The Manassas National Battlefield Park is an oasis in the desert of development that is Northern Virginia. 

Here is advice from foreign policy leaders for Senator Obama.

Unlike the position taken in your August 13 editorial, I believe the Dumfries Town Council is doing the job it was elected to do.  That is, trying to follow the prescribed process for executing contracts and obtaining all information before voting on expensive contracts. 

There was a time (eight years ago) when I thought John McCain would make an excellent president. 

In all the hoopla about immigration reform,very little has been said about addressing the major attraction for illegal immigrants — jobs! 

“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”
— Vernon Wormer, Dean of Students, Faber College (From the film “Animal House”)

The Rove attack machine and the Swift Boat guys are at it again! 

Arguably one of the best leaders this country ever saw was the late great Speaker of the House from Massachusetts, Thomas Phillip O’Neill, Jr. (Tip).

As the cost of gasoline drifts downward, loosening some of its stranglehold on our wallets, it is a good idea to reflect on what high fuel prices mean. 

Most companies know that to stay in business they must deliver quality goods and services to consumers. 

On Friday the board of the Harrold Independent School District voted unanimously to approve of a plan whereby teachers could be certified to be armed in classrooms. 

Congratulations go to Judge LeRoy F. Millette Jr., on his recent appointment to the Virginia Supreme Court. 

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine longs to walk in the shadow of Barack Obama, who these days is strolling beaches in Hawaii in between raising a cool million. 

No doubt about it; Virginia is the place to be in November.

More than 2 million people have contributed to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Kathi Ream of Falls Church, Va., is not among them.
And she’s steamed about it. 

Let’s ignore for a moment the perplexing fact that McCain’s “Senator Obama as a celebrity” ads redefined the ability to inspire millions of people as a negative quality in a political candidate. 

The Olympic Games this year are China’s introduction to the world stage. 

Last Saturday, the Washington Post reported on a program in use in the Prince William County Schools (PWCS). 

Seemingly out of nowhere Russia, the spearhead of the former Soviet Union, invades Georgia, one of its former territories, and it makes little more than a blip on our collective consciousness. 

Note from Scott: Here’s the winner of the Write Scott Hollifield’s Column While He is On Vacation or Performing His Court-Ordered Community Service Contest as chosen by a panel of semi-experts. View and comment on all the columns by going to http://www.mcdowellnews.com and clicking on the Write Scott’s Column Button. 

Oh, come on Larry Remener, get real. Talk about ignoring the facts.  I claim your letter as “wacky” and “freaked out” because it WAS — it was another in a long line of hateful, vindictive letters over almost eight years, claiming things that just are not true. 

John McCain talks a lot about how many years he has worked in Washington as a Congressman and Senator, but when all is said and done, what really matters? 

I recently read a piece in the Washington Post by Chris L. Jenkins entitled, “Va. Reviewing Overhaul of Mental Health System.” This comes in light of the high profile mentally ill Seung-Hui Cho who killed 32 students at Virginia Tech.

These are some of the online reader comments about an Aug. 7 article about the higher than anticipated costs of housing illegal immigrants in the Prince William-Manassas regional jail.
County jail officials asked the Prince William Board of County Supervisors to OK the use of federal funds to meet costs. 

I like to watch the markets a bit. Maybe part of a fantasy I have. As if I had millions of dollars to invest, where would I put it.  Two institutions are kinda scary — a year ago Fannie Mae was trading at $70.57 per share, and Freddie Mac was trading at $67.20.

How refreshing it was to read the “objective” cover story on Corey Stewart in a recent DC Examiner. 

I’m writing about Jeff Frederick’s reckless and irresponsible claim that voter registration fraud is occurring across the commonwealth. He said “there appears to be a coordinated and widespread effort in Virginia to commit voter fraud” (Washington Post, July 29).

I was very happy to see in the county roundup that Animal Control employees were honored as Employee of the Month. 

Kudos to our Assistant Attorney, Sandra Sylvester for nominating our Animal Control Crew. Congratulations to our Animal Control Employees. They are a fine crew of workers who dedicate their lives daily for God’s little creatures. 

Mr. Ord O. Ely should be commended for conducting research before writing his opinion letter to the newspaper (“President Bush’s decision was justified,” Aug. 11).