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Roastmaster president

Columnists

Only Donald Trump could turn a prayer breakfast into a celebrity roast. During the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump became an insult comedian, aiming a steady stream of invective. For example, he referred to Republican Congressman Thomas Massie as a “moron”. So an event which was initiated in the 1950’s to show a moment of unity amidst division became a vehicle for a seventy-five-minute rant. Not that Trump was made for a moment of national brotherhood week, but his actions have thrown all political caution to the wind. Admittedly, he has never favored rituals, which he regards ...

Debate

Editorials

COVID-19, beyond sickening many millions of people in this country and, in fact, worldwide, as well as exacting a heavy death toll, greatly ramped up a broad debate about the safety of vaccines, including those developed to try to end the pandemic. That safety debate continues today, despite the successes and knowledge that have emanated from medical science’s battle against the coronavirus. Recent years seem to have verified that as long as mankind exists, some skepticism about vaccine safety will continue to walk side by side with the complete confidence that others hold in ...

Will falling birth rates lead to conservatism?

Columnists

George Orwell was on to it almost 80 years ago — the problem of below-replacement level birth rates. In a short book written for the Britain in Pictures series in 1947, written just as Britain was emerging from wartime rigors into an uncharted postwar future, Orwell noted that despite an upward blip in birth rates during the war, “the general curve is downward. The position is not quite so dangerous as it is sometimes said to be, but can only be put right if the curve not only rises sharply but does so within ten or at most twenty years.” “Otherwise,” he went on, ...

Losing the country

Columnists

Speaking at The New York Times, their actually conservative columnist Ross Douthat said, “I want to tell you a secret. One that most conservatives on the internet don’t want you to know. A year into his second presidency, Donald Trump has lost the country.” You might not want to hear this, but Douthat is right. Perhaps he is not right on the specific issues, but generally, he is right. Ignore the polls. The polling average is a better indication of where things are and the president is deeply unpopular. The generic ballot continues to show Democrats gaining. In 2018, the generic ...

Sub-Zero

Editorials

The several inches of snow that have hit our local region will come and go. The absolutely frigid temperatures coming with that snow will linger for a while — and that could spell big trouble for homeowners. Our area has experienced multiple days already this year, complete with cold nights featuring near-zero or sub-zero temperatures. That is definitely not good news for homes with exposed pipes. When water freezes, it expands. If it expands too much, it can burst through those pipes and create a catastrophe, especially with the inclement weather.  AAA has some tips for ...

Two-party system is important

Columnists

When it comes to contesting statewide and legislative races, the West Virginia Democratic Party should be commended for its candidate recruitment efforts heading into the 2026 elections. I don’t say that because I have a specific bias one way or another. But I do believe that a healthy two-party system is important to making our democratic republic work, because the political parties hold each other accountable. According to the state Democratic Party, there are 22 Democratic candidates seeking nomination to 17 of 19 state Senate seats on the ballot for the May primary, some of ...