Dan Greear up by 8 points - Howell endorsed by Home Builders

Public Policy Polling reports Dan Greear is leading incumbent Attorney General Daryl McGraw by 8 points. The poll shows Greear leading 50 to 42.

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State Senate Candidate Gary Howell has received the endorsement of WV BUILD PAC. WV BUILD PAC is the political arm of the Home Builders Association of West Virgina. Chairman Fred McDonald said, "We look forward to working with (Mr. Howell) during the next session of the Legislature as well as future years.

Keyser Neighborhoods Show Changes in Middle Class Expectations

Look at the different sections in Keyser and you notice a wide variety of home styles. Like most cities, many middle class homes constructed early in the last century were relatively large. The dominant style featured three stories, ample living rooms, and a large basement. They may reflect the tendency to have larger families, but also the fact that the middle class had more money to spend.

Look at homes built in the 1960s and 70s. They got much, much smaller. Does this reflect smaller families, or less disposable income? Certainly in this time, the country saw the effects of our government's last attempt to steal, I mean, "redistribute the wealth." The economy fell into a disastrous tailspin as a result of Lyndon B. Johnson's socialist dreams and did not get righted until Ronald Reagan cut taxes and and restored prosperity.

Between Reagan and now, new home sizes have steadily increased. Middle class homes in suburban neighborhoods approached and even exceeded the house sizes from before the Great Depression. Now many included the large yards that became more customary in the time of smaller homes. You could have it all because you worked hard and could afford it.

Obamunists will argue that this is simply greedy. Why do you people need all this space in your home? An American answers that it is none of the government's or anyone else's business. Furthermore, if buyers can afford large new homes, this puts more Americans to work for longer. More Americans work when our economy becomes more capitalist.

Obama wants us to expect less and pare down not only our dreams, but the rewards from our own hard work. He wants to create a permanent underclass for neo-Marxists to throw crumbs at so that they can get votes. Only through dynamic capitalism can opportunity be preserved and prosperity restored.

Obama's sacrifice

I am tired of hearing the line about how the time is over where we can drive what we want and eat all that we want in America. These remarks have been considered economic references by the Obama camp. What if he means to control American diets and strike a war on obesity. Perhaps there will be a quota on the number of miles you can drive forcing you to walk to work. How should we know, we don't know anything about Obama, except that he has a contempt for the lifestyle of many "bitter" Americans.

This week I didn't eat anything special, the majority of my meals came from making a large pot of chili on Monday then reheating it for several lunches and a dinner. If I had my choice of what to eat, I would have gone to a steakhouse, Outback or Texas Roadhouse if there was one, but as long as I am traveling I would go to a Ruth's Chris or a Morton's. Then my 12 year old truck broke down so I wasn't driving all over the countryside, burning gas for the heck of it. In fact, I drive about 3-4 miles per day on most days, except when my job requires me to run additional errands.

So what does he think I am going to sacrifice? Perhaps the people that eat at Ruth's Chris on a regular basis will be the ones sacrificing. Of course, if they stop eating there and the restaurant closes, I won't be able to eat there on the few occassions where I venture out for a top of the line steak.

Then I look at the men making these sacrifice accusations and ask "what are they sacrificing". How much money is being spent on the election? By the time it is all said and done, I would say at least a Billion, maybe more. Obama doesn't drive a hybrid to campaign stops, he is in a huge bus, with several SUVs and a press bus following. Thousands and thousands of miles driving vehicles that get under 5 mpg. Surely inside they are eating from McDonalds dollar menu. No, they are eating gourmet food, steak, lobster and whatever else Michelle deigns worthy of her diet. So we are supposed to sacrifice, but the "leaders" are supposed to live like kings of old? That's not the America that I want to see. That's not a change that I hope for. I don't want people being brought down to eating leftovers and living paycheck to paycheck, so that others can share in the fruits of my labor. I want to be able to see the fruits of my labor. To know that I worked hard and have the benefit of choosing what I eat, where I live, what I drive, and what I do to earn those rewards. I want my kids to have the opportunity to choose their lives. I am willing to be accountable for my actions and learn from the choices that I make. I hope enough Americans are willing to make that same statement on Nov. 4.

New Mike Teets Ad

Charles Minimah Releases new campaign ad

Time to cut

My brother-in-law was just notified that the job he has held for 10+years is being outsourced. He monitors computer systems to verify that ATMs across the country have enough money in them at all times. My dad, who trains sales people, is being asked to present the value of his job. Corporate executive retirements are not being replaced, their positions are being consolidated amongst current employees.

I think our recession is more a question of the chicken and the egg. Wall street continues to fall, and companies are getting ready for the coming storm by trimming excess, even the lavish AIG meeting was targeted at finding ways to cut costs. So which is it, will Obama get elected because the economy is going into recession, or is the economy going into recession because Obama is in the lead? Obama and the Democrats are standing up and saying they are about to tax people beyond the point where it hurts. Going to spread the wealth. Not everyone will get taxed of course, but when they levy taxes on big corporations, where does that money come from? Price increases on the products that you buy.

Business owners are fairly savvy when it comes to matters such as this. Many smart business owners and executives understand the need to cut will be there. They understand that Obama may be offering a $3000 tax break for hiring a new full time staff person. However, in most professions, it takes more than that to train someone just to be productive. But when businesses stop hiring, or start cutting staff, the good folks in Washington will call them greedy, after all they were being given a "huge" tax break. The result will be more people getting paid for their votes than getting paid for actually working. That's how "spreading the wealth" works. Once more than 50% of the voting public no longer pays taxes, you can raise taxes all you want. Of course that ignores the economic damage that will occur, but you are safe in Washington and passing money back to over half the people, while the media just marches to whatever drumbeat you play.

If you are in favor of taxing people making over $250,000 (or is it $200,000 after the debate?), ask yourself how you think your life will be better if these "rich" people pay more in taxes. What do you think you will gain? More money goes to Washington, do you think that will be funneled back to you? What if your boss is taxed more forcing layoffs then the money goes to help fund poverty relief in Africa (Obama's one attempted accomplishment in the Senate). You are out of a job, but a dictator in a third world country gets to add another security guard to his detail. Not to mention that many people making over $250K are very intelligent, driven people, if their jobs are cut will you find yourself competing for your job with these people who are likely more qualified and experienced and now willing to work for less?

Russ Weeks releases new campaign ad

Can Plumbers Make $250,000 a Year? Certainly They Can.

Obama tripped up again with an amazingly ignorant statement about, of all people, plumbers.

John McCain has decided to take his campaign to the kind of people that make up part of the backbone of America, small businessmen. Joe the Plumber may be a campaign strategy, but he is also very real. Obama laughed off Joe the Plumber just like he laughed at rural Americans as "clinging to guns and religion" out of fear. Such is the attitude of liberals, laughing off beliefs that exist outside of their urban world.

Many small businessmen are placed in that higher tax bracket from which Obama wants to steal money. They work endless hours and their minds rarely stray far from the needs of their business and employees. When liberals think of businessmen, they think of fat guys sipping martinis by their poolside, not plumbers going on emergency calls at 3 AM.

My wife's uncle was a plumber for many years. His income exceeded the $250,000 threshold. Obama would have definitely wanted to steal his profits. The man worked hard, went out late at night to help people in trouble, but also used profits to support little league baseball teams. Most small businessmen and professionals support local sports teams and always get hit up every time there is some kind of fundraiser. If taxes go sky high on these individuals and businesses, will the federal government step in to support little league? Do we want the federal government involved in little league? Obama might, but that is a bad idea.

When the so-called "wealthy" make extra money, most of them put some right back into their communities. Do they live comfortably? Yes they do, because they earned it by working hard. If small businesses and professionals get more profits stolen from them by the government, they will be less likely to be able to spare as much to support their communities. Many will have to let employees go. Counties such as those in the Potomac Highlands depend heavily upon small business for employment. We cannot afford to lose one job because one man decided that a certain group of people make too much, and now he can steal it to distribute among his constituency.

Under an Obama Administration, some groups will get more federal money, especially if they showed the tendency to vote Democratic in the past. The defense industry will not be so lucky. In recent history, Democrats have slashed defense budgets. That could mean the loss of defense related jobs, something that Mineral and surrounding counties depend upon.

Nauseating

If this does not make you vote Republican on the state level in West Virginia, you are absolutely lost.

Charlie King, a Democratic judge in the Kanawha County Circuit Court, just recently retired. His pension will cost taxpayers $81,200 per year. No problem so far. He worked in the justice system for thirty years. If this was the end of the story we'd say he probably earned it.

King is on the ballot for the same seat from which he just retired and is running unopposed. When elected, King will receive $116,000 per year. Again you might ask, what is the problem. According to the law, King has found a loophole that enables him to collect both his salary and his pension at the same time! He will receive almost $200,000 per year for a job that pays $116,000

King unashamedly defends his double dipping by referring to his years of service. Just because it is legal, though, does not make it right.

How bad does it have to get before West Virginians decide that they have had enough of the Ruling Party? This is nothing isolated, this has been going on for generations now. If only the state party had some money so that they could publicize this.

We have an Attorney General that transformed his office into a 24/7 self-promotion and friend rewarding operation and now a judge who figured out how to beat the system to double dip. Notice the (D) after both of their names.

Folks, please, to end this corruption and flagrant violation of the public trust do yourself a favor.

Toss the bums out. Every last Democrat. Vote for them again in the future if you must, but at least send a clear message now that their abuse of the public trust must end this year.