Sean Penn Points to Dennise Kucinich as Free World Leader

Actor Sean Penn is expected to announce Dennise Kucinich is his choice for president. Among Penn's credentals for picking the president of the United State is meeting with Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Return of Jerry Mezzatesta?

Because of the relevance of the saga of the fallen former Hampshire County Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta to the Eastern Mineral County and the Potomac Highlands, I have re-posted the following from my post at the Think Tank this morning:

---

The Return of the Mezz?

Well, hopefully not.Former Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta is trying to get old job back at Hampshire County Schools. The Daily Mail reports:

Bailey urged Taylor to uphold the grievance board's decision, while Bruce asked that Mezzatesta be allowed back in his previous position and awarded back pay, Bailey said.

Back pay? Does this fellow have ANY shame?

Aside from diverting $35,000 in education grants to a local fire department, the Mezz and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destroying and altering legislative computer records in Kanahwa County in 2004.

And of course, the Mezz wanted the taxpayers to foot the bill for his trip to the magistrate as Eric Eyre reported back in December of 2004.

Former House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta wants the state to reimburse him nearly $1,000 for a three-day visit to Charleston during which he cleaned out his office, said goodbye to friends, and pleaded no contest to a criminal charge in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.Mezzatesta has requested "duty day" pay for this past Saturday, Sunday and Monday at $150 each day. He also put in for $115 in expenses for each of those days, and $192 for mileage to and from his home in Romney.

If you don't recall or weren't around for the fall of the mighty former House Education Chairman (who was also former Speaker Bob Kiss' right hand man), you can read about it here in this award winning series by Eric Eyre at the Charleston Gazette.

Speaking of Don Surber

When he is not blogging, Don Surber has a weekly column at the Charleston Daily Mail, which is the closest thing we get to relief from the morning paper here on the banks of the old Kanawha.

Just like most Thursdays and the occasional Saturday, Don has a column out today, in which he demonstrates that Bush deserves credit if Iran is indeed abandoning their pursuit of nuclear arms. Here is my favorite line:

The real danger to the world is not a strong commander-in-chief. It is a weak
one. A mealy-mouthed one. One who worries more about world opinion than he does about the world's security.

His columns are often humorous and entertaining to read, but he has a knack for understanding history and how current events will be woven into its fabric.

Hello, Everyone!

Hello, I am Charles Bolen, Vice-President of the West Virginia Republican Club. I am above with the love of my life, Crystal. You can visit my MySpace page at: http://myspace.com/charlesbolen

I live in Charleston, and am also occasionally known in the blogosphere as the unofficial chief of the "South Hills Bureau" of Don Surber's world famous blog at the Charleston Daily Mail (closing in rapidly on 2 million served - click on his counter and look at where all the hits come from. It is amazing.)

I was invited to participate by my good friends at the Potomac Highlands Republican Club, and I hope to be able to share some interesting news and commentary in the future.

To learn more about the West Virginia Republican Club, you can visit our website at: http://wvrepublicanclub.org/ and you can visit our blog "Think Tank" at http://blog.wvrepublicanclub.org/. My good friend Gary Howell will also be posting there from time to time.

O, O, it's Magic? No.

Oprah Winfrey has thrown her hat into the ring. Sort of.

Winfrey has emerged as a very public supporter of Barrack Obama in the past couple of weeks. Her media empire and friends have geared up to try and place the young whippersnapper into office despite his lack of experience and occasional zaniness. The question is, why?

The question of the United States having a black president is resoundingly when. Certainly it is likely that this is an issue Winfrey cares deeply about and she has decided to place her influence behind Obama. However, is this merely an issue of a black media figure supporting a black politician? Likely not.

Obama as a senator from Illinois has served in a position to help the Chicago based Winfrey if possible. Since Obama presently trails by a considerable margin in the polls, if he somehow emerged as a winner, this bolsters Winfrey's stature considerably. The president would be beholden to Winfrey as a result. Since Winfrey and the shirtless dancing twit are involved it is packaged as fresh and hip. Really it is old fashioned power and media politics.

Winfrey may be able to sway book sales and movie viewership, but her effect on voting is likely not going to be overwhelming. First, she backed a dud. If this was merely a question of "it is time for a black president" then Condoleeza Rice is the most qualified contender. A more seasoned Michael Steele in the future would also be a prime candidate. However it is unlikely that Winfrey could exercise influence over either of these people.

Most likely Winfrey will experience a slight backlash. Celebrities such as Winfrey gain influence because people see some of themselves in the media figure. Perception is shaped by the idea that "she is like me." Politics represents one of the most divisive issues of any democratic state and Winfrey risks alienating part of her audience. Celebrities don't understand that their audience watches them to escape stressful issues such as politics. Winfrey's audience watches her because she is not Olberman or O'Reilly. Some are Republicans and likely quite a few support Hillary Clinton (many of them because they feel "it is time for a woman president"). Once she breaks that boundary, she becomes another political hack.

Obama will get less of a bump from Winfrey than Mike Huckabee has gotten from Chuck Norris. Winfrey's touch in this case will not produce any magic.

Senator Weeks' new book blows lid off WV government lies and malfeasance

(Press Release) BECKLEY — Former State Senator Russ Weeks has written a new book about his four years in the West Virginia Legislature, blowing the lid off various cover-ups, lies and examples of malfeasance in state government.

In "No Strings Attached," Senator Weeks exposes the corruption, duplicity and self-serving interests of the politicians who hold West Virginians hostage.

Senator Weeks, a Navy veteran who ran for office believing one man could make a difference, exposes the hypocrisy of state government in the Mountain State, and reveals an insider’s account of the true story behind:

• Governor Joe Manchin’s handling of the Sago tragedy and the real reason behind the emergency mine legislation that followed the event.
• The cover-ups and government interference regarding serious allegations at a West Virginia healthcare facility, and the heavy-handed efforts to stop Senator Weeks from pursuing the truth.
• The charade of the lawmaking process, and how bills are often changed long after being approved by the legislature.
• The real reason West Virginia ranks last in almost every category.
  

"No Strings Attached" is a riveting first-hand account of government malfeasance at its most shocking, told by the man who held the same Senate seat once occupied by Robert C. Byrd.

And Sen. Weeks issues a challenge to readers: “Now that you know what’s going on with your elected officials, what are you going to do about it?” You can order the book by clicking here.

Former state Senator Russ Weeks is a lifelong West Virginian who served in the Navy, where he was directly involved with the Cuban Missile Crisis. After a career in private business, he was elected to the West Virginia Senate.

He and his wife, Helen, reside in Beckley, West Virginia.

Shelley Moore Capito Delivers on National Security Again

The nightmare scenario that few of us want to think about and that the liberals want to pretend won't happen is all too possible. Imagine a WMD strike on Washington DC, turning the metropolitan area too "hot" for habitation. Hundreds of thousands flee the stricken area. Our region turns into the front line of the war on terror.


In such a situation, those guarding the ramparts ensuring our safety become our National Guard, state troopers, and fire fighters. That is why Representative Shelley Moore Capito's work to secure a $66,500 grant for the Capon Springs Volunteer fire department is so vital. As Capito explains, “The Capon Springs Volunteer Fire Department is vital to the local community, but faces challenges with limited financial resources." The equipment such grants help these departments obtain will prove vital whether these men and women respond to a local emergency or regional disaster. According to Capito, “This grant will help purchase a much needed mobile compressor trailer that will service all fire departments in the area. These are volunteers that willingly serve their neighbors in need and it’s important that they have the resources to do their job.”


Once again our Republican Representative in Congress has shown that her office can bring home needed help for some of our most necessary organizations, even when hers is the minority party. We should be thankful for Representative Capito. While liberals in the House of Representatives raise the bar on foolishness, for example debating articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney of all people, at least Representative Capito and other Republicans get some real and important work accomplished.

Unions’ Power Grab Threatens Democracy, Funds Left

The text is a spotlight article in the Townhall Forum. I have occasionally seen mention of this scheme elsewhere. No doubt it will be coming soon to the West Virginia legislature.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Did you know that the radical Left and its labor union allies have a scheme to dump billions of new money into political races in support of left wing candidates?

Their plan is to end the requirement for secret ballots in unionizing elections and to substitute a process called “card check” that would let union organizers intimidate and coerce workers into joining a union by signing cards publicly, instead of casting ballots in private.

Union leaders like Andy Stern are crowing that “card check” will mean “unions will grow by 1.5 million members a year, not just for five years but for 10 to 15 straight years.” That’s why organized labor expects up to $5 billion in new forced dues as unions organize thousands of additional workplaces.

This windfall will provide labor and the far left with unprecedented political resources and power. The federal government will grow, taxes will rise, social entitlement programs will swell, and free-market policies will be eliminated.

In 2007 unions successfully passed a “card check” law through the House and convinced a majority of Senators to vote to eradicate workplace democracy. Only the threat of an extended filibuster stopped their drive in the Senate. But the unions expect to have enough Senate votes after the 2008 elections.

But there is good news. When asked which system they prefer, the public overwhelmingly chooses secret ballots over “card check” (78%-12%). Yet few Americans are aware of organized labor’s back room lobbying that threatens to push “card check” passage in early 2009.

Unless the public hears about this potential hijacking of democracy in their workplace, they won’t object to it. And they need to hear about it soon and often.

That Ron Paul Thing

Depending on who you ask, Ron Paul is either a minor blip on the Republican radar or a force with the capability to derail both our state nominating convention and the presidential race (at least as far as Republicans are concerned.) Paul runs for the Republican nomination on ideas of isolationism and staunch economic libertarianism. His supporters tend to show tremendous zeal and uncompromising enthusiasm for their man and his stands.

Count me as one not worried. Ron Paul's ideas sound like the platform of James A. Garfield or some other GOP nominee from over a hundred yeas ago. Less government and less regulation I can support to an extent. However the Great Depression proved that free trade is essential to maintaining prosperity and security for America in the world. Paul's supporters want to return to the old "Fortress America" concept of isolation. Who would they rather guide the affairs of the world? Russia? China? In an age of ICBMs and terrorists, America will never be safe in an isolated cocoon. The evil doers of the world hate the example of freedom we set. No amount of non involvement would save us.

Paul does have zealous supporters and gained a strong foothold in West Virginia's state Republican presidential convention. However, as Gary Abernathy points out, the declared delegates are all Paul will get. Paul's supporters will not go uncommitted. It is unlikely that more than a small handful of uncommitted will choose a non mainstream candidate except as perhaps a protest vote. Republicans do not tend to protest.

Nationally some worry about Paul forming a third party and siphoning votes from the GOP nominee. The fact is that someone like Paul runs in every presidential election and that party has remained in existence a very long time. The Libertarians are not, as some put it "Republicans that smoke pot," but they do share values with free market GOPers. At the end of the day, as usual, many Libertarians will choose what they see as the lesser of two evils. They will vote against Big Government Hillary.

Paul does have committed and hard working supporters. They have effectively marketed him in the new media. Over time mainstream candidates in both major parties will study Paul's campaign and try to emulate the positive features. However, Paul's campaign (if indeed he does move to a third party candidacy) will likely not pose a strong threat to Republican chances IF the nominee can charismatically and effectively stand behind true GOP principles this spring, summer, and fall.

Scare tactics used against Mineral County residents

Thursday night I attended one of the 6 comprehensive plan meetings in Fort Ashby. This is actually the first one that I have been able to attend because of scheduling conflicts with the other events.

One of the things that was repeatedly mentioned was that the whole of Mineral County is running out of water. One person even stated that we should put a moratorium on development, because we don't have any water to support additional growth. It was also stated that there are only two sources of water used for drinking in the county, Patterson Creek and New Creek.

All of these statements were completely wrong. There were several county officials both elected and appointed in the room. County officials just allowed this incorrect information to go unchecked. There were people that left that meeting believing that Mineral County has run out of water. That is wrong and that is a failure of the county government to properly inform the public. This was the 5th meeting so the county had plenty of time to have the correct information at the meeting.

Keep in mind this was a public input meeting on the development of the new comprehensive plan. The public was then using this incorrect information to make suggestions. Suggestions in many cases based on the fear of running out of water. One of those suggestions based on this incorrect water information was the one requesting a moratorium on new development. Think about that for a minute stop new development in a county that has a major job shortage.

Let's look at the real facts that county officials know:

The statement was made that Mineral County gets all its water from two sources Patterson Creek and New Creek. That statement is incorrect and was not corrected in the meeting. The Real Water Source Facts:

• Keyser & New Creek Water Systems - Source: New Creek
• Piedmont Water System - Source: Savage River in Garrett County, MD
• Fountain & Unfinished Burlington Systems - Source: Wells
• Fort Ashby Water System - Source Patterson Creek
• Carpendale - Source: Well
  
• Ridgeley, & Wiley Ford - Source: Evetts Creek in Allegany County, MD and Bedford County, PA.
• Elk Garden Water System - Source: Reservoir in Grant County

Letting people believe the entire county is only serviced by two sources of water creates fear. The drought in Georgia was brought up several times to increase that fear. The reality is much different.

According to the USGS, the average water usage per person in United States is 100 gallons. According to the 2000 Census there were 27,078 people in Mineral County. Working out the math that means that Mineral County on average uses 2.7 million gallons of water a day.

According to the USGS the median (average) discharge over a 68 year period is 61 cubic feet per second at Headsville, which is above the Fort Ashby water filtration plant. That works out to 456.28 gallons per second, or 39.4 million gallons a day. So 6.8% of the average flow of Patterson Creek could supply the entire county and it is not asked too nor will it ever be asked to supply the entire county.

Now Mineral County does not use Jennings Randolph Lake as a water supply. According to the US Corp of Engineers, the design of the dam allocates 41,000 acre feet of water storage for water supply. 1 acre foot of water is 325,851.42 gallons. If the Potomac River was to stop flowing today that 41,000 acre feet of water supply is enough to supply Mineral County for the next 13.5 years!!!! Jennings Randolph Lake holds a lot more than 41,000 acre feet. It holds an additional 51,000 acre feet for water quality control. And additional unused 36,200 acre feet are allocated for flood control.

Below the dam at Barnum in 1976 the lowest Potomac River flow was recorded at 142 cubic feet per second. To put that in perspective 10% of the lowest recorded flow could be supply water to a population of just under 100,000 or roughly 4 times the population of Mineral County. 10% of the average flow could supply the daily needs of around a 1/4 million people, and this is all from a source of water we currently do not use!

Is there a water supply problem in the county? No, water is our most abundant resource. There is a problem with the older water systems needing to be upgraded and a distribution problem.

18 miles of piping can connect the current water systems in county together. This would allow transfer of water between systems if needed. If one systems runs low on water or has quality issues, then another system could supply its needs on a temporary basis. In West Virginia the average cost of laying a mile of water pipe is around $200,000. That means the 18 miles of pipe could be laid for around $4 million. To put that in perspective, the sewer project in the north end of the county is a $40 million project. In addition to those 18 miles of pipe about another $4 million in modernization and pipeline upgrades is needed. All is doable and Homeland Security even has money available for connecting systems together to provide water system security.

So why is the public being instilled with false sense of fear that we are running out of water? One of the statements made in the meeting tells the story. When the person said, we should put a moratorium on development, that was the goal of those pushing the myth we are running out of water. There are people in this county that want no economic growth. They do whatever they can to stop businesses from moving into Mineral County and by scaring people by creating the myth we are running out of water is their latest attempt to stop economic development.