Friday, November 29, 2019

#2AStrong: Signs Were There in September!

The following was a facebook page post at New Conservative Voices of Virginia back in September. It highlighted at the time just what supporters of #2AStrong today are facing in terms of the mindset of some Virginians.

The warning signs were there before the election in Virginia earlier this month.

Well over five thousand people engaged the post in September and yet as many Progressives then stated "no one is coming for your guns" look where we are today in Virginia with proposed legislation to make it a class six felony to possess certain firearms.

Progressives also plan to take on Virginia "open carry" like the picture in this post highlights. While the picture is an an extreme example of "open carry" given the citizen is carrying a rifle it still hammers home the point. 

Progressives in 2020 will move to make "open carry" illegal  by repealing the protection under the law not only on one's person but in one's own property (their automobile or home).

Here is the post dated September 9, 2019:

The following below was posted by Virginia resident Jay Timmons regarding an individual exercising their rights to "open carry" in the public space.
While the post touches on the fact that of course this individual is within his legal right, it also illustrates yet again how "rights' are being perceived by those who do not endorse the exercise of said right.
Do we have a say in how another exercises their rights as long as they are doing so in a legal manner?
How long must we endure the mantra that emotion trumps civil and legal rights?
Today people would demand others not exercise their rights when they wish to but rather on the basis when others deem it appropriate or not. Is this the level of freedom we were provided by our Founders in truth?
Have a read folks. This is the future of the debate. One based in emotion not legality or a debate rooted in fundamental rights of the individual.
*************************************************************
Howdy neighbor...
This gentleman and his wife were strolling around the Alexandria Farmer’s Market this weekend. Just a friendly gent saying hello to all of the parents and children who were shopping, while legally open-carrying his semi-automatic.
He is not a member of the military. He is not a member of the Alexandria Police force. He is just a dude who thought it would be a good idea to show up at a widely attended public event brandishing a military-style assault weapon.
Did he startle you? Did you wonder if he might be mentally unstable? Concerned that he might engage in the latest mass shooting and kill untold numbers of innocent men, women and children? Did you decide maybe you should abandon your plans and just go home to a safer environment?
Doesn’t matter. It’s all legal. Especially in Virginia.
Make no mistake - YOU are the problem. At least that’s what the extremists want you to believe.
I’m one who believes in the 2nd Amendment. I understand that shotguns are used for hunting (and have done so myself) and that other firearms in the home are important for protection and safety. Some want to stockpile a bevy of guns in a safe place in their homes to prepare for Armageddon, which is okay too, I guess.
But is it really necessary to carry a military assault-style weapon around a public event if you are not a member of law enforcement?
Sure, it’s legal. But so are lots of things that common sense tells us not to do.
There was a time not long ago that we understood and lived by a set of norms. Where Americans didn’t need over 10 million military assault-style weapons, or to carry them into a festival, or into bars or schools or places of worship. When we didn’t have to wonder literally every time we were in public with our children where we would hide them so they aren’t shot and killed if another mass shooting breaks out.
But that America is dead.
Because if you want to have a conversation about returning to more “normal” times, to a time when reasonable parameters existed when cop killer bullets and military-style assault weapons were reserved for, well, the military...then you are branded.
You are labeled “anti-2nd Amendment”. You are identified as one of those people who want to ban all guns - even if you don’t. You become one of the left wing liberals who want to take people’s guns from them - even when that premise is completely false.
The extremes - yes Right AND Left - have highjacked common sense and civility on a myriad of issues. But the issue of gun ownership, including the type of weapons that should be in the hands of anyone who wants them, has become the most frenzied.
And there’s a reason for for that. Thousands of our people have been slaughtered - including so many innocent children - by military assault-style weapons.
Opponents of any limitations - or public debate - will scream hysterically that someone could kill with a knife as well. But a person with a knife could not slaughter literally hundreds in a matter of seconds.
And as for those “Originalists” and “Constitutionalists” and “Constructionists” who believe they can interpret the intentions of the Founding Fathers, rest assured they never contemplated that every American would have the right to possess an unlimited supply of semi-automatic muskets.
It’s time to change the dialogue. Ask the candidates for the Virginia General Assembly where they stand on these issues. Ask them if they believe we should even have a civil discussion and make any changes whatsoever to our state’s very liberal gun laws, or whether they believe there isn’t really a problem that needs to be solved. The Governor called a Special Session to address gun violence after the mass shooting in Virginia Beach earlier this year. The majority Republicans adjourned the Session within 5 minutes of convening, offering no debate or legislation.
All 100 Delegate seats and all 40 Senate seats are on the ballot this November.
****************************************************************************************************************
Many Conservatives stayed home on November 5th. The State GOP failed to engage with recruitment efforts throughout the Commonwealth leaving many of those races in the Assembly unopposed.

The result leaves us today with the growing #2AStrong Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement.


#progun #2A #gunsanctuary #OpenCarry #VAGOP #VAguns #VaSenate #VaHouse #Northam #VaProgressives #EverytownforGunSafety #VaAssembly 

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

As Soft Tyranny Looms: Virginia "Gun Sanctuaries" on the Rise

Virginia Progressives want your guns! This is the message coming out of the state capital of Richmond in Virginia. Progressives will tell you its in response to the shooting in Virginia Beach back in May but the truth is their own confiscation movement has been underway for quite some time. Most of the Progressive Democrats during the campaign season were funded by anti-gun advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety and others funded by George Soros political action committees.

Virginians all across the great Commonwealth have heard the Progressives voices and are responding in kind in order to protect their rights under the United States Constitution. Most understand that the Progressives hold various levels of contempt for the Constitution born out by attempts to minimize its principles upon society. Whether this be 1A rights on college campuses or 2A rights.

The Progressives with little respect for the Second Amendment  are even alienating rural Democrats now who are joining Virginia Conservatives in seeking "gun sanctuaries" in many localities throughout the Commonwealth as means of protecting their gun rights.

What are these sanctuaries all about?

Second Amendment sanctuaries are counties or cities that will refuse to enforce unconstitutional gun laws, whether or not they are a state or federal law. Second Amendment sanctuaries believe every elected official must defend the Constitution, or they violate their oath of office since every state official pledge to defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. (Ammoland Shooting Sports News, John Crump)


Many of the measures being passed throughout the Commonwealth outside the heavily populated Progressive localities are symbolic in nature however many citizens are demanding that localities not waste tax payer resources to enforce laws passed by the General Assembly that infringe on the rights granted under the Constitution.

This is the very line of argument that Progressives use for the "unlawfully present". Only difference is the country has federal immigration laws in place making it unlawful to be in the United States with undergoing proper immigration processes. If Progressives can pass local ordinances make it unlawful for authorities to report the "unlawfully present" to federal authorities who may have detainers on the individuals than certainly localities can pass ordinances in effect muting the Progressive gun laws that have no basis under the Constitution.

Thus far the majority of support for "Second Amendment Sanctuary" cities has been largely rural and Republican areas it is moving toward higher density localities in the suburbs of urban centers. However Democrats are pushing back.

“Virginia voters have called upon their leaders to take common sense and constitutional action to protect Virginians from the gun violence epidemic crippling our Commonwealth. Fact-free Republican scare tactics will not stand in our way,” ( Grant Fox, Democratic Party of Virginia)

In Stafford County in Northern Virginia, Ben Litchfield a Chair for the Stafford Democrats stated "These Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions are an affront to the will of the people and to the rule of law. Moreover, they rely on a radical interpretation of the Second Amendment that even this Supreme Court has refused to endorse. I am confident that the Stafford County Board of Supervisors will see this resolution for what it is, an attempt to divide us along familiar partisan lines, and get back to the hard work of improving our infrastructure and supporting robust economic growth in our community.”

The anti-gun movement has been characterized as "soft tyranny". Incremental measures set to strip citizens of their rights and freedoms. This may be all well and good in places like California or Oregon but not Virginia. Virginia has a long history and though much of the population in Northern Virginia fails to identify with it, the majority of rural Virginians do. The Progressives predominately make up the Northern Virginia/Washingtonian culture of Virginia with less and less in common both socially and politically as the rest of the state outside a few urban centers like Richmond,  Norfolk  and Peoples Republic of Charlottesville.

Do not expect the Republic of Charlottesville to pass 2A. Instead, look for the surrounding counties to pass measures of support. Many pro 2A supporters are also talking about boycotts of areas like Charlottesville. Opting to use economics just as the Progressives have every time they oppose things like Home Depot's contributions or Chick-Fil-A. The goal being to spend elsewhere where you and not within the borders of the city in hopes of sending a message to the city council. Though this council is the most tone deaf of any in the Commonwealth. You will remember its the council seeking to remove all monuments like Lee, Jackson and Lewis & Clark from the public square, hence it being called the Peoples Republic.

Republicans understand that the Progressive used localities to reject the Trump administration immigration policies. Ultimately, should rural localities actually defy state laws passed  by the General Assembly the matter just like the immigration matter will end up in court. It is clear that conservatives may be willing to finally implore the same tactics as Progressives have in combating everything the Trump administration as attempted to do.

Thus far almost thirty localities are on board and more being added each week going into the holidays. Recently, Rockbridge County had to move its public comment period to a local middle school gym because turnout was so overwhelming. Rockbridge is not alone.

The #2AStrong movement is doing something that the 2019 campaign failed to do in Virginia. It is unifying conservatives from all parts of the Commonwealth with a purpose. A unified purpose it seems. Governor Ralph Northam (D) in an attempt to appease his growing Progressive ranks may have just "poked the bear" one too many times in Virginia.

Visit on Facebook Virginia for 2A Sanctuary Counties and #2AStrong in Virginia:Sanctuary County Movement

#2A #2AStrong #guncontrol #EverytownforGunSafety #SecondAmendment #VaGOP #VASenate #VAHouse #AllBlue  #Northam #gunsanctuaries #progun #

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Remembering the Tea Party: The New Awakening in Virginia



Remember the Tea Party Patriots?

Many will tell you that the Tea Party movement died. To some extent that is very true but the "patriots" are still out there. Battered, bruised, and at times feeling very defeated but they are out there. The national organizational movement failed them.

To many Patriots, the national organizations simply used them for their own gain. Much of that can be supported in truth if you simply follow the money. Very few local Patriots and local affiliate groups were assisted financially or even supported by the national movement. Patriots understand today that while they were the ones engaged in the field, the national organizations simply bled them for donations and contributions with very little of those contributions ever returning to local groups.

The right to keep and bear arms was one of the central themes of the Tea Party Movement. Today we are seeing an independent movement throughout many localities in Virginia to address the upcoming attack on the Second Amendment by Virginia Progressives. The 2A battle is underway but as of yet there is no concerted coordination. Jennifer M. Brown of Harrisonburg, Virginia and the 6th District Chair for the Republican Party has been at the forefront of keeping Virginians informed of the movement at the local level to push back against the Progressives determined effort to infringe on the Second Amendment y enacting unconstitutional legislation in 2020.

In fact, Virginia Progressives make no secret of the intention. Recently, State Senator Dick Saslaw (D) of Northern Virginia even stated that those citizens that thought they could defy the laws passed by the Assembly and invoke some form of "gun sanctuary" in their home counties are "delusional".
(See Facebook Group: #2AStrong in Virginia: Sanctuary County Movement for more info)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/

Delusional.

There comes a time in almost every political era where a politician typically unwitting "pokes the sleeping bear". Dick Saslaw may have actually just done that and awaken the next big movement to come to Virginia politics since the Tea Party in 2010.

But what happened to the Tea Party movement exactly? What lessons can be observed?

The Tea Party Caucus in the Congress founded in 2010 by Michele Bachman (MN) is all but dead. No one really can point to a single voice or leader born out of the movement in Washington any longer a mere decade removed. Most of the original caucus members are either no longer in Congress or have joined the Liberty or Freedom Caucuses.

We do still see some of faces on television routinely but they no longer speak of the Tea Party Patriots. Recently, during the impeachment inquiry before Congress took break for the holiday you could see Matt Gaetz (FL) or even Steve Scalise (LA) commenting regarding the hearings  but the majority of the former caucus members of all but disappeared from appearing on cable news shows advancing the Tea Party movement.

In Virginia, most of the former Facebook groups and organized groups have disappeared as well. Prominent ones like Chester Patriots and Northern Virginia Tea Party are mostly silent. The Tea Party Patriot Citizen Fund list over a dozen of Virginia Patriot groups from groups like the Continental Tea Party to the Constitutional Tea Party. From Fredericksburg Virginia Patriots to the Portsmouth Tea Party.

Many were affiliated with either the Tea Party Express, Tea Party Nation or Tea Party Patriots.

In Virginia, the biggest win for the Tea Party came with the removal by primary of Eric Cantor (R) in the 7th Congressional District. It was the activism and coordination of the Tea Party that defeated Cantor in the Republican primary that would see David Brat secure the nomination and defeat the Democrat challenger for the seat in the House of Representatives. The defeat of Cantor maybe the biggest feather in the cap of Tea Party Patriots anywhere in the country.

Senator Dick Saslaw (D) should heed that warning. It was Virginia Patriots that defeated Cantor; A virtual Republican staple in Virginia politics from the Virginia General Assembly to the House of Representatives. Saslaw ought not be the only one to heed the lesson though. Currently, elected Virginia "Republicans" should as well. Do not underestimate the will of the people to primary those that are not supporting core conservative principles in the Assembly.

If the State GOP is going to hit rock bottom, many would like to see it be transformational for the future.

Even as early as February 2011, Stephanie Mencimer of Mother Jones reported that  "it didn’t take long for the grassroots tea party organization to embrace the DC establishment—and some of its more questionable practices.Lately, Tea Party Patriots (TPP) has started to resemble the Beltway lobbying operations its members have denounced. The group’s leaders have cozied up to political insiders implicated in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and have paid themselves significant salaries"

Mencimer went on to report how coordinators and local volunteers were feeling about the organization describing that “Tea Party Patriots don’t really do anything for the local groups,” she says.”There are a lot of frustrated people. There are a lot of other people in the country who’ve done events and have gotten screwed over. We are all volunteers. We do not get paid like [Jenny Beth Martin] does. They don’t say, ‘Thank you.’ They use you and abuse you.”  Martin was said to have been paid 6,000 per month as national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots.
Matea Gold of the Washington Post in April 2014 reported on how the movement quickly went national and in doing so morphed into a national organization that actually become the mirror of what most Patriots thought the movement was against. Gold stated  that the"Three well-known groups — the Tea Party Patriots, the Tea Party Express and the Madison Project — have spent 5 percent or less of their money directly on election-related activity during this election cycle." In essence, the groups were raising millions of dollars from patriots all over the country but not using it for candidates or to support local activities. The majority of the funds went to pay consulting fees to its own founders and coordinators, Washington lobbying firms and other organizations and of course salaries. 
The Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund was one such arm that Gold reported that  "of the $7.4 million that the Georgia-based group’s super PAC has spent since the beginning of 2013, just $184,505 has gone to boost candidates... Three-quarters of the spending by the Citizens Fund — $5.5 million — has been devoted to fundraising and direct mail"
Here is a chart regarding the original organizations making up the Tea Party movement and founders along with FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity that had tremendous influence in Washington over the movement.
There is argument that the movement created some very wealthy Americans but that was never the goal of the patriots that were the backbone of the grassroots effort. The national organizers created disillusion in the ranks and even further apathy by 2017. In 2018, David Brat (R) would lose to Abigail Spanbeger (D) in the VA07 in large part the apathy that had grown. Broken promises and no follow through in local elections throughout Virginia all but silenced the voice of the movement. Some say that was the very intent of the Republican establishment and leadership that feared the "bear" that in truth is still today the Virginia Patriots.
Virginia Republican Leadership today have run away from many of the values that Virginia Patriots have attempted to assert into the political debate; fiscal responsibility, free markets, lower taxes, reduction of national debt and addressing federal deficits and entitlement programs.
The Virginia GOP Leadership in the election just this month that saw it lose majority in the both chambers of the General Assembly all but ran away from those local candidates that voiced support for President Trump. For example, in the 11th Senate District State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (R) was facing an opponent overwhelmingly supported by out of state Progressive advocacy groups. Not only did the Senate Caucus not support her in her re election bid but either did the Leadership Committee or even Majority Leader Tommy Norment himself.

Think on that. Chase has her own style. There is no arguing she is a vocal maverick in the Party and even challenged her own County's Republican committee during the campaign resulting in her removal from the committee (not the Party as reported by liberal media outlets prior to election day) for supporting a none Republican "approved" nominee. Chase in truth better reflects the very core Tea Party principles than possibly any other member of the Virginia Senate. And she won while many Republicans lost on November 5th.
In contrast to not supporting candidates who were outspoken with support for Trump, the GOP leadership instead supported financially those Republicans who appeared to run campaigns void of any reference to Trump successes. The success of the economy for example. The State GOP rewarded candidates like State Senator Siobhan Dunnavant (R) in the 12th Senate District with close to one million in contributions for her campaign almost two million for State Senator Glen Sturtevant (R) in the 10th Senate District,
Niether Tommy Norment (R) or Ryan McDougle (R) in Senate supported Chase. Norment provided Dunnavent with 231,000 and Sturtevant with 709,750. McDougle provided Dunnavant with 97,500 and Sturtevant with 335,625. Chase was not alone earlier this month. Many of the pro-Trump and pro-Patriot candidates went under funded by the establishment. 
Some will argue (and have) that the 11th Senate District was never "in play" but that is very disingenuous. Everyone knows that on November 5, 2019 every Republican candidate and especially ones supportive of Trump were targeted in the hopes of  defeating them. The takeaway is that the leadership appears to have little support for the Trump supporters---hence Trump never came to Virginia to campaign to help keep control of the Assembly--or Virginia Patriots.
Now that the opposition in Virginia is underway regarding 2A rights, will the Virginia Patriots rise awaken. Will they determine now is the time to reform and advance a Conservative movement learning on the lessons of the failure of the Tea Party?
The time is here. The time very well may be now!

#TeaParty #Chase #Norment #Dunnavant #Sturtevant #VAGOP #VASenate #2A #guncontrol #gunsanctuary #JenniferBrown #JennyBethMartin #TeaPartyPatriots #TeaPartyNation #TeaPartyExpress #TeaPartyPatriotCitizenFund #Gaetz #Scalise #TeaPartyCaucus #LibertyCaucus #FreedomCaucus 


Friday, November 22, 2019

Enemies in our Midst: The New Progressive Palestinian Nationalists


                                            "The end of Israel is the goal of our struggle"

One thing has become very clear over the last year. The Democrat Party has an Israel problem. This problem is layered, complex and culturally complicated.

There are many in the Democrat Party while supporting the Jewish people in general or at least not overtly hostile to them have many issues with Israeli policy in the Middle East. It is certainly fair to analyze and critique any power in the world politically, especially if they are receiving large packages of financial or military aid from the United States. In fact,  a contingent of legislatures in Congress often make the argument that one can be Anti-Israel politically but not be Anti-Semitic.

This rather interesting talking point arises often at the very same time Progressive advocacy groups attempt to undermine the very relationship the United States has with the State of Israel. Democrat politicians must walk a fine line with their criticisms of Israel because they understand that culturally many of the American Jewry share deep connection to Israel. At a time when the Democrat Party is losing support in the African American community in many areas of the country, the Party can ill afford to alienate moderately conservative Jewish Americans and yet that is exactly what the Progressive Democrats are doing.

No more is this evident than with Southern Jews who traditionally are more politically conservative than their brethren in the Northeast where traditionally the largest concentrations of Jewish American in America reside. Southern Jews have a long history over last century of supporting civil rights and many of the same social justice reforms in America but tend to also be more "Zionist" or pro-Israel than Jewish communities in the Northeast. The Mid Atlantic and Northeast also has a significant problem with anti-Israel and anti-semitic movements on college campus where  Progressive activists have used the college campus as a breeding ground to fuel anti-Israel and anti-semitic messaging.

Rutgers University for example, is a state university in New Jersey that illustrates the radical elements of what the Progressive movement for Palestinian Nationalism advocates at the expense of the Jewish people. Ironically, the university in recent years has sought to hire some of the most extreme academics in terms of Middle Eastern philosophy much to the alarm of the over six thousand American Jews that attend the university.

In truth, these Palestinian apologists in higher education are merely an extension of the Palestinian Nationalist movement that uses the art of revising history to win "hearts and minds" over firing rockets, setting of bombs or hijacking airplanes  becase in truth that is the history of those that fight for a liberated Palestine. These are the very same academics who condemn American Nationalism under President Trump and yet advocate for Palestinian Nationalism on college campus throughout the country.

The movement in effect is not only anti-Israel clearly embracing the old line of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) folded into the Palestinian Liberation Organization under Yasser Arafat. Arafat was dedicated to guerrilla warfare from within Israel and the PFLP weapon of choice thoughout the late 1960's and 70's was airplane hijacking.  The stated goal of Arafat much like the Progressive Palestinian Nationalists in America today was to gain complete control of the West Bank of Jordan River that had been captured in the 1967 war and in doing so establish a Palestine state by removing Israel from the region all together.

Yasser Arafat once stated that "the end of Israel is the goal of our struggle.....and it allows for neither compromise or mediation". This philosophy runs through all that the Progressive Palestinian Nationalist in America espouse. In an attempt to advance their nationalistic agenda, supporter of a "free" Palestine have condoned every sort of horror upon the Israeli people justifying such actions undertaken my the formally declared terrorist organizations within Gaza and Lebanon against Israel which they advance is an "apartheid" state.

In fact the largest support for the Progressive eco-terror movement "BDS" or Boycott, Divest and Sanction of Israel is a coordinated effort on the part of mostly campus activists in coordination with J Street in Washington to target the State of Israel and advance a campaign of propaganda that characterizes Israel as "apartheid" in nature.

The "apartheid" claim of course is absolutely baseless. Arabs, Christians and Jews all share rights in Israel. You even have many Progressive activists launching criticism of Israel's gay and lesbian movement as "pinkwashing" and merely being supported and advanced by the Israeli government to make the Palestinian and Muslim tradition of discrimination and treatment of gays, lesbians and women for that matter look "more" toxic in nature on the world stage. These Progressive activists quickly divert any questioning regarding the treatment of gay and lesbians in a society they seek to create in the Middle East in the formation of a Palestinian state. They ignore the brutality and the cruelty of "honor killings" for example by Palestinians and other Muslims in the region but condemn the outreach of the Israeli government to the LGBTQ community as publicity stunts. Rutgers professor Deepa Kumar is one such academic endorsing the "pinkwashing" claim on campus and her astounding claim that "ISIS is brutal, but the United States is more so".

Many Jewish Americans have had to reconcile with the Democrat Party this advancing Palestinian Nationalism and the elevation of new Representatives becoming media "darlings" like Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY)and Rep. Ayanna Pressly(MA) all women of color and under the age of fifty from northern states where growing anti-Israel and anti-semitic sentiment has been growing in large part since the wave of immigration from the Middle East as a direct result of twenty years of war in the region with millions of refugees displaced from their native countries. This contingent of anti-Israeli Representatives has been called the "Squad" by President Trump, however the Jewish community has begun to recognize these members as the "Hamas Caucus" and supporters of Palestine.

The "Hamas Caucus" label is a direct reference to Hamas, which is the Palestinian fundamentalist militant organization headquartered in Gaza south of Israel which the members have all voiced support for overtly within the last year. Rep. Omar, a Somali-American and former refugee herself and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American, make little secret of their contempt for Israel and the support of Israel  by the United States.  In fact, earlier this year both members were not permitted to enter the State of Israel on the basis of their rhetoric and support for the BDS movement in which they carried in the House of Representatives in an attempt to gain further support from the greater Democrat Party.

Though not named specifically, the comments by both Representatives were the catalysts in the Democrat Party seeking political cover by passing an anti discrimination bill in lieu of the public reconciling the public comments made by Progressive members as anti-semitic.

Oman has continually charged AIPAC -American Israeli Public Affairs Committee that seeks a solid US-Israel relationship with having too much influence in American politics. Omar has claimed that its "Jewish money" and "Jewish control" that is influencing American foreign policy and contributing to the "occupation" and "apartheid" of Palestinians located in the Middle East.

Omar went on record calling this control and influence by Jewish Americans as being "all about the Benjamins baby" a direct reference and advancement of anti-semitic tropes that infer that "Jews" control the government and using Benjamin Franklin's $100 dollar bill often used in anti-semitic propaganda historically by racists groups. Oman advanced the very trope that was advanced by the KKK last century with regard to Jews. The implication is AIPAC is paying the "Benjamins" to officials setting policy in Washington yet AIPAC in truth ranks well down the list of lobbying groups contributing to American politicians.

Omar further asserted that politicians in Congress were required to take in effect  a "pledge of allegiance" to State of Israel.

“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” (Omar) 

No member of Congress is asked to express allegiance to any foreign sovereign in truth and yet Omar has explicitly along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib continued to offer support for Palestine over the interests of the United States given Palestine's ties to terrorism and affiliation with Iran. Neither Omar nor Tlaib have criticized the recent rockets fired at Israel from Hamas controlled Gaza over the last two weeks yet were quick to condemn recent Israeli assertions that it may annex remaining settlements in the West Bank.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week released a statement that the United States does not recognize the settlements in the West Bank as being a violation of international law and returns policy back to the stated public position of Ronald Reagan where he reversed President Jimmy Carter's position regarding the settlements.

Omar who claimed rather emphatically that "Israel has hypnotized the world" earlier this year opposes such policy from the Trump Administration which has done more to support Israel than any other President in the history of the Israeli-American relationship.

These Representatives are endorsed by much of Progressive academia on college campus throughout the country in places like the Northeast and California. Academia appears to be advancing the "Uncle Tom" mentality once applied to African Americans in terms of Jewish Americans who support AIPAC , "Zionist" or pro-Israel. Because political history demonstrates that as a voting block Jewish Americans have supported the Democrat Party, progressive elements of academia are pushing an assertion that for Jews to endorse policies that are pro-Israel is somehow selling out.

Another Rutgers University academic such that has been attempting to shape and mold a generation of anti-semites on college campuses is Noura Erakat. Erakat is an outspoken pro-Palestine activist at Rutgers that advances the very same Palestinian Nationalism that renders support for Hamas and other anti-Israel and anti-American groups.

Erakat believes that “Palestinians have not been given enough space to even dream of new worlds and possibilities. What would happen if Palestinians are able to imagine something completely different in a new way forward?” Noura Erakat stated this year at a Middle East Institute program where she was critical of the United States efforts to protect Palestinian human rights in areas where she asserts are "occupied" illegally by Israel such as the West Bank.

The West Bank is the area that Jordan captured during the the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and an area that commonly gets referred to as TransJordan on many maps not Palestine by most credible historians of Middle East history. Regarding the occupation by Jordan of the territory from 1948-1967 once a part of the British Mandate of 1920 via the League of Nations, Jordan annexed the territory in 1950 but was only recognized by Great Britain, Iraq and Pakistan in terms of Jordan's occupation of the territory post 1948. No nation post World War I has been internationally recognized to have any sovereignty over the West Bank in truth. 

Erakat likes to invoke her international law background and while frequently neglecting to acknowledge the Palestinians own hand at undermining its own relationship with the Jordanians historically which forced the PLO out of the Jordanian territory and into Lebanon. During the the Six Day War Israel secured the lands occupied by Jordan post 1947 and ultimately Jordan would withdraw any claim to the territory in 1988 severing all legal ties with the West Bank and with it any Jordanian citizenship occupants it may have had.

During this period Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir would assert "There is no Palestinian people. There are Palestinian refugees". Meir was not alone and Erackat refuses to acknowledge that the world under international law recognized that the Palestinian Arabs were in fact refugees with no sovereign land. Security Council Resolution 242 addressed the "refugee" problem not a political problem or role for "Palestinians".

Golda Meir's assertions at the time often ring loudly today in truth in that "nobody heard of Palestinian entity before 1967"- that is to say until Israel took back the lands occupied by Jordan after the military conflict in the Six Day War. "Where were the Palestinian Arabs?...What makes them now more Palestinian than they were before 1967" Moira would proclaim.

The fact is Palestinian Nationalists like Noura Erackat and Progressive Democrats in Congress will not admit is that Palestinian Nationalism is only rooted in opposition to Israel and not in any land or tact of territory in truth. The goal has as always been is simply to eliminate the State of Israel yet understand neither the Jordanians nor the Syrians appear to want anything to do with the Palestinian claims as the lands and territory that Palestinian Nationalist claim to belong to them historically have belong to Syria, Jordan or Eqypt recognized states  by the world.

Futhermore, Palestinian activists like Erakat and Representatives Oman and Tlaib  refuse to acknowledge the fact that "occupation" cannot exist  because the territory was never part of or recognized as sovereign to Jordan after it occupied the territory in 1947. Again, the international community never recognized the Jordanian claim to the West Bank and never recognized the PLO claim either to the territory.

The phrase "occupation" has become yet another Progressive use of code words much like "white nationalist" or "white supremacist" it launches on anyone who may support the policies of President Trump. Like these code words, "occupation" is used as propaganda to advance anti-Israel and ultimately anti-Semitic policies and as a sword against all Israeli people living in Israel regardless of whether they are Arab, Jewish or Christian.

"Antisemitism (sic) is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” (MPN News)

Erakat supported Professor Marc Lamont Hill of Temple University after his release from CNN for his blatant inflammatory comments before the United Nations International Day of Solidarity  with the Palestinian People when he called for "a free Palestine from the river to the sea". 

What really is alarming is the use of Progressive media outlets use of Professors to advocate for political positions the network may hold but Hill's comments resulted in such wide concern his contract was terminated. Make no mistake. Its was the concern not the statement that resulted in Hill's contract termination.

To many Jewish Americans is was merely more of the same. An explicit attempt to endorse radical progressive calls for Jewish genocide given the phrase "from river to sea" is reference to affiliate terrorist groups proclaiming Jews must be wiped out as Palestine is Islamic from the river to the sea.

Apologists like Noura Erakat and academia sought to defend Hill and provide context to his comments. Israel is always the central theme of opposition to American Progressive academia. There appears no references regarding the historical context and the fact that Palestinians were ever ruled over by either Jordan or Egypt authoritarianism and its only Israel that has been targeted in the face of the reality that conditions today in West Bank are far better than they were under Jordanian rule or current conditions in Gaza under the control of Hamas.

Erakat is always quick to highlight her perceived "oppression" and "occupation" of Israel but rarely addresses Gaza and the oppression their not at the hands of Israel but from Hamas itself. Progressive academia assertions and Erakat's own anti-Israel proclamations are the norm. Erakat offers that Palestinians require "enough space to dream of new worlds and possibilities" and yet isnt this exactly what Gaza was afforded them upon self governing authority through Hamas since June 2007. 

The conditions of Gaza and the Palestinians living there are a product of Hamas governance not Israeli control. Are the conditions in Gaza what Erakat, Omar and Tlaib wish for the West Bank or is targeting Israel merely a tool used to advance a greater agenda here in the United States; one of true anti-semiticim under the guise of Palestinian Nationalism?

Senator Dick Saslaw (D) : Virginians advocating 2A Rights are "Delusional"



                                                                          Take a Stand.
                                            The Domino Effect may take more of your rights away

The result of the November election was clear. Elections have consequences. The consequence that the Commonwealth of Virginia is facing is that Virginians Second Amendment rights are coming under attack.

That is right. Attack. 

The first Attack that Progressive Democrats in Virginia will wage is on 2A rights.

You have a leadership now is Richmond that thinks if you support the Second Amendment you are "delusional".

Virginia is not even a month removed from the November 5, 2019 election that flipped the General Assembly to the Virginia Democrats and State Senator Dick Saslaw- D from the 35th Senate District comprising much of Falls Church, Alexandria and portions of Fairfax County who has served in the Virginia Senate since 1980 is introducing what can only be described as the most restrictive and punitive anti-gun legislation ever proposed in Virginia. 

Saslaw's has sent the November 18 pre-file and his bill will come before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee which will be offered January 8, 2020.
The bill represents an unreasonable restriction of the the Constitutional right to bear arms. In effect this bill will do the following:
It would make anyone who owns or is in possession of a rifle with any one of the following characteristics a class 6 felon:
1. a folding or telescoping stock
2. a pistol grip
3.a thumb hole stock
4.a second hand grip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand
5.a flash suppressor (silencer)
6. a muzzle brake
7. a muzzle compensator
8. a threaded barrel
The Saslaw bill appears to have no "grandfather clause". 
Meaning. In effect a Virginian could be arrested and charged with a felony if they are found to e in possession of said firearm meeting the above condition. 
The punitive aspects is a maximum 5 year sentence for offenders for each weapon or firearm found to be non compliant.
The response thus far has resulted in many localities taking steps tn ensure the protection of their citizens freedoms as provided by the US Constitution.

Localities this week have either supported establishing "gun sanctuary" zones where citizens will be free from the fear of having their rights infringed by the Commonwealth.
Senator Saslaw has called these Virginians "delusional".
Localities like the following in Virginia have either approved or scheduled meetings for the public to have comment periods regarding gun sanctuary status.

Amelia Co.
Lee Co.
Accomack Co.
Bedford Co.
Pulaski Co.
Warren Co: 
Pittsylvania Co.:
Dinwiddie Co.:
Caroll Co.
Charlotte Co:
Appomatox:
Patrick Co.:
Campbell Co:
Giles Co:
Shenandoah Co: 
Page Co: 
Rockingham Co:
Augusta Co:
Bath Co:
Highland Co:
Rockbridge Co:
Botetourt Co:
Amherst: w
Roanoke Co: 

If your County or Locality is not listed on the map or list, be sure to contact your Supervisor regarding scheduling a public hearing or comment period so your home county can take s stand.

Visit on Facebook- #2AStrong in Virginia:Sanctuary County Movement 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/

#Chase #Dunnavant #2A #Vagunlaws #VASenate #Saslaw #DickSaslaw #VAHouse #Northam #VaBlue #VaGOP #ToddGilbert #Gilbert

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The New Virginia: Eerily Similar to New York


As the Virginia Democrats set their leadership roles for the next Virginia General Assembly after securing both the House of Delegates and Senate in the election earlier this month, policy focus is being leaked out of the caucus that illuminates the road in which Virginia Democrats plan to take now that they are no longer an opposition Party in the Assembly.

I preview of what is the come from Virginia Democrats was seen earlier this year in the previous Assembly session when just days after New York passed an abortion bill known as the Reproductive Health Act, Virginia Democrats advanced a version of their own. The New York bill advanced abortion rights as well as removed several restrictions from existing state law. Prior to the passage of the bill, third term abortions were prohibited under New York state law unless required to save the life of the mother. The Virginia bill proposed by Delegate Kathy Tran of Springfield mirrored the New York bill and sought to remove the restrictions in place for third term abortions in Virginia.

Virginians can now expect to have the Tran bill carried through the House and Senate and signed by Governor Ralph Northam (D). This measure will fulfill the tacit obligation Democrats have to groups like Planned Parenthood PAC, Emily's List (estimated 2 million in contributions) and the pro-abortion advocacy groups contributing to the campaigns of Democrats during the election. Virginians can expect that the tax dollars moving forward will go to support abortions throughout Virginia.

The other priorities being leaked to the press in recent days center around the Equal Right Amendment and its ratification by Virginia General Assembly coupled with new laws set to protect sexual orientation and identity classes as a matter of law. The tentacles of such policy will be far reaching and call into question many legalities in areas like state contracts, religious organizations, adoption agencies and public schools.

The Virginia Beach shooting will be used as the Democrat catalyst for gun control that will certainly be signed by the Governor, The question that should be raised however is whether ANY of the "solutions" provided  by Democrats will actually deter gun violence. Universal Background Checks will certainly be advanced but question remains whether Progressives will push for the elimination of "open carry" laws in Virginia.

Progressives are also hoping to push for marijuana legalization most likely to use revenue from this to pay for other Progressive programs they seek to implement such as healthcare initiatives which likely will be underfunded like the expansion of Medicare.

Elections have consequences. Democrats secured the "trifecta" of power in Virginia now controlling the Executive and Legislative Branches of government and the likely result will be numerous proposed changes. While the abortion and guns issues are national agendas, Progressives will likely go after "right to work" laws and laws governing the state minimum wage laws in an effort to raise the rate in the coming year.

Republicans now in the opposition have little power to obstruct such proposals in truth other than rebuilding its brand in Virginia and undertake a concerted effort to bring Virginians into the Republican Party.


Opposition v. Resistance: A Lesson for Virginia


There have always been sweeping changes in the political landscape that result from political movements. The Commonwealth of Virginia has been experiencing such change the last few years that culminated in the Democrats securing the entire General Assembly earlier this month adding to controlling the Governorship.

Some have claimed that this movement is in direct correlation to President Trump. In the case of Virginia however, the movement  began long before Trump was ever elected but evolved from  Democrats being an "opposition" Party to conforming to the Progressive  "resistance" movement throughout the country.

There are stark differences between the two.

Virginia Republicans find themselves today no longer in control of the either the House of Delegates or the Virginia Senate. The election of 2019 result has placed them in the "opposition" for the first time in almost two decades. How they model this opposition is something that has yet to be determined but Republicans in Richmond need only to look at what Democrats have done in Washington to see how the "resistance" movement has not only thrawted a true transition of power  but brought a virtual halt to any real legislation or appointments for the Executive from moving forward.

Democrats led by teh Progressive arm of the Party that clearly is in control now nationally began its "resistance" the moment Donald Trump was elected President. Progressives have turned their back on true "Progressive" ideals in an effort to stop Trump. While Progressives have always believed eliminating political corruption, addressing concerns over urbanization and immigration. Remember the "muckrackers"? Today the media and the journalists have turned their attention solely on Trump and defeating him or at the very least undermining him at every turn .

While many Democrats in election of 2018 pledged to work with Republicans on the campaign trail, The Progressives today are less concerned with advancing change as much as they are stopping Trump. They have chosen to "resist" rather than "oppose".

One can argue whether or not the Progressive "outrage" towards Trump is real or manufactured but the movement within the Democrat Party has created momentum within its ranks that the "Anti Trump" is no longer a protest movement but full bore resistance. Resisting any advocation or policy of Trump even if it may be aligned with the common good or the interest of the United States.

Recent issues with regard to foreign policy illustrate this. For example in 2008 there was a large "anti war" movement on the left regarding our involvement in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and ultimately Syria yet just this year upon learning of Trump's intent to remove troops from Syria and end the "endless wars", The Progressives found themselves resisting the very things that were at the heart of its movement when its was in "opposition" to President Bush leading to the election of President Obama.

Have the policy positions of Progressives changed? Of course not. Progressives in the midst of a solid and growing economy, historic unemployment,  and stock market performances have simply shelved policy for "resistance". Hence, the country gets the impeachment process demanded mostly by the Progressives in the Democrat House of Representatives in an attempt to derail the President.

There is typically a smooth transition of power when a new President is elected to office. This however never occurred with Trump. There are thousands of Obama holdovers, vacant positions and appointments not confirmed by the legislature in a concerted effort to resist. The battle with the civil service and foreign service corps is playing out on television with the impeachment hearings.

The "Swamp" as it is referred has simply been rolled up by Democrats into the "resistance" movement. It includes those that the very foundations of a Trump presidency is counter culture to their very existence. These are career officials whom with the assistance of the Progressives have wondered off the reservation of reason and understanding with regard to their role in the first place.

Furrhermore,  you have the "Indivisible Guide" created by Congressional staffers as a foundation of anti-Trump "activism". The role of the guide is to disrupt the Trump presidency. Disrupt at every level. However, Progressives underestimate one important factor; Trump fatigue. What happens once Trump in fact is no longer in the White House? The years the Progressives have spent solely focused on defeating him or removing him especially with millennial involvement have not laid a foundation to sustain the movement for the future.

Progressivism today is not a movement capable of leadership but rather an effective resistance, anti -Trump movement void of true policy or direction outlined by advancing the working class. Democrats in the House have proved this since January. After securing control of the House of Representatives, Democrats have little to show for their efforts throughout 2019 that they can point to as a success other than arguing for impeachment.

In fact, majority of Democrat Presidential hopefuls have moved away from the one true Democrat policy success in the last decade; the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. The healthcare mandate that was the success of the Obama administration is now even called a failure by Progressives who prefer Medicare for All.

Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly should heed these lessons as they role out their versions of change. Virginia Democrats are no longer the "opposition" Party in Virginia and must demonstrate an ability to lead. The most do exactly what National Democrats have failed to do in Washington while focused solely in resisting Trump.

Republicans in Virginia must decide how to proceed moving forward. They can certainly "resist" the Virginia Democrats or they can work as an effective "opposition" Party and highlight every single policy that the Democrats seek to advance and prove to Virginia voters just why said policy is ineffective. Republicans should continue to advance in the public square its agenda and its vision for the future so voters understand in 2021 just what the Virginia GOP stands for.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Impeachment Update: "Milk Carton" Virginia Democrats



Virginia, simply one of the most historic States in the Union, is absent of representation during the impeachment hearings undertaken by the House of Representatives with the stated goal of impeaching President Trump.

The Virginia Delegation to the 116th Congress is split along party lines with regard to the entire impeachment inquiry process. While many Virginia Democrats were quite vocal with regard to impeachment of President Trump months ago, many if not all have remained relatively silent in recent days regarding the matter.

In fact, Representative Abigail Spanberger (D)  of the Virginia's 7th and Representative Elaine Luria (D) of Virginia's Second Congressional District have been so quiet since authoring an op ed submission supporting the impeachment inquiry in the Washington Post in September.

Virginians critical of Luria's stated position in October at a town hall meeting at New Hope Baptist Church were not permitted to express their opinion or ask questions at the event related to the impeachment process. Protesters of Representative Spanberger recently protested her position outside her district office in Virginia,

Both Spanberger and Luria represent districts in Virginia that supported President Trump in 2016 over Hillary Clinton and both saw portions of the their respective districts support Virginia Republicans for Virginia Senate. Both Jen Kiggans and State Senator Bill Desteph secured Senate seats in the Virginia Assembly in the Virginia Beach area while State Senator Siobhan Dunnavant was reelected in the 12th Virginia Senate Districts which involved almost four million in funding and one of the most funded state races in Virginia political history.

In terms of impeachment process during the last few weeks, both Spanberger and Luria have become "milk carton" Democrats with virtually little to no comment regarding the hearings and constituents are noticing.

Democrats have yet to present publicly thus far any evidence to support formal impeachment in two days of hearings thus far.

The second day of testimony before the United States House Select Committee on Intelligence impeachment before the committee has former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch as the sole witness for the day. Yovanovitch has been portrayed as "the best of the specie" by committee member Democrat Denny Heck of Washington.

By 'specie", Denny Heck is referring to the foreign service members of the Department of State working around the world on behalf of the Unites States.

Thus far today, all the thirteen committee members on the Democrat side have done is express their frustration and anger in the manner in which Ambassador Yovanovitch has been treated by the President of the United States. Their contempt for the President and his ability to direct foreign policy in the manner in which he desires is the larger point that the Democrats are using the hearings for in an attempt to use the impeachment hearings not to impeach the President but rather impune his leadership style and the manner in which he conducts his policy or more to the point "treats" people.

Is how a President "treats" people and impeachable offense as outlined by the Constitution? Were not voters informed that Trump was not a typical politician and well aware of his personality and intent on "draining the Swamp"?

Ambassador Yovanovitch testified this morning she had no information regarding any "bribery" involving the President with regard to Ukraine. No evidence to support any claim that Trump bribed any Ukrainian officials.

The majority of testimony in the first round this morning was centered around the "treatment" of Ambassador Yovanovitch regarding her removal from her position and "reassignment" to a Fellowship at Georgetown University. The Ambassador remains a member of the Department of State in this capacity of teaching students in the area both National Security and Ukraine. Yovanovitch testified her salary remains the same at Georgetown University in her capacity there as it did at her post in Ukraine.

The Democrats this morning appear to be coming more to the defense of the "Swamp" and the foreign civil service and what he has apparently had to "endure" under the direction of the President but thus far none of this as to do with verifiable actions or measures taken or ordered by the President to extract anything from a foreign leader.

Democrats have set out to "protect" institutions yet what if it is the very institutions that have been corrupted? What if AG William Barr and the IG report determines the level of involvement of these institutions in targeting the Trump campaign during the Obama Administration were in fact illegal? Should these "institutions" be protected?

Ambassador Yovanovitch admitted under direct testimony that during a previous hearing before Congress while in the Obama Administration that she was prepped for the hearing by Obama staff regarding "how to answer questions about Hunter Biden". Clearly, the Biden issue in Ukraine was obvious to the Obama Administration as early as 2014-15.

Democrats in Congress for months now have asserted there was nothing wrong with Hunter Biden's involvement with Burisma Holdings while his father Vice President Joe Biden currently running for the Democrat nomination for President was in office. In fact, VP Biden was captured on tape stated that he personally withheld funding to Ukraine for hours until Ukraine determined to remove a Prosecutor who was investigating wrong doing and corruption by Burisma Holdings where Hunter Biden served on the Board.

The Democrats appear to support the notion that the Foreign Service directs and implements policy and somehow that officers of the Department of State do not in truth serve at the pleasure of the President. Presidents long before Trump have removed, replaced or recalled Ambassadors and Generals for that matter in our long history because that power in fact rests with the President elected by the people.

Today's hearing thus far has revealed nothing worthy of impeachment nor evidence to support such action but has revealed that the Biden involvement in Ukraine deserves greater attention given even the Obama Administration understood that it posed serious questions.