Virginians for Fred Thompson

Virginia Republican Primary Election is Tomorrow, February 12, 2008-Vote John McCain for President

2008-02-11T20:11:00.001-05:00

The Commonwealth of Virginia is holding its Republican 2008 Presidential Primary tomorrow, February 12, 2008!

Hello...Tomorrow is Finally ELECTION DAY!

Make sure and exercise your right to vote. Remember Freedom is not Free, so make the most of it and come out to support John McCain tomorrow. Go to the Polls tomorrow and Stand Strong for Freedom.

Encourage friends and family to vote for John McCain as well. In addition to exercising democracy, Primaries are one of our few ways we can identify Republicans in Virginia for future elections--so please come out to vote to help build our Virginia Republican Party.

Click here to visit the Virginia State Board of Elections to find out where you are supposed to vote tomorrow!

Although the Virginia Republican Primary Ballot will have six Republican candidates on it, all but three are still actively pursuing the 2008 Republican nomination. The right candidate who is: "Too Tough to Die" and "Will Never Surrender" for the American People is John McCain.
Remember President Ronald Reagan's quote when he assumed office: "The Only Way to Guarantee Peace is to Surrender." This is not a time to have Commander-in-Chief who needs to learn on the job. John McCain will beat Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the General Election in November.

Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson will both appear on tomorrow's Virginia ballot, but they are out of the 2008 GOP race and have endorsed John McCain for President.

Delegate Chris Saxman, U.S. Senator John Warner and former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore serve as John McCain's 2008 Presidential Campaign Co-Chairmen for Virginia.
Former U.S. Senator and Governor George Allen, former Governor Jim Gilmore, Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and U.S. Representatives Tom Davis, Thelma Drake and Eric Cantor and Actor Sylvester Stallone have all endorsed John McCain for President.

See you tomorrow night at 7pm in Alexandria, Virginia at the McCain '08 Victory Party - Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Historic Old Town Alexandria!

On the eve of the Virginia Primary, Fred Thompson Endorses Senator John McCain for President

2008-02-11T00:21:00.000-05:00

(Joined by George Allen and Bob McDonnell, the FredHead leader has endorsed John McCain for President demonstrating that conservatives are coming together to support John McCain. Fred Thompson is yet another staunch conservative supporting John McCain. Senator McCain will rock on to victory this Tuesday 3-0.)

Fred Thompson Backs McCain
By Michael D Shear
Washington Post
February 9, 2008

Fred Thompson, the one-time Republican presidential candidate, endorsed Sen. John McCain Friday, calling on the party to "close ranks" behind the presumed nominee.

"This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain," Thompson said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.

Thompson's endorsement was expected. The two men were colleagues for years in the Senate and shared what associates called a friendship.

New Virginia for John McCain Blog Launched Today!

2008-02-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

Today marks the launch of Virginia for John McCain, please feel free to stop by to visit this new blog.

Virginians for Fred Thompson Endorses John McCain for President

2008-02-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

Virginians for Fred Thompson/Virginia Fredhead State Coordinator Endorses John McCain for President
February 1, 2008
By: Neil Miller, Virginians for Fred Thompson

At the end of the day, John McCain will make a better President than Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Having campaigned for Fred Thompson for ten months, I now know a Reaganesque conservative up close. I saw firsthand how Conservative First Principles can guide a person to make decisions that I agree with at every turn. In this year of 2008, is anyone a perfect conservative, even Fred? No, but President Reagan was his own man and a man who wanted his Grand Old Party to be a Welcoming Party. The Reagan Coalition is big enough to support John McCain for President.

So, why did I decide to endorse Senator John McCain for President. There are three distinct moments in January 2008 that confirmed to me that I could support Senator McCain.

(1) On the evening of the New Hampshire GOP primary, a Slate reporter, John Dickerson, was allowed to observe John McCain in the Senator's Nassua, NH hotel room. Once the TV announced that Senator McCain had won th GOP Primary, McCain showed no visible emotion. Then, the eyes of his beautiful wife, Cindy, began to fill with tears. McCain continued to play with a green rubber band. After the room erupted in cheers, Senator McCain finally said, "Great News." As the reporter observed Senator McCain through all of this, Senator McCain's speech writer, Mark Salter, leaned over to the Slate Reporter, smiled and said: "Too Tough To Die."

These four words sum up so many things for me including why I admire John McCain as a person with character. Character matters. Not only did Senator McCain survive as a POW for five years in Vietnam, but in the past year, he showed that he is not a quitter. When people wrote off his campaign, including yours truly, McCain flew coach, carried his own luggage and persevered. This is the sign of a real winner. Click here to read the Slate article.

(2) A seminal issue as to why I did not originally support John McCain over Fred Thompson was the issue of immigration. While watching a NH TownHall meeting right before the NH Primary one night on C-SPAN replayed at about 2:00A.M., I saw this exact question posed to Senator McCain. "Why should we trust you now on immigration?" As one of the many Young Republicans who flooded the U.S. Senate switchboard as well as Senator Webb's and Warner's district office phone lines with angry calls over the immigration bill proposed in the Senate, I too was hesitant as a conservative to come over to support Senator John McCain. When I watched him answer that New Hampshire voter, I saw the look of an honest, genuine man. McCain responded, "I get it." He went on to say how "He has heard the American people" and coming from a border State, he would require the border to be secured FIRST and require each Governor to certify that his or her border was secured before moving forward on the immigraion issue. Now, there is a question as to what will happen with the 12 million or so illegal immigrants already in the United States, but I am hopeful that he will adopt Fred Thompson's position of allowing attrition, in part, to cure this problem. One thing that is encouraging and shows that Conservatives are winning this debate is that during the Democratic Debate last night, even they mentioned how all immigrants should learn English. So, things are moving forward.

(3) Lastly, when we ventured down to Columbia, SC that last weekend before the January 19, 2008 GOP primary, I happened to run into Senator Lindsay Graham and his campaign manager in our hotel near the elevator. He didn't remember me, but as part of the Virginia delegation to the 2004 Republican National Convention, VA and SC were in the same Manhattan hotel, we had met there. When I mentioned that my wife and I were down in Columbia to support Fred Thompson, Senator Graham didn't cast me off or say anything untoward, but he was exceptionally kind and invited me to join his team for Senator McCain. You can tell a lot about people by the company they keep and Senator Lindsay Graham made a difference with me that late night at about 11:00PM with his kind gesture.

In addition, here are three additional Conservative issues important to me and John McCain's views on these three topics:

(1) Wants to Make the Tax Cuts Permanent.

Pro-Growth Agenda

John McCain believes taxes should be low, simple, and fair and has a track record of commitment to these principles.

Keep Tax Rates Low: Entrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs create the ultimate job security -- a new, better opportunity if your current job goes away. Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission. John McCain will make the Bush income and investment tax cuts permanent, keeping income tax rates at their current level and fighting the Democrats' plans for a crippling tax increase in 2011. Left to their devices, Democrats will impose a massive $100 billion tax hike, almost $700 per taxpayer every year.
Wasteful spending in Washington has gone from irresponsible to indefensible. Right now, even the government reports that one-fifth of programs are receiving failing marks. John McCain will restore the trust that Americans have lost in their government spending their hard earned money wisely. (John McCain's detailed government reform plan may be found here.)

(2) Supports the Pro-Life Movement.

Overturning Roe v. Wade

John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.

However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, "At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level."

(3) Supports the Second Amendment.

John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals - criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.

Please email me if you would like to support John McCain 2008 campaign in Virginia

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Former Atty. Gen. Jerry Kilgore Endorses Senator John McCain for President

2008-01-31T15:25:00.000-05:00

Virginia politics keeps getting more and more interesting every day. Big McCain press conference to start in 30 minutes in Richmond.

Former AG Kilgore endorses McCain
Richmond Times-Dispatch, Thursday, Jan 31, 2008
Jerry W. Kilgore, a former Virginia Attorney General, today endorsed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president.

Kilgore had been the Virginia state chairman for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who dropped out of the presidential campaign Wednesday and endorsed McCain.

"John McCain understands that a president's first obligation is the security of the American people," said Kilgore, who served as Virginia's attorney general from 2002 to 2006. Kilgore said McCain has "the guts, wisdom, and integrity to lead our country in the midst of great challenges."

Kilgore will join Sen. John W. Warner, R-Virginia, and Del. Christopher B. Saxman, R-Staunton, in serving as a state co-chairman for the McCain campaign in Virginia.

Endorsements are picking up in Virginia ahead of the state's Feb. 12 presidential primary. Different groups of state legislators today are expected to announce endorsements of McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois.

Virginia FredHeads: John McCain or Mitt Romney?

2008-01-30T12:14:00.000-05:00

I found this to be an interesting and very well written article for all FredHeads and YP4Fred supporters. As my father informed me who he voted for in yesterday's Florida GOP Primary and knowing now that Rudy is out of the race today, this will be a very interesting day in '08 GOP politics. I suppose it is true...as many of you have emailed and discussed with me on the phone...I cannot just sit on the sidelines. I will be supporting one of these two very soon. Be sure to click through below to read the entire article.

Why Fredheads Can Embrace John McCain and Mitt Romney
NorthStar
BY: Paul Ibrahim
(Excerpts included below)
January 29, 2008

Let’s face it: the majority of those who supported Fred Thompson did so because they sincerely believed that he was the only reliable conservative in the race. Few questioned his commitment to conservative principles. Not even his opponents, who picked on his speaking style and campaign schedule rather than his policy proposals, questioned his principles.

Upon Thompson’s withdrawal, Mitt Romney released the following statement: “Throughout this campaign, Fred Thompson brought a laudable focus to the challenges confronting our country and the solutions necessary to meet them. He stood for strong conservative ideas and believed strongly in the need to keep our conservative coalition together.”

Wow! One heck of an admission for a candidate whose campaign has centered on claiming the embodiment of Reaganite principles.
***
But Romney needs to understand that while ideology is paramount, Fredheads aren’t necessarily willing to sacrifice other crucial factors such as consistency, reliability and trustworthiness. This is where McCain comes in.
***

Sad Day for Conservatives: Fred Thompson Withdraws His Candidacy for President

2008-01-22T17:49:00.000-05:00

(Pictured above: The Reason Fred Thompson entered the 2008 Race and the Reason We, here in Virginia, tried so hard to get FDT elected!)

I would like to thank all of the Virginia FredHeads from Arlington to Newport News to Roanoke for their support of Fred Thompson. It has been a roller coaster of a ride for the past ten months supporting FDT, but I loved it. Having worked on the Draft Fred Thompson and FredHead movement since March 2007, I can say that without a doubt Conservatives should stand tall and be proud. I first met FDT at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC and from then on, I knew he would be my candidate for President. Fortunately, we continue to have solid conservative leaders in the Commonwealth like Former Senator George Allen and Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

By choosing the only true conservative in the race, and the favorite of the Club for Growth, NRA, National Right to Life, Human Events, Radio Talk Show Hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Bill Bennett and others, Bob McDonnell helped himself immensely with Conservatives in Virginia. I have seen the true passion of the Attorney General to support those Conservative Principles that ensure we can "All" enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Also, as many of you know, I volunteered for George Allen for years and was concerned about a possible match up between he and Bob McDonnell for Governor in 2009. Fortunately, that potential contest will not happen with George Allen's announcement and I believe FDT's campaign has tightened the bond between both Bob and George.

At the end of the Day, FDT was and remains right on his ideas. Was it getting in late or did his nuevo riche plan to use the Internet more than traditional campaigning do us in? I don't know for sure, but when it comes to issues, both George Allen and Bob McDonnell stood strong for freedom with the only 2008 GOP candidate who all conservatives agree was the best on our conservative issues of less government and more freedom.

I will say this, similar to Fred Thompson, I know where George Allen and Bob McDonnell stood on the issues in 1994, 2004 and today. They are consistent conservatives on both the fiscal and social side. That is lot more than can be said for some of the remaining candidates, especially Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. I will vote for our GOP Presidential Nominee in 2008, but depending on who the remaining GOP electorate selects, it may be a challenge for conservatives like me to do more.

Below is Fred Thompson's official statement:

A Statement from Fred Thompson
From the FredFile

Posted on January 22nd, 2008
By Fred in Statements

Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.

NRLC: Huge Crowd Marches for Life in Washington, DC

2008-01-22T17:41:00.000-05:00

Huge March for Life Crowd Warms Washington, DC -- Part One of Four

National Right to Life (http://www.nrlc.org/)

Today's News & Views

January 23, 2007

When I told someone recently that when I covered the annual March for Life it would be for the 25th time, she asked me (in much more discrete terms) if this hadn’t gotten a bit old. I can honestly say that while the thought had not crossed my mind, her question did have the effect of helping me observe yesterday’s rally more keenly.

Unquestionably, the single most impressive fact is the size of the commemoration. Official tallies are no longer taken, so by necessity estimates are subjective. But in a word, in spite of very inclement weather on the East Coast, the assembly yesterday was gigantic.

I’ve begun to learn not to overreact to minor annoyances; something good may well come out of them. So when my camera jammed a half hour into the speeches, in lieu of rage, I calmly began to walk back to the office to pick up a replacement.

As I walked down Seventh Street, I witnessed what amounted to a kind of preliminary march to the one that would begin once all the speakers have inspired the attendees. There were thousands and thousands of people who had assembled a block over, parallel to the street from where the official march to the Supreme Court would commence.

As I continued my walk back to the office, I saw bus after bus unloading still more people. Everywhere I looked I saw additional pro-lifers, signs in hand. Part of this continuing rush was no doubt the result of weather-induced delays in arrivals. But the greater share was just that there were massive numbers of pro-lifers who were still pouring into Washington, D.C.

I have had the pleasure of hearing each of President Bush’s remarks broadcast to the March for Life. I particularly enjoyed yesterday’s talk, which blended substance with that I’m-glad-to-share-this-experience-with-you way the President has that is so endearing to those who’ve met him. He is one of us in an unmistakable way.

And then there were the kids! The yearly appearance of colossal numbers of young people is by now such an undeniable reality that even the mainstream media is focusing its coverage on the high school and college students who’ve come to the nation’s capital on January 22. It was a particular delight because the focus of this year’s National Right to Life News Commemorative Edition was, ”The Roe Generation: How Young People Are Changing America's View of Abortion.” [If you have not ordered extra copies, please call us at 202-626-8828.]

There are three other parts to Tuesday’s edition of TN&V: the President’s remarks, Congressman Chris Smith’s speech, and the wonderful opening statement at yesterday’s press conference delivered by NRLC President Dr. Wanda Franz. So let me quickly conclude with this.

Nobody likes losing. The Movement did not do well last November, not because of the abortion issue (which, as always, cut to the advantage of pro-life candidates), but because of all the other factors you don’t need me to rehash.

But pro-lifers are unmovable, unshakeable, and utterly committed to the long haul, however long that haul may be. NRLC President Dr. Wanda Franz put it beautiful in her opening paragraph yesterday: “We may have set-backs and bumps in the road, but we will never stray from the road we are on until the right to life of all Americans is, once again, secure.”

On Monday, that fidelity brought to Washington one of the two largest crowds I can remember seeing at the March for Life. My hat is off to them, and to the tens of thousands of pro-lifers who commemorated Roe in their local communities.

And it is that same commitment which explains why even though (as Rep. Smith put it) “There is no welcome mat for unborn children anywhere to be found in the new congressional leadership,” there are millions of pro-lifers around America whose hearts will always be open to the Littlest Americans.

If you have comments or questions to any of TN&V for today, please write Dave Andrusko at daveandrusko AT hotmail DOT com.

Part Two (President Bush Thanks Pro-Lifers)
Part Three (Understanding Pro-Lifers)
Part Four (Remembering the Forgotten)

Attorney General Bob McDonnell Remembers the Hope and Courage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2008-01-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

(Pictured above: Before speaking at the 'I Have a Dream' ceremony at Broad Rock Elementary in Richmond last summer, Attorney General McDonnell chats with second grader Summer Pettus, an aspiring pediatrician. The Attorney General's Office has partnered with the New York City-based I Have a Dream Foundation to give elementary schoolers academic help from second grade through High School, and then guaranteed tuition assistance for college or vocational school. This morning (1/21/08) the Attorney General attended the 30th Annual Living the Dream Mass Meeting Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Other Civil Rights Leaders at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond.)

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Office of the Attorney General
Richmond, Virginia

Robert F. McDonnell
Attorney General
For Release: January 18, 2008

Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Website: www.vaag.com

Phone: 804-786-2071

Statement of Attorney General Bob McDonnell on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Richmond - Attorney General Bob McDonnell released the following statement regarding the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. official state holiday on Monday.

“Monday, our nation will pause to remember a strong and courageous leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through his character and passion, America was changed. Many born after Dr. King’s passing will find a more just America because of his work. Dr. King embodied the words of Emerson, that if a man “plants himself indomitably on his instincts and there abide, eventually the whole world will come round to him.” While he died a young man, 40 years ago, his mark on our nation is clear, and thus we celebrate his life as a state holiday separately designated in 2000 by Governor Jim Gilmore.”

“Of course Dr. King was not alone in his work. His vision of justice and equality under law was carried forward by other pioneers in our country. Last August, Virginia lost one of these leaders, Dr. Oliver Hill. This summer, we will unveil the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial on the Capitol grounds in Richmond. The Memorial will feature likenesses of Dr. Hill, and other Virginia crusaders for civil liberties. This memorial will be a testament to the collective advancements of our society and to the enduring vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
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Conservatives in '08: Battle for the Heart and Soul of the Republican Party

2008-01-20T22:06:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to see why the Reagan Coalition, First Principles and Conservatism matter!

(h/t LandofDaFree)

Fred Thompson's South Carolina Primary Speech

2008-01-20T09:34:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to watch Fred Thompson's South Carolina speech from last night. Also, please pray for FDT's mom as she is sick in the hospital in Tennessee.

Fred Thompson Breaks 21% in Last SC Poll Prior to Today's Election on His Way to Victory: The Fredmentum Continues

2008-01-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Latest SC GOP Primary Polling Shows Big Momentum for Fred Thompson Today:

American Research Group (1-18-08) 21%

SurveyUSA (1-16-08) 17%

Rasmussen Reports (1-16-08) 16%

Reuters/C-SPAN (1-16-08) 14%

FDTV Vlog: Huckabee Stop Your Push Polling Against Fred Thompson

2008-01-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to view South Carolinians rejecting Huckabee's push polls on the eve of the election and coming out for Fred Thompson further bolstering FDT's Big Mo' in SC.

A View to the Future of What Our Military is Preparing For Under a Clinton, Obama or Yes, Huckabee Presidency!

2008-01-18T16:25:00.000-05:00

Huckabee and Clinton BFFs.

We all know how Bill Clinton downsized (or stripped) our military down to a paltry force. Click here to read how Fred Thompson would strengthen and revitalize our military and click here to read how FDT would take care of our Veterans and Military Personnel. As you can see, there is a clear choice here. Below you can see how our brave soldiers of the U.S. Army Armored Divisions, U.S. Navy & Coast Guard Surface Fleets and our U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force fighter wings would have to prepare for another Clinton, Obama or Huckabee as our next Commander-in-Chief!

CNN: Huckabee joins Clinton and Obama in Describing the U.S. Constitution as a "Living, Breathing Document"

2008-01-18T15:56:00.000-05:00

In case you were worried about who the next President might nominate to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg or ole John Paul Stevens, you now know what you will get with the Huckster. Huckabee will nominate someone who believes they can legislate from the bench and shape the Constitution into whatever they need to render the results-oriented decision he or she wants!

This is all the more reason for Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter supporters in South Carolina to support Fred Thompson tomorrow in the GOP Primary. Your camps need a Fred victory to continue to keep your campaigns in the game. Come on board the FDT Express, you just may like what you find.

South Carolina - say good bye to additional U.S. Supreme Court Justice Nominees like Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito if you elect Huckabee. (h/t HotAir for the CNN Clip)

The Constitution is Not a “Living, Breathing Document”
Posted on January 18th, 2008
From the FredFile
By Fred Thompson in Law, Judges

This morning I heard that one of the other candidates commented that the Constitution is a “living, breathing document.”

Frankly, I assumed this came from Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. It is identical to what Al Gore said when he was running for President in 2000, when he said he would look for judges “who understand that our Constitution is a living, breathing document, that it was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the constantly evolving experience of the American people.”

Imagine my surprise when I learned that this statement actually came from my opponent, Governor Huckabee, in an interview with CNN this morning. Now I know Governor Huckabee was talking about amending the Constitution, but I don’t think he understood that he was using code words that support judicial activism.

He does not appear to understand that reliance on the notion that the Constitution is a living, breathing document is precisely the kind of wrong-headed thinking about the Constitution that gave us Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion across our nation, and Lawrence v. Texas, which decriminalized sodomy.

I do not believe the Constitution is a living, breathing document. I am committed to appointing strict constructionist judges to the bench if I am elected President, strict constructionists who believe the Constitution has a fixed meaning that can be applied to cases that come before the courts today. They do NOT believe the Constitution is a “living, breathing document,” whose meaning, constantly changing with the sifting sands of our culture, can be determined and applied by unelected judges.

I fear that this loose language about our Constitution calls into question Governor Huckabee’s appreciation and understanding of the issue of judicial activism and raises questions as to what kind of judges he would appoint were he to become President.

[NOTE: Mike Huckabee’s words today contradict what he says on his website. –Sean]

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Atty. Gen. Bob McDonnell on Higher Education

2008-01-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

Higher Ed in the 21st Century
Friday, Jan 18, 2008

Richmond Times-Dispatch
By BOB MCDONNELL

Times-Dispatch Guest Columnist

www.inrich.com

With the General Assembly's 2008 session now under way, Virginians and their elected leaders are again focusing on policy and budget priorities. Education, mental health, public safety, immigration, and sound fiscal management are at the top of this year's issues.

With a divided General Assembly for only the second time in history, Virginians expect leaders to work across party lines to solve problems and get things done. In recent years bipartisan cooperation has produced advances in many areas, particularly in higher education.

Every capable young Virginian should have access to an affordable, high-quality college education. And our commonwealth's ongoing national leadership in economic development and technological innovation is directly tied to the quality of our higher education system.

Republicans understand this. In the 1990s, Govs. George Allen and Jim Gilmore reversed the devastating cycle of double-digit college tuition hikes, provided increased operating support for higher education, and made vital capital investments in our colleges and universities.

Virginia then moved to the forefront in attracting new job-creating businesses, many of them in the technology sector. Today, computer memory chips have replaced cigarettes as the state's leading manufactured export. The state's semiconductor chip fabrication plants never would have come to Virginia had it not been for Allen's commitment to invest in new engineering school facilities and programs.

Last fall, Gov. Tim Kaine ordered cuts in higher-education operating funds already approved by the General Assembly -- reductions he has carried forward into his new proposed budget. At the same time, his budget also contains substantial money for untested new government programs. While spending cuts and elimination of ineffective programs are absolutely necessary in Virginia government, the potential effect of these college cuts will be additional tuition increases on middle-income Virginia families who can least afford them.

IF KAINE gets mediocre marks on the issue of tuition affordability, he deserves a good grade for proposing continued capital investment that will ensure space at our colleges and universities for additional qualified Virginia students.

Most elected officials hear regularly from parents whose sons and daughters have finished near the top of their high school class, only to be turned down or wait-listed by Virginia colleges. With tens of thousands more talented, young Virginians seeking enrollment, the competition will get only more intense and the disappointments more frequent.

For that reason -- and because it will help produce valuable research, entrepreneurship, and sustained job growth in our knowledge-based economy -- I support adoption this year of a major, long-term, bond-financed plan for new capital investment in our public colleges and universities.

The case for prompt and prudent capital investment is strong: Virginia is among America's lowest-debt states. Interest rates are low. And our Triple-A bond rating gives us a unique opportunity to make sensible capital investments that will pay educational and economic dividends well into the future. Each year of delay means increased expense to Virginia taxpayers, since the annual inflation in construction costs actually is greater than the annual interest on the bonds.

TO BE PRUDENT, a bond package must be part of a responsible budget blueprint, the new debt-service burden must be affordable in the context of other spending obligations, strong protections against cost overruns must be crafted, and the bonds must be issued on a schedule that stays well within the state's debt-capacity model. It is on some of these grounds that the governor's overall budget and bond recommendations rightly will be closely scrutinized by the General Assembly in the weeks ahead.

But the case for making higher education capital improvements a bipartisan priority is strong indeed. Virginians are measuring leaders of both parties according to their ability to forge practical solutions, and we Republicans will continue to lead on producing new ideas, getting results, and solving problems.

When it comes to higher education, we will agree with the governor when we can and disagree when we must. But we will continue to stand squarely for:

· Holding the line against pressures for higher tuition;
· Creating room for additional, talented students in our state higher education system; and
· Promoting job-creating research and economic development in partnership with our colleges and universities.

If recent history is a guide, it will be Republicans -- crafting responsible solutions that generate bipartisan support -- who will do the hard work necessary to ensure that Virginia has a well-designed, fiscally prudent plan to make higher education more affordable, accessible, and effective in creating education and job opportunities for Virginians.

We have done it before, and we will do it again this year.

Bob McDonnell is the attorney general of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mike Huckabee Is Now Blatantly Flipping Positions to Win Over South Carolinians, but Voters are Fed Up and Flipping for Fred Thompson

2008-01-18T13:10:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Joshua Gross

http://www.fred08.com/
January 17, 2008

Huckabee Flips Positions: So Voters Flip for Fred! Voters Want a "True Consistent Conservative Across the Board"

Columbia, SC - South Carolinians have had it with Mike Huckabee flipping his position every time a new poll comes out. They aren't fooled by his convenient election year conversions.
What do South Carolinians want? A consistent conservative who is tough on illegal immigration, fights for lower taxes, and will be strong on national security.

The proof?

Watch videos of these new Fred supporters on why they flipped for Fred and why they can't trust Huckabee:

Donald Wilson used to support Huckabee but he was concerned about "some things that when he was Governor he did on illegal immigrants," and even more troubled that "now he's changed his mind..." for election reasons. But "after hearing Fred," Donald is a Fred supporter. http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2008/flip-for-fred-donald-wilson-laurens-sc/.

Fed up with Huckabee's immigrations flips, Carol Davis flipped to Fred because "I'm very impressed with him, and especially about his immigration stance..."http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2008/flip-for-fred-carol-davis-in-laurel-sc/.

Turned off by Huckabee for not being "a very good fiscal conservative", Jessie Hardin flipped to Fred because "Fred Thompson is the true consistent conservative across the board". http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2008/flip-for-fred-jessie-hardin-greer-sc/.

Chris Griffin flipped to Fred because "[he's] better on national security and immigration" than Huckabee. Mike Huckabee is "not a consistent conservative and he's weak on national security."http://fredfile.fred08.com/blog/2008/flip-for-fred-chris-griffin-greenville-sc/.

To view more videos of people "Flipping for Fred", visit our website at http://www.fred08.com/Virtual/flip.aspx,

Mike Huckabee Competing for Olympic Gold in Flip-Flop Contest with Mittens Romney

2008-01-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

http://www.fred08.com/
CONTACT: Joshua Gross
January 17, 2008

Huckabee's Hypocrisy: Another Flip Questions his Credibility
Huckabee - Competing for the "Gold" in Flip-Flops with Romney

Columbia, SC - After years of opposing the strict Columbia, SC - After Columbia, SC - After years of opposing the strict enforcement of America's immigration laws, Mike Huckabee conveniently changed his mind yesterday and signed a 'no amnesty pledge,' just in time for the South Carolina primary on Jan. 19th. Huckabee reportedly 'promised not to support any kind of special path to citizenship for illegal immigrants here in the U.S.' (Fox News, 1/16/08)
Yet in 2006, Huckabee said that opposition to such a path was "driven by racism or nativism." "'I do believe some of it is driven by racism or nativism,' he said of the opposition within his party to Mr. Bush's view that illegal aliens should not be deported but rather fined and eventually allowed U.S. citizenship. 'It's not amnesty to make people pay for breaking the law,' Mr. Huckabee said." (Washington Times, 5/17/06)
And in his own book - not some off the cuff comments that may have not been well thought out - Huckabee called specifically for a "a pathway toward legal status and citizenship" for illegal immigrants.

"It would be sheer folly to attempt to suddenly impose strict enforcement of existing laws, round up 12 million people, march them across the border, and expect them to stay. What does make sense is a revision of our laws, one giving those here illegally a process through which they pay a reasonable fine in admission of their guilt for the past infraction of violating our border laws and agree to adhere to a pathway toward legal status and citizenship." (Mike Huckabee, From Hope to Higher Ground, 2007, p. 117-118)

Huckabee's policy positions are a matter of convenience, not conviction. That's not leadership, it's populism. South Carolina voters deserve to know the truth about Huckabee's record.

Huckabee championed an effort to give illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded college scholarships and in-state tuition. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/27/05)
Huckabee opposed a raid on an Arkansas employer that utilized illegal immigrants. (Associated Press, 8/5/05)

Championed the effort to open a Mexican Consulate in Arkansas to issue identification cards to legal and illegal residents. (AP, 10/18/06)

Not only did Mike Huckabee flip on immigration yesterday, he also flipped on his long standing support for a national smoking ban.

[My two cents: In addition to Huckabee or Flipper II (as I will now call him) competing for the center pool at SeaWorld with Mittens on immigration, I am sure all of the Virginia and North Carolina tobacco farmers can see the true nature of how Tim Kaine and Mike Huckabee have a lot in common: they both want to ban smoking and put Virginia farmers out of business. Although we have come a long way from an agriculture-only based exporter to now exporting microchips, many farmers in Virginia still depend on the cash crop for their living, so you have to love Huckabee wanting to hurt our farmers in Virginia.]

Call to all Conservative Virginians, Marylanders and FredHeads: Tonight and Tomorrow Night (5pm to 9pm) Phone for Fred in South Carolina

2008-01-17T12:24:00.000-05:00

It is essential we make calls today and tomorrow for Fred. We are riding a wave of momentum in South Carolina and we all know, Fred is our only hope to carry on the Conservative Platform and no other GOP candidate will carry the full Reagan Coalition to the General Election in November.

FredHeads! It is now or never so get to it. We are the only Pro-Economic Growth, Low Tax, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Life, Secure the Border/No Amesty, Foreign Policy Tested 2008 Ticket for the Republicans and so, do your best to bring it home for Fred.

Although I mentioned calling tonight and tomorrow night (1/17/08 and 1/18/08), feel free to call at anytime during the day as well. Please email me to let me know you called for Fred or have questions. When you login to http://www.fred08.com/, go to Phone for Fred and select South Carolina. Once you have selected South Carolina, you can call right then or download the call sheet and then come back to the web site later to enter your data. At this point, it is best to call live and enter the response real time. This is the message you will see when you click on Phone for Fred.

Welcome to our Phone for Fred online phone bank! Person to person contact is the most effective way to make a difference in an election. We created the Phone for Fred program for all of you Friends of Fred who want to volunteer and do more for Fred!

We need your help in the early primary states. Our Phone for Fred online phone bank makes it easy for you to make a difference!

Fred only needs a small commitment of time and you will soon see that your phone calls and person to person contact will help Fred win!

Fred Thompson's Momentum Continues in South Carolina

2008-01-17T11:15:00.000-05:00

Despite push polling attacks from the Huckabee camp, Fred continues to roll and will overtake the Huckster. Don't you find it funny that in Iowa, Huckabee said he wouldn't run a negative campaign and now, feeling threatened by a true conservative who points out his liberal positions on taxes, immigration and total lack of foreign policy experience, Huckabee's team has resorted to attacking Fred with blatant untruths. Just remember how everyone thought Obama would win New Hampshire, Fred's momentum will carry him forward on Saturday as long as South Carolinians learn of Huckabee's liberal stances on crime, spending and immigration.

Check out the wave of SC support for Fred Thompson in the following SC Polls!

Rasmussen Reports
1/13/08 Fred Thompson 16% (+5%)
1/09/08 Fred Thompson 12%
1/06/08 Fred Thompson 11%

1/13/08 Mike Huckabee 19% (-9%)
1/09/08 Mike Huckabee 24%
1/06/08 Mike Huckabee 28%

Reuters/Zogby/C-Span
1/16/08 Fred Thompson 14% (+2%)
1/15/08 Fred Thompson 12%

1/16/08 Mittens Romney 12% (-1%)
1/15/08 Mittens Romney 13%

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Reflects on Fred Thompson's Strong Policy Positions

2008-01-16T16:36:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to view Major General James E. Livingston, USMC, Ret. Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient discussing his support of Fred Thompson's policies promoting the Successful Surge in Iraq and Stopping the Surge of Illegal Aliens over Our Borders.

Fred Thompson Receiving Solid Support from Veterans; FDT best fit to be Commander-in-Chief and Hit the Ground Running from Day One

2008-01-15T15:52:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to view a real American hero, Major General James E. Livingston, USMC, Ret. Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, who supports Fred Thompson as being the most qualified Commander-in-Chief.

Fred Thompson is a Big Hit in Aiken, SC - Overflowing Crowds Everywhere the Bus Tour Goes

2008-01-15T15:12:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to view a Vlog from Aiken, SC. Below is the Aiken event I was talking about at Papa Russ's BBQ that we helped out with...turned out to be another great success for FDT! Looks like Fred found a couple of converts as well.

Click above or click here to view another great Vlog endorsement this time from a fireman named Daniel Williams from Graniteville, SC.

Check out this one-on-one interview with Fred Thompson in Aiken (on the right side of Politics webpage) on WRDW-CBS affiliate News Channel 12 in Augusta and
Check out this video from the Augusta Chronicle of FDT in Aiken, SC.

Fred Thompson Visits Aiken
By Julia Sellers South Carolina Bureau
August Chronicle
Monday, Jan. 14, 2008

AIKEN - Undecided voters stood on chairs and bumped elbows just to hear Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson on Monday.

Although his visit to Aiken was delayed by a couple of hours, the 200 to 250 residents who came to Papa Russ's Barbecue for his campaign stop wanted to see for themselves if he would get past his television persona and hit on real issues.

"I think we may have decided on a candidate, but we wanted to experience him
personally," Mark Thompson, of Aiken, said of his family's wait for the visit.

...While some voters were looking for the right answers from Mr. Thompson, diehard supporters drove to Aiken in an effort to sway the undecided. "I'm not from South Carolina, but I'll be contacting people in South Carolina because the alternative is unacceptable and I'll have to pay for it," said Dianne Thomas, of Charlotte, N.C. "He has more depth that's not always shown in a sound bite."

The former U.S. Senator from Tennessee is on a tour bus campaign in South Carolina this week.

More Evidence as to Why Former Romney Supporters in SC and elsewhere are Flocking to Fred Thompson; Romney "Fakes It" with an Unemployed Michigan Mom

2008-01-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it seems that after relentless attacks against us and now McCain, Team Romney just doesn't get it. It is one thing to stand for our First Principles and let Conservatism guide your way, as is the case for FDT, but it is a completely different story to be fake about your positions and do anything possible to get votes, including pose with a Campaign Staffer's mom, who just happens to be unemployed and then go on CBS and tell Michigan you feel their pain, but not telling anyone of the paid campaign staffer connections? Can we say--the Wolverine State was Set Up by Mitt Romney? I predict this story could very well hurt Mitt Romney today in Michigan, if it gets out in time. Isn't that always the story folks? You learn of this, but its just too darn late to get it out.

Will enough South Carolinians find out just how liberal Huckabee is on immigration, economics & spending, taxes and crime in time by Saturday and will people learn of this story about Romney by today? What was Mitt thinking? He probably thought he could slide this by until after the polls closed?

From Blogs for Fred Thompson on this story:

[Mitt's] sit-down with this Michigan mom was about as spontaneous as his change of heart on abortion, immigration, taxes etc. These changes did not come out of deep empathy and principle, but out of a cold, calculating willingness to adapt to whatever he thinks he must do to get the GOP nomination. This is why Romney is at the very bottom of GOP candidates [to] support. At least the others have some genuine commitment to what they claim to believe.

Romney photo-op was with staffer's mom
By: Kenneth P. Vogel

Jan 14, 2008 09:14 PM EST

(h/t BFFT on Michigan Set Up)

A well-publicized weekend photo-op for Mitt Romney turns out to have been missing a piece of information that might have undermined its credibility: the unemployed single mom at the center of the event was the mother of a Romney staffer.

Local and national media outlets, including Politico.com, reported that Romney was the picture of empathy as he sat at the Marshall, Mich. kitchen table of 51-year-old Elizabeth Sachs, a single mother of two who lost her job as a retail manager – as well as her health insurance – and is running out of money as she tries to sell her house to move to Florida.

What wasn’t reported – and what the Romney campaign did not reveal at the time – was that one of Sachs’ sons, Steve Sachs, is a paid employee of Romney’s campaign, organizing five counties in Michigan....
***
Talking to a small handful of reporters after Romney and most of his press pack had left the kitchen, Sachs offered details about her age, job situation, and her effort to sell her home. When asked about her children, she only said that one was "20, soon to be 21" and that another was a teenager.
The Associated Press distributed a photograph of Romney and Elizabeth Sachs kitchen chat, which ran on the Boston Globe’s Web site and CBS’s Harry Smith interviewed Romney from Sachs’ home.

Fred Thompson's Brand New Campaign Ad for South Carolina "Always Conservative"

2008-01-14T21:55:00.000-05:00

Click above or click here to see Fred's new SC campaign ad. Now flush with campaign cash from his red truck fundraiser, Fred will roll to victory. As a little bonus, FDT is asking everyone to donate $10.00 at 10:00PM Local time, so for us that's in 4 minute! Click here to donate $10.00.