George W. Bush: ‘In democracy, the purpose of public office is not to fulfill personal ambition’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

A Facebook post by an Arizona college student of a quote from George W. Bush’s remarks on the day almost two years ago — April 25, 2013 — when the George W. Bush Presidential Library was dedicated made me re-read that extraordinary speech.

Typical of this compassionate conservative, Bush’s words were uplifting, positive, a reminder of duty and service, and always brought hope that America would prevail. That was part of the legacy of George W. Bush. He never apologized to the world for America, he always saw the best in us, and he was a steadying and reassuring force in his leadership even during the dark days following the Islamic terrorism attacks on America on 9/11.

Updating BD’s Big Line prediction for Sen-24

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Bearing Drift’s “Big Line” predictions have not been updated since March 5, 2015, so I’m going to update Senate District 24. Interestingly, their editorial board got it wrong.

Time for holiday cheer or jeer?

By Daniel P. Cortez

It will be difficult depending on which political blowhard one chooses to listen to, as to how exuberant independent voters should be in the New Year.

Like many, I remain jaded when Democrats and Republicans firmly suggest they exclusively remain “the light and the way.” Especially if they suggest divine providence ordered their political involvement … and some have.

But I acknowledge some exceptional folks on both sides of the aisle. Presidents John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and father and son Bush are at the top of my chart. Plus former Senator George Allen and Senator Diane Feinstein remain two of the more civil and dedicated politicians I’ve had the honor to work with closely.

Sadly, their ability to reach across the aisle is not shared by their contemporaries. And the collective political failure of both parties has allowed the once dominant U.S. military to be decimated by an administration bent on unilateral appeasement through sequestration.

We’re live at the Augusta County mass meeting for South River supervisor candidate

By Lynn R. Mitchell

6:30: Folks are milling around for tonight’s Augusta County mass meeting to vote for a supervisor candidate from South River. A bit of drama developed over the weekend when Augusta County Republican Committee Chairman Dan Moxley and former chairman Bill Shirley held an eleventh hour executive meeting Saturday afternoon to form a nomination committee to “qualify” the two nominees.

After stacking the nomination committee with friendlies to the two chairs, they proceeded to disqualify sitting supervisor Carolyn Bragg who was appointed to the board in March after the death of Supervisor David Beyeler, and allowed their nominee, Tanya Gigliotti, to be unopposed.

Late Sunday night an announcement was put up on the ACRC Facebook page announcing tonight’s meeting had been cancelled.

Augusta County tonight: South River mass meeting for supervisor

By Lynn R.  Mitchell

On Monday evening at 6:30, registered voters of the South River District of Augusta County will gather at the Government Center in Verona to choose a candidate for SUPERVISOR, the position currently held by Carolyn Bragg who was appointed after the death of the late sitting supervisor. The winner of tonight’s meeting will be the Republican candidate for the November election.

Bill Bolling: ‘It’s time for party registration in Virginia’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

What do Republicans in Virginia and Mississippi have in common?

No, this is not a joke, it’s a serious question.

The answer?

Both states recently had high-visibility Republican primaries, but the outcome was not determined by Republicans. Instead, the outcome was determined by independents and Democrats, and these elections vividly demonstrate why we need party registration in Virginia, and why primary elections should be limited to self-identified Republicans and Democrats.

So begins Bill Bolling’s column, “It’s time for party registration in Virginia,” in Sunday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch. He goes on to cite the reasons why voter registration by party is needed in Virginia. I agree. Good read.