Freshman Class Frolics

The NY Times credits the "large boisterous class of fiscally conservative Republican freshmen" for the budget bill that refused to raise taxes a penny on the richest 2% of Americans, while simultaneously cutting $60 billion from the Federal budget. Disproportionately representative of vocal minorities from states with the weakest economies, worst schools, worst health care, and worst civil rights records in America, they lead by example. They also think, with similar keen insight, they represent "the American People."

M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i

Speaking of leadership from states at the bottom, Gov. Haley Barbour, is off and running to eliminate excessive government influence and control over "our" lives. His state, by the way, ranks SECOND, in the amount of Federal money received per capita. Lord knows Haley's Mississippi needs the dough. In a state of steady economic decline since the American Civil War, Mississippi, to the credit of its old-Dixiecrat-neo-Republican leadership, is now the poorest state in the nation, ranking last among the states in per capita income and dead last (no pun intended) in health care. Not that it lives in another century, mind you. In 2009, Haley, to his credit and no doubt with an eye to his future, went out on a limb to sign a bill repealing the anti-black, anti-civil rights legislation first passed by his state legislature during the civil rights struggles of 1964. (It didn't take all that much courage. All of them had been ruled unconstitutional more than thirty years earlier). The state still bans gay marriage. If slow, steady and backward wins the race, Haley's their man.

Voting on the Run

Conservative Republican Senator John Thune, says the Times, "has now expressed reservations about being the only [GOP] candidate who would have to vote on many of [the] issues while running a presidential campaign." Can't have THAT now, can we?

Negotiate? Not with YOU People!

Wisconsin GOP Governor Scott Walker (who, as a County Supervisor, once suggested abolishing his own "redundant" county government) is using a budget crisis driven by the failures of the unregulated private sector to abolish the collective bargaining rights of his state's public sector unions. The bargaining ban would not cover, of course, the Unions that supported him in his run for Governor.

The Middleburg Museum

The Middleburg Town Council has consistently supported the efforts of former Town Council member Eura Lewis to find a home for some of the most endangered artifacts of Middleburg's history. In times like these, the money, time, and talent necessary to establish a new museum are rare commodities and in high demand. Lewis needs not only the support of the Town Council, but that of all those who know and love the people and history of Middleburg. If you can help, please do. Lewis is currently building a board of directors for a new non-profit organization.

Ms. Lewis can be reached at PO Box 473, Middleburg, Virginia 20118, or by phone at 540-687-6538.

Please help.