West Virginia doesn’t need a third party.
West Virginia needs a second party.
People like Joe Manchin and Steve Goodwin know that they can get away with virtually anything because they never have to worry about The Other Side mounting a serious campaign to oust them from office or power.
July 15, 2008 at 2:45 pm
You could not be more correct about the need for a stronger Republican Party. It certainly would reduce the amount of corruption in this state.
Some of the comments on the last blog post were wrong when they said that Manchin is a Republican anyway. There is quite a difference between being pro-business and pro-free market. Many Democrats in West Virginia claim to be pro-business, but they are not pro-free market. The State Senate has been littered over the years with businessman who used the state government to make themselves rich or obtain even more wealth: Oshel Craigo, Lloyd Jackson, Brooks McCabe, Mike Ross, and others. Joe Manchin could easily be included in this group.
I would argue that the heart of the Republican Party of West Virginia includes mostly free-market, small government folks who just have not been able to convince to business community to put principle ahead of profit, even for just a moment, to try and advance the state in the long term.
July 15, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I’ll be changing to Indepedent. The mind set requires more education, and choosing from the full field.
Independents are approaching a third of the voting public. Not much farther removed from splitting your ticket, with positive peer pressure to do your homework. I’ll try it for a couple rounds of elections and see what I think of the effectiveness of the organized groups - they do not field candidates.
Strong and growing numbers will affect who makes the field over time. At least, that is what I hope to experience. If not, I’m none the worse off. It’s more interesting than reading about who is or is not really Rep/Dem, etc.
Someone beat me up if I’m delusional.
July 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
So true. The system works (or kinda works) b/c of the give and take between the two parties. As has been proven throughout history, absolute power corrupts absolutely. When one party feels like they can act without fear of retribution or consequence, there’s not much that will actually keep them honest.
I think this is what irks me most about the Garrison thing - how brazen and bold can these people be? They install the boy prince as head of WVU and then act like we’re the bad guys for, I don’t know, having the gall to ask them why and that they legitimately defend their choice.
July 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm
does it matter how many parties you have?…or am i maive enough to believe that you just need “honest” politicians?
July 15, 2008 at 3:15 pm
The main problem with Independents is that they do not show up to vote as often as the other registered voters. Less than half of those registered Independent voted in the 2004 election in West Virginia. Republicans vote at a much higher percentage than Democrats do, but they are greatly outnumbered so turnout percentage is only important in competitive elections.
Most campaigns are set up to turn out their base voters first and then focus on cross-over votes. Ironically, the importance of Independents in West Virginia would grow if the Republican Party were to gain another five percent of registered voters in West Virginia.
Democrats are dying off at a rate of about 5,000 a year, the Republican Party has been stable since 2004 (despite the national anti-GOP mood), while no-party affiliated voters in West Virginia have increased by nearly 30,000.
If the Republicans were able to increase their base vote by about 20,000 votes for so, then Independents would start casting the deciding votes in most elections.
July 15, 2008 at 3:29 pm
HK,
The parties matter - a great deal - nice to see you on board. But, you also need to jump on your pals at the Lazy Gazette and the Fluffy Daily Mail. The press, walking about the Capitol, continuously digging stories is another way to do this.
A free and vibrant press is the first way. Phil Kabler’s little Avon-like column just doesn’t do it. Do any of you get the impression that you are missing something after reading that column?
Phil…ask yourself these questions after each column:
1. What does this mean?
2. Why does this matter?
3. Who is affected by this?
The Gazette needs to learn to cover institutions and to cover the state. Stop looking at W.Va as one small town, but as an inter-connected unit where people live - and, moreover, as a puzzle-piece (one of 50) to the largest, richest, most powerful nation on Earth.
That means something. We do not live in a vacuum. Things matter. Ruining the flagship university has cultural, educational, economic and social consequences that effect every nation.
Finally, think of it like this: somewhere, possibly in America, some smalltown is educating a little boy or little girl that will be our defence secretary, our next president, the researcher to cure AIDS, Diabetes or even the common cold.
The kides do not live in a vacuum….his/her future dictates ours. It all matters.
You need the other party…you need the media….you need this blog….you need people to give a damn and to become concerned citizens of the city, state, nation and the Earth.
Living in Charleston is like living in a well. The city is simply disconnected from everything else (oddly enough, it is your flagship university that is charged with making that connection……….thanks again, MoJo!)
July 15, 2008 at 3:31 pm
“A new National Guard Armory in Marion County will be built on 35 acres in East Fairmont’s Winfield District. Plans for the $22 million site include a multipurpose center that will serve as a special events and convention facility.”
So who owned this land?
July 15, 2008 at 3:50 pm
You could have the strongest Republican party in the country, and it won’t mean squat unless there is a shift in thinking within the voting population. I just see too much apathy (at best) and instinctual mistrust (at worst) among Bob and Betty Voter.
You have to shock the voters out of complacency, and I don’t think even the WVU scandal was enough to do that.
Yes, I get the point HK is trying to make. If the GOP got off its collective butt in the state and started marketing itself aggressively, some progress could be made. You’re still, though, going to have to deal with the pockets of people who believe 9/11 and Katrina were conspiracies orchestrated by NeoCons.
HK - Can we not inspire some sharks among the dems now that blood is in the water?
July 15, 2008 at 4:14 pm
It would probably be better if there were no “parties,” if there were a highly active and participatory citizenry, well organized.
But a stronger Republican party would likely, basically deliver more of the same, or worse. After all, they rally around policy typically somewhat to the right of Democrats, and in just as corrupt a fashion, or worse. The two parties enable one another far more than check each other. And catch a lot of people in the crossfire. There might be some benefit, but far more important is the creation and growth of independent progressive organzations to check and eventually replace both parties and their corporate sponsors.
Any thorough and substantial evidence that relatively strong one-party states are more venal than relatively equally divided DemRep states, regions, or cities? Regardless, progressive growth is far more vital for checking illegitimate power, and moving forward.
July 15, 2008 at 4:44 pm
The problem in West Virginia isn’t Republican or Democratic policies — it’s CORRUPTION, and total lack of accountability.
And as far as “shocking voters out of complacency,” have you been in a cave the past few months? There was record voting in primaries all across the U.S.
July 15, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Let’s start with baby steps. This election, do your homework. Be realistic. In the Gov’s race, Weeks has a better chance than Johnson of beating Mojo. A significant showing for Weeks will help to raise WV’s 2 party system from the dead. (If the state ever had a 2 party system, please someone, enlighten me). Next go round, register as independent & do the homework again.
July 15, 2008 at 4:51 pm
WVSalmon, I’m surprised to see you had Lloyd Jackson listed as benefiting from being in the Senate. I get the others being on your list. Can you give us specifics or were you just on a roll?
July 15, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Hardy Mountaineer, I don’t really have specifics but just generally lump him in with the rest of those guys. It would not surprise me if he got the benefit of the doubt with respect to government regulation for his extraction business interests though.
July 15, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I am not surprised that you don’t have details, and I agree with your list of others. But I’ve followed his work for some time and give him a ton of credit for being aboveboard and committed to improving the state. He couldn’t win a race for Governor because he is a wonk and good to all kinds of people. Thanks for your answer.
July 15, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I’m baby-stepping with you, fox hunter.
To really do our homework properly would be a full time job. Doing the best I can.
July 15, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I got the impression that Lloyd Jackson was a “smart guy,” but I never figured him for a people person.
I don’t know what to think about that man; who knows, perhaps he is the next Harry Truman.
July 15, 2008 at 5:35 pm
That’s not a bad thought. He could be shored up and a great candidate, but he’d need grass roots support from young and old. It’s doable.
July 15, 2008 at 5:41 pm
WV Salmon
You could not be more correct about the need for a stronger Republican Party. It certainly would reduce the amount of corruption in this state.
You mean like we’ve seen in national politics for the past 8 years? Less corruption?!?!
I’m in the dark about Russ Weeks and his positions on important issues. Instead of just naming him as a vote against Manchin, I want to know who you are asking people to vote for. Personally I’m tired of a lifetime of voting ‘against’ someone, rather than ‘for’ someone. You always end up with just-as-bad (if not worse).
So- what are his positions on social issues. I’d like to know that. And what positive things has he done so far?
July 15, 2008 at 5:47 pm
To this point Mike Ross has spent well over $100,000 in this campaign, for a $15,000 a year job. He got beat for voting to give $750,000 state dollars to the “Pete Die golf classic”, but “He’s Back”. Wonder how many people will remember voting against him and why.
July 15, 2008 at 6:59 pm
HK - The cave I’ve been in recently is called California, where we’ve got plenty of issues of our own. I am a former WV resident, former state government employee, and current holder of a near worthless eMBA degree, thanks to WVU’s complete lack of character in standing up to validate the legitimate graduates of that program, even at this late date.
I’m impressed and encouraged by recent turnout for the primaries. I’m not optimistic that translates to the needed change at the state level for WV… Let’s pray I’m wrong.
July 15, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Someone asked questions about Russ Weeks.
He did not graduate from high school. He does have a GED, but no further education beyond secondary school.
He’s a fundamentalist. He got his start in electoral politics running as a single-issue anti-abortion candidate for State Senate from Raleigh County — and beat Bill Wooten, much to everyone’s surprise.
Why, oh why, couldn’t we have a rational alternative to Manchin?
The Washington Post last week reported that voter registration in Raleigh County WV is 61% Republican. Could that possibly be true?
July 15, 2008 at 7:29 pm
it wasn’t him..it was his dad.
July 15, 2008 at 7:29 pm
referring to lj
July 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm
” sins of the father fell on the child.”
July 15, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Fish: Who the hell are you taking to? And what are you talking about?
July 15, 2008 at 7:44 pm
The reason the Republican Party flails in WV is because their philosophy centers on reducing taxes and government services and they always go for the weak first - the poor and the elderly. Since we are one of the poorest and oldest states, those policies get them nowhere.
HK at 4:44 is right: it’s not Dem vs. Rep, it’s right vs. wrong and the resolution of Daughtergate shows that the battle is worth fighting.
July 15, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Oh, did we win? Who got punished?
July 15, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I am talking about Lloyd Jackson. the Ch. Gazeete ended his political career beacuse of his father.. LJ, Sr.
July 15, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Gazette. sorry I type too fast.
July 15, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Lloyd Jackson ended his own political career by being West Virginia’s greatest advocate for school consolidation — something that VAST majorities of voters opposed. Rightfully so, in my opinion.
July 15, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Thanks Silent Majority for filling in an important blank for me re: Russ Weeks. Sounds like just what we need- an anti-abortion fundamentalist (and everything else that goes in that bag) with very little education. Now that sounds very familiar……
No thanks. What about the Mountain Party candidate. Anyone have any info on that?
July 15, 2008 at 8:25 pm
the Chas Gazette came out against him because of the career of his father. In the Senate.
July 15, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I agree school consolidation is negative issue…but it was the editorial in the Gazette that was the nail in the coffin and it was about LJ, Sr. and why LGJ should not be given the “mantle ofthe dem. party.” After he had held the line politically in the legis. against Arch Moore.
July 15, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Well said, Mt. Daddy, Techno, others.
Thanks for the Weeks info., SilentMajority. I’m not ready to gut women’s rights because JM has connections. But I’m open to alternative candidates.
July 15, 2008 at 8:30 pm
BTW I apologize for my typos….. not a journalist.
July 15, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Do we need to agree completely with the practicing religion and abortion beliefs of a person in local and state elections? Can they undo Supreme Court or Constitutional decisions? How is Manchin’s religion and abortion stance any better for WV with the corruption to go with it? I don’t even know what his beliefs are, but he will not get my vote. My job is to determine who seems most qualified to serve and is most honest about issues important to me. No lables needed.
July 15, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Sounds like Weeks may not be smart enough to do any damage. Just what we need.
July 15, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I agree with that Steph. No labeling.
July 15, 2008 at 8:44 pm
No. I’ve voted in WV for 40-years. I’m a faithful, far-left Democrat and I didn’t vote for JM. But I also don’t know any fundamentalists who agree with the way I think.
July 15, 2008 at 8:48 pm
also note, the demise of LGJ’s political career had little or no effect on school consolidaton. just where the money went. another subject, WV ed. system.
July 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Isn’t academic integrity a fundamental belief? The labels are getting noxious. What does Magrath believe? Does it matter? There are certain offices that pertain more to certain voter issues. I think Weeks could be a person who is passionate about WV. My homework is to determine if he’s qualified, corrupt/corruptible, etc. I’m undecided about most everything except NoMoJo.
July 15, 2008 at 9:47 pm
If a person, especially a politician is an anti-choice die hard, then it goes beyond a damn “label.” It means that person has a fundamentally different view than I do about what government can tell a woman to do with her own body, and the role of religion in public life. It’s not minor, and it’s not about “labeling” people — it’s an essential, no-comprise issue for a whole hell of a lot of voters like me.
But as far as Weeks goes — wake the hell up, people. HE ISN’T GOING TO WIN. I don’t want him to win. Your vote and mine is one of protest, pure and simple. It sends a message.
Which is why I won’t be voting Mountain Party — it doesn’t send the same message. Politicians like Joe assume that Mountain Party voters are just the same crazies who will always be with us. It’s just the way it is. I’m a realist.
Get real.
July 15, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Mountain Party? Is that the Rainbow people?
July 15, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Wow, I think you need to pay a little more attention to state politics. No, they can’t outlaw abortion entirely, but every single year the pro-lifers have a set of bills that they try to get passed to restrict women’s access to abortion — every single year. If it weren’t for WVFree and its supporters calling people’s attention to it, all of that stuff would get passed. As it is, only some of it does. It’s not about their personal beliefs — I don’t give a damn what their personal beliefs are, but I do care when they try to put every roadblock they can in the way of my constitutional rights.
July 15, 2008 at 10:09 pm
And Steph, don’t be obtuse. “Isn’t academic integrity a fundamental belief?” You know what “fundamentalist” means, right?
July 15, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Yes, Red–the WV Legislature sees scores of bills each and every year that impede women’s rights… and a two-cent goober like Russ Weeks would play right into that. Label that m*#&$%f(%&$# what he is.
Just think if there were an option D: None of the above!
July 15, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Raging Red,
Did you say “constitutional rights?” Are we talking about abortion choice here?
July 15, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I have read many things on this blog, and one of the most profound was mntnmama’s PROGS/FROGS distinction in the comments to HK’s previous entry.
Her definitions:
PROGS: People who, although smart enough to recognize what is in their own best interest, nevertheless habitually consider the larger good when making political judgments. They tend to have a long-range view of problems and their solutions, and they definitely do NOT approach every political issue as simply a PR problem to be managed.
FROGS: People who are constantly asking “what’s in it for me?”
FROGS do things like subsidize their friends’ business ventures with economic development bonds, stack boards of governors and rig presidential searches, and try to force the HEPC to sell property to their daughters’ companies.
Does having a two-party system ensure the election of more PROGS and fewer FROGS? Probably, but equally important are the news media. This state desperately needs creditable journalism. I for one would be willing to double what I pay for my newspaper in exchange for quality journalism.
July 15, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Profundity: I’m with you Pro, both things must be absent, (an opposition party, and a creditable media) for conditions to exist as they are in West Virginia.
July 16, 2008 at 12:15 am
“The problem in West Virginia isn’t Republican or Democratic policies — it’s CORRUPTION, and total lack of accountability.”
I’ve lived in West Virginia for four years. I’ve looked in and around. I was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, graduated from Penn State, lived and worked in three of the four poorest regions in the United States, and what I can see is that the DemRep policies are largely rotten here and there and everywhere, and what the national polls reveal is that the majority of people in the US agree on many major issues that the policies of the Democrats and Republicans really stink (to be kind), as they do. There is corruption in every state and region, and it may or may not be worse in WV than elsewhere - is there some landmark comparative analysis available that I’m missing, or some corrupt Appalachian gene that has been discovered? - but to have the minority opinion, or perhaps it’s faith, in the policies and lack thereof of the Democratic and Republican Parties, in any state including this one, would essentially guarantee that the people of West Virginia will always be tread upon, and owned.
The serious policies are just as absent from West Virginia as they are across the nation for fundamentally addressing the severe problems of health, education, employment or wages, crime and soaring criminal populations, environmental issues, etc.
July 16, 2008 at 12:24 am
By the way, does anyone know Mike Bryan or the person who wrote, “Please Attack Appalachia”? - http://liblit.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/please-attack-appalachia-by-appalachian-author/
Mike Bryan (who apparently is not the author) sent the satire to Common Dreams where it was originally published in 2003.
July 16, 2008 at 4:34 am
If Weeks had a prayer (that metaphor probably offends his “sensibilities,” which kind of says it all), almost no one outside of his party base would even think of voting for him.
That’s the beauty part of having a wing nut like him for registering a protest vote against Manchin and the Cronies.
You can have your cake (safely voting for a sincere but fundamentalist, anti-choice zealot dimwit who won’t win) and eat it too (if a sure loser with no money like Weeks gets a merely a respectable percentage of the vote, THE POLITICAL STORY LINE OF THE YEAR in West Virginia is that Joe Manchin is Damaged Goods. It means that Daughtergate, wanton cronyism, and his power-hungry, Mussolini-lite, dictatorial style of governance have wounded him grievously).
That’s why a more perfect vessel for voting booth protest than Weeks simply could not be invented or maybe even imagined. If I and hopefully many, many others would vote for a bottom feeder like him for any reason, then how unspeakable is his opponent?
July 16, 2008 at 5:43 am
this whole issue of “west virginia politics” is unnerving…………..what is the possible benefit of being elected in this state?………..you have NO money (or at least very little),you have NO political foresight into how to “turn the state around”,in both health care educaion etc…………..it just doesnt make sense,it is very very sad……i can tell you the whole politics game is same in the state i live now, just there are LOTS of people in this state that want to be here,and more coming from the region……….guess it’s the weather…..
July 16, 2008 at 7:09 am
I say this blog should be the place for WV whistleblowers to air their story. There is no doubt that this blog and the anonymous contributions by some commenters contributed to Mike Garrison’s downfall and there are more Garrisons out there with honest underlings wishing for a forum.
To help facilitate that, I think HK should start selling t-shirts that say something like Fifth Column.Com. “Just whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and… blow.”
I can get you a quality one color t-shirt at $7 a piece. You sell for $15 a piece. 20 or 200 or 2,000. Seriously.
July 16, 2008 at 7:21 am
HK said, “Politicians like Joe assume that Mountain Party voters are just the same crazies who will always be with us. It’s just the way it is. I’m a realist.”
If Weeks can’t win and Mountain Party can’t win and I’m not voting for Manchin, I may as well cast my lot with the crazies. I sure belong with them anyhow.
In national elections, my best friends vote for Dennis Kucinich or others who can’t win. Being a loyal Democrat, ultimately I always vote with the party candidate. But that’s national.
In WV, maybe it’s time to split the party.
wvuhsex, I suppose the benefit of being elected in WV is you get to be a big fish in a small pond.
July 16, 2008 at 7:28 am
I like the sound of that Jay. It could be even simpler:
Fifth Column: We just blew the whistle.
OR
Fifth Column: Log on and blow the whistle.
July 16, 2008 at 8:22 am
Manchin is pro-life too. If that is the single issue you want to vote on, Johnson is your man, he is pro-choice. In terms of long-term strategy, Weeks gets my vote this time because I think it is the best way bring a 2 party system. Absolute power & absolute corruption & all that.
July 16, 2008 at 8:38 am
Lou’s post from the GMG site today seems relevant to this thread so I am posting it here:
If you are registered as a Democrat in WV, change your registration to that of an Independent or Republican. To do so, go to:
http://www.wvsos.com/elections/voters/registernow.htm
Download the voter registration form, fill it out, print it and mail it to your County Clerk. It will cost you only a little bit of time, a piece of paper, an envelope and a stamp.
Make certain you complete all boxes even if you’re already a registered voter or the form will be returned to you.
You can vote for whomever you wish in the general election regardless of what your party registration may be. Think of the message we’ll send, though, if several hundred of us change our registration.
July 16, 2008 at 8:48 am
Love the T-shirt idea. Don’t like the execution. That slogan only guarantees you’ll be walking around in the most esoteric message T-shirt in history.
“Hippie Killer” is a brand. “Hippie Killer” is edgy, memorable.
And almost everyone who is someone in WV, thinks she or he is someone or wants to be someone knows those two words and what they mean today in this state: Hippie (on the front, maybe, with a gunsight below) and Killer (on the back, with a hippie 60s generation of love peace symbol below that word).
“Hippie Killer” is what even quite a few in high office in this state whisper to one another with a sly, knowing chuckle.
July 16, 2008 at 9:47 am
It is still surprising to hear, in a wide variety of contexts, people talking about Hippie Killer and the various bloggers.
July 16, 2008 at 10:13 am
You live in a town that has a newspaper that has a Vent Line. It is the singular most embarassing thing in print in West Virginia.
Little things matter.
Another party would help - better media would be great, but what is really missing is courage. Don’t respond to that, just stop and think about it. No one in a position of leadership has any courage:
Did the BOG have any courage…or did they wait till Manchin gave them permission to fire Mike?
Did Brian Noland have any courage…or did he send out that pussy press release…sucking up to Manchin…saying let’s move on?
Did the legislature have any courage…or did they ignore the issue?
Did the Gazette have any courage….or did they let an out of state paper take the lead?
Did the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts have any courage?
NO!
A handful of professors…and, believe it or not, HK…that’s about it. I am not sure that is enough to run a state.
The only difference from one state to the other: People! The rest is just land. Until you get quality people..thinking people…courageous people…you are going to get the media, government and state you deserve!
July 16, 2008 at 10:28 am
We do need to remember that Brian Noland was part of the problem, and he is still there. The Board of Governors needs to have several resignations and whatever it takes should happen to remove those people. Ditto the HSC Search committee which has people very publicly supportive of Garrison. Good luck, Dr. Magrath
July 16, 2008 at 10:54 am
re voting for Russ Weeks:
I’m sure the WV Republican Party is now kicking itself in its collective shins over his candidacy. When they let him be the nominee, they figured there was no way to beat Manchin. Now they have a real issue on which they could run against Manchin and an unelectable candidate. Big lost opportunity.
There has been a lot of bashing of the Charleston papers on this forum, and justifiably so, but the Charleston papers look like the NY Times next to the Morgantown Dominion-Post. Hell, even the Beckley paper looks like the NY Times compared to the DP. Morgantown desperately needs an alternative news source. The Raeses own not only the newspaper but all the radio stations (except WV public broadcasting) and they only print/broadcast what they want you to know, which is not much. I’ve been surprised at how much freedom they’ve given Hoppy Kercheval to act like a regular journalist during Heathergate, but I suppose that’s because his reporting, which has been pretty good, meets the criteria of their personal agenda.
July 16, 2008 at 4:10 pm
SilentMajority - you are so right about the Morgantown newspaper.
As an out of state alum, it is also very irritating to me that I can access nearly any other paper around the nation free on the web, but the Morgantown paper makes us pay to read on-line.
I have often wanted to ask if WVU could include on-line access to the Morgantown paper as part of the Alumni Assn or Foundation donor perks. Very few of us will pay, because few of us want access on a daily basis. But many of us like to check in on Morgantown from time to time, but can’t read it on line unless we pay up.
It seems cheap and short-sighted of the management of that paper. And at a time like this, when Raese was concerned about the crisis, his own newspaper was not doing what it could to even get the news out to concerned folks around the country, unless we subscribed. That paper needs someone to advise them on how to make money via the internet so they can join the rest of the world.
July 16, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The DP’s story is that they get enough paying customers to break even with the website. That’s all they care about, not getting news out to concerned folks. It’s very shortsighted, but that’s how they view it.
Find a friend who subscribes and get user name/password. That’s what a lot of us do.
July 16, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I always prefer the DA to the demented pest (DP), even if it is the rag of the No. # 1 Party School in America…. Once upon a time they taught journailsm there. Now it seems just about anyone can walk away with an MBA.
For news, there is so much on line, it is a shame our WV Media corporation is still in the 18th century, I would have thought they had electricity in West Virginia by now….
Don’t get me wrong, WV news reporters are top notch, they are just as hog tied and classified as the politicians of the two unaccountable so called politcial parties. The party party in charge doesn’t care about you, the citizen. We spread you open for business long ago, in case you didn’t notice.
Not true, then think of the family values at stake here, and when is the last time someone in your family expected an unearned MBA? Post your response here on HK wise cracker.
For candidates, I look to the one who resonates toward social and economic justice. Think none exist, then you have not been trying to find out if an alternative candidate really exists. For Governor, Weeks is nothing more than Manchin light. There is the Mountain Party, but Johnson is blacklisted by the Manchin Media (very much including Public Broadcasting - oh the humanity) and we should be very worried about the health of this democracy we are exporting. Bottom line, November is the last chance to save our country from the McMansions and their corporate theft of the public good.
So what is West Virginia to do? Just because the Corporate controlled media keeps selling the Governor while they fail to discuss the other candidates in the race, doesn’t mean there is a discussion of the issues, that would be kind of like a choice, a democratic choice. Neither party party is interested in that. So, Why Weeks?
Manchin is a Repuglican in sheeps clothes. They needed a weak repug so Manchin can take any heat for all the corporate bullshit that is stealing the AMERICAN DREAM. Well they also really like King Mojo and the power grab. So inspirational. Just look nationally, unbridled executive power is a trend which should be sounding fire alarm bells. (Hint hint HK)
Think we need something different than the Republican Privatization of our federal government with no acountability or the Democratic Privatization of our state government with no accountibility? Then you need to awaken to the reality of a third party candidate. Did you ever remember hearing about this novel idea called a democracy? (Of the people, for the people, by the people….)
Thank God for the West Virginia Mountain Party. The only political party in West Virginia working to deliver primary health security to each citizen. Manchin has a health plan, you pay his pals in the insurance and pharmaceutical industry and pay and pay and pay. Weeks gave the keys to Manchin, so why trust him. Neither offer you the health security the Mountain Party will deliver.
Never mind that pharmaceutical crap in our water, that coal run off polluting our football games, or those Open for Business MBA’s, just keep quaffing beer and pissing and moaning over the Board Of Governors and how Garrison done us wrong.
Sober by November or… God help us inbred fools.
Talk about a party, The West Virginia Mountain Party Rules.
Jesse Johnson just copmpleted his run for the Green Party nomination for President of these United States and did your idiot producing WV media corporation tell you about that historical fact? Of course not.
Party party or wait, I could have a Mountain Party V-8.
They don’t call it a democracy for nothing