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?

Betty Ireland's mother Virginia passes at age 94

Mrs. Virginia Hawkins Ireland, 94, of Charleston, died on April 24, 2008, at The Haven in Cedar Grove.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Kanawha HospiceCare, or a charity of your choice.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ireland family at this time.

Capito as Congressional Innovator

Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito recently proposed an interesting idea to address the issue of funding border defense. She stated that on every tax return that Americans should have the option of checking a box that would take a small amount of money and apply it towards border control efforts. This would both provide extra money to patrol the border and show how many Americans have concerns about the issue.

Capito's plan of voluntary taxation deserves attention. People can choose the issues they wish to support. Those concerned about the issue can market their ideas and try to sell Americans on making a choice to support certain initiatives. So long as ironclad guarantees remain in place that the money will go directly to the issue listed and nowhere else, this looks like a reasonable plan. Congress could approve a short list of issues that people can choose to support or not support. Choice is always an easier sell than imposition of taxes across the board.

Of course that choice already exists to an extent. Most social issues have some kind of private charity or church group that helps with fundraising. Government action is not always required, or even desirable in some instances. However, Capito's idea deserves serious consideration because it could change the way the government funds certain initiatives and policies. Even on the state level, certain programs could be helped in this manner.

Capito, like most Republicans, is conservative in ideals. Conservatism emphasizes the value of individual choices and freedoms over government imposed policies. Change in support of freedom of choice is almost always a positive step forward.

Dark Day For West Virginia University

A university's credibility, like many institutions, relies upon perception. Institutions and people have credibility when what they produce carries a substance that society considers to be worthy. A West Virginia University degree within this state has almost always carried substance; the real fight for this institution has been to convince those outside the state of that fact.

West Virginia University faculty, and I know this through personal experience, work very hard to teach and produce solid research. They do not receive the same pay as many of their peers, but they carry a sense of pride. Unlike other institutions, the faculty love their school and cheer on its sports teams. The school has always proved worthy of that kind of devotion.

Positive perception can be fragile. This truth applies to businesses, politicians, and universities. Questions of credibility and honesty can destroy a well earned reputation in an instant. Efforts to cover up a small problem can lead to huge messes. Just ask Richard Nixon.

The independent panel ruled on Tuesday that Governor Joe Manchin's daughter Heather Bresch was improperly awarded an M. B. A. despite her protests to the contrary. When last year the story broke in the Pittsburgh media that she did not earn the degree she claimed to have, the university scrambled and granted one to her. To make the story more complex, she is an executive for Mylan, a major donor to WVU and supporter of Manchin.

Now that it is clear that her degree was improperly granted, an investigation must begin into why the university did this and who, if anyone, played a role in influencing this poor decision. As for those who have worked so hard to build up the university's credibility whether they be distinguished faculty or alumni, who will end up apologizing to them when a WVU degree becomes a target not for respect, but ridicule?

West Virginia Citizens Defense League Inc Endorses Gary Howell

Morgantown, W.Va. — WVCDL-PAC, the political action committee of the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (WVCDL), is pleased to announce that it has endorsed Gary Howell candidate seeking election to the West Virginia Senate 14th District.

WVCDL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support an individual’s right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use. During the 2008 legislative session, WVCDL was instrumental in defeating proposed legislation that would have substantially increased concealed handgun license fees and prohibited law-abiding citizens from carrying any weapon in the casino area of the state’s four racetracks.

In its endorsement process, WVCDL-PAC evaluated the records of incumbent legislators and asked all legislative candidates to complete a questionnaire on their views concerning several legislative issues important to gun owners.

WVCDL-PAC Chairman Jim Mullins said: We have received a tremendous response to our questionnaires. There are many quality candidates of both political parties, challengers and incumbents alike, who have demonstrated their firm commitment to protecting the rights of West Virginia gun owners. We made very difficult decisions in a couple of races where several candidates were equally good choices. I would encourage every candidate seeking the support of gun owners to respond to our questionnaire, as our endorsement process will continue through the general election.

The Power to be Offensive

The West Virginia Public Service Commission and Allegheny Power recently brokered a deal that will allow the utility to run new lines through West Virginia. The project will add up to 150 new high paying jobs to Preston County and nearby areas. The line will run from Monongalia County's Pennsylvania line to the Mount Storm station in Grant County. The deal still awaits final approval from the PSC.

Originally the PSC opposed this project, known as the Trans Allegheny Interstate Line. It will boost the ability of the region to export power, but the lines originally ran through uncleared land. The PSC objections were answered by a new, more environmentally friendly route combined with savings for West Virginia consumers. Since the new line uses existing rights of way, there will be much less of an impact on state property owners and the landscape.

The West Virginia Sierra Club wins the prize for the most obnoxious statement on the whole affair, comparing Allegheny Power's proposal to the distribution of "shiny beads" from the Dutch to the Indians that owned Manhattan Island. Apparently state officials and the people of Preston and other counties who might benefit from the jobs are simply too ignorant to understand in the same manner as the Sierra Club. It is unclear why the Sierra Club considers this a "bad bargain" since it uses rights of way already established.

Sounds to me like the PSC created a bargain that will benefit some very economically depressed areas.

A Word on Behalf of Charles Minimah

Despite the constant attacks from the liberal media and professional America bashers like Michael Moore, the United States continues to serve as a beacon around the world to those seeking freedom and opportunity. The American system rewards anyone who is willing to follow our laws and work hard. Charles Minimah, Republican nominee for secretary of state, is one such individual.

Minimah served his native country of Nigeria during its civil war in the 1970s, then sought opportunity in the United States. Our country and state was built in no small way by immigrants such as Minimah. German born Carl Schurz emigrated to Missouri and served as a Union general and United States Senator. Closer to home, my great-grandfather came to Barbour County from Italy. He quickly learned the language, sent his children to public school (then later on Alderson-Broaddus College), and established his own businesses. Almost everyone in West Virginia has family or friendship ties to individuals who have arrived in the past hundred years.

Once in West Virginia, Minimah established a business and worked earnestly to make it a success. Like so many other immigrants he gave back to the community. Minimah helped to establish black heritage museums and tours in the Kanawha Valley. This region was home to civil rights activist and Republican orator Booker T. Washington. Minimah certainly has helped to carry on Washington's legacy.

Minimah's vision lies in making voting more accessible and secure. The state must continue enforcing the reforms enacted by current secretary Betty Ireland while continuing to reinvigorate voter confidence in the system. Coming from a region that sometimes struggles with democratic ideals, Minimah insists that he has "an appreciation of our democracy that is often taken for granted." Like many who come to the United States, including so many of our ancestors, he understands how special this country is.

Charles Minimah will continue the current secretary's fight for clean democracy.

WV GOP Summer Meeting Scheduled for June 21st

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele will be the keynote speaker at the West Virginia Republican Party's summer convention June 21 in Flatwoods. Details can be found in the graphic at left.

Steele is the chairman of GOPAC and a former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, having been elected on the same ticket as Governor Robert L. Ehrlich in 2002. He is the first African American to serve in a Maryland state-wide office and the first Republican lieutenant governor in the state since the position was created.

Steele was, at the time he held the lieutenant governor position, the highest-ranking elected African American Republican in the United States.

Expenditures Public and Private

At a recent meet the candidates meeting, a question was raised about the use of a county vehicle. The questioner asked why a county employee was permitted to drive it at taxpayer's expense to and from his home in Hardy County. County Commissioner Cindy Pyles responded that it was a "smart" question. Hopefully she meant well-informed since some interpreted it negatively. Commissioner and candidate for re-election Janice LaRue promised to address the issue and get it resolved.

We are entering an age when every household is looking to find ways to cut expenses. Rising costs at the gas pump and the grocery store have hit many people hard. Of course our tax bill is not getting any easier either. The county must do as the rest of us have done and look for any way to maximize the revenue they bring in. Little bills add up to big costs and if we can slice away some of the waste, we should definitely start passing those savings on to the taxpayers. Commissioner LaRue is in a difficult position as the only Republican member of a three person county commission. She holds Republican beliefs no doubt, but must also at times compromise with the majority. County Republicans need to work after this election to groom a strong candidate to give Mineral County what it deserves, a Republican county commission dedicated to providing jobs and saving the people's money.

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While the Democrats are arguing over Hillary's new found identity as the driver of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, John McCain is trying to come up with solutions to help Americans even before he is elected. McCain proposed a gas tax holiday starting on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day. He proposes this with an eye towards the states that will suffer from the drop in tourism dollars this summer.

McCain will not handle this hot potato yet but public pressure is mounting towards responsible drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. George W. Bush proposed this years ago and warned of shortages if we failed to start drilling. The shortages have arrived. John Raese campaigned on this issue when running for the US Senate in 2006. It's amazing how we fail to listen to the warnings until the crisis is upon us.

Birds, Bats, and Bears

As a country we need to stop our foolishness. Really. We cannot afford it anymore.

I am talking about our foolish insistence of holding ourselves hostage to not the survival, but the convenience of animals. Ten years ago we could afford to be concerned that Alaskan polar bears might not want to live next to oil rigs. We could debate the problem of birds and bats possibly or not possibly hitting windmills. Power was cheap and the economy was strong. No more.

Our national security depends upon our national economy. Our national economy runs on accessible energy and transportation. Without these things, our economy would adjust, but only after a painful transition.

George W. Bush saw this coming and proposed an energy plan some years ago. This plan would research a variety of energy sources while opening up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to drilling for oil. The Republican Congress did not approve it due to skittishness over the upcoming election. Most of those don't have to worry about campaigning this year.

Had we listened to the foresight of Bush, we would not be experiencing many of the shortage problems we have now and Alaskan wildlife would be fine. White tailed deer and black bears thrive in the eastern United States. I doubt a few oil wells and pipelines would hurt wildlife in that area. ANWAR is the size of our smallest states. There is plenty of room for animals and oil production. I would predict that if it is possible, President Bush will open at least part of it to oil drilling near the end of his term via executive order.

Some propose that we lessen our dependency upon oil by driving hybrid cars. Not a bad idea and it is also a logical market reaction. The more we depend upon hybrid vehicles, the more we will need to expand production of coal while harnessing wind and water. As I pointed out recently, West Virginia has ample clean energy potential to supplement our coal. Our country needs it all. However there are some out there who would place the welfare of bats and birds above restoring sanity to the energy market. I'm sorry. When we and our neighbors struggle to pay our bills because the energy supply is constricting, we must expand the supply. Bring on the windmills! Start drilling for and using the natural gas resources that lie under our state.

People are more important than bears, birds, and bats. It is time to put some energy into finding solutions before we reach a full blown national crisis.

Olympic Flaming Idiots

I see that both Hillary and BO have now called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I guess they can't spare the time from their campaigns to go there, and would have to pay the going price, or get some lobbyist to pony up for them, so they don't want the President to go either. Whether or not the President chooses to go is his business, not the business of Hillary or BO.

No other senators have called on the President to boycott. I wonder why not? Could it be that only Democratic Senators who happen to be vying for any headline of any sort while they are still locked in a primary battle see this as a battle cry with any valence whatsoever. Look for them to run out the battle cry for Armenian independence next week, and make a ceremonial visit to the Little Bighorn the following one, while stocking up on Absolut Vodka in a play for the Hispanic vote.

So far the White House has dismissed Hillary and BO beautifully, deeming it to be merely a Presidential scheduling issue. For the Repulicans, it certainly isn't much of a campaign issue. There was not much the United States could do when a substantially less formidable Communist China took over Tibet and sent the Dalai Lama scampering with little more than a simple little orange dress to his name. To give him credit, that worthy has made a good living from his status as whatever it is that he is. However, despite his best efforts, and the protestations of Hillary, BO, or many another bleeding heart, there is still nothing much we can do about China's handling of the Tibet issue. Boycotting the opening ceremony would insult the Chinese, of course, but I suppose that the television contracts have long been signed, the coverage will be there, and the people here will mostly be watching what probably will be a magnificent show. If Hillary and BO don't watch any of it, I'd be surprised. On the other hand, they will be busy trying to flip superdelegates, which may prove difficult at that particular time, because the superdelegates will probably be busy eating, drinking and merrily watching the opening ceremonies on really big-screen TV's just like most people around the world will be.

The decision by President Bush to attend or not attend the Olympic Opening Ceremonies is an important one. Fortunately, he is not running for re-election, so he gets to make the decision under circumstances quite different from Hillary's or BO's. His decision is unlikely to have any particular impact on the campaign one way or the other, so he doesn't have to decide before the Pennsylvania primary election, either, not that the Tibet issue is likely to be a big one anywhere but Haverford.

There is actually something to be said for not insulting China over an issue as non-momentous as Tibet, regardless of what the Dalai Lama might say. We do a lot of business with China. We have strategic interests to consider. Do we want to risk worsening Taiwan's situation by some theatrical gesture in favor of Tibet's situation? Do we want to annoy the Chinese, who have sometimes been helpful in trying to get a lid on North Korea and may be needed in that situation in the future?

Hillary speaks of her foreign policy expertise. Yeah, right, she played dress-up in India. BO has played dress up in Africa and he went to madrasa in Indonesia, and possibly he has eaten in a Chinese restaurant or two, but he's no expert on foreign policy by a long shot either. George W. Bush has quite an edge over BO and Hillary in foreign policy, and he has a highly educated and competent Secretary of State to advise him. Fortunately for Hillary and BO, the President is not a cruel man. If he were, he could make a mockery of Hillary and BO's stupid call for him to do as they are telling him in this instance, or for that matter in just about any instance.

Green Grass

I saw a commercial the other day for a grass that grows with substantially less water than standard grass. This new, environmentally friendly, grass seed from Pennington made me laugh. The commercial ends with a statement that this grass is better for the environment. Better? Better than, say, normal grass? I always thought of grass as environmentally friendly just because it's...well, grass.

I am in favor of environmentally aware actions and living. Like most people, I want my children to appreciate nature and enjoy the mountains that we live in and around. But this new environmental movement seems a little phony to me. I am overwhelmed with organic, green, and Fair trade products, but nobody really knows what these labels mean. Is there a traceable impact in purchasing a few organic or green products, but continuing one's normal lifestyle?

My office is about 1 mile from my home. If I walk to work, people think I am either crazy or lost my car and I get offered rides to work or church by everyone who sees me walking. The streets of Keyser are full of people like me who could easily walk to work each day if they really wanted to make an impact. In this area, people have a different sense of the environment. It surrounds us and as West Virginians, we identify with the natural beauty of the state. Just ask the Governor about his experience trying to change our state motto.

Now we have to listen to Hollywood stars and big city power players and politicians tell us how we are destroying the world because our cars use too much gas on our 1 mile commute, or because we use bad grass, or leave the lights on when we leave a room. Afterall, the Neo-Environmentalists that are emerging around us care more, just look at their shopping carts. But is this really an effort to make an impact, or does everyone just want to look like tehy are trying? Take the grass example. The goal of course is a lush, green, better than the Jones', lawn that requires less manual watering from the property owner who is trying to conserve water. Afterall, the property owner is economically aware and wants to conserve water. Then again, if the property owner really wanted to conserve water, couldn't they just forego having the greenest lawn on the block? Afterall, they are saving water but probably using gas powered lawn maintenance equipment that is filling the air with toxic vapor and increasing our demand for foreign oil...Clearly this is the Presiden'ts fault. A spotty, untreated, unwatered, natural lawn should be a badge of honor to a true environmentalist. Mow your spotty lawn with a rotary, self-powered mower that uses no gas or electricity and I will applaud that you are trying to make an impact. Otherwise, create a beautiful landscape with non-native plants and I will applaud your creativity and commitment to creating an aestheticly beautiful place to live.

Rockefeller Insults Veterans

A big thank you to Vic Sprouse for bringing this to our attention.

Our United States Senator, Jay Rockefeller, in an attempt to defend his backing of Barrack Obama, lashed out at John McCain's service. He belittled McCain's role as a combat pilot. Rockefeller criticized McCain's role as simply being a guy that dropped laser guided bombs on people, then he flew away never for a moment considering the fate of the people he bombed.

You know that the state media will never publicize these comments. That is why it is so important to supplement the traditional news by reading these conservative blogs. Rockefeller gave us a clue as to his entire elitist mindset about the military and those who serve. He thinks nothing of the danger those pilots faced. He thinks nothing of the fact that McCain was eliminating threats to soldiers on the ground fighting for their lives. No, Rockefeller is an elitist guy from an elitist school who will never understand the sense of duty and honor that John McCain represents.

I am going to cut and paste Vic Sprouse's blog entry in its entirety and send it to my friends and relatives who served. Here is a link.

http://www.changewv.com/2008/should-jrock-continue-as-head-of-intelligence

Spread the word and donate to Jay's Republican opponent. We need to get this information over the television and radio airwaves next fall.

US ROUTE 50 IN FREDERICK COUNTY VIRGINIA WILL HAVE MAJOR CLOSURE April 18 to 21.

ROUTE 50 IN FREDERICK COUNTY WILL HAVE MAJOR CLOSURE

Closure will be April 18-21

STAUNTON – Motorists traveling on Route 50 near the Virginia border with West Virginia should be alert for an upcoming temporary but major traffic pattern change. The Route 50 westbound lanes will be closed due to railroad work in Gore.

The closure will take place beginning at 7 p.m. on April 18 and lasting until 5 a.m. on April 21. The westbound lanes of Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) in the Gore area of Frederick County will be closed. This location is approximately .1 mile west of Route 752 (Knob Road) and is near the Virginia and West Virginia state line.

The closure is due to railroad work being performed by the Winchester and Western Railroad in the Gore area. All work is weather permitting.

The detour for the Route 50 westbound closure from April 18 -21 is as follows:

For trucks:

From the Winchester area take Route 37 to Route 522 northbound to Route 127 westbound to Route 29 southbound to Route 50.

For passenger vehicles:

From the Winchester area take Route 37 to Route 50 westbound to Route 600 north, to Route 684 east, to Route 522 northbound, to Route 701 to Route 703 to Route 50.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-800-578-4111. (TTY/TDD users, call 711). Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.

Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For more information on the Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia’s next traffic fatality, visit www.safeVAhighways.org.

Guns Make Citizens

Last week I came home to find the Washington DC local news on. The local station was doing a story about a gun search. That's right. Without warrants, people's homes were being searched for guns that are currently illegal in Washington DC. Presumably this is because they fear that their law will be found in violation of the Second Amendment. Of course these are likely the homes of law abiding citizens because no one would just barge into a drug lord's home to demand guns. My daughter said that it sounded like something that the British might do shortly before the Revolution.

The first thing that dictatorships seize is people's guns. Other countries, such as Japan, hesitated to directly invade the US due to widespread gun ownership. Thomas Jefferson saw them as key to a free people protecting their freedoms from a tyrannical government. The right goes back to the Middle Ages when King Henry II of England required people to arm themselves to protect the nation. He as a result understood that he needed to be better acquainted with the people's needs and traveled widely to keep in touch with their wishes. Later kings found it more convenient to call assemblies later known as Parliamant into session. An armed population is one that the government goes to greater lengths to keep happy.

Certainly the biggest threat on the horizon, besides the current case before the US Supreme Court, is Barrack Obama. According to many, his actual views as he wrote in his book are far to the left of the mainstream. He is the stalking horse for George Soros and MoveOn.org who continue their quest to revolutionize the United States and transform it into something quite alien from the original dreams of the Founding Fathers. Their guiding star is not George Washington, but Karl Marx. Of course the people must be rendered impotent first.

The American definition of rights is freedoms granted by God or nature. The American definition of citizen describes a person who not only enjoys, but fights for these rights. Gun ownership ensures our rights now and forever, or at least until we elect governments that obliterate their enjoyment.

Gary Howell Fundraiser Last Friday

Last Friday night, Gary Howell held his first fundraiser of the campaign season. This event was organized by Christy Barnett with help from Gloria Howell and the good folks of the Old School Cafe. Campaign consultant Gary Abernathy hosted the event.

Gary was supported by a roomful of people who came to show their support and donate money. Included among Gary's local friends were State Senator Dave Sypolt and Republican nominee for governor Russ Weeks. Gary gave a tremendous speech that explained his priorities, namely economic reform in West Virginia to ensure a prosperous future.

Many items were donated for the silent auction. Included was some truly "fabulous fudge" as it was called. Let me tell you, that was truth in advertising! Others baked some delicious looking pies. West Virginia University professor Russ Sobel, Abernathy, and Weeks also donated autographed copies of their books. Barnett donated Washington Senators tickets and Cheri Gannon donated a gift basket from the Keyser sandwich and coffee shop On Common Grounds. Many other donations (I wish I could remember from whom) helped Gary raise a substantial amount to help his senate bid.

The Republican Party has a vision for the state's future that involves a drastically different course than we are following now. We need to put the development of state business first and create a solid foundation for growth. Only through a GOP Legislature will this ever be achieved. Gary Howell can be a big part of the solution that West Virginia needs. A whole lot of his friends that showed last Friday agree with that idea.

Press Release: Lynn Staton Seeks National Committeewoman Seat

Dear Potomac Highlands Conservative,

On June 21, 2008 the West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee will meet in Flatwoods for our State Committee Summer meeting and West Virginia Convention. I am a candidate for National Committeewoman. The election for this office will be held during the state Committee meeting portion of our gathering. I would be honored to have your support.

Because of the nature of our government affairs consulting business, my husband, former Congressman Mick Staton, and I are frequently in Washington. Over the years, I have become acquainted with our national Republican leaders. Additionally, our proximity to the nation’s capitol and frequent trips into DC make it easy for me to be in touch with the Republican National Committee.

As a lifelong Republican, I have worked hard for the election of our candidates on the local, state and national level. We have been involved in a number of successful campaigns in West Virginia including State Senator Sarah Minear, the late State Senator Harry Dugan, Governor Cecil Underwood and the 2004 Bush campaign, just to name a few.

In 2004 I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the State Committee from the 16^th Senatorial District. In 2006, I ran for, was elected, and presently serve in that capacity as well as my position as Associate Chairwoman of the Republican State Executive Committee. In years past I served as Assistant Treasurer of the State Committee. Most recently I served as the General Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Presidential Nominating Convention – a very rewarding position.

As you know, the national party will be formulating a new system for presidential primaries. I believe my experience working with and understanding other states’ processes will aid me in helping the party arrive at a new system that works.

Now I am asking for your vote to become the next National Committeewoman from West Virginia. I believe my experience on the national scene, my work on behalf of Republican candidates and my service to the party equip me well for this position. I am confident that I can help West Virginia Republicans on the national level as well as here at home. I will do my best to keep West Virginia “Red” and carry our message of small government, lower taxes and individual freedom to the national party. I hope I can count on your support. I look forward to discussing this with you and will call you soon to see if you have any questions for me.

Until then, if you would like to talk with me, you can reach me at (304) 229-5890 or by email at lynn@caplink.com.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lynn S. Staton

368 Jaguar Drive * Inwood, WV * 25428

Barbour County Lincoln Day Dinner

The Barbour County Lincoln Day Dinner had a good crowd and lots of candidates. Hiram Lewis was the keynote speaker talking about what the flag meant to him.

Beth Walker talked about the need for a supreme court justice that can follow the law. Numerous other candidates spoke both state wide and local. A lot of credit goes to the Barbour County executive committee for putting on a good show. Annette Santelli made a good MC for the event.

What Are Mineral County's Priorities?

One of the biggest follies of government at any level lies in the fact that public officials often do not balance ends and means. This is a common mistake. Voters often demand changes that government cannot afford. Every small city needs more police to enforce traffic laws and curtail the drug traffic, but very few have the means to work towards that end. In an ideal world we can always find the money to do what we want. However government, business, and individuals often have to try and separate what they want from what they need.

This means setting priorities. What is most important to the people of Mineral County? Certainly a large rural county struggles to provide police protection. With only a limited number of state troopers, the county sheriff's department has a vast responsibility to serve the court and enforce the law. Mineral County's sheriff recently requested two new deputies. The county told them that only one could be funded. This occurred despite the fact that stolen property values in Mineral County jumped 158% between 2006 and 2007 to an amount well over $200,000. Education of local children remains a strong need. Outside of the schools, the county library system provides an alternative center for children and adults alike to broaden their minds. Relatively little money exists to support this important community institution.

However the county now proposes to hire new enforcement officers for the new decrepit building ordinance. There was some community demand to create an ordinance to address unsafe and unsightly conditions on various properties, although certainly it did not receive a groundswell of popular support. A law was created utilizing community input. Currently the two humane officers will be used to investigate complaints. However the decision to hire a new officer to enforce the law is an expense our county cannot afford. It seems to anticipate an extraordinary number of complaints. Do that many people seek to inconvenience their neighbors in this county? I doubt it. The county should start with the resources it has. If the complaints rise above a certain level, then by all means hire someone else. Just wait and see if it is necessary.

We ought to all be concerned about these added expenses. Folks, it is our money they are spending. Tens of thousands of dollars for a special school levy election that failed is another example. They could have piggy-backed it on the regular elections this year. Last fall it was proposed that an extremely expensive study be undertaken to explore whether or not the county has almost run out of water. Luckily Mother Nature has undertaken in the last few months to even out her dry weather with wet. Hopefully this idea has been forgotten.

Government all too often allows its ends to outstrip its means. This usually results in important issues, such as police protection, taking a backseat to issues that should be less of a priority. I would much rather have more deputies patrolling the dangerous roads of Mineral County, deterring reckless driving. I would also love to see our library be able to expand its programs to reach more children. I just don't see how various half-collapsed barns and front porches full of odds and ends warrant such a high expenditure of the people's money. The growing problem of stolen property hurts Mineral County worse than decrepit or messy structures.

Start small and work your way up. The worst case scenario is hiring additional enforcement officers and have them collecting paychecks with nothing to do while we pay higher and higher taxes.

Questions That I Cannot Answer

The specter of $4 a gallon gas is nearly upon us and there is no reason to believe that the climb will stop there. The obstacles placed in the path of getting inexpensive gasoline from the ground into your gas tank push us towards a tipping point. OPEC, the international association designed to regulate oil production, is only one aspect of the problem. Regulated supply combined with ever escalating demand has made the price of oil skyrocket. That is combined with the domestic obstacles of not tapping our own vital supplies, while relying ever increasingly upon foreign refining since we have regulated new refineries out of any possibility in this country.

In other words market pressures on oil are making it more difficult to rationalize our dependence upon this particular product. Meanwhile all energy prices rise along with oil. This produces pressures that can hurt, but also provide opportunities. This leads to my questions.

Why haven't we seen more private interest in coal liquefaction? Governor Manchin is interested and pushing for federal help. One would think that the coal companies would be interested enough to help make it happen. Are they heavily involved? If not, why?

Why are liberals so dead set against wind energy? We can put wind farms on the ridges over towns like Keyser and not ruin any natural, pristine views. If the county commission does not like it, the city ought to annex the land and reap the economic and tax benefits. The city needs money and it lacks industry. This could be a big part of a revitalized Keyser or Petersburg, or any other economically distressed town in the region near a high wind area.

Why have we as a state not looked into hydroelectric power? Tennessee gets most of their electricity from dams on small to moderate sized rivers. How many dams do we have on the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers (which we own!) Why can't we adapt Summersville and Sutton Dam for hydroelectric capabilities? Union Carbide constructed a hydroelectric plant decades ago off of the New River, which is a fairly small stream.

Why hasn't West Virginia tapped into its massive gas reserves more effectively?

At what point will market pressures eliminate the internal combustion engine? To me, we should start seeing these pressures hit a tipping point soon. The beauty of capitalism is that it rewards the forward thinking, the least expensive, and the most efficient. I'd say in ten years or maybe less we'll either see the market pressures subside drastically, or we will (more likely) witness technological revolutions that the oil companies will either be a big part of, or be destroyed by. Same with auto makers.

The best way to see development is to let the market work without excessive intervention. Push and prod, don't tax and regulate. That is how we'll see our energy questions solved most effectively.

Greear Endorsed by West Virginians for Life PAC

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2008
Contact:
Greear for AG Committee
Suzette Raines, 304-437-1306

Dan Greear endorsed by West Virginians for Life

Charleston, WV – Charleston attorney and former member of the House of Delegates, Dan Greear, proudly announces West Virginians for Life Political Action Committee has endorsed his candidacy for Attorney General.

Greear was honored and humbled by their endorsement. “This is a personal conviction rather than a political statement for me,” said Greear. “I believe we have a moral obligation to protect human life. This controversial issue is very simple for me and those who I surround myself with, abortion is wrong,” Greear said.

“When I ran for the House of Delegates I was endorsed by West Virginians for Life and I have always encompassed the same position on abortion issues. I am proud to again receive their endorsement as I seek the Office of Attorney General,” Greear added. “This endorsement sends a strong signal to Republican primary voters that I am the better candidate to represent our party against Darrell McGraw.”

Greear believes West Virginia voters take a strong stance against abortion. Greear stated, “Your position on this vital issue tells a great deal about the type of person you are and I believe most West Virginians would agree.”

Greear noted the state’s public policy on abortion issues is crafted by the Legislature and not the Attorney General. “I strongly believe that it is the duty of the Attorney General to uphold and enforce the laws passed by the Legislature,” Greear noted. Greear added his own pro-life views mirrored the views of the vast majority of both houses of the West Virginia Legislature. Melissa Adkins, Executive Director of West Virginians for Life commented, "We commend Dan Greear for his record of support for the legal protection of the unborn. As a legislator, Greear was dedicated to protecting the sanctity of life. We look forward to Greear bringing that same level of dedication to the office of Attorney General.”

Greear is a lifelong resident of Kanawha County, graduating from South Charleston High School in 1986 as a National Merit Scholar. He graduated from the WVU School of Law in the spring of 1992 where he also served as associate manuscript editor for the West Virginia Law Review. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Kanawha County’s 30th District in 1995 and 1996. Dan currently resides in South Charleston with his wife Amy, a social worker for Kanawha Hospice Care, and their two children, Joshua, 8 and Ben, 6.

Contact:Greear for AG CommitteeSuzette Raines (304) 437-1306

Mississippi showing the way for West Virgina?

In 2004 Mississippi elected Republican Governor Haley Barbour and began implementing many of the reforms that Russ Sobel calls for in his book, "Unleashing Capitalism." Mississippi is showing that the very reforms that the Democrat controlled legislature has been blocking in West Virginia can turn the economy around.

Since 2004 Mississippi's per capita income has risen by 19.5 percent while the while the national average rose only 5.2% and West Virginia only rose by 4.7%. Mississippi has managed to take the worse economy in the nation and turn the corner by enacting tax and tort reform. Those reforms have been attracting business to the Gulf state.

Now is the time for West Virginia to make the necessary changes outlined by Sobel and turn our economy around.

WVL PAC Endorses Mr. Gary Howell

MORGANTOWN -The West Virginians for Life Political Action committee (WVL PAC) is pleased to announce the endorsement of Mr. Gary Howell for the 2008 primary election for State Senate.

WVL PAC is the internal PAC for West Virginians for Life (WVFL), the state pro-life organization. WVFL is affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee and through both education and legislation is working to build a society where all human life is respected, from conception until natural death.

Melissa Adkins., WVFL Executive Director, stated, "WE commend Mr. Gary Howell for expressing commitment to the unborn."

A Comment on National Stability

This was addressed earlier in the week, but I really cannot help commenting more upon the study that rated the United States as growing more unstable.

The twentieth century saw regimes that were much more stable than the United States at that time or now. Stalin's Soviet Union in peacetime and Saddam Hussein's Iraq had little crime (outside of those committed by the government.) People did not act out or make waves. In large countries, such stability comes with a heavy price.

Smaller countries have an easier time maintaining social stability. Switzerland is also one of the most stable nations of the twentieth century and managed to avoid involvement in both world wars. The key to their stability and survival lay in the fact that they have a heavily armed population. Like the United States and Britain in an older day, an armed citizenry was seen as crucial to national defense against invaders and internal tyranny.

Speaking of stability, probably one of the most politically and socially stable regions of the United States is the Appalachian region. Crime rates remain extremely low despite other social problems. Violent crime is rare compared to other areas such as Washington DC. DC has experienced destructive riots as well as gang rule over entire neighborhoods. DC has the most restrictive gun laws anywhere while West Virginia has the most permissive. I meet young people from these urban areas all the time who come from law abiding families. They are often as strident in their defense of Second Amendment rights as we are. Who is going to protect them if a crazed crack addict tries to break into their house? An overworked police force? Suburban liberals who live behind walls and bars? Nope, just the individual and his or her weapon.

Stability is not always a good concept. Our nation is experiencing a less than stable political cycle. Poll questions constantly ask "who will best unite the country?" The fact is that we are at our most free when we are not united (except in extreme emergencies.) The sign of a healthy body politic and a free society is a little instability. Hard fought political debates over issues between knowledgable individuals is positive, not negative. Crime is something we must live with unless we want unrestrained government power monitoring and guiding our lives (parents of schoolchildren are enduring this more and more every year.) A little instability is a positive sign that we still enjoy the freest society on earth.

It's the Same Old Thing Over and Over

Yesterday I came across an old book entitled American Revisionists. When I started reading it, I came upon a tired old refrain. The president lied to get us into a war. His lies were meant to make his friends in big business richer. It was none of our business. The people we were fighting for were the real enemies and their freedom was not worth the blood of our soldiers. Our president lied to us and betrayed us to start a war that killed young men for no reason. Try and guess who they were talking about.

It could have been Lyndon B. Johnson. Vietnam was certainly an unpopular war that invigorated the anti-war movement like none we had seen since the 1860s. For that matter it could have been Abraham Lincoln who had to brave angry torrents of public opinion when he revised the meaning of the Civil War to include the freedom for slaves. Joe Kennedy, father of John, Teddy, and Robert, held those same attitudes about Franklin D. Roosevelt his entire life.

The target this time was Woodrow Wilson. He led us into World War I after an escalating series of moves by Germany to threaten the United States and cut off its trade with Europe at a pivotal point of vulnerability for the Allies. Until Germany started sinking our ships and trying to talk Mexico into a war with us, Wilson urged all Americans to keep an open mind. His goal going into the war was a breathtaking crusade to use American power to change the face of Europe and end their seemingly eternal cycle of warfare. The end of fighting saw the British and French ignore Wilson's ideals and impose upon Germany a treaty guaranteed to start another war in two decades.

Intellectuals and left wing editors slammed Wilson after research showed the Allies more guilty than originally thought and Germany to be more foolish than evil. Some of the criticism was valid, but by the 30s it reached a shrill crescendo. Some intellectuals blamed France for the war and Wilson for supporting them. France actually tried to avoid the war and was drawn in when Germany invaded it! Emotion had supplanted reason and it started affecting policy. Trouble in Europe inspired Congress to pass a series of acts to restrain Franklin Roosevelt's hand. Some even proposed that the US never enter a war without a national referendum.

Unfortunately this tied FDR's hands at the very moment that he needed freedom to act against the most deadly enemy we had ever faced. Years in which US action might have cowed Adolf Hitler were spent by FDR patiently undoing the damage caused by hysterical intellectuals and their effect upon the public. The lesson we learned between 1941-45 was that the world is smaller and potentially more dangerous. Our president needs to act to forestall aggression, not wait until it hits our shores.

The legacy of the Bush presidency is still playing out. Certainly he headed off a potentially disastrous problem that Saddam Hussein's psychopathic sons would have presented. At the same time he demonstrated the American will to act that enhanced our credibility among those that hate us. History should reflect that as a positive step in our history.

Supporting Local Businesses

I went back "home" for Easter to the town where I grew up, Portsmouth, OH. It seems much more vibrant, new restaurants are coming in, a movie theater was built, stores are expanding, and, my favorite store, Steve and Barry's added a location in the Portsmouth area. The population of Portsmouth has not grown in any significant way. The town has little industry to speak of, having once been a large railroad hub and steel center on the Ohio River. So what is propelling the changes in the area? Small business people. The same guys/gals that owned small stores and "mom and pop" restaurants while I lived there are now able to re-invest in the community. One group of brothers have continued to expand their small restaurant business to include franchises with Wendy's, BW-3s, and others. Together with other investors a once vacant area near a railroad track now features several restaurants, a business center and a movie theater. Other small business owners purchased property vacated by a Wal-Mart relocation and recruited new stores to fill the space (like Steve and Barry's). When I was growing up, we always traveled to do school shopping. With the addition of several clothing stores, locals are now able to shop locally, saving their gas money and time.

Keep this in mind the next time that you are shopping at Wal-Mart or heading to Hagerstown. Have you looked at the local small business stores for what you need? In Keyser, it is probably not possible to find everything that you need in local stores, but you can certainly buy some of the items that you need from local small business people. You may pay a little more, but small, local business owners take their profits and re-invest in offering more items and better locations. Just like you and me, they want to provide their children and grand-children with more opportunities and a better life than they had. That will lead, as it has in Portsmouth, to more variety more jobs and even more investment in the community.

US Falls to 22nd Most Stable Country

The US fell to 22nd in Jane's Country Risk Assessment which ranks the 235 countries and independent territories in the world on risk and prosperity. The top ten were the Vatican, Sweden, Luxembourg, Monaco, Gibraltar, San Marino, the United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and the Irish Republic. The bottom ten included the West Bank and Gaza, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

The top 30 countries in the world are considered stable. The US scored 93 out of a possible 100. Christian Le Mière, managing editor of Jane's Country Risk Assessment stated the reason for the drop to 22nd was "partly because of the proliferation of small arms owned by Americans and the threat to the population posed by the flow of drugs from across the Mexican border."

While I agree with the study that says our border security increases the risk to Americans. It is not just from drugs as it allows for the possibility for terrorist entering the county. I strongly disagree that gun owning American's increase the risk. The facts are that those citizens exercising their 2nd Amendments add to the security of America.

This study is flawed. Most of the top 10 are the worlds smallest nations. They are not exactly secure. Consider that when Germany invaded Western Europe in 1940, Luxembourg was nothing more than a speed bump in the Blitzkrieg race to the Channel. With the exception of the United Kingdom the rest of the counties in the top ten primarily rely on the goodwill of one country to maintain their freedom. That country would be the United States.

The study does not take into effect the stabilizing effect the United States has on the world. The study is flawed in that respect.

Greear says legislative effort to slow Attorney General did not go far enough

For Immediate Release
March 25, 2008

Contact:
Greear for AG Committee
Suzette Raines, 304-437-1306

Huntington, WV – Charleston attorney and former member of the House of Delegates, Dan Greear, spoke to the Cabell County Republican Women's Club today as he campaigns for the office of Attorney General. The meeting will take place at noon at the Pullman Plaza Hotel in Huntington.

Greear discussed the constant struggle the West Virginia Legislature has encountered with Attorney General Darrell McGraw. McGraw has dispersed settlement money at his own discretion rather than allowing the Legislature to appropriate the money as is their constitutional duty.

In response to the conflict with the Attorney General, H.B. 104 was passed during a recent Special Session and requires McGraw to inform the Legislature of potential monetary settlements.

Greear stated it will not prevent McGraw from employing his normal practice of distributing settlement money, but will only require him to disclose that information to the Legislature. Greear praised the Governor and Legislature for taking the first step, but said HB 104 did not go nearly far enough.

"The Attorney General should be solving legal problems, not creating them," said Greear. "Once again, McGraw is forcing the Legislature to pass legislation to try to curb his abuses. Considering all the problems our state faces, the Legislature should not be forced to fix the messes of a constitutional officer," said Greear.

"This bill was supported by Democrats and Republicans alike. I believe the bi-partisan support says a great deal about the dissatisfaction with McGraw, but much more must be done to reign in his abuses," added Greear.

Greear is a lifelong resident of Kanawha County, graduating from South Charleston High School in 1986 as a National Merit Scholar. He graduated from the WVU School of Law in the spring of 1992 where he also served as associate manuscript editor for the West Virginia Law Review. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Kanawha County’s 30th District in 1995 and 1996. Dan currently resides in South Charleston with his wife Amy, a social worker for Kanawha Hospice Care, and their two children, Joshua, 8 and Ben, 6.

Why Obama's Pastor Matters

I believe that I belong to a generation of Americans ("Generation X") who have moved beyond the race issue that has consumed this nation from its inception to the present. I, and those I associate with, embrace and live the ideals of racial equality; indeed, I personally have never known any other way. I grew up in a mixed-race neighborhood in New Jersey before moving to West Virginia 15 years ago.

The embrace of the Obama campaign by a large and deep cross-section of Americans indicates that there are many, especially among the young, who feel--as I do--that race is a non-issue in the selection of a President.

That is why Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's spiritual mentor and adviser, matters.

Wright, to get to the point, is a racist. For kickers, he's also a loon, believing as he does that the U.S. government invented the AIDS virus. And as West Virginia Democrats and independents consider their primary election options, consider whether you would vote for someone who joined, as an adult, Fred Phelps' "World Church of the Creator", and made annual contributions that exceed West Virginia's average annual income. Phelps' great contributions to society include protesting Iraq war funerals, in addition to his protest at the Sago Mine memorial a couple of years ago, as a messenger of "God's wrath" against the decadence of America.

And that's the problem with Obama and Wright. Obama put his money where Wright's mouth was. And, in the great scheme of things, Wright is no different that Phelps. Would you vote for a member of Phelps' church for President? Or would you consider it a sufficient lapse in judgment as to lose your vote? To ask the question is to answer it.

Gas Price Protesting

I got an e mail from a family member yesterday. It was a forward that was trying to organize a gas price protest. I usually get these about once a month. They are usually pretty similar in that they target oil companies as the culprit if pricing and seek to diminish their profits by boycotting gas for a day. This one was different in that it targeted corporations instead of the whole industry.

Either way, the resentment is misplaced. Any action ought to be directed at incumbents and candidates for Congress. I sent a response to the e mail that read:

The problem is not the oil companies. The reason they jack prices up is because of supply constraints. They do profit a lot off of it, but the high prices keep demand low enough to prevent a shortage. Only one problem would be worse than high prices and that is complete supply cut off. The oil companies set prices as a response to the very complex situation that the US legal system has created. There are four things that Congress can do to get gas prices down.

First, drill in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and reduce our dependence on foreign supplies. Jimmy Carter shut that down because they thought a few oil wells would endanger reindeer and bear populations. Coal mining has not done that here and oil wells are less intrusive.

Second, cut the red tape necessary to refine oil. We have not built a new refinery since the 1970s in the US and we have lost a few. Much of our oil is now refined in Venezuela, a country led by an anti-American madman.

Also we have a bewildering set of laws that vary from state to state on the cleanliness of gasoline. Refineries have to create a wide variety of blends to match state and local laws. They have to determine the supply and demand necessities for all those localities and that is impossible to do. Why not take the best environmental standard and make that the national standard?

Last, phase out oil fired power plants. We have resources at home that can run our power plants; we certainly do not need to keep importing oil for that purpose. West Virginia itself, between coal, natural gas, and wind, can produce a lot more power than it can possibly consume. All we have to do is construct the plants. If we are smart, we will allow them to be built here in West Virginia near the sources and export the power out.

The first two points came directly from John Raese's campaign for US Senate and they make sense both in terms of our economy and security. Combatting high gas prices while maintaining a strong economy means looking at the complex relationships between supply and demand as well as the obstacles placed in the way of oil companies who desire to meet that demand.

ROUTE 50 IN FREDERICK COUNTY, VA WILL HAVE MAJOR CLOSURES

ROUTE 50 IN FREDERICK COUNTY

Closures will be March 28-31 and April 18-21

STAUNTON – Motorists traveling on Route 50 near the Virginia border with West Virginia should be alert for two upcoming temporary but major traffic pattern changes.

The first closure will take place beginning at 4 p.m. on March 28 and lasting until 5 a.m. on March 31. Both eastbound lanes of Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) in the Gore area of Frederick County will be closed. This location is approximately .1 mile west of Route 752 (Knob Road) and is near the Virginia and West Virginia state line.

The closure is due to railroad work being performed by the Winchester and Western Railroad in the Gore area. All work is weather permitting.

The detour for the Route 50 eastbound closure from March 28 to 31 is as follows:

Traffic traveling east on Route 50 from any point west of the Gore area, including West Virginia, should head west on Route 50 into West Virginia and turn right onto Route 29 north to Route 127 east and continue to Route 522 south. Motorists should stay on Route 522 south until they reach Route 37. To get back on to Route 50 travelers should head south on Route 37 to the next interchange, which is Route 50.

Passenger vehicles can use an alternate shorter route at Route 703 (Whitacre Road) located west of Gore. This alternate route uses several secondary roads which are not suitable for tractor trailer traffic.

The second closure will be from April 18 to 21 at the same location. Both westbound Route 50 lanes will be closed beginning at 7 p.m. on April 18 and lasting until 5 a.m. on April 21. VDOT will send out detour information at the beginning of April.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-800-578-4111. (TTY/TDD users, call 711). Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.

Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For more information on the Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia’s next traffic fatality, visit www.safeVAhighways.org.

The Energy Answer is Under Our Feet

Of all the states, West Virginia’s economy ranks at the bottom while we sit on mountains filled with energy in the middle of an energy crunch. Our economy should be booming, yet it is not. One reason is that we have a tendency to look to government for solutions and not to ourselves. Ronald Reagan once said, “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” His words hold true today. Everyday as we fuel up our vehicles paying close to $4 or more per gallon we are reminded government has not solved the problem, nor will it.

Government officials hold meetings and conferences, form committees and coalitions, but then all that happens is they talk about the problem and get their pictures in the media. One conference referred to the “New Technology of Coal Liquefaction.” For the record Friedrich Bergius developed one of the first processes for turning coal into gasoline almost 100 years ago.

Government doesn’t even know how old the processes are; are we sure we want it in charge?
One of the ideas being floated is a Private-Public Partnership, where government becomes a partner in the construction and operation of a coal liquefaction plant. The problem is government becomes the dominating partner in these ventures; the project becomes bloated, inefficient, and politically influenced to the detriment of the private business partner, the taxpayer and the consumer. History also reveals that the term “corporatism” was coined by Benito Mussolini to describe Private-Public Partnerships, which were used as a way to maintain government control. This is not a road we want to go down.

So what should be government’s role? Government’s first and most important goal should be to make as level and competitive playing field as possible. We must give West Virginia’s businesses a competitive advantage through business friendly tax and legal reforms. Half measures like eliminating the franchise tax by 2015 is not going to give us a competitive advantage anytime soon. It is like getting in a swimming pool one toe at a time instead of jumping in all at one time, getting wet and starting to swim. We must enact the needed tax and legal reforms wholly and fully now — get the initial shock out of the way and then begin to swim in increased jobs and tax revenue as our economy expands because West Virginia will be economically competitive.

So if government’s job should be to provide a level playing field for the competitors, then how do we move forward? The free market will always seek the lowest price and if fuel made from coal is cheaper, then the market will purchase fuel made from coal instead of oil. While we know we can currently make fuel cheaper from coal than oil, the problem is in regard to the cost and time of building the coal liquefaction plant. That cost is estimated at around $2 billion with about 2 years of construction. Some company has to be willing to risk the investment in the plant and take the chance that oil prices will remain high long enough for the plant to pay them back with interest.

Sometimes the only nudge the free market needs is the spark of an idea. Consider that CSX Corporation in 2006 purchased $1.2 billion dollars worth of fuel and you know from your own visits to the pump its 2008 numbers are substantially higher. What if the West Virginia coal Industry sits down with CSX Corp and says, since CSX already services 130 active coal mines and purchases billions of dollars worth of fuel, together we can build a profitable coal liquefaction plant. The plant could provide CSX with lower cost fuel, provide West Virginia coal producers with a new market outlet, provide high paying jobs across the board, give the state increased tax revenues and pump billions of dollars into the West Virginia economy.

As a state loaded with natural resources we have an opportunity, but only if we are willing to make the necessary political changes to make it happen. If we are not held back by Charleston’s bad economic policies, then West Virginia has an answer to the nation’s energy challenges. That answer is under our feet.

Teachers

I have held this post for a while, but recently read an article about how Preston County teachers are concerned about low wages compared to their counterparts in neighboring states. The solution from the Education department is always pay more, spend more, vote for our $15 million levy. Unfortunately we are a low income state that needs a better solution. Our teachers are not underpaid because they are undervalued, they work in a low income, low cost of living state. If your customers can't afford to pay for your product, it's time to adjust the product. When you lack the money you think you need, it is time to adjust your strategy. Is more money the solution to this problem? I would be tempted to entertain that notion if someone could tell me a) how much is being spent on education today and b) how much more to achieve the goals set forth.

The National Education Association reports that WV teachers have an average salary of $40,531 which is $10,000 less than the national average. What does the statistic leave off? A little math. This isn't meant to be a criticism of what teachers get paid or the status of our schools, just to ask the question, how much more is needed? After all, levies are constantly being proposed and denied, surely there is a solution out there.

The average WV primary earner brings in around $36,000 per year. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/medincearnersandstate.html I like this listing by number of earners in the family because it better reflects what the average family is living with. I have heard numbers as low as $20K for the average WV income. As you become a two and three earner family the statistics get a little skewed by part time workers, kids living at home and working, etc.

Most people are more familiar with what they are paid per hour. I ran these numbers past a friend who teaches and they already knew this to be true. The school year runs 180 days, most people with 2 weeks of vacation work 250 days. The school day runs about 8-3, with a lunch and at least one planning period, let's call that 6 hours per day. That comes to 180days x 6 hours = 1080 hours per year. To be overly fair, let's add in some bonus hours for in service and general planning, what the heck, lets add 120 hours of "extra" work time. That gives a work year of 1200 hours. Now, $40, 531/1200 = $33.63 per hour. That's 7x the current minimum wage. This doesn't include benefits and pension, and assumes no sick days or snow days that don't get made up for. The national average is over $50,000 per year which means the national hourly rate for teachers is $41.66 per hour. Compared to a non-teacher counterpart in 52 week per year work force with the same annual salary we see that they work 9-5 or 7 hours per day, 50 weeks per year (allowing 2 weeks for vacation) and thus make $40.531/1750 hours = $23.16/ hour. The average WV earner making $36K brings in about $20.51 per hour of work. Roughly $13 per hour less than our teachers.

Think a little about these numbers the next time you see a pending strike from teachers or hear complaints about how underpaid our teachers are. Then try to put this math to the salaries of college professors...just for fun. You might discover the major reason that the cost of higher education is skyrocketing.

Compared to the nation our teachers are underpaid. But isn't that true of everyone in WV? Compared to their fellow WVs they are some of the highest earners in the state. Most of us make less than our counterparts in the rest of the country.

Today the US Supreme Court Heard a 2nd Amendment Case

While we will not know the outcome from some time, the fundamental question is whether or not the right to bear arms is a collective right or an individual right.

The 2nd Amendment states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." To any student of history it is clear that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right, but some believe it is not.

Over 200 years ago the people of the American Colonies petitioned the Crown and their calls fell on deaf ears. In the Declaration of Independence it states, "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States." Our forefathers understood what Tyranny was, they lived under it, most of us have not.

When they wrote the Bill of Rights, these men understood what was necessary to preserve freedom. First they understood that a free people needed the ability to speak openly about government and more importantly the ability to disagree with government. That is why the first amendment is the Guarantee of Freedom of Speech.

These men had also knew what happened Freedom of Speech is taken away and they got it back my force of arms. Without the Right to Bear Arms, there would be no United States. My ancestor John Moore was one of those men that took up arms against the crown and helped form this nation. These men that formed our nation understood the true cost of freedom.

Many of us understand that the 2nd Amendment is to protect both the 1st Amendment and to allow individuals to protect themselves when government can't. Should government try to take away freedom of speech from the people, the people have the ability to keep it as long as the right to bare arms is not infringed. A free people should never fear its government, government should aways fear its people.

Those that wish to give up the Right to Bear Arms will ultimately give up the right to free speech. The 2nd Amendment is an individual right.

WV GOP out of debt

State Party Chairman Doug McKinney proudly announced that the WV GOP is out of debt, at the Winter meeting held in South Charleston Saturday.

Many in the state party worked hard to pay of the debt lead by Larry Pack and Jim Reed. Bob Fish and the crew of the state Presidential Convention also deserve credit from bringing positive cash flow.

Many candidates were on hand for the event including US Senate Candidate Jay Wolfe, Gubernatorial Candidate Russ Weeks, Attorney General candidate Dan Greear, Secretary of State candidate Charles Minimah, and Agriculture Commissioner candidates Lawrence Beckerle and Michael Teets. The party is upbeat and ready to take on the Democrats in November.

The PHC Celerbrates its first birthday

One year ago today a group of us decided that a voice was needed to get out the correct information that often goes unreported in the Potomac Highlands, and sometime around the state. With a year under our belt and over 10 contributors providing content we have successfully gotten much needed and accurate information out the people of the state.

One of the success stories was the exposing of the myth that Mineral County is low on water resources in the article "Scare Tactics Used Against Mineral County Residents."

Another was Christy Barnett's story "Does Mineral County Want Economic Development?"

I would like to take this time to thank all those who have contributed to the blog and to our loyal readers that stretch from the Potomac Highlands to Charleston to Washington. Without your support we could not have been the success that we have become.