As Promised, My Picks For Lt. Gov And Atty. Gen

First, for Lt. Governor;
Senator William “Bill” Bolling.

Let me start by saying Ms. Byrne and I have something in common. We both have a connection with the state of Utah, she was born in Salt Lake City, and 14 years later I was born in nearby Ogden. (Hey, Dad was in the Air Force, stationed at Hill AFB. If I had been consulted I would have chosen Henry County.)

Our similarity ends with that lone connection. Ms. Byrne is liberal to the point of being near radical. She was heavily involved in Howard Dean’s lunatic Presidential campaign. She is vocally pro-abortion. She is anti-Second Amendment. In short, she is all that most Virginians are not.

Bill Bolling also is not a native Virginian, being from West Virginia. But otherwise he is a solid Conservative choice for Virginians. He has served Virginia well as Senator from the 4th District.

And now, Attorney General;
Bob McDonnell.

This one was a bit harder for me to pick. The Editorial Board almost came to blows in debating the Attorney General choice. I finally made an executive decision and decreed that Creigh Deeds could not be trusted. It’s true. If “Creigh Deeds” does not rhyme with “Weigh Weeds” then nothing else he says can be believed.

That was satire. Seriously, Deeds is a very good candidate, but my choice for McDonnell hinged primarily on his support for and cooperation with Kilgore and Bolling to take a strong stand on eminent domain reform in the Commonwealth.

The issue of the Kilo v City of New London ranks very high with me. Here in Henry County, with the economic situation as it now stands, a local Board of Supervisors could easily be lured into a similar condemnation situation. Taking property via eminent domain should never be used for purely economic benefit. Especially if such taking is for the benefit of a private developer or company. As the law now stands, Virginians are vulnerable to just such an action.

If you’ve spent much time on this blog you may have noticed the link in the left sidebar to a letter from Senator Roscoe Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds thinks the Kilo decision was no big deal. He even writes that it couldn’t even affect Virginia, since it was a Supreme Court decision.

With representation like that, we here in Henry and Patrick County need all the help we can get from the leadership in Richmond.

1958 Chevrolet

I'll be leaving for church within the next 30 minutes or so. After the early service I'll take a nice liesurely drive around the Franklin County countryside. I'll be driving this.

And you won't... GRIN

Call For Heck Ford

Utica, New York is in Oneida County. Once upon a time it was the Textile Capital of the Country. Today there are no textile plants in Utica, New York. The time came when textiles could no longer be produced profitably in that area.

Henry County, Virginia is just east of the Blue Ridge. Once upon a time was the Tobacco Capital of the Country.

Pre-Civil War Henry County had about 500 tobacco plantations. Factories all over Martinsville cut and pressed this produce into chewing tobacco, making the area the “plug tobacco capital of the world”. Today, I doubt there is more than 500 acres in the entire County of 444 square miles planted in tobacco. All was well with the world until R. J. Reynolds Company began buying and closing tobacco companies in Martinsville and Henry County.

The area’s economy moved somewhat easily from tobacco to furniture, with J.D. and Charles Bassett and Thomas Stanley leading the way. Next came the area’s real and true savior, Hezekiah “Heck” Ford. Mr. Ford, known in local legends as “the one man Chamber of Commerce” moved the Country’s textile industry from Utica, New York to Henry County Virginia.

Our local economy has lately found itself in the position that the people of Utica found themselves in the early part of the previous century. That being the fact that textile products can no longer be profitably produced here in Henry County. Roughly 100 years ago our friends in Utica were faced with the same dilemma we now have to deal with.

We now find ourselves in need of another Heck Ford. Someone who can work the “magic” of getting a new industry established in the area that can take the place of textiles. And no, it must not be another Call Center. It will have to be a real diverse industry that requires the abilities of many people with many skills.

The loss of any individual industry should not be the death knell of an area, if there can be a fallback industry to take it’s place. Just look at Utica, New York as an example.

Heck Ford, where are you now that we really need you?

Briefly Put II*

The military conflict commonly referred to as "the Civil War" was not. Not a civil war, that is. According to Webster a "civil war" is a battle for the control of a single country. Our "Civil War" was not such a battle. It was instead a struggle for one faction to secede from the whole. I don't know what other name should be applied, but it is obvious to me that the term we have been using has been inaccurate.

*A recurring item that will reflect thoughts that come to me as they will. Not necessarily related to any other current post.

As An Addendum To Jerry

Jerry, at From On High has this post today. Very powerful writing that I won't even attempt to condense here, just go read it for yourself.

I do, however want to add a couple of pictures to go along with his story. At the right is the now closed Fieldcrest Mills plant in Fieldale. Benjamin Franklin Mebane originally founded Fieldcrest in 1898 in the area of Leaksville, Spray, and Draper North Carolina now consolidated into the city of Eden. In 1910 Mr. Mebane was undergoing hard financial times and sold the mill to Marshall Field and Company, which renamed the company as Fieldcrest Mills.

In 1919 Marshall Field built the core of the mill you see here. In 1927 Marshall Field bought a large acreage in what is now Fieldale in Henry County and established a hunting lodge. The town of Fieldale grew around this mill and enjoyed the business of important visitors to the hunting lodge. Fieldale was growing so swiftly that the first paved road in Henry County was that portion of SR 57 that runs from Fieldale to Martinsville.

Fieldcrest Mills eventually bought Cannon Mills and was in turn bought by Pillowtex. In 2003 Pillowtex filed for bankruptcy and closed all operations, not just the Fieldale mill.

From the July 30, 2003 Martinsville Bulletin;

In an already depressed local market, jobless workers, car repossessions, mortgage defaults and personal bankruptcies are real threats, said Hairston.

And the impact of the plant's closing is not limited to employees.

A stone's throw up Field Avenue from the mill is Fieldale Community Center. The center, which also is home to some Fieldale Elementary School classes, drew many of its resources from Fieldcrest, getting maintenance help, electricity, water, chemicals for pool treatment and other supplies from the mill, said Director Buster Ferguson. Ferguson added that he does not see how the center can survive the loss of those resources.

Across the street from the community center are Fieldale Grocery & Grill and Teresa's School of Baton and Dance.

Noted for its chicken and dumplings, Fieldale Grocery & Grill did 35 percent of its business with Fieldcrest employees, said store owner Denton Boardwine.

Our next picture is the really sad sight of the J.D. Bassett Manufacturing Company plant in downtown Bassett in the midst of demolition. This demolition has been ongoing in fits and starts for about two years now.

An interesting story I have heard, but can’t verify is that a company in England originally contracted to demolish the plant, partially in exchange for the wooden posts and beams in some of the original parts of the plant. It was assumed they were chestnut, or at least mostly so with the remaining wood being red oak. Obviously the salvage value would be great. The wood turned out to be mostly poplar with a smattering of white oak and the English company just withdrew back to England.

Next we have the original Bassett-Walker Knitting Plant.. Originally the Virginia Underwear Company, it was opened in 1928 by Sam Walker. Later, the Bassett family, looking to find employment for the wives of the men employed at the furniture factories, worked with Sam to create Bassett-Walker Knitting. Later sold to Vanity Fair, the company folded in 2001.

While researching this I came upon some other interesting stuff. Look for a future post (I'll try to have it together by tomorrow) that will expand upon this information.

My Ego-Dorsements

As promised, here are my endorsements for Tuesday's election;

First, the statewide offices.

• For Governor I endorse Jerry Kilgore.

My reasons here are many, but I base it primarily on two items, fiscal responsibility and law enforcement. Kilgore was inaugurated into Virginia politics as the Secretary of Public Safety under George Allen's administration. There he led the way in parole reform and juvenile justice reform. It is obvious from Jerry Kilgore's biography that he came into statewide politics by way of being truly concerned with the state of the State.

By comparison, Tim Kaine got into Virginia Politics in a calculated way. The son-in-law of former Governor Linwood Holton, and non-native Virginian, Kaine has taken the predictable route of Councilman, Mayor, second tier candidate.

His performance as Mayor of Richmond is one of my major objections. I will never accept a candidate that uses taxpayer monies to fund a protest expidition. I don't care what the cause, or how noble the effort. Taxpayer money should never be used in such manner. Tim Kaine attempted just such a scam on Richmond's taxpayers, but was caught before he could realize his goal.

Jerry Kilgore has been consistent throughout his political career. Mr. Kaine, on the other hand, would have us believe that while he is morally against capital punishment he would "follow the law" and carry out any death penalties imposed during his watch. What he doesn't tell you is that he could "follow the law" and effectively eliminate the death penalty during his tenure. As Governor he can commute any or all death penalty warrants that cross his desk. He has been on record as being against the death penaly as matter of policy, but now wants you to believe it is merely a "pesky little religious objection".

Next Post, Lt. Governor.

Briefly Put...

Sometimes I get a little "brain hiccup" and the idea for a short post occurs to me. I have decided to act upon these at the time they occur, else I tend to forget and they never get posted. This is one such hiccup.

I'm going to steal the name for this recurring item from the Roanoke Times. I feel justified in this blatant thievery because they have convinced me theirs should instead be named "Briefly Thought..."

While doing some research and writing an article that will be an accompanyment to this story from Jerry I was reminded of a past Christmas Bonus I recieved.

Once upon a time I was working as an electrican for a company that must remain nameless. The owner at the time I was employed there is deceased now, and I see no point in naming him since I considered him then, as now, a very good man. (Just really tight.) Anyway, a few weeks before Christmas one year I noticed a $25.00 addition to my weekly paycheck. Cool, I thought, but what is this? I went to the office manager and asked and was told that it was my Christmas Bonus. OK, not much, but still, it WAS a bonus so I was happy. A couple of weeks later upon opening my pay envelope I noticed a $25.00 deduction. I again went to the office manager to ask for an explanation. "Oh", she said, "that's for Bill and Mary's (the owners, but not their real names) Christmas gifts".

Somehow that's not what I envisioned when I first heard "What the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away".

For What It's Worth

I have been having some fun lately with Tommy Denton's and Wendy Zomparelli's "egodorsements". Now it's my turn.
Look here tomorrow for my endorsements. This is meant especially for my Henry and Patrick County readers. (Yes, I mean both of you, listen up!)

Kilgore Campaigns In Roanoke

I have said in previous posts that The Roanoke Times does have some fair and balanced reporters. Here is Mason Adams reporting on Jerry Kilgore's visit to Roanoke.

Fear And Loathing In Roanoke

Briefly,
From today's lead editorial;

"Such shameful demagoguery should not be rewarded at the polls".

Actually, such shameful demagoguery should not be rewarded at the newstand.

The other editorial today reads as though it was cut and pasted straight from the MoveOn discussion board. Other than that statement it does not rise to a level worthy of comment. Couple this editorial with the mindless drivel found in the "Briefly Thought" bit at the bottom of the page and one comes to the conclusion that whoever was responsible for these needs a remedial writing course.

Is It Friday Yet?

It's been a busy day. I have not even had time to read my favorite blogs all day, much less post anything myself.

But no worries! Kilo has been picking up the slack.

Several good posts over there today.

Laurence, Meet Phil...

About once every couple of weeks, Laurence Hammack writes the same story.

I'm beginning to wonder if he is actually Phil Connors....

Alito Leans Right Where O'Connor Swung Left

From a story in the Washington Post, it seems that both sides will take off the gloves for this one.

O'Connor "has been a moderating voice on critical civil liberties issues ranging from race to religion to reproductive freedom," said Steven R. Shapiro, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Judge Alito's nomination . . . therefore calls into question the court's delicate balance that Justice O'Connor has helped to shape and preserve."

"With this nomination, Bush is saying 'Bring it on!' " said John C. Yoo, a former Bush administration Justice Department official. "There is no effort to evade a clash with Senate Democrats. That's why conservatives are so happy."

Although the ACLU calls O'Connor's presence a "delicate balance", I (as no legal scholar at all) have seen instead a dreadful inconsistency in some of her rulings. Apparently Judge Alito felt the same in 1991 when interpreting O'Connor's "undue burden" qualification.

In the 1991 case, Alito joined two other judges in upholding various abortion regulations the Pennsylvania legislature had adopted. But he was the only member of the panel who thought the law's requirement that married women must notify their husbands before having an abortion was not an "undue burden" as O'Connor had defined the concept.

In an opinion that never called for the overruling of Roe or even spoke negatively of it, Alito said that the spousal-notification law would be all right -- in part because it made an exception for cases of spousal abuse.

However, Alito had guessed wrong about O'Connor's meaning. When the case came to the Supreme Court in 1992, she joined a five-justice majority that reaffirmed Roe and ruled that the spousal notification law constituted an undue burden.

It will be interestying to see the Democrats in the Senate work on this one. They will each proclaim the right to abortion will be forever destroyed with an Alito confirmation. Yet they and everyone else on both sides of the "hot button" issue knows that the truth is simply not in that statement. The question of abortion, if Roe v Wade is overturned, will revert to State Legislatures. Some will outlaw the procedure, only to be overturned by their own Supreme Court. Others will liberalize even further, maybe to be overturned. Others still will maintain pretty much the status quo.

Relax Schumer, Kennedy, et al, there is no Boogy Man here.

Briefly put...

Most days the piece at the bottom of the editorial page should instead be titled Too Briefly Thought... Today is one such day.

A little help for todays author.

Look up "confiscatory"
and then
Look up "voluntary".

I'm sure that Wendy will approve a purchase order for a dictionary for the editorial staff, maybe all you have to do is request one.

If she refuses, I'll even provide you guys with one, just drop me an e-mail and one will be on it's way.

The Rules Are "Flexible" On Campbel Ave

Today's leading editorial calls for the firing of Carl Rove, mainly because his counterpart on the Vice President's staff has been indicted. Not convicted, indicted. Not Carl Rove himself. Someone who held a similar position.
From Roanoke Times 11/1/05;

A president who prizes loyalty and personal relationships above all else, Bush is even more prone to the suffocating insularity that often plagues second-term presidents.

It won't be easy for him to shake things out. But he should. He should fire Rove, put Cheney -- who was implicated, but not charged, in the indictment -- on a short leash and bring in untainted advisers with a fresh perspective.

And far less penchant for deception.

Just three days ago, however, The Roanoke Times endorsed a candidate for Sherrif who is facing very credible charges in a Federal sexual discrimination lawsuit.

Of course George McMillan, Roanoke Sherrif and incumbent candidate, is a Democrat. That would seem to me to be the major difference.

From Wendy's pompous commentary explaining the endorsement process;

Our endorsements aren't blithe accolades. Everyone has weaknesses, and we try to make it clear to voters both what they will and won't get from the candidates we think are best. In some races, when no candidate offers real leadership, we don't endorse at all.

This would seem to me to have been one of those occasions for no endorsement at all. As it stands, it merely looks like the bias Ms. Zomparelli claims exists only in the mind of the reader.

Endorsements Mean Nothing, Really. But They Can Be Fun

Recently Kilo wondered why some of us place so much importance on endorsements by area newspapers.

Your local fish wrap (thanks Norm) endorses Billy Bob for School Board (or State Senate, doesn't matter) and you immediately decide "hey, they think he's the best choice, so that's who I'll vote for" or "that cuts it, if they endorse her, I know I need to vote for the other guy". Party doesn't matter here, it cuts both ways.

That's how those of us who spend some time actually considering the politics of a race consider endorsements. So that endorsement was a complete waste of ink for some voters.

The majority of the voters in your District can't tell you who Billy Bob defeated to get that position of incumbency. Probably can't even tell you who the current Lt. Governor is. Almost certainly can't tell you who the Secretary of State is or what his or her position is in the line of succession. These people generally do not read the editorial page where the endorsement is found. They will probably vote a party line, because "Daddy always voted that way, by cracky, and I ain't gonna change". The endorsement was again a total waste of ink for some more voters.

There may be some voters who actually look for the local editors to tell them how they should vote. But a strong argument could be made that these people should not even be allowed to vote.

That basically means that endorsements are waste of ink to us all. In essence, just an exercise in vanity on the part of your local editorial board.

Some of you have noticed, I'm sure, that I have been having some fun with The Roanoke Times' endorsement policy. I'm not so concerned with who Wendy, Tommy and crew choose to endorse as I am with the pompousness with which they present it.

Wendy Zomparelli went to great pains here in an attempt at making the process seem so pure and non-idealogical. Of course it was pure horse hockey, but she and Tommy would never admit it. I decided to graphically point out the "horse hockeyness" of it by commenting on and even predicting their endorsements over the course of the next few days as those "well thought out" and "seriously debated" endorsements are presented.

Knees Are Jerking In Roanoke

Today at 201 Campbell Ave. in Roanoke, six pairs of knees jerked in unison.

Soon an editorial will blast Bush for not attempting to "find common ground" with the liberal Democrats in the Senate. There will be cries of despair that a presumed "litmus test" regarding Roe v. Wade has been applied. Never mind that in the Times offices another litmus test has been applied, and failed.

Tommy and crew will insist that since Sandra Day O'Connor was a Justice who had a difficult time maintaing a consistent bearing in Constitutional Law, her replacement should be just as inconsistent.

The Roanoke Times will make at least one reference to "white males", and in the same editorial will probably write disparagingly of Justice Thomas and or Janice Rogers Brown.

Tommy, I expect you to editorialize against this nominee, and am not suggesting that you should refrain from doing so. I feel you should express your sentiments regarding Judge Alito.

But I challenge you to write that editorial without resorting to the the knee-jerk reactions predicted above. I'm fairly certain you can't, or won't do it.

Carnac The Magnificent...

I'm not. Anyone could have predicted the endorsements of the Roanoke Times for the three statwide offices. If I could just teach Shelly to read, I'm sure she could have predicted just as accurately.

Sorry Wendy, but I just can't see this process causing much debate amongst the Editorial Board. So far the major requirement to gain a Times endorsement seems to be a "yes" vote for the latest tax increase. Each candidate endorsed so far has supported the "budget reform" of Mark Warner.

I'll again step out on a limb and predict that incumbents from either party who supported the "budget reform" will be endorsed. The only exception would be a Republican incumbent opposed by a Democrat.

Carnival Time

Snoopy at River City Rapids is this weeks host, mash your mouse here and allow him to direct you to some of Virginia's finest writing, photography, and punditry. (All that, plus one from me.)

Next week Hans will handle the Host's responsibilities.

Rules are available here, at Chad's.

Also, I have added links to my sidebar, the current and subsequent host's will always be found there.

I Love Chili!

It's 8:00pm and I can finally sit down and write today's first post.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my church was holding it's annual chili cook-off tonight. I made a test batch last Saturday, and "The Recipe" is about as good as it gets. For the record, I didn't win, but in "The Recipe's" defense, I have to say I feel I toned it down just a bit too much. It was very good, and the non pepper spices were perfect, but it had very little heat. I may have mis-judged my fellow church members, as this is my first year in the competition. I moved back here in the late spring, and was not even a member at this time last year. Also "The Recipe" contains no prepared chili powder, instead the "heat" is regulated by the quantity and type of fresh peppers used. This makes it somewhat difficult to regulate. The best way to regulate it is to selectively tase the Anaheim, Poblano, Seranno, and dried Chipotle peppers used, and adjust accordingly. (I again request any and all chili recipes, send me your favorite, and in exchange you will receive "The Recipe".)

This morning I went out early to pick up a few vital pieces of equipment for tonight's event.

While out I picked up the Sunday Roanoke Times, but have only now spread it's virgin pages apart. I see that they have made their Governor and Attorney General picks. I am 2 for 3 in my predictions so far. There will be a subsequent post with my thoughts on these endorsements. But I have had a long day, and for now, a short glass of fine Irish whiskey and some blog reading is in order.

See you in the next post.