Deborah Kay Corey

So Jim Moran is going to give a talk on transportation issues..

From Roads to Rail:
A Town Hall Discussion on the Future of
Transportation in Northern Virginia

Featuring Special Guest Speaker: Rep. Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee

When: Monday, July 7th
7:30PM to 9:30PM

Where: Freddie Mac Headquarters
1551 Park Run Dr.
McLean, Virginia 22102
Building 4 – the Pavilion Room
Map

What: Congressman Moran is hosting a town hall discussion on transportation issues facing Northern Virginia. Rep. Jim Oberstar will provide his perspective as the highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives on matters involving transportation.

Summer is a very slow boring time in the campaign world unless you are foolish and do too much over the Summer than you end up like George Allen. This is a cardinal rule and Mother politics is not forgiving of law breakers. The real show will be in September when school is back in session and the country is in the last 60 days before the election, that is the time that can break or make a candidate as Bill Clinton learned in his first run for President...

Hmmm, this blurb came in from Campaigns and Elections Magazine.

Tuesday July 8, 2008 Campaign Ban Hits Some NASCAR Tracks Voters shouldn't expect to see either John McCain or Barack Obama making appearances at NASCAR events in Daytona Beach Florida, or a dozen other speedways across the country before Election Day. According to officials from the International Speedway Corporation, which owns the Daytona International Speedway, as well as major facilities in both candidates' home states of Arizona and Illinois, the company is implementing a firm policy that prohibits political candidates from campaigning in any capacity at their racing events.

But that hasn't stopped MTV from running political ads this year for the first time ever...

YEAH! Virginians (that means me) are not going to have to pay more on gasoline! Yippeee! This press release below came out yesterday and is very good news as it means that someone in the Virginia legislature is not insane.

It would have been nice to post it yesterday, but we bloggers are a bit busy lately. That's why the Polireport is a team.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

It’s Unanimous: House Democrats Abandon Tim Kaine

Minority Party refuses to consider Governor's transportation "solution"

Richmond, Virginia (July 9, 2008) – Democrats in the House of Delegates today refused to move swiftly on Governor Tim Kaine’s transportation legislation. Kaine’s proposal, which was the subject of nearly a dozen town hall meetings hosted by the Governor around the Commonwealth, has been debated both among lawmakers, special interests, and in the media for several weeks now.

The action came today when the House attempted to amend a transportation-related bill passed by the state Senate to mirror Kaine’s bill. The “Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute” was a facsimile of the Governor’s proposal, giving all Delegates an opportunity to have a clean, up-or-down vote on Kaine’s legislation.

In a unanimous vote (0-98), not a single Democrat voted to support the Governor’s plan.

Last month, Kaine called the General Assembly into special session to tackle the state’s transportation challenges, but it quickly became clear that there was little – bi-partisan – appetite for the Governor’s proposals. The Democratic-controlled state Senate declined to introduce, debate, or put a vote to Kaine’s proposal, but did send legislation to the House that would result in steep hikes in gas taxes, among other tax increases.

“Transportation is an urgent problem, and the people of Virginia are demanding we address it quickly. The action by House Democrats today demonstrates that they’d rather point the finger on transportation solutions than actually acting to move things forward. Not only did House Democrats delay action today, but also voted to prolong the special session at taxpayer expense”, said Delegate Jeff Frederick, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.

“If we’re going to raise taxes, let’s get on with it. But if we aren’t – which seems to be the case – then let’s put the tax hike debate to rest and proceed with many of the new, creative, and innovative solutions General Assembly Republicans have offered that don’t require us to tax hardworking Virginia families more. It’s time we stop letting this tax debate stand in the way of improving our roads, rail, and transit in the Commonwealth,” he added.

###

Gerry Scimeca 804-929-2846

Republican Party of Virginia

Jeffrey M. Frederick, Chairman
The Richard D. Obenshain Center
115 East Grace Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
www.rpv.org

It's the Friday Fry Up, things are cooking away in DC, but they are rainy too.

Obama is running ads now about his home life as a child, his white mother, his white Kansas grandparents...his belief in strong fiscal responsibility, low taxes, low cost health care, working hard, rewarding companies that do not take work abroad..hmmm. He almost sounds like Pat Buchanan. Weirdness.

Although his plan for Change is not one that sounds new, sounds like Jimmy Carter. Uh oh. Hopefully, he is not as dire....whatever, the real fun begins with the conventions later this year.

SO-one must ask the question as pop star Madonna divorces or plans to divorce her husband Guy Ritchie, does Madonna have to get a divorce and be involved in a sordid affair with a Yankees player (A-Rod) to stay relevant?

If you haven't seen the media hubbub about the New Yorker cover featuring Barack and Michele Obama in Muslim garb and militant clothing than you need to get rid of that rock you have been under. Really, push it off right now.

Many say that it is really an in joke that pokes fun at the silly rumors about Barack as he runs for office. And really no one should be that upset because it's not true..on the other hand one might say it's subconscious implications are bad because it might confirm what people are thinking instead of making it funny.

Oh, well at least the conservatives are not still saying Barack is a Muslim and he should get rid of that nasty Reverend Jeremiah Wright from his Christian church...that would be the Wright that cares nothing for Obama's campaign success as evidenced by his actions over the Spring.

Well, fabulous emails from Jim Moran's campaign...sorry the graphics are lost in the translation here.....

Well, maybe this blogger's Dad is right, maybe the media really does like John McCain better than Obama.

Check out this blog from the LA Times:

Top of the Ticket
Ticket Pool Report: In the crowd with John McCain

Presidential campaigns are much like a complex traveling circus, with teams assigned to develop messages to voters, teams designed to scout appropriate sites for candidate visits, teams assigned to prepare them and teams assigned to accompany the candidate and ensure a smooth appearance, most notably with the traveling and local media whose experience is reflected in the tone and detail of the coverage they provide to millions.

Sometimes the campaign venues are too small to accomodate the large press pRepublican presidential nominee to be John McCain and wife Cindy greet voters at a campaign eventacks traveling on the campaign plane, whose numbers jockeying for position would spoil the desired "getting-to-know-you-feel" the campaign wants for the TV cameras.

So pool reporters are chosen by turn to represent print and broadcast media, assembled elsewhere, and share what they see and hear with their absent colleagues in detailed Pool Reports, sometimes several a day and sometimes with professional asides to their colleagues.

From time to time through November The Ticket is going to publish these pool reports in their entirety to give readers an inside feel for the kinds of detail they may not always see in the formal news coverage and to peer inside the raw material that journalists use to compile their coverage. Sometimes, as last night, the pool reports include details of an unexpected encounter.

This morning's Pool Report is No. 4 from Tuesday evening with Sen. John McCain in St. Louis. It includes a humorous addition at the end:

"McCain Pool Report #4
7/15/08

ST. LOUIS—Showing his intimate knowledge of the Show Me State’s culture, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made a pilgrimage to one of its vaunted institutions Tuesday night: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.

The local dessert stand, which was founded in 1929, made its reputation on its 'concretes' cups of frozen custard that are so thick the servers flip them upside down before they....

Read more Ticket Pool Report: In the crowd with John McCain »

This came in from ACU yesterday...and yes the promo is there for CPAC 2009. One may find that the action is a bit late as Raines is a Clinton era flunky. So, it goes back to 2000 at the earliest. Hmm....well whatever...it is interesting information......

BTW-the fury over the Obama cover has died down with both campaigns denouncing it....but some other tasty tidbit about the cover could always come out later...

(see next page for press release)

It's the Friday Fry Up. Things are boring in DC, hot though..but boring...go to the beach..go to Ocean City and be bad, get your head shaved...go to church...but things are still boring until the Fall as far as politics go....

Soon, the Hill will be in Recess and that means big time boredom and slacking off which leads to trouble or vacation. Now, is a good time for Paris Hilton to go berzerk.

Anyways, ABC says that Americans have lost faith in the Afghan war because it has gone on for too long...that looks right. This story is not new either, so it's old and that is boring...

Uh oh, It looks like the New York Times is not being so fair to McCain. Drudge alleges that they turned down an op ed by McCain right after running one for Obama.

Tsk, tsk New York Times...it's hard to say if the TImes was really being that bad or if the Drudge report just doesn't like Obama. Here is what the McCain campaign said:

A top McCain source claims the paper simply does not agree with the senator's Iraq policy, and wants him to change it, not "re-work the draft."

McCain writes in the rejected essay: 'Progress has been due primarily to an increase in the number of troops and a change in their strategy. I was an early advocate of the surge at a time when it had few supporters in Washington. Senator Barack Obama was an equally vocal opponent. 'I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there,' he said on January 10, 2007. 'In fact, I think it will do the reverse.'

It looks like saving Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could cost lots and lots of money...fabulous.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday estimated that a government plan to stabilize mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost government coffers an average of $25 billion.

The CBO said it thinks there is probably a better than 50% chance that the Treasury would not need to step in. In addition, it said there is nearly a 5% chance that Freddie and Fannie's losses would cost the government $100 billion.

Wow, that's hot.

Justin Hart is saying that it is this close to McCain's campaign announcing that
Romney will be the Vice Presidential candidate.

You might have been at CPAC when Mitt Romney suspended his campaign this year. You might have even got upset or cried a little..and found yourself standing outside the Omni Shoreham acting like a melodramatic person.. or not. Maybe you have pictures of yourself as a volunteer for him during his race for President....or not. Maybe you really liked Brownbeck and chased Romney's volunteers around at CPAC in 2007.. or not. Maybe you sat and listened to McCain give his speech to the CPACers after Romney stepped aside...and begrudgingly gave your support to the war veteran...while 18 yr old boys threw fits behind you in the crowd, jeering at McCain and you watched the 40 yr old next to you tell the rascals to be quiet and accept things....or not.

Ron Paul, um yes, Ron Paul. Still.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jesse Benton July 22, 2008 202-246-6363 ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Congressman and former presidential candidate Ron Paul announced his plans today to hold a rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the Republican National Convention. Dubbed the Rally for the Republic, the rally will formally launch Dr. Paul's new political action group, the Campaign for Liberty, with a series of events culminating in a celebration of traditional Republican values at the 18,000 seat Target Center on Tuesday, September 2.

Tickets go on sale through Ticket Master this Friday, July 25 at 11:00 am ET.

Dr. Paul will hold grassroots and leadership training events on August 31 and September 1, culminating in the all day Target Center event featuring high profile speakers including Grover Norquist, Tucker Carlson, Gov. Gary Johnson, Barry Goldwater Jr. and Bruce Fein. The event will also feature well know music entertainers to be announced soon. More information can be found at http://rally.campaignforliberty.com/
(continued)

Ack, this blogger had to get up early this morning and the whole day is now off..it's time for the Friday Fry Up!

So, this week was a rolling run of people that McCain might pick to be his VP candidate. Pawlenty..Romney...what happened to the Colin Powell idea? Or Condi Rice? MAN!

Such a tease.

And no one in Hollywood is being crazy enough to warrant censure, rehab, or ridicule, yet. Go Watch E! News if you need something...well, Christian Bale went off verbally on his mommy and sister. Okay, censure Christian Bale!

This article came out earlier this week from the New Yorker. It describes the eerie feeling the author got as he watched Heath Ledger play the joker in the Dark Knight.

And one more for today, think of it as additional Fry Up...

Friends,

A newsworthy item today that I thought might interest you...

The Campaign for Liberty began selling tickets today for our Rally for the Republic today through Ticket Master at 11:00 am ET. In keeping with Ron Paul tradition, we are encouraging supporters to have a "ticket bomb" and buy their admission today.

As of 1:00 pm ET, we had sold 5,219 tickets. Please visit www.RallyfortheRepublic.com for progress updates or more information on our event.

As always, call me at 202-246-6363 with any questions or to arrange interviews.

Best,

Jesse Benton

Mortgages failing, foreclosures, hiring numbers are down, now the clothing industry wants to promote bad clothes?? What next? Bad values? Are we getting a bit melodramatic here by wanting another Jimmy Carter? What did Jimmy Carter offer? Anyways.

The President signed a bailout plan for homeowners in trouble which would allow them to get government backed loan help, so they don't have to have their homes foreclosed on.....

Despite reservations, Bush ready to sign mortgage relief for 400,000 strapped homeowners

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress approved mortgage relief for 400,000 struggling homeowners Saturday as part of an election-year housing plan that also aims to calm jittery financial markets and bolster the sagging economy. President Bush said he would sign it promptly, despite reservations.

It looks like the hot issue for the political debates will involve Gas. As people drive to and from the beach this summer and wherever else, the big thought is constantly, can I afford the gas?

It's a sad day when a girl can't go on a vacation because it costs to much for gas. And the gas hysteria is rising...the oil companies were already dragged in front of congress and questioned...the oil business can't help the nature of speculation...but then again....they can...one almost starts to wonder if the oil companies know what they are doing anymore...making lots of money...but have they thought about the loss of profits if the current situation continues and everyone switches to some other form of energy eventually? Critics and supporters complain that the oil will always be our main form of energy, but that seems ridiculous. There simply comes a point when cost outweighs the benefit. Think about it, another energy source or plan will make the middle eastern situation null. If money is not being poured into the middle east for oil, then there is no need for U.S. intervention except that the rest of the world might still want oil for energy use. So then the U.S. is still stuck trying to protect that source of money from the terrorists. And the general craziness of some of the people...sometimes the Middle East's hold on oil and the problems over there are like the hold of an abusive relationship, the longer one stays, the harder it is to leave, the more crazy things become..and the abusive personality knows that....

This blogger is feeling lazy, so today's post will be a shameless promotion of my friend David Freddosso's book The Case Against Barack Obama.

Dear Friends:

My new book, The Case against Barack Obama, is now available on Amazon.com. In fact, I am #68 overall on Amazon today. You can help me improve that by clicking through here and buying the book.

The release date is this coming Monday -- August 4, Senator Obama's birthday. I am scheduled to begin television and radio appearances that night, beginning with Hannity and Colmes.

I promise you that it is a good read, and you'll enjoy it. For those of you in the D.C. area, I also promise to throw a party at some point soon (probably later in August) to celebrate its release. If you bring your book, I'll even sign it for you. Further details will follow.

Thanks!

David Freddoso

It would have to be now in the months before the election that Ted Stevens would finally be punished for his fat cat ways. Oh no, it could not have happened years ago, like in 2005, when the famous bridge to nowhere was being attacked. That was a warning for Stevens to change his ways.

The bridge by the way, was a multi-million dollar project project that would be financed with you guessed it, your tax dollars. The project was to build a bridge to an island that was mostly uninhabited off the coast of Alaska. It turned out that Stevens' mother, or mother in law, or who knows, maybe his dog lived on the island and it was really an opportunity to give Alaska business and help himself out at the same time.