Unger out

Ugh. (0.00 / 0)

Here's a summary of some of my comments over at DailyKos.

This really, really sucks.

There are major regional rivalries in West Virginia. The folks in Charleston-area were never happy with the idea of someone from the Eastern Panhandle having a shot at knocking out "their Charleston Rep.".

Dem. Gov. Manchin and Republican Rep. Capito have been (literally) lifelong friends. It appears that Gov. Manchin has been unwilling to put the party over the personal. This bodes poorly for his long-term national prospects.

This is a real clusterf*** for the W.Va. Democratic party.  

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by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 17:28:18 PM CST

Terrible news (4.00 / 2)

If you read "The Thumpin'," one of the most frustrating things Rahm Emanuel had to deal with was with faint-hearted Dem incumbents who didn't want to help Dem challengers against their Republican "friends."

The best example was Alcee Hastings, who refused to help Ron Klein against Hastings' buddy Clay Shaw. (Luckily, Klein won in the end, even without Hastings' help.) But there were many people like this, who were more concerned about personal friendships than winning back the majority - or at least, who wanted others to have to do the dirty work. Ugly.

I'm sorry that that turned out to be the case here in WV-02. This was a good, somewhat under-the-radar pickup shot. So is the only candidate in the race now Robb?

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by: DavidNYC @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 18:20:12 PM CST

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Other candidates (4.00 / 1)

I believe most on this blog are aware of my dislike for Senator Unger's social conservative philosophy. I believe that had current WV Secretary of State candidate Natalie Tennant or former gubernatorial candidate Charlotte Pritt run, they could have presented worthy challenges. I may be dead wrong here, but it's a gut feeling. It looks like 2008 will be a presidential, state, and local year. No congressional or senatorial races will be competitive. Let's focus on the Supreme Court of Appeals and legislative races (and I'll blog my activities regarding Wheeling City Council elections). Not having to worry about Capito will be more impetus to focus on supporting Bob Bastress. Carnacki and Clem, would you consider joining me in writing your own blogs in support of Bastress on Kos? Thanks.

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by: WV26003 @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 18:47:55 PM CST

Manchin and Pritt (4.00 / 2)

If you think any difference would have been made with a Tennant or Pritt candidacy, I have to digress.  The Moore - Manchin bond was formed with Arch Moore and A.James Manchin years ago.  Manchin is an egotistical, control freak who has turned off many of his own party.  If you don't believe it, ask Charlotte Pritt what MOJO did after she defeated him in the primary for Governor in 1996.  He joined the Cecil Underwood campaign to defeat her.  I don't think Unger was a great progressive but at least, from what I know of him, he is willing to listen.  Manchin is a "my way or no way" bully.  I find it interesting that we continually give him a free pass when he is the ultimate DINO.  Another question we might ask is why does Richie Robb show up in a Capito race everytime there is a threat to her incumbancy?  He was a lifelong Moore supporter and Republican and suddenly registered Democrat after "retiring" from politics as South Charleston's mayor, to run in the last two 2nd Congressional Districts races.  Hummmmmm, makes you wonder.

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by: madashellblue @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 22:24:08 PM CST

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WV26003 (4.00 / 1)

I'm very tempted to throw in my whole hearted support for Bastress here and on the Big Orange Satan. But Clem and I agreed early on that one of the mistakes we made tactically is going to the candidate instead of having a candidate come to us. That is a mistake that Bowers, I believe, said much of the blogosphere made in 2006 in supporting candidates. If we're to grow as a netroots movement in West Virginia, we have to wait for the candidates to seek us out instead of us just throwing our support behind them. This is more than just a matter of semantics or ego, but of political tactics. If we offer what we can offer for free, Bowers wrote iirc, then it won't be considered to have value to the candidate. If they have to seek out netroots support the way they have to seek out the support of other constiuencies, then it will have more value to them. I think we showed by playing a major role behind the scenes in getting DCCC support for this race and putting this race on the national radar -- even though Capito won by a huge margin in '06 -- that the blog has political value to candidates. If someone knows Bastress and wants to encourage him to post diaries here or email us why we should throw our lot in with him, then please contact him. Most importantly, though, you as a diarist of course are free to do as you want. It's your blog, too.

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 @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:19:11 AM CST

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What's Unger's reason? (4.00 / 1)

The AP says he got out to help his constituents deal with the declining economy http://www.herald-dispatch.com...  That seems very odd, gotta be more from him.

This is a big shocker, he had everything going for him. Rahall, Mollohan, the unions, DCCC, etc. went to bat for him. I don't buy the blame Manchin stuff, he (Manchin) went to and spoke at both of Unger's Charleston fundraisers. I was at the one at the ballpark and the TV news was there so I can't see how Manchin was secretly backing Capito - I heard thru a friend who was at the other fundraiser that Manchin was there and spoke highly of Unger's chances of winning.

There's gotta be more to this with Unger; reminds me of how Mark Warner got out of the presidential race.

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by: jcsaunders @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 20:02:52 PM CST

Manchin's the reason (4.00 / 2)

It's one thing to say "nice" things at fundraisers. It's another to sit by the phone all day and tell large donor Dems to give to Capito.

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by: gg33 @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 21:36:55 PM CST

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He's going to work with progressive groups. (0.00 / 0)

Look for:

He'll remove himself as a sponsor on SB92 and become pro choice.  He will sponsor a senate version of HB4164 to add gays to the hate crime law.

After that post here about Unger leading the way on ATV safety the whole senate was very surprised, especially Mike Oliverieo.

This whole thing stinks.  The whole argument about Unger being a progressive to start with.  He had a long voting record proving otherwise, but he said he didn't mean it.

The ATV thing is just another example of him taking credit for something he didn't do.

This session he has a good chance to prove you guys right about him.  Let's see if he does.  Bill tracking is easy in WV.

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by: MadAnne @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 21:12:26 PM CST

Unger won't sell out to his beliefs (0.00 / 0)

WOW - this just proves how much you don't know about Unger. While he's always more than willing to listen to one's side of an arguement, he'd never sell out and go against his own personal beliefs and values.

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by: gg33 @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 21:30:58 PM CST

By this you mean he will always be (0.00 / 0)

anti choice and anti gay.  He's not even a sponsor on the bottle bill.

Unger said he's "not into playing the political game."

Unger said it was never an issue of winning or losing a seat in Congress.

http://journal-news.net/page/c...

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by: MadAnne @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 06:53:08 AM CST

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Unger down but not completely out......he'll be back when we need him again someday (4.00 / 2)

I agree with the majority on this blog that Unger is leaving for political reasons and the Manchin-Moore power pact.  I think he felt like Joe dealt him dirty posing with Shelley all week long (three times at various events) and giving her undue credit for public works projects that she didn't have anything to do with, it was pretty obvious he was supporting his lifelong bud in Shelley.  Also you throw Richie Robb in the picture and you see it's not just a coincidence.  John will save his money for a future run and gain more experience and try to change things from the state senate where he could prove to be more powerful with a third of the seats changing in 08, he'll gain seniority from that too.  I give John the benefit of the doubt on this one.

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by: JBdem4usa @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 23:56:12 PM CST

Funny you should say that ... (4.00 / 1)

I was in Lincoln Co. this week at a function where Rahall announced a grant he was able to secure with Byrd's help. All of a sudden, Joe Manchin walks up to the podium and starts touting the efforts of Shelley Moore Capito. I found it strange that he would talk so politely of a Republican and that he would even do it outside her district.

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by: capt_planet @ Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:47:16 AM CST

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