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VISIT NO MO MOJO
In the text box below, nominate your West Virginia Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected.
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
UPDATED DAILY!
Mojo10/27/08
10/27/08Fed probe of Alcohol bureau rocks Capitol
Federal subpeonas were delivered this week to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, and ABCA officials scrambled to respond to press inquiries on the story Thursday.While officially an attorney for ABCA said he was aware of only one subpoena, other sources have told The Republican Gazette there were more subpoenas issued. WSAZ reported Thursday that "the general counsel for the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration confirms to WSAZ.com the agency was subpoenaed this week for information from the U.S. Attorney's office. Anoop Bhasin wouldn't discuss the nature of the subpoena, because he said it was a legal matter."Late in the day, the office of Gov. Joe Manchin issued a terse statement saying, “The governor is aware of the request that has been made of ABCA and he has directed them to cooperate fully and be as thorough and quick in their response as possible.”In fact, two high ranking officials at ABCA -- Commissioner Dallas Staples and Deputy Commissioner Keith Wagner -- met with Manchin in the governor's office on Wednesday in what appeared to be an emergency meeting, according to sources.Wagner is a former state senator from McDowell County and has often served as Manchin's point person on legislative items.Staples, a former Charleston police chief, was appointed ABCA commissioner by Manchin shortly after he became governor.It is not yet known who was the target of the subpoenas, or what the nature of the probe involves. One source said that ABCA officials had just returned from an out of state trip and were hustled to the governor's office immediately upon returning to West Virginia on Wednesday. Word of the subpoenas began spreading quickly late Thursday morning, as reporters sought to verify the reports from tight-lipped officials.ABCA is charged with selling and controlling the use of alcoholic beverages and enforcing the laws and regulations regarding alcoholic beverages in West Virginia. The agency is supposed to provide inspections, licensing, training and enforcement to liquor, wine and beer license holders.
Final
weekend
National outcome in question, but GOP has real WV chances
As Campaign '08 limps lamely into its final weekend, the GOP finds itself poised to enjoy a possible historic set of pickups on the statewide level in West Virginia, even as the national picture seems less certain.What does seem certain is that nothing can be taken for granted this year. John McCain was initially expected to once again put West Virginia comfortably in the Republican column, only to find several polls emerge showing a tight race with Barack Obama. Then, the pendulum swung again in recent days with numbers showing McCain up by a formidable margin.And a year ago, Democrats were salivating at the thought of finally knocking of Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito. But now, the fact that Anne Barth was a reluctant last-minute fill-in for the suddenly cold-footed John Unger has come home to roost via the obvious realization by voters throughout the campaign that there was always a good reason Ms. Barth never sought office before. Meanwhile, Dan Greear, Beth Walker and Michael Teets have found themselves poised for victory in their campaigns for attorney general, Supreme Court and ag commissioner as the final days approach, with Greear and Walker aided immensely now by a last-minute ad buy from the Chamber of Commerce, and Teets taking advantage of the revelation of Gus Douglass' double-dipping.And in this topsy-turvy year of change and unpredictability, Russ Weeks has reason for optimism, given Gov. Joe Manchin's lackluster debate performances, the degree scandal at West Virginia University, and Weeks' own uparalleled abilities as a grassroots campaigner, which adds many more points to his vote totals than experts typically anticipate. Likewise, Jay Wolfe's relentless efforts to wake voters up to the facts about Jay Rockefeller and his hammering away at Rockefeller's history of opposing domestic drilling should win considerable converts.And even Charles Minimah, initially given little chance by the pundits, has made believers everywhere he goes, even winning the endorsement Thursday of the Morgantown Dominion-Post, in the backyard of the university where his opponent was famously (notoriously?) the first female "Mountaineer."Marty Gearheart, like Weeks, has been beating the bushes aggressively, and maybe this will be the year voters in the 3rd Congressional District finally decide to vote their interests and not their party.Most disappointing is that the GOP fielded no candidate to take on Congressman Alan Mollohan in the 1st Congressional District, giving a pass to a politician under as much of an ethical cloud as anyone in Congress.Much of what happens Tuesday will depend on the presidential race. If McCain wins West Virginia by 8 to 10 points or more, down ticket GOPers could receive a big boost. If the race is close, it makes Republican possibilities much more difficult. But a final flurry of weekend activity will help, with the national GOP chair and co-chair on hand Friday for rallies, and a big election eve wrap-up in the planning stages for Monday.An open letter to Barack Obama: 'I still believe'
By Garth Beck
Dear Senator Obama,
I still believe in the American Dream. Some day, if I work hard, save my money, and obey the laws of this great land, I hope to claim my little piece of the pie. I don't think those who have already succeeded should be punished so that I can receive a check in the mail for work that I did not complete, ideas that I did not pursue, or risks that I was not willing to take. When you say you want to "spread the wealth," what you are really saying is, "the American Dream doesn't exist." Yes, it does. Don't take that from me.I still believe that my wife and I were wise to purchase the small home that we chose after much thought and prayer. We were approved for a loan for five times the amount we ended up borrowing but we believed the prudent thing would be to purchase a home that wouldn't stretch us unavoidably beyond what we could ever hope to pay back if hard times came unexpectedly, as they always seem to do. Did your associations with a convicted felon help you obtain more house than you could comfortably afford?I still believe that I volunteered to serve in the United States Military because I believe in the United States and the great work that we do for the betterment of our nation and the world. I served with brilliant, caring, and competent men and women who loved this nation. Not one person I can think of joined for the wrong reasons or because they weren't smart enough to do anything else. Were we always happy with what we were called to do? No. Did we always do it well and with pride? Yes. The military men and women overwhelmingly support John McCain. There's a reason for that. John McCain is a hero who has always placed service to this great nation first and foremost. What have you ever done for your Country other than train minions of ACORN workers how to extort financial institutions?I still believe that abortion is wrong. That answer is not above my pay grade. God said it. It's wrong. The drilling of a child's skull for the purpose of vacuuming out its brain is also a crime that should be punished harshly, not a medical procedure, and certainly not a law to be repealed. You sir, are the only Senator to ever vote to deny medical care to an infant born alive after a failed abortion attempt. If protecting the most innocent among us is a decision above your pay grade, how can I count on you to protect this nation and my family?I still believe that if I chose to scrimp and save in order to make an investment from a portion of my hard earned, overly taxed pay, the government should be ashamed of itself to ask me for any taxes on the gain that I realize from my investment. Currently the government wants to tax me at 15% on the increase but you think I should pay 30%. God can get by on the 10% I give him. Why should the government ever ask for more than that? What gives you the right to basically say to industrious, hard working Americans, "Pay more than your fair share so we can spread the wealth?"I still believe that the American health care system is the greatest in the world. I've lived in and visited the Countries which we are lead to believe we should look to for model health care. I've seen my friends from those same nations go to other nations and pay for medical care rather than wait for the wondrous free care offered by their Country. You believe every citizen should be able to have the same health care that you have. Even you have to work for that health care benefit. Why shouldn't others have to do the same? I still believe that anything I save to pass on to my children and grandchildren should be passed on in its entirety. Regardless of what the amount, has it not already been taxed and taxed and taxed? When has one paid enough to satisfy your thirst for more government interference?I still believe in my right to keep and bear arms. I'm a law abiding citizen and I trust no one but myself in that brief moment my family may be in danger. Not the police, not my neighbor, and certainly not you. Your platitudes in support of the 2nd Amendment ring hollow when your voting record on gun rights is, to say the least, very poor. Will you be there to protect my family from the wolf at the door?I still believe "God bless[ed] America" and continues to bless it each and every day. I have attended the same church my whole life. My attendance record is not perfect but you can bet your last dollar I would have heard about it if anyone standing at the pulpit of my church proclaimed, "God damn America." If that person was my mentor, my friend, and my pastor, you can bet that I would not have spent another minute listening to any word that might be coming out of that person's mouth. Do you honestly expect me to believe that you sat and listened to such a person for twenty years and had no idea what he was all about? If you're that clueless, how can I expect you to meet with world leaders who may wish to do us harm and not hear what you want to hear from them instead of what they are really saying?I still believe that a person who commits acts of terrorism against America is a terrorist. I don't care if it happened when you were eight years old. When he says he is "guilty as Hell, free as a bird" and that he wishes he "could have done more," I don't feel you should have ever had anything to do with him, regardless of his political connections. Do you honestly think I'm dumb enough to believe that, "he's just a guy in my neighborhood?" I still believe in America. God shed his grace on Thee. Land of the free, home of the brave. Do you? Garth Beck was a candidate for House of Delegates in 2006 in the 41st District and is currently Assistant Prosecutor in Doddridge and Tyler Counties.
GARTH BECK
About 100,000 voters cast West Virginia ballots early
More than 97,000 West Virginia voters have officially already cast their ballots, including more than 11,000 in Kanawha County, about 5,000 each in Cabell, Jefferson and Monongalia counties, and more than 4,000 in Putnam County, according to the latest figures from Secretary of State Betty Ireland's office.Figures for five counties , including populous Berkeley, are not available, but would certainly push the totals over the hundred grand mark.Officially, about 58,000 Democrats and 30,000 Republicans have cast early ballots, along with about 9,000 unaffiliated or "other party" voters. The Mountain Party -- officially recognized in West Virginia -- accounts for just 51 early votes.Saturday is the final day for early voting. After two more days of intense campaigning after that by all sides, what used to be known as Election Day finally comes on Tuesday. (Press Release) West Virginia Citizens Defense League President Jim Mullins today announced that the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has acknowledged receipt of a concealed handgun license reciprocity agreement it executed with West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw one month ago.SLED has updated its official concealed handgun reciprocity list to reflect the existence of reciprocity with West Virginia. In light of this development, Mullins withdrew a public advisory he issued last week cautioning West Virginia concealed handgun license holders against carrying in South Carolina.When asked for comment, Mullins said, “I am pleased that this problem has been resolved and I would like to thank Attorney General McGraw’s office and, in particular, Deputy Attorney General Tom Smith, for their work to resolve this issue.” He added that regardless of existence of reciprocity agreements, every state has different gun laws with which individuals must familiarize themselves.WVCDL says South Carolina OK's WV's reciprocity pact
Happy Halloween
