Listen to the interview here.

The Afternoon Constitutional is a great new podcast on every week day, you can check out the whole podcast and other podcasts here. The host Joe Thomas can also be heard on WCHV from 5-9AM.

“There’s a disturbing trend with our freshman incumbent Glenn Nye,” said Rigell. “He waits until the last minute to vote to figure out where he is – because his position is undecided. And a person who’s undecided, be by definition, he or she is not leading. You won’t see our freshman incumbent on the House floor making an empassioned impassioned speech about something because he doesn’t know what he himself believes – that’s not leadership.”

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Also in this podcast is an excerpt of an exchange between Loyola and one of his opponents, Ed Maulbeck, at a recent Republican Party of Virginia Beach event. Maulbeck also discusses his personal view on taxes.

Additionally, we caught up with Gary Byler, the Second District GOP Committee’s Chairman. Byler discusses Chuck Smith, a former 2nd District candidate, who has decided to now challenge incumbent Rep. Bobby Scott (D) in the 3rd District, Kenny Golden, a former Repulbican City Committee Chairman, who has left the Republican party to run in the 2nd for Congress as an independent, petitions, and the state of the 2nd District.

Show notes: Coming Soon

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

The music at the end of the podcast is the Bouree in E Minor by JS Bach and played by David Thornton. Found at Music Alley.

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Show notes:

0:35 Why are you running? “I think the constituents in this district, and America in general, deserve leadership; leadership that they can trust in congress….The 2nd Congressional District of Virginia happens to be the most military district in the nation, happens to be my hometown district (I grew up here)…and so I saw this as a great chance to come in an provide leadership that I think America needs in Congress.”

2:10 Discusses his role in helping create Joint Forces Command and the transformation it has helped provide.

5:00 “It’s one thing to say you’ve created jobs in the private sector as a businessman, and I have done that…but it is a completely different thing to say that you’re going to bring job creation skills from the private sector to the public sector. The public sector is a different animal and it requires different skill sets. I’ve proven that I have been able to work through the public sector to create jobs in a way that was more efficient for our country and made our military more capable.”

6:35 He dismisses that not being from Virginia Beach is a problem. He cites the joint needs of the district and his longstanding roots in the district as examples, among others.

8:00 Discusses potential move of an Aircraft Carrier from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. “I’m not convinced that there is a good national security rationale for it….[Senator Jim Webb] should stand up and stop this move through appropriations….It’s a lot easier to retain jobs than it is to create jobs.”

9:50 Discusses Glenn Nye’s role regarding the pending aircraft carrier move. “He should have some influence, but obviously he doesn’t have enough….[Glenn Nye] just simply lacks the credibility that one needs, especially as a freshman, to have much clout on the Armed Services Committee.”

11:55 Addresses his wife’s involvement with the Federal Reserve, the issue of transparency, and Rep. Ron Paul’s bill to audit the fed. “I think transparency is American….I support what [Ron Paul] is trying to do.”

14:50 “I would repeal the healthcare bill and, failing that, I would repeal the most obnoxious parts of the healthcare bill.”

15:20 Depending on how many seats are picked up in the House by Republicans will determine whether the GOP goes on offense or defense.

16:00 “This [healthcare] issue was not between Democrats and Republicans; it was between Democrats and the American people. And, I think after this November, they’re going to learn a few lessons about not representing the American people.”

16:30 Addresses the national debt.

17:10 He differentiates himself from other candidates by saying he would prefer to serve on the Ways and Means committee and the Defense Appropriations sub-committee over the Armed Services Committee.

17:35 “We cannot break trust with our senior citizens who have come to rely on those programs [such as social security and Medicare]…But the system is broken and we have to start phasing in fundamentally new programs.”

19:25 “The Second District is one of the most important, if not the most important, district in the nation…it’s got great strategic signifcance here…[Representing this district] will be the equivalent to representing America because a lot about this district with the military and its attractions is America.”

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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In tonight’s podcast, we review the last week’s events and talk healthcare, the national debt, international policy, and a warning for 2nd and 5th District GOP candidates with Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-VA04).

Show notes:

4:40 I talk about the things conservatives should do as opposed to violence
7:30 Interview with Rep. Forbes Begins

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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You can also listen to this excerpt from our most recent podcast in which Cuccinelli goes into greater detail, including talking about the issue of “severability”:

Finrally, take a few moments to sign Cuccinelli’s petition to “Stop the Mandate and Support Liberty”:

(h/t: VARight.com for the image!)

In tonight’s podcast, we hear a sampling of the floor debate from House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (VA). Then, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA01), gives a detailed response on only some of the problems with this bill and what can be done about it. Finally, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli outlines how Virginia intends to respond to this law.

Show notes:

1:16 Boehner challenges Democrats on whether or not they even read the bill
1:54 Cantor describes the United States as being “unrecognizable” after this bill is passed
2:45 Interview with Rep. Rob Wittman
3:30 Wittman laments the lack of bipartisanship at passing these bills
4:35 “If you look at Social Security and Medicare, those bills were all past with broad bipartisan support”
5:41 Wittman discusses the true costs of the healthcare bill
6:30 “16,000 new IRS agents to track people down to make sure they have health insurance”
20:18 Cuccinelli discusses Virginia’s legal challenges to the healthcare bill
20:50 “After the president signs this into law, we will proceed to file suit in the Eastern District of Virginia,” said Cuccinelli
21:15 The Supremacy clause does not apply to overcoming Virginia’s Healthcare Freedom Act.
22:00 “Not buying health insurance is not commerce…and therefore, does not subject a person to regulation by congress”
23:40 Cuccinelli discusses the lack of a severability clause in the healthcare bill – “If the individual mandate falls, the whole bill falls – this is the whole ball of wax”
24:40 “We are protecting Virginia’s own sovereignty”
25:45 Cuccinelli thinks things will move along quickly through Virginia’s Eastern District, but may slow down through the rest of the appeals process.

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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Show notes:

0:35 Cox points out that the “forgotten man” in Richmond is often the average taxpayer
1:03 The good news – restoring the car tax is not going to happen
1:17 Cox describes the senate fees and other “gimmicky-types of things”
1:45 The House has a $165 million reserve in its budget
2:03 “It’s easy when you have $600 million in funny money” – referring to the Senate budget
2:20 Cox describes the offers and counter-offers and what fees the Republican House might consider raising
3:35 “We’re not gonna stick the Governor with unrealistic revenues – we want a reserve that’s at least somewhat decent.”
4:10 Cox describes that they only just received a brand new Senate proposal tonight and discusses his frustration with the process and the speed the Senate is moving. “[The Senate] just won’t sit there and work hard enough [to meet deadlines]”
6:02 He does not see the negotiations going until June
6:25 Withtout the big sticking point of the car tax – or some sort of hybrid – Cox believes they should be able to get the budget done
7:00 Cox talks about the cuts to K-12. He says they’re not deep and that from 2000-2009, education spending increased by 58%.
7:20 He compares higher ed cuts to K-12 cuts (25% vs. 8%)
7:35 The Kaine budget and its cuts to support personnel, which has been growing twice as fast as instructional personnel and describes the capbbetween the ratio of instructional to support personnel
8:15 Cuts to travel expenses and expansion of the lifecycle of school buses
8:35 Describes the reduction in block grants for early reading, pre-K, etc. and says the onus is on localities to fund them and the defunding of SOQ planning periods (which was supposedly funded by then Governor Mark Warner’s 2004 tax increase)
10:06 “The cuts are not Draconian. 30,000 teachers are not going to get laid off. I think it’s outrageous some of the numbers the VEA is putting out.”

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Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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Check out a great primer from the House Appropriations Committee on their budget and more from Del. Lacey Putney. Also, visit the Senate Finance Committee to see more info on their budget.

Related to the “whiners” part of our discussion is Shaun’s great post on “slacktivism” – it is a must read manifesto on social media and blogging.

“[W]ho is driving the conversation? Who is talking to these outlets? Of these intangibles of access and resonance, who is linking and commenting? Is the voice of a particular outlet tabloid or respectable? Moreover, what is the effect of this particular outlet?”

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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Congressman Forbes spoke about our soaring debt and out-of-control spending and how it is imperative to reign it in and Congressman Wittman spoke about energy, health care, and earmarks.

Clearly, from listening to this podcast, you’ll note that there is still a wide gap between Republicans and the president, despite the president’s soaring rhetoric. That sentiment might be best represented by Congressman Forbes: “Tonight the President had an opportunity to answer the call, and he missed it.”

Additionally, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA06) released this statement:

“I welcome the President’s call for fiscal discipline and hope that it represents a turning point away from the job-killing, tax-and-spend agenda pushed by the Democrat controlled Congress. I am, however, concerned that a freeze of current government spending levels, which are up more than 80% in the past two years, is going to simply lock in the out of control deficit spending levels that have been enacted, and not force Congress and the President to make the truly tough decisions to cut this excessive spending that these times call for.

“Restraining federal spending is perhaps the most critical step to addressing our nation’s unemployment crisis and restoring confidence in our economy. I remain committed to working with the President and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to focus on real solutions that will create American jobs and restore confidence in our economic future.”

And, just for fun, even though he’s not a Virginia Congressman, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a potential 2012 rival to the president, had this to say:

“While I disagree with his proposed direction, I agree with President Obama that education, health care and the deficit are critical challenges for our country. Our nation’s debt is a growing crisis that puts the country’s security at risk. Freezing some spending won’t solve the crisis – we need to actually cut spending. If we set priorities, make tough choices and reject tax hikes, we can create jobs without continuing to run up irresponsible debt.

“In the long run, our schools simply must do a better job of educating children if America is going to remain competitive. That’s why I’ve pushed to hold teachers accountable with a groundbreaking performance-pay system in Minnesota – reforms that I hope the President will push nationwide.

“Minnesota has also led the way on health care, passing reforms to move the system towards paying for and achieving better health care outcomes. Democrats should listen to voters, stop pushing a government-takeover of health care, and join with Republicans to pass reforms that will cut health care costs.”

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

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Opening music “Highway Run” by the Charlie Wheeler Band available through Ariel Publicity.

• Please also visit us on Podcast.com or PodcastPickle.com and help us promote the podcast by writing a review or adding us as a favorite!

Drop me an email at vpod@bearingdrift.com with your thoughts and comments on the show.

To listen to any of the previous podcasts, click here.
To automatically download and sync VPOD with your MP3 player, use this feed.
Opening music “Highway Run” by the Charlie Wheeler Band available through Ariel Publicity.

• Please also visit us on Podcast.com or PodcastPickle.com and help us promote the podcast by writing a review or adding us as a favorite!

The theme – keep it up!

AFP played a huge role in helping organize and activate grassroots initiatives to inform the general public and petition representatives regarding government overstretch, such as Cap-and-Trade and Health Care.

AFP is committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. And AFP DirectorTim Phillips, has seized on President Obama’s success by calling this activism “community organizing.”

Bolling, who’s free event on Thursday drew over 1000 people (including a 93-year-old woman who had volunteered for the GOP for sixty years but couldn’t afford to go to inaugural ball), recognized the importance of the grassroots. He said candidates most certainly can’t get elected on their own – but it’s the grassroots volunteers who make “a day like today possible.”

He also was sober to the fact that this weekend is fun, but it will be all work on Monday trying to fix the state budget.

Challenges certainly continue with health care and Governor Tim Kaine’s proposal for a 1% income tax increase, but according to an extremely enthusiastic Goodlatte, another tea party is brewing in Boston that might shock the world again on Tuesday.

Goodlatte, who was the most animated I’ve ever seen (and it was a good thing), said that the sweep by Republicans in the November elections in New Jersey and Virginia can certainly be continued in Massachusetts in their special election for U.S. Senate.

Goodlatte also laid some of the ground work for the 2010 version of the Contract with America, by hearkening back to the 1994 version and pointing out House Joint Resolution 1 – his bill – which is calling for the federal government to balance its budget.

Bringing perhaps the most energy to the stage and the room was former Governor George Allen who absolutely electrified the audience…and he continued to be in form during an interview that I had with him following his speech.

(give the video a minute or two to download…it doesn’t stream…and sorry about the audio delay…not sure what’s going on there)

Also pretty darn good analysis from DJ, laying this defeat at the feet of Walter Stosch.