The Republican Caucus in the House of Representatives not only elected John Boehner (R-OH) as the new Speaker on a unanimous vote, but also, in a spirit of bipartisanship, voted for Nancy Pelosi as Minority Leader.“We have been accused of being uncooperative and partisan,” said new Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).“However, this is our first step to reach out to the new minority party to help keep them in that lovable situation for a very long time.”
While local Democrat Gerry Connolly (D-VA) did not reveal how he voted, his recent opponent offered words of encouragement.“I definitely support having Nancy Pelosi as Democratic Leader,” said Keith Fimian."Her presence in such a position will ensure long-term employment for any house inspection business.”
Nancy Pelosi herself was initially receptive to the Republican gesture.However, she became angered when she read the fine print and found out that Republicans were going to require her to fly coach.“So much for having to pass a bill to find out what is in it,” quipped a Republican aide.
Krystal Ball, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 1st District, will be the model for MSNBC’s “Lean Forward” slogan campaign. “Based on my photographic history, MSNBC thought I would be a natural for their advertising,” said Ball. “While MSNBC is a bit too conservative for my taste, I am always excited to receive more exposure. Anyway, after this campaign I could sure use the money!”
The leftist blogosphere expressed excitement at the announcement. “This is great news, though she’s not as hot as Rachel Maddow,” said a blogger who gave his initials as “NLS.”
MSNBC is not the only party interested in Krystal Ball. Stephen Colbert was heard to say that “she would be a great asset in preparing future Congressional testimony for me.” Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner is rumored to make an offer to Ball as a tax preparation consultant given her financial experience. Several Russians are also interested in her for both her pictures and her experiences in publicizing stocks.
President Barack Hussein Obama today explained the embarrassing comments of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, who described his “foremost” mission (as given to him by the President), was “to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with predominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.” The President explained that “I merely want my fellow Muslims to stop using their aeronautical knowledge to fly planes into buildings.” The President also hoped that the “historic contribution to science, math, and engineering would be used for purposes other than blowing up buses, building tunnels for terrorists, or developing weapons of mass destruction.” It is believed that President Obama is using the NASA Administrator as a policy conduit “because it sure beats backing historical allies like Israel and forcing its warring neighbors to make peace.”
White House press spokesman Robert Gibbs expanded on the President’s remarks even more: “The President is setting a good example in science and engineering for the rest of the world. So far, his policies have given us some big numbers in spending and unemployment. We feel like NASA in this regard because the sky is no longer the limit.”
So for the State Senate campaign alone, half of one month’s rent has been given back to Marsden’s campaign.Quid pro quo?I wonder who is writing the rent checks.
This past fall, my congregation hosted a debate between David Marsden and Kerry Bolognese for the 41st House of Delegates seat.The congregation I attend is much more liberal than conservative, politically speaking, though people of all political stripes are always given a gracious welcome.Little did Mr. Marsden know that this blogger was present.
During the debate, the candidates were asked several questions submitted by congregation members.I am not going to recount every question and answer here.However, given Delegate Marsden’s claim to being “moderate,” I think that the highlights of his responses in a recent forum should be shared with the public.
David Marsden attacked the idea of a tax cut.He said that programs such as schools and roads that compete for funding would get hurt.He wants to give better funding to community colleges when the economy recovers.Unlike Kerry Bolognese, Marsden made no commitment to monitoring how money is actually spent.
Marsden insists that as a low tax State, Virginia does not have the money to get work done.The fact that Northern Virginia gets back only 30% of its highway dollars did not seem to bother him.Rather, he said that the 17-cent per gallon gas tax does not buy what it used to (despite the fact that Northern Virginia has a lot more people paying this tax).
As far as public-private partnerships are concerned, David Marsden thinks that the “public” part is just not there.Apparently, Northern Virginia does not have a lot of “shovel-ready” projects.Apparently, extending Metro to FortBelvoir is a good idea in Marsden’s mind.(Ah, but aren’t we lacking in money?)
Marsden was most interesting when asked about waste that can be eliminated.When Kerry Bolognese recounted the Wilder Commission as well as specific items (and given the short time given for responses, no one can give a complete list), Marsden’s attitude was that it was like finding “$2.98 from couch cushions.” (his words)He thinks that we have reached a limit as far as cost savings are concerned while spending “needs” have been raised.
When asked about what pet project he would want to fund for the 41st District, Marsden responded that he had introduced three bills to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay.These bills could create jobs for watermen.Marsden did not mention how many Chesapeake Bay watermen lived in Burke and Springfield.
On card check issues, when Bolognese noted what a disaster it would be, Marsden insisted that card check was compatible with small businesses.Of course, he gave the usual union line about how we owe having weekends to unions.He claims that he would only apply card check to large employers, though he did not give a specific figure.
When asked about fighting crime and gangs, David Marsden did support prosecution.He also mentioned having gang prevention activities and outlawing pneumatic weapons.Kerry Bolognese pointed out that Marsden opposed HB 1626, which would allow homeowners to protect themselves.Also, on crime issues, Marsden supports closing “loopholes” at gun shows and supports legislation to mandate background checks.
Finally, Marsden was amusing on other energy and environmental issues.He supports environmental initiatives that are “fiscally sound’ (of course), but then he said he supported setting up windmills in an old Ford plant.Marsden came out opposing drilling off the coast of Virginia, giving the excuse that it would interfere with Navy bombing exercises.He must be glad that his opponent in the State Senate race knows a thing or two about the Navy!
In summary, while Marsden has done a lot of admirable work in the juvenile justice field, has a long record of public service, and isn’t as radically pro-abortion as some of his Democratic colleagues, he is still very much out of touch with voters of the 37th District and rather uncurious about government accountability.You would think someone with the long public service record he claims would understand where to look for cost savings, but perhaps David Marsden has grown comfortable in the fact that government runs on someone else’s money.Perhaps, in front of an audience he perceives as more liberal, he could be more candid about the kind of person he is.Voters of the 37th District will be well-served by electing Steve Hunt as the next State Senator to get quality representation in Richmond.
Many of my blogger colleagues have been advertising a town hall meeting. In this case, it is not being hosted by the sitting Congressman in the district, but rather, by the announced challenger in Virginia’s 11th District for 2010, Keith Fimian. The date is Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 7:00 – 9:00 PM (with doors opening at 6:30 PM). Personally, I am not sure I can make it, but those who are interested should go to
Fairfax County Government Center; Board of Supervisors Auditorium12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22030
The forum will feature health care experts from various free-market think tanks.
Now, as the title to this post says, this is a GOOD START. First of all, Republicans all over the country, especially potential Congressional and Senatorial challengers, should be doing this. Second of all, this should be the basis of formulating and becoming conversant in a coherent health care policy so voters see a practical alternative to Obama’s socialized medicine plans. These events can also help expose some of the less well-known outrages of the Democrats’ proposed legislation, such as assaults on Flexible Spending Accounts. In the case of the 11th District, Fimian would be wise to add to the discussion how Obama’s plans would be bad for Federal workers as well.
The free market can help us improve our health care delivery system better than a monolithic government. I hope more Republicans across the nation host such event to communicate a superior policy.
