Howard Monroe And The Morning Show

What should we do for the Gambler

2007-02-05T22:58:00.000-05:00

I think table games will be good for the area, good for the economy and creator of real jobs.

Of course, I know that there IS a real problem for some people who can't control their addiction. I have seen the problems it can create and its effect on families. But I don't think it's the State's fault. I ....don't...think......

But I'm not sure.

Phil Kabler has some stats inside this column in the Gazette. They just reaffirm what we all know, but they remind me that as a Christian and as a concerned human being, we have to recognize the problem that is spun off from this economic success called gaming.

I have no idea what we do.

But I think we need to so something.....more......

Sad For My Friend

2007-01-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

I am terribly saddened over the fate of my friend Bob Ney. I know the proper position is supposed to be outrage over his "shaking down the system" and being part of the "culture of corruption", but I see a man who tried to do good and got run over by a system way out of control.

Bob is going to spend 30 months in a federal prison in Morgantown, WV (and yes, before some sarcastic caller asks, I do plan to visit him when I can). He will also get treatment for his alcohol addiction. You may have heard some of the comments from close friends who tell of his heavy drinking. I must say I was aware of the same problem.

Bob was a man who always had the interests of his district at heart. But he was also a man of small means, who became a major player on the national stage. A stage that runs off 2 things--cash and connections. For "the Congressman" to maintain his stature, he needed to be at the best restaurants, attend the sky box games, and play at the best courses. Bob Ney's family is a fine one (I know them) but not a wealthy one); and Bob's only career was that of a public servant which meant there wasn't much money after the bills were paid.

Bob Ney played the game he saw being played every day in DC. He took the steps he felt he had to take to stay in a position to help his district.

It was a mistake. It was wrong. And he is paying the price.

I had a note from Bob this week. His house has been sold. His family scattered. He has filtered his life to a box of memories. He has lost all he had. For those who say he made himself rich, you should know he has nothing at all.

But he has family and friends.

And a box full of memories.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the leadership crows about changes in ethics.

And there is a young Congressman somewhere who is just starting to serve his citizens wondering how he can manage to keep up with the high-fliers who seem to run the town.

And a guy in a suit nearby is smiling.

The Race Is On

2007-01-21T18:34:00.000-05:00

It's official. Hillary Clinton is going to test the Presidential waters. You will note her web site now is bannered "Hillary for President" and the home page announcement is "I'm in".

Frankly, I thought she might not run. I thought she may come to the conclusion that she has 20 years to be a Senator of substance as opposed to a potential 8 years in the White House.

Her first obstacle is Oback Barama. He also announced his intent to test the Presidential waters. I think Obama is a real rising star on the Democrat horizon. Articulate, attractive, controlled and with some interesting ides. Consultant Susan Estrich has written a piece pointing out he is no younger than Bill Clinton was when he ran, and Obama actually has more years in elected office than Hillary does. But to me he lacks the national "gravitas".

She's clearly an early favorite. I'm not sure either is the best choice. New Mexico's Bill Richardson has always intrigued me, although I don't know if he's the guy. This should be the Democrat's year and we need the right man or woman to be in front. We don't need a repeat of Kerry.

The race is on.

It's Time To Come Home

2007-01-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

There was no surprise. President Bush announced plans for "The Surge"--an additional 20,000 American troops to Iraq.

When you hear or read the word "surge", remember to interpret that as "escalation".

I was pleased to see the President acknowledge--years too late--that the Iraq war plan isn't working. I just wish he had actually proposed a new one. The latest administration proposal is simply "give us more men and some more time and we'll keep doing door-to-door and see if we can figure something out".

Enough, is enough, Mr. President. We never should have been in the war to begin with. But now it's time to get out. All of the reasons you told us we needed to go are gone:

*There are no Weapons of Mass Destruction
*Salaam is out of power, and dead
*The Iraqi people now have control over their own destiny with a democratically elected government
*There is no imminent threat to America from any terrorist activity in Iraq

We gave the Iraqi's a new country. Now it's their job to manage it. We have a real war on terror to battle elsewhere, Mr. President, and our own people have a lot of problems that could use your attention.

Pay For Play??

2007-01-10T23:38:00.000-05:00

When you watched the OSU-Florida championship game Monday you saw a packed stadium of folks who paid big bucks for tickets, dozens of ads that made FOX millions, and plenty of promotional banners and signs around the stadium. Lots of people made lots of money--including the 2 schools. But not a penny to people who were on the field. The young athletes, we are told, received a commemorative watch and a satellite radio.

Personally, I think we need to recognize that at the major football schools, the programs are big money-makers, revenue-generators. They are part of the "business" side of the school. Why shouldn't the "employees" (players) who make it possible to raise the big bucks get a "taste". Perhaps, as Powerful Pierre today suggested, it could take the form of some sort of "seed" money for their pension or some sort of "trust fund".

I would only apply the pay-for-play opportunity to the major schools where the football program is actually big business. And I might even agree that it should only apply for special occassions (undefeated seasons, bowl games) because the athletes DO get a free education out of it.

But when big bucks are being made for the schools, networks, coaches, and others, the players should get more than a watch.

Know The Goal

2007-01-10T23:36:00.000-05:00

The role of government is NOT to make money. Nor to save money. It is do DO THINGS.

I have said this over and over, and I need to remind you of it again.

In West Virginia, a legislative audit report says the artisan center Tamarack is not making money. There is talk about changing the way it's run or even closing it.

What a pail of hog wash!

Tamarack was created to give West Virginia artists a place to sell their wares. A way to preserve the cultural heritage of our Mountain art. And a way to present that to the world. Tamarack does just that. A hundred artisans congregated in Charleston to make that point this week. Tamarack admirably does what it was created to do--it supports West Virginia arts and artisans. If that means the state needs to subsidize it, so be it.

Government is supposed to DO THINGS for the common good.

And success or failure is almost never measured in dollars and cents.

Keep Your Promises--no matter how small

2007-01-10T23:33:00.000-05:00

It is, as a practical matter, no big deal.

But as a symbolic gesture, it is important.

And it has me steamed.

The Democrats have promised a "new day" in Congress. They have said it is time to stop the junkets and jockeying for cash contributions. Time to buckle down to work. And one "symbol" of the change was a return to a 5 day work week.

Now, let me be clear, I understand that Members of Congress do a lot of work off the floor. Time in the office or with constituents is vital. I know that just because they aren't standing behind those historic desks in the Rotunda, they are not goofing off.

But the Democrats said when they took over it would be a 5 day work week.

And it didn't last a week. Not one single week.

Monday, the House was not in session. And the reason was football. OSU-Florida in the national championship game. Big game, indeed. But the SYMBOLISM is disgusting. Members of Congress couldn't keep their pledge to work a full week for a single week--so they could watch football.

Symbols and image are important. It may indeed be true that there is no practical difference in starting a 100-hour clock Monday or Tuesday. But it is already a broken promise.

Is it any wonder the public is disgusted?

The Christmas Checklist

2006-12-03T18:36:00.000-05:00

The blue skies and warm temps last week were nice, but now that the winds are blowing and a chill is in the air, there’s no question what time of year it is.

My FAVORITE time.

Here are some things I plan to do to make the season mean what it should. You can borrow it if you like.

Attend one of our area’s many Holiday musical events. Symphony on Ice, Stefano’s Home for the Holidays, BE Taylor’s Christmas concert. No music reflects the season and settles you into a perfect mood better than holiday songs and Christmas carols.

Give a toy to the Marine’s Toys for Tots. Then write a check to the House of the Carpenter and take a tag or two from one of the Valley’s various Giving Trees. Making someone else’s Christmas brighter is a highlight of the holiday. Doing it for more than one is an extra mitzva.

Get your decorations up early. It relieves the worry about getting them done and gives you more time to enjoy them.

Take the family to dinner. Eat slowly and talk to each other. Drive through the Festival of Lights when you're done.

Go to church. If you attend regularly, add an extra service and if you’re not a churchgoer, give it a try. It will end your year with a different perspective.

On a clear night, stand outside and stare at the sky. Try to imagine what the Wise Men thought when they saw their star.

Say “Merry Christmas” to someone you don’t know and who doesn’t care. Sometimes the offering is as important as the receiving.

Watch a Hallmark Holiday movie. They are sappy, simplistic, moralistic, and predictable. What fun!

Make a list of gifts for your family and friends. Make sure the gifts are very personal and really reflect the person who will get it. If you actually GIVE the gifts, so much the better. But making the list will remind you of your good friends and what makes them special.

On Christmas Eve, read The Night Before Christmas and one of the Christmas gospels. They both sound special on that bright and holy night. Read them out loud.

On Christmas morning, sip your coffee slowly and take all the time you need to open your gifts. These mornings will live in your memory a long time. Make them slowly. But if the kids want to hoop and holler and hurry up, that’s OK, too. They’re making memories as well.

I love this time of year.

Merry Christmas!

What's next?

2006-11-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

In just a few days, the American public will likely see a major shift in the national power structure. Democrats almost certainly take control of Congress and have a strong shot at the Senate as well.

Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. The GOP leadership abdicated any attempt at oversight of President Bush. They were happy to bask in the reflected glow of his success and thus were complicit in all his errors. When Republicans took control in the Republican Revolution of 1994, they were going to "change the way things are done". They were going to end "business as usual." They were going to term limit themselves, be more cooperative with the minority than the Dems were when they were in control, and in general return respect to the role of politician. Over a decade later, they clearly were swept up in the pull of power and have become more controlling, more power hungry, more derisive of their ideological opposites than the Democrats ever dreamed of during their years in control. And they did everything but give a crown to the Imperial Presidency of George Bush.

Now the table turns.

The question is what will my party do with this opportunity? Will we punish the GOP for its ham handed and dictatorial control? Will we refuse them access to committee rooms, deny their right to amend bills, refuse their attempts at oversight hearings? Or will we say "enough"? Will we come out of this dark tunnel of single party control and decide to attempt bi-partisanship and true governance again?

DICTATING WITH DOLLARS

2006-10-29T16:30:00.000-05:00

The power of the informed voter to transform society is inherent in our democratic process. But the continuing influence of big money has distorted that concept out of all recognition. In a recent interview with an official of the National Republican Campaign Committee, I asked why the GOP believed that they would retain majority control of the House and Senate in the wake of virtually EVERY poll that said otherwise.

And the answer I was given was a single word: MONEY. With enough cash in the coffer, you can change the momentum of a campaign.

That wouldn't be so bad if candidates were getting cash the old fashioned way. If individuals who believed in a candidate gave their contributions to help get them elected so the incumbent could continue to do what is seen as a good job--or give a challenger who shows promise a chance.

But the big bucks today come elsewhere. In West Virginia's First Congressional District we have seen the effects of ONE MAN bankrolling the campaign against Alan Mollohan. In fact, the Charleston Gazette tells us that Robert Perry is the single biggest campaign contributor in America this election. We all know the efforts by coal baron Don Blankenship to dictate his policies to West Virginia out of his own checkbook. And in what is perhaps the most frightening of all, the LA Times today tells us that Karl Rove is using taxpayer dollars to win the election!

In just a week, the midterms will be over. And the next Presidential election cycle will be in full swing. The issue of the impact of big money in these races cannot be ignored. Whether the Elephants or Donkeys win, the American public will lose if we don't address these issues. Blankenship, Perry and Rove should not dictate with their dollars to the American voter.

And like it or not, the dollar dictates in the contemporary election system.

Moving Money Around

2006-07-21T11:04:00.000-04:00

When I take a dollar from my left pocket and put it in my right, I am no richer.

When business moves from one Ohio Valley town to another the Valley has not grown.

When the government ponies up cash for "economic development", it should raise all boats. It should IMPROVE the area, not just move money around.

I am thinking these thoughts as Belmont County looks at a big loss of sales tax dollars and Commissioner Mark Thomas lays the blame at the feet of the Highlands--Ohio County's new retail development surrounding Cabella's, which Thomas says has simply taken dollars away from the areas around the Ohio Valley Mall and Plaza.

When businesses choose to move for their own reasons, that's just....well....business.

But when multi-millions of tax dollars are spent to create a development area---as was done in the case of Cabella's and the Highlands---some sort of greater good should be achieved. Tax revenue should grow, opportunities for good jobs should be expanded, or the possibility of future growth should be enhanced.

Cabella's itself, I think, DID create the possibility of future growth. There will be a big announcement next week about a major new attraction at the Highlands, and it, too will be a big boost.

But many of the stores already in development at the Highlands are just more of the same. And there will be a second big announcement next week that will be a big addition to the Highlands---but will be a huge loss to the City of Wheeling.

And I think there's something wrong with that.

I hate to sound like a Republican, but government should stay out of the economic development arena UNLESS in the end there is growth.

Moving money from one pocket to the other is a waste of our taxpayers dollars and is a fraud on the public when it's called "development".

Death of Democracy?

2006-07-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

He's done it before and he's at it again. Massey Energy boss Don Blankenship want to remold the Mountain State in his own image. He wants to make changes in the way we run government, wants government to make changes in the way we run our lives.

Mind you, he doesn't want to put himself up as a candidate so the residents can vote on whether we like him or his ideas....he just wants to spend his own millions to defeat candidates he doesn't like and set the State agenda on some of the social issues he thinks are important.

There is one absolute fact in contemporary elections; MONEY TALKS. No matter how many spaghetti dinners and street fairs a candidate attends. No matter how often he takes to talkradio. The defining factor in our elections today is who can buy the most ad time. It's TV (and to a lesser extent radio) that makes or breaks the campaign.

When a millionaire like Blankenship puts his money into the mix--WITHOUT putting himself up for consideration--the playing field is no longer level. American democracy is based on the premise that "Everyman" has a chance to be elected. But if Blankenship targets "Everyman" , it's tough to fight back. Most candidates can't match him dollar-for-dollar. And if a candidate wants to meet Blankenship's money in a fair fight, "Everyman" has to spend a lot of his time and energy raising money instead of campaigning.

I truly do NOT have the answer. The Supreme Court has ruled that spending money on campaigns is "free speech". Although I can't imagine that the Founders intended for bags full of cash to be as protected by the First Amendment as a "pamphleteer", it nonetheless IS.

But at least we need to see what Blankenship is up to. To understand the arrogance of a man who thinks his money allows him to push us around.

Maybe the Mountain State will remember it's motto "Montani Semper Liberi". And NOT "He who has the gold rules"
___________________________

She will be missed

2006-07-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

When I feel stressed and overworked, I often take a minute to think of Kathy Fortunato. There is no one I know who was able to juggle more balls, manage more matters, and do it all with a smile, than Kathy. Her family always came first, but community, church, and charity were never far behind.

Kathy Fortunato passed away this week. A friend and former colleague, Kathy suffered a sudden stroke over the weekend and died Tuesday morning at the all-too-young age of 46.

Our tremendous sympathy, support, and prayers go to her family--Dr. Mike and the kids--as well as her extended family in the community.

From medical matters--(Health Right, The Medical Society)-and politics (Ohio County GOP Chair, a personal mention from the President)--
to The Chamber of Commerce (executive committee) community events (Chair of the Sternwheeler Festival)
and her church,
Kathy was deeply involved in every aspect of our community.

She will be missed.

Sleep softly, sweet lady. You done good.

WHAT MAKES DOWNTOWN WORK?

2006-06-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

I get lots of calls from folks who know what's wrong with downtown Wheeling. Too many bars, too many parking lots, too high taxes. So, we thought we'd take away the objections and see what IDEAS you have. Here's the idea: if start up money was no object, if we wrote you a check for whatever you need...buying land, hiring people, purchasing equipment, acquiring advertising....what's the one business that can't miss in downtown Wheeling.

We had a few ideas...some good, some iffy. A "Science Museum", like COSI in Columbus, for kids. A new TV Station. A Nike outlet store. A "Build-A-Bear" store. A "dollar store". A nightclub for seniors. A new/trendy tavern-restaurant.

Personally, I think downtown Wheeling works as it is. The future of a downtown such as ours lies in offices--doctors, lawyers, ad agencies, and radio stations. Banks and parking lots. Taverns and diners to serve the people working in the offices. Add a few specialty stores and you have a downtown.

If I had the "blank check" we imagined, I think I would buy and renovate a couple of buildings into "loft apartments". Trendy living spaces on the river for young middle-to-upper income professionals. After they moved in, I think additional trendy shops, small galleries and some entertainment would pop up to support them.

In the meantime, the City of Wheeling should buy and tear down as many of the ugly, dilapidated properties as it can. Plant some grass, maybe a tree. Create some downtown "mini-parks". And wait. When the time is right; when the next "big idea" comes along, someone will find a use for that space.

Separation yes; above the law, no

2006-05-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

I have intense respect for the separation of powers established by our Constitution, and I am fiercely protective of that privilege. But I also believe that no one is above the law--and that includes elected Members of Congress.

Based on the information that has been made public, it seems to me that the Justice Department had ample probable cause to think Louisiana's William Jefferson was involved in accepting bribes or other abuses of power. They had a legal search warrant and executed it on his office. That seems reasonable.

Not even a MOC is above the law. It is true that the Constitution prevents their arrest on lower crimes but they are not protected from felonies.

I am amazed at the outcry from both sides of the aisle claiming that this violates the separation of powers.

It's Just a BOOK!

2006-05-11T00:59:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I had a pleasant beach vacation sitting in the surf and reading The DaVinci Code. Just like I read a John Grisham novel the year before, Robert Ludlum a few years earlier and so on.

Yep. It was an interesting read with a lot of historical references that it was fun to Google. An interesting theory about Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene conceiving a child with their bloodline still living today. It was fun to lie in the sand and contemplate. Just like I have contemplated time travel after reading a science fiction book, or about America in the wake of the SOUTH winning the Civil War after reading an historical fiction book.

But I never THOUGHT the South actually won.

And as a Christian, I haven't had my belief shaken by Dan Brown's book. IT'S A BOOK (and soon to be a movie).

Several clerics (primarily, but not exclusively, Catholic) have criticized the book, damning it as blasphemy, and even calling for legal action against it.

First, I wonder when critics will understand that when they shout loudly about popular books (movies, music, tv shows), they only help PROMOTE the book. The DaVinci Code movie will only see BIGGER audiences because of the complaints.

And second, if a Christian has a faith so shallow, so lightly taken that a work of fiction....a book, a movie...can shake that faith and change their Biblical understanding, then they didn't have much of a faith to begin with.

Perhaps the complaining clerics should worry more about that.

KIDS WILL BE KIDS

2006-04-25T22:57:00.000-04:00

OK. First, the qualifiers and disclaimer: I don't think kids should be boozing it up. I know that underage drinking is against the law.

But I still think Wheeling Jesuit University was out of line when they called the cops on a group of their own students. Most of the kids, apparently WERE of legal age. Proper care had been taken to make sure no one was drinking and driving (they rented BUSSES, for heaven's sake). The University itself was holding a "Last Blast" party on campus.

Sounds to me like sour grapes. Here were some students who wanted to have some OFF-CAMPUS fun. Handled it safely with careful planning. Yet the University had to send in the gendarmes.

IF--and it's a big IF in my mind--WJU felt the party was so bad it had to be stopped, they should have taken responsibility themselves. They saw the ad on the internet. Could have called the organizing student in and called the whole thing off. Suspended him if that fits with University policy.

But calling the cops. Come on.

And isn't there something more important 10 Wheeling cops could have been doing on a Saturday night than standing on 12th Street breath testing a bunch of kids WHO HAD A SAFE RIDE HOME ANYWAY?

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE STATE OF THE UNION

2006-01-31T22:34:00.000-05:00

I had planned to write my own small analysis of what The President said in his State of the Union speech; and I began the evening with my yellow pad and fountain pen keeping notes. But as the speech went on I learned something about myself.

I continue to gain a much greater appreciation of what went on in the Clinton years. I thought those who spent so much time sniping at Clinton..name calling, nit picking....were just a bunch of sore losers. That they just weren't willing to open their eyes and minds to look at what he was doing or deal with the real issues but just had a basic hatred of the man.

Watching tonight's speech I realize that I have the exact same feelings (in reverse). I simply can't stand this man (Bush). I disagree with his policies, I think he is uncaring about the average American or the impact of his policies. I think he lives in a rarified world and doesn't know or care that he does. He is arrogant, cocky, smarmy. He is willing to break the law when he wants to and dare anyone to challenge him. Cindy Sheehan gets arrested but HIS dead soldier's mom gets a place of honor. It's disgusting.

There may have been something worthwhile within the speech but I couldn't find it because I can't stand the man. It's visceral.

It is a revelation to me. I'm certainly not "proud" of it....but there it is.

TIME TO TAKE IT BACK

2006-01-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

When the future of the Democratic Party seemed so shaky in the early '90s that even I suggested we nominate George HW Bush for President and then just fight for the VP, Bill Clinton came along to blaze a different trail.

And with him came Paul Begalla and James Carville to help hone his campaign strategy and themes (remember "It's the Economy, Stupid"?) And Clinton became the most successful Dem on the national stage literally in a generation.

Now with the Party of the Working Man again in turnoil, The "ragin' cajun" has hit the nail directly on its head once again.

Bill Clinton's colorful campaign advisor has a new book that is saying much of what I have been saying about the problems with the democrats.

Paul Rodriguez of the conservative web site Newsmax.com has a really concise analysis of Carville's arguments and I highly recommend you look it over.

A few key items:
* Too many dems still think it's enough to just "hate the GOP"
* Democrats have a laundry list of issues and ideas, but not defining "narrative" that truly explains what they stand for
* Democrats should look at adopting a theme of "Progressive Patriotism", in Carville's words "wrap themselves in the flag...like the Republicans".
* Stop the "pillow fighting"....don't be swayed so much by power that you will do anything to keep it instead of fighting for change

There's much more, and it's just excellent thinking!

You've heard me say for years that my party is in disarray. We are truly the party of America and the party of the People, yet we have let the GOP define us and denigrate us and we have done little to help our own cause.

If only party leaders--or potential leaders--would listen to Carville and Begalla---again.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2006-01-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

The holidays have begun.

It's my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving is here and that means family gatherings, turkey, and football. Then it's the wonderful Christmas Season.
As a Christian, I believe the "reason for the season" is to celebrate the birth of Christ. But I also know that the "season" is more than that. There is the "holiday season" that includes Santa, Rudolph, shopping, and parties. There's nothing wrong with that.

Which is why it doesn't bother me a bit when someone wishes me "Happy Holidays". It's a warm and wonderful time of the year and I hope they are indeed happy for us all.

When a store clerk says "Happy Holidays" after I buy something, they're really saying "thanks for buying". If they said "Merry Christmas", frankly, it would often be blasphemy. They wouldn't be making a heartfelt statement about the Birth of the Son of God. It is almost like taking the Lord's name in vain.

So, celebrate the season. Enjoy Jolly Old St. Nick. Trim a tree and have a cup of egg nog. Then make sure, if you're a Christian, you set aside time to thank God for the Gift of His Son.

Season's Greetings.

And Merry Christmas.

I mean it.

THERE GOES JOHNNY

2006-01-21T12:06:00.000-05:00

I Loved it when that curtain swept open.

He was one of the undisputed giants of television. Johnny Carson created a special type of late night party nearly every night for 30 years. Middle American charm, urbanity, wit, humor, humility all mixed together in Johnny. Carson's death at 79 sends me thinking about what we DON'T have on TV today.

Carson saw talent and gave it a chance to blossom for our enjoyment. "American Idol" takes talent and trashes it for entertainment.

Carson's monologues skewered any one who made mistakes and he did with a sly grin that softened the blows. We got the message, but heard the humor, too.
We learned about the personal side of our stars, Johnny didn't feel a need to dig into their personal lives.

And when Carson decided it was time to leave the stage, he did just so--he left the stage. An occasional comment to an interviewer was the most we got from the King after he retired. He lived the lesson he taught on his show: what matters is what's on stage; the rest remains personal.

America's Court Jester. The King of Late Night TV. The host we all went to bed with for 30 years. NBC's biggest earner. Husband to several, friend to so many more. The founding father of more comedy careers than I can remember.

He retired over a decade ago. He left us at last this weekend.

And I thought I heard "HEEEEEEEEEERRRRRREEEE'S Johnny" coming down from heaven last night.

The eternal monologue has begun

WHAT'S WRONG WITH PROBABLE CAUSE

2006-01-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

I don't understand the problem some law enforcement folks have with probable cause. If they have reason to believe that I am committing a crime, they can certainly get warrants and come investigate me.

In the case that led to this week's Supreme Court ruling, the cops said they felt that the "suspect"--who had been stopped for a traffic violation--was acting nervously and had used air freshener in his car, which made them suspicious. Which is why they brought in the drug sniffing dogs.

So why didn't they simply get a warrant? They, indeed, had "probable cause". I know a very specific example recently where a man was stopped for a traffic violation. Cops suspected drugs (they were right) and they told the guy: "you can let us search the car, admit to what you've got, or wait for an hour and we'll get a warrant." The guy admitted he had dope.

If certain judges are too tough in their determination of probable cause, then we should address THAT issue. With more clearly defined legal definitions or greater oversight of those judges.

But I don't want cops to be able to threaten me with dogs when there is no cause.
No one disputes that we need to more vigilant and aggressive in this post-9/11 world. But it is ENTIRELY possible to do so without violating civil rights.

I don't understand what's wrong with probable cause.

Let the Man Teach

2005-11-27T16:48:00.000-05:00

A mini controversy brewing over a Vermont social studies teacher who likes to engage his students in debate over the Iraq war and other issues. He also uses some "over the top" questions on his tests.

When I was in high school, I loved the social studies classes that allowed us to discuss...well, "social" issues. I always thought that was what our education was supposed to be about. Learning to think issues through. Making the hard bound books come alive with conversation on contemporary issues.

That Mr. Chenkin is a liberal, is of no matter. I'd be as happy if he were a right winger....as long as he can engage the minds of his students and allows for debate.

These are high school kids. Only a year or so away (if that) from possibly BEING in Iraq. Are we so afraid that they can't think for themselves that we won't allow them to HEAR a different point of view.

It appears to me Mr. Chenkin is one of those teachers that goes beyond just reading a few pages from the text and giving a pop quiz. He actually wants to get his student's minds working.

And now he comes under attack.

Is it any wonder we are losing good teachers?

(The right-wing bloggers-- in what I'm sure they think is really "cute" --have posted Mr. Chenkin's e-mail and ask people to let him know what they think. I did. I told him I appreciate a teacher who actually engages his students and asked him to keep up the good work. Maybe you'd like to do the same.)

Happy Holidays

2005-11-26T02:15:00.000-05:00

The holidays have begun. It's my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving is here and that means family gatherings, turkey, and football. Then it's the wonderful Christmas Season.

As a Christian, I believe the "reason for the season" is to celebrate the birth of Christ. But I also know that the "season" is more than that. There is the "holiday season" that includes Santa, Rudolph, shopping, and parties. There's nothing wrong with that.

Which is why it doesn't bother me a bit when someone wishes me "Happy Holidays". It's a warm and wonderful time of the year and I hope they are indeed happy for us all.

When a store clerk says "Happy Holidays" after I buy something, they're really saying "thanks for buying". If they said "Merry Christmas", frankly, it would often be blasphemy. They wouldn't be making a heartfelt statement about the Birth of the Son of God. It is almost like taking the Lord's name in vain.

So, celebrate the season. Enjoy Jolly Old St. Nick. Trim a tree and have a cup of egg nog. Then make sure, if you're a Christian, you set aside time to thank God for the Gift of His Son.

Season's Greetings.

And Merry Christmas.

I mean it.

No Need

2005-09-07T21:29:00.000-04:00

Wheeling Council has tightened regulations for video lottery parlors in town. Councilman Seals says it will cut down on "nuisance activites" such as "late hours", "fighting and drinking in public".

Of course, the new regulation will do no such thing.

Those nuisance actitvities happen in bars and taverns, licensed by the state ABCC. The so-called "lottery lounges" that have been proliferating are in coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries and the like. The new ordinance grandfathers all existing video parlours into compliance, exempts the downtown area, all industrial zones, and "redevelopment" zones. Current zoning already prohibits them in residential areas.

What MIGHT happen, however, is that the one area of Wheeling that is relatively video-slot-free could see new ones coming. "Out the Pike", through parts of Woodsdale, Edgington Lane, there are only a handful of such places (compared to other parts of the City). If someone wants a piece of the very lucrative lottery pie, they might find it hard to open up in Warwood, Elm Grove, or elsehwere where there are already a lot of lounges. But there are some good sites within the "Out The Pike" area that are NOT within a thousand feet of another such lounge. That's where I would go if I wanted in the business.

Council is well meaning in this effort. They are responding to the perceived unhappiness of the public with the video parlor proliferation. But I have said for months, that the problems are PERCEIVED and not real in Wheeling. I have yet to see a single piece of evidence that there is more crime, more drunkeness, more loitering around the lottery lounges. There ARE such problems around taverns that have the machines....but it is the TAVERN not the machines that create the difficulty.

It's feel good legislation that probably does no harm, but does no real good either.

Failure

2005-09-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

President Bush has repeatedly told us that he will keep us safe. We have been told over and over that since 9/11 his administration has worked mightily to be prepared for disaster. We undertook the largest reorganization of government in decades and allocated money as much as was needed.

And the administration failed.

There isn't any "nicer" way to say it. They failed. Utter and abject failure.

With several days (at least) warning that a gigantic storm was heading New Orleans' way, there was ample time for disaster preparation. With decades of knowledge that NO's levees were not prepared to deal with a storm of this size, there was ample time to prepare for the "worst case scenario".

Yet, when Katrina hit and the levee's broke....and a disaster that had been long known to be possible happened....the federal disaster experts seemed to be caught unaware. The President's hand picked administrators for disasters claimed they "didn't know" how bad the problems were and "weren't aware" of many of the horrible after-disater problems. As Ted Koppel asked FEMA director Mike Brown this week, if you didn't know in your "official" capacity as a disaster official "DON'T YOU WATCH TELEVISION??" And yet, the President blithely praises Brown's efforts and says he's "satisfied" with the federal efforts.

State and local officials, to be sure, are also partly to blame. But when a disaster of this proportion occurrs, it is the federal government that we look to to lead the way.

And they failed.

From within his own party even Newt Gingrich wonders out loud " if we can't respond faster than this to an event we saw coming across the Gulf for days, then why do we think we're prepared to respond to a nuclear or biological attack?"

The President can't blame the Democrats, or the liberals, or the Muslims, or the press, or Bill Clinton. This is HIS Homeland Security Department and FEMA. These are HIS hand picked administrators. And this is HIS issue. The one he has spent his administration telling us to trust him with: our safety and security.

And he has failed.

There's Work To Be Done

2005-08-25T12:02:00.000-04:00

For over a decade in West Virginia, public school teachers have been getting only minimal pay raises. Following the walkout in 1989 and Governor Caperton's reform plans, teacher pay slowly began to inch out of the basement in state-by-state rankings, but they have now worked their way down near the bottom again. And each year the refrain goes something like: "You deserve more and if we had more money, you'd get it."

Well, now there IS more money and it's time to do what's right.

Many Republicans are urging a repeal of the food tax (if we don't need the money let's give it back to the people). Behind the argument is a basic premise that government should be "starved" of money so it will get leaner.

What that arguments forgets is that GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO THINGS. We expect them to build and maintain roads, train and dispatch law enforcement, collect taxes, and yes, educate our children (the ONLY resposibility of state government actually mandated by our constitution). To do those things requires money. To do them well requires more money. Of course, as in any business, there is some waste and inefficent. There are people who don't pull their weight. But at heart, the state's teachers do an exmplary job.

Classsroom-by-classroom, school-by-school, county-by-county, teachers prepare our children for the future. How dare we tell them the time still isn't right! You don't think teachers work hard--BECOME one. You think they have summers off? Check the seasonal employment list at your local park system or see who's on the roof painting houses.

And if you only see "bad" teachers in your kid's school, ask yourself where did the "good" ones go? Chances are the answer is: somewhere where they can make more money.

Who's the nuisance?

2005-08-21T18:21:00.000-04:00

Wheeling Council is way off base when it tries to declare Bud's Club a public nuisance. The club has been in Centre Wheeling for 6 decades and it's been in the same family the entire time. Current owner Joey Gorayeb has been running the place for 15 years.I am willing to accept Wheeling Police Chief Kevin Gessler's claim that the place has been a haven for drugs and possibly prostiution. But whatever problems there are are attributrable to a single owner and in fact a single family for generations.

Gorayeb wants to sell the building and the business to a new owner. The new owner should be given a chance to prove that he can run a "clean club". There already are several nearby business people who think a tavern in that area is a good idea. I agree. It's a neighborhood of antique shops, restaurants, a used book store, art gallery. A pleasant pub makes a pleasing addition. As a member of the City Planning Commission, I can tell you the entire area is properly zoned. In fact, with several store fronts available in that specific block, a new tavern could easily open up within a matter of a few hundred feet.

A piece of property is not possessed by demons. A building on its own is not a nuisance. If there is prostituion in the area, crack down on it. If Mr. Gorayeb or others have committed crimes inside that building, arrest them. And if Mr. Goryeb wanted to continue operating the bar himself, oppose it.

But to to deny a new owner a chance to make a go of a new neighborhood bar in that location is unfair to the new owner, unfair to those who would like to see a pub, and frankly unfair to Mr. Gorayeb in denying him the chance to sell his business and building to a willing buyer.

Leave the Runaway Bride alone

2005-05-06T21:33:00.000-04:00

Why can't we disappear?What ever happened to the truly American right to be left alone? To be rude, crude, obnoxious. To treat your family poorly and--yes--to chuck it all and vanish if you want.

It may not BE right, but I thought we HAD the right.

Jennifer Wilbanks left her groom at the altar. For whatever reason, she decided to go. She didn't leave debts behind, or legal issues untended. She didn't desert a family or abandon children. She didn't ask anyone to come looking for her and she sure as heck didn't ask the media to make her front page news.

Now the outcry is to make her pay! And all she did was exercise that bedrock right to be left alone and do as she chooses.

But the media has made paranoia a national pastime. Although only a small percentage of missing children are really the victim of foul play and the Scott Peterson case is the exception not the norm, the 24-hour news channels whip up our fear, officials catch the furor...and we waste thousands of dollars looking for a woman who we had absolutely no reason to believe was in trouble.