Yesterday I had the good fortune to attend the inauguration of Virginia’s 71st governor, Bob McDonnell.  All the guests were full of energy and enthusiasm as we watched him take the oath of office, along with his Lieutenant-Governor Bob Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  It really felt like being at a concert of my favorite rockstar – the excitement goes beyond description. I couldn’t do it justice if I tried. There was a little something for everyone, from the flyover after the oath to the Redskins cheerleaders to the history in which Richmond is steeped.  The next four years should be good for Virginia and I pray for the Governor and his family.

Below is the full text of his Inaugural Address, courtesy of #bobmcdonnell: (more…)

This morning, across the country, Democrats likely wish they had a do-over on last night’s election. Larry Sabato I’m not, so my thoughts on this election are amateurish at best, and at worst, fodder for conversation by the wiser minds around here.  So here we go.

Election 2009 put Election 2008 into its proper perspective. It’s clear that in America a lot of people personally like President Obama. This appeal won him a great deal of support in 2008 and it still may do so in 2012. But that support does nothing for fellow members of his party, as the low turn out this year among the young and minorities shows. For a leftist, this is nothing new. In my home country of Chile, President Michelle Bachelet enjoys 65%+ approval ratings while her government hovers under 50%. Good leftists are populists. Great leftists know how to translate that populism into support for their plans of action. So far, Obama has largely failed to do so and while we’re still in the first half of the game, his drive on health care reform seems an early deal-breaker. (more…)

The McDonnell blowout is no surprise, but Christie’s relatively comfortable win is.  Of course you never know how many dead will rise in New Jersey to vote for Corzine, but it looks like the GOP just picked up two gubernatorial seats.