Looking Ahead to 2012, Potential Contenders For the Democratic Presidential Nomination

This might take some folks a little off guard. Contenders for the Democratic noination for president? Don't they have an incumbent?

Obama said recently that he would rather be a good one term president than a mediocre two termer. This reflects a rare moment of reality for the embattled president who at one point told a Blue Dog Democrat expressing fears about this November that the difference between 1994 (when Republicans swept into control of Congress) and 2010 is that "now you have me." He forgot that he has not accomplished anything thus far that would define him as a "good" president. This remark may have been a shot at both of his predecessors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton (whom he personally seems to despise and vice versa.)

If events continue as they have, Democrats will start mulling a run at the nomination. They will each try to present themselves as the anti-Obama, perhaps event to the extent of looking a little less polished if it leads to the impression of greater substance.

First and foremost, the best Democratic alternative to four more years of Nobama is the sitting secretary of state. Under George W. Bush this was the most honored office in his Cabinet. Condoleeza Rice has tremendous power and latitude. Hillary Clinton goes to town hall meetings in the Congo and begs money off of the Chinese while others handle major affairs separately. This has to grate on her. I would not be surprised to see Clinton resign in the next six to nine months. This would signal to the world that the Democratic nomination is up for grabs. Then it would be the battle of the Chicago Obama organization versus the Clintonistas. The difference between the two is that the Clintons have actually accomplished things.

How about a prominent Democratic governor? The fact is that in this group Joe Manchin has as much credibility as anyone. He has managed to maintain a stable face on state finances while other governments have gotten into trouble. Some may remember his exposure during the Sago mine disaster. Manchin looks, sounds, and acts more like the Clinton prototype than Obama, a fact that could win him credit with Clintonistas if their own hero passes.

The fact is that Obama is weak and stubbornly refuses to adapt his tone, policies, or actions. This adds up to a strong challenge in 2012 from his own party.

Obama Welshes On Campaign Promises to Not Tax Middle Class

Backdoor taxes to hit middle class

iBy Terri Cullen Terri Cullen – Mon Feb 1, 4:09 pm ET
NEW YORK (Reuters.com) --The Obama administration's plan to cut more than $1 trillion from the deficit over the next decade relies heavily on so-called backdoor tax increases that will result in a bigger tax bill for middle-class families.
In the 2010 budget tabled by President Barack Obama on Monday, the White House wants to let billions of dollars in tax breaks expire by the end of the year -- effectively a tax hike by stealth.
While the administration is focusing its proposal on eliminating tax breaks for individuals who earn $250,000 a year or more, middle-class families will face a slew of these backdoor increases.
The targeted tax provisions were enacted under the Bush administration's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Among other things, the law lowered individual tax rates, slashed taxes on capital gains and dividends, and steadily scaled back the estate tax to zero in 2010.
If the provisions are allowed to expire on December 31, the top-tier personal income tax rate will rise to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. But lower-income families will pay more as well: the 25 percent tax bracket will revert back to 28 percent; the 28 percent bracket will increase to 31 percent; and the 33 percent bracket will increase to 36 percent. The special 10 percent bracket is eliminated.
Investors will pay more on their earnings next year as well, with the tax on dividends jumping to 39.6 percent from 15 percent and the capital-gains tax increasing to 20 percent from 15 percent. The estate tax is eliminated this year, but it will return in 2011 -- though there has been talk about reinstating the death tax sooner.
Millions of middle-class households already may be facing higher taxes in 2010 because Congress has failed to extend tax breaks that expired on January 1, most notably a "patch" that limited the impact of the alternative minimum tax. The AMT, initially designed to prevent the very rich from avoiding income taxes, was never indexed for inflation. Now the tax is affecting millions of middle-income households, but lawmakers have been reluctant to repeal it because it has become a key source of revenue.
Without annual legislation to renew the patch this year, the AMT could affect an estimated 25 million taxpayers with incomes as low as $33,750 (or $45,000 for joint filers). Even if the patch is extended to last year's levels, the tax will hit American families that can hardly be considered wealthy -- the AMT exemption for 2009 was $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for married couples filing jointly.
Middle-class families also will find fewer tax breaks available to them in 2010 if other popular tax provisions are allowed to expire. Among them:
* Taxpayers who itemize will lose the option to deduct state sales-tax payments instead of state and local income taxes;
* The $250 teacher tax credit for classroom supplies;
* The tax deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and expenses;
* Individuals who don't itemize will no longer be able to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 for property taxes paid;
* The first $2,400 of unemployment benefits are taxable, in 2009 that amount was tax

Barack Obama Is An Arrogant S.O.B.

On this blog, we pretty much try to take the high road. We jab at our opponents from time to time. Sometimes we pinprick, sometimes we cut a little deeper. However in our language and tone we try not to be over the top because that only helps our opponents. Today is different.

My wife usually watches Fox, but she likes the guy who does Headline News in the evenings. He's really not so bad. Anyway, I wander into the room last night and Dear Leader is giving us his directives for the day. With chin stuck out and voice in full Mussolini staccato, he informed us that his budget with its uncountable zeroes was reasonable. On top of that he claimed that no one had ever offered him any alternatives or solutions and that any opposition was just grandstanding for the camera. I usually reserve my swearing for those inexplicable moments when West Virginia's basketball team starts the game by allowing the other team to build a twelve point lead. Apparently that is in the Big East bylaws. But I had to really restrain myself from tossing something at that arrogant bastard on the television set.

Obama is not worthy of the title of president. He is not my president. Most of you don't see him as yours either. He is simply an ideological usurper holding down the fort until we can elect a real American to the post. And, Obama, most of us conservatives genuinely believe that you were lawfully born in Hawaii. We just don't think you are American. Because of your unbridled arrogance, the fact that you believe you are entitled to our support, and that opposition is sedition, we compare you to Mussolini, or Franco, or some of the less competent Eastern European leaders from the Cold War. We cannot compare you to the most incompetent and arrogant American president, Andrew Johnson, because you have no rags to riches story and you don't have the excuse of being a chronic drunk.

Obama is the cukmination of all the New Left's dreams and nightmares. He took advantage of a window in history to get himself into office. Then he embodied completely all of their disdain for the common American people. Obama does not understand why we have faith in our Christian God and our ability to protect ourselves, but not believe in him. The more we call him a fascist, the more we assert that he is not a true American political figure in the tradition of our Founding Fathers, the more rattled he gets, possibly because such charges hit very close to home. He affects American values on the surface to hide his cold fascist heart. The real Obama wants good leftists to inform on their neighbors' "fishy" opinions. The real Obama does not believe that you are entitled to the rewards of your work or investment risk. The real Obama fears your guns, your rights, and your outspokenness. He believes that he is the truth and the life and that you had better shape up, stop your grandstanding, fall into line, and render unto Obama what is Obama's.

Am I mad? Hell yes I'm mad. Republicans, Libertarians, Tea Partiers, and American Democrats have told him since he took office what he should do to reign in debts and spur the economy. He pretends not to hear and accuses all of us of simply resisting for resistance sake.

We have your resistance right here, Mr. Obama. And you ain't seen nothing yet. To quote a wise man, "We're right! We're free! We'll fight! You'll see!

The John Galting of American Finance

"Who is John Galt?" Some people know very well what that question means. To conservatives and libertarians it signifies absolute liberty. To those on the Left who understand it represents their greatest fear, the voluntary abdication from society of its most productive individuals due to ever increasing burdens on their time, technique, and tax rates.

Ayn Rand created the character John Galt decades ago in her novel Atlas Shrugged. As industrialists in this book felt the increasing grip of big government on their business, demanding concessions while all the while continuing the populist corporate greed rhetoric, they simply disappeared. One by one they slipped away, to the panic of the government that relied on using social pressure and the law to enslave their skills.

John Galt is the character who contacts these people and convinces them to join him in a strike of the minds. Doctors, industrialists, poets, college professors, and people from all walks of life join a strike of the minds. They simply choose to not be enslaved by social pressure, by accusations of greed when they want to keep the rewards of their work. Those businesses that stay on and conform to a populist government's demands first see their products become more and more shoddy, then they break down completely.

Although a fictional character, John Galt's spirit lives in America's financial markets. Barack Obama has destroyed the confidence that we have in the immediate future. He has no policy and when in doubt, turns to the left. Obama needs banks behind him, but seeks to gain support by rhetorically pillorying them in public. The administration seeks to raise taxes and spending while undermining key industries and financial institutions at the same time. In short, Obama is demonstrating to the US how bankrupt leftists ideals really are by putting them into action. Unfortunately we all have to suffer.

Those with money have decided to sit this one out. Markets should have bounced back by now. Obama populism keeps them in fear and so they have gone on strike in a sense. Who wants to invest their money when the president might wake up one day with the whim to attack another industry or decide that profits off investment are greed and tax them away? Where is the money going? Into gold and silver, which get hidden away in safes and safe deposit boxes. The truly smart have bought these items entirely privately and secreted them away because you never know what will happen with this president.

In the House GOP retreat, the president made light of those with deep concerns about his agenda. He asked rhetorically if they really believed that he was part of a Bolshevik plot. His hectoring tone could not have reassured any who heard the sound of his voice. Like Caesar, he tried to walk into the hostile assembly to cow them with his presence. Fortunately Republicans are not built like Roman Senators and Obama is no Caesar. However the damage to our economy has been done and cannot be repaired without a change at the top.

It is not Obama, Paul Volker, Ben Bernanke, or Nancy Pelosi who will lead our economy in the next few years. It is John Galt.

Somewhere Booker T. Washington Is Smiling At the West Virginia Republican Party

In the 1870s Booker T. Washington worked precincts in eastern Kanawha County, speaking on behalf of that county and the state's Republican Party, supporting candidates and spreading the word. He understood that the GOP's messages of individual liberty and responsibility should resonate with all peoples everywhere. Washington took that message to the national level, preaching his belief in the power of education.

Today's West Virginia Republican Party has worked hard to try and reach out to a broad variety of peoples. Republicans believe that limited government and less taxes mean more business opportunities and more jobs, plain and simple. As Democratic leaders prove that they will raise taxes and spending, then cement high rates of both there by congressional action, traditionally Democratic groups have started to gravitate in the "right" direction.

To those on the extreme left that still say the Republican Party has a tinge of racism, we offer the fact that in 2008 we supported our nominee Charles Minimah for the second most powerful elected statewide office. We are proud to say that he has decided to sacrifice his time and energy once again in the vital Charleston region 17th Senatorial District. His wife Pamela has also entered the race in the 31st Delegate District. In Huntington, staunch Second Amendment supporter and ironworker Douglas Franklin signed up to run in the 15th Delegate District. Republicans everywhere should be grateful to all candidates that choose to devote the next several months to the difficult task of running for office. They all need our support, whatever we can offer.

Republicans in West Virginia can say with pride, regardless of background, that they walk in step with the legacy of one of their own. Booker T. Washington worked hard to advance Republican ideals 130 years ago. Those beliefs in individual liberty, education, hard work, and responsibility, have not changed a bit since then.

Capito Questions Obama at House Republican Conference

Congresswoman Raises Coal, Cap-and-Trade

WASHINGTON – House Republicans invited President Obama to address their conference this morning and – after making his remarks – the President took questions from Republican Members of Congress, including a question from Rep. Shelley Moore Capito:

REP. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO: “Thank you Mr. President for joining us here today. As you said on your… in the State of the Union address on Wednesday, jobs and the economy are number one. And I think everyone in this room, certainly I, agree with you on that.

“I represent the state of West Virginia. We're resource rich. We have a lot of coal and a lot of natural gas.

“But our… my miners and the folks who are working and those who are unemployed are very concerned about some of your policies in these areas: cap-and-trade, an aggressive EPA and the looming prospect of higher taxes. In our minds, these are job-killing policies.

“So I'm asking… if you would be willing to re-look at some of these policies, with the high unemployment and the unsure economy that we have now, to assure West Virginians that you're listening.”

The full exchange accessed here

Forgetting Race?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_forgetting_blackness_analysis

Above is a well-written analysis of the latest Chris Matthews gaffe in which he said that during the State of the Union Address, Matthews forgot that Obama was black. It is the latest in a two year series of bizarre remarks by Democrats about Obama. Bill Clinton claimed at one point that Obama would have been getting him coffee two years ago. Harry Reid praised Obama at one point for lacking a "Negro dialect," whatever that means. Others praised Obama for being articulate, a compliment that strikes blacks as insulting because it insinuates that most people of that race are not.

Liberals seem to have more trouble with race issues these days than Republicans. Why?

Matthews himself provides part of the answer. His experience with race issues comes from the 1960s. Ways of thinking about race and black individuals have gone by the wayside. The 21st century idea is to acknowledge race, understand that blacks have pride in where they come from, but to also judge on merit rather than appearance.

The article above, consciously or unconsciously, paraphrases Martin Luther King Jr. when describing the position of Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and black conservatives, that people are to be judged by their merit, not color. I have a sneaking suspicion this is a conservative subversive in the mainstream media.

Conservatives in recent years have much less trouble with race discussions because they normally do not have them. They never tripped over the idea of having two black secretaries of state. George W. Bush picked the most qualified individuals available to him, their skin color was incidental and never was made an issue except by liberals in the media. Condoleeza Rice is one of the most intelligent human beings in the United States. Conservatives would rather discuss her accomplishments as an academic, a diplomat, and a person who rose from abject poverty more than they want to obsess over skin color.

The fact is that it is liberals who remain stuck in the past on race issues. Conservatives have demonstrated the proper and acceptable way to deal with the issue. Judge people as individuals only. Discuss them as individuals only. If they have merit, they rise. Simple as that.

State of the Union

Obama once again tried his smoke and mirrors speaking act. Every time he rolls out his alleged gift for speaking he makes a more poor showing. When he was talking about nothing and had nothing of substance to talk about during the campaign it was an asset. Now that he has a track record (nearly all bad) his speeches cannot return to those days of airy and meaningless words and phrases.

He did propose one thing to try and divide Republican antipathy twoards him, a discretionary spending freeze that could save $25 billion per year. Unfortunately for Congress this puts the onus on them to decide to stop sending more and more money back home to their own districts. Their inability to follow through will give Republicans even more ammunition next November. Also, $25 billion per year is a drop in the bucket compared to the dramatic debt raising proposals of health care deform. He is trying to confuse the electorate by saying he wants to freeze spending. In reality his proposals before Congress will cost us trillions. Next to that, $25 billion per year is like most of us deciding to put $5 per week into savings, but also deciding to take out a loan on a Rolls Royce. Then we try to tell ourselves that we have cut our debt in some significant way.

In 2008, Republcians grudgingly admired Obama's ability to captivate the crowds and the media. Tuesday night they described with glee, and perhaps a sign of relief, his rambling, incohernet, overly aggressive tone. Before the speech, they laughed about drinking games where you had to take a drink every time Obama said "I." If anyone persisted in this, they would have gotten alcohol poisoning. The blame Bush mantra was out in full force. Obama is responsible for nothing at any time or any place, including the bank bailouts that he supports, but hates and was never around to vote upon when he was in the Senate.

Obama damaged himself with his cheap shot against the Supreme Court. Samuel Alito had a Joe Wilson moment when cameras caught him mouthing the words "that's not true." He might as well have shouted "you lie" because it once again focuses attention on Obama's increasing inability to speak on any issue coherently or truthfully.

The president is in full panic mode and he did nothing to reassure his opponents or friends this week.

Here is a link to the Yahoo News/ Associated Press fact check of the State of the Union speech. Predictably, what Obama says does not always match the truth 100% of the time. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100128/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_fact_check

Capito Reacts to State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON – Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., released the following statement this evening, reacting to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“Tonight we saw the President make a noticeable shift in tone. He put the economy front and center and I applaud him for doing so, yet it’s critical that we see a change in the agenda – not simply a change in rhetoric.

“West Virginians are hurting. Many have lost their jobs. And instead of seeing lawmakers foster an environment of job creation and economic security, they’ve seen Congress spend billions on a failed stimulus and push a trillion dollar health plan that will cut Medicare and raise taxes.

“Our constituents want to know that we’re listening to them, and they want to know that the President is listening to them too. They’re tired of a Washington agenda that’s pushing massive government programs – from health care to cap-and-trade – while the average family is simply trying to make ends meet and put food on the table. And they’re tired of seeing deficits as far as the eye can see.

“This past year alone we’ve seen record increases in discretionary spending. So while I appreciate the President’s call for a spending freeze, it’s important that we put it in perspective. His proposal is a start, but it’s far from a total solution.

“Simply put, the American people want to see a real focus on solutions that can impact their lives. I hope that’s where we can go as this year plays out.”

It's Your Gov't - McGeehan

Underwood Fellow Michael Holt interviews Delegate Pat McGeehan (R- Hancock) about his priorities for 2010.

West Virginia House of Delegates Proposed Cap and Trade Resolution

Thanks to Delegate Jonathan Miller for providing a link to this. He blasted the measure in a Facebook statement, saying "In fact, the resolution endorses solution that harm the coal industry like our recently passed mini cap and trade." Miller went on to state that "You can't fight cap and trade with cap and trade. This is a flawed strategy and spells doom for our state" and "This resolution is essentially saying, 'We want to destroy the coal industry, just not as fast as Obama wants to.'"

In other news, Shelley Moore Capito has taken a leading role in the newly formed Coal Caucus. Her congressional counterparts have declined to participate in any meaningful way.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13
(By Mr. Speaker, (Mr. Thompson), and Delegate Armstead)
(By Request of the Executive)
Expressing the will of the Legislature to oppose the adoption of a national cap and trade program for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions that is unduly burdensome to the State of West Virginia and to support measures that encourage investments in technology to address carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, and requesting that West Virginia's congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts to adopt a national cap and trade program that is detrimental to our State.Whereas, The adoption of a national cap and trade program for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions would have serious financial and economic implications for the State of West Virginia; andWhereas, House Resolution 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, hereinafter referred to as the Act, is pending approval in Congress; andWhereas, The Act calls for the establishment of a national cap and trade program that, if effected, would reduce West Virginia's gross domestic product by an estimated $750 million by 2020 and by an estimated $1.75 billion by 2030; andWhereas, West Virginia would lose up to 10,000 jobs by 2020 and up to 22,000 jobs by 2030 if the proposed cap and trade program is enacted; andWhereas, The industries that would be most affected by the proposed cap and trade program include mining, retail trade and health care; andWhereas, West Virginia is investing heavily in technology designed to limit carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, including a $100 million investment by American Electric Power in carbon sequestration and capture technology at its Mountaineer Plant in Mason County, a state-of-the-art facility that is the first of its kind in the world; andWhereas, Globally, more coal is being used than ever, and demand is projected to rise to even greater levels as more coal- fired power plants are built in other countries; andWhereas, Coal will continue to be a primary energy source to meet these additional demands and therefore the United States should lead the way in advancing cleaner coal technology; andWhereas, Additional investments are needed to address carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the current energy supply; and Whereas, The Legislature, with the leadership and support of the Governor, enacted laws to reduce, within reasonable limits, carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions in this state by adopting an alternative and renewable energy portfolio standard and a regulatory framework for carbon capture and sequestration projects; andWhereas, For the sake of those individuals and families who depend upon the industries that would be affected by a national cap and trade program, the House of Delegates, the Senate, the Governor and West Virginia's congressional delegation must work together to ensure that any proposal to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions includes reasonable provisions intended to safeguard the security of this nation and West Virginia; therefore, be itResolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:That the Legislature of West Virginia is opposed to the adoption of a national cap and trade program for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions if it creates unnecessary volatility in the energy market, fails to address the energy and security needs of this country, threatens the jobs of hardworking men and women, raises energy costs to an unacceptable amount, fails to provide for additional investments in technology or is otherwise unduly burdensome to the State of West Virginia; and, be itFurther Resolved, That the Legislature of West Virginia supports measures that encourage investments in technology to address carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Legislature of West Virginia requests that West Virginia's congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts to adopt a national cap and trade program that is detrimental to our state; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to United States Senators Robert C. Byrd and John D. Rockefeller IV and Representatives Nick J. Rahall, Alan B. Mollohan and Shelley M. Capito.

Obama to Waste $200 Million Per Year, According to New York City Mayor

"We estimate the cost for security operations will be approximately 216 million dollars for the first year and 206 million dollars annually in subsequent years."

This statement comes directly from Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City. These costs come from the fact that Obama has determined that terror trial suspects will have their day in court in New York City. Of course Mayor Bloomberg, who once upon a time praised Obama, fears that the federal government will stick his city with the price tag. And why not? They stuck Virginia and Maryland with the cost of extra inauguration security and plan to pass on Medicare costs to states in health care reform. Surely New York City residents will enjoy paying extra taxes so that Obama can have his public relations moment?

Assuming these trials are a good idea, and maybe it is about time, why on earth do they have to be in New York City? Congress can set up a federal court anywhere on the planet. Why expose millions of New Yorkers to an extra risk of terrorism (and the fact that they plan on having $200 plus million per year for security measures indicates that they do fear it!) and waste gargantuan sums of money? Why not create a special federal court in a decommissioned military base out in the middle of nowhere? Security would be very cost effective in comparison and they could rotate sitting judges in and out. Even better might be the use of a decommissioned aircraft carrier or battleship. Terrorists would have a hard time breaching a floating fortress on the high seas and civilian lives would be completely protected.

Instead, Obama wants his PR moment, now matter how many lives it puts at risk or how many hundreds of millions of dollars he wastes of our money.

America Tells CBS What It Thinks of Obama

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

CBS POLL: Obama Flunks First Year in Office
Recently the CBS News Blog invited readers to grade President Obama's first year in office. The unflattering results are posted below:

The Economy A:4.51%B: 7.27%C: 6.30% D: 17.19% F:64.73%

Foreign Policy A:9.55% B:6.48% C:10.05% D:22.11% F:51.80%

Health Care A:5.09% B:5.60% C:5.05% D:9.12% F:75.14%

Afghanistan A:5.89% B:16.01% C:27.13% D:23.13% F:27.84%

Iraq A:7.30% B:13.48% C:27.14% D:22.30% F:29.78%

Threat of Terrorism A:7.12% B:7.42% C:8.77% D:18.99% F:57.71%

Energy and the Environment A:6.45% B:7.99% C:13.96% D:19.01% F:52.58%

Social Issues-A:7.56% B:8.04% C:15.11% D:18.76% F:50.53%

Bipartisanship A:6.73% B:5.11% C:5.33% D:6.67% F:76.15%

Obama's Overall Job as President A:6.23% B:7.17% C:5.31% D:25.70% F:55.60%

CBS went on to remind us that this is not a scientific poll.

West Virginia Introduces Bill to Exempt Antique Motor Vehicles From Taxes and Fees

A bill (H.B. 2775) has been introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with an exemption from taxation and fees. The bill is pending in the House Roads and Transportation Committee for consideration.

* West Virginia law defines an "Antique motor vehicle" to mean any motor vehicle which is more than twenty-five years old and is owned solely as a collector's item.

* H.B. 2775 exempts antique vehicle owners from sales tax and all other taxes and fees. Under the bill, certificates of title and other required permits would be granted free of charge.

Footsoldiers in Their Own Revolution

Two clarion calls came out this week about state legislative races. State Senator Clark Barnes made a public plea for interested individuals to get involved and run for State Senate or House of Delegates. Chris Stirewalt of the Washington Examiner interviewed Virginia state party chair Ed Gillespie, who described in an interview why he chose to move from the national party to Virginia's organization. Former Bush political guru Gillespie explained to Stirewalt that the state legislatures are where a huge part of the action is this year.

(For full Stirewalt story, see http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Republicans-think-locally-for-2010-and-beyond-82555367.html )

Interestingly Gillespie recommended that state party organizations harness the Tea Party movement in ways that even they have not always considered, namely running them for the state legislature. Why, Stirewalt stated, should Tea Party activists be footsoldiers in someone else's revolution? Put their energy and principles to work in their own races, then take their values to places where they really count. Social conservatives helped to advance the Reagan Reevolution in the 1980s and Scott Brown simply ran for Senate because he was mad as hell. Massachusetts shared his anxieties and anger and voted him into the Senate.

In West Virginia we have yet to fill all legislative races with Republicans. West Virginia Red suggests that some of the lesser known candidates for the West Virginia 1st Congressional (and there are quite a few) may want to consider running for the state legislature rather than Congress since well-funded and experienced individuals have filed for that race now. There they can put their energy and zeal to work and gain experience for a future run at higher office.

Why are legislatures so important? The 2010 census will require each state to adjust its districts to reflect population changes. West Virginia has seen how Democrats will twist and turn districts to try and gain the best advantage for legislative and congressional districts. Across the nation, these races need quality candidates and support from donors and volunteers. We can start at home by encouraging friends to run if they live in places lacking a Republican challenger. Then do what you can to help get them elected.

It's up to us, the time is now. Let's get out there and do it!

Coal-State Members Launch Congressional Coal Caucus

WASHINGTON – As energy issues remain at the forefront of the national political debate, a coalition of coal-state members of Congress announced today that they have teamed-up to form the Congressional Coal Caucus.

Calling coal “America’s most abundant and affordable energy resource,” the bipartisan group of congressmen and women note that coal provides nearly 50% of America’s energy supply and generates more than 130,000 coal-mining jobs. They’ve pledged to use their new caucus to provide a voice for coal communities in Congress.

“Coal is a critical component to our nation’s energy future,” said Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. “Whether it’s on a cap-and-trade bill or on clean coal technology, this caucus will give coal-states a forum to highlight their priorities and present a unified voice. I’m proud to join my colleagues in forming this caucus and I look forward to our work together.”

“As a Congress, it is vitally important that we continue to support the development of clean coal technologies,” Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said. “I am proud to help launch this caucus, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help enact policies that will maximize America’s coal resources.”

Members joining Altmire and Capito in forming the coal caucus include Reps. Tim Holden (D-PA), Denny Rehberg (R-MT), John Salazar (D-CO) and John Shimkus (R-IL). Together the new coalition will promote awareness of American coal along with the new technologies currently on the horizon that can help make coal use cleaner and safer.

The six initial caucus members are also circulating a Dear Colleague inviting other members of Congress to join them.

“The Coal Caucus gives coal states like Pennsylvania a strong voice in Congress to encourage the use of coal as an affordable, reliable and increasingly clean source of energy,” said Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa. “I am proud to be a part of this effort to promote economically and environmentally sound mining, reclamation and consumption practices including clean coal technologies on Capitol Hill.”

“America needs an all-of-the-above energy plan that increases domestic supplies, lowers costs and makes us less dependent on foreign sources of energy,” said Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont. “While many in Washington may think that energy comes from the wall outlet, Montanans have been in the energy production business long enough to understand the vital role coal plays in our country and our economy. As a caucus, we’ll focus on developing cleaner and more efficient ways to use America’s vast stores of coal, and by doing so, help create good-paying jobs and affordable energy for American families.”

“Coal is a vital resource in Colorado and throughout the nation, and will continue to play a role in helping meet our nation’s energy needs. Coal provides jobs in my district and nearly all of our energy is derived from coal. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Coal Caucus,” said Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.

“With the current debates over energy policy as well as the environment, it is more important than ever that coal interests be represented in Congress,” said Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill. “We can move much faster toward energy independence by taking advantage of the enormous supply of coal that exists in my district and elsewhere in the nation. To ignore an abundant source of low-cost energy in our own country is absurd.”

States Need to Plan For Sovereignty

Obama's federal government plans to steamroll over any obstacle, including Congress, the state governments, and the people, to implement its global warming policies. He has baldly stated that if Congress does not act, he will simply have the Environmental Protection Agency implement regulatory law.

Here's the rub on federal regulatory law and executive orders for that matter. They flatly violate the Constitution. The very first words of the Constitution, after the preamble, state that "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States . . ." Not the president, not the Environmental Protection Agency, but Congress alone. This means that federal regulations and executive orders not passed by Congress technically and Constitutionally are not laws at all.

Then why do states fall in line with them? Because they are addicted to federal funding for schools, highways, social services, and who knows what else. Cross the government and Congress might take away your federal funding. So far, Congress has only directly threatened to take away funding if states defy that branch. It remains to be seen what might happen if states assert their Tenth Amendment rights solely against executive branch encroachment upon their rights.

States need to ask at this point, what is the worst that could happen if their legislatures voted and decided that the new EPA regulations did not apply to mining or manufacturing operations within their state boundaries. Would federal police or troops enforce the laws? Likely not, because California has quietly voided marijuana laws in their state in certain circumstances for many years. Advocates for federal agencies will argue that the Marshall Court's McCullough v. Maryland protects their actions against state action. However this case applied to a federal agency independently doing its job, not a federal agency compelling action on the part of others.

The cost of meeting federal mandates and obeying regulatory law probably costs states more in the long run than they receive from the federal government. Texas is opting out of federal funding of education because of that very circumstance. States that void regulatory law and executive orders to create a freer environment for business will reap more tax revenues because they suddenly get a competitive advantage over other states for business.

Does this mean we advocate the repeal or ignoring of all environmental law? Certainly not. However, if it is worthwhile, the people will demand it of the states and of the Congress. We do not need a dictatorial executive branch running off to create its own law without reference to the Constitution or the people.

States looking to reclaim their constitutional rights should start now and craft a "Plan For State Sovereignty." This means that they need to look at every dollar they get from the federal government and find ways to do without it. Compare the money they get to the total cost of what the feds expect, and find creative ways to make up the difference if there is any. In this way we can restore balance to the system and check the monstrous power of the federal government over the lives of people and the rights of the states.

Flash Flood Watch

Statement as of 4:38 AM EST on January 24, 2010

... Flash Flood Watch now in effect from 3 PM EST this afternoon
through Monday morning...

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for

* portions of Maryland... Virginia and northeast West Virginia.

* From 3 PM EST this afternoon through Monday morning

* a cold front will approach the area this afternoon and
tonight... bringing moderate to heavy rainfall. Rainfall amounts
of 1 to 2 inches are expected through early Monday
morning... with locally higher amounts in excess of 2 inches
possible.

* Flash flood guidance is low across the area. As little as one
half of an inch to one inch of rainfall in one hour or one to
one and a half inches of rainfall in three hours may cause
streams and creeks to overflow their banks.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.

It's Your Government Episode 01

It's Your Government Episode 01 Underwood Fellow Eric DiVito interviews Republican Minority Leader Tim Armstead about the 2010 West Virginia legislative session

State Republican Discussions Resolved By Recent Supreme Court Ruling

Under American law, corporations and individuals enjoy the same legal status with only a very few exceptions. The United States Supreme Court on Thursday in a 5-4 vote eliminated one of them and allowed corporate entities to freely donate in federal elections for the first time since 1907. This also undercuts the McCain Feingold campaign financing act.

According to the majority opinion, laws that restrict corporate donations violate the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. The Court historically gives free speech issues the widest possible latitude. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy explained that “The 1st Amendment does not permit Congress to make these categorical distinctions based on the corporate identity of the speaker and the content of the political speech.” This decision also possibly indirectly overturned a ban on labor union donations that extends back to World War II since the same standards would likely apply. Predictably the president and his cronies screamed that it means Big Oil will dominate politics, but they will soon be encouraged by their friends in Big Labor to not complain so loudly since it helps them as well. Of course it remedied a problem in that the law banned some corporations and other combinations from making political statements via donations, but placed no limits on Big Media. Now all corporations will have the same right as media outlets to make funded political statements.

This ruling automatically solves an issue oft discussed within the ranks of the West Virginia Republican Party. A corporate donation allowed the WVGOP to purchase the headquarters building in South Charleston. Recently its leadership decided to move from there to a more appealing central location across Greenbrier Street from the Capitol Complex in Charleston. To cover some payments and expenses, the leadership proposed to use part of the money generated from the sale of the former headquarters. Some argued that under campaign finance laws, this money could not be used for this purpose. State Party leadership interpreted the law otherwise. Now that the Supreme Court declared that law as a violation of the Constitution, active Republicans can hopefully come together and work together for victory this coming November.

What Now on the Health Bill? We Have Not Won Yet.

In 1941 after Japanese planes levelled Pearl Harbor and their Emperor declared war on the United States. Winston Churchill's initial reaction was "So we have won after all." Like Churchill in those dark days, those who believe in freedom, limited government, and lower taxes have reason for cautious optimism, but definitely not certainty. There is no historical inevitability to the momentum here, either against left wing socialized health care or reducing or eliminating Democratic majorities. Up until now we have relied very heavily upon the incompetence and arrogance of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Now Republicans have to step up and give the country an alternative.

Scott Brown in his acceptance speech did what he had done for his entire campaign, speak bluntly. Some conservatives do not like that he supports reform of the system, but the fact is that something must be done to stem rising costs. Republicans should seize the opportunity to work with the public and craft an alternative that is not costly, does not raise taxes, and does not fine or jail individuals for the choices they make. Many have floated ideas on tort reform, portability, small business pools and other ideas. Time to put them together and take a comprehensive alternative plan to the public.

On other issues we need to start attacking Obama and his executive branch assumption of power. Through regulatory law, executive orders, and special appointments he has avoided congressional oversight of his activities and appointments. Republicans need to attack this centralizing of power around the president and restore not only the balance between the branches of the federal government, but also between the feds, the states, and the people.

That all being said, our main priority is electing people who stand for our principles and who will not forget them while in office. Sure it is easier to make a name by spending taxpayer money, but the voters want accountability. They want to limit, not expand the government. If Massachusetts wants smaller government, what state doesn't?

Breaking News: Supreme Court Makes Decision on Corporate Donations

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote ruled that corporations and labor unions may now spend freely in federal elections.

This question comes down to whether one believes in absolute natural rights interpretations of how our legal system should be run, or whether we think the law should be used to support some ideal of the greater good.

Natural rights law believes that liberty is important. Infringing upon that liberty is a larger problem than whatever might result from it. Legal posivitism states that the law ought to shape a better society and liberty is less important than that goal. Certainly those that voted to retain the prohibitions fear the results on the election process. Those who opposed the laws use free speech arguments in their favor.

The fact is that these prohibitions do not keep this money away from elections. All they do is to force the money to run an obstacle course to get to its final destination. Without a lot of investigation, it is hard to figure out where the money came from. In any event we spend more on elections now than ever. Where would the national economy be without them? Without prohibitions, we are more likely to see the real origin of the money spent on elections. That is a transparency that the process has lacked for some time.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING TO FRIDAY AFTERNOON

National Weather Service Statement as of 4:09 AM EST on January 21, 2010

... Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from this evening through
Friday afternoon...

A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from this evening through
Friday afternoon.

* Precipitation type... freezing rain... sleet... and snow.

* Accumulations... potential for ice accumulation of one quarter
inch. Snow and sleet accumulation of 5 inches or more is
possible.

* Timing... Thursday evening through Friday.

* Temperatures... upper 20s to lower 30s throughout the event.

* Winds... north-northeast 5 10 10 mph through Thursday night...
and 15 to 20 mph Friday.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant
snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel.
Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.

After a Crushing Loss in Massachusetts, Will Mollohan Fold on Healthcare?

Washington- A win for Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown in the country’s bluest state is sending shivers down Democrats’ spines. Brown’s defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley is a clear reflection of the public’s dissatisfaction with the Democrats’ sweeping government healthcare takeover, proving that the Obama-Pelosi agenda is exceedingly unpopular even in the state once represented by Ted Kennedy. This result should serve as a stark warning for Alan Mollohan and other Democrat lap dogs that have supported Nancy Pelosi’s government-run healthcare overhaul: Your seat is no longer safe.

"’Even in liberal Massachusetts, most voters are opposed to it,’ said Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, a Democratic pollster in Raleigh, N.C., who has conducted polls in that state and others on health care. "If it's not popular in Massachusetts, it's really not popular anywhere." (Janet Adamy & Naftali Bendavid, “Massachusetts Race Now Key to Health Bill,” Wall Street Journal, 1/18/2010)

“He said Democrats have learned a crucial lesson: that even in very blue states, Democrats should expect a ‘volatile’ environment with a ‘tough’ electorate — and ‘you can’t afford not to be aggressive.’” (Manu Raju, Jonathan Martin and John Bresnahan, “Finger-pointing begins for Democratic insiders,” Politico, 1/19/2010)

“’My message to my clients? Jump ship now,’ said one Democratic operative who advises a number of targeted Members of Congress. ‘Obama can't help you.’” (Chris Cillizza, “Scott Brown wins Massachusetts Senate special election race,” Washington Post, 1/20/2010)

Over the past few months, polling has consistently shown that support for Democrats and their healthcare overhaul is sagging.

“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 38% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That matches the lowest level of support yet. Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters oppose the plan.” (“Health Care Reform” Rasmussen Reports, 1/18/2010)

The polling so far for red district Democrats has been uniformly atrocious… If you look at the RCP average, you see a sea of red markings showing Republicans leading the generic ballot test. It isn’t just Rasmussen Reports: CNN, Battleground, Bloomberg, and Gallup have all measured the GOP ahead in the generic ballot in the past few months.” (Sean Trende, “The House Is Very Much In Play,” Real Clear Politics, 1/19/2010)

Despite the writing on the wall, Pelosi remains adamant on pushing her reckless healthcare bill through Congress.

‘’Let’s remove all doubt,’ she added. ‘We will have health care one way or another.’” (Domenico Montanaro, “Congress: A speedy vote?,” MSNBC, 1/19/2009)

“With the cards stacked against him, Alan Mollohan's re-election campaign is going to make the Massachusetts special election look like a walk in the park,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “After serving as a consummate lap dog for Nancy Pelosi and her reckless healthcare bill, Mollohan has put himself in political jeopardy. The Democrats’ big-government, big-spending policies cost them a Senate seat in Massachusetts, now the question is: Will it cost Mollohan his own?”

With his job on the line, will Alan Mollohan fold on healthcare or will he continue to push himself out of office by being the lap dog West Virginia families know him to be?

Did Scott Brown's Election Save Highland Arts Unlimited's Funding?

Okay, Scott Brown winning in Massachusetts being the savior of our local Highland Arts Unlimited's state funding might be a stretch of logic. However, health care deform as currently proposed by Congress could eliminate state funding for these kinds of programs.

The West Virginia State Constitution, unlike its federal counterpart, requires that the budget be balanced every year. We cannot go into debt. That is a pretty good idea that Congress may want to consider someday.

Health care deform, Obama and Pelosi style, will require that the State of West Virginia pick up the tab on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of medical care coverage for the elderly. It is yet another unfunded mandate where Congress tells a state they must do this or that, then declines to send money. In this case they cannot send money because thei idea is extremely expensive and they have already given much of the cash to ACORN anyway.

West Virginia, one of a very few states meeting all its obligations with a surplus to boot, would have to take on this massive new cost. Since we are overtaxed already, funding cuts to non essential programs would be necessary. Bye bye to other things such as state employee raises, including teachers. Health care deform as advocated by the left wing powers that be not only bankrupts the federal government and raises our taxes, it hurts everything.

Scott Brown's election proves that even many liberals hate health care deform and are suspicious of Obama and Reid. Hopefully it forces a complete reconsideration of this issue. Few people recall that Medicare took many years to create. The left wants to put a more massive program together in the space of one year, rushing it out the door after secret meetings, leaving states, companies, and individuals paying the bill for decades to come. Brown's election, hopefully, sends a message by conservatives and liberals that this monstrosity cannot pass as is.

And if that happens, West Virginia's budget will not be busted. And we can keep funding these programs that help brighten our community.

Scott Brown Wins Substantial Victory in Massachusetts Special Senatorial Election

With 69% of the vote in, Senator Martha Coakley conceded victory to Republican challenger Scott Brown. We'll leave it to others to explain thenational ramifications of this election. Right now this has to concern two West Virginians, Alan Mollohan and Nick Joe Rahall.

Massachusetts loved Barack Obama, giving him a victory in that state by 26 points. Brown won this election by taking on the Obama/Pelosi/Reid signature policy of health care deform head on. If Massachusetts hates socialized health care, what does that say about the people of West Virginia who have cordially detested Nancy Pelosi and have little love for Obama?

Mollohan and Rahall actually have more problems. They are associated with not only health care deform and the potential for skyrocketing costs for state taxpayers, but also the War on Coal. Some speculated that Mollohan might bow out gracefully, but he did file his papers. Democrats might have actually benefited from a new face in that race unconnected to the Upas treelike Washington Left. Mollohan specifically has an army of viable opponents with possibly more intriguing names on the way. Local Democrats have taken great pains to separate themselves from Obama and Pelosi, unlike Mollohan and Rahall.

West Virginia Republicans have a chance to take advantage in a year where voters increasingly detest Democrats on the national level.

With Over 60% of Precincts Reporting Scott Brown Leads

Brown leads Coakley 53 to 46. This will more than likely hold up, giving Brown a strong win over the incumbent Democrat in a state where Obama won by 26 points.

Scott Brown: the Latest Name to Keep Democrats Awake A Nights

Who woulda thunk it? The seat christened by Democrats as "Ted Kennedy's" as if by feudal right may fall to the Republican Scott Brown today.

Kennedy in his last few years dedicated himself to getting a socialist or semi-socialist health care system passed in the United States. He already achieved his goal of promoting endlessly expanding federal intervention into the educational system (much to the ire of almost every teacher.) Democrats sought to make his death a catalyst for their ideas passing into law.

The most liberal state in the Union may be about to say no. Brown ran a strictly conservative campaign squarely against federal level health care deform. Massachusetts already has their own system, thank you very much. Why should they pay again for people in other states? Good question! Why should they saddle themselves with billions of dollars more in costs that the federal government will provide zero help to cover? Obama talks about savings(that do not exist), but declines to mention that state taxpayers will pick up much of the tab left unpaid by federal taxes. Brown proves that the plan has failed to even get support among the most liberal electorate in America.

If Brown wins, Democrats will try to circumvent Senate rules and push their deformed monstrosity through anyway. They know that this issue has tarnished their brand and made a mockery of all their claims to support transparent government. Even if Brown loses, it demonstrates that conservative momentum is still picking up and that Democrats not willing to commit political hari-kari over this issue have just cause for concern next November. Alan Mollohan, perhaps to the consternation of Democrats at this point, has decided to file for re-election. Republicans in the first district, contrary to usual political convention, would probably have a more difficult time against a more conservative Democratic newcomer than an established Obama/Pelosi supporter. Against Mollohan they can fire away at associations between him and the extremely unpopular speaker for months and gain tremendous support.

This month it comes back to Scott Brown. We hope that the Massachusetts voters can step up and demand the kind of change that favors voters and their interests, not taxing and giving away. They rebelled against unfair taxation once before and started a nationwide revolution. They can do it again today.

Contact Your Republican Committee Members

You hear it all the time in the conservative world. People get upset with what they think their party is doing compared to what they think their party is supposed to do. Accusations fly that so and so is not a "real Republican." It's nothing new. When I researched communications between Republicans from a century ago, you saw and heard the same things. Sometimes the problem is the gap between perception and reality.

Here's an idea. Get to know your representatives to the Republican Party. Many do not even know that state and local Republican committees exist, or that representation to them is based upon the votes of the registered Republican voters. Your state Republican Party can give you contact information so that you may call or e mail your district's representative on the state committee, and/or your county chair. Meetings of state and county GOP executive committees are open to the public (of course you have to travel to the state meetings, held twice a year in West Virginia.)

Does this mean that you will automatically agree with these folks? Maybe, maybe not. But by getting in contact with representatives and leaders, asking questions, and getting involved, you will get a better idea of what is going on and why. Public involvement is a goal of most GOP organizations. They benefit from volunteers and the influx of new ideas and perspectives.

Just remember, these organizations, like our government, are elected by the people. They are your Republican Party organizations. You have a right as a registered Republican to attend meetings, ask questions, and get a better idea of what is going on. This is especially good in states such as West Virginia where the liberal media only reports on Republicans during disagreements or other problems that create bad press.

Right now candidates are filing to run for the State Legislature, county commission, and other races. They need your help. Time to continue the momentum from Tuesday and start working on bringing to office more who believe in the principles of the Republican Party.

The Dream

Two years ago I was getting to know West Virginia's Republican nominee for Secretary of State, Charles Minimah. Minimah, an immigrant from Nigeria, operated a home health care business in Charleston and ran the the request of the West Virginia Republican Party.

In asking for Minimah's help, the state party hearkened back to its roots. In the 1870s, civil rights leader Booker T. Washington was asked by the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee to speak in Charleston and points east. As a loyal Republican and resident of Malden, his oratory struck a chord among residents. Although it failed to win many victories in those lean years, it did push Washington towards his famous career and contributions. The 1870s were a fearful time as Republican president Ulysses S. Grant attacked Ku Klux Klan violence and terrorism with federal laws, attorneys, and troops. It was a dangerous time for anyone to advocate for black rights, much less promote black civil rights leaders.

By 1900, Republicans gained control of the state. Black legislators won election in several districts and West Virginia GOP governors proudly appointed blacks to some leadership positions in the executive branch. The Black Republican newspaper McDowell Times urged blacks to come to West Virginia to find work and the freedom to vote. Democrats complained about the efforts of Republican appointees to US Attorney and US Marshal because they worked tirelessly to ensure black access to the polls on election day. Decades later, Cecil Underwood led the smoothest transition to desegregated schools of any southern state. West Virginia Republicans, among states considered southern, took the lead time and time again in trying to defy the oppressive Jim Crow culture dominating much of the country in that time. We can be very proud of that history.

Today we rightly reflect on the struggle made by blacks in the hundred years after the Civil War for their political rights and ability to enjoy full citizenship. We also remember our West Virginia Republican Party's own contribution to that fight. Finally we remember the martyrdom of Martin Luther King who strove so hard to create a world not of racial preferences, but of racial blindness.

Gary Howell files his candidacy papers

Gary Howell files with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office making his candidacy for the 49th Delegate seat official.

The Candidate stated "West Virginia is a great state but we also have some challenges that we need to solve. The most important of our challenges is getting the states economy moving again. People are hurting as they struggle to make ends meet. They're worried about their future, and that of their children and grandchildren. I want to ensure that we leave them a West Virginia that is economically stronger and independent with a superb educational system. "

Howell will be seeking the state being vacated by Bob Schadler.

WVGOP Senate Caucus response to Gov. Manchin State of State Address

As Governor Joe Manchin prepares to deliver his State of State address to the people of West Virginia this evening, Senate Minority Whip Clark Barnes urges West Virginians to not get caught up in the governor's rhetoric. With unemployment hovering at 10% jobs are leaving West Virginia at a rate faster then they can be created and Obama and the EPA have all but declared war on West Virginia prosperity.

Republicans are worried that the democratic leadership is just covering up the problems until they become unfixable. Senator Barnes is urging state law makers to return back to basic conservative values that can save the state from a fiscal, energy, and taxation crisis.

Idiots?

A long time ago, a music enthusiast told me that the last place anyone should look for a reasonable opinion on music would be Rolling Stone. According to this source, the magazine specialized in slamming most good to decent new acts when they surfaced, only to love them after they were past their prime. Led Zeppelin was only one band that got this treatment. The magazine occupied a position hopelessly reactionary and establishment vis-a-vis the music and entertainment field.

So if they fail so completely at music, why on earth should anyone listen to them when it comes to politics or science? Luckily most people don't, which is why right thinking individuals need not feel concern over their dramatic cover this week. It has the big red word "idiots" on the cover, and announces that it is listing the most dangerous people to the planet. Of course the topic is global warming.

An idiot would be someone who takes political and science advice from a music magazine, in my opinion. The dramatic, attention getting cover looks like a desperate act to beg people to convert to their anti-capitalist environmentalism that functions more like a religion than a science. They know they have just about lost this war. Luckily, Rolling Stone only preaches to the choir. Not many folks pay attention to their views on these issues.

I do not want to leave out the fact that this issue happened to appear only a week after Miami saw its temperatures plummet to thirty degrees. Augusta, Georgia saw ten degrees and snow falling (to the utter delight of my brother.) Around here we still have a snow blanket that was a week old at Christmas. God always seems to have His own answer for global warming advocates when they appear to issue dramatic warnings. Most Al Gore speeches come with unseasonably cold temperatures regardless of the season. The Copenhagen conference nearly had people freeze to death waiting to get in. And now this. Not to mention the fact that the top global warming scientists and institutions have engaged in full scale fraud to undermine any opposing points of view.

We are probably close to seeing this movement shift gears. Soon they will urge us that we have to act to prevent an ice age, not a global rise in temperatures. It's happened before, that's what these same people were saying in the 1970s.

We have to ignore these fools and

Capito Floored by W.Va. Report on Health Bill’s Cost to State

State DHHR Estimates Hundreds of Millions in New Costs for West Virginia Taxpayers

WASHINGTON – West Virginia taxpayers could face hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs under federal health care legislation according to new tallies from officials at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The new figures were included in a response to a request from Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., for an official estimate on how federal health care legislation’s expansion of Medicaid would impact the state budget.

The results are in and they’re not pretty. DHHR officials suggest that West Virginians could face at least $147 million or as much as $725 million in new costs under legislation approved by the Senate and House respectively.

“I’m completely floored by these numbers,” said Capito. “For a program that’s already bending under the prospect of huge deficits, this legislation will break it in half. I simply don’t know how our state can absorb such a massive new liability. State budgets are busting across the nation, and now Congress – under the guise of health reform – is asking them to add hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs. It’s irresponsible and it’s not sustainable.”

“We’ve already seen Nebraska exempted from this new burden, and now we know why,” she added. “How can we ask West Virginians to stand by and accept such an unfunded mandate?”

Capito made her request to the administration of Governor Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in November, raising concerns about how expanding Medicaid – a program jointly funded by federal and state dollars – could force the state to raise new taxes or make cuts in services to come up with the funding.

Supporters of the Democratic health care bills often argue that expanding Medicaid will lead to cost savings from uncompensated care, but DHHR officials took such savings into account in their estimates and still project enormous new costs for West Virginia. If those savings aren’t realized, new taxpayer costs could balloon to more than $857 million.

“I know Secretary Hardy and her team have worked hard to come up with these estimates, and I applaud their hard work,” said Capito. “Yet these numbers must serve as a wake-up call to Democratic leaders in Congress. West Virginia taxpayers simply can’t afford to foot the bill for the Democrat plan.”

No More Mr. Tough Guy. No More Mr. Mean

Looks like US troops will have to get new rules of engagement that include Miranda rights, tasers instead of M 16s, and sensitivity classes.

A federal judge has tossed out most of the government’s evidence against a terrorism detainee on grounds his confessions were coerced, allegedly by U.S. forces, before he became a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.
In a ruling this week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan also said the government failed to establish that 23 statements the detainee made to interrogators at Guantanamo Bay were untainted by the earlier coerced statements made while he was held under harsh conditions in Afghanistan. (Hat tip to Redstate.com)

This is what happens when you let a community organizer run the war. He takes military decisions completely out of their normal context and creates an absurdity that will endanger American lives. Obama has no experience, no knowledge, no will to win in our conflict with terror. He acts as if we started the war because he issues apologies. It is time for him to step up and be a president or step down and let someone with guts take over the job.

We no longer need a weenie in chief, we need an American who will defend our nation, not set our enemies free.

Oh, and Judge Thomas Hogan probably needs a primer on warfare as well. Good thing he was not at Nuremburg. He would have set Goering and Goebbels out on the street.

Healthcare Experiment

Looking Ahead to the State Legislative Session

What would you rather West Virginia do? Democrats, in this election year, have chosen to "hold the ball" as they put it. That means to keep taxes and spending at current levels, saving the unofficial $168 million surplus for any problems that could come up. Republicans plan to move aggressively in proposing that at least some of that money go back to the people in the form of tax cuts.

Honestly, it is your Legislature. These people go there because you picked them. It is fair enough to expect them to do as you wish, so e mail or call them and let them know what you want before they get down to business.

Democrats like to paint tax cuts as an all or nothing deal, that if you cut taxes, you lose the surplus and then if something happens we do not have the money. Responsible tax cuts can occur that will benefit business and citizens while maintaining the surplus. I really cannot argue too much with how our state has handled the recession, except to point out that we should not rest on our laurels, but try to expand our growth. Governor Manchin has stuck to the formulas of the old Republican Party of several decades ago. This stopped losses, but is not a formula which will aggressively push for growth in this new decade.

West Virginia needs a game plan for growth, not just in a few counties or economic segments, but across the board. That means tax cuts for the business sector, especially small entrepreneurs. Should those cuts eliminate the entire surplus? No. Start now with what we can do and signal the outside world that we are becoming business friendly. We can accomplish a lot because other states would rather raise taxes for revenue than cut their budgets. Business will naturally gravitate to more friendly areas.

It is up to you, the voters. Let your legislators know what you want.

Post War Recessions Job Losws Compared

Job loses in Obama Recession as compared to previous post World War II recessions.

Public Service Commission of West Virginia Grants Siting Certificate for Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage

January 11, 2010 -- The Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia granted a Siting Certificate for the construction of the Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage. The project, developed by Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Wind Force, LLC, is the product of a joint development agreement between US Wind Force and Edison Mission Group (EMG).

"Pinnacle is delighted that the public service commission has granted the permit. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the entire order, we are ready to put skilled West Virginians to work building this clean, renewable energy project. We anticipate that construction will likely begin once the terms of a power purchase agreement are finalized", said Dave Friend, vice president of US Wind Force.
The 23 turbine Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage will be located on Green Mountain, near Keyser WV, in Mineral County. The turbines will generate approximately 55 megawatts of power, which is enough electricity for over 14,000 households. The cost to construct the project is estimated at $130 million. County property taxes are projected to average more than $433,000 annually, placing it among the county's largest taxpayers. Additionally, Pinnacle has voluntarily committed to establish a community benefit fund that will provide locally controlled financial resources for community projects throughout the life of the project.

NewPage Corporation, the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, is partnering with the project by placing six of the turbines on NewPage property near the company's Luke, Maryland facility. “NewPage is proud to partner strategically with US Wind Force, especially during a time when our country is facing significant energy challenges. This partnership is an example of our commitment to support the growth of sustainable energy and is consistent with our goal to continuously explore renewable energy opportunities for our facilities," said David Bonistall, vice president, environmental, health and safety for NewPage.

As part of the project planning process, a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) was established to create an ongoing dialogue with community members from the Keyser, New Creek, Piedmont, and Elk Garden areas. Members continue to meet to discuss the project and its progress. In addition to meeting with CAP members, US Wind Force has met with local civic and service organizations in Mineral County and conducted open house events. Friend added, "[W]e appreciate the tremendous amount of support the project has received from stakeholders in the local community and their willingness to provide valuable input throughout this phase of the process."

To learn more about the Pinnacle Project, please visit the US Wind Force website at www.uswindforce.com. Project area residents may stop by one of the community information repositories located at the Keyser Public Library, the Elk Garden Community School, and the Piedmont Public Library to see a copy of the application. A toll-free project line, 1-866-929-4429, is also available to anyone with questions about the project.
US Wind Force, LLC, based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a privately held developer of utility-scale wind energy projects.

EMG companies rank as the seventh largest developer of wind energy projects in the United States with a current portfolio of 27 wind projects capable of producing more than 1,500 MW of electricity in operation or under construction in 10 states, including two projects in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. EMG also operates a power generating facility in Grant Town, West Virginia, which uses waste coal to generate electricity. EMG is headquartered in Irvine, California and is a subsidiary of Edison International.

Double Standard

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was in trouble before this week, trailing in the polls to any of his three possible Republican challengers. His race is one of at least five between the special election in Massachusetts coming up and November in which Republicans have a strong chance of seizing a seat currently held by a Democrat.

The came the revelation that Harry Reid made disparaging racial remarks about Obama during the campaign of 2008. He stated that Obama did not have an authentic "Negro (yes he used the word "Negro") dialect" except in private conversation. I suppose Senator Reid expected something out of Uncle Remus. Reid later said he was bowled over by Obama's eloquence. Of course all liberals are impressed by the ability to say nothing with absolute style.

This remark says a lot more about Harry Reid than Obama. As far as the issue of "dialect" is concerned (maybe Reid meant accent? I am not sure if he knows what the word "dialect" means) the turning on of an accent in private conversation that you would not use otherwise is not uncommon. It's not deceptive, it reflects the fact that most people act differently in nonprofessional situations as opposed to professional. Most West Virginians can identify with this dichotomy.

Can Harry Reid? I am still anxious to know what he means by "Negro dialect." This phrase, for which he apologized, reflects his mindset. You cannot apologize away such a stupid statement. What's more, Reid rode the bandwagon on a "Lott" of Republican race misstatements over the years. He was, of course, curiously absent on Joe Biden's remark on Obama being articulate. This comes just in time for Martin Luther King Day, too.

Once said, it cannot be unsaid. What's more, if you ladled out grief for something, you should expect it in return. Harry Reid will not resign, but he will likely lose his election this fall. One more sign of the coming collapse of left wing rule.

Ray Stevens - We The People

Dehumanizing

They are coming. Obama's people have gone to Spain to look into the controversial body scanners now used in some European airports. James Carville, Democratic strategist, complained about their photographic accuracy in a typically vulgar way, but he raised a good point. Transportation Safety Administration officials, with these scanners, can (when the scanners are brought in) examine the nude bodies of men, women, and children to their hearts content. We would like to expect 100% professionalism, but let's be realistic. Some bodies will be ogled, others laughed at. That is human nature and allowing ourselves to sink to this condition is disgusting. I would rather drive eighteen hours to a destination than allow mine and my children's bodies to be illuminated for the edification of TSA employees. We are human beings.

That is the point. Obama's change, when you see the big picture, promotes dehumanization. Health care deform emphasizes cutting Medicare costs. How do they do that? By rationing health care to the elderly because their lives mean less. Who says that? Obama's own advisors!

Obama's health and economic plans require each working citizen to give up more and more of their hard earned reward for work. Why? So it can go to people who did not earn it, or to reward groups that support Obamunism. Each individual has the right to the rewards for his work or risk,justly earned. Obama and the left do not believe that you have the right to keep it. It belongs to the collective mass. Decisions are to be made by them of course.

Abortion rests on the premise that children in the womb have no worth. Their deaths are meaningless to the Left.

Kevin Jennings, Obama's appointed czar of safe schools, encouraged a minor child to have sex in a bus station with a much older adult. He wrote that in his own autobiography. The humanity of this child was stripped by a radical left winger who did not see fit to give him reasonable advice. And now he makes policy to guide the school that educate small children!

Body scanning strips away human dignity by exposing its nudity. And it makes us no safer. Terrorists will have a harder time blowing up airplanes, so what? They can carry bombs into crowded terminals, football games, shopping malls, etc. Full body scanners will only perpetuate the ripping away of the dignity of each individual. It will also destroy what is left of the air travel industry. Sure some have to fly, but fewer and fewer will choose it when they have other options.

The Left wants to erase all vestiges of individuality and rights. They believe in the collective. If we believe we have no rights and no dignity, they believe they can impose upon us what they see fit. Obama and the Left have systematically attacked many aspects of our individual humanity in their evil radical plans. It's time for freedom loving Americans to push back hard and strip them of their authority instead of allowing them to strip us of our humanity.