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.

[television is just wrong]

hmmm, a lot. My parents always told me MLK was a communist. I just am stating, not accusing.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Yes, the U.S. Treasury Department would be a reputable source, much better than MSN. Do you have a link?

[Grand Old Partisan]

Tariffs were collected where the imports entered the country. Since at least 90% of imports in 1860 entered through the North, it stands to reason that at least 90% of imports went to the North. Southern exports went out through southern ports, so imports to the South would have arrived at southern ports as well.

[PeaRidge]

You are having the same problem as your other little pal. You are misunderstanding or just simply deceptively asking the wrong question.

The data is that the North consumed $31 million in imported goods. What does that have to do with point of collection of tariffs?

[mac_truck]

The Virginia ratification is not binding on the rest of the states.

Nonsense. Virgina's ratification of the USC is binding on the other States. Just like their ratification of the USC is binding on Virginia. All of the States are entitled to equal treatment and protection under the US Constitution, as are their citizens. Nothing Virginia added beyond their ratification of the US Constitution is relevant.

[Grand Old Partisan]

If you believe that the United States imported only $31 million to the North in 1860, then the total tariffs collected in the three largest ports -- New York, Philadelphia, and Boston -- would have totalled not more than a few millions dollars.

You just are not making any sense at all. I look forward to that U.S. Treasury link for your alleged data.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Naturally, when a grouping of Southern power brokers for Slavery Inc became totally frantic over losing the White House in the election of 1860's, and then conspire as a criminal enterprise to break away from the rest of the United States, invented a so-called 'government', appointed their own version of a 'president' & cabinet plus schemed coordinated sneak attacks directed at Federal military forts & naval vessels, for the sole purpose of continuing & expanding the totalitarian Slavocracy. I would term those rebellious sore losers as lawlessness traitors provoking bloody insurgency.

"Slavery is founded on the selfishness of man's nature-opposition to it on his love of justice. These principles are in eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely as slavery extension brings them, shocks and throes and convulsions must ceaselessly follow."

Abraham Lincoln, 1854

There are a lot of the things about the rebellion that are offensive to the ideals of America, but the motivation for the secession is particularly grotesque. They'd speak noble words about the liberty of man, but their whole motivation was their own selfish aims which were based on the non-liberty of their fellow man. Our American Revolution showed that moral right will endure and triumph over material superiority. Conversely, the quick demise of the rebellion shows that morally flawed causes cannot endure.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I really think both great presidents equally deserve a day to themselves. If it wasn't for both Washington and Lincoln, we would not have this great republic we are blessed with.

[television is just wrong]

I agree. Unfortunately, unless we elect officials who feel the same way, we are not in control.

[M. Espinola]

I wholeheartedly agree with your overview. "Conversely, the quick demise of the rebellion shows that morally flawed causes cannot endure."

The short lived timeframe of the 'Confederate' rebellion demonstrates a foundation constructed on evil can not stand, nor shall be resurrected in any respect in today's America.

"Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

Abraham Lincoln, March 17th, 1865, Speech to 140th Indiana Regiment. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8.

[stand watie]

N-S, i'm NOT going to argue with you AGAIN about this.

you have a REAL BUG under your saddle about the POTCSA's "failure" to appoint a CSSC. that's YOUR problem, not mine.

neither of us will ever agree that the other is correct on this, so let's drop it now.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

actually, you are 100% WRONG about that.

over 95% of all the PLPOWC guards were white.

blacks were TRIED, but weren't "severe enough", so they were QUICKLY replaced with white persons, who were MOSTLY being employed as guards rather than confining those same persons as PRISONERS.

may i gently point out that you need to go do some READING from other than REVISIONIST/damnyankee-apologist sources.

are you aware that over 15,000 helpless CSA POWs were MURDERED at Point Lookout DEATH CAMP??

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

as usual, you're showing yourself to be not only a MORON, but an ignorant FOOL as well.

also, a HATER.

free dixie,sw

[M. Espinola]

"as usual, you're showing yourself to be not only a MORON, but an ignorant FOOL as well. also, a HATER. free dixie,sw"

See a doctor nutso. Make that three doctors, since you will drive the first two off the deep end in short order.

[stand watie]

EVERY post you make, makes you look like MORE of an ignorant FOOL & the forum's worst HATER.

be gone to DU. they LIKE fools & haters over there.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

btw, don't you get really tired of being RIDICULED as a FOOL by almost everyone here?

free dixie,sw

[4CJ]

The White House of 1861 was confronted with a domestic terrorist outbreak such as this nation has never witnessed.

You sir, are the epitome of a stark, raving mad lunatic. No Confederate state flew an airplane sailed a ship into a building killing thousands, bombed a PanAm flight, bombed US embassies, bombed the White House, or performed any act that ANY sane person would deem to be an act of terrorism.

The only act that Confederate states did perform was to exercise their God given right (remember the Declaration?) to alter their form of government viz: under a republican form of government as mandated by the Constitution - the Constitution and legislature being the creation of the people, and the states as parties - lawfully acted in convention to dissolve their membership.

... freedom loving citizens of Northern states not directly scourged by Confederate wrath, nor subdued, would rally with remaining portions of the Federal troops countering the invading hordes of frenzied rednecks, eventually defeating the treasonous enemy within, pushing them back into the swamps of the South.

W. T. Sherman [*SPIT*] wrote Lincoln,

The United States has the right, and also the physical power, to penetrate to every part of the national domain. We will remove and destroy every obstacle - if need be, take every life, every acre of land, every particle of property, everything that to us seems proper.

He advoctates the mass slaughter of every living man, women and child in the Confederacy, and that 'Lincoln more than once referred to it with marks of approval.' It was Bin Laden and the true terroists that attacked America that uttered words similar to that expressed by Sherman [*SPIT*] and Lincoln.

And please don't have an apolectic fit because I posted anything in any way derogatory towards your saint. The truth hurts, but it is the truth.

[M. Espinola]

"are you aware that over 15,000 helpless CSA POWs were MURDERED at Point Lookout DEATH CAMP??"

It's a real shame for the general public you could not have been at Fort Lookout as another captured confederate insurgent.

[stand watie]

YET another hate-FILLED, STUPID response from FR's very own HATER/BIGOT/FOOL!

head over to DU, "mr.SPIN". they like RACISTS & HATERS over there.

free dixie,sw

[M. Espinola]

"The only act that Confederate states did perform was to exercise their God given right.."

Plunging the nation into 4 years of civil war with well over half a million men killed, plus who knows how many wounded - that was the Confederates "God given right"?

You really have an abnormal interpretation of a "God given right" but after reading your endless, demented versions of Civil War history, 'abnormal' is an understatement.

Did your Southern slave masters also have a "God given right" to whip men, women and children and think there would never be reciprocity for their cherished evil of slave labour. Talk about rat filth.

'Crush the traitors'

You have a very disgusting, backward habit each time you type General Sherman's name, LOL, who was one great American general who really understood how to teach treasonous vermin lessons they would never forget! :)

Do you also chew tobacco in the living room? ...sick.