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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
Friday, February 29, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Published daily except some days
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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
Hey kids! Mojo here! Okay, for the record, I was NOWHERE NEAR Senator Byrd when he had his accident on Monday! Even though I was indeed in Washington, my whereabouts have been well documented! But let me make one thing perfectly clear -- if I WAS anywhere near Senator Byrd when he fell, I would have been the first to call for help! First, I would have looked for the best, most up-to-date phone book! Then, I would have found a chair and a good, bright light so I could see that darned small print! Then I would have compared hospitals and emergency rooms, because Senator Byrd deserves only the best! Then I would have gone outside to make sure I had the address right! Nothing can slow down emergency help more than being sent to the wrong residence! So, I join all West Virginians in wishing Senator Byrd a full and speedy recovery! And if he ever needs my help, all he has to do is call!Session has seen rebellion against Manchin on various issues, from signs to taxes
RICK THOMPSON
JOE MANCHIN
While the 2008 legislative session has been devoid of any groundbreaking events, it has been interesting for an obvious move by Democrat leaders to ignore or change Manchin administration initiatives with almost a gleeful abandon.The first indication that legislative leaders were taking delight in poking the administration in the eye was when Speaker Rick Thompson unveiled the House of Delegates' own version of the West Virginia welcome signs. Rather than sticking faithfully to what the governor wanted -- and what West Virginians voted for in Manchin's public relations-designed online contest -- Thompson added the phrase "Almost Heaven" to the winning "Wild, Wonderful" slogan.That move seemed so unnecessarily provocative as to have no reason behind it other than to tweak the governor.Throughout the session, Manchin's proposals have been altered or ignored by his own party and Republicans with almost rampant abandon, including:* Gutting Manchin's proposal to demand passing grades for students to have driver's licenses. Instead, the legislature opted for a system based on behavior and attendance rather than grades.* Adding a property tax freeze for senior citizens at certain income levels, against the governor's wishes.* Effectively killing Manchin's proposal to force a payback of Promise scholarships if recipients ended up moving out of state.* Increasing the amount of the pay raise the governor wanted to give teachers.* Accelerating cuts in the corporate net income tax, trimming the tax from 8 percent to 6.5 percent by 2012, instead of 2014, as originally proposed. * Passing a bill in the Senate that would dedicate 5 percent of each $1 million in severance taxes to the counties where the coal, oil and natural gas come from. In regard to that last item, Sen. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, who sponsored the bill, lashed out at Manchin in no uncertain terms,complaining about everything from who controls the purse strings to Manchin's reluctance to part with funds designed to replace the Budget Digest.
According to MetroNews, Chafin complained, "Oftentimes you have to go down and beg and wait for days and days to get $2500 for some little park in some remote part of your county and you have to go through more paperwork. When you finally get the $2500, they (governor's office) demand that they build it and try and get reimbursed."One reason the Legislature has been treating the governor's agenda like a puppy's chew toy is that lawmakers feel Manchin has been largely distracted during the session. The buzz around the Capitol is that Mojo is focused on anything but what's happening in Charleston lately.As noted recently by AP reporter Larry Messina on his blog, Manchin has been a busy man on other fronts.Messina reported, "First, (Manchin) got some TV face time during last week's Winter Meeting of the National Governor's Association. Then came the veep speculation. This week, Gov. Joe Manchin appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal. Then, his complaints about an upcoming film, seeking extras that look like they hail from a 'West Virginia holler,' helped prompt the casting director's firing..."Some Democrats are also complaining that the governor is paying little attention to his own reelection bid. While the governor already has an impressive war chest, some Democrats feel he could be more aggressive in the fundraising department, raising money that could eventually help other Democrats if Manchin doesn't need to spend it all on himself.But he apparently takes his reelection so much for granted that it's all on the backburner for now, while he tends to the NGA meetings, national television appearances and other distractions.Meanwhile, the legislative session has been co-opted by others, including Republicans, who have been successfully sneaking their own amendments into various bills on the path to passage.Some lawmakers think the governor has been distracted by NGA, CSPAN, other events, so they've gone off the reservation
Hillary's last stand likely ends with Ohio
On February 12, Hillary Clinton held a 21 point lead in Ohio over Barack Obama. By February 25th -- only two weeks later -- that lead was cut to just five.Despite endorsements by heavy hitters like Gov. Ted Strickland and former Sen. John Glenn, Clinton has been losing ground to Obama on an almost hourly basis. The Clinton campaign is painting Ohio and Texas as crucial states in a make or break March 4 last stand. But the reality is, Obama probably has Texas wrapped up, especially delegate-wise, given the Lone Star state's odd State Senate apportionment system. Ohio is Hillary's only real hope for salvation -- a hope that is fading quicker than a Joan Rivers facelift.
Hillary's whining performance in the last debate didn't help her (she actually complained about always being asked the first question), and Obama finds himself in the enviable position of playing it safe, able to coast to the nomination simply by avoiding any major mistakes. West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney blasted House Democrats this week for proposing an enormous tax increase in energy legislation before the House.“West Virginians are struggling with high gas prices, so naturally Pelosi and Company think the solution is billions of dollars in tax hikes that will make the problem worse,” said McKinney.“And as if the tax hike on middle-class families wasn’t enough, Pelosi’s bill has the audacity to give tax breaks to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and his state-owned oil company. Tax breaks should go to hard-working West Virginians, not foreign dictators intent on ridiculing the American way of life.“West Virginia families deserve a plan that eliminates our dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs, expands domestic sources of energy and invests in new technology – not one that throws them under the bus.” McKinney blasts Dems for big taxes on energy
I would have called for help immediately!
