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Our old friend Barry Lynn at Americans United for Separation of Truth from Reality Church and State has sent yet another letter to the IRS, this time asking for an investigation of Liberty University and, in doing so, takes a shot at none other than The Family Foundation. One thing is for sure, with Mr. Lynn in business, the U.S. Postal Service has no worries — letters will keep flying!

In his diatribe letter, Mr. Lynn states that The Family Foundation’s voter guide from the House of Delegates 23rd District race between former Delegate Shannon Valentine and current Delegate Scott Garrett, M.D., “was crafted to promote the candidacy of Garrett.”

Interesting. Let me see if I understand Mr. Lynn. Under his analysis, by pointing out that, as a delegate, Ms. Valentine voted in favor of funding Planned Parenthood and low income abortion, and in favor of censoring state police chaplains, somehow we stacked the deck against her. Of course, that must mean that Ms. Valentine’s position on those particular issues were not in line with the voters.

I always find it humorous when someone makes the claim that a voter guide “promotes” any candidate over another. After all, if a citizen of the 23rd House district who believes that taxpayers should fund Planned Parenthood and low income abortions, and that state police chaplains should be censored, got a copy of our voter guide, would it not have “promoted” Ms. Valentine?

Mr. Lynn apparently still lives under the delusion that his intimidation tactics are effective. I just want to let them know — they aren’t.

But keep sending those letters Barry! You might just get the U.S. Post Office out of the red.

Clever little video from our friends at The Family Research Council. With apologies to Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and a host of others.

Let’em spend, let’em spend, let’em spend!

Rumors have been swirling since Election night that Governor-elect Bob McDonnell was seeking to entice a Senate Democrat to take an appointment in his administration, opening an opportunity for a Republican perhaps winning the resulting open Senate seat, thus ending Democrat control of the Senate, making that chamber 20-20. That would lead to power sharing, new committee make up and an entirely new political dynamic in Richmond.

Of course, adding to the intrigue are two state Senate special elections that will not take place until January 12 — the 37th district seat that Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli will vacate and the 8th district, where newly elected Virginia Beach sheriff Ken Stolle will leave his seat.

At his press conference today announcing several new cabinet secretaries, the Governor-elect stated that he would complete his appointment of cabinet secretaries the first week of January. If that’s the case, then the appointments will be done prior to the January 12 special elections.

It would be very risky for the Governor to appoint a Democrat to his cabinet hoping to win the seat, and then potentially losing either the 8th or the 37th, leaving McDonnell and the Republicans right where they started. Risky, but not impossible of course.

So, does the one line Governor-elect McDonnell dropped today end the possibility of a change in the Senate? Or are there other administration opportunities that could be available? Just one of the more intriguing questions revolving around the new administration.

Stay tuned.

In his thumping of Creigh Deeds Tuesday night, Bob McDonnell nearly garnered as many votes as . . .

Marriage.

Yup, that’s right. McDonnell’s 1,160,365 votes (as of this posting) fell just 168,172 short of the 2006 marriage amendment. That proposal received 1,328,537 supporters. Talk about a “bipartisan,” “center,” “mainstream” vote, marriage is the model. 

We also found some interesting tidbits from Tuesday’s exit polling (yes, I know, exit polling . . . but it makes for good fodder).

According to exit polling from CNN, 34 percent of those voting identified themselves as “Evangelical/Born Again” and, of that block, a whopping 83 percent cast their vote for Mr. McDonnell. Now, if you run the numbers that equates to nearly half of all voters that cast their ballot for McDonnell were of the “Evangelical/Born Again” group. (To our liberal friends, breath, breath . . . there you go, breath. It’ll be ok. Breath . . . .)

So, as all the pundits, experts, campaign consultants, etc. inform us that the campaign Mr. McDonnell ran is the “model” for future GOP candidates, lets all remember that the “model” only works if “the base” is motivated. Otherwise, well, see John McCain. And Jerry Kilgore. And . . . well, you get the idea.

In case you don’t have a phone and haven’t received dozens of GOTV calls to remind you, today is Election Day in Virginia! So, here’s your opportunity to share your voting stories, predictions, analysis, thoughts, whatever is on your mind concerning today’s vote. Post your comment now!

In the category of original thought, here’s Virginia’s very own Congressman Jim Moran:

I mean, if the Republicans were running in Afghanistan, they’d be running on the Taliban ticket as far as I can see.

The desperation grows. Norm over at Tertium Quids has some fun analysis here.

In its vitriolic attack on Republican candidate for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Washington Post argues the following:

…since he would be empowered to issue opinions on such questions, how would he regard such firings generally in state government, in which a 110,000-strong workforce undoubtedly includes thousands of homosexuals?

It’s the “includes thousands of homosexuals” line that is revealing. Never mind the likely exaggeration; if true, what is the need for anti-discrimination laws advocated for so passionately by the Post, homosexual lobbying groups and several candidates for office?  Seriously, when discussing anti-discrimination proposals, proponents would have us believe its impossible for a homosexual to find a job in state government. Apparently, however, there are thousands. Another crisis averted!

Oh well, I guess the intellectual inconsistency of the statist left should come as no surprise. It is, after all, the only way one can be on the left.

Annotations & Elucidations 

The Substitute

Filling in for Admin today, so the comments will be brief! In today’s news we have the White House beginning their tactical distancing from Creigh Deeds, that way the stories following November 3 are sure to say “Virginia Elections No Reflection on Obama.” But the most fun news comes from yesterday’s debate between candidates for Attorney General. Now, if Creigh Deeds is the Democrat candidate in this race that’s baffled by simple questions, and Jody Wagner is the most clueless, then clearly Steven Shannon is the angriest candidate on the ticket. I mean, seriously, I know the job of AG is important, but Steve, smile once in a while. Everyone knows that you are running for the job of the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor, even though the AG isn’t the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor, but lighten up. Yesterday Steve decided that Creigh couldn’t be the only one to run a nasty campaign, so he played the race card. I guess the only question remaining: Is anyone listening anymore?

News:

We learned today that the Chesapeake City Council caved to the bullying tactics of the ACLU and the so-called “Freedom From Religion Foundation” and changed their prayer policy to censor “sectarian” prayers, or prayers in Jesus name.

This is yet another disappointing case of overreacting to the threats of anti-religious bigots by an elected body that simply does not understand the law. According to the most recent federal appellate court that has reviewed all the case law in this area, neither the Supreme Court or any appellate court has mandated “non-sectarian” prayer at public meetings. It is another success case for the ACLU’s strategy of misleading the public on what the courts actually say.

Religious liberty loses again.

Here is a new television ad running in parts of Virginia, done by the Virginia Values Voter PAC:

The two sides of Creigh Deeds.