Kasha Nielsen and Empower CRFV team sweep 2015-16 officer roles

Kasha Nielsen

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Meet the new Executive Board of Officers for the College Republican Federation of Virginia 2015-16:

Chairman: Kasha Nielsen (University of Virginia)

1st Vice Chairman: Devon Flynn (George Mason)

 

2nd Vice Chairman: Jake Lee (James Madison University)

Secretary: Nathan Ritchie (College of William and Mary)

Treasurer: Kim Gibbons (Va Tech)

Led by UVa junior Kasha Nielsen who won with a vote of 99-17, the entire CRFV team swept the election during their annual convention this weekend on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville. After months of hard work along with outgoing CR Chair Liz Minneman (UVa Class of 2014) and crisscrossing the Commonwealth visiting college campuses, they earned the endorsements of most CR chairs as well as YRs, activists, and elected officials.

The team campaigned under the banner “Empower CRFV” with a positive message from these young leaders who are the future of the Republican Party. With a pragmatic vision for strengthening the GOP, a plan of inclusiveness, and a desire to work hard to elect Republican candidates, they are shining examples of what hard work and perseverance can do to build the party.

Larry Sabato’s revised 2016 presidential field … Jeb moves to top

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The University of Virginia’s Larry Sabato has come out with the latest Crystal Ball analysis of the 2016 presidential lineup for Republicans and, not surprisingly, it centers mostly around the only candidate to (almost) announce so far, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (who, technically, is surveying the landscape — political code for “he’s running”).

Sabato, long-time director of the U.Va. Center for Politics, noted the turtle mix-up that occurred over the holidays with Jeb Bush’s announcement which shot him to the top of the list, although he did not have far to go because he had been near the top of the list for a while.

The 12 Days of Christmas: Day 2 … Monticello $5 admission, ‘White Christmas,’ Shakespeare, Nutcracker

By Lynn R. Mitchell

1) Monticello at Christmas

Experience the Colonial Virginia celebration of the holiday season at the home of Thomas Jefferson, open today from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with 1987 admission prices of $5.00. That’s a big savings over the usual $18 for adults and $8 for children. Children younger than 6 are free.

Let’s raise the level of debate and the integrity of our cause

By Benjamin Dessart

While I normally do not give such articles much consideration, the editorial written by the Daily Caller and promoted by Tom White is the most appalling editorial I have read in my time engaged in conservative politics.

Not only are the accusations implied here heinous and logically flawed, they are written (and promoted) in the name of journalism. This article is not news. This article is not journalism. In fact, it is an affront to journalism. Journalists hold themselves to a set standard of morality aimed at promoting the truth, no matter where it may lead them. This article is without the standards of common decency, never mind a standard of journalistic integrity. Such writing is not only deceitful, but it is manipulative, cold, and designed to promote a singular result: for the reader to hate someone.

‘Daily Caller’ and Virginia blogger stoop to new low regarding UVa ‘Rolling Stone’ article

By Daniel P. Cortez

In my 45 years as a writer-broadcaster and political media operative, this remains the worst breach of journalistic ethics I have ever seen. I find the author and editors of the Daily Caller reprehensible to suggest, by inference through association, that the son of former Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor had anything to do with the alleged gang rape reportedly occurring at the University of Virginia in 2012 during a fraternity party.

In the past such acts of desperate yellow journalism were frowned upon and summarily impugned by the established media community. Sadly, today this remains the consequence of poorly trained and ethically imbalanced blog operatives with a mentality embraced by too many known supporters of the tea party community. Such scurrilous acts of political sabotage through innuendo are the reason seasoned professional writers must be more selective to blog involvement in Virginia.

Dr. Rob Marsh … Delta Force soldier finds peace as country doctor

Dr. Rob Marsh

By Lynn R. Mitchell

An unassuming man walked to the middle of the stage in front of a room of 300 military veterans and their guests who stood and applauded the Desert Storm veteran, now in his mid-50s. He paused and seemed to take in the faces before him, humbled at the reception. As guests sat down, Dr. Rob Marsh began his story by noting that he doesn’t often speak but, when he does, his priority is with military groups, veterans groups, and medical gatherings that may offer new medical and surgical techniques that can help our soldiers at war.

Then he paused, kind of bowed his head, and quietly said that he would talk with groups if he felt his message could honor the Lord. He went on to add that it was an honor to recognize veterans and their families who sacrificed for America, and noted that he was not speaking as Rob Marsh the soldier but, rather, as Rob Marsh the Christian.

Coy Barefoot and the site where Hannah was found

Photo by Coy Barefoot

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Many were touched by Hannah Graham’s disappearance. Some knew her. Others knew someone who knew her — that is my connection through my first-year UVa student niece who had known Hannah since attending French Academy with her at Washington and Lee University in 2012. Many had children and felt the anguish Hannah’s parents were going through. The community closed ranks, embracing the family, and worked together in a way that is not often seen. Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo never let go of his tenacity nor his promise to Hannah’s parents to find her, and with the help of thousands of volunteers, he was able to keep that promise although, sadly, not in the way he would have liked.

Many reporters and some bloggers have followed along but one who has stood out because of the information he was able to provide that wasn’t necessarily found in the regular news feeds was Coy Barefoot, a Charlottesville resident who wears many hats including writer, history professor at UVa, radio personality, and more. But most importantly, as seen in his words below, he wears the “Dad” hat.

Parents remember Hannah, thank all who helped during search, ask for privacy to grieve their loss

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Hannah Graham’s parents issued a statement Friday after news reports confirmed that human remains found in rural Albemarle County were those of the missing University of Virginia student:

Albermarle law enforcement statement on Hannah Graham investigation

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Hannah Graham’s remains were found in Albemarle County just outside Charlottesville. That jurisdiction is now moving forward with the death investigation, issuing the following statement about their status:

On Saturday, October 18th human remains were discovered in southern Albemarle County. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for examination and positive identification. The Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that these are the remains of Hannah Graham, 18, of Fairfax, Va.

Statement from UVa President Sullivan about Hannah Graham

Hannah Graham

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The University of Virginia’s president Teresa Sullivan’s statement about Hannah Graham following positive identification of her remains after being missing for five weeks:

“Hannah showed great promise as a student and as a young woman. She brought immense energy and delight to her learning at the University, and she was a source of friendship and joy for so many people here at the University and abroad, particularly her friends on the ski team. Thomas Jefferson wanted students here to fulfill ‘destinies of high promise.’ For Hannah’s young life to end so tragically, and for her destiny of promise to be left unfulfilled, is an affront to the sanctity of life and to the natural order of human events.

“This is a sorrowful day in the life of the University, and our entire community is grieving with the Graham family. We offer our sincere condolences for their loss, and we will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.”

Sad closure: Hannah has been found

By Lynn R. Mitchell

We all suspected the ending would be this way when human remains were found last Saturday at a remote house in Albemarle County which prompted police to call off all future searches and notify eighteen-year-old Hannah Graham’s parents. What, we wondered, had there been that made them so sure their hunt for the missing University of Virginia student was over?

Today officials escorted Hannah’s parents to the Old Lynchburg Road crime site in the morning, and then released the information that Hannah had, indeed, been found. Her parents have closure as opposed to wondering where she is, but what a sad way for this six-week journey to end (see Hannah Graham’s parents visit Old Lynchburg Road crime scene and Medical examiner confirms Hannah Graham’s remains found in Albemarle).

Hannah … waiting to hear if the human remains found Saturday are hers

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On Saturday, five weeks to the day from when Hannah Graham, 18, disappeared from Charlottesville, human remains were found outside Charlottesville. A press conference was held that afternoon by Charlottesville police chief Tim Longo with the grim news that all had been fearing … that Hannah had probably been found pending positive identification after lab results (see Police notify Graham parents that body found in Albemarle County is likely hers by Bryan McKenzie).

The skeletal remains were found by a team from the Chesterfield County sheriff’s office who were among the thousands who have volunteered during the five-week search for Hannah (see Hannah Graham searcher says ‘God wanted’ them to find what they found).

The isolated house at 3193 Old Lynchburg Road had been noticed by someone who saw a large number of buzzards around the property so called in to the tip line with the address and his observations (see Where Hannah was found by Coy Barefoot). That was on October 6. Police have been working non-stop on the overwhelming number of tips. Of particular interest in Barefoot’s article was this:

“Morgan’s [Harrington] skeletal remains were found 100 days later, on a farm south of Charlottesville— just about five miles from 3193 Old Lynchburg Road.  Jesse Matthew grew up in this rural part of Albemarle County south of Charlottesville. His mom’s house is just up the road, about 4 miles from where the remains of Hannah Graham are believed to have been found.”

Larry Sabato’s latest Crystal Ball … national changes, updates, and Gillespie

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Larry J. Sabato and Kyle Kondik at the University of Virginia’s Crystal Ball have new election predictions this morning with some changes (see A Tale of Two Elections: New 2014 Senate and House Ratings).

Campus Cookies … a little taste of love

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Saturday night and SWAC Niece’s roommate was out with her parents who had driven down from NoVa to visit. SWAC Niece and her suite mates were busy studying so what a great time for some warm, gooey comfort food.

Campus Cookies!

Larry Sabato’s latest on 2014 elections

By Lynn R. Mitchell

University of Virginia political professor Dr. Larry Sabato’s latest Crystal Ball is out with his latest reading of the political tea leaves (see House 2014: Generic Movement, Specific Standstill: Republican gains in national polls don’t necessarily mean large House seat addition).

Sabato warns, “The national numbers indicate that Republicans should be on the verge of big House gains. But a district-by-district analysis suggests a different story.” He then number-crunches for Senate, House, and Gubernatorial races across the nation.