney general promises to keep Virginians in the loop about the ongoing legal process. Thus, the Webcast . . .

. . . to discuss where we are on the case, what you can expect going forward and the constitutional issues involved. … I wanted to make sure you have a chance to participate in the health care discussion.

This Webcast is free and open to the public (and not produced at taxpayer expense), but viewers must register (click here). Following the update, there will be a question and answer period. In the meantime, click here to read a column Mr. Cuccinelli wrote about the lawsuit and other commentaries on constitutional issues his office is confronting.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: school choice is coming to Virginia. The questions that remain are “When?” and “How?” There is no “if.”

In fact, it’s not just The Family Foundation (and the public via polls) in support of school choice. It’s the mainstream media and Hollywood!

Last Sunday, CBS’ 60 Minutes aired a piece on the SEED school in Washington, D.C. SEED, an urban public boarding school similar to charter school initiatives, first opened its doors in 1998. It immediately gave inner city students a chance at educational success that they normally would never think to dream. In a community that normally graduates only 33 percent of its high school students, 97 percent of SEED graduates are accepted into college. Due to its overwhelming success, SEED began another school in Maryland and is working with Ohio and New Jersey to begin schools in those states.

 Sewing SEEDs of education and opportunity: 60 Minutes spotlights a success government-run schools couldn’t replicate with all the tax payer money in the world.

In fact, SEED has been so undeniably successfully, it has been heralded by the Obama administration as a “true success story.” Even another notoriously liberal institution — Hollywood, of all places — has noticed: The directors of Al Gore’s climate change conspiracy film, An Inconvenient Truth, have produced a documentary entitled Waiting for Superman (see Variety review) in which an underprivileged student hopes to win a drawing for a slot at SEED in order to get the opportunity for academic success — and a change in life. Waiting for Superman received the Audience Award for Best U.S. Documentary in this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will be released in theaters this fall. See the trailer below:

A Washington, D.C. student waits for Superman. Virginians still wait for even modest education choice.

As SEED clearly demonstrates, contrary to testimony and liberal senators’ reactions in the Senate Finance Committee this past General Assembly (if you haven’t yet, you must see this, click here), the benefits of school choice cross racial, socio-economic and political party lines. School choice is the obvious solution for many families. Why has Virginia waited so long to adopt this common sense approach?

This past session, Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-72, Henrico) introduced a bill (HB 599) that would have created a tax credit for businesses and individuals that donate to scholarship funds for children attending K-12. Carefully designed to be fiscally neutral to the Virginia and fiscally positive to localities, this bill would have created a way out of failing schools for low-income families. In partnership with Delegate Massie, The Family Foundation will work this summer to build an even broader coalition of support for school choice initiatives and will once again push for educational freedom next session.

The 60 Minutes segment and Waiting For Superman prove an undeniable truth about human nature: The young naturally are curious and want to learn. Unfortunately, there’s a counterbalancing truth as well: Government wants to control and, to that end, provides obstacles to freedom — and its people suffer.

Do you see things happening in our culture, government and even in the Christian community that concern you? Do you want to make a difference, but don’t know where to begin? You can start by volunteering at The Family Foundation this summer.

Since 1985, The Family Foundation has been at the forefront of critical public policy debates, helping Virginia citizens, lawmakers and business leaders better understand and apply to law the principles of life, marriage, parental authority, constitutional government and religious liberty. We are currently holding several Truth Project training sessions across Virginia to affect the hearts and minds in our culture and in the Christian community.

Non-profit and non-partisan, The Family Foundation of Virginia is the commonwealth’s oldest and most influential family public policy organization. Our mission is to strengthen the family through accurate research and education, prompting civic activism and affecting public policy outcomes. The Family Foundation is proud to be associated with Focus on the Family and its network of nearly40 independent state policy councils.

Any college, high school or home schooled student looking to fulfill community service requirements for graduation or who would enjoy assisting us in our mission on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis — we can use your help this summer (and beyond)! In fact, entire families, including  middle school students, provide great help to us regularly. If you are interested in public policy and the issues of the day that directly affect our culture, lives and values, then you will enjoy and be fulfilled by contributing your time to our shared cause.  

The Family Foundation headquarters is located across from the State Capitol in downtown Richmond. Parking is located only a few blocks from our office building and we can assist you with your parking fees in specific garages.

Responsibilities and duties include:

» Data Entry (basic computer skills, in office or at home);

» Mailings (production and processing);

» Database Management (basic computer skills); and

» Constituent Interaction.

If you are interested in volunteering your valued talent in order to advance the cause of traditional values in the Commonwealth, then please take a moment to e-mail Marie Edwards at marie@familyfoundation.org or call her at (804) 343-0010. Thanks!

Annotations & Elucidations

You Want Bipartisanship?

The president visited the Senate Republicans yesterday asking for bipartisanship, then promptly went to a partisan fundraiser to mock them. Classy. Not only that, he’s disingenuous, as ever. There is bipartisanship in Washington — and it’s all against his policies as evidenced by the large numbers of Democrats who voted against the health care bill and cap and trade. Now, Democrats are joining Republican calls for the White House to be more forthcoming on a brewing scandal — did the president offer a candidate a job to drop out of a primary? The candidate, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) says yes. By the way, if it happened, it wouldn’t be your normal political patronage. It’s against the law.

Elsewhere, we’re sorry to hear the Jay and Stephanie Burkholder have given up their lawsuit against the city of Roanoke for stealing their land and giving it to a private company. It’s been a long fight and the legal expenses are mounting. The Burkholders pledge to work for, as are we, a state constitutional amendment beginning the next session of the General Assembly to prevent such government abuse and protect property rights. We’ll have more comment about this later this week.

More notes of interest in this News Stand: The GOP wants your ideas. It has started a Web site to take the ideas from every day Americans. U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia’s 6th District explains in Human Events. Lawrence Meyers of Big Hollywood explains how we fuel Hollywood trash while Mark J. Fitzgibbons, usually of the Washington Examiner, goes national in the American Thinker, putting the lie on the G-Men’s reply to Virginia’s lawsuit against the health care law; and Ronald Kessler of News Max says it all when he writes that conservatives are the mainstream — and that’s not partisan. All of the above is below. Check it out. 

News

Burkholders give up fight for Reserve Ave. property (Roanoke Times)

Government challenges state’s health care stance (Roanoke Times)

Fifth District candidates face off (Lynchburg News & Advance)

Allen says ‘poor judgment’ led to ‘macaca moment’ (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McDonnell says he didn’t know of Fred Malek’s Nixon work, SEC settlement (Washington Post)

National News

House GOP unveils Web site to build agenda (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Republicans, Dems press White House on job offer to Sestak (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Obama gets an earful in clash with GOP senators (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Obama offers scaled down version of Bush plan to put troops on the border (AP/GOPUSA.com)

GOP hopes candidate will flip Wash. Senate seat (AP/GOPUSA.com) 

Analysis

Does Hollywood Ideology Affect Hollywood Revenue? (Lawrence Meyers/Big Hollywood-Breitbart.com)

Commentary

ObamaCare Lawsuit Reveals National Grab to Regulate Individual ‘Decisions’ (Mark J. Fitzgibbons/American Thinker Blog)

Conservatives Are the Mainstream (Ronald Kessler/NewsMax.com)

America — It’s Time to Speak Out (U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va./Human Events)

Obama’s Border Security Plan: More Desk Jobs! (Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)

Look Who’s Behind the White House — Sestak Stonewall (Michelle Malkin/GOPUSA.com)

Preposterous Bill Press (Brent Bozell/GOPUSA.com)

West of the Potomac, GOP Hopes Rise (Tony Blankley/GOPUSA.com)

Republicans take it to the president (Fresh Ink Blog GOPUSA.com) 

Gov’t employees used crystal meth & downloaded porn. … (Kay Daly/Fresh Ink Blog GOPUSA.com)

Vice President Joe Biden is proud to be a European . . . or something like that. Apparently, the capital of the free world in the Veep’s mind isn’t Washington, D.C. It’s Brussels, Belgium, headquarters of the European Parliament. Exhibit 987 on the Obama administration’s appalling admiration of the European social welfare state over the Shining City On The Hill. Shameful!

Vice President Joe Biden: Among the freedom fighters in Brussels.

Annotations & Elucidations

What’s All The Fuss?

The Virginia media can’t get over its preoccupation with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Now the big news is that he and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling are meeting regularly. The AG and Governor Bob McDonnell already are. So, what’s the fuss about? There must be a conspiracy, a cabal or more involved. Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro wrote not his first, nor his last, column on the perceived ever changing dynamics within Virginia GOP because of Mr. Cuccinelli: State Republicans can’t live with him and they can’t live without him seems to be the prevailing wisdom. Meanwhile, the AG continues to make news, last night doing a live interview on Fox News Channel’s On The Record with Greta Van Susteran, not because of what he did, but because the feds finally replied to the health care lawsuit he filed. Not surprisingly, the Obama administration is asking for a dismissal. Hey, Mr. Prez: same question to you: What’s the fuss?

News

U.S. seeks dismissal of Va. health-care challenge (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Feds seek dismissal of Va. health care suit (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Bolling, Cuccinelli keep each other informed (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Tea Partiers cry foul on local rally (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

McDonnell says he did not know about Malek’s past (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Fimian poll shows him leading Herrity in NoVa primary race (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Rigell’s survey says he’s the clear frontrunner in GOP race to face Rep. Nye (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

McDonnell meets with legislative black caucus (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Has McDonnell’s national rehabilitation begun? (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Del. Rust another victim of California thieves (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

House joins upcoming state furlough day, to tune of $35,000 savings (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

In George Allen’s book, sports is allegory for politics (Bob Lewis/AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Analysis

Go west! Dems did, now fight to retain their gains (Kristen Wyatt/AP/GOPUSA.com)

A Senate Majority Comes Closer (Dick Morris and Eileen McGann/GOPUSA.com)

Cuccinelli forces GOP to adjust (Jeff Schapiro/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Left is right, Right is wrong: Street theatre and protesters in Perriello’s parking lot (Schilling Show Blog and News)

Daily Perriello: “Lefty” McNeill misreports liberal protest at Congressman’s office (Schilling Show Blog and News)

They’re All Obama Liberals Now (David Limbaugh/GOPUSA.com)

Financial Regulation Bill is Socialism (Dick Morris and Eileen McGann/GOPUSA.com)

A Plan to Save Europe and World Economic Recovery (Lawrence Kudlow/GOPUSA.com)

Internet Freedom Challenged by Obama FCC (Floyd and Mary Beth Brown/GOPUSA.com)

Who’s coming to your door from the census bureau? (Fresh Ink Blog GOPUSA.com)

Obama approval rating drops (Fresh Ink Blog GOPUSA.com)

Annotations & Elucidations

Aloha!

Over the weekend, in a special election in a district that has not voted for a Republican in 20 years, in a state that has only sent three people to Washington, D.C., (and one of those was when it first became a state), that went for Barack Obama with 70 percent of the vote, and the district in which he was born and raised, a Republican won with 40 percent of the vote in a 12-candidate field. Two big name Democrats split the vote, to be sure, but one says enough of his supporters will vote GOP in November because the party is too far to the left — even by Hawaii’s standards! What does that tell you? Coincidentally, if you haven’t, check out this post from last week, where a reader from Hawaii left a couple of comments about the situation there. Aloha!

News

Bob McDonnell in Va.: From Conservative to Pragmatist (Time)

Prayer at state police service mentions Jesus, other faiths (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Chaplain invokes Christ at ceremony for fallen troopers (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Hundreds of area faithful celebrate power of prayer (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Va. attorney general off to rocky start with state colleges (Washington Post)

Too many candidates may spoil tea-party impact (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Governor’s Cabinet earns less than local deputies (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. state Sen. Hurt bolsters position in GOP race to oust Rep. Perriello (Washington Post)

Griffith nominated in 9th District to run against Boucher (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Griffith picked to run in 9th (Roanoke Times)

He’s now a she and wants to serve the VFW as a woman (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

National News

Obama seeks to force votes on spending cuts (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Blumenthal apologizes for claims that he served in Vietnam (AP/GOPUSA.com)

New Hawaii congressman hopes for quick swearing-in (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Obama says US must shape new world order (AP/GOPUSA.com)

New financial rules might not prevent next crisis (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Analysis

The Gathering Revolt Against Government Spending (Michael Barone/GOPUSA.com)

Obama’s big wins on bills may not help Democrats (Tom Raum/AP/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary

Global Governance is Here! (Henry Lamb/GOPUSA.com)

More Beautiful Intolerance (Doug Patton/GOPUSA.com)

Rand Paul’s Libertarian Achilles’ Heel (Cliff Kincaid/GOPUSA.com)

Blacks Must Solve Their Own Problems (Star Parker/GOPUSA.com)

Hey, San Fran! How about boycotting California first! (Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)