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My morning started off with a call from Sue McKinney. She had to go to Parkersburg to get the McCain Banner, so she couldn't meet me until 2:30. I went to the fair and found the Chairman of the fair, located the booth and began to set up our booth. I had called one of our dependable members Mary Nines, and she came and brought her husband Dave to help. Then Sue Came and dropped off some banners and information. She wanted us to have the bigger banner, so do you know what this wonderful woman did, she drove back to Bridgeport and got the banner and brought it back to us. Are you keeping score, she went to Parkersburg from Bridgeport, to Grafton, back to Bridgeport, and then back to Grafton, plus she brought some other needed supplies that she wanted to share. I was working away and my wife asked me, do you know this gentleman: It was none other than the man who is running for Governor, Russ Weeks.He then began to work with us and really help out. This to me was a sign of a true leader and Office Material. I was learning right along with those he was talking. This was a wonderful experience for this lonely working at Taylor County.I needed to go home and fix the families supper. I then called another friend of the Party, one Pam Krushansky, and she had said she had some McCain Signs that I could have. I then drove to Morgantown to pick them up. Pam was so helpful, and asked she if I had this or that, and then she said, you need some more of these, and some of these. My day was so delightful I just had to marvel in the greatness of our party, IT GAVE ME A NEW SENSE OF WHAT WE WERE ALL DOING, WORKING FOR A GREAT CAUSE. ALL THIS JUST HAD TO BE SHARED. THIS DAY, I WILL REMEMBER LONG AND WITH SUCH JOY. IT HAS INSPIRED ME ABOUT GOING BACK AND WORKING TOMORROW!I am so impressed by the friendliness of Russ, and the work in our party. I had sent out a request to county chairs, and a host replied by that they didn't have any. I got several calls, and they wanted to send me their last one. Mr. Dillinfrom Oak Hill has some into the mail for me and we are looking forward to them. I had several call, after they learned some how that Sue and Pam was going to get me some. They called to make sure. I am called to a new refreshing time of our Party. We all help out, if we can only ask. I know I am going to work harder to get all these fine people elected. How about you?
Sherman G. Davidson
Grafton
Recently I read an article in the London Times about Barack Obama not doing well in polling in the rural south. In fact they say Obama’s elitist campaign alienates the south. It is not just the rural south; it is the area of the country the snobby like to call “Flyover.” In flyover we trust in personal responsibility, we believe government is usually more cause of a problem than solution and we believe the framers of The Constitution never intended it to be a living document. We believe that government assistance should only get you through the rough times and not be a life style that last from birth to death. We don’t like our taxes supporting people that never work. At the same time most of us in flyover will come to your aid when you need it. We will help move furniture out of your house as the water rises; we will pull your car out of a ditch in the middle of a snow storm and an invite you in for hot chocolate. We are apt to have volunteer fire departments, not paid fire departments. We are members of Rotary, Kiwanis & Ruritan. We support the Boy & Girl Scouts, the Food Pantry, the United Way and many other organizations. We loaded up food, clothes and blankets and drove to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Katrina before we were asked because we knew our neighbors would need help.We are patriots. We volunteer for military service to defend the nation at a higher rate that other areas of the nation. Our volunteers don’t get stuck in Iraq; they volunteer to go to defend our way of life. We are not bitter, but we do cling to our religion. We believe in God. We believe in religious freedom. We know there is no separation of church and state clause in the constitution. There is a clause in the constitution states the government shall not "prohibit the free exercise" of religion. We believe that clause allows us to put baby Jesus and the wise men on the courthouse lawn as long as we allow other religions a similar display. We feel the Christian religion is under attack.We keep and bear arms because we like to hunt and by the time the State Police or Sheriff get out of bed in the middle of the night more than an hour may have gone. Lot’s of flyover doesn’t have 24 hr police coverage. The intruder could be a burglar or even a bear, but we are quite capable of holding whatever it is at bay until authorities arrive. In flyover we are well armed and crime is low. In the cities citizens are not well armed and crime is high. That correlation is not lost on us. While Hollywood likes to portray those in flyover as hillbillies, country bumpkins, rednecks and extras from Deliverance, the facts are our rural schools tend to have higher test scores than those in the cities. Our colleges and universities turn out Rhodes Scholars. We are tired of high fuel prices. In flyover high fuel prices affect us more than they do for the cities. In many of our areas the bus lines quit running in the 1950’s and we haven’t seen a passenger train in about as long. Electric cars have a limited range, a range that is shorter than the round trip to work and back. We too have hour long work commutes, but those commutes are at 60 miles an hour. We like the idea of drilling for our own oil. We recognize an increase in supply reduces price. We don’t drive cars as an option we drive them as a necessity. We are not environmentalist, but we are conservationist. We don’t visit the mountains, the desert and the plains for a week or two in the summer, we live in the mountains, the desert and the plains. We enjoy their beauty everyday and we will protect it, but we will also use it. We know our nation needs coal for power, wood for paper and furniture, and oil for our vehicles and industry. We will provide it, but live here and will not destroy our backyard. We have learned from our own history.The London Times story got it right. Obama’s elitist attitude fails. We want a leader that understands that rural areas have different needs than those of the cities and neither should be accommodated at the expense of the other. We want a leader that is our equal, not our superior. We are a government of the people and by the people. We understand something the founding fathers understood; all men are created equal, even in Flyover.Gary Howell is a candidate for the 14th State Senate district. -------
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In the text box below, nominate your Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected.
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
Minimah's press antic was wrong, but his frustration reasonable
Secretary of State candidate proved the point that to get attention as a GOP candidate, outrageousness wins
Among all the Republican statewide candidates, Charles Minimah might be the most universally liked by those who know him. He is funny, personable, and intelligent to the point of probably trying to hide how much smarter he is than anyone else out of fear of seeming arrogant.
Charles put out a press release Monday announcing that he would withdraw from the race for Secretary of State if the current occupant of that office, Betty Ireland, would take his place. The release was a disaster. Secretary Ireland knew nothing about it before a reporter called asking for a reaction. Fact is, it's way past all deadlines to pull such a switch even if anyone really wanted to do it. And it gave Charles' opponent, Natalie Tennant, an opening to say the predictable, "Voters want to know you're in to win it. You shouldn't be half-committed."As soon as I heard about the release, I called Charles, and the frustration in his voice was clear. For months, he has been trying to draw attention to his candidacy, with about as much luck as Rosie O'Donnell trying to draw attention at the Playboy Mansion.You see, as a native of Nigeria who immigrated to this country, Charles has a difficult time understanding why Americans don't get more excited about free, democratic elections. He labors under the misimpression that the public -- and the media -- care about such things as issues, debates and vision. He has issued countless press releases challenging Ms. Tennant to debates, all of which have quickly been tossed into File 13 of every media organization in the state.Charles wants to be Secretary of State. To hear his stump speech is to understand how passionate he is about the possibility. But what press release finally gets him some news coverage? The one announcing he might drop out.Situated most awkwardly in Monday's mini-drama was Betty Ireland. As the current Secretary of State, she had to politely explain to all inquirers that the law is clear. As a Republican, she tried her best not to be critical of fellow GOP'er Minimah. As a still-grieving daughter (and sister -- she just lost her brother recently), she is still recovering from the deaths of both parents over the past year. All political whispering and speculation aside, Betty Ireland did not seek reelection for exactly the reason she gave when announcing her decision -- family responsibilities were simply too overwhelming to consider a political campaign at that point in her life. And even though both parents have since passed, she is still learning to cope emotionally, and would not, even if she could, change her mind this year. The last thing she needed was another round of media questions this week bringing it all up again.Charles is a brilliant man, but that is different than being politically savvy. He had no intention of causing Betty any difficulties. He thought he was paying her the supreme compliment, saying in his press release, "I believe Betty represents West Virginia's best option to keep the state's election division moving in a positive direction."In fact, that is exactly what Charles represents. Charles Minimah is about a thousand times more qualified to serve as Secretary of State than his opponent, who most expect to win easily because she was on television as a news reader for a number of years and, oh yes, because at WVU she was the -- say it all together -- first woman "Mountaineer" in history. But Charles is killing trees in vain issuing press releases on issues and debate challenges. So far, it appears no reporter has bothered to approach Ms. Tennant for a response to Charles' suggestion for debates. Four years ago, you might recall, Betty Ireland and Ken Hechler participated in at least four one-on-one debates around the state, in what became something of a show in and of itself (who can forget Betty graciously helping the 90-year-old Hechler step up onto the stage?)If "internal polling" cited by GOP Chairman Doug McKinney is anywhere in the ballpark, Tennant is not as well liked as many perceive, and up to 60 percent of survey respondents remain undecided in the SOS race. But the only name they know is Tennant's. If they got to know Charles, too, they would be better served, but apparently the only way for Charles to make himself known is to announce he might leave the race. Something is wrong with that.CHARLES MINIMAH
State GOP needs $$ for fall election push
The West Virginia Republican Party needs an infusion of cash to provide the support for candidates that only the party can provide, and Republicans around the state are being urged to send contributions this week.Even though Chairman Doug McKinney led the party out of its previous longstanding debt, additional funds have been slow to materialize. But Republican chances for electoral success are made even more difficult without the support that can only come legally and logistically from the party organization. Particularly important is the party's get-out-the-vote program, which identifies and motivates Republican and GOP-leaning voters to the polls. Without it, candidates will find themselves with vote totals affected negatively by as much as 10 percent or more -- a crucial number in close elections.Please join me in making a contribution to the state party today. Just visit this link, or send your contribution to WVGOP, P.O. Box 2711, Charleston WV 25330.
McCain spotted in Taylor County
Some visitors to the Taylor County Fair reported seeing John McCain at the GOP booth on the fairgrounds. While McCain was generally well received, some observers described him as being a little flat. GOP activist Sherman Davidson, right, is pictured with "McCain" and local volunteers.
Why Obama has a tough time in 'flyover' land
By GARY HOWELL
--Email to the Editor--
Helpful GOP'ers renew sense of mission
VISIT NO MO MOJO
