And in these difficult times, who better to defend Mike Garrison than the father of the very woman he manufactured a degree for. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
Apparently not.
Let’s all say it together: Only in West Virginia.
And by crikey, Hoppy even managed to write this commentary, where he agrees (at least at first) with Garrison’s assertion that there’s “no evidence to indicate that WVU’s reputation has been ruined.”
But there is a bright spot — judging by today’s Gazette editorial, it looks like Betty’s paper is no longer buying Garrison’s bullshit.
May 8, 2008 at 11:27 am
Fromn hoppy:
The president said Tuesday while in Charleston that he had “seen no empirical evidence to indicate that WVU’s reputation has been ruined.”
That’s true, but it’s beside the point.
WVU’s reputation has certainly been damaged by one story after another about WVU handing out a degree to the governor’s daughter even though she didn’t come close to finishing the work.
Furthermore, empirical evidence is evidence that is derived by experience or observation. I can tell you by “observing” the phone calls and e-mails I have received, and by sitting in on the Faculty Senate meeting Monday, that there is plenty of empirical evidence that WVU is badly bruised.
***
You do your causes a huge disservice when you intentionally and blatantly misrepresent what other people say. All Hoppy said is Garrison’s carefully worded statement that there is no EMPIRICAL evidencer WVU’s reputation has been RUINED is accurate. He then goes on to say there is plenty of evidence the reputation has been badly damaged and characterizes some of it as “empirical.”
A halfway intelligent person able to keep his eye on the prize and refrain from petty attacks on Hoppy, would trumpet this as evidence of how bad it is when Hoppy, who is in part employed by WVU through MSN, feels compelled to make such negative statements about the situation.
As usual with this blog, the best thing it’s adversarys have is its inanity.
May 8, 2008 at 11:42 am
You might want to learn to spell “adversaries” correctly before you accuse anyone of inanity.
Just a thought.
May 8, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hoppy’s keeping his options open both ways. I think the BOG meeting in June is the key — cpuld the consensus shatter?
HK, you did great work with finding the amendment of the BOG law that gives Goodwin more power, because now the Gazette is aware of this.
Heard around Mo’town — Goodwin’s possible successor as head of BOG could be Garrison’s former roommate (Wells). Is that so?
May 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Wells???? as in Eric Wells??????
May 8, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Ha ha!
Na, man. Robert Wells. Current BOG vice chairman.
And best man at Garrison’s wedding, so the rumors say.
May 8, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Robert A Wells, from the DC office of Bailey and Glasser (which employs Leah Perry Macia in Charleston).
May 8, 2008 at 12:12 pm
From the Washigton Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703512.html?hpid=moreheadlines
May 8, 2008 at 12:18 pm
In case you didn’t know, the June 6 WVU Board of Governors meeting is being held in Charleston. It was scheduled for Charleston some time ago so it’s not part of a scheme to keep faculty and others from participating — but it will have that effect.
It begins at 8:30 am, I think at the Embassy Suites. The BOG always immediately goes into executive session so there will a delay before much happens in public.
Can those of you in the Charleston area put this on your calendars?
May 8, 2008 at 12:18 pm
The Chronicle has another article.
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=435
May 8, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Thank God not Eric Wells. I have trouble thinking of two more obnoxious people than him and his wife.
May 8, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Leah Perry Macia followed Alex-Garrison-Ass-Wiper-Macia to Morgantown and now works at. . . guess where. . . . SPILMAN
May 8, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Many thanks to the State Journal for two helpful opinion pieces. The first, “Board holds future of West Virginia U,” may be found at http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=37997&catid=159
The second is a letter to the BOG by Dan Page and may be found at http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=38335&catid=159
I hope the media will help keep up the pressure.
May 8, 2008 at 2:07 pm
greenbankcasswv,
Are you sure about Leah Macia working at Spilman? The State Bar directory shows her telephone and fax numbers and e-mail at Bailey & Glasser, and she’s not listed on Spilman’s website.
And did anyone notice that Brian Glasser was on the search committee for the new COL dean? Wonder who put him on the committee?
May 8, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I think he’s agreeing with you. He says that even though there aren’t empirical studies to show damage, everything he sees shows WVU has been badly bruised. And I agree that Garrison may just wait out the storm, but even if eventually things get to the point that there aren’t multiple stories every day on the Bresch mess, Garrison is still badly damaged. And WVU is too, as long as he is there.
May 8, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I read that a large corporation decided to not give WVU a large donation of cash and art, worth about $2 million dollars. I would think that is enough evidence to get anyone canned from any university.
May 8, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Just for an aside, the Daily Mail is reporting that Bob Huggins was taken to a Charlotte, NC hospital for observation after he bumped his head getting off a plane, following a flight to Charlotte to meet with WVU alumni.
FYI, he flew to Charlotte in a King Air owned by Wharf Place, LLC, which is a company operated by Glenmark, AKA Glenn Adrian and Mark Nesselroad.
Wonder if he was going to Charlotte to keep the alumni pumped up about the athletic programs and make them forget the sorry state of the University.
May 8, 2008 at 2:20 pm
How is it that Garrison can be president of a university and publicly admit that he didn’t understand tenure until he became president and also not know that he does too have the power to fire tenured professors? Not that I think he would have exercised that option, but he’s going around saying that they can’t be fired! Sheesh. And it’s just common sense, anyway. Obviously, there must be SOME way to get rid of tenured faculty for something particularly egregious.
May 8, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I see what your saying, and on second though, I think you’re correct.
What set me off though, is that when Garrison says that he’s “seen no empirical evidence to indicate that WVU’s reputation has been ruined,” my first instinct isn’t to say “that’s true.”
This story has literally been read all over the world. There are millions of people now who only know one thing about West Virginia University: That it manufactures fake degrees for the wealthy and well connected.
Ruined? Maybe not. Severely damaged the world over? You be the judge.
May 8, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I’m not going to say that outraged reaction from distinguished alumni and donors won’t force Garrison’s ouster, but I’d be willing to bet a few bucks that his departure will only be choreographed when Joe Manchin feels real political heat up his @$$ on this.
And since he’s running essentially unopposed…do the math. A criminal investigation could create that kind of heat, but, as today’s Gazette editorial says, that isn’t likely to happen.
Oh, one more thing, to those speculating about Garrison being appointed to the US Senate when Senator Byrd dies…get real. Only scenario there that I can see would be Manchin appointing an obvious placeholder simply to fill the position until he (Joe) can run for it. And even then, it wouldn’t be a WVU president. It would have to be someone semi-credible but also someone who would be as uncontroversial as possible. I don’t know, just thinking out loud, a Nick Casey or even a Gayle Manchin, to pull a couple of possible examples out of thin air like grades.
May 8, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Why are we surprised at any of this? The BOG hired a 30-something lawyer who was considered to be more of a resume builder than a top flight legal mind by the Charleston legal community, but who had great political connections. One of West Virginia’s best and most respected judges, Robert King of the Fourth United States Circuit Court of Appeals, publicly objected to the predetermined process of annointing Garrison with the Presidency. He was shouted down by the Goodwins (one of whom is his colleague on the federal bench). So the decision was to go with political connections, rather than experience in higher education or academia of any kind, because it was believed that Garrison would be able to bring big bucks to Morgantown. The result since his appointment has been of repeated bad decision-making and political cronyism. Again: why are we surprised by this?
May 8, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I see what HK is trying to say: Every little thing matters.
No, this won’t destroy WVU…but it will add to the perception of the university and to the view of the state. If you look back in history…I’ll just choose an example…Louisville, Kentucky, was a powerhouse city. Kentucky was a prominent state. No one thinks of Kentucky in that manner anymore (no offense to the commonwealth.) Little things eroded that away (lack of rigorous education, corruption, etc.)
The same holds true here. Every little thing…corruption, idiot governor, backwards university president…all come together to give a university or a state a bad name for one hundred years.
We all know that every organization has a bad egg. We all know that institutions and organizations generally get a reputation over myriad years… and we all know that history judges them (the institutions) on how they dealt with that bad egg.
That Garrison and Manchin would try this….that shouldn’t shock any of you…not at all.
That they may survive this? That should make you weep.
May 8, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Thisis a pretty cool site. Check out the “B” section under “Energy And Natural Resources”.
May 8, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Mountain Daddy is right about WV’s reputation. We have such an uphill climb on that score anyway, that an incident like this that reinforces all the old negative stereotypes of good ol’ boy corruption has immediate credibility. People just say “oh yeah — it’s in West Virginia — that makes sense.” The thing that worries me the most is the effect this will have on students. When a WVU grad applies to graduate school, and the first reaction the admissions officer has is “WVU — that’s where they concocted a fake degree” — they’ll put us in the same category as the schools that advertise on matchbook covers. The damage is already done. I don’t know that getting rid of Garrison will change it.
May 8, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I say Manchin will appoint Randall Reid-Smith to replace Byrd. RSS will then begin work on removing all of those boring books and icky old documents from the Library Of Congress to make room for a Boston Beanery.
May 8, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Now for an on topic comment: John Cole has something to say about DaughterGate.
May 8, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Mike’s looking a little thinner and quite pale. Maybe the truth is finally sinking in…
May 8, 2008 at 4:38 pm
President of the WVU student body on KDKA this morning indicating support for Garrison….go figure!!!!
May 8, 2008 at 4:57 pm
This scandal won’t hurt WVU’s pull with in-state students; but good out-of-state students looking at colleges won’t look there. I have a student getting a AE1 scholarship and full tuition waver. I would have steered her elsewhere if this had happened prior to her enrollment.
May 8, 2008 at 5:20 pm
These people think they’re so smart. But it’s politics 101 not to belittle the faculty senate in this climate. What would Bill Clinton do? He’d praise the faculty for its passion for academics and promise that, when emotions cool, Mike Garrison will be The Man to work with them and the BOG to move WVU up the ladder, first to Tier Two status and then, someday, to The Promised Land of Tier One status, which we’ve achieved now in athletics and …blah, blah, blah.
Some pretty, inconsequential lie like that.
May 8, 2008 at 7:06 pm
The Manchins had a lot of gall hijacking “Country Roads” at the Capitol today for Hillary. If Garrison isn’t gone soon, I say we all sing “Take the Money and Run” at Puskar Stadium this fall. It makes my blood run cold to think of the signs the opposing fans will be waving at us.
May 8, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Tier 2? With the potential for faculty defections and loss of research funding if this clown holds on, we’ll be lucky to hold on to Tier 3 status.
Hello to Tier 4 and East Tennessee State, West Florida and Trevecca Nazarene. Maybe we can play Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
May 8, 2008 at 7:27 pm
>>>>>>The Manchins had a lot of gall hijacking “Country Roads” at the Capitol today for Hillary.
Mike Garrison is to Joe Manchin as Craig Livingstone was to the Clintons. (That could be the answer to an SAT question required for admittance to WVU’s business school). :)
May 8, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Where was Joe Manchin today? I didn’t see him in any of the coverage? Is he saving himself for Obama?
May 8, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Deep Blue wrote: Maybe we can play Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Maybe the most weasel act these clowns have so far perpetrated is their effort to use football and basketball to divide and conquer WVU fans and alums. They truly have no shame.
KT: As for them hijacking “Country Roads” on her behalf today…Let’s just say the state roadsigns and the sign the First Gentleman ought to hang on the door to the Lincoln Bedroom (in the unlikely event he and his wife get to go “home” again) ought to read, “Open for Business As Usual.”
May 8, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I went to visit the HSC today. The tension and fear are palpable. Bailes is in charge of everything. People are afraid to speak for fear they will end up like Prescott: without a job ! Bailes is in tight with the consultants. Beware !
May 8, 2008 at 8:02 pm
My personal favorite was when the Friends of Coal hijacked Country Roads.
I’m pretty sure John Denver wasn’t a friend of coal.
May 8, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Whoever the student body president at WVU may be at a particular time he or she is usually a professional suck and his or her number one priority is resume building.
May 8, 2008 at 8:53 pm
former faculty, I thought Prescott went back to research — this is what all the newspaper articles claimed. Is he leaving?
May 8, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Guess who else was student body president at WVU?
May 8, 2008 at 8:56 pm
don’t believe the official press release on prescott. I am sure he will be looking for a good job somewhere else. He never was a researcher and I doubt that is really what he is going to do now.
May 8, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Prescott was asked to step-down when a structure agreement between HSC, UHA and WVUH could not be reached.
May 8, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I would bet my money on prescott going because he was trying to control bailes by getting him to balance his budget (which should have been easy by just taking a pay cut!) and then there was the entire fish oil thing as well.
May 8, 2008 at 9:02 pm
And everybody’s just going to sit back and let the cards fall where they may…..this is very sad, these people have no remorse.
May 8, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Too bad someone doesn’t have the tenacity to ask the powers that be at HSC to make known the exact truth regarding Dean Prescott. Afterall, emails are sent out for everything else. The students should pursue the plight of their dean; I would want to know.
May 8, 2008 at 9:06 pm
What a joke this statement was….”going back to his first love….”
May 8, 2008 at 9:07 pm
then the PPG will have to put butcher and garrison under oath and ask them or the truth will never be known !
May 8, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Rev…I wonder who put that statement together for him…look no further than Bill Case I bet.
May 8, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Those two??!??! The first is great at not telling the truth, and the latter, well…”he would accept the findings, but not the conclusion”!
May 8, 2008 at 9:11 pm
that would have originated on the hill
May 8, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Rev – sure it originated on the hill…probably passed around for several approvals before being sent out.
May 8, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I say tear the present kingdom down at the hhsc and ask prescott to become the vp
May 8, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Rev – how do begin to tear that kingdom down?
May 8, 2008 at 9:17 pm
yes, no doubt – this is sickening – so staunch and upright on the outside – major deceivers, and very good at pretending to play everything by the book…question is, who’s book?
May 8, 2008 at 9:19 pm
More spin . . . Channel 5 headline is “MIR” may protest graduation,” but students allegedly don’t want “their special day tainted.” The sources apparently are Garrison and Parsons.
http://www.wdtv.com/ (sorry, I don’t have rss feed).
MIR faculty are preparing a statement that they have no intention to disrupt graduation as alleged by Channel 5,
May 8, 2008 at 9:20 pm
hit the books at med corp and foundation – these books should be public knowledge – would take internal investigation – take pros to find – hit the right office staffer (they know what’s going on)
May 8, 2008 at 9:20 pm
The link worked — and there should be a period, not a comma, at the end.
May 8, 2008 at 9:25 pm
and one finance man for both hhsc and wvu – he’s got to be good, but everyone makes mistakes, just have to know where to look
May 8, 2008 at 9:37 pm
another link: http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=38363
May 8, 2008 at 9:56 pm
any suggestions on the finance man??
May 8, 2008 at 10:00 pm
through the back door
May 8, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Here is the link to Mountaineers for Integrity & Responsibility web site
http://www.wvumir.org/
May 8, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Rev– now you’re on topic!!! Produce the name of the finance drone who worked for the former VP and then transferred to a bigger post downtown… and that’s who has been in the know. CEO-types may direct funny money, but someone has to pull the account for them first!
May 8, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Just for the record, in the May 7 edition of the Charleston Daily Mail (http://dailymail.com/News/statenews/200805070220), the reporter states, “Garrison said the faculty senate vote doesn’t represent the overall opinion of him on campus.”
Let’s see what the Faculty assembly says on May 14 and then re-visit this remark.
May 8, 2008 at 10:42 pm
oh, redirection here, I smell a fox
May 8, 2008 at 10:46 pm
regarding the “spin” by channel 5 on MIR: I have experienced these Channel 5 hack “reporters” in action…they don’t report news, they have a story line already in place & then they find the “man on the street” who says the lines they want them to say. Its a joke to call it news. WBOY has the clip from the student who indicates that any protest is to be a silent protest. Channel 5 did some great spinning for Garrison & Co.
May 8, 2008 at 10:47 pm
No, just a coward who is relucant to be any more specific. Not trying to redirect, but add to the picture… the root of the HSC chaos is money. Thus, questions need to be asked of those who understand thoroughly HSC finances. If ENRON is an example, the finance folks new more about the nitty-gritty than did those who executed the directives.
May 8, 2008 at 10:51 pm
to all – look at history and demonstrations that worked, similar situations, then implement here
next – get on the agenda at next university board of governors, ask for open meeting, invite various media – and remember, there’s always strength in numbers, power in the pen
May 8, 2008 at 10:52 pm
ongoing undercurrent – persuade the fellow who investigates fraud, the one hailed by our federal folks, to look into wvu
May 8, 2008 at 10:57 pm
No– investigate the fellow who assisted in hiding the fraud.
May 8, 2008 at 11:03 pm
You’re good, finance man, but not that good – someone take charge out there and have the entire entity face accountability….one thread at a time, until the whole curtain unravels…
May 8, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Craig Walker….hails from WVU Foundation…..another thread
May 8, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Has anyone heard that Garrison is not going to participate in grad ceremonies?
May 8, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Revolutionary – I totally agree we need people power. . . .think about the student-led campaign that toppled Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia. It is sad we have to resort to such measures to oust a butterball University President and his BOG, but what else an we do? Let’s bring down the regime – it is time for the Bulldozer Revolution.
May 8, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Craig Walker is an unethical amoral POS and I know this from personal experience. and yes, he got all his training at the WVU Foundation.
May 9, 2008 at 12:02 am
Our W. Va. Constitution provides, in part:
4-9. Impeachment of officials.
Any officer of the state may be impeached for maladministration, corruption, incompetency, gross immorality, neglect of duty, or any high crime or misdemeanor. The House of Delegates shall have the sole power of impeachment. The Senate shall have the sole power to try impeachments and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members elected thereto. When sitting as a court of impeachment, the president of the supreme court of appeals, or, if from any cause it be improper for him to act, then any other judge of that court, to be designated by it, shall preside; and the senators shall be on oath or affirmation, to do justice according to law and evidence. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit, under the state; but the party convicted shall be liable to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. The Senate may sit during the recess of the Legislature for the trial of impeachments.
May 9, 2008 at 12:40 am
Rev
I agree with you. Where are the voices of the med students? In A&S or the Law School, the students would be going crazy if their respected dean were removed. Why aren’t they demanding that Prescott be reinstated?
May 9, 2008 at 2:00 am
Another one of Bob Wise’s cronies (like Garrison), is also getting in over his head. Matt Ballard at the Charleston Area Alliance:
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200805080172
May 9, 2008 at 6:13 am
look to the former guy Jim Hackett…………..Butcher is very slippery and only wants to keep a job…….look towards northeastern PA if yu want to find subpeonable answers………..i dont think Senator Rockefeller would like mismanagement of his “mother’s named” Institute…….med students are usually professional spineless “pussies” more worried about boat rocking and not getting their degrees,so they will be helpless………….
May 9, 2008 at 6:30 am
The story is the headline item in today’s issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Governor’s Daughter Enjoyed a High Profile at West Virginia U., Documents Show
By JJ HERMES
At around the same time last October that officials of West Virginia University were awarding Heather M. Bresch, daughter of the state’s governor, an executive M.B.A. that she had not earned, they were also considering her for appointment to at least two advisory committees whose primary role is to raise money for academic divisions of the university.
The discussions, described in documents obtained by The Chronicle, make clear the high profile Ms. Bresch had on the campus, especially with the university’s president, Michael S. Garrison, who had spoken directly with her about serving on the advisory board for the WVU Foundation.
Last month an independent investigative panel found that the university had bent the rules in awarding a degree to Ms. Bresch. She had been treated in an “unusual and unique manner,” the panel said. This week the Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on Mr. Garrison to resign for his handling of the matter.
The president said in a telephone interview on Wednesday that, sometime in September 2007, he spoke with Ms. Bresch about her serving on the advisory board of the foundation. Ms. Bresch was also one of seven business leaders nominated to serve on an advisory board to the business school; coincidentally, a board member forwarded her name to R. Stephen Sears, dean of the college, on the same day Mr. Sears agreed to award her a degree she had already claimed having.
Mr. Sears, who resigned as dean last month over his handling of the issue, said via e-mail that the dust-up over Ms. Bresch’s credentials had frozen his consideration of her appointment. “With that controversy, I shelved her nomination,” he said, adding, “As a technical point, at WVU, all board appointments have to come from the president of the university.”
Open Invitation
On October 11, 2007, members of a 20-member advisory board of the College of Business and Economics met for the first day of their fall meeting, at which they discussed strategic planning for the college and identified business leaders to invite to join their ranks.
The name that topped their list: Heather Manchin Bresch.
That same Thursday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette began making calls to the university about the executive M.B.A. claimed by Ms. Bresch on a news release touting her promotion at a pharmaceutical company. Her name and those of the other business people were forwarded to Mr. Sears the following Monday.
“We will begin pushing forward with these recommendations,” the dean said by e-mail nearly a week later, on October 21.
However, a day after Mr. Sears sent his message, Mindy Walls, director of an entrepreneurship center at the business school, said Ms. Bresch would probably be unable to serve on the school’s advisory board.
“I had the opportunity to visit with Heather Bresch this weekend,” Ms. Walls wrote to Mr. Sears and a board member on October 22. “She mentioned that President Garrison had approached her about serving on some university committees but because of her father’s position she was unable to serve. I did not specifically mention our plans but think that it is unlikely that she will be able to serve on our advisory board at this time.”
Old Friends
Mr. Garrison told The Chronicle that Ms. Bresch had approached him about serving on the board of the university’s development foundation sometime in September 2007, the month before the start of the inquiry into her credentials.
“The foundation is turning over a lot of membership, and we’re always looking for new members,” said Mr. Garrison. “She expressed an interest to me in serving on the foundation board.”
When the president was interviewed by the independent investigative panel this year, however, he said he had approached Ms. Bresch about serving, according to the panel’s notes.
The two have long been acquainted. Mr. Garrison worked directly with Ms. Bresch a few years ago, when he was a lobbyist representing her company, Mylan Inc. Mr. Garrison also told the panel that Ms. Bresch had called his office several times on the first day that her degree credentials were called into question by the Post-Gazette.
He said that he had not passed along Ms. Bresch’s résumé to the foundation, and that she would not be appointed to either board.
May 9, 2008 at 7:17 am
Still no “smoking gun”….but the barrel is heating up
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08130/880401-85.stm
May 9, 2008 at 7:45 am
“An amendment to state law signed by Mr. Manchin last summer makes Mr. Goodwin eligible to serve as chairman of WVU’s board of governors for two more years. The change, passed last summer during a **special session of the legislature**, allows the chairman to serve for four consecutive years, up from two.”
**********
Does the phrase “special session of the legislature” not imply that the Governor very specifically wanted this change? He has been in total control of the agenda of legislative special sessions, going so far as to refuse to allow amendments on the precise wording of the mine safety and sales tax reduction bills in special session.
If so, and we now see what the reason was, i.e. absolute control of the BOG’s agenda by the Governor, does that provide any further information as to what he has had (or had had) in mind for the next two years for WVU?
As an aside, I just talked with a friend who is politically astute and well-connected with WVU, but yet who had never yet figured out why people want Garrison’s head on a pike. He had thought, even after all the articles, that Garrison had simply inherited the long-running Bresch mess, until I pointed out that it ALL began within days of his accession to power. So we can’t even assume most people know the basic parameters of the situation (Princess Heather -> Gov. Manchin -> Garrison -> Walker/Macia/Lang/Sears et al.)
May 9, 2008 at 8:26 am
Anyone notice that the WVU Foundation is being rather circumspect in its public comments? Understandably, it does not want to foster the impression there is a crisis but it has conceded it has heard complaints. Most interestingly, the comments just vaguely talk about reassuring donors and do not seem to include any outward attempt to to support Garrison. People whose job it is to get the money might have a different perspective than people whose jobs make them money — like coaches.
May 9, 2008 at 8:29 am
Too funny….look at MG’s occupations listed when he gave money to Manchin’s campaign:
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=193165974
May 9, 2008 at 8:38 am
That’s funny, Lurking. I wonder if the comma left out between “lawyer” and “friend” was a Follow The Money typo or how Garrison declared himself?
Just where the hell was Manchin yesterday? I find that very odd.
May 9, 2008 at 8:48 am
Good one, Lurking.
May 9, 2008 at 9:25 am
fairmont observer is right. most people think the problem existed ten years ago, and mostly because tv and news media did not portray the incident in a true manner in the beginning.
May 9, 2008 at 10:15 am
Check out John Raese’s comments in today’s Daily Mail. Ordinarily I think he’s an egomaniac who doesn’t realize that the Republican Party keeps encouraging him to run for office because he can afford to self-fund his campaigns, but today I agree with him one hundred percent.
May 9, 2008 at 10:45 am
Jay asks “Just where the hell was Manchin yesterday? I find that very odd.”
Who do you think wears the pants in the Governor’s mansion? Gayle wanted the spotlight with Hillary, the first woman presidential candidate. Clinton said she had a nice chat with the Manchins about WV’s needs, which made the crowd wonder (a) if that’s where she was while everyone waited an extra hour and a half for her to show up and (b) where’d they have the chat, in the loading dock of the Capitol where they brought her into the building? Think about it, they brought Hillary in past the dumpsters in the basement of the Capitol.
I’m surprised Gayle didn’t bring RRS to fawn all over her while she introduced Hillary.
May 9, 2008 at 10:53 am
and
are the reasons why Raese never gets taken serious as far as politics are concerned. If Manchin was a member of the Republican Party instead of a WV Vichy-crat, Raese would be defending Garrison.
May 9, 2008 at 11:06 am
mojo was in meeting, check in the king direction
May 9, 2008 at 11:16 am
There has been talk for a couple of years that the Gov would run as vp for Hillary, if asked. The Bresch thing would be harmful, wouldn’t it?
Two tidbits picked up at the beauty parlor… any truth to them?
1. Larry Puccio, the Mojo gatekeeper, is married to Trudy Garrison. Is there a link to Mike?
2. Mike and Heather went to the high school prom together.
Anyone know Mike’s mother’s surname? Just curious about this stuff.
May 9, 2008 at 11:30 am
Garrison gave Manchin a $1250 campaign contribution in 2006 — when only one person was running for something — no not Manchin — Mike was running for WVU President. Who the hell gives an elected official $1200 2 years before the next election and before the official has even officially declared himself to be a candidate for re-election?
Also, with regard to the special session of the Legislature that amended the law allowing Steve Goodwin to stay on as BOG Chair for an additional 2 yeras. My understanding is that any legislation enacted during a special session must be specifically included in the Governor’s call for the session. Legilsative hotdogs at the State House — was that amendment mentioned in the Governor’s call?
May 9, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Get pictures of that prom. High school yearbook in the county library. He’s always distanced their friendship….
May 9, 2008 at 12:21 pm
hell, I want to know if that goofy haircut is there back in the ’80’s
May 9, 2008 at 12:45 pm
The law passed in the 2007 2nd special session of the Legislature which dealt with disposition of property by the HEPC can be found at
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/2X/BILLS/SB2005%20SUB1%20enr.htm
Sorry you have to do the cut and paste routine.
May 9, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Oops. Guess not.
May 9, 2008 at 12:57 pm
The legal question regarding the special session bill giving Goodwin 2 additional years as Board of Governor’s Chairman is simple:
Did the Governor’s proclamation calling the legislature into special session last summer adequately describe the focus of the legislation to be considered. If not, it would be declared void ab initio (from the beginning).
May 9, 2008 at 1:03 pm
18B-1B-4(38)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of any real property which it may own, either by contract or at public auction, and to retain the proceeds of any such sale or lease: Provided, That:
(A) The commission may not sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of any real property without first:
(i) Providing notice to the public in the county in which the real property is located by a Class II legal advertisement pursuant to section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code;
(ii) Holding a public hearing on the issue in the county in which the real property is located; and
(iii) Providing notice to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance; and
(B) Any proceeds from the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposal of real property that is used jointly by institutions or for statewide programs under the jurisdiction of the commission or the council shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the state.
No mention that sale/lease has to be a competitive bid !!
May 9, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I’m no lawyer, but it seems to me the Governor can remove one of his appointees from the Board of Governors without going through any process. Check it out:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=06&art=6
May 9, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Mylan adjusts future earnings down this AM. Stock down 1.50 a share, roughly 12%. $400 million in market cap erased.
May 9, 2008 at 2:02 pm
sent out by sears today to all b&e students:
Dear WVU College of Business and Economics Student:
Recently I submitted my letter of resignation as the College’s Milan Puskar Dean to Dr. Gerald E. Lang, Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs. My resignation will become effective June 30, 2008 but I will remain in the College as a tenured, full professor.
Recent events have put considerable stress on the College and the University, and I am sorry for any stress that I may have caused you as a student. I want you to know that I approached this issue in as careful a manner as I could, made the decision based upon the information that was provided to me, and relied on that information in reaching a decision that I was expected to make in a very short period of time.
As the investigative panel noted, decisions made under stress are apt to be flawed in their final outcomes. Even so, one decision should not define or measure the integrity of an institution, its leadership, its faculty and staff, or its programs; nor should it overshadow the many accomplishments of the College or your education here.
Your education should be defined by the knowledge and skills that you take from the College in pursuit of your life’s path. The College has provided an academic atmosphere that in combination with your hard work has prepared you for whatever path you choose.
I ask you to take pride in your education, enjoy the successes that you will inevitably have, and to remember your alma mater fondly.
My best wishes to each of you.
Sincerely,
Steve Sears
Milan Puskar Dean and Professor of Finance
May 9, 2008 at 2:16 pm
This is sad and another very costly rouse….ref Lurk’s comment earlier – the gun must be nearly the cocked position and we don’t know it, yet…..
May 9, 2008 at 2:41 pm
>>>>>>>>> relied on that information in reaching a decision that I was expected to make in a very short period of time.
In other words, was pressured to make.
May 9, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Dude, the Garrison story just made Atrios! Too funny. Or not, given the hit to WVU’s reputation.
May 9, 2008 at 3:03 pm
In the meantime, John Raese said he has contributed to WVU in the past and will in the future but “won’t give a nickel” as long as Mike Garrison is president..
May 9, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Governor’s Call 2nd Extraordinary Session 2007. Looks good to me. See what you think.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2007/2x/senate/s_daily_journal/sdj-1st%20day%202es.htm
May 9, 2008 at 3:46 pm
QUOTED “If Manchin was a member of the Republican Party instead of a WV Vichy-crat, Raese would be defending Garrison.”
Dude, Raese doesn’t defend other Republicans. He only attacks them.
Ask Arch and Shelley.
I know some of you are still stuck up with the 1920’s coal camp mentality that all Republicans in this state are part of some oligharcy that has ruined your lives but let’s clarify a few things.
1 statewide Republican candidate may reach 6 figures in donations by primary day, Beth Walker. Every statewide Dem nominee will, again.
Dems will outspend Republicans in virtually every race this year, just as they have in 2000, 2004, 1996, 1992, and so on. A lot of it will be raised by the BOG members and their allies everyone on this board is bitching about.
The Chamber of Commerce is practically a wing of the Democrat party, as is the NRA, and WV 4 Life, who won’t even endorse their Raleigh County VP for the last 15 year in his race, when he is directly responsible for the last pro-life bill becoming law, 1st by beating Wooton who was its chief obstacle, and then by co-sponsoring it.
Manchin is idolized by some in that group, even though he hasn’t even lifted a finger for their cause as Gov.
2 Republicans have been elected governor in anyones lifetime on this board, even if you are 75 years old. 11 Dems have in that same span.
Republicans have won two elections to the State Supreme Court.
Don’t give me any of that bullshit about those Chambercrats being like a Republican.
Over 70 House Members have been endorsed by Pro-Life during their careers including the speaker, do you think if the GOP controlled the House, they would let Carrie babie-Killer bottle up every bill in Judiciary?
If the GOP controlled the legislature, we would be a right to work state, just like every state down south all our high school classmates have moved to.
Republicans believe in low taxes and limited government. I know some of you folks think that is cruel, but let me ask you is that any worse than Joe Manchin taxing us and redistributing the state jobs and programs to certain millionaires in Northcentral WV?
If you limit yourselves to punching the donkey in November, then in a generation or two, this whole damn state will look like McDowell and Mingo.
May 9, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Amen, Joe P.
May 9, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Nice photo of our version of Dean Wormer …
May 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Interesting, Goodwin has said he will step down as chairman of the BOG in July.
http://www.wvgazette.com/latest/200805090333
May 9, 2008 at 5:24 pm
great, now Goodwin is gone (got the Lang/Sears deal, loss of leadership, but staying on the board); who’s next ?
May 9, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Wow, the Chamber of Commerce is a wing of the Democratic party now.
Who knew?
May 9, 2008 at 6:02 pm
that’s July 2010…not 2008.
May 9, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Joe P., you completely shit on your own assertions when you (rightly) point out that the Chamber of Commerce, NRA, and Right 4 Life in WV are wings of the Democratic Party. Where else is that true?
I heard Doug McKinney on MSNBC yesterday, and all he could talk about is how WV ranks last in everything good. What a salesman!! What a great impression he made on the listeners that day!! They invite him on to talk about WV’s primary next week, and he’s hawking Sobel’s Compendium Of Crap, “Unleashing Capitalism”. You know, the one that advocates the abolishment of the minimum wage. We sometimes have a coal camp mentality because that’s exactly where some Republicans want us to be. (Put Walker, Maynard, and Benjamin on the bench and we’re just that much closer to it.)
Last year I laughed for days when Andy McKensie told Hoppy that he was getting out of state government because “WV Democrats have taken God, guns, and gays and Republicans don’t have anything else to run on”. That’s a word for word quote. With vision like that, I can’t imagine why Republicans are floundering so.
Now add in Republicans’ attitude of “look in the want ads of the paper and you will not find one poor person offering you a job, so we have to cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations” and you have yourself a political party with nothing but coal dirt and dust bunnies in it’s bank account.
We all agree that Garrison needs to go, as well as the hack system that got him there in the first place, but don’t come in here with that vote Republican crap. Like I said before, we don’t want to kill the black snake that keeps the rats out of the barn, but it needs to learn to behave better.
May 9, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Ann~
He steps down as chair as of June 30th this year and leaves the board in 2010.
May 9, 2008 at 6:39 pm
My grandmother, and many like her, would vote for Hitler as long as he had a D next to his name. One party rule is why we are having this discussion. MoJo and his ilk thumb their noses at us because he knows most of you will still vote for him. Show me any state that has had one party rule like we have that isn’t a shithole. Jay hates to hear it, but we’re a shithole because of the WV Democratic party and the idiots that keep electing them. To claim that we’d be a bigger shithole if repubs are in charge – so keep voting D – is simply a scare tactic that will keep us here. Jay will keep us here.
May 9, 2008 at 7:04 pm
If West Virginia’s republicans have so much fucking vision, then why have they been utterly silent of the Heathergate issue? What more of an opening do they need?
And hell — why haven’t more WV democrats spoken up?
May 9, 2008 at 7:09 pm
John Hoblitzell, Republican, former chairman of the Higher Education Policy Commission and University System Board of Trustees, and loyal Mountaineer spoke passionately and effectively in this morning’s Charleston Gazette.
May 9, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Yeah, wow.
Nice of him to finally chime in.
Sheesh.
May 9, 2008 at 7:23 pm
See, your problem, Sissonville, is that you think this state is a shithole. If you’d get your sorry ass out of Wolf Pen – physically, mentally, or both – you would understand that. No matter what, McKinney going on national tv to air what problems we do have does not help. In fact, the overall negative perception of us that you, McKinney, and that hack Surber perpetuate, does far more damage than anything else.
Here’s the bottom line: West Virginians are a certain way. Our ancestors did not move here for the Law and Order. People born here and people who relocate here do not stay here for the readily available McMansions and fine culture. Therefore, it does not matter which party has the majority. But I’ll take what little the WV Democratic Party does offer in the way of following the national Democratic Party instead of that Trickle-On, Reagan Voodoo Economics that put people in a coal camp in the first place, dickhead.
May 9, 2008 at 8:09 pm
>>>>>>If West Virginia’s republicans have so much fucking vision, then why have they been utterly silent of the Heathergate issue?
They have spoken, but are you listening? Read Vic Sprouse’s blog – he’s discussed Heathergate at length. Abernathy and others also have been quoted here, but their opinions are discounted, derided and discarded just because they may have an “R” after their names.
We’re all in the same boat here, Republican or Democrat, when it comes to the disgrace that Garrison, et al., have made of our university and our state. Let’s not permit political disagreement on unrelated issues blind us to our common concerns in THIS matter.
May 9, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Are you kidding me?
It’s too little, too late, dude. But mostly too little.
Any serious republican OR democrat who was concerned with this debacle should be — and could be pumping out a press release about this EVERY DAY. I’m serious. Look at the amount of coverage I’ve given it on my stupid little blog.
Vic Sprouse, on the other hand, only began mentioning Garrison LAST WEEK. So please spare me the self righteous “but are you listening” bullshit.
It’s pathetic.
I really can’t figure out what’s wrong with West Virginia’s Republicans — this is the best opening they’ve have in a generation, and all they can do is crank out a handful of op-ed pieces and blog posts? But I guess that it’s nice that they’ve finally noticed.
SWEET BABY JESUS.
What is wrong with this fucking place?
May 9, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Agreed. We need to put this partisian stuff aside.
Every person voting in the DEMO primary needs to vote for Kessler. If Joe draws less than 67% against an unknown with no money, it will embolden people to give to Weeks.
Right now Joe has all the money locked up.
Labor? Joe
Chamber? Joe
BIC? Joe
Gas industry? Joe
Coal? Joe
Timber? Joe
Banking? Joe
Insurance? Joe
Trial Lawyers? Joe
RNC and RGA won’t transfer money to WV unless they had polling data, and GOP is on defense in so many races around country, challengers will get a record small share around the country. (Republicans nationally had a terrible year recruiting strong candidates for Congress and Governors.)
The only reliable source for Weeks (and Kessler) is everyday West Virginians like us. You DEMS need to get behind Kessler now and embolden everyone to stand against Joe by knocking him as close to 60% in the primary as you can get.
http://melforgov.com/
Weeks is capable of winning a race outspent 10:1, he’s done it before in a county which was much more Democrat than the state as a whole. He just needs to reach that level. It is more like 70:1 right now.
May 9, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I sadly have to agree. This IS the best opening for republicans, but I think they have become atrophied –so long losers–so they only know how to assume ‘paws up’ position.
May 9, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I’d vote for Soupy Sales before I’d vote for Joe.
May 9, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Damn, Joe P., I can’t imagine why Republicans are having money trouble this year. It’s not like they voted down Mothers Da..<a href=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050802999.htmloops.
And by all means, let’s put all this partisan stuff aside while we have your little Republican strategy meeting. I make a motion that we put forth a resolution that states that you, Joe P., are a complete idiot if you think the RNC is going to give 2 cents to Russ Weeks under any circumstances. The ayes have it!
What little – if any – money sent to WV by the RNC will go straight to Rubberstamp Shelley.
May 9, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Damn, Joe P., I can’t imagine why Republicans are having money trouble this year. It’s not like they voted down Mothers Da..<a href=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050802999.htmloops”.
And by all means, let’s put all this partisan stuff aside while we have your little Republican strategy meeting. I make a motion that we put forth a resolution that states that you, Joe P., are a complete idiot if you think the RNC is going to give 2 cents to Russ Weeks under any circumstances. The ayes have it!
What little – if any – money sent to WV by the RNC will go straight to Rubberstamp Shelley.
[was really what I had in mind]
May 9, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Damn, Joe P., I can’t imagine why Republicans are having money trouble this year. It’s not like they voted down Mothers Da..oops.
And by all means, let’s put all this partisan stuff aside while we have your little Republican strategy meeting. I make a motion that we put forth a resolution that states that you, Joe P., are a complete idiot if you think the RNC is going to give 2 cents to Russ Weeks under any circumstances. The ayes have it!
What little – if any – money sent to WV by the RNC will go straight to Rubberstamp Shelley.
[and with that I'll say goodnight]
May 9, 2008 at 11:51 pm
They won’t transfer money to the WVGOP because the WVGOP just recently got out of debt, but are about to go back to being broke. Other than $15,000 dedicated to GOTV, they only have $2,000 left in the general fund. They couldn’t raise money before, thanks to Kris and Monty Warner raiding the coffers. They can’t raise money now because they fucked over the party base by going over their head to pick – of all people – Mike Huckabee (the convention planners were all Huckabess supporters…hmmm). The WVGOP is in no position to take on Joe.
May 10, 2008 at 12:05 am
[...] And the guy that was involved in the negotiations, WVU President Mike Garrison, kind of has some character issues(language). And one of the things that Rodriguez has been saying from the beginning is that there [...]
May 10, 2008 at 8:38 am
I have to agree with e’s assessment. Republicans in WV do have the attitude of “what’s the use, we’re still outnumbered too much to stand a chance of effecting real change.”
Curiously enough, I am able to express this opinion without lobbing f-bombs and personal attacks. Go figure.
May 10, 2008 at 9:47 am
It’s not the numbers, LaReina, it’s the ideology. Get rid of that hoax called “Supply-Side Economics” and the numbers will grow. Hold businesses to the same moral standards as you would like everybody else to live by, and your ranks will swell. Stop trying to bullshit me by saying your coal company insider Supreme Court candidates are not “activists”, and I’ll consider your position.
P.S., Fuck-a-dee Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.
May 10, 2008 at 10:01 am
HK, there has always been a willingness of the Chamber to “play ball” with the legislative leadership in order to not get the shaft as bad. (Hence, they oppose Rick Thompson & Carrie Webster all throughout their careers, until they become members of leadership)
It has gotten worse under mojo . Steve Roberts is his stoolpigeon.
Prior to mojo, if your Dem opponent was endorsed by labor, the Republican could count on their support. It is now very rare for them to endorse a non-incumbent Republican at all in legislative races.
The word on the street for the last two elections is that Roberts must check in with Manchin before they can endorse a Republican.
May 10, 2008 at 10:32 am
Jay, if you actually READ my post, that was my point.
The RNC will not be within a mile of WV as long as McCain is beating Obama by 15pts here, which he will be. Even if Obama beats McCain in November, he will not beat him HERE.
They will come in for Shelley if there was a poll showing Barth was a real threat, but the money will not go to the WVGOP, and most certainly will not filter down to Russ. They would establish a Victory Committee, and it would only concern itself with President and US House-2nd District. They would even ignore Jay Wolfe.
The only group that could put any money behind Russ is the RGA, and they won’t unless two things happen.
1. The polls say the race is within single digits. (They use their own polling firms)
2. They have enough resources. With such a dismal year in terms of candidate recruiting nationally, I suspect that the RGA will not be on offense anywhere this year.
May 10, 2008 at 10:36 am
^ This post brought to you by Gary Abernathy….LOL
May 10, 2008 at 11:09 am
I see what you’re saying about your post @ 9:27 pm, but the ridicule of the non-partisan vote-begging stands.
To paraphrase Tripper Harrison: “Even if God in Heaven above comes down and points his hand at Russ Weeks; even if every man woman and child held hands together and prayed for him to win, it just wouldn’t matter because most of the WV electorate would still go out with the guys from Camp Mojo”.
Personally, I want Manchin to be re-elected simply because there are no good alternatives. But I want him to be barely re-elected. I want him to be bruised, battered, and bloodied by the backlash of DaughterGate. I want his failed efforts to be a warning to future governors.
Russ Weeks was run out of the legislature because he couldn’t get anything done and that’s not really what we need. I’m sure he’s a fine man, and I’m tickled to death with his efforts to sort out the Pinecrest mess, but he’s not governor material.
May 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm
IT JUST WOULDN’T MATTER!!!
IT JUST WOULDN’T MATTER!!!
IT JUST WOULDN’T MATTER!!!
May 11, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Gary Abernathy steals from the Republican Party and any candidate that will loan their campaign personal resouces. He steals from candidates.
Basically they pay $8,000 a cycle to get a post or two on his shitty website and maybe a mention on a Hoppy appearance.
Gary Abernathy should be investigated by Attorney General Darrell McGraw.
May 12, 2008 at 8:34 am
Nice little bit of irrelevant libel, Tony, but perhaps it would be more helpful to stay on topic – which is the Heather Bresch MBA fiasco. What are the chances Darrell McGraw will investigate THAT?
May 12, 2008 at 8:54 am
LaReina, I don’t really give a shit if that is libel. It is the truth.