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The Republican Gazette

MONDAY JANUARY 5, 2009

The 'We Hate Gary Gang' holds a meeting.

When an anonymous "We Hate Gary" blog first appeared, I looked at it, saw it for what it was, and never looked at it again. I avoided it despite friends encouraging me to respond to it.

Respond to it? I mean, come on. It’s like responding to a bunch of kids who got together and decided to start a secret club, with super secret identities and a secret handshake.

I can hear the conversation that led up to it.

“Hey, Tommy! Let’s start a club about how much we hate Gary Abernathy!”

“Yeah, Mikey! He gets to do everything! It ain’t fair! So what will our club do?”

“Well, we'll just write mean stuff about Gary Abernathy!”

“Gee whiz! That’s a great idea! We don't have to use our real names, do we? I could get in big trouble!"

"No way! We'll just make up some cool names!”

“Neat! I got lots of mean stuff I can say!”

"And let's don't just pick on Gary Abernathy! Let's pick on some other grownups too, like Betty Ireland and Vic Sprouse and Doug McKinney and Mike Ankrom!"

“Cool! Hey, let’s invite our other friends to join!”

And off they ran, excited to build their new clubhouse and cook up mean things to write on the wall.

I've tried to ignore them, like when you’re walking down the sidewalk and some bratty ten-year-old spouts off at you. As an adult, you have to bite your tongue and wonder what kind of parents let their kids act that way.

But then Vic Sprouse wrote about how the members of this new club were accusing me of things like being behind in child support payments, which, I confess, is about the only thing they could say that would really bother me. So I couldn’t resist taking another peek inside the tree house. Somewhat to my surprise, these darn kids weren’t getting better at what they were doing, they were getting worse – and no wonder, what with Christmas vacation keeping them out of school.

Everything on the website is as false as the names of the kids contributing to it, like the child support claim, that I still live in Dayton, Ohio, the circumstances surrounding my hiring as exec director, that I’m secretly planning to use the party’s building fund to pay my salary, etc., etc., etc. They apparently spend most of every day making up things out of the blue, just like they make up their phony blog names. Here's another good example. The blog said that, “Sue McKinney was so much against the decision to hire Gary that she responded to the news by stepping down as Chairman of the HCREC.” Seriously? Do they know Doug and Sue?

When these kids finally grow up, they’ll figure out that the only utterances that have ever had any impact have been those that were easily identifiable as to their source.

If they’d go back to class, they’d learn that “Give me liberty, or give me death,” for example, would hardly have resonated through the ages had those words been attributed to “anonymous.”

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech would have come and gone without notice had it been posted unsigned on a tree house door, rather than delivered in person in front of thousands in Washington D.C., and millions via television.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” would have been snickered at by the Soviet Union had it been delivered on a website by a kid hiding in a clubhouse and calling himself “Zing.”

It’s always been amusing to read anonymous bloggers defend their inclination to hide behind phony names, arguing that their

Kids at play, Silence Dogood, and anonymous blogging

Hillbilly Bob, Downtown Dave, Pow and Zing and their other little buddies have built a new clubhouse and invite you to join them in writing nasty notes on the tree house wall

words should be taken seriously anyway, even if they’re too scared to come out, come out from wherever they are. They often point to Silence Dogood as their role model.

Silence Dogood was, as most know, Benjamin Franklin, who published a series of letters to the editor under that phony name. But those who point to dear old Silence fail to recognize several facts in this interesting story. Franklin was just 16 years old when he wrote the Dogood letters – probably a little older than the bloggers in question at the anti-me clubhouse. But Franklin only resorted to using a phony name after trying in vain time after time to have letters published under his real name. He did so because it was the only way his voice could be heard – hardly the case in today’s internet age when anyone and everyone can start a website, put their name on it if they have the courage, and say anything they want. Franklin would be appalled at those today who have the freedom to identify themselves and speak out without the filter or censorship of an editor, but still choose to hide.

The blogger in question says he even gets "phone calls" from people with tips about me. You mean someone knows who this kid is? They have his phone number? Why won't he share it with the rest of us? He's got the courage to share mine, after all, why not his own?

These youngsters don't seem to get the hypocrisy of calling me a “loser” and other such things while doing so using names like "Hillbilly Bob,” “Down Town Dave,” “Pow”, and “Zing.” Excuse me – they call me a loser? When’s the next Star Trek convention, kids?

To be serious for a moment, I hope everyone who has expressed concern will understand why I’m not going to waste any more time or space responding to their daily fibs, and neither should anyone else. It's not a fair fight; I'm out in the open, while they're hiding. If they would step forward and identify themselves, we might have a productive and adult discussion. But that's not what they want.

I know, and many of you know, the people connected with the blog, and frankly if it seems to become a long term distraction I'm just going to drop the pretense and share their names with all of you, along with an explanation of why they're really doing it. In so doing, it will be clear that it is their own financial and political interests that concern them most, not the things they claim on their blog. Would I really do that? Yeah, I really would. My give-a-damn quota for cowards and their attacks is pretty much used up.

For now, if you find yourself succumbing to the temptation to peek inside the clubhouse and read the latest postings from these literary giants, ask yourself what the Republican Party would be if such hate-filled and irresponsible juveniles were ever actually in charge. In fact, they’ve all been invited to participate, but they don’t want that. If they can’t run it, they’re taking their ball and going home – or starting their own party (watch for that to happen).

What satisfaction the Democrats must take from the internal bickering within the GOP. We do their jobs for them quite well.

The Republican Gazette is owned, operated, written and edited by Gary Abernathy, and does not represent the views of any other person or organization, except for guest commentary signed by other contributors.

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On his way out, Starcher's writings exemplify the problem of judges who believe in making policy

Ignoring the law to do what is 'fair' is what leads to decisions that make West Virginia courts unpredictable, and organizations to rank WV as a 'judicial hellhole'

STARCHER

On his way out the door as 2008 wound to a close, West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher issued some opinions that summed up why the state continues to be called a "judicial hellhole."

Starcher's long service to West Virginia is to be commended. Serving both as a circuit judge and later Supreme Court justice, he clearly loves his state and has devoted his life to serving its people.

But he has seldom drawn a line between the roles of the legislatures versus the duties of the courts. And there lies the rub.

The Charleston Daily Mail (good morning!) last week wrote a piece sharing several of Starcher's final opinions. In one dissent, Starcher wrote, "These kinds of decisions may be technically correct, but they wholly miss the public policy waves that will ripple from the court's decision."

In fact, being "technically correct" is the only goal for which courts should strive. Courts have no business being concerned about the "public policy waves that will ripple" from decisions. It's the legislature's job to address such problems as they occur.

Starcher added, "I firmly believe that laws and

institutions are not set in stone, but should be continuously interpreted and reformed to keep pace with the times." Others believe this also -- but again, it's the job of the legislature to revisit laws and reform them. It's the job of judges to simply apply laws as they are written today.

In another dissent, Starcher wrote, "The majority opinion should have erred on the side of fairness, held that the suit was not time-barred and let the plaintiff pursue his action." Err on the side of fairness? When judges start applying their own opinions about what is fair and what is not, laws and constitutions can be wholly discarded. Don't even bother reading or referring to them.

Good judges everywhere find themselves issuing rulings every day that they don't personally think are fair under their own personal morality tests. But we don't elect judges to apply their own fairness tests. We elect them to read the laws, interpret them, and apply them to each case before them.

Larry Starcher's philosophy would have served him well in the state legislature. On the bench it did not, and it will be interesting to see whether Margaret Workman and Menis Ketchum share Starcher's philosophy of fairness, or adhere to the court's role as referee, not rulemaker.

Beakes starts today in new post at UC

Former McCain state director, SOS chief and WVGOP pol director back at alma mater

(Press Release) The University of Charleston is pleased to announce that Benjamin R. Beakes will join the University as Director of Development in January. Beakes is the past Chief of Staff for West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland, and has been the Political Director for the West Virginia Republican Party as well as the State Director of the John McCain Campaign. Most recently, Beakes was Fleet Fueling Sales Manager for Petroleum Products, Inc.

“Ben will be a tremendous asset to UC’s fundraising efforts as we continue to enhance programs and facilities for our students,” said Jennie Ferretti, the University’s Vice President for Advancement. "As a graduate, he understands our mission, and his success is a real testament to the value of a UC education.”

Beakes, a native of Cross Lanes, graduated Summa Cum Laude from UC in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He was a Welch Colleague Scholar, and was active in student government. In addition to getting a great education, Beakes met his wife, Sarah Orrison Beakes, while at UC.

"It is not too often a person gets the chance to give back to something that has given so much to him. With this opportunity I will be able to do just that,” Beakes said. “I wouldn't have had the opportunities and successes in my life had it not been for the University of Charleston.

"I am thrilled to work for my alma mater and to be a part of its continued growth. UC is on the move and I am happy to be along for the ride."

BEN BEAKES

WVGOP invites participation in Think Tank, Speakers Bureau

In a few days, the West Virginia GOP will unveil its new Think Tank and Speakers Bureau initiatives, the first steps in making sure all Republicans who want to have a voice in the future of the state GOP have forums to do so.

Any Republican wishing to submit a guest commentary for the Think Tank is invited to do so. The article should focus on the future of the GOP and the author's vision for the party. All commentary must be signed and include the author's name, address and phone number for verification. Only the author's name will be published, with a brief description of the writer.

Also, anyone wishing to be part of the new Speakers Bureau should submit a photo, bio and contact info, all of which will be published. The Speakers Bureau will be a resource for GOP groups to line up speakers for Lincoln Days and other GOP events.

Please submit all items to gary@wvgop.org or mail to WVGOP, P.O. Box 2711, Charleston, WV, 25330.

State GOP winter meeting Feb. 14

The West Virginia Republican Party's winter meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Holiday Inn Charleston House, Chairman Doug McKinney announced.

The day will kick off at 9 a.m. with a county chairs session held by Summers County Chairman Joe Garcia, who is chairman of the county chairs, then the regular state executive committee meeting will convene at 1:30 p.m. following registration and lunch.

That evening, a fundraising dinner and dance will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the same location. Special guest speakers are being lined up for lunch and dinner and will be announced soon.

AP does excellent article on Betty Ireland's tenure

The Associated Press' Larry Messina did an excellent article on Betty Ireland's tenure as Secretary of State.

If you haven't seen it, check it out here on the Charleston Gazette-Mail Sunday website.

Day will include county chair session, state committee meeting and dinner-dance that evening

Saying goodbye to one year, hello to another always a time to reflect and adjust to the things that really matter

For the second year in a row, Lora and I welcomed the New Year in exciting fashion -- babysitting my two little grandkids.

Sidney is 6 and Madilyn is 3. These little sisters, as you might know if you've had children and grandchildren of your own around that age, are a neverending treat. Watching them grow up is a happy, even joyous adventure.

The circle of life spins round. Two days before Christmas, my uncle passed away at age 84. A career Navy veteran, farmer, car dealer, longtime Republican activist and official, and overall curmudgeon, Uncle Bill was a huge part of our family and will be greatly missed. He loved cornering me at family get-togethers and railing about the Democrats, and the Republicans' lack of intestinal fortitude toward fighting them tooth and nail. It is probably best that he departed prior to Barack Obama's presidency; he was perturbed enough at Obama's election.

A year ago, again just before Christmas, another uncle passed away. Uncle John was a longtime officer in a savings and loan, and also a farmer. He was one of the finest Christian men I have ever known, and he is also greatly missed. I have over the years lost all my grandparents, and many friends through death's door. And with each passing, and each new birth, the reality of your own mortality comes into sharper focus.

As you age, and manage to hang around while others depart and still others are born, life takes on a much different perspective. Things that once seemed so important give way to things that matter more. I have a daughter who spends her days teaching second graders in a public school. I have a son who is going back to school to become an emergency medical technician. I have another son trying to decide between college and a career in the Marine Corps. And I have yet another son excited about the upcoming track season and whether he can

improve his relay times. These are things I care about today.

When people call me up to see if I've read the latest blog post from some anonymous attacker, or even some negative comment about me made on the record, sometimes I don't think they believe me when I don't express too much concern. They think I'm just pretending not to care. It has to bother me, right?

I don't like being attacked any more than anyone else. But I really don't dwell on it. Unlike some of my critics, politics is not the most important thing on earth to me. If I spend time worrying about things, it's not politics. It's family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I'm still up for the fight. But it has its place.

In a column at the bottom of this page, I write at length about those who attack me of late through the protection of anonymous blogs. My annoyance is not so much over what they say, but the fact they use silly pen names to say it, obviously too ashamed to use their real names. The rise of anonymous blogging is tearing at the fabric of responsible commentary, since no accountability is required.

Most of my blog critics are young people. Most of them are single and don't yet have children, and their entire lives and their only focus is on advancing themselves politically. Sadly, there are a couple of them who are older and should be wiser and more mature, and I have no idea how they look themselves in the mirror when they blast me using some silly blog identity.

I've accepted a challenge from Doug McKinney to try to help build the state Republican Party. So, I will try to do just that. If I am stopped by people who for whatever reasons are opposed to me or to Doug, I'll be disappointed. But I won't dwell on it for long. Like most of you, I have priorities that are more lasting and meaningful than a silly fight over the fleeting leadership of a state political party.

Plotters holding secret meeting

Those plotting to overthrow Doug McKinney and yours truly are holding a secret meeting Thursday evening in Salem. Obviously, not a lot of details to be reported, but we do know they already have their choice for new chairman lined up. We'll follow up and provide a complete report as details emerge.

Since there are those trying to get rid of the current chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, I suggest one important litmus test for anyone interested in stepping into the role.

Will he pledge that if he becomes chairman, he will not seek political office himself for the next, oh, four to six years? That's important. See how far that goes.

My own involvement, or lack thereof, in the future of the West Virginia Republican Party is completely beside the point, at least for me. But a meeting planned by some for Thursday in Salem to discuss the future of the party apparently is being advertised as one thing when, for a few, it is all about something else entirely.

I've talked to some committee members who have been invited to Thursday's session. Reportedly, they are being told that the meeting is being called because there are people "concerned" that the party just can't afford an executive director right now, and we sure don't need the party going back into debt.

So the chairman who got the party out of debt is being castigated because he might put the party back into debt?

It's a classic chicken and egg scenario -- the party can't afford an executive director, so we shouldn't hire one until we can afford one.

Or, do we need an executive director so the party can do the work of raising the money it needs?

The latter is the right answer, and those who know anything about me understand that the West Virginia Republican Party will never find itself in debt because it owes me any money. My agreement with Doug McKinney specifically precludes such a possibility. I have a list of clients who would testify to the fact that I have forgiven thousands of dollars owed to me over the past few years.

The party was sued before by short-term employees for past wages, but not by me. To act like this is an issue of concern is simply a false diversion.

A lot of people planning to attend Thursday's meeting are doing so with good intentions because they've been told it's all about the best interests of the party. I hope that it is. I would have liked to have been invited, since part of the stated reason for the meeting centers around my hiring, and I could answer whatever questions are connected with that. But that apparently is not the point.

We shall see what happens.

If coup is successful, the next chair should pledge not to run for office

TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2009

Ten WVGOP fundraising ideas we've overlooked so far

"The WVGOP -- Say What You Want, But We're Never Boring!"

It's become clear that the West Virginia Republican Party has overlooked some major fundraising possibilities. So here are some suggestions.

1. We should charge people to watch.

2. It cost a dollar every time we criticize each other.

3. Must pay five dollars to start a new rumor, ten dollars every time it's wrong.

4. Tuesdays are two coups for one day.

5. Fifty dollar fine if we don't spend at least one day a month thinking of something bad to say about Democrats (we can do it if we really try).

6. Chairmanship goes to the highest bidder (already in progress).

7. Five hundred dollars from everyone taking credit for Brent Benjamin victory in 2004. (I already gave.)

8. Ten dollar contribution from every blogger who has sworn never to give another dime to the party when in fact they've never given anything to begin with.

9. My friends at notGaryAbernathy add a donation feature to their website -- thousands are bound to pour in.

10. Abernathy resigns if critics raise $200,000 and deliver it to the party by January 16 (I'm serious -- please).

And now for something completely different

At the West Virginia Republican Party, we're very excited to unveil the new Think Tank and Speakers Bureau features that should be ready to roll early next week.

We've received a lot of great articles already from Republicans around the state offering creative and innovative ideas about the future of the party, what its focus should be, and how to best achieve our goals.

You'll be reading the thoughts of Republicans ranging from elected officials to county chairs to state committee members to candidates to grassroots volunteers and activists. Each one offers a unique perspective on the challenges we face, and what they believe we must do to capture the hearts and minds of voters in West Virginia or position the party to best serve the needs of its members.

The Think Tank will be an ever evolving entity, with new writers and ideas being presented every month. Meetings will be held around the state to offer forums for input from Republicans everywhere.

The Speakers Bureau will be a great one-stop resource for Republicans looking for individuals best suited to deliver specific messages at events and gatherings across the state. Some speakers will be regionally available, while others will be willing to travel anywhere in West Virginia to speak to the GOP faithful.

Thanks to all who have so far participated, and those yet to come.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7, 2009

A change of plans

Melody Potter, the chair of the Kanawha County Republican Party, is someone I respect. We do not always agree, but I admire her character.

Melody emailed me yesterday asking me not to respond on this site further to the attacks from anonymous bloggers, because of the divisiveness it promotes. She is right -- although, given that sentiment by Melody, I was a little surprised to walk into the Kanawha County GOP meeting Tuesday night and discover that the subject of my hiring was an agenda item. We are never boring.

But at least, since I happened to have wandered in anyway, I was allowed to discuss the subject -- so God bless us everyone.

At any rate, I am going to resist the urge to respond anymore to bloggers in hiding.

Also, separate from that, I've decided not to report on the names of those who are at the Thursday night witch hunt in Salem (c'mon, could I really resist referencing that obvious connection?) that selected individuals have been invited to attend, apparently to devise a plan to oust Doug McKinney (and me).

I believe the meeting is ill conceived and that many who are part of its genesis have personal agendas as their goal, although that is certainly not the case for everyone who will attend. I also believe that the overwhelming majority of the full state executive committee will not be in any way inclined to engage in such a coup when it meets in February. But I will attempt to resist the temptation to fight about the subject any further.

Here's what would be a novel thing -- if these same Republicans could only get motivated enough to call a special meeting to discuss how to stage a coup against the Democrats. Or is that considered too out of line?

State GOP meeting rescheduled for Feb. 21

The West Virginia Republican Party on Tuesday sent the following email to committee members:

Due to numerous complaints about our State Executive Committee Meeting being held on Valentine’s Day (some excellent husbands would like to make other plans with their wives), Chairman McKinney has announced that the meeting will be moved back one week to February 21st. The location is the same – the Holiday Inn Charleston House in Charleston. The county chairs will still meet at 9 a.m., followed by lunch, followed by the committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. However, a fundraising dinner will be held on a separate date, pending the confirmation of a special guest speaker for that event. Additional details will be announced as they become available, and the official call for the meeting will be sent at least ten days in advance, as prescribed by our by-laws. Thank you for your understanding, and please call the headquarters at 304-768-0493 with any questions.

The party bylaws require the "winter meeting" to be held between Dec. 21 and March 21.

Benjamin v. Earth?

I called Brent Benjamin last night and left him a voicemail asking if he was planning to attend the Supreme Court Justices of America picnic this summer.

My rather cruel voice message was prompted by the appearance of an Associated Press article reporting that "more than two dozen of his ex-colleagues from across the country believe West Virginia's new chief justice was wrong to hear a case involving Massey Energy. A group of 27 former justices from 19 state Supreme Courts say Brent Benjamin created an appearance of impropriety."

Well, 27 former justices are allowed to be as wrong as a lot of other people. Let's see, how many former justices might there be in America? If each state has an average of, say seven justices on the bench (probably a good guess -- West Virginia has five, but most states have seven) there are probably at least two or three "former justices" in each state -- for a total of maybe 150 ex-justices, and that's likely a conservative guess. So the Hugh Caperton team found 27 of them willing to sign onto its case blasting Benjamin.

The article also points out that former West Virginia Justice Richard Neely is among the gang of 27 -- what a shock, given Neely's active involvement in Warren McGraw's campaign when Benjamin beat McGraw in 2004 (Neely did recorded phone calls in support of McGraw). We also do not know the political affiliations of the 27 -- they might all be Democrats, which, of course, automatically discredits them -- just because, that's why.

The effort by the Caperton attorneys to build a juggernaut of anti-Benjamin sentiment -- via "friend of the court" briefs -- in order to pressure the U.S. Supreme Court into ruling in Caperton's favor just might be unprecedented.

So far, in addition to the former justices, groups including the American Bar Association, the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association, the Campaign Legal Center & Reform Institute at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, and the Committee on Economic Development have all been persuaded by the Caperton lawyers to file briefs.

The Caperton side is sending a message to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying, "How can you rule against us when so many people say we're right?" It might work. It would be funny if it doesn't.

In fact, a ruling in favor of Caperton would be a precedent-setting intrusion of federal power over the rights of states to determine their own rules in regard to recusal, and maybe even in regard to how judges are elected in the first place.

The Caperton lawyers are working hard to make it seem the whole world is on their side

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan has announced the creation of the Center for Republican Renewal, a new RNC office dedicated to identifying and promoting public policies to advance the Republican Party’s core principles and sound governance.

The Center for Republican Renewal will be led by Executive Director Steven J. Duffield.

“The Republican Party today must be more aggressive and innovative, which is why the Center for Republican Renewal will be dedicated to reaching beyond the Beltway and identifying the most inventive and effective ideas and policies across America,” said Duncan. “I am confident that this new office’s out-of-Washington approach will help the Republican Party focus on the real challenges facing the American people and reclaim its mantle as the ‘Party of Ideas.’”