Obama Lifts Ban On Deep Water Drilling. Or Does He?

The headlines of liberal newspapers trumpeted the news across the land. Obama lifts ban on deep water drilling for oil.

This is a curious, if obviously political, move. Certainly Obama wants to gain the support of moderates for the Democratic Party going into the next election. However, there is little widespread backing across the country for such an action right now.

Many conservatives question continuing deep water drilling at this point, while others support its resumption. I personally wonder why we are blocking access to potentially productive land based pools. We can fix problems with these wells in a matter of days. Wells under a mile of ocean obviously present larger issues when they fail. As for the Left, they are already disenchanted with this president and will be more so after this decision.

The Heritage Foundation points out that this announcement means nothing. Newspapers play it up, but no permits have been approved for resumption of drilling. Without permits, there will be no wells. So it remains to be seen whether this is actually a policy change, or just more slipperiness from this administration.

Secretary of State Tennant Is Too Thin Skinned

I saw this first on House candidate Cindy Frich's Facebook page. Then, thinking it was a statement by the Secretary of State herself, I looked up a part of the piece. It actually comes from the website of a TV station in Harrisonburg, Virginia of all places. Obviously a journalist wrote this piece at some point. Note the heavy bias in the piece.

But that is not the issue. The issue is that this is an election year and each political party and candidate will try to gain whatever advantage it can. WVGOP chair Mike Stuart is putting pressure on the Democratic Secretary of State in the same way that Bobby Huggins this winter will work officials at West Virginia basketball games. You want them to know that you are paying attention and will react if you are not doing your job properly.

It's business. It's part of the job. It's Mike Stuart's job to gain advantages for the state Republicans and part of Tennant's job to fairly administer elections. Secretary of State Tennant needs to toughen up a little because she is reacting too personally to Republican challenges.


CHARLESTON — Once again West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant is standing by the law when it comes to conducting elections in the state of West Virginia.
The latest baseless allegation from the state Republican Party says that Monongalia County Democratic Headquarters cannot be located in an area near an early voting site.
“Instead of working in a posi­tive manner for the betterment of West Virginia, the West Virginia Republican Party chairman con­tinues to issue personal attacks and frivolous lawsuits against me and this office, when in fact we are standing on the West Virginia code,” Tennant said.
West Virginia code section 3-3-2a(d)(5) says: “No person may do any electioneering … on the property of the county court­house, any annex facilities or any other designated early vot­ing locations within the county, during the entire period of regu­lar in-person absentee voting.”
This code shows that a head­quarters can be located near a county’s early voting site because the 300-foot election­eering zone is not applicable during early voting.
“GOP Chairman Mike Stuart threatens to open a Republican location near the site and I say ‘go for it.’ I am sure the Mountaineer Mall would appre­ciate the boost in its economy for the next three weeks.
“Furthermore, if he wants to continue with his personal attacks on me, my background and who I am, that is fine, I can stand up to them. If he is attack­ing me, then he is not picking on someone else,” Tennant said.
Tennant also said that she has the utmost confidence and respect for the Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney and knows that the clerk will not tol­erate any campaigning at the early voting site.
“Time and time again we have proven Chairman Stuart’s frivo­lous allegations incorrect and at every turn we have followed the law.”

From the Media Research Center, a Transcript of an Interview With the PA Governor

As this interview from CBS This Morning demonstrates, the mainstream media is starting to take notice of this administration's faults. You also see the complete lack of acknowledgement that Obamacare and other initiatives are even unpopular.


7:10AM ET
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: President Obama will be back on the stump today trying to fire up the Democratic base. On Sunday, he was in Philadelphia, hoping to get voters excited about the Democrat Joe Sestak, who is trailing Republican Pat Toomey. Only about 18,000 supporters turned out, which is about half the number who attended an Obama rally two years ago.
BARACK OBAMA: On November 2nd, I need you as fired up as you were in 2008. Because – because, we've got a lot of work ahead of us.
RODRIGUEZ: Joining us now from Washington, Pennsylvania Governor and former Democratic Party Chairman Ed Rendell. Governor, good morning to you.
ED RENDELL: Good morning, Maggie.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Campaign Crossfire; Obama Hits the Trail as State Races Heat Up]RODRIGUEZ: So your party has this opportunity to have the President of the United States come to your state to try to convince the voters to go Democratic in three weeks and he spends a good chunk of the time accusing the Republicans of trying to steal the election with money from foreign companies. Don't you think, Governor, that voters would rather hear how he's going – how Democrats are going to create jobs and grow the economy?
RENDELL: Well, sure. But, the President does that pretty much every day. In fact, the reason I'm in Washington, Maggie, is we're having a press conference about the President's plan on infrastructure, which I think is the single-best job creator we can do right now.
RODRIGUEZ: But, why did he spend so much time talking about the Republicans trying to steal the election? Offering no evidence of that. Isn't it a bit undignified for the President to resort to that?
RENDELL: Well, the President's got dual roles, he's the commander-in-chief and he sets policy, like the infrastructure conference today, but he's also the campaigner-in-chief. And his goal in this campaign is to get Democrats off their duff and get them to the polls. And sometimes you do that by talking not only about the good things that Democrats have done in the Congress, and he sure as heck spends plenty of time talking about those, but also about what's to be afraid of. And the influence of outside money, the unreported money that's coming into this campaign through groups that we'll never know who contributed to, that's something our citizens should be worried about.
RODRIGUEZ: If you gave them evidence to support that claim, it would be one thing. But, to make claims like this without backing them up, seems not right.
RENDELL: Well, but, I think, Maggie, you know, for example, that Crossroads and groups like that are putting millions of dollars into this campaign and under the Citizens United decision, they don't have to report who gave the money. So, money's coming into the campaign, mostly on the Republican side, that's unreported and that goes against everything we've always held in this country. You can give money to a campaign, but the public's got a right to know who's supporting each candidate.
RODRIGUEZ: Okay. Let's say that that's happening. It can't all be the Republicans' fault that the numbers are so bad for the Democrats in the polls. Where do you think that your party and the president are failing to get out the message?
RENDELL: Well, I think from the very beginning, we got out-spun on things like stimulus and health care reform, which have done great things for the citizens. For example, on health care reform, there have been seven things that have happened since September 23rd, all of them very popular. Like you can't deny children health care because of pre-existing condition anymore, seniors getting a $250 check to fill that doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage, those things are enormously popular, but we got out-spun. The message at the beginning was bad and once you lose that message war, it's tough to make up ground.
RODRIGUEZ: Governor Ed Rendell, we thank you for your time, sir.
RENDELL: My pleasure.

Is This Going to Be Like 1994? Even Better, Will It Be Like 1894?

Experts on both sides have been talking about this year's potential congressional shift as being like the historic 1994 elections. In those elections, Republicans picked up 54 seats in the House and eight in the Senate, giving the GOP control of both houses.

Some have started to describe the potential impact of this year's results as being closer to those of 1894. The 1880s and early 1890s were an era of what some have called political deadlock. Elections in the years leading up to 1894 for Congress, president, and governors generally produced tight results. The economic disaster of 1893 and 1894 convinced voters that Republicans could solve the economic problems of the nation. Several states, including West Virginia, which had voted Democratic for decades, moved to the Republican column. West Virginia remained Republican until 1932. Republicans gained 130 seats in the House of Representatives in 1894 and captured the presidency in 1896.

Our current economic crisis is serious and deep. Even though some indicators rise and fall, unemployment remains at severely high levels. Democratic intervention has not helped and has actually made the debt worse. We do not have the financial capability at this point to engage in the minor deficit spending recommended by John Maynard Keynes that was used from time to time by Democrats in the last century. Our entire conception of political expectations needs to be overhauled and government reduced considerably. Liberal media types say that the GOP has no program and no vision, just "no." Such claims are out and out lies. We know what needs to be done, but do we even have the guts to do it when we return to power?

Elections, however, are not won in the beginning of October. Democratic pollsters are claiming that Republican leads in some areas are narrowing, so we cannot relax over the next month.

Hat Tip: Sean Gibson Via CNN--Every Republican Vote Counts!

CNN 100: Democratic stronghold in West Virginia up for grabs
By:CNN's Alison Harding
Editor's Note: In the final 100 days before Election Day, CNN has been profiling one race at random each day from among the nation's top 100 House races, which we've dubbed "The CNN 100." Read the full list here. Today's featured district is:
West Virginia-01:
Rep. Alan Mollohan ousted in primaryPrimary: May 11, 2010
Location: Northern West Virginia
Days until Election Day: 22
Veteran Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan's primary defeat may have actually improved his party's chances of holding on to this historically Democratic West Virginia seat.Mollohan has been beset by ethical questions stemming from a 2006 complaint that he had benefited financially from nonprofit organizations in his state. He has maintained that he did nothing improper, and no charges were ever filed. But in a year that has already proven difficult for incumbents, the controversy opened an opportunity for Democratic state Sen. Mike Oliverio to take on the congressman, who had up until this year encountered few serious challengers during his 14 terms in Congress.
Oliverio soundly defeated Mollohan in the May primary, and now faces Republican David McKinley in the race for West Virginia's northernmost district. Despite a strong Democratic history, Republicans have begun to earn favor in the region, a trend that can be attributed to the Democratic Party's push for more stringent environmental policies that are often at odds with the region's prominent coal mining industry. The Republican nominee has won West Virginia in the last three presidential elections, and Sen. John McCain carried this district by 15 points over then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008.
Now McKinley, a former state delegate and former state Republican Party chairman, is vying to win back this Democratic stronghold. On the campaign trail, McKinley espouses a fiscally conservative platform, promising to ban earmarks, end tax-payer funded campaigns, and to end congressional retirement benefits. The Republican has also sought to connect Oliverio, who has said he would "support the Democrats' choice for speaker," with Nancy Pelosi and President Obama, who have never been viewed favorably in the state. In the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, Hillary Clinton won West Virginia with 67 percent of the vote over Obama's 26 percent.
But whereas Democrats in other parts of the country have found their popularity decline simply because of their party affiliation, Oliverio may be saved by West Virginia's traditionally loyal Democratic base. A current state Senator, the pro-life, pro-gun Democrat appeals to the state's conservative population. He too has been critical of the health care reform bill, and advocates for fiscal reform.
Nonetheless, both national parties consider the race a nail biter, and have accordingly poured significant resources into the district. The National Republican Congressional Committee named McKinley to its "Young Gun" recruitment program, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Oliverio to its "Red to Blue" program. Both programs provide competitive candidates with financial and strategic support.
Prominent political handicapper Charlie Cook rates this race a "toss up," but notes that Oliverio still has time to swing the race back in his favor. The two candidates both have just over $300,000 cash on hand, strong support from their respective political parties, and positions that are at times complementary. This race may come down to whether the district's Democratic base comes through for their candidate in November.

McKinley Picks Up Another Endorsement

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHOICE: McKINLEY FOR CONGRESS



Backing of Business Group Complements His Labor SupportWASHINGTON, D.C. – First District nominee for Congress, David McKinley, has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in next month’s general election. The chamber is the nation’s largest federation of businesses and business organizations, with three million members.In the 2008 elections, 213 of the 265 Chamber-endorsed candidates were elected.“Your support of pro-business issues earned this endorsement,” Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive officer of the chamber wrote McKinley. “We believe that your election to the U.S. House will help produce sustained economic growth and help create more jobs.”For 30 years McKinley has been principal of a Wheeling-based professional engineering and architectural design firm involved in $1 billion in construction projects. His work has resulted in thousands of jobs sharing $600 million in payroll.McKinley’s relationship with construction trades has also earned him the endorsement of several labor organizations as well:
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association
Upper Ohio Valley Building and Construction Trades Council
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers
Laborer’s International Union
North Central West Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council
Teamsters Union Local 697
“This election is all about jobs,” McKinley said. “My goal in Congress is to help get business and labor working together in Washington as they have with me in West Virginia.”

Manchin Tries to Sidestep Subpoenas

Why is Governor Manchin so eager to talk about one of John Raese's commercials?

Probably because the issues keep bringing him down, especially in the polls.

Why won't Joe Manchin talk to Fox News or WSAZ about the federal investigation of his administration and Democratic Party chair Larry Puccio?

Why doesn't Joe Manchin want to talk about his adoption of a state version of cap and trade that will force layoffs of coal miners and raise our electric bills?

Why won't he talk about long term and steadfast opposition to the Obama policies that are killing our state? He just started opposing them when John Raese went up by six points in the polls.

Joe Manchin wants to talk about thirty seconds of tape. John Raese wants to talk about jobs and honesty in government.

"Hand to hand combat" Promised By Obama After Election

Obama and his spokesmen had two interesting statements this week connected to the midterm elections.

First came the news that he will leave on November 5 instead of the 7th on a trip to India. Interesting idea, drive your party to defeat and then leave the country. I wonder if he will get any golf in over there?

Next came something more ominous. Obama promised "hand to hand combat" with Republicans after they make gains this November. Look for Congress to defund and box off his health care initiative and work to limit the reach of the EPA. Obama's reaction is interesting since his ideas and policies resulted in the congressional defeats. This year is a referendum on his left wing ideology and Americans are clearly not buying it. What is interesting is that Joe Biden said he would "strangle" Republicans who opposed their debt ridden budget proposals.

So the president and vice president are figuratively using the language of murder to describe their frustration with the GOP, the Tea Party, and the electorate for rejecting leftism. Of course they won't be literally killing Republicans, but their language reflects their frustration.

In 1995 when the GOP took over Congress, they skirmished with Clinton, but also hammered out welfare reform. In 2007, you saw Bush retrench and try to find ways to work with Congress (although this led to some negative outcomes). I seriously do not see Obama working with congressional Republicans in the remaining two years of his term. Like Andrew Johnson, he will more likely go off the deep end and become a bizarre spectacle, shunned by both parties.

Look for Hillary to get the Democratic nomination in 2012. Just my gut feeling.

West Virginia Republican Party Strategy Attracts National Attention

WVGOP Press Release
‘Obama Says Vote Democrat’ Signs Get National Attention
Thousands of Signs Raising Thousands of Dollars, Eyebrows

CHARLESTON -- The calls and dollars are flooding in to the West Virginia Republican Party after national media took note yesterday of the ‘Obama Says Vote Democrat’ sign campaign in the Mountain State.

“It’s not a confusing message. Barack Obama wants you to vote for Joe Manchin, Nick Rahall and Mike Oliverio for Congress,” said West Virginia Republican Chair Mike Stuart. “He needs their help to make sure he can keep ObamaCare and raise our energy taxes. A vote for those guys is a vote for the liberal Obama-Pelosi Team.”

The signs and their message were highlighted in a report on the now-leading in the polls campaign of John Raese on the ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and several other national outlets.

“You can tell the signs are working from the reaction they receive,” said Stuart. “West Virginia voters couldn’t stand Barack Obama two years ago. Imagine how mad they are now with unemployment doubled?”

The Westboro Baptist "Church" Case

The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments about the case of the Maine father against the Westboro (so-called) Baptist Church from Kansas. This group sends protestors out to military funerals thanking God for deaths of soldiers, claiming that they are the price our nation pays for "tolerating" homosexuality.

Reagrdless of your position on gay marriage, these people have to make you sick. They go to these solemn and grief filled occasions to chant against the military and gays, usually making more of a fuss and attracting more attention that they deserve.

It annoys me to hear these people described as "Baptist" or a "church" because they honestly are neither. They are a small club of hatred who will hopefully get what is coming to them for dishonoring our fighting men and women. I also wonder what their ideas on homosexuals really are. What is their alternative to recognizing their natural rights? I shudder to think.

This case bothers me, though. Personally, if I were at a loved one's funeral and they showed up, I would probably be arrested for assault. I'd violate the law and take whatever punishment that the law saw fit to mete out. However, I am not comfortable with the legal suppression of this group's right to free speech so long as they do not trespass on private property.

I hate the Westboroites just as much as I hate Nazis and Communists. All three of these groups seek to play on resentments and hatreds of some group of people somewhere to advance their agendas. What makes all three basically irrelevant is the fact that they can speak freely in our country without government sanction. If the government suppresses them, it makes them seem important enough to suppress and will win them a slight amount of credibility that they lacked before.

We do have a precedent for suppression of obnoxious speech, the theatre test. If the speech is tantamount to shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre, then it can be limited. In other words, it must be proved that the speech creates a dangerous situation for the public. The Westboroites do not rise to that standard. If we do suppress their speech, where will it end? How can we define what political speech is permissible? Do we suppress the Westboroites while Nazis continue to speak their mind against Jews and minorities?

I reluctantly hope that the U. S. Supreme Court upholds the right to free speech. I hate the Westboroites, but believe that suppressing their speech is more dangerous to our system than allowing them to continue their obnoxious ways. I still hope someone beats the crap out of them everywhere they go, though.

The Sky Is Blue, Water Is Wet, Obama Is a Jackass

Rush Limbaugh will probably get blistered by the mainstream media this week for calling Barack Obama a jackass.

He also called the president an "ignoramus" and "economically illiterate."

The subject was Obama's refusal to extend Bush era tax cuts to the top 2% of wage earners. Some of his own economic advisors have said recently that this group has "taken their ball and gone home." In other words, since it will not profit them to invest and create jobs, they won't. To Limbaugh and economic conservatives, this is common sense that Obama either does not or will not understand.

Limbaugh has a knack for shaping the debate with occasional, well placed jabs. He is seeking to create a debate on the president's economic competence while trying to bait Obama (yet again) into attacking him while ignoring the real political opposition. Every time Obama attacks Limbaugh or Fox News, he confirms the perception that he has little interest in the liberties enumerated in the Constitution. He plays into the hands of conservatives by attacking the media and making himself look thin skinned and exasperated. Of course, that is because he IS thin skinned and easily exasperated.

Obama's Rolling Stone interview, where he chastises voters for following their self-interest and not him, was actually classical jackass behavior. Limbaugh is probably parroting what many former Obama voters have said since the interview was released.

Obama will react as Limbaugh expects, by attacking the conservatives and libertarians in the media and harming further the Democratic efforts to even remain relevant in Congress after this November. After next January, watch Congress push Obama into near irrelevance himself, a la Andrew Johnson.

Question is, will he blame George W. Bush for it all?

Shelley Moore Capito Blasts Congressional Leadership

Last week, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito released a statement blasting the Nancy Pelosi led Congress for its abject failures.

It failed to extend the Bush era tax cuts.

It failed to cap and end bailouts.

It failed to even grant tax relief to small businesses in a time of double digit unemployment.

It failed to address "our unsustainable national debt."

In other words, Congress failed the American people yet again. It is time to get Congress on the right track by returning incumbents that fight for us, like Shelley Moore Capito, getting rid of Obama's rubber stamps, like Nick Joe Rahall, and sending dedicated free market defenders like John Raese and David McKinley.

When a Young Person Dies Too Soon

Last night, in Cumberland, a young woman in high school died. Her date, the driver, still clings perilously to life.

We don't like to think of mortality, but it remains a salient and permanent fact of life. It especially seems unnatural and perverse to think of the mortality of teenagers, otherwise so vibrant, energetic, and seemingly indestructible. Parents in particular shy away from consideration of the premature death of children. It is not supposed to be one of our divinely appointed tasks to bury our own, particularly when they are full of life and ready to take on whatever challenge the world presents.

But it is not life that is strong, powerful, and self-perpetuating. Life, regardless of what we wish, remains fragile and fickle. Death remains ever vigilant, waiting for its own opportunity to strike, waiting for us to lose focus for just a moment, so it can step in. This is why we the living must remain thankful to God for every day on this Earth that we have, not only our own lives, but those around us young and old. Just when we get confident that a long life is somehow obligated to us, events prove otherwise and remind us how quickly everything can change. We do have the reassurance from our faith that each soul thus removed goes to the bosom of Abraham to await the final day of judgment, but the loss of that direct connection with loved ones seems more painful than any consolation. We remember only after tragedies like this that we must keep our love long and our disagreements short. You don't want to be caught angry at a person, especially a loved one, when Death claims them from our midst.

We see no sense or meaning in the loss of a young life, but it should compel us to overlook trivial irritations that we see in others and hug our kids just a little tighter. We must not dwell upon the Sword of Damocles that hangs over us all, but we must show our thanks and gratitude for what life we are allowed by living and loving to the fullest extent possible.

Time to Reign In the Nanny State

Back in the days of sanity, legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach celebrated wins by lighting up the victory cigar. He didn't invent this, but it became part of his image and legacy.

Athletes who would never touch a cigarette have celebrated huge wins by emulating Auerbach. It is a symbol of victory and enjoying the moment. The Cincinnati Reds this year wanted to celebrate their long, hard, and arduous climb back into baseball relevance by lighting up victory cigars after their division clinching victory last night.

At least five people in Cincinnati were born in the wrong time and place. They should have been in Italy in the 1930s and would have felt right at home under the boot of Mussolini and his fascist regime. They actually lodged complaints that the Cincinnati reds violated the city's indoor smoking policy. Let's be clear. These people were not affected in person. They called after they saw someone smoking on television!!!

It's time to stop the insanity. Those who want fascism, go live in Venezuela. You'll love it. The rest of us will leave the Cincinnati Reds alone and let them enjoy the moment.

West Virginia's Red Lean In the U. S. Senate Race

From the John Raese for U. S. Senate website.


Cook Political Reports
September 30, 2010
http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/8561
This special election to fill the remainder of the late Sen. Robert Byrd’s term was supposed to be a walk in the park for Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin. The Democratic-controlled state legislature set the table for him with an advantageous schedule of filing deadlines, primaries and special election dates. But, recent polling indicates that this will be anything but an easy race.
A Rasmussen (IVR) poll (September 27 of 750 likely voters) gave Republican businessman John Raese a two-point lead over Manchin, 48 percent to 46 percent. A Public Policy Polling (IVR) survey taken a week earlier (September 18-19 of 1,397 likely voters) had Raese ahead, 46 percent to 43 percent. Among all general election ballot tests taken in the contest, Raese now leads Manchin by three points, 49 percent to 46 percent, according to the HuffPollster.com trend line.
Although Manchin remains popular – his job approval rating in a September 19 Rasmussen survey was 69 percent – he must make the transition from being the state’s chief executive to being a federal candidate in a hostile climate for his party. A case in point is President Obama whose approval ratings in West Virginia are some of his lowest nationally. According to the PPP survey, Obama’s job ratings were 30-percent approve to 64-percent disapprove. At the same time, Manchin is getting help from some unlikely sources. It’s not surprising that he’s been endorsed by the major labor unions, but he’s also gotten the endorsement of the Chamber of Commerce. Even more surprising is today’s endorsement from the West Virginia Coal Association, which is a very direct slap at Raese, who is in the coal business.
This race has gotten very competitive very fast. Republicans weren’t sure that they could make in-roads here, given Manchin’s popularity, and hadn’t planned to invest in the race. Raese is a wealthy businessman who can self-fund the race. He owns companies in the mining and media industries; he is the CEO of a newspaper publishing company and owns a network of radio stations. Like Manchin, national Democrats believed that the contest would not get close. Manchin has seemingly been preparing for a Senate bid for years and was just waiting for the opportunity to run. All that has now changed and both parties are playing here.
Like many races, the narrative of this contest is perhaps best told through the ads. If nothing else, the back and forth on television and radio attest to the fact that this has become a very close contest.
In one of his first attacks on Manchin, Raese invokes coal and national Democrats’ cap and trade proposal. In the spot, an announcer says, “We generate electricity through coal. But Joe Manchin passed a law that eliminates 25% of coal usage in our power plants. It’s Obama’s cap and trade bill, West Virginia style.”
RAESE: “Joe Manchin should know better. Cutting coal usage will cost West Virginia jobs. Joe Manchin has thrown us under the bus. So imagine the damage he’ll do in Washington with his friend, Barack Obama. I’m John Raese and I approve of this message because I won’t be a rubberstamp for Obama’s cap and trade bill. I’ll fight for you.”
Manchin has also brought up mining in his attacks on Raese. According to the script, Manchin says, “I’m Joe Manchin and I approve this message because I’ll always do what’s best for West Virginia.”
ROBERTS: “I’m Cecil Roberts. My job is to protect these miners. Joe Manchin worked with us to pass historic mine safety laws. He’s always been there for us.”
ANNOUNCER: “But John Raese is bad for mine workers. Almost $100,000 in fines, over 600 safety violations.”
ROBERTS: “John Raese puts profits before people and I don’t trust him to look after these miners. And neither should you.”
Both party committees are now heavily involved in the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee went up this week with a spot that hits Raese’s record as a businessman. In the spot, an announcer says, “John Raese. He wants to eliminate the minimum wage. Failed to pay workers compensation for on the job injuries. But one thing John Raese does support? A pledge that protected tax breaks for corporations who ship our jobs overseas. It’s true. Protecting tax breaks that reward corporations for sending our jobs overseas. West Virginia working families, we can do better. And we have to.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is on the air with both television and radio ads, and have bought time in the expensive Washington, DC media market that reaches 12 percent of West Virginia voters. Both ads portray Manchin as another rubberstamp for President Obama’s agenda. The radio ad seeks to differentiate Manchin, the popular Governor, from Manchin, a potential Democratic U.S. Senator. According to the script:
MAN 1: “Hey did you hear about those folks getting laid off?”
MAN 2: “Oh yeah, federal government’s making it real hard to make a living these days, and it’s killing our economy.”
MAN 1: “Joe Manchin supports all that big Washington government.”
MAN 2: “Oh yeah, it’s like he’s a different person when it comes to Washington.”
MAN 1: “I know, I know…it’s like, there’s West Virginia Joe, who’s not bad as governor, then he becomes Washington Joe, a “yes man” for Barack Obama and the Washington liberals.”
MAN 2: “Yeah, Washington Joe supported Obama’s failed stimulus bill.”
MAN 1: “Yeah, and unemployment went up again last month.”
MAN 2: “ Yup. Washington Joe also supported Obama’s government takeover of health care that cut Medicare and increased costs.”
MAN 1: “You know, we better keep Joe Manchin in West Virginia and don’t let him near Washington.”
MAN 2: “Oh, that’s for sure.”
Judging by the polls, voters already seem to be making the distinction between Gov. Manchin and the Senator he might be. And, like voters nationally, they might be disgusted enough with the Democratic-controlled Congress not to want to add another Democrat to their ranks.
Raese makes no bones about the importance of this race, often referring to it as the 10th seat – the seat that would hand a majority to Senate Republicans. That might have been true before Christine O’Donnell became the GOP Senate nominee in Delaware, making it much more difficult for Republicans to win that race and gain the 10 seats they need. Still, winning this race would be a major coup for Republicans. West Virginia hasn’t had a Republican U.S. Senator since 1958.
The race that wasn’t supposed to be competitive is now the contest that is too close to call today. It moves to the Toss Up column.
Disclaimer: The National Republican Senatorial Committee provided the above article as a service to its employees and other selected individuals. Any opinions expressed therein are those of the article’s author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the NRSC.

Guess Who Else the Stimulus Bailed Out?

A friend of ours raising a child whose father has never paid much support in fifteen years got a letter this week. It had a substantial check inside from the United States Government.

The letter accompanying the check read that stimulus money was being distributed to single parents whose children's parents were not paying support. That's not too bad in itself. I can live with a little help for these mothers and fathers struggling to make it on their own.

My problem comes from the fact that the letter said that the amount given to the parents with the child had been deducted from the total amount of child support owed by the absent parent.

Say what? I can understand using stimulus money to help the parent with the child and then attaching any future federal tax returns. I cannot understand why that money was just wiped off of what they owed.

So yes, Joe Taxpayer. Apparently, you paid your taxes to bail out deadbeat parents.

Obama Tells Democrats That Their Apathy Is "Inexcusable"

This may be one of the most laughable statements that Obama has made on a variety of levels, chastising Democratic voters for apathy and warning that their entire agenda could be lost.

Obama is supposed to be a smart man and you never want to fall into the trap of assuming a president is stupid because of statements or decisions. However, here is a guy who pushed his agenda through Congress despite the misgivings of a majority of the people including Democrats. It sparked major concerns about constitutional violations and a backlash against his party. Now he is lecturing them on how they should feel.

Obama and voters have a serious and growing disconnect. President Bush never lectured the people on his visions as if they were recalitrant ten year olds. He made tough choices and understood that he might end up unpopular. Bush never lost faith in the voters even though many of them lost faith in him.

If Obama wants to win voters, he must sell them instead of belittling them. This is a democracy and people will always vote their self-interest. They also see red flags when they are asked to do anything for a greater good. Voters have seen that Obama's policies steal from the productive to give to the unproductive. They understand that he means more, not less government interference. They even see his wife as a skinny woman trying to lecture people on their eating habits. Nothing about this man or his administration has been palatable once voters find out the whole story.

And now he tops it all off with belittlement. Good work, Obama. Thanks again for all the assistance that you have provided the Republican Party!

The Question of Year Round School and Obama's Education Visions

Obama has come out this week, as usual, making a generalized speech that echoes some conservative thoughts. Of course we now know that with Obama, the devil is in the details. Yes he says schools need reformed, not just money. Of course he is not mentioning that he would most certainly love to see the Department of Education get more authority at the expense of the states and the local systems.

One idea that Obama has discussed is the creation of a year round school calendar. Many agree with this idea, seeing it as a necessary modernization from an agricultural calendar. However, what would we give up if we adopted this plan, which would substitute regular vacations of a few weeks for the three month break.

I would hate it, personally. I love the extra time that I get to spend with my children during the summer. We take trips, go swimming or fishing, visit relatives, and just hang out around the house together. It's a time for families, if they choose, to reinforce their values and enjoy each other's company. Few people agree with all the values taught in school. Now, parents get three months to counteract those influences.

Second, the summer right now is a chance to broaden a child's experiences. That might come from sports camps, science camps, trips to historical sites, or something else. For many children, this is the education that they would never get in school.

Then comes the cost. Like all Obama ideas, this is extremely costly and ther eis no money to pay. Teachers and administrators would see all their salaries go up by 25%. There would be more wear and tear on school busses and facilities. Who pays for Obama's ideas? Not Obama. We do.

School failures boil down in large part to large classes and consolidation, not as much the "bad teachers" that Obama wants to get rid of. We need to put money into maintenance and not building shiny, glitzy new fangled buildings just so politicians can stand in front of them. The White House was built over two centuries ago and still functions. Schools built four decades ago are being torn down and replaced. Why? We also got away from teaching kids the basics so that we could somehow raise their self-esteem. We teach cultural geography now so that kids can know what Indians do in Peru even though they cannot find Ireland on a map. Fox News just reported that a teacher was using rap music to spur thinking. While it is nice that they want people to think, why not use something that in itself is also educational, such as real poetry, political speeches, or something from some point in history that will actually educate a child rather than degenerate their brain. Can I at least ask that this teacher find something written in the King's English? Of course the teacher him or herself probably never read The Federalist Papers, or even heard them mentioned. Teachers are not as well educated as they once were either. The system has beaten down good teachers and made them apathetic.

Schools need fixed. Obama is the last person that we want to impose his vision, though.

Shelley Moore Capito Joins Republicans In Announcing "A Pledge to America"

Sep 23 2010
Capito Presents A Pledge To America
Republicans Offer A New Governing Agenda For The American People
Today, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, joined House Republicans in unveiling A Pledge to America, a new governing agenda for the 111th Congress at the Tart Lumber Company, a family owned business in Sterling, VA. The Pledge is the end result of ongoing conversations with the American people through the America Speaking Out initiative.
“For too long, the voices of Americans have been ignored. I hear from West Virginians every day who are reaching out to Congress to express their concerns about the growth of government. West Virginians are hard-working, humble people who value accountability and transparency. It’s long-overdue that we take action to ensure the government lives up to these principles. I am proud to stand with my colleagues and the American People today as we unveil a governing pledge to restore us to the type of government that is responsible to the people,” stated Capito.
Some of the pledges made today by the House Republicans are:
to ensure transparency and accountability in Congress and throughout government
to fight to increase access to domestic energy sources and oppose attempts to impose a national “cap and trade” energy tax
to fight the growth of government and oppose new stimulus spending that only puts our nation further in debt
Background: The agenda offers concrete solutions that can be implemented immediately to tackle the issues that are most important to the nation, including job creation, spending restraint, national security, health care, and reform to Congress itself.

West Virginia, Not Open For Business

I went out the other afternoon to get my hair cut and ended up with an education on how difficult it is for a typical small business to operate in West Virginia.

I overheard a conversation about the licensing necessary to simply own a hair salon. Apparently the owner needs three separate licenses which require three separate fees and are due at three separate times. At one point, the state licensing bureaucracy, like the Division of Motor Vehicles, sent out a courtesy notice when the licenses were due to expire. This stopped under the Manchin Administration. New regulations were passed under Manchin's governorship that required yearly education credits and observance of additional regulations. All this to cut hair!

I suggested that a small business owner might be in better shape if they simply took their equipment to their basement and cut hair under the table for cash or barter. As a matter of fact, I used to know a local woman who did just that, but who has since moved out of state. The establishment owner insisted that following the law is always the right thing to do and it is always worth it to remain in compliance. And this is true.

The reality is that state, federal, and local government are always looking to add new taxes and regulations to burden business. During the conversation, I learned that Maryland has more rules than West Virginia, but they are sporadically enforced. West Virginia enforces its rules equally on all, so they do get credit for observing the concept of rule of law.

Ever increasing taxation and regulation will force a lot of formerly legitimate small business into the black market. They will work for cash or some other exchange and be more profitable, more efficient, and less burdened. Maybe it is not right or fair, but it will happen. We need all levels of government to make compliance more simple, not more difficult. Why do hair stylists and barbers need three separate licenses? Consolidate into one license. This is easier on the business. It is also easier on the taxpayer who now has to pay three bureaucracies to process three licenses.

We need business to be simple and easy. We want owners worrying about profits, not fines. Republicans need to make this a priority when they finally win state office.