Fireworks at the Health Department

Thursday evening the Mineral County Clean up Committee met. Repeatedly discussion erupted into fireworks.

One argument erupted over the proposed use of Raleigh County's derelict and junked property ordinance as a template to be adjusted to Mineral County's circumstances. Gary Howell pointed out that Clyde Burdock consulted the state Attorney General and was told that ordinance contained multiple flaws. Others argued that the ordinance conformed with the state code. Raleigh County also has adopted some of the most restrictive laws in the state concerning citizens' property rights, which includes the taking of private property through eminent domain. Howell proposed that the proposed Mineral County ordinance conform as much as possible to that of Keyser town laws on the same subject. This would reduce confusion for those owning property inside and outside city limits. Kolin Jan at one point asked of Gary Howell what was wrong with the Raleigh County ordinance. Howell responded that it would have the ultimate effect of depriving poor citizens of rights and property.

The motion to use the Raleigh County ordinance as a template failed to carry, sparking frustration among some. Mineral County Commissioner Wayne Spiggle, who abstained from voting, refused to be drawn in when asked by Rev. Daniel Stemple to vote after the votes had been counted. It could have been construed as a conflict of interest and also would have violated parliamentary procedure. Kolin Jan asked Howell why he objected to using the Raleigh County ordinance as a base. Howell replied, the use of Eminent Domain to take private property from low and fixed income land owners that can not afford to comply is wrong. Eventually the committee agreed to use a power point presentation to compare the Raleigh County ordinance, the West Virginia State Code, and the Keyser city laws. Using these examples, the committee could then break down the laws and create a workable and fair ordinance for the county.

Other discussions centered around an ordinance for the legal length of lawn grass in the county. Joe Zacot, and Gary Howell objected strongly to an ordinance for a legal standard for grass length of 1.5 inches proposed by David Isenberg. This led to some attempts to define a farm to exempt them from the 1.5 inches, until the entire discussion was shut down. Such definitions could be problematic as some small property owners bale hay off as little as a few acres for extra money.

The main issue preventing productive work by this committee is the low tolerance for disagreement. All too often voices were raised due to simple opposing points of view. In an atmosphere with angry voices and statements bordering on personal attacks, real progress will not happen. All need to remember that to craft a good law requires time and effort. When people's property and livelihood are in question, care must be taken to get it right. Rushing the matter through will result in bad law. At this point no one is hurt or threatened by junked cars and dilapidated buildings. There is plenty of time for the committee to make sure it does right by the people of Mineral County.

Kanawha County, This is For You

Congratulations on your expanded gambling. Here's a poorly written song in commemoration

On a warm summer’s evening with the state economy bound for nowhere
We met up with the Gamblers, we were all too edgy to sleep
So we took turns a starin’ at dropping coal revenues
Desperation overtook us and they began to speak

They said “Fella’s we’ve made a life out of raisin’ people’s taxes
And spending all their money pretty recklessly
Now if you don’t mind my sayin’ you don’t want any higher taxes
If you want to pay for all this I’ll give you some advice

So we let them have grey machines and all we got were Hot Spots
Same colors as a dog’s sore and just as healthy
Of course that just wasn’t enough. What about Pennsylvania?
We need to offer more just to keep up.

You got to know how to hold ‘em
Know how to cajole them
Don’t let them walk away
Let them think they’re having fun
We’ll all be counting our money

And we'll keep them at the tables

There's money enough to count
Till the dealing’s done

Now every gambler knows the secret to survivin’
Is getting in the desperate and the down on their luck
Taking all their money, give the state their cut
Hungry kids are crying and the bank will take their truck

Of course the real song has a bit of wisdom in it

Now every gambler knows
The secret to survivin’
Is knowing what to throw away
And knowing what to keep
For every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
The best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep

Good luck guys. The state should never rely so heavily on a revenue stream that it will have to help combat eventually.

Bush As Phoenix???

History will judge George W. Bush otherwise, but right now in the summer of 2007 his presidency has grown politically problematic. Except for Texas and some parts of West Virginia and Western Maryland among a few other spots, President Bush's popularity fell through the floor over the last few years. Democrats have grown to count on anti-Bush animosity while many Republicans regard potential mentions of him with anxiety.

Although it is certain that George W. Bush cannot be re-elected, Democrats will make him one of the major issues of the 2008 campaign. They will assault the Republican nominee for president with Bush, wanting to force either a potentially unpopular defense or an equally embarassing disavowal. Congressional Republicans will see the most heat on the issue. Voters will see, hear, and read a steady diet of the Democratic mantra of Bush and Iraq. Unless . . .

From the Democratic political perspective, a potential nightmare scenario has commenced. Some liberal critics of the war have started praising signs of progress since President Bush launched the troop surge. The Kurdish north appeared on 60 Minutes as an island of freedom and prosperity. Add to this the substantial improvement shown in illegal alien numbers since the Bush administration started a crackdown and voila, instant rises in approval ratings. Signs also are evident of voters growing fatigued of hearing constant Bush bashing.

The nightmare scenario of the Democratic Party is this. The September report on Iraqi progress may show little improvement in political developments over July. However Iraqis understand what an American presidential election year means, especially if a Democrat wins. A sense of urgency should result in real advances. Meanwhile the Democratic Congress has accomplished little. Add this to progress in illegal alien control and continued economic strength and the Democrats suddenly appear weak.

A strong and electable Republican presidential nominee coupled with a Bush revival will overwhelm the Democratic party. Bush rising from the ashes in popular opinion is the last thing they will expect, but given the good news on important fronts makes this eminently possible.

Mineral County Republican Executive Committee holds meeting

The Mineral County Republican Executive Committee held a meeting Thursday night at the courthouse to be briefed on the upcoming state Presidential Convention to be held on February 5^th, 2008 in Charleston. Tom O’Neil of the state Executive Committee was on hand to explain West Virginia is moving from selecting a Republican presidential candidate by primary to selecting the candidate by state convention.

Tom O’Neil went on to say by moving to a state presidential convention the West Virginia would become more relevant in selecting a Republican presidential candidate. West Virginia will be the 5^th state to select its Republican presidential candidate behind Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Florida respectively.

Mineral County will be allowed to send 27 delegates to the state convention. The 12 county executive committee members are automatically selected. All county chairs, and Republican House of Delegate members are automatically are selected as well. Since both county chair Bob Harman and delegate Bob Schadler are also county executive committee members they are allowed to appoint two additional people. A vote was taken and Sara Geis of Short Gap and Harry Boggs of Keyser were selected to fill those two positions.

One additional convention delegate for every 1,000 registered Republican voters will be granted, which is 8 for Mineral. All counties that the majority voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential election will be given an additional 5 delegates. This gives Mineral County 13 additional convention delegates.

The 13 additional delegates are open positions. People wishing to serve must be a registered Republican in Mineral County as of July 1, 2007, and file a request to be a delegate with the state Republican Executive Committee in Charleston. If more than 13 apply, a county caucus will be held to narrow the field to 13.

The 27 delegates from Mineral County will help select the Republican presidential nominee at the state Convention. Christy Barnett of New Creek will also serve as a delegate as she is a member of the state executive committee.

In other business Candy Gordon was appointed to take over the position of Treasurer for the County Executive Committee and Sara Geis will take on the roll of Secretary.

Update from the Republican Convention

Preparations for the convention are proceeding at a rapid clip. We are in contact with each of the presidential campaigns and are providing each one with the information they need as we approach our filing deadline for presidential candidates of September 1. Look for a major announcement right after the September 1 deadline regarding which candidates have filed in West Virginia. Also, our Regional Political Directors are active in each county, answering the important question: How can I become a delegate to the West Virginia GOP Presidential Convention? The deadline to file as a candidate for your county’s at-large delegate positions is November 30, so look for announcements in the press, on our web site and in future issues of the WVGOP Presidential Convention NEWSLINE about the filing process.

–Bob Fish, CEO, WVGOP Presidential Convention, Inc.

Saluting the Keyser Mini Tornadoes and Football Values

Last Saturday the Keyser Mini Tornadoes A, B, and C teams all rolled over their competition from Oakland, Maryland. The game kicked off what ought to be another strong season for Keyser. Another run at the league championship should lie in these teams' future.

Evn more important is what football does for these children. In America today children have few chances to learn real values. Few minors have to do much work these days as their parents or grandparents did on the farm. Many of the schools have transformed into institutions that emphasize self-esteem and rigid enforcement of rules rather than overcoming challenges. Even other sports try to remove the competitiveness by not keeping score. Everyone is supposed to walk away a winner just for showing up even though the kids are well aware who won or lost.

Football is a harsh and unforgiving sport. Each player must work hard to learn their job and do it to the best of their abilities. If someone does not do their job, the team fails, and likely a teammate ends up getting hit hard. Football punishes physically, but helps develop menta and physical toughness. It also teaches the value of hard work and the important lesson that your best on some days was just not good enough. Within football, individual achievement is recognized and praised, but children also learn to work with each other. More than other sports, players learn a sense of brotherhood that comes from experiencing hardship together.

Football has its own value set. With some notable exceptions, the culture encourages pride with humility, strength without boasting. Players celebrating after a touchdown are told "act like you've been there before." There is a reason why the National Football League has the most player pastors of any professional league.

In short, football is one of the last opportunities available to children that teaches how to compete, how to succeed, and how to respond to failure. These values give participants a leg up when they eventually hit the adult world.

How Democracy Dies

Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez took another step towards the final strangulation of democracy in his country this week. He announced a proposal to eliminate presidential term limits and the rubber stamp National Assembly will undoubtedly approve enthusiastically. Venezuela's people will again suffer from Chavez's quest for absolute and permanent power.

Wealthy people, private enterprise, and the middle class definitely suffer. A business climate requires the rule of law and protection of private property. Without these guarantees, investment dwindles and people lose opportunities. The poor suffer as well. They may appreciate the crumbs thrown their way by the government, but the opportunity for real advancement (except through the government) disappears. Even though Venezuela sits atop a major oil pool, the state ownership of much of that resource means that the private sector must kowtow to Chavez. One wonders if Jimmy Carter received a gift basket for his certification of the rigged vote that assured Chavez of continued power.

Term limits have generally defined the limits of our presidential system. George Washington rejected pleas for a third term because he wanted to avoid the precedent of a man serving until he died. Washington died in 1799, two years before his possible third term would have ended. Franklin Roosevelt broke the third term barrier due to an unusual national emergency and served until his 1945 death. Since then a constitutional amendment bars third terms.

America benefits from this limitation. The strain of the job wears down the holder of the job mentally and physically. Few leaders have the kind of political and state responsibilities that the American president has. Early Roman Emperors who shared their authority with other bodies provide a parallel. However the immense power drove many of them mad within their first decade of rule. Being Caesar for too long can mentally unbalance a person, or physically destroy them (like FDR.)

Chavez has few political worries except for a bullet in the head. However he presents a danger to his people and to US influence in the region. Hopefully his murder of Venezuelan democracy will inspire other Latin Americans to hold even tighter to their freedoms. Conversely he has grown into an inspirational figure for loony leftists such as the mayor of Macon, Georgia who requested a partnership with him. Does he think he can inspire revolution here? Likely. His activities require watching.