Lincoln holiday on its way out (West Virginia)

West Virginia Gazette Mail ^ | 9-8-2005 | Phil Kabler

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Lincoln holiday on its way out

By Phil Kabler Staff writer

A bill to combine state holidays for Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays into a single Presidents’ Day holiday cleared its first legislative committee Wednesday, over objections from Senate Republicans who said it besmirches Abraham Lincoln’s role in helping establish West Virginia as a state.

Senate Government Organization Committee members rejected several attempts to retain Lincoln’s birthday as a state holiday.

State Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, introduced an amendment to instead eliminate Columbus Day as a paid state holiday. “Columbus didn’t have anything to do with making West Virginia a state,” he said. “If we have to cut one, let’s cut Christopher Columbus.”

Jim Pitrolo, legislative director for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the proposed merger of the two holidays would bring West Virginia in line with federal holidays, and would effectively save $4.6 million a year — the cost of one day’s pay to state workers.

Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, said the overall savings would be even greater, since by law, county and municipal governments must give their employees the same paid holidays as state government.

“To the taxpayers, the savings will be even larger,” he said.

The bill technically trades the February holiday for a new holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving. For years, though, governors have given state employees that day off with pay by proclamation.

Sen. Sarah Minear, R-Tucker, who also objected to eliminating Lincoln’s birthday as a holiday, argued that it was misleading to suggest that eliminating the holiday will save the state money.

“It’s not going to save the state a dime,” said Minear, who said she isn’t giving up on retaining the Lincoln holiday.

Committee members also rejected an amendment by Sen. Steve Harrison, R-Kanawha, to recognize the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Lincoln Day.”

“I do believe President Lincoln has a special place in the history of West Virginia,” he said.

Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, said he believed that would create confusion.

“It’s confusing to me,” he said.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, suggested that the state could recognize Lincoln’s proclamation creating West Virginia as part of the June 20 state holiday observance for the state’s birthday.

Proponents of the measure to eliminate a state holiday contend that the numerous paid holidays - as many as 14 in election years — contribute to inefficiencies in state government.

To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220.

[jaguaretype]

"You can read anything that you want into it"

Thanks Cowboyway but I'll just actually read only the words.

As will others.

And those words speak volumes:)

[jaguaretype]

"I didn't say that........ Now since you don't agree with my statement, you...."

FWIW, I'm not able to follow something here.

Was the thing you didn't say the statement I allegedly don't agree with?

BTW, I don't ever recall my assuming the label of yankee and you won't find my postings taking either side.

[M. Espinola]

"I found these New Yorkers to be remarkably similar to the Southerners I grew up with except for their funny accents. :)

Your overview is correct and would also be applicable to remote rural areas of northern New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine in particular, where there are more moose then people.

Very similar in many respects to the greater Adirondacks region of Upstate New York is Vermont's heavily wooded "Northeast Kingdom" which is northern end of Essex County, bordering southern Québec & N.W. New Hampshire along the begining of the Connecticut River. This section of Vermont is the least population.

The vast majority of native born residents of this section of Vermont will freely admit to strongly disliking anything urban in rather bold terms. I cognizant of this fact - first hand! - lol.

[Gianni]

And those words speak volumes:)

Not sure I get it, maybe you could share?

Cowboyway posts a picture of Klansmen, says he assumes they're racists, and somehow you two are breaking your arms patting each other on the back about... what exactly?

[jaguaretype]

I'm patting no one Gianni.

Some of us don't "assume" the Klan are racist.

They are definatively racist. By nature.

The word "assume" is not definative in any proper context.

If that was a poor choice of words on cowboyways' part then he can clear it up and we can remain friends:)

He is obfuscating by interjecting "technically" into the statement.

If he thinks the Klan is wholly racist then he can just say it and we'll be clear.

Otherwise words mean what they say.....to some of us.

[jaguaretype]

"An assumption is all that it can be based on a photograph".

I carefully scoured the picture Cowboyway posted trying to see if he might have seen someone not wearing a hood and robes in the picture....no luck...all pointy hoods.

One might wonder if it were for instance a picture of a forest if cowboyway would still only assume that they were trees in the picture.

But who knows, maybe the FBI had infiltrators in that march....LOL.

[mac_truck]

Not sure I get it, maybe you could share?

Why am I not surprised? See 1319 and call my office if you require further remedial attention, ok wingnut?

[cowboyway]

who has no trouble 'assuming' he'd get shot at while driving around Riviera Beach,

I've been to Riviera Beach. You've never been to Riviera Beach, have you. Do you even know what country it's in?

Slaying victim is sister of former Riviera councilwoman

Two men shot leaving card game in Riviera Beach

Police: Two Shootings Related

[cowboyway]

And those words speak volumes:)

I assumed the men in the photo were racist because of their attire.

However, if they had been wearing street clothes and carrying the Stars and Stripes, one would assume they were patriots.

Then again, if they had been in street clothes and carrying the Stars and Bars, then all you Anti-Southern Leaguers would have assumed they were racist.

But even though they were carrying the Stars and Stripes, a flag associated with patriotism to the United States of America, they were wearing attire commonly associated with a racist organization.

So in conclusion, I was incorrect in assuming that they were just racist. I should have also assumed that they were patriotic to the United States of America.

Put that in your volume.

[jaguaretype]

You know Cowboyway, you and I don't don't follow the same logical paths.

"However, if they had been wearing street clothes and carrying the Stars and Stripes, one would assume they were patriots"

They weren't wearing street clothes. I don't assume that, I see that with my eyes.

Secondly, I see near my home, leftist morons at the hate America rallies carrying a token American Flag or two and I do NOT assume they are patriots.

Anyway, this is going nowhere as I think you don't grasp the meaning of the word "assume".

Properly compiled into my volume:)

[M. Espinola]

I have been in Riviera Beach, it's nice but frigging hot & oppressively humid like the rest of Florida the majority of the year. Sarasota, which I like in the winter, has warmer sea water plus is void of rednecks. The 5600 block of Miami Beach has a very Manhattan high-rise appearance look with palm trees and is another area I prefer when down there.

In six months or so hurricane season will once again inflict it's wrath on that elongated peninsula directly in the path of Hurricane Ally.

[M. Espinola]

"Peckerwood SC"

LOL

[M. Espinola]

"Cowboyway posts a picture of Klansmen, says he assumes they're racists, and somehow you two are breaking your arms patting each other on the back about... what exactly?"

Are you implying Klansmen are not racists?

Two Klansmen with their flag.

So many flags....

Desecration of the American flag.

And .....

The identical flags publicly displayed by the Klan....

Over and over again..

The flag in the background looks the same - again. Why?

Note the flag...

Additional public desecration of the flag of The United States of America.

Birds of the same, flock together....

Same flag, same Klan, same hate.

The same flags...again. Just what is the significance?

There is a trend here..

Confederate flag, KKK flag, with Nazi flags.. .w o w.. could there really be a link?

Klan bedsheet fashion plates Hamas style.

Jezz, what do we have here? That same Confederate flag being proudly displayed by Nazi saluting Klansmen. Some people might actually get the impression the bedsheet covered, cone headed verminous scuzzballs are... racists.

Say it isn't so G man.. . .

Could you speak up..boy?

[Colonel Kangaroo]

With apologizes to the true heritage types, I don't think you have to be unreasonable at all to be VERY uncomfortable with the connotations of the reb flag and it's connections to that other flag from Germany just increase the unease that much more.

[M. Espinola]

Whenever the issue of the Klan comes up the Lost Cause crowd drags out the same World War I era photos with the Klansters wrapping themselves in the American flag.

Right after World War II returning southern Blacks realized it was time to stop existing in state of fear. Many, after being overseas during the war became fully cognizant of just how horrible the repressive segregated South was and began departing "Dixie" by the hundreds of thousands, while others started demanding their rights as American citizens, like voting.

The Klan countered in many respects and reverted to the Civil War banner being that it represented slavery to them and they flown the Rebel flag ever since. Resulting from Klan ideologies of hate being identical with neo-Nazis, when today's hate rallies are staged each grouping of depraved thugs always displays their favourite banners.

The other relevant point was to demonstrate the swamp rats Klan members of today do not run around with the American flags (unless desecrated!) but are promoters of a new "old South" as the photo documentation clearly depicts.

[cowboyway]

They weren't wearing street clothes. I don't assume that, I see that with my eyes.

I said if they were wearing street clothes.

If I'm looking at an uncaptioned photograph of people in normal attire marching with Stars and Stripes flags in their hands, I assume they are patriots.

Are you telling me that you can look into the eyes of the people in the hypothetical photograph that I just described and know what is in their hearts?

If so, you're a god!

BTW, when you see a black man driving through a white neighborhood, do you assume he's a criminal?

[cowboyway]

Peckerwood Garden

[cowboyway]

Resulting from Klan ideologies of hate being identical with neo-Nazis, when today's hate rallies are staged each grouping of depraved thugs always displays their favourite banners.

So, Mr. Espinola, based on your passionate statements and your captioned pictorial post of modern day Klansman, are you suggesting that I am a racist because I fly a Confederate Battle flag on my property?

BTW, I'd be willing to bet that most of those pictures that you posted were taken north of the Mason/Dixon line.

I saw a documentary on the History Channel this week about the Klan and the FBI in the 50's and 60's. The documentary went into some of the Klan activities and how the FBI eventually infiltrated the Klan.

I thought it was interesting that, during the civil rights movements of this period when the Southern Klansman were at their most active, that the membership rolls of the Klan were only 10,000. (after FBI infiltration the membership dropped dramatically)

Using an estimated population of 25 million people for the 11 states of the former Confederacy, that means that only 0.00004 percent of the Southern population were Klan members.

Now to hear you South haters and bashers, we were all running around in hoods, burning crosses, hanging black men and bombing churches.

[M. Espinola]

"Peckerwood Garden"

Strange name, very interesting place.

[TheForceOfOne]

2006 out - Lincoln holiday
2006 in - Kiss your sister day.