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One of the first things I did after being elected President was pay a call on Senator Byrd. I left with an understanding of his deep devotion to the Constitution, and a copy of his history of the Senate, which I still keep in my Harlem office. I enjoyed both our heated arguments and our common causes, and I am grateful he could wheel onto the Senate floor near the end of his service to cast a deciding vote for health care reform. Through it all, I saw again and again his conviction that America is more important than any one issue, President or Senator and that it is the rules, institutions and systems that enable us to keep forming a more perfect union. He was a fierce orator, a brilliant debater, a loyal friend and a ferocious opponent. But he always played by the rules, knew the facts and stayed close to them. In today's political climate, we could use a large dose of Robert Byrd's medicine for America. He has finished his course, but he has left behind lessons worth remembering.
"We have a choice in this election, to keep an experienced team with values that we trust, or give away power to the purveyors of fear, doom and gloom," Rahall said. "We have a choice between continuing to create a brighter future for our dreams, or stepping away from the progress that we've made."
That is a statesman.
Those in the crowd included Andrea Spring of Raleigh County. She rejects the GOP's central argument - that Manchin and Rahall would vote in lockstep with President Barack Obama's administration.
"I think that's really simplistic," the semi-retired educator said. "The situation in Washington was inherited by Obama. People who have done a good job for their state, like Gov. Manchin and Nick Rahall, they should be judged on their track record."
West Virginia had a good friend in President Clinton unlike John Raese, who had to dredge up a half-term Alaska governor and an out-of-state, pants-defecating, rock has-been to stump for him.
I had the pleasure to attend my sister's college graduation today at WVU. The person chosen to speak at her commencement was Bill Clinton. No doubt this was exciting; I had only had one opportunity before this to hear him speak and at that time he was stumping for his wife on the campaign trail.
Normally my diaries will consist of newsworthy subject matter, a lot pertaining to my home state of West Virginia. This time, however, I wanted to focus on something the former president used as the crux of his speech to outgoing class of 2010 graduates.
Bill Clinton is a great humanitarian and I admire him greatly. Something he said during his speech referred to the human genome. How we, as people, were not that much different from one another. Most of the time you hear speakers, or just people in general, emphasizing an individual's differences that make them special and unique. This was different. Clinton accentuated that we, as people, are really not that much different. Initially, I wondered where he was going with this point, but then it clicked for me.
We, as Americans, are very very fortunate and blessed to be living in such a diverse and opportunistic society. The opportunities to receive a higher education are immense and the potential for success in our country is greater than any other in this world.
Clearly, this is not the case in other countries (especially in Africa). As physical human beings, we possess many inherent similarities with those who live in other nations, even the most remote and under-developed ones.
Instead of focusing on the characteristics of us, as Americans, that make us unique Clinton claimed that we are all essentially one. We, as human beings, are inherently similar and thus metaphorically brothers and sisters of one another.
I know this sounds like a strange diary but focus on the message and just think about it. Maybe we aren't that much different from people living in rural Africa, or anyone else in this world. Focus on the similarities between us instead of the differences. We are all brothers and sisters, so wouldn't you help them out if they were in trouble? Progress as people and help one another. We are all equals and all one. If we work together, our society as a whole will progress as well as others. This sounds incredibly cliche but hear me out a bit.
Just some food for thought. I really liked the speech Bill Clinton gave. Although relatively brief (especially for a long-winded Clinton speech) it really struck a chord with me.
Good afternoon, West Virginia Blue readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos. We'll be here all weekend.
Some of the Hill news that's fit to blog is over the fold...
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Bill Clinton hospitalized with chest pains.
Clinton, 63, was transported to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for a condition related to his heart.
ABC News' chief political correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported that sources said he was taken to the hospital "likely for a stent procedure."
Sources on Capital Hill tell ABC News that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was seen leaving the Oval Office a short time ago and did not seem "too concerned" or "in a rush."
It took about 12 hours for the right to diss Rep. Murtha after his death on twitter so the count down for it to begin against Pres. Clinton is over.
President Bill Clinton to Visit Beckley on Saturday
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign announced Thursday that President Bill Clinton will visit Beckley, WV on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Media Pre-set: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM (Equipment must be dropped at the site by 7:00 AM; media will not have access to their equipment from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM).
Media Access: 9:00 AM
Doors Open: 9:00 AM
Throw: 50 ft
Cable Run: 200 ft
Live truck parking: Word Park parking lot, exact spaces directed on site
Press Entrance: Word Park parking lot, vehicle exit
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virgina Obama-Biden HQ at 304-881-6514.
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials, please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp.
***For security reasons do not bring bags or umbrellas and please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***
We've got Big Daddy Byrd and Big Dawg Clinton campaigning for Barack Obama in West Virginia. This is an autumn to remember.
President Bill Clinton to Visit Beckley on Saturday
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today released details about President Bill Clinton's visit to Beckley, WV on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Doors Open: 9:00 AM
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virginia Campaign for Change HQ at 304-881-6514.
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that President Bill Clinton's visit to Beckley, WV will now occur on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
I've said the best surrogates for Barack Obama in West Virginia would be Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton. Senator Clinton spoke on Obama's behalf while stumping for Anne Barth in Charleston.
Now we've got the Big Dawg set loose on West Virginia.
From an email:
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that President Bill Clinton will visit Beckley, WV, on Thursday, October 30th. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30TH
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and First Ave (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Media Pre-set: 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM (Equipment must be dropped at the site by 8:30 AM; media will not have access to their equipment from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM).
Media Access: 9:30 AM
Doors Open: 10:00 AM
Throw: 60 ft
Cable Run: 200 ft
Live truck parking: Word Park parking lot, exact spaces directed on site
Press Entrance: Word Park parking lot, vehicle exit
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virgina Obama-Biden HQ at 304 341 0205
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials, please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp.
***For security reasons do not bring bags or umbrellas and please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Obama campaign doesn't need West Virginia's 5 electoral votes. But they WANT them. Who has Joe McCain sent here to stump for him other than his foul-mouthed brother? They were going to send Sarah Palin here - and then immediately changed their minds and blew off the state.
We've had Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and now we're getting Bill Clinton himself in Beckley. This is a campaign that is fighting to win this state and clearly believes they can win it.
Yesterday at a Fayetteville,WV rally for Hillary, Bill Clinton argued Hillary and health care with a voter. From CBS News. HT The Huffington Post. Short ad is shown at the start.
He had a very busy day as was evidenced by the fact that he arrived at Concord University in Athens an hour and a half late. I was not able to attend, but a friend who did thought it was worth the time she waited to see him in person and listen to him speak.
George Bush has been, without question, the most ethically handicapped President in my lifetime, and perhaps ever. From the top to the bottom of his administration, we have witnessed rampant and widespread criminality, cronyism, and incompetence of an unparalleled nature, and again, this has been from the top to the bottom of his administration. George Bush is responsible for the smoldering wreckage that is the current DOJ. George Bush is responsible for the disaster in Iraq. George Bush is responsible for the fact that the federal government has served as an affirmative action program for unqualified hacks from Regents University. George Bush is responsible for illegal surveillance of American citizens. And on and on and on.
On the day that the Yoo memo is finally coming to light, detailing how George Bush's handpicked crew of war criminals orchestrated a regime of torture, and on the day that we learn the Inspector General is investigating whether qualified DOJ lawyers were fired because of their sexual orientation, it is particularly offensive to be told that George Bush, the man responsible for all of this and who knows what else, is a man of higher integrity than Clinton.
While I definitely agree with the premise that Obama will be a better choice than another Clinton administration, with all the luggage they bring, attempting to claim George Bush is a man of personal integrity while Bill Clinton is an ethical piker should be something that offends all conservatives and all Americans. Bill Clinton got a blow-job and lied about it under oath. George Bush, while violating every conservative principle imaginable, also oversaw the brutal rape of this nation's most cherished principles, all while sneering and bullying those who tried to stop him.
No matter how much of a miserable failure George W. Bush is, he'll always have a fan in rightwing Republican Shelley Moore Capito, whose behavior around him is positively sycophantic and embarrassing:
By 3 p.m. Monday, before a security sweep was done and six hours before the State of the Union address was scheduled to begin, all the prized seats - the aisle seats - were taken.
snip
"On the way in, I always like to wish the president luck, or I say, 'Go get 'em,'" Capito said. "On the way out, it's always, 'Great speech.'"
snip
Capito spends the time getting a jump on the week's work, reading legislation and signing paperwork.
If Capito has to walk away, she always leaves the stack of paperwork on her seat, a signal to her colleagues that someone has already reserved that spot - or if she has to go far or use the facilities, she has Ros-Lehtinen hold her place for her.
Capito calls herself "independent." She's walked hand in hand with Bush. Capito came in with Bush and she needs to go when he leaves office too.
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