| WASHINGTON Phone: (202) 225-4172 Fax: (202) 225-7564 | Congressman Alan B. Mollohan 2302 Rayburn House Building Washington, DC 20515 |
| CLARKSBURG Phone: (304) 623-4422 Fax: (304) 623-0571 | Congressman Alan B. Mollohan Room 209, Post Office Building PO Box 1400 Clarksburg, WV 26302-1400 |
| MORGANTOWN Phone: (304) 292-3019 Fax: (304) 292-3027 | Congressman Alan B. Mollohan Marina Tower, Suite 504 48 Donley Street PO Box 720 Morgantown, WV 26507-0720 |
| PARKERSBURG Phone: (304) 428-0493 Fax: (304) 428-5980 | Congressman Alan B. Mollohan Room 2040, Federal Building 425 Juliana Street Parkersburg, WV 26101 |
| WHEELING Phone: (304) 232-5390 Fax: (304) 232-5722 | Congressman Alan B. Mollohan Federal Building Chapline Street Wheeling, WV 26003 |
Saturday, August 22, 2009
96% Want Mollohan to have a Potomac Highlands Town Hall
Friday, August 21, 2009
WV GOP kicking "Ass" in fund raising
State Democrats lag far behind in fund raising
With 675,305 registered Democrats in the state and only 353,437 Republicans in the state, the fund raising shows Republicans are on the right side of the issues that matter to West Virginians.
WV Republican Party Individual Contributions: $95,752
WV Democrat Party Individual Contributions: $66,434
(FEC filings through July 31, 2009)
The WV GOP is raising 28 cents per every Republican in the state, while state Democrats are only raising 10 cents for every Democrat in the state.
Out numbered nearly 2 to 1 in voter registration in the state, but people are realizing that the Democrat Party is more often siding more with Liberal San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi than the people of our own state, and they don't like it.
WV Democrat Party Individual Contributions: $66,434
(FEC filings through July 31, 2009)
The WV GOP is raising 28 cents per every Republican in the state, while state Democrats are only raising 10 cents for every Democrat in the state.
Out numbered nearly 2 to 1 in voter registration in the state, but people are realizing that the Democrat Party is more often siding more with Liberal San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi than the people of our own state, and they don't like it.
This Note Is Legal Tender For All Debts, Public and Private
If you look at a piece of US paper money, there is a disclaimer on it somewhere claiming "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." As any Ron Paul supporter will correctly explain, that means that those pieces of paper are money and have worth because the government says so and for no other reason.
For a long time, that backing meant something. One could put full faith and credit into the money because the government was always able to support the currency. The obligation of the United States government to pay its debts, much like the money itself at one time, was as good as gold. As any individual knows, when one takes out too many loans, or fails to pay their bills on time, their credit is undermined. Spending money frivolously causes most of the problems that result in this state of affairs.
That is where the United States is at right now. China questions our credit. Automobile dealerships and medical facilities question our credit. The "cash for clunkers" deal is approaching fiasco status because the government is not paying the credits due to the dealers. Medicare is habitually behind on its payments. These problems undermine faith and credit in our government's handling of the economy.
That goes back to those little pieces of paper we carry around with us. What happens when the faith and credit extended to our government are replaced with suspicion and fear? Our currency then loses value, causing inflation. Lenin did say that high taxes and inflation were the perfect combination with which to destroy the political influence of the middle class.
Regardless of why this is happening, the danger is real. Credit, once lost, is hard to regain even for the United States of America. Admittedly this process has taken many years and presidents to hit this stage. However, Obama is severely exasperating the problem by proposing new costly initiatives instead of trying to scale back the burdens on taxpayers and the system itself.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Good Times When Obama Improvises
Once again the president demonstrates a complete lack of awareness of the very issues he pushes. The following came from a recent appearance by The Won.A student raised a question about the government's provision of health services and its impact on private services. Obama answered:
"How can a private company compete against the government? My answer is that if the private insurance companies are providing a good bargain, and if the public option has to be self-sustaining, meaning that taxpayers aren't subsidizing it, but it has to run on charging premiums and providing good services, and a good network of doctors, just like private insurers do, then I think private insurers should be able to compete.
"They do it all the time. If you think about it, UPS and Fed-Ex are doing just fine. It's the Post Office that's always having problems.... there is nothing inevitable about this somehow destroying the private marketplace. As long as it is not set up where the government is being subsidized by the taxpayers so that even if they are providing a good deal, we keep having to pony up more and more money."
You know, that sounds like a great argument AGAINST government intervention in health care. Gee America, your health care can be run just with as much cost efficiency as the Postal Service.
Of course Fed Ex is not exactly running in a purely capitalist mode either, having somehow gotten John Kerry to successfully introduce legislation many years ago to tweak the law and give them an advantage over UPS. Meanwhile the Postal Service, unable to handle its own task efficiently, repeatedly contracts out a lot of work to UPS.
Obama really needs to stick to his script. When he gets too far away from it, too much truth comes out. Then he just sounds like Joe Biden.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
More Evidence That the Wheels Are Falling Off the Obama Administration
Remember Bush era foreign policy? In his second term, he sent the calm, collected, and brilliant Dr. Condoleeza Rice to wage diplomacy. She took the point on every major diplomatic situation and performed adeptly despite a wide range of thorny problems.Now who represents America? Diplomatic czars? Joe Biden? Obama? A former NBA All Star?Former President Clinton? The world is beginning to wonder as it finally grasps the slipshod international presence of America under Obama.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton certainly does not. Recently she snapped at a Congolese university student as if he had come to talk to her about health care deform. He had a reasonable question about international finance and asked her what her husband and Dikembe Mutombo's opinions were on it. Clinton responded "Wait. You want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not the secretary of state; I am. So you ask my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I'm not going to be channeling my husband."
Brilliant diplomacy from a former radical left winger. Isn't the left the movement that claims that all points of view and perspectives, even from the Third World, have merit? This was obviously the question of a young man from a patriarchical society where men's opinions carry more weight.
It was not a tactful question, but tact is not the job of a college student. Hillary Clinton's irritated response spoke volumes about her miniscule role in diplomacy and her frustration. She could have passed it off humorously and kept the upper hand. Instead she revealed some of her rather justifiable anger. That rage should be kept away from diplomatic photo ops with NBA players and Africans.
The question also revealed the fact that Hillary Clinton has very little role or respect in US diplomacy. Obama has adeptly humbled his former rival, but will it end up hurting him in the long run if she decides to break free of this impossible situation?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
New Black Panther Party Scandal Erupting
Most of us saw the horrifying video on national television. Two members of the New Black Panther Party stood outside a polling place yelling racial epithets and carrying weapons. Incredibly, they were able to intimidate voters for quite some time. Bush's Justice Department secured major indictments against the two individuals and leaders in the terrorist group. however once Attorney General Eric Holder took over, he cited "freedom of speech" and only had them convicted of very light acts. The Justice Department also claimed that since the two accused refused to show up to answer for their crimes, they must be innocent.The US Commission on Civil Rights has launched a major investigation of the New Black Panthers and the Justice Department, threatening the Attorney General with subpoenas.
Would we tolerate for a moment the appearance of hooded Klansmen outside a polling place, burning crosses, and shouting racial slurs? They would be jailed for interfering with voting. You cannot even have political signs within a football field of a polling place in most areas.
One would hope that racial motivation or pressure from outside groups such as the notorious outlaw group ACORN did not play a role in this case. In any event, the menacing presence of these people at a polling place must be severely punished. It might encourage similar behavior by the Black Panthers. You may also see voters willing to challenge the New Black Panther thugs for their right to vote . . . "by any means necessary."
Monday, August 17, 2009
When Interests Collide With Principle
It will be interesting to see where the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce comes down on the issue of a wind energy manufacturing facility coming to Cumberland. The placement of factory jobs comes as welcome news to the city and region. John Condego, a descendant of Italian immigrants, sees wind energy construction in the United States as a new declaration of independence from both foreign oil and manufacturing. The benefits of both wind energy and new jobs have been touted as positives in the location of this concern to the region.But what about the wind energy opponents? Kolin Jan, president of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce in a letter to the West Virginia Public Service Commission last January argued that "wind energy is not clean, it's unreliable, and causes environmental harm." He believes that reliance on wind energy would produce "rolling brownouts." Jan also referred to those backing the projects as "greedy developers." Obviously Jan opposes wind farms in principle. Where will he stand on a facility that manufactures crucial parts for them?
It will be interesting to see if the Allegany Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically supports this most recent, positive development.
***********************************************************************
I do agree with wind energy opponents in one area. This industry must be able to eventually stand on its own two feet without subsidies. That being said, its establishment comes with the hefty price of retaining lawyers, commissioning studies, and jumping through every hoop required by state, local, and federal law. In America you cannot even just build a shed in your backyard anymore without checking the environmental impact.
Jan compares the subsidies given to wind compared to those of coal. That is a valid point. However coal established itself in this region during a time when the government required of the company almost nothing to commence operations. If wind farm companies had the same option, they may have been able to stand on their own from the beginning. Regulatory costs burden the system to the point that innovation is much more difficult than it was a century ago.
As far as I am concerned, I want to see both wind farms and coal fired plants under construction in West Virginia. This would bring down costs for West Virginians while putting more of us to work. Coal should always form the backbone of the grid. A combination of wind, solar, and hydroelectric power should form the supplement.
Introducing the New West Virginia Republican Party Executive Direstor: Troy Berman
We are happy to welcome the new West Virginia GOP Executive Director Troy Berman. This is an exciting time for the state party as his hiringb coincides with the opening of a brand new headquarters. These two aggressive moves put Republicans in a much stronger position to compete and win in 2010 and beyond.
Following is an interview with Executive Director Berman so state Republicans and interested conservatives have a better idea of what he will bring to this position:
Tell us about your background. What specific experiences prepare you the most for this type of role?
Well I've been volunteering on campaigns for as far back as I can remember but I didn't really enter the world of professional politicsuntil I got involved with the Bush-Cheney re-elect in '04. After law school Igot involved with the presidential campaign full time, and ended up working with the RNC legal taskforce which was essentially charged with Republican efforts at ensuring ballot integrity in the Cuyahoga (Cleveland) area. At the time it was assumed that Ohio in '04 could end up as close as Florida had in 2000 and we wanted to be as prepared as possible. Cleveland was at the epicenter of these activities and by the time the election rolled around I was directing more than 800 legal response teams and more than 1,000 poll observers. It was pretty heady stuff. I caught the political bug and I haven't looked back. Since then I've had the opportunity to work on dozens of campaigns from U. S. Senate and Congress to state senate and delegate in more than half a dozen states. Every opportunity has given me the chance to learn something new. It's that breadth of knowledge and experience that I bring to the WVGOP ED position.
In what ways can a person who has had experience at several different levels in several different states help to inject some fresh perspective into the challenges we face as West Virginia Republicans?
One of the many things I look forward to doing is adapting some of the highly successful programs implemented by Republican parties and committees in other states to the unique problem of electing more Republicans in West Virginia. There are a lot of exciting initiatives being undertaken by our fellow Republicans out there and as a party we should be looking for any edge that can help us further the Republican cause. Many of the programs focus on embracing new technologies such as social media and online phone-banking to advance our electoral aims but many amazing inititives also reimagine old school programs like canvassing, voter registration, and door to door to maximize impact for the modern age. Initially I'd like to focus on party building activities by emulating successful initiatives like the Arizona Republican Party's voter registration program (considered the best in the country) or the Pennsylvania House GOP's door to door program which has helped them record an amazing number of victories. That's not the whole program of course, but to the extent that we can maximize our West Virginia candidates' successes by adapting other successful Republican organizations to West Virginia, it's a great place to start.
Titles do not say much about the man or the vision. What, in your mind, are the jobs or roles of the Executive Director?
The Executive Director should be an aggressive force in helping Republicans in West Virginia win in a complex and competitive political environment. He should have substantial political experience and be knowledgable about current practices and future trends. He should understand the issues; be aware of the political landscape and of opportunities for advancement of the party. He should comprehend how shared goals can help build coalitions within West Virginia and with national organizations for the betterment of our Republican candidates. The ED needs to be an able manager of party personnel and volunteers, have strong communications skillsand always be a bottom line thinker, applying the rubric Will this help us win? He should be open minded to differing views and strategies, willing to adapt his vision when appropriate but also able to persuade others to his methods when necessary. The ED needs to be dedicated to day after day meeting the requirements of Republican stakeholders in West Virginia, both internal and external to the party apparatus, to building relationships throughout West Virginia to the betterment of our party, and to always being an effective advocate for the WVGOP, our Republican leaders, candidates, and values.
What problems pose the largest challenges to yourself and/or the party as a whole? What are the biggest obstacles facing Republican candidates in West Virginia? How can the state party help them overcome these issues?
One of the many, many, many unfortunate side effects of eighty plus years of unsuccessfully challenged Democrat party rule in West Virginia is that as a byproduct the system has been rigged to favor the incumbent majority in every conceivable way. Through campaign finance rules, through gerrymandering, through state election law if the Democrat party majority could find an advantage, they exploited it. Scaling those walls will be difficult but it's our job to get up over those walls, tear them down and make sure they're never rebuilt. The best way to do that is by electing as many Republican candidates as possible.
I don't want to get into everything the state party can and will do to counteract these obstacles. It's probably not the best move to tip off the other side as to strategy. I will say that those strategies are in a formative state and the one thing the state party will be seeking to do in the short term is seek the advice and counsel of like minded individuals who can help us achieve a Republican majority in West Virginia.
What will be your most important priorities in the short term? Long term?
Electing West Virginia Republicans. Period. Everything I do from my first dayon the team until my last will be in support of electing our Republican candidates. To me, it is the singular priority.
In what ways will the West Virginia GOP be expanding its effective use of new media while strengthening its position with traditional outlets?
Studies show that in the last election cycle almost 4 of 5 Republicans went online for political information but fewer than 2 in 5 actually engaged in online activism. West Virginia is actually in a unique position to capitalize on the expansion of social media networks to advance our agenda. Among 18-29 year olds (which include the early adopters and trendsetters) West Virginia was one of only six states carried by McCain and one of only two east of the Mississippi. That tells me that there is a pre-existing core of Republican youth that we should be focused on identifying and organizing. As soon as resources allow, I hope to see a complete overhaul of wvgop.org turning our home site from an information clearing house into a true online headquarters. A site that does more than send out press releases but engages, educates, and informs, helping convert online activists into offline warriors for our West Virginia Republican candidates. Look for initial updates and changes to the website in the fall. In the meantime the process is already underway. You can keep up to date with the West Virginia Republican Party on Facebook and Twitter and you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/troyberman.
In the current political situation in West Virginia, what positives can the state GOP build upon?
I've already discussed my reason for a belief that the young Republican core of West Virginia is strong and growing and will eventually replace the staid and tired Democrat party but beyond the demographics there are even better reasons to be optimistic. Self identified conservatives outnumber self identified liberals in West Virginia by 39/18. And this is a conservative base that is already energized over issues like cap and trade, health care, and the deficit. Whatever process we adopt to grow the Republican Party in West Virginia it must surely start by recognizing the enormous potential of the town hall movement currently sweeping the nation and the power of conservatives within to effect positive change in West Virginia.
How would you answer Republicans concerned about the cost of hiring an Executive Director while also establishing a new headquarters?
As ED, institutionalizing a fundraising program is important and will be at the top of my agenda for the state party. That being said, it is unrealistic to expect the WVGOP to be able to help West Virginia reach a tipping point in electing a Republican majority, without investing in the basic infrastructure of modern headquarters facilities and full time staff. The new headquarters will bring a series of expanded services to our legislators in Charleston as well as our candidates statewide that were simply not possible in the previous location, and I hope that I will be a positive contribution to the party as well. I would take this opportunity however to mention that I recognize that there are differences of opinion within the West Virginia Republican community and would welcome any opportunity to discuss these concerns and my recommendations with any interested parties.
In your experience, what does it take to "flip" a long term Democratic political entity into a Republican? Cn we do it here?
It takes time, effort, resources, and dedication. I have no doubt that it will happen in West Virginia. The only question is when. And my only concern is bringing that future date as close to the present as we can.
In what ways can the state party and its candidates reach Democratic registered voters and independents while maintaining GOP principles?
I firmly believe that GOP principles are fundamentally American principles. Hard work, personal liberty, and individual responsibility never really go away even if for a time they aren't considered fashionable. Our job as Republicans is to remind our independent and Democratic brethren of these basic American precepts and invite them to join us in renewing West Virginia.
What can concerned Republicans outside of the state party organization do to help advance our ideas and candidates?
Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer. For candidates you believe in, for your local Republican club, for your county committee, or for any of the Republican affiliated organizations like the Republican women or the Young Republicans. I had the opportunity to attend the Kanawha County Republican picnic and came away impressed. It was well attended by local Republicans, officials and candidates, well organized and is exactly the kind of activity that concerned Republicans can become involved with. I applaud those efforts already underway and intend to visit with as many West Virginia Republican county events, clubs, and meetings as possible and to encourage their activites and engage in the basic party building efforts which are so vital to success. As part of the WVGOP's previously discussed online overhaul, I hope to aggressively pursue the development and charter of new Republican clubs and organizations, which in turn become the volunteer feederfor the campaigns of our local and statewide Republican candidates.
*************************************************************************
Following is an interview with Executive Director Berman so state Republicans and interested conservatives have a better idea of what he will bring to this position:
Tell us about your background. What specific experiences prepare you the most for this type of role?
Well I've been volunteering on campaigns for as far back as I can remember but I didn't really enter the world of professional politicsuntil I got involved with the Bush-Cheney re-elect in '04. After law school Igot involved with the presidential campaign full time, and ended up working with the RNC legal taskforce which was essentially charged with Republican efforts at ensuring ballot integrity in the Cuyahoga (Cleveland) area. At the time it was assumed that Ohio in '04 could end up as close as Florida had in 2000 and we wanted to be as prepared as possible. Cleveland was at the epicenter of these activities and by the time the election rolled around I was directing more than 800 legal response teams and more than 1,000 poll observers. It was pretty heady stuff. I caught the political bug and I haven't looked back. Since then I've had the opportunity to work on dozens of campaigns from U. S. Senate and Congress to state senate and delegate in more than half a dozen states. Every opportunity has given me the chance to learn something new. It's that breadth of knowledge and experience that I bring to the WVGOP ED position.
In what ways can a person who has had experience at several different levels in several different states help to inject some fresh perspective into the challenges we face as West Virginia Republicans?
One of the many things I look forward to doing is adapting some of the highly successful programs implemented by Republican parties and committees in other states to the unique problem of electing more Republicans in West Virginia. There are a lot of exciting initiatives being undertaken by our fellow Republicans out there and as a party we should be looking for any edge that can help us further the Republican cause. Many of the programs focus on embracing new technologies such as social media and online phone-banking to advance our electoral aims but many amazing inititives also reimagine old school programs like canvassing, voter registration, and door to door to maximize impact for the modern age. Initially I'd like to focus on party building activities by emulating successful initiatives like the Arizona Republican Party's voter registration program (considered the best in the country) or the Pennsylvania House GOP's door to door program which has helped them record an amazing number of victories. That's not the whole program of course, but to the extent that we can maximize our West Virginia candidates' successes by adapting other successful Republican organizations to West Virginia, it's a great place to start.
Titles do not say much about the man or the vision. What, in your mind, are the jobs or roles of the Executive Director?
The Executive Director should be an aggressive force in helping Republicans in West Virginia win in a complex and competitive political environment. He should have substantial political experience and be knowledgable about current practices and future trends. He should understand the issues; be aware of the political landscape and of opportunities for advancement of the party. He should comprehend how shared goals can help build coalitions within West Virginia and with national organizations for the betterment of our Republican candidates. The ED needs to be an able manager of party personnel and volunteers, have strong communications skillsand always be a bottom line thinker, applying the rubric Will this help us win? He should be open minded to differing views and strategies, willing to adapt his vision when appropriate but also able to persuade others to his methods when necessary. The ED needs to be dedicated to day after day meeting the requirements of Republican stakeholders in West Virginia, both internal and external to the party apparatus, to building relationships throughout West Virginia to the betterment of our party, and to always being an effective advocate for the WVGOP, our Republican leaders, candidates, and values.
What problems pose the largest challenges to yourself and/or the party as a whole? What are the biggest obstacles facing Republican candidates in West Virginia? How can the state party help them overcome these issues?
One of the many, many, many unfortunate side effects of eighty plus years of unsuccessfully challenged Democrat party rule in West Virginia is that as a byproduct the system has been rigged to favor the incumbent majority in every conceivable way. Through campaign finance rules, through gerrymandering, through state election law if the Democrat party majority could find an advantage, they exploited it. Scaling those walls will be difficult but it's our job to get up over those walls, tear them down and make sure they're never rebuilt. The best way to do that is by electing as many Republican candidates as possible.
I don't want to get into everything the state party can and will do to counteract these obstacles. It's probably not the best move to tip off the other side as to strategy. I will say that those strategies are in a formative state and the one thing the state party will be seeking to do in the short term is seek the advice and counsel of like minded individuals who can help us achieve a Republican majority in West Virginia.
What will be your most important priorities in the short term? Long term?
Electing West Virginia Republicans. Period. Everything I do from my first dayon the team until my last will be in support of electing our Republican candidates. To me, it is the singular priority.
In what ways will the West Virginia GOP be expanding its effective use of new media while strengthening its position with traditional outlets?
Studies show that in the last election cycle almost 4 of 5 Republicans went online for political information but fewer than 2 in 5 actually engaged in online activism. West Virginia is actually in a unique position to capitalize on the expansion of social media networks to advance our agenda. Among 18-29 year olds (which include the early adopters and trendsetters) West Virginia was one of only six states carried by McCain and one of only two east of the Mississippi. That tells me that there is a pre-existing core of Republican youth that we should be focused on identifying and organizing. As soon as resources allow, I hope to see a complete overhaul of wvgop.org turning our home site from an information clearing house into a true online headquarters. A site that does more than send out press releases but engages, educates, and informs, helping convert online activists into offline warriors for our West Virginia Republican candidates. Look for initial updates and changes to the website in the fall. In the meantime the process is already underway. You can keep up to date with the West Virginia Republican Party on Facebook and Twitter and you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/troyberman.
In the current political situation in West Virginia, what positives can the state GOP build upon?
I've already discussed my reason for a belief that the young Republican core of West Virginia is strong and growing and will eventually replace the staid and tired Democrat party but beyond the demographics there are even better reasons to be optimistic. Self identified conservatives outnumber self identified liberals in West Virginia by 39/18. And this is a conservative base that is already energized over issues like cap and trade, health care, and the deficit. Whatever process we adopt to grow the Republican Party in West Virginia it must surely start by recognizing the enormous potential of the town hall movement currently sweeping the nation and the power of conservatives within to effect positive change in West Virginia.
How would you answer Republicans concerned about the cost of hiring an Executive Director while also establishing a new headquarters?
As ED, institutionalizing a fundraising program is important and will be at the top of my agenda for the state party. That being said, it is unrealistic to expect the WVGOP to be able to help West Virginia reach a tipping point in electing a Republican majority, without investing in the basic infrastructure of modern headquarters facilities and full time staff. The new headquarters will bring a series of expanded services to our legislators in Charleston as well as our candidates statewide that were simply not possible in the previous location, and I hope that I will be a positive contribution to the party as well. I would take this opportunity however to mention that I recognize that there are differences of opinion within the West Virginia Republican community and would welcome any opportunity to discuss these concerns and my recommendations with any interested parties.
In your experience, what does it take to "flip" a long term Democratic political entity into a Republican? Cn we do it here?
It takes time, effort, resources, and dedication. I have no doubt that it will happen in West Virginia. The only question is when. And my only concern is bringing that future date as close to the present as we can.
In what ways can the state party and its candidates reach Democratic registered voters and independents while maintaining GOP principles?
I firmly believe that GOP principles are fundamentally American principles. Hard work, personal liberty, and individual responsibility never really go away even if for a time they aren't considered fashionable. Our job as Republicans is to remind our independent and Democratic brethren of these basic American precepts and invite them to join us in renewing West Virginia.
What can concerned Republicans outside of the state party organization do to help advance our ideas and candidates?
Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer. For candidates you believe in, for your local Republican club, for your county committee, or for any of the Republican affiliated organizations like the Republican women or the Young Republicans. I had the opportunity to attend the Kanawha County Republican picnic and came away impressed. It was well attended by local Republicans, officials and candidates, well organized and is exactly the kind of activity that concerned Republicans can become involved with. I applaud those efforts already underway and intend to visit with as many West Virginia Republican county events, clubs, and meetings as possible and to encourage their activites and engage in the basic party building efforts which are so vital to success. As part of the WVGOP's previously discussed online overhaul, I hope to aggressively pursue the development and charter of new Republican clubs and organizations, which in turn become the volunteer feederfor the campaigns of our local and statewide Republican candidates.
*************************************************************************
The Long Road For the West Virginia GOP
When West Virginia Republican Party Chair Doug McKinney first took the job, some folks in the party must have wondered why he or anyone else would want it. Kris Warner had to resign after 2004 and Robin Capehart had little time to make substantial changes before heading off to Romania.McKinney faced a harrowing task. A six figure debt, flagging donations and confidence in the party, mounting bills, and questions about how to challenge a Democratic Party with 2/3 of the registered voters in the state.
Now in 2009 the party has turned the corner. After two disastrous GOP campaign seasons across the nation and during the most severe economic downturn since Jimmy Carter, the party retired its debt and started putting money into the bank. Fundraising outpaced state Democrats by almost three to one. The Party left its South Charleston location and moved into more charming quarters within shouting distance of the State Capitol. This increases party visibility in the eyes of voters, the press, and potential donors. Moving to this new locale to some involves a lot of risk. Good capitalists remember that no reward comes without risk.
Finally the party settled on an Executive Director. Gary Abernathy was not able to remain at the post, but the Party located and hired veteran political operative Troy Berman. He has worked for different Republican organizations and candidates in a variety of capacities. Getting him at the advertised $40,000 per year looks like a steal.
The test comes in 2010. Can the new measures propel Republicans to pose stronger challenges while attracting more registered voters? Not all have agreed with the changes, but neither have they proposed a significantly different alternative vision. The West Virginia Republican Party has put itself in a position to make major moves in the next year.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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