Elementary School Principal in McLean Bans "Tag"

Good lord, this is what liberalism does to people.

Tag is the latest activity either banned or quietly dismissed in Fairfax County Schools. No more dodgeball, touch football, and now tag.

Why tag? Because a couple of kids were "tagging aggressively". Then you know what you do...YOU PUNISH THE OFFENDERS, NOT ALL OF THE KIDS. Next thing you know, all kids will spend their recess periods staring at the monkey bars for 15 minutes, then it'll be time to go inside and continue their indoctrination by taxpayer-funded public schools.

I love the comments that were left by readers in the Washington Post article online...a lot of angry readers. Glad to see common sense reigns supreme somewhere in the midst of all of this.

When it comes to calling people both senseless and spineless, I just want to go up to this principal and say "tag, you're it!"

The Vicious Cycle of Environmentalist Policy

I swear to God, the enviro-activist left has really got us playing "Spin The Wheel, Make the Deal". I'll bullet point this to make it really simple.

- Environmentalist lobby pushes for increased production and research into Ethanol.
- Demand for corn goes up, pushes prices skyward.
- Farmers see the gold mine in corn crops, many switch to corn from wheat. This causes the United States to import wheat to meet it's own needs for the first time since the late 18th Century. Thus, the price of anything wheat-based (everything from bread to beer) goes up.
- Increase in corn price increases price of Ethanol itself, along with feed for cows.
- Ethanol-infused gasoline goes up in price due to increase in Ethanol price...price of beef goes up because farmers must pay more to feed their cows.
- Increased gasoline prices force increased shipping costs, which increase the price of ALL shipped goods.
- Shortage of American wheat production causes us to lose favor with all of the 3rd World Nations we would normally export wheat to.
- Democrats state that we are not a good member of the world community because we're not helping to feed the 3rd World...even though the shortage of American food exports is their fault.

Now, let's say this continues, and either Clinton or Obama is elected President. Here's what happens next...

- Media reports about starving children in Africa, state that it is the fault of "greedy rich people".
- Liberal Americans feel guilty, want the Government to "do something".
- Democrats state they will fix this (and everything else) by raising taxes on the "rich"...even though "rich" to them (according to the circulating Dem tax plan post-Bush Administration) is now any single person making over $33,000/year, or any married couple making a combined $45,000/year.
- More Americans in need of financial assistance for various reasons due to increased prices in goods and increased taxes....so the Democrats spend more money to relieve these troubled Americans. To cover costs, they raise taxes even more.
- Increased costs of production, shipping, and taxation force many companies to take jobs elsewhere, forcing millions of Americans into unemployment...thus repeating the previous bullet point.
- Rinse and repeat.

Scary, isn't it?

Wandering My Way Back Into the Blogosphere...

I am finally relocated, reset, and ready to go again. I've done some occasional blogging over at Daily Whackjob, but I find myself getting more headaches from the lack of anything constructive outside of arguing with zen (which is at least entertaining and smacks of intelligent conversation).

In the coming days, the Podium will finally make it's return...and we'll get down to business.

I have to blog again...can you blame me? I mean, in times like these, I have to cling to my blog, because I'm just a typical small-town resident who is bitter.

I've All But Crossed Huckabee off my List...

This Washington Times article really highlights the Huckster's tenure as Governor of Arkansas, and why he is NOT the right man to be the GOP nominee, let alone leader of the free world.

Diverting the funds of a conservative PAC to a Democrat who was opposed by a Republican in a state legislature race, demanding people be "with Huck or against him", calling other Republicans "shi'ites" (which, in return, Arkansas Republicans called him a "Christian Socialist"), and attempt to find any reason to destroy any Republican who didn't fall in line with him.

He seems like a nice enough guy, but...

Tax Rebate Plan Reaches Tentative Agreement

Looks like a decent way to stimulate the economy without too much governmental "heavy-handedness".

Should the plan go through as it is rumored to stand...
- Tax rebate of $300 to individuals ($600 for married couples), and an additional $300 per child with a cap of $1,200 per family.
- Workers who made more than $3,000 in 2007 are eligible for the rebate.
- Income cap for eligibility is $75,000 for individuals, $150,000 for married couples.

The Democrats were flexible on not extending unemployment benefits for those reaching the 26 week limit and not increasing food stamps, while Republicans were flexible on the minimum income level of eligibility to the point of almost any person earning a paycheck will receive a tax rebate (the original income minimum was much higher in the original Bush proposal). Should the proposal be passed and signed by President Bush, tax rebate checks should arrive in most American mailboxes sometime in June.

Basically, everyone from the working class up to the upper-middle class will benefit from this.

Also part of the Economic Stimulus proposal...
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to buy homes over the current limit of $417,000.
- Tax cuts for businesses, small and large.

For the first time in a while, we're seeing government working together to provide a sensible solution to a major problem...which is "how to stimulate an uncertain economy." I'm glad to see that the Dems went the sensible route, hopefully this sensibility becomes a trend.

Fred Thompson Drops Out of GOP Race, Who Should I Endorse Now?

So my man, Fred Thompson, is out of the race officially. Between the not-so-hot finishes in Iowa and South Carolina, tending to his sick mother last week, and a mixed GOP base...I can see why things just didn't go for him this time.

Since Thompson hasn't endorsed anybody, I now have to find a new candidate to support.

Do I go with John McCain, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, or Ron Paul? Well, let me weight them out...

Mike Huckabee...while I like the idea of the FairTax, I don't think it is something that could be implemented without serious short-term economical damage. Other than that, Huckabee doesn't have much going for him with me. His record on issues isn't very sparkling when it comes to fiscal prudence, and he's heavy on the SoCon platform, which is very divisive in today's political sphere. Factor in Huckabee's lack of real ideas on the foreign policy front, and there isn't much for me to agree with as far as I've seen. Until he shows me something different, I cannot (in good faith) support Huckabee. Not with these other candidates in the field.

Ron Paul...while I like limited government and free markets, Paul strikes me as just a tad too isolationist for my tastes, especially since we're a big part of the global economy. Paul wants to pull out of Iraq immediately, even though many Dems even agree that things are now going in our favor and we can create a better situation in that region if we continue on the current course. I like libertarian ideals, but I'm a federalist at heart, and Paul and I just don't quite click enough to work.

John McCain...I respect McCain's independent streak, and I agree with him on fiscal issues (not just tax cuts, but spending cuts are necessary). He claims to have "heard the people" in regards to immigration, but that remains to be seen. McCain has the experience, the bipartisan appeal, and the intelligence to be a good leader. However, with that comes a certain amount of unpredictability about his performance. Then again, I thought McCain would've been a good leader in 2000 over George W. Bush. 50/50 shot with McCain, here.

Rudy Giuliani...The man I originally leaned towards for President until Fred Thompson came around and inspired me to endorse him. Rudy is smart on most of the issues, but has been basically repeating the same routine for about 8 months now. However, should he win Florida, the race changes dramatically. I like Rudy, and I think he'd make a pretty good leader. However, he's been dormant for so long that I don't know what to think.

Mitt Romney...Mitt appeals to me on fiscal issues, but has changed his position on various issues to move himself further to the right from where he was as a candidate for the U.S. Senate and as Governor of Massachusetts. With the economy being the top priority for the majority of voters right now, I would believe that Romney could be one of the best candidates to bring revival to the American economy, as he (along with his father) is a model of capitalist success. Another possible pick, but I'm just not sure at this point.

Do any of you have any ideas? Here's your chance to sell your candidate to me.

Oh, No...He's Gone Quiet Again!

Once again, I've been pretty silent as of late. I'll tell you why...

- I'm moving at the beginning of March. No, I'm not going to Florida as I had alluded to many months ago. I'll be moving to New Market, VA. Simply relocating from one end of Shenandoah County to another. However, getting everything situation requires time and effort.

- My writing time is no longer solely dedicated to politics. I was recently hired to start writing a monthly opinion column that deals with a guilty pleasure of mine...pro wrestling. When the column is up and running (next month), I'll link my columns there for you wrestling fans.

- Busy times...when it comes to real life (i.e. away from the blogosphere) I work in the banking industry, so times are busy right now for many reasons.

I'm hoping that, as life stops getting in the way, I'll return to bringing you more of what comes to my mind, but for the time being, posting will be fairly sparse compared to months past.

Enjoying the Civility

You know, Virginia Republicans (bloggers in particular) seem to have really learned something from last year's GA Primary season. The vitriol, anger, and bitter fight for control of the heart and soul of the party seems to have subsided.

Now, there seems to be a genuinely different tone about this year's Senate primary between Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) and former Governor Jim Gilmore. A good example of the change in tone comes from an area that is home to one of the most bitter grassroots battles in recent memory, the SWAC-lands (Staunton/Waynesboro/Augusta County), the epicenter of last year's nasty 24th Senate District primary between Sen. Emmett Hanger and businessman Scott Sayre.

For instance, see SWAC Girl's post on Marshall-backer (and former RPV spokesman) Shaun Kenney visiting the SWAC-area GOP's Breakfast. She posts a picture of herself, Kenney, Augusta GOP Chairman Kurt Michael, and Chris Green (who you all know as Spank That Donkey). She notes in the photo's caption that 2 of them are Marshall backers (Michael and Kenney), the other 2 are Gilmore backers (herself and Green). She also states that, no matter the winner, they will back the GOP candidate.

In the comments section of the post, an anonymous poster points out the Hanger/Sayre primary...to which SWAC Girl swiftly replies "Hanger vs Sayre is over. We have moved on."

Another example of the change in primary climate is the spirited debate between the Bloggers 4 Bob Marshall and Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore. While they debate the pros and cons of their respective candidates, the general direction is still debating their candidate versus the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, former Governor Mark Warner. This unity will help Republicans as they move beyond the primaries and into election season.

Basically, two very encouraging trends can be taken from the current GOP primary season in Virginia.
- A lack of "piss and vinegar" running through the veins of opposing sides.
- An engaged, lively, intelligent debate about the pros and cons of each candidate.

Kudos to Virginia's conservative blogosphere and the grassroots in general in really doing a superb job in promoting their respective candidates in the best manner possible.