Jim Gilmore ~Rockingham County Fair~

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Senate Candidate Jim Gilmore was at the Rockingham County Fair today and walked the entire fair grounds where he spent hours meeting and talking with Virginians about the upcoming elections...

Harrisonburg \ Rockingham Republican Party hosted the campaign booth and did an outstanding job representing the local, state, and national Republican Candidates running in the upcoming November elections...

Stopped at the Marine Corps League where he bought a ticket to support the league's "Toys for Tots" program...

Walked the majority of the fairgrounds with Lowell Barb who is running for the Commissioner of the Revenue for Rockingham County...

Jim Gilmore: "It's common sense ... drill here, drill now, pay less"

Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore is challenging Mark Warner in his energy proposals. Warner, like most Democrats, refuses to accept that American can drill for oil without causing environmental damage.

The Jim Gilmore for U.S. Senate campaign released the following press release:

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, a candidate for the Virginia U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Warner, issued a statement today responding to Mark Warner’s proposed solutions for the on-going national energy crisis:

“Mark Warner is saying the same things that everyone else in Washington has said for the last 20 years. That is how we got where we are.

“We need to drill here and drill now. When the oil speculators know the United States is serious about drilling here and taking real conservation measures the price of gasoline will start going down.

“Mark Warner says he wants to “wean” Americans off of oil. He agrees with the liberal special interest groups that want to drive up gasoline prices and force Americans out of their cars.

“Alternative sources of energy are important and we must push them aggressively but they are not going to solve the problems of the average Virginia worker who has to drive 20 or 30 miles every day to work.

“Working families are hurting now and it is time for a commonsense solution to the problems of supply and demand -- not the same liberal theories that have restricted America’s energy supplies for decades.

“Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.”

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

Monday ... Jim Gilmore campaigns in Lynchburg

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, Virginia candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Warner, will be taking his Working Families Tour to Delta Star, Inc. in Lynchburg on Monday, June 23, 2008, at 2:00 pm. Delta Star is located at 3550 Mayflower Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501.

Delta Star is a leading manufacturer of quality electrical products and has been in operation since 1908. Delta Star is a major employer in the Lynchburg area and ships products to customers around the world. It is an example of the kind of Virginia companies that have continued to provide good jobs and opportunity to working families during this time of economic stress.

In addition to touring Delta Star, Gov. Gilmore will be visit with a number of Lynchburg area leaders to discuss his efforts to help reduce the price of gasoline by increasing America's domestic oil production.

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl
Jim Gilmore for Senate

Jim Gilmore: "Drill here. Drill now. Pay less."

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, a candidate for the Virginia U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Warner, issued a statement today commending Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain for favoring the lifting of the federal offshore drilling ban:

"As working families across the Commonwealth of Virginia and across our country face financial hardship due to soaring gasoline prices, I commend Senator John McCain for speaking out on the need to decisively begin to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and increase American oil production. As President and U.S. Senator respectively, we will work together to lift the federal ban on offshore drilling that has kept us from tapping into this vast resource of American oil.

"Drill here, drill now, and pay less. This is our path to quickly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower prices.

"We are a nation of almost 200 million automobiles, and although conservation and alternative energy sources such as wind and solar should be part of a comprehensive plan, we must find immediate solutions that will allow us to increase production of American oil. Increased exploration and drilling for gas and oil off our coasts would make a dramatic difference in the price of gas and the price of everything else that is being driven upward by skyrocketing energy costs, from a gallon of milk to the food on our dinner table.

"We currently only explore about 15 percent of our nation's coastline for oil and gas. Recent studies estimate that about 86 billion barrels of untapped oil exist in federally restricted areas, Virginia's coastline being one of them. Yet, when Mark Warner was governor of Virginia, he vetoed legislation in support of lifting the federal moratorium on offshore drilling.

"The issue of energy independence is becoming more and more pressing as its effect on our economy and national security increases. Now is the time to take action. We can no longer allow America's working people to financially struggle to purchase an indispensable commodity from foreign enemies such as Iran and Venezuela when our own country has vast untapped amounts of it as well."

Drill here. Drill now. Pay less. Jim Gilmore gets it unlike Mark Warner who is against domestic oil exploration.

Cross-psoted at SWAC Girl
Jim Gilmore for Senate

So this is what RINOs mean by the "big tent"

I think I finally get the big tent theory as proposed by John Warner and other moderate Republicans: Endorse Democrats so you can be "bipartisan." Why have two separate political parties when we can all be one big happy family?

In today's Washington Post Vince Callahan, former Jim Gilmore ally, said he was going to announce his endorsement of U.S. Senate Democrat candidate Mark Warner because, " 'The figures Gilmore used [for the car tax reduction] were so utterly erroneous and far-fetched that they were mind-boggling,' said Callahan, who helped Gilmore push his car tax proposal through the House of Delegates in the late 1990s."

So let me be sure I've got this right. Callahan objects to Governor Gilmore's efforts to reduce the tax burden on Virginia's citizens ... so he's lining up against him with Mark Warner who imposed the largest tax increase ever in Virginia's history.

I get it. That must be the "big tent" theory.

The Post added:

Warner, who succeeded Gilmore as governor, said Callahan's endorsement "reflects the kind of bipartisan approach we brought to Richmond and hopefully we can bring to Washington."

"Bipartisan" must be another word for "sell-out." Keep in mind Callahan joins John Chichester, one of the Gang of Five -- that group of Republican state senators who voted against other Republicans and with the Democrats throughout the years -- that group of Republican state senators who were in charge of a Republican state senate but did not lead as if they were the majority -- in endorsing Warner.

With Republicans like that ... who needs Democrats?

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

The Warnerese-to-English translator goes national! (Well, sort of)

Quite a day yesterday! The Audacity of Hype paid a visit to Southwest VA and NoVA, and Mark Warner gave us a chance to break out the world famous Warnerese-to-English translator. We only caught one line, today, but it was enough (Chicago Tribune):

"You took a chance on me," Warner told the crowd at Virginia High School, where black and orange paint still marks a state basketball title from 1916. Now, he added a moment later, "I'm asking you and all the people listening, take the time and get to know this man. This is a good man. This is a man of deep faith. This is a man who has spent his life bringing people together."

Now, here's the translation:

You took a chance on me, and I hosed you with a huge tax increase. I'm asking you and all the people listening, take the time to forget all that. This is a man of deep faith; just don't ask him about it or his spiritual mentors. This is a man who has spent his life bringing people together, not that they or he accomplished anything once they were all in the same room, but you already know what that's like from my term as Governor.

The Audacity of Hype then visited Prince William County; unfortunately, we're not sure if Warner went with him, since no one else was there (Virginia Virtucon).

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

I'll see your Republican State Senator and raise you a Democratic Governor

So Mark Warner is touting his bipartisan support (without noticing that His Lordship John Chichester was just about the worst Republican he could cite as an example) in his campaign. To hear him say it, just about everybody was just peachy about his massive 2004 tax increase - except for the old curmudgeon Jim Gilmore.
Well, Warner may have won over a retired RINO State Senator, but his 2004 tax increase had its critics. In fact, it had big-name critics - big-name Republican and Democratic critics.

Taking a trip down memory lane, we go to March of 2004 (Free Lance-Star, emphasis added):

Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat, and his Republican successor, Sen. George Allen, said in a joint news conference that Gov. Mark Warner and several lawmakers who have pushed for tax increases should have put forth those tax proposals before last November's general election.

. . .

Wilder and Allen accused Warner of breaking campaign promises not to raise taxes, and suggested some lawmakers re-elected last fall did the same thing.

"Because the people of Virginia were promised their taxes would not be raised, we believe our fellow citizens deserve an opportunity to vote by referendum before such broken promises are enacted into law," Wilder said.

Since it's too late for the tax proposals to be part of a general election debate, Wilder and Allen said, the General Assembly should pass a base budget that covers core services without a tax increase and then put all additional revenue and spending proposals on the ballot. They noted that Warner and many lawmakers supported a 2002 referendum in which Northern Virginia and
Hampton Roads voters rejected a sales-tax hike.

"If those who advocate billions in record income, sales, cigarette and gas taxes truly believe they have the support of the public, then our proposal to do what the governor and General Assembly provided in 2002--require approval by referendum before any new taxes become law--should not be feared by them at all," Wilder said.

That wasn't all Wilder said either (Growls):

Mr. Wilder also said, "The effort to exclude the everyday citizens from the tax debates has been so successful that the voice of the hardworking taxpayer is hardly being heard in Richmond today."

Finally, there was this coup de grace (Reason Foundation):

Wilder further added that he would not have endorsed Warner had he known Warner would champion tax hikes.

"If I had any idea that he would be raising the taxes beyond what he promised to me," Wilder said, "I would not have been there."

Ouch!

So let's recap. Doug Wilder, a Democrat who as Governor appointed Warner to lead the DPVA in 1993, considered the 2004 tax hike to be "broken promises" which ensured that "the voice of the hardworking taxpayer is hardly being heard in Richmond," and angered him so much that he said he wouldn't have endorsed Warner if he knew of it ahead of time.

Oh, and one more thing. When Doug Wilder won his first, historic statewide race for Lieutenant Governor in 1985, guess whom he beat?

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

Thank Mark Warner for fiscal discipline? It was the voters of NoVa and HR who deserve the credit!

The more I think about Mark Warner praising himself for getting Virginia's fiscal house in order, the more upset I get. It's not just that the situation was nowhere near as bad as Warner claims it was in January of 2002 (see Spank That Donkey and Jin Bowden for more on that), but that it wasn't even Mark Warner who turned Virginia's finances around - it was the voters in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Part of the disconnect here is that Warner is only remember for his actual 2002-04 budget. That it raised spending by more than 10% is bad enough (although the General Fund piece was largely unchanged), but what many forget is that the budget as we remember it today was not the budget as Warner had initially designed.

In fact, Warner was hoping to spend another $1.25 billion for his first biennium (which would have meant a 5% increase in General Fund spending and a 13% overall increase), he just wanted the people of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to pay for it. As Warner presented his first budget, he was also supporting a bill calling for referenda in those two regions that would impose a sales tax increase to fund transportation. Just to make sure the voters had extra incentive to vote yes, Warner gutted the transportation budget (Free Lance Star).

One of the reasons this little bait-and-switch quickly entered the memory hole was that the Republicans who controlled the General Assembly at the time were just as happy to send the bill to the NoVa and HR voters as Warner was. Both House Speakers (Vance Wilkins before he had to resign over a sexual harassment complaint and his successor, Bill Howell) backed the idea, as did the Senate GOP leadership (we now know this was the least of their errors). In fact, just about the only politician who did not have a hand in trying to ram tax increases down the voters were the roughly three-dozen legislators who opposed it - and Jim Gilmore.

The voters, however, had other ideas, and they thunderously rejected the tax hikes. Suddenly, the budget Warner hoped would scare voters into increasing taxes on themselves had become the only budget he had. So Warner, in a rare act of political cunning, erased the referenda failure from his mind, and pretended he had intended to tighten the screws on state spending all along. Richmond Republicans, eager to have voters forget their role in the fiasco, followed suit.

Thus was the legend of Mark Warner the budget-slasher born - a legend Warner used as cover for the 2004 tax increase and a second budget that jacked up spending by more than $10 billion.

In fact, Mark Warner's reputation as a prudent manager and "fiscal conservative" is a complete sham. It wasn't Warner who insisted Richmond slim down; it was the voters of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia who deserve the credit for forcing Virginia's politicians - Mark Warner included - to limit their appetites.

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

Bloggers 4 Gilmore: Spanky defines why pro-lifers should support Gilmore

Check it out ... Chris Green's "big tent" theory about why pro-lifers should support Jim Gilmore for U.S. Senate.

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

U.S. Senate: Jim Gilmore, Jim Gilmore, Jim Gilmore

By Howie Lind

I strongly endorse Governor Jim Gilmore for the United States Senate. I urge you to support him and to vote for him at the Republican State Convention May 31 in Richmond.

The following issues are of utmost importance to us as Virginians and as patriotic Americans.

National Security and Defense
Governor Jim Gilmore served in the U. S. military as an Army Intelligence Officer, and he has served as Chairman of the Congressional Commission on Counter-Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction -- pre-9/11/01. And he has been a great leader for a strong Homeland Security posture for our nation after September 11th. Our Presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, will win Virginia while gaining large support from the national security and defense communities, both military and civilian, both active and retired. With Governor Gilmore on the ballot in Virginia with Senator McCain, Gov. Gilmore will attract these same voters.

Mark Warner has no military service and no experience in the above areas.

National Energy Policy
Governor Jim Gilmore has called for a "declaration of energy independence for the United States of America." His plan for more domestic energy production includes drilling for oil and gas in Alaska, in the continental United States, and off of our shorelines. He also calls for streamlining the cost of regulatory compliance for the construction of new nuclear plants and oil refineries and treating coal as a strategic national asset. He advocates a full range of new energy policies in order to push the United States towards energy independence, and away from our reliance on foreign oil and gas, particularly from these despotic regimes around the world who are our sworn enemies.

Mark Warner is beholden to the policies of the Democrat's far left who are stopping us from becoming energy independent.

National Economic Policy
Governor Jim Gilmore understands that the key to a strong economy is lower taxation at all levels of government in order to free up businesses -- small, medium, and large -- to expand their productivity and to create more jobs. Gov. Gilmore's signature achievement during his governorship was to eliminate the personal property tax on cars and trucks. And he achieved 70% of this car tax elimination, before being blocked by the Democrats and some Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly.

Mark Warner's signature achievement during his governorship was to ram the largest tax increase down the throats of all Virginians. This massive tax increase was absolutely unnecessary since the state economy was just rebounding, that resulted in record state revenues in excess of his tax increase -- before the tax increase even kicked in. The "main stream media" refuses to acknowledge this fact.

Please join me in supporting Governor Jim Gilmore to be our next United States Senator from Virginia.

Thanks to Howie Lind for use of his email.

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

Jim Gilmore is the ONLY choice for U.S. Senate

National security is my #1 concern in any election ... and Jim Gilmore is the only choice in the U.S. Senate race because of his strong national security background.

I am not in favor of abortion ... but that is not the most important issue to me when it comes to a candidate. I respect those who are pro-life ... aren't we all pro-life? ... but if we have bombs dropping on our heads, it won't matter about abortion. First and foremost, we must secure our nation.

Jim Gilmore has the background and experience for that. He led Virginia through the 9/11 crisis as governor. He has military intelligence background. He was part of the Gilmore Commission prior to 9/11 and recognized the terrorism threat at that time.

Jim Gilmore is for drilling for oil in ANWR ... Marshall is not.

Gilmore wants to see us become more energy independent by drilling offshore and by streamlining the cost of regulatory compliance for new nuclear plants and oil refineries.

Gilmore is for the Virginia Dominion coal plant in southwest Virginia that is opposed by environmentalists but is wanted and needed by the people who actually live and work in the area.

Under Jim Gilmore's administration we saw tuition at Virginia's colleges reduced 20%. That rate was frozen for four years ... and since then tuition rates have spiraled upwards. With college-aged children, I am painfully aware of college costs.

Jim Gilmore says what he means and means what he says. He is the only choice for Virginia for U.S. Senate, and I will be in Richmond proudly supporting him at the RPV State Convention this weekend.

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

Veterans for Jim Gilmore

Throughout his life, Jim Gilmore has demonstrated his character and leadership. As a young man, Jim Gilmore volunteered for the United States Army during the Vietnam Era when many people were trying to avoid military service. He graduated with honors from the Army Intelligence School and Defense Language Institute and he was placed in the 650th Military Intelligence Group stationed in Germany.

As a soldier in Western Europe, Jim Gilmore was assigned to a counter-intelligence unit where he worked to help protect and safeguard our bases. He was later awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

After his service in the U.S. Army, Jim Gilmore received a law degree at the University of Virginia and received assistance as a result of the G.I. Bill. As a U.S. Senator, Jim Gilmore will work for a new and expanded G.I. Bill to help assist those men and women who are selflessly serving our country today. Jim Gilmore will also fight to ensure that our returning veterans receive quality health care.

As Governor of Virginia, Jim Gilmore reduced Virginia taxes on active duty, junior military personnel. Later he was appointed Chairman of the Congressional Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction which came to be known as the Gilmore Commission from 1999 – 2003.

The Gilmore Commission presented five reports to Congress and Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and warned of a possible terrorist attack on the U.S. before 9/11. After 9/11 Congress adopted 146 of the Gilmore Commissions 164 recommendations for improving our national security.

In his term as Governor, Jim Gilmore dealt with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 when the Pentagon was struck. He deployed the Virginia National Guard and other first responders to secure our critical infrastructure and protect our citizens.

Jim Gilmore’s knowledge of homeland security has been recognized by countless elected officials, pundits and media outlets. The Atlanta Journal stated in 2007, “The government’s failure to heed the prescient work product of Gilmore’s commission allowed major systemic weaknesses in our defenses to continue, which in turn improved the chances for success by the Sept. 11 terrorists.” The article also said, “[Jim Gilmore] was a leader in the field before half the country became armchair anti-terrorism experts.”

Whether as a soldier, elected official or private citizen, Gilmore has been at the forefront of efforts to improve America’s homeland security. As a United States Senator, we can count on Jim Gilmore to be there for our troops and our security.

We hope you will join us in supporting Jim Gilmore for the United States Senate by joining Veterans for Jim Gilmore.

Sincerely,

Bill Flanagan - Colonel, United States Army, Retired
Ken Foran - Major, United States Marine Corps., Retired
John Pipta - Colonel, United States Marine Corps., Retired
Fmr. Delegate Leo Wardrup - Captain, United States Navy, Retired

Cross-posted at SWAC Girl

VPOD - Podcast with Governor Jim Gilmore

Jim Hoeft of Bearing Drift has a GREAT interview with Governor Jim Gilmore. I think Jim did a great job of covering a multitude of hot topics and not just focusing on the Bolling/McDonnell announcement. Good job Jim and Governor Gilmore!

Gov. Gilmore reacts to Lt. Gov. Bolling’s announcement to run for lieutenant governor vice governor, talks about party unity, his views on the economy, national security, FISA, social conservatism and more.
-=SOURCE=-

Technorati Tags: Jim Gilmore for Senate, Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore, Republicans, Conservatives, Bearing Drift, Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, 2008 U.S. Senate Race, 2009 Virginia Governor's Race

Cross posted at Scott's Morning Brew

Gov. Warner unsure of where he sent VA Nat'l Guard?

This story hits close to home for those of us who live here in the home of the "Stonewall Brigade" ... the 116th Infantry that is currently deployed to Iraq and heading home in February.

Alexandria resident Mark Seavey, formerly of the Stonewall Brigade, was quoted in today's Mailbag in the Washington Times:

"I noted with a wry chuckle your discussion of [Virginia Senate candidate] Mark Warner's fundraising mailer, which admonished President Bush for the 'mismanaged war in Iraq' and the need for a 'responsible plan to bring our troops home.'

"In 2004, I was activated with 500 other Virginia National Guardsmen to deploy as part of the global war on terror. Around Christmastime, we received a letter from then-Governor Warner noting the difficulties in being away from our families and thanking us for our service in Iraq.

"One problem: We were serving in Afghanistan.

"Should a 'responsible plan' ever come into existence, I hope for the sake of my brothers and sisters in arms currently deployed that someone with a significantly less anemic attention to detail than our would-be senator is in charge of the travel arrangements."

Cross-posted at Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore
Jim Gilmore for Senate

Washington Times: "Gilmore shoots down gun-show control talk"

"Gilmore Shoots Down Gun-Show Control Talk" writes Seth McLaughlin at the Washington Times on Jim Gilmore's disagreement with Governor Tim Kaine about "closing" the gun show "loophole." He writes:

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, a Republican, sent a letter to Republican leaders yesterday in which he criticized Gov. Tim Kaine's push to close the so-called gun show loophole.

Kaine addressed the issue in his State of the State Address last week, stirring up gun activists who disagree with the governor:

Since the speech, gun-rights activists have accused Mr. Kaine of distorting the Virginia Tech tragedy, where 32 students and faculty where killed by a student with mental illness, to make it seem as if the "loophole" had something to do with the massacre. They say and Mr. Kaine agrees that the law would not have stopped the gunman from buying the guns he used in the massacre.
...
In his letter to Speaker Howell, Gilmore points to a 2001 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that less than one percent of guns used in crimes have come from gun shows.

H/T to Carl Kilo
Cross-posted to SWAC Girl
Jim Gilmore for Senate

Gilmore speaks out about Kaine's gun show restrictions

Jim Gilmore has expressed concern with Governor Tim Kaine's proposal to force private citizens to perform background checks when selling at gun shows. Today he sent a letter to Speaker Bill Howell at the House of Delegates:

I wish to express my serious concerns with Governor Kaine's proposal to force private individuals to perform background checks when selling at gun shows. This proposal would abridge the rights of private collectors while distorting the intent of the law.

There is no "loophole" that applies to gun shows. Federal and state law applies to gun shows in exactly the same manner as anywhere else. The vast majority of sellers at gun shows are federally licensed dealers who are required under current law to perform instant background checks on their customers. The remainders are private sellers who are not required in any setting - gun show or otherwise - to submit to the same regulations that apply to licensed dealers.

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that bringing the heavy hand of gun control down on private sellers (who are usually collectors who buy, sell or trade a very small quantity of guns) will do anything to reduce violent crime. A 2001 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) found that less than one percent of guns used in crimes have come from gun shows. Numerous other studies by the Department of Justice and academia have revealed similar findings.

It is clear that subjecting private collectors to more gun control regulations would do nothing to reduce violent crime, while setting a dangerous precedent that all private firearms transactions would be subject to regulations that were intended to apply only to licensed dealers, not private individuals. Our attention would be better focused on enforcing current laws, and ensuring that law abiding citizens are not treated as criminals.

Jim Gilmore joins other Republicans who have expressed concern with the Governor's proposed changes in the law.

Jim Gilmore for Senate
Cross-posted at SWAC Girl