Well, we could always bash gays, (or not). Not that there is anything wrong with that; either way in a Seinfeldian sense.
Seven Democratic members of our House of Delegates signed on to a Marriage Protection Amendment with a bunch of Republicans. This Amendment bans gay West Virginians from marrying or entering into a contract to form civil unions or domestic partnerships. A lot of Democrats are upset at the seven democrats for departing from the party platform. Delegate Tim Miley is one of the seven. Where do the other three members of Harrison County’s delegation stand on this? The article that states WV Democrats should support gay marriage is here.
Ok, it really is political.
Filed under: Elected Officials, Voting
I for one, am very proud of Tim Miley and the six others that crossed the party platform to do what is right.
Discrimination is right?
No, it’s acceptance and embracing of mother nature’s intentions.
I am a Democrat and I DO NOT support Gay Marriage, however, I have nothing against those who choose that lifestyle and think they should be able to enter into some sort of legal bond, i.e. a dependent on insurance policy, heir to estate, whatever they work for together in the domestic household, etc. Marriage should be as God intended, between a man and a woman.
NOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE FREEKING PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP EVERY FREEKING YEAR! I AM SICK OF IT. MS. BLOGGER, PLEASE LET US VENT THIS ONE AND TOSS AROUND SOME SOLUTIONS.
I REALIZE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE TRIED TO HELP IN THIS AREA FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND FOR SOME REASON, THE ASSESSOR TAKES IT PERSONAL! THEN SHE CLAIMS IT’S THE LAW TO RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES EVERY YEAR.
WE FIX THE ROOF AND OUR TAXES GO UP. WTF. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO JUST PUT A BIG BARREL UNDER THE LEAK SO THE TAXES WILL NOT GO UP?
McMUNN SWITCHES PARTY. (Clarksburg) David McMunn’s boy Andrew left the Republican Party and switched to the Democratic Party to help him get elected to the Judges position in Harrison County. Boy Andrew comes from a family of life-long Republicans. WAKE UP HARRISON COUNTY VOTERS-DONT LET HIM BUY THE ELECTION. Send Andrew and his daddy back to the country club.
I agree with you. I have heard that David’s boy Andrew is trying to buy the campaign. I hope all the Democrats realize that Andrew was a republican just a few months ago. I dont trust him. I wonder if he isnt successful at buying the campaign will he switch back to being a Republican??
I tried calling the phone number…I left a messgage. I hope Andrew calls me back.
What did you mean about the Jaguar comment??
Thanks for the information on David’s boy Andrew, I dont know the McMunns.
On my list of things that puts my knickers in a knot, is republicans who switch to democrat for their personal gain, then still vote republican. I think they should have to wear a scarlet letter.
I’M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE FREEKING PROPERTY TAXES!
Hey you Democrats,there are several active Democrat Committees at work now in our County, Democratic Women, Democratic Men, Democrats for Democracy, the Democratic Exexutive Committee. Watch the calendar of events for dates and times. Get involved. We have the most important presidential race coming up that has happened in MY lifetime.
I have such mixed emotions about this one. I think Barack is intelligent enough, but is he too young? I think Hillary would be great, but is our society NOT going to vote for HER because she is a HER.
Maggie,
I agree with you on the property taxes.
MF
Maggie and everyone else-
We really need to get the word out on Dave McMunn’s boy Andrew. Judge Bedell is going a great job for the citizens on Harrison County. Its a shame for a small select group of “ambulance chasing” attorneys to be able to band together and with the help of McMunn’s-Millions buy a judgeship in Harrison County.
Call McMunn and tell him the Judgeship is not for sell. 304-**********
M Furr
Why in the world would you attack Andy McMunn? So you don’t like his dad? Andy is one of the most responsible 40 year olds I know. Bedell has been in office for 16 years. Change is good. Usher him out with class and lets get some young blood. I love it.
You guys that keep towing the party line are wrong. Our local and county democratic clubs suck. They have the same old tired politician wannabes running the meetings. The only thing the democrats have going is that we out number republicans 6:1 in Harrison County. If most of our families immigrants were not coal miners and labors in the factories, we would be republicans. Don’t believe me… how bout this: we are not for gay rights (to have special rights that is), we are not for gun control and we typically don’t support abortion. We are strong in our belief of a strong military, we support individual liberties, and we are pro small business as most of us employed by small business owners. We are conservatives. We don’t like the welfare state, we don’t like our state tax code, and we say we want less government all of the time, not more. Hell many of us are for capitol punishment. Now does any of that sound like a traditional democrat? The only good thing democrats have done for us was about 80 years ago when they picked up on the unions cause and fought for workers fair pay and safe work environment. Now the only thing those unions and democrats due now is feed each others pockets. Put two people up for the voters to decide on and don’t mention the party just their ideas, and I bet you will find that most in Harrison county will vote for the conservative every time. The political machine is what allows these guys to get elected, not the good ideas they have.
After talking to David’s boy Andrew I ma convinced someone needs to leave that boy a personaity.
What’s the difference between a McMunn and vampire bats?
– One’s a bloodsucking parasite and the other is a mouse-like
creature with wings!
Rex,
I have to agree there are some old tired Dems at the various committees, because new members will not get involved. They want to complain, they want to whine, (they want to blog) but they do not want to get involved and get some new energy into the organizations. Any organization is only as good as its members. The people who are complaining need to attend the meetings and be active (or they can STFU). I would love to see some new members.
One of the Romano Boys is the Chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee and always invites people to attend their meetings. I believe it is Michael and he is also active with the other Democratic organizations. A good man — a good democrat — A mover and shaker — but he needs more citizens involved.
Yes, alot of us are “conservative” democrats.
I agree. There are a lot of conservative democrats here. But no one likes a flipper.
The Romano’s are good boys. They try hard. I respect them.
I hope all the facts about McMunn and his committee are made public. The voters always make the right choice.
They will this time also. This election cant be bought. Send the Caddy-lak boy back to the country club.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
You posters are tough on this Mr. McMunn. Taking a little diversion of the spotlight off Shaffer (Democrat) Christie( Democrat) and Queen (Democrat). Lets them cool down a bit!
How is McMunn buying the election? And someone tell me before I vote to vote antoher incumbant out, what has he done or what does he believe that is so bad, I truly don’t know but would like to. And as to flipping to a Dem. I think it is smart. He wants to be elcected, why start of the race with a 500 to 800 defecit before the first vote is cast. That many people in our county still “punch the Chicken”.
marryfurr, why all of the personel attacks? WHat has he done (or his father) to you that you hate so much. Tell me what Bedell has done? I really don’t know much about the race. I would like to hear some facts. Anyone else?
The Democrat organizations are sponsoring a “Meet the Candidate” on March 29th at the new County Recreation Building (where the 4-H Center used to be) and I believe it will be from 1:00 to 4:00 or maybe 5:00.
Challenge WV is also sponsoring a “meet your candidate” *** March 1st at the new 4-H center around 1:30. *** This is for School Board Candidates only. Come out and meet our next two school board members. This is the most important race on the ballot for the May primary. These two new members will be helping the current 3 (on the board Cann, Reaser, and Queen) manage our school’s 100 million+ budget and it will affect every one of us that lives here. More important than judge (they have all been attorneys at one point) and more important than county commissioner (they don’t affect most of us that live in a town/city).This race is more important than our US Senators race and even our nominee for president, which we have little control over. ALL bloggers need to attend and get out the information to the public. We can not make a mistake on this one.
TO: Stonewallsback and MaryFurr,
Aside from the fact that most of your comments here about a judges race are off-topic in this section, some of your comments go beyond what should be on this particular blog.
Don’t take offense. I understand that with the bad example set by one of Clarksburg’s Council Members who writes under many names, one might have thought that it was ok on this blog to attack private citizens, people’s parents, ex-girlfriends, etc. In his case, I left those comments stand merely as an opportunity for that Council Member to reveal his true character (even to his few supporters who are now being mentioned and having to defend themselves because of his inserting their name into his faulty arguments).
Anyway, I “unapproved” a few of your comments because they were either clichéd lawyer jokes, addressed a candidates family, the personal life of a supporter who is not a candidate, or a remark which would encourage others to seek a lower common denominator of taste by replying to something you wrote.
Sometimes I will try to use an “***” to edit out something of a personal nature. In other cases the editing requirement is too great and it is easier just to remove it from the blog.
There is plenty of time before the election for us to set up a category or thread for people to make their reasonable observations. Would appreciate it if you would wait until we got a bit closer to the election where your legitimate and well-reasoned comments might have greater force in any public discussion.
If you wish to suggest a serious topic, see the “About” section for an email address or write met there with your suggestion.
Thanks for your participation.
Dear Harrison County
My only attempt was to bring several of the issues facing the county regarding the Judges election. Arms are being twisted to raise money for this candidate. As time goes on you will see what I am talking about. I believe Bedell has made the tough decisions, and “change for the sake of change” is not something most people endorse. As for Dyer and Jaguar girlfriends he is the point man for C. David’s boy Andrews campaign. He is no great pillar of the community. You will see. Best of luck. Justice done.
One only needs to read the posts to this “Top Post ” to clearly note a major problem of today. We have lost our “FOCUS”.
BLOGMASTER starts off with comment on the “Marriage Protection Amendment” and the focus of the posts moves to Andy McMunn.
Quite frankly, I never knew of Andy McMunn until these posts. Most of which appear to be angry rhetoric of little useful substance.
Stay on subject ! This “TopPost” deals with affirmation of a key principle of our Christian beliefs. Principals which most Americans are now afraid to profess in public. Briefs that were, and should remain today, the very center (truth) of this nation. God did not say – choose among my laws only those that you wish. We are to follow all of God’ laws.
We , as a Country, have allowed our founding principles to be applied as we wish. We have allowed the “minority” to slowly move to the majority. This must stop.
Tolerance – Yes. But not surrender. Start today to return to our founding principles. There is but one God and “In God We Trust”.
Thank you and God Bless you . It is about HIM and not about us.
miley,fragale,cann and iaquinta are no friensds to the middle class taxpayer. read unleashing capitalism and you will see their half-hearted efforts in charleston are just about keeping the status quo and their fat posteiors in power. they lack vision or the fortitude to do anything worth while. their anti gay thing is just pandering to the self absorbed jesus freaks.
Just discovered this blog through contacts with elected officials who are reading these postings very carefully.
I only comment is that if you are a real man or woman, you would publish your real name and not hid behind some other facade. Blogs like these are for cowards who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Reveal who you are, publish a letter to the editor in the newspaper (which requires your real name before it gets print time) or go back into your hole which is as shallow as your perspecitve. Oh, by the way, yes, this is my real name.
To Rob Gifford,
Anonymous communications have an important place in our political and social discourse. The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the right to anonymous free speech is protected by the First Amendment. A much-cited 1995 Supreme Court ruling in McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission reads:
Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical, minority views . . . Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. . . . It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation . . . at the hand of an intolerant society.
The tradition of anonymous speech is older than the United States. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius,” and “the Federal Farmer” spoke up in rebuttal. The US Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized rights to speak anonymously derived from the First Amendment.
…EFF
He did not say it was illegal. He said it was for cowards. Free speech goes both ways.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Blogger
TO ROB GIFFORD: You wrote, “Just discovered this blog through contacts with elected officials who are reading these postings very carefully.”
Could you please have more contact with these elected officials and encourage them to NOT just read the postings, but read, consider, think and act on behalf of what they are reading “very carefully.” All elected officials need to remember that they are supposed to be the voice of the people who elected them. That means doing what the bulk of the people want, not a chosen few. This goes for Clarksburg City Council, the Harrison County Commission, Bridgeport City Council and the Harrison County Board of Education.
Susie, good coments to Rob.
Hey Rob, tell your elected friends to weigh in. Do they have an opinion or are they waiting to see which way the wind blows?
I have written editorials to the Clarksburg Exponent on a few occasions. From Topics ranging from the school boards arrogance in their mantra and forcing consolidation to the Harrison County Commissioners, who need an account not an attorney to explain the ramifications of the then proposed TIFs and how it would impact our county for years to come as the TIFF will sweep many existing businesses out to I-79 (and out of our county property tax base).
I don’t agree with some of the things I read on hear, however many of the ideas I see are fresh and forward thinking. Yes, people will bash people, but there are some thinkers out here with great ideas. Even original ideas for our county have come to surface. If we do not have a place to discus these ideas, then they will never have a possibility to formulate.
Let me second what Rob Gifford said. It certainly is a right to comment anonymously, and such anonymous comments often have value in the political process, however character assassination based on generalities posted under an anonymous name does little or nothing to forward the discussion and reflects more about the poster than it does about the subject of the post. Mary Furr’s posts, while ignorant and offensive, at least show the moral conviction of a person willing to put her name out there and acknowledge her own opinions. Yours, anonymous & McNumNutsdo not.
And harrisoncounty, your comments about the founding fathers’ anonymous writings are well taken. Of course the founding fathers were under a very real threat of death for what would be considered treasonous publications against the King. I do not believe such a threat exists for comments about judicial candidates on this blog.
To Larry Chafin regarding your comments, I agree no threat of physical death about judicial candidates or any other. How about financial decline (or death) of your business regarding unfavorable comments toward members of city council? Or unfavorable comments toward Comvest’s players’ inappropriate involvement in influencing a bond or a school location? Try that and then go the Harrison County Development Authority or the City of Bridgeport asking for help. We all know small business owners who bank all around town or use 3 different dry cleaners trying not to offend anyone or just regular folks who refuse to place any political signs in their yard for fear of the same. It’s all ’small town’ around here. Anonymous is the only way for a lot of people to be able to express their thoughts, of course many others just wait and express theirs at the polling place. Think about how many teachers or service personnel came out and spoke against last July’s school bond attempt—-not very many, but my guess, based on the results of the election, is that most of them voted ‘no’ in the privacy of the voting booth. Fear of retribution is eased here on the blog, I, for one, am very happy we have it. Heck, if we had this last spring, maybe we could have saved the HCBE the $80,000 that they spent on a special bond election.
To Larry Chafin:
I have never made a comment about any of the candidates for Judge. I do not believe I have engaged in character assassination. Where another blogger has, I have attempted to edit out the offensive remark or have deleted it entirely.
That was the case with someone using the pseudonym of Maryfurr for whom you are ready to assign “moral conviction”. Whatever that means.
As for supporters of Andrew McMunn , they have a worthy candidate and the public should give him fair consideration. I certainly intend to do that as well.
If you care to follow this blog in the future, perhaps you will notice that I write a piece stating my opinion. Agree, disagree, provide a counter-argument, or other information as you please. My opinions or observations are just that. Others have shown in some things that there are points that I have not considered. I’ve learned from the process. Others may have too.
I cannot always control what others might say and do not care to do so as long as they avoid personal attacks. Of course, there are politicians who view policy opposition as being a personal attack. Others view it as an attack if you make an observation about their political campaign. Too bad.
Regular readers note that I have striven to keep family and relatives out of the arguments. Because of a time delay in reviewing, sometimes some ill-suited remark might make it through the cracks for a short period of time. Usually those offenders recognize that they crossed the line and amend their use of language in the future.
harrisoncounty, the “yours” I was referring to was anonymous & McNumNuts, not you. I appreciate an anonymous blog sponser, know that people frequent ly use pseudonyms on the web and accept that, but have much more respect for folks who post under their real names those things they would not necessarily tell the object of their post face to face. If MaryFurr is a psuedonym, my comment about moral authority (call it integrity if that is clearer) does not apply.
And Rock, that may surely be a legitimate reason not to post under your real name. I will say that I believe that unsolicited criticism from anonymous critics is generally accepted and given the credence it deserves by the person who is criticized.
Looks like all of boy Andrew’s friends are hitting the blog
It appears that C. David has called all his attorney friends to hit the blog in favor of his boy ANDREW. The bottom line is that the man on the street doesnt like individuals that flip political parties for personal gains. Either you are a democrat or a republican. Is Davids boy Andrew going to flip back to Republican after he looses the primary??
Make sure you watch the amount of advertisements BOY ANDREW is running. How much money should a candidate spend on a local judges race?? I could believe 10,000 to 20,000 but $150,000. come on !!
Mary, I’ve certainly not spoken to Dave McMunn about hitting this blog – in fact, I haven’t spoken to him at all about the race, and knowing Rob Gifford pretty well, I’d venture to say that he hasn’t either. And just what is the source of your asserton that Andy has spent $150,000 on his run for judge? I assume that if Tom Bedell spends more than $20,000 you will take him to task as well? BTW, you’ll note that there has not been a single negaitve thing said here about Tom Bedell by anyone you think is supporting Andy McMunn. The same can’t be said about people like yourself.
The defense law firms such as the one Mr. Chafin and Mr. Gifford work for are supporting Andy McMunn for several reasons: 1) They have to or else Bob Steptoe wouldn’t be happy; 2) Andy is perceived to be a conservative (he was a Republican up until a few months ago) when it comes to ruling on civil lawsuits which means that the nod would go to the defense firms which, in turn, helps them financially; 3) They perceive Bedell to be a true democratic judge-one who sticks up for the little guy, the plaintiff in a civil matter-against the financial interests of the defense law firms and the insurance companies the represent; and 4) Bedell is a little cranky at times and doesn’t often treat the civil defense attorneys with the greatest bedside manner probably because he was never one of them and he percieves that they look down their noses a bit, whether they do or not.
My bet is on Bedell. He’s been there 15 years going on 16. He’s a good behind the scenes politician. Andy is a nice guy, but I think people will perceive him as someone who may be subject to the control of his Dad and some of the defense-firm types. Also, Bedell is a true Democrat and the tried and true Democrats will come out in great numbers especially since Andy is really a Republican who switched just to get electability. They resent that stuff. But the kicker is that there are still many more “little people” who vote than the country-club types who are wealthier and who will be perceived as trying to “buy” a seat on the circuit court (weather it’s true or not). And the “little people” don’t like that stuff either. So, though Andy is a nice guy, regardless of how much money he’s spending, he’s fighting an uphill battle. Bedell will work hard, door-to-door style, instead of driving around in an Escalade hoping that 100K will carry the day. Remember folks, when they say it ain’t about the money, and even when they don’t . . . It’$ about the MONEY!!!
Show me, you’re right on the money, so to speak. After the coal operator bought a seat on the supreme court,(and we later found out he already had one other seat already with Spike Maynard) why would we, the citizens of Harrison County allow big money to buy a circuit court judge seat? I’m with you. It won’t happen.
Show me, for the record, the defense firm I work for is not taking a position on the race. And Bob Steptoe has said nothing about it. My comments about Andy McMunn are from a strictly personal perspective – he’s an old friend, as is Tom Bedell, whom I also think a lot of. I will now leave this to you folks who assume much more than you know.
Like I said: when they say, or even imply, it’s not about the money . . . . it’s about the money!
Show me, you have no idea how true your comments are. I am sure they will inspire many defense-firm attorneys to hit this blog hard as the election draws closer.
For my point of view, knowing both Judge Bedell and Andy McMunn, both of whom I know to be fine, responsible family men with the best of intentions for whatever endeavor they have under taken, I believe it comes down to experience and influence.
Judge Bedell has the experience and, quite frankly, is beyond influence (as best I can tell after over 10 years work with his court). I believe that in time, Andy will make a FINE judge. I believe, however, he needs more time and experience to mature into that role. When Andy’s time comes, AND IT WILL, I will be proud to vote for Andy.
But for now, I believe that Judge Bedell is still the man for the job. Consider that nightmare litigation last year with DuPont? Judge Bedell presided over that logisitical nightmare with the professionalism and grace that only a seasoned Judge could have done. I don’t even know if Matish or Marks would have been up for the task … (without making the entire court house miserable in the process).
Judge Bedell needs to be given credit for all of the hard work, day in and day out, that he’s done for the county. Being a circuit court judge is a weighty task, where your every decision impacts on families and children throughout the county and beyond. On top of that, when campaigning, they are not even allowed to discuss their positions on the issues. Which leaves their supporters to resort to some of the sad mud-slinging antics such as you see on this blog, in order to try to influence others to vote for their favorite candidate. I won’t do that because I’m naive enough to hope that in sticking to the facts that the best candidate will win. (I know I should know better, but hope springs eternal, and I cling to hope daily.)
Anyway, that’s my two cents worth.
Blogmaster, it seems the time is coming to open a page for the elections. I’m eager to hear the people’s opinions on the Family Court Judge race, too.
Well put my good man, well put. Couldn’t have said it better if I were a highbrow defense attorney licking his chops defending a med mal case or an auto accident case knowing I potentially had a Republican judge in my pocket to give me a good pre-trial ruling!! LIke I said kids, and I’m sure “My two cents” will agree, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. Defense attorneys want to keep as much of it as they can for their fat insurance company clients so they can bill dubiously and the company won’t complain . . . . and the plaintiff’s attorneys want to shake loose just a few rusty coins for the little guy, the guy who pays through the nose year after year so the insurance companies can get fat and then the little guy has to fight, scrape and claw to get a few cents for his often catastrophic injuries. That’s why we need sensitive judges who know these little people to help with true justice, for all, not just for the insurance companies!!!!
OMG, Hillary is dragging in two more states. It looks like our country will be successful in putting Junior in the White House.
So, if Hillary doesn’t pick up the pace soon, we will have a choice of 4-more years of Bushwackin’ or we will have Junior.
I realize some people think Clinton is useless because of his romp in the oval office, but he was GREAT for our country, and my bet is that he/she could do it again.
I am just not comfortable (yet) with Junior and his family.
Seems to me that there seems to be a lot of shooting in one direction over the judges race. Interesting that no other race seems to have the attention of those doing all the shooting. It all sounds a little too focused to be really. Why don’t we just make our selections and let the best Man or woman win in stead of tearing at each other. Just count me tired of negative politics.
Maggie, do NOT count Hillary out yet. No one knows the democratic machine like the Clintons.
Maggie,
Wasn’t Hillary a Goldwater Girl?
Pathetic pandering to the right wing. Is Miley that afraid of losing his seat?
I’d like to hear from Andrew why he has suddenly seen the light and become a democrat. These things do happen you know. However, when it happens just before you run for public office well….
I think the divorce rate is 1 in 2 marriages. Will this amendment do anything to lower the divorce rate? Will it preserve what we all value most? Our families.
This is nothing more than another attempt by a party that has done its best to divide this country. Tim has been targeted by them and I’d say he’s playing it safe.
It is not the government’s job to prevent divorce. The government should not legislate morality. Marriage is a legal contract that should be available equally to gays as well as heterosexuals.
“Playing it safe” does not represent the people nor does it engratiate the delegate to those of us who value equality. There is always the possibility that this really is Miley’s personal position. The election will decide whether it is his constituent’s position.
Are you all talking on behalf of your parties position? and not your personal position?
Marriage should ONLY be between a man and a woman.
I see a degradation in the value of marriage already. Too many people are getting married without thinking that it is really permanent. That’s why the divorce rate is so high.
I’ve even heard people comment before “aw, if it don’t work out, I’ll just divorce ‘em”
That is a terrible outlook and undermines the value that many people put on marriage.
I’m sorry if it offends someone, but I don’t want to see the value of marriage lowered any further.
I will be the first in line to vote to take away any benefits that married people get vs. non-married just to avoid seeing this happen. Those that are in favor of gay marriage always point tosharing of benefits, but then say a union-law isn’t good enough.
Anonymous,
Are you speaking from the position of legislating morality? I see the degradation in the value of marriage too. How would this law strengthen marriage? I don’t want to see the family unit minimalized to the extent that it has been in our culture. I suggest teaching your children through your examples in life and getting rid of your TV. It’s called accountability. And we the free people have lost much of our desire for it. We beg our government to control our actions…
To speak from the position of the taxation of the people, we need to get away from this class ware fare. Our tax code penalizes many while catering to a few. What does a married family gain by a gay/lesbian couple not receiving the same tax benefit? Satisfaction that our government thinks its sin a too? Am I for gay and lesbian rights? No, I’m for rights of US citizens who are taxed to death at every turn. Our government leaders laugh that we fight over these issues that divide us when there are much more pressing concerns as to how our tax dollars are redistributed.
I have been friends with Andrew McMunn since the 7th grade, and since our high school days Andrew has always want to be a Lawyer. He has always been HONEST, FAIR & JUST as long as we have been friends. His motives for running for judge are strictly for the betterment of the Harrison County Judicial system! He is a very good person with his OWN mind; He doesn’t need his father to make his decisions. He has proven to be his own person, with his own opinions since he has started practicing law. I feel those of you who have criticized Andrew are intimidated by the fact that he will rule fair and honest. I do not have anything against Judge Bedell so I will not bash at him for personal gain. Those of you that have to criticize McMunn must feel inferior to him and can not accept that that his reason for running for judge is for the betterment of Harrison Co. and make Harrison Co. better for his family and friends where he choose to live. The truth is McMunn is a great attorney and could practice law anywhere in this Country; SUCCESSFULLY, he chose to practice law where he was raised, to help the community that he grew up in.
His reasons and motives are pure, unlike those of you who have to make negative remarks to try to corrupt the minds of the voting public.
Good post by Friend.
I see it often, people will never catch on that by trying to make someone else look bad, they are NOT making themselves look good. (In my mind, it was a big plus to Andy McMunn to not bash the opponent.)
I’m sure there will be several “meet the candidate” opportunities where voting decisions can be made; and I would guess that the decisions made on this blog are those that are ALREADY made.
It is hard work running for office, and it is harder yet being elected and trying to please all the people, all the time. You just have to do what is in the best interest of the community , county or state (or nation) and overlook the vocal MINORITY who just wants to complain because they did not get their personal interest taken care of. And remember, most elected positions are full time jobs, and I am talking 24/7.
I still say, a good way to know a candidate is a face to face, talk to them about your concerns, form your own opinions. I doubt you will find ANY candidate who will not take time to talk with you.
How nice. Legislature considering a $5000 pay raise, liberal per deim allowance increase and HUGE savings on their health insurance cost. Perhaps all posters still in shock !
Why is Judge Bedell facing an election challenge? Why?
Why not Marks or Matish?
Where’s the money coming from? Who’s behind this drive to push out Bedell?
Seems we’ve just gone through the same situation on the state level when Baron Blankenship bought a judgeship for a weak beholden flunky and ran off a good public spirited independent judge
While I’m too far outside the loop to know the details, it’s clear to me that the Aristocrats of Harrison County and their assorted servants, guards and solicitors have some reason to be annoyed with our good judge Bedell. Bedell must have stepped out of line by not fawning, ass kissing, going along, playing ball, refusing payoffs, or throwing cases.
This just will not do. Bedell is a thorn in their sides and they mean to remove it. If Bedell could be bought or blackmailed, he would have been and the Earls and Dukes and Baronetts of Harrison County would have been content. But no, Bedell insisted on his silly stance of independence and integrity and thus needs to be removed.
By God, when an Aristocrat or one of his loyal servants gets into a legal squabble with a mere commoner , they can’t have some high minded Judge mucking up the preordained outcome.
I can’t really say that McMunn is himself a scoundrel, perhaps he is merely a compliant soldier who can be taught to play ball. Maybe they doubt they can manipulate enough votes to oust Bedell but just want to fire a warning shot so our good judge will see the wisdom of getting on board?
Watch who supports McMunn . The True ruling elite will likely stay in the shadows, but we might catch a good glimpse of their top flunkies and servants. A vote against Bedell is a vote for the Aristocrats who believe in a system of ” Liberty and Justice for All – who can Afford It.”
Andy McMunn is just a blue-blooded pawn for the agenda of his born-rich daddy and the defense law firms. I don’t care how much money he spends. He was a Republican who switched to Democrat just to try to get elected. Harrison County Democrats see through all that crap and he’ll be soundly defeated. We should actually thank his daddy for the $100,000.00 boost to the local economy. But he ain’t gonna win!!!!
Dear Justice for All?
Who are all of these Earls and Dukes and Baronetts of
Harrison County-the Aristocrats you keep referring too?
As for Mr. McMunn (the younger) he is just too young and inexperienced for such an important position. Needs some
more seasoning.
JMHO
Why is it that someone always has to tear someone else down to try and make a point. My grandad always said, watch out for people who simply spend their energy trying to change my mind to theirs, usuall a sign of someone feelin like they are at the wrong end of the right. Can’t we just make up our own minds without the bashing like has gone on in the Clinton vs Obama race, come on, our own worst enenmy is ourselves.
Dear Anonymous,
You ask me to identify the local Aristocracy.
Just look around and see who benefits from the taxpayer fleecing projects we the commoners are forced to fund. Down through the long ages of human history there has yet to be a government run for the benefit of anyone other than those in control. When the people are ignored, are the people in control?
The people toil, and an elite prosper with ever growing wealth and power, much of which is derived from extracted taxpayer subsidy in one form or other. Income inequality grows exponentially because the common people have lost much of the meager control for which our for- fathers fought.
The Aristocrats are the high and mighty who control the system, those who are able to use the people to enrich themselves. Do you want a name by name list?
Dear Country Boy,
Mighty lucky is the man whose worst enemy is himself. Wonder if the Revolutionary War Patriots held this philosophy, or men on any battlefield, or the early union organizers a century ago, or the black slaves two centuries ago?
Obama supporters are their own worst enemy in facing the vicious vindictive w(b)itch who thinks she should ascend the throne by virtue of her marriage to a philandering whoremonger ???
I’ve heard a few country boy sayings too:
“You can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink.” Modern
Version:
“You can show a man the truth but you cannot make him think.”
How about this: “A wolf in sheep’s clothing is McMunn as a Democrat.”
Country Boy, I think the military says “we have met the enemy and it is us.”
I get a little tired of fleecing too. I am really concerned about gas prices and the resulting increase in all cost of living issues, plus here locally, property taxes. It makes me sad.
Strong Democrat, couldn’t agree more. I believe our society is on the verge of collapse all the more reason to quit infighting and start giving solutions.
Justice for All? Don’t you get tired of character assaults? Would love to see your list of aristocrats who control everything. We have a great county and opportunities. I see more happening for a better county, maybe my glass is just half full.
Justice: Yes, I would love to see a name by name list.
Surnames would be find.
I would bet the farm that dubya is at the top of the list. LOL.
Country Boy, yes I can see more happening for a better county. Keep seeing your glass half full, and soon it may be your cup runneth over.
Just checking in to see that nothing has changed since my last post. Hide behind your pen pal names. For those who like to make a pass at me, cowards. Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. You probably would have used your pen names on the Declaration of Independence. No John Hancock in you.
“Cowards” ?
[ Ho hum ]
What else is new ?
Tad bit safer than charging across a muddy field with a bayonet-mounted rusty musket against a well trained army in red coats.
And your children and grandchildren may read your entries. And won’t they have innocent questions for you today — and utter contempt for you tomorrow !
Enjoy your safety and liberty — your offspring will want to know how it all felt. Take notes, but, then, if the state continues with its to-date-successful nationwide illiteracy and general ignorance programs, you may need to draw stick figures.
So, live dangerously. Push the envelope. Today it will take your vigilance and courage to harness liberty, reason and reality and push back against the force, fraud and fantasy of the state. If not, then tomorrow your children and grandchildren will need to offer up much more — much, much more. And it won’t be pretty — certainly nothing they could easily describe with crayons.
The votes are in. The people have spoken. “The system” has dodged the bullet.”The system” is safe. All hail “the system”.
Good luck and good night.
Paul Howe Board of Education 4118
Chuck Reider Board of Education 4002
Gary Fain Board of Education 3371
James Lachapelle Board of Education 3165
Don Miles Board of Education 3138
Dustin Vincent Board of Education 2774
Louis Iquinto Board of Education 2421
Judy Dolan Board of Education 2338
Helen Pritchard Board of Education 2313
Bill Brown Board of Education 2031
Dick Laughlin Board of Education 1147
Howard Bailey Board of Education 968
Simon McClure Board of Education 620
I guess it is true, you don’t have to go out and get money and support from Mike Queen to come out the winner. It seems as though Paul Howe was one of the major contenders without a large money fund, but came out on top. Good luck dealing with Queen and Reider! Let’s hope that Reider thinks for himself and doesn’t go with any preconceived agenda’s.
I am ashamed of our voters, not because of the top two but because of the rest of the field.
1. We have an alcoholic with WAY more than the two votes he should have received.
2. One fellow that finished in the middle of the pack even stated in the TELESHAM that he tried to get his name off the ballot but was too late, and yet our county gives him 2,000+ votes? I’ll not mention the rest.
3. Dr. McClure is an extremely intellegent person, and was a gentleman throughout his campaign. He deserves respect and thanks for his efforts. I can’t believe he’d finish below two people who tried to get their names off the ballots. it shows our voters don’t pay attention.
As for the other races:
I was a Bedell person until the day the ad came out in Sundays paper. I felt that was un called for and I voted for McMunn.
I do think the right two won the Family Court races, so bravo on that one.
Ashamed,
I have met the two winners briefly and I believe they mean well*, and I wish the winners good luck* in their new positions in the system. It seemed that everyone was well behaved and this race was uneventful — no ‘fireworks’ as in the assessors race**. So, on the morning after, I say to myself :
“Self, look at the results. Ya lost — badly”
But, the only saving grace [ GULP ] is that the results do suggest that all the voters were not thinking. I can’t understand all the thousands of casted votes that were wasted before they were even handed back to the poll workers. If these were actually puerile protest votes, well, if I had received all of them then I would have been king of the castle (and I could put down this bottle of Jack this morning).
[Hahahaha !!]
This sourpuss-of-a-poorloser ( just joking ) did notice that (atleast during the candidate fora) that there seemed to be a dirth of interest in (1) what actually is education, or, rather , what should the “government system” be doing or not doing “for education”, and (2) how does any one campaign promise (with slew of attendant unintended consequences) translate into results?
Democracy is a strange creature — and you just never know what you’re gonna get when you finally apply the jumper cables to the bolts on both sides of the neck. So, let’s stop tinkering around with democracy in the lab — it always backfires and it just ain’t gonna get better. Certainly don’t ask the democracy to manage matters that are really important to you. So ask for something different that emphasizes individual liberty and private property. The free market can control any monster — starve it, dismember it , cannibalize it for parts or just put it to sleep with an injection. Capitalism doesn’t condone anemic thoughtless protests — just outright punishment of ineffective goods and services always encouraging you to put your money somewhere else for better results.
* But they cannot rely on such good intentions and luck. They cannot even rely on their being intelligent, or being gentlemen, which you imply might turn “the system” around. Nor, for that matter, training credentials, cheerfulness, familiarity with central office personnel experience, a good reputation in the community, religious inclination, natty attire or lack there of, management skills or prayers will do the best job . All of these positive and redeeming qualities only matter in the free market. The system — any system — ignores all good men and their values and their best laid plans. Between the system, the man, his plans and ideas, guess which one survives unscathed and uncompromised — even with a chair, pistol and a whip in the cage?
** There was only one true sharp ad hominem attack directed at me during a candidate forum, when I was accused ( which I had never hidden ) of having had attended a private school. But that was, and still should be, what every parent should want for their children and grandchildren. Remember that this is where a LARGER number of the government teachers and politicians and the system managers send their kids for education — and guess where they get the tuition fees ? Yep, keep your chequebook open.
AShamed,
You should be. Just because your candidate of choice did not win, you should not throw slings and arrows at other candidates. Like it or not, our country was founded on the right to cast a vote as the individual sees fit, no rhyme or reason, and none needed.
The die is cast, let it be.
actually, my number one pick came in first.
You missed my point.
but you are right I should not throw stones, and I tried not to by not naming names.
Clarksburg citizen,
This constiitutional republic will not be threatened if the voters can’t rhyme or even jive, but surely reasoning ability is a minimal requirement, or else why do we presently exclude some people from voting. One quick and dirty way to tell if someone is capable of reasoning is to determine if they can accumulate property in the free market — their own property that is, NOT resulting from government HANDOUTS or government SALARIES. These people will only continue to vote for more freebies extracted by government force from productive folk. Not everyone — only a minority –had the right to vote at the outset of this Republic. So, we can all form our own conclusions about the wisdom of opening up the voting booths to everyone. That doesn’t mean that the nonvoters were not accorded the same liberties outlined in the bill of rights or afforded charity by productive folk who wanted to promote certain values, nor, that a nonvoter couldn’t later prove that they could act think independently and reason about promoting small, limited government for future generations. If one thinks about it, the most productive people benefit from such a small, limited government, and use self direction of their resources to encourage lesser productive folk by example; the least productive “benefit” from an expansive government, but only at the expense of killing the golden goose. There is no middle ground.
So, yes, prove that you can reason and advance the republic at the voting booth, but I don’t need to know your reason….even if your choice has dropped out weeks before the election or is otherwise made — how shall we delicately phrase it –”unavailable” to assume office.
Mr. McClure,
My statement was made solely to point out to “Ashamed” that they should not sling mud on the other candidates. Although I appreciate your information, blah, blah,blah-TMI. As I read your comments, I believe you go off on tangents. Possibly you do have a background reasoning for your comments, but unless you enlighten the rest of us, it is rather overwhelming and voluminous.
Ya, leave the mud slinging to the Exponents article on the candidates 30yr back ground check and the personal attack ads against other candidates 2 days before the election. It’s been stated before, but… our news paper sucks!
The field of candidates for this race was good. Both men elected have a lot to live up to. They will have to be practical, use their common sense, restore confidence in our great school system and do the right things… popular or not. We will have to wait and see.
Dear Ashamed:
Don’t overly worry about the throwing stones comment, we are only human and sometimes it happens-I wrote the other day that our gov was a sleazy jerk-while I was in a state of anger and frustration over the WVU debacle. I regret writing it. But words do spill out don’t they?
Peace, Sophia
Watching the news, I see that once again, Mr. Bryd and Mr. Rockefeller have forgotten who they are supposed to represent.
They have BOTH back Hussein Obama for President. Did they not realize that our state just had an election last week that overwhelmingly stated who we would rather see nominated?
Since Byrd won’t be on the ballot, I say vote NO to Rockefeller, we need someone who remembers who they represent.
I agree, these guys are so out of touch with the common person here in our great state. VOTE NO
I haven’t posted on here for a while, but must chime in on this one.
WE NEED BOTH OUT of our Senate seats.
When is this state going to wake up and realize the true situation?
Byrd had is hand in the appropriations for many years and was good at sending things our way, but his time has come and gone. Rockefeller has never had our best interest in mind. He found a state that he thought he could buy his way into and he did. His time should have never came, but is now time to go.
I’m a Republican and would have voted for Jay Wolfe regardless, but these latest showings by both prove why we need Jay Wolfe in office now.
I challenge all Democrats to look at Mr. Wolfe’s stances on the issues and see how well you line up with his. You may be surprised.
Be open minded.
Lets take our state back this November.
What a slap in the face we all got!
I DID NOT vote for Jay Rockefeller this time, because of his endorsement of Obama before the people he was elected to represent had their vote.
I also wrote letters of disappointment to Ted Kennedy, John Edwards, Jay and Senator Byrd. Edwards had the nerve to claim it was the will of the people while he was giving his timely endorsement the day after a wide margin victory for Hillary in West Virginia.
Senator Byrd? Has he been in a coma or what? He endorsed BO AFTER the people of his state had their say. It was loud and clear that we were NOT supporting BO and he endorsed him anyway. I told Senator Byrd he just turned the democratic state of WV red again, for the third time in a row.
Look at the Clarksburg paper this morning. BO has his big headlines, but Hillary had another wide margin win in Kentucky. Where is HER headline?
The pundits have supported BO all along and many youngsters voting for the first time are buying off on it. He may be a “rock star” but he sure aint Presidential material!
Strong Dem,
I could not agree with you more.
Those are my thoughts too. Well said.
I feel McCain will carry WV this November and I would hope that Rockefeller will not.
I am in total agreement with voting against Rockefeller and Byrd. I voted against Rocky in the primary and will do the same for Byrd. I believe McCain will become President because I will not vote for Obama just to vote Democrat.
Many thanks to our sensators and to our Democratic National Committee for our their efforts. Hope you do well with a Republican in the White House.
The Democratic National Committee blew this one from the onset.
They needed to get someone in there that is electable.
Neither of these two are.
Hillary is more so than BO, but still not, IMO.
If your spouse is an heiress who thinks she can get by with refusing to make her tax returns public while you’re running for the office of U.S. President, then it’s safe to say that you’re probably an elitist.
If you think that Cindy McCain’s tax returns are a privacy right but tapping U.S. citizen’s phones without a warrant doesn’t invade their right to privacy, then you’re likely an elitist.
If you’re receiving veteran’s benefits for having served in the military but vote against others getting benefits, then it’s probably a safe bet that you’re an elitist.
If you’re getting great government health care as a Senator but block underprivileged kids from getting it, then you may be an elitist.
If you own half a dozen or so houses and insist on blocking folks from mortgage relief while using tax dollars to bail out banks and mortgage companies who made questionable loans, then you just may qualify as an elitist.
If you and your wife are worth millions and intend to make permanent tax breaks that greatly benefit only the wealthiest, then some might regard you as the elitist candidate.
If your wife has a private jet for you to campaign in while your opponents don’t, then most folks may consider you an elitist.
Hey McCain?” It sounds like you never got over Mrs John Kerry Heinz. Remember her not releasing her tax returns and how about her private jet?
You seem to have found a new vocabulary word in “elitist”. Congratulations!
Check out who is running for the US Senate from your state this year. Tell me about his upbringing and the schools he attended and the houses that he has live in both in WV and on Ambassador Row in DC. And where did his children go to public schools, again? Oh, they didn’t; and why don’t they live in WV? Because there parents don’t. Talk about Elitists.
You sound like Martin Shaffer on the radio, saying that he liked Facemier as a candidate better than his Lewis county Democratic opponent because his opponent was once a Republican.
A few days earlier he was trying to crash the Bill Clinton arrival claiming that he was a huge Hilary supporter. What’s wrong with that? Nothing except his logic. Hilary used to be a Goldwater Republican.
You birds of a feather keep switching the arguments to suite your emotional needs of the moment.
If you think the government has the right to tax our Wage and Labor, and then redistribute it into pet projects (known as pork), then you are a socialist.
Our Government has been stealing from us since 1913. Our elected leaders keep spending our money on social programs to get reelected. Both parties! The more they take from us in taxes, the more they can say “look what we are doing for you”, as they spend our hard earned money.
I don’t understand how an educated person can not understand this. Democrats and Republicans alike steal from us. Democrats want to increase our tax bill so we can, in their words “save” more… children, seniors, veterans, etc… from what ales them. Republicans on the other hand push for corporate tax relief while the middle class pays through the nose. They push for low interest rates, which sounds good but it deflates the value of our money that we try to save.
I’m not here to defend McCain. This election has the same ring as the 2000, and the 2004 elections… We have No real choice in the matter. The simple fact is none of the 3 candidates are proposing any substantial real change. It’s that strait forward.
Who cares about the spouses tax returns? All of these people that make it to this level of political government have huge $$ coffers.
If you are getting government health care you are a socialist feeding at the government trough. I know thats hard to swallow in out great state where close to half of the population works for state or local government.
So now we need to bail out people who have been speculating in real estate? These investors enjoyed driving up home prices, but now the market is correcting it’s self and they need our help to bail them out? This sounds more and more like the Savings and Loan scandals from the early 1980’s. Yes, let’s use your and my hard earned money to bail these guys out, make sense to you? And don’t give me a story about a mom and pop loosing their home. Maybe the bank that sold them the loan, should have verified that income statement, or maybe they should have thought, will the mom and dad still be able to make these mortgage payments when the 3 year fixed ARM expires and there payments go up. Or how about the mom and dad that thought, ya know, if we get an interest only loan our payments will only be a fraction of what a traditional mortgage would be. Then when we are ready to sell, surely the market will have increased so we can make money, while we paid down nothing in principal.
Let’s use some common sense people! Has our generation become so inept at taking care of ourselves that we need to have this much government intervention? Where is the self accountability for our own actions?
Would our fore fathers who fought against Great Britain and the cause…“Taxation without Representation” be please with out government today?
I can only imaging that those men and women who gave their life for this great nation, are rolling over in their graves over the (self inflicted) loss of our liberties.
We have become a nation of sheep. We are safe in this heard, only to be distinguished by name, democrat vs. republican. As long as passionate people keep picking up the banners and fighting the political fight, we will continually be led to slaughter.
Wake Up!
Another Laugh, the point is that the talking heads are calling Barack Obama an elitist, which is even more ridiculous considering that he is a self-made man. The fact that the press is calling Obama elitist is idiotic. Not my word. Their word. That is the whole point. None of the post was my words, I copied them from an e-mail going around on the internet.
Swiftboating John Kerry was not logical, but it worked. Calling Max Cleland, a war hero who lost both legs and an arm for freedom, unpatriotic was not logical either, but it worked too. Calling Obama elitist is not logical. Especially against McCain. But lemmings believe everything they read. I agree with Horner Avenue that we are a nation of sheep (or as Rush says: Sheeple) and West Virginians are robo-sheep. Stunted Shrub did more to maximize massive government than any US President in history. Not ever going to get that toothpaste back in the tube. So Blue State Vote Red Again. Quite the bunch of brainiacs. The true elite slopping at the trough for another 4 years will do so much for your State. Huzzah and Semper Fi.
How about simply looking at our government-in-toto as just one big incumbent party, composed of various social groups and cheerleaders and pundits called Republicans and Democrats, left and right, liberal andf conservative. But, as Horner Ave mentions, they are only interested in promoting the interests of the collective — not the individual. It is my observation that while one of these groups is furiously working “with”, or even conversely “against” its counterpart or declared archnemesis, contemporaneously the individual is left out of the loop and loses. The mass of liberty that individuals can claim starts to erode when the state dresses up a plan with talk about general welfare or safety or economy concerns or patriotism or social justice or polls or experts or history or our unity or overall tax savings or because it is too important or the advantages are too obvious.
I think people should be allowed to join and support any kind of party they want — but the party shouldn’t be given any privilege at the voting booth. People should be given blank pieces of paper for the voting booth — and write in anyone they want. Why should incumbents be allowed to deter challengers.
But, it is correct to assume that the state-run marionettes will satisfy the voters in the audience. The plan requires the “consent” of the voters. Three cheers for the consenting voters: “We, the system graduates”. The government school “system” works just the way it was designed. Long live the marionettes. Long live “the system”.
And you are quite correct that you can go about your daily lives with impunity and ridicule everything that Horner Ave and I have said , except for one uncomfortable caveat :
You will have to explain to your children and grandchildren why YOU allowed THEIR liberty to be taken away. Were you vigilant; were you courageous?
So, fight “the system”, figuratively speaking, with every fibre of your body, or most certainly, your offspring will be fighting it, literally, with every fibre of theirs. Vigilance and courage trump weak alibis.
Do we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers? The idea that government is beholden to the people and has No other Source of power is still the newest and most unique idea in all of the history of man.
This is the question we must ask ourselves….Do we believe in our capacity for self-government or do we confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital (D.C. or Charleston) can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves?… Think about it.
Hmmm…
Bob Barr…
Libertarian candidate for candidate…
No initiation of force, fraud or fantasy…
Just liberty, reason and reality…
Hmmm…
Yeah, he’s got my vote…
‘Nuf said…
Scrap the Obama-Clinton-McCain puppet show…
Now, when does early voting begin around this here neck of the woods?
mr. mcclure,
your name came through to me in a dream last night, which was quite bothersome on the surface. i decided to google the/your name and now it isn’t bothersome at all. keep running for office, it will pay off……..lucid dreamer
So, the legislature is ready to ” improve ” elections by increasing the transparency of election campaign speech. They basically are going to force people and groups to give up their right to remain anonymous when giving money to candidates’ camapigns.
Hmmm. Pure as the driven snow. Naturally.
[ Why do I think of Manchins' veiled threats directed at Blankenship/Massey after it was found out that the troublesome coal baron interloper was using his vast "personal wealth" to finance opposition to the Democrat's 2004 candidate ]
Well, atleast the incumbent-in-office or majority party will know who to target. He or she won’t have to guess. Guessing by the incumbent about who the enemy is, well, would take time away from, er, all their other legislating and governing and judging.
But what does it really mean when someone or some group supports a candidate or issue?
Well, it certainly doesn’t mean that the candidate must give a favor back to the supporter after winning. There are other checks and balances available, but , of course, if the state didn’t have this-or-that power in the first place, the concern would be moot. And besides, how many millions of times have we heard from the paranoid-and-power-hungry state: ” some people might do bad things, so we are going to suspect punish everyone by taking away this-or-that right just to be sure “. Check out the dismal results of gun control laws.
So, there’s a big, bad ugly ad on the billboard, or in the newspaper, or on the radio. And then what? Oh, the people march right into the voting booth and vote in accordance with the ad ? You are of course impugning the mass of state school graduates. The ones who are supposedly armed with critical discerning analytic skills required to participate in a democratic process and uphold our constitutional republic. So, the party in power — the very same party in charge of building, subsidizing, staffing, policing and medicating the government school system — is not so confident that their precious sheepskin immunizes “We, the survivors and graduates of the system” from ugly, nasty ads. And, before we put to rest the matter of “poor preparation as citizens, parents, voters, and entrepreneurs “, are there any other aspects of our lives that “We, the government school survivors and graduates ” aren’t able to decide upon ?
Well, I guess we can see the real problem here, can’t we ? And it ain’t the ads.
So, what are some of the other costs ? Well, they all inordinately fall on the challenger, since the incumbent can get around this thorny advertising issue by way of an obedient-media-at-the-ready, favors to special interest groups, and, as Blankenship and I know from our respective attempts to change the system : increased and unwanted attention from the state. Yep, that’ll sure open up participationand discussion, won’t it ?
[ Campaign donors : limited donations
Aaah, but, the benefits of arbitrarily enforcing, or thrreatening to enforce, laws and statutes at one's convenience : priceless]
And, what about promotion of political discourse ? Well, it won’t be ‘free’ anymore, literally or figuratively. But, the state cheerleaders say that there is no infringement : “all ya’ gotta do is follow the rules.” Oh, the same rules that take a team of lawyers to pour over to make sure that you won’t get fined $5000. Oh, this might be another great make-work-project for lawyers, but does anyone think this will promote participation by ordinary people ?
So, getting back to those pesky, incendiary campaign ads. Who cares who’s paying for it. Who cares how much money they have ? Who cares if it’s paid by someone out of state ? Duh ; it’s paid by someone who wants to get that message out. Period; full stop. Read it or listen to it and decide for yourself. Do your own investigation — don’t fall for that old canard of the state that “we need to find out, but there’s just no otherway “. Why should these types of ads be any more-or-less difficult to handle for folks than, say, truck ads or fast food restaurant ads ? No one’s claiming there’s a crisis brewing in these areas of discrimination and decision. Slander and libel laws ( which should be repealed ) would seem to take care of any “problems”. The best way to deal with offensive or unwanted or challenging political speech from one direction is : more free political speech from another direction.
If West Virginia is going to get any new ideas to bring the state to “the front of the bus”, they will have to tell the state that these selfserving and suffocating election laws need to be jettisoned.
Tell Joe not to sign this law into effect.
We can’t afford to start taxing new ideas. They”ll leave the state like evrything else that we have taxed harshly.
So, we’ve all had a good “4th”, but is it true what I’m hearing, that “patriotism” is now the new opiate of the masses ?
So, then that would make the government schooling “system” the syringe barrel, the obedient mainstream media is the needle, the flag doubles pretty well as a tourniquet and the pledge does a nice job drowning out the last stridorous gasps.
And the Constitution which we find folded carefully in his back pocket ? Well…uh…hmmm ; we can use that to wipe up the body fluids and cover up his body after the fact — don’t want an open casket, too much to explain and so, so many people would get offended.
‘ Patriotism ‘ — read label before use . Dispose if safety seal broken. Don’t mix with other mind numbing concepts. Dangerous if taken in excess.
So, Rockefeller — our Senator — got his precious FISA bill passed this afternoon.
Oh good. We’ve got too many rights to keep track of in the Constitution anyway. Let’s try to keep the number below, say, three.
Now if you’ve forgetten what you’ve said on the phone last week or if you’ve forgotten what you were doing on your computer last month, you can always ask the governnment for a transcript or ask them to send you a printout of your sequenced keystroke or URL’s visited.
And, will the White House call us on our cell phone if someone’s trying to reach us at home while we’re away ?
So, there are some advantages to getting on the TSA Watch List !! But you gotta know where and when to ask for them.