Roanoke City Reagan Dinner

Last night I attended the Roanoke City Republican Committee Reagan Dinner hosted by Chairman Jim Delong and Vice-Chair Chris Walters. These guys did a great job with the event and everyone had a great time. I think everyone enjoyed the songs done by Steve Mabry, if you were there you know what I mean.

The speakers we excellent and on point all night, they included Chairman Pat Mullins, Senator Ralph Smith, Delegate Bill Cleaveland, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. The Lt. Governor gave a very impassioned talk and reminded us why we all do what we do for the party and what we believe in. He further reminded us (sometimes we all need reminding) that Thomas Jefferson's greatest regret was not restricting in the constitution the government's ability to take on debt. So this morning I did some reading on my own and found the quote below:

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...[we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers... And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for[ another]... till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery... And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.

It amazes me with all of our advances in education and technology that these guys in 1776 knew more than we still do today. But then again they knew what it was like to live under a government that was sovereign over the people not the other way around like our founders intended.
With that I thank those leaders who are standing up for the Constitution and limited Government. I ask that we all remember our founders knew what it was like to live under BIG GOVERNMENT and they put a framework together to keep us from going through that.

Send A Message To Pelosi And Obama

What can we do to stop Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama? That's the question a lot of you have asked me recently. The answer is easier than you'd think.

The best way to send them a message is to help get one of their most reliable party line voters out of Congress - Rick Boucher. And the best way to get Rick Boucher out of Congress? Support Morgan Griffith.

And in this case, time is of the essence. Morgan has to file his first fundraising report on March 31st. Because he couldn't fundraise during session he's at a huge disadvantage. Nonetheless, everyone will be looking to this first report to determine whether or not Morgan can win.

That's where we come in. Whether you can give $2,000 or $20, Morgan needs a donation...quickly. There is strength in numbers so please consider making an immediate donation that will show up on the first report (even if it's just a few dollars). You can contribute online so it just takes a minute. Click here to go to the website and then click on "Donate." Once you've donated, please forward this link to everyone on your email lists and ask them to donate as well.

Let's send a message to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama that they can't ignore.

Morgan Griffith For Congress Website Goes Live

Looks like Morgan's campaign website is now up and running. Click here to check it out. In case you can't get the links to work, the address is http://www.morgangriffithforcongress.com/. I'm sure they'll have some kinks to work out but head on over and check it out.

Salem Republican Committee Mass Meeting - April 13, 2010

What: Salem Republican Committee Mass Meeting
Where: Salem Courthouse (click here for a map)
When: April 13, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.

The Salem Republican Committee Mass Meeting will be held on April 13, 2010. This meeting will be for the purpose of electing a Salem Republican Committee Chair, electing Committee members and electing Delegates to the 6th District Republican Convention.


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News From The Salem Sheriff's Office

I received the 2009 Year in Review from the Salem Sheriff's Office last night. I want to go on record (again) and commend these folks for what an incredible job they're doing. Last year, Salem was one of only 4 agencies in the entire state to achieve a perfect score on their assessment. This is a huge accomplishment.

This is largely due to the great work of our Sheriff, Ric Atkins, and the dedication of his deputies.

Everyone in Salem should be proud of this department. I can also say, with confidence, that as we enter a tough budget cycle, these professionals will do what it takes to get the job done with no noticeable reduction in service to the community. No press conferences denouncing our elected leaders. No threats to sue over budget constraints. No passing the buck to folks in Richmond. They'll just put their heads down, get to work and get the job done.

This agency is a model for how local government is supposed to work. Thanks guys.

Fiscal Restraint Leads to Prosperity

I have repeatedly expounded on the FACT that lower taxes and less government intervention promote economic growth, increases tax revenues to the treasury (think lower rates on a more productive and profitable populace - see again: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2003/08/The-Historical-Lessons-of-Lower-Tax-Rates ) and most importantly raise living standards for all of us.

This fact is often over looked as varied constituencies now feel entitled to the government services, programs and dollars their elected officials tout as the spoils of their hard work. The sad state of our political system is evident when we as a nation aren't discussing the difficult decisions facing the entitlement programs we already have but are rather debating further expanding commitments our nation cannot possibly afford. (Just today Moody's warned of a potential downgrade of US debt - http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/15/news/economy/moodys.sovereign.fortune/) As the oft cited quote foretells, "Democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy." - attributed to Alexander Tytler, but never verified.

The beauty of America is that the spirit of rugged individualism still permeates our society and our citizens are demanding fiscal responsibility for their children. So while those on the left scream about budget cuts (how did we ever survive and thrive before excessive government?) statesmen like Bob McDonnell are elected with wide majorities and a mandate to reduce government largesse. Gov. McDonnell understands that throwing money at a problem doesn't work and there are innovative solutions to our problems - take education where Gov. McDonnell's "Opportunity to Learn" program where recently, "the Senate joined the House in approving bills to allow colleges to partner with local school districts to create laboratory schools, expand the use of online virtual schools and empower the state Board of Education to provide advice to those seeking local approval for new charter schools." - Washington Post.

Our society deserves leaders who don't pander for political support but make the difficult decisions necessary to benefit us all. That is why Roanoke City, among all of our communities, must elect fiscally responsible candidates who understand that limited government leads us all to the greater good so many on the left aspire.

Morgan Griffith Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

Sorry I'm a little late getting to this but I didn't have a chance to post this weekend.

As everyone has probably heard by now, the General Assembly finally wrapped up its business on Sunday. It took one extra day to come to a budget agreement. Why? Because the Senate Democrats refused to get serious about negotiations until the last couple of weeks.

So that brings me to the point of this post. When the legislature is in session, the legislators get paid a per diem. The House Republicans, lead by Morgan Griffith, knew that it was unfair to charge the citizens of Virginia several thousand dollars just because they couldn't complete the task on time. As such, they voted to forfeit the extra money.

Now, this just seems like commonsense, right? Anyone would do that, right? Not exactly. The Democrats in the Senate, showing once again that they have no idea what real people deal with, rejected the notion out of hand and took the money.

Folks, it's not a lot of money. It's the principle. The House, led by Morgan, put their principles into action. The Senate Democrats showed that, if they have any principles in the first place, those principles can be bought off for a few measly dollars.

Thank you Morgan for being a man of principle.

Bob Goodlatte - Balancing The Federal Budget

Guest Post from Congressman Bob Goodlatte

It is no secret that the American people are facing a very tough economic climate. Families and small businesses are cutting back on expenses. As economic uncertainty continues, many across our nation are looking to the government for leadership during this difficult time. In these challenging economic times it is even more important for government to control spending. The federal government must work to both eliminate every cent of waste and squeeze every cent of value out of each dollar our citizens entrust to it. When you are preparing a budget for your family, you know that you can’t spend more than you take in. It’s a simple concept but one that Congress has failed to adhere to for far too long. We must balance the budget and reduce the deficit and the debt – not by raising taxes, but by being good stewards of taxpayer money.

Because it has become clear that neither party can exercise the self control necessary to rein in excessive spending, I have introduced a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, H.J. Res 1, to force Congress to do so. My legislation, which has the support of 175 bipartisan Members of the House, ensures that the federal government is held accountable and that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not squandered on wasteful spending and programs.

My balanced budget amendment, which is identical to the legislation that passed the House in 1995 by a vote of 300-132 and fell just two votes short of passage in the Senate, forces Congress to enact fiscally responsible spending measures and reduce the deficit by requiring that total spending for any fiscal year not exceed total receipts. The legislation also includes a specific exception to the balanced budget provisions in times of war or other national emergencies.

This week I was pleased to join with Congressmen Mike Coffman, a Republican from Colorado and Jim Marshall, a Democrat from Georgia, in launching a new Congressional caucus aimed at adding support for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The bipartisan caucus will be dedicated to achieving passage of H.J. Res. 1, and to educating Members of Congress on the necessity and importance of the proposed amendment to the Constitution.

As our nation faces many difficult decisions, Congress will face great pressure to spend beyond its means rather than making difficult decisions about spending priorities. My balanced budget amendment ensures that Congress and the President are held accountable to the American taxpayers. Unless Congress is forced to make the decisions necessary to create a balanced budget, it will always have the all-too-tempting option of shirking this responsibility. Americans are desperate for fiscal reform and the Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment is a common sense approach to ensure that Congress is bound by the same fiscal principles that America’s families face each day.

To contact me about this or any or matter, please visit my website at www.goodlatte.house.gov

News From The Salem Republican Committee

The Salem Republican Committee met last night for our first official meeting of 2010. It was great to see so many old friends and a bunch of new ones as well. Our Committee is vibrant, healthy and energized.

When I took over the Committee 2 years ago, the paid membership included 5 or 6 people. At the time, I said I wasn't looking to be Chair but I was willing to do it as long as it took to put the Committee on solid footing.

Over the last 2 years, we've raised (and spent) unprecedented amounts of money and the Committee is currently carrying a huge budget surplus. Our membership has increased by over 2,000%. We have gotten record results at the polls and have increased our average margin versus the statewide average by several points. We have put in place a precinct captain/volunteer base that has resulted in too many volunteers on election day; allowing us to dispatch volunteers to neighboring jurisdictions. Cooperation between our local Committees has never been better.

All of these successes lead to our little Committee getting a statewide award in 2008 and a 6th District Award in 2009.

Because of all of these successes, and because we have a whole new generation of folks ready to take the Committee to even higher levels, I announced last night that I would not be running for re-election as Salem Chair.

The truth is, most people in these positions stay too long because they think it's about them. This was never about me and I truly believe this transition is the best way to continue the incredible run we've had. I told the Committee I would serve in whatever capacity they see fit and will continue to give everything I have in support of our mission. It's just time for someone else to be out front.

I'll have more on our transition as we head towards our April 13th Mass Meeting to elect a new Chair. In the meantime, it's been a great run. I'm proud of what we accomplished and I look forward to continuing to serve our Committee and party under its new leadership.

Morgan Griffith's Campaign Is Quickly Moving Up The Rankings

National pundits are already starting to take note of Morgan Griffith's challenge to Rick Boucher. It'll be very interesting to see how many move this race to "Leans D" or "Toss Up" once Morgan is the official nominee. In the meantime, the NRCC has now taken note and recognized the promising start to Morgan's campaign. See the NRCC release below.

Morgan Griffith Advances to ‘On the Radar’

Virginia Candidate Takes First Step Toward ‘Young Gun’ Status

Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has officially announced Virginia House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (VA-09) as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, an important first step in its Young Guns program. Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Griffith is running in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District against Democrat incumbent Rick Boucher, who has held the seat since 1983.

The Young Guns program is designed to assist Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives achieve goals and benchmarks focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign. By achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, Griffith has already proven his ability to build a successful campaign structure.

“The NRCC is committed to working with Morgan Griffith as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “Morgan is an accomplished, independent leader who will fight for job creation and against Obama’s War on Coal, which is why he already has significant momentum behind his campaign. I am confident that Republicans will be successful in our effort to defeat Rick Boucher, an out-of-touch Washington politician who has forgotten what it means to represent Southwest Virginia.”

Morgan Griffith has served as the representative for Virginia’s Eighth House of Delegates District for 16 years, and is an ideal candidate to uphold Southwest Virginia values in Congress. Griffith understands the importance of job creation and the coal industry to Southwest Virginia. When in Washington, Griffith will stand up for the struggling middle-class families of Virginia and stand against the job-killing cap-and-trade scheme that would cripple the region’s economic viability.

Having achieved certain benchmarks to place him on the road to victory, Morgan Griffith now faces a new set of rigorous goals that will help him advance to the next level of the Young Guns program and help him build a competitive, effective and winning campaign.

Cross posted at Bloggers for Griffith

Salem Republican Committee Meeting - March 9, 2010

What: Salem Republican Committee Meeting
Where: Salem Courthouse (click here for a map)
When: March 9, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.

Come join us for our first regularly scheduled meeting of 2010. Everyone is welcome.


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The Inescapale Truth of "Healthcare Reform"

Progressive liberals have been dreaming for years of a nationalionalized healthcare system and this month they are poised to force monstrous legislation on a nation overwhelmingly opposed to its actions. Rather than accepting the premise that the people actually know what is best, they arrogantly ridicule protesters and ignore the same popular sentiment they were chosen to represent. The absolute truth of the matter remains that the American people correctly believe that more government is bad and that there is zero chance this program will ever reduce deficits. I hear the liberal rallying cry already that this plan will actually reduce the deficit over the next decade. Sadly these are not the facts. The accounting methods used by the adminstration severely distort the figures - over the next decade the bill counts 10 years of taxation and only 6 years of spending. (For a more in depth look at the true costs of ObamaCare see: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704548604575097602436388116.html)

We can not afford this debacle and our citizens finally get it. Whenever government gets involved, prices go up and quality falls. Just take a look at the two sectors of the economy with the greatest levels of government internvention - heallth care and education. Government spends somewhere between 40-45 cents of every health care dollar and 75 cents of every education dollar. Need I say more? It's not a chore to ferret out government waste and mismangement. The U.S. Government took over Amtrak in 1970 and to this day it loses money every year even though it has a monopoly. The US Postal Service, despite its exemption from taxes and its billions of direct subsidies still has a tough time competing with Fed EX or UPS. Social Security, Medicare, Government Motors, the list goes on and on. The Federal Government cannot afford the programs we currently support and the pubic has caught on.

As Americans we believe strongly inlimited government and that firm belief provided us the pro capitalistic environment we needed to flourish. Our successess as a Nation come not from government intervention, but private innovation. When the US Government taxes, borrows or prints money to subsidize one sector of the economy - we all pay. For example, let's take a look at the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and France. All of these countries provide national healthcare and generous unemployment benefits, but between the years 1993 and 2007 the average unemployment rate was 8.2%, while the average unemployment rate in the US was 4.9%. You cannot have government largesse and robust entrepreneurship and while providing healthcare for all seems like a noble idea we actually all pay in the form of higher taxes, lowers real incomes, higher unemployment and lower growth. True Americanism and free market economics created and advanced the American Dream. Individual Entrepreneurs create wealth and lift standards of living for all of our citizens while government intervention actually makes problems worse and slows growth for ALL. The inescapable truth of the current healthcare reform legislation is that it will do much more harm than good and more importantly - the voters know it...

The above referenced facts and figures come directly from "It's Not as Bad as You Think. Why Capitalism Trumps Fear and the Economy Will Thrive" by Brian Wesbury. I highly reccommend this book and my picks are so much better than Oprah's...

Annual Reagan Dinner

Please join the Roanoke City Republican Committee Saturday, March 27th for our annual Ronald Reagan dinner. The event will take place at The Hotel Roanoke commencing with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6PM. Dinner will be served at 7 and the keynote address will be given by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

Tickets are available for $50.00 a piece
Sponsorship opportunities are available and entail reserved seating based on level:

Friend - $150.00 (2 tickets)
Sponsor - $350.00 (4 tickets)
Patron - $500.00 (6 tickets)
Benefactor - $1,000.00 (table - 8 tickets)


Please send checks made payable to "Roanoke City Republican Committee" to:

RCRC
P.O. Box 4656
Roanoke, VA 24015

Should you have further questions please feel free to contact:

Jim DeLong - jimdelong5@gmail.com
Chris Walters - cmwalters.esq@gmail.com

What Is Satire?

Main Entry: sat·ire
Pronunciation: \ˈsa-ˌtī(-ə)r\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough — more at sad
Date: 1501
1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn
2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

This post is especially for those folks who stumbled on this blog post through a link they found on the Roanoke Times Roundtable blog. At least the Times blogger got it. Wish I could say the same for her readers.

God Wants Morgan Griffith To Be The Congressman In VA-09?

Okay, well God didn't tell me that exactly. However, he did give us a pretty good sign. Since word came out that Morgan was thinking about running, the biggest strike against him was that he didn't live in the District. Personally, I think this is a completely legitimate issue although it'll fade once the race gets heated up.

Anyway, that's where God came in. Apparently he didn't like people talking about Morgan living out of the District so he sent a windstorm to hit Salem last week and knocked over one of Morgan's trees. The tree, which is rooted in the 6th, fell through the fence into the 9th District. Morgan's property is now literally straddling the line and sitting in the 9th District. God even took out the fence that was keeping Morgan out of the 9th.

You can take that however you'd like but, for me, that's about as clear a sign from God as I've ever seen.

One more thing, the Virginia Shooting Sports Association blog has thoughts up about this race that you can read here. They're very interesting.