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Having Fun With MojoHey kids! Governor Manchin here! Hey, I need you to do me a favor! Please don't show today's column to any grownup Democrats, OK? This is just between you and me, got it? Cool! But I really need to vent to somebody! Have you been paying attention to those two losers the Democratic Party is considering for President? Of course you haven't! But I have! Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama... are you kidding me? In West Virginia? Against Fred Thompson or John McCain or Rudy Guiliani or even Mitt Romney? Give me a break! And you know what my party will expect me to do? They'll say, "Hey, Joe, since you're so popular and everything, we need you to meet Hillary at the airport, or introduce Barack at some big fundraiser." Like that's my job! And I'll have to do it sometimes, or otherwise every piddly reporter will be writing about how Mojo's avoiding being seen with these two libs! It's a no-win situation! But I'm pretty good at doing as little as possible! Like in 2004, when John Kerry came to Wheeling, I shook his hand, ducked back into my limo, and was outta sight before Kerry said his first hello! What I want is for them to give me Bill Richardson! Now there's a guy I can work with! Even John Edwards would play better in West Virginia than Hillary or Barack. But noooooooo. They can't do that! They gotta send me abortion loving, gun hating, coal bashing Hillary or Barack! Like I said to Howard Dean -- another real winner -- when I walked him to his car last week, I said, "Howard, get a clue! You're not in Vermont, buddy! You can rant and rave about Bush all you want, but geesh, West Virginia would still vote for Bush over Hillary or Barack!" Know what he said? He said, "Hey governor, why don't you act like a Democrat once in a while?" Can you believe that? That's the problem with Washington Democrats. They don't understand West Virginia Democrats, and they don't want to! So good riddance, Howard, and good luck Hillary and Barack! I need them like I need Rogaine! Okay. I'll calm down. Thanks for letting me vent, little buddies. I feel better now. 
The gambling industry spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 2006 election to stack the legislative deck in its favor, coming away victorious in nearly every race in which it played.But on Saturday, voters in Jefferson County voted their conscience and not their wallets, and by doing so made plain the flaw in the table games legislation and exposed the rather arrogant assumption by pro-gambling forces that passage of the issue in four counties was pretty much a given.All told last year, donors connected with the state's racetracks, and others involved in gambling, made more than 360 contributions to favored candidates, spreading the money among more than 70 candidates in the primary and general elections combined, according to news reports at the time.In the end, their investment was rewarded with the passage of the table games bill they had long coveted. But a funny thing happened on the way to the poker table -- Jefferson County voters put the interests of their community standards ahead of the interests of the local racetrack.The reaction by politicians and track officials has been remarkable for its bitterness. Politicians at the highest level are reportedly furious and vengeful, making thinly-veiled threats of retaliation against Jefferson County for having the gall to stand up to them.According to the legislation passed in the regular session, the Charles Town track must wait two years before another vote can be held. Odds are (pardon the expression) that gambling supporters will try to find a way around that provision, citing some sort of economic emergency or finding a well-placed loophole in the original bill. Wanna bet on it? Editor's note: With an assist from Delegate Craig Blair, the Republican Gazette published a column back on February 26 pointing out a major flaw in the table games bill -- a flaw highlighted by Saturday's defeat of the table games measure in Jefferson County. That column is reprinted below.Few people, including mayors and other local officials -- in their glee over untold riches promised them by the gambling lobbyists -- have seemed to notice that the big payoff on gambling won't come unless all four counties OK referendums.Jefferson County in particular is crucial to making sure the money adds up the way the pro-gambling forces have promised, because it would account for nearly half of total gambling revenue. And many believe Jefferson is where a gambling referendum has the least chance of voter approval.The Eastern Panhandle's Del. Craig Blair gets it, and points out that the "purse" promised to all the cities and counties around the state will be drastically reduced if only one or two counties pass a table games bill. If that happens, municipalities and counties will be facing the unpleasant fact that a couple of "racinos" will be making out like bandits while local governments get relative pennies in return.As Blair put it, when people figure it out, this bill will be like a dose of ipecac.M&R Restaurant in Ripley deserves a round of applause for its decision to completely ignore the Jackson County Health Department's mandate that it eliminate smoking.Smoking is bad for you. It can kill you. But a privately-owned business should have the right to decide whether to permit it inside its premises, and customers can decide whether or not to enter said premises.The Jackson County Health Department went to court to try to force M&R to obey its orders, but a paperwork error caused its suit to be throw out. It will undoubtedly be back in court, because the health department is apparently filled with a bunch of people who don't like other people to make decisions for themselves.How unelected health departments have gained the power to make laws is a mystery. But there is a ray of hope, and not just for smokers, but for everyone who believes in the rights of property owners. If local health departments agree to exempt racetracks from smoking bans, it will make for a great court challenge by bars and restaurants, since then they will clearly be engaging in policy making over health concerns, choosing which establishments can have exemptions.