WVGOP Leadership in the right hands under McKinney

How would you like to be handed a bankrupt demoralized organization and asked to fix it? Well that is exactly what Doug McKinney was handed when he became the Chairman of the WVGOP. Republicans across the nation were handed defeat after defeat in elections and in West Virginia the WV GOP was out of money when he took over.

True leaders emerge in hard times not in good times. Leadership doesn’t come from making popular decisions; it comes from making necessary decisions. Abraham Lincoln led a divided nation back to unity. Lee Iacocca took over a dying car company returned it to profitability (they could use him back now) and fortunately the WVGOP; Doug McKinney was cut from the same cloth.

A first ever Presidential Convention for the state of West Virginia was handed to the party when it had no money. A team of some of the best and brightest in the state was assembled and it became a great success. With a lot of help, Doug took the party from six digits in the red to back in the black giving the party a strong financial position in the upcoming 2010 election cycle. This was all done in political atmosphere where Republicans across the nation were at a disadvantage and under the leadership of Doug McKinney it became a success.

A minority few that hide in the shadows have grumbled about the leadership of McKinney all the while ignoring the facts in evidence of what his leadership has accomplished. They bemoan the fact that he has put much of his personal life on hold to attend Republican events across the state and personally contributing to many Republican Candidates. The shadow lurkers make noise, but when given the opportunity to step up to the plate, they just move silently back into the shadows. The shadows crave power, but fail to understand real power comes from leadership.

Leadership by example is one of the reasons Doug McKinney has been a great success for the WVGOP. He has not stood silently, he spoken boldly about the ideals of the party. Doug McKinney’s leadership has taken the party from melancholy shades of grey to bright RED!

Blast from the Past: I'm Just a Bill

The Great Crusade

Thanks to all the Veterans on Day D

There was ammo on these shelves

There was ammo on these shelves
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By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

Reports from across the country confirm that gun owners seeking to stock up on ammunition are facing the same list of problems: shortages, back orders, elevated prices and a long line of people staring at empty shelves where boxes of bullets used to be.

"Just about everywhere I've been, it's sold out," Darren Lauzon told KMGH-TV in Denver after he failed to find ammunition for his new .45 pistol. "Wal-Mart, Sportsman's, wherever."

"Folks have been experiencing shortages all over the country," a spokesman for the National Rifle Association told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat in California. "Since the election there has been a great increase in firearms sales as well. Background checks are up, enrollment in training and safety classes is up, concealed weapons permits are up, gun sales are up – and ammo manufacturers can't keep up with demand."

Gun shops and retailers agree: the press for ammunition is emptying their shelves quicker than the manufacturers can restock them.

"We're probably selling ammunition right now at a 200 percent increase over normal sales," said Richard Taylor, manager at the Firing Line in Aurora, Colo.

"We've probably got over 4,000 cases of ammunition on back order currently. But we just don't know when we're going to receive that," Taylor told KMGH. "Y2K was just like a little blip on the radar screen compared to this. I mean, it's just phenomenal."

A Wal-Mart salesman told Ross Kaminsky of Human Events, "We used to get shipments almost every day. Now we only know we'll have it when we see it. I get at least a half-dozen calls a day asking for ammunition, especially for handguns, and when it arrives, the customers buy everything."

The shortages are creating multiple complications for both gun owners and sellers.

KSNW-TV in Wichita reports the cost of ammunition in many Kansas stores has risen between $5 to $15 more per box over the last six months, and even still, many retailers are limiting the amount of ammunition customers can buy.

"It is a bad problem," Bill Vinduska with Bullseye Firearms told the station, "because we really would rather be able to supply our customers their needs; and not being able to do that is really a problem."

"When you're turning down two or three thousand, four thousand dollars a day in sales because you just can't get the product, that's significant," said Burnie Stokes from Panhandle Gunslingers to KFDA-TV in Amarillo, Texas.

Jere Jordan, general manager Midsouth Shooters Supply in Clarksville, Tenn., a company that specializes in mail-order sales of ammunition and reloading supplies, told the Associated Press that his company has sold out of ammunition commonly used in semiautomatic pistols and popular military rifles.

And even though Midsouth is taking orders for supplies used by hobbyists to handload cartridges, Jordan has no idea when they'll be filled.

"The wait? We're not even guessing on the wait anymore," Jordan said. "It's exceeding 60 days."

Who's to blame for shortages?

According to Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade organization representing both manufacturers and retailers, the shortages pinching store owners aren't the fault of their suppliers.

"We have heard from all across the country that there is a tremendous shortage of ammunition," Keane told the AP. "We've heard this from the manufacturers, that their customers are calling them trying to get supplies for inventory, and that the manufacturers are going full-bore, pardon the pun."

The shortages, for the most part, stem from a widespread surge in customer demand for ammunition, a surge many link to the election of Barack Obama and the belief, perpetuated in part by the National Rifle Association, that the new president favors limiting the right to bear arms codified in the Second Amendment.

"Sen. Obama's statements and support for restricting access to firearms, raising taxes on guns and ammunition and voting against the use of firearms for self-defense in the home are a matter of public record," declares Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA's Political Victory Fund. "Barack Obama would be the most anti-gun president in our nation's history."

"After the election," Midsouth's Jordan told the AP, "where you have a change of parties to a more liberal side, I would say I guess the conservatives want to protect what they feel might be taken away from them, either through a tax, or an all-out ban."

"Everybody's just worried about the new government coming in and trying to ban guns and make everything more difficult to obtain," NRA member Kevin Bishop told KMGH. "Well, the way [Obama] has been acting, there may be a little truth to the rumor."

Rich Wyatt, owner of a firearms shop and training facility outside of Denver, told Human Events' Kaminsky that even "old ladies and young people and liberals" have been buying ammunition from him.

Wyatt's position seems to be that the new president sparked the ammunition buying frenzy with careless words from the campaign trail, such as when he said small town folks in Pennsylvania "cling to guns or religion" during hard economic times.

"Barack Obama is right about one thing," Wyatt said. "We are clinging to God and our guns, and I defy him to try to take either one from us."

Why some officials get elected in West Virginia

Bob Hope learns why some officials get elected in West Virginia despite their voting records.

The Rattle Snake as a Symbol of Liberty

The rattlesnake was the favorite animal emblem of the Americans even before the Revolution. In 1751 Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette carried a bitter article protesting the British practice of sending convicts to America. The author suggested that the colonists return the favor by shipping "a cargo of rattlesnakes, which could be distributed in St. James Park, Spring Garden, and other places of pleasure, and particularly in the nobleman's gardens." Three years later the same paper printed the picture of a snake as a commentary on the Albany Congress. To remind the delegates of the danger of disunity, the serpent was shown cut to pieces. Each segment is marked with the name of a colony, and the motto "Join or Die" below. Other newspapers took up the snake theme.

By 1774 the segments of the snake had grown together, and the motto had been changed to read: "United Now Alive and Free Firm on this Basis Liberty Shall Stand and Thus Supported Ever Bless Our Land Till Time Becomes Eternity"

Other authors felt the rattlesnake was a good example of America's virtues. They argued that it is unique to America; individually its rattles produce no sound, but united they can be heard by all; and while it does not attack unless provoked, it is deadly to step upon one.

The Gadsden Flag: The American Revolutionary period was a time of intense but controlled individualism - when self-directing responsible individuals again and again decided for themselves what they should do, and did it- without needing anyone else to give them an assignment or supervise them in carrying it out.

Such a person was the patriot Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina. He had seen and liked a bright yellow banner with a hissing, coiled rattlesnake rising up in the center, and beneath the serpent the same words that appeared on the Striped Rattlesnake Flag - Don't Tread On Me. Colonel Gadsden made a copy of this flag and submitted the design to the Provincial Congress in South Carolina. Commodore Esek Hopkins, commander of the new Continental fleet, carried a similar flag in February, 1776, when his ships put to sea for the first time.

Hopkins captured large stores of British cannon and military supplies in the Bahamas. His cruise marked the salt-water baptism of the American Navy, and it saw the first landing of the Corps of Marines, on whose drums the Gadsden symbol was painted.

The 1st Navy Jack: One of the first flags flown by our Navy may have been an adaptation of the "Rebellious Stripes" created at the time of the Stamp Act Congress. It featured thirteen red and white stripes. Stretched across them was the rippling form of a rattlesnake, and the words, "DON'T TREAD ON ME"- a striking indication of the colonists' courage and fierce desire for independence.

The flag we know today as the first Navy Jack (sometimes known as the "Culpepper Flag") is believed to have flown aboard the Alfred, flagship of the newly commissioned Continental fleet, in January, 1776. American ships used this flag, or one of its variations, throughout the Revolutionary War. This powerful American symbol was used by the Continental Navy in 1776 and is being used again by the U.S. Navy in the War on Terrorism.

Courtesy USflag.org

A great friend to the WVGOP moves on

Many of you may not personally know Gary Abernathy, but he is good friend.

Gary has always worked hard for the Republican Party and his Republican Gazette has pushed many stories the left would rather have not come to light. Gary also helped many Republican candidates even when they could not afford his services. Gary is a great Republican and a great friend and he will be missed in West Virginia. I wish all the luck on his new adventure whatever that may be.

The Slow Death of Old Journalism

I spent Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta and saw something shocking.

One of the great urban newspapers of the nation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution had completely transformed itself. The once stately masthead with respectable headline font had now degraded into lowercase Times New Roman. Its size had shrunk into weekend same guide territory. This newspaper, once one of the premier dailies of the South, now looked much less respectable than our local and regional papers. It carried about as much news, too.

There is something to be said about a newspaper's audience and market. The New York Times and Washington Post struggle while the Washington Times and Wall Street Journal have avoided some of the same problems. It seems that conservatives tend to like actually holding a newspaper in their hand, turning the pages to read the news, in larger numbers than liberals. Our nation's capital actually supports two conservative dailies ( the Washington Examiner also seems to be doing well.)

The problems associated with newspapers lie in the fact that they continue to rely heavily upon their reporting of current events. By the time a major city newspaper has published and delivered, most people have either seen the news on television or read about it on the internet. Small town papers have always operated on tight budgets, but will probably survive because who else will report on doings in Cumberland, Moorefield, or Keyser? Who else will publish the picture of the Kelley and Church Award winners so that their parents can buy fifty copies apiece? The Mineral Daily News Tribune has a much more encouraging future than the Boston Globe.

Big city papers need to redefine their niche by focusing more in depth. The internet and TV will never be able to give its audience the kind of information and detail that print journalism offers. In the 1980s many papers moved away from such stories towards flashy colors and more concise writing to mimic the success of USA Today. Papers following this model give precisely the same quality journalism as the internet, but much more slowly. Also the hysterical liberalism adopted by many editorial boards seems to only sell in Charleston, West Virginia. Try moderating to the level of the market.

It's time for print journalism to remember that they are capitalists and act accordingly. It would be a real shame to see some of these old publications die off.

Home Owners Association goes overboard

Real Americans Thank and Honor Our Veterans

Last Friday I got the opportunity to see a ceremony that few people ever take the chance to see, a United States Army Ranger graduation.

My wife's cousin took his place as a Ranger last Friday and we couldn't be more proud. The stories he told about his training and school were probably just the tip of the iceberg. These guys experience pain, deprivation, and extremes that few of us could ever imagine. They do it to test themselves and out of love of their country. Praising them only makes many of them feel a little awkward. They see it as their job. Regardless, I am glad I got the chance to tell him how proud we all are of him.

We Americans never can thank these people often enough. Our cousin is one of the Army's newest Rangers and his wife serves in the 82nd Airborne. At some point he will serve as the tip of the spear, probably in Afghanistan. Only more danger and stress awaits. He won't get rich, but he will serve his country and know that he earned the right to be considered among the best of the best.

Last Monday the country took a day off. In our new era of warfare the enemy may fight the tip of the spear, but they also target the shaft, the hand that throws it, and even its place of manufacture. All of our veterans, living and past, deserve a prayer and a thank you, not just twice a year but every time they come to mind.

Last Monday I also remembered two veterans who passed. One grandfather served in New Guinea in the Army Air Force. The other served in the oft bloodied 36th Division that saw some of the toughest fighting in Europe. I never met him. All I have of him is a cigar box full of captured photographs and an old knife. I thought of a good friend of our family who landed at Normandy and has told a lot of colorful tales of fighting across Europe. You can often tell the guys who saw the worst; their stories are always humorous, never bloody. I remembered my stepfather who served in Vietnam.

Thank God for our veterans living and dead. Thank God for the sacrifices they made and continue to make every day. And thank the veterans. If you see one in uniform and you for whatever reason do not thank him or her personally, say a little prayer for the serviceman and the family that love him.

Carbine Williams

Oh the magic of TiVo.

A month ago I recorded on TMC an obscure film called Carbine Williams. This movie, said Robert Osborne, did not appeal to moviegoers but may have been Jimmy Stewart's best performance. It tells the story of David Marshall "Marsh" Williams of North Carolina. Williams was an impatient young man with an aptitude for machinery. Unfortunately he put that talent to work building stills during Prohibition. During a federal raid a firefight broke out, an agent was killed, and the court sentenced Williams to thirty years in state prison.

While in prison, Williams bucked the system and earned a trip to the chain gang. After serving out his punishment he went to a prison farm where he started working in the machine shop. While there, he secretly constructed a new kind of gun. When the warden discovered the weapon, he was so amazed at the advances made that he approved of a demonstration. Present was a representative of Winchester. Because it worked, Williams earned a pardon and a job with that firm. The gun's reduced weight and superior firing capability made it the "grandfather" of the M1 used by soldiers in World War II.

The hero of the film was a gun maker, described as a "rugged individualist." His hard work and persistence paid off for him and also helped our soldiers better combat our most dangerous enemies.

This kind of movie is why I would much rather watch TMC than pay to see a recently made film. American values dominate this movie, values that left leaning liberals would rather we forget.

Blast from the Past: Sufferin' Till Suffrage

City of Keyser Backs Green Mountain Wind Farm

After a unanimous vote of approval, Keyser City Councilman Dave Sowers said of a proposed Green Mountain wind farm that it would generate county tax revenues, create more jobs, and help expand national renewable energy production.

Pinnacle Wind Force plans to spend $131 million to create the facility on the mountaintops above Keyser.

This puts the Keyser City Council potentially at odds with some members of the county commission who have expressed reservations about wind energy. Some concerns cited include the altering of aesthetics, damage to wildlife, and questions about what would happen if wind power was not profitable in the long run.

However Mineral County will gain benefits for years from the farm. Property tax revenues will bolster school budgets. The ripple effect from a $131 million investment will boost Keyser's flagging economy. Also it will promote the perception that Keyser and Mineral County embrace new technologies and ideas. Windmills are a symbol of clean energy independence.

Words Fail Us

Words failed us.

Not four months after Obama took office, his diplomacy of apologies starts to bear fruit. He and his secretary of state felt compelled to apologize for the United States so bluntly and brutally enforcing international law and ruffling the feathers of Europeans that traded with murderous monsters such as Saddam Hussein.

Now Iran has weapons grade materials. North Korea has exploded nuclear devices and launched more test missiles.

These developments drastically increase the chance that terrorists will get a device to explode in Tel Aviv, Madrid, or New York City. They also heighten the possibility that Iran or North Korea will try to bully their neighbors or even launch against the United States.

Obama will talk and try to get at the real problem through negotiation. I remember that Bush talked too. Then he acted. Bush's actions convinced Libya to abandon their nuclear program and join the community of peaceful nations. We didn't even threaten them. Bush leaves office and now the kiddies can come out and play with reckless abandon. Of course also on Obama's watch a known nuclear power is falling dangerously close to collapsing in the face of the Taliban.

The issue is bigger than just nukes. If Pakistan goes Taliban, India will be frightened and may take action. We can rest assured that Israel will act against Iran. North Korean belligerence scares Japan. If Japan rearms that provokes China, which could cause a chain reaction of fear and arming throughout Asia. American power and firm resolve have kept a lid on all of this for some time. Now that we have a president who does not even have the resolve to fill the jobs in the Executive Branch, the world is in a little more peril.

Chairman Steele Addresses WV YR’s

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Contact: Lisa Peana

For Immediate Release (304) 730-4599

Chairman Steele Addresses WV YR’s

YR’s Accept Challange

Charleston, WV – RNC Chairman Friday night spoke to nearly 250 Republicans and in his remarks he addressed the WV Young Republicans to take action.

“We are determined not to live in the past, but to look forward to a prosperous future,” said Kevin Noe, National Committeeman for the WV YR, “It’s time we stand up, with a clear voice and let our state leaders know that we are going to take charge of our state's future. Realizing that the status quo is no longer acceptable in West Virginia, the Young Republicans are prepared to bring much needed change to Mountain State government.”

The Young Republicans are prepared to lead the way into next year’s election to let the voters of WV know where their representatives stand on key issues.

“We have representatives in Charleston and Washington that are not working for the people of West Virginia, and it’s time we let them know we are not happy with them. It's time to tell them that the radical Cap and Trade laws will kill West Virginia's coal industry. It’s time we stand up and let them know that we support the sanctity of life and traditional marriage.

“It’s time that we start making our voice heard. This is our state and our nation, we need to start acting like it and get involved,” added Noe.

For more information about the WV Young Republicans, please visit www.wvyr.org

Sidewalks Connect and Reflect a Community

I have been trying to get more exercise, so I have been walking several miles along the streets of Keyser most every evening. If you haven't taken the time to wander around your community, then I invite you to do so, because the sidewalk is a great way to meet your community. The sidewalks are your connection to your neighbors.

One of the first things you will notice is most of the sidewalks in Keyser were built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and that they were build in 1940 and 1941. The quality of the work and craftsmanship represents a time when we built things to last. After nearly 70 years in the ground they still bare the mark of the WPA (See right). This was a time when many were out of work, but they didn't just take money from the government. They took a job with government and gave something back to the community. A quality product that is still in use today as many of these sidewalks are still in great shape like the one to top and left left. The home owners take care of them and take pride in their community.

Unfortunately in some areas the sidewalks get abused. Not just in Keyser, but in other communities. Sidewalks were never built to be parking lots and as a result of being parked on many get destroyed. This reflects a change in attitude of people over the years. At one time most people had a respect for their community and the things it provides, like side walks. They didn't abuse the things that their own tax dollars provide.

Sometimes it is mother nature that destroys the sidewalks of a town making them hard to walk on. Tree roots are one of the hardest of mother natures tools for destroying a nice level sidewalk. Although the trees are now gone, their roots caused the damage to the side walk on the left. On the right below mother nature is reclaiming the the sidewalk with top soil and grass. There is a complete side walk under that grass although it is broken. Probably from being driven over or parked on through the years as it is now lower than the street next to it.

As the sidewalks are destroyed in our community, so are the connections to our neighbors. Gone is the smooth path where we greet and become neighbors. One of the judges of a neighborhood or a town for that matter is the condition of the sidewalks. Sidewalks are more than mere paths to walk on. They are a reflection of a community and the pride it takes in itself.

Imagine the sight of Keyser in 1941 when all the sidewalks were fresh and new. The community was fully connected and it reflected community pride and a strong work ethic. Perhaps Keyser should embark on a program of repairing and extending sidewalks into new areas of town. Let visitors know, no matter what part of Keyser they are in, it is a good section of town. Reconnect our community and reflect the pride we all feel of claiming Keyser as our hometown.

Blast from the Past: Elbow Room

Hate Crimes and the Constitution

Congress just passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. It expands the definition of hate crimes to include gays and related groups, but created fears that speech against such groups could now qualify as a crime.

Factcheck.org disputes the argument that this act will result in the prosecution of those simply speaking.

The problem lies in the notion of "hate crimes" itself. Way back in the good ol' days, the law responded simply to an act that really occurred. If I pulled out a 2x4 and hit somebody over the head with it, I'd be prosecuted for battery regardless of the victim's gender, race, sexual orientation, or whatever. The law also assumed that I might have some negative feelings, perhaps even hate, for the person that I just smacked in the head. Prosecutors and judges did not need to read my mind to figure out my motivation. I hit the guy. Mitigating circumstances or self-defense might come into play, but the state did not need to discern my personal feelings.

Hate crimes laws require the court to get inside the heads of criminals to figure out whether or not they have some prejudice that might have come into play. If one is found, extra harsh sentencing may be applied.

A man may "hate" an individual that he catches in a hotel room with his wife and beat him to a bloody pulp. A person may "hate" those of a different race or sexual orientation and do the same. In either case the law says that the aggressor is in the wrong if he or she is not facing a threat to their own person. Why should one victim of violent crime be granted a certain status and entitlement to a higher level of legal deterrence?

Sociologists might be able to come up with arguments that demonstrate a valid case for hate crimes. However, the Constitution says otherwise. All United States citizens are entitled to "equal protection under the laws," nothing more, nothing less. Applying harsher penalties dependent upon who the victim is could theoretically mean that a person would feel more deterred from beating up an individual enjoying a protected status more than just anyone else on the street. That does not meet 14th Amendment standards.

No one should be beaten or killed because of their lifestyle or the way God made them (unless the lifestyle or the way God made them leads them to harm others) but hate crimes statutes simply are not constitutional.

Facebook eliminating those with conservative ideology?

Many conservatives around the country have found the social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter are useful tools to network with other conservatives. After all these sites are specifically designed to assist people in networking, but it appears that at least one may not wish conservatives to be able to network with each other. Stories of conservatives being deleted from Facebook have been floating around the internet for months, but until it happened to a few friends on Facebook and then myself I though they were only rumors.

For me problems began shortly after appearing on the Fox News Channel, which is owned by News Corp which also owns Myspace, Facebook’s larger rival in the social networking internet realm. An influx of new friend requests and new friend suggestions began to roll in from people of like minded conservative ideology. Shortly after accepting the new friend requests and suggestions that Facebook was suggesting I began to get warnings about possible abusive behavior. After reading the “Terms of Use” I could not find anywhere where I was being abusive for responding to friend request and suggestions, so I requested clarification by contacting Facebook.

Inquiries to Facebook only resulted in automated responses, “The Facebook Team has received your inquiry. We should get back to you soon.” Nothing beyond this response was ever received. My experience is not unique among conservatives across the nation. One Conservative Facebooker, of Ames, IA, kept having her accounts deleted, but could get no where when trying to find out why, “I never got my original account back. I got my 2nd account back after a month after 30 emails someone finally bit and told me I was banned. I asked for specifics, [they] couldn't answer me.” Many conservatives are reporting that Facebook is unresponsive to request for information as to why their accounts are being deleted.

The deletions do not just affect the individual Facebook account of the user; sometimes they have far reaching effects. A Facebook event listing for a dinner with RNC Chairman Michael Steele, himself a Facebook member, was deleted along with the conservative user that posted the event. For many this was their only point of contact for the event which included times and directions. Friends and political connections also are also lost when Facebook is the only point of contact. The Iowa Conservative said, “I am very involved in politics. This is NUTS. I am losing friends like crazy to accounts being disabled.”

It has been reported in the media that Facebook has had problems with people registering under fake names and they are disabling those account, but so far most of the conservatives having their accounts disabled have had fairly normal names. The Iowa Conservative believes “We need a conservative Facebook NOW!”

The Republican Party Will Come Full Circle in the Kanawha Valley This Week

On Friday, May 22nd the chairman of the Republican Party returns to one of the origin points of its noblest crusade. This year the Grand Old Party elected a black for the first time as leader. A successful businessman from Maryland defeated after several votes a man who himself had attended segregated schools in South Carolina. In choosing Michael Steele as chair, Republicans did not embrace a new direction, but reaffirmed their roots as the party of freedom and liberty for all. Chairman Steele's visit to the Kanawha Valley this week has very symbolic overtones.

Few people remember today that the region surrounding Charleston can lay claim to being a cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. Before the Civil War, Booker T. Washington of Malden (about fifteen miles east of Charleston) lived as a slave. By 1900 he grew into the preeminent spokesman for the advancement of blacks in America.

Washington advocated a stance for the black community controversial in his time and rejected today. He witnessed the horror inflicted upon politically active blacks in the South. Washington relentlessly advocated the education of blacks in a region hostile to them advancing beyond menial labor. Ku Klux Klan terror raids bullied and often killed blacks who pushed into the political world in the 1870s and 80s. As a result, he spoke in Atlanta about separate development. Washington told the black community to embrace education and develop themselves economically in the present. When it attained a certain financial status, it could then use its clout to peacefully obtain civil and political rights. W. E. B. DuBois derided this in terms that we would today call "appeasement" but it is clear that the social and political culture of the South was very violently antagonistic to DuBois' immediate goals. Washington offered a path that families and individuals could follow in the nineteenth century without fearing for their lives.

Regardless of how modern ears regard Washington's message, his staunch advocacy of education and establishment of the Tuskeegee Institute helped to advance his cause considerably. Interestingly enough, Washington himself had engaged in political activism as a young man.

In the 1870s, while working in Kanawha Valley salt furnaces and coal mines, Washington opened his activist career as a political orator. He stumped the region speaking on behalf of the Republican Party and its candidates. This took courage considering that Kanawha County had strong Confederate sentiment during the Civil War. It would only take one ex Rebel with a grudge to have changed history. Luckily Washington remained safe as he preached support for the GOP. From this springboard he traveled to the Hampton Institute in Virginia to formally receive an education.

The ideas Washington spoke about to the Republican faithful in the Kanawha Valley in his youth will likely be similar to Steele's. First and foremost the Republican Party has always embraced expansive freedom for everyone. Washington found limits as a young man in that certain jobs were just not open for him. The GOP today seeks to expand access to opportunity while enhancing the incentives to succeed. Democrats believe that all should end up equal in the end regardless of effort or risk. Ensuring this "equality of outcome" means that freedoms and opportunities for the energetic and industrious will be diminished while handouts for others increase.

Michael Steele's visit to the Kanawha Valley this week is indeed hsitoric and symbolic. He has the opportunity here to reaffirm the traditional principles of freedom while charting a new course of action. Success is essential.

No Logic in States Numbers on Corridor H Funding

Recently an article appeared in the Charleston Daily mail entitled, “Official targets slow work on Corridor H” and state officials gave reasons for the continued delay of the highway. Most of the reasons given by the state make little or no sense.

The state claims they couldn’t pay the back the bonds. According to the article, “Even if the Legislature raised the cap, Walker said the state still couldn't pay back the debt on such a project.” This statement is totally illogical, as the bond method builds the highway at a lower cost. Consider that the current estimate for completing constructions is 1.5 billion dollars over the next 26 years. Of those 1.5 billion dollars, the state is responsible for 20% matching funds as outlined by the Appalachian Region Commission and that cost would be $300 million dollars.

Now if the state issues bonds to complete the final 50 miles of Corridor H that have yet to receive funding, at 22 million dollars per mile , then total construction cost would be approximately 1.1 billion dollars. The states portion of that would be $220 million saving the West Virginia taxpayers 80 million dollars and saving the US taxpayers 400 million dollars.

Walker went on to say, “"It would completely bleed the state road fund. If we were able to do all of that, very important programs, like paving and bridge repairs, would have to be sacrificed." My question to Mr. Walker would be; why would freeing up an extra 80 million dollars from Corridor H, require the state to cut other projects? Those 80 million dollars in savings from Corridor H could be used to increase funding of very important programs, like paving and bridge repairs. The reality is the exact opposite of what Mr. Walker says; the state will have to cut $80 million worth of future projects, because they are not changing the funding method.

Now it is estimated that Corridor H over its length will create an additional 8,000 jobs in the state. If we bond the highway and complete it in 2015, then using the median income in the state, 32,589 dollars , those 8,000 jobs will create an additional 260 million dollars of annual income in the state. The state taxes as on that median income will be around 15.6 million dollars in annual revenue for the state. From an early completion date of 2015 to 2035 the current funding completion date, the total taxes collected from those new jobs, adjusted for inflation , will be 439 million dollars. The estimated annual Federal Tax from the new jobs will be 39 million dollars annually or 1.1 billion over 20 years adjusted for inflation.

So our choices are continue with the current funding method of Corridor H, which will complete it around 2035 and cost the taxpayers of the nation and state 1.5 billion dollars with small increase in employment during the construction phase, or build it over the next 6 years at a cost of 1.1 billion generating around 1.5 billion in new state and Federal tax revenue between 2015 and 2035 in the process as those new jobs are created in the near term. I prefer the method where Corridor H is completed early and pays for itself with taxes generated from the new jobs it will create. We have to start being smart about how we build highways and other large projects in the state. We must be fiscally responsible.

Blast from the Past: Three Ring Government

The Inappropriate Sense of Humor of Barack Obama

So Barack Obama, as we saw last week, considers dredging up traumatic memories of 9/11 and scaring New Yorkers half to death to be fodder for a joke. The CNN commentator did not even stray from neutrality as she gleefully introduced the poor attempt at humor. He joked about his children taking Air Force One for a joyride.

The real story here is not the fact that Obama made a stupid and crass joke at the Correspondent's Dinner. No one responded or reacted to this.

The amazing thing is the contrast between Obama's humor and his predecessor. President Bush generally, in such situations, had the self-confidence to ridicule himself. The best example was when he brought out the impersonator and spoke alongside him. President Bush understood that he was funny, but also did not push it past the point where he would injure his dignity as president. Obama is not yet aware that his presidential persona is a huge target for ridicule.

There's nothing wrong with a president lightening up and joking around in the right forum. They still need to be respectful when considering joking about the worst attack on this nation within most of our lifetimes.

Interestingly, Obama was caught laughing at a statement about Rush Limbaugh being killed. Now in an unguarded moment, something similar could happen to any of us. However, compare the lack of comment to the heaps of abuse thrown at CBS golf analyst David Faherty. Faherty toured the Middle East and recounted his assessment of US troops' opinions of liberal politicians. "Despite how the conflict has been portrayed by our glorious media, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there's a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death." In his apology, he explained that he was simply trying to explain how US soldiers feel about their current commander-in-chief. CBS and the PGA Tour blasted his statements, which, like the Rush Limbaugh murder joke, were inappropriate.

Will anyone condemn or distance themselves from Obama and his friend yukking it up over their fantasized death of Limbaugh? Probably not.

Corridor H could be complete in less than six years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

[ii] MSN, Encarta Encyclopedia, Alaska Highway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Presidential Retribution Inflicted Upon Eastern West Virginia and Elsewhere

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

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

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

But will it?

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

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

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

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

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

Scare Force One Picture, All too Symbolic

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

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

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

Awakening The Sleeping Giant - A Bicycle Ride for Honesty

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

Political Mileage – Be a Part of Something Big

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

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

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

Ways you can help:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donate today.

http://libertyrider.com/

Time For the Republican Party to Get Back to Basics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pakistan Plan

We'd better have a plan ready. Now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blast from the Past: Shot heard round the world