Shaun Kenney

Ugh.

I think I’d rather ask Ron’s opinion… but I’m not one to leave folks in the lurch, because there’s a right and a wrong way to do video (online or otherwise). So I’ll advise.

For tips on how to properly do a YouTube video between a candidate and a consumer, read this:

Ever do a truly crappy job at something you cared about? That was me a month ago when I put together my first YouTube video. I did it – God forgive me for my sins – because the organizer of the Business of Software Conference in a fit of Pure Evil decided the only way for speakers to get on was to do a vote for me video.

…

After a month of sleepless nights and depressed days agonizing over what to do in this Brave New Video World, a strange golden light surrounded me early yesterday morning and an amazing calm filled me. A godlike voice said in my head, “This is television dummy! There’s always a take 2!”

Gilmore desperately needs a Take 2.

Of course, if you want to see one done right… well, you know where to look:

Now seriously, if you saw only these two videos, which would you vote for?

Lest this be confused for more shilling by yours truly for Marshall over Gilmore, check out Marshall’s YouTube videos… and you will see nothing of the sort of one-on-one conversation (which I would strongly advise Marshall do).

Altogether, it does raise one question: If Gilmore truly intends to present the RPV Convention as a mere coronation rather than the contest it is shaping up to be, shouldn’t the rank-and-file be able to point to at least one field where we are trouncing Mark Warner and the Democrats? Fundraising? Grassroots? Organization? Voter contact? Red-hot issues? Online media? Or God forbid — real, solid pro-life, pro-limited government, pro-family, and pro-2nd Amendment issues that speak to our base????

Are we seriously being asked to count on McCain’s coattails to soothe Gilmore’s high negatives and carry the GOP to victory? I would much rather have the heads up contest of ideas Marshall will give us against Warner… without the baggage Gilmore brings to the table.

Perhaps I’m just hungry and sleepy (and therefore, grouchy). Therefore, I’m going to go back to mowing my lawn now… or maybe I’ll be going fishing.

One of the two.

UPDATE: This is not the first time Gilmore has been offered feedback… once upon a time, a similar criticism for Gilmore’s video announcing his 2008 presidential bid was issued from James Kotecki (of Politico fame)…

…and that was for Gilmore’s abortive presidential run. Ouch.

Mike over at The Write Side of my Brain reflects on the condition of being both a Christian and a conservative.

Interesting (and worthwhile) read.

Wheeee!

With the Virginia Rightosphere mightily pleased about the total endorsement of the Republican Party of Virginia of the McDonnell-Bolling(-Cuccinelli) ticket, D.J. McGuire sigh mournfully… because he’s seen this before:

See, over the last few years, I have seen annual attempts to “unite the Republican Party in Virginia.” They have all been followed by the same things: issue-less campaigns, lost leads, surprising (to some) defeats, recriminations, and grudges that go so deep into the next election cycle that the same people try to “bring the party together” and start the cycle all over again.

The first and most obvious of these fiascos came in 2005, when Jerry Kilgore led the state GOP ticket. The party had just been through a vicious policy battle over taxes – one which became a political battle as several tax-hiking GOP Delegates faces primary challenges. Kilgore had a choice: accept the division as a reality and pick sides, or make broad and bland “unity” statements that papered over the serious differences.

Kilgore chose the latter, and ended up with a lower percentage of the vote than any GOP nominee for Governor had earned in twenty years.

No question, the Kilgore campaign the RNC’s mishandling of the Kilgore campaign was atrocious. RNC staffers swooping in, taking over and pushing out traditional volunteers and unit organizations… much of which instigates the catcalls about RPV to this day (hint: RPV isn’t RNC, but I’ve groussed about this in the past).

Of course, 2009 is much different than 2005… no looming billion-dollar tax hike (passed under Republican eyes), Virginia Senate Republicans brought back to the realm of common sense, no future prospects for President in 2008.

Then there’s one major difference we all seem to neglect: Bob McDonnell is no Jerry Kilgore. As the McDonnell campaign begins to swing into gear, we’ll see some major initiatives that will be red meat for both fiscal and social conservatives.

Even “classical liberals” such as Mr. McGuire will be impressed. Time will tell the tale.

The American economy grew ever so slightly during 1st Qtr 2008, which is moderately good news. The skies aren’t so grey after all.

This will make DUI number three for the University of Mary Washington’s former president:

According to Maryland court records, Frawley was stopped by police at 10:50 p.m. on April 10 at 2908 Virgilia St., in Rockville, Md., driving a 1997 Toyota with Maryland tags. The court records indicate he produced a Maryland driver’s license.

He was charged with “driving (attempting to drive) a vehicle while under the influence,” according to court records.

UMW’s Board of Visitors fired Frawley last year after he was arrested twice in two days on driving under the influences charges in Virginia, first in Fairfax on April 10, 2007, then the next day in Fredericksburg, when a fellow motorist reported someone driving across the Chatham Bridge with a front tire missing. He told a police officer he had consumed six bottles of cough medicine, according to a police report.

Don’t know the gentleman in question… perhaps only by reputation. This is entirely not in consonance with Frawley’s former reputation at Mary Washington.

I sincerely hope he finds help soon. Stories such as these are difficult to read, but hopefully will make an excellent opportunity for Frawley to rebound (and a great story for both him and perhaps a rarely-forgiving press to tell).

Columnist Bob Novak takes pro-abortion Catholics to task, as well as the Catholic bishops who permitted them to receive the Eucharist.

…which in turn, I hope, may have helped spur this from Cardinal Egan:

The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.

Very appropriate for a shepherd leading his flock, and it fits very well in the pro-life footsteps of his predecessor, Cardinal John O’Connor. Statements such as these take courage too… and for this Cardinal Egan is to be commended highly.

(crossposted over at Bearing Drift)

Meet the Press talked it up over the weekend, as did several Virginia news outlets. After meeting with representatives from the Obama and Clinton camps weeks ago (and talking heavily about it in the press to show “unity”), the DNC launched a fierce attack ad against Republican nominee Senator John McCain.

The problem? Co-ordinated efforts in excess of $5,000 are illegal. Not just a little illegal either… this is the sort of stuff that shuffles front offices.

DNC’s response? A nasty, vitriolic version of “YEEARGH!!!”

Hager alleged in an affidavit to the Federal Election Commission that the DNC coordinated the ad with the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. That would violate federal election law.

“This is just another GOP lie in the Bush-McCain tradition, but it doesn’t change the fact that John McCain doesn’t understand the economy,” said DNC spokesman Luis Miranda.

One minor problem: DNC co-ordination does break the law.

Of course, the fact that the DNC spokesmanperson couldn’t bring himself to deny co-oordination digs up more questions than answers.

UPDATE: RPV follows up with a release this afternoon:

“Not only are the Democrats blatantly distorting comments made by John McCain, but they are clearly breaking the law in order to do so,” said Hager. “The DNC should immediately pull this ad. If they refuse to do so, then Senators Clinton and Obama and their supporters, including Governor Kaine, should call on the DNC to stop running the ad.”

Just in case there is any question as to whether or not DNC was co-ordinating with the two Democratic contenders, check these quotes out (no links provided… but we’re properly citing evidence here):

DNC “officials have met in recent days with the top campaign brass of Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) to brief them on the committee’s plans in the coming months. (“DNC Officials Huddle With Clinton, Obama Campaigns” by Chris Cillizza, Washingtonpost.com, April 25, 2008)

“I don’t think we have to bring up age,” said Cornell Belcher, an Obama pollster who collaborated on the DNC’s McCain poll. “I don’t think we will”…Since the Democrats have not yet settled on a presidential candidate, Dean was joined in making the polling presentation by Belcher, one of Sen. Barack Obama’s pollsters, as well as Allan Rivlin, whose polling firm does work for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. (“Dean: McCain’s Age Worries Voters” by Teddy Davis and Mike Elmore, ABCNews.com, April 10, 2008)

DNC Chairman Howard Dean was naturally more flippant than usual when asked about the scandal this weekend. Of course, the great undercurrent of the story is that RPV Chairman John Hager virtually single-handedly is taking on the national Democratic Party and causing quite a stir. If the FEC levies a fine against the DNC this early in the game without some massive changes in the leadership, this will cast a pall of unethical behavior over the entire Democratic Convention, not to mention severely hamstring the eventual Democratic nominee in 2008.

DEVELOPING…

Read this:

The Cortes family says their Royal Caribbean cruise was a living hell. They boarded the Majesty of the Seas on Monday out of Miami. Tuesday night, they were kicked off the boat in Nassau.

“Everyone was crying and pleading that they wouldn’t throw us of the boat, begging them if we could stay,” Luis Cortes said.

Their 7-month-old child, Zoie, was throwing up and had diarrhea. A doctor on the ship said she was dehydrated and had to be treated in a hospital. The family said a security guard gave them 10 minutes to pack their bags and get off the boat. It was 11 o’clock at night.

Royal Caribbean says they will give a credit for the trip, but no reimbursement for their re-issued passports, one-way fare to get back home, or the emergency room bill.

Oh, and the baby? Sick with a cold.

Move over Segway… the Uno has arrived:

Operation of the 54.4 kg (120 lb) machine is simple, in fact it’s so simple there are no controls except for an on-off switch. To go forward you simply push your body weight forward to tilt the machine. To back up, just lean back on the seat to tilt it backwards and back it goes. The farther you lean, the faster it accelerates. The gyro tells the ECU how much to accelerate and that in turn delivers the proper amount of current to the electric motors, one for each wheel.

Wonder how fast it really goes? (answer: 40mph top speed according to some sites…)