Anti-BVBL Traffic Stats Steadily Increasing

Not sure what it all means, but definitely the number of unique visitors is steadily increasing. It isn’t even the middle of the month and it appears we could add an additional 1,000 unique visitors over last month’s numbers. By the way, that would be the greatest single month increase since our inception!

Congratulations to Moon-howler and all our regular contributors. Undoubtedly we have an intelligent and considerate forum which is already exceeding traffic from blogs that have been around for many years.

Rumors Abound About Banned Words in Arizona

It has been rumored that Arizona’s Supreme Court Justice has enforced the request of Los Abogados, the Arizona Hispanic Bar Association, to ban the use of certain words during trials and hearings. Los Abogados contends that the banned words are inflammatory and create perceptions of prejudice and bias.

Other news sources at WTAR correct that rumor by stating that Arizona State Supreme Court Justice Ruth McGregor forwarded the request to various agencies within the Arizona court system.

Reports that the words “illegal” and “alien” have been banned from Arizona court rooms are false, according to an Arizona Supreme Court official.
“That is not true,” said Car Gerchick, communications director for the court. “Those words have not been banned from Arizona courtrooms.”
“A letter was sent in from an organization, a local legal organization, asking a court to essentially ban the use of those words.”
Gerchick said Chief Justice Ruth McGregor’s responded to the group, identified as Los Abogados, and told them she would share the request with the legal community and that no decision has been made.
“Under no circumstances did the Chief Justice McGregor ban any words.”

Some of the supposed banned words are: open borders advocate, illegal immigrant, illegal alien, illegals.

One source of the rumor was from ALIPAC- Americans for Legal Immigration. Why would a supposed reputable organization deliberately spread false rumors? Perhaps they wanted to stir their supporters up.

Stay tuned. This sounds like the beginning rather than the end of a story.

[Addendum 11/12/08: We have received email from
Cari Gerchick, Esq.
Communications Director
Arizona Supreme Court

She has clarified that “the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court did not ban any words from the court system. Any reports to the contrary are false.”

I assume this ends any controversy and thanks you Ms. Gerchick for the clarification.]

A Venerable Veterans Day to All

This morning I combed through many videos that were Veterans Day tributes. While the one posted is long, I chose it because of the linking the past to the present.

WWII veterans are dying at the rate of over 1000 per day. Many never lived to see the completion of the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. What a tragedy that it took 60 years to honor the people of that generation. It is perhaps the most beautiful memorial I have ever seen but it was too long getting here.

If you know a vet from the WWII era, find out all you can. Their stories are fascinating. I consider the women of that era vets also. Many of them worked as civilians in the war effort. Their contributions were no less.

Veterans Day does not have to stop at midnight tonight. A beautiful fall weekend trip might include a trip to Bedford, Virginia, down past Roanoke.

The National D-Day Memorial is right here in our state. I am ashamed to admit I have never been to Bedford to show my gratitude to this town who lost the greatest amount of young men per capital than any other jurisdiction in the United States.

Bedford is home to the National D-Day Memorial. (despite the “National” in its name, the memorial is owned and operated by a Non-governmental, non-profit, education foundation). The United States Congress warranted that this memorial would be the nation’s D-Day Memorial and President Bill Clinton authorized this effort in September 1996. President George W. Bush dedicated this memorial as the nation’s D-Day memorial on June 6, 2001. Bedford lost more residents per capita in the Normandy landings than any other American community. Nineteen soldiers from Bedford, whose 1944 population was about 3,200, were killed on D-Day. Three other Bedford soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign. Proportionally this community suffered the nation’s severest D-Day losses

Thanks to Wiki for the above blurb.

For more information:
The National D-Day Memorial Foundation

.

Veterans Day Salute

On this Veterans Day 2008, we salute to our veterans, both past and present. This article while over a decade old shows the contributions made by immigrants.

A Veteran’s Day Remembrance: Immigrant Medal of Honor Recipients
by Stuart Anderson

Stuart Anderson is director of trade and immigration studies at the Cato Institute.

November 4, 1996

As Veteran’s Day approaches, the time has come to pay tribute to those who have given their lives to this country, though they were not born in this country. Immigrants have received the Medal of Honor in every war since the medal was first established. To receive it, a recipient must risk his life, the bravery of his act must be considered beyond the call of duty and distinguished from other acts, and at least two eyewitnesses must have observed the act and provide incontestable evidence that it occurred.

More than 20 percent (over 700) of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in U.S. wars have been immigrants. As the official guide to recipients notes, “Those who have received the Medal of Honor since it was established in 1861 as the nation’s highest decoration are as different as the melting pot population of our country.”

Vietnam: At the age of 29, Laszlo Rabel was the leader of Team Delta, 74th Infantry Detachment. Rabel, a staff sergeant, had immigrated to the United States from Budapest, Hungary, and entered the service in Minnesota. He was leading his men in reconnaissance when enemy movement was detected. His team started to leave the area when suddenly a grenade landed in the middle of the team. Without hesitation, Rabel threw himself on the grenade, covering it with his body and absorbing the explosion. He lost his life but saved those whom he had led on the field of battle.

Korea: Lieutenant John Koelsch, a London-born immigrant, flew a helicopter as part of a Navy helicopter rescue unit during the Korean War. He had entered the service in Los Angeles but on the evening of July 3, 1951, he found himself on the Korean peninsula with darkness fast approaching. Word came that the North Koreans had shot down a U.S. marine aviator and that the man was trapped deep in hostile territory amid mountainous terrain. John Koelsch volunteered to rescue him.

As he descended beneath the clouds to search for the aviator the enemy fired on him. After being hit, Koelsch kept going until he found the downed pilot, who had suffered serious burns. A burst of enemy fire struck the helicopter causing it to crash into the side of the mountain. Koelsch quickly helped his crew and the downed pilot out of the wreckage. He led the men out of the area, barely escaping the enemy troops. For nine days they were on the run until the North Koreans finally captured them. During questioning, John Koelsch refused to reveal information. He died at the hands of his interrogators.

World War II: Marcario Garcia, born in Mexico, was 24 years old when near Grosshau, Germany, he found his company pinned down by the heavy machine gun fire of Nazi troops and by an artillery and mortar barrage. Though wounded and in pain, he refused to be evacuated. Instead, he crawled forward, all alone, and lobbed hand grenades into the enemy’s emplacement. He singlehandedly assaulted the position and destroyed the gun.

A short time later when another German machine gun started firing, back toward the German position he went. Alone, he again stormed the enemy, destroyed the gun, killed three German soldiers and captured four prisoners, helping to save his company.

World War I: In France, September 1918, U.S. Army Private Michael Valente found his company facing withering enemy machine gun fire. Nonetheless, Valente and another volunteer rushed forward into the enemy nest, where they killed two, captured five, and silenced the gun.

Valente saw another enemy nest close by that was pouring “deadly fire” on American soldiers. He and his fellow soldier assaulted that position as well, silencing that gun, too. They then jumped into a trench, killed two German soldiers and captured 16 others. Despite what the citation calls “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” and “utter disregard of his own personal danger,” Valente was not killed.

Michael Valente, born in Cassino, Italy, saved the lives of many American soldiers that day. Three years later, Congress passed the first national origins quotas under the theory that Italians and other southern Europeans were genetically inferior to native-born Americans and, therefore, should be kept out of the country.

Today some may still be concerned that immigrants do not share a commitment to defending America. These new concerns are as misplaced as the old. For as has always been the case, the evidence is that immigrants are as willing as natives to support the nation’s defense needs and, if necessary, to give their lives for their country.

Terry McAuliffe Files to Run for Virginia Governor 2009

Former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe has filed the forms to run for Virginia governor in 2009. McAuliffe hopes to replace Governor Tim Kane who can only serve one term as Virginia governor.

McAuliffe, originially from New York State, is a graduate of Catholic University and has been involved in Democratic politics since the Jimmy Carter years. He received his law degree from Georgetown University.

PWC Chairman-at-Large Position Cut?

Can we, the taxpayers of Prince William County, do away with the Chairman-at-Large position? In these tough economic times it should be a consideration. By conservative estimations, it could save taxpayers around a half million dollars. The position has not always existed and doesn’t appear to have any mandate to continue. Whether or not it can be done away with prior to the 2011 redistricting appears to be a question that deserves an answer. It seems to exist mainly as a position of prestige and apparently as a stepping stone to higher office. But, since the chairman-at-large position doesn’t actually represent any actual Prince William County resident, it should be slated for possible removal in the budgetary process. Any thoughts?

Board to Meet with School Board Wednesday 11/12

FYI, in case anyone’s interested.

For Release
NR#291 11-07-08

Board to Meet with School Board

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA . . . The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will host a Special Meeting with the Prince William County School Board on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at 7 p.m. The work session will be held in room 202 A and B of the Development Services Building, at 5 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.

The purpose of this Special Meeting is to discuss the FY10-14 fiscal plan, revenue forecasts, the revenue sharing agreement, and related issues.

Please call 703-792-6600 if you have any questions.

Real Estate Tax to decrease for PWC, but 26 million must be cut from Budget

The Washington Post reports, although our real estate taxes will decrease, this is not necessarily good news. Our home values have dropped an average of 30% and apparently we should not expect a recovery to begin until 2013. What I am wondering is where are all these savings that Chairman Stewart promised us? He has put our county through hell and what does he have to show for it? Where
‘s the beef? Not just, gee, Greg tells me his neighborhood looks less Latino, but real concrete factual budgetary numbers! If he uses the drop in ESOL as his basis, well, then, I want him to explain where these families lived? Is the exodus of ESOL contributing to our astronomical foreclosure rates? The 11 million we wasted on the anti illegal immigration resolution should would have come in handy right about now, especially considering, it accounts for almost HALF of our budget shortfall. But hey, who cares about people having to pay for their own ambulance ride or county employees being laid off.

Prince William County residents will probably see a decrease in their property tax bills next year.
The Board of County Supervisors agreed at its budget retreat last week that it wanted county staff members to prepare a budget with a tax rate of $1.13 per $100 of assessed value. That would be an increase from the current 97-cent rate, but because home values have decreased so sharply, the average homeowner’s bill would still fall 18 percent.

The rate may go lower but cannot go higher if the board agrees to the budget proposal, as expected, at its next meeting Nov. 18.

“It’s not terribly realistic to expect homeowners to pay more in their tax bill with the degree of economic uncertainty we are facing,” County Executive Craig S. Gerhart said.

Even at the $1.13 tax rate, the county would have to cut $26 million from school and county spending to close an anticipated $190 million gap in the coming budget year.

Although home sales have surged in Prince William, it faces hard economic times because home values have decreased 30 percent in the past year. The county projects that the housing market won’t recover until 2013.

“Prince William County has lost more value at a faster pace than the rest of Northern Virginia,” said Christopher E. Martino, the county’s finance director. “We are going to overcorrect before we come back up and stabilize.”

Prince William County’s new diversity codified in regional report!

Although this report, done by the Northern Virgina Regional Commission, should not come as a surprise to anyone, it does codify what we all knew, Prince William County’s demographics are radically changing.  Even Corey Stewart, admitting it months ago, shared that Prince William County was experiencing a “demographic change”.   As stated in this Washington Post article:

Prince William County has become the most ethnically and racially diverse county in Northern Virginia as a profound demographic shift in the region is reversing half a century of white-flight suburbanization, according to a report by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

While places like Arlington and Alexandria are lamenting that their population is losing its diverse landscape, we are gaining their faces in our changing population.  Marty Nohe has some great quotes as follows:

“Because we’re far less urbanized, it’s an easy assumption to make that we’re a predominantly white community,” said Prince William Supervisor Martin E. Nohe (R-Coles), who attended Billingsley’s presentation at a recent meeting of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. “But my hope is that people will recognize that our community has changed, and I think the change we’re experiencing is a positive one.”

No members of minority groups serve on the heavily Republican Prince William Board of County Supervisors or on the city councils of Manassas and Manassas Park, but Nohe predicted that, too, will soon change. “As newcomers to our county get more established, you’ll see more minority participation in politics,” he said, noting that the county has a black sheriff and black School Board members.

Obviously, the elephant in the room is our recent debacle over immigration legal and illegal, as my favorite friend Mr. Duecaster likes to point out, and how that has impacted our community.

Because the report relies on Census Bureau estimates that extend only through 2007, it is not clear how the recent economic downturn, the foreclosure crisis and efforts in Prince William and Manassas to target illegal immigrants might affect the region’s demographics. The highest foreclosure rates in the region are in the jurisdictions that have experienced the largest minority growth.

“It’s A New Day” Debutes on Oprah

Will.I.Am’s new song, “It’s A New Day” debuted on Oprah on Friday. “It’s A New Day” captures the feeling many folks had Wednesday morning after the election and contains many shots from Tuesday night. It isn’t Manassas but close enough. The video can be found on http://dipdive.com/. I am not able to embed it. No charge for the listen. It is the first video.

Will.I.Am appeared on CNN via hologram election night.

Immigration Process to Go Paperless

Part 2

A continuation of yesterday’s Washington Post story talks about the improvements in the immigration process and what some of the hold ups in the recent past have been. Currently, the immigration process which is pre-computer age document storage, costs the country upwards of $100 million dollars a year. Additionally, there is a multi-year back up of cases that have not been processed.

The government and outside contractors currently handle about 7 million applications per year.

If successful, the five-year, $500 million effort to convert U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ case-management system from paper-based to electronic could reduce backlogs and processing delays by at least 20 percent, and possibly more than 50 percent, people close to the project said. Those problems have long frustrated new Americans and other immigrants.
The new system would allow government agencies, from the Border Patrol to the FBI to the Labor Department, to access immigration records faster and more accurately. In combination with initiatives to link digital fingerprint scans to unique identification numbers, it would create a lifelong digital record for applicants. It also would eliminate the need for time- and labor-intensive filing and refiling of paper forms, which are stored at 200 locations in 70 million manila file folders.
Known internally as the transformation initiative, the long-awaited and much-delayed effort is considered a cornerstone of any broader effort to fix an immigration system considered one of the most broken bureaucracies in the federal government.

According to Prakash Khatri, a homeland security consultant at KPK Global Solutions
The case-management system,

“is going to transform the way USCIS and its predecessors have done business for the last 50 years, and the success or failure of this venture will determine the effectiveness

of any future immigration overhaul….”

Perhaps it took so long because of issues and flaws in other branches of Department of Homeland Security. Let’s hope this plan is successful. Many people have waited a long time to become legally part of the American Dream.

[The erroneous math statement has been removed]

Gainesville Thug Arrested for McCain Vandalism

A Gainesville man, Daniel Marion Jackson has been charged with multiple counts of vandalism for property damage of Gainesville homes and stores. Many of us thought the vandalism was caused by kids. Not quite. The perp is 23 years old. How juvenile and destructive.

If found guilty, I hope the book is thrown at this young thug. The people of Prince William County should be free to support any candidate they so choose.

According to the MJM(or whatever its new name is):

Twelve houses, a church, seven businesses and a home owner’s association sign in Gainesville were spray painted with anti-McCain sentiments, profanity and the number 666 on Oct. 25.

Police said they identified Jackson during their investigation and he turned himself in. He is being held without bond and has a court date of Dec. 3.

Vandalism of this sort, like all vandalism is so totally pointless and defenseless. Kudos to the Prince William County police for making quick work of this investigation. I certainly hope the victims of this vandalism get some free work on their houses and yards by this jerk (I am trying to remind myself about innocent until proven guilty). A little community service is in order for certain.

Massive Overhaul of Immigration Services Planned

Finally! And to those who have repeatedly said ‘our immigration laws are fine, just enforce them,’ I say, “Enforce this!’

The Washington Post reports on 11/6/08:

The Bush administration has launched a massive overhaul of the nation’s long-troubled immigration services agency, tapping an IBM-led industry consortium to re-invent the way government workers help immigrants obtain visas, seek citizenship and get approval to work in the United States.

Apparently things began to clog right after the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. Our immigration system became broken, despite the fact that over 22,000 workers were attacking the problem on antiquated systems and equipment in 250 locations.

The contract, awarded this week and the largest federal homeland security bid on the market, includes a $14.5 million, 90-day assessment period with options over five years worth $491.1 million, and a ceiling value of up to $3.5 billion if Congress approves a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws that unleashes a flood of applications for legal status or other actions.

Many things have hampered updating this new system for USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services): funding, departmental infighting, the focus on ‘the wall,’ border crossing issues, increased security demands, inertia and unpassed bills.

The USCIS transformation effort is a long-awaited, much delayed undertaking that is years behind initial schedule yet considered a cornerstone of any broader effort to fix an immigration system all sides say is one of the most broken bureaucracies in the federal government.
The agency, which was spun off from the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services and merged into the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, receives about 6 million to 8 million applications from immigrants a year, but relies on a pre-computer age, paper-based system of 70 million files identified by immigrants’ “A-numbers” or alien registration numbers.

Good for President Bush for making sure that our immigration system gets fixed. By the same token, why wasn’t fixing immigration prioritized years ago? Especially after 9/11, when security was at its pinnacle, why were workers tracking people manually. If we could put man on the moon in 1969 using computers, how come we can’t process immigration requests?

Just think of the problems that would have never happened if our existing immigration system was not broken.

click the Washington Post link above for the full story and thanks to TWINAD for sending this article.

Stewart’s Sabotage of McCain in PWC

Chairman Stewart,
It was not the illegal immigration issue that hurt John McCain in Prince William County it WAS YOU. You were unable to set aside your differences with McCain and work for the common good of the party. You were supposed to be campaigning for McCain, instead the day before the election you’re tearing him down talking about his mistakes and what he should have done. In fact, you sounded defeated in the comments that you made on TooConservative.net. I’d suggest watching what the Democrats were doing on Monday night. They obviously energized their electorate. Guess what, that was your job to do but nothing that I’ve seen remotely suggests that you even attempted to do that.

Republicans should be asking themselves whether or not Chairman Stewart worked on behalf of the Party to elect John McCain or if his disagreement with him on the issue of ‘illegal immigration’ caused him to sabotage McCain’s campaign in Prince William. Personally, I tend to believe this argument holds some credence and apparently I’m not the only one.

From TooConservative.net, we have the following:

First,

As a PWC Republican I’ve been dismayed at your failure to show the level of support for the McCain-Palin Ticket that is so vital in PWC.
If McCain doesn’t Win PWC why shouldn’t us Republican’s in PWC not hold a Recall?
– PWConservative

And secondly,

Mr. Stewart-
I have to say I agree with PW Conservative. Although I have never met you personally, every quote I have seen from you lately in the press has been negative about our ticket i.e. McCain hasn’t focused enough on illegal immigration and it will hurt him and McCain didn’t give me a big enough role at his rally. How can you justify such tepid support? As “The Preiminent Northern Virginia Republican” (I believe this is also a self-appointed title by you), we need your full support, not your snipping and backbiting. Please take the opportunity to defend yourself if I am being unfair here.
– Huh?

Followed by Chairman Stewart’s responses:

Gus,
I believe the McCain campaign could have piggy backed on that success by more closely aligning itself with the PWC Board and our crackdown on illegal immigration. It chose not to do so. I think that was a mistake given that the local voters rewarded the Board with reelection after we imposed the crackdown. I understand that McCain has a national electorate and has decided to avoid the illegal immigration issue on a national level. This will, however, hurt him in PWC tomorrow.
– Corey Stewart