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If you're in the neighborhood of Pipestem State Park, (or even if you're not), you should check out the fun and activities at the Earth Day 2010 Festival this Saturday.
The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and proceed through the day and night at the Appalachian South Folklife Center, just 5 minutes from Pipestem State Park. Activities include a butterfly garden planting project, a panel discussion on Creating Sustainable Communities, a drumming circle, and lots of great music and creative minds. Plus, it's FREE.
From December 2007 to March 2008, I wrote various drafts of a proposal on how our political parties -- starting in 2012 -- might adopt primary election procedures that would better serve our country in selecting presidential candidates. I originally drafted a hypothetical calendar for 2008, based on general election results from 2004. Now that we have the results for 2008, I can now propose a calendar specific to 2012.
The system by which our parties choose their presidential candidates has proven itself to be, at best, highly questionable -- at worst, severely flawed.
The primary calendar we need most is one that is built on an orderly and rational plan -- one that is based on mathematics and on recent historical outcomes -- and not on an arbitrary, publicity-driven, system of one-upsmanship. The change I propose would provide for a more effective, equitable process than the one we have now.
The following factors are the key ones to consider:
Margin of Victory
- The state primaries would be placed in order according to the leading candidates' margins of victory in the preceding general election -- with the states registering the closest margins of victory going first.
For example, John McCain won Missouri by 0.1% and Barack Obama won North Carolina by 0.4%; conversely, McCain won Wyoming by 33%, and Obama won Hawaii by 45%. Therefore, the primary calendar I propose would commence with primaries being held in states such as Missouri and North Carolina -- and would close with such states as Wyoming and Hawaii.
- The purpose of ordering the states according to the margin of victory is to help the parties determine which candidates can appeal to those states that have found themselves most recently on the Electoral Divide. A narrow margin in the general election is reflective of an evenly divided electorate. In this scenario, a candidate who appeals to, say, Florida and Montana is more likely to appeal to a greater number of Americans on the whole.
Iowa, New Hampshire, and Fairness
- Iowa and New Hampshire might object to this new system, given their longstanding tradition of being the first states to cast their ballots. However, so long as Iowa and New Hampshire retain their record of being fairly bipartisan states, they'll maintain their position towards the front of the primary schedule.
- Just because a state should have its primary later in the season does not mean that that state will prove invaluable to the process. Indiana and North Carolina weren't held until May 6th, but those two states might have very well decided the fate of the 2008 Democratic nomination.
- This new system allows other states to play a greater role in how the parties select their candidates. For example, Missouri and North Carolina would be two of the states to get the limelight in 2012. Likewise, based on the results to come in November of 2012, a still-different slate of states could have a more significant role come 2016. A rotating system will be healthier and fairer.
Groupings of Five, and Timing & Spacing
- By placing states into groupings of five, no one state will be overly emphasized on any given date.
- Candidates will still need to address the concerns of individual states, whilst having to maintain an overall national platform. For example, a candidate will be less able to campaign against NAFTA in Ohio whilst campaigning for it in Florida.
- Given that each state has its own system for electing its delegates, these groupings of five states will act as an overall balancer. Ideally, caucuses will be done away with altogether by 2012. However -- should that not happen -- states with caucuses, states with open primaries, and states with closed primaries can all coexist within a grouping, therefore no one system will hold too much influence on any given date.
- Racial and geographic diversity in this process has been a great concern for many. The narrowest margins of victory in 2008 were in a wide variety of regions -- the Midwest, the Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West.
- All parties would have an interest in addressing these narrow-margined states early on. The incumbent will want to win over those states that were most in doubt of him in the previous election, and opposing parties will want to put forth candidates who have the best chance of winning over those very same states.
- Primaries will be held biweekly, giving candidates and the media enough time to process and respond to the outcomes of each wave of primaries.
- Washington DC will be placed in the same grouping as whichever state -- Virginia or Maryland -- is closer to its own margin of victory.
- American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Americans Abroad -- not having Electoral votes of their own -- will determine their own primary dates, so long as they occur between the first grouping and the last grouping.
Under these guidelines, the proposed calendar for the 2012 primary season is:
January 2012
Tue, 1/10
Missouri
North Carolina
Indiana
Florida
Montana
Tue, 1/24
Ohio
Georgia
Virginia
Colorado
South Dakota
Tue, 2/7
North Dakota
Arizona
South Carolina
Iowa
New Hampshire
Tue, 2/21
Minnesota
Pennsylvania
Texas
Nevada
West Virginia
Tue, 2/26
Mississippi
Wisconsin
New Jersey
New Mexico
Tennessee
Tue, 3/6
Kansas
Nebraska
Oregon
Kentucky
Michigan
Tue, 3/20
Washington
Maine
Louisiana
Arkansas
Alabama
Tue, 4/3
Connecticut
California
Illinois
Delaware
Maryland
Washington DC
Governor Manchin's campaign just sent out the following announcement by e-mail:
Friends,
This is an exciting time to be a West Virginia Democrat. The entire nation will be watching West Virginia on Tuesday, May 13 and we are proud of our candidates.
In keeping with tradition, I will once again will host an old-fashioned Democratic Rally at the Farmington Fire HallFairmont State University's Gym the night before the primary election, Monday, May 12, 2008.
It's always great to campaign in your hometown, and I hope that you and your family can join me on Monday evening.
I have invited local and state Democratic elected officials and candidates as well as extended the invitation to both Democratic presidential candidates.
The Davisson Brothers will be performing musical selections at 6 p.m. and the formal program will begin at 7 p.m.
The event is free and entry to the hall is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Food and refreshments will be provided.
Please contact Sara Payne Scarbro, my Campaign Coordinator, at 304-925-3760 if you have any questions.
Thank you, as always, for your support. I hope to see you on Monday!
Governor Joe Manchin
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Joe Manchin
As part of the national Cover the Uninsured Week, West Virginians for Affordable Health Care (WVAHC) is joining with labor, education, business, churches and other groups to rally for health care reform in Charleston on Saturday, May 3rd from 10 am to 1 pm.
Why hold a rally for health care reform? Because we need to send a loud wake-up call to our state policymakers about the growing health care crisis affecting more and more of our citizens. Even when confronted with a Families USA report that 4 West Virginians die each week because they lack health insurance (see below), there was no response by the Governor or other political leaders other than Jay Rockefeller.
Health care for all is within our reach if we can muster the public and political will to implement meaningful reforms. Sound far-fetched? We don't think so. Neither did the citizens and legislators in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, where plans for universal coverage have already been approved. Neither do the people in Pennsylvania and Illinois, where similar plans are being actively considered.
Doing nothing is no longer an option. Won't you be a part of the effort to build political support for health care reform?
Please join hundreds of other concerned West Virginians for the May 3rd rally. If you can help organize your neighborhood or work place or help with the planning of the rally, contact WVAHC at pbryant@wvahc.org or 304-344-1673. We need your active involvement.
Democrats United for America formerly Mercer Democrats United is pleased to invite you, your family and friends to a special presentation of Michael Moore's award winning movie SICKO about the health care system in America at 7:00pm on Wednesday November 14th, 2007. Unfortunately our local theater did not choose to present this important film here in Mercer County. We are proud to present this movie to all who wish to attend free of charge at Bluefield's outstanding new art gallery get s'mART located in the former Stateside building on Bland Street in Bluefield. The presentation is sponsored nationwide by Democracy for America. We will be joining hundreds of other groups nationwide that evening in presenting the movie. A discussion of the movie will take place immediately after the presentation with a conference call that will include Michael Moore and Jim Dean the Chairman of DFA.
Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP by clicking here. You can also search for a SICKO House Party near you by clicking here. Other West Virginia SICKO House Parties are listed after the jump.
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 11th, is the annual "Stop the Hate Rally." The celebration begins at 5:30 PM at Charleston's Davis Park. The hour long event will bring people together to reaffirm a common commitment to teach mutual respect and acceptance and to stand together to oppose bigotry, hatred and persecution of every kind. Featured music will be provided by members of the Mountain Stage Band and the VooDoo Katz.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones proclaimed October 11th as "Inclusive Community Day" as a reflection of the city's commitment that all kinds of people are welcome to live here, find personal and professional fulfillment in this place - West Virginia's capital city.
In case of rain, the event will be moved to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 900 Washington Street, across from the Post Office.
This Saturday, October 13th, is Macy's Shop for a Cause Day. If you haven't already donated $5 to WV FREE to receive a shopping pass that will save you up to 20% on all of your purchases at Macy's, now is the time! It's the perfect solution to save money on early Holiday Shopping and support our work for reproductive rights in West Virginia.
International Workers' Day Event Highlights Threat to Historic Site
CHARLESTON, WV - On Tuesday, May 1 at 12pm noon, Logan County residents, labor historians and concerned citizens will hold a press conference and rally to support workers' rights and the historic designation of Blair Mountain.
As people around the world celebrate International Workers' Day, local residents will gather at the lower Rotunda of the State Capitol to honor those who fought at Blair Mountain, one of the most important labor historic sites in West Virginia, if not the nation. More than 80 years ago on Blair Mountain, 10,000 coal miners rose up against armed federal troops in defense of their rights to unionize.
Today, another battle is being fought there - the battle to save the historic site. On April 21, the West Virginia Labor History Association (WVLHA) voted unanimously to support preservation of Blair Mountain. With upcoming decisions pending on the fate of Blair Mountain and the rights of the workers, this event will honor miners for their service and remember the historic site.
WHO: Local residents, The WVLHA, community groups and the Sierra Club
WHAT: International Workers' Day celebration of labor and Blair Mountain, including speeches and stories
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 12pm noon
WHERE: Lower Rotunda, WV State Capitol Building, Charleston WV
Great Visuals:
Historic artifacts from Blair Mountain.
Maps showing the battle lines.
Pictures of Bill Blizzard, leader of the miners.
Pictures of Blair Mountain today.
Music from the "When Miners March" CD
Camp Wellstone will be held on April 27-29 in Lexington, Kentucky, and is now open for registration.
Camp Wellstone is a training program that teaches progressives how to win on issues and elect good candidates. Based on Paul Wellstone's model, Camp Wellstone integrates grassroots organizing, electoral organizing, progressive public policy and ethical leadership.
Concert for Mountain Justice - Celebration of Culture and Resistance
The Concert for Mountain Justice will feature musicians with a history of singing for the mountains and people on Saturday, March 17th at 7 PM. This concert will feature Andrew McKnight, Elaine Purkey, Here's to the Long Haul, Keith & Joan Pitzer, and Sound Storm in WVSU's Capitol Theatre at 123 Summers St, Charleston, WV. This program is being organized as a fundraiser for Mountain Justice Spring Break and is being co-sponsored by the Student Environmental Action Coalition and the Sierra Club's Environmental Justice Program.
Tickets will be sold at the door for either $5 or a larger donation which is encouraged for those who can afford it. In efforts to protect our mountains, musicians are giving inspiration to and telling stories of people who are fighting to preserve their homes in Southern West Virginia.
On Saturday, March 17th, at 2:00 pm in the State Capitol Rotunda in Charleston, Patriots For Peace will be gathering to remember 4 years of US occupation of Iraq, to mourn the tragic losses and to demand an end to this failed Bush policy.
We will gather under 1000 peace cranes hanging from the Rotunda Well, and surrounded by the names of over 3000 US service men and women who have lost their lives.
South Central Labor Council to hold March meeting at the new
Fayette Hills Unity Apartments, Oak Hill
The South Central Labor Council meets regularly at the UMWA hall in Beckley, second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm.
On Tuesday, March 13, 2007 the 7:00 pm meeting will be held in Oak Hill at Fayette Hills Unity Apartments, located at 300 High Street South. (Across from Advance Auto Parts which is located at 1650 Main Street turn onto Glendale Ave. Turn left onto High Street at the four-way intersection and the building is at the end of the street.)
An open house of the fixed income housing will make viewing the spacious living facility available for all union members and their families attending the meeting.
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If you're in the neighborhood of Pipestem State Park, (or even if you're not), you should check out the fun and activities at the 
As part of the national Cover the Uninsured Week, 
