West Virginia Citizens' Defense League Releases First Round of Candidate grades.

The West Virginia Citizens' Defense League, a group dedicated to fighting for Second Amendment rights, released its grades of candidates running in 2014.  These were not endorsements, but ratings based upon return of a survey and record.  

For United States Senate, the WVCDL gave both Shelley Moore Capito and Pat McGeehan an A+ rating.  Capito's House of Representatives and McGeehan's House of Delegates voting record on gun rights was spotless.  The WVCDL noted that Capito repeated some of its arguments in the days after the Sandy Hook shooting.

Natalie Tennant received an F for supporting gun control schemes and previous statements.

So far, WVCDL has only rated two candidates for the 2nd Congressional District.  Alex Mooney received an A+ for a strong record of defending gun rights at the legislative level.  Meshea Poore of Charleston received the dreaded F- rating, along with the admonition "DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS CANDIDATE."

The group also handed out grades for state legislators.  In the Eastern Panhandle, Craig Blair, Gary Howell, Allen Evans, Dave Sypolt, Larry Faircloth, John Overington, Larry Kump, Jason Barrett, Michael Folk, and Eric Householder all received A+ ratings.  John Unger only earned an A, but the WVCDL expected him to rise to A+ at the end of this session.

Senator Joe Manchin is not running, but WVCDL marked its displeasure with the Democrat by criticizing statements made supporting his gun proposals.

WVCDL rated many Democrats among its A+ grades, indicating that West Virginia's stance on full Second Amendment rights remains a bipartisan affair. 

The (Hopefully) New Republican Headquarters

I saw the new (hopefully) state party headquarters on Monday this week and I was impressed.

For those who could not make it to the receptions on Monday, the possible new facility is a gracious white house on the corner of Greenbrier Street and Kanawha Boulevard across the street from the Capitol Complex and across the Kanawha River from the University of Charleston. For those not familiar with Charleston, this places the West Virginia Republican Party square at the geographic center of state politics (as much as possible without actually occupying the Governor's Mansion.) Extending down the Boulevard are law firms and lobbyists, some of whom might be more likely to attend fundraisers or chats at the party headquarters.

Greenbrier Street and Kanawha Boulevard are two of the more heavily traveled streets in the city, giving the party an enhanced visibilty it did not have on MacCorkle Avenue in South Charleston.

The interior presents a much more professional image than the old headquarters building. Instead of frayed carpeting and discolored ceilings, the party can now host donors, the press, and others in much more congenial surroundings. Legislators can now easily hold conferences without fear that an errant Governor might wander in. GOP Delegates can also meet constituents in spaces larger than the back seat of a Yugo. The property has a spacious front lawn upon which can be held good sized outdoor functions. Impressions make a difference and this new facility should start the party moving forward.

Delegate Craig Blair emphasized that although taking on the responsibility for the building represented some risk, the party needs to take chances to achieve its goals.

The Party leadership has been accused of expressing no vision and no plan in the past. The possible acquisition of this facility combined with the potential hiring of an experienced executive director represent the fact that actions speak much more loudly than words. These actions demonstrate that the West Virginia Republican Party is ready to challenge its true opposition, the entrenched Ruling Party.

McKinney says WVGOP laying groundwork for 2010 victories

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Doug McKinney

Thursday, June 18, 2009 304-641-1205

McKinney says WVGOP laying groundwork for 2010 victories

Summer state committee meeting affirmed independent primary participation; search for new E.D. underway

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – State GOP Chairman Doug McKinney said today that the search for a new executive director for the West Virginia Republican Party is well underway and will be one of several developments leading to election victories in 2010 and beyond.

“Last weekend’s state committee meeting in Martinsburg featured two days of motivational presentations, an enthusiastic outlook, a focus on the next generation of Republican leaders, and an air of excitement and anticipation about the future of the GOP,” said McKinney.

State committee members approved, by voice vote, the recommendation of a subcommittee to continue the practice of allowing non-affiliated voters to cast ballots in the Republican primary. Begun in the 1980s, the practice was reexamined by the subcommittee, but most committee members agreed on the need to continue keeping the primary election open to non-affiliated voters.

McKinney said he has already received six applications for the executive director position, and he intends to interview them and others and eventually select an individual with the experience, knowledge and skills to oversee the day to day operation of the party in the crucial months and years to come.

Last weekend’s GOP meeting was chockfull of exciting events and presentations, from the Friday night Berkeley County reception featuring Grover Norquist, longtime anti-tax advocate, to former Sen. John Sununu, who addressed Saturday’s luncheon event. Among the VIP attendees were Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and former Secretary of State Betty Ireland.

On Saturday morning, special guest Jan Larimer, co-chairman of the Republican National Committee, offered a recap of RNC activities and future plans of the national party.

McKinney said the weekend focused on the next generation of Republican leaders, with state Young Republican Chairman Mike Howerton offering a presentation during Saturday morning’s county chairs meeting, and Shane Wilson updating committee members on the activities of the five interns currently serving the party through the Cecil H. Underwood Intern Institute.

McKinney said he was also excited about a fundraising drive headed by Delegates Craig Blair and Jonathan Miller. Blair addressed committee members on Saturday, describing plans to increase the party’s monthly credit card contribution program and generate more support from elected officials.

McKinney also named South Charleston businessmen John Burdette II and Denver McCallister as finance chairmen for the state party.

“We’re bringing new blood into the party to continue building our financial coffers, while setting the stage for a strong, vibrant party organization for years to come,” said McKinney.

Also during the weekend, committee members and guests heard presentations from:

· Treasurer Marti Riggall, who reported that the party saw a net gain of $12,000 from January through May of this year, compared to a net loss of $200 during the same period last year.

· Summers County Chairman Joe Garcia, who serves as chairman of the county chairs, and who discussed election changes and challenges in the coming months.

· Outgoing executive director Gary Abernathy, who thanked the committee for the privilege of serving the party over the years.

McKinney also expressed his thanks to Berkeley Chairman Mick Staton and his wife, Lynn, for handling onsite arrangements for the state meeting.

“Traveling to the Eastern Panhandle is always a beautiful drive and a great experience,” said McKinney. “The Statons made sure we had a great event both Friday and Saturday, and we deeply appreciate their efforts in working to ensure a quality meeting and a motivational gathering of Republicans from around the state.”

Hundreds Party like its 1773 in Martinsburg

The Martinsburg Tax Day Tea Party had a huge crowd in the pouring rain. It is unusual when conservatives protest, but they were out in force.

Unlike when liberals protest there were no signs comparing Democrats to Nazi's. There were no people hiding their identity. There were no people wishing death to Israel. The fact was these were Americans exercising their First Amendment Rights peacefully. Law enforcement rode by and stopped and gave many the thumbs up, unlike were liberals protest and they have to protect private property from the protesters damage.

There were no chants other than U-S-A, U-S-A. Protest songs were replaced with God Bless America and the National Anthem. This time the protesters see America as the answer and not the problem. Proud Americans upset that the government believes that veterans are right wing extremist. Those veterans swore an oath to uphold the US Constitution.

The message was heard loud and clear in Martinsburg and the rest of the county. We want our leaders to follow the Constitution!

WV House Member Craig Blair on Drug Testing

http://www.notwithmytaxdollars.com/

Barnes vs Blair: Rhetorical Cagematch Between Good Republicans

Anyone paying attention to the news lately has seen the state GOP finally capture the headlines for something positive.

Delegate Craig Blair has used his aggressive rhetoric to outline a plan to drug test all applicants for welfare. He contends that the taxpayers are served poorly when their funds go to enable continued drug use by aid recipients. To those who argue that the plan is cost prohibitive, Blair argues that the savings created by drug users shying away from identification will make up for the price of drug testing.

Senator Clark Barnes contends that this violates the constitutional right to privacy as well as rights explicitly spelled out in the 4th Amendment. To Barnes, Republican ideals mean that government ought to stay out of the lives of individuals until they give an overt reason to bring the police power of the state upon themselves.

This debate has overshadowed Governor Manchin and the Democratic Legislature and at times has become heated. However, this debate demonstrates the strength inherent in the ties that bind Republicans together. At the beginning of the day, Craig Blair and Clark Barnes are good friends. At the end of the day they will remain friends despite disagreements. At the end of the day, the party appreciates the efforts and different strengths each man brings to the table.

Compare this to how the Democrats have responded to Blair's proposals. Delegate Sally Susman (D) Raleigh, openly ridiculed Blair in a transparent attempt to deflect the debate into the margins. Senator Barnes debates the issue on principles and merits. Democrats wish it would go away because they fear open and honest discussion.

The strength of the state Republican party lies in our ability to disagree and remain supportive of each other. Senator Barnes opposed the presidential nominating convention last year, but remains one of the most respected Republicans in the state. When Democratic United States Senator Joe Lieberman backed President Bush, his party essentially banished him. They tried to run him out of office with a primary opponent more loyal to the party line, showing a distinct intolerance for diverging points of view. The same is about to happen to Representative Heath Shuler, Democrat from North Carolina (yes the former Tennessee quarterback.) His opposition to Nancy Pelosi has earned him banishment to the political wilderness and most likely a well funded liberal primary opponent. That is the way Democrats operate. Thank God we in the Grand Old Party are different!

Republicans understand that sometimes we have to agree to disagree. Debates among different points of view, such as between Blair and Barnes, leave us stronger at the end of the day. Even when our party members respectfully disagree with the party itself, this is not a negative. Republicans gain a reputation for free thought and ideological tolerance. Think of our state party without Clark Barnes?

Respectful debates between free thinking Republican leaders create an atmosphere of excitement that will help recruit young people to be active in the cause. We need to recognize this buzz that Blair and Barnes are creating and continue to build upon it. Respectful, honest, and open public debates over issues always help our party and its image.

Del. Craig Blair pushes for Drug Testing before receiving welfare

Lenin, Stalin, Casey?

Last week the word was out. The State Democratic Party, in their perpetual function as "ruling party" of West Virginia, blasted Clark Barnes, Craig Blair, Kelli Sobonya, and other GOP legislators. The horrible crime committed? Not being team players. The goal? To use every device necessary to get voters to expel them from the Legislature.

In the 1920s Vladimir Lenin imposed upon a session of the USSR's Communist Party Congress a no faction rule. Not content with operating a secret police that stole property while torturing and massacring many, Lenin hated disagreement within his own party. The rule was that once agreement was made, no more opposition could exist.

This same attitude pervades the "not a team player" approach taken by West Virginia Democrats. Maybe they are surprised that Republicans and their voters have a different idea of how to run this state. Then they have the gall to disagree with the Ruling Party! Of course the Democrats, assuming the people are always in their corner, call upon the voters to get rid of what little opposition they have to their schemes.

This smacks of arrogance. In most states each party must respect the other because at some point the outs will be in and vice versa. West Virginia Democrats cannot even imagine a day when their grip on power will be reduced, much less rejected, by the voters. Gains will come this year and more hereafter. Voters must make all state politicians more accountable by showing that Democrats can lose.

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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