Governor Joe Manchin this week tackled the swine flu issue head on, advising West Virginians to "cough and sneeze into their arm or sleeve..." It's unclear whether we should make ourselves do this even if we don't have to cough or sneeze, or only if a cough or sneeze comes upon us without warning...
...I had a fun debate with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones on Hoppy Kercheval's "Talkline" Wednesday about Sen. Arlen Specter leaving the GOP, with the mayor saying it's a sign the party is too far right, and me saying, no it ain't. You can listen to part of it below...



... Speaking of Hoppy, he is reporting in his column today that I had coffee last Saturday with former state GOP Chair Kris Warner. I had mentioned it the other day to Hoppy, and when he told me he was going to write about it, I told him he was going to start all kinds of conspiracy theories and chatter. Fact is, it really was just a friendly cup of coffee, just two guys who had been pretty close at one time catching up. It was good to talk with Kris, and I'm glad we had the opportunity...
...Word is that House Speaker Rick Thompson is getting a lot of advice to forego a campaign for governor and focus instead on running for attorney general in 2012. The Dems are going to have a logjam in the gov race, so moving Thompson to AG makes sense for them, especially with growing speculation that current AG Darrell McGraw will not seek reelection...
... Sen. Clark Barnes will be serving as emcee for the "Evening With Michael Steele" event at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in South Charleston on May 22. The WVGOP also plans to recognize state legislators and county chairs at the event. Tickets can be obtained at wvgop.org...
...For anyone who thinks same-day voter registration is a good idea, they should read this item on the "Election Journal" blog, which notes that "three staffers for Vote Today Ohio have plead guilty to illegally registering and voting in Columbus during the so-called Golden Week - a seven day period when Ohio residents could register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time." Same-day voter registration is a license to commit fraud, and should never be adopted.
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The Republican Gazette is owned, operated, written and edited by Gary Abernathy, and does not represent the views of any other person or organization, except for guest commentary signed by other contributors.
MONDAY APRIL 27, 2009
Packed house at Mon Lincoln Day
Republicans packed the Pines country club in Morgantown Saturday night for the Monongalia County Lincoln Day Dinner, and along with their meal received an extra helping of red meat from keynote speaker Andrew  Wilkow.
Wilkow, a talk show host on Sirius satellite radio, railed against the policies of Barack Obama, liberal thinking in general, and urged the receptive attendees to fight hard for a conservative rebirth.
Monongalia County Chair Pam Krushansky and her county committee organized a first class event, with House GOP leader Tim Armstead serving as master of ceremonies.
Also in attendance was state GOP Chair Doug McKinney, along with several other  officials from around the county and state.
At right, Tim Armstead and Doug McKinney speak with Cindy Hall of Wheeling, who has filed to run for Congress in the 1st District. Below, Andrew Wilkow delivers keynote remarks at the Monongalia Lincoln Day Dinner.
(Press Release) Delegate Jonathan Miller commends Governor Manchin on the creation of his stimulus website to help taxpayers track the federal stimulus money.  However, Miller says the website doesn’t go far enough.
“The Governor’s stimulus website is a good government tool.  It helps our taxpayers track the most irresponsible spending spree in our nation’s history. This website will improve transparency of this irresponsible spending so that West Virginia parents can see what their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be paying higher taxes for in the future,” said Delegate Jonathan Miller.
Miller continued, “Despite this step in the right direction for good, transparent government by the Manchin Administration, this website doesn’t go far enough.  This website could easily go one step farther by incorporating the entire state budget and all state spending into it.”
“Taxpayers could then search the entire West Virginia State Budget to find out where their tax dollars are going.  During these tough economic times our state’s taxpayers deserve this convenient access to not just the stimulus money, but the entire state budget.”    Delegate Miller concluded, “Creating a searchable online database for the state budget is easy.  Several states and the federal government have moved to create such convenient access for taxpayers.  This past session I even sponsored a bill that would create such a searchable online database.  That bill was HB 3091, the Budget and Spending Transparency Act.  Unfortunately, it never had a committee hearing.”
“The Governor could use this stimulus website as an opportunity to incorporate my bill into it or he could put my bill on the special session call.  Either way would be in the best interest of our state’s taxpayers and make the Governor’s website even better.”
Miller: Manchin & government could be more open
Armstead column describes damage done by Democrat unemployment premium increases
House Republican leader Tim Armstead recently spelled out why the recent hike in unemployment comp premiums foisted on West Virginia businesses by Gov. Joe Manchin and Democrats in the legislature is disastrous.
In a guest column that appeared in Thursday's Charleston Daily Mail, Armstead wrote, "When the Legislature passed Senate Bill 246, it increased by 50 percent the unemployment compensation taxes paid by businesses, both large and small, on their employees. While citizens and businesses are struggling to make ends meet, our state government 'rewarded' their efforts with one of the largest tax increases in recent history."
You can read the full commentary here.
The image at left is making the email rounds, but its depiction of Barack Obama is an apt summation of how he is viewed by his followers, which includes most of the national media.
TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2009
Ask Me
Why I'm

SEEING
RED!

WVGOP
Visit www.wvgop.org and find out how to participate in the West Virginia Republican Party's "Seeing Red!" program -- and get your own "Ask Me Why I'm Seeing Red" lapel pin!
Obama White House terrorizes NY City with 'photo op' plane flight
When being president of the United States is your first real management position, it's not surprising that stupid mistakes will happen. But when one of them is your administration giving the OK for a photo op of a Boeing 747 flying low over New York City -- invoking panic and fear over a reprisal of the terrorist attacks of 911 -- well, it's just not even funny anymore.
That's what happened Monday, when the White House ended up apologizing for the stupid stunt, which involved a backup plane to Air Force One circling low over New York for a "photo op" -- although what the purpose of the photo op was is still unclear.
As reported by the London Telegraph, "John Leitner, a floor trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange Building, said about 1,000 people 'went into a total panic' and ran out of the building at around 10 am after seeing the planes whiz by their building, near the World Trade Center site." Nice.
Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, apologized, saying, "Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption."
And who could not have figured out that would happen?
A low-flying Boeing 747 terrorizes New York City on Monday.
Rockefeller's hypocrisy on 'torture' issue gets blasted
Sen. Jay Rockefeller and other leading Democrats are being righttully blasted in the media for their hypocrisy in criticizing now the "enhanced interrogation" methods used against enemy combatants (or, as President Obama calls them now, "guests of Gitmo") when in fact they were briefed long ago on the use of such methods and raised nary a complaint.
Philadelphia writer Herb Denenberg notes in the Philadelphia Bulletin, "So Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., former Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., or other Democrats knew they could and should go to the CIA with their objections, if they had any. They did not, and that demonstrates they had no objections." And  Jed Babbin writes in Human Events, "Pelosi didn’t stop the CIA by objecting... neither did any of the other Democrats who were briefed at the time:...(Sen.) Bob Graham, Sen. Harry Reid, and Sen. Jay Rockefeller." Update: Hoppy Kercheval has weighed in this morning.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2009
All Specter did was finally make his leaving official
Sen. Arlen Specter's announcement on Tuesday that he was leaving the Republican Party and would run as a Democrat in 2010 was simply making official what has been Specter's unofficial position for decades.
Specter has never been a fan of his own party. His self-serving whine on Tuesday that he was elected to the Senate as part of the Reagan "big tent" was a clear example of his misunderstanding of what Reagan's 1980 revolution was all about. Ronald Reagan's legacy is not defined by Arlen Specter-style politics.
Specter is part of a trifecta of Republicans in the Senate -- the other two being Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins -- who have been out of step for so long they have lost sight of the entire rest of the party.
Already, the liberal press is writing the GOP's obituary. An Associated Press analysis said, "With Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democrats, the Republican Party is increasingly at risk of being viewed as a mostly Southern and solidly conservative party, an identity that might take years to overcome."
Overcome? Overcome what? An identity as a solidly conservative party? That's precisely the identity the GOP should seek, and it is when it departs from that identity that it loses elections. The GOP does not need to become more moderate. It needs to make the country more conservative, as it has done before when its leaders proudly and boldly articulate a conservative message.
While Specter tried to paint his defection in terms of principle, the fact is he knew he was headed for defeat in the 2010 primary election. Specter's most telling statement on Tuesday was this: "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
In other words, if 200,000 Democrats had become Republicans, Specter would have suddenly found his "political philosophy" more in line with Republicans than Democrats.
What Specter should have announced this week was that he would be retiring. He will be 80 next year, and after four decades in politics, it's time to step aside. But that's a choice too few in public office are willing to make.
Goodbye, Arlen. It's about time.
NBA in transition to era of LeBron
One thing made clear by this year's NBA season, and already evidenced in the playoffs, is that the old guard is on the way out, the new guard is here.
Well, the new forward, actually. LeBron James is the present and future of the NBA, as the two teams that pretty much dominated the last decade -- the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons -- fade fast from the scene. Barring injury to James, the Cleveland Cavaliers will almost certainly be crowned NBA champs, with only the Los Angeles Lakers having a prayer of competing with them.
It is an exciting time for the league, defined by the defensive-minded Cavs, who exuberate a team spirit and a "one for all, all for one" camaraderie rare in professional sports. Watch and enjoy.
THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2009
NEWS & NOTES
***Special 'Extra Interesting' Edition***
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"When news breaks, we fix it"
Warming scientists: WV's best resource must stop
It's time that we break the Eastern Panhandle barrier
By Judge
John Yoder
Recently, I heard an Eastern Panhandle legislator say at a public forum that he would like to run for statewide office, but that he had the “wrong address” to do so.  His reference to the “wrong address” had to do with a  frequently repeated refrain amongst politicos in Charleston, who buy into the idea that no one from the Eastern Panhandle can get elected to statewide office.
It is true that in the history of West Virginia, no resident of Jefferson, Berkeley, or Morgan Counties has ever been successful in getting elected to a statewide office.  In a year of historical change, however, it is time to start thinking about breaking down the barrier that has historically kept an Eastern Panhandle resident from getting elected to statewide office.  Just as a barrier was broken this last year when our nation elected the first African-American President of the United States, we need to break the Eastern Panhandle political barrier that keeps us from being fully represented by politicians in Charleston.
The barrier primarily exists because the Eastern Panhandle only made up a small portion of West Virginia’s population during the 1800's and most of the 1900s.  But since the 1950s, times have changed.  While our population in the Eastern Panhandle has been rapidly growing, most other parts of the State have been losing population at an accelerating rate.  As a result, Berkeley County became the second most populous county in West Virginia two years ago, surpassing Cabell County.  Berkeley, with a population of over 100,000 now, has literally changed places with McDowell in the last 50 years.
In the 1950's, McDowell County, West Virginia’s most southernmost county, had a population of almost 100,000.  Since then, McDowell has lost more than 77,000 residents, and its current population is now under 23,000.  Although the population loss of Kanawha County, where our State capitol is located, is not as dramatic as the loss for McDowell, it is approaching a loss of 60,000 residents since 1960.  Kanawha County’s population is now approximately 191,000, down from 250,000 in 1960.
Thus, due to population shifts and changing times, there is no reason for the continued existence of the barrier that keeps Eastern Panhandle residents from running for and winning statewide office.  That barrier is based upon an outdated perception and outdated population centers, but it continues as a barrier today.

Unfortunately, political change in West Virginia has lagged far behind the population shifts.  While the State’s southern counties have lost their population base, they have continued to hold onto their historical power base in government.  As a result, both the legislative and judicial branches are controlled by just four southern counties.  The Speaker of the House is from Wayne County and the President of the Senate is from Logan County.  Four out of five Supreme Court justices are from Kanawha County. while the fifth is from nearby Cabell County.
While these four southern counties make up less than 20% of the State’s overall population, they probably control 75% of the political power of the State.  The other 80% of the counties in the State are under-represented in government.  Under-representation may be too weak of a word for the Eastern Panhandle.  “Neglected” would perhaps be a more appropriate way to describe the imbalance, as the Eastern Panhandle routinely gets the short end of the stick in Charleston along with the other 80% of the State that is under-represented.
  I  forsee a time in the future when it will be difficult for anyone to get elected in a statewide office who is not from the Eastern Panhandle, due to the very high cost of buying TV advertisements in the Washington, D.C. market, for anyone who does not already live in the Eastern Panhandle and have name recognition here.  Before we get to that place, however, it is necessary for someone to break the historic barrier that deters Eastern Panhandle residents from seeking and winning statewide office.  Part of that involves candidates running from our area who are not only willing to risk busting into that barrier, but who are also well-received in the rest of the State due to their understanding of the entire State.  Once the barrier is broken, the pathway will be laid open for many others to follow and to start ensuring that the other 80% are fully represented in Charleston.
Are we Eastern Panhandle residents going to continue to lag behind in political representation for another 20 to 30 years, or are we going catch up with population trends and break the historic barrier that holds us back?  I personally believe in seeing our residents break that barrier sooner rather than later.
John Yoder is a Circuit Judge in the 23rd Judicial District.
Having Fun
With Mojo
What will I do if Byrd really never leaves?
Hey kids! Mojo here! Did you ever hear that expression about the best laid plans of mice and men? Me too! I'm not sure exactly what it means, but I think it applies to me!
See, my career has pretty much been planned since 2000, when I was elected Secretary of State! (It was supposed to start in 1996, and I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for that meddling Charlotte Pritt!) Anyway, in 2000, I got elected Secretary of State, and I knew I'd get elected governor in 2004, then reelected in 2008, and by that time, there'd be an open U.S. Senate seat by 2012, and it would be all mine! Forever! Perfect plan, right?
I mean, after all, back in 2000, Robert C. Byrd was already 82 years old! There was no chance he'd be running for reelection in twelve years! And just last year, he was making Imhotep look like Zac Efron! But I saw him in Huntington last week, and I swear, he's like ten years younger all of a sudden! Which still makes him ancient, but I'm starting to believe him when he says he's running for reelection in 2012!
So what the heck am I supposed to do when my term is up? If Byrd keeps hanging in there, there's nowhere for me to go! You know what happens to former West Virginia governors when they're done being governor? Nothing! Or they end up driving a cab! Unless you're lucky like Jay, who just fell into a Senate seat like he falls into everything else! How? Because when Jay was done being governor, Jennings Randolph had the decency to retire so Jay could have his seat! You think Byrd will do that for me? Not!
So, I've been thinking. Why should a governor be limited to just two terms? What's that all about? Why shouldn't a governor be allowed to serve until a U.S. Senate seat opens up? So guess what the first item is on next year's legislative agenda? See ya later!
Scientists who buy into the global warming hysteria have released new reports essentially calling on coal production to grind to an immediate halt -- a development that would cripple West Virginia's economy. A scientist who co-authored the report says, "Not much at all of coal reserves can be burnt" without leading to disaster. Barack Obama, of course, worships at the alter of this man-made global warming religion, and is working to enact policies that will further cripple the economy, send energy rates through the roof, and bring about the Al Gore fantasy world he craves.
MONDAY MAY 4, 2009
Without question this was one of the most unproductive legislative sessions in recent history.  Here’s another example of how our state government has failed the people of West Virginia.
For many years West Virginia Republicans have tried to pass resolutions that would allow a constitutional amendment sanctifying marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman.
And, this year was no different.  Legislative leadership again refused to take up the issue. In fact, House Republicans tried to discharge the resolution from committee on the house floor but the procedure failed down party lines. 
Whether you’re for or against gay marriage, most would agree that referendums by the voters are a good thing.  Yet, Democrat leaders seem determined not to allow voters the option to decide and even worse, they seem content on waiting till this issue becomes a crisis situation.
Note: Resolutions not bills, are the legislative vehicle used to allow voters the opportunity to amend our state constitution.
Over thirty other states have amended their constitutions thus guaranteeing activist courts cannot overturn state laws addressing marriage.  In West Virginia, we do have laws that require that marriage is only between one man and one woman.  Although, just two days after we attempted to discharge the marriage resolution, the courts in Iowa overturned their marriage laws thus allowing same sex marriages.
Here’s where it can get costly.  Because Iowa was not proactive (unlike the thirty-plus other states), if their voters now passed a constitutional amendment forbidding same sex marriage, what becomes of the same sex marriages that have already occurred?  I’ll tell you: lawsuit after lawsuit and tax dollars wasted on a preventable situation. 
I could understand the hesitance if our state leaned to the left but that is not the case.  Virtually every poll indicates that the majority of West Virginians believe that marriage should be just one man and one woman.  West Virginia is clearly a socially conservative state and even if the polls are wrong, the worst that could happen is the voters defeat the amendment.
In the final days of the regular session, I circulated another resolution calling for the governor to place this amendment on the call (legislation to be considered).  Forty-eight house members signed on, and I’m certain even more will vote in favor if they are given the opportunity.
If you support the marriage amendment, make a call to Governor Manchin at 888-438-2731 or e-mail him at governor@wvgov.org and request it be taken up during the upcoming special session.
WV must act on marriage issue before a crisis
By Del. Craig Blair
The next Think Tank meeting of the West Virginia Republican Party will be held Friday, May 15th, at 6:30 p.m. in Huntington.
The meeting will take place at the Lewis Memorial Baptist Church, Student Ministry Building, 5385 West Pea Ridge Road in Huntington.
To get to the meeting location, take I-64 to the 29th Street Exit (Exit 15). Turn onto Rt. 60 towards Barboursville. Turn right on Irwin Road (between Taco Bell and Golden Corral). Turn left onto West Pea Ridge (at the top of the hill), and the location will be about a half mile down the road on the right. The Student Ministry Building is the 3-story square brick building that sits near West Pea Ridge Road, and entry is from the parking lot level.
This will mark the third Think Tank meeting, with previous meetings having been held in Charles Town and Keyser.
Think Tank meetings are open to all Republicans in West Virginia who want to share their thoughts and ideas about the future of the state GOP.
Please call Gregg Hendry at 304-733-0799 or email wvgopsouth@verizon.net to confirm attendance.
Next Think Tank meet May 15 in Huntington
Steele comments on Kemp's death
Reports of GOP demise are greatly exaggerated
The liberal media has been beside itself proclaiming the Republican Party a disaster area, and somehow lumping in the longtime-in-coming departure of Arlen Specter into its neat little package of doom and gloom stories.
All the while, the national GOP has, so far this year, outraised the national Democrat Party by more than $7 million, and has nearly twice as much cash on hand, $15 million for the GOP, less than $6 million for the Dems.
There can't be too much trouble afoot with fundraising numbers like that.
To be sure, Republicans are coming off less than desirable
election performances. But the results of the 2008 campaign were much more about the Wall Street meltdown than about any kind of seismic philosophical shift among American voters, as the media would have us believe.
So, hands are being wrung, fingers are being pointed, new independent groups are being formed -- all the alarmist reactions to be expected are flaring up right on schedule.
In fact, what the GOP needs to do to win again in 2010 and 2012 is relatively simple -- stay true to its core principles, calmly articulate its message, and field good, qualified candidates to carry the GOP banner. Everything's going to be fine.
Monroe County held its annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday, with Del. Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) offering keynote remarks. Pictured from left, Blair, retiring Monroe chair Sylvia Riffe, new Monroe chair Duane Miller, state GOP Chair Doug McKinney, and Judge John Yoder, who introduced Blair at the event. Miller presented Riffe with a certificate of recognition for her "long, valuable and steadfast service" to Republicans in Monroe County. Blair discussed the recent legislative session in front of the more than 80 attendees, and talked about the need for aggressive Republican leadership in the coming months and years. He received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks.
Blair keynotes Monroe County Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele has released the following statement:
“For over three decades Jack Kemp was a standard-bearer for economic conservatism and lower taxes within the Republican Party. From his 18 years spent representing upstate New York in the United States House of Representatives, to his four years as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H. W. Bush, to his work with Empower America, to his selection as the 1996 Republican vice-presidential nominee, Mr. Kemp was a tireless proponent of America’s entrepreneurial and political spirit."
`Read more here.
TUESDAY MAY 5, 2009
WVGOP names '09
Underwood interns
(Press Release) Five participants in the West Virginia Republican Party’s new Cecil H. Underwood Intern Program have been announced today, including four college students and one high school student.
The program participants are:
•Patrick Heavner, a freshman accounting major at Marietta College and originally from Mineral Wells. He has volunteered on several local West Virginia campaigns and is the secretary for the Wood County Young Republicans. He wants to build the WVGOP team  through engagement at the grassroots level.
•Micalyn Kuhl, a senior political science major at Marshall University. Originally from Elizabeth, Micalyn served as a Herndon Fellow working with the legislature and Secretary of State’s office. She believes interning with the party will allow her to gain valuable experience as she pursues a graduate degree in policy research, and help the future of the state.
•Scott Robertson, a junior political science major attending Marshall University. Originally from Man, Scott is the president of Marshall College Republicans. He wants to intern because he believes the WVGOP is the only party that will stand up for hardworking people and spur economic development in the state.
•Nina Orndorff, a graduate student at West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Public Administration. Hailing from Buckhannon, Nina has served as a Burke Intern with the West Virginia Legislature. In the face of economic uncertainty, she believes now is the perfect time for our party to grow its presence and lead the way to bettering the state.
•Ben Adams, a junior at Capital High School in Charleston. Ben has interned with the Pennsylvania Republican Party and extensively with the West Virginia McCain ‘08 campaign. Ben believes that the Republican ideals are the best vehicle to change government and wants to be part of the process.
The day to day operation of the program will be overseen by Shane Wilson, a graduate of Washington & Lee University in Virginia, who is preparing for law school at West Virginia University this fall. Shane has recently worked in the office of the Secretary of State.
“We’re excited about the new intern program and the valuable experience that will be gained by these bright young Republican activists over the course of the summer,” said state GOP Chairman Doug McKinney. “We appreciate everyone who applied for the program, and our hope is that in future years, we can expand its reach to include even more young people who exhibit such pride in their communities and a desire to make their state a better place to live.”
Generous gesture at Mon event
Morgantown couple bid on football to send to son of McKinneys
Doug McKinney, center, poses with Mr. and Mrs. John Woods of Morgantown, and the football the Woodses bid on for the McKinneys to send to their son, Matt.
At the recent annual Monongalia County Lincoln Day Dinner, one
of the nicest gestures I've seen in a long time happened during an auction of GOP and other memorabalia
I was handling auctioneer duties (a skill much better exhibited by Wood County's Rocky Peck, a professional auctioneer who is often invited to perform those duties at various Lincoln Days), and Doug and Sue McKinney had just placed the winning bid on a West Virginia University football jersey, which had been worn in an actual game.
After outbidding the competition, Sue explained that their son, Matt, was a huge WVU fan and was currently stationed in Pakistan, and she looked forward to sending him the jersey.
The next item up for bid was a football with the signatures of WVU players imprinted on it. It was one of those uninflated, packaged footballs you find in local sporting goods stores, and I asked for an opening bid of twenty dollars. Suddenly, a voice from one of the tables shouted out a bid of "One hundred dollars!" I was surprised at such a high opening bid, but figured this was someone who really wanted to help out the Monongalia GOP.
No one else offered a bid, and the mystery gentleman won the football. When I handed him the prize, he immediately got up from his table, walked briskley over to where Sue McKinney was seated, knelt down, handed her the football, and said, "Please send this to your son and tell him how much we appreciate his service to our country."
Wow.
The generous bidder turned out to be John Woods of Morgantown. He and his wife have recently relocated to West Virginia and opened a disaster cleaning service to handle the aftermath of fire, floods and so on.
Sue said later, "I could not have been more surprised after John won the bid, and came over and handed me the football." She emailed her son and told him the story, and added of the Woodses, "They are such a nice young couple and so very generous to buy the football and give it to us for you. When you and Kelsey are here we'll have them over for dinner or something."
Court may be quiet, but McHugh needs a challenger
When Justice Joe Albright passed away, I was among many who urged Gov. Joe Manchin to forget about naming a panel to provide him with recommended names to replace the late justice, and just go ahead and appoint Tom McHugh, who had been serving in Albright's place since Albright first fell ill.
My reason for supporting a McHugh appointment until a replacement to serve the remainder of the term is elected next year was simply because, a, Manchin was bound to appoint a Democrat anyway, and, b, McHugh had already demonstrated an ability to get along with his fellow justices and avoid the playground controversies of recent years.
Manchin did end up appointing McHugh, and that was a logical choice. But that doesn't mean that McHugh should run
unopposed in the 2010 election (if he chooses to run, as expected) to fill out the remaining two years of Albright's term.
John Yoder, a Republican elected last year to a Circuit Court seat in the 23rd District, has made it known he plans to challenge McHugh, and already he has been approached more than once by folks asking him to reconsider, in order for McHugh to have a clear shot next year. I hope Yoder continues to ignore the pressure to step aside -- along with anyone else considering the race.
We live in a democracy, where citizens are not well served by deals or pressure to clear the field for any candidate. When voters go to the polls, they need and deserve choices in every race. Efforts to avoid such contests are insulting to voters, and to the very concept of democracy itself. (Hoppy Kercheval examines the race.)
WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009
Camp Lincoln gets ready for another week
Founded in 1960, GOP youth camp focuses on teaching about politics, government, leadership
Camp Lincoln, the West Virginia GOP youth camp founded in 1960 to teach young people about politics, government and leadership,
is preparing for the 2009 edition of the camp, scheduled for Sunday, July 5 through Saturday, July 11, at Camp Ceaser at Cowen, West Virginia, on the edge of Monongahela National Forest in the towering mountains of southern Webster County.
Camp Lincoln is an annual youth leadership camp dedicated to teaching teens between the ages 14 and 18 about leadership, history, and the political process. 
At the beginning of camp, campers are divided into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists.  The parties hold meetings and elect a chairman, treasurer, and party whip.  Activities are held daily and the parties compete for points awarded by the Great Wazoo.  Each night, the parties gather in the spirit circle singing songs, performing skits, and competing in silly challenges.  At the end of Spirit Circle, the spirit stick is awarded to the party that showed the most spirit during the daily activities.  Classes are held daily on subjects such as History, Law, Ethics, Politics,
Leadership, and Government. 
A mock model congress is convened where each camper is a delegate representing their respective county.  Bills are introduced, debated, and voted on throughout the week.  Midway through the week, a primary election is held to nominate each party's candidate for camp president and vice president.  The parties earn 'Camp Lincoln money' from the counselors throughout the week that they may use to purchase campaign supplies from the camp store. The campers work together to paint campaign signs and banners that are posted around the camp and waived at the rallies at the spirit circle. On Friday a convention is held to elect the camp president and vice president.
Judges, elected officials, and business leaders often stop by the camp to speak to the campers on a variety of subjects and offer insight into the daily aspects of their career fields. 
Ultimately, Camp Lincoln is an exciting learning experience and a great place to make friendships that will last a lifetime.
Pamela Stevens is the current director of Camp Lincoln, a West Virginia Conservative Youth
Leadership Camp.  She has been involved with Camp Lincoln since 1998.  Pam received her B.A. in
political science from Marshall University in 2005.  She is pursuing an M.A. in public administration from West Virginia University. 
Pam lives in Huntington, West Virginia, but will soon be relocating to Lewisburg, WV where her
husband, Tom, will attend West Virginia Osteopathic School of Medicine (WVSOM).  Pam is the oldest of ten children. Five of her brothers and one sister have already attended Camp Lincoln and another brother will be a first year camper this year.
  Pam is an Iraqi War veteran.  She served in the West Virginia Army National Guard for seven years and was deployed twice, once stateside and once to Iraq in 2005-2006. 
This is the first year Pam will serve as the director of Camp Lincoln.  She is coordinating with Candace Reed, last year's camp director, to continue the traditions to make Camp Lincoln fun and educational. Many of the counselors, teachers, and activity leaders will be returning to the camp.  Pam has found that Camp Lincoln is an excellent opportunity for young Americans and West Virginians to learn how they can make a difference.
The cost to attend Camp Lincoln is $250 for the week, and is all inclusive.  If you cannot afford the cost, but still want to attend, contact the camp to find out more about how to find a sponsor.
Deadline to register for this year's camp is June 15. To register, visit the Camp Lincoln website, or call Pam Stevens at 304-634-2265, or email pamelaparlock@gmail.com.

If moving to center wins, why did D's win in 2008?
The media continues to pound on the GOP -- in the wake of Arlen Specter's defection -- to move to the political center, claiming the Republican Party is being taken over by the "right wing zealots."
Adding his voice this week to the chorus is the Charleston Daily Mail's Dave Peyton, a likeable fellow who I read and respect. But Dave is wrong on this one. One of his most telling lines is, "as flawed as it is, the Democratic Party welcomes nearly anyone of any political persuasion into the fold..." as though that is a good thing.
First, neither party has any power to prevent anyone from registering with any party they want. But to welcome or recruit "nearly anyone of any political persuasion" begs the question, why have a political party at all? Why create a party platform? Stand for something, or fall for anything.
But the most ridiculous notion is that to attract voters, the GOP must moderate its partisan positions. And yet, that is not at all the model created by the Democrat Party last year, which won in spite of -- or because of -- offering us the most far-left ticket since George McGovern in 1972.
There is absolutely nothing -- nothing -- moderate about Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. They couldn't be more to the far-left if they were being pulled by electromagnets.
Voters did not put Obama in the White House because he was more moderate than John McCain. In fact, any honest evaluation of the two candidates would conclude that McCain was much more moderate than Obama.
The GOP does not need to become more moderate. It is that perceived moderation, fair or not, that caused the Republican Party to lose the presidency last year.  While Obama stayed true to his liberal philosophy, and continues to do so, McCain tried to escape being labeled a right winger, and spent too much time trying to prove how middle-of-the-road he was.
The voters were not impressed, and cast their lot with the guy who seemed to most decisively demonstrate a commitment to a set of core principles.
When the GOP gets back to doing the same, it will again find itself in the winner's circle, sooner rather than later.
Mineral
County
Lincoln Day
Mineral County held its annual Lincoln Day Dinner on April , with former Secretary of State Betty Ireland offering keynote remarks. From left: Mineral committee member Harry Boggs; state GOP Chair Doug McKinney, Ireland; Mineral Chair Bob Harman.
WV major Dems loved them some Obama
FLASHBACK -- Since virtually all of West Virginia's Democrat stars are now expressing deep concern about Barack Obama's policies, which will cripple West Virginia's economy, let's remember the tune they all sang last year. Were any of them thinking about the best interests of West Virginia?
JOE MANCHIN: "I can assure you that he is ready and willing to work closely with all of our state’s Democrats, Republicans and independents to achieve a victory for all of America in November, and he is definitely looking forward to coming to West Virginia again soon. I have assured him that the people of our state will join him in doing our part to achieve the change that our nation so desperately needs.”
JAY ROCKEFELLER: "I know Barack Obama will fight and win the battle for health care, good paying jobs, and energy security... A leader like Barack Obama just doesn't come along very often, and as voters who care passionately about the future of our country, we cannot afford to squander this opportunity."
ROBERT C. BYRD: “The stakes this November could not be higher... Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support."
ALAN MOLLOHAN: “I believe Senator Obama will bring America a new era of trust, principled leadership and positive results. He has the intelligence, capacity and values that assure me he will confront the real issues that Americans face every day.“
NICK JOE RAHALL: "The new voters he has brought to the process this year and the new direction, in my opinion, add up to what our country needs."
THURSDAY MAY 7, 2009
McKinney: Why is Manchin just now revisiting mental health bill? Clearly, communication lacking
(Press Release) “Why have problems just now come up with the mental health bill passed unanimously by the West Virginia House and Senate? Was the governor communicating at all with the Speaker or the Senate President during the session? Why is the Department of Health and Human Services just now finding fault with a bill that sailed so smoothly through the legislature?”
Those are questions posed today by West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney as Gov. Joe Manchin is on the verge of deciding whether to sign or veto Senate Bill 672, the Mental Health Stabilization Act of 2009. 
McKinney said it was also telling when, on May 1st, Manchin’s office issued a press release that said, “Gov. Joe Manchin today has asked for a Monday meeting with the West Virginia Comprehensive Behavioral Health Commission to discuss Senate Bill 672, the ‘Mental Health Stabilization Act of 1972.’” 
No other groups or organizations were mentioned.
But within minutes, his office issued a “clarification” with a new press release adding these lines: “He also plans to meet next week with members of various health organizations for their input. Meeting invitations for groups including the West Virginia Psychological Association, the West Virginia Hospital Association, the West Virginia Pharmacists Association and the West Virginia Medical Association are being extended today. Representatives from the West Virginia Behavioral Health Care Providers Association and the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association have shared their support of the bill with
the governor, and the governor plans to meet with their representatives next week, as well.”
“The governor is clearly being torn between various health groups with competing interests,” said McKinney, a former president of the West Virginia Medical Association. “The DHHR is suddenly up in arms about this bill. Where have they been? Why is the governor only now getting around to holding meetings to decide whether this legislation should be signed – meetings that should have been held when the bill was being considered in the legislature? What happened here? Does he not communicate at all with Speaker Rick Thompson or President Earl Ray Tomblin?”
McKinney added, “If this is bad legislation, it should have been worked out in the legislative process. But if it’s only being reexamined now because of a failure by the administration to know what’s going on, the governor should sign it, allow its benefits to take effect, and deal with the additional needs next time – when hopefully, he’ll work more closely with lawmakers in the process.”
McKinney also wondered what happened with Delegate Bobbie Hatfield, who joined all other lawmakers in voting for the bill, but now says it should be vetoed. Hatfield told the Charleston Daily Mail, “For me to have voted against it I think would have sent a message that I didn't agree with it.  But I was not in agreement with the way the bill was written.”
“It sounds like another John Kerry moment of voting for something before voting against it,” said McKinney. “How many sides of the same issue are these folks trying to take?”
OLIVER NORTH
Oliver North in Beckley May 23
Former Marine Col. and now Fox News commentator Oliver North will be in Beckley on Saturday, May 23, during Memorial Day weekend to speak at Faith Baptist Church.
The event is designed "to give a church a boost in a year-long celebration of its new home and to provide the region with a patriotic jolt."
The Beckley Register-Herald previewed North's appearance in a February story.
Grover Norquist at Berkeley GOP fete
Grover Norquist, longtime anti-tax advocate and leader of Americans for Tax Reform, will be the featured guest at a reception held by the Berkeley County Republican Party on Friday, June 12, in Martinsburg.
The event is an evening reception hosted by the local party leading up to the next day's meeting of the West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee, also in Martinsburg.
Norquist is the author of the book, "Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives."
New WVYR website unveiled
MIKE HOWERTON
The West Virginia Federation of Young Republicans has unveiled a new website at www.wvyr.org.
The informative site contains press releases, upcoming events, information about YR officers, and other features.
New YR Chairman Mike Howerton is a grad of Parkersburg South High School and a 2004 graduate of West Virginia University.
Perdue kicks off gubernatorial campaign
Treasurer John Perdue on Wednesday announced the kickoff of his gubernatorial campaign. Well, he didn't exactly admit that much. What he announced was that he was "hitting the road to raise awareness of the financial and educational services offered by his office. Perdue planned to kick off his statewide tour Wednesday in Clarksburg and Bridgeport. Stops are planned Thursday in Fairmont and Morgantown."
Mainly, he is hitting the road to raise awareness of John Perdue before the 2012 campaign kicks in.
FRIDAY MAY 8, 2009
Is the Gazette going right wing?
The notoriously liberal Charleston newspaper has been taking increasingly conservative positions, raising the question of whether the rival Daily Mail's days are numbered
The Charleston Gazette, the notoriously liberal daily newspaper that prides itself on being the "state's newspaper," has continued with a raft of recent editorial positions that can only be described as, well, conservative.
First, the newspaper editorialized on the Somalia pirate issue, wondering why merchant ships are not armed so they can "mow down attempted boarders."
The Gazette, pro-gun?
Next, the paper did one of the most startling about faces in history, opining that Kanawha County's harsh anti-smoking ban should be moderated in favor of bars and the local casino at Cross Lanes.
The Gazette, pro-smokers' rights?
Then, just a few days ago, the Gazette published an editorial on the Greenbrier resort's poor financial condition, saying, "Much of the loss stemmed from sky-high wages and benefits of the enormous unionized staff."
The Gazette, critical of unions?
There are four editorials to come which, if they materialize, will let you know for sure that the rival Daily Mail's days are numbered and that the Gazette has indeed been wooing its conservative readership.
First, the Gazette will editorialize that "despite our long-held advocacy of a woman's right to choose, the mounting evidence proves that life begins at conception, and unborn life must be protected."
Next, it will opine that "we once believed that same-sex marriage is a civil right that should be guaranteed, but since the purpose of marriage is procreation, we are now convinced that West Virginia should pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman."
Then, it will suddenly discover that "West Virginia's excessive taxation is driving businesses from our state every day, so we hope the legislature will eliminate the food tax, get rid of the business franchise tax, and Congress should make the Bush tax cuts permanent."
And finally, on the Friday before the Daily Mail officially bites the dust, the Gazette will proclaim, "Barack Obama has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster, and the voters of West Virginia were wise to overwhelmingly support John McCain in the last election."
Watch for it.
Steele: Obama off base on voucher issue
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele has released the following statement:
“No one should be fooled into believing that President Obama’s ‘extension’ of Washington, D.C.’s school voucher program is a victory for students or a step toward better education in the District of Columbia. It’s not, and denying District schoolchildren who are currently outside of the program the right and ability to attend better schools is nothing to celebrate. If the president is serious about finding budget cuts, he should start by reducing his own proposals for reckless spending programs, not by eliminating a modest program for a limited number of children from very low-income families who otherwise would be condemned to failing schools.
"Rather than stand up to do what is right, President  Obama, who has written two books—one with a title of ‘Hope’ and the other of ‘Dreams’—has pledged to deny the hopes and dreams of poor, minority families who simply seek the opportunity that I had, the opportunity that he himself had, and the opportunity that we all seek."