Corridor H could be complete in less than six years

From the time of the Romans over 2000 years ago it has been known that a good road system promotes business and commerce. In 1965 the much needed Corridor H project was initiated as part of the Appalachian Development Highway System for the same reasons. Now some forty-four years later about a third has yet to be completed.[i] For comparison in March of 1942 the US Army began constructing a road to connect Alaska to the rest of the nation. They finished the 1,422 mile unimproved two-lane road through a complete wilderness eight months later in November of 1942.[ii] Interstate 80 which was the first transcontinental Interstate to be completed took only thirty years to complete[iii] its 2899 mile length. The estimates for a Corridor H completion date is still twenty-six years away.[iv] An entire generation of West Virginians will have been born, gone through school, worked a life time and retired before Corridor H’s completion. To build 133 miles of the transcontinental Interstate 80 took an average of sixteen months.

The question to many; Why is the 133 miles Corridor H taking close to seventy years to complete? The short answer for the long delay is the flawed funding mechanism the state is currently using. It relies too heavily on fickle Earmark funding from Washington, funding that can be easily taken away as happened recently.[v] Barry Goldwater once said, “A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away”[vi] and that is exactly what happen with the Corridor H funding. The state is required to pay 20% of Corridor H construction cost with the Federal Government providing the other 80% through the Appalachian Region Commission.[vii] The reason stated by the Obama Administration for eliminating the latest Corridor H funding was because the Federal portion was exceeding the 80% formula.[viii]

West Virginia can no longer afford to wait to finish Corridor H and as a result we must change the funding model the state is currently using. Let’s compare the current model the state is using to build Corridor H to building a new home. It would be as if when you got your pay check you took a small portion and used that money to buy a few two by fours, some sheet rock or shingles. You would then build a small portion of your new home. Every once and awhile you might get a tax refund or better yet a stimulus check (Earmark) from the government, then you run out, splurge and build a bigger chunk of your new house. The problem with this method is the part of your home you are building now would be much more expensive then the part you built in 1965, meaning overall construction cost will be much higher in the end. Additionally you will not have your home ready to move into until your ready to retire and you would be unable to use it to raise your family. That is why, for the most part, we don’t fund new home construction in this way.

The way most new homes are constructed is we borrow the money, build the new home in a short period of time, move in and pay for it over time. This accomplishes several things. One it locks the price in to the prices at the time of construction. Two it still allows us to pay for the new home over the same amount of time. Lastly it allows us to use the home during our life time. The state should be using the exact system funding method to complete the final sections of Corridor H over the next four to six years, instead of waiting the estimated twenty-six years to completion.[ix]

West Virginia’s bond rating is in the middle of the pack,[x] and the state has been working hard to maintain or improve it. In other words the state has a good credit rating and this gives us the ability to have a good interest rate on a loan to complete Corridor H in the near future. Right now the estimate for building a mile of Corridor H is $22 million per mile.[xi] If we continue to use the current funding method, that final mile of Corridor H will cost the taxpayers around $51 million to build in twenty-six years,[xii] costing the tax payer an additional $29 million the last mile alone. If we build it now by issuing bonds we lock the construction cost in at $22 million per mile. We cannot wait to complete Corridor H and continue this current fiscal irresponsibility.

We must borrow the money to complete Corridor H within the next four to six years locking in the cost savings to the taxpayer. It will provide a strong economic impact in the construction industry during construction over the next four to six years helping to offset the current job losses in the state. As the road nears completion the increased traffic along the route will help create jobs in the travel service industry from Hardy County to Lewis County. The increased ease of transport will help retain and attract industry along the route now, all the while increasing tax revenue for the state without increasing taxes.

The increased tax revenue will make it easier for the state to pay its 20%, while the rest of the loan payments are made with the guaranteed 80% Federal matching funds. If we change now and stop waiting on earmark funding, then we take control of our own destiny and will no longer be subject to whims of Washington politics. Now is the time for West Virginia to stand up, be fiscally responsible and complete Corridor H within six years.

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[i] WVCorridorH.com, The Route, Project Timeline

[ii] MSN, Encarta Encyclopedia, Alaska Highway

[iii] Federal Highway Administration, Celebrating the Eisenhower Interstate System, Facts of the Day March 5, 2009

[iv] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[v] Charleston Daily Mail, Obama’s budget eliminates Corridor H funds, May 8, 2009

[vi] Famous-Quotes.com, Famous Quotes by Barry Goldwater

[vii] Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC Project Guidelines, Section 3.2

[viii] The Intermountain, Obama budget eliminates Corridor H funds, May 8, 2009

[ix] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[x] Michigan State Senate, Senate Fiscal Agency Memorandum, Table 2 State Bond Ratings, Feb. 20, 2007

[xi] Foxnews.com, Byrd’s Road to Nowhere, March 10, 2009

[xii] InflationData.com, US Long Term Inflation Rate

Presidential Retribution Inflicted Upon Eastern West Virginia and Elsewhere

The slow gradual pace of Corridor H construction in eastern West Virginia may soon grind to a halt.

Obama recently axed all funding for the project that, according to current plans, will create a four lane link between Exit 99 on Interstate 79 and the Virginia border near the Interstate 66 terminus at Front Royal.

An infuriated Senator Byrd, whose influence obtained funding for the road in the first place, responded that only Congress has the power of the purse. Byrd assured West Virginians that the money would be restored to the purse.

But will it?

The highway runs through the district of Republican Representative Shelley Moore Capito. Also, Byrd has remained almost as critical of Obama as he was of President Bush over executive infringement upon congressional powers. President Bush never touched this funding or this project, but it appears that the independent nonagenarian Democrat has earned a rebuke from the Obamanation. Possibly that extends to West Virginia voters themselves who chose McCain by a large margin and would probably vote for a dead dog before choosing him to succeed himself. The counties through which the highway runs, even staunchly blue Hardy, rejected Obama.

All is not lost. A return of Congress to GOP control would give Congresswoman Capito more influence. Also the state funding plan proposed by Gary Howell on FOX News remains a viable option, since it worked in South Carolina already.

It is interesting to see Obama reject the ideals of the president who remains ideal in so many liberal eyes. Kennedy was a tax cutter who understood the needs of national security while proposing Appalachian corridor highways as a national investment. Obama has nixed all three of these ideals of JFK while running up unfathomable deficits.

By the way, other rural counties, such as Elk in Pennsylvania also saw funding slashed. They also sinned by voting Republican in the last presidential election. High numbers of affluent communities will get most of the funds from the stimulus. Of course most of them voted for guess who.

His Ruthlessness said exactly what he thought about rural Americans during the campaign, that they were deranged armed zealots. And they get no stimulation. Especially if they voted against the Won.

Scare Force One Picture, All too Symbolic

Look really hard at this picture. It speaks at least a thousand words and this was an intentional shot.

Look at how the president's plane dominates the foreground. Look how insignificant the Statue of Liberty became in comparison.

Does this photo speak volumes about the last hundred or so days of American history or what?

Awakening The Sleeping Giant - A Bicycle Ride for Honesty

For Immediate Release – For more information contact; “Michael Maresco” - info@libertyrider.com

Political Mileage – Be a Part of Something Big

The Ron Paul Rider is at it again... Herding cats from the freedom movement known as the r3VOLution, Michael Maresco is getting back on his bicycle to help spread the message, coast to coast. Going from the Statue of Liberty, to Alcatraz, the undercurrent of the trip is, “America; Freedom to Fascism.”

Named “Ride for Honesty”, it will attempt to promote honest discussions on problems facing our country, and the solutions promoted by the r3VOLution. In addition to the normal canvassing associated with such a stunt, the event will attempt to build rapport between local activists, and county sheriffs all along the route. The idea was born in an online discussion of Sheriff Richard Mack’s latest book, “The County Sheriff- America’s Last Hope” and how “we should all deliver them to our sheriff’s.” Thinking on the worth of that idea, this project was born..

In addition to Sheriff Mack’s small book, Campaign for Liberty has generously provided 100 copies of “The Revolution; A Manifesto”. Also included in the delivery pack will be a DVD of Dr. Edwin Vieira’s, “Power of the Purse and Sword” speech. Basically, an introduction to a r3VOLution that highlights love, honor, respect.

Ways you can help:

Covering the States of NJ, PA, WV, OH, IN, IL, MO, OK, NM, AZ, NV, and CA, the hope is to meet, and interview for a blog, a string of supporters across this great nation. whose simple task will be to help get the books into the right hands and see that Michael's route for their area is safe, and sound. At 94 counties, it’s a pretty big herd of cats, any networking help will be golden. If you live in, or know folk along the route, please become part of the it by emailing, locals@libertyrider.com , including your state’s abbreviation in the subject line.

It is hoped that the trip inspires others to reach out and build better rapport with officials in their county, in that regard, networked blogging will be golden, as well, If you want to help document the project on your favorite social network, become a part of it by emailing socialnet@libertyrider.com

If you are work in any form of media, and want to help promote this event, be a part of it by emailing media@libertyrider.com

And finally, this all costs money, and anyone can “be a part of it” by chipping in $17.76 here.

http://michael4rpr.chipin.com/ride-for-honesty-support

Bio - Michael Maresco was living an idyllic life, on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, when he was astounded by the spontaneous uprising of support for Congressman Ron Paul’s presidential run. He wasted no time in joining the rVOLUtion and was one of the original members of Hawaii Meet-up #112. He first organized his meet up to help with a 130 mile 5 day Walk for Ron Paul, in the early summer of ‘07, building the group. By winter 07 he had one upped that stunt with a 3500 mile bicycle trip across the USA, (on his first ever roadbike, a $250 Schwinn from WalMart.) Pulling a trailer festooned with signage he distributed materials, made the front page multiple times, got interviewed on local Fox, and generally built support for the Good Doctor, while inspiring others to step outside the box and get into the streets.

Following that, Michael got into GOTV mode and volunteered for OLFD in NH, he went to SC, and covered two precincts in NY State. In early spring of ‘08 he went to TX to help with the primary challenge for Ron Paul’s congressional seat, and spearheaded a phone bank getting people to the caucuses. During the District 14 effort the Revolution March started gaining steam and Michael was recruited onto the core team, who pulled off that pure grassroots event with style. From there Michael was recruited onto the Walk4Freedom crew, who walked 300 miles across Wisconsin to the Rally For The Republic, holding townhall meetings and handing out Pocket Constitutions all along the way. He was then asked to accompany and assist the producers of the docum3ntary project; For Liberty, where his intimate knowledge of the players and progression of the r3VOLution came in handy. By then it was fall and time to go help GOTV for BJ Lawson. Since the election, he has volunteered and helped promote; both End the Feds, the Boston Tea Party 08, CPAC09 , and the recent Rally on Lexington Green (hosted by Committees of Safety and attended by Oath-Keepers.)

And with this latest venture he shows no signs of letting up…

In addition, as a moderator on Ron Paul Forums he has helped raise money for all of the above, and countless other small, and large projects. Now, he is asking for your help.

Donate today.

http://libertyrider.com/

Time For the Republican Party to Get Back to Basics

The Republican Party since its birth in the 1850s has traditionally stood in some way or another for rights. At that point its rights platform emphasized the right to not be owned just because of your skin color. The Grand Old Party has always been at its best and truest when arguing a positive platform of the right of each individual to enjoy what was promised by the Declaration of Independence and enshrined by the Constitution.

Constitution? Declaration of Independence? Even now that they are terrorist manifestos, they ought to be easy sells to the American people in the upcoming elections right?

The art of selling (and it is an art despite pollsters trying to turn it into a science) requires focus. Right now the Republican Party lacks cohesive focus. Remember when we stormed back in 1994? We had a strong and deep vision that was well articulated. It was based upon the political values and economic principles that have always been Republican strong suits.

We believe in the right of individuals to choose within the law except when those choices result in direct bodily harm to another individual.

We believe that America must retain a strong role in world affairs because we realize if we do not, more unpalatable nations will rise to the fore.

We believe that when the government is knee deep in the private sector instead of an impartial referee, it leads to favoritism and corruption. The Credit Mobilier scandal of the 1870s sprang from direct government involvement in railroads. Lots of politicians stuck their hands into that cookie jar, including future President James Garfield.

Obama is gutting the Constitution and is a real threat to our natural rights. We need to focus our message on a positive alternative vision. Right now we are simply reacting and muddying the water with other issues.

Social conservatives will argue with this, but it is time to jettison gay marriage as a major issue. This is my own opinion, not Gary Howell's. This issue contradicts our general stands on limited government and individual choice. Now on the issue of extending sexual education into elementary school with the idea of teaching children in ways that contradict parental prerogatives, that is an issue of rights where Republicans stand on firm ideological ground. Honestly what are we going to do if gays want to call themselves married? Put shock collars on them? The private sector already recognizes these relationships for insurance and other purposes. This issue muddies the waters and drives away to the Democrats many victims of Obama's stealing, I mean, tax policies.

Abortion, on the other hand, is an issue we need to continue to fight. It is a human rights issue. Children have the right to live, regardless. When the Declaration of Independence says that every person has the right to life, it gets no plainer than that. That is why this is not only a social conservative issue and should not be fought as one. We can even take this one into traditionally Democratic territory. One in three babies aborted is black. That is an astounding statistic. It should be better publicized by the Republican Party.

It's very simple. We only need to get back to the ideals upon which this country was founded. We separated from Britain for economic and individual freedom. We made those ideals our law. They are based upon the right to choose. If we stand by these two founding documents and fight on issues that flow directly from them, we are always strong.

The Pakistan Plan

We'd better have a plan ready. Now.

Since Obama took office, the situation in Pakistan has gone from bad to worse as Taliban forces continue to build momentum and march on the capital. A crucial American ally in the region is about to go the way of Iran and South Vietnam. We had better have a expeditionary force of some sort ready.

Why? Why not let them fall into history like South Vietnam? Why risk more US lives in endless wars against fundamentalism halfway around the world.

Nuclear weapons, that is why. We cannot let terrorists acquire nuclear weapons, especially a group willing to die for their cause. Even worse, they would likely be more aggressive towards Pakistan's historic enemy India, who also has nuclear arms.

Is India likely to tolerate such as disastrous situation on its own borders? At this point it is hard to tell. The only possible help for this situation is a United States currently in a mode of Defense Department firesale.

First, whether they want it or not, US air power must be used against the Taliban to break up and break down their forces. If all else fails, we need an international team of special forces to seize all Pakistani nuclear components before the country falls.

Allowing Pakistani nuclear arms to fall into the hands of Islamic fundamentalist militants who have encouraged destructive attacks on the United States would be a criminal act of folly on the part of the Obama Administration. It is time to stop wasting money on frivolities, stop gutting the Defense Department, and start rounding up a posse to prevent a nuclear Taliban.

Blast from the Past: Shot heard round the world

The Audacity of $500 Tennis Shoes and Obama's Managed Mediocrity

I remember driving down a country road in Hardy County once. We passed by a nondescript house with a nondescript truck in the front. My wife commented, "believe it or not, those are some of the richest people in this county."

In their time, whatever method they used to make their money, I imagine that the government did not spend a lot of time telling them how and how not to earn it. Obama plans to unveil a bewildering array of new taxes and regulations that will hamstring corporations and investors alike. The goal lies in reducing the dynamic nature of American capitalism and imposing Obama's dream of managed mediocrity.

Managed mediocrity means that most people have to learn to live in a less prosperous America. Why? Because Barack and Michelle Obama say so! No one should get rich off of good old fashioned risk and reward. That is just too American. And nobody ever accused the Obamas of being American. Perhaps they hold US citizenship, but their ideas do not come from the traditions of our country.

It all comes back to the shoes that Mrs. Obama wore to a charity event. Five hundred dollar sneakers. Only rich people can afford to spend so much on their feet, unless there is a crying medical need. I suppose they got rich in the approved liberal way, instead of the evil capitalist way, investing in companies and putting Americans to work.

In Obama's new America of Managed Mediocrity, we will not be able to achieve the nouveau riche dream of wearing $500 tennis shoes. Only rich liberals can do that.

Jeb Bush Is Right

Don't get me wrong. I do cherish and respect what President Reagan did for our party and our country. His ideas and his efforts gave America twenty-five years of prosperity. Had Clinton followed his foreign policy example, we may have seen a much more secure America as well.

It's time to move on. It really is.

I am not saying we should forget Ronald Reagan. We never forgot Abraham Lincoln or Dwight Eisenhower. We should do a lot more to remember William McKinley who was a stronger supporter of free markets than the more flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt. However he belongs to history now.

People my age and older will have a hard time with this. We lived through the 1970s and remember the misery. Ronald Reagan raised us from all of that and restored our country's position in the world. But we must remember that millions of voters were not even alive when he was president. To them, he is as unreachable as Lincoln, a picture in a history book instead of a living example. If we continue to venerate Reagan, we risk looking like the old Franklin Roosevelt stalwarts of the not too distant past. Who in West Virginia even in the 80s and 90s did not know at least one person who voted the straight Democratic ticket because of FDR?

The Republican Party must start searching for the next Reagan because America will need some renewing in 2012. Obama has deconstructed much of our economic and diplomatic position in a shockingly short amount of time. Who will be the Republican to inspire this generation? Where will the ideas that wil shape the 21st Century come from? Hopefully we see one emerge soon.

Do not forget the past, but do not let the past blind us to the present or the future.

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Remember when we said on this blog that Ford Motor Company will not only be fine, but end up in a strong position when this economy shakes out?

Ford just leapt over Toyota to once again seize second place in US auto sales last month. Ford's new midsized Fusion is a hit with consumers and recreates the success enjoyed by that company in the 1990s with the unspectacular, but dependable Taurus.

General (soon to be renamed "Government?") Motors is still the nation's best selling company, but they and Toyota both lost market share to the aggressive and still completely private sector Ford Motor Company.

To be honest I still think GM should be split into two if not three parts. Chevrolet and Cadillac would probably prosper alone.

Kudos to Ford!

Nixonian Foreign Policy and Obama

A couple of days ago, I described Hillary Clinton's foreign policy as being that of Richard Nixon and the more I thought about it, the more I felt that point needed clarification.

Nixon's main achievements came in the field of foreign policy. Lyndon Johnson's tax and spend approach to welfare combined with his mismanagement of the Vietnam War led to a period of American weakness. High inflation, breakdowns of social cohesion, and a declining ability to project power meant that by the late 60s, that weakness was real. Nixon adjusted US policy accordingly. For the first time since World War II, we dealt from a position of weakness rather than one of strength. This required Nixon, more so than other presidents, to engage enemies with despicable domestic records. Mao Tse Dong was the worst of the lot. However, Nixon did this with an overall vision of m,aking our enemies (USSR and China) more afraid of each other than of us. It worked, giving us breathing room before the American Renaissance of Ronald Reagan.

Obama has insisted that we show disrespect to our friends and love to our enemies (who use the opportunity to slap us in the face when they get the chance.) It is the Nixon concept of engaging enemies, without the overall plan of how to use that engagement to secure security. What is most galling is that at the end of 2008 the United States was the most secure and strongest power in the world. Obama's excessive borrowing has placed us at the mercy of our adversaries. His policy of apologizing for every slight, real or imagined, has dissolved the international respect so carefully established by Bush and Rice.

So a point of clarification. I used Nixon to describe Clinton and Obama's policy because liberals believe that Nixon is worse than Hitler and Judas Iscariot rolled into one. However it does use some aspects of Nixon's process without the overall vision or savvy that will lead to an enhanced American security.

WVGOP announces Underwood internships for 2009

CHARLESTON – Five participants in the West Virginia Republican Party’s new Cecil H. Underwood Intern Program have been announced today, including four college students and one high school student.

The program participants are:

* Patrick Heavner, a freshman accounting major at Marietta College and originally from Mineral Wells. He has volunteered on several local West Virginia campaigns and is the secretary for the Wood County Young Republicans. He wants to build the WVGOP team through engagement at the grassroots level.

* Micalyn Kuhl, a senior political science major at Marshall University. Originally from Elizabeth, Micalyn served as a Herndon Fellow working with the legislature and Secretary of State’s office. She believes interning with the party will allow her to gain valuable experience as she pursues a graduate degree in policy research, and help the future of the state.

* Scott Robertson, a junior political science major attending Marshall University. Originally from Man, Scott is the president of Marshall College Republicans. He wants to intern because he believes the WVGOP is the only party that will stand up for hardworking people and spur economic development in the state.

* Nina Orndorff, a graduate student at West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Public Administration. Hailing from Buckhannon, Nina has served as a Burke Intern with the West Virginia Legislature. In the face of economic uncertainty, she believes now is the perfect time for our party to grow its presence and lead the way to bettering the state.

* Ben Adams, a junior at Capital High School in Charleston. Ben has interned with the Pennsylvania Republican Party and extensively with the West Virginia McCain ‘08 campaign. Ben believes that the Republican ideals are the best vehicle to change government and wants to be part of the process.

The day to day operation of the program will be overseen by Shane Wilson, a graduate of Washington & Lee University in Virginia, who is preparing for law school at West Virginia University this fall. Shane has recently worked in the office of the Secretary of State.

“We’re excited about the new intern program and the valuable experience that will be gained by these bright young Republican activists over the course of the summer,” said state GOP Chairman Doug McKinney. “We appreciate everyone who applied for the program, and our hope is that in future years, we can expand its reach to include even more young people who exhibit such pride in their communities and a desire to make their state a better place to live.”

McKinney said the intern program will provide logistical and ground support for the party, grow new ideas and talent with potential future leaders and party staff, and publicly demonstrate an active, growing, and community-oriented party. Interns will develop conservative values and leadership skills, and gain valuable work experience and interaction with party and community leaders.

The program is named in honor of former Governor Cecil H. Underwood, who first ventured into politics in 1944 at age twenty-two with his election to the House of Delegates. He retained this seat until 1956, serving as House minority floor leader in 1949, 1951, 1953, and 1955. In 1957, he became the youngest governor in the history of the state and the first Republican governor in twenty-four years. In 1996, Underwood became the state's oldest governor, forty years after his first election to the office.

Enact a Constitutional Amendment Now to Democratize Planning and Health Boards

It is time for the West Virginia Legislature to consider an amendment either making various health, economic development, and other planning commissions elected, or strip them of their power to enact law.

Rule of law is the most important guarantor of democracy. In a free society, laws are made by representatives of the people. They are strictly written and enforced consistently. One example of where rule of law breaks down is when government organs seek to perpetuate themselves and enhance their powers.

The 20th century brought with it occasional manic periods of planning. These often followed years of tremendous expansion that ended with the inevitable corrections that caught the poorly prepared off guard. Planners seek to regulate development and growth to fit their vision of what is proper and appropriate. To achieve their goals, they often require sweeping legal mandates enabling them to do what they feel is right and proper. This removes certain aspects of regulation from the legislative and places it in unelected bodies, thus undermining the democratic ideal of rule of law. Local planning agencies, such as the health departments, enact legislation routinely that affect large numbers of people and businesses. Why do unelected boards have such power?

A multiplicity of laws or a vague legal code affects rule of law in adverse ways as well. Individuals or businesses can find their freedom to act hampered by a bewildering array of regulations that even the most observant may find themselves violating. When the government enacts vague, badly written, or inconsistently enforced laws, this also enhances the confusion. At this point the government becomes the arbiter, the main source of guidance, and the enforcement arm. This grants it extraordinary power as well as the ability to act in arbitrary ways. The United States tax code, enforced by the Internal Revenue Service, remains a prime example of a system whose complexity breeds fear of the government among law abiding citizens that ought to be considered unnatural in a free society, not a part of doing business. At both the federal and state level, the tax code has been used to harass law abiding opponents of the party in power. How much simpler would life be if we maintained the simple, restrained ideal of government originally created!

Real economic education in the schools would prevent much of the pain caused by such periods, but many would rather just blame capitalism itself and beg the government’s assistance.

In short, planning undermines rule of law, expands the power of unelected authorities, and diminishes freedom. It is time to democratize the process.

You're most likely part of the Militia

This is the current US Law without commentary.

Title 10, Subtitle A, Part I, Chapter § 311

§ 311. Militia: composition and classes

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

(b) The classes of the militia are—

(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and

(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Pirates Take on Capitalism and Lose While Democrats Admit That Cap and Trade Is Really a Substantial New Tax

Pirates attempted to attack an Italian cruise liner named Melody and came away singing some sour notes.

Far be it for BBC or other news networks to report this, but the attack was thwarted by an Israeli security team hired to protect the liner and passengers. It shows that what is actually a low grade threat perpetrated by low rent thugs can be handled in a sophisticated and effective manner by trained private sector professionals.

****************************************************************************

Meanwhile even Democrats from states with manufacturing and mining interests continue to criticize the Obama Administration's continued push towards cap and trade regulations. They could not get it past Congress, so they had the EPA declare that climate change was a threat to the nation so the executive branch could enact it anyway.

Congress must step up to prevent the administration from rendering them powerless on an issue that will damage the economy and destroy jobs. Especially as global warming advocates have been disappearing fairly quickly as of late.

Representative John Dingell, Democrat from Michigan, fired away at Obama's enviromunists by saying "Nobody in this country realizes that cap and trade is a tax - and it's a great big one."

Where will our congressmen and women stand on this? We know that Capito and Byrd have stood up for their West Virginia constituents on this issue. How about the rest of them?

Blast from the Past: No more Kings

Follow Up: To all interested West Virginia Republican women

On Thursday, June 25, 2009, the Republican National Committee will kick off its Women’s Program with the first annual Women’s Summit. It will be held at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The mission of the RNC Women’s Program is to recruit, register, train and sustain a strong base of women activists and candidates to build the Republican Party, portray the GOP as the automatic choice for female voters and win elections. In order to do this, we need your help.

The State Party has been asked to select five to eight women from West Virginia to attend the Summit. These women should be strong leaders within our state party, volunteers that continue to shine throughout each election cycle, or new supporters who are interested in expanding their role within the Party. The goal is for the attendees of the Summit to serve as the new leadership of the RNC Women’s Program as Regional Chairwomen, State Chairwomen and Team Leaders. They will be counted on to implement the goals of the Women’s Program within their states and territories and to be the face of the Program across the country.

Although the Summit is free of charge, travel, lodging and incidentals will be the responsibility of the individual attendees; however, lunch and snacks will be provided on June 25. Additionally, rooms will be held at a discounted rate of $209.00/night for single occupancy and $234.00/night for double occupancy at the Capitol Hill Suites, 200 C Street SE, Washington, DC.

Please respond by email ( mriggall@wvgop.org ) if you are interested, along with a few lines about why you would like to be selected to participate in this project. Thank you as always for your hard work on behalf of the Republican Party.

Doug McKinney

Chairman

Darfur: One Big Reason Why the United States Should Stop Shedding Its Leadership Role

One of my favorite movie lines, as I have mentioned before, comes from Zulu, a film from the 1960s about 19th century British soldiers grimly facing down thousands of Zulu warriors. There were a little over a hundred British and the Zulus had a couple thousand rifles.

Before one assault on the small fortification, a frightened soldier asks his sergeant why they are fighting. The Sergent, in classic British Victorian fashion, answers "Because we are here, and no one else."

That describes perfectly the United States' role in the world up until 2009. We stand for freedom, we back democracy, we support capitalism. Why? Because no one else cares. We do it not for popularity but for principle. We know gratitude is fleeting, but we understand that the world is safer when it is free. At least we knew and understood those things until January of this year.

Darfur is an international outrage. Slavery and massacres of Christian blacks by Muslims continues unabated. I am not suggesting that we go into the region by ourselves like an Old West sheriff and clean up the town. Some situations call for the John Wayne treatment, this does not. What we need is to round up our posse. Get some old friends like the Poles, British, etc. and some new ones like Kenya and South Africa. Take on a leadership and organization role, but provide direct support mostly in logistics.

Fact is, though, our credibility gets shakier all the time. Who can trust our commitment to democracy when the president acts like Gordon Brown is the black sheep cousin while Hugo Chavez is the coolest guy on earth?

Darfur needs attention and our diplomatic ship needs righted. Too bad neither outcome looks feasible for at least, say, four years.

Sirius Radio Host Andrew Wilkow in Morgantown

I would say if you missed Andrew Wilkow in Morgantown, then you missed on of the great Republican dinners held this year in West Virginia, but you can watch it below. Andrew reminded us all of what it means to be a conservative. It was a great show and I would like to thank him for coming down. You can hear him weekdays on Sirius 144 between 12 and 3pm.

Ahem, Waiter, This Is Not What I Ordered

Imagine going to a restaurant one day. You eat there often and like the steak. Every time you go there you order steak and today is no exception. However, instead of a robust, tasty, juicy, tender steak, the waiter calls an audible and brings the tofu and vegetarian platter. He explains that the chef decided that he does not care for steak anymore and this has less fat. You have no choice, the dinner is completely unpalatable to you, but you are forced to eat it anyway. How disgusting!

This is precisely what Arlen Spectre did to a very large number of people. He presented himself as a Republican, part of the majority, called upon and received the support of President Bush to get reelected, and has now switched to the Democratic Party.

Had he done this in 2002 or so, Spectre could present this as a matter of conscience. At this point it looks like nothing more than sheer opportunism. Believe me, he will end up in a position of power in the Senate eventually, after the passage of an appropriate amount of time.

In his last go round, he faced a very difficult primary opponent. Perhaps he fears the infamy of losing a primary as an incumbent. In any case, he now faces the strong possibility of losing in the general. The formidible party network that got him elected will now be used against him.

Changing parties in midterm is fundamentally dishonest. Spectre has to live with his newly won reputation as a turncoat. Best of luck with that.

Gingrich to Waxman: Dont Punish Americans with Energy Taxes

To all interested West Virginia Republican women

Jan Larimer, Co-Chairman of the RNC, is building support for the annual Women’s Summit. If anyone is interested in being one of the five to eight women from West Virginia to participate, please let us know by May 29^th.

The RNC has spent the better portion of this week focused on the roll out of its women’s program. Please mark June 25, 2009 on your calendar. This is the date for the first annual Women’s Summit which will kick off the RNC’s women’s program. The goal of the program is to recruit, register, train and sustain a strong base of women activists and candidates to build the Republican Party, portray the GOP as the automatic choice for female voters and WIN elections.

You will receive a detailed letter next week from Co-Chair Larimer outlining the mission and goals of this program but more importantly asking for your help. We are being asked to nominate 5-8 women from our state to attend the women’s summit. The goal is for the attendees at the summit to ultimately serve in a hands-on leadership role for the program.

Again, please let us know by May 29^th if you are interested in participating in this program, and thank you!

Doug McKinney

Chairman

Socialism Made No Sense to Aristotle Either

This excerpt is from Aristotle's work The Politics written about 340 B.C. It describes that a system is much more fair when everyone pursues his self-interest. Aristotle also makes the correct point that a system without private property tends to have a dampening effect on benevolence and charity.

Should the citizens of the perfect state have their possessions in common or not? Three cases are possible: (1) the soil may be appropriated, but the produce may be thrown for consumption into the common stock; this is the practice of some nations. Or (2), the soil may be common, and may be cultivated in common, but the produce divided among individuals for their private use; this is a form of common property which is said to exist among certain barbarians. Or the soil and the produce may be alike common. When the farmers are not the owners, the case will be different and easier to deal with; but when they till the ground for themselves the question of ownership will give a world of trouble. If they do not share equally enjoyments and toils, those who labor much and get little will necessarily complain of those who labor little and receive or consume much. These are only some of the disadvantages which attend the community of property; the present arrangement, if improved as it might be by good customs and laws, would be far better.

Property should be in a certain sense common, but, as a general rule, private; for, when everyone has a distinct interest, men will not complain of one another, and they will make more progress, because every one will be attending to his own business. And yet by reason of goodness, and in respect of use, 'Friends,' as the proverb says, "will have all things common." Even now there are traces. For, although every man has his own property, some things he will place at the disposal of his friends, while of others he shares the use with them. Again, how immeasurably greater is the pleasure, when a man feels a thing to be his own; for surely the love of self is a feeling implanted by nature and not given in vain, although selfishness is rightly censured. No one, when men have all things in common, will any longer set an example of liberality or do any liberal action; for liberality consists in the use which is made of property. Such legislation may have a specious appearance of benevolence; men readily listen to it, and are easily induced to believe that in some wonderful manner everybody will become everybody's friend, especially when some one is heard denouncing the evils now existing in states, suits about contracts, convictions for perjury, flatteries of rich men and the like, which are said to arise out of the possession of private property. These evils, however, are due to a very different cause---the wickedness of human nature.

Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy Are "So Yesterday" According to Hillary Clinton

Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights . . ."

Woodrow Wilson: "I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately . . . Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion. . . . To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Our national determination to keep free of foreign wars and foreign entanglements cannot prevent us from feeling deep concern when ideals and principles that we have cherished are challenged."

John F, Kennedy: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge—and more."

Hillary Clinton: "Ideology is so yesterday."

Great. The ideology of Marx, the principles of a vacuum, the foreign policy of Richard Nixon, and the speech patterns of a valley girl. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your secretary of state.

Congratulations.

US annouces it has no plans to invade Canada

US announces it has no plans to invade Canada and we probably haven't even thought about it since the War of 1812. I'm pretty sure will not have any plans to invade Canada anytime soon. That headline makes you think, it makes you wonder what atrocity Canada committed, but if you don't read this story you will wonder that. You may even panic if you live on the border, but that story title is 100% accurate. We have no plans to invade Canada.

The White House Cabinet will be releasing Swine Flu information that basically says everything is normal, but the titles will indicate otherwise. Rahm Emanuel has said you never want to let a crisis go to waste and this will be no exception.

With the administration under heavy attack from the average American about out of control spending, ever increasing taxes, bailing out banks and businesses while many Americans are loosing their jobs and homes the administration is wanting to divert attention from their unpopular policies. The Swine Flu outbreak just gave Rahm Emanuel a crisis to use to the administrations advantage.

Now the flu is not to be taken lightly as it is a leading cause of death in the US every year, but we should not panic. The worst flu pandemic on record is the Spanish Flu break out of 1918-19 where and estimated 28% of the US population caught the flu and of those about 500,000 died. To put that in perspective about 200,000 people each year are hospitalized with the seasonal flu and of those about 36,000 die according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) . Today we have the best health care system in the world and many treatments are available now that would have saved most of those in the 1918-19 outbreak.

In 1976 an outbreak of the Swine Flu created a panic in the US. The government launched a massive immunization campaign in which 24% of the US population was vaccinated. At the time about 25 deaths from Guillain-Barre syndrome were brought on by the vaccination program and the program was stopped. No pandemic ever materialized and the panic subsided.

If you have symptoms of the flu, head to the doctor immediately and get checked out in the best health care system in the world. Don't take any chances, but don't panic either because the odds are stacked very heavily in your favor.

You're going to see lots of flu reports in the news coming up and you can be assured that many of them are going to be politically driven from the White House trying to draw attention away from the economic problems the administration is prolonging. Rahm Emanuel is not going to let this crisis go to waste and they are going to fan the flames to make it grow. Look at the already increasing volume of non-stories. "US says not testing travelers from Mexico for flu," OK, that is just normal. Have you ever received a flu test when you got off a plane? No. You're finding most of the headlines are panicky, but the stories are stories saying we are not doing anything differently. It is business as normal.

Keep in mind, the CDC monitors these outbreaks all the time and has plans already in place. Much of the information I quoted in this blog comes from CDC reports and plans.

West Virginia wake up, Cap and Trade will kill our state

The Return of the 19th Century Media

In the 19th Century the Newspaper was your only source of news. Many towns had more than one, with names like the Barbour County Democrat, The Oakland Republican, etc. These names were not picked haphazardly, they reflected the views of the newspaper. You bought your newspaper based on its political views. That was how the media ran in the 19th Century.

Through the 20th Century that open bias went underground and was thinly veiled claim of journalistic impartiality. Although if you looked close enough you could often find the bias poking its head through. The problem was the vast majority of the press shifted to the left.

Now at the beginning of the 21st Century it has come full circle and the 19th Century media has returned with a vengeance. MSNBC could very easily change its name to DNBC (Democrat National Broadcasting Corp), or CNN changes it to DNN (Democratic News Network) because that reflects the view point they provide. They complain constantly that Fox News is Republican Network. Well, they would be right. They are providing a different point of view and reaping the financial rewards.

Our nations political views are primarily center right. With the majority of the media hard left, they do not reflect the view point most Americans want to hear. If some one wants to challenge Fox News media dominance, then the way to do that is create a second right leaning network.

In the 21st Century if you're Right, the you watch Fox News, read the internet and listen to talk radio. If you're left then you watch Broadcast news, CNN or MSNBC and read major city newspapers. Now if we could only return a 19th Century sized Federal Government.

School Calendar Debate

To me the school calendar debate is somewhat overblown. Many have established an arbitrary number of 180 days as the gold standard. The weather and any other issues be darned, if students do not have the opportunity to endure 180 days of school, they have been somehow undeserved.

While debate has raged over the quantity of days spent in school, little discussion centers around the quality. Over consolidation and overcrowded classrooms affect the educational experience far more adversely than whether or not a school system has operated 180 days.

Let's be honest. Many days on the school calendar see both teachers and students less than motivated by the learning experience. Thirteen years of personal attendance, four years as a substitute, and sixteen combined years spent by my children in school tells me that any days spent during Thanksgiving week, any days during a week shortened by Christmas, and every day in June is nearly pointless. These are opportunities to show The Princess Bride or the movie about the Red Rider BB gun shooting a kid's eye out again.

It's not that I am complaining about these diversions for school kids, but we are fooling ourselves if we think that each one of those 180 days will be chock full of instructional time. And should they be? College students pack the same amount of learning into many fewer days.

It's time to debate the sizes of schools and classrooms, not the number of days. Shrink the size of schools and classes overall and you will achieve better results in 150 days of class time than you are now.

So the Terrorists Won After All

Just after 9/11, it was bandied about that if we allowed substantial changes to our national character as a result of crisis, it meant the terrorists were winning. Who ever would have thought we'd see the following:

The government is no longer our obedient servant. Now General Motors is the government's obedient servant.

Those who interpreted the law so that we could compete on the front lines of terrorism now possibly face worse treatment than all but one of the Confederate States of America military and political officials who actually took arms against the United States. They do not get a thank you for preventing additional attacks, they get threatened with prosecution.

Law abiding gun owners are told that the freedoms they believe in somehow give Mexican drug lords 90% of their guns. I am not sure how they got all those Russian, Chinese, and Czech arms from American dealers.

We'd rather form government labor battalions than reduce taxes so that employers can hire more people.

The British head of government and head of state are treated with crass disrespect while anti-American dictators get the "best buddy" treatment.

We regard captured terrorists as civilians and returning solider-heroes as terrorists.

Republicans are, for the most part, also mostly terrorists for standing behind our Founding ideals.

This is a government that plays hardball with corporations, but swoons with affection towards the brutal Hugo Chavez. The world is turned upside down. A few years ago we were prosperous and strong, now we mollycoddle enemies and trample the free market.

Two years cannot go past soon enough. We need to get our America back.

Interesting Comments on Obama by Alan Keyes

Either Naivete, Stupidity, Or A Serious Lack of Concern

In 1959 a newspaper photo was sent over the wires that reaffirmed in the strongest possible way the support of the United States of America for democracy as well as its opposition to oppression and tyranny. Vice President Richard Nixon responded to a debate challenge by Nikita Kruschev with characteristic aggressiveness. The pugnacious Nixon stands with index finger extended into the chest of a suddenly bemused Soviet premier.

Other presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, were credited for boosting the spirits of those fighting tyranny in their own countries. Reagan's challenges reverberated secretly through the gulags while Tibetan freedom protesters in recent years cited American support as a strong source of motivation. You never forgot our position on dictatorship and democracy during these presidencies.

That is what makes Obama's familiarity with Chavez so chilling and foolish at the same time. He plays the picture of a handshake and the two men obviously enjoying each other's company as meaningless. Remember, this is the same person who (along with his wife) could not help but demonstrate contempt over and over for our real allies.

Obama in foreign affairs conducts himself like the stereotypical witless TV dad who has no real connection with the world around him, simply wants to get along with everyone, and try to look "cool" doing it.

Maybe he should stay home and let the adults handle "big boy" issues like America's daily shrinking credibility. Then again, he would just be tempted to foul up the banks and General Motors some more. Or maybe pass another tax on employers.

Does anyone else remember the days when the President of the United States was called "leader of the free world?"

*****************************************************************

Count me as someone unconcerned that one of the 9/11 plotters was waterboarded over 180 times. Seems to me it was about 2,000 times too few. I have zero sympathy for this gentleman. The idea that terrorists will treat American or allied prisoners more harshly as a result is ludicrous. They beheaded Daniel Pearl. At least some of the victims of execution were not given clean cuts either. Does it get much more brutal than that? We need to remember who we are dealing with.

Every report on the number of waterboardings done to these people ought to be prefaced by a shot of the towers being hit and coming down.

Economic Recovery Funds in the Potomac Highlands

Grant County

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Agency: Other Category: Public Safety Amount: $3,179.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $25,392.00

Title I Grants

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $306,498.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $532,005.00

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Hardy County

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Agency: Other

Category: Public Safety Amount: $3,680.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $30,096.00

Title I Grants

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $258,284.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $630,587.00

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hampshire County

Romney Street

Description: RESURFACING Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $4,000,000.00

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Agency: Other

Category: Public Safety Amount: $4,785.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $48,628.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $2,250.00

Title I Grants

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $639,553.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $1,018,796.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $47,118.00

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Mineral County

Mineral St

Description: RESURFACING Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $1,131,000.00

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Agency: Other

Category: Public Safety Amount: $6,953.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $57,561.00

Title I Grants

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $729,237.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency:Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $1,206,063.00

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Pendleton County

Judy Gap Bridge

Description: BRIDGE LMC Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $462,000.00

4-U Bridge

Description: BRIDGE C&P Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $232,000.00

Deer Run Park

Description: BRIDGE REPLACE Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $575,000.00

Rough Run

Description: BRIDGE REPLACE Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $875,000.00

Smith Creek to Franklin Rd

Description: SLIDES Agency: Department of Transportation

Category: Transportation Amount: $1,000,000.00

IDEA Part B Preschool Allocation

Description: Special Education Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $14,206.00

Title I Grants

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $119,618.00

IDEA Part B School Age Allocation

Agency: Department of Education

Category: Education Amount: $297,636.00

State Sponsored Sexual Assault Up For Debate in the Supreme Court

Imagine a teenage girl forced into a small room. There she is ordered to undress by force. Adults leer at her nude body, examining it closely. Then she is told to dress and go on her way.

This was not a kidnapping, this actually happened at a school! In America!

In Safford, Arizona several years ago Savana Redding, described as a "shy and nerdy" eighth grade honor student, was forced to undress by a vice principal. Did they suspect she was armed, about to kill a fellow student? No. Was she about to offer heroin to a classmate? No.

They suspected that she had contraband ibuprofen in her underwear. No, check that. Extra strength ibuprofen. Worse than anything else, the students knew what had happened to her. When her mother April protested, she was told that her daughter was lucky that nothing was found.

She was scarred for years, humiliated by the event. Redding feared going to the school. Who could blame her? An institution of the state basically raped her and neither she nor her parents could ever hope for justice against the perpetrator.

Fortunately, in one of the few good rulings you will ever see from here, the 9th Circuit stood up for Redding's civil liberties. If a strip search is not a violation of the right to be secure in your person, what isn't. Also in this day and time when improper contact between teachers and students is reported from somewhere almost daily, who wants to trust these people with this kind of power?

Were I in Arizona, I would tell my children to refuse any orders to remove clothing unless they could produce a warrant signed by a judge, as is required by the Constitution. If I found out that they had been strip searched, I would be the next one in jail. These are not prisoners, these are children. They do not leave every constitutional right at the door when they enter school. If the Supreme Court rules that they do, it is time to abandon the public school system in states that allow such monstrous practices.

No wonder civics is not taught anymore in many areas. Why would administrators such as the vice principal in Safford want these children to understand the Bill of Rights? It is so much easier to terrify them into submission, over ibuprofen.

Miss California

Miss California was asked a question about Gay Marriage. She gave her honest answer, which is what we should expect from anybody. As a result of her traditional values, many believe it cost her the title of Miss USA.

It turns out that she was set up by a gay activist, Perez Hilton, that asked the question. A handful a cheers could be heard from the crowd when the question was ask, but the real strong response came when she said, she believed marriage is between a man and a woman. Now we are a free people and we are free to believe as we wish. Votes have been taken in several states and the people are speaking.

This question never should have been asked in the venue and her answer should not have had an effect on the outcome of the pageant. Our First Amendment rights are designed to allow us to voice our opinion without retribution, but in our society of political correctness this is almost a thing of the past. We should not be afraid to voice our opinion. Mr. Hilton is wrong in his actions and should not be allowed to judge another Miss USA pageant.

WVGOP Think Tank coming to the Potomac Highlands

All Republicans from Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral & Pendleton Counties are invited to the Potomac Highlands Regional Meeting of the WVGOP Think Tank

It will be held:

April 22nd, 2009 @ 7:00 PM
Grand Central Business Center
3 Floor Meeting Room
1 E Piedmont St
Keyser, WV 26726

Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by calling (304) 788-6554 or (304) 788-2513

Please invite your County Executive Committee's and any active interested Republicans you think might wish to attend.

The WVGOP Think Tank http://www.wvgopthinktank.org is the official think tank of the West Virginia Republican Party, and is visiting the Potomac Highlands to get your input. The WVGOP Think Tank is dedicated to gathering and sharing the ideas and visions of Republicans across the state as we work to develop a plan for victory in 2010 and beyond.

It is dedicated to including the thoughts and ideas of all Republicans who wish to attend the meeting. Our energies will be devoted to working with all Republicans, and increasing Republican influence in government.

Republicans can, and will, legitimately disagree. The goal of finding common ground in battling our opposition and winning the hearts and minds of West Virginians.

Janeane Garofalo needs to make up her mind

Another Unintended Testament to President Bush

Today (Wednesday April 15th) Barack Obama once again gave his predecessor credit for foresight and wisdom.

Now he never does it intentionally. Whenever he mentions the former president, it is usually with derision. However, Obama's actions occasionally demonstrate a willingness to follow where President Bush led.

Last week he followed a patented Bush move, the surprise trip to Iraq. This week he is touting a simplified tax code.

While President Bush remained in office this was a non-starter. Congress, whether GOP or Democrat, did not want to budge on this item that President Bush pushed harder than most others. When President Bush talked at length about the value of a simplified code, Congress looked the other way.

Now Obama will try to scale this mountainous code assembled by special interests. Of course his revamped code will likely increase taxes on those that produce the most goods and jobs, after all that is his style. But it is still a compliment to the foresight of President Bush that simplifying the tax code has emerged once again on the presidential agenda.

Keyser Flag Day Tea Party Scheduled

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Location: Grand Centeral Business Center, 1 East Piedmont St.
City: Keyser, WV 26726

Planned Events: Planting of a Liberty Tree

The first Liberty Tree was near Boston Common and was a meeting place for the first patriots. As time went on many towns and cities had their own Liberty Trees for meeting places prior to the Revolution. The new Liberty Tree will be our meeting place and symbol that we wish to return to following the Founding Fathers vision of Liberty.

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Matt E. Ryan, Ph. D.
Charles G. Koch Doctoral Fellow
College of Business & Economics
West Virginia University
Associate editor on "Unleashing Capitalism"

Greg Brown, US Army, Veteran OEF - 2002, OIF - 2003-2004