Tri-State to Manchin/Carper/Jones: ‘Get off your duffs” July 21, 2008
Did Jake Stump completely eviscerate Danny Adkins and Tri-State in the below article? Geez.
And, the sad part is, all he did was report the truth.
Then, after this article, Danny Adkins went ballistic on Manchin and Carper and everyone who has been critical of Tri-State about you know… the fact that they lied about… well… everything.
Give Kent Carper credit. At least he had the guts answer the phone when Jake Stump called. And, he made some semblance of trying to hold Tri-State’s feet the fire. Joe was actually tough for a day. Then, after Adkins tirade, Manchin curled up into a fetal position.
Here’s the governor’s response to Adkins tell him and other leaders to “get off their duffs.”
“The governor is hopeful that things were moving forward,” Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said when informed of Adkins’ remarks. “He just wants people to be kept informed as the process moves forward. … We hope things are going well. If they’re not, please let us know.”
Yes, Mr. Adkins, please… pretty please… when you decide to do something, if you could please let us know… ummm… ummm… we are so sorry, Mr. Adkins, we hope things are going well.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Manchin curl into a fetal position after someone told him to get “off his duff.”
Adkins in one article told Carper and Manchin (those who dared criticize Tri-State) to ‘get off their duffs’ and come and see the poker tables - you know ALL that investment they are making. He said ZMM who they fired after having them carry their water during the election was ’seeing dollar signs.’ He told the county citizens he had to waste $2 million more than they planned to convince them to vote for it. Let’s see, is there anyone else Adkins forgot to insult?
Carper and Manchin got ripped because they dared speak up. All the rest of Tri-State’s supporters are holed up in a bunker somewhere.
What a disaster and what a difference a year makes in the attitudes of the leading supporters of this complete and total train wreck.
Well, WE told you so.
Look at the absolutely disasterous year that Tri-State has had that Jake details in the article below.
All the plans for a $250 million expansion?
(that’s crickets chirping)
The new hotel and Conference Center?
(that’s crickets chirping)
The hiring of ONE THOUSAND people ALL with GOOD PAYING JOBS? I can still hear Danny Jones’ “where’s your 500 jobs?” speech - remember that was when Tri-State was comfortably ahead, by the time the election rolled around, it was up to 1,000 and TriState’s claim to end poverty as we know it)
(again, crickets)
What a total and complete disaster for the people who ramrodded this election down the throats of Kanawha Countians? The lie after lie after lie that was detailed on this blog have all been exposed.
Brackbill - yes, the very one who claimed Tri-State would end poverty in Kanawha County (seriously, she said that)? Gone.
ZMM? Gone. (Adkins said ZMM had dollar signs in their eyes… I’d say that’s the pot calling the kettle black)
CRA? They cut their ties the minute they saw that gravy train was coming to an end.
Tri-State Construction Trades? Adkins won’t answer their calls. Well, that’s easy to figure out, if you have no plans to build a hotel and conference center, you don’t need constructions trades.
I’m sorry, but I doubt anyone could have envisioned an implosion of this magnitude. Tri-State right now is an apocalyptic black hole ready to swallow up those people who charged up the hill for it.
If the same vote were held today, my guess is Tri-State would receive POSSIBLY 25%. Maybe. Much, much less than the 50.01% it received after spending upwards of $4 million (funny how all the “disclosure” supporters said nary a word about how much Tri-State was spending without any requirement of disclosure).
What IS Tri-State going to deliver?
Riiiight, the table games portion that they actually make money on. Other investments? Ok, no more crickets, but you get my drift.
Wow.
It’s an unbelievable turn of events that the supporters of this fiasco couldn’t possibly have seen coming, but now are left to answer. If this were medievel times, the leaders of this vote would all be in the public square getting their heads lopped off.
And, the only one with the guts to answer right now is Kent Carper. Manchin? I think he’s still apologizing to Adkins. Where are the other supporters?
Where’s Tri-State’s 100, err.. 500… err… 1,000 good paying jobs?
****
From the Daily Mail…
Tri-State Racetrack moving slowly on ballyhooed plans
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
NITRO, W.Va, — It’s been nearly a year since Kanawha County voters said ‘yes’ to adding poker and other casino-style table games at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center.
While two other West Virginia casinos - Mountaineer Racetrack and Wheeling Island - went online with table games a few months after passage of local referendums, progress at the Nitro racetrack has crept along at a slower pace.
No table games - poker, craps, roulette and blackjack - are offered there just yet.
But Richard Tessler, casino executive at Tri-State, said poker should be up and running no later than September.
The poker room, located in the existing gaming facility, is about 90 percent completed, Tessler said. Other table games should follow within 45 to 60 days of poker’s unveiling, he added.
Poker was supposed to go online at Tri-State by the end of 2007, and construction of an adjacent 250-room hotel was set to begin in March.
But there’s been no construction, or even a groundbreaking. Poker was delayed in part for financial reasons and because of difficulty in finding instructors. Click HERE for the rest of the article.
Loading...
18 Responses to “Tri-State to Manchin/Carper/Jones: ‘Get off your duffs””
Great post Vic!
Did Manchin, Carper and Jones REALLY believe there would be a resort hotel, a conference center and 1,000 jobs? Many of us did not believe it, and time has proven us right. Will those who voted YES for gambling settle for a few poker tables? What do the voters of Kanawha County think of this hoax? Will the votes hold accountable those who pushed for gambling? Will voters remember the promises made and promises never kept?
Vic
First, can’t say “black hole” anymore…. racist.
Does this surprise anyone ? I am sure all of the pushers of table games expected this to happen all along and probably knew it was never to be.
Any lie justifies more tax revenue, typical West Virginia thinking.
…and a BIG A-A-A-AMEN to the Senator!
Just for my own vengeful reasons, I’d love to see a locally produced TV ad making the exact points you made in this post; complete with crickets chirping & everything. It could even use clips of King Danny’s “Where are your 500 jobs?” commercial just to rub it in.
Oh yeah, and if this Tri-State guy told Danny Jones to “get off his duff”, Danny is probably already trying to find a way to have him fired. That’s the way he deals with those who disagree with him; especially when he’s WRONG.
This is the right issue for Kanawha County to be exposed to. This is a good blog, and well needed.
GIVE ‘EM HELL AND DON’T LET UP!
Kudos!
I believe the enabling legislation called for a referendum 5 years after original passage, for the voters of each county to decide whether to remove the legalized casino business, so will the voters of Kanawha County have a chance in 2012 to solve the problem? Won’t any delays be in fact a good thing overall?
Also, is there no legal way to require disclosure, after the fact, of the possibly $4,000,000 spent without any disclosure? How is it possible for the Democrat-controlled Legislature to exempt such huge amounts from public scrutiny forever?
I believe a great deal of the credit for the exposure of the gambling lie should go to those brave folks that stood in the sun and rain with the bright yellow signs, The “Vote No” people. They motivated the citizens that cared enough about the folks that would suffer due to the gambling industry to get out and vote.
Had the” Vote NO” grassroots effort no taken place the gambling people ,the Mayor the Commissioner, and the Governor would not had to tell all those tall tales of future fortunes, only to be exposed by the truth.
We should have all voted NO. It is wrong and everyone knows that.
I agree with Olfrt…many thanks go to the folks who with the bright yellow signs - to Mia Morna Cooper who worked to educate as opposed to incite - to the churches who rallied their members - and to all those who argued with facts, facts that are now coming back to haunt Tri State. Commissioner Carper is playing politics - the numbers were way skewed from what was originally projected - the pro-gaming vote barely won and I commend Carper for attempting to hold their feet to the fire. He was correct in stating that the public voted and the public was made many promises - many of which have not come to fruition, e.g. no hotel, no major job numbers, no major influx into the tax base. What…60 maybe 70 dealers have been hired? That is a far cry from 1000 good paying jobs that were promised. No major construction projects thus no, ‘good paying” construction jobs. And Kathy Brackbill-who? Hartman/Tyner got rid of her so fast Jimmy Hoffa looks like he slowly faded away compared to her exit. Would be nice to trasck her down and do an interview with her to see how she is faring with all of this.
The voters of Kanawha County were duped with pledges from Danny Jones, Kent Carper, Tri State, and others who promised us a pot of gold but forgot to mention that there had to be a rainbow first…and rain before that coupled with some sunshine…all we got was the proposed sunshine picture portrayed by the pro-gamers.
Oh, and one final shot - Kentucky passed their gaming legislation anyway and so did Pennsylvania…so, now who ups the ante?
It was easy for Tri State to lie to King Danny about decreasing the number of seats in their “conference center” so it wouldn’t compete with the Civic Center when they had no intention of building one.
OK - Now - many of us were absolutely right about Tri State’s “scam” election promises. Now the question is - what can the voters of Kanawha County do about it? Can they revoke the vote? Some pretty smart people, Kent Carper, Joe Manchin, Danny Jones, etc. were duped into giving their all out support. Now can they figure out a way to send Tri State back to their dogs.
PLease do not forget the house of delegates members that voted yes to have gambling in Kanawha County. Those in the dirty thirtieth district that voted yes were Danny Jones ,Bonnie Brown, Bobbie Hatfield, Sharon Spencer and, Nancy Guthrie. In november show them how to Vote No for them.
So who exactly is hurt by the fact that you can soon play poker at Tri State?
JD
Probably the kids of the habitual gamblers pissing away their paychecks, that’s who.
Just go to Tri State and walk through the slot machine area and look at the people in there… You’ll figure it out.
The ONLY winner from Tri State is the State Government… gives them the cash for more employees, benefits and pensions.
Amen, Olfrt.
CAN YOU PICTURE THIS ON A BILLBOARD?
vote NO in November
because
these Legislators voted YES for GAMBLING:
Danny Wells
Bonnie Brown
Bobbie Hatfield
Sharon Spencer
Nancy Guthrie
Sorry about the typo above I ment to type Danny Wells.
I will help with the billboard!!
J.D. you would never understand !
Very good posted messages, but with the national and state economy being what it is today, many voters are putting on their thinking caps about Manchins campaign slogan Open For Business and really not delivering his campaign promises (All Talk)!
I have always lived with “What Goes Around”, Comes “Back” Around !…From the WVU Heather Manchin Bresch scandal to now the Tri State Casino flop, this is nothing more that bad karma,and governor Manchin eating crow !
They lied when they wanted 1500 more Slots & promised A hotel, live boxing top entertainment, boxing on TV, empty parking lot & no hotel & now no entertainmemt, we stood on street corners with our signs we were cussed out by Danny jones, Kent carper & the Union People! We will have the last laugh, nobody is winning at tristate their parking lot doesn’t see as many cars as they used too! they are loseing money!
Promises! Promises! Promises! Track the history. Tri-state promised 500 new jobs when they added additional slot machines a few years back. Did they deliver? No! They did hire a few but let most go. This number should be able to be tracked in employment records. They have never came through on their promises and we have never held them accountable for it. When given money why shouldn’t they be held accountable? Who governs this? The lottery? The employment offices? Anyone? As an ex-employee, I always heard from Cathy Brackbill, “Remember, we don’t need them, they need us!” Her favorite quote when it came to giving money away or advertising with a certain business, etc….She would never make it a win/win situation for all involved. Always, wanting the power of the upper hand. When you play crooked politics, Tri-State, it will always come back to bite you! Remember what goes around comes around.