Sep 28 2007

State Fair 2007

Tag: PhotosConservativa @ 6:33 am

statefair.jpgpiglet.jpglonghorns.jpgfriedpepsi.jpg

Photos taken at State Fair of Virginia. The ferris wheel, a piglet that has just fed and is now getting his full tummy scritched, a longhorn mother and calf, and a photo of fried Pepsi. These are like turnovers, with a filling flavored by Pepsi syrup. (I didn’t get one but I talked to the people working there).

Details: Fujifilm F45FD (point and shoot). First outing with the camera. Verdict: excellent for a point and shoot. The photo of the longhorn mother and calf is at ISO 800 and looks surprisingly good at full size.


Sep 27 2007

Kaine Appointee Out

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 6:03 pm

Omeish is out. Good for Tim Kaine, and good work Delegate Gilbert. AP/Times-Dispatch story here.


Sep 26 2007

Elections Matter, Parts 3,498,508 and 3,498,509

Tag: Politics, RepublicanConservativa @ 4:39 pm

So, more on this morning’s RTD article on Watkins being made chairman of this Immigration Commission. Yes, this is the same commission of which Omeish is now a member.


Sep 26 2007

Questions About Kaine Appointee

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 4:19 pm

Del. Todd Gilbert brought this up. The Governor needs to explain this… Check out the video, too (at the end of the story). What on earth was Tim Kaine thinking!?

Here’s the page for the Commission:
http://www.shhr.state.va.us/Initiatives/ImmigrationCommission/meetings.cfm


Sep 26 2007

Who is “MG News Service”?

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 6:54 am

Two interesting things about one small article: this morning’s Times-Dispatch (p. A-9) has a short article on a chairmanship of General Assembly immigration panel. More on the substance of the article later today, but first, look at the byline - Media General News Service. Who might that be? And why doesn’t an actual byline appear? No room? No, they found room for not one but two photos. I would think that since this (Richmond) is General Assembly central and there is a lot of political reporting going on, that the reporter’s name would appear on the piece. I could see that if this same piece appeared in another Media General newspaper hundreds of miles away the reporter’s name might be dropped, but not here in Richmond. I’m betting this is a Jeff Schapiro piece. His other piece in this morning’s paper is headlined “Assembly Republicans embrace tax proposals.” C’mon, RTD, put the bylines back in. (The paper is already printed, but you can revise the pieces on inrich.com…)


Sep 25 2007

Can You Help the (Habitat) Better Halves Build?

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 11:47 am

This project is a bi-partisan build being spearheaded by Amy Frederick, better half of Delegate Jeff Frederick (R) and Rose Ann Janis, better half of Delegate Bill Janis (R), and Ashley Peace, better half of Delegate Chris Peace (R). Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D) has also pledged to assist with our raising of support.

Please help with this American Dream of homeownership! Contact contact Bill or Rose Ann Janis at bill@billjanis.com if you are willing to donate!

More here.


Sep 25 2007

McDonnell Lists Va. Republican Achievements

Tag: Blogging, Photos, Politics, RepublicanConservativa @ 6:33 am

mcd4712.jpgAG McDonnell liveblogged over at Goodsense-Va. People asked good questions, and he was able to get to many of them during the hour (see the comments link). Here was mine, with the answer:

Question: Mr. Attorney General,
This fall the entire legislature is up for election. Please set out your case for sending the Republicans back, to keep their majority. Bring exhibits. Courtroom theatrics welcome. ‘Cause this is the blogosphere! Seriously, in particular, what do you say to people who say, “Why should Republicans keep the majority? They’re not really that different from Democrats. Let’s just vote for ‘change.’”

Answer: That claim is absolutely false. Only Republicans govern from the premise that government must keep taxes, regulation and litigation low, that the free enterprise system and not government programs is the key to economic prosperity, and that traditional values must be preserved. In looking at the record of results by the parties there is no comparison. Republicans have dramatically improved Virginia government with abolition of parole, welfare reform, juvenile justice reform, significant improvements in laws cracking down on drunk driving, gangs, and sexual predators. Republicans alone have ushered in accountability in schools with SOL tests, while investing record new sums in K-12 education. Just this session Republicans enacted the first major transportation funding bill in 21 years, significantly private property rights protections, and championed Youth Internet Safety. Democrats can point to nowhere near the same record of results that benefited the Virginia citizen. It is a record Republicans will proudly run on this fall. Similarly, in articulating a vision for the future Republicans have made concrete proposals to crack down on criminal illegal aliens, reform the mental health system, strengthen our school construction programs, and provide property tax relief. There has been no similar vision apparent from the Democrats, that is unfortunate. Thanks for the question Jane, sorry for the long answer, but its a critically important topic.

Sounds like he will be urging Republicans to shake off any lingering grumpiness from last Fall’s election and to draw the real comparisons between the Republican and Democratic records. (And I say don’t buy into guilt that our record is not flawless. No one’s is). This bears repeating:

Only Republicans govern from the premise that government must keep taxes, regulation and litigation low, that the free enterprise system and not government programs is the key to economic prosperity, and that traditional values must be preserved.

The premise and the record. We can be proud to discuss both.

Photo details: (photo taken earlier this year, not during liveblog). Canon EOS 30D, 24-70mm, 1/60, f/4.5, ISO 800, bounce flash, cropped in Photoshop and contrast increased slightly.


Sep 24 2007

McDonnell Liveblogs at Goodsense Today

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 7:10 am

Head on over to http://goodsense-va.blogspot.com/ to ask the AG a question. (Question thread here, in the comments). Liveblog scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.


Sep 23 2007

Turning Leaf

Tag: PhotosConservativa @ 9:16 pm

Red LeafYes, this is a leaf turning red.

Details: Canon 5D, 24-70mm at 70mm, 1/1250 at f/2.8, ISO 100.


Sep 21 2007

Great Bipartisan Project, and You Can Help

Tag: PoliticsConservativa @ 11:27 am

Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity has a great project going on in Richmond - a “Delegates Better Halves Build” project, including spouses of Virginia’s Delegates and our supportive significant others who are committed to not only financing the home but also to putting our own muscle into the house build. The soon-to-be homeowner has worked for 30 years but now has a disability. Currently she rents a small home where she lives with her 83-year-old mother and 14-year-old grandson.

This project is a bi-partisan build being spearheaded by Amy Frederick, better half of Delegate Jeff Frederick (R) and Rose Ann Janis, better half of Delegate Bill Janis (R), and Ashley Peace, better half of Delegate Chris Peace (R). Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D) has also pledged to assist with our raising of support.

Please help with this American Dream of homeownership! Contact contact Bill or Rose Ann Janis at bill@billjanis.com if you are willing to donate!


Sep 20 2007

Where Does M. Warner Stand in this ‘Critical Time’?

Tag: Politics, RepublicanConservativa @ 4:01 pm

Well, lookee here what just hit my email box. A letter from Mark Warner. He is asking for money for his senate campaign, because

“We need to get our country fixed - and we can do that by bringing the same practical, problem-solving approach we created in Virginia to Washington.”

Hey Mark Warner, if you want the privilege of going to Washington to represent us, explain this: 25 Democrats unwilling to repudiate the MoveOn.org smear of General Petraeus. (On the list, Hillary Clinton). If you were in the Senate today, Mark Warner, how would you have voted? We deserve to know.

The title of your email is “We are at a critical time.” Yes we are. Do you think we should support the military and win the war? Or would you stand with 25 of your fellow democrats?


Sep 19 2007

New and Ugly Ribbon

Tag: Photos, PoliticsConservativa @ 6:32 pm

Just PretendSpotted on a car, parked at the grocery store. The ribbon says, “Just Pretend It’s All Okay.” The car had other bumper stickers, including one that said, “You want a theocracy? Move to Iran.”

Details: Sony S600 (point and shoot).


Sep 17 2007

Careful, Del. Cox!

Tag: Photos, Republicanadmin @ 5:07 pm

K. Cox Del. Kirk Cox struck by car in downtown Richmond today. Not badly injured, apparently. Hope he’s okay.

Kirk Cox website.

Update: interviewed on WTVR (no link on their website yet), back home, he seemed pretty chipper. He’s going to be some hurting tomorrow, though.


Sep 17 2007

The Straight Skinny from Iraq

Tag: Iraqadmin @ 6:19 am

Recently I have caught up with a friend serving in Iraq. He gave me permission to talk about the gist of what was in an email he sent, but did not want any identifying information given. The gist was this - where he is, in a hot spot in Iraq, the locals are getting along well with the Americans, and slowly beginning to get along with each other. They are seeing that Al Qaeda is the enemy of all of them. Wish I could quote a lot more of what he said, but I respect his wish to not do so.

He did say plainly that a real fear that he and his friends have is that Congress will pull the rug out from under them, just now when progress is truly beginning to happen. For example, see an AP story that is quoted here.

That ain’t right, people. Anyone who goes and puts his life on the line in the military should not have to worry that some shortsighted individual on Capitol Hill is going to undercut his work.


Sep 16 2007

NYC Vandal Offers Pro Shoot Critique

Tag: Blogging, Photosadmin @ 8:16 pm

Funny stuff. One graffiti artist must have had some commercial photography experience. He helpfully annotates an ad at a subway station with instructions on how the photographer should reshoot.

Entire ad; vandal’s work snapped; I saw it on the excellent Strobist blog.


Next Page »