See how this grabs you:
January 12th, 2010; The inauguration of our 71st Governor, after four successful years under Governor Tim Kaine. Among the notables at the after-inauguration party:
Governor Leslie Byrne
Lt Governor L.F. Payne
Attorney General Onzlee Ware
Senior Senator James Webb
Junior Senator Don Beyer
or:
Governor Creigh Deeds
Lt Governor Phillip Puckett
Attorney General Bud Phillips
Senior Senator James Webb
Junior Senator Chap Petersen
And of course, making a special appearance, President Mark Warner. :)
Or mix and match amongst the two. Thoughts?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Petition Gathering, Day One
Today after school I headed out, petitions in hand, to get James Webb on the ballot.
Unfortunately, my little part of town is a bastion of Republicans, so I soon realized I would have to venture off my turf. Shortly after I finally got started, so did the rain.
But I was undaunted. I decided to try businesses. Here are a few observations:
1-DON'T GO NEAR FOOD CITY: They don't take kindly to the democratic process.
2-Where are all the over-18 people? I went to Pizza Plus, and, of the eight people working, all were under 18.
3-For Wal-Mart, please refer to observation #1.
4-The folks at Tractor Supply were very friendly, and, surprisingly, eager to be involved in the politcal process. I also informed a couple people who weren't following the campaign about the issues and the candidates.
I'm planning on taking the petitions with me tomorrow to the (newly renovated and very snazzy) library, and I'll venture down to State Street and, hopefully, fill a couple of these petitions up.
Besides the fact that the rain messed me up, does anybody have any other suggestions about quicker ways to do this?
-Neal
Unfortunately, my little part of town is a bastion of Republicans, so I soon realized I would have to venture off my turf. Shortly after I finally got started, so did the rain.
But I was undaunted. I decided to try businesses. Here are a few observations:
1-DON'T GO NEAR FOOD CITY: They don't take kindly to the democratic process.
2-Where are all the over-18 people? I went to Pizza Plus, and, of the eight people working, all were under 18.
3-For Wal-Mart, please refer to observation #1.
4-The folks at Tractor Supply were very friendly, and, surprisingly, eager to be involved in the politcal process. I also informed a couple people who weren't following the campaign about the issues and the candidates.
I'm planning on taking the petitions with me tomorrow to the (newly renovated and very snazzy) library, and I'll venture down to State Street and, hopefully, fill a couple of these petitions up.
Besides the fact that the rain messed me up, does anybody have any other suggestions about quicker ways to do this?
-Neal
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Lebanon Politics
This afternoon, I was at the Russell County Medical Center in Lebanon. I was sitting in a small waiting room, watching televison, when an older man sat down about four seats down.
This man was probably 75 years old, white headed, in dirty overalls and a baseball cap. He was chewing tobacco, and had a Bible laying in the seat next to him. We'll call him Clint, for that was his name.
We had both been sitting there a few minutes, when something on television made mention of the War in Iraq. All of a sudden, Clint said "What do you figure the real reason we're in there is?" I was initially surprised he made a comment, since he didn't look much like the talking type. I said, "Personally, I don't think we should have even been there to begin with." He heartily agreed, and then we got to talking politics.
It turns out he was a lifelong Democrat "since Mr. Adlai Stevenson in 1952," and was disgusted with the current state of affairs in America today. He has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee as far back as he could remember (except 1984, when he voted for Ronald Reagan), and for Rick Boucher every time he has been on the ballot. I asked him about the 2006 Senate race.
"Well, I'll reckon I'll be voting for Mr. Allen. He's a good ole' boy." I didn't hardly know what to think. I pointed out to Clint that George Allen was born in California. He didn't know that. I also said that Allen had been in Iowa often lately, and even said he wished he had been from Iowa. He didn't like that at all. "Well, is anybody gonna run against him?" I gladly informed him that James Webb, the former Secretary of the Navy for Ronald Reagan, a Marine veteran from Vietnam, with roots in Scott County, was one of the Democrats running against Allen.
I told Clint that Secretary Webb was against the Iraq War, is for a strong military, and is a progressive on the important issues. "Well, It sounds to me like I'm gonna vote for Mr. Webb in November," he announced. I told him to vote in the primary, too, as it was the first big step. About this time, his wife came out, and he proudly announced "Sally, this boy's convinced me that Ole' Allen don't deserve to be a Senator no more. We're gonna vote for James Webb."
After the short meeting I had with his wife (in which I was prodded by Clint to again point out what Webb stood for), they were on their way, and I flipped the channel to Comedy Central.
Folks like Clint (and, presumabley Sally) will put Jim Webb into the U.S. Senate. The people who aren't aware of a second choice. The people who think of Allen as one of them. The people who don't like the way we're going, and would like to change it.
This Senate race won't be won in Richmond and Fairfax. This race will be won in Lebanon and Christiansburg, in Coeburn and South Boston, in Norton and Glasgow, and a hundred other localities in between.
This race is about the people.
-Neal
This man was probably 75 years old, white headed, in dirty overalls and a baseball cap. He was chewing tobacco, and had a Bible laying in the seat next to him. We'll call him Clint, for that was his name.
We had both been sitting there a few minutes, when something on television made mention of the War in Iraq. All of a sudden, Clint said "What do you figure the real reason we're in there is?" I was initially surprised he made a comment, since he didn't look much like the talking type. I said, "Personally, I don't think we should have even been there to begin with." He heartily agreed, and then we got to talking politics.
It turns out he was a lifelong Democrat "since Mr. Adlai Stevenson in 1952," and was disgusted with the current state of affairs in America today. He has voted for the Democratic presidential nominee as far back as he could remember (except 1984, when he voted for Ronald Reagan), and for Rick Boucher every time he has been on the ballot. I asked him about the 2006 Senate race.
"Well, I'll reckon I'll be voting for Mr. Allen. He's a good ole' boy." I didn't hardly know what to think. I pointed out to Clint that George Allen was born in California. He didn't know that. I also said that Allen had been in Iowa often lately, and even said he wished he had been from Iowa. He didn't like that at all. "Well, is anybody gonna run against him?" I gladly informed him that James Webb, the former Secretary of the Navy for Ronald Reagan, a Marine veteran from Vietnam, with roots in Scott County, was one of the Democrats running against Allen.
I told Clint that Secretary Webb was against the Iraq War, is for a strong military, and is a progressive on the important issues. "Well, It sounds to me like I'm gonna vote for Mr. Webb in November," he announced. I told him to vote in the primary, too, as it was the first big step. About this time, his wife came out, and he proudly announced "Sally, this boy's convinced me that Ole' Allen don't deserve to be a Senator no more. We're gonna vote for James Webb."
After the short meeting I had with his wife (in which I was prodded by Clint to again point out what Webb stood for), they were on their way, and I flipped the channel to Comedy Central.
Folks like Clint (and, presumabley Sally) will put Jim Webb into the U.S. Senate. The people who aren't aware of a second choice. The people who think of Allen as one of them. The people who don't like the way we're going, and would like to change it.
This Senate race won't be won in Richmond and Fairfax. This race will be won in Lebanon and Christiansburg, in Coeburn and South Boston, in Norton and Glasgow, and a hundred other localities in between.
This race is about the people.
-Neal
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Saaaa-lute!
(Buck Owens, right, with Merle Haggard in 2004)Anybody who is from the South, or anybody over 15 years old, knows what Hee Haw is. They know the "Pickin' and A-Grinnin'," the corny jokes, and what Grandpa Jones announced for supper. They also know the hosts, Roy Clark and Buck Owens.
Today, Buck Owens died. He was 76. The news release said the cause of death was not yet known.
I loved Hee Haw. And, if you'll check my Blogger profile, you'll see Buck Owens is one of my favorite singers. "Act Naturally," "Tiger By The Tail," Under Your Spell Again," all classic songs with the unforgettable Bakerfield Sound that he created. His last big hit was "Streets of Bakersfield," recorded in 1988 with Dwight Yoakam.
He had had a stroke a couple years ago, and I understand it left him in a different shape. He had returned to weekly performances at his Crystal Palace Theatre in Bakersfield, and, a couple years ago, was planning a new album, "Buck Owens and his One Man Band," in which he would play all the instruments on all the recordings.
Rather than saying some little "he'll be missed" statement, I'll just leave it to Buck to close it out:
"I'd like to be remembered as a guy that came along and did his music, did his best and showed up on time, clean and ready to do the job, wrote a few songs and had a hell of a time." -- Buck Owens, 1992.
-Neal
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Preach On, Brother.
Occasionaly, I run up on a song that I like with lyrics that send a real message. Today, I stumbled upon a song that fits the bill.
CMT does "listening parties" - free access to an entire album by an artist who may not always receive a lot of press. One of their current listening parties is for "This Old Road," the new album by Kris Kristofferson. One of the songs, "In The News," is, in my opinion, one of the best anti-war songs I've heard in a long time. It's very powerful. Here are the lyrics:
Read about the sorry way he done somebody's daughter
Chained her to a heavy thing and threw her in the water
And she sank into the darkness with their baby son inside her
A little piece of truth and beauty died.
Burning up the atmosphere and cutting down the trees
The billion dollar bombing of a nation on it's knees
Anyone not marching to their tune they call it treason
Everyone says God is on his side.
See the lightning, hear the cries
Of the wounded in a world in Holy war
Mortal thunder from the skies
Killing everything they say they're fighting for.
Broken babies, broken homes
Broken-hearted people dying everyday
How'd this happen, what went wrong
Don't blame God, I swear to God I heard him say...
"Not in my name, not on my ground
I want nothing but the ending of the war
No more killing, or it's over
And the mystery won't matter anymore."
Broken dreamers, broken rules
Broken-hearted people just like me and you
We are children of the stars
Don't blame God, I swear to God he's crying too.
Go to Kristofferson's artist page at CMT and listen to his CD, and especially this song. You'll like it.
-Neal
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