Virginia Tea Party Patriots » VA Tea Party Patriots

Best Intentions – Unitended Consequences

VA Tea Party Federation — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:11:31 +0000

The January 11^th issue of the Fauquier Times Democrat contained an editorial entitled Conventional Wisdom. In it the editor delivered two very different stories. The latter part of the piece conveyed some great news for agribusiness here in Fauquier County. Having 10% of the wineries in Virginia, Fauquier is a leader in the state. In fact, we were informed that our county can look forward to receiving visits from some of the wine lovers who read Wine Enthusiast magazine since Virginia is in their top three national destinations for wine lovers. This is a great testament to our wine growers and of the ability of agriculture and government to work together. I hope the new Board of Supervisors will continue to allow this business to prosper. That being said, in order to get to this good news I had to wade through a very strange take on job creation. The editor quoted William Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), to say “…it is essential that the public understand that environmental regulations will create jobs to reduce pollution.” Baker went on to estimate (no factual number was given) 240,000 jobs were created. The editor then went on to say “The environmental-protection industry is now worth $312 billion a year nationally and employs almost 1.7 million people.” The editor boasted that approximately 75% of job growth in this field is driven by GOVERNMENT REGULATION (my capitalization). I felt this deserved some thoughtful investigation, so I offer the facts and thoughts that follow. Please keep in mind, as stated previously in this newspaper, I want what every other reasonable citizen wants: clean air, clean water and a job-friendly environment. The CBF Chief Executive is using the new talking point of the left: Government is Creating Jobs. The effort is to discredit the truth known by any honest economist: Jobs are created by the Free Enterprise System that became dominant in the Western World following the demise of feudalism.The truth is government jobs are mandated, not created. In the Free Enterprise system, an entrepreneur takes his own initiative and utilizes his own money, saved or borrowed, to create his or her business. When the business is successful and the company grows, the entrepreneur hires people and creates wealth for him or herself and others. Tax dollars are not part of the income of the company; they are part of the expenditure, or burden, of the company. When government “creates” jobs, taxpayer funds derived from the tax burden of these same entrepreneurs is used to both create the job and fund its sustained existence through direct funding, tax breaks and grants. So who really brings about the ability to create the job: is it the bureaucrat working for the taxpayer-funded government agency who hires the contractors and regulators as required by government rules and regulations or is it the entrepreneur who creates the wealth from which the bureaucrat skims dollars to make its payrolls? Moreover, this whole theory of “government creating jobs” is very similar to Bastiat’s 1850 parable of the broken window. The unforeseen consequence of funneling large sums of taxpayer funds into government employment roles does not create wealth for the society in general; it serves only those directly employed by this same government. This is because the funding source is not self-generating and self-sufficient. It is dependent upon the success of the free enterprise system it is milking for its very existence. This demonstrates how opportunity costs, as well as the law of unintended consequences, affect economic activity in ways that are "unseen" or ignored. The enormous growth of the Federal Government over the last 100 years is resulting in a diminution of our freedoms and a huge expansion of costly government regulations. The U.S. government justifies these regulations as symbols of progress in the fight to rein in the natural excesses of free market capitalism. However, an enormous federal government that controls approximately a quarter of national income has equally excessive tendencies. This state of affairs begs the question: If it is the responsibility of government to maintain oversight and check excesses of corporations, who will regulate the government? Regulatory agencies have little incentive to police themselves, and the truth of this claim is evidenced by their growing body of work. In 2010, regulation proliferation set a new record with 3,573 final rules in the 2010 Federal Register, and proposed rules were up by 20 percent. In 2010 the Obama administration published 82,480 pages of regulations. According to studies by The American Action Forum and the Heartland Institute, federal regulations in 2011 added more than $231 billion in regulatory costs to private businesses and state and local governments. Lost work hours associated with abiding by new regulations totaled an astounding 133 million hours of paperwork. A good example of this, as it relates to environmental regulation, is the EPA. Started in 1970 with an initial workforce of 4,084 employees, the EPA has quadrupled its direct staff to 17,359. The total taxpayer-funded budget for the EPA for this year, 2012, will be $9 billion. The EPA has spent over $250 million just since 2005 on the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay with another $67.4 million projected for this year. The EPA will also force local jurisdictions to pony up. The Washington Examiner recently reported that Prince Georges County, Maryland, only one of the many jurisdictions affected by mandatory EPA Bay regulations, will be forced to spend more than $800 million over the next decade for their share of EPA Bay regulatory compliance. The estimated cost for Virginia to comply with EPA regulations for the next two years is $82 million while another $159 million is to be spent this year for previous commitments. Virginia 6^th District US Representative Bob Goodlatte is pushing back. He states “These overzealous regulations will affect everyone who lives, works, and farms in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and the cost of complying with these requirements will be devastating during our current economic downturn, result in many billions of dollars in economic losses to states, cities and towns, farms and other businesses large and small.” Is he right? I can only relate my personal experience. A year ago I attended a meeting conducted by the Rappahanock-Rapidan Regional Commission to seek solutions for our “dirty” streams which fall into our part of the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Act. I discovered factual analysis pinpointing the source of the purported stream problems did not exist. There were even unresolved questions about the validity of the tests for determining the existence and magnitude of actual unclean water. To solve the perceived problem we were being given a shotgun approach solution. For me, it threw into doubt the efficacy of this entire program. And what if the Bay restoration regulations follow the logic and job creation tactics of the Forest Service? Montana’s Finley Basin has known tungsten deposits. A company wanted to bring revenue and jobs to the state by developing the resource. While the property was successfully drilled and recognized by Union Carbide in the seventies, it is now about 200 yards inside a roadless study area. The Forest Service was willing to offer a conditional drilling permit. Among the conditions were these requirements: 1) The drill sites must be cleared using hand tools, 2) the drilling equipment and fuel must be transported to the site by a team of pack mules, 3) the mules must be fed certified weed-free hay, and 4) drill site and trail reclamation must be done using hand tools. Needless to say, these jobs were never created for man or beast. As Frederic Bastiat explained over a century ago, sometimes the best intentions have unintended consequences. Rick Buchanan Event Chairman, VTPP Federation

TAKE ACTION: American Laws for American Courts

VA Tea Party Federation — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:14:58 +0000

From the Virginia Federation of Tea Party Patriots: End Sharia Law in America Call the Courts of Justice committee: This bill will come up for vote in Civil Sub-Committee this afternoon. Bill Numbers HB825 + HB 631 are in Civil Sub Committee this afternoon: We are IN FAVOR of this bill! Delegate Sal R. Iaquinto – R – 84th – 804-698-1084 Delegate Terry G. Kilgore – R – 1st – 804-698-1001 Delegate Loupassi – R – 68th – 804-698-1068 Delegate Greg Habeeb – R – 8th – 804-698-1008 Delegate Peter Ferrell – R – 56th – 804-698-1056 Delegate Randall Minchew – R – 804-698-1010 Delegate Joseph Johnson – D – 4th – 804-698-1004 Delegate David Toscano – D – 57th – 804-698-1057 Delegate Jennifer McClellan – D – 71st – 804-698-1171

Lobby Day – January 16, 2012 – Tea Party Happenings

VA Tea Party Federation — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:03:21 +0000

VA Tea Party Patriots Federation Lobby Day at the Capitol JANUARY 16, 2012 Schedule of Events: 8:30am to Noon "Relax by the Fireplace" The Tobacco Co. Victorian Lounge 12th and Cary St Meet up with your friends, hang out by the fire. Then hop the "Grassroots Taxi" to the Capitol. Complimentary coffee "Grassroots Taxi" to the Capitol (8:30am to 3pm) Sponsored by Central Virginia Tea Party (Driver tips appreciated) 8:30am until ... Lobby your Legislators General Assembly Building (GAB) 910 Capitol Square, (9th & Broad st) Make advance appointments with your Legislators or their Legislative assistant. Hook up with a Patriot Capitol Guide Tours leave from the 1st floor information desk at 8:30, 9:30 & 10:30am Provided by Richmond Tea Party Legislative Committee. 8:30am until ... General Assembly, Monday, standing committee meetings. General Assembly Building (GAB) 910 Capitol Square (9th & Broad Sts.) 9:30 - 11:00 am Patriot Hospitality rooms: In the General Assembly Building Sponsored by some of our Delegates. They are buying us coffee! Stop by between appointments with your legislators.

Northern, Western and Southwestern Patriot groups:

7th floor West conference room.

Sponsored by Delegates Scott Lingamfelter and Rich Anderson

Central Virginia and Tidewater Patriot groups:

8th floor West conference room.

Sponsored by Delegates John O'Bannon and Peter Farrell

11:00am to noon Rally at the Bell Tower. Join the Virginia Civil Defense League (VCDL) for their annual Lobby Day Rally at the Capitol Bell Tower. (No signs with poles permitted on the Capitol grounds) 11:00am - 1pm Patriot Lunch Special Sam Miller's 1210 East Cary St, in historic Shockoe Slip $9.50 including tax and tip Select 2 from: Soup, 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad. Nonalcoholic beverage and small dessert are included. "Grassroots Taxi" to the Restaurant from 9th & Grace St. until 3pm Compliments of Central Virginia Tea Party (driver tips appreciated) 12:00 Noon General Assembly Session Watch from the Capitol gallery - or - On closed circuit TV in the General Assembly Building Conference rooms. 2 - 5pm Legislator Meet & Greet Reception Sam Miller's 1210 East Cary St Light hors d'oeuvres. Cash bar. Happy Hour begins at 2pm Invite your Legislators to stop by Complimentary car service from the Capitol Details are in his/her invitation. Sponsored by VTPP Federation, CoLA Committee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PARKING METERS ARE FREE January 16, Martin Luther King Day, is a Federal Holiday. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sign up for CoLA Action Alerts during the General Assembly. Help PASS or KILL a bill....Let your voice be heard ! http://cola.virginiateapartypatriots.com/cola-alert-sign-up/

Lobby Day January 16, 2012 in Richmond, VA

VA Tea Party Federation — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:13:20 +0000

Join the Lynchburg Tea Party and other groups like the Virginia Citizens Defense League in Richmond, VA on January 16,2012 at 9 AM.

The LTP will be meeting in the Target Parking lot at 5:30 A.M. to carpool (share gas costs if possible) to the state capitol.

Lobbying activities begin with the VCDL at around 8:30 A.M.

Enjoy boots on the ground activism and lobby your representatives in Richmond, VA for Liberty.

VCDL is by far the largest organization next to the Tea Party to participate in this event.

Every year on MLK day the General Assembly is filled with visitors. These people are citizen lobbyists trying to make their voices heard. The largest group is usually the VCDL. On January 16, 2012 so you’ll likely see lots of “Guns Save Lives” stickers in Blaze orange. I’ll be on hand this year for the 3rd time since moving to Virginia in 2008 to serve as a group volunteer.

The VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense League) is Virginia’s ONLY no compromise gun rights group. Thousands of active members will be legally carrying guns in the Capitol for Lobby Day 2012. Don’t miss out! This is a fun time to bring your family and help expand liberty in the commonwealth. Guns Do indeed save lives, over 2.5 Million times per year in fact. Other Gun Rights groups like to take credit for victories in Virginia. But it’s VCDL’s no compromise attitude which in a very short time has proven: More Guns = Less Crime just as Author John Lott illustrated in his book!

Question: What does the title mean: More Guns, Less Crime?

John R. Lott, Jr.: States with the largest increases in gun ownership also have the largest drops in violent crimes. Thirty-one states now have such laws—called “shall-issue” laws. These laws allow adults the right to carry concealed handguns if they do not have a criminal record or a history of significant mental illness.

We’ve seen the reality of this. As more and more states have expanded your RIGHT to carry a gun. Some places have refused; New York, Chicago, and Even Washington D.C. have all refused to allow citizens to defend themselves. Don’t take my word for it. View the stats yourself. My grandmother is fond of saying “why do you need a gun, crime is low here in Virginia”. To which I respond “crime is low here cause I can carry a gun” and I do!

Join Us!

FACEBOOK EVENT:

Open Carry inside the General Assembly building is allowed for CHP holders.

We will be assembling outside the main entrance at 8:45 a.m., and hope to be done with team and individual lobbying by 11:00 a.m. at which time we will have our rally at the bell tower.

Feel free to POST Car Pool information on the FACEBOOK EVENT. Ride needed from where or # of seats available from where.

Southside Virginia Tea Party Patriots Meeting Jan.19th.

VA Tea Party Federation — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Jan 19 Meeting with a Visitor from History 7 pm at Charlotte Courthouse Travis Witt will portray the Revolutionary War hero and Virginia pastor John Peter Muhlenberg with a re-enactment of his renowned last sermon to his congregation in which he announced his decision to join the Continental Army under George Washington. He was so persuasive that he took with him 300 men from his county and formed the Eighth Virginia. The educational and dramatic nature of the event will make it ideal for families and students of all ages. The meeting will begin at 7 pm on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Charlotte County Courthouse. Travis Witt, a native of Bedford County is a graduate of James Madison University and Liberty University. His 13 part video series, “What Has Happened to MY Country?” helps others recognize the reasons for America’s greatness and how to its roots of honor and greatness. Travis is co-founder of the Bedford Area Tea Party Patriots where he began his portrayal of the Rev. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a Revolutionary pastor from Woodstock, VA, a Major General in Washington’s army, and a politician who was involved in the First House of Representatives (1789) that wrote the Bill of Rights. Travis’ monologue of this American hero traces Muhlenberg’s life from politician to patriot to pastor and provides a unique perspective and a better understanding of American history during the Independence, War, and Constitutional years

Tax Breaks for Virginia’s Old Schools?

VA Tea Party Federation — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:04:36 +0000

Early in December the Fauquier Times Democrat published a letter co-authored by Senators Webb and Warner, Governor McDonnell, House Representative Cantor and U.S. Senate candidates Allen and Kaine entitled “Update tax policy, rebuild schools.” The letter was written in praise of tax breaks that are to be given to private companies who join in a public-private partnership with local and state governing bodies to renovate older school buildings. The letter stated that private businesses would be able to create jobs, get a tax break for doing so and localities would get updated schools. Sounds great, right? Well, before we break out the New Year’s celebratory bubbly again, I invite you to take an in-depth look behind the curtain of this seemingly beneficial gambit to see the many levers the Wizard is pulling. First, there is a tax break to a specific qualifying entity. This means a governmental body or representative will decide which entity will be the beneficiary of our tax money and what special requirements will have to be met to get the “free” money. This becomes a way of doling out as favors our tax dollars when certain government-specified requirements are completed while, at the same time, siphoning our tax revenues into programs that will not be used for actual constitutionally-sanctioned governmental responsibilities. It also instills into the process an avenue for favoritism toward corporate entities in the private market and by its very nature gives more power to our elected representatives who will decide who is favored. Hence, the government has once again reinforced the value in having lobbyists working “our” Representatives in government. Stepping into the middle of this tax shell-game is the public-private partnership (PPP). This scheme brings together the government and a private sector company or companies to accomplish a project. Again, all the attributes of manipulation and human frailty are on display as money and power are brewed up in a tempting cocktail. Since the government is the 800 pound gorilla in any deal with a private enterprise, they get to set all the rules and requirements for the companies vying for the projects in this program, thereby further enhancing their power and influence. For their part the hopeful winners-to-be-chosen by government will do almost anything to become the recipients of sole-source contracts with all the benefits of a partner with seemingly unlimited funds. Where are we headed as we see more and more of these PPPs? The obvious answer is Crony Capitalism. The definition of Crony Capitalism found in Wikipedia is:

“a capitalist economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, and so forth. The military-industrial complex in the United States is often described as an example of crony capitalism in an industry. Connections with the Pentagon and lobbyists in Washington are described by critics as more important than actual competition, due to the political and secretive nature of defense contracts.”

Crony Capitalism has much to do with crony and little to do with capitalism – which is a market economy subject to minimal state interference. It is more akin to a form of government established by Mussolini during World War I and less to do with the Free Enterprise system explained by Adam Smith in “Wealth of Nations”. Fascism, as practiced in Italy prior to World War II, advocated a state-directed, heavily regulated economy. Mussolini promoted the idea that state enterprise was to be favored over private enterprise. Under this system the government picks winners and losers. When the government spends our tax dollars in the form of grants, subsidies and tax breaks, it means that certain companies and sectors of the economy benefit, and others suffer. The sectors and companies that benefit are not necessarily those that bring the most or the widest prosperity. The spending is also accompanied by regulatory privileges and barriers that also benefit the very same groups. When government spending levels and regulatory operations are high, it has a widely distortive effect on the economy that effectively impoverishes much of the population that is not “favored”. This objection to cronyism is at the very heart of the Tea Party movement. It is why the bailouts irked so many. It is, in fact, a deep part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. There obviously is a lot wrong with the Occupy Wall Street movement, but the protestors have helped highlight the problem of the alliance between Big Business and Big Government. Many corporate behemoths long ago made their peace with Uncle Sam and now actively lobby the Feds (and states) to safeguard their market shares and guarantee their profits. So, after thinking this through, I have an idea. Why not let a School Board that is in need of funds to remodel a school go directly to the citizens and the Board of Supervisors in their locality with a legitimate plan, get the funds agreed to in an open, transparent process, bid the project out in a fair, competitive market to firms that would use local labor to complete the project? All this can be done locally without the help of Big Brother and without all the strings and junk. After all, a tax break to a targeted group, contrary to public opinion, is never simple or free. Rick Buchanan Event Chair, VTPP Federation

Tie Our Hands…Or Else!

VA Tea Party Federation — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:18:21 +0000

Try as we may, keeping a handle on the stupidity in Washington is a daunting task! Our former 5th District Congressman, Tom Perriello, said ”If you don’t tie our hands, we’ll keep on stealing”. We never tied his hands but did get his butt out of our business and district. That, being a plus for us, just scratched the surface of the Congressional Philanthropist that occupy Washington. Folks, if it’s your money, or that of a private individual wanting to promote any cause deemed good, go for it! However, I do not see Congress or the Federal Government as philanthropic organizations. Am I wrong? They act as if they are. The tax dollars spent by some Federal Government Departments and Congressional members is… I’m at a loss for words here. Just put your own negative adjective in, you can’t go wrong. Senator Tom Coburn, (OK) published WASTEBOOK 2011. I have read it! I have followed up and read many of the links in the document, at least to the point of running out of Pepto-Bismol! If it doesn’t upset you as well, there has to be a place in one of the Occupy Groups that you can fill. Let me begin with $2.5 million for social services and about $4.4 million for programs to improve China‘s environment. We can improve their environment by ceasing to purchase so many products from them! If they don’t manufacture, pollution becomes less of a problem. Less pollution, better environment! $120 million to federal employees who were deceased, every year, for at least the last five years! Bad as this is, many Federal employees that are alive shouldn’t being drawing checks either! Our good friends in Pakistan, a 3 year package totaling $23 million to help them develop plans on how to use less energy. Make them buy those stupid curly bulbs from China, send some of the money they save back to China to help improve the environment! Problem solved! We all love Sesame Street, but enough to give the Pakistanis $20 million over 4 years for them to reproduce it? All in the name of art….nope! Somehow I just can’t see Big Bird in a sheet with a towel wrapped around his head. Speaking of Art there’s this little ditty, $350,000 to support an International Art Exhibition in Venice Italy! All of you saw that right? Closer to home there’s a need for art as well, for instance, over $74,000 to The Treehouse Museum (UT), this for the purpose of teaching puppetry. If there’s anything about puppetry this administration doesn’t already know I’d be surprised! Rock and Roll, an art in itself, may have helped collapse Russia! We don’t know how and I really don’t care, but the Congressional Philanthropist decided to spend $550,000 for a documentary (CA). You can imagine the size of a crowd attending that preview! This is good… over $126,000 for a study of political websites and campaign strategies! Get this, it’s in Illinois! Ain’t that where Chicago is? Dead people and cartoon characters that vote, don’t spend a lot of time on websites or have any concern for campaign strategy! Here’s a doozey, should you trust your tweets? The folks in Massachusetts wanted $492,005 (why the extra $5) to answer that question. They got it. Give Anthony Weiner a call, $2 at the most, get your answer. Or to be more practical, people can figure it out for themselves. But this may not be about people, just congressman trying to see how many abs, or whatever, they can show before they lose their seat. More, along the tech lines, Auburn Maine received nearly $100,000 to purchase ipads for kindergarten children, California took nearly $150,000 to produce a cell phone game called “RapidGuppy”. Yep, rapid guppy it is, shows the life cycle of the fish. From the aquatics to soil, California relieved you of over $206,000 for ‘Virtual Sprouts’, a game. This is web-based, so you sit on your butt and play an interactive version of the First Lady’s Organic Garden. The purpose? To teach nutrition and, get this, combat obesity! With all these programs in place it is now important for people in Indiana to have nearly $765,000 to figure out how college students use mobile devices for social networking! May I refer you to ipads for kindergarten kids? According to the IRS, children, prisoners and other folks, that do not own a home, were given tax credits of $1billion! This was for home energy related improvements, paid to folks that don’t own homes! See, it’s pretty simple once you understand! Now, when there is a tax credit on one side of the books, there is a tax debit/charge on the other side of the books. Guess who paid that? What the IRS didn’t show on their books the Department of Energy did. The Federal Weatherization Program, for all intent and purpose, lost $231.3 million. In addition to this some $8.1 billion (8 times the norm) was awarded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This is proof positive the recovery part, will not come from the Federal Government! The reinvestment part has to stop. You invest as an individual, get a return, you reinvest. The Feds did not get a return but do reinvest. Something doesn’t wash. HUD, or Housing and Urban Development, is responsible for the same thing as NeighborWorks America. That is overlapping and we don’t know how long, Neighborhood Reinvestment (there’s that word again) Corporation which received nearly $170 million, funneled it to NeighborWorks America! We have an administration now wanting to promote a socialist agenda on the American people. Some irony in sending $1.35 million to Barbados for Entrepreneurial training. But much of Washington should be questioned. New York has bilked you out of $606,000 to study online dating! No brainer! Folks meet, fall in love, get married, or they don’t. Kentucky, a little chunk close to $357,000 to study stoned Japanese Quail. Yes, as in cocaine stoned! There is some concern they may practice risky sex habits? Ask anyone that’s been stoned… you don’t need a Federal Funded study! What price stupidity, abuse and arrogance? This is a small example, not inclusive by any means of the entire WASTEBOOK 2011, but just the surface. This one Senator, this one report, is no more than 1% of the potential the Senate has to stop waste! Thanks to Senator Coburn for these disclosures. I urge you to look at the entire WASTEBOOK 2011, on line. What price stupidity, abuse and arrogance… this report alone, $6.9 billion. Darriel Burnett Chairman, Danville TEA Party

Bob Goodlatte – Enemy Of The Internet

VA Tea Party Federation — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:49:32 +0000

See Bottom for Author Info:

Going For SOPA’s Throat: Mission Go-Daddy Accomplished, Next Up: The Politician Behind The Bill.

After Go-Daddy’s support of SOPA incurred the wrath of an army of internet-freedom advocates and left the company licking its wounds (support which has since vanished along with tens of thousands of customers), this emerging online force now turns its sights on the politicians behind the bill. “Congress has proven it does not understand the internet” writes Erick Erickson, “perhaps they will understand brute strength against them at the ballot box”. First up? The politician who introduced SOPA: Republican representative Bob Goodlatte.

As chairman of the IP, Competition & Internet subcommittee, SOPA is Goodlatte’s baby- which has now made him enemy #1 of the formidable internet-freedom fighters. Fortunately for them, he just may be a vulnerable target, and successfully throwing out the man behind SOPA specifically because of SOPA would send a deafening message from the internet community: touch SOPA and you’re out! This would render SOPA so politically toxic it would be relegated to the wasteland of politician’s nightmares. The possibility of taking out the man behind SOPA might seem like a fantasy, but a little closer look at the situation in Goodlatte’s district suddenly gives one that strange feeling of being on the precipice of something big- the possibility of a David and Goliath scene that ends with SOPA’s head on a platter and the man behind SOPA held up high as an example of how kindly they take those willing to sell their freedoms to the highest corporate bidder.

All is not well back home for Goodlatte, whose crumbling conservative support has become increasingly disillusioned with his hypocrisy, lies, and betrayal of everything they stand for. This corresponding with the rapidly growing support of Goodlatte’s primary challenger (who fiercely opposes SOPA) may just be the ideal opportunity to make an example of the man behind SOPA.

Karen Kwiatoski is a Ron Paul Republican running against Goodlatte in the VA 6^th District Republican primary. A fight for the primary nomination (as opposed to a costly general election) would be something the internet community’s weight could significantly influence, especially considering that Virginia is an open primary state- which means anyone can vote in the primary regardless of party affiliation. If only a small amount of Democrats (who despise Goodlatte, would love nothing more than to oust him, and are typically anti-SOPA) showed up and voted against Goodlatte in the primary election, the man behind SOPA would be toast! Here is a golden opportunity for the anti-SOPA/internet freedom crowd to heroically take down the man himself, to make an example of SOPA’s author and instruct all to mind the lessons of Goodlatte’s home-state motto: sic semper tyrannis (Thus Always To Tyrants)!

Join the fight at www.karenkforcongress.com

By: Kaleb Matson

Bob Goodlatte – Enemy Of The Internet

VA Tea Party Federation — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:49:32 +0000

See Bottom for Author Info: Going For SOPA’s Throat: Mission Go-Daddy Accomplished, Next Up: The Politician Behind The Bill. After Go-Daddy’s support of SOPA incurred the wrath of an army of internet-freedom advocates and left the company licking its wounds (support which has since vanished along with tens of thousands of customers), this emerging online force now turns its sights on the politicians behind the bill. “Congress has proven it does not understand the internet” writes Erick Erickson, “perhaps they will understand brute strength against them at the ballot box”. First up? The politician who introduced SOPA: Republican representative Bob Goodlatte.
As chairman of the IP, Competition & Internet subcommittee, SOPA is Goodlatte’s baby- which has now made him enemy #1 of the formidable internet-freedom fighters. Fortunately for them, he just may be a vulnerable target, and successfully throwing out the man behind SOPA specifically because of SOPA would send a deafening message from the internet community: touch SOPA and you’re out! This would render SOPA so politically toxic it would be relegated to the wasteland of politician’s nightmares. The possibility of taking out the man behind SOPA might seem like a fantasy, but a little closer look at the situation in Goodlatte’s district suddenly gives one that strange feeling of being on the precipice of something big- the possibility of a David and Goliath scene that ends with SOPA’s head on a platter and the man behind SOPA held up high as an example of how kindly they take those willing to sell their freedoms to the highest corporate bidder. All is not well back home for Goodlatte, whose crumbling conservative support has become increasingly disillusioned with his hypocrisy, lies, and betrayal of everything they stand for. This corresponding with the rapidly growing support of Goodlatte’s primary challenger (who fiercely opposes SOPA) may just be the ideal opportunity to make an example of the man behind SOPA. Karen Kwiatoski is a Ron Paul Republican running against Goodlatte in the VA 6^th District Republican primary. A fight for the primary nomination (as opposed to a costly general election) would be something the internet community’s weight could significantly influence, especially considering that Virginia is an open primary state- which means anyone can vote in the primary regardless of party affiliation. If only a small amount of Democrats (who despise Goodlatte, would love nothing more than to oust him, and are typically anti-SOPA) showed up and voted against Goodlatte in the primary election, the man behind SOPA would be toast! Here is a golden opportunity for the anti-SOPA/internet freedom crowd to heroically take down the man himself, to make an example of SOPA’s author and instruct all to mind the lessons of Goodlatte’s home-state motto: sic semper tyrannis (Thus Always To Tyrants)! Join the fight at www.karenkforcongress.com By: Kaleb Matson

JATP Chair and Rob Schilling Receive Award

VA Tea Party Federation — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:18 +0000

JATP chairwoman and WINA radio talk show host are honored as co-recipients of community service award Charlottesville, VA - December 19, 2011 The 2011 Pat Napoleon Community Service Award was presented to co-recipients at City Hall at tonight's City Council meeting. Honorees Rob Schilling (host of 1070-AM WINA's "The Schilling Show") and Carole Thorpe (chairwoman of the Jefferson Area Tea Party) were commended for their accurate yet unheeded warnings to City Council against their allowance of the Occupy Charlottesville encampment. With media present, Mrs. Napoleon awarded the pair with certificates of merit and hardbound printings of the U.S. Constitution. Occupy activists were evicted from Lee Park by city police on November 30 following over 40 days of encampment. The action resulted in 18 arrests and the unnecessary subjection of Charlottesville's Finest to despicable shouts of obscenities that police officers calmly and professionally endured in the line of duty. From the outset of the occupation to its end, Mr. Schilling and Mrs. Thorpe exposed multiple abuses of power and unequal protection under the law by City Council and its agents which included unprecedented waivers of numerous city codes, the issuance of a verbal directive by City Manager Maurice Jones to restrain police from enforcing park curfew prior to the grant of a legal permit, and an effort by Mayor Dave Norris to unfairly burden city taxpayers with the cost of over 40 days of electrical expense incurred in Lee Park. Both recipients expressed gratitude for their prestigious recognition. Mr. Schilling stated, "It is my great honor to receive this award from one of Charlottesville's finest citizens, Pat Napoleon. Pat has been fearless in confronting corrupt government officials with difficult issues that would not otherwise have been discussed. Carole Thorpe, my co-recipient, although not a city resident, has done more to benefit Charlottesville citizens in the past few months than has the present City Council during their combined elected tenures." "I am humbled to receive this honor from Pat Napoleon, a great lady and patriot whose opinion matters more to me than the whole of Charlottesville city government", Mrs. Thorpe said. "The sharing of this award does not diminish the honor by half, but its value is doubled when the co-recipient is the inestimable Rob Schilling. This award validates my efforts through the Jefferson Area Tea Party to serve our community with honesty, integrity, fairness, and respect for the law - objectives that I wish were practiced by Charlottesville City Council." A celebratory dinner with entertainment at another location followed the presentation.