Chris Graham: Is McDonnell’s point moot?
Republican voters continue to toy with the idea of nominating a social conservative to run for president this fall.
The GOP establishment, meanwhile, is trying to position itself to be able to take advantage of the only thing that may be working in their favor.
“I am extremely concerned by recent reports that oil and gasoline prices continue to rise and gas could reach an average of $4.25 a gallon by April,” Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a political statement released today. Continue reading “Chris Graham: Is McDonnell’s point moot?” »
Children’s Choir invited to sing at the White House
The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir has been invited to sing at the White House Christmas Tours on Dec. 21, according to Yvette Peake, choir manager.
The acclaimed children’s choir, now in its twentieth year, had applied for the honor in April 2011. “We were thrilled to get this invitation in mid-November and had almost given up on this working out,” said Julia White, Artistic Director and Founder. “We are ready to go, with repertoire, uniforms and red capes for this extraordinary invitation.”
The SVCC will sing in the East Room of the White House while visitors are passing through for Christmas Tours. Although some tours are open to the public, the SVCC’s time slot of 4 – 6:30 p.m., Dec. 21 is closed for security reasons.
“The last time we were selected we sang for Senate and Congress families but we don’t know who will be coming through while we sing this time,” said Ms. White. Continue reading “Children’s Choir invited to sing at the White House” »
I Love The ’90s, Part Two
Are we about to reprise the pendulum swings of the Gingrich-Clinton era?
Report by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Might we see a repeat of 1994 in 2010? The short answer: yes. Next question: Might we then see a repeat of 1996 in 2012? Well, maybe.
“For all the trouble Barack Obama’s had lately voters still prefer him to any of the top Republican contenders for 2012,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, which polled 743 registered voters in February and found the Democrat Obama leading all of the top potential 2012 Republican Party hopefuls at this very, very early stage more than two and a half years out from the November 2012 presidential election.
An Obama win might have to come after a November 2010 switch in majority-party status in at least the House of Representatives, which would mirror the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 that was followed by the re-election of Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1996.
An analysis from the University of Virginia Center for Politics released last week suggests that Republicans could be poised to gain 37 seats in the ’10 midterms, which would put the GOP within hailing distance of taking majority control of the legislative chamber. A switch of 40 seats from the D column to the R column would give the Republicans the majority in the House. Continue reading “I Love The ’90s, Part Two” »
State of the Union: A Virginia perspective
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Everything you wanted to know about the State of the Union, but were afraid to ask.
We have the full texts and videos of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Republican response. We also have reactions from Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, congressmen Tom Perriello and Bob Goodlatte and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.
Enjoy.
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address
Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle. Continue reading “State of the Union: A Virginia perspective” »
Whaddya Think? Health-care reform
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Health-care reform is on life support, and the hand is reaching for the plug.
Share your thoughts – good, bad or indifferent.
Whaddya Think? Comment below.
Forum moderated by AFP editor Chris Graham.
Wolf to Obama: ‘Please stop these releases’
Congressman also calls for public release of info on detainees
Staff Report
Rep. Wolf online: www.wolf.house.gov
10th District Congressman Frank Wolf is again calling on the Obama administration to halt the release of Guantanamo Bay detainees to countries like Yemen in the wake of an attempt by a man with ties to extremist groups in Yemen to detonate an explosive device in a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day.
“I implore you again to immediately halt these releases and answer the questions of the American people about your policies and who you are releasing. They deserve to know,” Wolf wrote in a letter dated today to President Obama.
“It is inconceivable that you would release terrorist detainees to Yemen and Afghanistan at the same time you are launching missiles at terrorist targets. Please stop these releases.” Continue reading “Wolf to Obama: ‘Please stop these releases’” »
President Obama remarks on the economy
Speech by President Barack Obama
www.whitehouse.gov
I’ve just finished a candid and productive meeting with the CEOs of 12 of our nation’s largest financial institutions. I asked them to come to Washington today – at the end of this difficult year for their industry, but also for the economy – to discuss where we’ve been, what we expect of them going forward, and how we can work together to accelerate economic recovery.
Our nation’s banks play, and have always played, a crucial role in our national economy – from providing loans for homes and cars and colleges; to supplying the capital that allows entrepreneurs to turn ideas into products and businesses to grow; to helping people save for a rainy day and a secure retirement. So it’s clear that each of us has a stake in ensuring the strength and the vitality of the financial system. Continue reading “President Obama remarks on the economy” »
Obama: Statement on jobs
Staff Report
White House news: www.whitehouse.gov
I have just concluded an informative and constructive discussion with Republican and Democratic leaders about job creation and our economic future. We spoke about the challenges facing our families, our businesses, and our country as a whole, and what we can do to overcome them. Today’s meeting built on some of the ideas that I offered in the economic speech that I gave yesterday and on some of the ideas discussed at the Job Forum that we held at the White House last week. Continue reading “Obama: Statement on jobs” »
The Rant | Party crash this
Video Essay by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
What about those White House party crashers? We haven’t had something this salacious to talk about since, well, the balloon boy.
With unemployment at 10 percent, with the health-care system in bad need of reform, with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq seemingly at no end, does it really matter that two socialites talked their way into the White House?
Chris Graham muses in today’s Rant.
AFP Video. Length: 1:49.
Continue reading “The Rant | Party crash this” »
Dinner with the First Family
Story by Chris Graham
newdominion@ntelos.net
Mike Lund found himself a few feet away from the First Couple at the November state dinner held at the White House in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur.
President Barack Obama broke away from small talk with First Lady Michelle Obama to talk with the people in charge of preparing the dinner, and Lund, the executive chef at Zynodoa in Downtown Staunton, had to take the lead after a fellow chef had trouble finding words. Continue reading “Dinner with the First Family” »
Thanksgiving wish from the president
President Barack Obama
Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.
American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.
Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve. Continue reading “Thanksgiving wish from the president” »
Worse than last year, but …
Posted by afp on December 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Column by David Reynolds
Columns, letters: freepress2@ntelos.net
Budgeting is not baseball. No one waits until next year. No one wants to see how bad the numbers will become if you add 12 months. Continue reading “Worse than last year, but …” »
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with barack obama, budget, budget season, deficit, democratic party, government, national debt, obama, president barack obama, president obama, republican party, white house