Democrat Showdown Looming

We're not just talking about Clinton versus Obama either.

The West Virginia Young Democrats called for a complete halt on the assigning of permits for mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia. This certainly cannot sit well with traditional supporters of the West Virginia Democratic Party such as the United Mine Workers of America. It also shows that many liberal Democrats do choose to live in some sort of bubble world where reality strikes about as often as the tooth fairy.

Did they not watch the news last night? Shortages of energy around the world have helped spin off a rise in food prices. Coal is a vital part of America's energy solution and West Virginians are heading off to good paying jobs in coal related operations. In the long term, coal must replace oil entirely as an energy source for power plants. The explosion of electric car use will place even more strains on our grid. We need to use our coal, corn, wind, natural gas, and water resources.

That's where the West Virginia Young Democrats don't get it. Like most liberals they believe energy comes from some sort of magical place. In the real world that some Democrats and most Republicans inhabit, we realize that the needs of people must be balanced against our desire to preserve nature as it is. In the real world we need to mine more coal, we need to drill for natural gas, we need to build hydroelectric stations on some of our rivers, we need to put windmills on some of our ridges. You can put West Virginians to work and put a dent in our nation's oil demand at the same time. We can't leave all of nature unspoiled in the process, but we cannot ask Americans to sacrifice their standard of living either. Not only do we rely on energy, but the world relies on us to produce many of its necessities for it.

That is the solution that Republicans and real world oriented Democrats favor. The Young Democrats are completely out of touch. Their advocacy for a halt to coal permits pits them against their elders. It also shows locally the growing rift in the Democratic Party. Older voters and industrial workers who understand the world as it is have less and less in common with the young Obama supporting intellectuals who see the anti-American George Soros as their guru. We are seeing Democrats battle over the soul of their party nationally, and now at the state level as well.

Manchin-Bresch Scandal Cost WVU $2 million in donations

AP Article

Degree scandal costs WVU $2M donation of cash and art

The Greatness of Our Country

Sometimes in the midst of criticizing politicians and the leadership of our country it is easy to forget that we live in the greatest nation to have ever existed. There are many ways to see the greatness of our country. Traveling for example. This past weekend I traveled through 3 different states and a number of counties, townships, towns, and cities without any need for a passport or need to speak another language. When I needed to stop for a drink and a snack, I had a choice of not only what to drink, but also where to purchase that drink and snack. Only on rare stretches of road would I have had to wait more than 10 minutes to find the next store or rest stop. I never plan out where I need to fill up my gas tank because there are ample choices for gas stations in any direction that I drive. At all points in my drive I received a choice of radio stations that were coming to me for free and when needed I was able to stop and connect to the internet to check a few pending work related questions that I needed to answer.

Another example of the greatness of our country is the ability for Americans to constantly find new ways to create their own jobs and businesses. My wife and I are planning some remodeling. I always look for coupons and came across Lowes coupons being sold on auction websites. I never would have thought of this, but many Lowes stores are only a few miles from their major competitor Home Depot. Both stores offer promotions for 10-20% and run specials on their products. Someone figured out that even though these coupons are only good one time at either store, however, the other store will offer price matching plus an additional 10% off of whatever you are purchasing. So, after using their coupon at Home Depot, they sell the coupon to a Lowes customer who takes it to their local Lowes store and is given an equal discount off of their purchase. It's easily worth a couple of bucks to buy a coupon that will save up to $500 on a major purchase. It's entirely possible that an employee at one of the chains just collects these coupons during each shift and sells them on eBay. Doesn't sound like a lot but a person making $7 per hour can nearly double their income by collecting 1 coupon per hour and selling it for $5. 10 per day 5 days a week 10 weeks per year (coupons aren't available all year long at most stores) = an extra $2,500 per year or for a $7 per hour employee = 9 weeks worth of work.

Regardless of what the economy is doing there are always opportunities to earn extra money. It may take a little effort. It may take a little thought, but the opportunity is always there for Americans. We truly live in a great country.

There are countless ways to see the greatness of this country and I hope that all of us will remember that as we go through what is promising to be a rough election season.

It's Wrong in Either Case

Yesterday came the story that fifteen year old pop sensation Miley Cyrus may have some issues with her portrayal in a Vanity Fair photo shoot. The photographer took pictures of the minor child semi-nude in sexually provocative poses and facial expressions. What was shown on the news ranged from inappropriate to downright nauseating. Cyrus' popularity comes from a fan base among middle American children whose parents look to an ever shrinking pool of family friendly entertainers for role models. Some of it also comes from country fans who liked her father's music. Meanwhile others debate that the pictures do not reveal anything and that many are simply overreacting. Cyrus herself seemed to approve of the pictures prior to publication, but afterwards criticized the final product.

First of all, her opinion either way is irrelevant. As a minor she has no capacity to consent. Not many fathers in the United States of America would approve of their children being portrayed in a sexually provocative manner. Why Billy Ray Cyrus approved the publication of racy photos of his daughter is beyond me. Vanity Fair is full of wacko liberals. He ought to know better, being raised a Kentucky boy. Some argue that this controversy will increase her marketability and it certainly will among sleazy men that paid discomforting amounts of attention to Brittany Spears when she was a minor.

This debate comes on the heels of the breakup of the fundamentalist Mormon ranch where a charismatic leader apparently established a culture that encouraged older men to regard teenage girls as sex and marriage possibilities. Women described being shown to older men in ways that resemble a meat market. While there are strong reasons to debate whether or not the government should interfere in polygamy when the participants are consenting adults, no one argues that teenage girls ought to have sex with older men forced upon them at so young an age.

Interestingly the media and society see the cultural sexualization of teenage girls differently depending upon who does it. If a liberal magazine portrays a girl provocatively, people defend it. After all, the girl will make money from it someday. Others see it as art. Fundamentalist Mormons are not part of mainstream culture, so they get no media defenders. They see it as their culture's way to create a strong family.

In BOTH CASES the sexualization of teenage girls is WRONG! The fundamentalist sect and the modern sleaze media industry now run on parallel paths, selling the sexuality of young women with no regard as to how it affects them and how they are viewed by others. Young girls get bombarded with sexually charged imagery even in magazines produced exclusively for them. (I have a teenage daughter and I have seen them. A parent should always know what they are up against when it comes to influences.) Most issues are devoted to giving tips on how to lose weight and look better. Some run articles that try to help the girls figure out their sexual orientation (I kid you not!)

This disturbing path in how the media views children has developed recently as the culture grows more and more youth obsessed. It's time for America to wake up and start pushing back. If nothing else, the parents of these celebrity girls need to put the media in check. It is just as wrong to sell your child's soul for money as it is to believe your soul can be saved by giving your minor pride and joy to an elderly man in marriage. Look at the results, broken and destroyed spirits whether they are nameless women who fled these compounds or Lindsay Lohan and Spears. They all lost their childhood and spend large parts of broken lives picking up the pieces.

Common Sense, Right?

Say you are living in a house on several acres of property many miles out a dirt road. You and your family are at home in the middle of the night. Suddenly you hear a window break and the sound of strange feet on your hardwood floors.

Say you are a single mother with a few kids. Some creepy guy has followed you home the last couple of nights. Now it is three AM and you hear your locked door being pried open.

Another single mother just got the courage to break up with her abusive boyfriend. He swears she will never live without him. Again in the middle of the night comes the sound of an intruder.

Americans find themselves in situations such as these every single day. Sounds of breaking and entering strike like lightning into the hearts of homeowners. People have the right to be secure in their homes. In recent times country after country has turned its back on the right of people to bear arms. Anti-gun activists claim that hunting is immoral and unfit for modern times. Although hunting is an ancient right as well as an effective tactic to manage wildlife, this is not the issue. Individuals have the right to defend their homes and their families with weapons that can neutralize any intruder.

It is the most vulnerable that need the guns and the knowledge of their use the most. Home invaders select the elderly and the single woman. Should these people trust to the mercies of people breaking into their homes? Absolutely not. If a person breaks into a home who does not belong there, they need to understand that they take their life in their hands. This is part of what the Second Amendment is all about. People have a natural right to defend their homes and their families.

The nonpartisan West Virginia Citizens' Defense League supports this ideal. It recently endorsed Gary Howell in the race for the 14th Senatorial District.

Blair urges WVU faculty, grads to call for Garrison’s resignation, full probe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Craig Blair

Monday, April 28, 2008 304-671-9363

Blair urges WVU faculty, grads to call

for Garrison’s resignation, full probe

MARTINSBURG — Delegate Craig Blair today called on West Virginia University graduates and faculty to demand the resignation of WVU President Mike Garrison, as well as a full investigation into the events surrounding the improper awarding of an eMBA degree to the daughter of Gov. Joe Manchin.

“The report from the independent panel did a good job of finding the internal factors at WVU that led to this decision,” said Blair. “But what we also need is an investigation into the external pressures from outside the campus that may have played a major role in this scandal.”

Blair said that whether or not Garrison directly ordered the degree to be awarded is not the point.

“As president of WVU, Mike Garrison has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our state’s biggest institution of higher learning,” said Blair. “What is clear is that when he learned this degree was being awarded, he either failed to ask the proper questions, or he simply condoned the decision because he wanted the issue to go away. Either way, he is ultimately responsible for this travesty, no matter how many people under him resign.”

Blair said every West Virginian has a personal stake in the integrity and future of WVU, but donors, faculty and graduates must especially make their voices heard, and demand accountability from the top.

“Once President Garrision steps aside, we can begin to heal as a state,” said Blair. “But the questions won’t end there, and we cannot be satisfied until every last suspicion is laid to rest.”

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Obama in Pennsylvania

I spent this past weekend in Butler, PA. Every other commercial on TV and Radio came from one of the Democratic contenders for President.

B. Hussein Obama continued his message of blind hope and optimism. All of the bitter voters out there can relax because he will fix everything so that you don't have to cling to guns and religion. Upon visiting B. Hussein's website I see that he is asking us to believe in not just his ability to change Washington, but also to believe in our ability to change Washington. Then a statement about how there is nothing "elitist" about 1.371 million people donating to his campaign. Surely this is the campaign of the common man...of course, viewed another way this represents contributions by roughly 0.45% of the population. Less than half of 1% of the population, if that isn't an overwhelming statistic in support of B. Hussein being a common man, I don't know what is...

According to his website, the Obama Health Care plan saves the average American $2500 per year. I would be more impressed with a total cost figure, not a theoretical savings of Up To $2500. After all, if you know that you are saving the average American $2500 per year, shouldn't you be able to tell us what it will cost? Surely there must be a statistic on the average cost of health care for Americans. Just take that number and subtract the savings. How else could you figure that you are going to save $2500? According to the website we spend 2 trillion on health care. With the number of "insured" Americans approximately 250 million, we would average $8000 per person. That means his plan should cost $5500 per person. A family of 4 would be $22,000.

The Health plans are extremely interesting to me as an insurance agent and small business owner. Since Obama's is to be the least expensive, after all he said it so it must be true, I am only looking at the summary of his plan, not Hillary's. The summary brings a lot of promise of better coverage with lower premiums without much guidance as to where the money to fund the vast increases will come from. I did come across one excerpt that indicates a source of revenue

Employer Contribution: Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt. -http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

What is considered a meaningful contribution? I also find it interesting that you can be exempt if you meet revenue thresholds not payroll thresholds. What if you have a large gross revenue but small payroll like a retail shop owner with a part time employee to fill in on weekends?

The plan also calls for the government to use it's masterful efficiency templates to reduce administrative and overhead costs. Just look at all of the government programs that show a strong track record for the government improving efficiency and reducing costs. I'm sold.

I also found it interesting that within the Obama health plan is a provision to fund a world wide campaign against HIV/AIDS. Shouldn't this be in the foreign policy section? Why is this being added to the US Health Care plan?