With a Munchin at the Local Library

Gunga Din

Received from David "Navy Dave" Woods :


Larry,

In the various channels of life I've trodden, I guess the terns government, military,  academic, & civic cover my record in fewest words.

In the military in general and the navy in particular, we use the phrase "an officer and a gentleman"  to  apply to certain select members we choose to honor for their role in life.

While I'm uncertain of the exact status of some of your prior work, so while "officer" may not apply specifically --  from the many other, & particularly  more recent aspects of your life, I can testify that "gentleman" clearly applies.  

In point of fact, I envy you the judgment, courtesy, tact, & knack of choosing the right expressions to discuss the latest incident in your latter-day (note: pun intended) political career.*

 

 It is a tribute to your strongly held principles that you have, are, & will act as you have always done since I met you...

... I cannot conceive of anyone I've ever know speaking as thoughtfully & apparently truthfully as you did in describing the results of the last primary & indeed the local election itself that followed.

 

 As Kipling's  old story goes: "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din."


Navy Dave



* See the "Buying Green Bananas" entry at www.LarryKump.com for the "National Review" magazine article  and Delegate Kump's  personal legislative news & views. 

Buying Green Bananas

What's It Like to Lose an Election to a 17-Year-Old Girl?

by Tim Cavanaugh "National Review" magazine
November 5, 2014

For West Virginia Delegate Larry D. Kump, the 2014 midterm election brought an additional sting beyond the pain that normally comes with being a man of a certain age.

The libertarian-leaning Republican had to watch the person who defeated him in the primaries, 18-year-old Saira Blair, cruise to a commanding victory in the general election. At the time of the primary, Blair was all of 17, not yet old enough to vote.

But when National Review caught up with the 66-year-old Kump Wednesday, he was magnanimous.

The Mountain State, he noted, has a citizen legislature, and after serving a few terms Kump is placid about leaving office when his current term ends.

The former case manager at a maximum-security prison notes that he was already retired when he entered the West Virginia House of Delegates.

"She won fair and square," Kump tells NRO of his primary opponent, "and she won real big in the general election."

So what went wrong?

Kump speculates that party bigwigs may have been displeased by his votes against a law that allows police in West Virginia to collect blood samples from drivers stopped for DUI and against new regulations on pet ownership that were adopted after the Great Zanesville Zoo Massacre.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kump specifies, "I am a constitutional libertarian, not a libertine libertarian."

"I've been a very independent legislator with a strong libertarian streak," Kump says. "I voted principle rather than party. It was a low-turnout primary, and the party regulars wanted somebody more loyal to party.

In the primary, the Democrat had no opposition, so many independents voted in the Republican primary." Although Blair is the daughter of a state senator whose father helped with her run, Kump gave the young politician credit for her campaign.

"She worked the numbers real well," Kump says. "She ran a real strong, and positive, campaign."

Kump says he has been contacted about future political efforts, but he is still assessing his options. "I don't even buy green bananas," he says. "I don't know what I'll be doing in 2016."

Visit www.LarryKump.com for other legislative news

First Voter

The Children of Abraham

Elder Russell M. Nelson's recent and inspiring article on "The Book of Mormon, the Gathering of Israel, and the Second Coming" (July 2014 issues of the "Liahona" and "Ensign" magazines) also reminded me of the other children of Abraham, to which the Abrahamic covenant continues to apply.
Jacob (Israel) was only one of Abraham's descendents, and we sometimes forget the multitude of other peoples and nations who are heir to the blessings of Abraham.

Elder Larry D. Kump, High Priest
Hedgesville, West Virginia Ward
Martinsburg, West Virginia Stake

What Now?

 In the aftermath of the recent West Virginia Primary elections, lots of friends and associates have asked me, "What now?".

Truly, it has been both a sacrifice as well as a privilege to serve as a citizen legislator in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

It also will continue to be my duty and responsibility to serve the remainder of my term of office, throughout the rest of 2014.

And, after then?

Who knows?

The opportunities to continue to serve are too numerous to count.

However, it simply is not true that I plan to organize a "Boy Band" and go on a world tour.

Just sayin'.

Larry
www.LarryKump.com

 

2014 Primary Election Reflections

 Although I did not win the West Virginia May 13th Primary election, the selfless efforts of that League of Extraordinary Citizens, who volunteered and voted for me and the principles of Liberty, were and are a marvelous work and a wonder.



 Their passionate pursuit of our God given Constitutional rights of individual liberty, personal accountability, and personal empowerment are all about that which should matter most to Mountaineers and our families.



 These principles still are and always will be sacred, so let us "not go gentle into that good night."



 May God bless you all real good.





Larry
www.LarryKump.com
 

About Ed Coleman:

 My next door neighbor, Ed Coleman, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away yesterday, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Ed was a crusty old coot, but that does not begin to explain or excuse why it never even crossed my mind to share the news of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with him.