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RepublicanGazette
Abernathy Strategies
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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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Monday, May 19, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005
RUSS WEEKS: Not your average Joe
Click here for a photo gallery of John McCain's visit to West Virginia
McCain struck right note during WV trip
John McCain received an enthusiastic welcome from more than 200 Republican leaders from all across the state during a private meeting Friday in St. Albans.County chairs, GOP committee members, office holders and some candidates were on hand to welcome McCain to the state during his first visit of the 2008 cycle.The assembly also heard from gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks, U.S. Senate candidate Jay Wolfe, Attorney General hopeful Dan Greear, Secretary of State nominee Charles Minimah, 3rd District Congressional candidate Marty Gearheart, and House GOP Leader Tim Armstead.Supreme Court candidate Beth Walker was introduced, but declined to speak due to the political nature of the event.McCain was accompanied by his wife, Cindy, and one of their children. The candidate remarked on his past visits to the state over the years, and promised to return many times during the campaign.McCain focused his remarks on his commitment to defeating terrorism, keeping taxes low, and ending pork barrell spending. He also stressed his belief in the concept of "right to work," noting that his home state of Arizona is a strong right-to-work state. He said he supported the rights of workers to join unions, but also supported their freedom not to join unions.McCain was formally escorted during his visit by Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, Secretary of State Betty Ireland, and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. State GOP Chair Doug McKinney was out of state on business, but was represented at the event by his wife, Sue.Guests came from as far as the Eastern Panhandle, which was represented by officials like Del. Craig Blair, Del. Daryl Cowles, Berkeley County Chair Mick Staton and his wife, Lynn, Mineral County Chair Bob Harman, 14th District State Senate candidate Gary Howell, and state committee member Christy Barnett of Keyser. Students join faculty in snubbing Garrison
Quote of the Day
"It's a Watergate-type thing. It's going to grow and grow. It's a cancer on that school. I just don't like the stink of what's gone on up there."
--Steve Walker, president of Walker Machinery, to the Charleston Daily Mail regarding his decision to resign his spot on the WVU business advisory board.
Many students at West Virginia University are joining faculty in making clear their feelings about the refusal of President Mike Garrison to resign his position in the wake of the Manchin-Bresch degree scandal.According to several news stories, students at a recent honors ceremony refused to shake Garrison's hand. Further, Garrison announced he would not participate in yesterday's commencement ceremony, saying he did not want to be a distraction from the event -- oblivious to the fact that the very absence of the college president at the annual culminating graduation ceremony will only serve to magnify and remind faculty, students, families and the media of the scandal itself.
Quite a bounce
Bob Adams, Republican candidate for the 16th State Senate district, got quite a bounce from his primary election victory when he provided local children with entertainment Saturday from a "moon bounce," one of the attractions of his Eastern Panhandle party rental business.
Based on undervotes, Snyder has work to do in Berkeley
Based on results from Berkeley County, Herb Snyder, Democrat candidate for the 16th State Senate seat, is not well regarded by his party's voters.Compared to other Dems uncontested in last Tuesday's primary, Snyder performed poorly in Berkeley County. For example, Treasurer John Perdue drew 9,067 votes, Auditor Glen Gainer received 9,035, but Snyder received only 8,138 tallies, meaning that about 900 voters who cast their ballots for Perdue and Gainer chose not to give their support to Snyder. The 16th District covers all of Berkeley and Jefferson counties, with Berkeley being the larger county of the two. Snyder faces Bob Adams in November.Who should McCain choose as ticket's VP?
NBA playoffs are fantastic, but not going my way
For this diehard NBA fan, it is the most wonderful time of the year. But I can't catch a break.Most of my life I have been a dedicated Boston Celtics fan, beginning at age 13 when Bill Russell was wrapping up his final season by leading his aging and bandaged ragtag crew past the vaulted Los Angeles Lakers for his 11th and final championship. My Celtics devotion remained firm through a couple of championships in the Cowens-Havlicek years, and reached another pinnacle thanks to guys named Bird and Parish and McHale. But the Celtics managed to become so bad that in recent years I have cheered for whichever team Shaquille O'Neal was playing for, leading to considerable gratification thanks to three Lakers championships and one with Miami.
But when Shaq's Phoenix Suns bit the dust, I threw my support to the Cleveland Cavaliers -- who yesterday lost Game 7 of their playoff round to, well, the Boston Celtics. So, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Go Celtics.As is the case everywhere he goes, John McCain was asked Friday who he would choose as his running mate.So... who do you think he should choose? Send me a brief response with a summarized reason for your choice, and I'll publish them.As always, submissions must include your name and location, and a phone number if I don't happen to know you. We don't do anonymous or phony name responses here.