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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Published daily except some days
Submissions welcome
The Republican Gazette welcomes Emails to the Editor and press releases. All submitted items must include the name and contact information for the author of the article, and all articles will only be published with the author's name included. Thank you for reading and participating in The Republican Gazette, another of West Virginia's most biased publications.
All opinions are those of The Republican Gazette and its editor, Gary Abernathy, except letters or commentary signed by others, and do not reflect the views of anyone else, including clients of Abernathy Strategies.
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Having Fun With Mojo
Republicans winning legislative agenda
West Virginians who will enjoy the fruits of various tax rollbacks and phase outs in the coming years have the Republican Party to thank.While Democrats may, in most cases, be putting their names on legislation to phase out or cut taxes, the impetus for such action clearly has come from the GOP agenda.Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth and House Minority Leader Tim Armstead have worked behind the scenes to cobble together various coaltions to support the tax initiatives, and many Republicans have learned that the way to accomplish their goals is to allow majority Democrats to take the credit.As one GOP House member said recently, "I know I'm not getting anything passed if I'm the lead sponsor. So I've learned to amend my issues into other bills, and get them passed that way. I don't always get the credit, but at least I'm getting things done for my district."It has been most amazing to hear legislative Democrats in interviews suddenly sound like Ronald Reagan tax cutters, arguing for business growth and job creation through tax reduction. DON CARUTH
TIM ARMSTEAD
Naturally, even when Democrats do agree to tax cuts, they shy from the kinds of cuts that would lead to the quickest turnaround. Instead, they opt for multi-year phase outs. Still, eventual elimination of taxes is better than no elimination at all, and Republicans are quietly celebrating the almost total adoption of their tax cut agenda.Now, it's the GOP's job to make sure West Virginians understand that taxes are only being eliminated because of Republican initiatives, and that faster and more effective cuts could happen if Republicans held the majorities in the legislature.2nd Amendment film to be featured
Our 2nd Amendment, a film produced by the production company of West Virginia Republican Ashley Stinnett, will be shown at the Appalachian Film Festival and is available for purchase now.According to publicity, the film features, among others, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and former WVGOP Chairman David Tyson.According to producers, “Our 2nd Amendment is a hard-hitting pro-2nd Amendment documentary that exposes left wing efforts, both domestically and internationally through the United Nations, to destroy America’s number one freedom. This half hour narrative features interviews with local and national politicians as well as concerned citizens representing different professions. Written and produced with an Appalachian perspective, this documentary discusses the importance of the 2nd Amendment for all Americans." Recusals due to big money should be equally applied
West Virginia donations to presidential candidates
Clinton (D) $302,118 Giuliani (R) $116,825 Edwards (D) $105,736 Obama (D) $66,960 Thompson (R) $41,521 Romney (R) $35,311 Paul (R) $34,378 McCain (R) $29,717 Brownback (R) $26,337 Richardson (D) $12,650 Huckabee (R) $10,720 Biden (D) $5,800 Kucinich (D) $3,905 Tancredo (R) $2,500 Hunter (R) $900 Gilmore (R) $500 Dodd (D) $105 --Source: FEC
Howell signs no-tax pledge
Candidate vows to oppose, vote against all new forms of taxation
GARY HOWELL
KEYSER — Gary Howell, Republican candidate for the 14th State Senate District, has announced he has signed the State Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” The pledge is promoted by Americans for Tax Reform, which was founded in 1985 by Grover Norquist at the request of President Reagan. "Promising to oppose taxes is an easy call for me,” said Howell. “The people of West Virginia are already over-taxed and over-regulated. Burdensome taxation stifles growth and smothers entrepreneurship. By reducing and cutting taxes, our economy will grow and good jobs will come to the 14th District and the rest of the state.”Howell knows about growing a small business. For more than 17 years, he has been the owner and operator of Howell Automotive in Keyser, a leading supplier of auto parts. In 2003, Gary was named “Exporter of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He was honored by the West Virginia Motor Sports Council in 2005 for promoting West Virginia across the country. Last year, he was honored with the Governors Commendation for International Market Entry, recognizing his success in completing sales with the Philippines, South Africa, Aruba, Belgium, Greece, Spain and Sweden.A lifelong West Virginian, Howell received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Frostburg State University's School of Business in 1990. He is seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Jon Blair Hunter.The 14th Senate district covers all or parts of the counties of Barbour, Grant, Mineral, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor and Tucker.The argument offered by those who suggest Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin should recuse himself from cases involving Massey Energy opens up a plethora of reasons for justices to recuse themselves any time big money is spent on campaigns -- whether the money was spent in support of their victory or their defeat.On Tuesday, the Charleston Gazette published at least its third editorial urging Benjamin to recuse himself from Massey cases, since Massey CEO Don Blankenship spent about $3.5 million in an independent effort to help elect him.But Tuesday's editorial seemed somewhat tame. In fact the Gazette noted, "Last week, (Benjamin) again filed court statements refusing to abstain from Massey cases, indicating that he can be impartial despite the $3.5 million push that put him on the bench. Benjamin may be honest in this regard. Four times since 2005, he has voted against Massey's interest in cases."Wouldn't that latter fact alone be enough to support the notion that Benjamin is impartial? The whole idea that third party expenditures should disqualify justices who benefit from them must also, logically, work the other way. Suppose Warren McGraw had won reelection despite the millions spent by Blankenship. Wouldn't McGraw have then been expected to recuse himself from all future Massey cases? After all, how could he possibly be impartial to Massy knowing that Massey's CEO had spent so many millions against him?The Gazette argues that justices must step aside any time their "impartiality might reasonably be questioned." And yet, Warren McGraw was never pressured to step aside from countless cases involving his brother, Darrell, the state's attorney general. A brother's impartiality toward his sibling might not reasonably be questioned?Finally, it continues to be of interest that Justice Larry Starcher has not removed himself from any but one case involving Massey. If he felt compelled to recuse himself from one Massey case because his public statements against Massey and Blankenship could be construed as prejudicial, shouldn't he apply that standard to all Massey cases? If not, then Starcher's recusal in the one case seems suspiciously like what it probably was -- a political move with the goal of prodding Benjamin into following suit. Did you see me on CSPAN? I was really great!
Hey kids! Mojo here! Did you see me on CSPAN Tuesday morning? I was great! Seriously! Hair was perfect! Makeup was just right! Questions were softballs! After we left the air, I pitched them with an idea to do my own regular call-in show! They said they'd get back to me! 