Gregory’s Web

by Ron Gregory

The decision by Logan city officials to make it clear that the Clintons are not welcome in their town shows the inherent power of West Virginians to stand up for themselves.

When it was announced that Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, ex-President Bill, were coming to the Mountain State, there were gasps from anyone who understands the political process. After Hillary’s pronunciations about killing the coal industry if elected President, it was widely believed in political circles that she would avoid West Virginia like the plague. The most recent accurate polling shows Republican Donald Trump beating her, 64-19, in the Mountain State.

Some Democrat politicians, for whatever reason, cannot keep from supporting Clinton, no matter what. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin endorsed Hillary early; then said he would reconsider his endorsement based on her anti-coal stand; then endorsed her again.

It is not a question about whether any politician, anywhere, can salvage what’s left of the coal industry. The issue is whether or not the candidate proposed to hammer coal with everything in him or her. Clinton has promised that. In open forums, in debates, with anyone she chooses to tell. She vows there won’t be a coal mine operating by the end of her eight years in office. That is about as plain as it can get.

I suppose if some politicians want to endorse her because of something else, they have a right to do that.But coal has been the cornerstone of West Virginia’s economy for decades. Without coal, the future is bleak, no matter what anyone tries to tell you. There can only be so many scenic overlooks, race tracks and pig farms on reclaimed mine property.

As I have routinely pointed out in the past, even Native Americans and the colonists knew West Virginia had no base as a separate state. My elementary teachers always reminded us, “Even the Indians wouldn’t live here. It was there happy, hunting ground and then they returned to civilization.” We should never have been forced, under threat of murder, to leave the mother Commonwealth. This western section of Virginia might have survived economically with the help of Northern Virginia and the riches of Richmond. It has always been doomed otherwise.

While many become upset when called a “”Virginian” by outsiders, I am proud of that title. West Virginians forefathers considered other names for this territory but settled on West VIRGINIA. “We will always be Virginians first,” they said

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Meanwhile, there was a level of consternation regarding the behavior of Boone/Lincoln County Family Court Judge Cynthia “Tinker” Jarrell last week. It seems Jarrell, locked in a tight re-election campaign with Bobby Hale, decided to more or less disrupt an honorary presentation involving children in Boone County.

At an event dubbed National Children’s Flag Day, apparently a program for at-risk youth, Boone Circuit Judge Will Thompson was set to be honored. Thompson is recognized statewide, by the Department of Health and Human Services and others for his lengthy service to those facing societal problems.

State Senator Ron Stollings was called upon to present an award to Thompson for his service, according to those in attendance. Jarrell, who one source said “has never acted as though she knew the program existed during the past five or six years,” sat on a bench in the circuit courtroom during the program.

After Thompson was presented his award and spoke briefly, sources said Jarrell stepped forward to say she felt she should be recognized for some comments. Thompson relinquished the podium to the Family Court Judge.

Jarrell then proceeded, according to those in attendance, to issue a litany of her many services to children and family. She also predicted that the services for which Thompson was being honored would soon no longer be handled in Circuit Court but would instead come to her Family Court.

“It was simply an inappropriate, blatant attempt to make a non-partisan, good program into a political rally,” said one of those in attendance. “If Cynthia thinks she helped herself by taking over and praising herself, she is wrong.”

One source added, “She (Jarrell) said some good things about the Judge but the speech was mostly to praise herself and try to get votes. It was completely out of line.”

Jarrell, who is one of two judges in the circuit, generally represents Boone while retiring Judge Scott Elswick is from Lincoln. Voters in both counties select the two judges, however.
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Team Trump is gearing up for the May 10 primary at their headquarters at 818 Virginia Street, East in Charleston. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and closed on Sunday.

Monday, May 2, is designated as “Meet and Greet Monday,” at 5 p.m., with visitors being urged to stop by and visit with the Trump staff. Tuesday is “Taco Tuesday” at 5 p.m., with visitors invited to have dinner and make phone calls. Wednesday, May 4 is “Walk and Talk Wednesday.” At 5 p.m., volunteers will be given material to distribute while door-knocking. Those not able to door walk are asked to make phone calls. It’s “Dinner and Dialing” Thursday as visitors are asked to come by at 5 p.m. for dinner and phone banking. Friday, May 6, is “Bring a Friend Friday” when supporters are urged to bring a friend to knock of doors with them at 5 p.m. “Lunch and Learn” is the Saturday theme. Supporters are asked to stop by at noon to learn how they can best impact the election results for Trump.

Monday, May 9 is “Momentum Monday” with visitors being asked to make phone calls and knock on doors a day before the primary. The get-out-the-vote effort intensifies Tuesday, May 10, on primary election day. Those coming by headquarters can make calls or may want to visit some polls in their area.

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I still puzzle over the political wizardry that causes factional candidates in Mingo to avoid public events like the plague if they think the “other side” might be involved. There is no candidate in his or her right mind who would have missed Saturday night’s gala for Jim Justice at Gilbert if he or she actually wants to be elected. There wasn’t an inch of room in that building to fit in another person. The crowd spilled into the outside hallway.

Who gives a tinker’s damn if the event was sponsored by and for Justice? There were 300 or 400 voters standing around. A smart candidate would have been there, not squirreled away in some darkly-lit room with another candidate for Governor. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees!

A crowd is a crowd is a crowd. These same dimwit politicians missed the race track ribbon-cutting where there was easily 1,800 people. Most of them went instead to a meet-the-candidate event where they got to meet other candidates. Hooray! Then, their simple-minded supporters hit social media with comments and photos extolling the speeches they made to each other. One candidate, who once claimed to be not a part of any “team,” said one of her co-candidates “nailed it” at the meet-the-candidate. What she likely “nailed” was assuring her own defeat for being so parochial as to stay away from the ribbon-cutting.

If the pack that has avoided every crowd they thought was created by the other side loses May 10, they will undoubtedly blame me, you and Barack Obama for their loss. Believe me, they have thrown away their chances themselves by hiding like cowards from the real people of Mingo. Genuine Mingo Countians do not care what “team” someone is on, they just want to see jobs and progress for their county. This slate of candidates that has sat out every major gathering has made certain that nobody sees them as progressive. They are still mired in the “team” days of the past.
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Your comments, story ideas, gossip and explanations of politicians who avoid crowds are welcome. Use my email listed or call my cell, 304-533-5185.

Gregory’s Web

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