Rand Paul Versus Barack Obama

Last night, we saw two voices on today's U. S. foreign policy. One seemed unsure, defensive, and unable to answer the basic questions. The other charted out where our foreign policy will be going in the next several years whether we like it or not. I have always favored a muscular American foreign policy, along the lines of Reagan. In short, sometimes you have to use force in targeted situations to remind the world that you can. George Schultz used to say that force should never be the last resort. If it is, don't let anyone know. Obama used force against Libya without thinking it through. What does it mean to aid Libyan rebels, but not Syrian? Did we ever establish who these people are, or whether they deserve our help. Libya only produces 3% of the world's oil. Ramped up production in Alaska over the next year could compensate for that. There just seems to be no real reason to strike. Rand Paul took issue with Obama's use of force against a country that did not directly threaten us. I don't necessarily agree that we should always confine our use of force to such situations. He also argued that Obama should have, in some fashion, consulted Congress. At the very least, it is good politics to talk to congressional leaders of both parties before making such a move. Obama spoke to no one, except ESPN. The more restricted foreign policy guidelines laid out by Paul will have to be our national norm. We simply cannot afford to play as large a role as we have played. It is time to push Europe, India, Japan, and other responsible nations forward into shouldering some more of the burdens. We have a debt crisis at home that needs solved. That in itself is a world issue. If we default, and our economy collapses, we take down the world. It is time to get our house in order. If nothing else, we must be ready for the next major world challenge. Right now, we could not face it as we did in 1941. The Republican Party itself, by selecting Rand Paul as the response, is moving back to the less aggressive days of the 1920s. In essence we are moving away from Reagan's foreign policy (which is essentially that of Truman and Kennedy) and back towards Calvin Coolidge. This is no longer an option, given our debt crisis. We need to scale back on foreign policy and future military actions.

Is Joe Biden Eccentric Or Crazy?

Is Joe Biden eccentric, or is he a lunatic? Don't ask me. Ask reporter Scott Powers, who was put in a closet during a fundraiser under guard. The links below were posted on the Republican National Committee Facebook page, but as you can see, they link some liberal and neutral sites as sources. This is much stranger stuff than not being able to spell "potato." Biden’s Staff Put A Pool Reporter In A Storage Room “To Keep Him From Talking To The Many High-Profile Guests” During A Fundraiser For Senator Ben Nelson. “Scott Powers, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, was serving as the pool reporter for a fundraiser in Florida, where Biden was appearing to raise money on behalf of Sen. Bill Nelson on Wednesday. But to keep him from talking to the many high-profile guests at the event, a member of Biden's staff stuffed Powers in a storage closet and stood guard outside the door until she deemed it ‘safe’ for Powers to emerge.” (Jack Mirkinson, “Biden Team Apologizes To Reporter Scott Powers For Keeping Him In Closet During Fundraiser,” The Huffington Post, 3/28/11) “‘The Protocol Is They Didn't Want Me To Talk To Anybody,’ Powers Told ‘Good Morning America’ Reporter Matt Gutman In An Interview On Monday.” (Lucy Madison, “Biden Team Apologizes To Reporter For Making Him Wait In A Closet,” CBS News, 3/28/11) Biden’s Staff Apologized For The Choice Of Hold Room. “‘Scott - You have our sincere apologies for the lack of a better hold room today,’ wrote Vice President Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander last Wednesday to Orlando Sentinel reporter Scott Powers.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11) “‘Lack Of A Better Hold Room’ Is An Interesting Way Of Putting It.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11) Powers Was Kept In The Closet For Over An Hour Waiting For Biden And Senator Nelson To Speak. “Any time he stuck his head out he'd been shooed back inside. He said he was held for more than an hour in the closet, was allowed out for 35 minutes of remarks by Biden and Nelson, after which it was back into the closet until the VP left.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11) “Forcing Reporters Into Closets Is Generally Not The Tradition Of Politicians In The US.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11)Read more: http://www.gop.com/index.php/briefing/comments/biden_off_the_rails#ixzz1HuVLYjV4

Rule of Law and Obamacare

Rule of law is the necessary basis of any free society. It holds that the law must be above all individuals in the society, even the leadership, that it must be clear, and that it must be enforced equally for all.

Just because a country has enforced laws does not mean that it enjoys rule of law. Sometimes the law gets too complex for the average citizen to obey. When that happens, then the citizen does not enjoy protection of rule of law because he or she unwittingly may violate it while acting reasonably. The federal tax code and many local zoning ordinances violate the concept of rule of law. These laws (and many others) are not clear and reasonable, so they should be simplified.

Selective enforcement of laws also violates the rule of law. If it is a good law, then there is no need to exempt anyone from its enforcement. Massive exemptions to the enforcement of a particular law demonstrate that the law is a bad one and should be repealed. Even more importantly, it also violates the concept of rule of law in a most basic and sinister way. When those in power can exempt their friends and supporters from following a burdensome law while forcing its obedience upon others, government has embraced a certain level of tyranny. Theodore Roosevelt did this with the Sherman Anti-Trust act over a hundred years ago. Obama is doing it now with myriad waivers from Obamacare granted to unions, friendly businesses, and even entire states that he might swing to his camp in 2012.

This is a gross violation of the most sacred foundation of our free society and recognition that his beloved health care law is garbage. Repeal both Obamacare and Obama by 2012.

A Crisis of Confidence

The United States and key players in the world community have a crisis of confidence. Not in America itself, but in Barack Obama.

The past two weeks have shown us just how much the sitting president is in over his head. He has been seen most conspicuously playing golf, predicting the NCAA Men's Tournament, and going to Rio de Janiero to dance and see the sights. Meanwhile Japan is still reeling from natural and nuclear disaster, Egypt is still in an uproar, and we have just launched air strikes against Libya in coordination with our NATO allies. Well, semi-coordinatiion because we are arguing publicly with Britain over whether or not Moammar Ghaddafi is a legitimate target for removal. And his own party is screaming because Congress received not so much as a courtesy call about the attacks.

Obama does not have the ability to lead a church bingo game, much less the country in a world of crisis. So why doesn't he hand things off to Hillary Clinton? She may have wrong headed ideas about a lot of things, but she is more capable and experienced than the basketball prognosticator in chief. Obama would never be able to handle any form of Clinton accomplishment because she remains the number one threat to his renomination.

Hillary Clinton herself posed the question. Who would you rather have answering the phone at 3 AM with the world in crisis. I wish Obama would stay in Rio, or on the golf course, or wherever he'd rather be this week than working his main job, and let Clinton answer the phone. She and Bill are not my top choices to respond in a crisis, but they are better than anyone else the Democrats have right now.

Who ever thought that this guy was a great intellect was sold a bill of goods. Sorry America. You've been had.

The Constitutionality of the Attack on Libya

Obama's belated decision to launch attacks on the Libyan regime of Moammar Ghaddafi has sparked some debate on the home front over the constitutionality of his action.

Hate to say anything that defends Obama, but I would argue that the president does have a constitutional and legal authority to deploy the armed forces into a conflict despite the lack of a declaration of war. First of all, Congress does have the option to cut off funding for U. S. military actions at any time. Because of that, the legislative branch does have power and leverage over a protracted, but undeclared war.

Secondly, there is the precedent set by the Founding Fathers themselves. I will skip over John Adams' deployment of the navy in an undeclared war against France and Thomas Jefferson's attacks on Tripoli which were also undeclared. Neither one of these men had anything to do with the creation of the Constitution. James Madison, as president, in 1816 deployed the United States Navy against Tripoli and the other Barbary Pirate states. Since he was the man who more than anyone else drafted the Constitution and its first ten amendments, it is reasonable to assume that he did not intend for a president's decision making power over war to be limited to formal declarations.

Of course Barack Obama himself argued that military strikes ordered unilaterally by the president were unconstitutional during the Bush Administration. Liberal and left wing Democrats have tried to remind him of that stance lately. It was incorrect, but it is interesting to watch Obama once again enrage his own base. They can't be happy that Guantanamo Bay is once again in the same mode as under President Bush.

That all being said, I still am of the opinion that we should have recruited a country such as India to play a role here. That way this action could not be perceived as neo-colonialism. With active conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and North Korea rattling its sabre, we cannot afford to get seriously invovled in Libya. Let Europe, if no one else is available, take the lead and the griping that comes with it.

Obama's Letter to Congress On Libya Action

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 21, 2011

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE

March 21, 2011

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

At approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya. As part of the multilateral response authorized under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, U.S. military forces, under the command of Commander, U.S. Africa Command, began a series of strikes against air defense systems and military airfields for the purposes of preparing a no-fly zone. These strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope. Their purpose is to support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973. These limited U.S. actions will set the stage for further action by other coalition partners.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized Member States, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya, including the establishment and enforcement of a "no-fly zone" in the airspace of Libya. United States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners to carry out the measures authorized by the U.N. Security Council Resolution.

Muammar Qadhafi was provided a very clear message that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. The international community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to stop; Qadhafi had to stop his forces from advancing on Benghazi; pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya; and establish water, electricity, and gas supplies to all areas. Finally, humanitarian assistance had to be allowed to reach the people of Libya.

Although Qadhafi's Foreign Minister announced an immediate cease-fire, Qadhafi and his forces made no attempt to implement such a cease-fire, and instead continued attacks on Misrata and advanced on Benghazi. Qadhafi's continued attacks and threats against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern to neighboring Arab nations and, as expressly stated

2

in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, constitute a threat to the region and to international peace and security. His illegitimate use of force not only is causing the deaths of substantial numbers of civilians among his own people, but also is forcing many others to flee to neighboring countries, thereby destabilizing the peace and security of the region. Left unaddressed, the growing instability in Libya could ignite wider instability in the Middle East, with dangerous consequences to the national security interests of the United States. Qadhafi's defiance of the Arab League, as well as the broader international community moreover, represents a lawless challenge to the authority of the Security Council and its efforts to preserve stability in the region. Qadhafi has forfeited his responsibility to protect his own citizens and created a serious need for immediate humanitarian assistance and protection, with any delay only putting more civilians at risk.

The United States has not deployed ground forces into Libya. United States forces are conducting a limited and well-defined mission in support of international efforts to protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster. Accordingly, U.S. forces have targeted the Qadhafi regime's air defense systems, command and control structures, and other capabilities of Qadhafi's armed forces used to attack civilians and civilian populated areas. We will seek a rapid, but responsible, transition

of operations to coalition, regional, or international organizations that are postured to continue activities as may be necessary to realize the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.

For these purposes, I have directed these actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

BARACK OBAMA

Obama, Japan, Libya

I'm surprised that Kanye West has not accused Obama of hating the Japanese.

Obama's days since Japan was hit by a devastating tsunami have been filled with activity. These include being filmed while filling out his NCAA brackets for ESPN camera crews. For most of the past few years, I've found myself too busy this time of year to fill mine out. Oh to have the spare time of a president.

Obama also has a strange reaction to natural disasters and death. During the Icelandic volcano and the funeral of the president of Poland, Obama could be found on the links, working on his golf game. He has been filmed recently, again, playing golf. One pundit counted up sixty-one times that the president has played golf since he became president.

When he took office, and these quotes come from the leftist blog "Red, Green, and Blue," Obama promised a new era of responsibility and accused Bush of ineptitude over his response to Katrina. Bush's main mistake lay in choosing to do what he could as president to stem the crisis, i.e. making sure that oil supplies around the world remained stable as the Gulf wells went offline. He did not "appear" to care enough. Obama ignored the Gulf oil spill until his poll numbers started dropping. He also did not learn from the harsh public reaction to his yawn over the tragic death of the Polish president that foreign crises matter too. The president's response to Libya has also raised eyebrows. Obama does not haveto tour the rubble himself, but at the very least he could go without golf for a little while and do some work. Of course he has his next vacation to plan for, so....

Dwight D. Eisenhower also golfed a lot, but his World War II experience assured many Americans that he was on task. Warren Harding loved to golf as well. His inexperience and lazy attitude towards the office of president got him into trouble. I wonder which of the preceding presidents makes us think more of the current administration?

Time to Change the Conversation About Nuclear Power

As I write, yet another nuclear power station in Japan has started having potentially deadly problems. Over 180,000 have evacuated the northern part of the country, fearing nuclear meltdowns. Nature has reminded us yet again that we cannot just build anything that we want, anywhere that we want.

California currently has two nuclear power stations in dangerous areas. One is just south of Los Angeles, the other about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Both are on the coastline. We have just seen that nuclear power stations on the coastline and in earthquake zones might be a bad idea. You would have thought that someone would have considered this when these stations were built.

Over the long term, we need to evaluate where these plants are located. Do they operate in potentially dangerous areas (like the California coast?) If so, we must consider removing them in the long term. No one prepares for earthquakes and tsunamis like Japan and they have come very close to serious disaster.

A full nuclear meltdown would have disastrous effects for hundreds of miles. We must be prepared for the worst.

American Professor Kidnapped in Mexico

Dr. Veronica Perez Rodriguez, an anthropology professor at Northern Arizona University has been added to the growing list of Americans victimized by violent crime in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Ciudad Juarez has seen the death of thirty-nine Americans in the past year. Dr. Rodriguez was kidnapped by armed gunmen while visiting her mother. Americans are under threat around the globe as criminal cartels act with increasing boldness.

It's time that we start changing our approach to non governmental threats. Pirates in the Indian Ocean are captured and put on trial. We can spend a lot of money to put them on trial and keep them in prison when we could expend much less to simply blast them into perdition. We do it to ideologically driven terrorists, why not pirates?

The Mexican border area has gotten a lot more dangerous over the last few years. Drug cartels control Ciudad Juarez and large sections of the borderland near the border. That violence is targeting Americans on both sides of the border. With Mexico's system approaching collapse, our border control must reflect the changing scenario. Rule of law in Mexico has degenerated into rule of violence and corruption.

Mexico's problems are also ours. Dr. Rodriguez was a daughter and an academic, not a drug runner. The fact that she was targeted and taken is an outrage. It is past time to send in the Central Intelligence Agency and the Special Forces to break down and break up these criminal organizations. Americans on either side of the border should not have to live or travel in the atmosphere of fear spawned by these drug cartels anymore.

Don't Restrict Access to Cold Medicine

It's the common knee jerk reaction. Society sees something it doesn't like, they scream "there oughtta be a law." Sure enough, some strange bill gets proposed the next legislative session. You hope that the legislators have enough common sense to kill the bill and go on.

Doesn't look like it will happen this time.

A bill passed the House and is now racing through the State Senate to restrict access to certain cold medicines. Why? Because many contain an ingredient that is essential to the manufacture of methamphetamines.

You have to be joking. A few people misuse cold medicine, so all of us now have to get a prescription for a very simple and basic remedy that also happens to be fairly inexpensive. Ridiculous!

In fact, it's easy to tell who the meth makers are. They are the ones buying ten boxes of the stuff. The rest of us need just one at a time, usually. Why not encourage managers to discreetly pass a tip to the police every time someone buys out the stock of cold medicine? Some won't but a lot of them will. Or law enforcement could just randomly review store tapes. They probably recognize the local meth manufacturer already.

Both legitimate and illegal users of these medicines will simply cross state lines to get what they need. What does the Legislature expect? That a drug manufacturer will say "darn, I was going to get into selling meth, but cold medicine is now a prescription. Guess I'd better get an education and a job now." Of course not! This measure will make life inconvenient for the law abiding and do next to nothing to stop the criminals. The Charleston Daily Mail 's Don Surber asked if it would have been prudent to ban refined sugar in the heyday of the moonshiners during Prohibition.

You cannot stop crime by restricting liberty.

Who Are the Koch Brothers?

The Koch brothers and their organization, the Charles Koch Charitable Foundation, have made headlines in the past few weeks. The New Yorker identifies them as fighting a war against Obama while Democratic bloggers have insinuated that they are the powers behind the Tea Party and many Republican officeholders. They imply a less than savory connection between business, money, and politics.

The Koch brothers are successful businessmen on a large scale, investing in consumer products, energy, food, and other fields. With their money, they have established a non party foundation to, as they put it, advance the science of liberty.

There is nothing wrong with big business and nothing wrong with big money, so long as we have a competitive capitalist system. Big Business actually benefits and gets richer as a result of big government and its intervention into the economic system because taxes and regulations stifle competition. The Koch Foundation preaches not just economic conservatism, but a near-libertarianism that usually does not favor the dominant producers in the market. They also favor natural rights based law, which has been used in the past to elevate individual property owmers' rights over the ambitions of big business. In other words, the Koch brothers believe in a level economic field where no one gets government support or intervention. It's clear that the Koch brothers, in an Ayn Rand world, would rather be the Rearden Steel than the Twentieth Century Motors (whose fictional business model has been loosely copied by General Motors and General Electric.)

Democratic bloggers have proved that the Koch brothers have a connection with Wisconsin governor Scott Walker. So what? Wisconsin wants to cut the size of its government to benefit the taxpayers. Unions are standing in their way. Why wouldn't the Koch's support this initiative? And oh, by the way, attention paid to Wisconsin has covered the fact that several states are copying this measure themselves.

The Koch Foundation itself is about education. It wants to teach the basics of a free market economy in a republican style government (not the Republican Party, but our balanced system of republican government.) They support free market and natural rights ideals and create a large group of people who can put those beliefs into practice. Support of these ideals will offset the overwhelming bias towards statism and leftism seen on many college campuses.

Left wing establishmentarians have put their crosshairs on the Koch Foundation and are trying to sully its name. It's pretty hard for people who want higher taxes and less freedom to tarnish the image of a group of people who fight for nothing less than rights and liberty.

Earl Ray Tomblin Might Call a Special Session

Earl Ray Tomblin is making a popular proposal that has run aground against the tax and spend mentality of the State Legislature.

He is proposing a modest 1% slicing off of the food tax. Manchin had overseen cuts from 6% to its current level of 3%. Tomblin wants to take one more step towards its elimination altogether.

However the Legislature has refused to act on even this modest idea. Republicans have constantly backed full elimination of the tax immediately because it hits the working poor hardest. Three cents off of the dollar is not much for most folks making $40,000 or more a year, but a lot of people are taking their spare change to Coinstar at the end of their pay period. Three cents off of every dollar spent on food is meaningful to them.

Tomblin is not as ambitious as Republicans in that he only wants to shave one penny per dollar off. However, it is a start towards the GOP goals. If Tomblin does not get his tax reductions, he has indicated that he will use a special session to pressure the Legislature further.

This, of course, is why we need a Republican Legislature committed to tax cuts and jobs development.

John Boehner, Let Him Lie In the Rotunda

Republicans and Democrats both support it, so why isn't Speaker of the House John Boehner on board with allowing America's last World War I veteran to lie in the U. S. Capitol Rotunda?

I can understand his point in one way. You don't want to open the floodgates for every serviceman to have his or her day of respect at the Rotunda. However, this is different.

This would not be a memorial for one man, or a reward for outliving all his peers. This is a memorialization of that entire generation. These men were plucked out of their farms and hollows and sent to a place that they could not even have imagined, another continent at war. They brought back an entirely new perspective to their country while fighting for it. World War I veterans deserve their final day in the sun. We don't talk enough about them, or what they did for the U. S. and the world at large.

Make it a tradition that the last surviving veteran of each of our major wars and military actions lies in the Rotunda. This will continue the memory of what they did in a respectful fashion.

Call to Action! Keep the Legislature From Making It Easier to Take More of Your Money!

The West Virginia Legislature is considering a bill to make it a simple majority vote to raise taxes or float bonds. Right now, they need a supermajority. Eliminating this vital taxpayer protection will most certainly mean that we will be paying more taxes very soon. Why else would they seek to change the law?


If you think you are taxed enough already, contact your delegates and senators as soon as possible regardless of party. Let them know where you stand. Call your Republicans as well. They need to be able to reference to their Democratic brethren how angry the people are at this attempt to raise our taxes even higher than they are now.

Call them or e mail them today!!!!!

Bobby Huggins For Big East Coach of the Year

Losing talent, overcoming adversity, building chemistry and winning. That is the measure of great coaching performances. West Virginia University's Bobby Huggins has done all of these and has set his team up for another 20 win season, another year with a winning record in conference play, and an NCAA berth.

First of all, Huggins had to reconfigure his team to adjust to the losses of three starters. Smith, Ebanks, and Butler all contributed defense, points, and leadership in clutch situations last year. Most teams reload with capable freshmen. Huggins had the worst luck with his recruiting class. Some did not qualify, some never made it to practice. One is left on the team, but is out for the season due to injury.

Then he dealt with player infractions and a player defection as Dan Jennings quit in the middle of a game. However, Huggins teams don't quit. They circle the wagons and rebound (in more ways than one.)

West Virginia was not picked to finish well in conference this year and that was before the entire freshman class plus a key reserve was lost. Huggins has had his team forge for themselves a very good year despite all obstacles. He has earned Big East Coach of the Year.

House Republicans Look to End $13 Million Annual Support For U. N. Climate Group

Among the $60 billion in budget cuts proposed by House Republicans is $13 million of your taxpayer dollars that continue to fund the scandalized Intergovernmental Climate Group.

U. N. officials take issue with the $13 million figure, stating that only $4 million goes to the IGCG, while the rest goes to U. N. scientific monitoring groups.

It does not matter where the money ends up. Americans should not be spending millions on bad science. Furthermore, United States government agencies already monitor weather and the climate and have for decades. Why pay the U. N. to do the job (more poorly) as well?

American support for the United Nations stands at 31%. Even Democratic voters can only muster a 45% approval rating of the job that the U. N. does according to a 2010 Gallup Poll. It might be time for the United States to start demanding a larger say in the inner workings of the international bureaucracy, since we do pay for a great deal of its operations. As far as I am concerned, we ought to exit the U. N. and seize the headquarters through eminent domain. It does nothing for us or anyone else and is a snakepit of corruption. Libya was placed on the Human Rights Commission a few years back by these people. Libya!

Defunding fake climate research is a start. It is also a shot across the U. N.'s bow. They need to reckon with the fact that the GOP are the new budgetary sheriffs in town. And their loving defender, Obama, may be out the door in a couple of years.

First Annual Orwell Award for Scariest Big Government Legislation Proposal This Session

I have decided to create an Orwell Award for scariest Big Government proposal to hit the West Virginia State Legislature this session.



The award goes to Monongalia County Delegate Barbara Fleischauer for her anti-bullying bill. This bill, which passed the House Judiciary Committee, would subject children to school punishment if they have been found to have been bullied anywhere at anytime. This could be at the park over the summer, or anywhere else for that matter, even Myrtle Beach or Timbuktu. It could involve any communication in any form whatsoever. Republican Delegate Patrick Lane of Kanawha County was quoted in West Virginia Metro News as opposing the bill in the strongest possible terms.



Delegate Fleischauer insists that the bill is necessary because in recent years that parents don't seem willing to stop bullies.



I hate to break it to the House Judiciary Committee, but bullying was widespread in decades and centuries prior to Nancy Grace and Jane Valez Mitchell. Also, there have always been parents who refuse to believe that their little angel could be capable of bullying. You teach children strategies to deal with its reality, because it can never really be eradicated. Those strategies include, unfortunately, standing up and fighting for yourself.



Look at what Fleischauer's bill will do. A bully could use the power of the state against his or her target by threatening to turn someone in for bullying themselves. If it is off of school property and out of teacher and administrator earshot, how can proof of real guilt be established. Also in social networking, a statement taken out of context can be misinterpreted. This becomes Orwellian because an arm of the government has to operate as a Thought Police enforcing its will anywhere and everywhere with complete arbitrariness.



Children often have spats with each other that come and go like summer squalls. Anything said or done during these arguments could be construed as a bullying statement or action Boys especially will be good friends, get into fights and beat on each other, then be friends the next day. Do we really want the power of the state brought into these situations to perpetuate a conflict that would otherwise quickly pass?



The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and social legislation.



Combine this with the bill to call for state investigations every time a kid misses more than five days of school and you really have a frightening overall invasion of parental authority and prerogative. People need to pay attention to the very tyrannical legislation making its way through the State Legislature this session.

Check out War On Rural Maryland blog

http://www.waronruralmaryland.com/

This blog, created by Maryland legislators, describes Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's radical policies that win the approval of elite leftists, but harm folks that own farms and live in the country.

Calls For American Intervention in Libya

In the past few days, Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi/Qaddaffi/Quadaffi/GaDaffy (OK that's my own spellling) has sent his air forces to attack rebels who now hold multiple cities and sections of the countryside. Some have called on the United States to intervene, either alone or under the aegis of NATO.

As gratifying as it would be, this would be a bad call. America attacked Libya during the Reagan Administration because that nation backed terror assaults on American troops in Europe. International law, such as it is, tends to back the sovereign power of the internationally recognized state in most cases. Without some sort of UN resolution or threat outside his borders, such intevention would set a dangerous precedent.

That being said, the unrest in Libya does cause strategic problems in terms of the oil supply. That country produces 2% of the world's oil. Assuming the idea that intervention does become a real issue, we must do this intelligently.

First, any U. S. move would discredit the anti-Ghaddaffi forces. Only an IDF attack would look worse. That also eliminates most European states with colonial backgrounds, such as Britain, France and Italy. Turkey once ruled Libya directly as a province in their empire, so they are out as well.

That leaves us with Poland, and, well, Poland. American and European financial support behind NATO airstrikes conducted by Poland, the Czech Republic, and a short list of others might do the trick without raising the accusations of imperialism. That being said, the removal of the regime seems a foregone conclusion at this point as Ghaddaffffffie's military is slowly defecting to the rebels. Foreign intervention might halt that process.

Best to give moral support, but not intervene directly.

More Americans Murdered By Somali Pirates

At some point we have to ask ourselves "should we really allow this to keep happening?"

Somali pirates seized a yacht with four American passengers aboard last week. For whatever reason, they decided to kill rather than hold for ransom. Certainly it is foolish to wander into the western Indian Ocean these days, but they did not deserve to die.

Piracy is an old adversary of the United States Navy. In the early 1800s the United States battled and defeated the Barbary Pirates when the rest of the international community had little stomach for the fight. American vessels closely blockaded the port cities and strangled the states supporting the pirate /terrorists. The threat finally ended in 1816.

The Somalis have little more than the Barbary Pirates had then, outside of mechanization. No air power, no satellites, not much at all. They are winning because the civilized world will not deal with them on their terms. Pirates have been caught, released, and caught again. We have to ask why.

Why are we not conducting search and destroy missions? Death will take the starch out of their collars. These are not radical fundamentalists, but guys wanting to steal. Make it clear that piracy means death and they will be less eager to do it.

Why are merchant ships not armed? Mounted .50 calibre machine guns would do the trick. There is nothing more discouraging to a criminal than a lack of easy, vulnerable targets. It's why states with lax gun ownership laws tend to have less crime.

The fact that we still are dealing with this issue is ridiculous. Sink the mother ships. Strand the motorboats. Kill a bunch of them and this will stop. I guarantee it.

Borrowing From the Public Employees Retirement System For Road Construction Is Not a Good Idea

Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblim quite understandably wants to get some accomplishments under his belt before he runs for the office on a permanent basis. To build his appeal in the Kanawha and Ohio Valleys, he tried to help hammer together a proposal to finish the final fifteen miles of U. S. 35 as a four lane road. This would connect Charleston to Point Pleasant with an expressway that would also extend nearly all the way to Columbus.

The plan calls for the state to borrow $110 million from the Public Employees Retirement System and pay it back over time with toll money.

This is a really bad idea. How long will it take to pay back the money? With baby boomers retiring, will this put the system into a financial bind? Would this not simply invite more borrowing from trust funds?

This sets a bad precedent and could leave public retirees more cash strapped. Combine this with the proposal to increase retirees' health premiums and you have a recipe to make a lot of older West Virginians a lot more fearful for their financial futures.

It will be nice for West Virginia to have a modern highway bringing traffic to the state capital. It would be nice for Tomblin's chances at election. But it is a bad idea and sets a bad precedent. Finishing this highway is not an emergency. Find some other way to finance it.

A Time of Unease Brought to You By the Looters

We are entering a time of true unease both here and abroad.

Riots have broken out in Libya, Bahrain, Iran and elsewhere. Over 200 have died in Libya. Egypt is now under military rule, but we saw one of CBS's best known foreign correspondents raped in the streets of its capital.

Fifty-three died in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico since Thursday. Mexican Army efforts to pacify that city's violence have failed. How much of this stemmed from drug cartel influence in the army itself?

Madison, Wisconsin is seeing some of the same unrest that rocked Athens last year. Wisonsin is broke and needs to adjust state employee premiums. The would be Bolsheviks have joined short sighted state employees to try and deal the Republican governor a political defeat. However, he seems to be leaning towards giving them the same treatment meted to air traffic controllers by President Reagan thirty years ago.

It is the looters that have caused this. These looters take different forms. One form is the "president-for-life" that steals from his country's economy and foreign aid. Qaddafi, Mubarek, and others are now being held to account. Iran's day of reckoning is coming soon. The other is the culture of entitlement among welfare statists. They feel like they deserve something that the private sector cannot guarantee to its own. Why should government workers have more security or privilege than anyone else? (By the way, I AM a state employee who now pays more in premiums than last year.) Mexico's drug cartels have looted the money, decency, and spirit from that proud nation.

Looters' belief that they are above the laws of economics and decency are behind a lot of our problems. It is time to deny them all.

Wisconsin Badgered

Governor Scott Walker finds himself under siege these days. Thousands of people from outside the state have decided to make a stand against proposed hikes in insurance premiums for state workers.

Democrats have no chance of stopping the bill legally, so they left the state to hide out, preventing Wisconsin's elected Legislature from having a quorum to do business. It is a low and cowardly tactic.

Governor Manchin shepherded these through in our state last year and we didn't have the radicals, Communists, and would be Bolsheviks raising Cain. As a matter of fact, Governor Manchin was praised for his pragmartic thinking. Must be Governor Walker's Republican registration and Tea Party support that bring the Communists out.

Obama has weighed in, on the side of the unions of course. Walker has struck back by hinting that 12,000 state employees could be without a job if the Democrats do not return to Madison to help pass the state budget and other critical legislation. Meanwhile, hordes of bizarre looking protesters have come in from all over.

Where do these people think that money comes from? Why does a GOP governor get hounded while Democrats get a free pass for doing the same things? State governments are going bankrupt, but some government employees think they deserve a pass. They think they can avoid economic realities. Speaking as a state worker, I am not happy that I have to pay more in premiums for my own health insurance. However, I get it. It's the way of the world that prices rise. It's also a fact that the beginnings of Obamacare have caused a lot of the problems that have resulted in higher premiums.

Meanwhile in West Virginia, austerity measures have drawn praise instead of condemnation. Governor Manchin and the Legislature shepherded through hefty premium hikes last year. Retirees will see their premiums go up under a plan crafted by State Senator Brooks McCabe, a Charleston Democrat. No protests in Charleston greet these measures, just the recognition of a grim reality forced on us by the advent of Obamacare and his other works. We in West Virginia know that our health care is better than a lot of people, even with a premium hike. Wisconsin's governor faces the protests that he does because he is a Republican. And he is right.

Those people in Wisconsin better look out. When President Reagan fired the unionized air traffic controllers, his popularity went up.

Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll: What Does This Mean?

For the second year in a row, Ron Paul has taken CPAC's presidential straw poll. Is this a statement on the state of the conservative movement? Does this mean anything for Representative Paul?

Probably not. CPAC is a gigantic gathering of conservatives and libertarians that takes place every year. It attracts the most dedicated, but has in recent years been struggling to find its identity. Its economic conservatives and libertarians want it to go one direction and social conservatives prefer it would go another.

Poll results went as follows:


Texas Rep. Ron Paul: 30 percent
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: 23 percent
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson: 6 percent
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: 6 percent
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: 5 percent
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: 4 percent
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann: 4 percent
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels: 4 percent
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: 3 percent
Former talk show host Herman Cain: 2 percent
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: 2 percent
South Dakota Sen. John Thune: 2 percent
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman: 1 percent
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour: 1 percent
Others: 5 percent

This list of names is definitely not exhaustive of those who can, or might contend for the presidency in 2012. Governors Jindal, Perry, and Perdue of Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia could still emerge. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is also stronger than his 1% might indicate.

Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are both heads of different organizations that send their supporters to CPAC, so they naturally will vote for their patrons and heroes. However, Romney is persona non gratis to much of the conservative movement for his support of government health care. Ron Paul's ideas on economics and domestic policy have gained favor. Most conservatives would not argue that the Federal Reserve needs greater oversight. Support for the gold standard has also picked up recently. However, his rigid stance on foreign intervention keeps him on the outside for a conservative movement that cherishes the liberator of Grenada. His son, recently elected in Kentucky, has emerged as a much more moderate voice on this subject. Eventually Rand Paul could make a much better libertarian Republican presidential hopeful after some seasoning.

In the next election, a Southern governor will probably step up and break from the pack. Perdue might be held back by the fact that Georgia's economy is currently much less than peachy. Jindal, however, has stood up to Obama. Rick Perry is perceived as soft on immigration, but has battled the EPA and the Department of Education. The economy of his Texas has outperformed most states. Economics and states' rights should be at the forefront in 2012, helping active and successful governors to potentially launch strong challenges for the nomination. Sarah Palin remains in any discussion, but the governors who stayed at the helm will always have an advantage over her.

In essence, CPAC's poll represents the different factions that are diehard enough to travel to Washington and spend money to have a great time and socialize with other up and coming conservatives. However, it is not accurate to see them as a true bellcow for the movement.

Considering Looking at Long Term Costs in Budgeting Rather Than Simply the Original Price of a Project

Too often when elected officials approve infrastructure projects they do not plan for the long-term cost (the life cycle budget), which leads to wasteful spending at all levels of government. Current infrastructure projects frequently are not cost-effective and often lead to crumbling infrastructure.

Ultimately these projects become more expensive to repair and maintain. If they were constructed and priced out correctly from the beginning (looking at the entire cost of the initial project, including the maintenance and repairs in the future) we would have a better idea of the costs and benefits in the long term instead of the original price of the project. In the long run this type of budgeting would save taxpayers money.

A road, for example, is not simply a road. Does it pass through higher elevations where we can expect more stress and wear from freezing temperatures and more salt treatments? Will it have more wear and tear because of its proximity to industrial areas that will require a lot more truck traffic? How many bridges will be built on a long stretch of highway? These factors all go into the long term considerations of cost. When we think about these issues, we might be able to even come up with alternative specifics that could cost more in the short term, but pay off over time.

A lack of transparency in infrastructure spending is creating budgetary uncertainty, which only furthers the fiscal challenges facing state officials. This kind of shortsighted infrastructure budgeting is jeopardizing economic growth

Congressman Nick Rahall (Democrat-WV03) should consider this new way to look at the funding of infrastructure projects. Below are a couple of examples where government leaders have scrapped projects or hidden the true cost of projects.

— In California, a study conducted by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments found that routine repairs cost roughly $20,000 per mile of road per year. When roads break down, reconstruction is needed, costing up to $2 million per mile per year.

— In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie canceled a highly publicized transit tunnel project because he discovered the full costs of the project would exceed projections by as much as $5 billion. The tunnel would have eased traffic congestion among commuters in the nation’s most densely populated state.

When we fail to account for the maintenance costs from the start, repairs aren’t paid for and we are forced to spend more on major reconstruction earlier in the life of the road.

Today, we think it is imperative that governments consider the full life cycle cost of any investment it makes. That means not just how much something costs to build, but also how much it costs to operate and maintain decades into the future.

It is worth noting that the Congressional Budget Office reports that life cycle accounting will produce more cost effective infrastructure projects. According to the non-partisan CBO, accounting for the total cost of a project over its life cycle – that is, taking into account the initial costs as well as the long term operation and maintenance costs – is a key to ensuring that infrastructure projects are cost-effective.

With government doing more with less at every level, we urge Rep. Rahall and his colleagues in Congress to adopt this form of budgeting.

From the Secretary of State's Office: Final List of Candidates For Governor

Clark
Barnes Republican 106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253 Randolph 304-472-5608 cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray
Tomblin Democrat PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339 Logan info@earlraytomblin.com

Rick
Thompson Democrat 4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535 Wayne 304-551-7425 Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne
Moltis Democrat PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303 Kanawha 304-395-0214 arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie E. Tennant Democrat P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324 Kanawha 304-993-0874 info@natalietennant.com
Betty
Ireland Republican 948 Ridgemont Road Charleston, WV 25314 Kanawha 304-343-5033 votebettyireland@gmail.com
Mark A.
Sorsaia Republican P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526 Putnam 304-546-3477 mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry V. Faircloth Republican P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428 Berkeley 304-267-3949 faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John D.
Perdue Democrat 608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301 Kanawha 304-414-0880 John@johnperdue.com
Cliff
Ellis Republican 104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501 Monongalia 304-680-5332 gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch B.
Carmichael Republican 2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271 Jackson 304-372-4667 mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph William Clark Republican Monongalia rclark376@comcast.net
Jeffrey V. Kessler Democrat 607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038 Marshall jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill
Maloney Republican PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507 Monongalia maloneyforwv@gmail.com

PRECANDIDATES: Have filed a Precandidate Form and are authorized to raise and spend money for the 2011 election for Governor. Listed in the order in which received by the Election Division.
Name Party Mailing Address County Phone # Email Address
Jesse
Johnson Mountain Kanawha jesse4wvgov@yahoo.com
Patrick
Lane Republican Kanawha
Bob Henry Baber Mountain 526 Kanawha St. Glenville, WV 26351 Gilmer 304-462-0320 mayorbobhenrybaber@yahoo.com

From the Secretary of State's Office: Final List of Candidates For Governor

Clark
Barnes Republican 106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253 Randolph 304-472-5608 cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray
Tomblin Democrat PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339 Logan info@earlraytomblin.com

Rick
Thompson Democrat 4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535 Wayne 304-551-7425 Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne
Moltis Democrat PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303 Kanawha 304-395-0214 arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie E. Tennant Democrat P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324 Kanawha 304-993-0874 info@natalietennant.com
Betty
Ireland Republican 948 Ridgemont Road Charleston, WV 25314 Kanawha 304-343-5033 votebettyireland@gmail.com
Mark A.
Sorsaia Republican P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526 Putnam 304-546-3477 mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry V. Faircloth Republican P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428 Berkeley 304-267-3949 faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John D.
Perdue Democrat 608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301 Kanawha 304-414-0880 John@johnperdue.com
Cliff
Ellis Republican 104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501 Monongalia 304-680-5332 gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch B.
Carmichael Republican 2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271 Jackson 304-372-4667 mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph William Clark Republican Monongalia rclark376@comcast.net
Jeffrey V. Kessler Democrat 607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038 Marshall jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill
Maloney Republican PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507 Monongalia maloneyforwv@gmail.com

PRECANDIDATES: Have filed a Precandidate Form and are authorized to raise and spend money for the 2011 election for Governor. Listed in the order in which received by the Election Division.
Name Party Mailing Address County Phone # Email Address
Jesse
Johnson Mountain Kanawha jesse4wvgov@yahoo.com
Patrick
Lane Republican Kanawha
Bob Henry Baber Mountain 526 Kanawha St. Glenville, WV 26351 Gilmer 304-462-0320 mayorbobhenrybaber@yahoo.com

Military Dictatorship In Egypt?

Unrest in Egypt is getting worse and not better. What is unclear is which groups stand to gain if, or more likely when, Hosni Mubarek is forced to step aside. We would love to see true democracy, but should be concerned about the Moslem Brotherhood (backed by Obama, of course.) Egypt has tried to retain a secular government in the face of a tide of dangerous fundamentalism. Inviting a religious group to the table is a bad idea. Just because they came does not mean they should get to sit or speak.

History shows us that revolutions such as the one brewing in Cairo tend to turn out badly much of the time. Radicals shove aside moderates and spill blood when they consolidate power. Radicals want to control the people body, mind, and spirit. Radical Islamofacist terror will be bad for Egypt, Israel, Europe, and the United States.

In 1933, German democracy selected Communists and Nazis overwhelmingly in elections for the national legislature (Reichstag.) Its system required the President to choose a government from the dominant political parties. The President selected what he thought was the better of two evils, the Nazis. Of course the Communists had already killed thousands and wrecked Russia. The Nazis had not done as much yet, although they eventually would. The best case scenario for that desperate nation would have been a temporary seizure of power by the military.

Is that what is best for Egypt? If the Moslem Brotherhood or any other Islamic front group try to seize power, the military needs to step in and shove them aside. We need no more radical religious groups running nations in the Middle East. It is not a great result, but better than a lot of alternatives if true democracy cannot be established.

This all being said, that military government (as we have seen this morning actually take over the country) needs to put together a transition plan to democracy that reflects the secular nature of the country and respects all of its religious groups. It needs to promise to prevent terror as well. Hopefully, temporary military rule will result in real democracy and positive change for Egypt.

Feral Pigs and Such

On Tuesday, Fox News ran a story about the growing menace of feral pigs. Farmers complained about the destruction to crops. Suburbanites are upset about their lawns. The United States Department of Agriculture and state governments are concerned as well. The population of feral pigs around the country is approaching 4 million, according to expert estimates. So it's pretty obvious what ought to be done. Michigan has a new policy that allows anyone with a hunting license to shoot them at any time since they breed so quickly and in such large humbers.

Fox had to dig up the animal rights expert, though. He protested the "persecution of pigs" and suggested that someone go out and neuter them instead of hunting them. This was his best, serious suggestion.

This is animal rights at its worst. Armchair thinkers who have never been around an animal larger than a golden retriever or more dangerous than a kitten. Imagine trying to actually catch a pig in a sty to neuter it. Now imagine doing it to a feral pig in the woods. How dangerous is that? How much does it cost? The armchair left isn't interested.

What is amazing is that this very same group likely supports free range chickens as opposed to those cooped up. Wouldn't these be "free range pigs?" Wouldn't it be better to get your pork from wild hogs than those kept on a farm, from an animal rights point of view?

Just a typical statement made without thought by the animal rights movement.

GOProud At CPAC Is the Right Call

CPAC is facing strong criticism from social conservatives due to its inclusion of the group GOProud in its upcoming event.

CPAC is a conference that operates on many levels. There is an elite level where very important folks mingle, drink, eat, and celebrate conservatism. For those without several hundred to spend, there are speeches and a floor with hundreds of booths. This is probably where GOProud will be.

GOProud is a group like the Log Cabin Republicans. In other words, they are gay conservative Republicans. That may sound like a contradiction, but it isn't. Republicans and conservatives are split between those who are predominantly socially conservative and those whose interest lies more in economic liberty. The latter are more likely to be socially libertarian. Additionally, this is where most young conservative/libertarian, Republican voters are.

The Republican Party and conservative movement are moving strongly towards positions of liberty and rights. This will tend to alienate old social conservatives, but revitalize the Republican brand among the younger. Personally, I see a contradiction between the concept of less government interference while using the law to prevent legal connections between gays. Civil unions for all couples, gay or straight, would best reflect these values of limited government in people's lives.

Our combined enemy is statism that can evolve into mercantilism, fascism, or socialism. Obama's vision could send us down any of those three paths and none are good for America. We need to bind together and fight for liberty, rights, and less government. If that means that gay couples end up with civil unions or that people end up being able to grow and smoke pot on their own private property, so be it. I don't care about what people do in private on their property or in their bedrooms. I want the government less involved in all of our lives.

What About Henry Gassaway Davis, Stephen Elkins, or Harley Staggers Day?

State legislators can come up with some good ideas and some not so good ideas.

In this year's session, eleven have decided to sponsor a meausre to make Senator Robert Byrd's birthday a state holiday.

Byrd had one paramount cardinal virtue. Show up for work every day that you possibly can. His efforts to get to votes in his advanced age approached the heroic. How ironic that some want to honor that dedication with giving folks a day off.

Also, let's not forget that Senator Byrd has not been our only legislator of note on the national stage. Harley Staggers served his congressional district faithfully for decades and helped to save railroads in the late 1970s. Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen Elkins served in the U. S. Senate and helped to build the industrial base that sustains our state today. Arthur Boreman and Francis H. Pierpont risked capture and execution as traitors against the Commonwealth of Virginia to stay loyal to the Union and help create the Mountain State.

I'd like to say that Senator Byrd would be against this, but the man did like having his name attached to stuff. Despite the possibility that he would be elated by this kind of honor, it would be better to recognize his memory at the beginning of every session by having a reading of the United States Constitution and a pledge that each member will have it be his guide. That was Senator Byrd's other sincere political love. Remember him with something productive, not inactivity paid for by the taxpayers.

Rolling the Dice: Natalie Tennant

Natalie Tennant tossed her hat into the gubernatorial ring last week, confirming long held suspicions of her ambition.

Tennant was the first female Mountaineer and is well-known as a newscaster in the Charleston-Huntington market. Her hometown is in Marion County, giving her connections with two of the largest centers of population in West Virginia. She rode that name recognition as well as a winning personality to victory in the Secretary of State race. Now she is taking a serious gamble.

Earl Ray Tomblin, current acting governor, has the advantage of semi-incumbency and a long career behind him in the State Legislature. However, his southern West Virginia base could hurt him in the eastern counties. It is also difficult for long term legislators at any level to compete for statewide office because of their lengthy voting record. It's easy for opponents to highlight votes and stances at different points out of context. Tennant's lack of experience means that she has very little to attack, outside of her lack of experience.

And that in itself is dangerous. With uncertain economic times and our state economy under attack by the federal government itself, we need a governor who will stand up to the feds and protect our jobs and interests. There is no evidence that Natalie Tennant has any track record at all in fighting for this state. Republican candidates and Earl Ray Tomblin himself understand that coal is a vital part of our state economy. What has Tennant done in her career that has shown support for state jobs?

Democratic voters need to think about experience when they head to the polls, as opposed to personality.

The Muslim Brotherhood Must Be Excluded

In recent days, Obama has been pushing Egypt to find a role in a new government for the Muslim Brotherhood. This is an international front for Islamofascism who tries to make fundamentalist Islam look acceptable, much like the Nazi moderation campaigns in the late 20s and early 30s.

Make no mistake, especially y'all on the liberal side of things. These are people who have no problem with the execution of gays and the mutilation of rape victims, especially if that rape destroyed their virginity. These are the Middle East version of the Westboro Baptist (non)Church in their basic beliefs. They should be allowed nowhere near any power structure anywhere.

Revolutions usually begin with democratic leaning moderates in control and radicals asking just for a place at the table. Over time the radicals use ruthless means to intimidate and shove their way into dictatorial control. The American Revolution was an example of the opposite. Radicals were weeded out or chose to drop out and the moderates too over. In Russia and France, radicals seized control with terrifying and bloody results.

To avoid bloodshed in the increasingly inevitable looking scenario of change in Egypt, we must push for the exclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood. They are terrorists who will kill and maim the weak and vulnerable if their sick interpretation of Islam is given any credibility or influence.

We want a moderate and secular democracy in Egypt that opens up the economic system to a more free market orientation. We do not need terrorists who have temporarily decided to look moderate.

What Is Going On in Egypt?

"May you live in interesting times."

Egypt is living out this ancient Chinese curse as thousands have taken to the streets to protest, confront government forces, and/or loot. People on the outside have a difficult time making out precisely what they stand for, although it is easy to see that they are definitely against the current president Hosni Mubarek. Counter demonstrations have zealously supported Mubrake and his administration which has generally been non hostile to Israel and the United States while strongly opposing Islamofascist terrorism. That being said, under his governance, there has been corruption and the suppression of democracy.

If this falls into a real revolution, it could follow a pattern set for hundreds of years. Moderates take control first with the desire to right the wrongs of the old regime. They are quickly shoved aside by ruthless radicals whose aim is power and control. They will shed blood and lives to get what they want. Radical Puritans in Britain in the 1600s, France in the 1700s, Russia in the 1900s are the most well-known examples. We must watch for the same pattern here.

If radicals do seize power in Cairo, we must be ready. A coalition of countries led by the United States, but including African and Asian countries must be ready to seize the Suez Canal and place it under international control. Not United Nations control, but a temporary trusteeship. India, South Africa, and other non traditional powers should be party to this, but ready to move quickly if Islamofascists gain control of Egypt.

This is dangerous and could spread quickly. Where was our president at the beginning? A star studded party. Where is our Secretary of State?

We need the experienced hand of a Condoleeza Rice right now. Or a George H. W. Bush. Obama is once again in over his head and needs to ask for experienced help to try and prevent the worst from happening.

Skinned

MTV will likely pull the plug on its import show "Skins" under pressure from viewers, advertisers, Congress, and the Department of Justice.

Executives at MTV held long discussions to determine whether or not U. S. law and the American market would accept a television program that is entirely about sex and drug use among teenage children. They apparently forgot that even simulated sex among child actors and actresses is a federal crime, punishable by prison sentences. To me, if you are having that discussion, the show is probably inappropriate.

"Skins" originated in Great Britain on the BBC. Parents should be warned that the show is on BBC America, which is available on satellite and cable. It probably will not be shown very much longer based on the adverse reaction to its showing on MTV.

The show's creators and backers sell it as a "frank" portrayal of teenage life. They claim that those who think teenagers behave otherwise are foolish and deluded. Generalizing about any lareg group leads to dangerous inaccuracy. Lots of teens indulge in sex and use drugs. Lots of teens are afraid of sex and avoid drugs. In any event, one can get the point across on a fictional show that teenagers are doing these things without breaking federal child pornography laws. At a certain point, the show's creators must admit that they are trying to stimulate other things than a frank discussion about teenage behavior.

Fortunately we have an appropriate market response to the show. Not only are advertisers abandoning the show, so are viewers. Even on the most coarse, envelope pushing network offered in America, viewers are not accepting of what has been offered. MTV will likely pull the plug on the show not long after assuring its creators that the market and the law would be permissive of this type of programming.

People my age are nostalgic for the days when you saw music on Music Television (as MTV was once known.) As far as I am concerned, Jim Morrison sang something that resonates very well here "when the music's over, turn out the lights . . ." Apparently, the Department of Justice might do the same. Personally, I think the government should back off. MTV's lawyers looked over this show with a fine toothed comb. They will either prove that they did not violate the letter of the law, or hide behind deniability, claiming they didn't know how far the show would go. I doubt that a costly investigation will reveal any technical wrongdoing by MTV. The market has spoken and rejected it. No need to go any further.

Democratic Delegates Deal Delay to Bill That Will Return Miners to Work

Delegate Stan Shaver has had an interesting week. He is sponsoring a bill to charge seniors $25 for hunting and fishing licenses (they are currently exempt) while also trying to keep West Virginia coal miners out of work.

The bill (HB 2854) to create the new class of license for the elderly (because we don't want to miss out on this lucrative source of fee income) will be first read on Monday and probably pass the House and be sent to the Senate by the end of the week, according to the Boone Examiner.

In all honesty, this is not a measure that I have too much of a problem with, so long as the money goes back into state supported outdoor recreation, or gun classes, or something else useful. If other citizens have to pay fees, people over sixty five should as well.

However it is interesting that Delegate Shaver's bill to raise these fees will probably sail through the House while he is helping to stall the Intrastate Coal and Use bill (HB 2554. See link http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2554%20intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=2554 ) Delegate Shaver (D-46) and Delegate Larry Barker (D-18) both represent areas that benefit from coal mining (Tucker, Preston, and Boone counties) yet have worked to keep HB 2554 off of the committee agenda. This will eventually prevent the bill from even being sent to the full House of Delegates for a vote.

The importance of HB 2554 is two fold. It would block mines that only sell to West Virginia customers from any federal oversight. Several mines whose operations have been prevented or suspended by the EPA can come back online with state permission. In the past, the EPA could be trusted to objectively make decisions solely based on environmental issues. The current administration has repeatedly stated its desire to end the coal industry and is using the EPA to further that end. When Congress refused to create limitations that will harm the coal industry, Obama's administration signalled its willingness to ignore Article 1 Sectioon 1 of the Constitution ( http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html ) and write its own law.

The passage of the Intrastate Coal and Use Act would put West Virginia miners back to work and result in the collection of more tax revenues. Since our state needs to extra income gathered from elderly hunters and fishermen, it could certainly use the revenue from coal miner incomes and coal operations. Additionally, West Virginia and other states need to send a message to Obama and his federal cronies that they are violating the Constitution by overstepping legal limits on their power. States must defend their prerogatives under the Tenth Amendment.

HB 2554 has bipartisan support and will put West Virginians back to work if passed by both houses of the Legislature. If our state needs more revenue and jobs, let's push through a bill to create work and business as quickly as we push through a bill to charge seniors fees to hunt and fish. Miners and others who support jobs in this state need to ask their legislators a question. Do you support Barack Obama's War on Coal, or do you support West Virginia and its coal miners and operators?

Which side are you on?

West Virginia Needs a Primary Election

Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee Chair Melody Potter on Facebook Tuesday endorsed a primary election to determine party nominees for governor before the special election.

I agree 100%.

Two alternatives exist. One would just be a wide open election where every contender was on the ballot at once. This opens the door for false candidates to try and siphon votes from actual ones. More likely would be a party convention where each of the three parties that generally run candidates for governor would select their nominees and put them on the ballot. However, this might reinforce the perception that West Virginia politics is basically a good ol' boy show.

A primary election is good for Republicans for a few reasons.

First, it is the more democratic way to operate. Candidacies are open and the people get to vote. That is the expectation of the voters in the 21st Century. They want to choose. Second, the race between the various GOP candidates will bring media attention to these individuals that will create name recognition for the general election. Some major candidates are better known west of the mountains and in southern West Virginia, some are better known to the east. It is important that registered Republicans and other voters across the entire state get to know all of the potential Republican candidates so that they can make an informed Republican vote in the fall.

The Republican Party is advancing a very experienced and capable set of candidates this time, most notably State Senator Clark Barnes and former Secretary of State Betty Ireland. Both of these candidates are exceptional campaigners, so a primary election plays to both of their strengths.

A primary election can help our party build a case for its nominee in the general election.

Congressman McKinley Introduces Bill to Limit EPA Attacks On Coal

For Immediate Release:January 26, 2011Contact: Katie Martin, 202.525.0589 Katie.Martin@mail.house.gov

McKINLEY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STOP EPA FROM VETOING EXISTING PERMITSBi-partisan bill co-sponsored by West Virginia’s Capito & Rahall, other coal-country repsPresses administration official on outrageous EPA power-grab at subcommittee hearing
Washington, D.C. – Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) filed legislation (H.R. 457) Wednesday that would remove the EPA’s authority to retroactively veto an existing Section 404(c) Clean Water Act permit. The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) to explicitly prevent the EPA from revoking a permit under the Act after one has been issued by the Secretary of the Army.
McKinley’s first piece of legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Bob Gibbs (R-OH), and would be retroactive to January 1, 2011 – thereby reinstating the Spruce Mine No. 1 permit in southern West Virginia revoked two weeks ago by the EPA. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has announced plans to file a similar piece of legislation soon.
“For years, the EPA has been bullying coal companies and the workers they employ,” said McKinley. “But this isn’t just about the Spruce Mine. If their new policy of retroactive revocation is allowed to stand, dozens of heavily-regulated industries and hundreds of thousands of American jobs hang in the balance. Businesses will not invest in new projects and create new jobs if they know that regulatory agencies can ignore existing permits and arbitrarily pull the rug right out from under them. This has to stop.”
Also Wednesday, McKinley pressed the chief White House regulatory official on the EPA’s decision on Spruce Mine. At the request of Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, McKinley asked chief White House regulatory official Cass Sunstein a series of questions at a hearing of the subcommittee. Under the congressman’s questioning, Sunstein acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court has generally frowned upon retroactive regulatory action and promised to follow up with more information on the EPA’s actions and the propriety thereof.
Earlier this week, McKinley sent a letter to Stearnsrequesting that the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee call the EPA in front of the panel to directly answer questions about the chilling effect its decision would have on the American economy.
McKinley concluded, “We have a long way to go in this fight. This is just the first step. But the Obama administration and the EPA are now on notice that we will not sit idly by while their arrogance kills West Virginia jobs and threatens thousands more across the country.”

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World Health Organization to Waste Time Attacking Free Speech

The World Health Organization is calling a summit to propose a worldwide ban on junk food advertising to children, comparing it to limitations on the advertising of tobacco.

This is yet another United Nations stunt to grab headlines and reduce freedom while doing nothing effective. Couldn't the money spent to wine and dine world health officials be better used to pay more doctors to go to the Third World. I imagine that the starving young people in Sudan could not care less about fast food marketing to children. But they would probably like medicine and the attention of a doctor. Unfortunately such efforts have support int he United States from people like Mike Huckabee and Michelle Obama.

What the UN probably doesn't know is that there is no law against tobacco advertising. They pulled their ads as part of a court settlement. Laws that would ban such advertising would violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. Also, how would you differentiate between ads directed at children and those directed at adults. A gray area does exist, especially since lines blur when you consider media like adult oriented cartoons.

We need to save money. Consider kicking the UN out of our country and ending our participation.

Once Again the President Fails to Grasp Reality

We saw some interesting proposals in last night's State of the Union Address. Well, I didn't actually watch it, but read it this morning.

He wants to "out educate" the world, whatever that means. I asume that he will want to spend more money to implement more crackpot federal ideas that interfere with local direction and real teaching. Federal interference and spending has pushed schools into a downward spiral since the Department of Education was created. More of the same will create worse results.

Even the Associated Press questions the stated commitment to cap spending coming in the same speech as promises to spend more on a large number of his own initiatives.

Obama also called on Congress to unify together. Obama already had a Congress unified behind his agenda and the people got rid of it. We need a Congress unified behind the idea that federal spending and activity need to be considerably reduced. We need to expect less out of government and it needs to try and do less for special interests and feel good liberals.

He also doesn't get it on economics. The Adjunct Instructor in Chief still thinks that government must create conditions for job growth. The best thing government can do is keep taxes down, deregulate, and get out of the way. How does he think that a huge fee charged to banks is going to help free credit? Business often needs credit to expand operations. Obama clearly does not understand basic economics. His answer has always been to spend more money than the created jobs would actually pay.

Obama showed in this speech that he is a one trick pony. When you need jobs, spend. When you want to educate, spend. When you want to feel good, spend. If he were a private citizen, he'd be a shopaholic and a hoarder.

He must face the reality that we are running into serious trouble. We need massive debt reduction and he is proposing spending reduction measures that would equal an average wagerearner putting aside a quarter a month while increasing our burdens elsewhere. If nothing else, Obama has given the Tea Party new ammunition to build on its efforts in this non election year. Because he just does not get it. Therefore, he needs to be replaced with a fiscally responsible president in 2012.

Intrastate Coal and Use Act Gets Bipartisan Support

Delegate Gary Howell (R-49th) last week introduced a bill designed to limit the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency over West Virginia coal mining operations. It will enable mines that only sell to West Virginia customers to ignore the EPA and only deal with state officials. Though the number of mines affected by this bill are few in number, it represents an effort to assert state rights under the tenth amendment against the expansion of federal power. This bill is very similar to gun manufacturing laws passed last year in Ohio and Montana.

The EPA has withdrawn permits assigned to mines, putting thousands of West Virginians out of work. Both Obama and Biden spoke about ending the coal industry in the United States during the 2008 presidential campaign. Despite the antipathy of the national Democratic Party to coal, Democrats in the Mountain State have signed on to co-sponsor the bill.

Delegates Linda Sumner (R-Raleigh), Ray Canterbury (R-Greenbrier), Carol Miller (R-Cabell), Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell), John Ellem (R-Wood), Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson), Walter Duke (R-Berkeley), Finance Chairman H.K. White (D-Mingo), Economic Development and Small Business Chairman Steve Kominar (D-Mingo) and Rupert Phillips (D-Lincoln).

Time to Fix the Law

Speaker of the House Richard Thompson belives that the Legislature has a mess on its hands and he places the blame on one man, Earl Ray Tomblin.

Thompson argues that Tomblin should have spent most of his time as Senate President and only acted as governor when absolutely necessary, according to his interview on MetroNews Talkline. He still refuses to meet with Tomblin and work with the select group of lawmakers and Tomblin who are trying to set up the Special Gubernatorial Election.

This sounds like old fashioned politics. This situation is admittedly bizarre and the crafters of the Constitution of 1872 planned poorly for this type of situation. However, the decision has been made by the Supreme Court to mandate the election and it is time to make that happen.

The Legislature needs to put together an amendment to the state constitution that will address this problem and preserve the concept of separation of powers envisioned in 1872. It may also be time for a commission to be appointed to study the state constitution. Any other hidden contradictions and ambiguities should be addressed if they exist.

Historic Moment For United States Senate

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation to repeal Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid's health care plan.

Will the Senate follow suit, or will Democrats keep the issue from even coming to a vote?

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky fired out on You Tube that the Democrats were working hard to prevent a vote on repeal in the Senate. He assured that there would at least be a vote. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina will introduce the bill to the Senate this week.

Why not vote on repeal? The people spoke last November and said that they did not want Obamacare. If the Democrats are so confident that this policy will work in the long run, they should stand up and vote again to keep it. They should affirm their stand before history and the voters. They should trumpet to the nation that they believe that Big Bureaucracy will save our health care just like it did in Great Britain (where prostate cancer has a 45% higher death rate than the United States.)

If the Democrats do not allow a floor vote on the repeal of Obamacare, it betrays the fact that they do not have confidence that it will succeed. They know the voters will punish them again when it fails miserably.

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Congratulations to the team from Keyser High School that won a Constitution competition in Charleston yesterday. They also went to the Capitol and met their legislative representatives. National competition will come in April. We are sure Keyser will do well again.

How to Manufacture An Image of Popularity

The Associated Press last week was all a titter! They cited polls and proclaimed that Barack Obama would trounce the Republican competition were the election held today.

Sounds pretty sad until you read the story.

The polls matched him up against Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Huckabee. Two of these people would have trouble getting Republican votes. Romney supported government health care in his state and Mike Huckabee likes nanny state policies to promote fitness. Neither one of them are going to do well in the new Republican Party.

Sarah Palin has the same issues as Newt Gingrich or Hillary Clinton. She is popular, yet polarizing. Great for fundraising, but a lot of baggage, some of which is not her fault. I like Sarah Palin, personally, but she probably does not give us our best shot in 2012.

The pollsters picked these three because they didn't dare put Obama up in a hypothetical race against Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, or another strong and popular GOP governor. Obama might look good against a campaign has been like Romney, but probably not a rising star like Jindal.

A Declaration of the Rights of Virginia by George Mason

The main inspiration for the Declaration of Independence written shortly thereafter


A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government .

Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.

Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.

Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.

Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.

Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.

Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.

Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.

Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.

Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.

Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.