West Virginia Blue - Recent Comments

And I will even bump it to tonight so it's on top of FP

CA Berkeley WV — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:59:30 GMT

Unless I screw up.

Hey, Clem adn Carnacki went off together one weekend and forgot

CA Berkeley WV — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:56:29 GMT

to get the keys back from me. How about I do that since I still can?

Spike Maynard is running to represent whom?

CA Berkeley WV — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:05:54 GMT

I would say those in the #NetherRegionsofGlanBeckistan, but I might offend some one.

Just based on hunches at the Thanksgiving table and family funerals, I figured that there was no there there for the FBI investigation of Rep. Mollahan would be no there there. I was a little disappointed to find that CREW was archiving Roman Stauffer's screeds.

It is clear from her appearance with Minority Leader Boehner that Rep. Capito has put her party above her constituents. But we always knew that. Moderate and independent cannot is not how she is lining up this cycle.

Hey, JB

Calhouner — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:39:13 GMT

Is there some way you can edit your original post to indicate that SB614 is now in House Judiciary? The information in the post refers to past history and could confuse a lot of people.

I know you are pretty busy right now, but even just a little update note at the beginning of the post would be helpful.

Gee, indeed.

bluebird — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:35:27 GMT

First of all, you don't know me at all.
Your comments are so hateful and erroneous they are almost pitiful. You could not be more wrong about who or what I am.
I'm truly sorry that my comment suggesting you get your own webpage set off so much hatred for you. Obviously you have issues that are somewhat removed from the political discussion we are all entitled to have here.
The posters on this site are all unique and have varied perspectives on what we want from our Democrat party. Each opinion is valuable, none above the others, not mine and not yours either.
Your personal attack on me indicates you don't just want me to go away. You wish me ill and even death. Nothing I have ever posted warrants that. In your view, that must be acceptable. But I think most of us are just starting to find you scary and mean. My hope is that you can find some peace within yourself and maybe direct your anger more productively to entities who truly deserve it.
But right now, you just look like a bully. I'm not afraid of you and I won't go away because you are such a nasty person. You see, the rest of us are determined to keep an open discussion. Some of us will use our free speech rights with a modicum of civility. You choose your own way.
I don't like bullies.

This got posted to the PATH docket ...

blonde moment — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:50:23 GMT

but they've fixed their mistake now! I guess the power companies were not pleased to find out that someone harmed by TrAIL is an early warning system for what could happen with PATH ...

Seriously, folks, this is really important. When we talk about SB614 providing landowner notification, it means the power companies would have to send certified letters to all property owners within 1100 feet on either side of a proposed high-voltage line, and the letters would have to be sent to allow those property owners at least 30 days to decide if they want to become intervenors in future cases.

We describe this as common courtesy, even though we all know that courtesy, like sense, is rarely common.

OTOH, our state senators clearly agree this is a fundamental courtesy, by voting unanimously in favor.

Remind me to tell you about the Catholic Bishop who went into the coal camps

One Citizen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:05:09 GMT

just prior to the West Virginia mine war.

He came back and recommended to the WV legislature that miners simply hang a copy of the Beatitudes with the phrase "Blessed are the Poor" highlighted, along with attending church twice on Sunday (their only day off back then), so as to be more content with the miserable conditions that the operators were subjecting them to.

The conflagration that ensued was the bloodiest insurrection since the Civil War.

So your holier-than-thou attitude may endear you to some self-described "centrists" but all it does is makes me more determined.

After they lay down their arms, the ranks of the UMWA grew upwards of 150,000.

In other words, blackbird, you may be still alive but it's only because the drinking you've been doing hasn't been a game, pal. It's more likely a communion cup primarily financed by the coal operators. Their efforts to undermine the sociopolitical aspects of churches across the coalfields isn't just ancient history, pal.

I know that for a FACT.

Thanks for posting this letter, JB.

Calhouner — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:40:08 GMT

It shows clearly what is at stake in the PATH power line case at the WV PSC. The only way that AEP/Allegheny can get the legal authority to seize peoples' property through WV eminent domain law is if the PSC grants PATH a certificate of convenience and necessity.

If our PSC does not stand up for West Virginia and West Virginians to stop the unneeded and dangerous PATH project, there will be hundreds of Ives across 14 counties in our state.

SB 614 now in house judiciary

JBdem4usa — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:43:18 GMT

http://www.wvecouncil.org/legi...
call house judiciary members to get this bill on agenda asap with the message of pass without any amendments, no changes necessary, put on agenda and pass intact. Call your Delegates now.

Letter to Manchin posted on PSC website

JBdem4usa — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:38:29 GMT

Two Land Owners' Power Line Nightmare
2010 March 4
by BillThe following letter, from John and Janie Ives to Gov. Manchin, is reprinted in its entirety from the WV PSC PATH docket. I have corrected a few spelling errors, but this letter is otherwise exactly as it appears on the WV PSC Web site here.

If you are a West Virginia land owner, and you think you can negotiate with AEP/Allegheny without an attorney, read what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Ives of Thornton in Taylor County.

I'm not sure how to begin this letter except to say this whole episode has been a nightmare, and we're so upset, my husband and I are ready to sell everything, pick up stakes and move completely out of West Virginia. It seems as if the property owner has no rights what so ever. Let me explain the problem.

Summer of 2008 was the first we learned that the Trans-Allegheny Interstate line (TraiICo) would cross our property. The first rep showed up on our doorstep arrogantly saying he had a great big check and it was ours, if we would just sign the right-of-way option. We contacted our neighbors and researched what we could on the transmission line. Finding out that everything had already been approved we reluctantly accepted that we would have another line across our property. After this line goes through 16+ acres (With 3 towers) of our 156 acre farm will be controlled by the electric utility company. The last 6+ acres they're taking is the only level piece of ground on the whole farm.

Our complaint is the ruthless, dishonest way they (TraiICo. representatives) deal with the property owners and especially their contacts with us. We're not blaming you like a lot of the citizens because we know the US Energy Department, under former President Bush, designated WV as part of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

We're well aware that the federal government can override state and local authorities and take private property by eminent domain. All we ask is that we be treated fairly and with respect and not like unnecessary garbage in the way of progress.

I could elaborate for 4 or 5 pages on the numerous encounters but to make a long very unpleasant story short TrailCo reps evade answering direct questions, will say anything they think you want to hear, make promises they have no intention of keeping, and threaten "eminent domain" everytime you show hesitation. As he (the last of 4 representatives we've had in less than two years) said" you'll just learn to live with what you have" get over it, you don't have any choice, TrailCo can do anything it wants.

We've mentioned our problems to various people and we're told that we should have hired an attorney, a surveyor, and appraiser. As retirees on limited income we couldn't afford to hire professionals and frankly don't feel we should have to. TrailCo reps are trained to not put any of the negotiations in writing so the land owner has no proof of what they've been promised. They adamantly advise that you don't talk to your neighbors and rebuke you when you do. Then once you sign the option all the promises are null and void. In our case the settlement was to include the money plus, a church and 1/4 acre piece of ground originally deeded off our property in the 1800's.

No need to guess, we didn't get the church property. In addition, when we researched the filings we found that the option that was filed at the Courthouse didn't include the "attached form easement agreement" as stated in the option. The easement agreement is important because it at least specifies the width of the line and location.

It's as if they planned to defraud the property owners. Also, we found that we were paid at least 1/3 less than every neighbor around us. The latest incident is that we learned that they have, without notifying us, widened the right-of-way beyond 200 ft along over 800 ft. of our property and they don't plan to give us any further compensation for the extra acreage.

We would like to believe you, the legislature, and the PSC have provided some protection for your constituents to prevent the company from exploiting them. Please, we need your help. Is there anything you can do to help us? Is there anything we can do now? If you haven't put in place safeguards for the property owners on this line, we urge you, the State legislature and PSC to put inplace some restrictions on the Power Company's conduct with regard to the purchase of right-of-ways for future lines. We're sure we are not the only ones having problems with the deceitful behavior of the company and it's representatives. If you like we can provide you with a detailed report on our dealings with these people. Believe it when we say it's not something you would want your mother and father to have to go through.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to read our complaint letter.

danps has become an email buddy.

CA Berkeley WV — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:45:46 GMT

he just collects a theme of stuff every week, posts one Thursday and then another odds and ends on Sunday.

well said Wabi

Clem Guttata — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:58:12 GMT

All of us here at WVaBlue extend our thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the Governor's mother and their entire family. We join with all West Virginians in hoping she has a quick recovery.

My prayers for Mrs. Manchin.

CA Berkeley WV — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:55:37 GMT

All of us here at WVaBlue extend our thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the Governor's mother and their entire family. We join with all West Virginians in hoping she has a quick recovery.

What am I taking out of context?

CA Berkeley WV — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:50:44 GMT

I pointed out Breithbart's failings. You were claiming him to be some source for judging the method by which health care passes. It has already passed. People overwhelming support its components.

Read Sen. Byrd's take on using reconciliton in the Daily Mail. The neither reaches of Gelnnbeckistan must be where you live.

Breithart claimed he was going to transform journalism. He fails the basic editorial requirement for fact checking. Why should I consider any of his context? He is histrionic, a prevaricator and likes to play the victim.

Senator Byrd not only demolished the Daily Flail's editorial stance,

One Citizen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:15:47 GMT

He also gutted one of the GOP's main talking points against the use of reconciliation.

- SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN): "As Senator Byrd says, running health care through the Senate like a freight train is an outrage because it basically turns the Senate into the House, into a majoritarian institution." [The Atlantic, 3/04/2010]
- SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): "The man who wrote the Byrd rule is Robert Byrd. He said so as recently in the last twelve months that it should not be used for health care." [Washington Times, 2/25/2010]
- SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT): "Less than a year ago, the longest-serving member of the Senate, West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd, said, 'I was one of the authors of the legislation that created the budget 'reconciliation' process in 1974, and I am certain that putting health-care reform . . . legislation on a freight train through Congress is an outrage that must be resisted." [The Washington Post, 3/01/2010]

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