Posted on 08/18/2005 12:47:11 PM PDT by SmithL
He gets revenge
against a system
that works unfairly
He was shot at more than a dozen times during three strikes. Several of his employees were shot at, and a truck driver was shot and killed.
Under state law, the State Police could not stop the violence because it happened during a strike.
He did not get mad, he got even. He sued in federal court and had the law overturned. The violence ended.
And now, Don Blankenship is getting back at the state's establishment. He spent a blue million last year in a 527 campaign to depose Warren McGraw as a state Supreme Court justice.
This year, Blankenship opposed the $5 billion pension bond, the one that all the business groups, all the labor groups and all the politicians supported.
The bond failed. Blankenship showed that the dis-election of McGraw was no fluke. Blankenship is a kingmaker.
It is not the amount of money he spends on getting his message out that is effective: It is his message. Like many West Virginians, he has had enough.
Status quo liberals don't like him. He represents a change they find frightening. They do OK in a state that is 49th in income, and they don't want anyone to rock the boat.
The boat needs to be tipped over.
In an interview in a new magazine, WV Inc., Blankenship said he would not recommend to a fellow CEO that he invest in West Virginia.
"I found it really ironic and also bothersome that when (Vladimir) Putin, the Russian president, asked for a Western study of the business environment in Russia, they came back to him and told him that there was only two things he had to do and he would get all the Russian investment that he wanted, and that was to develop an honest press and a fair judicial system," Blankenship told the magazine.
"And I think that basically that is what you would have to say for your business friends: that West Virginia has the same problem as the Russians had."
No one can objectively look at the state's political and economic situation and come to another conclusion.
Labor unions have controlled the state Supreme Court for 30 years.
Roughly half the high court's cases now are workers' comp cases. West Virginia has the highest workers' comp costs in the land, double that of California, which is in second place.
As long as the state carries that $3 billion workers' comp liability around its neck, sensible business executives will avoid West Virginia.
Blankenship grew up in Mingo County. His is a true rags-to-riches tale.
It is built on coal mining. This brings protest. But until people turn off their computers, park their hybrids and swear off electricity altogether, their concern for the environment is phony. Half the electricity in the country comes from coal.
And it is no coincidence that no union mine has been picketed by the out-of-state environmentalists.
The demonization of Blankenship is a sign of success. He made it by being non-union in a state that is controlled by unions.
Blankenship is a lot like Mongo in "Blazing Saddles." The sheriff was advised not to shoot Mongo: "That just makes him mad."
Blankenship does not get mad. He gets even.
Don Surber may be reached at donsurber@dailymail.com.
Yeah, but can he drop a horse with one punch?
I can think of many states that are. I live in Maine, where thirty years of liberal policies have sunk us... we're in need of a revolution up here.
Is he related to Kenny Blankenship?
"Is he related to Kenny Blankenship?"
You beat me to it, but I'll try to save the bit.
Does he know Vic Romano?
Nah, didn't work.
Wait until the Bald one bankrupts the State, in your theaters next week.
MXC is on the air tonite! 4 episodes
MXC for those that enjoy watching people in pain get mocked.
I never miss an episode.
baba ganoush rules
It would be interesting to see a study of the states showing political leanings vs. economic strength. I'll bet the red states are much stronger than the blue states.
"MXC is on the air tonite! 4 episodes"
Rockin! I've missed it the last few weeks.
Now Mrs. Exile will have to put up with me talking like Guy Ledouche for the next few days.
Guy Likes!
Need someone like that in New York, very very badly.
CandyGram for Blankenship! CandyGram for Blankenship!
It's twue! It's twue! Oh, it's twue!
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