ACV Democratic News

Will The Republicans Ever Choose a Candidate???

2012-02-12T20:46:00.011-05:00

A conservative, a moderate and a liberal walk into a bar. The bartender turns, looks up and says "Hello Mitt What will you have today."

Mitt Can Pander To Any Audience

Watching the Republicans struggling to agree on a presidential candidate, one wonders whether the GOP shouldn't just sit this election out - just give 2012 a pass.

You know how in Scrabble sometimes you look at your seven letters and you've got only vowels that spell nothing?    What do you do?    You go back to the pile.    You throw your letters back and hope to pick up better ones to work with.    That's what Republican primary voters seem to be doing.    They just keep going back to the pile but still coming up with only vowels that spell nothing.

There's a reason for that:     Their pile is out of date.    The party has let itself become the captive of conflicting ideological bases: anti-abortion advocates, anti-immigration activists, social conservatives worried about the sanctity of marriage, libertarians who want to shrink government, and anti-tax advocates who want to drown government in a bathtub.

Sorry, but you can't address the great challenges America faces today with that incoherent mix of hardened positions.   I've argued that maybe we need a third party to break open our political system. But that's a long shot.    What we definitely and urgently need is a second party - a coherent Republican opposition that is offering constructive conservative proposals on the key issues and is ready for strategic compromises to advance its interests and those of the country.

Without that, the best of the Democrats - who have been willing to compromise - have no partners and the worst have a free pass for their own magical thinking.    Since such a transformed Republican Party is highly unlikely, maybe the best thing would be for it to get crushed in this election and forced into a fundamental rethink.

Because when I look at America's three greatest challenges today, I don't see the Republican candidates offering realistic answers to any of them.

The first is responding to the challenges and opportunities of an era in which globalization and the information technology revolution have dramatically intensified, creating a hyperconnected world.

This is a world in which education, innovation and talent will be rewarded more than ever.    This is a world in which there will be no more "developed" and "developing countries," but only HIEs (high-imagination-enabling countries) and LIEs (low-imagination-enabling countries).

The second of our great long-term challenges are our huge debt and entitlement obligations.    They can't be fixed without raising and reforming taxes and trimming entitlements and defense.    We absolutely cannot just cut entitlements and defense.    That would imperil the personal security and national security of every American.    We must also reform taxes to raise more revenues.

But when all the Republican candidates last year said they would not accept a deal with Democrats that involved even $1 in tax increases in return for $10 in spending cuts, the GOP cut itself off from reality.    It became a radical party, not a conservative one. And for the candidates to wrap themselves in a cartoon version of Ronald Reagan is fraudulent.

Our third great challenge is how we power our future - without dangerously polluting and warming the earth - as the global population grows from 7 billion to 9 billion people by 2050, and more and more of them want to drive, eat and live like Americans.

Two billion more people who want to live like us?    We can't drill our way out of that challenge, which is why energy efficiency and clean power will be the next great global industry.    Real conservatives - like Richard Nixon, the father of the Environmental Protection Agency, and George H.W. Bush, the author of the first cap-and-trade deal to curb acid rain - believe in conserving.    The current Republican candidates are so captured by the oil and coal lobbies that they can't think seriously about this huge opportunity for energy innovation.

Until the GOP stops being radical and returns to being conservative, it won't provide what the country needs most now - competition - competition with Democrats on the issues that will determine whether we thrive in the 21st century.    We need to hear conservative fiscal policies, energy policies, immigration policies and public-private partnership concepts - not radical ones.    Would somebody please restore our second party?    The country is starved for a grown-up debate.

Friedman is a columnist for the New York Times and a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a right wing republican happened upon a frog sitting and contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near a pristine castle. The frog hopped into the republicans lap and said " I was once a great leader who presided over a land of plenty. All my subjects were employed and our standard of living was the best in the world and we had cured almost all diseases. Our educational system was second to none and home ownership was the norm. If you will save me and take me home I will give to you all the secrets of creating a virtual garden of eden here on earth." That night, the republican dined sumptuously on a repast of lightly sautéed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and shallot cream sauce.

What do you call a Republican who makes their money honestly?
Broke.

You might be a Republican if...
You'll spend $20 billion guarding a bridge against the possibility of a terrorist attack, but won't spend 20 cents to keep it from falling down on its own.

Where can you find a Republican politician who's not currently taking bribes?
The cemetery.

ROVER

What's the most common name for the smartest member of a Republican household?
Rover.

RushBo

Rush Limbaugh was riding down a country road in his limo, when his driver accidentally hit and killed a pig.    Limbaugh told the chauffeur to drive up to the farm and apologize to the farmer.    They drove up to the farm, and the chauffeur got out.    He knocked on the front door and was let in, but remained inside for a surprisingly long time.    When the chauffeur returned, Limbaugh asked what had taken so long.
"Well," the driver explained, "when I went in, the farmer shook my hand and offered me a beer.    Then his wife brought me some cookies, and his daughter showered me with kisses."
"What did you tell the farmer?"   Limbaugh asked.    The chauffeur replied, "I told him that I was Rush Limbaugh's driver and I'd just killed the pig."

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The Road To Nowhere

House Republican leaders last week took the wraps off a federal transportation bill that should be called the “Drive and Drill Act.” The measure has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate, but it should be preserved in the Smithsonian as an example of what can happen when partisan politics run amok in an election year — and when oil industry lobbyists get everything they ask for except, perhaps, a derrick on the White House lawn.

The bill would spend $260 billion — roughly $51 billion a year — on highways, bridges and other transit programs over the next five years.    That’s a mountain of money, but it doesn’t come close to meeting the needs on the ground.   In 2011, a group led by former U.S. transportation secretaries concluded that federal government should be spending $262 billion a year to repair and improve the nation’s infrastructure.

Yes, these are lean times for the nation and for the federal government, and transportation must compete with other domestic priorities.    But the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems are in desperate need of repair and replacement after decades of disinvestment by Congress.

The bill’s flaws go far beyond a lack of funding.    For example, it would radically change the method of funding public transit, which since the Reagan administration has been funded by a dedicated portion — 2.86 cents — of the 18.4-cent per gallon federal gas tax. Under the GOP plan, approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, mass transit would be cut off from its traditional source of revenue of gas taxes and would have to compete for funding with other general fund projects.

That switch would inflict a mortal wound on mass transit in metropolitan areas — not only in big cities such as New York and Chicago, but in communities such as Eugene and Springfield, which rely on federal funding for projects such as the Lane Transit District’s EmX system.

The bill would drastically cut funding for biking and pedestrian projects. It would reduce the allocation for Amtrak by 25 percent.    It would curtail important environmental reviews for transportation projects.

It gets worse:    In an attempt to hand the nation’s transportation policy to their supporters in the oil and gas industry, GOP lawmakers want to pay for the $260 billion in planned infrastructure improvements by opening to new drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in long-protected areas off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.    Then there’s a proposed mandate for oil shale leasing on federal lands, and House Speaker John Boehner wants to add language that would require the permitting of the Keystone XL pipeline.

The GOP strategy is breathtakingly cynical and transparently manipulative. By linking highway construction — which is now primarily funded by gas-tax funding and user fees to oil and gas drilling revenues — lawmakers are trying to make transportation dependent on the fossil fuels industry.    Nothing could make Big Oil happier — or richer.

With Republicans in firm control, this measure is likely to pass the House, and it may get even worse before final passage.    It will then go to the Senate, which should reject the House bill and make certain that the nation ends up with a sound, workable and adequately funded transportation system.

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MAKE A NOTE

Saturday, March 3, 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Town Hall meeting with Andrew Schmookler in the Community Meeting Room of the Lynchburg Public Library, 2315 Memorial Avenue. There is ample free parking outside the entrance of the Community Meeting Room. Come out and talk with the candidate who is going to defeat Bob Goodlatte in the November election.

AMHERST COUNTY VIRGINIA DEMOCRATIC NEWS

South Carolina Republican Debate, Winners and Losers

2012-01-17T01:34:00.008-05:00

So, who won tonight’s set-to in South Carolina? And, more deliciously, who lost? The 16th debate has narrowed the choices down to 5.

ACVDN

WINNERS

ACVDN

Newt Gingrich: This was the former House Speaker’s best debate of the entire race. With not all that much to lose, Gingrich let ‘er rip tonight and had the exuberant crowd — more on that below — eating out of his hand.

Gingrich’s characterization of President Obama as the “food stamp president” won him applause but it was nothing as compared to the standing ovation he received when challenged about that statement later by debate panelist Juan Williams.

So in Newt’s corner was the audience that even his far less sensical lines — “Only the elites despise earning money,” he said at one point — earned him applause.

Gingrich proved again tonight that when he is on — and he isn’t always on — he is the best debater in the field. His performance almost certainly solidified his place as the strongest alternative to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in the field. But will it do any thing more than that?

ACVDN

Rick Perry: The Texas governor didn’t talk all that much but when he did he was very effective. His line about the South Carolina being “at war” with the federal government drew raucous applause.

ACVDN

His ability to step back from a fight between Romney and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and label them both “insiders” showed how much he has progressed as a debater.

ACVDN

Perry’s performance left us wondering where this guy had been in the previous 14 debates. Unfortunately for Perry, his poor performances in the past virtually ensure that his strong showing tonight won’t make much difference.

He’s really just playing for his own legacy in the race at this point. Tonight, he did himself a solid.

President Obama

The BIG WINNER

Barack Obama:     If you assume — and we do — that Romney is the all-but-certain Republican nominee (whether that happens sooner or later remains anybody’s guess) then the Obama campaign got some good material to use against him tonight.

Romney committed — kind of, sort of — to (maybe) releasing his taxes in April, a pledge the Obama team will hold him to.    He also stuck to his decidedly conservative line on immigration, which will make it more difficult for him to court Hispanics once the general election begins.

On a far more minor — but not entirely unimportant — note:   You can bet the Democratic National Committee will have fun with Romney’s incredibly awkward answer on hunting.   And we quote: “I am not the great hunter.”

Stephen Colbert

* Super PACs/Stephen Colbert: The amount of time spent discussing super PACs was astounding. And, the more super PACs get talked about in such a high-profile setting, the more the people running them can make a convincing case to the people donating to them that they are having an impact. (Welcome to the political law of unintended consequences!)

The President of The United States of South Carolina

Looming over the whole super PAC conversation — at least for us — was the image of a smiling Stephen Colbert and his “Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow/The Definitely Not Coordinated With Stephen Colbert Super PAC”. Nothing but comic fodder in all of that back and forth for Colbert.

LOSERS

ACVDN

Ron Paul:     Ugh. We don’t often feel bad for politicians — after all, they are putting themselves out there and inviting public scrutiny — but we felt some pangs for the Texas Republican Congressman tonight.

His answers on foreign policy were repeatedly booed and Perry even suggested that a gong should have been used to cut Paul off. While Paul-ites undoubtedly cheered their hero’s willingness to stand up for what he believes in when it comes to U.S. involvement in foreign countries, it’s just not a majority position — or anywhere
close to it — in the Republican electorate of South Carolina.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: If Paul would deflect all foreign policy questions and turn every answer into something about his economic views, he could be a real contender for the nomination.     He won’t do that, so he isn’t.

* Audience:    The Fix is pro-audience involvement — to a point. Tonight’s debate went beyond that point.   Not only were moderators booed for asking questions — just doing their jobs, folks — but it became clear after about 15 minutes that Gingrich, Perry and, to a lesser extent, Santorum were all vamping for crowd reaction in each of their answers.

The result?    Lots of conservative red meat thrown on the debate stage but not a lot of serious and detailed discussion that went beyond the candidates’ talking points.

(Sidebar:    The level of audience involvement hurt Romney.   Unlike his rivals who have nothing to lose by throwing out every rhetorical excess known to man, he has to be far more measured — knowing the Obama opposition research team is always watching.)

ACVDN

* Pop culture references:    With former Utah governor Jon Huntsman out of the race, the level of pop culture knowledge on stage took a mighty hit.     Romney referenced Bigfoot for pete’s sake!

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President Obama will give his State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 24th -- his last before the 2012 election.    If you've been waiting for the right moment to get involved in the campaign, this is it.    In Lynchburg, folks who support the President will be coming together to watch the address and talk about the agenda he lays out -- then plan out how to organize locally in the coming months to spread the President's message and keep growing this campaign.

Can You make it to the Party in Lynchburg this Tuesday?

Here are the details:

What:     State of the Union watch party in Lynchburg
Where:    1411 Club Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24503
When:     Tuesday, January 24th, 7:30 pm

There's not just a party in Lynchburg -- there will be thousands of these parties all across the country that volunteers have planned and organized to connect with one another and step up the work where they live.

This year ahead is a big one -- and in what I promise will seem like no time at all, it will be November.    What we can accomplish between now and then depends on how well we grow this organization.   And it's going to take all of us working together.

On Tuesday, folks in thousands of neighborhoods are meeting up to do just that.

As the President is setting the agenda for the direction he hopes to take our country -- and the Republicans draw closer to choosing a nominee -- it's on all of us to take our local organizing to the next level.

RSVP for the watch party on Tuesday and step up now in Lynchburg:

http://my.barackobama.com/State-of-the-Union-2012

Thanks,

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

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The Amherst County Democratic Committee Invites You

2012-01-16T13:48:00.002-05:00

Governor Tim Kaine

Please join

Rosel & Elliot Schewel

Shannon & Mike Valentine

for a reception honoring

Governor Tim Kaine

to benefit his campaign for U.S. Senate

Thursday, January 26, 2011
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Remarks at 6:00 PM

1487 Langhorne Road
Lynchburg, Virginia

Chair: $2,500
Benefactor: $1,000
Sponsor: $500
Supporter: $250
Friend: $100

To RSVP, please complete and return the form between the dotted lines, or visit

www.KaineForVA.com/ShannonValentine or contact Sara Shannon at (804) 367-5765 or at Sara.Shannon@KaineForVA.com

Please note: due to limited parking space, handicapped parking will be provided in the driveway at 1487 Langhorne Road, and drop-offs are welcome at the door. Additional street parking is available on Landon and Woodridge.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kaine for Virginia
January 26th Reception

_____ Yes, I/we would like to attend the reception, enclosed is my contribution of $________

_____ No, I/we are not able to attend, please accept a contribution of $ _________

Please mail this card with your contribution payable to “Kaine for Virginia” to:

Attn: Sara Shannon
Kaine for Virginia
PO Box 12307
Richmond, VA 23241

Contributions to Kaine for Virginia are limited to $5,000 per individual ($2,500 for the primary election and $2,500 for the general election) and federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute $10,000 ($5,000 for the primary election and $5,000 for the general election). A husband and wife may contribute $10,000 ($5,000 each) by one check drawn from a joint account and signed by both individuals.

Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.

If this is a contribution from a husband and wife by one check drawn from a joint account and signed by both individuals,

please provide the requested information below for both individuals.

Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Mailing

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Contributions or gifts to Kaine for Virginia are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, though the act predated the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by 15 years.

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Monday, January 16, 8:00 - 10:00 AM - The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Breakfast will take place at
the Holiday Inn Downtown, 601 Main Street, in the Lynchburg Ballroom.

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from ACVDN

2011-12-18T12:29:00.003-05:00

The Best of the Christmas Season to All.

Fed up with the partisan bickering, demonizing of the opposition and ad hominem personal attacks that have become so prevalent in Congress, in 2006 Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver II, a centrist Missouri Democrat and Methodist minister, founded the Civility Caucus.

Cleaver admits that the initiative has proven a tough sell in a legislative body that rewards straight party-line votes and verbal pugilism.    Some colleagues have rebuffed Cleaver’s initiative as starry-eyed while others have questioned his mettle.    "We haven't had to hire any new receptionists to handle all the phone calls and applications to join,"    he has lamented.    Yet Cleaver, a former city councilman and Kansas City’s first black mayor, has made civility a signature issue.    To date, the task force has attracted one other member, Shelley Moore Capito, a moderate Republican from West Virginia’s third district.     Cleaver and Capito have staged “civility hours” on the floor of the House, debating subjects such as health care, the Iraq War and tort reform.

As members of Congress, what’s your definition of responsibility?

Capito:    Making law that provides opportunity for our constituents back home and around the country.

Legislating relies on building majorities and often rewards grandstanding, particularly in the House.    Where does civility fit in?

Capito:    What the American people want is for us to be problem solvers.    Essentially, to be like them. I believe we can do this without ripping each others’ character, party or region.    We can do it with passion but without derision.

Cleaver:    I’m an obsessed animal lover; my family makes fun of me for it.    Recently I became interested in stories about bees – it turns out bees cannot sting and make honey at the same time.    One of the problems we have in the House is a preoccupation with stinging.    As a result we cannot make honey – we cannot get things done.    Because of the way we treat each other, we’re not doing what we were sent here to do.    Look, we’re human beings.    At the end of the day, we can’t sit down at a table and negotiate with someone who’s just called you a dog or some other vicious name.

The Civility Task Force has proven a tough sell among your colleagues.    What do you think is driving their skepticism?

Capito:    I think a large part of the resistance is instilled by the media.    The more hyperbolic you are, the easier you can get on the evening news.    And compromise is often portrayed as caving.   In the House, there’s pressure to provide “red meat” to the base, the most polarized segment of your party – to be viewed as the one
who’s really giving it to those bad guys across the aisle.    I don’t see it like that; I think that to be effective you first have to be able to sit down with a person and negotiate.

Cleaver:    Shelley and I could talk about civility all day long and not get an iota of coverage.    If we cursed and ranted at each other instead we would be in the headlines, above the fold.    Even the language reflects this.    Just look at the coverage of the current debt limit debate:   “Who will blink first? Who will fold?”     Does money factor into the rancor?

Cleaver:    Often, when a congressperson goes on a tirade, he or she can pretty much count on raising large sums of money.    Some send out fundraising letters right after appearing on the news.    Are there colleagues that, for you, personify civility in Congress?

Capito:   Soon after I arrived in Washington, Ted Kennedy and John Boehner got together to work on “No Child Left Behind” and got it done.    Two extremely different people.

Cleaver:    Walter Johnson and Pat Wolf.     Hal Rogers and Norm Dicks work extremely well together on the House Appropriations Committee.   Ike Skelton was terrific.    How do “civility hours” encourage a more respectful tone?

Cleaver:    Recently Shelley and I staged two hour-long debates on the House floor about issues we disagree on.    We did this to demonstrate to colleagues that it’s possible to disagree without resorting to personal attacks.    Vitriol seems to characterize the House more than the Senate.     What do you think makes the House of Representatives less civil?

Cleaver:    In the Senate, if you’re in the minority, you can still wield a lot of power.    In the House, the majority is everything.    Also, we’re always in campaign mode.

Capito:   Emmanuel is right.    Frankly, compared to us, I think members of the Senate are able to take more time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.    Is the tone in Congress moving closer to where you think it should be, or are things getting worse?

Cleaver:    Things are definitely getting worse.    Take a look at Allen West’s recent outburst if you want proof.    Have personal experiences motivated your involvement with this issue?

Capito:    You may laugh at the answer, but I’m the middle of three children, and growing up I was always the negotiator.     Probably some of it is personality driven.     I’ve been torn down pretty hard, but I always try to not return fire.

Cleaver:    I grew up in public housing – I had a bad temper and was always ready to fight.    I still have scars; I wear a mustache to cover up stitches on my upper lip, where I was hit with a brick.   In college, when I was captain of the football team, the coach came up to me and told me that if I started another fight on the field, he’d fire me.   I went through the rest of the season without participating in a single fight because I learned to control my anger.     Somewhere along the way I realized I could do that.     Back home, I’m also a minister.    As it says in Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Alex Halberstadt is the author of Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, Salon, New York Magazine, and other publications

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Meet, Greet Senator MARK WARNER and BERT DODSON

2011-11-04T14:56:00.021-04:00

Meet and Greet Senator MARK WARNER and BERT DODSON Friday

Sen. Mark Warner has endorsed Bert Dodson and in a release was quoted as saying,    “As a business person, Bert has the experience we need to help create jobs and keep Virginia moving forward.”    Warner announced he would campaign across the 22nd district with Dodson as his Senate schedule allows.

Dodson called Warner a   “dedicated public servant whose leadership has been instrumental in moving our state in the right direction. I am proud and grateful to have his endorsement.”

Dodson has an extensive business background and runs a Lynchburg-headquartered company with more than 500 employees, and with 34 offices in five states.

“With my 35 years in helping to manage a family owned business, understanding how to meet the payroll, pay bills and taxes, gives me an understanding how the state should work,”    Dodson said in an interview.    He spoke about helping to create and maintain jobs with good benefits.

“Moving our state forward,”   Dodson said,   “is more important than partisan politics.”

Bert Dodson

FIVE days left, and we are asking each of you to commit to some serious work between now and Election Day. A few hours, a few days, whatever you can do. It is imperative that we squeeze out every possible vote in Amherst County.

At this point, it’s just not optional anymore. The election is likely going to be too close for comfort.

In order to prepare materials for your specific job and time, it is very important to contact one of our
coordinators:

Ora McCoy, Appomattox Democratic Chair

•FOR PHONE CALLS and GENERAL INFO:

DAVID BURFORD (dave_burford@verizon.net) – 434-384-1731 or 434-841-7420

Ned Kable, Dave Burford

• FOR CANVASSING:

SKIPPER FITTS (fitts@sbc.edu) – 434-946-7792 or 434-316-4220

Fay Smith, Treasurer

•FOR SIGNS, DOOR-KNOCKING, GOTV, and ELECTION DAY:

LAURA CASTELLI (lcastelli5@gmail.com) - 434-851-4885, or,

Bert, Laura, Skipper Fitts

KODY ROZA (kodyjroza@gmail.com) - 434-851-4885

Kody

You’re encouraged to stop by Dodson HQ (1022 Commerce St, 2nd Floor, Suite F) and see what a great team Bert has put together.

Many thanks,

Dave Burford, Amherst Co. Democratic Chair

Your AMHERST County Democratic Committee

THIS JUST IN:

Friday, November 4, 2:00 – 3:00 PM - Meet and greet Senator Mark Warner and Virginia 22nd Senatorial District candidate Bert Dodson in Lynchburg College’s Sydnor Hall. Have a bite to eat and talk with Bert and Mark.

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Protect Your Benefits

Vote Democratic

Vote, BERT DODSON

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Join BERT DODSON Tonight for an informal Meet and Greet

2011-10-27T13:05:00.031-04:00

Join BERT DODSON Tonight for an informal Meet and Greet SPONSORED BY THE SWEET BRIAR YOUNG DEMOCRATS

BERT DODSON

TONIGHT, Thursday October 27th, 6:00 PM - Join the Sweet Briar Young Democrats tonight in welcoming Bert Dodson for an informal meet & greet. This event will take place in the VIXEN DEN at the Bistro on the Sweet Briar campus (see map below).

Come and show your support for our candidate for the 22nd Virgina Senate District.

Dixie, Bre, McKenzie, LaToya and Skip Fitts second row

(Bre is President of The Sweet Briar Young Democrats

McKenzie is Vice President of The Sweet Briar Young Democrats)

McKenzie, Bre and Ty

You'll have ample opportunity to meet Bert, ask him any questions you may have, and meet other Democrats from around the county.

Ample free parking right outside the door. Easy access - the Bistro is on the right, just as you enter the traffic circle at the end of the college entrance drive. Hope to see you there !

CONGRATULATIONS !!! ~~~ The Sweet Briar Young Democrats have registered **136** students to vote November 8th. This is an enormous achievement. Our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the hardest-working Young Dems in the State. Come to the Dodson event tonight and let them know how much we appreciate them.

Bre, Sweet Briar Young Democrats President

There is less than two weeks to the election and I want to say Thank You for all the work you have done to elect Bert Dodson as our Senator in the 22nd District. On all the issues that matter to poor and middle class workers and women Bert is standing tall for us. Burt's knowledge on job creation is head and shoulders above what the republican is offering.

On all of these same issues Tom Garrett is missing. He doesn't support public education or new technologies or womens rights and health care. Tom Garrett wants to represent big business and the rich and he couldn't care less about normal Virginia families. Garrett wants to haul senior citizens and the poor off and subject them to drug testing. Suffice it say Tom Garrett is MISSING.

Friday, October 28th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM - Lynchburg Democratic Committee Fall 2011 Fundraiser will be held In the Parlor Ballroom located at 9th & Main Streets in Lynchburg, Virginia. Bert Dodson will be the Guest of Honor. There will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and a Kindle e-book reader for a door prize. Tickets are $25.00. Call 434-845-1400 or email lynchburgdemocrats@verizon.net for tickets and info.

Saturday, October 29th, 12:30 PM - Please join fellow Dems this Saturday for a couple of hours in order to get the word out about voting on November 8th.

MEET AT LEE'S COURTHOUSE DELI
188 South Main, Amherst

You'll meet new friends, probably see some old ones, too, and have fun while knowing you've done your part to get Bert elected.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PITCH IN - IF' ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS

Kody Roza and Maggy Roza

Contact Kody (kodyjroza@gmail.com), Laura (lcastelli5@gmail.com), or call 434-851-4885 and let 'em know you'll be there.

ALL this info along to friends and family who may not be receiving our emails - and contact us by return email to find out how you can help with the November Election.

Less than TWO weeks to go!

Sincerely,

Amherst Democratic Chair Dave Burford and Bert Dodson

Your Amherst County Democratic Committee
www.AmherstDems.org

ACV Democratic News

Tom Garrett NO SHOW for Amherst Debate

2011-10-25T11:24:00.016-04:00

Family Problems Force Garrett to Skip Amherst Debate

Bert Dodson waits to Debate his opponent

Bert Dodson was there on stage and ready to debate when Claudia Tucker read a letter from Tom Garrett's campaign manager explaining that Garrett still wanted to be the Senate representative even though sickness in the family prevented him from attending the debate in person. Bert Dodson offered to reschedule and hold the debate next monday but no one with the Garrett campaign responded in any way so holding a debate for the people of Amherst County seems to be a mute issue.

Amherst Co. Democratic Chair Dave Burford looks around to see if he can spot Garrett

Bert spoke to the crowd for approx. 15 minutes and touched on his programs to boost education, create jobs and support new technology. He also detailed his experiences and qualifications to be our Senator and touched on his understanding of how unfunded mandidates affect local government. He detailed his understandings of how small business creates jobs and how the state can support small business. I thought his presentation was well reasoned and informative and without question Bert Dodson is the best qualified person to be our Senator in the 22nd District.

Claudia Tucker Explained Garrett's No Show

It was interesting that Claudia Tucker spoke for Garrett since she ran against him in the republican primary but Mz Tucker was the top vote getting female in the race. During the primary republicans exposed all of Tom's dirty laundry accusing him of failing to pay child support and other bills, of not living in the District he is running to represent and general frinky dinky as a prosecutor. They even detailed his marriage problems. There is nothing republicans won't do even to another republican. There is more dirty laundry but all the republicans and tea party people know that and to them it doesn't matter.

Bert Dodson

Of course now that the primary is over these same people tell you Tom Garrett is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that you should vote for him.

Bert Dodson TV Ads Start today (10-25-11)

After he beat out his republican challengers it was no cake walk for Tom as he lived almost daily with his foot in his mouth. His remark about the businesses in downtown Lynchburg being shuttered with plywood and wild dogs running in the streets won him no friends here. His lack of support for new technology and education represent his backward thinking in general and his desire to shift money from public education and move it to support
private schools is downright dangerous.

Garrett's jobs plan never got off the ground. The idea of reducing wages and benefits low enough to induce businesses from other areas of the country to relocate here was too crazy for consideration. Imagine setting worker against worker in a race to the bottom. The winner is the man who will work for the fewest pennies and the least benefits. Who wants a piece of that action?

Now Garrett wants to back a van up at Grand Ma and Grand Pa's house and take then in for drug testing. The tea party still talks about jack booted thugs coming to take their rights away and now they are supporting and working for a candidate that wants to take old people away for drug testing. Hello in there, is anybody home?

When your major plans involve taking things away from the middle class and poor and kicking the savings up the line to the rich then you are rotting from your core. Republicans and Tea Party leaders are rotting from their core and it's about time the voting public woke up and cast a smart vote.

The people of the 22nd district need Bert Dodson like the unemployeed need jobs, like the dry cracked earth needs rain, like our children need an education and a future, like our senior citizens need respect and dignity.

You are gonna get what you vote for, spend that vote wisely.

PROTECT YOUR BENEFITS

VOTE DEMOCRATIC
VOTE BERT DODSON

ACV Democratic NEWS

Dodson - Garrett Debate, 10-24 at Amherst Co. High School

2011-10-24T14:42:00.020-04:00

Dodson - Garrett Debate MONDAY Night, October 24th
Amherst County High School

Bert Dodson chatts with "Skipper" Fitts

Monday, October 24th, 7:00 PM - The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce will host a debate at 7 and 7:45 p.m. Oct. 24 at Amherst County High School.

Bert Dodson and Joan Foster

Neither Bert Dodson or Joan Foster has seen the plywood shuttered businesses or wild dogs in the streets Tom Garrett keeps talking about. Maby Tom did inhale. Talking down the citizens and businesses in Lynchburg won't translate into too many votes in this part of Virginia.

Student receives check from Bert Dodson

Bert knows education is one of the central keys to the future and supports keeping the system strong so that our children can enter the greater world ready and able to hold employeement. Tom Garrett on the other hand wants to take money away from public education and shift it to private schooling interests.

One section will be held from 7:00 to 7:30 PM with the six candidates vying for the three contested local races giving their reasons for running and their goals: Amherst County Commissioner of Revenue - Linda Byers (incumbent) and Deborah Martin; Amherst County Treasurer - Evelyn Martin (incumbent) and Garry Friend; and, Amherst County Board of Supervisors, District 3 - Robert Curd (incumbent) and Leslie Irvin.

The second session at 7:45 PM will be between the two candidates running for Virginia's State Senate District 22: BERT DODSON and Tom Garrett. This debate will be moderated by Len Stevens, WSET-TV ABC 13. Audience questions should be brought and turned in by attendees printed clearly on 3 by 5 cards.

Tom Garrett has a Jobs Plan

Tom's plan is to reduce wages and benefits to the point that businesses in sourrounding localaties will relocate their operations to the 22nd district and thus increase the numbers of low paying, no benefit jobs available to the job seekers here. I see this as "Tom Foolery" with Tom being Tom and You being the Fool. You can't win a race to the bottom and ultimately you can't compete with third world countries who's workers show up for mere pennies an hour or worse countries that employ prison laborers.

Bert Dodson and Gerald Cheatham

Bert's plan to educate workers and supply them with 21st Century skills, to enhance the availability of new technologies thru public private partnerships and to fund the public education system is the roadmap to a successful future for the generations to come.

Tom Plans to do a Job on You and Your Childrens future.

Tom's plan to cut services and divert that money to tax breaks for big business and the already wealthy is nothing short of TOM FOOLERY.

You've got a lot riding on the winner of the Senate Race in the 22nd District. Its time to start thinking about who you will vote for and what that vote means. I urge You to cast your vote for Bert Dodson.

Protect Your Benefits, Protect Your Future

VOTE DEMOCRATIC
Vote BERT DODSON

Wednesday, October 26, 7:30 PM - the Farm Team for Women for Virginia, Central Virginia Chapter, cordially invites you to a new member meeting and panel discussion to be held in the Community Meeting Room of the Lynchburg Public Library, 2315 Memorial Avenue. A panel of former members of the Lynchburg City Council and Council candidates including Joan Foster, Joan MacCallum, Marie Waller, Pat Lovern and others will discuss running for office. Arelia Langhorne will act as moderator. Please join them, encourage friends to attend, learn about running for office, and become a member of the Central Virginia Farm Team.

NEWS FROM VIRGINIA'S 22nd

Amherst Virginia Headlines

Amherst, VA News
Lynchburg Headlines
Lynchburg, VA News
Appomattox Headlines
Appomattox, VA News
Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County, VA News
Louisa County
Louisa County, VA News
Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, VA News
Buckingham County
Buckingham County, VA News
Cumberland County
Cumberland County, VA News
Goochland County
Goochland County, VA News

WORLD HEADLINES

USA NEWS

WORLD NEWS

POLITICAL

SMALL BUSINESS

PERSONAL FINANCE

EDUCATION

ACV Democratic News

Virginia GOP Fabricates A Shamefull Pack of Lies

2011-10-14T19:18:00.023-04:00

If Tom Garrett were a gentleman he would distance himself from his own party and their disgusting lies about Bert Dodson and Lynchburg. Before this insulting TV Ad campaign paid for by the state GOP Garrett said downtown Lynchburg was a ghost town with store windows shuttered by plywood and wild dogs roaming the streets.

OH!! Tom, it's worse than you imagined. No boarded up windows but hundreds of Bert Dodson supporters.

If this kind of garbage is all the tea party republicans have to offer they are out of gas with their sorry campaign. Tom Garrett is desperate and unqualified to hold the office he runs for.

Here is a photo I took of downtown Lynchburg during a recent street festival. It appears to be quite alive with celebrating citizens and I didn't see any of Tom Garrett's imaginary plywood.

Tom, Buster can stand on three legs and pretend you are a fire hydrant. Your only trick seems to be lying about Bert Dodson's record.

There were dogs and their owners on the streets. None of the dogs were wild. Buster Brown is the Craddock Terry Hotel's mascot and Buster is very civilized and well behaved. The tea party and the republicans are spreading outright lies about Lynchburg, Bert Dodson and Buster Brown. Shame on Tom Garrett and his desperate, dirty campaign.

Virginia’s Republican Party weighed into the 22nd District state Senate race Tuesday, saying that Democrat Bert Dodson was part of what they called a spending boondoggle on the Lynchburg downtown Bluffwalk Center development during his time on City Council.

The GOP cited news accounts that reported Lynchburg had made about $1 million in loan payments on behalf of the hotel and restaurant complex, while the tax revenue the city has collected so far from the Bluffwalk developer falls far short of that figure.

“Bert Dodson might be new to state-level politics, but he’s obviously been learning at the feet of a master of spending boondoggles,” said a state GOP news release that compared Dodson to President Obama.

Dodson campaign spokesman Lonny Paris called the GOP assertion “a desperate and misleading attempt by the Republican Party of Virginia to confuse the issues and play games of guilt by association that are a new low to the level of discourse in this race.”

Bert Dodson for the Virginia Senate

Visit Bert's web site at this link
http://www.dodsonforsenate.com/Bert

Dodson’s campaign has a continuing need for volunteers to help with their Get Out the Vote effort. A high voter turnout in Lynchburg is essential to a Dodson victory on November 8.

Contact Dodson Campaign Political Director Gerald Cheatham in Lynchburg and let him know how and when you can help out. Gerald’s telephone number is 434-851-2475 and his email address is gicheatham@comcast.net

Bert's campaign office in Lynchburg is located at:
1022 Commerce Street, Suite F (2nd Floor)
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Office Phone: 434-851-4885

Contact information for campaign staff:

Campaign Manager
Lonny Paris
202-957-4551parislonny@gmail.com

Political Director
Gerald Cheatham
434-851-2475gicheatham@comcast.net

Field Director
Kody Roza
916-521-5915kodyjroza@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 19, 7:00 PM – Bert will debate his Republican opponent in Schewel Hall on the campus of

Lynchburg College. The event is sponsored by Lynchburg College and the League of Women Voters. The regularly scheduled meeting of the LDC for the month of October is canceled so that members can attend the debate.

Lynchburg League of Women Voters Senatorial Candidates Forum
Lynchburg College
Schewel Hall
1501 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24501
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

ACV Democratic News

Dodson Debate at Randolph College

2011-10-10T12:15:00.019-04:00

SMITH HALL THEATER,

SMITH MEMORIAL BUILDING,
RANDOLPH COLLEGE:

Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 PM - Bert Dodson will debate his Republican opponent at Smith Hall Theater, Smith Memorial Building, on the campus of Randolph College. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by Randolph College and the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. See campus map above.

Located at the main entrance to the campus, nearest the corner of Rivermont Avenue and N. Princeton Circle.

Dodson - Garrett Debate
Tuesday 11th, 7:00PM
RANDOLPH COLLEGE

Please come out to Randolph College on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 PM to hear the debate between Bert Dodson(D) and Tom Garrett (R – Tea Party).    I encourage you all to attend so that can clearly see the difference between the two candidates.     You will also get information to help you make your decision about who you will vote for on November 8, 2011.    There will be people out front to help you find Smith Hall in case you are not familiar with the campus.     Please call or send me an email if you plan to attend.

When: Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Where: Randolph College
                Smith Hall Theatre
            2500 Rivermont Avenue
            Lynchburg, VA 24503
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thank you,

Gerald Cheatham
434-851-2475

News From Virginia's 22nd District

Amherst Virginia Headlines

Amherst, VA News

Lynchburg Headlines

Lynchburg, VA News

Appomattox Headlines

Appomattox, VA News

Fluvanna County

Fluvanna County, VA News

Louisa County

Louisa County, VA News

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County, VA News

Buckingham County

Buckingham County, VA News

Cumberland County

Cumberland County, VA News

Goochland County

Goochland County, VA News

PROTECT YOUR BENEFITS

VOTE DEMOCRATIC

VOTE BERT DODSON

Dave Burford, Chair

Amherst County Democrats

More News

USA NEWS

WORLD NEWS

POLITICAL

SMALL BUSINESS

PERSONAL FINANCE

EDUCATION

ACV Democratic News

National Federation of Independent Businesses Endorse Bert Dodson

2011-09-28T12:07:00.017-04:00

Amherst County Democrats :

ACVDN

NFIB ENDORSES BERT DODSON

The people who represent small business and understand the job market have endorsed Bert Dodson based on his real life experiences running a small business, creating jobs and serving in local government as the best candidate to go to Richmond and help lead Virginia's continued stability and recovery. For a strong, working Virginia Vote Bert Dodson for 22nd District Senate.

Bert Dodson

With the change of the seasons, campaign season is here. This week our campaign received the strong support of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. NFIB is the premier advocate for small businesses and works with legislators to create the best environment to create jobs. I am proud to be one of only five Democrats for State Senate to receive this endorsement. The NFIB knows that I’m the only candidate in this race who has real experience creating jobs and that I’ll take that experience to Richmond and focus on the issues important to real working families.

Bert Dodson

Follow this link to join NFIB in supporting a job creation agenda for Richmond - today!

KELSEY

Today I need your help as we continue to spread our message of creating jobs, investing in education, and serving the interest of our community in the Virginia State Senate. Making sure everyone hears our message means contacting them through the mail, on radio, and television. To make sure we keep these crucial paid communication programs in place through election day, I need your support today.

Please click here to give $500, $250, $100, or what you can afford - today!

Bert Dodson

ACVDN

Give me the chance to fight this battle and I promise to make you proud. With a fundraising deadline at the end of September, your support before midnight on Friday means I can keep fighting for you. Thank you for your generous support. I look forward to celebrating victory with you.

Click this link to help Bert before the September 30 deadline!

Sincerely,

Bert Dodson | Candidate, Virginia State Senate (22th District)

BRE, Chair

Sweet Briar Young Democrats

P.S. Your help by September 30th is very important to our success! Please remember to visit www.dodsonforsenate.com and process your secure online contribution or mail check to: PO Box 464, Lynchburg VA 24505.

Elect Bert Dodson

Dave Burford, Chair

Amherst County Democrats

This is the most important mission facing Democrats. Allowing the right wing tea party republicans to capture and control the agenda will spell disaster for Virginia and we must unite to stop the forces that threaten to damage our future. The education of our children and a woman's rights to health care are as important as jobs for our people. A vote for Bert Dodson is a vote to protect our benefits and guard our natural recources. A vote for Bert Dodson is the right thing to do.

Ned Kable, Secretary

Amherst County Democrats

When it comes to support of WIFI and Broadband for all the areas of our district and the 22nd really spreads out, Vote Dodson. If you want to support education and the creation of jobs Bert Dodson is the only candidate in the race. For your future and the futures of your children, grandchildren and loved ones Vote Bert Dodson. This election is serious, it is about the quality of our present and future lives. Vote Democratic, Vote Dodson.

Don't doze off and miss this election. Vote first and then take the catnap. Remember, Bert Dodson is purrrrrrfic!

Longfellow Isacat

Protect Your Benefits, Vote Democratic

Vote Bert Dodson

NEWS

SMALL BUSINESS

PERSONAL FINANCE

EDUCATION

POLITICAL

ENTERTAINMENT

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Dodson Campaign Meeting

2011-09-26T18:51:00.010-04:00

Dodson Campaign Meeting

Please join us for a very important event tomorrow night:

Tuesday 27th, 7:00 PM
SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE LIBRARY
Browsing Room - See Map Below

Sweet Briar Young Democrats with Rob Dean

The Sweet Briar Young Democrats are hosting this event, along with the Dodson Campaign and the Amherst County Democrats. You are invited to attend and to show your support for our next State Senator, Bert Dodson. Only 6 weeks until Election Day. Now is the time to get involved.

The road shown at the bottom of the map is the one leading directly from the campus main entrance on 29. Number 1 on the map is the guard shack if you need directions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bert and "The Hardest Working Campaign Team in Politics"

We will dedicate the entire evening to Bert's campaign staff.     They will seek our advice on some community-based operations we can put into place to help assure a Democratic Victory.

There is simply no other choice.

Bert will be a great State Senator, one we'll be proud to call our own.     We all know that.      But there's more...

The very narrow majority we now have in the VA Senate must be held.     It's the only thing protecting us now from a statewide Right-Wing majority - House of Delegates, State Senate, and Governor. We must not let this happen.

Imagine the likes of McDonnell, Cuccinelli, Cantor, and others of their ilk in the Party formerly known as Republican, running amok, unchecked, in our great Commonwealth.     Well, you get the idea.

We'll take a good look at Dodson's opponent, Tom Garrett, too.    It's not a pretty picture.

So, again, please join us tomorrow night:

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE LIBRARY
Browsing Room
7:00 PM

Sincerely,

Dave Burford, Chairman

Amherst County Democrats

Your Amherst County Democratic Committee
www.AmherstDems.org

MORE INFO:

ELECTION DAY COMING - NOVEMBER 8, 2011

With only 6 weeks 'til Election Day, Amherst Democrats have only ONE JOB to do ... and that's to ...
Elect Bert Dodson

Amherst County Democratic Committee | PO Box 1411 | Amherst | VA | 24521-1411

News Headlines Across the 22nd District

Amherst Virginia Headlines

Amherst, VA News

Lynchburg Headlines

Lynchburg, VA News

Appomattox Headlines

Appomattox, VA News

Fluvanna County

Fluvanna County, VA News

Louisa County

Louisa County, VA News

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County, VA News

Buckingham County

Buckingham County, VA News

Cumberland County

Cumberland County, VA News

Goochland County

Goochland County, VA News

Other News

USA NEWS

WORLD NEWS

POLITICAL

Protect Your Benefits, Vote Democratic

VOTE BERT DODSON

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Bert Dodson Day, November 8th, You're Invited

2011-09-14T23:21:00.021-04:00

Bert Takes Questions From Media

Bert Knows How To Grow Jobs.

The American Dream is Fed by Good Government.

Bert knows what employers need to grow more jobs. As our new senator, Bert will be committed to holding the line on taxes, creating incentives to attract new industry and being a partner in local recruiting efforts for our district.

Bert Has Real Experience In The Business Community.

Bert Will Look Out for Your Interest

Bert Dodson is President and CEO of Dodson Pest Control. With over 500 employees under his direction, Bert understands what businesses need to grow jobs. He also served on Lynchburg City Council for 12 years, including six as Vice Mayor. Bert will use his business experience to help create jobs and promote economic opportunity. Bert believes that government should operate much the same as a business, where efficiency and accountability are more important than scoring political points.

Bert Stands Tall For Education.

Front row, Sweet Briar Young Democrats. Dixie, Bre, Mackenzie and LaToya. Back row, Skipper Fitts

Bert strongly believes the best investment we can give our children and grandchildren is a quality education. Bert will also strive to fund workforce-retraining programs so all of our citizens can compete for the jobs of the future. He will support renewed investment in public and higher education while striving for greater
accountability.

Bert Will Protect Our Resources.

Dave Burford, Chairman

Amherst County Democrats

The James River is a key resource that impacts all nine counties in the new 22nd Senate District which includes part of the City of Lynchburg, part of Louisa County and all of Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa and Prince Edward counties. Bert is committed to protecting that resource for future generations to come.

Bert Listens and His Answers are Thought Out and Individual.

Maggy Roza, Lonny Paris, Ned Kable

Bert knows that, in business, one can not be successful unless you are willing to listen and respond to your customers' needs. We can count on Bert to listen to our concerns about the issues that matter most to us.

Election Day is November 8. Register if you aren't already and vote to protect our benefits. Vote Bert Dodson for Virginia Senate.

Bert Cares About The 22nd and Its People

Bert has a campaign office in Lynchburg:

1022 Commerce Street, Suite F
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Office Phone: 434-851-4885

Contact information for campaign staff:

Lynchburg Democrats Working For Bert

Campaign Manager
Lonny Paris
202-957-4551 parislonny@gmail.com

Political Director
Gerald Cheatham
434-851-2475 gicheatham@comcast.net

Kody

Field Director
Kody Roza
916-521-5915 kodyjroza@gmail.com

Lonny

You are welcome to visit Bert Dodson Headquarters but if you would like to contribute by mail, here's the address.

Friends of Bert Dodson
P.O. Box 10249
Lynchburg, Va 24506-0249

Please make checks payable to:
Friends of Bert Dodson

To comply with Virginia law please include
Name and Home Address,    City and Zip Code
Home Phone,    E-Mail Address
Occupation,    Employer

Kody and Maggy

If you would like to Volunteer, If you would like a Yard Sign or If you would like to Host an Event. If you would like to Make a Donation of any size it will be appeciated and put to good use telling all the citizens of the 22nd District about Bert Dodson and our campaign.

Thank You

Bert thanks You in advance for any help you are able to give.

Here are the headlines from across the 22nd district

Amherst Virginia Headlines

Amherst, VA News

Lynchburg Headlines

Lynchburg, VA News

Appomattox Headlines

Appomattox, VA News

Fluvanna County

Fluvanna County, VA News

Louisa County

Louisa County, VA News

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County, VA News

Buckingham County

Buckingham County, VA News

Cumberland County

Cumberland County, VA News

Goochland County

Goochland County, VA News

Vote Bert Dodson for Virginia Senate

Kelsey

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Downtown Lynchburg Clebration

2011-09-10T00:34:00.035-04:00

ACVDN

When it comes to roping off Main and throwing a street celebration Lynchburg doesn't have to take a back seat to anybody. It was the third year for the Get! Downtown Celebration and if there were ever any kinks they have all been worked out. The Planners, The Lynchburg Police, The Exibitors and all the Merchants came together to deliver a perfect and enjoyable evening.

Buster Brown

I won't pretend that I captured every moment of the adventure but I do believe I can deliver to you the spirit. Buster Brown was there. Actually Buster lives close, he is the Mascot at the Craddock Terry Hotel. Buster is quite well behaved and did the sniff greeting with all the pets who passed his station. For a relaxing stay or a delightful meal visit Buster and the Staff at the Cradock Terry.

David E. Mass, Counselor at Law

Young Lady with balloons

I hadn't seen my friend David E. Mass since an event we attended for Bert Dodson at the Stoney Badger a few days earlier. It shouldn't have surprised me to run up on David since he is one of the Young Legal Lions of Lynchburg and has offices in the Allied Arts Building just one street up from Main where the celebration was going on. We were celebrating, so to speak, in his back yard.

ACVDN

The street was full of children with bright rainbows and other decorations on their faces and I was able to track this down to its source.

ACVDN

A Clown that had mastered the art of making animals and hats out of balloons. Look at the helmet on the young man below and ask yourself if you could make it if you had the balloons already inflated and 30 minutes. The clown did it in a couple of minutes and all the while joking and talking to the crowd.

ACVDN

One very happy young gentleman displaying his balloon helmet.

ACVDN

Singer in the middle of the roadway, wailing!

ACVDN

A wall of guitars and a picker/singer.

ACVDN

Dancers

ACVDN

Sweet Briar College

ACVDN

Lynchburg Democrats and interns from the Bert Dodson Campaign for Virginia's 22nd Districe Senate seat.

Bert and the Hardest Working Team in Politics

Here's a photo of Bert and his Team taken on Main Street on a less crowded day.

ACVDN

Here's another crowd shot from the Get Downtown! celebration.

Bert Dodson

A Voice for the Worker

I had a short off the record conversation with a leader of the GOP in Lynchburg and to my surprise there is a movement to Elect Bert Dodson within Republican ranks. I asked why? The answer made sense. The Appomattox, Amherst, Lynchburg areas of the 22nd want to be represented by someone who knows the issues, problems and needs of the area. They don't trust the man from Louisa to look out for their needs. They don't plan to make a big show of it. They'll just use their secret ballot vote to back up their judgement.

Bert Dodson

Standing Up for Education

Bert thanks you for any help you can give.

Protect Your Benefits, Vote Democratic

VOTE BERT DODSON

Amherst County Democratic News

Sweet Briar Young Dems Active and Involved

2011-09-09T03:11:00.010-04:00

ACVDN

Rest assured the next time someone tells you young adults are not involved in solving the problems the older generation has created that the person talking to you is simply misinformed. The Young Democats at Sweet Briar College are living proof that the thought is untrue.

Rob Dean ACVDN

I attended a "meet the candidate" and open Q and A session for Bert Dodson that was sponsored by the Young Dems of Sweet Briar and Chaired by Rob Dean, Ass. Commonwealth Att in Lynchburg. The meeting was lively and the Young Dems were as President Obama said many times during his 2008 race "Fired Up and Ready to Go".

Bert Dodson

Bert is running for Virinia Senate in the newly created 22nd district and without question the district is massive. It is made up of Lynchburg City and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Prince Edward, Louisa and Goochland. The Democrats control the Senate by a slim margin of 22 to 18 and Bert's success is important to Democrats.

Dave Burford

Dave Burford, Chair of the Amherst County Democrats spoke to group and extended the invitation to attend his meetings any time. The next meeting is Tuesday, September 13th at 7pm at the Madison Heights Library (below the Lowes Store in the River James shopping center).

ACVDN

A good sized crowd attended the event which finished up in time for everyone to watch President Obama address both Houses of Congress and President Obama finished up in time to watch the football game.

Here's a great photo of Rob and the Sweet Briar Young Dems.

Thank You for all your help
Bert

Headlines from the 22nd District

Amherst Virginia Headlines

Amherst, VA News
Lynchburg Headlines
Lynchburg, VA News
Appomattox Headlines
Appomattox, VA News
Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County, VA News
Louisa County
Louisa County, VA News
Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, VA News
Buckingham County
Buckingham County, VA News
Cumberland County
Cumberland County, VA News
Goochland County
Goochland County, VA News

The Dancing Chicken

Americans favor a tune up of Social Security and not its destruction like the tea party and Rick Perry and several GOP candidates for President. These same republican tea party politicians also want to end Medicare, Women's Health Services and Pell Grants for Education and anything that if ended might yeild a savings that can be directed toward a tax break for big business and the upper two per cent.

Years ago on the circus midway there used to be an act called the dancing chicken. The chicken appeared to dance because heat was being applied to the floor of the platform the chicken stood on. No one in the audience knew how it was done and thought that the chicken liked the music and danced when he heard it. Today we know it was not that music had charms to thrill the savage beast, the chicken had hot feet. The voters both Democratic and Republican because they like Medicare and Social Security have turned the heat up on Rick Perry and Rick is dancing and shuffling like that hot footed chicken trying to restructure and backtrack on his positions.

I can Dance

In Fed Up!, Perry explains on page 51 how Medicare is a misreading of the Commerce Clause. On page 48, he calls Social Security “ by far the best example” of a program that “violently tosses aside any respect for our founding principles.” And on page 50, he says that we have Social Security “at the expense of respect for the Constitution and limited government.”

For Perry to claim that he “never said” Medicare and Social Security are unconstitutional is either a blatant flip-flop, a Texas size whopper or a significant case of amnesia. In either case, with statements like these, one has to ask: has Rick Perry read his own book? Who was the ghost writer of Perry's book? Will Ricks next book be titled "The Dancing Chicken".

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Jobs Don't Top Republicans To Do List

2011-08-31T22:50:00.028-04:00

Republican Tea Party Presidential Candidates

Jimmy "The Rent's Too Dam High" McMillian

ACVDN

Rick Perry, Government So Small I Can Drown It In A Dixie Cup, Adios Mo Fo

ACVDN

Elect Me, I'll straighten out the economy, create 16 Million Good Paying Jobs and have gas below $2 a gallon in less than 3 months.

First lets look at republican presidential debates. There are too many to count with a never ending array of new faces in the number one position. Mitt Romney has been running for the last 9 years and he was the front runner. Donald Trump jumped in for a couple of weeks to promote his tv show and was the front runner.

ACVDN

This guy is running too. I'd tell you his name but you might google it. Unless they start drawing straws for front runner he will never get his week at the top. Oh Ok, he's Rick Santorum, go on and google it but you'll be sorry.

ACVDN

Rudy Runs Every 4 Years, Its Good Publicity for His 911 Businesses

ACVDN

Michael says "Thank God These NutJobs are Somebody's Problem other than mine, Talk to the Hand"

Herman Caine won the first debate and was the front runner. Michelle Bachmann (as phoney a charcter as can be found on any circus midway) jumped in, won the Iowa straw poll and she was the front runner. Rudy Guliani the "911 Man" and former Mayor of New York is threatning to enter the race. Rudy ran in 2008 and got one delegate. With any luck he could double his prior numbers and maby be front runner for a day.

ACVDN

Hang On While The Tea Party and I Find a way to Fund FEMA and help you with that Earthquake and Hurricane

The republican primary has cut the number of candidates running to somewhere below 25 and there are only a dozen or so yet to enter the race. Oh John Huntsman is running. I know I am forgetting 8 or 10 republicans running in the primary.

ACVDN

Mitch Daniels, No Relation to Jack might or might not be running.

There are names I can barely remember like Gary Johnson the lets make pot legal candidate and Ron Paul the "Drugs and Prostitution and back to the Gold Standard" candidate. And now we come to the "Cowboy Flake George W Bush want to be" Rick Perry who is scheduled to debut his act next week on Sept. 7th. Poor President Obama was anxious to get started on his jobs plan but that might detract from the republican debate so John Boehner says no to the jobs plan and yes to the republican debate. The President has to wait a day. It's the first time any congress has said NO to a Presidents request to address Congress. Mitch McConnell said it straight and up front. Republicans consider it job one to limit Obama to one term and they will block anything and lower the countries credit and bond rating to get it done. The republican tea party will shut the government completely down without a seconds thought to injure Obama and they could not care less who else gets hurt. Republicans will tell any lie and openly call the President a liar to make their dream happen. Too bad the republican tea party won't work to help unemployed Americans find jobs.

ACVDN

In her mind Sarah is a front runner and smart.

Off in the distance that demented half-wit from Alaska, Sarah Palin is looking for any chance to get some publicity and may drive her bus to the California debate. Eric Cantor wants to delay helping hurricane victims while he and the tea party find some programs to cut to offset the FEMA costs.

ACVDN

Tim was running for a while but never got to be front runner.

God help us, These Dam Fool Republicans are destroying America to defeat Obama and keep him from a second term.

ACVDN

Mitt has been running longer than the 4 years he served as Gov. in Mass. More than twice as long.

Republicans Decide Debate More Important Than Jobs. "Limiting Obama to one term is more important than anything" Mitch McConnell

ACVDN

John can cry at the drop of a hat but not a tear for the 16 Million who need jobs. The weakest and worst Speaker of the House EVER. John gets his marching orders from the tea party and has to clear every move with Eric Cantor and Jim DeMint. John is not allowed to approach them directly but must arrange a meeting thru Ben Quale after getting permission from Allen West to see Quale.

ACVDN

President Obama has asked to address a joint session of Congress on September 7th at 8 p.m. (ET) to outline his much-anticipated jobs plan, the exact same time that Republican Presidential candidates are scheduled to participate in a televised debate. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said today that the timing was purely “coincidental.”

“The president committed to speaking next week after the Labor Day holiday and immediately upon Congress’s return, and there are a lot of factors that go into scheduling a speech before Congress, a joint session speech,” Carney explained at today’s White House press briefing. “There is no perfect time.”

ACVDN

This guy was nothing like the republican tea party that rages today. He cared about jobs and people. He raised taxes 16 times to fund the government. He didn't remember funding the CONTRAS and he thought Catsup was a vegetable but he cared, a little anyway. If the tea party had its way every airport, high school and federal building in America would be named after him.

“Obviously, one debate of many that’s on one channel of many was not enough reason not to have the speech at the time that we decided to have it,”   he added.

What’s the solution?     “There are many channels, there are many opportunities for people to watch the president, and obviously an opportunity for people to watch the debate, and I believe that, you know, the network involved here can decide how it wants to deal,” Carney said.

That network would be NBC, which now has to decide whether to air the debate, which is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., or the president’s remarks.     The debate, co-hosted by Politico, is slated to air live on MSNBC.

ACVDN

Newt is Sure He will Take The Lead, Soon

Asked if the White House was concerned that their timing would upset Nancy Reagan, Carney said only that “the sponsors of the debate… control the timing of it. They can make a decision based on how they want to handle this.”

As for the president’s choice of venue, Carney said that it is “appropriate” for Obama to address Congress because lawmakers will need to work together to take the steps necessary to create jobs.

“It is my intention to lay out a series of bipartisan proposals that the Congress can take immediately to continue to rebuild the American economy by strengthening small businesses, helping Americans get back to work, and putting more money in the paychecks of the Middle Class and working Americans, while still reducing our deficit and getting our fiscal house in order. It is our responsibility to find bipartisan solutions to help grow our economy, and if we are willing to put country before party, I am confident we can do just that,” the president said in a letter of request to Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

ACVDN

Mitch Has Sworn on Rand Pauls Head to Stop Obama.

“Our Nation faces unprecedented economic challenges, and millions of hardworking Americans continue to look for jobs. As I have traveled across our country this summer and spoken with our fellow Americans, I have heard a consistent message: Washington needs to put aside politics and start making decisions based on what is best for our country and not what is best for each of our parties in order to grow the economy and create jobs. We must answer this call,” the president wrote.

According to Carney, Boehner and Reid have not yet accepted the president’s request to address a joint session.

ACVDN

Sometimes John is mad when he gets roused from his nap on the Senate floor. Luckily his buddy Lindsey is there to comfort him. Sometimes John thinks he is running.

Check This Polling Data

The latest Pew Research Center report includes an enormous amount of polling data, much of pointing in familiar directions — the public is frustrated and deeply unhappy with nearly everyone and everything.     But if we look beyond the top-line results, there are some related details that matter quite a bit.

For example, mainstream support for the Republican Party is reaching new depths.    In the new poll, just 34% have a favorable opinion of the GOP.    This is the lowest level of popularity for either major party since the Pew Research Center began asking the question two decades ago.     The approval rating for congressional Republican leaders is down to just 22% — also the lowest ever recorded for either party.    (The Democratic Party isn’t winning any popularity contests, but with a 43% favorable rating, Dems have a large edge over Republicans.)

And what about President Obama?     The results here are pretty important, and should be of great interest to the White House.

The president’s overall approval rating has ticked down to 43%, but it’s the related details that are arguably more interesting.    Obama is perceived as a warm, trustworthy president, who’s well informed, communicates well, and cares about regular people.    His support has sharply dropped, however, in the “strong leader” and “able to get things done” categories, and the only subject area in which Obama has a majority support is combating terrorism.

Looking ahead, this gem is arguably the most important result of all:

In general, compromise polls extremely well, but not in this case — a plurality wants Obama to fight Republicans more, and that total is up sharply over the last few months.    What’s more, the number of self-identified Republicans who want Obama to stand up more to the GOP has roughly doubled since April.

Think about that:     a growing number of Republicans want Obama to stand up more to Republicans.

The question hanging over Obama’s political strategy has always been the endgame.   His obsession with seeming reasonable makes sense if he uses it as an asset to spend down at the end.   You do everything to show your willingness to compromise, and when the opposition refuses and refuses, finally you assail them for their fanaticism.    It’s harrowing to watch, because we don’t know until the last minute whether we’re witnessing a rope-a-dope strategy, or just a boxer being beaten to a pulp.

This raises the stakes in the upcoming speech on the White House’s economic agenda quite a bit, but it also sends a signal to the president about what the public wants to see:    be ready to fight the wildly unpopular Republican Party, rather than trying to satisfy their demands.

Here's the big question.    Can Obama find his spine and Fight?

ACVDN

Here's the answer, NO!

Obama has been President almost 3 years and never once fought for any issue. If there was any fight in him it would have come out by now. Quit expecting anything other than backing down and folding from President Obama. He is a free rider on the storm and you only set yourself up for disappointment by pretending otherwise. He may win a second term due to the lack of competition from republican candidates but he will not change. For better or worse this is what Democrats are stuck with. If you need a speech full of empty words Obama's the guy to call, he is entertaining. If you need someone to take a stand and make something happen don't waste your time calling Obama.

McCain Pushed to Arm Gadhafi, WikiLeaks Reveals

ACVDN

I've Never Been to Lybia

John McCain and Lindsey Graham visit Lybia to meet with Gadhafi. Joe Lieberman joins them for a three-way with Mommar's fifth son. Had they been able to hook up with the seaventh son of the seaventh son things might have gotten done. McCain is known to stake out positions on every side of every issue and this time was no different. Reporters won't give the politicians away and they can keep the people they represent in the dark and keep getting re-elected. WikiLeaks gives the secrets away.

ACVDN

You Say You Have Pictures of Me with Mommar

John McCain may be talking tough about Libya these days, but back in 2009 he promised Muatassim Gadhafi—Moammar’s fifth son and his national security adviser—that he’d do what he could to help Libya obtain military supplies, particularly new aircraft, a cable released by WikiLeaks reveals. McCain met with Gadhafi along with such Senate notables as Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, and Joe Lieberman, but the cable indicates that McCain did most of the talking. John and his traveling buddy Lindsey are involved in many things and Joe Lieberman is never far away. These guys are the Three Stooges of the US Senate.

ACVDN

Sarah You and Old Johnnie are my Best Friends and I support you for office.

Liberman likes to pretend he is a Democrat except on issues and at election time. Liberman supported McCain/Palin in the 2008 election. After the election Obama let it slide and let Joe keep his committee's and assignments.

ACVDN

I'll be nict to Joe, the republicans will like me and work with me. It's important to be nice.

No Drama, No Discipline, No Spine Obama from the very moment he took office.

ACVDN

I Never Said I Wasn't in Lybia

McCain stressed that Libya needed to fulfill its promise to give up its weapons of mass destruction, but he also described US-Libyan relations as strong, and thanked Libya for its counterterrorism cooperation. But in a May interview, Lindsey Graham said the meeting led nowhere. “We never did anything,” Lindsey said. "We just like traveling together". “I didn’t feel comfortable pushing the Pentagon to provide military aircraft to Libya.
None of us did." "We were planning to go back a second time but John cancelled the trip because we didn't get any good press for our efforts." "John McCain loves a war, any war. He wants to appropriate money and give advice. It's all McCain lives for."

ACVDN

I LIke War. Gives Me Something to Dream About when I sleep on the Senate Floor.

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Hurricane Irene ALERT

2011-08-26T15:18:00.008-04:00

Dear Friends

Hurricane Irene is likely to make landfall in Virginia within the next 24 hours and bring with it dangerous winds, pounding rains and the potential for flooding and other effects. Governor McDonnell has declared a state of emergency for Virginia and low-lying areas of Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk are under mandatory evacuation orders. I want to urge you to take every precaution to keep yourself and your family safe until the storm passes.

Below is a set of Hurricane preparation tips and resources.

The Virginia Evacuation Coordination Team for Operational Response, along with the Virginia Department of Transportation, has created preparedness videos on hurricane evacuations and emergency supplies that can be viewed on YouTube or at http://www.vaemergency.com/ReadyVirginia.

Remember to keep Dominion Power's number (866) DOM-HELP or (866) 366-4357 on hand to report outages or downed lines. Dial 211 for general information about the storm. Additionally, the following list of resources can help you before, during, and after the hurricane.

BEFORE AND DURING THE STORM

Hurricane Safety Checklist.

Review this Hurricane Safety Checklist from the American Red Cross to prepare for the dangers of a hurricane.

Compile an Emergency Kit.     Use this downloadable checklist to ensure you have necessary supplies on hand.

Evacuate or Stay Put.   Listen to the local authorities via your local radio or television and follow their guidance.    If you have not been asked to evacuate, determine whether your home or work is safe.

You can follow these guidelines from    www.Ready.gov.

Subscribe to alert services.    Local officials have developed systems that will send text messages or emails alerting you to local emergencies or bad weather.    Check your local government’s community information page to find ways that you can be alerted for hurricane situations or sign up for local alerts.

Preparing for Power Outages.    Dominion Power suggests updating your account with the phone number you plan to use
when reporting your outage.     This step will ensure immediate access of your account for faster reporting without having to speak to someone.     Phone numbers can be updated on-line or by calling 1-800-222-0401.

Charge Cell Phones and Laptops.    Make sure cell phones and laptops are fully charged so they can be used in the event of a power outage.

During the storm, if electricity is interrupted, here are some practical tips for dealing with power outages:

Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and stoves.    Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and computers.      This will prevent damage to appliances and possible overloads to the company's system when power is restored.

Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the number of times you open it.

Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when power is restored.

Frozen food can last up to three days.    It is safe to eat if it still has ice crystals at the center.

If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.

AFTER THE STORM

Coping with power outages.    This site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights healthy steps you should take to ensure food, water, and home safety after an extended power outage.    Tips on the site address everything from guidelines on what to do with food in your freezer or refrigerator, to water
purification procedures, to carbon monoxide poisoning protection.

Get Up-to-the-Minute Updates on Twitter.     Follow Dominion Power (@DomVaPower)   and the American Red Cross in the
National Capital Region (@RedCrossNCR)   for regular updates and alerts after the storm.

Managing flooding and mold.     This site from the Environmental Protection Agency is dedicated to providing information on cleaning up your home or office after a storm that has resulted in flooding, including addressing standing water and wet materials. The site offers basic information on addressing viruses, bacteria, and mold that can occur in the wake of a flood.

Removing fallen branches and trees.    The CDC provides tips to help safeguard against injury as a result of removing fallen or partially fallen trees and tree branches, including information on properly using chainsaws in hazardous conditions.

Saving family treasures.     These guidelines from The National Archives will walk you through preserving some of your family’s most treasured items that may have been damaged by flood waters.

The guidelines range in topics from what do to with wet records, to salvaging family papers, to properly air-drying books, to caring for water damaged heirlooms.

I want to thank all of the Democratic and Republican leaders who are working to keep Virginians informed and safe as we brace for this storm.    I hope these resources are timely and helpful as you prepare for Hurricane Irene, and once again I hope you and your family have a safe and dry weekend.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Moran

Take care, stay safe and we'll see each other at the September Meeting on the 13th at 7:30pm at the Madison Heights Library.
What a week we have had. Earthquake on Tuesday followed by a Hurricane on Saturday, what? Next.

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Tea Party Picks GOP Candidate, Tom Garrett

2011-08-24T01:58:00.005-04:00

The Democratic Candidate for Senator from Virginia's 22nd District is Bert Dodson.

Bert Dodson

Voice of the Working Man

The Tea Party has picked the Republicn candidate to run for senator fron the 22nd district and that man is Tom Garrett. The Republicans left in the party are not happy but the Tea Party controls their direction. Here's what the conservatives at Bearing Drift were saying about Garrett just before the election.

Tea Party Champion Seeks End to Medicare

"Tom Garrett burst onto the scene in the 22nd without much background.   Does he live in the district?    This still remains unclear.    His record stands on one professional accomplishment alone — turning Louisa County into the pedophile capital of Virginia.    In some instances, his zeal for prosecuting these cases has resulted in the victim not even being consulted before the case went before the judge.   Tom Garrett’s one-man crusade — while laudable in its own right — has often made it very difficult for Garrett to discuss his record on pedophilia among pro-family groups (or crowds involving children).     Garrett’s speeches on the “four branches of government” strike the Tea Party-attuned ear as odd."

"Lastly, Garrett’s history of not paying bills — including a $2,000 bill for child care services where Garrett was found liable — renders Garrett easy prey for DPVA researchers.    Garrett can be lauded for this though — repairing his marriage.     If the money Garrett spent on the State Senate race was the catalyst for reuniting his family on the campaign trail, Bearing Drift sincerely wishes him all the best.     That story — under reported and personal –is probably one of the best stories of the Virginia primary season.   Conservatives in the 22nd District would be well served to consider alternatives without the baggage."

The Editors at Bearing Drift have some thoughts on other republicans as well.    "Claudia Tucker, the one-time Vance Wilkins aide who became caught up in the eavesdropping scandal in the early part of last decade, fizzled on both her fundraising promises and her campaign efforts."     Looking at the results we see that Tucker ran a poor race geting about a third of the votes of the other 4 candidates and finishing dead last.    She played the role of spoiler and cut the throat of the expected winner.     Her future in Republican politics looks dim.

"Brian Bates, the long-time Buckingham supervisor may surprise folks on how well he may do, but his long-standing record of multiple tax increases and questionable position on life have scared off most conservatives in this race."      The Tea Party and Ultra Right Wing Republicans are now in control.     The social safety net is in danger of being destroyed.

"Mark Peake of Lynchburg and Bryan Rhode from Goochland have both earned the respect and admiration of the Bearing Drift editors so The Editors endorsed both candidates."       Five greedy republicans cutting each others throats to get one job.   Throw in a heaping helping of Tea Party madness and you get the modern GOP here in the state of Virginia.   Is it appropriate for Bearing Drift to spread rumors about candidate Tom Garrett not living in the district, without verifying whether it is true or not.   The Bearing Drift Editors brought it up so lets have an answer.    Does Tom Garrett live in the district he is running to represent?    Now that Garrett has won the right to represent the Republicans in the General will the matter be swept under the carpet and forgotten?     Thats the GOP way.

For those of you who are partisan river rock republicans here's the url for Bearing Drift.http://bearingdrift.com/2011/08/18/bearing-drift-endorsements-for-state-senate-republican-nominations/
Click on over and read more Republican on Tea Party attack stories.

Thankfully Bert Dodson is running for Senate from the 22nd District. Normal clear headed working people have someone to vote for. The tea party has saddled the Republicans with a candidate who is just as bozo as the tea party. The "don't tax the rich crew" want to end social security and medicare and all women's health services.

The tea party people want to stop Pell Grants and educational programs. To these people being successful and rich means you don't have to pay your fair share of taxes. These republicans are willing to destroy the country we live in to get their way. We need Bert Dodson in Richmond and hopefully the voters will see it that way. If not, God Help Us.

Its time for you dizzy republicans to shake the cobwebs out of your heads and cast a vote for your country, while we still have a country. If you can't free yourself from the Tea Party your days as a major political party are over.

We gathered to watch the returns from the Republican Tea Party Primary at The Stoney Badger Tavern. The Badger has a hidden deck behind the tavern that is secluded from the roads. If you're looking for a fun evening out try The Stoney Badger. You will be delighted.

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Dodson's Campaign Kickoff Reception, You Are Invited

2011-08-13T12:29:00.017-04:00

Join Bert and the Dodson Team on Tuesday, August 23rd! FROM

7 to 10 pm or later for the

Dodson's Campaign Kickoff Reception

Bert and Campaign Team

Enjoy drinks and free appetizers and be with the campaign when we find out who will face Bert in November. 7pm to 10pm at

The Stoney Badger Tavern
3009 Old Forest Rd
Lynchburg, VA

Become a part of the Dodson Team by committing...

□ Host - $500     □ Sponsor - $250
□ Supporter - $100     □ Guest - $25

(Student ID Rate - $10 | Children Free)

RSVP:      434.851.4885 |      bert@dodsonforsenate.com

Bert Dodson

Scratch the Competition, Bert Wins

See you there!

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VOTE BERT DODSON for SENATE

Virginia's 22 District

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MoveOn Says America is Not Broke, Rally In Lynchburg

2011-08-10T13:51:00.007-04:00

America is rich, still the wealthiest nation ever.

Liberal organizations and unions are frustrated that President Obama has not aggressively pushed a new jobs stimulus agenda, and they are offering up a consolidated fall agenda for Democrats to embrace as an alternative to austerity. If the government won't take action to help America recover then the people must apply motivation to the powers that be to act in Americas long term best interest.

Representatives of MoveOn.org, Rebuild the Dream and the Center for Economic Policy and Research joined Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) on Tuesday to launch a progressive “Contract for the American Dream” to urge the administration and Congress to turn away from budget cutting and focus on job creation. The American people have been interested in creating jobs and putting America back to work for over 3 years now. It is the political leadership in both parties that is slow to get the message.

I've Got Mine, Who Are You?

Locally Move On held a noon time rally in front of Congressman Bob Goodlatte's office at 916 Main Street in downtown Lynchburg.    In any tally of the worst Congressman in America Goodlatte finishes in the top five spots.    Goodlatte stands in opposition to anything that can help seniors, women, education or workers in need of employeement.    Someday the voters in Virginia's 6th district will awaken from their long slumber and elect a Congressman who represents the workers and middle class interests.   MoveOn passed out copies of their   "Contract For The American Dream" and delivered their message to the TV and News Media that attended.    As a get out the information and create public buzz event it was a total success.

The contract is a mix of proposals that could make their way into a fall jobs compromise with Republicans, as well as more far-reaching goals such as universal government-run healthcare for all that are less likely to be enacted.    Republicans are united behind anything that cuts taxes for big business and puts the load on the back of the working man.

Schakowsky said Obama adviser David Plouffe has asked to see the contract, but the White House has yet to comment on it.   The White House will have to be motivated by the people to take a stance and hold a position.    The White House is so used to folding that it now comes second nature for them to back down.

President Obama is Interested

The president “has said he is very interested … in pivoting now to job creation,” she told reporters.   It must be remembered that the president has talked about his interest in pivoting to job creation many times before and never turned that interest into action.   Obama's feet must be held to the fire or he comprimises into a bowl of jello.

In 10 bullet points, the contract calls for massive new spending and taxes.     At the top of the list are items Obama has been calling for: investing in infrastructure, clean energy, strengthening public education.     These “winning the future” items were included in Obama’s 2012 budget, which was rejected unanimously in the Senate after it become focused on budget cutting.

The contract also calls for a crackdown on corporations to enforce equal pay for equal work, reforming Social Security by lifting the cap on payroll taxes, accelerating the pullout of troops from Afghanistan and overhauling the campaign finance system.

On taxes, the groups are calling for an end to Bush-era tax rates, a new higher tax bracket for millionaires and a surcharge on Wall Street trades of 1/20th of 1 percent. Schakowsky has proposed a 45 percent tax rate for millionaires and a 49 percent tax rate for billionaires.

“We have a jobs crisis, not a deficit crisis,”    the contract reads.

“The federal government must act now to put Americans back to work, and that will require reversing the premature focus on deficit reduction,”       Robert Borosage of the Campaign for America’s Future said.     In a separate release he called for expanding AmeriCorps and creating new direct work programs he calls Urban Corps, Green Corps and Service Corps.      He calls for direct intervention to prevent layoffs on the local level of teachers and police.

The contract is also being promoted by the Change to Win union coalition and a host of smaller groups.     Some of the outside groups on the Tuesday conference call expressed frustration with Democratic leaders.

“I think this contract will not be taken seriously by the serious people in Washington at first,”   said Justin Ruben, executive director of MoveOn.org.

“I think there is a huge leadership vacuum right now,”    Ruben said.     He also said that the rapidly worsening economy could provide the impetus needed to get major parts of the agenda
enacted this fall, including universal publicly run healthcare.

“Crises have a way of changing what’s possible,”    he said.
Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream said the movement behind the contract is three times as big as the Tea Party was when it launched. It will be taking the document to August town-hall meetings.

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It's Your Country, It's Your Move, Why Don't You Vote

2011-08-07T19:40:00.010-04:00

Message from the Chair

AUGUST 9TH GENERAL MEETING CANCELED

PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Despite the apparent lull in activity this summer, your executive committee is hard at work planning some interesting and exciting events, guest speakers, outreach and news/media visibility. We'll be meeting again next week to continue this work, and to get on board with social networking (facebook, twitter, etc.).

If you would like to attend the next executive committee meeting, you're more than welcome. Just reply with a note to this email
dave_burford@verizon.net and we'll be sure to notify you in advance.

The next GENERAL MEETING will be held Tuesday, September 13th, 7:30PM, at the Madison Heights Branch Library.

Watch for a "NEWS and DATES TO REMEMBER" in the next few days.

Amherst Dems

PO Box 1411
Amherst, VA 24521

www.AmherstDems.org

WHY? DON'T YOU VOTE???

In Presidential Elections slightly more than 50% of the voters show at the polls, for off year elections even less vote.

The government of the United States is based on a written constitution, the shortest in the world in fact. This constitution consists of a Preamble, seven Articles, and 27 Amendments. From this document, the entire federal government was created. It is a living document whose interpretation has changed over time. The amendment process is such that while not easily amended, US citizens are able to make necessary changes over time. It takes a long time to get the country back after you let it slip away. You may never get it back.

Three Branches of Government

The Constitution created three separate branches of government. Each branch has its own powers and areas of influence.     At the same time, the Constitution created a system of checks and balances that ensured no one branch would reign supreme.    The three branches are:

•Legislative Branch - This branch consists of the Congress which is responsible for making the federal laws.    Congress consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

•Executive Branch - The Executive power lies with the President of the United States who is given the job of executing, enforcing, and administering the laws and government.     The Bureaucracy is part of the Executive Branch.

•Judicial Branch - The judicial power of the United States is vested in the Supreme Court and the federal courts.     Their job is to interpret and apply US laws through cases brought before them. Another important power of the Supreme Court is that of Judicial Review whereby they can rule laws unconstitutional.

Six Foundational Principles

The Constitution is built on six basic principles.     These are deeply ingrained in the mindset and landscape of US Government.

•Popular Sovereignty - This principle states that the source of governmental power lies with the people.    This belief stems from the concept of the social contract and the idea that government should be for the benefit of its citizens.     If the government is not protecting the people, it should be dissolved.

•Limited Government - Since the people give government its power, government itself is limited to the power given to it by them. In other words, the US government does not derive its power from itself.      It must follow its own laws and it can only act using powers given to it by the people.

•Separation of Powers - As stated previously, the US Government is divided into three branches so that no one branch has all the power.    Each branch has its own purpose: to make the laws, execute the laws, and interpret the laws.

•Checks and Balances - In order to further protect the citizens, the constitution set up a system of checks and balances.     Basically, each branch of government has a certain number of checks it can use to ensure the other branches do not become too powerful.    For example, the president can veto legislation, the Supreme Court can
declare acts of Congress unconstitutional, and the Senate must approve treaties and presidential appointments.

•Judicial Review - This is a power that allows the Supreme Court to decide whether acts and laws are unconstitutional.     This was established with Marbury v. Madison in 1803.

•Federalism - One of the most complicated foundations of the US is the principle of federalism.      This is the idea that the central government does not control all the power in the nation.     States also have powers reserved to them.     This division of powers does overlap and sometimes leads to problems such as what happened with the response to Hurricane Katrina between the state and federal governments.

Political Process

While the Constitution sets up the system of government, the actual way in which the offices of Congress and the Presidency are filled are based upon the American political system.     Many countries have numerous political parties (groups of people who join together to try and win political office and thereby control the government)
but the US exists under a two-party system.      The two major parties in America are the Democratic and Republican parties.      They act as coalitions and attempt to win elections.      We currently have a two-party system because of not only historical precedent and tradition but also the electoral system itself.

The fact that America has a two-party system does not mean that there is no role for third parties in the American landscape.      It does mean that the two main parties work together to roadblock the formation of any third party.

Elections occur in the United States at all levels including local, state, and federal.     There are numerous differences from locality to locality and state to state.    Even when determining the presidency, there is some variation with how the electoral college is determined from state to state.   Voter turnout is barely over 50% during Presidential election years and much lower than that during midterm elections.   The lower the voter turnout the easier it is for other interests to control the government of the United States.    Most politicians from both of the major parties are are bought, sold and owned like farm animals.

Its your country and its your move.    Why Not Vote?

What is The Social Contract?

The idea of the social contract is one of the foundations of the American political system.    This is the belief that the state only exists to serve the will of the people, and they are the source of all political power enjoyed by the state.    In theory the people can choose to give or withhold this power.   When politicians are
bought sold and owned by powerful special interests the Social Contract is mangeled.

The origin of the term social contract can be found in the writings of Plato.   However, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes expanded on the idea when he wrote Leviathan in response to the English Civil War.   In this book he wrote that in the earliest days there was no government.   Instead, those who were the strongest could take
control and use their power at any time over others.     Hobbes' theory was that the people mutually agreed to create a state, only giving it enough power to provide protection of their well-being. However, in Hobbes' theory, once the power was given to the state, the people then relinquished any right to that power.     In effect, that would be the price of the protection they sought.

Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke each took the social contract theory one step further.    Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right in which he explained that the
government is based on the idea of popular sovereignty.     Thus the will of the people as a whole gives power and direction to the state. John Locke also based his political writings on the idea of the social contract. He stressed the role of the individual.     He also believed that revolution was not just a right but an obligation if the state abused their given power.     Obviously these ideas had a huge impact on the Founding Fathers, especially Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

For the Social Contract to work the politicians you elect must work for you and not be controlled by the special interests.    A politician assures the rich he will forward their interest and protect them from the poor if they will give him money.   That same politician assures the poor he will look out for their interest and protect them from the rich if they will give him their votes.     With money from the rich and votes from the poor this politician spends 5 million dollars to win an office that pays him $174,000 a year and in two terms is a multi-millionaire.

Its Your Country and Its Your Move.     As long as you neglect to vote someone else will pull the strings and run the country.

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VOTE

Obama Loses Birthday in Debt Ceiling Negotiation

2011-08-02T17:46:00.011-04:00

When he negotiated the renewal of the Bush tax cuts in 2010, why didn't he get himself an increase in the debt ceiling at the same time?      The tax cuts expanded the deficit beyond what it otherwise would have been.     Republicans dearly wanted the tax cuts extended and would have paid for them.     But Obama didn't negotiate it because he doesn't know how.   Obama has no respect for the base of the Democratic Party and downright distaste for Union People.    Obama is uninformed, thinking if he does the Republicans a favor it will get returned.    Republicans have told him to his face that they will destroy him yet he continues to live in la-la land.     What do we have to do to wake up this arrogrant flip-flop choke and fold fool.    All Obama does is talk, nothing more and he has proved that he is an empty suit for almost 3 years now.    I have zero faith in Barack Obama's ability to get the job done.

In this round of debt negotiations, the president drew red lines.   He threatened to veto a small increase in the debt ceiling, one that would force him to return to the argument before the election in 2012.   By contrast, he has not threatened to veto debt-ceiling measures that cut too deeply into social programs.    His red lines are drawn for his political advantage -- not to protect his core supporters' or the Democratic Parties values and interests.    His red lines are not ours.    Obama deals purely for himself.   Clearing up matters for his re-election were clearly job one in Obama's mind.

Whether its health care or the deficit or now the debt ceiling, direct encounters between Obama and his Republican opposite numbers have always ended badly for the president.    Yes, the president faces unusually extreme and intransigent opposition.    But that's a description of the difficulty, not an excuse for failure.    Presidents win negotiations when they can mobilize the public behind them.    That was Ronald Reagan's secret weapon in 1981.     It has never been Barack Obama's.   And the results are as we all see.   Obama can't seem to make proper use of the bully pulpit.    Obama seems transfixed by the sound of his own voice.

Obama has proven himself to be a terrible negotiator, time and again starting from a position way too near what his opponents want.    It started with health care reform, when he himself ruled out nationalization and single payer from the very start so that what he ended up with was close to what the Republicans themselves were
proposing in 1993.

If Obama refuses to learn how to negotiate then he should stay completely out of it and let a professional on his staff handle it.     Either way quit embarrising the Democratic Party.

Naturally the Republicans will do everything possible to get to deal with a patsy like Obama.    If you lose everytime out of the gate you should give up on that particular rodeo.   I don't care how smart you think you are you may lack this skill.   Part of Obama's problem is he does not respect people who have the skill to negotiate.

Beyond that he does not even know the simple rules of the game and yes just like politics it is a game and there are rules.   Rule one, go slow.   Rule two, don't give anything away unless you get somehing for it preferably something you want.    Rule three don't talk about the negotiations in public, do your talking at the table.   Rule four, wrap your ego in coming out ahead and remember nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.   If the other side renegs on any part of the deal jerk the entire deal off the table and start over from the begining.   Be curteous and remain firm.    Prepare ahead of time and know what your objectives are and what your moves mean to the scope of where you are taking the deal.

If it ends 50-50 you didn't win or lose, you held your own.
   Holding your own would be a dramatic improvement for
Obama.   If you get the big end of any other number set you have some level of win.   When the Republicans get 98% and you get 2% that is an embarrisment.     Obama needs to realize that he mucked this process up beyond repair and to commit himself to learning how to negotiate.      Learn or quit the game, there is no in between.    If you get in get in all the way.

The negotiations over the Bush tax cuts ended up giving the Republicans nearly everything they wanted, making the debt far worse while still allowing the opponents to blame Obama for it.    His opening move seems to be along the lines of,   "Okay, I'll give you 80% of what you want."     And then he ends up settling for 90% of what they want.    After Obama ceeded the 80% before the negotiations started he held his own splitting the remaining 20%
and that gave the Republicans 90 and Obama 10.

Obama lost this negotiations before it even started.      Worse, he leaned nothing about negotiating and was just as dumb the next time at bat.

One of the clear differences between Republicans and Democrats is how they wield power once they get it.    The Republicans get into power, as they did in many states this January, and they go for broke.   They push their agenda through swiftly and strongly and they don't care what the polls say.    They know they have a limited
window in which to work before the backlash begins and they slash and burn to get it done.    Republicans don't even have to control the legislature to control the agenda; one chamber of Congress will do just fine.   Obama has let them control the agenda from the start.    It is Obama's fault that he is a pushover.    As Democrats it is our fault that we elected a pushover who can't do the job.   If we lie to ourselves and say everything is OK that will be our fault also.   It is time to let Obama know we are tired of his do nothing, accomplish nothing way of conducting business.

And here's the thing that makes it all make no sense at all: The public is on his side.   On the policy issues, the public was strongly against the Republican position on the Bush tax cuts and strongly on Obama's side.   On the debt ceiling issue, the public is strongly against the Republican position and strongly on Obama's side.
And yet he still comes out of it looking like a weak bystander and the GOP still gets nearly everything they want.     Even with the people on his side he could not plot a straight line to a win.

Obama is likeable but he lacks the skills to do the job and that's sad for him and sad for America.       There are so many talented people who could help Obama govern but his eye is fixed on that old Chicago bunch who have failed to adequately protect the President so far.      The President needs to clean house and get a team together who can do the job.     He needs to do it right away.

I was asked today if I will be going to Obama's birthday party tommorow?    The answer is NO.    Obama doesn't have a birthday this year.    The Republicans took it away from him in the debt ceiling negotiations.

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Look Closely

Obama Scores Great Victory for Himself

2011-07-31T23:48:00.010-04:00

Change You Will Live With

Obama will not be bothered by the debt ceiling anymore until after his re-election. He scored a great victory and earned the ability to deal with re-election without being bothered by the debt ceiling. Congradulations to President Obama on his hard fought victory. He really kept his eye on the prize.

I have Lived Up to all My Promises

Beyond that Republicans got 98% of what they were asking for so congradulations to them. Democrats got nothing beyond an enhanced opportunity to keep Obama in office for 4 more years.

Some Year I (or the next guy up) will end the Wars and bring the Troops Home. That will save a lot of money.

We will have to wait a few days to see how the people react. In just a year and six months the Obama extension to the Bush Tax cuts runs out and there is always a small chance that the wealthy and big business might pick up some of the load the middle class and poor are dragging on their backs. A small chance is better than no chance, most of the time.

I am Completely Satisfied with the Great Job I am Doing.

As the newly negotiated deal dials back spending it will also dial back jobs. The economy is too weak to raise taxes on the rich, they are refered to as the job creators though they haven't created any jobs in about 10 years now. I guess we are afraid that if we tax them they might never again create a job. Fortunately conditions are good enough to cut back on spending and live with the job losses the middle class and poor will face. At least the rich won't be put out or made uncomfortable.

My Greatest Skill, Basketball

Is this what Democrats stand for? Is this all Obama stands for? The answer to one doesn't have to be the answer for both.

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Its Time To Re-Build The Democratic Party

Professor Obama has taught the Tea Party a lesson. He has taught them that their tatics work and produce results. He has taught them that in the end he will choke and fold so now and for the forseeable future the Tea Party will repeat those actions that have payed dividends for them. Obama has failed to stand up for Democrats and potect their interests.

Obama entered the fray with no plan and backed down from every statement he made along the way.     "I want shared responsibility with everyone having skin in the game."      This plan opens medicare up to having the age for entry raised to 67, funny but until the voting is done nobody will tell you that.

Tougher Means testing can be applied to Medicade, Medicare and Social Security.      These changes are part of step two and that starts in December of 2011.      There are no tax increases for the wealthy in the plan.     Now the white house and some Democrats and Obamas supporters will rewrite the story at every opportunity.      Anything short of telling the truth but the truth will leak out when it is too late to matter.

Obama has several times now shown his skills at deal making and those skills are near invisible.     For the rest of his time in office he will continue to operate at the levels he has demonstrated so far.     Everyone wants to do business with Obama because he is a pushover, a mark.

If that's good enough for you, swell.     It sickens me.

What does Obama do when there is nothing left to give away?

2011-07-28T12:20:00.005-04:00

I was thinking about writing this article about the tea party and how they went to Washington and kept true to their stated positions and didn't sell out the people who voted for them but why bother that would be greek to democrats and republicans who bend when the wind blows. Instead I will try to figure out what party label to attach to Obama. Thus the question:

Is Obama a Great or the Greatest Moderate Republican President Ever?

Thanks to Stephen Colbert for the question and I'll put you down as Great because I see you have some concern with the question. I know you've heard it said about the GOP that they are not your grandfathers republican party and thats right they are not. President Obama and his team are your grandfathers republican party. We are no longer a two party system, we are now a four party system. The Tea Party, The Right Wing Republican Party and The Moderate Republican Party (formerly a part of the Democratic party) and lastly standing alone the Progressive Democratic Party.

Democrat Joe Biden and Moderate Republican President Barack Obama

The three variants of the Republican party vote together and the only opposing voice comes from the Progressive Democrats.   The last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, has extended himself in an attempt to help Obama find the Democratic part of himself but so far only the letter D following his name is evidence of any Democratic leaning or life.   The Tea Party will probably demand that the letter D be removed from the alphabet and Obama will trip all over himself to get the alphabet reduced to 25 letters.

I wish the Tea party would take a position on ending the three wars now eating up all the money China loans us.     Obama would be willing to hand strangle grandma to keep the wars going one more day.     He just keeps on extending US involvement in a losing effort that is already lost to corruption and poppies.     Is it possible to bring the troops home?

Thus the question becomes is it better to have a weak spineless Moderate Republican like Obama in the Presidency than a Tea Party Republican.     Under either option the Tea party pulls the strings and Obama dances.    This is a tough question but with the use of a powerful microscope we see that Obama wins by a hair and what the heck, Who else do You have to vote for?    If Obama had accomplished anything or come out ahead in any negotiations we could spin a great record of accomplishment for him.   Over two years into his term and still there are no jobs, unemployeement is pegged at 9.2% with a real value of 14%.   The Democrats have not passed a budget in almost 2 years and the Bush Tax cuts for the rich have been extended by Obama and are a trillion dollars of the debt crisis we now face.   This is a pure record of failure.     Obama is quite proud of what he has been able to do.

Now bore me with your claims about the Obama health care package that is still undefined and changes everyday and lives mainly on the court dockets and makes only small marks in real life.    It is ok to be a partisan.   It is ok to support a political party.   It is dangerous to be a fool.

LOOK CLOSELY

Look closely at his positions and Obama is a moderate Republican of the early 1990s. The principles of his health care law, his cap-and-trade carbon credits, and his pairing of tax hikes with spending cuts were all Republican proposals before the GOP abandoned many of its best ideas in its effort to oppose Obama.

Obama embraces Republican policy ideas.    Unfortunately, that means he loses and looks like a fool.   Today's Republicans have shown they're ok with destroying the climate, blocking efforts to get health care to uninsured people, and generally ruining the economy — as long as they destroy Obama.    Obama seems to have no self preservation instinct and to be completely dumb to the game.    After playing the game for 2 and a half years Obama is not one bit smarter than he was at the beginning.   His learning curve seems to go downhill.

I'll put my money on Obama backing down, surrendering, giving in, folding every time and I'll win every time.      I voted for Obama last time and I'll vote for him next time.     He'll pretend to be a Democrat and we can all pretend he cares about Democratic principles.    BUT No more pretending that he's not the most medicore president ever elected and no more fighting for a man who lays down and won't fight for himself.      Would I trust this man to watch my back?      Please!!!

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After failing to fight to end the Bush Tax Cuts in 2010, and promising that he'll fight to end them the next time around, Obama has, predictably, folded on ending the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans, tax cuts that have exploded the deficit.

President Obama is not pushing for the end of the Bush tax rates for the wealthy in negotiations on raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.

Obama says he still wants to end those tax rates, but with time running out on the debt-ceiling talks, the White House made it clear that it has changed targets in the current negotiations.   Obama only has one demand now.    Give me a deal that gets thru 2012, past the election.      If the Republicans say NO he'll fold on this too.

Same Old, Same Old as Obama Folds Again.    Is there anything, anything, anything that this President will fight for?    Now somebody please explain to me why Progressives should support Obama's reelection?    And please save the But The GOP Will Win If We Don't, because all we are getting is conservative policies and victories with Obama in office, and he hasn't done anything to fix the economy other than a few half-measures 2+ years ago.

The Conservatives could not get more if they controlled the entire show.

Whats a Spine?

Happy Birthday Mr. President. On August 4th when you close your eyes and make a wish before blowing out the candles on the cake, Wish For A SPINE. A 50 year old man needs one.

Politics Destroys The USA's Credit Rating

2011-07-24T12:06:00.018-04:00

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. ~H.L. Mencken

When Menchen had this thought the tea party had not been invented, humans had not sunk that low.

Defeating Obama is My #1 Mission

How long will Republicans obstruct a raising of the debt ceiling in their attempt to defeat President Obama and make him a one term president? It is no secret what they are doing. They have openly stated that limiting Obama to one term is their reason for being. Are Republicans willing to destroy Americas credit and standing in the world for politics? They even want to raise the limit a month at a time so they can keep the fight going continually.

I Will Give You 95% of What You Want. Thats How I Negotiate

(Its Aug 1st and I owe You a correction the 95% quoted above is wrong, completely wrong. It should read 98%. We apoligize for the faulty info.)

Here's what Obama needs to do. Show some spine and bite. I'm a life long Democrat but I'm past tired of making excuses for the weaknesses of President Obama. It is time to demand a clean debt ceiling increase with nothing else attached. Obama has made so many mistakes, wasting over a year on his health care bill and getting dam near nothing for the effort, extending the Bush tax cuts when the people were ready to draw a line in the sand and fight. Doing squat on job creation when that is the number one issue on peoples minds. Now if it weren't for the Tea Party saying NO Obama would have given away the store. Thank God the Republicans don't know how to say yes and take a win. That inability to take the win by saying yes is all that kept Obama from giving it all away. Dumb luck, fate and Tea Party stupidity saved workers, women, seniors and minority benefits.

Read My Lips "NO TAX INCREASES" The Upper 2 % are safe.

The Democratic Senators and Congressmen should do their jobs and negotiate the deals and then present them to Obama. Leaving Obama out of everything but the final accept or veto would produce far better deals and serve the Democratic Party better. Please come to grips with this, OBAMA Can Not Handle a Negotation. He talks a great game, delivers a nice speech and generally pleases an audience with generalized banter but is not suited for heavy lifting. His back and knees bend in every direction. He has no GRIT and 2 and a half years in it doesn't look like he will develop any.

50 Years Old, Time To Stand for Something. I'll stand up and blame it on Bush.

As a Democrat I will vote for Obama to get a second term but I will not fool myself or you about his skill level. I vote for him because he is the lessor of two evils by an inch. I vote for him because I have no where else to go. I vote for him because I HOPE he learns something from all the defeats he presides over. If you think about what is delivered vs. beautiful language you may find yourself less than impressed and tired of defending a President that will sell out your values in a heartbeat, a President who cannot negotiate.

Yes We Can, If You Do All Of The Work, I'll be there for the Victory Photo.

All of Washington is Broken and we elected the fools. Will Obama Blink Again? Bet on It! Leaving Obama on the sidelines while more experienced Democrats do the negotiating is the smartest move they can make. When the deal is done present it to him for acceptance or veto. Obama has the slowest learning curve of any President in the last 60 years. He has been outmanuvered by the opposition party every time and has shown no improvement at all.

They messed with Bill every day for 8 years and HE STILL Balanced the Budget, created 22 Million Jobs and created a surplus for the next man up to blow. And George Bush Did.

Running the Country is like drilling for oil, you hire riggers to do the work.

If asked, Bill would assist and save the day.

Bill would not hesitate to use the 14th ammendment.

The Debts of the United States shall not be questioned.

The King of Surrender, Mr. Choke and Fold

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Senator Mark Warner Hosts Bert Dodson Fundraiser

2011-07-16T20:46:00.002-04:00

Friday, July 22, 8:00AM
You're invited to enjoy breakfast with Senator Mark Warner and Bert Dodson.

Senator Warner speaking, President Obama in crowd

Senator Mark Warner will host a fundraiser for Bert Dodson

Senator Warner

at the Main Street Eatery, 907 Main Street in Lynchburg.

ACVDN

Ticket Prices:

Bert Dodson and Tim Kaine

Host - $2000 per couple
Co-Host - $1,000 per couple
Support - $500 per couple
Guest - $250 per person

Mail checks to:
Friends of Bert Dodson
PO Box 464
Lynchburg, VA 24505

Bert Dodson announcing candidacy

Pay online at
Bert Dodson's Website

Thank You