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Annotations & Elucidations

Hope For Hollywood?

Almost all the news today is national in scope, and much of that is about culture. It appears now that the same-sex marriage drive in the Northeast has stalled. Starting with Maine’s decisive ballot victory November 3 (another conservative victory that historic night almost unnoticed by the media), now the legislatures in New York and New Jersey have ground to a crawl their moves to put the issue to a vote. In the nation’s capital, however, the city council there most certainly will approve a same-sex marriage measure. But a reluctant hero is emerging in Catholic Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, who is telling the D.C. government that if you force this immorality on my faith, you can forget about Catholic Charities’ help. The liberal hysteria is amazing.

In another battle in the culture war, Virginian Lisa Miller has been ordered, incredibly, by a Vermont judge, to cede full custody of her daughter to her former lesbian lover. Meanwhile, Pastor Rick Warren asks liberals if they think abortion is so bad it should be “rare,” why not ban it?

In other news, the global warming hoax scandal is shedding still more light on the motives and evil mentality of its perpetrators (celebrating a man’s death, for example) and we see a school without God. Yesterday, we posted a link to an article about Angelina Jolie calling President Obama a “socialist.” Today, we find one about Sandra Bullock’s “blessing to meet a Christian,” (the woman she portrays in her hit movie Blind Side). Who knows? Maybe there’s hope for Hollywood yet. 

News:

Jan. 12 Va. Senate elections to fill Cuccinelli, Stolle seats (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Marshall to propose ‘healthcare freedom’ constitutional amendment (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

GOP in 5th District to meet, choose route for ‘10 election (Roanoke Times)

National News:

Gay marriage vote stalls in N.J., N.Y. (Washington Times)

Lisa Miller Ordered to Hand Custody of Daughter to Former Lesbian Lover  (LifeSiteNews.com)

D.C. Council poised to legalize same-sex marriage (Washington Post)

Archbishop takes a reluctant turn in the spotlight (Washington Post)

Evangelical Pastor Rick Warren on abortion, sexuality and Obama (Politico.com)

Sandra Bullock: A blessing to meet, portray a real Christian (OneNewsNow.com)

E-mail reveal more than global-warming scam (OneNewsNow.com)

Tax increases may stall healthcare vote (OneNewsNow.com)

Long, bitter debate ahead in health care bill (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

Huckabee’s White House hopes hurt by commutation (Washington Times)

Commentary:

Global Warming Hypocrisy (Matt Friedeman/Rightly Concerned Blog)

A School Without God (David P. Smith/Rightly Concerned Blog)

Annotations & Elucidations

Back From Break

The four day Thanksgiving break is universally good for everyone. With so many events converging in November, it’s good to hit the breaks, take a rest, then gear up for the non-stop onslaught that is December (Christmas season and preparing for the General Assembly) and January and February (which is all General Assembly all the time).

One wouldn’t think there’d be much news over the break, but there is. The Richmond Times-Dispatch profiles Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli, who is ready and eager for his new job (to the horrors of liberals). Virginia’s financial woes continue to make news as the commonwealth borrows more to meet its unemployment insurance obligations, but it may just yet reap a windfall (see the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot and Washington Post, respectively). Speaking of the GA, ethics reform will be big this year, per The Daily Press. Speaking of ethics, the State Board of Elections is demanding some answers this week from a group that wanted to mail you information about your neighbors voting habits. Only certain people can obtain Voter Vault lists, such as elected officials, so the supplier (or willing supplier) to the Know Campaign is a case for the curious. The Virginian-Pilot has the details. In some good news, because we believe the more people can understand that the Founding Fathers intended America as a land of limited government and religious liberty, it’s now easier than ever to read their words as they wrote them (see the T-D).

Nationally, more fallout from the leaked e-mails documenting the “global warming” hoax, the GOP looks for more orthodoxy, a boycott of Gap and Old Navy ends, a Hollywood superstar calls President Obama a “socialist,” while said POTUS leaves out God in his Thanksgiving proclamation. Finally, speaking of Hollywood, the latest “feel good movie of the year,” Blind Side, has some troubling aspects about public education and government influence on families that shouldn’t go unnoticed, as writes Star Parker. Whoa! Told you it’s full steam ahead. Hope the break got you ready for what’s coming at us.

News:

Cuccinelli digs in to set course for AG’s office (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

GOP to hold firehouse primaries for both open Senate seats (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Va. to borrow $1.26 billion for depleted unemployment funds (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

U.S. sitting on $17 billion in unclaimed war bonds (Washington Post)

Lawmakers expect focus on ethics reform in wake of Phil Hamilton (The Daily Press)

Officials tell nonprofit to reveal voter history data source (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Founding Fathers’ papers go online (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

National News:

Global-warming data sets ’simply made up’ (OneNewsNow.com)

Divided Senate opens health care debate (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

GOP purity test proposed (OneNewsNow.com)

AFA ends boycott of Gap, Old Navy: Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods make AFA’s “Naughty” list (American Family Association)

Commentary:

Obama Doesn’t Use ‘God’ in Thanksgiving Proclamation (Bryan Fischer/Focal Point Right, Rightly Concerned Blog) 

Angelina Jolie Thinks Obama Is A Socialist (Elijah Friedeman/The Millennial Perspective, Rightly Concerned Blog)

Obama invites a nightmare (Peter Heck/OneNewsNow.com)

‘The Blide Side’ should trouble as well as inspire (Star Parker/OneNewsNow.com)

So Much For Obama’s Pledge to Remove the Influence of Lobbyists (Bryan Fischer/Focal Point Right, Rightly Concerned Blog) 

Annotations & Elucidations 

The Almost All Virginia Edition

This monster edition of the News Stand is almost all Virginia. Except for a very interesting piece about the beginning of the dismantling of campaign finance reform free speech restrictions by the D.C Court of Appeals, it’s all about the campaign. Most of it is about the race for governor, but we have several pieces on House races and one on the AG campaign, along with analysis and commentary by John Fund, Fred Barnes and others (this must be important if the national types are peering in).

There are a few articles to point out, including a blog post at the Post. With all the talk of Democrat Creigh Deeds closing in on Republican Bob McDonnell, as two polls last week (including Rasmussen) indicated Deeds was within two points, three polls have emerged to show it’s not quite that close. The Post’s own poll has McDonnell up by four and still over the 50 percent  threshold, while the Clarus Poll has him up by five and the Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll has him up by seven. (Interestingly, the Post’s Anita Kumar writes that she doesn’t trust polls but says this one is one she “doesn’t mind telling you about.” Why? Because the Kos is ultra hard leftist or because it shows McDonnell up by a larger margin than her paper’s poll? Hmmm.) 

Elsewhere of note, the Post has two articles on A) Deeds’ union ties and B) that business in Virginia is suspicious of him. So much for that Mark Warner legacy.

Of course, it wouldn’t be campaign season without the Mainstream Media hit pieces on conservatives, and the lil’ ol’ Loudon Insider got into the act with Hollywood tabloid-style “reporting.” It brought up a charge filed years ago against a Republican House candidate when he was in the Army — even though the Army’s investigation found that he wasn’t even at the place where the witness claimed he was. The case was dismissed. Then there’s the ongoing dishonesty of Democrat Tom Shields running in the 73rd House district.

The Post can’t resist, either, and asks about perceptions of “McDonnell’s alma mater.” Other than Charlie Weis on the hot seat, what’s wrong Notre Dame? Perhaps this? Of course, not!

Finally, you know it’s been a rough week for Senator Deeds when even the Post’s liberal columnist Robert McCartney blasts him for his poor debate and post-debate performances! 

News:

McDonnell 50, Deeds 43 (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Deeds Shows Big Gains In Va. Poll (Washington Post)

Deeds narrows contest, poll finds (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Republican loses some ground in poll (Northern Virginia Daily)

Unions Investing Heavily In Deeds (Washington Post)

Businesses Taking a Hard Look At Deeds (Washington Post)

Deeds, McDonnell split over environmental policy (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Wilder: Va. race a referendum on Obama (Washington Times)

McDonnell and Deeds couldn’t escape lingering questions at Roanoke meeting (Roanoke Times)

Issues of Perception Try McDonnell’s Alma Mater (Washington Post)

Gloves come off in Va. governor’s debate (Washington Times)

Gubernatorial debate turns contentious in N.Va. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Deeds, McDonnell clash in gubernatorial debate (The Daily Press)

Deeds, McDonnell throw sharp jabs in debate (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Deeds, McDonnell square off in debate (Roanoke Times)

Thrust and Parry Over Va.’s Future (Washington Post)

Cuccinelli wants to shift consumer watchdog into attorney general’s office (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Greason Rebukes 1994 Charges (Loudon Insider)

Del. O’Bannon says Shields’ charges are false (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Marrow Promotes Nurse Practitioners (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Will Hamilton lose appropriations seat? (The Daily Press Shad Plank Blog)

Audit: Little evidence of work by Del. Hamilton at ODU (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

ODU cites ‘mistakes’ with Del. Hamilton (The Daily Press)

Audit: ‘Little documentation’ of services by Hamilton to ODU (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Democrats get financial boost in House races (Roanoke Times)

Analysis:

Virginia Moves Back to the Right (Fred Barnes/Wall Street Journal)

Deeds in a Bit of a Bind on Taxes, Transportation (Washington Post)

Word and Deed (John Fund/Wall Street Journal)

Commentary:

Plain and Simple, Deeds Stumbles In N.Va. Debate (Robert McCartney/Washington Post)

National News:

Court Strikes Down Regulations Limiting Nonprofits’ Campaign Funds (Washington Post)

It is primary day and that means starting tomorrow Virginia will be one huge political festival through November. If you don’t like it, find another sport. 

However, for those who think the General Assembly is dysfunctional, I draw your attention to the New York Times article in the National News section: The GOP there has regained the upper chamber in Albany when two Hispanic Democrats decided to vote to reorganize the body with the Republicans. But they didn’t switch parties. Many Dems vacated the chamber and cut off the lights to try to keep a quorum from meeting and/or hearing and seeing how to vote. Confused? Find it funny, as in a I Dream of Jeannie farce? You’re right, but read the article. You can’t find this kind of entertainment in Hollywood, Las Vegas or Broadway.

In another piece of non-Virginia news, but which also sounds familiar, a breakaway Episcopal Church in Colorado has reached a settlement with its former diocese over church property. There is a similar controversy in Falls Church.

Have a great time tonight watching the returns come in. We’ll almost certainly have a comment tomorrow.

News:

Light turnout reported in early primary voting (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Go vote: It’s primary day for Democrats (The Daily Press)

Candidates finishing campaigns (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Virginia Democrats face pivotal primary (Washington Times)

Primary Hinges On Voter Turnout (Washington Post)

Severe Thunderstorms Hit as Polls Open in Va. (Washington Post) 

National News:

G.O.P. Regains Control of New York State Senate (New York Times)

Obama Justice Dept. hunting for ‘all actors’ in Tiller murder(OneNewsNow.com)

Diocese says property dispute with breakaway church settled(AP/OneNewsNow.com)

GOP: American tradition of impartial courts ‘under attack’  (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

International News:

A swing to conservatism in Europe? (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

The Valley Family Forum, a grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation, is offering a special invitation to attend the Virginia premiere of a new pro-life feature film entitled Come What May at the Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg on Saturday, July 12, with showings only at 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets (and more about the movie) are available in advance through Advent Film Group (click here), with discounts for families of four or more. Tickets also can be purchased at the door on the day of the showing. Proceeds from the movie will be shared with several Valley pregnancy centers.

The movie is about Caleb and Rachel, two championship debaters at Patrick Henry College, who are caught in a tug-of-war between their parents, their conscience, their own budding romance, and Supreme Court differences over abortion and parental rights. The judges are stacked against them, but the greatest debate takes place before they ever enter the courtroom. The cast includes several Harrisonburg residents. 

Prior to the second screening, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., The Valley Family Forum will host a special reception. There is an additional charge for the reception and reservations are required. For more information, and to make reservations, contact 540-433-1577.

Come What May is produced by a new group of Virginia-based filmmakers who are committed to promoting Christian values through film. Director/Producer George Escobar is a Hollywood trained filmmaker who will be present at the premiere and the reception to introduce the movie and speak to guests. Also scheduled to attend are Escobar’s co-producer, the screenwriter and several members of the cast.

This is the first of a series of movies planned for production over the next four years. The goal is not only to produce high quality family films but also to prepare a new generation of Christian filmmakers capable of producing and directing films like the highly successful Amazing Grace and Tales of Narnia series.

If you are in the area, we hope you plan to attend. Post your reviews here and let us know what you thought of Come What May, Bella and any other pro-life movies you may have seen recently.