The four myths of table games
Feb26
Delegate Patrick Lane (R-32 District) graciously wrote an article while I was away early February. Thanks to a glitch in my blogging software, the article and all comments were deleted. It’s too good to simply let it vaporize into the internet, so I am republishing it.
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Much is being made this session about table games. Republicans have led the fight over the last three years to kill the table games bill but this year is different. They are still leading the charge, but House leadership apparently is not afraid to run the bill and let it die. With this in mind, I am please to be given this opportunity to explain why table games is bad for West Virginia families by separating the myths from the facts.
Table games future not certain
Feb22
The table games bill effortlessly traversed through the West Virginia House and if past votes are any indication, it may not ease through the Senate as simply. The Democratic leadership will have to crack down on some of the wayward sheep that voted against it last time.
Charleston Republicans prepare for big-name speaker
Feb20
Charleston has the unique opportunity to be the first West Virginia city to welcome a 2008 Presidential candidate. The Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee has pulled off a minor coup to acquire a high-profile Lincoln Day Dinner keynote speaker.
The face of gambling
Feb19
As the table games bill moves through the legislature, many words have been used to disguise what it will really do to our state. The front-runners of the bill are slick �suits� like Mountaineer Park President and CEO Ted Arnault and John Cavacini, president of the West Virginia Racing Association, who assure the legislature that this is in their best interests.
They paint a rosy picture and speak of all the revenue gained by additional gambling and of all sorts of visitors coming to our state and enjoying themselves. The legislature would be insane to not vote for such wonderful things as more tax dollars and happy people if it were not for West Virginia�s most notorious lottery winner: Jack Whittaker.
Random thoughts for the week
Feb16
In this smorgasbord of unrelated thoughts I discuss why I am practically giddy over the new area code, State Auditor Glen Gainer, and my decision to run for the House of Delegates.
Ron Thompson and the revolving door
Feb15
What are the House Democrats thinking? First they kick out Delegate Ron Thompson (D-Raleigh) and now they vote him back in.
Thompson had not shown up for almost a year, never took his oath of office, and never appeared for one meeting during the session or most of last year’s interims. When asked to at least show up long enough to hold his hand up and say “I will,” Thompson refused. He then asked for an extension and failed to meet the date.
Now following logic that makes you want to beat your head against Robert C. Byrd’s statue, the House has voted him back in.
The beauty of nothing
Feb13
Political pundits had a field day with Delegate Ron Thompson’s ouster from the House. The effervescently witty Don Surber wrote, “While I have the eerie feeling his absence has some sad reason behind it, there is a silver lining to the cloud that hangs over him.
“Ron Thompson has done nothing this session. Which puts him ahead of the 99 other delegates. This year, before they vote, they should ask themselves, what would Ron Thompson do?
“The answer is nothing.”
Even Chris Stirewalt waxed humorous in the State Journal, proving a man who sports a bowtie can be funny. “Expulsion?” He said, “No sir. An award for most improved legislator would be more like it. I just wish some of his colleagues would follow his lead and stay home.”
West Virginia’s latest blogger: Lawrence Messina
Feb8
He is best known as the guy who marches through the capitol with a slight scowl on his face as though he is on a forced march, clinging to a small pad and pen. If the name Lawrence Messina is familiar, it’s not your imagination. Open any number of West Virginia’s newspapers and you will read his articles for the Associated Press. Now Larry is lending his talents to the blogging world.
Bonnie Brown’s snake oil
Feb6
A glitch in my blogging software randomly deleted posts and comments over the last few days and brought my entire website down for a short time. Because I have been out of town, I have had limited time to fix the problem and restore the articles.
In the meantime, liberal bloggers have posted hilarious diatribes calling me a coward (and worse) over the following controversial article’s absence. One of the liberals is an unemployed dad [edit: he claims he is employed] and has plenty of time on his hands, so I can understand his angst: it’s either write about me or dust furniture.
I don’t want them to miss sleep anymore, so here’s the article in its entirety (I will also be restoring other posts that disappeared). It may be slightly different than the original; my only saved backup copy was an older draft.
Despite the liberal’s torment from a conservative exercising free speech, this site remains the number one stop for West Virginia’s political commentary. In January I welcomed 40,386 unique visitors.
Oh, and I expect an apology.
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Liberal Delegate Bonnie Brown (D-Kanawha) has created ripples in the conservative and medical community with a bill mandating that all girls in the sixth grade get triform shots to protect them from a strain of the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer.
Guest editorial: Will table games help West Virginia?
Feb5
Because I have been in Washington attending my brother’s wedding, I’ve had no chance to write. Until I get back in the saddle, here’s an exclusive article by Delegate Patrick Lane of Kanawha County.
Much is being made this session about table games. Republicans have led the fight over the last three years to kill the table games bill, but this year is different. Republicans are still leading the charge, but House leadership apparently is not afraid to run the bill. With this in mind, I am please to be given this opportunity to explain why table games is bad for West Virginia families by separating the myths from the facts.
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