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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
Tuesday, March 4, 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
Hey kids! Mojo here! Today's a big day for the Democratic Party! After voters in Ohio, Texas, and a couple of other states cast their votes, we might know who our candidate for president is going to be -- especially if Hillary loses! Naturally, it all has a big effect on my own plans! If Hillary wins the nomination, I could end up running for vice president! If Barack wins and becomes president, I could at least end up being Secretary of Energy! If McCain becomes president, I would probably end up being a U.S. Senator! So for me, it's just a matter of watching and waiting! Oh yeah -- guess I have a campaign for governor in the meantime! Sometimes I forget!Today's a big
day for me, too!
By Gary Abernathy
LIKE MOST readers of the Gazette, I especially look forward to Fanny Seiler's columns and the unique take she has on the political scene in West Virginia. Of late, Seiler has focused quite a bit on the new look of the state Republican Party - not an unwelcome focus by any means, but one in need of a few points of clarification. From only perusing Seiler's columns, readers would be left with the impression that the new leadership team of the state GOP has been met with little more than ambivalence at best or outright opposition at worst by fellow Republicans across the Mountain State.This impression would be a skewered one. Certainly, there are many Republicans with legitimate questions about what's happening with the state GOP. Skepticism is healthy, and full-fledged, across-the-board support can only be expected when results start becoming visible on a regular basis. In the interim, though, our staff has been overwhelmed with good wishes and pledges of support from rank-and-file Republicans and officeholders alike who are excited about an aggressive plan to challenge all races and put West Virginia into the GOP column for years to come. Of particular interest to me was Seiler's Sunday column of Nov. 25 that quoted at length (a) Democratic lobbyist who (surprise, surprise) was less than optimistic about a GOP revival in West Virginia, (claiming) that candidate recruitment was an idea that "is a silly one" (and)... that candidates who want to run will simply do so without the need of recruitment. I am surprised at his attitude toward candidate recruitment, a practice in every state political party with which I am familiar. It is a wonderful thing if the West Virginia Democratic Party is so blessed as to be inundated with candidates lining up to run for office. In most states, though, both Republican and Democratic parties spend a great deal of time and effort on candidate recruitment, ranging from identifying good candidates to providing them with training seminars to offering candidates get-out-the-vote and other assistance. In fact, most state parties include candidate recruitment as a major budgetary item. Recruiting candidates is hardly a sign of ambivalence on the part of potential officeholders. Often, individuals with the "fire in their belly" simply do not know how to go about becoming a candidate or what level of support will exist for their candidacy from the state party level. Candidate recruitment efforts serve to identify potential winning candidates and assure them of the availability of the tools they will need to win. In reality... Democrats can be expected to downplay the effectiveness of every effort made by the Republican Party in West Virginia. In essence, (they are) saying that Republicans in this state should know their place and not get too uppity. Sadly, that attitude is even shared by a handful of Republicans, not an entirely incomprehensible emotion when it is remembered just how long the GOP has been in the minority here. There is an exciting and palpable movement occurring among Republicans in West Virginia. Most Republicans welcome it, and many Democrats fear it, choosing to ridicule it in the hope that if enough people will join their hollow laughter, it will go away red-faced and embarrassed. The victories here last year by President Bush and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., hardly went unnoticed by West Virginia Democratic officeholders who have grown complacent and accustomed to accepting election to office as their rightful due. Their response to our aggressive efforts seems to be summed up thusly: "How dare those upstart Republicans challenge us?" We dare, and we do. GOP dares revival in Mountain State
Republicans rising to challenges
(Originally published Dec. 6, 2001, in the Charleston Gazette)
Joe reaping what he sowed
Looking back on a blast from the past
Column from 2001 helps remind me why we fight the fight
I was recently researching the archives of the Charleston Gazette for various items, and came across a column, presented at right, which I had written back in 2001 and which the Gazette had published.Fanny Seiler, we all recall, was the political columnist for the Gazette, and she seldom had trouble finding people anxious and willing to criticize other people, often within the same party. (Some things are comforting in their consistency.)I had only been on the job at the West Virginia Republican Party a few months, but felt the need to respond to various items Fanny had reported. (Out of respect, I have edited the column slightly to remove the name of the Democrat lobbyist to whom I was primarily responding, because he has since passed away.)Re-reading the column brought back some memories but, more than that, reinforced in me what the mission for the GOP was back then, and how it was being greeted by the Democratic Party. Then, as now, the Democrats seemed to exhibit an attitude of ownership and entitlement. They scoffed at the notion they could be challenged, and ridiculed the very idea of recruiting candidates to run against them. I will never forget the published quote from one Democrat Delegate, who said, "Why would anyone run against me? I haven't done anything wrong." Such was the level of skepticism by the Democrats regarding any need for democracy in West Virginia.At the time the column was published, Republicans held just six seats in the State Senate and only 25 in the House of Delegates. After the 2002 and 2004 elections, the GOP held 13 in the Senate and 32 in the House, not to mention two statewide victories to boot. The 2006 election saw a small step backward, but with 11 and 28 in the Senate and House, we're still ahead of 2001.Our successes in 2002 and 2004 were the result of strong leadership and a united effort from Republicans all across the state to bind together for a common cause. GOP lawmakers helped teach and fund new candidates. Donors gave generously to the state party, which in turn made direct contributions to 40 or so candidates (with the Republican Legislative Committee making donations as well), held training seminars, conducted get-out-the-vote programs, and engaged in an aggressive public relations campaign that had the Democrats on the defensive. All of us in the GOP need to recapture the motivation, sense of unity and outright outrage that spurred us on in the first half of this decade. We need to put the chip back on our shoulders, and dare, once again, to take on the Ruling Party -- with nothing short of becoming the majority as our goal. Let us rededicate ourselves to that proposition. Anything less is merely wasting time.
GOV. JOE MANCHIN
Going into the 2006 elections, Gov. Joe Manchin was faced with a choice -- avoid campaigning for Democrats who were faced with a multi-million dollar challenge from Don Blankenship, or put himself on the line for his party to reestablish his credentials, both locally and nationally, as a Democrat who was not really a DINO -- Democrat In Name Only.The governor chose the latter, and in the process campaigned for anyone with a "D" beside their name, regardless of political philosophy. The result has been a legislature more dominated by unions and liberals than in several years, and a direct attack on Manchin's own initiatives.With at least eight changes coming in the Senate, what kind of candidates will the "pro-business" governor campaign for this time?A pent-up rant for today:
Please stay out of my car!
The West Virginia Legislature is apparently on the verge of approving a bill that would ban talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.This -- THIS -- is what state government is concerning itself with. The Nanny State is alive and well in West Virginia.I have long heard our local chapters of People Who Can't Mind Their Own Business (this would include those who are making it their mission to ban smoking in private business establishments) complain about people who drive while talking on cell phones, or drive while eating, or drive while smoking.With those people in mind, I often make it a point to smoke, eat, and talk on my cell phone all at the same time while driving down the highway. It can easily be accomplished if you are proficient, as I am, at driving with your knee.And here is what I would like -- I would like government to STAY OUT OF MY CAR! I would like government to concern itself with something important! Say, perhaps, cutting taxes! Or providing a good infrastructure and police force! Or.... actually, it's difficult for me to think of anything else I really want government worrying about.Am I a hazard on the highway? Could be! But it's NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN! Sadly, somewhere along the way, we complacently went along with the notion that our government is in charge of our lives, and should attempt to fix everything that is broken in our society. And that is when we became a Nanny State. Life is full of dangers, and bad behavior, and unhealthy lifestyles, and you know what? It's not Uncle Sam's job to make it all better! I would actually support a quadrupling of legislator salaries if they would all promise to stay home and not do anything! And that is my rant for today.GOP Club: Pay raise is 'arrogant'
(Press Release) Last week, the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 4076 which granted its members a five-thousand dollar increase in base pay. “In the biggest display of arrogance and disregard for fiscal responsibility, Democrats in the House and Senate put their own interests ahead of many more important priorities they should be addressing,” said Lisa Peana, President of the West Virginia Republican Club.“This bill not only increases the cost of Government to our taxpayers in West Virginia, it also allows for more citizens to become career politicians.”Awaiting signature by Governor Joe Manchin, the base pay for legislators in both chambers will increase from $15,000 per year to $20,000 per year. The bill also increases per diem pay for legislators staying in Charleston from out of town from $115.00 per day to $130.00.“According to the Federal Bureau for Economic Analysis , the average West Virginian earns $27,897 per year. A typical West Virginian will have to work 261 days to earn what a Legislator is paid in 60 days in base pay alone. “It is an arrogant slap in the face to our working families that legislators feel that granting themselves a pay increase is more important that finding ways to cut taxes and bring jobs to our communities.”House Bill 4076 passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday with 62 yeas, 36 nays, and 2 not voting. The bill was approved by the State Senate on Friday, with 20 yeas, 13 nays, and 1 not present. Governor Joe Manchin has recently indicated that he supports the pay raise and will likely sign it into law, which would grant the legislators their pay increase in 2009.