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Democratic Party has led to Trump’s success

Ben Wattenberg and Richard Scammon, in their book “The Real Majority,” exposed the problem of the "New Politics" by describing the electorate as "unyoung, unblack, and unpoor." At the time, this description drew the fire and ire of liberals and the New Left. However, Richard Nixon's landslide in 1972 proved their point. But decades later, the Democratic party continues to re-work this formula; it has become an article of faith, or as Theodore White put it, a "liberal theology." Despite 54 years of change, the party still dreams of the party of the groovy people. Surprisingly, as ...

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ performances

Enjoy dinner and a special performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” performed by the Rustic Mechanicals at Graceland Inn at Davis & Elkins College at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20. The Rustic Mechanicals are the only professional Shakespeare troupe in West Virginia, and they will bring their “Howl at the Moon” tour to various audiences throughout the state this summer. Such opportunities to see high-energy performances of Shakespeare plays are both fun and educational. As an advanced placement English teacher, I would look for summer theater experiences to ...

Community Calendar

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Community Calendar is reserved for nonprofit, civic organizations. Unless otherwise noted, events listed should be considered free and open to the public. Entries appear in chronological order as space allows. LIONS CLUB OF ELKINS BARBECUE: The Lions Club of Elkins will have a Barbecue today at the parking lot across from Davis Electrical Service on Randolph Avenue (former IGA). The meal will include half a chicken or two pork loin sandwiches, 2 side items, dessert, and bottled water. The meals will be ready for drive-thru and walk-up pickup by 10:30 a.m. Lions ...

Trumps attitude toward the Republican Party

A.J. Liebling, an outstanding journalist who worked for the New Yorker, visited Louisiana Governor Earl Long in the 1950s. When he became familiar with Earl, he was struck by the contrast between him and his famous brother Huey. Liebling related a story that sharpened the contrast. The story involved the "Kingfish" Huey Long asking a supporter for a drink. Obligingly, his friend brought up a bottle which Huey refused to share. Harnett Kane, a Louisiana journalist, pointed out that "Earl would have given him a drink out of the bottle." This explanation could also account for Donald ...

Busy summer 2026 schedule at KEC

An early highlight for our busy summer will be the Annual Kump Center Pie Auction Saturday, June 27. Summer Tutoring will be available between June 15 and July 15 when tutors will work with individual students to improve basic reading skills. On July 6, YMCA Day Campers will explore the Kump Wetland to learn about riparian plants and animals there. Spanish Camp will be July 20-24 (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) with a Christmas-in-July theme. The Pie Auction is a Kump Center tradition that started with our first “Fair at the Crossroads” 14 years ago. Pie auctions were an Appalachian ...

Learning to find the opportunity in the obstacle

It is a cliche to say that obstacles create opportunities. Why? Some of the opportunities are ones we deeply wish had not come about. One of the themes of a recent commencement talk at UW-Whitewater Rock County Campus was obstacles and opportunities. It was an honor to have my friend Barry there. Barry was diagnosed with ALS. He and his family and friends were and are sad and devastated. There are times Barry is, of course, overwhelmed with what is taking place. Yet his focus now is on raising funding for ALS. He comments that while ALS will not be cured in his lifetime, he is ...