In
this weeks edition:
Election
time is upon us...
Election time is upon us….
For all practical purposes this is our last issue prior
to the election. In a way… it’s a good thing. The work
load has taken its toll on our small staff.
I have purposefully been rather quiet concerning the
election. The primary reason is that a good turnout
is expected, and that’s my primary concern that the
majority of the voters make the decision.
I have mentioned my support of the bond and levy issues.
I hope the majority will join me in supporting these
issues. The improvements these funds will provide are
critical to the wellbeing of our elementary schools.
If they fail… those schools are literally doomed. And,
it won’t take long for the hammer to fall. We have over
$7 million dollars in grant money that we will lose
if these issues do not receive the support of the voters.
If our children and grandchildren are going to have
a future, vote Yes on both the bond and levy.
Some of the decisions on the state wide level are easy
for me. Of course, I am going to support Brent Boggs
for House of Delegates. Brent has done a very admirable
job for the county and he not only deserves another
term in the house… we need him there for the betterment
of our area.
I will also support Doug Facemire for Senate. I have
nothing bad to say about his opponent. However, I think
this is a very rare occasion when Braxton County has
a realistic opportunity to have a Senator. The time
and circumstances are right. There has only been one
other Senator from Braxton County in the history of
the legislature. The fact that local voters should keep
in their minds is that Braxton County has to be better
off with a Senator from Braxton County. I understand
that the majority of the voters in this district are
from the northern counties, but we need to support Doug
Facemire to help offset the fact that we are next to
the smallest county in the 12th district. Whether you
like Doug or not… think about what is best for Braxton
County when you go to the polls. That conclusion is
obvious… vote for Doug Facemire.
I am not going to say too much about the local candidates.
In fact, probably would have kept my opinions totally
to myself, had it not been for the boycott of this publication
by a couple of the candidates. I recently asked Terry
Frame why she didn’t take advantage of this paper in
presenting herself and her platform to our readers.
Her response baffled me. Actually there wasn’t a definitive
answer. I asked her why she didn’t take advantage of
the free introduction article that we offered. She said
she knew then that she wasn’t going to advertise in
our paper and she felt that would be taking advantage
of us. I told her that the purpose of the free article
was to erase the money barrier. We have, by far… the
largest circulation in the area. We get to more people
than any other form of the media. We have never threatened
candidates with opposition if they didn’t advertise
with us. We are simply convinced that we have the best
avenue of distributing information in Braxton County.
I regret that she or any candidate doesn’t think our
readers deserve to hear their message.
I believe new fresh ideas would be in the best interest
of the County Commission. Derek Long offers those ideas
without personal interests. So, I hope voters will join
me in supporting him. The election to these offices
should not be a popularity contest. Look at performance.
Look at what will be best for our county. I believe
Derek has the characteristics to represent all the people
all the time. We need that in a County Commissioner.
There are other good candidates vying for the various
county offices. I hope you will weigh the
evidence and make a decision on qualifications and not
popularity. Just because you are a “good ole boy or
girl,” doesn’t mean you will make a good elected official.
Don’t vote for popularity vote for performance. Regardless
of your candidate… be sure you vote. Remember, as I
see it, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to
criticize the performance of those the rest of us elect.
Whether its early no fault, voting, this week or casting
your ballot on May 13 be sure you vote for the candidate
of your choice…
Tired of a long 2008 campaign
Yes, I know I am one of a kind,
but I had a email ‘s that Rev. Wright was an interesting
person. I beg to differ. His arrogance turns me off.
But, to be fair, his infamous statement was taken out
of context from one of his sermons. He traced out a
series of situations where Israel and other nations
disregarded God’s righteous ways and said that in response
God damned these nations each time. America was included.
This is not that different from what far right evangelical
preachers have said many times in recent years about
the chickens coming home to roost and God punishing
America for her sins.
Also, one often hears that Obama is anti-American because
he doesn’t wear a pin with a flag. If that is what it
takes to identify a patriot, patriotism must be pretty
cheap these days. A picture goes around on the internet
of him standing with his hands to his side while others
have their hands on their hearts apparently saluting
the flag. The deceptive nature of such photographs has
been exposed over and over. Some are doctored and others
are simply a matter of snapping the shot before or after
the hand is up. Lots of people have seen Obama saluting
the flag. So one has to give him justice. I do not think
Obama will win WV, and surely Hillary has more experience
in and with government. Therefore, she might be more
savvy to run this country.
Others and I have talked about how weary we are of this
long session of campaigning and especially all the attempts
to destroy each other’s characters. Most of us have
enough to discredit us without concocted stories. To
me, the whole country should have the primaries on the
same day and get it over with. Anyway, we all will be
glad to wind down this primary season. I’m anxious for
us to get on with undoing the damage done to this country
by the present administration.
I noted the Gazette’s recent State endorsements and
I agree with all but the presidential pick. Gazette
endorsements in the Democratic Primary are President,
Barack Obama; U.S. Senate, Jay Rockefeller; Congress,
Anne Barth; Governor, Joe Manchin; Supreme Court, Robert
Bastress and Menis Ketchum; Secretary of State, Natalie
Tennant; Agriculture Commissioner, Gus Douglass.
Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday May 6 may determine
whether the democrats have one candidate before the
convention in Denver and avoid the candidate for president
being selected by the Super Delegates.
lolabgiven@wildblue.net
