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.

[KC_Conspirator]

It tells us that PC has made everything out of kilter.

[Heyworth]

You're in Pasadena? I'm working in Glendale.

[4CJ]

The fact that he's got a photo of the klan's founder displayed on his homepage

You're wrong, Forrest was not the founder. He was elected in absentia after the group was formed, and asked that it be disbanded.

[jaguaretype]

"All I want is to restore the system of government that served the people - the system of government that Jim Robinson is seeking to restore - a limited, conservative one."

We agree on these issues....and that coupled with being bipeds who consume oxygen gives us a trifecta of commonality.

Nevertheless, our differences are clear though I am not a strident supporter of North or South. What evasive and obfuscatory individuals such as yourself do is drive people away from your view whether you intend this or not.
Everything is a word game and the majority of you clowns seem to spend to much time pinging for support and name calling when you can't support or defend your statements.

You REALLY have narlo on your mind as well as enshrined in verbiage on your website. Are you married to him? Your love for nolu makes my teeth hurt from all the sugary talk. WHY the fixation? I like to laugh at his demise simply because he was a bloviator and finally got caught bloviating out of control. LOL!!!

Nolo was exactly what your side does not need (and you have others still) to make your points in an intelligent fashion. How can you compare the likes of him to injin or pea ridge??? Look at the posts and the content and style are from different planets.

You are actually pretty hilarious re: chan. Like he is dead and gone forever from FR!!!! So, nolu whoops....4cj,
who has nolu reincarnated as? If not you then WHO???:)

As for nolu and his decorations.....have you read the "fables of watie". Would you like me to repost them here for your review? I've spent more time on this than it's worth....so bye!

[mac_truck]

You're wrong, Forrest was not the founder.

Ok professor, I'll let Captain Ed know. Maybe he'll take your hero off his Ten Worst Americans list .

[Gianni]

Yes, 'ping' - as in, "It's rude to take shots at someone who's not paying attention."

But then, rude is the name of the game you've been playing.

[Gianni]

"neocon agenda"

So, it is a surprise to you that there is a massive rift in the Republican party between small-government conservatives and power-at-any-cost neocons who are attempting to hijack the party?

What have you been reading here that you missed the Schwarzeneggar(sp?) debates, the Harriet Miers debates, the animal rights debates, the WOD debates, and the endless stream of other topics on which freepers don't agree?

Do you really just come here to cheerlead and nod your head to the dull drumbeat of "ain't we peachy?" Or is it just that to East Coast liberals and new-age hippies on the left coast, "You republicans all look alike to me."

[Gianni]

Are we clear here clownboy, or do you require further remedial attention in this matter?

Point me to the post, any post, for that matter, from whence your unearned sense of superiority comes.

I'll be waiting. Until then, lay off the insults, both foreign and domestic. I think I've put up with it for long enough.

[jaguaretype]

Gianni, several issues you have just blown passed w/o answering.

Now you are off on party rifts, Ahhhhnold debates etc...

Quite a bizarre post.

Not warranting anything further from me other than maybe you can send out another puppy ping to jumpstart your positions.

[mac_truck]

All I want is to restore the system of government that served the people - the system of government that Jim Robinson is seeking to restore - a limited, conservative one.

Would that limited conservative system of government be called the United States, or would that limited conservative system of government have a different name?

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Just imagine what articles would be in the hardcore Southron's dream publication "damnyankee Magazine"

"Invasion of Dixie from the North"
"They Don't Like Us"
"Confederate Unisex Handbags Drive damnyankees Wild"
"being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie."
"Heritage, Not Hate"
"I Hates the Yankee Nation"
"Lincoln Picked the Wings off Flies"

[M. Espinola]

Do you really believe the main reason America has not had the horror of another 9-11 is because the leadership of the GOP has been taken over by "..liberals and new-age hippies"? Drugged up pinkos really protect national security, don't they?

[M. Espinola]

LOL!

Some of my favourties are:

1) "Best of The Bilge Report"

2) "Connecticut damnyankees started the northern invasion"

"Yankee Magazine Must be Banned"

3) "Lincoln was a Kentucky Commie, Bolshevik"

4) "Why is Our Cause Still Lost?"

5) "Memories of a neo-Confederate Teenage Swamp Dweller"

6) "I ain't never bin north-a Dixie an don't wan' none, never!!"

7) Ban The Lincoln Penny!

8) "There are no Neo-Confederates"

9) "I Hate NY!" (but have never been there)

10) "1865 Never Really Happened"

11) "There are no Americans, only Confederate Southrons or low down damnyankees"

12) "Why damnyankees think we are bonkers"

13) "damnyankee tyranny is wearing a suit & tie"

14) " Republicans are Northeastern Hippies"

15) "Could the Klan really be racists?" ==================================

Some advertisements:

The DeLorenzo Dixie Revision Institute

Home for Little Confederate Wanderers

Neo-Confederate Catering Company

Mud Trucks - We make em muddy & filthy!

Join the Dixie Republic Insurrection

=============================

Some of the advertised publications in:

"danmyankee Magazine"

:

Award for the official website of:

"danmyankee Magazine"

The prize for the "danmyankee Magazine" sweepstakes of 2006. Can you believe it, an all expenses paid two week vacation for up to four at the Swamp Royal Resort as depicted in their travel brochure.

Click to view Resort

[tkathy]

Hang in there, ME.

All this rage, hanging onto the long dead past, blaming Lincoln for the self created horrors and stupidity of the South, endless revisionism, remind me of why Islam is so backwards and violent.

[mac_truck]

Quite a bizarre post.

I was thinking the same thing. The neo-confederate clique seems to be having a collective meltdown on several fronts these days. I thought his comments about the union dominated Midwest were similarly weird. Especially when you consider how reliably Republican the Midwest has actually been over the last century and a half.

[rustbucket]

Psst. jaguaretype has been banned.

[mac_truck]

Hmmm...