Show of Force - Valley Dems to GOP Incumbents - Game On!

20th House District Democratic Party nominee Erik Curren signs a petition urging House Republicans to reconsider their vote on the stimulus unemployment monies.

Photo permission - Augusta Free Press

RESULTS, NOT ROADBLOCKS

"These hardworking families aren't looking for a handout. They're looking for a hand up. But what they got from the Republicans in the House of Delegates, including my opponent, Del. Chris Saxman, what these hardworking Virginia families got was the back of the hand. They were told to talk to the hand,"... Erik Curren, Democratic candidate, 20th HD

Harrisonburg - 4/23 - It was an unprecedented show of force by area Democrats from across western Virginia, as a band of new blue brothers gathered for a press conference highlighting the aggressive challenge they intend to bring to entrenched Republican incumbents, in previously considered "safe" districts. Apparently, not safe in 2009.

more at Staunton News Leader Full coverage at Augusta Free Press

Six strong challengers laid out their case against Republican intransigence: 15th District Democratic nominee John Lesinsky, 20th District Democratic nominee Erik Curren, 24th District Democratic nominee, Jeff Price, 25th District Democratic candidates Greg Marrow and Jim Noel, and 26th District Democratic nominee Gene Hart, laid the wood to Valley Republicans for their rejection of $125 Million in Federal stimulus funding to be used in Virginia for the continuation of unemployment benefits during this historic economic downturn.

Well before the party primaries, the Democrats have come out swinging, giving a hint to the full-on battle ahead in the general election. They are pushing hard for citizens to stand up and display their displeasure with the Va. GOP, for their lack of support for Gov. Tim Kaine's effort to dampen the economic shock to the burgeoning rolls of the unemployed in the Commonwealth. The Republicans in this region of Virginia continue to protect big money special interests and the wealthy upper-class, and cynically use social wedge issues to bring the middle class, social conservatives to their side. This may be the year, that the struggling, hard-working middle class, the NASCAR fans, the huntin' and fishin' sportsmen, the just plain good country folk of rural Virginia start asking themselves, regarding Va. Republican elites,"Who's side are they on anyways?".

cross-posted Blue Commonwealth

Mike Signer - LIVE BLOG Notes @ Blue Commonwealth

We had a great exchange with Mike Signer, a Democratic LG hopeful, this evening during a live blogging session that just wrapped up, over at Blue Commonwealth.

I even got a few questions answered that folks out our way might be interested in seeing, regarding his thoughts about campaigning in the "rest of Virginia".

1. What are the Top 3 to 5 issues, that were raised by the small business owners, local government leaders and other folks from small towns, that you met in your recent barn-storming tour across the state? How does your campaign line up with these issues?

I don't mean to be flip, but the top three issues I heard about were jobs, jobs, and jobs -- seriously. Whether in Lunenburg County, Martinsville, Roanoke, Newport News, or Bristol, people talked about how their kids were moving away and how either they or their friends were unemployed. It's one of the reasons I was proud to lead the race with the first (and still only) job creation plan with real numbers and a specific goal of creating 50,000 new jobs by the end of 2011.

One other issue that received broad support -- whether in Campbell County or Franklin or Richmond -- was the restoration of rights. Whether in the city or the country, white or black, everyone seemed to agree that we shouldn't be lagging with Kentucky as the only two states that haven't changed their policies here.

I also heard a lot about education and the need to change the SOLs.

2. There is often a "move to the center" for both Republicans and Democrats candidates, after they win the support of party activists. In the GE, Mark Warner ran a centrist campaign that was statistically effective in attracting independents and moderate Republicans. Jim Webb has already positioned himself as a moderate on several issues. In my view, this has further marginalized the Va GOP. A few so-called Mountain Valley Republicans, even endorsed Warner. How do you see yourself continuing to build on this success and appealing to this significant voter demographic, in the "middle".

I have always thought that there is a tremendously effective campaign waiting to be run by a statewide Democrat that would essentially marry the Warner gubernatorial campaign of 2001 and the Kaine gubernatorial campaign of 2005. Mark Warner ran a campaign that opened the door on cultural issues like NASCAR and the 2nd Amendment and got a lot of votes in the 5th, the 9th, and the 6th. I once wrote an article in the WaPo about this here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Tim Kaine ran harder in the cities and suburbs and got amazing turnout in Richmond, NoVA, Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads. I don't see any reason that you couldn't borrow from both approaches, and I would do it on substance, by having a vision and an argument about using government more effectively for working people and their families, and by running hard on a variety of issues that are true to my personality and background -- from economic development and the environment to national security and veterans and the strength and quality of our democracy. I think this message would have broad appeal, not just in the 6th, but across Virginia.

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by: Mike Signer @ Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 21:00:21 PM CDT

Boucher, McAuliffe and Deeds to Headline Energy Technology Summit

Boucher, McAuliffe and Deeds to Headline Energy Technology Summit

Wise, VA. – Congressman Rick Boucher (D-Va) and Democratic gubernatorial primary candidates Terry McAuliffe and Creigh Deeds and a number of expert speakers on cutting-edge fusion energy, wind farms, bio-fuels, carbon-based coal and natural gas will be among the speakers at the 2nd Annual Energy Technology Summit to be held Monday, April 27th at The University of Virginia College at Wise Student Union beginning at 8:30 AM.

The one-day summit, sponsored by the Southwestern Virginia Technology Council, will be a gathering of one hundred and fifty thought leaders in business, government, energy and the environment to develop strategies for making southwestern Virginia an international leader in the development of advanced energy technologies in the coming decade. A number of energy technology business announcements are planned.

The luncheon and outdoor picnic on the college campus will feature a display of hybrid electric cars to demonstrate the latest in electric and natural gas conversion technologies lead by the Advanced Vehicle Research Center located at the North Carolina Research Triangle. The summit lunch is expected to draw hundreds from the student and faculty campus population, the local community, and the summit delegates.

An afternoon gubernatorial energy policy forum will include two of the four major candidates for Virginia governor in a discussion exclusively devoted to energy and energy technology policies. Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Creigh Deeds have committed to attend and address the policy issues. Energy has been a major policy issue in the 2009 statewide gubernatorial campaigns.

Prior to the late afternoon adjournment, technology attorney Jeff Mitchell of Blacksburg will conduct a continuing legal education seminar on the federal economic stimulus package energy funding programs. An estimated $9-billion in federal dollars are targeted for small energy firms. Attorneys and accountants will receive professional education credits.

The 2009 Energy Technology Summit is an outgrowth of efforts within the regional technology community to assist in the development and growth of the regional energy technology economy. Contact Esther Bolling at 679-7800 for specific registration details. General admission tickets are $50.

Remembering OK City - April 19, 1995

The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on April 19, 1995 which resulted in the destruction of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a government office complex in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The attack claimed 168 lives and left over 800 people injured. It was the largest terrorist attack on American soil in history before the September 11 attacks. It remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history.

The terrorist mind, domestic or foreign, appears to be incapable of considering the loss of innocent lives in their defective brains, and that our law enforcement professionals and military special forces "eventually get their man". These violent, social outliers will always be "out there", the best we can do is remain vigilant, and do our best to make the world a better place to compensate for the tragic acts of these miscreants. Fortunately, time is always on the side of good works and justice.

On June 2, 1997, Timothy McVeigh was found guilty on eleven counts of murder and conspiracy. Although the defense argued for a reduced sentence of life imprisonment, McVeigh was sentenced to death.

[McVeigh] was executed by lethal injection at a U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. The execution was televised on closed-circuit television so that the relatives of the victims could witness his death. McVeigh's execution was the first federal execution in 38 years