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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
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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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Some lawmakers giving per diems to charity
Quote of the Day
"The governor, whoever is in this seat, should not be sued simply for signing a bill or not signing a bill."
-- Gov. Joe Manchin in today's Charleston Gazette, commenting on Russ Weeks' lawsuit regarding retroactive per diem payments.Some Republican members of the West Virginia Legislature are planning on giving to charities or civic groups the extra money they received due to the retroactive per diem payments approved by lawmakers earlier this year.One member of the House of Delegates, who voted against the pay raise package, said with a laugh that if the lawsuit being brought by GOP gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks is successful and lawmakers have to repay the extra per diems, "I'll tell them to go to the Boy Scouts or the Girl Scouts and ask them to give the money back." The legislator said that if Weeks prevails in his suit, it should be the Speaker of the House and the Senate president who have to pay back the extra funds."They're the ones who pushed it through, and they're the ones making the most extra money," he said, noting that the pay raise bill could give legislative leaders as much as $75,000 per year.Earlier this week, it was announced that former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb will serve as the attorney for Weeks in his lawsuit.
Barack Obama, God, guns and liberal attitudes toward issues
In a statement that has already become infamous, Barack Obama said last week that small town residents, because of economic conditions, "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren’t like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."Even house painters typically do not use such a broad brush, but Obama apparently has it all figured out. The only thing more outrageous than his own comments is Hillary Clinton's effort to portray herself as outraged by them, since in reality she undoubtedly feels exactly the same.What Obama managed to do in one, giant sweeping statement was sum up liberal attitudes toward religion, the Second Amendment, and any other ideas that do not jibe with their own. Obama has been accused of "elitism," but it is not so much that as it is simply a reflection of how left-wingers view middle American values.Obama's statement automatically removes states like West Virginia from his column in November, and likely in May, because West Virginians -- including most Democrats -- value guns, religion, legal immigration, etc. regardless of the state of the economy.In fact, Obama's statement actually applies more accurately to metropolitan regions than to small town America. In the heartland -- or "flyover" country, as far as New York and Los Angeles are concerned -- the values which Obama addressed are consistently held.Americans in the heartland value their right to bear arms, not because they are bitter, but because they are free. They attend church regularly not because of the economy, but because they believe in God. They oppose illegal immigration not because they are scared, but because they are law abiding and expect others to be.In fact, it is more likely that metropolitan residents turn to God, and possibly guns, more fervently when good times turn bad. For example, after the events of 9-11, a spike in church attendance was undoubtedly much more evidenced in places like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles than in Beckley, West Virginia, or Pikeville, Ky., or Chillicothe, Ohio, where the faithful attend church in good times and in bad. Obama managed to do better himself what an army of conservatives could not, i.e., sum up succinctly why liberals cannot relate to most average Americans, or ever hope to win their votes.Candidate's remarks are reflective not of elitism, but of left-wing attitudes
BARACK OBAMA
NEWS AND NOTES
Starcher nowhere to be found
Last week, more questions began to be raised about a series of phone calls between Justice Larry Starcher and Court candidate Menis Ketchum, as well as the source and circumstances surrounding the leaked photos showing Justice Spike Maynard vacationing with Massey CEO Don Blankenship.This week Justice Larry Starcher apparently has not been seen at the Court all week, and The Associated Press noted today that "Starcher was absent from the courtroom Wednesday" in a case he is supposed to be presiding over with other justices regarding flood lawsuits.With Spike near, Ketchum shifts
Last night in Shepherdstown, Democrat candidates for the State Supreme Court participated in a candidate forum, and at one point candidate Menis Kethcum, in response to a question about recent Court controversies, said, "I’m sorry, I’m not just going to sit here and criticize an incumbent justice because I’m running against him.” The comment was an about-face for Ketchum, who, back in January, said, "I am deeply concerned about the very serious Monaco vacation events. If true, it threatens the integrity of the West Virginia judicial system."The difference? Maynard was sitting next to Ketchum last night.Kristol draws big crowd at UC
Conservative commentator Bill Kristol drew an impressive audience at the University of Charleston last night, including a variety of officeholders, candidates and activists. Attendees ranged from Charleston Mayor Danny Jones to State Sen. Mike Hall to Justice Brent Benjamin to Supreme Court candidate Beth Walker, as well as many others.Kristol's most insightful comment was to point out that it does matter who wins elections or holds power at any given time in history, citing a confluence of events in the late 1970s and early '80s that brought to power Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II. Kristol pointed out that the world today would be much less safe or secure if other individuals had held those positions at the time. Republican Gazette going to PM publication cycle
In a move completely contrary to industry trends, the Republican Gazette announced today it is shifting publication to an afternoon cycle.Republican Gazette editor Gary Abernathy said in a prepared statement, "I have heard complaints for months from my intrepid staff of columnists, feature writers and investigative reporters about the late hours needed to produce a morning edition. Since they all work for free, I have little choice but to cave to their demands."Abernathy said that the Republican Gazette has a proud history of stealing quotes, stories and even photographs from established news organizations and wire services without paying any fees, and often without attribution. "We wanted to make sure we did not disrupt that favorable arrangement with this move."Abernathy said one of the most difficult barriers to overcome was in negotiating a new agreement with one of the Republican Gazette's most popular features, "Having Fun With Mojo.""In spite of the fact that we have a contractual agreement until January 2009, Mojo Thursday, April 17, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005. Or was it 2006?
refused to supply columns to us over the course of several recent weeks, as our readers noticed," said Abernathy. "In fact, Mojo threatened to jump to another publication. But I am happy to announce that we have resolved the dispute, and his submissions have resumed on a reduced schedule, beginning with yesterday's column."
Abernathy would not comment on the details of the new agreement with Mojo, other than to say it involved reconsidering the frequency of criticism by this publication of administration policies and actions. Abernathy also announced that the Republican Gazette would embark on an expansion plan."It has come to my attention that the Internet now reaches such locations as Arkansas, New Mexico and even Oklahoma," said Abernathy in a less prepared statement. "We will endeavor to have our publication carried on those Internet providers and others, once our lawyers examine the financial details, interstate commerce legalities, and Justice Department requirements."***UPDATED***
