We shouldn’t be too dismissive, though… Lots of national rocket programs start with spectacular failures. Then they stop failing so much.

Costs aside, step back and look at what’s happening: the President claims to have the right to decide what your faith practices can and cannot be. If you do not comply, you will be penalized. Please, someone remind Obama of this:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

Well worth watching: video from Card. Wuerl from the Morning Joe show this a.m., linked here. The hosts are asking him questions, and he asks them back, “”How about if we compromise away _parts_ of our freedom?” Exactly!

Also see Cardinal Wuerl, evangelical Chuck Colson, and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik in the Wall Street Journal from this morning.

They remind us that “under no circumstances should people of faith violate their consciences and discard their most cherished religious beliefs in order to comply with a gravely unjust law.”

In Virginia, Tim Kaine apparently thinks this changes something, and is now happy with it.

The Anchoress has a great post and is updating often:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2012/02/10/obama-to-announce-accomodation/ Her prediction:

Predictably, the media narrative is Obama reconciled this and the story is over. If the bishops object, they’ll blame them.

U.S. bishops http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-025.cfm

But the Conference continues to express concerns. “While there may be an openness to respond to some of our concerns, we reserve judgment on the details until we have them,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of USCCB.

“The past three weeks have witnessed a remarkable unity of Americans from all religions or none at all worried about the erosion of religious freedom and governmental intrusion into issues of faith and morals,” he said.

“Today’s decision to revise how individuals obtain services that are morally objectionable to religious entities and people of faith is a first step in the right direction,” Cardinal-designate Dolan said. “We hope to work with the Administration to guarantee that Americans’ consciences and our religious freedom are not harmed by these regulations.”

Good reading at HotAir.

The government is forcing religious organizations to both pay for and facilitate activities that violate their religious doctrine. If anyone thinks that passes muster with the First Amendment, that’s even more magical thinking than this funding shell game.

The visitor galleries were too crowded to allow House or Senate visits. However, outside the capitol there was plenty going on. There were many children wearing yellow scarves marked “school choice” (see this post ) – just a few of the children can be seen here.

These two gentlemen were being interviewed by someone else. The man on the right, Chuck Lessin, (with his son, at left here) was holding forth on the recent HHS ruling, calmly but strongly objecting to it. Persons of many faiths are objecting to the ruling!

When you work in the General Assembly Building, the glamor just never stops!

More briefings followed in the afternoon, including speakers Bob Holsworth, Boyd Marcus, Sen. Mark Obenshain, Del. Rob Bell, and two people working for George Allen’s campaign.

Finally the bloggers went to the Governor’s mansion for a reception hosted by the McDonnells and the Bollings. Gov. McDonnell marveled at how blogging, etc. has changed campaigning, as bloggers can post things in real time. Here the Gov. and Lt. Gov. share a laugh at the reception.

Bearing Drift attendees got together before the reception for a rare group photo.

Thanks again to Bill Bolling’s staff members, and to the Gov. and Mrs. McDonnell, and the Lt. Gov. and Mrs. Bolling, for hosting the Bloggers’ Day events and reception.

“Religious leaders had feared the worst from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and her Department of Health and Human Services, which since September has been considering whether to exempt Catholic and other religious employers from a regulation mandating insurance coverage for sterilization and contraceptives, including some that cause abortion.”

From this Washington Post column.

Don’t ignore this if you are not Catholic. Protestant and Jewish leaders have also expressed their alarm over the mandate.

The administration is exceptionally cynical about this. Reportedly, President Obama called Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan to tell him the news personally. Dolan calls the ruling “literally unconscionable.”

Of course this is going to the courts. Belmont Abbey College is suing: an interview about this here.

Meawhile, whether the national news outlets pay much attention or not (and why would they, when there must be more Newt-Mitt spats to report on), today is the National March for Life in which many, many thousands will march in support of life. Excellent roundup from the Anchoress and a wonderful reflection here on the culture of life:

It’s teaching our children that we are people of life. It’s raising them to love those who are weak, to protect those who are vulnerable, to respect those who are different.

More links on the HHS ruling:
http://aclj.org/pro-life/new-assault-faith-based-organizations

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/01/obama-administrations-war-on-religious-liberty-we-have-one-year-to-comply/

Following the opening of the 2012 General Assembly Session this afternoon, Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) exercised his authority as presiding officer of the 100-member body to name delegates to the 14 standing committees of the House. Since 2000, House Republican Leadership has apportioned committee membership in proportion to the body as a whole, which has 68 Republicans and Independents and 32 Democrats. Ensuring fairness and proportionality, most standing committees now include 22 members, with 15 Republicans and 7 Democrats serving on each. The membership of the Courts of Justice Committee was reduced from 22 members last session to 18 members, while the Rules Committee has 15 members.

Here are the committees:

PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS
Cole (Chairman), Putney, Ingram, Jones, Albo, Cosgrove, O’Bannon, Bell (of Albemarle), Miller (Vice Chairman), Landes, Hugo, Cox (of Hanover), Ramadan, Ransone, O’Quinn, Scott (of Fairfax), Alexander, Joannou, Sickles, Howell (of Norfolk), Dance, Spruill.

COURTS OF JUSTICE
Albo (Chairman), Kilgore, Bell (of Albemarle) (Vice Chairman), Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Miller, Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Farrell, Minchew, Morris, Johnson, Watts, Toscano, Herring, McClellan.

[click story to see remaining House committees]

EDUCATION
Tata (Chairman), Landes (Vice Chairman), Lingamfelter, Rust, Cole, Pogge, Massie, Greason, Bell (of Staunton), Stolle, LeMunyon, Robinson, Yost, Yancey, Dudenhefer, Alexander, Ware (of Roanoke City), McClellan, Tyler, Bulova, Morrissey, Keam.

GENERAL LAWS
Jones (Chairman), Albo, Wright, Iaquinto (Vice Chairman), Gilbert, Peace, Anderson, Greason, Knight, LeMunyon, Cox (of Hanover), Helsel, Farrell, Watson, Rush, Ward, Dance, Bulova, James, Carr, Torian, McQuinn.

TRANSPORTATION
May (Chairman), Cosgrove (Vice Chairman), Rust, Hugo, Scott (of Madison), Tata, Villanueva, Comstock, Garrett, Cox (of Hanover), Habeeb, Anderson, Minchew, Yancey, Dudenhefer, Ward, BaCote, Brink, Toscano, McQuinn, Carr, Filler-Corn.

FINANCE
Purkey (Chairman), Orrock, Ware (of Powhatan), Byron, Cole, Hugo (Vice Chairman), Cline, Marshall (of Prince William), Anderson, Garrett, Villanueva, Pogge, Bell (of Staunton), O’Quinn, Head, Johnson, Watts, Lewis, Englin, Keam, James, Carr.

APPROPRIATIONS
Putney (Chairman), Tata, Ingram, May, Sherwood, Cox (of Colonial Heights) (Vice Chairman), Landes, Jones, O’Bannon, Lingamfelter, Poindexter, Massie, Scott (of Madison), Peace, Greason, Scott (of Fairfax), Joannou, Brink, Ware (of Roanoke City), Howell (of Norfolk), BaCote, Dance.

COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS
Ingram (Chairman), Marshall (of Prince William), Marshall (of Danville) (Vice Chairman), Iaquinto, Crockett-Stark, Poindexter, Merricks, Knight, Morefield, Edmunds, Stolle, LeMunyon, Wilt, Morris, Hodges, Spruill, Ware (of Roanoke City), McQuinn, Howell (of Norfolk), Surovell, Kory, Torian.

COMMERCE AND LABOR
Kilgore (Chairman), Purkey, Byron, Ware (of Powhatan) (Vice Chairman), Hugo, Rust, Marshall (of Danville), Cline, Miller, Merricks, Loupassi, Cosgrove, Bell (of Albemarle), Comstock, Habeeb, Johnson, Joannou, Alexander, McClellan, Ward, Lewis, Tyler.

HEALTH, WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS
Orrock (Chairman), O’Bannon (Vice Chairman), Bell (of Albemarle), Peace, Crockett-Stark, Pogge, Merricks, Bell (of Staunton), Garrett, Stolle, Robinson, Helsel, Yost, Ransone, Hodges, Spruill, Sickles, Howell (of Norfolk), BaCote, Englin, Morrissey, Hope.

AGRICULTURE, CHESAPEAKE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Sherwood (Chairman), Ware (of Powhatan), Wright, Orrock, Scott (of Madison) (Vice Chairman), Marshall (of Danville), Poindexter, Pogge, Knight, Edmunds, Wilt, Morefield, Webert, Ransone, Fariss, Plum, Lewis, Bulova, Sickles, Englin, James, Torian.

MILITIA, POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Lingamfelter (Chairman), Sherwood, Wright (Vice Chairman), Cline, Gilbert, Merricks, Morefield, Edmunds, Wilt, Webert, Morris, Fariss, O’Quinn, Head, Rush, Lewis, Tyler, Filler-Corn, Hope, Surovell, Kory, Lopez.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Byron (Chairman), May, Purkey, Marshall (of Prince William), Rust (Vice Chairman), Cosgrove, Scott (of Madison), Crockett-Stark, Comstock, Anderson, Robinson, Helsel, Ramadan, Watson, Dudenhefer, Watts, Toscano, Plum, Herring, Surovell, Kory, Lopez.

RULES
Howell (of Stafford) (Chairman), Putney, Landes, Cox (of Colonial Heights), Kilgore, Ware (of Powhatan), Sherwood, Jones, Orrock, Gilbert (Vice Chairman), Knight, Joannou, Johnson, Plum, Alexander.

You’re welcome, Virginia blogosphere! Have a happy day!

Press release from Gov. McDonnell’s office follows, and includes information on how people can apply for aid. [Note: photo here is not from Louisa].

Governor Announces FEMA Approves Disaster Aid for Louisa County
Governor Appealed FEMA Rejection of Individual Assistance Request
 
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced this evening that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has approved federal disaster assistance for individuals and business owners in Louisa County who experienced damage as a result of a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Virginia on Aug. 23 and caused more than 40 aftershocks.  The governor appealed FEMA’s initial decision to deny federal disaster aid to Louisa County.
 
“I thank FEMA and President Obama for their decision to grant federal disaster assistance for the people of Louisa County.  I also want to thank Senator Mark Warner, Senator Jim Webb, Congressman Eric Cantor and Virginia’s entire congressional delegation for their strong support of our appeal.  Many of our fellow Virginians who call Louisa home are hurting, and this is critically needed aid during a very trying time. The once-in-one hundred year earthquake that struck Virginia in August caused significant damage that was not covered by homeowner’s insurance. Many homes and businesses have been extensively damaged,” Governor McDonnell said.  “This assistance is a key resource for families and business owners who have been trying to recover for more than two months.”
 
Since the original request was made Sept. 20, officials have found more extensive damage than what was originally reported in more than 1,400 homes.  Some damage that was first categorized as minor has become worse as a result of more than 40 aftershocks.  The appeal included a letter from Virginia’s entire congressional delegation supporting the request.
 
Governor McDonnell requested Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The Individual Assistance program provides disaster housing assistance, low interest loans and grants.  The Hazard Mitigation program provides funds for projects sponsored by state and local governments that help reduce disaster risks by protecting homes and businesses against future damage.
 
Individuals and families in need of earthquake recovery aid can register immediately by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) Monday –Friday from 6 a.m. –  midnight Central time, 7 a.m. – 1 a.m. Eastern time, and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Eastern time.  People also can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.  Those with smart phones or other mobile devices also can register at m.fema.gov.
 
Business owners can apply to FEMA for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Those applying should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, Social Security number, address and phone number), insurance coverage and information to help substantiate losses.
 
The governor also requested federal Public Assistance for Louisa County Oct. 21.  Public Assistance will help with costs to repair county schools, some of which were substantially damaged.  Public Assistance also helps state and local governments recover costs associated with earthquake response, such as damage to critical infrastructure, debris removal and related emergency services.  The request is pending.
 
 

Earlier this month, Bearing Drift notes that the AG’s office filed the appeal.

The Times-Dispatch notes that the AG said he may run for Governor, at some point, maybe.

From the AG’s letter:

It seems that the federal government has not only stopped trying to slow these cases down, but it has now taken steps to hurry the cases along.

So, what are they doing and what does it mean?

A quick explanation of the appellate process would help.

Whichever side lost in the appellate court first files its appeal to the Supreme Court. This document is called a request for a writ of certiorari to the court of appeals.

Then the side that won in the appellate court files its response. This document is usually a brief opposing Supreme Court review. Obviously, the winners want to simply leave things as they were when the appellate court finished with the case. The exception to this can occur when different appellate courts in different parts of the country decide the same question different ways, as has happened in the healthcare cases.

Finally, the losing party has the option to file a reply brief – the third brief in the series between the parties. Interestingly however, the Supreme Court does not necessarily wait for this brief to come in to commence its consideration of whether or not to grant the appeal.

Note that when I say “grant the appeal,” I only mean that the Supreme Court agrees to hear and consider the case. It does not mean a final decision by the Supreme Court.

As you might imagine, there are time limits for filing each of these briefs. Normally, litigants use the entire time they have to file. Litigators are infamous for running right down to the wire.

This is where the feds’ ‘hurrying up’ comes in. To our surprise, they have filed most of their most recent round of briefs ahead of schedule.

What this means as a practical matter is that the Supreme Court is going to have all of the information in front of it to decide whether to take the healthcare appeals by early to mid-November. So, it is at least possible now that we could hear from the Supreme Court some time on or after November 14th regarding how they will handle the appeals.

If we assume that the Supreme Court will take the healthcare appeals – which seems eminently reasonable – then it only remains to be seen which cases they take and which legal questions they agree to hear.

The five issues that arise out of the states’ cases include:

Two standing issues:

-Do states have standing to sue?
-Do individuals have standing to sue?

Two issues related to the merits of the case:

-Does the federal government have the power under the commerce clause to order individuals to purchase government-approved health insurance against the will of such individuals? This is the heart of the case, and this question will certainly be granted.

-Does the federal government’s power to tax include either the health insurance mandate itself or the financial penalty assessed against an individual that fails to buy the government-approved health insurance such that the taxing power provides the constitutional basis for the health insurance mandate?

One other question, if we win on the previous questions:

-What is the appropriate remedy? We have asked the court to invalidate the entire law. The federal government has said that if the individual mandate is unconstitutional, the changes to the private health insurance market cannot work. The feds’ proposed remedy would still leave the budget-busting Medicaid and Medicare increases in place along with the 400+ other programs instituted under the federal health case law.

The one pleading the feds have yet to respond to is ours! That response is due this week. I’ll let you know if there are any surprises.

Mr. and Mrs. George Allen and Eric Cantor pose for pictures at the Roundup.

Peter Farrell, candidate for delegate in Virginia’s 56th district, waves to the crowd at the Roundup. He is running unopposed. Bill Janis, former 56th district delegate and now Independent candidate for Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney, was present and Eric Cantor several times urged attendees to support him.

Ryan Nobles has been covering this race / soap-opera and has some of the details here: http://www.nbc12.com/link/347753/decisionvirginia .

What jumps out, was this little bit of reporting:

And as he looks forward to another 3 months of scrutiny, Geary would not guarantee that there is nothing else from his past that could haunt his campaign again, but did say he wasn’t worried about any future revelation.

“The issue is, am I the person that is most qualified to be Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney? and if you look at my record… I think I am the person to be the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney.”

So, is Greary now saying there are possibly more women or other issue(s)? But from him and his supporters: “But he’s so qualified, he’s the guy to run!”

Sorry to be so blunt here, but behavior this bad from someone in public office, or running for office, opens the door for possible extortion attempts. Candidates are never perfect people. But some failings are just personal, and others open the door for greater harm.

As for the Henrico GOP Committee, apparently their Plan A was, “We pressure Geary, and he drops out.” What was their Plan B in case Geary decided to pull a Clinton: “I’m a rascal, but I’m just that good that you should ignore my transgressions?” Which he has apparently done. The state party plan means the Committee cannot endorse a non-GOP candidate, however, looks like there will be one.

– We have lowered our long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’ and affirmed the ‘A-1+’ short-term rating.

– We have also removed both the short- and long-term ratings from CreditWatch negative.

– The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government’s medium-term debt dynamics.

See more from the Wall Street Journal.

Cynical take on what the White House may say:
1. It’s okay, it’s not a big deal, Moody’s hasn’t done anything [most Americans won't notice this, it's too technical for them, let's ignore it...]
2. Wall Street is evil. Those financial industry types are deeply resistant to the positive change that Obama wants, so of course they oppose him at every turn [class warfare - Big Business is out to harm The People and their Leader].

Aaaaand, I just now heard on CNN, Wolf Blitzer on the phone telling Anderson Cooper that he thinks the White House may spin this as: “the Tea Party forced Wall Street into this by ignoring the obvious necessity of tax increases.”

Folks, time to prepare for some naked class warfare get ready, it’s-a-comin’. And remember, if you’re a Tea Party type, i.e., in favor of prudent government spending, you are greedy and this is your fault. Your wish to be thrifty [with tax dollars] is in fact greed. Got it?

—
A few more thoughts:

From the S&P Press Release

http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/08/05/sp-downgrades-u-s-debt-rating-press-release/

1. The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. 2. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy. 3. Despite this year’s wide-ranging debate, in our view, the differences between political parties have proven to be extraordinarily difficult to bridge, and, as we see it, the resulting agreement fell well short of the comprehensive fiscal consolidation program that some proponents had envisaged until quite recently. 4. Republicans and Democrats have only been able to agree to relatively modest savings on discretionary spending while delegating to the Select Committee decisions on more comprehensive measures. 5. It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. 6. In addition, the plan envisions only minor policy changes on Medicare and little change in other entitlements, the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability.

I numbered the sentences of this key paragraph, for the purposes of discussion. The major media are all over sentence #1′s “political brinksmanship” and #3′s “differences… difficult to bridge” and are claiming that it is those intransigent R’s who are the inflexible obstacles to the harmonious land of peace and plenty offered by Obama. Sentence 5 worries about the lack of emphasis in the recent debt ceiling deal on new revenues. The White House will soon start to say, “See that? We need new taxes!” but a growing economy would bring in revenues, without the imposition of new taxes.

The administration will also be ignoring Sentence #6, on entitlements, “the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability.”

UPDATE: Hearing that after some judge voting, adjournment sine die. This means congressional redistricting is probably heading for the courts.

UPDATE II: Now hearing not adjourning sine die, thus, redistricting still up in the air.

Bonus unrelated Civil War link! Personally, I don’t get the whole Civil War enthusiasm around here… but I do like photography. So here’s a link for everyone! http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2011/06/colourized-america-1862-1923/ . Go there to see colorized Civil War (and later) photos. The effect is a bit eerie. (Note: looks like some photos elsewhere on the site may be NSFW).