Conservativa

Republican races from presidential to state are realizing that energy is the issue this year. President Bush speaking in the Rose Garden yesterday. John McCain speaking yesterday. Common sense from Jim Gilmore. Del. Chris Saxman will be introducing legislation in Virginia’s Special Session “that will dedicate all future revenues and royalties that are paid to the Commonwealth as a result of offshore natural gas and oil drilling to the Transportation Trust Fund.”

Congressman Eric Cantor (photo) blogs about it here.

Some excellent thoughts and questions from the incomparable Victor Davis Hanson here.

This issue can be a winner for Republicans, since it goes from the everyday (putting gas in your car) through national defense.

Photo details: Nikon D40, 150mm, ISO 400, 1/100 at f/7.0.

More Rep. Eric Cantor for Vice-President talk, this time from the New York Post. Count me in!

In this photo, Rep. Rob Wittman (at left) has a word with Cantor. Photo details: Canon EOS5D, 200mm, ISO 3200, 1/60 at f/2.8.

The Republican Party of Virginia chose former Gov. Jim Gilmore as its Senate nominee, and elected Del. Jeff Frederick as its new party chairman during its convention May 30-31, 2008. Here is a photo slideshow of the convention highlights.

Congressman Eric Cantor and AG (and candidate for Governor) Bob McDonnell shake hands at the 7th Congressional District Convention. One thing worth noting: Cantor’s name tag, which you can easily see in the original photo, shows that he is a delegate. He could have just breezed in, made a speech, and breezed out again, but he went to the trouble to apply, file, get elected as delegate, show up, and stay for the whole convention.

Photo details: Canon EOS5D, ISO 3200, 200mm, 1/100 at f/3.2.

There’s an article by Bob Rayner in today’s Times-Dispatch suggesting that Congressman Eric Cantor would be a great VP pick for McCain. Don’t I wish! Cantor would be an excellent choice - young, conservative, anti-earmarks, strong on defense, etc. etc. etc. A number of us in his district have said to one another, “Wouldn’t he be a great choice?!” But, as the column says, many also think he eventually would like to be Speaker of the House, so would not especially encourage VP talk.

But, we can dream…

(Yes, I know the Cantor typeface doesn’t match. This was the best I could come up with in 1/2 hour).