West Virginia Blue - Front Page

Buck Stops with Obama, Holder Must Go

Jeremiah — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:54:56 GMT

The promise that a free press holds for fostering innovative, successful, and stable democracies...we call upon all governments to seize that promise by recognizing the vital role of a free press and taking the necessary steps to create societies in which independent journalists can operate freely and without fear.
President Obama

If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.
President Obama

The Obama Administration has been pummeled this week but do not expect me to come to their defense. The two stinging controversies at hand, secretive seizure of press phone records and bureaucratic bullying of organizations based on their politics, represent the most detestable governmental actions that can exist in a free society. Democrat or Republican, all should be alarmed and ashamed. That President Obama was unaware of these activities only mitigates the degree of damnation deserved by a decimal. While many Republicans of the political class use these controversies to score petty political points, Democrats must take a principled stand and demand accountability. Anything less is a dereliction of duty to protect our most cherished freedoms.

President Obama is a man of principal. As such, he must take full accountability for the failings of the executive domain; apologize to the nation; promise a full and independent investigation; proclaim that this course will change; and fire those that have failed the public. This appears to be what is taking place at the IRS. The head of that agency has been forced to step down and an investigation ensues. After reading the testimony of AG Holder today, I feel he and his chief deputy must step down as well. Holder's refusal to accept responsibility coupled with his defense of the AP phone record drag net only further reinforces the need for a clean start in the Justice Department. Fast and Furious, the drone memos, neglect of state sovereignty on marijuana law, and now the AP shakedown? No, it is time for a change. Holder must go.

Accountability for failing to ensure the most sacred of responsibilities entrusted to the Chief Executive, protection of our inalienable rights as a free people, requires a high price. It also requires a promise to deliver. Mr. President, the buck stops with you. I have faith that you can resolve these matters as they must be resolved. Nothing less is acceptable.

Sources
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrew...

http://swampland.time.com/2013...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05...

Tennant Leads Field for US Senate

Jeremiah — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:37:34 GMT

She has been a farm girl. She has been the Mountaineer. She has been a television news reporter. She is a small business owner and our current Secretary of State. She is life-long West Virginian Natalie Tennant and she is the West Virginia Democratic Party's best hope of retaining retiring Senator Rockerfeller's United States Senate seat.

A recent poll shows Tennant as the overwhelming favorite amongst her leading Democratic peers. More importantly, the public wants Tennant to run. I have talked to many West Virginians about this Senate race and they want the chance to vote for Natalie. People like Natalie Tennant and think she would be a great representative for our State on the national stage. There is no other person in state politics that embodies everything positive about West Virginia more than Natalie Tennant. Her appeal is that she is genuinely one of us and because of that people know she will always fight for our state.

On the Republican side is another powerhouse in WV politics, Shelly Moore Capito. She is the daughter of West Virginia political aristocracy, former Governor Arch Moore. Ms. Capito is a very nice person and a shrewd politician. She has successfully created a veil of political invincibility and inevitability. This is absolutely what a potential candidate wants to do, frighten away potential opponents. I would suggest, however, that despite the controlled media message, the reality of such inevitability does not hold beyond that of the surface. In fact, the same poll showing Tennant's strength exposed a weakening for Capito. Capito's job approval is still a strong 54 percent but represents a decline of 9 points from a poll in February. Capito will struggle to escape the taint of a historically unpopular Congress for which she is part of the terribly unpopular and dysfunctional House Majority.

Tennant is well liked throughout West Virginia and carries none of this baggage. In addition, she has already won multiple statewide elections. Capito is respected throughout the state but has only proven herself in the Second Congressional District. Capito has faced relatively weak or underfunded opponents and has not always dominated those elections as her campaign machine may want people to believe. Furthermore, Tennant risks very little in running for US Senate. She does not have to vacate her position as Secretary of State. With a viable candidate, funding from around the country will pour into her campaign coffers, giving her the ability to challenge Capito in a robust manner. There has also been word that third party organizations, not something I am fan of regardless of who is operating the SuperPac, will raise a great many issues against Capito with a negative media blitz, triggered only if she has a competitive opponent.

However, I do not care to focus on the negatives. I have no personal ill will toward my Congresswoman, and I wish her well. I write this because I encourage and strongly support Natalie Tennant for US Senate. The positives she brings to the table are numerous and her character genuine. Ultimately, she will make the decision on how to proceed. If she does, she gives her fellow citizens a great opportunity and will have an outpouring of public support. Here is to Natalie Tennant of United States Senate.
http://www.dailymail.com/News/...

Governor Tomblin Has Highest Job Approval in State

Jeremiah — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:34:44 GMT

After another successful legislative session, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has the highest approval rating of any politician in the state. His approval numbers are even higher than the state's most popular politician, Senator Joe Manchin (Manchin likely being dragged down a bit by historically unpopular Congress). Tomblin's success on education and prison reform this year is coupled with his successful effort to shepherd the State budget through tough economic times.

Tomblin's history of conservative fiscal stewardship and ongoing ability to work with individuals across the political spectrum serves as an example that our national government should replicate. There will always be differences of opinion but committing to a balanced, deliberate approach to governing pays off tremendously in the long run. It is paying off for Tomblin right now. Tomblin's job approval is 69%, remaining consistent with past polls.

http://wvmetronews.com/poll-nu...

Book Review: Andrew Jackson, American Lion

Jeremiah — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:28:57 GMT

I have just completed Jon Meacham's biography of Andrew Jackson. Appropriately called American Lion, the book chronicles Andrew Jackson's life, from his youth as an impoverished South Carolinian to his rise as a transformative President. This was a very well researched book. Most importantly, it will force you to inspect yourself and your view of our nation's moral fabric. I highly recommend it.

Predominantly, the focus of the book is on Jackson's tumultuous tenure as President. I very much appreciated the time given to explain the lives of those surrounding Jackson. One's story, however, monumental the person, is never written in a vacuum. Understanding the cast of characters in a life is critical to understanding the life. The book interweaves the stories masterfully.

Andrew Jackson was the first imperial President, serving as a model to distant successors like Lincoln and the Roosevelt cousins. Jackson was resolute, self-assured, and ferocious in any battle- once killing a man in a dual after both giving him the first shot and taking a bullet in the chest. He could also be sentimental and had a softness for children, often visiting local orphanages. The stories shared by Meacham of Jackson's life will give readers a sense why, without doubt, I find Old Hickory one of the most interesting Americans of any age.

Jackson's Presidency was one of the most successful tenures in history. He won fight after fight, staving of calamity on several occasions. He was the first populist President and often cited the source of his power as being from the people, unheard of until his time in the White House. Jackson stared down secessionists and the powerful banking class of his day. Jackson's leading opponents included some of the greatest legislators in American history, Daniel Webster; Henry Clay; and John C. Calhoun- Jackson towered over these giants. Jackson and his allies created the infrastructure of the modern political party and his use of the bully pulpit will never be surpassed. He was not a federalist, but he was the staunchest of unionists. He refused to blink under pressure and saved the union from civil war at a time that the nation would likely have never recovered.

Throughout the course of the book I could not escape how such a great man could be so inherently wrong on the two most damning moral questions to ever face our country. Jackson was pro slavery and owned over 100 slaves. Jackson frequently lamented against abolitionists, even curbing their First Amendment rights of free speech, blocking abolitionist literature to the South. While Jackson was on the brink of going to war with South Carolina over secessionist plotting that was, for the most part, just a sliver away from the direct question of slavery, he was also pro state's rights and an unashamed slave owner. Jackson, like most politicians and people generally, had an almost limitless well of rationale to justify his moral contradictions. His moral ambiguity was also matched in either the deepest intellectual hypocrisy, or at the least, cold political calculus, fighting anti federal movements in the South on some matters but refusing to enforce a Supreme Court case involving the Cherokee Nation in Georgia.

Jackson was also a notorious fighter of Native Americans. His policy of Indian removal, moving native populations in the East to beyond the Mississippi River, resulted in the shameful dismissal of previous American signed treaties and the notorious Trail of Tears. Jackson considered removal one of his greatest political victories and our country will never be able to clean itself from that shame.

So how is it that we reconcile the greatness, which cannot be denied, with the moral failings that cannot be overlooked? To this question I do not have an answer, as I perpetually struggle over such matters. Perhaps Jackson's greatness and his horrendous stance on the two most critical questions in our history reflect not just the man but our nation. We have accomplished great feats, but we have committed great sins. It is too simplistic to negate one because of the other. To use even stronger language, it is cowardly to impose onto historical figures the shame that we should all equally burden. We share in the greatness of individuals like Andrew Jackson, but we also must perpetually repent.

Only through our continued reappraisal of our character, and the characters of those that made us what we are, will the arc of our story continue to bend in the direction of freedom, justice, and equality. The threads of the past create the fabric of our today and the foundation of our tomorrow. Andrew Jackson is as inherent to our national quilt as any individual in our history. We do well to try to understand him and ourselves.

Manchin and the NRA... At Odds???

wvblueguy — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:21:36 GMT

Senator Manchin is getting a lot of press lately regarding his dissatisfaction with the NRA and the tactics they have taken in opposing Background Checks as put forth in the Manchin-Toomey Amendment. I hope that the next attempt made to pass the amendment is successful.

Makes you wonder if he is gunning for bigger things down the road as a potential running mate with Hillary Clinton in 2016. What do you think?

The video below is from his appearance on 'CBS This Morning' today.

Captio Getting Rich on Back of the People?

PubliusWV — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:26:07 GMT

Former Congressional candidate Howard Swint claimed Capito and her husband Charles benefited from insider information when they traded Citigroup stocks in 2008. During the collapse in the financial sector, while millions around the country saw their savings tank, Capito and her husband actually made thousands of dollars. Capito is a member of the House Financial Services Committee. Her husband is a Citigroup Global Markets executive. Hmmmm.

Specifically, Citigroup's stock dropped 76 percent at one point in 2008, the Capitos made $50,000 from trading Citigroup stocks that year. Hmmmm.

While Capito serves on the House's most powerful fiscal committee, her husband has earned income from Citibank, United Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo. How much money has he made? None of the Congresswoman's financial disclosure reports show the salaries her connected husband earned. In a Romney move, Capito also refused to release this information when brought up by the little funded Howard Swint in the last Congressional race. Hmmmm.

You probably never hear about this because the state press corps is negligent in their duties to keep leaders honest and notorious for being too inept, scared, or lazy to truly investigate the political elite. When reported, the story has been buried.

Many think Capito could steamroll into the US Senate seat being vacated by Rockefeller. Captio has created a campaign of inevitability and Democratic leaders in the State have either agreed to cede the seat or are too inept, scared to mount a challenge.

We need someone outside of the Party machinery to step in and challenge Capito with a brutally revealing and well funded campaign. We need someone to stop politicians that are simply in politics for self aggrandizement and enrichment. We need someone to do what leaders in the Democratic Party and media seem unwilling to do, run a real campaign against a political paper tiger.

President Obama's Path Forward in Syria

Jeremiah — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:17:24 GMT

President Obama's foreign policy doctrine consists of three major tenets: cultivating diplomatic relationships abroad; multilateral international intervention; increased use of covert operations; and reducing America's role as the world's police abroad. As such, what is the President to do about the Syrian issue? After a potential critical misstep in drawing a red line so publicly, I speculate that President Obama will soon announce international action in Syria, supported in a fashion similar to that in Libya, by US naval and air power. I anticipate these actions will primarily be led by our NATO ally, and Syrian neighbor, Turkey.

The Situation in Syria
Syria has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since March 2011, following Arab Spring inspired democracy uprisings against the despotic rule of President Bashar Assad. Assad's regime has been brutal, committing massacres; unleashing sectarian death squads; leveraging superior air and artillery power; and employing the use of chemical weapons. The international community has remained mostly uncommitted beyond limited action by Israel and Turkey; UN inspections; relatively weak international resolutions; political rhetoric; and some financial support to rebels. Primarily, Russia and Iran have been Assad's biggest supporters but that support has not proven to dissuade rebel forces. Over the past six months, rebel groups, which are not entirely united, have become a much more effective fighting force. Several regime bases have been captured and defections from the Assad government have become steady. Rebel forces have even pressed into Damascus and what started as a fight dominated by Assad, which then moved into a stalemate, has now leaned more heavily toward rebel momentum. This is likely what has driven Assad to his last resorts, chemical warfare and barbaric sectarian massacres.

The situation in Syria has been difficult for outsiders to comprehend. It is clear that Syria and the world would benefit from Assad going the way of Gaddafi. However, do we really know who the good guys are? There are many pure freedom fighters in Syria, to be sure, but the fight is also infiltrated with organizations hell bent on an Islamist state and antagonistic to the West, especially America. That being the case, it is difficult to determine whether the force you are providing support to today will be using those weapons against you or against civilians tomorrow.

Obama's Syrian Misstep
Obama has been reluctant to lay a set course in Syria but he may have overplayed his hand by publicly creating a "red line" if Assad used chemical weapons the United States would a "game changer" and that it would be met with "enormous consequences." The semantics can be debated but Obama's rhetoric, which was likely aimed to dissuade Assad, was interpreted by most of the world to mean that the United States would be forced to take some action. Bottom line- I think Obama's comments about this were sloppy and should not have been made. If we should or should not become engaged being a question for debate, if you give a red line then you only embolden other regimes in the world to press if you fail to react when that red line is crossed. The caveat that I will add here is that I am sure the Administration is working with other powers as we speak to address the Syrian situation. If what I lay out in the section below takes place then Obama will have accomplished another masterful foreign policy move. I just do not think all the chess pieces are in place and, if so, Obama overplaying his rhetoric was a serious mistake.

US Path Forward
The US must take some action in Syria, in my opinion. Beyond the moral component of this, the President said there would be enormous consequences and, as such, there must be. It could come out that Israel's recent actions in Syria, yesterday and today, are proxy American actions. In that case, it is a shrewd move but not adequate to the diplomatic blowback that will result if the US does not take a more active role. The solution? Press heavy with NATO allies and the Arab League to impose a no fly zone in Syria while systematically taking out all suspected chemical weapon depots in the country. This should be led by Turkey, who has been poised for a fight for sometime given the cross border incidents and refugee issue. The US can position our fleet in the Mediterranean to for offensive missile strikes and aircraft support. Syria should no longer be permitted an air or sea advantage over the rebels.

It is tremendously important that all NATO allies are engaged with Turkey and potentially Jordan and other Arab League members leading this effort. It should not be led by the United States and it cannot be Israel, for reasons to obvious to mention. Much like the fighting in Libya, having other nations take commanding leads in the fight, while still relying on local fighters to win their own freedom, is important for both the world and US foreign policy. America can no longer engage in nation building. We can no longer be so foolhardy to think we can direct our will on another nation by sheer force. Furthermore, we cannot be the world police, nor does the world, on the surface, want us to be the world police. Below the surface, the entire West and most of the other major economic powers of the world do want the United States to subsidize world peace, and thus defense of world trade, but, that burden must be shared. We cannot afford it, nor should we have to. The world, and America, is better served with multilateral pols working together in concert through international diplomatic, and if need be, military action.

Conclusion
One final point, the United States cannot become isolationist. It has not worked throughout history and it certainly will not work in the modern era. The world is a tangled web and most of those threads directly impact US economic or defense interests. We are also morally obligated to remain engaged. We do not have to always lead. We do not always have to act. We must, however, be aware and involved in the diplomatic discussion. Simply putting our heads in the sand is as poor an option as unilateral action is. Historically, we have tried both and both have failed. Obama's doctrine is the correct path forward, he just needs to stick to the tenets of it.

AG Morrisey: This Out of Stater Using West Virginians for Personal Gain Getting Old Fast

PubliusWV — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:17:37 GMT

West Virginia's current Attorney General is not one of us. He came to our state with a load of out of state cash and got himself elected. His ambition obviously takes him back out of the state, probably a run for Congress. That is all sour enough but the fact that Morrisey is so willing to disabuse the people of West Virginia on his personal path to fame and glory is too much to stomach.

His entire time in office so far has been spent doing pretty much everything but representing the state of WV as our Attorney General. He will gut the office of consumer protection before it is over and bring in his out of state cronies at six figures so he can keep from having to deal with people from WV as much as possible.

An example of Morrisey's lack of care for the people of WV, speaking of today's Medicaid expansion decision in West Virginia, Morrisey would have had us believe that West Virginia should have left 166,000 of our own without health care coverage. He would have had us believe that we should have turned down the thousands and thousands of WV jobs generated by all the additional funding. He would have had us believe that given his superior birth, coming from outside of our poor state, he knows best.

Well, Mr. Morrisey, how about I convey to you that West Virginia doesn't need another self serving politician from another state telling us feeble minded mountain folk what is best. We will do just fine without you and could care less if you want to fulfill some life long ambition to be important in Washington. Since you obviously want to climb the ladder out of our state as quickly as possible, how about we go ahead and give you a head start next time you are on a WV ballot.

-PubliusWV

Defend Logan Student's Right to Wear NRA Shirt

Jeremiah — Thu, 02 May 2013 02:50:48 GMT

Logan County student Jared Marcum's free speech must be defended from all quarters. Marcum was recently told by Logan County school officials and then local police that he must remove his shirt, which expressed support for the NRA's views on the Second Amendment. Marcum objected and was then charged by local police for disrupting an educational process and obstructing police.

As we all know, the gun control debate has been politically charged in recent months. The NRA's positions in the debate have been uncompromising on even the most modest attempts to close background check loopholes in current law. While that has upset many, both the NRA and Mr. Marcum have a right to express those opinions. In fact, my hope is that those who may otherwise disagree with the shirt's message will be Mr. Marcum's greatest advocates. As such, the bells of freedom will ring and civil society will be emboldened for yet another turn of the page.

The bottom line here is that Marcum, and other students, have a right to express their political opinions. The famous Tinker vs Des Moines case, which involved students wearing black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War, is absolutely relevant by comparison. Students, especially students, must be permitted to share their political opinions and the rest of us must defend their right to do so.
Due to photobucket giving me fits, here is a link to a picture of the shirt.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/...

Progressives Must Draw Line on Immigration Reform

Jeremiah — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:45:09 GMT

We are a nation of immigrants. The world's greatest democratic experiment is also the world's greatest melting pot. The United States has excelled because of immigration and our ability to remain an international leader and innovator depends on our ability to remain a beacon to the world. We accept the best and brightest but also the huddled masses, who once touch American soil have proven time and again to be critical ingredients in our national success story.

To continue this story, US immigration policy must be reformed. Political fear and ideological nativism have, like many issues, stalled progress and common sense. Political expedience and calculus cannot bow to these sentiments. The efforts underway to address the matter are complex, and perhaps well meaning, but progressives must be willing to balk at a grand bargain if by so committing we are sacrificing moral principal. Namely, the proposals outlined by the US Senate are too onerous and financially punitive on immigrant families. The process to become a citizen in the United States should not be a punishable offense, regardless if that serves the personal political ambitions of a so called key negotiator, ie Mr. Rubio of Florida.

We have millions of undocumented peoples living among us and they must be beckoned to come out of the shadows with all the protections and responsibilities that a pathway to citizenship affords. We cannot, however, impose such burdens on individuals and families, of which the vast majority of whom are already impoverished because of their lack of citizenship status. It is unconscionable that we would create a systematic process by which we subject immigrants to, in essence, indentured servitude and citizenship purgatory. Immigration has been debated throughout our country's history, at times with illogical xenophobic vitriol. Let us not add to those shameful chapters. Let us engineer a just and compassionate path forward.

Policymaking is and should be driven by compromise but at what moral cost? I implore the Obama Administration and members of Congress to take this case to the American people. The nativists and xenophobes diminish in relative number every election cycle. Impress upon potential opponents and lukewarm allies the moral AND political reality of the situation before committing to what I project will be ridiculed with scorn by future writers of history. We are better than this but only if the results of our actions prove so.

Nick Casey in for WV-02

heath_harrison — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:47:15 GMT

The former W.Va. Democratic Party chair officially announces he's running for the seat.

Daily Mail:

The former chairman of the state party said Tuesday the time is right for his own run, announcing his candidacy for U.S. Congress.

Sounds like he has some big names behind him - in addition to Manchin:

Others in attendance Tuesday include former Sen. Carte Goodwin, former National Guard Adj. Gen. Allen Tackett, state AFL-CIO President Kenneth Perdue and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.

So, as it stands now, Democrats Rod Snyder and Del. Doug Skaff are considering runs.

On the GOP side, racist Larry "Sambo" Faircloth has announced he's in and Maryland wingnut Alex Mooney says he's considering.

Happy 80th to Willie Nelson!

heath_harrison — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:29:59 GMT

Senator Manchin keeps gun issue in his sights

Carnacki — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:45:25 GMT

Despite taking fire from the extremist National Rifle Association, Sen. Joe Manchin is continuing to push his bipartisan commonsense measure to improve background checks and has come out blazing on how the NRA is lying to the public about his bill.

And he is right to do so because opponents of his measure are finding their opposition to his bill are hurting them back home.

Sen. Jeff Flake (nRa) of Arizona blames his opposition to Manchin's bill as the reason for his plummeting poll numbers.

Link:

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has an interesting take on a recent poll by Democratic Public Policy Polling that showed his approval rating imploding after his recent vote against expanded backround checks for gun purchases: It's probably right.
"Nothing like waking up to a poll saying you're the nation's least popular senator," Flake wrote on his Facebook page late Monday night. "Given the public's dim view of Congress in general, that probably puts me somewhere just below pond scum."
The poll by PPP concluded Flake is one of the least popular senators in America less than six months after his election, with only 32 percent approval and 51 percent disapproval among Arizona respondents. 52 percent said they were less likely to vote for him as a result of his vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment, which enjoyed 70 percent backing in the same poll.

Just as only President Nixon could go to China and normalize relations there, as an NRA A+ rated senator, Manchin is the right run to push this. Rather than backing down from the heat from the extremists at the NRA, it really looks like the NRA should worry about backlash against them.

As Flake put it:

... I would assume that my poll numbers have indeed taken a southerly turn since my vote against the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal. It was a popular amendment, and I voted against it.

The Future of the Second Congressional District

rodsnyder — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:18:32 GMT

Over the past several months, I have had numerous conversations with friends and supporters across West Virginia about the future of the second congressional district, and I have received a great deal of encouragement to enter the race. I am still considering a number of factors at this time; however, I do expect to make a final decision by the end of May about my potential candidacy.

The 2014 midterm election is shaping up to be an important one for our state. The truth is that my generation could be the first in American history that fares worse than our parents in economic terms. It is a high priority for me that we elect someone who will make strategic investments in education and job creation while fighting every day to protect the interests of middle class families. I look forward to being a part of that conversation.

Rod Snyder
President, Young Democrats of America
Shenandoah Junction, WV

What Does Manchin's Reappraisal of DADT Vote Mean?

Jeremiah — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:41:34 GMT

Joe Manchin indicated today that he was wrong to cast a procedural vote in the Senate against bringing the repeal of DADT up for official vote. His vote shortly followed joining the Senate in late 2010. So what does this reassessment mean? Perhaps mere reevaluation on a single vote? Sure. That being said, I would posit it could indicate two very important trends. One, Manchin may soon modify his position on gay marriage, joining moderate Republicans and all but two other Senate Democrats that remain officially opposed to gay marriage. Two, Manchin may be positioning himself for a Vice Presidential nod in 2016.

Wild speculation? Absolutely. I have no inside information. No crystal ball. It does seem logical. On the first assessment, that Manchin would want to quickly reconcile himself on the right side of history on the issue of gay rights is reasonable. The time before it is politically taboo to hold a view against gay marriage is not counted in decades, and perhaps not even years. I ultimately think this will happen and absolutely hope it does.

Concerning a possible Vice Presidential ambition in 2016, it makes more sense than you think. Manchin has positioned himself as a deal maker in the Senate. Manchin's press folks are also outstanding, pitching him as a common sense moderate willing to reach across the aisle in an age of bitter partisanship. His work on closing the gun show loophole with extended background checks, while in the short term unsuccessful, gained Manchin a lot of great press. Manchin has also gained note for being a go between on issues related to the fiscal cliff and sequester.

Furthermore, Manchin is no doubt ambitious but his political ceiling in the Senate is relatively limited. He will never surpass the stature of Senator Byrd and while he will soon be the state's senior Senator, his age and the era are not conducive to place Manchin as a historical WV in Washington. Unless, Manchin seeks higher office.

That Manchin has positioned himself into closer alignment with the base of the Democratic Party seems counter to Manchin's historic pattern as an extremely conservative Democrat. Being labeled as such would make any attempt to leverage for a VP slot unattainable.

Is it possible? Sure. Manchin has appeal with non-urban white male voters. While Republicans are struggling with minorities and women- the new winning demographic- Democrats are losing the old demographic, white males in suburbia and rural America. The thought could be that Manchin helps with this on a Clinton ticket- also bringing West Virginias five electoral votes (would have meant a Gore victory in 2000). Do not be surprised if when the 2016 veepstakes start you hear Senator Manchin's name is on the short list. 'Clinton-Manchin 2016' would be an interesting bumper sticker.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Chief of Staff Alsop's Work Ethic Deserving of Praise

Jeremiah — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:10:58 GMT

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
-Acts 20:35

Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it.
-Henry David Thoreau

Rob Alsop is deserving of sincere appreciation by all West Virginians. Chief of Staff is the most important policymaking position in state government, second only to Governor. The number of issues brought forth to a Chief of Staff on a daily basis is incredible in scope and number. In terms of knowledge, judgment, and the demand of pure work hours, there is no position that demands more of an individual. It is a relatively unsung position and yet we ask these individuals to sacrifice time from their own lives, from their cherished loved ones, to coordinate state business at the highest of levels.

That Mr. Alsop's work ethic has been so lauded in the waning days of this stage of his service to the state is a testament to his character and love of West Virginia. Governor Tomblin recently stated:

Without question, Rob is truly one of the hardest working public servants I have ever worked with under the Capitol dome. Rob never lost focus during his service and was a constant reminder of why we are here- to serve all West Virginians.

The Governor has served in government for many years and such praise is of the highest honor. In fact, there is no more admirable praise than that of one's work ethic.

The love of one's state and the sacrifice for it, for one's fellow citizens, represents that which can be admired regardless of political party or ideology. Let us take a moment, collectively as West Virginians, and thank Mr. Alsop, and all others that give so much for the state that we all love.

Thank you.

Kudos to a West Virginia high school senior

Carnacki — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:08:21 GMT

Her principal is a wanker however.

More here about the student and the wanker.

Ray Canterbury (R 28th District) is an ass

armedlib — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:45:49 GMT

In the debate over funding school lunch in WV, Del. Canterbury said, "I think it would be a good idea if perhaps we had the kids work for their lunches..."

This is disturbing on so many levels. I suggest that Del. Ray Canterbury go to work next week without breakfast or lunch and see how he feels about it.

Update: It's now on Huffington Post...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

MANCHIN - Saturday Night Live

wvblueguy — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:34:48 GMT

Discussion on Gun Control... (ad at start)

Speaking of ignorant West Virginians ...

Carnacki — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:09:43 GMT

I guess Brad skipped out on his West Virginia history.