“You can stop this,” Governor Jim Justice said. “Everywhere you go, people that have been vaccinated, truly, the likelihood of them being infected with this is minuscule. The likelihood of them being hospitalized — almost zero. The likelihood of death of somebody that’s been vaccinated — super zero.”
That was the governor last week, doing his regular BabyDog and Pony Show in an effort to get apparently weak-minded West Virginians to have Covid vaccinations. These folks are so feeble in the brain department, according to the Governor, that he must offer money and other prizes to get them to take the shot that will potentially save their lives.
There’s just something inherently wrong with this whole scenario.
Justice manages, in his grave (no pun intended) warning, to ignore exactly what the death rate is for those who do not take the vaccine. How minuscule is the difference? Super zero maybe?
It seems to me that if folks have to be bribed to get a life-saving vaccine, there may be more doubt about the effectiveness and safety than the Governor realizes.
And remember, the man pushing the vaccine allegedly teeters on the verge of personal bankruptcy and thinks cutting the state’s personal income tax will bring 400,000 new residents to West Virginia. In light of those facts, do you trust your health to his discretion?
If one does not want the vaccine, it should be a personal choice. Nobody should be ordered, shamed, intimidated or coaxed into it.
Freedom? Remember that word?
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With pre-candidacy filings underway for 2022, rumors are also on the increase.
Hallway gossip during the just-completed interim meetings spread the speculation on several possibilities. Most will fall through while some come true.
Mingo County Democrat Delegate Nathan Brown is said to be yearning for a race with Republican State Senator Mark Maynard of Wayne. That’s assuming, of course, that the two end up in the same senate district with redistricting.
Maynard originally upset Democrat veteran Senator Truman Chafin on the strength of Mercer County. If that county is eliminated from the new district, Brown’s possible step up seems much more likely.
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Meanwhile in Mingo, the tragic death of new Republican County Commissioner Gavin Smith sets up two commission terms to fill in 2022. Thomas Taylor, who changed from Democrat to Republican, was already scheduled to be running next year. Now voters will also be asked to fill Smith’s unexpired term.
Whoever Taylor and Democrat Commissioner Diann Hannah choose to fill Smith’s term until next year will likely have an electoral advantage.
The appointee must be a Republican and longtime County Chair Russell Deskins is said to be interested. He lost the County Clerk contest in 2020 and did not return my call seeking comment.
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Democrats, long the majority party in Mingo, were already hoping to recapture the County Commission majority next year.
Now, with Smith’s passing, it’s possible longtime Commissioner Greg “Hootie” Smith could make a comeback in 2022. Gavin Smith defeated Greg Smith last November.
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West Virginia State Republican Party Treasurer Gina Brown has apparently been well-schooled in the art of secrecy and perhaps deception.
Brown quickly read but did not respond to my request regarding the party’s recent filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Apparently trained by Party Chair Mark Harris in the art of winning friends and influencing reporters, I might have asked Brown to confirm fundraising of either $163 or $323 since she evidently filed an amended report reflecting the change. Either figure is anemic when it comes to operating a state party.
When one is dealing with the sort of fundraising prowess Harris has displayed as Raleigh County GOP Chair, it’s no wonder the numbers are mind-boggling for Brown. His county fundraising in the 2020 election year just about matched his state production to date.
Brown appears to be one of those transplanted West Virginians who, on social media claims her love and devotion to the Mountain State while snubbing her nose at lowly natives who ask legitimate questions.
Rumors soon spread that Brown resigned after the FEC report was filed but that would be none of the public’s business since it’s the state GOP Committee. I realize she owes no explanation to state Republicans.
There are more serious questions about the report but I suppose none of that is any of the public’s business either.
For a group that apparently wants state voters to support their candidates, state GOP officials have an odd way of approaching that goal.
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Keep this on the hush-hush since the last thing any Republican party official would want would be to be bothered by some peon showing up for their meetings.
The WVGOP Summer Meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., August 28 in Bridgeport.
Only those who pledge absolute secrecy as well as devotion to protecting Harris from any questioning will be freely. admitted.
Always remember that state GOP leaders know far more than the rest of us will ever know.
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The Beckley VA Medical Center settlement with 62 patients who were sexually assaulted by a center doctor made news for Harris and state Republicans last week as well.
Harris just happened to be asked to step down as chief of staff during the tragedy although he and VA officials say that was unrelated to the abuse.
Stephen New, the attorney representing most of the victims, is not so sure about that. Neither is Republican U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito.
The lawyer said “proper protocol” was not followed in the hiring and supervision of the criminal doctor. Capito asked that the matter be further investigated after expressing reservations when the state committee elected Harris two months ago.
Harris, like Brown perhaps, thinks he can hold out and survive. I doubt it.
The state Republican committee showed — and is showing — terrible lapses in judgment.
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Let’s see … Harris may have raised $300 while the inept, despicable circumstances at the VA Medical Center cost $10.5 million.
Seems fairly obvious why Republican committee members view Harris as a highly-qualified leader.
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As the Democrat capable of assuring or destroying President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda in an equally divided U.S. Senate, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin is in a unique position of power.
Republican Capito is also enhanced as the ranking party member in things like the infrastructure negotiations.
All in all, it’s a great time to be a U.S. Senator from West Virginia.
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It’s like a breath of fresh air, as I often mention, to deal with state Democrat officials after the stench of Republican leaders.
Current State Chair Belinda Biafore and all her predecessors as far back as I can remember have always been candid and transparent when I approached them.
Last week, the GOP-Democrat divide was as clear as night and day when I asked Biafore about media coverage of a debate between some legislators and the state party over Affirmative Action plans.
Unlike her Republican counterparts, Biafore immediately took my call and was clear, honest and concise in her response. She did not run and hide.
Given her track record, it is safe to say there’s not a racist or anti-LGBTQ+ bone in Biafore’s body. She is not prejudiced. To suggest otherwise is just disingenuous rhetoric coming from unhappy Bernie Sanders disciples.
And there’s the rub. Bernie supporters have been unhappy that moderates like Biafore didn’t simply turn the party over to them in 2016. Many Sanders backers then behaved as spoiled children and it hasn’t changed since.
I’ve mentioned before that progressives mistakenly got the idea that West Virginia was turning leftward because Sanders did so well here. He did that well because his opponent was Hillary Clinton, one of the most despised politicians for West Virginians.
Democrat radicals have given Republicans all the board of public works members, four of five members of congress and super-majorities in the legislature because their party candidates are too far left. Biafore has done nothing to cause those losses to pile up.
I’m convinced that Biafore and the state committee are hitting the mark on Affirmative Action as well. She will never satisfy the party socialists.
She’s a dynamic, refreshing leader.
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Those in the know tell me Boone County Circuit Judge Will Thompson is still expected to be President Biden’s appointment for Southern District U.S. Attorney.
Thompson emerged as the favorite several weeks ago and informed sources point out that it often takes new Presidents quite a while to appoint new federal judges and lawyers.
“President Trump took his time although everyone knew (former Attorney) Mike Stuart was his choice,” said one source.
“The background check is thorough and meticulous,” he said. ” They want to get it right but from what we hear, Thompson has no problems.”
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Cabell Democrat Delegate Sean Hornbuckle is among those who have pre-filed for election next year. As I’ve mentioned, because of redistricting nobody is certain which district they’ll run in.
In Hornbuckle’s case it definitely won’t be the same multi-member 16th District since all new House districts will be single-member.
Getting re-elected in 2022 could set Hornbuckle up for the Huntington mayor’s campaign he’s rumored to be planning in 2024. The seat should be available since Democrat Mayor Steve Williams will not be running.
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According to statehouse records, Justice’s conscience, Bray Carey, is no longer being paid for his “services.” Originally billed as a volunteer, Carey basically shifted to a minimum wage-type salary as he essentially ran the governor’s office.
Recent payroll records show no pay listed for him although he appears to remain the Governor’s confidante.
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Speaking of Mingo County, as we were earlier, all three town elections held last week returned incumbents to office.
Gilbert’s relatively new Mayor Jennifer Miller swept the vote, winning by a three-to-one margin. In Matewan, Mayor Matt Moore took all but 15 of the votes cast in his race.
Williamson Mayor Charles Hatfield got 61% of that town’s vote.
All the Mingo municipalities have been hit hard by the downturn in coal mining, costing jobs and revenue. All are fighting to keep their towns afloat, remembering the “glory days” gone by when coal and related industries were thriving.
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One of the more intriguing pre-candidacy filings was made by former Putnam County legislator Republican Mike Hall.
Hall did not declare what office he might seek in 2022.
Most recently, he was Justice’s chief of staff during most of his first term. He served in the House of Delegates for years before being elected to the State Senate.
Speculation centered on him possibly eyeing a return to the legislature.
Ron Gregory is a regular political columnist and reporter for lootpress.com. Contact him at 304-533-5185 or ronjgregory@gmail.com.