Friday, December 21, 2007

West Virginia Is Pretty Much United On This Issue

Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you, coach.

Rich Rodriguez may be the most hated man in West Virginia right now. A Huntington resident I ran into today mentioned that he definitely replaced Baldwin and Felts as the most despised figure in state history. That is pretty notable since Baldwin and Felts Detective Agency went out of existence in the 1930s.

Why the hatred? We took special pride in Rodriguez because he was one of our own. When he returned to the state, it seemed a natural progression. Many folks left West Virginia to find opportunity then took less pay than they could have gotten elsewhere to return. Rodriguez talked the talk of pride, love of home, and family. He told us what we always believed in our hearts was true. That's why it's worse with Rodriguez than Belein. We knew he wasn't from here, that he was probably just passing through.

Then came last year's dalliance with Alabama. We consoled ourselves by saying he just used them for leverage. That was just us deluding ourselves. He had every intention of leaving regardless of his words to the contrary. It was not even to a better situation, except in terms of his pay. Rodriguez had a golden opportunity to win a title at West Virginia and cement his name as a hero.

Uncounted people dipped into their savings and donated money to keep him here because they took him at his word. Not all of them could afford it. That's why West Virginians from the governor on down are angry.

Now apparently we have Terry Bowden, another West Virginian. He has been to the big time as a head coach and wants to come back here. Objectively this could work out better for West Virginia. Like Belein, Big East opponents had figured out the system. When Wannstedt stifles a running game, it is a huge red flag. Bowden will be less conservative of a play caller, hopefully opening up some room for Slaton and Devine to run while allowing White to finally showcase his arm. This is one time where being conservative can be counter-productive!

Anyway, we will be fine as a state and a football team.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

An appropriate penance

What should happen to a Charleston disk jockey who rubs our noses in Rodriguez's departure?


This is a start.


You can read more at the Charleston Daily Mail.

Better City Government for Keyser

The City of Keyser is reportedly considering a modification to its charter which would change the City Council from three members to five. This would at least diminish the likelihood that the Council would, in the future, get into its present woeful state where there are two members, causing the Council meeting to be postponed if one can't or won't attend, and giving either council member a veto by virtue of their ability to withhold a second for any motion made. If only to alleviate chaos, a charter change to add two more members would be warranted.

There would be the additional benefit of being able to add two additional portfolios which might help the Council deal more directly with issues of concern to the citizenry, and the concerns of businesses and other organizations which are in Keyser, or are considering locating in Keyser. I would argue that one of the new seats should be a director of planning who would represent the City on planning committees and commissions, and who would, over time, lead in the development of long and mid-range plans for the City. With the new 220 bridge moving closer to the construction phase, the City needs to take a good look at how the actual construction process is going to impact on the areas adjoining the construction site on the Keyser side. The Arnold Street Bridge, a relatively small project, was far too disruptive for far too long a time to be acceptable. The 220 bridge is a vastly larger project with the potential of devastating businesses and other activities located near the project. In addition, there will certainly be a need for and interest in redeveloping downtown Keyser after the bridge has been completed; the planning for that should start immediately so that investor interest can be capitalized upon, and where grants may be needed, Keyser is able to get in the queue early, and muster the support it will need.

A second portfolio could be intergovernmental relations. There are a plethora of situations in which nothing much can be done because the state or county does them, but not inside city limits. For example, deer and other wildlife are proliferating and increasingly becoming a nuisance. Do we want the police called to shoot groundhogs, shoot or poison them ourselves, or should the DNR have some more effective provisions for handling wildlife nuisances in city limits? Another example would be water and sewer lines outside the city. It certainly appears that if anyone chooses to develop property near Keyser, all they have to do is petition the State Public Service Commission to order Keyser to take them into the existing systems, and it will be so ordered, even though they are not incorporated into the city. There are other problems, as well. In addition, this council member would be the one who developed the City's legislative package for each session of the State Legislature, and worked with the County Commission and the School Board, as well.

Keyser has a chance to move itself from the ridiculous to the sublime, and the voters need to express their strong support for a charter change

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

2007 Year in Review

It’s hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. 2007, to say the least, has been an eventful year all around.

Riding their wave of 2006, Democrats brought new leadership on the national level in 2007. The faces were new, but the Democrats turned out to be the same tax and spend party that still can not stand up to our nation's enemies.

Nancy Pelosi was selected to be the first female Speaker of the House and together with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; they have managed to make history – by achieving all-time low approval ratings. Never had there been approval ratings lower than what we see in Congress today.

The Democrats believed that they had a mandate to end the Iraqi front of the Global War on Terror. Fortunately for our nation, they have failed to deliver on that campaign promise, along with many others.

Thanks to our nation's resolve, President Bush has changed course in Iraq, by sending a surge of military personnel to the area. The result was lower violence, safer neighborhoods and refugee Iraqis returning home again.

Back home at the national level, we have been enjoying continuous economic growth.
According to the National Bureau for Labor and Statistics, more than 8.1 million mobs have been created since August 2003.

This past September alone, our economy created 110,000 jobs. September 2007 is the 49th consecutive month of job growth, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted expansion of the U.S. labor market.

With an $8.3 billion reduction in the trade deficit, our exports and Gross Domestic Product have grown 14.8 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Thanks to the President's tax cuts; we have seen this record job growth, while we continue bringing in record revenues to our nation's treasury. Tax cuts do work.

What we have not seen is the growth coming into West Virginia.

Forbes Magazine recently released their 2007 rankings of states' business climate.
West Virginia dropped to 50th, last in the nation. In 2006, in wake of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana was able to keep us at 49th. But that state's recovery efforts brought them up out of the basement in 2007, leaving West Virginia in last place once again.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia ranked once again 50th in Legal Climate, landing us #1 once again as a judicial hell-hole for the 2nd year in a row.
You would think with ratings such at these, that our new legislature would go to the statehouse and work to make our state business friendly, bring real civil justice reform, and improve our business climate. They did not.

Because Bob Kiss did not run for re-election in 2006 the House Democrats selected a new Speaker: trial lawyer Rick Thompson of Wayne County. Under Thompson's leadership, we continue to see broken promises by the Democrats during the 2007 Legislative session.
On the campaign trail in 2006, many Democrat legislators claimed that they were pro-life and pledged to support parental notification legislation. But with abortion on demand activist Carrie Webster handed the gavel to the powerful House Judiciary Committee, parental notification never saw the light of day.

In 2006, West Virginia House Democrats argued that they supported the parental notification bill, but were protecting the committee process by failing to discharge it from then House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jon Amores' desk.

Twelve current House Democrats failed on their promise to fight for parental notifications by voting with former Speaker Kiss and Chairman Amores to prevent consideration of parental notification on the House floor last year. "Protect the Committee Process" was their mantra.

The committee process didn't seem as important with 2006 Mine Safety Bill demanded by Governor Manchin in the wake of the Sago tragedy. It passed in 6 hours and completely bypassed the committee process altogether - the same process they were so adamant about protecting when pro-life members were trying to protect the unborn. In 2007, the parental notification bill and all other pro-life bills were pronounced dead on arrival. The "pro-life" Speaker will not stand up to his Judiciary Committee Chairwoman.

In 2006, Democrat Doug Reynolds of Cabell County had promised that he would vote against renewing a temporary gas tax. In 2007, Freshman Delegate Doug Reynolds broke his campaign promise and voted to keep the gasoline tax increase permanent.

Another item on the Democrat agenda was the expansion of gambling in West Virginia to include Las Vegas-style table games at the racetracks.

This arguably unconstitutional vote allowed only four counties to have a voice in what affects the entire state. There are people who live within sight of the Tri-State Greyhound Park in Cross Lanes who were denied the right to decide if they wanted table games in their backyard, because they lived on the wrong side of the Putnam-Kanawha county line. However, people over forty miles away on the Kanawha side Montgomery had a vote.

The residents of the Putnam side of Nitro were let down by their legislators: Delegates Dale Martin and Brady Paxton. Both Democrats both voted for passage of the table games bill and in the process allowed their constituents to be disenfranchised.

The legislature also deemed necessary that our cities and municipalities in West Virginia would be allowed to pass home rule ordinances. A five-year pilot program will soon be in place for five cities. Home Rule will give these cities power to create their own taxes to be imposed on citizens and businesses, the same citizens and businesses that are over taxed as it is..

Nowhere in this legislation was the requirement that citizens within these city limits would have a vote to permit these changes. Officials will soon have the power to impose yet more taxes on working families that already face one of the highest total tax burdens in the nation.
Instead of shifting some of the power to tax to the local level, the Democrats simply are planning on allowing another government hand in your pocket, without reducing your tax burden at the state level.

In a futile attempt to appear to be "pro-business", the Democrats enacted a reduction in the Business Franchise Tax - by a whopping quarter of one percent (.25%). Small businesses nibble on the crumbs handed down by the ruling party, and real tax reform is once again forgotten. With the Democrats running the legislature, we can forget about eliminating regressive business taxes that are in place such those levied on inventory, machinery and equipment.

Other bills that the legislature spent their limited sixty-day session on were: allowing the transportation of roadkill across state lines, building prison nurseries for inmate mothers, and clarifying that fish feces were not sludge.

As another year end draws near, we hold our glasses high and hope that 2008 and the election that it carries will bring the changes we desperately need.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Big Daddy "emeritus"

This evening the World Famous Don Surber analyzes an article in politico.com that reports that Byrd be getting his wings clipped on the Senate Appropriations Committee soon.

Apparently, Senate Democrats are growing impatient waiting for Byrd's time to come and have decided to bump him off as the leading Democrat on Appropriations, a post he has held for over 20 years, by giving him the figurehead title of "Chairman Emeritus"

Senator Byrd Addresses the Senate

Could Darryl McGraw Be Near the Dustbin of History?

For years the McGraw family held a stranglehold over a section of the Democratic Party. They held sway by stoking the anti-corporate resentments that a large segment of West Virginians have carried since the early part of the last century. Warren McGraw a few years back lost his seat on the State Supreme Court of Appeals to free market defender Brent Benjamin. This could register as a sign that the old prejudices are dying off quickly. Could Warren's brother Darryl be next?

As attorney general, Darryl McGraw has unceasingly waged war on those seeking to do business in West Virginia and with the state government. His regular lawsuits help to create an anti-business climate. Certainly when our state gets referred to as a "judicial hellhole," part of the problem lies in McGraw's aggressive stance.

The long time incumbent may not make it through the primaries this time. Hoppy Kercheval reported recently that Governor Manchin's chief legal counsel Carte Goodwin might be considering a run. A charismatic former Ripley football and basketball standout, he will likely have the support of the state's business community as well as the ever popular governor. The pragmatic Goodwin would be a much more business friendly nominee for the Democratic Party than the incumbent. A successful tenure in a Board of Public Works position could serve as a springboard to the Governor's Mansion as well.

If this comes to pass, it could also signal a possible wider goal for Manchin. Republicans have rightly leveled criticism at his administration for baby steps towards free market reforms. Economic experts have proven that former Soviet republics currently have a more business friendly climate. Manchin's faction of the Democratic Party must understand that should the Republicans organize a strong effort in 2008, they could achieve a great deal. Almost eighty years of Democratic rule have done little for the state's economic position. Voters will hold Democrats responsible if they do not see real change soon.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hither and Yon

Ever since it was declared that Mineral County should cease development or risk running out of water, God has seen fit to drench the region with rain and snow almost every single day .

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The Grant County Press reported lottery payouts to local governments.

Hampshire, $2,803.63; Hardy, $1,698.89; Mineral, $11,039.98; Pendleton, $157.51; Tucker, $153.15.
Petersburg received a payment of $176.37 and Bayard picked up $21.76.
Some other cities and their payments were: Franklin, $16.97; Keyser, $3,109.46; Moorefield, $401.56; Romney, $301.12: Wardensville, $41.59; and Elk Garden, $127.24.

From the new table games account, Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, and Pendleton each received $242.65. Cities received $57.67.

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Antiwar protesters love using quotations. Ever notice that? They love to drag some quote out of context to try and prove that Founding Fathers or other respectable people share their viewpoints. The Devil can even cite Scripture for his own purposes. People's actions reflect their nature better than their words. Yes John Adams discussed the evil of war, but he built up a United States Navy and sent it to war, as did his successor Thomas Jefferson.

Quotations are easy to memorize and antiwar folks are very good at learning their lines. However, true wisdom lies in knowledge AND understanding. Ron Paul on his website utterly distorts the meaning of Washington's Farewell Address. Knowing the text helps one to under stand that Washington meant only Europe. Understanding the man could lead one to believe that Washington's nature was far from dogmatic. He changed his approaches to problems in life, war, and politics readily. When someone uses a quote alone to argue a point, it may serve as a red flag that he or she has chosen the easy way out and does not truly understand.

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Can someone please explain why that beautiful evergreen tree on the Mineral County courthouse lawn is not decorated for Christmas?

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Sean Penn has visited the dictators of Iran and Venezuela. All three agree that Dennis Kucinich is the right president for the United States. With those kinds of endorsements, who could lose

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All baseball players found to have used steroids need their statistics and awards expunged from the record books. It would be nice to see the fans get their money back from these cheaters.
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The New York Times has a long history of looking the other way in the face of leftist terror. Seventy five years ago last month, their correspondent Walter Duranty reported at the height of the Stalin imposed famine, "there is no actual starvation or deaths from starvation." Reports of hundreds of thousands, even millions of deaths he called "Malignant propaganda." In Ukraine alone perhaps five million died during this crisis imposed by Stalin's desire to communize farming.

At the New York Times, bending over backwards to accommodate dictators has been tradition.

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Don't forget about the Harrison County Republican Club Dinner on Friday December 21. Tommy Phillips and the Harrison County Club have done an outstanding job putting together a Christmas dinner. The food will be terrific, the speakers and good times even better.

2007 Harrison County Republican Club Christmas DinnerDecember 21, 2007

Social - 5:30 P.M. -

Dinner 6:00 P.M.Cottage Corner Restaraunt in SalemGuest Speaker -

St. Senator Clark Barnes (R-Randolph)Auctioneer - Rocky PeckTickets - $20.00 per person

Please contact - HCRC President Tommy Phillips - (304)672-6890


HCRC Vice President Jack Pringle - (304)669-3781

Also in attendance will be Republican candidate for the 14th Senatorial District Gary Howell.




I couldn't have said it better myself . . .

Like I've said before, Republican primaries give me heartburn. The present contest is no exception.

An e-mailer to The Corner at National Review Online had this to say about Mike Huckabee. I don't typically copy-and-paste, but I this statement encapsulates my personal view on the situation perfectly. This e-mail is part of a larger conversation about evangelical sensitivity to criticism of Pastor Huckabee.

"I think what a lot of evangelicals may be missing here is that many non-evangelical conservatives are completely baffled, and frustrated, by the amount of support for the non-conservative Bush-channeling Huckabee. When we sit back and look at the amount of frustration and consternation that Bush has caused among conservatives, and then see Huckabee (who represents everything bad about Bush, with few of his positive characteristics) gaining the support of a fourth of our party, we have to ask ourselves why. The most obvious answer seems to be that he is attracting so much support because he is the only evangelical candidate in the race. To many conservatives, well at least to me, this idea that we should betray conservative principles in order to support a candidate with the right religious credentials is more than shocking, it is abhorrent, and the result is an anti-evangelical backlash. I consider myself a social conservative, and share so much common ground with evangelicals that it truly hurts me to see the strain being placed on our relationship. But as long as their power is used to push a statist non-conservative candidate on our party, we will not be seeing eye-to-eye."

Mike Huckabee is the wrong man to lead this country. I hope our party sees that clearly.