So many juicy news items, so little time...

30 year friendship (4.00 / 4)

"Judge Maynard and myself are friends," Blankenship said. "It just came out in conversation that we would be staying in the same place."

The two have known each other about 30 years and socialize a few times a year, Blankenship said, but it was the first time he met up with Maynard on vacation.

A court spokeswoman declined to comment. Maynard, who became chief justice this month, did not respond to messages requesting comment.

The photos include at least three of Maynard with Blankenship, two along a seaside and one at an outdoor cafe. Each bears a different time stamp date. Ten other photos filed under seal depict the men with two female companions, the motion said.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 16:26:19 PM UTC

Hopefully an ethical solution will be reached... (4.00 / 4)

which would involve "Spike" Maynard recusing himself, and admitting that he should have done so on the case involving Caperton and Harman Mining's case that was reversed.

If Maynard continues the course stating that he does not allow relationships like the one he has had with Blankenship involving a long time friendship and the highly questionable trip to Monaco, then we as voters in West Virginia should do all we can to make sure that he is not reelected in November.

Local politicians have told me "Spike" is a shoo-in for reelection.  He will have a really rough campaign unless his buddy Blankenship comes up with a few million to make sure he continues to protect Massey Energy from the bench on our state's highest court.

I wonder how Governor Manchin feels about this considering the legal issues he has had with Massey?

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by: wvblueguy @ Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 16:40:03 PM UTC

Maynard sealed his fate with me about ten years ago when my (4.00 / 4)

girlfriend at the time mentioned something about being in nursing school. Spike gave her a disgusted look, shaking his head, and said "Why anybody would go to four years of college to spend thirty years wiping other people's asses is beyond me."

Very nice.

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by: Jay @ Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 19:42:16 PM UTC

what a classy guy -- hope he doesn't end up in the hospital (4.00 / 3)

I'd hate for the nurses on his floor to hear that story.

Then again, every nurse I've known was professional enough to do their job for even the most undeserving patients or, having a conflict of interest, know when to recuse themselves.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 20:38:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jay (4.00 / 2)

He sounds like a worse piece of shit than anything a nurse has to wipe.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 01:26:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I hope your tickets are for ringside seats! (4.00 / 4)

As I said in my earlier diary about this, where's the U.S. Attorney's Office on this? Oh, that's right - these are Republicans. I wonder if we could get one of the Democratic (John Edwards) candidates to pick up on this (John Edwards) as an example of cronyism (John Edwards), questioning whether whats-his-name, Mukasey, is playing one of Fredo's games...

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by: blonde moment @ Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 22:35:08 PM UTC