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If you haven’t reserved your seat for this Friday’s Valley Family Forum “Salute to the Family,” with special guest Bishop E. W. Jackson, time is running out. If you live or work in the Shenandoah Valleyare within driving range, or just want to make a night of it, we hope you will join us at this wonderful event.

The program begins at 6:30 Friday, May 13, at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center in Harrisonburg. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of God and Country.”

Bishop Jackson is founder and Chairman of S.T.A.N.D., a national organization dedicated to restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and to preserving our Christian faith and values, and Exodus Faith Ministries, based in Chesapeake. He is a nationally acclaimed speaker, combining immense intellect and passion, whom no one forgets after hearing. He is an ex-Marine, Harvard Law School educated attorney, and frequent guest on the national media programs, including those on ABC, FOX News and NPR. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have covered him and he’s even braved the liberals on MSNBC. Bishop Jackson also is the former chaplain at Boston Red Sox Services and for The Family Foundation.

The evening will include special music by The Faithful Men, plus the annual Wilberforce Award presentation. Tickets are $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. For reservations, e-mail family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call 540-438-8966. The Valley Family Forum is a grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation.

* This event is to benefit The Valley Family Forum and The Family Foundation and is not a campaign fundraiser for Bishop Jackson. Titles, party affiliations and references to elected offices sought are listed for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by The Family Foundation.

Here’s another reminder of the Valley Family Forum’s 10th annual Shenandoah Valley “Salute to the Family,” with special guest Bishop E. W. Jackson. If you live in the Valley, or even outside of it, this is a terrific event that has gained a prominent spot on the political calendar each year. So, we hope you can join us in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, on Friday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the outstanding James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center in Harrisonburg. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of God and Country.”

Bishop Jackson is founder and Chairman of S.T.A.N.D., a national organization dedicated to restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and to preserving our Christian faith and values, and Exodus Faith Ministries, based in Chesapeake. He is an ex-Marine, Harvard Law School graduate, acclaimed speaker, and frequent guest on national television and radio, including ABC, MSNBC, FOX News and NPR. He has been written about in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. Bishop Jackson also is the former chaplain of the Boston Red Sox and for The Family Foundation.

The evening will include special music is by The Faithful Men, plus the annual Wilberforce Award presentation. Tickets are $25 per person, or $200 for a table of eight. For reservations, write to family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call (540) 438-8966. The Valley Family Forum is a grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation.

Note: This event is to benefit The Valley Family Forum and is not a campaign fundraiser for Bishop Jackson. Titles, party affiliations and references to elected offices sought are listed for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by The Valley Family Forum or The Family Foundation.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews Thursday night to discuss the proposed Repeal Amendment (see Norfolk Virginian-Pilot), a mechanism that would allow two-thirds of the states to nullify a federal law or regulation (see Speaker Bill Howell’s op-ed at Cato.org). Because A) he utterly disassembled Matthews, as he did Eliot “Client Number 9″ Spitzer a couple of weeks ago on CNN, and B) because no one watches MSNBC, we thought we’d post the video for your entertainment.

These things often are painful to watch. The liberal, in this case Matthews, either cannot grasp the issues and/or ignores them and makes, as the Attorney General accurately states, “assumptions” to suit his argument. In other words, the old leftist tactic of putting his negative words in your mouth and trying to force you to defend the absurd proposition. In this case, Matthews continue to ram the proposition that anyone who favors the repeal amendment was appealing to Johnny Reb and the redneck South. Nevermind that the U.S. Constitution was created by the states for the states, not to cede every element of life to a small band of federal government bureaucrats.

Never fear. Attorney General Cuccinelli would have nothing of it and, in the process, took apart and exposed the visibly disgusted Matthews — who plainly indicated his elitist belief that only Washington, D.C., can make good decisions — and revealed him as both of the above: clueless and a demagogue.

Update: The AG is saying tonight that the federal court ruling on the constitutionality of Obamacare will be issued Monday. Stay tuned. If he has a news conference, we will be there to cover it.

Enjoy the video (9:05):

A little knowledge is dangerous, Chris. Perhaps a little preparation next time? Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli takes apart elitist Chris Matthews. 

Earlier this morning, on MSNBC, anchor Chris Jansing asked liberal media mogul (owner of the New York Daily News and U.S. News & World Report), real estate billionaire, journalist and author Mort Zuckerman how he would spend the few million dollars remaining at the Democrats’ disposal to help preserve its congressional majorities if he was the DNC chairman (who happens to be former governor Tim Kaine).

Snapped Zuckerman:

If I was the DNC chairman, I’d spend that money on finding a second career. 

Zuckerman to Kaine: Take the money, run and find a new line of work.

It’s not often we thank NARAL, but we’re happy to today. Tuesday night I happened upon the not-so-truthful-extreme-left-wing-control-freak Rachel Maddow’s nightly one-hour rant of misinformation and character assassination on msnbc. She did more than 12 minutes of rant and lies about Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, including an interview with Tarina Keene of NARAL. The only video available yesterday was on msnbc’s Web site and it included the whole boring 12-plus minutes. But as of today, NARAL posted only the four-plus-minute interview with Ms. Keene.

Still, four minutes can be a long time — time enough to hack out numerous lies and misinformation about abortion center safety, abortion, legislative efforts, “comprehensive sex education,” the meaning of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s recent legal advisory opinion on abortion center regulations and much, much more. (It’s not the first time for Ms. Keene, either. See here and here and not the first time we’ve responded.)

But that’s why we’re glad NARAL posted the video. Because it gives us the opportunity to launch the Count The Lies In The NARAL Video Contest! Post your best guess and we can discuss. Be sure to count the ones by Ms. Maddow, too. Of course, the fact that msnbc and NARAL teamed up for its propaganda show is proof that Mr. Cuccinelli must be doing something right. It’s highly unusual that one state attorney general could get so much under the skin of one of the far left’s biggest mouths that she would devote 25 percent of her national television show to him — especially when everything is going so well for the country under complete liberal control of Washington. Right?

Get out your calculators. How many lies can two lefties spout in 4:23?

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling book Eat, Pray, Love, now a major motion picture starring Julia Roberts, is doing a lot more than eating, praying and loving these days. She’s lobbying on Capitol Hill . . . for something called the Uniting American Families Act (read the bill).

Sounds All-American, right? But as one should expect from a bill sponsored by an ultra-liberal such as U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), it has nothing to do with American families. Typical Orwellian speak from the Far Left. This bill would allow homosexual Americans to sponsor their alien ”permanent partners” into the U.S. as legal immigrants under the principle of “family unification” (see AOL News). Never mind that U.S. policy does not recognize domestic homosexual partners as families, but now the Far Left not only wants to redefine marriage in America, they want to redefine it internationally as well as redefine long-held and recognized principles of immigration law.

Of course, Ms. Gilbert will draw cameras and probably get booked on every msnbc and CNN show, as well as the brain food known as the “morning shows,” perhaps even NPR. She’ll add to her celebrity, sell more books and movie tickets, and the Far Left will have a new insta-expert (who knows nothing about the topic) to fawn over. Kind of like when Ted Danson testified before a Congressional committee in the 1990s that the oceans would disappear in 10 years — and was taken seriously — or when Jessica Lange testified about agriculture issues because of the expertise she gained from . . . her role in a film.

Meanwhile, the rest of us need to take the second word in Ms. Gilbert’s title to heart to ensure this bill dies the legislative death it deserves. While it may show how far debased our culture has become that a bill like this could even be introduced (especially in this political atmosphere), much less be taken seriously, we still have prayer — and it typically trumps Congressional swoons over celebrity “testimony.”

Last week, Governor Bob McDonnell withdrew Virginia from the federal government’s Race To The Top program (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot), which provides millions of dollars in grant funding to public education. However, the inevitable federal strings come with those millions. In this case, the deal breaker was the adoption of federal academic standards that are weaker than our own Standards of Learning. As the governor told Joe Scarborough on MSNBC yesterday, standards should be a floor, not a ceiling. Of course, the federal government’s involvement in local education is a problem in and of itself — good intentions and incentives aside, it shouldn’t bribe states and localities with other people’s tax dollars for a one-size-fits-all approach. (Instead, how about letting the states — the people — keep the money to begin with, or using the money to balance the budget?) Here’s the governor explaining his reasons himself:

Governor McDonnell: Virginia won’t be bought off by the feds, not even for a couple hundred million dollars!

Annotations & Elucidations

Travel Plans, Conservative Media And Scary Sonia

The buzz around Capitol Square today is all about Europe — as in stranded travellers there trying to get back here. Among them, one Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, who is to preside over the Virginia Senate in tomorrow’s reconvened General Assembly session (aka, “Veto Session”). There may very well be several tie votes and, at this point, it looks like he won’t be there to break them. Ties kill bills or amendments. It’s always something when it comes to the General Assembly, although no one seems to remember anything like this.

Nationally, a new conservative television network is about to launch and there are implications for NBC and its propaganda News Division and its whining, scratching ugly step child MSNBC. See Carl Franzen of AOLNews in Analysis. However, the big news was yesterday’s hearing at the Supreme Court in the Christian Legal Society case. I especially point that out to you because, if reading is believing, maybe you can see why Justice Sonia Sotomayor is every bit the unqualified jurist her critics portrayed her. It’s more than just a little bit scary. Of course, never miss our all-stars: Among them today, Thomas Sowell, Michael Barone and Debra Saunders.

News

Fight brewing over McDonnell health care cuts (Washington Post)

Bolling grounded in Italy by volcano ash (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Bolling stranded in Italy, likely to miss Wednesday’s reconvene legislative session (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Virginia State Police told to back governor’s plans (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Chesterfield optometrist to run for Nixon’s seat in House of Delegates (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Analysis

Right-Wing RightNetwork Already Causing a Stir (Carl Franzen/AOLNews.com)

National

Court splits sharply on campus Christian argument (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Divorce dilemma: Texas says gays can’t get divorce (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Obama says Boxer could lose if Dems don’t work (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Palin set to take stand in Tenn. hacking trial (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Ignoring DC pressure, Crist mulls independent run (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary

Using the Oklahoma City Bombing (Debra Saunders/GOPUSA.com)

The Limits of Power (Thomas Sowell/GOPUSA.com)

Tea Partiers Fight Obama’s Culture of Dependence (Michael Barone/GOPUSA.com)

Two Views in Conflict (Star Parker/GOPUSA.com)

The American left can’t get over itself, which is a shame. It truly stifles honest and thorough debate on the issues of the day. But it is more insulated with itself the the Bubble Boy from Seinfeld fame. No better illustration of that, no better admission of that (one might even claim arrogance, in fact), came from MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, he of the tingling leg sensation when he hears Barack Obama speak (see YouTube).

This time, instead of talking “stimulus,” Mr. Matthews espouses his idea of fair and balanced presentation of views. There’s no problem with the time he allots various sides. The problem is what he considers the various sides. Apparently, Mr. Matthews thinks the range of political discourse in America should range only from the “left” to the “center-left” (about 1:30 into the video below). Now, there’s tolerance for you! Interestingly, he blames President Obama’s sinking popularity and the distaste for government-run health care on the Fox News Channel, as if one cable outlet can dominate opinion over three broadcast and two cable networks and a host of major daily papers and weekly magazines.

More astonishing, he can’t comprehend that people inherently know that government interference, especially in something as sensitive as health care, is wrong, and the care, inevitably, incompetent. But, that’s what happens when you live in a (misguided, liberal) bubble.

Chris Matthews: Fair is fair — liberals vs. extreme liberals, and that’s all you need to hear!

Annotations & Elucidations

Suits And Budgets

The news is all about Virginia, as it always seems to be, as it has been for some years now. Must mean we’re an important state. But Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s law suit against the federal government for its forced mandates on individuals is making headlines and he’s making the rounds — on cable news — frequently: Fox News Channel multiple times, a viewer call-in on C-SPAN and even an appearance on DNC-TV, er, MSNBC.

The Wall Street Journal even says great things about Virginia, although the focus of the piece below is on our budget. By comparison the article notes, if Congress had just kept to its 2006 levels of spending, as the General Assembly did recently, the budget would be nearly in balance. Hmmm. 2006? Who’s been running the show since then?

In Commentary, it’s all about health care, with one of our generation’s giants, Thomas Sowell, asking if we’ve reached a point of no return. We pray not. Michael Barrone, David Limbaugh and Debra Saunders also look at the dark side of the legislation. But it’s not just “right wingers.” The AP reports the the government is going to count our calories. Oh, how grand! Meanwhile, the Cornhusker Kid, Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) now says he’ll vote against the “reconciliation” bill. Also from the AP: The Supreme Court says it’s fine for schools to ban music and that the Tea Party is just getting going. Watch out, liberals.

News

McDonnell backs Cuccinelli on challenge to health-care bill (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Virginia attorney general ready to challenge health-care law (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

South Carolina, Florida AGs say they’ll join Cuccinelli in challenging health-care bill (The Daily Press)

Attorneys general in 14 states sue to block healthcare reform law (Christian Science Monitor)

Liberty Counsel, attorney general challenge health care bill (Lynchburg News & Advance)

Virginia Democrats say Cuccinelli suit wastes taxpayer money (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Will lower taxes create school crisis? (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

Analysis

States of Progress: Two new Governors tackle deficits without tax increases (Wall Street Journal)

National News

It’s not over for Tea Party activists (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Health overhaul: Immediate change, long term steps (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Your government will count your calories (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Axelrod, Steele tangle on health care overhaul (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Court: Student can’t sue over ‘Ave Marie’ ban (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Ben Nelson plans to vote against health care bill (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary

A Point of No Return? (Thomas Sowell/GOPUSA.com)

The Beginning of the End or a Rebirth of Freedom? (David Limbaugh/GOPUSA.com)

Leadership for a New Generation (Doug Patton/GOPUSA.com)

The New Electorate (Jon N. Hall/GOPUSA.com)

ObamaCare Means: Don’t Look Behind the Curtain (Debra Saunders/GOPUSA.com)

Stupak’s ‘Hans Brinker — Unmasked (Richard Olivastro/GOPUSA.com)

Health Plan Means Bigger Deficits and Higher Taxes (Michael Barrone/GOPUSA.com)