Ted Nugent, the NRA, and some good old fashioned hate speech

MoonHowler

Huffington Post:

Nugent called President Obama a criminal and denounced his “vile, evil America-hating administration” which is “wiping its ass with the Constitution.” Taking it a step further, he said that “If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” “If you can’t galvanize and promote and recruit people to vote for Mitt Romney, we’re done,” he continued.
 
Supreme Court justices also came under assault by Nugent, who claims that the court’s more liberal members have signed a declaration against Americans’ right to self-defense:
 
“We’ve got four Supreme Court justices who don’t believe in the Constitution. Does everyone here know that four of the Supreme Court justices not only determined you don’t have the right to keep and bear arms, four Supreme Court justices signed their name to a declaration that Americans have no fundamental right to self-defense.”
 
Nugent concluded with a call to cut off the heads of Democrats in November: “We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November. Any questions?”
 
Ted Nugent is an old rocker has-been who probably would have a difficult time playing Branson.  Oh groan….he will be in Manassas on May 18, performing at Jiffy Lube with REO Speedwagon and Styx. I like the latter 2 groups but Nugent is a blow-hard hate monger.  Now why are Styx and REO Speedwagon slumming by performing with him?
 
At any rate, his speech to the crowd at the NRA convention was simply unacceptable.  Some conservatives are worried about Bill Maher?  He is a Sunday School meek and mild compared to this dude.   Meanwhile, Mitt Romney might want to distance himself from this guy.
 

Manassas City Elections: The Circus Comes to Town

--NatashaHottie21--

Guest Post by City Girl

Disclaimer: The content of the guest contribution is the opinion of the guest and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the management of Moonhowlings.com.

MANASSAS CITY ELECTIONS: The circus comes to town

Mark your calenders folks, the City of Manassas is having elections on May 1. The ballot will be crowded because there are a total of 12 names on it plus a space for a write-in candidate. There are seven candidates for School Board plus five for City Council with one write-in candidacy that is growing in strength by the day. First the School Board candidates:

Art Bushnell (incumbent)
Scott Albrecht (incumbent)
Kermit Dance (incumbent)
R.J. “Jack” McGee (incumbent)
Ellen Purdy
Ilka Chavez
Charles Sutherland

Manassas schools have been in decline for the past few years with low test scores and graduation rates. The current Board members could be blamed for this problem, however, the departure of Superintendent Dr. Gail Pope and perhaps some of her senior staff may be what is needed to turn the tide.

City Council Candidates

Ian Lovejoy (R) convention nominee
John Way (R) convention nominee
Mark Wolfe (R) convention nominee
Jerry Carmen (I)
Patricia Richie-Folks (D)
Sheryl Bass (write-in campaign)

A quick bio of the candidates:

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The Hooker Issue

MoonHowler

Much has been made in the print media regarding the Secret Service 11 who were called home in disgrace over the weekend.  However, the talking heads weren’t up to the normal blather since it was a weekend.  This morning the Morning Joe crowd all gave it a whirl.  Mika must have felt like she was sitting in the boys’ locker room. 

There seems a wink wink nudge nudge attitude out there amongst the men.  While no one ways it is a good thing, no one really condemns the action.  The attitude on the street is that people are innocent until proven guilty.  Ok.  I wish the rush to judgement were as tempered on all subjects as it is on this one. 

I heard little talk about the embarrassment this behavior caused the United States.  There was no smooth sailing for President Obama to start with because of the Cuba issue.  Several countries refused to attend because Cuba was excluded. Several more have stated they will boycott in the future.  To date, the President has done very little regarding Cuba other than relax some travel rules for Cuban Americans who want to travel to Cuba.  Hooker-gate seemed to take over the entire weekend. 

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Pastor Jeffress is still at it

MoonHowler

Once again Pastor Jeffress put in an appearance to left-handedly support Mitt Romney for president.  He says that Romney has values that are in keeping with Christian values, but Mormons aren’t Christians.  He furthermore said that many evangelical religions also share his belief that they aren’t Christian.   So who  decides?

I thought that the group or the individual got to call that shot.  If a church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, then what is it?  How dare someone else have the effrontery to tell another group that they aren’t Christians?  Isn’t that why we have different denominations in the Christian faith?  Christians have variations on how they practice and what they believe. 

I was raised to believe that only God gets to stand in judgement like that.  I guess some folks have elevated themselves to that level.  Meanwhile, I suppose the war will go on between the various sects.  It just seems pointless to me.  Does anyone ever call these preachers on these outlandish statements?  They should.

It’s a PERFECT day to enjoy the Bluebell Festival!

Elena

Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm

Sunday, April 15 2012, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Sponsored by Prince William Conservation Alliance and Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries with support from Marine Corps Base Quantico

Bring your family and friends to Merrimac Farm on Sunday, April 15, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, to welcome spring and celebrate wildlife.

This year’s Bluebell Festival has a greater focus on wildlife and history… due to the extreme warm temperatures this winter, the Bluebells and other wildflowers are early bloomers this year.

There’s so much more to see at Merrimac Farm! With some of the best Northern Virginia naturalists leading tours and activities, we’re looking forward to a special day at an outstanding natural area. We hope you can join us.

This year there will be numerous guided tours.  I hope to see you all there!

Obama on moms and us on moms

MoonHowler

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Graciousness never hurts anyone.  Mrs. Obama was also gracious.  She  tweeted, “Every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected. –mo

It never hurts to be gracious.  The Bushes were the model of graciousness.  They knew how to act both publically and privately.  So do the Obamas. 

What I find amazing is how Rosen’s comments got so convoluted.  What started out as snarkiness about Mrs. Romney’s street cred on  women and the economy ended up being a national debate on how hard it is to be a mother.  That isn’t where it started out but things took a strange sharp turn in the road and here we are.

Is it any harder to be a mother nowadays than it was last generation, 2 generations ago?  What are the biggest problems of motherhood? 

Kids have always been exposed to things we don’t want them exposed to.  The one major difference I notice between my kids and my grandkids is how much more freely I turned mine loose.  Mine snuck out of here as soon as my back was turned and they came home when it got dark or they got hungry.  As parents we felt safer.  yes.  bad things happened.  However, kids were allowed to play outside.  Once they got old enough to stay out of the street, they were given a free range. 

What do you all see?

 

Speaker Howell: I guess I’m not speaking in little enough words for you to understand.

MoonHowler

From the Women’s Strike Force:

      The Women’s Strike Force condemns Speaker Howell’s demeaning and condescending rhetoric aimed at Anna Scholl, executive director of ProgressVA.  During an exchange captured on video, Scholl questioned Howell’s dissatisfaction with a ProgressVA report. As usual, Speaker Howell’s offensive attitude towards women surfaced.  Howell’s remark to Scholl that “I guess I’m not speaking in little enough words for you to understand” is demonstrative of the legisltature’s outrageously offensive attacks on women’s rights. 

 

            The Women’s Strike Force applauds Scholl’s response to Howell, Scholl responded “I’m a smart girl, actually. I went to the University of Virginia; I benefited from public education; I think words with multiple syllables would be just fine for me.”

Why would speaker Howell address anyone like that?  Anna Scholl was being perfectly polite to him.  He simply must just be a rude pig.  There is no other explanation.  He owes Anna Scholl an apology and he needs to disassociate himself with ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council.

The smug look he carries around on his face says it all.

http://www.progressva.org/

Gingrich accuses Faux News of bias

MoonHowler

New York Times:

The fight for the Republican nomination is no longer just candidate versus candidate. It’s candidate versus Fox News.

Newt Gingrich became the latest Republican candidate to lash out at the cable news network, accusing it on Wednesday of dooming his flagging campaign by slanting its political coverage to Mitt Romney‘s benefit.

Mr. Gingrich quickly found that Fox News’s tenacity is a match for his own. The network shot back on Thursday, calling the former House speaker bitter.

The sniping started when Mr. Gingrich, a former Fox News commentator, told a gathering of Tea Party supporters in Delaware that Fox News had distorted its coverage of him. And he accused Rupert Murdoch, chairman of the network’s parent company, News Corporation, of pulling the strings behind the scenes. His comments were reported on Thursday morning by Real Clear Politics, which gained access to the Delaware event.

“I assume it’s because Murdoch at some point said, ‘I want Romney,’ and so ‘fair and balanced’ became ‘Romney,’ ” Gingrich was quoted as saying. “And there’s no question that Fox had a lot to do with stopping my campaign because such a high percentage of our base watches Fox.”

He went on to add: “In our experience, Callista and I both believe CNN is less biased than Fox this year. We are more likely to get neutral coverage out of CNN than we are of Fox, and we’re more likely to get distortion out of Fox. That’s just a fact.”

I never thought I would agree with Newt Gingrich, but he is right on this one.  I have never known a news station to distort, twist and lie like Faux News.  Fox and Friends is probably the worst.  Kelly’s news isn’t much better.  I don’t mind conservative news.  I mind lies and spin.  I am going to have to start checking out CNN more.  It’s biggest problem is it just is dull.  Faux News has good graphics and better lies.  Maybe that’s the sell off.  You have to go boring to get unbiased news.

Is Mrs. Romney an expert on the economy?

Elena

To say I was livid is an understatement when I first read that Democratic pundit Hilary Rosen had stated, that as a stay at home mom, Ann Romney had not actually worked for a living.

While I furiously read the article in the Washington Post, ready to to go after Hilary Rosen, what I realized was this is an age old source of contention between women that I have personally experienced.

While Hilary Rosen clarified her statement:

On Twitter, Rosen did not apologize, but wrote several tweets trying to explain her comments, saying her point was that Mitt Romney should stop saying on the campaign trail that Ann is his guide to the economic problems facing women because “she doesn’t have any.”

Rosen tweeted at Ann Romney, saying: “I am raising children too. But most young American women HAVE to BOTH earn a living AND raise children. You know that don’t u?” Later, Rosen tweeted again at Romney: “Please know, I admire you. But your husband shouldn’t say you are his expert on women and the economy.”

As a stay at home mom, I have felt this defensiveness by moms who stay at home and moms who work.  Each explaining why their “choice” is best.  But for many families, there is no choice, both parents must work.  However, I know mom’s who choose to work, they don’t want to be at home.

 

Here are some questions that I know exist.  What role model is a stay at home mom to her daughter?  Do we “lease” our children out to be raised by strangers?  I invite others to put up their own questions for debate.

Here is what I do know, women on women offense when it comes to work choices is a distraction from core issues in this country.   I know that I often feel as a stay at home mom, I feel like I am always explaining my “worth”.

George Zimmerman charged with 2nd degree murder

MoonHowler

George Zimmerman, who shot and killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder.  Hopefully, everyone will get their day in court.  In addition to George Zimmerman being tried, the Florida law nick-named “Stand Your Ground” will undergo scrutiny. 

The first team of Zimmerman lawyers is off the case now.  They removed themselves.

Zimmerman turned himself in and is now in custody. 

I hope he can get a fair trial.

Open Thread…………………………………………………..Tuesday, April 11

MoonHowler

 

Iris certainly are blooming early this year.  I had three regular blue iris standing at attention on Easter morning.

The political season seems to be at a fevered pitch around Manassas.  We don’t cover Manassas politics as a rule because we are county folks.  Feel free to make your comments here.  If you see our friend Steve, buy him a beer or a cup of coffee.  He is probably running on overtime and fumes from now until their elections in May.

 

Budget news can go here too if we aren’t paying attention since both the City and County are in full budget mode.  Too many special interest groups have their hands out.  We can only focus on a couple.  Right now, we are watching the War Museum and Rainbow Riding since they want particularly large chunks out of the public coffers.

Captain Flip Flop, this is your life Corey Stewart!

MoonHowler

Jeremy Borden  of the Washington Post traced the wind blown political career of Supervisor Corey Stewart over the past 9 years, on the eve of his announcement to run for Virginia Lt. Governor.  In his article entitled, Stewart’s changing stance on development in Prince William, Borden shows a candidate who goes where he thinks he will get to votes.  Stewart certainly showed his stripes today as he planned to  announce his candidacy from Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center in Woodbridge.  According to Borden, at the Washington Post:

Stonebridge, Stewart says, is emblematic of a new way forward for economic development in Prince William, an issue that was the focus of his reelection campaign last year.

Stewart started out as a politician with a strong desire to stop sprawl and to protect the environment.  He had many folks, both Democrat and Republican on his side for that reason.  This flip flop has caused many of his former supporters to become disenchanted with his political career.

But some former supporters say Stewart has lost his way on development issues.

No longer, critics say, is he seen as someone who would force developers to pay their fair share and help temper the feverish pace of home construction that has overwhelmed roads and schools.

“His campaign account shows he is now beholden to the development community,” said Jeanine Lawson, a former Stewart campaign volunteer. “It’s a disappointment because I thought he was principled on the issue.”

The project’s developers, District-based Roadside Development, contributed $10,000 to Stewart’s campaign account in the past couple of years, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, or VPAP, which tracks money in politics.

In recent years, Stewart has greatly increased his totals from real estate and construction interests, according to VPAP. From that sector, Stewart raised $308,782 in 2010 and 2011, compared with $134,901 from 2003 through 2009.

Back in the old days, Stewart  prided himself on not taking developer money.  That was then and this is now.  The most cursory glance at VPAP tells the story.  Cory Stewart is running on developer money.  He even says:

“Some of that comes with the maturity of being in office and having to govern,” he said of his shift on development issues. “When you become chairman, you get a broader perspective. You understand . . . ‘We cannot provide for increased prosperity and increased job growth without promoting and helping businesses to grow.’ ”

Stewart says that in a free market, developers have a lot of latitude: “The only way is to work with [developers] and cut deals with them.” [emphasis mine]

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Wartime Museum? Is it just another shell game or do they want a million bucks?

Angelina_Apr

Kipp Hanley of the News and Messenger did a great job explaining the recent developments of the proposed Wartime Museum that some day will be over in Dale City.  So far, the County dealings with this endeavor have been shrouded in the haze of politics.  Kipp held up the torch and uncovered a few things.  For starters, and most importantly, the museum wants $200k from us, the taxpayers, for the next 5 years.  Secondly, the CEO hired to oversee all the fund-raising etc. is no longer at the helm  the organization.  However, it does appear that he still sits on the board.  Thirdly, and this becomes a question, why is the director of operations, the same person who is in charge of doling out the arts money in Prince William County?

 

 

Hanley’s article, Wartime Museum gets financial reinforcements, managed to unearth all sorts of information most of us had questions about but couldn’t find the answers to.

Taxpayers were once again bamboozled by the a “land deal.”  Apparently the Hyltons donated the land in exchange for a zoning swap deal.  NO plans have surfaced yet for that parcel of land.  Why was the county even involved?   If the Hyltons want to donate land, have at it.  They shouldn’t get anything in exchange for their generosity from the county.

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Pornographers strike back….at Rick Santorum

MoonHowler

 

 

Rick Santorum really doesn’t pick his battles very well.  He now has gone on record stating that that President Obama has been weak on prosecuting pronography and if he is elected, he will be tough on vanquishing prono.

The empire has struck back with its own video protesting Santorum which can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/porn-stars-against-santorum_n_1412456.html?ref=politics&ir=Politics .   According to Huffingtonpost.com:

Porn stars are calling for a national day of, uh, action against Rick Santorum and his anti-porn stance. Of course, the protest won’t involve taking to the streets so much as staying inside with the blinds pulled.

In a video for Jest.com, several of Vivid Entertainment’s brightest stars got together to publicly decry Santorum’s verbal crusade against porn, following up their argument by asking supporters to take part in #wankout2012, which is exactly what you think it is.

I don’t want to sound prim and stoggy but why does this have to enter into the presidential race?  There is only so much that can be done about legal pornography and no president in his right mind is going to tackle something legal.  Santorum really needs to pick and chose his battles more closely.   Isn’t it past time for Santorum to fold up his tent  and take his stuff on home?  I hear his mother calling him.

Post Script:  While I am sure the ladies are delightful, I have left a link for them.  Please go visit them at Huffington Post, rather than here.  Moonhowlings is a respectable establishment.