Though I’m a conservative Independent who agrees most often with the Republican platform, I know many Shenandoah County Democrats as sincere, decent human beings; and cannot be silent about this misuse of our political system.

Recent revelations about Jerome Armstrong and the network Kos, though confined to the Left at this time, are a sad reflection on both politics and greed. I urge County residents of any political persuasion to be fully informed before participating in a network and possibly getting swindled by this cynically deceptive practice. There is now a new word:

K·O·S·U·L·T

KOSULT 1. to obtain money through emotional exploitation under the guise of politics; the ruse manipulates the characteristic of over-emotional response to online media.
KOSULT 2. The cynical exploitation of politics for financial gain.

ETYMOLOGY: From Kos & consult. ALSO: kos·ult, kos·ults, kos·ult·ed, kos·ult·ing, kos·ults, kos·ult·ant, etc.

DESCRIPTION: A political candidate or campaign (the Cause) contracts or retains a kosultant –often as a consultant— ensuring that articles sympathetic to the Cause are presented to readers on a network managed or influenced by the kosultant. (more…)

There’s a new program available to help localities in the fight against illegal immigration, and Shenandoah County Sheriff Tim Carter wants his department to be a part of it.

Tested with Florida and Alabama police, Section 287(G) Immigration Enforcement is being implemented to allow local law enforcement to “…. perform a function of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States ….”

Previously there were practical problems putting this law into action. It allows joint cooperation of Federal and local efforts, but implementation is at the discretion of the Attorney-General. The law also requires that state or local officers go through Federal training on immigration issues and laws.

The law’s been on the books a long time, but wasn’t funded. Of course no funding means there was no program. That’s changed with recently passed HR 2360 which allocates “…. not less than $5,000,000 may be used to facilitate agreements consistent with section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ….”

Shenandoah County doesn’t have the budget —and Sheriff Carter doesn’t have the manpower— for a full-time illegal alien squad. It’s simply not possible, isn’t desired, and was never the goal; rather it’s intended for use in combination with other enforcement.

Based on Senate figures, there are an estimated 200,000 illegal immigrants in Virginia and only 4 or 5 Federal personnel inside the state to enforce immigration laws. They’re swamped. For local problems, local resources should be targeted to have the best effect, and this plan serves this purpose.

Hoping he can get this underway soon; Carter is optimistic other localities will participate too. Regional interest would minimize training costs and send a clear message that this area is serious about fighting illegal drugs and gang activities along the Interstate-81 corridor.

Under the provisions of Section 287, local officers are essentially deputized for immigration enforcement purposes. It’s not the answer, but it’s one of the answers to a long-ignored problem. Shenandoah County residents should support Sheriff Carter in this effort.

Chris Graham at the Augusta Free Press interviewed me last week, along with a score of others, on the frustration with (non)enforcement of national immigation laws. As always, Graham gets a variety of viewpoints and writes good articles. Worth reading.

The AFP also keeps a section of immigration-related archived articles, letters, and inteviews. Included are the positions of Congressman Goodlatte and Senator Allen.

The pieces I’ve previously written here are The Real Poll on Immigration, and another commenting on political correctness at UVA; More Immigration Foolishness.

Open to all Virginia voters this Tuesday is the Democrat primary (nomination) election, choosing the Democrat opponent to Senator George Allen. Harris Miller and Jim Webb are vying for this spot.

Despite what each say about the other, both have some good qualities. At this point both campaigns have ‘gone negative’ and you’d have to dig deep to find out what they are.

Ironically, it’s a Democrat who perfectly fits the 1960’s caricature about ‘rich, fat-cat, country club Republicans‘ who callously dismiss workers for an extra nickel profit. Harris Miller spent his career importing foreigners to take Americans’ jobs or simply exporting the jobs themselves.

Make no mistake; there’s times and places for outsourcing or using HB1 foreign workers. Unfortunately Miller specialized to the point it was his only goal, and that’s not what Virginians want, or will vote for, in a Senator.

The traditional Democratic bases in Virginia are the areas currently with high unemployment. Much to the areas’ delight, VEDP’s new director, Jeffrey Anderson, just placed a call center in southwest Virginia. Miller became prosperous from sending those jobs overseas.

A former lobbyist, Miller knows all the major players and understands the inside game. His fidelity to the Party, phony victimization and play on the race-card is the perfect pitch to the political Left.


Decorated Marine officer, Vietnam veteran, former Secretary of the Navy under Reagan, author, filmmaker, and professor. Jim Webb also fits the Republican mold, but that’s because he is –at least has been Republican— worked for, worked under, and supported Republicans until the current Iraqi War when he switched parties.

Even today, Webb’s sole variance with the GOP seems to be his disagreement with the administration’s mid-East policy. It’s not a minor quibble, but there’s a world of other subjects for Senators, and some Republicans are just as disenchanted … and remain Republican.

Webb sees himself –correctly— as an independent who got the Democrat Party endorsement. That, and his obviously not-so-polished character may appeal to voters in a general election, but in the nomination process it doesn’t sit well with Party faithful, especially the Left.

The primary is a poll on how the Party members want things to go, followed by another poll in November to determine if the Party chose wisely. This primary will determine which direction the Democratic Party is going to head: farther left with Miller or toward the center with Webb.

Route 11 traverses the length of the Shenandoah Valley, from north of Winchester, south through Roanoke. The Shenandoah has many occasions for remembrance. Peter Muhlenberg’s volunteers marched off to the Revolution on the road; and at wars’ end limped home on it. The Civil War raged up and down the Valley, and the road carried troops of both sides to battle.

Though parts of the highway memorialize these, the entire length of the Valley Pike –the former Great Wagon Road– memorializes another war. By act of the General Assembly, Route 11 between Winchester and Roanoke Cities –and Route 460 from Roanoke to Bedford— is the 116th Infantry Regiment Memorial Highway.

Because today was D-Day. On this day in 1944, the 116th Infantry Combat Team, descendant of the old Stonewall Brigade, spearheaded the assault onto Omaha Beach. Ordinary citizens, thrust into the fight, did not shirk, turn or run. Taking casualties by the score, clawed their way out of the killing zone and moved forward, Ever Forward.

This road, our Valley Pike, carried fathers, sons, neighbors and friends to war.
This day in 1944, Shenandoah Valley citizens proved themselves heroes.
Today –as you read this— fathers, sons, neighbors and friends still serve.

The national D-Day Memorial is not in Washington DC, but in Bedford, Virginia. Remind yourself of why . . . six years ago Bill Geroux of the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote The Suicide Wave and Sacrifice.

From reactions to a previous article –The Vehrs Affair—it’s obvious that a lot of people just “don’t get it”. Whether in Shenandoah County or statewide, the stakes of ignoring the new economy are enormous … and we are losing.

At risk is billions of dollars: Millions for the non-productive time commuters spend behind the wheel; equivalent to a 10% loss of productivity. Billions in roads for “Hey, I’ve got to be at work on time” commuters; where on time is the exact same time for almost everyone.

Billions in lost tax revenue, lost wages, and lost peripheral commerce from manufacturers moved offshore for cheaper costs; blindly bypassing concepts to increase productivity. Billions more in lost opportunity from industry that’s still here, held back or stagnant for the same reasons. And of course hundreds of millions potentially saved from state employees telecommuting.

Other places –India is a well-known example— are engaged in building massive telework enterprises. Many people are familiar with foreign call centers; their help desk or order processing telephone lines with heavily accented voices are the object of many jokes.

What most folks are probably unaware of are overseas programmers constructing much of the world’s software, including the best and most expensive. Offshore architectural drawing, recording transcription, and design engineering provide white-collar salary levels. All this is from another continent and never making a trip to the company office.

(more…)