Leon Podesta is Change?

I don't know whether it is disturbing or somewhat comforting that Barack Obama has gone down the political highway looking to pick up a bunch of Clinton retreads for his advising team and Cabinet. The Clinton presidency had a few saving graces which included political pragmatism. They understood that the United States has a center-right orientation and made some gestures in the direction of welfare reform and balanced budgets.

What it does show is that the neophyte feels like a neophyte beneath his messianic bluster. There is some humility beneath that exterior. Then again it could be a peace offering after a primary that proved more harsh than the general election.

The worst part about this development is that it puts America back in the hands of the touchy feely set that is more concerned with how people, institutions, and nations feel than with the protection of our interests. The best part is that these were people who had very little vision or direction in the 1990s. No vision is better than a misguided one.

Brunswick to Close Cumberland, Md., Boat Plant

Brunswick to Close Cumberland, Md., Boat Plant

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced that it will transfer production of Trophy offshore fishing boats made at its plant in Cumberland, Md., to another Brunswick facility in Ashland City, Tenn. The shift will precipitate ceasing production at the Cumberland manufacturing facility by the end of 2008, eliminating approximately 115 production and support positions.

"As we deal with the global economic downturn and its impact on recreational marine markets, we are continuing to shrink our North American manufacturing footprint," Dustan E. McCoy, Brunswick chairman and chief executive officer, said. "This decision is no reflection upon the Cumberland work force or product, but the result of our need to develop a more efficient manufacturing footprint.

"As previously announced, Brunswick has been following through on a number of measures to reduce expenses and resize the company to compete in the global marine market," McCoy added. "Over the past two years, we have closed 12 other North American boat plants, in addition to Cumberland, and have continually reduced production rates throughout our marine businesses. Cumberland will also observe three weeks of furlough, during which time all boat production temporarily is halted, while the phase down is completed."

Brunswick stated it will offer outplacement assistance for affected employees, including severance and other support aimed at helping them transition to another job.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill "Genuine Ingenuity"(TM) in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; Albemarle, Arvor, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Ornvik, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit http://www.brunswick.com.

SOURCE: Brunswick Corporation

CONTACT: Daniel Kubera, Director - Media Relations and Corporate
Communications of Brunswick Corporation, +1-847-735-4617,
daniel.kubera@brunswick.com
Web site: http://www.brunswick.com

The Greatest Nation In History

Presidents come and go. Economic prosperity rises and fades. Our nation fights and wins wars. And it remains.

How many of you right now understand that you live in the greatest nation in the history of mankind? There is more opportunity for more people here and now than ever before, anywhere. All you have to do is . . . work.

Being a Judeo-Christian nation, we should understand that. We are spiritually descended from the Israelites, the name of whose country meant "struggle with God." Each human being must struggle with something because it is the essence of existence. Good living means facing and overcoming struggles. Only through overcoming adversity can people really achieve happiness and confidence.

The Founding Fathers understood this as well. We have the right to pursue property, as George Mason explained. We do not have the right to a share, as Vladimir Lenin taught. Only through learning the values of hard work has this nation succeeded.

I have seen in my own experience this at work. I had parents who started in the housing projects of Charleston and ended up executives. They worked hard, made sound decisions, and sacrificed to get to where they are. It was a little over a decade ago when my family all had to sleep in the same room because the old house we rented had no insulation and only one heated area. Others have risen as well. Look at Henry Louis Gates who started off life poor in Piedmont and is now one of the most prestigious scholars in his field. None of these people have had to fear that the fruits of their sacrifices, hard work, and risk will ever be stolen from them by a government more interested in sharing wealth than protecting property.

That is America at work. Each person, no matter where they start, can pursue their opportunities and dreams. And hard work combined with sound decisions pays off.

Rome could not offer that. Neither could Communist Russia. Only in America. And we can always be proud of that!

Russ Weeks

Russ Weeks is out of politics.

According to the Beckley Register-Herald, Russ Weeks has announced his intention to never involve himself in politics again.

All Weeks did was run one of the most ambitious campaigns in the history of this state. Against Joe Manchin's millions, Weeks pushed hard on a shoe string budget. The money never flowed in, except from individual Republican contributors who liked what they saw in the man. Anyone who met Russ understood that they were looking at a man of ability and also complete honesty.

Except for raising money, Weeks did everything right. He attacked the governor on vulnerable issues and remained relentless throughout the debating schedule. Weeks went to every county, attended almost every dinner, supported the party that could not do the same for him.

Weeks had to fight against West Virginia's lowered expectations. Manchin has not done badly as governor, but he has fallen far short of the business community's expectations. In West Virginia "not bad" or "decent" ranks him as one of the better ones in state history. Voting for Manchin meant sticking to the old paradigm. Weeks promised to do what Sarah Palin did in Alaska, clean out the influence of the special interests and reform government. Unfortunately few people paid enough attention to his message and politics has lost an honest man.

Like Cincinnatus (except the Roman Republican won in his battles) Weeks is returning home after the long campaign to tend to his property and rest.

Russ Weeks is out of politics.

And that is a crying shame.

After the Election

I wanted to write something after the election, but what I'm going to write about is after the election of 2006. I really enjoyed meeting the people during the 2006 and 2008 election, so even after I lost the bid for county commissioner in 2006 I continued to go to the dinners to see the friends I had made. I will do the same this time around as well. Just probably not eating 5 dinners in one day.

It has been 2 years and one week since the election of 2006 and I have some observations that I would like to share. You can really tell the people that learn to care about the people they have met and those that only went to the dinners for political reasons. Those politicians that only did it for political reasons; I have news for you the people notice.

In 2006 in Mineral County there were several of us on the ballot, School Board, County Clerk and Commissioner. On a higher level the State Senate and House and US Congress. Now the House both State and US run every 2 years, so those guys are in constant campaign mode, so I'm going to talk about the longer terms.

On School Board, I occasionally see Terry LaRue who won the race and I also see Butch Wahl that lost. That tells me that they still are trying to stay in touch with the public and that is a good thing. Bob Shook I have never seen since the election of 2006 and Kevin Watson I have seen once or twice. Now many of these people may have lives that do not allow them to make the dinner rounds and events or they may be seeing the people at other places. It is just my observation.

On the County Government level, I see both Clerk candidates on a semi-regular basis. Lauren Ellifritz is usually traveling with her Mom, but she is out there in the community. Marc Rice is also seen. He is usually helping the community in some way, many times with a fire department function, but the point is they didn't give up on the county after the election.

Now for the tricky part talking about my own race in 2006. I still travel the county and meet the people. The fact of the matter is I enjoyed making new friends and just because I didn't win doesn't mean that I give up on my new found friends. Besides there is some really great food to be had in the county and you get the opportunity to help out the local fire departments, rescue squads, churches and sometimes people that just need help. Just because you didn't win doesn't mean you don't stop caring. Now my opponent in the 2006 election. Well lets be frank she dropped off the face of the Earth. I have not seen her at a single fundraising dinner or talked to anybody that has, I'm sorry but that is wrong. The people voted to put her back in power and she has a right to show respect to the people that elected her. How can you govern effectively without being in touch with the people?

Now during that time I also ran into other officials that were not up for relections. Rose Anne Maine, Gary White and Mary Margaret Rinehart were out there in the community meeting and greeting the people that put them into office. I shows that the care and want to keep in contact with the public, because it is important to the people to have access to the elected officials.

This past Saturday I ate my dinner at the Fountain Ruritan and many people talked about the election and my performance in the election of 2008. I knew I was among friends and I only saw one other candidate from the previous election and people will remember those that give true support to the community and those that only show up when they want your vote.

What We Learned From West Virginia Election Results

Think about this for a second. On the face of it, state Republicans lost ground in the Legislature and the Board of Public Works. However the way that the Republicans showed remarkable resilience in the final results should give the Democrats reason to worry.

The Democratic Party actually tried in this election cycle to rid the United States Congress of Shelley Moore Capito. They got national help and assistance from the liberal media. Capito remains as resilient as ever. Her star power remains high in West Virginia and we should not be surprised if she begins to garner national attention.

Clark Barnes also is a Republican star on the rise. He fought off a very well-supported challenger who once sat on the seat he occupies. His popularity in both parties reflects that of Capito. Incidentally, both did well in strongly Democratic Hardy County.

Gary Howell, as we mentioned before, came within a hair's breadth of seizing the 14th senatorial. His opponent outspent him four to one, but Gary nearly captured the heavily Democratic county of Tucker.

Dan Greear, Beth Walker, and Mike Teets also captured large numbers of Democratic votes. Greear came closest to capturing his goal, the attorney general's office.

What we learned is that Republican campaigns that get the candidate out to directly meet the people and deliver their message can effectively counter media bias and massive amounts of money. The message that Republican candidates take to the voters is earning a response. This should encourage the state GOP and hopefully inspire more financial support.