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The day after last week’s historic pro-life victory in the General Assembly (see Richmond Times-Dispatch), Planned Parenthood and its abortion industry allies rallied in Richmond to decry the government’s “attack on women.” Those senators who voted in favor of abortion center safety regulations, and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling who broke the tie in the Virginia Senate, now are likely targets of their action.

We need to make sure that those who stood for life and safety receive the thanks they deserve. So please contact Lt. Governor Bolling and the senators who voted in favor of improving the health and safety standards at Virginia’s abortion centers (SB 924) and thank them for their vote (see below)! These elected officials deserve our gratitude for their action and political courage for voting to regulate abortion centers after years of stiff resistance and pressure by liberal and pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL. 

Before too long, after more than two decades of hiding behind a veil of secrecy, Virginia’s abortion centers will have to meet basic sanitary and safety standards. While the media is framing the legislation as “forcing abortion clinics to become hospitals,” the facts are entirely different. Virginia has several categories of hospitals (inpatient, psychiatric, rehabilitation, outpatient surgical, etc.). These categories of hospitals are subject to different regulations. They are not required to meet the standards of general hospitals. Instead, they are regulated according to their specialty. Likewise, abortion centers now will be categorized as a type of hospital and the Board of Health will create regulations that are appropriate.

We hope that you are savoring last week’s victory. At our weekly General Assembly session devotion Friday, we were reminded that God is sovereign and directs those in power. While we know that a lot of hard work went into this legislative victory, and many legislators and elected officials took a brave stand, we are well aware that our God is deserving of all the praise for this historic vote!

We also acknowledge our good friends at the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists for their help in getting this legislation passed. Both organizations worked tirelessly on this and a host of other issues this session. Their partnership is vital to our, and the pro-life movement’s, success.

To thank your senator who voted for SB 924 and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling for breaking the tie vote, click here!

Last night, Client No.9, the former New York attorney general and governor, Eliot Spitzer, tried a typical elitist tactic when debating Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on the CNN program Parker Spitzer. Not having any constitutional basis on which to debate Mr. Cuccinelli, he relied on the patently immature “virtually every constitutional scholar says you don’t have a case” assertion. First, it’s not true. Second saying it over and over won’t ever make it true.

Not that Client No.9 didn’t try a legal argument. He did, but it was mission aborted from twin malfunctions of indecipherable run-arounds and a simple thing called the constitution (not to mention an incredible misunderstanding of the bill’s provisions). Attorney General Cuccinelli simply cited reason, history, the law, precedent and the constitution. Which is why he filed the lawsuit against the federal government’s health care law — it is so brazenly beyond the widest stretches ever imagined of the constitution (see Cuccinelli news conference).

Then it was time for Spitzer’s sophomoric, “well, my dad said,” exclamation. What the Left means when they say that is: We know more than you, so just go home and mind your business. You’re an idiot for wasting your time. Arrogance is the one thing they are good at.

So, who are these constitutional scholars? They are never named. Maybe the line should be modified to “every liberal constitutional scholar.” The fact is, there are plenty of constitutional scholars who say Virginia’s case against Obamacare is sound. Here’s eight, in one quick search, courtesy of Hadley Heath at healthcarelawsuits.org. Besides, we’ll take Madison, Hamilton and Jayover any liberal law school dean any day of the week.  

While Mr. Spitzer wasn’t as obnoxious as he was to Senator-elect Rand Paul (R-Ky.), he was condescending. That said, what else does he have to go on? Since more people saw Client No.9 during his legal troubles (zennie62.com) than watch his show (wonkette.com) — and only slightly more than 100 have viewed the video on YouTube as of this posting — we thought we’d bring it to you.

Spitzer’s legal incoherence was easy for Cuccinelli to take apart. Client No.9 amazingly thinks there are no checks on Congress.

Just curious about something: Why is it when something from way back in a conservative candidate’s past comes to light, or even something more recent that was taken out of context, or even something he or she has apologized for, the angry left and the mainstream media hound on him or her about it forever, no matter how irrelevant it is to the office the candidate seeks, and portrays the conservative as the most despicable human alive?

But when even the slightest embarrassing revelation comes to light about a liberal candidate . . . the conservative opponent still is the meanest, most despicable human alive because, of course, he or she must have had something to do with it. Not to mention the fact that the media and left wing lionize the liberal candiate into an aggrieved, victimized hero.

Party or principle? Politicians are between that rock and hard place every time they must make a decision. However, in the mainstream media, the pundit class and to those inside the circles of power in Washington and state capitals — the “ruling class” — there seems to be a double standard for conservatives.

It’s really peculiar to hear liberal talking heads say what’s good for the Republican Party. You hear them scoff when a conservative wins a nomination because, “only a moderate can win in” certain states. What they mean is that in nominating a “moderate” the Dems can’t lose. Either their candidate wins, or they get someone who will “reach across the aisle” and help them push through their agenda. It’s funny that we never hear about Democrats reaching across the aisle to help usher through conservative legislation.

Although the “ruling class” lionizes most office holders for making decisions based on principle over party, it’s really ostensible praise. When a conservative Republican makes such a decision, especially when he shows true courage (in a certain case, being the only one in his caucus to stand up for a certain candidate), he is branded as destructive to the party. 

Thus, the case of Republican U.S. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina. He is not content to be in a Republican majority because, as he says, he was in one once before and the Republicans “embarrassed” themselves. He wants to be in a conservative majority. According to Senator DeMint, it’s not good enough to be Democrat-light. It is an admirable stance but it brings with it the inevitable attacks — from both parties. The Left demonizes him as an extremist while establishment Republicans hammer him as divisive. But if you’re not in it for power or to make influential friends, it’s amazing how much you can do for your country. Senator DeMint’s backing has led to the unheard of defeats of two GOP incumbent defeats in primaries and the victories of several more insurgent conservatives over establishment choices. It gives the lie, as explained yesterday, to the mantra that ”conservatives can’t win,” especially in certain states.

Here’s how he explains it in a mash-up from Politico.com:

Republicans “embarrassed themselves in front of the country” the last time they had a Senate majority.

Here’s a more in-depth interview (5:09) yesterday on Fox News Channel.

DeMint: “Outside of Washington, Republicans have never been MORE united.” While Washington tries to divide us, Americans unite over enduring Judeo-Christian, core American principles.

One might think I enjoy this. But, really, it’s tiresome. Keeping up with liberal lunacy, that is. It happens much too fast for a single blogger to track (see list here). But I must, I must. All to keep tabs on the “intellectual elite” of our country, of course. After all, according to liberals, conservatives are nothing but a bunch of backward, Bible-toting, Neanderthal ignoramuses. But this one is just too good to pass up. It had to go to print.

For the record, here is U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), the ranking majority member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, giving us a lesson on Southeast Asian geography and geopolitical brotherhood. Oh, the further irony. A united Vietnam under totalitarian Viet Cong rule is what people such as Ms. Lee wanted — and got! Ah, yes. The best and the brightest.

All together now, it’s one united, peaceful Vietnam. You know, the Utopian one for which ’60s and ’70s liberals longed.

Then-Senator Joe Biden, running for vice president, had it right in October 2008, mostly. He said, in a near political death wish, that the “about to be elected” Barack Obama would face a major international crisis, because he was young and someone, somewhere, would “test” him. Remember this?

Another mistake: He said he was “brilliant.”

But instead of a foreign country doing us harm, Mr. Biden must have meant a foreign company. That’s right. He just “misspoke.” Still, the president is being tested — and he isn’t passing the test (see Dick Morris). Thank goodness it isn’t a foreign country testing him although one wonders about the snickers of those who wish us harm. Certainly they are taking note and we should stay alert.

Of course, the president, as a candidate, brought all this on himself, claiming that government can do everything, from “fixing health care” to stemming the “rise of the oceans” (see Althouse Blog). As a liberal, I’m sure he believes in karma, and the irony of him not being able to fix the Gulf oil spill even as he railed that government could make New Orleans whole immediately after Katrina should not be lost on anyone. Is this the gang you want running your health care? (See The Daily Caller regarding HHS already missing the new law’s deadlines.)

So, as it is, it’s a foreign company, BP, doing us harm, putting the young administration in (a real) crisis. Thank goodness it’s only a company. Let this be a lesson to the government-knows-best crowd.

It’s only a foreign company, but President Obama’s inability to deal with the crisis leaves a lot to be desired, more doubt about government takeover of industries, and adversaries licking their chops.

With all the weight of the federal government and its massive megaphone that is the liberal mainstream media, it seems as if there’s only one side of the debate over Virginia’s lawsuit against the federal health care takeover. But that’s why we’re here and that’s what alternative and new media are for — to provide the other side. It’s even better to get the other side straight from the primary source. So, here is Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli responding the the federal government’s recently filed motion to dismiss Virginia’s lawsuit seeking relief from the health care law — an area of governance not specified to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution — and which is in conflict with the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli explains and debunks four aspects and criticisms of Virginia’s lawsuit against the federal government’s health care takeover. 

Annotations & Elucidations

The Hunt Is On

Stephen Hunt won the three-way Republican “fire house” primary last night to secure the 37th Senate District nomination in the January 12 special election to fill the term of Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli. Hunt, a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, won the heavy turnout primary handily over his two opponents. He now takes on Delegate Dave Marsden (D-41, Fairfax) who, until several days ago, didn’t live in the district. He is renting a room from a friend who does in order to be eligible. Meanwhile, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell continues his PR offensive. Following up his meeting with House Democrats, he now will meet with leaders of the Senate. More substantively, he’s asked for detailed reports from all state agencies in order to find efficiencies in a deficit-ridden budget. A good start. But ideas, if not money, are in large supply, and the governor-elect is getting them from everyone, from within and outside of his cadre. We post two, from Pat Nolan and Mike Thompson, both of Bacon’s Rebellion. 

Nationally, the left is losing it, and it doesn’t get any better than that as far exposing who they are. Chris Matthews calls West Point cadets the “enemy” and the liberal mayor of Baltimore won’t resign despite a theft conviction. Polls show independents fleeing the Obama/liberal camp, including young voters (ask soon-to-be-former Delegate Shannon Valentine) as Matt Friedeman of Rightly Concerned Blog notes.

But it’s ClimateGate that continues to expose the left, particularly for putting ideology over science. Hmmm. Where have we heard that before? Now, look, it really is true, but it’s the left that’s been doing it all along. Just goes to show you . . . when the other side screams loud accusations at your side, it normally means it is they who are doing that which they accuse you. In other words, they’re cracking up.

News:

McDonnell asks for detailed reports from state agencies (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McDonnell to meet with Senate leaders (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Republicans nominate Hunt in 37th senate district (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

‘Firehouse primary’ gets busy turnout (Washington Times)

Houck says localities will feel pinch (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Analysis:

Common Sense Prison Reforms Will Help McDonnell Close Budget Gap (Pat Nolan/Bacon’s Rebellion)

Huge Opportunities for our Incoming Governor (Mike Thompson/Bacon’s Rebellion)

National News:

‘ClimateGate’ deception continues to unfold (OneNewsNow.com)

Global warming e-mail scandal prompts resignation (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

Tempers flare as Senate debates healh care (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

After police killings, Huckabee defends clemency for suspect (Washington Post)

In D.C., a rift over plights for civil rights, gay rights (Washington Post)

Baltimore Mayor found guilty of stealing vows to stay on (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

Commentary:

All the president’s Climategate deniers (Michelle Malkin/OneNewsNow.com)

Chris Matthews Calls West Point ‘Enemy Camp’ (Elijah Friedeman/The Millennial Perspective, Rightly Concerned Blog)

Young People Waking Up, Turning on Democrats (Matt Friedeman/Rightly Concerned Blog)

Polls Show Democrats Are in Trouble (Elijah Friedeman/The Millennial Perspective, Rightly Concerned Blog)

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

Who’s Controversial Now?

Our top story’s headline is misleading and is an excellent example of media bias. The abstinence-only speaker invited to a Henrico County high school is not causing controversy. She was invited and people may or may not attend. No student or parent said a word. It is 10 teachers and two outside groups — radical pro-abortion and homosexual advocacy organizations — who got wind of it and raised a stink. So, who’s being controversial?

On another front, Governor Tim Kaine now is staking his legacy to pre-K. It will be anything but that, but what’s amazing is that even as he shuns the liberal tag, he takes credit for a large expansion of government in the face of a backlash to that philosophy. Accordingly, Delegate Kirk Cox (R-66, Colonial Heights), the majority whip and senior member of the Appropriations Committee, broached eliminating it today on a Richmond radio station. Good for him.

Nationally, James Pethokoukis of Reuters uncovers a backdoor method Congressional Democrats and President Obama hope to raise taxes by three trillion dollars! It’s a very short, but revealing, read. Also of note, the Washington Post published a lengthy feature on Family Foundation friend Bishop Harry Jackson, who has become, perhaps, the nation’s leading defender of traditional marriage. Very much worth the read.

Finally, in news that must horrify liberals (other than an abstinence-only speaker at a high school) a CNN poll has found that 61 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funded abortion, 51 percent oppose allowing insurance policies to cover abortions, and — sit down for this liberals — between 63 and 73 percent oppose legal abortions under any circumstance except for the 2 percent of abortions done each year in the cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is endangered. No wonder they’re reduced to protesting abstinence speakers.

News:

Abstinence-only speaker stirs controversy (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Virginia budget outlook poor; shortfall could grow (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. might have to cut $2.9 billion more by ’12 (Washington Post)

Kaine cites pre-K success during his term (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Hamilton case ignites calls to overhaul ethics rules (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Allen tax plan backed by Crusade (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Analysis:

Is Obama planning a $3 trillion income tax increase? (James Pethokoukis/Political Risk Blog Reuters.com)

National:

CNN Poll: 61% Oppose Tax-Funded Abortions, 63%  Oppose All or Most Abortions (LifeNews.com)

Internal Results of CNN/Opinion Research Poll on Abortion, Health Care (CNN/Opinion Research)

Seeking to put asunder (Washington Post)

D.C. vote on gay marriage denied (Washington Times)

AP Turns Heads for Devoting 11 Reporters to Palin Book ‘Fact Check’ (FoxNews.com)