Bob's Math

I recently received an email from the Goodlatte Press that said, in part:

... the House of Representatives passed one of the most fiscally irresponsible budgets. The $3.4 trillion legislation, which I voted against, spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much. It will significantly increase the tax burden on American families and small businesses to pay for new wasteful government spending while heaping trillions of dollars of debt on future generations.

Whoa Bob! Where is all your newfound fiscal prudence? Didn't you vote enthusiastically to go to war in Iraq and to keep funding it every year? Well, check out what that "smart decision" has cost American taxpayers by the end of April, 2009: $664,773,597,656! The Washington Post, says the Iraq War will cost $3 trillion. If we are lucky!

According to the National Priorities Project, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will cost Virginia's 6th District taxpayers $1.7 trillion since 2001. Again, if we are lucky. With that, we could have funded the following:

• 479,992 People with Health Care for One Year OR
• 1,414,889 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year OR
• 36,608 Public Safety Officers for One year OR
• 25,918 Music and Arts Teachers for One Year OR
• 213,340 Scholarships for University Students for One Year OR
• 320,408 Students receiving Pell Grants of $5350 OR
• 11,186 Affordable Housing Units OR
• 864,000 Children with Health Care for One Year OR
• 239,077 Head Start Places for Children for One Year OR
• 24,956 Elementary School Teachers for One Year OR
• 27,091 Port Container Inspectors for One year

So, Rep. Goodlatte, before you complain about the Obama budget perhaps you should go through a fiscal reality check. The cost of Bush's wars have drained our nation and is among the reasons the economic downturn. President Obama's budget is big, but cleaning up eight years of mess, which you voted for again and again, is expensive and will take some time.

Recalling Hard Times in Craigsville

Like many small towns, Craigsville, Virginia has gone through some difficult times. The small town in western Augusta County went through a especially tough spell when the Lehigh Portland Cement plant closed. Steve Tuttle, in his Newsweek essay, After the Plant Closed Down, described it this way:

"In 1968, when I was an 8-year-old boy, my family had a really, really bad day. My dad, my grandfather and other male relatives from both sides all lost their jobs at once, when the Lehigh Portland Cement factory in Craigsville, Va., closed its doors for good."

Tuttle says Craigsville "never recovered" from those economic hard times. In some ways that is true - the drive-in movie has fallen down, only a few country stores remain, and restaurants have come and mostly gone. There is no big factory dominating the town's economy. But, like many other Americans began doing in the 70s and 80s, folks from Craigsville commute to Staunton, or Harrisonburg, and beyond for employment (plus groceries and Wal-Mart). Nearby Augusta Correctional Center, which houses nearly 1,100 inmates, is now a major regional employer. So, Craigsville didn't "recover" what it had before the Lehigh closing, but it has moved on to become something different and, in its own rural/small town way, is doing quite well.

Maybe losing those smokestacks was a good thing!

The economic and societal dislocations of Craigsville have been repeated in many other small towns across the United States. Our current economic spasms will find them happening in towns and cities. Tuttle's thoughtful essay reminds us that, like individuals and families, even forgotten communities can find a way to survive, to reinvent, to move forward, and be good places to live.

Camp Todd

My son, dog, and I took a little time out for hiking, camping, cooking over an open fire along the Little River near Camp Todd in the George Washington National Forest. With rain in the forecast for today, we got our exploring done yesterday and headed home just as the showers started this morning.

Camp Todd is the site of an early 1800s cabin, perhaps a small settlement. I can imagine a difficult life, but there was fresh water, fish, deer, bear, berries to keep folks going. Plenty of firewood, but one can imagine bitter cold winters. A long way to town by foot or horse, too! The rocky soil and small shaded valley would have made crops virtually impossible. Later the Forest Service had a building at same spot, but it has also been removed.

Summer-like conditions have things greening up at this elevation, but it is about a week behind the Valley. Yes, we packed out our trash and left the campsite cleaner than we found it.

A few pics from our little get-away.

Buds and leaves are just beginning to pop.

The forest canopy will fill in over the next few weeks. With late April temps in the low 80s deep in the GWNF, the trees may be getting an early start. We enjoyed wall-to-wall blue skies until later in the evening when a few clouds rolled in. But, most of the night was star-studded - no tent necessary! We lucked out - rain held off until about 8:00 AM, after breakfast.

After a hike, kicked-back in the sun, enjoying a cold one and the company of a good dog. We started the fire to build up coals for grilled chicken, baked potatoes, a grilled veggie packet and homemade bread. Good eatin'. How come it always tastes better around a campfire?

A few early wildflowers can be spotted. Others peeking out, just on the verge. After this rain, with predicted temps fairly mild, more will be popping up over the next weeks. The North River Gorge Trail is especially noted for wildflowers.

Little River has a good flow that predicted showers over the next week should sustain and perhaps build. The water is cold! There were a few fishermen seeking elusive trout, but the area was mostly devoid of mankind - which made it a very nice place to be!

House warming

Lewis Medlin, a Bedford businessman and chair of the Bedford County Democratic Committee announced he'll challenge independent Delegate Lacey Putney for the 19th House District. Putney, who has been in the House of Delegates since 1962, is 81 and often sides with conservatives in the House GOP.

Medlin ran against Putney in 2007. He is 59, married with four children, and runs E-Z Mount Bracket Co. which he founded with his father in 1978. He will kick off his campaign this week focusing on reducing the real estate tax for seniors, employment, and education. The 19th includes the city of Bedford and much of Bedford and Botetourt counties. More.

In the 24th House District we've known for months that Jeff Price would be taking on Ben Cline. He has been visiting local Democratic committees and joining Democrats at a variety of events. Price will formally announce his candidacy at Noon on May 8 in front of the Amherst County Courthouse. Walking tours of Buena Vista (1:00-2:30 pm) and Lexington (3:00 to 3:45 pm) will be followed by another announcement in front of the Rockbridge County Courthouse at 4:00 pm. More info at Jeff's website.

A couple years ago many of the incumbent delegates in the Shenandoah Valley got an E-Z Pass to reelection. This time the Democrats are stepping up with good candidates in nearly every district. The "just say NO" GOP has some 'splainin' to do. Voters will be all ears.

Raking in the corn

While the numbers aren't new and neither are many of the conclusions, an article on the gubernatorial race fundraising in The News Leader today is worth a read. Sure, most of this has been rehashed in newspapers and blogs every time a new round of fundraising reports is filed. Still, there are some interesting points:

• 2009 will probably break the 2005 record of $41 million. Part of the reason is the GOP desperation for a win in a state trending blue. Another aspect is our odd-year elections, which means Virginia is one of the few games for the big national money. And, don't discount Terry McAuliffe's fundraising prowess.
• Brian Moran does well in his base of NOVA, but in spite of leaving the House of Delegates to focus on his campaign and fundraising, he didn't exactly overwhelm Creigh Deeds who stayed in the Senate and was prohibited from fundraising for a month and a half. I like Brian, but it seems to me this three-way race has kind of left him without a natural statewide base.
• Terry McAuliffe can certainly find the fat wallets, twist the arms, and raise serious money - $4.2 million ain't chicken feed. But, with two-thirds coming from out of state, McAuliffe's fundraising highlights his greatest vulnerability - the perception that he's a national Democrat, not a Virginia Democrat.
• Creigh Deeds has been the most successful fundraiser in more regions of the state than his opponents. Traditionally, Virginia has been a low-turnout state in primaries - meaning party activists usually determine the nominee. That base admires Deeds and the fact that he's been a Democratic team player for years. Since we have an open primary, some independents and moderate Republicans (who are uncomfortable with right wing Bob; but they'll be there for him if McAuliffe is the nominee) may vote. Deeds has support in both groups and that may provide just the edge necessary in a tight vote split three ways.

June 9 seems so far away. And, so close.

Democratic candidates stand UP for Virginia

                  

Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates took a stand for Virginia's unemployed and for boosting economies in Valley communities at a Harrisonburg rally yesterday. In front of the Virginia Employment Commission Workforce Center, 20th district candidate Erik Curren, 25th district candidates Greg Marrow and James Noel, 26th district candidate Gene Hart, 24th district candidate Jeff Price, and 15th district candidate John Leniski signed the petition demanding the GOP return to the General Assembly to committed to deal constructively with the unemployment.

House of Delegates Republicans blocked the use of $125 million in federal stimulus funds to expand benefits for unemployed, saying the costs may eventually be passed on to businesses. The Speaker of the House made the absurd statement that using the funds would actually increase unemployment. Democrats counter the funds will help families in need and will boost local economies where unemployment is worst. Plus, the changes in unemployment eligibility could be rolled back when the stimulus funds end.

Erik Curren and Greg Marrow had recent letters (Erik's and Greg's) specifically explaining their positions on using the federal stimulus funds to assist unemployed in The News Leader.

You can join Governor Tim Kaine and these courageous candidates and Stand UP for Virginia - sign the online version of the petition. There is more about the Harrisonburg rally, including pictures, at the Daily News-Record. More coverage on NBC29.

Salute!

Ray Nance, the last of the Bedford Boys, died on Sunday and was laid to rest today. He was 94. A 21-gun salute marked his passing.

Nance was one of 32 Virginia National Guardsmen from Bedford, VA who landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Nineteen were killed and five others injured. The death toll per capita is one of the highest ever suffered by an American community. That is a major reason the National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford.

The memorial is an easy day trip for those of us in the Shenandoah Valley. Make the trip for yourself. Make the trip to learn more about an important event in American and world history. Make the trip for Ray Nance and the Bedford Boys.