UPDATE 8:47 PM: Jim Lafferty, our champion for America's fundamental rights:
We lost the ISA expansion vote today by one vote. The close ones are the hardest to lose but few thought it would be this close. We will meet later this week with other coalition members to create a timeline for the next steps. I am sure Supervisor Michael Frey, a Republican who voted with the liberals, will figure prominently in that one.
Board Chairman Sharon Bulove, Linda Smith, Pat Herrity and John Cook all voted against the ISA proposal. Everybody went out of their way to say they only considered land-use issues but several mentioned the tsunami of e-mails and phone calls each of their offices received.
I spoke with our supporters after the hearing an did interviews with all of the DC TV stations plus the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Once again, a lot of first timers and new faces at the hearing. Each time we do this we get newcomers and it is snowballing. Americans are slow to anger but I think they are starting to figure out that shariah is incompatible with constitutional law and shariah and liberty can't mix.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors footage
UPDATE: UGH! Brian Ledbetter reports: It's final - the Board approved the ISA expansion project.
That was one of the dirtiest parliamentary tricks I've seen in a while, but it's exactly what I should've expected from this county.
Argh. Sorry for getting your hopes up, guys. UPDATE: NOT SO FAST: BRIAN REPORTS: ARGH! The motion to deny the expansion failed. Looks like Fairfax County is still up to its usual tricks.
Wait just a few more minutes for the final tally. Sorry for jumping the gun!
I am on a train so I have not been able to liveblog it, but Brian Ledbetter over at Snapped Shot emailed me:
I have to tell you that this broke my heart for two reasons. The first of course is that I was looking for the county to side with America. But the second reason is that Atlas jumped the gun and reported a victory for our side. I was actually watching the hearing on Channel 16 and I wasn't quite sure which way the voting was going when I switched over to Atlas to see if there were any comments. We WON! We lost. Very disappointing.
HOWEVER, I think that maybe this is the time to overturn the American government along with its Constitution and begin a new government with a more restrictive Constitution; something that will guarantee us life, liberty and the persuit of happiness. In other words, a very politically incorrect Constitution.
Posted by: Rockmelon | Monday, August 03, 2009 at 05:35 PM
How about all the schools listed at “Arabic K12 Teachers Network, School Directory” (search for both and it comes up—it says its part of George Washington University) and all the schools omitted from this list? Must be old list since that Ibn Tizya or whatever Minnesota school is not listed. Under the “News” there’s heading “Support from the federal government.” When will this end, what can we do? When I tell people I know and meet that Ive studied islam, I understand what it is, nobody cares. They do not want to face it and only are interested in their own lives. They don't like it but they see no threat, or want to see no threat. Arabic can be taught in regular schools as a single class period. Not entire public charter schools devoted to it! The private schools need watchdogs. How many more crimes before Fairfax commissioners see what they've done?
Posted by: DeeDee | Monday, August 03, 2009 at 06:39 PM
DeeDee,
Many moons ago I studied Arabic - Dialect of Cairo.
However, at the time, I never realized that 25 years later I would have to put it to use in my own country!
Posted by: IndieJones | Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 01:44 AM
The stretch of Popes Head Road on which the ISA is located is a deathtrap. I know for a FACT because I'm a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia.
It's only a matter of time before another huge accident occurs.
And if that huge accident involves ISA traffic, the members of the Board of Supervisors who voted in the affirmative should have their asses sued off.
Posted by: Always On Watch | Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 06:31 AM