West Virginia Blue
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In a second development on Friday, the justices blocked a decision of a federal court in West Virginia in another election case while the justices consider an appeal. The West Virginia case concerns whether that state's three House districts must be absolutely equal in population.
There was some Texas stuff in there, too, now that Gov. Perry is ba-a-ack. But back to us here in the Mountain State.
Isn't it sweet that Cheif Justice Roberts is our federal court overseer? He puts a new meaning to one-person-one-vote, huh?
In its second ruling Friday on courts' power to draw new election districts, the Supreme Court in a West Virginia case raised doubts about the authority of federal District Courts to require states to achieve absolute equality of population in drafting new voting boundaries.
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The District Court had not adopted a substitute plan of its own, and, in fact, stayed further proceedings after state officials had gone to the Supreme Court for a stay of the ruling.
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One of the goals of the legislature's plan was to assure the state's two Republican members of the House - Reps. Shelley Moore Capito and David McKinley - that they would not have to run against each other in the GOP primary for the same seat.
So for those of us living in the district that looks the most like a salamander, it is staying the same, minus Mason County.
Legislature is back in session on Wednesday. This should be an interesting session. Will there be a new and proper redistricting plan in place before the Jan. 17 court deadline? edit: forgot the appeal gives the legislature more time. I'm hoping for a WV-02 that makes geographical sense.
What other issues are you looking forward to this session?
Since the West Virginia legislature screwed up the print in their redistricting plans and are re-doing it, they should scratch the simple one-county move that made no sense either a nonpartisan or partisan stand point and draw Congressional boundaries that fixes the geographic mess that is WV-02. The plan originally put forward by Sen. John Unger makes the most sense from any standpoint.
WV-02 is one of the most ridiculously drawn districts in the nation. It's a fair criticism to point out that Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito very rarely pays attention to the Eastern Panhandle and has little understanding of the place, but in her defense it's so far away - five to six hours of driving - from her home base in West Virginia.
But what the redistricting mess has shown is that redistricting can't be left to the politicians who by nature focus on winning re-election and how redistricting will effect them rather than how it effects people in the districts carved up by them.
Ideally the redistricting fiasco has shown that redistricting can't be left in the hands of the politicians but rather a law should be passed to change the process so a citizen's committee is set up to draw the boundaries. It is too late to set up such a process this time, but there is plenty of time for the legislators to address the issue before the 2020 census.
The plan that would have made the most sense geographically, politically and rationally was of course the plan that was not chosen. Roll Call:
Why didn't the Democratic Legislature tweak the districts to be more favorable to Democratic candidates? The votes weren't there.
"The other plan that we looked at, that would have helped a Democrat in the 1st district, we couldn't get enough Senators to vote for that plan because it affected the counties that they represent," state Senate Majority Whip D. Richard Browning (D) said. "I'm the Whip, and I judged the support for the bill that would have given the Democrats a little better edge in the 1st district" to be lacking, he added, noting he was "a little bit displeased" with the final outcome of the process. He said he had hoped the final map would have made the eastern panhandle of the state whole, instead of leaving it split between the 1st and 2nd districts.
Early on Clem and I had pushed the redistricting plan that was very much like the one that Senator John Unger came up with because it was the one that made the most sense from an obvious, nonpartisan standpoint. Clem and I talked about it and thought if we pushed it, that would make it look like a partisan plan (and it made sense for partisan reasons too. It was a two-fer). WV-02 is a horribly shaped district, the longest east of the Mississippi. The fact that the senators made the minor tweak instead of redrawing the lines is proof you can lead them to an intelligent plan, but you can't make them think.
* If you haven't voted yet, please vote on Tuesday. I urge everyone in West Virginia to vote a straight party Democratic Party ticket. In the congressional races, the choices are starkly clear. A Republican victory makes it that much harder for future progressive policy advocacy.
For example, if Raese wins the discourse shifts to arguments about whether whether climate change is real and if work place safety and environmental regulations should exist at all.
If Manchin wins, at least we're starting from a more rational place to fight our battles.
* This is one of those years when I really wished we had instant runoff voting. Instead of voting for the candidate whose views were closest to mine, I was stuck voting for the least worst option with a chance to win.
* If Joe Manchin pulls off a victory, one of the many people he can thank is Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito. In a year when Republicans are picking up seats all over the country, the weak WV GOP bench is a major liability for WV GOP chances.
Since her election in 2000, Capito has worked hard to make sure she's the only viable state GOP candidate. Even in this election, with her best chance ever to welcome aboard fellow Republicans to the WV delegation in DC, Capito has been MIA. If Raese or McKinley squeak out a victory, it'll be no thanks to her.
* The most famous political science model for predicting US House election outcomes says the Republicans are expected (based on the economy and historic conditions like party in power) to win 45 seats. Nate Silver's current model estimates a Republican margin of 55 seats--not far off. As Atrios recently put it, "I think the ignored true narrative of this election season is that as horrible as the economy is, it's a miracle the Dems are seeming to do as well as they are and especially that Obama remains relatively popular." (We'll see on Wednesday is that's really true.)
The outcome of WV-01 will be one of the indications of how the national wind is blowing. I have no idea how it, or the composition of the House, will end up.
The only predictions I'm prepared to make for tomorrow are that Manchin, Capito, and Rahall will all win. No major changes will happen in the composition of the WV state house.
Whatever the election outcome, there's a rocky road ahead.
Social Security belongs to the people who have worked hard all their lives and contributed to it. Social Security is a promise that must not be broken. We need to strengthen Social Security, not cut it. That is why I oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including increasing the retirement age. I also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part.
This is yet another reminder there are real clear differences between Republicants and Democrats running for office. The Democratic party is a big tent, yet there are areas that Oliverio, Graf, and all of us can firmly agree upon. Protecting social security is one of those.
We are saving the Democratic Party from itself. Progressive are working with bold candidates and members of Congress to show party leadership how to go on offense, run progressively, and win -- especially on issues like Social Security, where the public is so clearly on our side.
Stephanie Taylor, PCCC co-founder who is leading PCCC's 2010 election efforts, including 500,000 phone calls to voters in districts with progressives on the ballot.
I'm a big fan of the work that PCCC has done in this and other efforts to mobilize progressives within the Democratic party. Well done!
(Bumped again. Spike's campaign is running a new ad repeating this line of attack.
Bumped. I still have not heard back from the Spike campaign if they're returning the "terrorist" -funded money from the RNCC or Americans for Tax Reform. - promoted by Clem Guttata)
In a desperate smear attack, Spike Maynard claims Nick Rahall has a terrorist tie because in 1996 Rahall received a $300 campaign contribution from Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi.
That's Spike Maynard's claim. Doubt me? Here's from Spike Maynard's press release sent to me by his campaign spokesman Matt Dabrowski:
A Republican pollster showed a few incumbent Democrats in trouble from Republican challengers, but U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-VV03) is in strong shape against Don Blankenship's bought-and-paid for candidate, Spike Maynard.
Nick Rahall (D-inc): 53
"Spike" Maynard (R): 37
Rahall supporters shouldn't get caught napping. Donate, signup to volunteer, etc.,here.
- The rock scientists say its clear the "global climate has warmed and that human activities (mainly greenhouse gas emissions) account for most of the warming since the middle 1900s."
- PaTH may be among the living dead, but that hasn't stopped Calhouner from keeping up a strong pace of blogging. If you haven't visited his Power Line blog lately, it's worth a click.
And, finally, two political facts that can't be repeated often enough:
- Blankenship may have been able to buy a State Supreme Court Justice for one term, but we all had the good sense to tell Spike to get lost the very first chance we had in a Democratic primary.
- There was never any substance to the corruption allegations against Rep. Alan Mollohan. It was a Republican smear job in retaliation against his position on the House Ethics committee. The Justice Dept. investigation was closed.
In order to help better acquaint readers who may be out of the news cycle, I have put together (to the best of my ability) a bit of a preview for the district congressional elections that will occur in the fall.
The primaries will be in early May, and there hasn't been a lot of buzz (at least to my knowledge) about them. I only found out a month or so ago that The first district was receiving a democrat to challenge.
So here we go
Let's start with the First Congressional DIstrict.
Current seatholder: Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
The long-time serving Democrat, Mollohan, first got elected into the house in 1983, meaning he has served roughly 27 years at this position. In 2008, Mollohan ran unopposed. Mollohan has seen his share of controversies, and will also see a democrat contending for his seat in the primary. This will be his first Democrat to challenge him since Harley Staggers Jr. in 1992.
Challenger: Michael Oliverio II
Oliverio has worked his way up from the bottom. He was elected student body president at WVU. Eventually, Oliverio ran for a seat in the house of delegates and was elected in 1993, and in 1995 assumed office in the West Virginia State Senate where he currently remains representing the 13th district.
Oliverio has had a tendency to focus hard on the national debt, and how to attend to and fix it.
It should be interesting to see how this one plays out, although I would predict a Mollohan victory given the difficulty of unseating a 14 term incumbent.
Other Challengers on the republican side include Mac Warner, Cindy Hall, Tom Stark, Sarah Minear, David McKinley, and Patricia Levenson. Further information will be provided in the coming months.
WV Second Congressional District
Current Seatholder: Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Captio is the daughter of the infamous Arch Moore Jr. and has held the seat since 2001. She was elected after Former Governor Bob Wise vacated the seat for the governor position She is the only Republican Congressional representative for the state and she intends to keep her seat. Capito is running for re-election during a good time for Republicans, polls show democrats are favored to lose more than they gain this November. She is considered safe in her district. Last time around, Capito won by a comfortable margin against Byrd state director Anne Barth.
Challenger: Virginia Graf
35 year veteran as an educator who has served as a school principal and is focused on improving education in the district. Graf is very active in volunteerism and political organizations throughout her community. Graf has a steep hill to climb if she wants to take this seat. Democrats are not the most popular delegation, she is facing an incumbent Republican, and the district is considered safe for Capito.
WV Third Congressional District
Current Seatholder: Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Rahall is heading into his 33rd year in the House, being elected in 1977. He succeeded Ken Hechler when he ran for governor. Rahall and his district are considered by CQ Politics to be a safe democrats, and him being a 33 year incumbent will very much improve his chances.
Challenger:
Rahall could be facing opposition from any of the following
Bruce Barilla (D)
America's Christian Heritage Week Founder & Hotel Worker
Lee Bias (R)
Nurse Anesthetist
Marty Gearheart (R)
Sign Company Sales Executive, Ex-Teacher
Disgraced Judge Elliott "Spike" Maynard has extended an invitation to reality TV star Sarah Palin, asking her to campaign for him in West Virginia - just one day after she posted violent imagery and rhetoric about the election on her Facebook page.
So never mind the fact that Maynard/Blankenship supporters told people like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Michael Brune, Daryl Hannah, James Hansen, Mike Roselle, Climate Ground Zero, Kathy Mattea and Ashley Judd to "go home" and leave issues to the locals.
Though, between Palin, Dick Morris and the various out-of-state Republican ad groups, it's beginning to seem like Maynard and Blankenship have no one in-state to speak for them.
Maynard's already dreaming up ways he and Palin can play dress-up and stage a carefully-orchestrated photo-op to hide the fact that he's an opponent of mine safety.
From a press release:
We would love to have Sarah showcase modern mining as a clean, safe and cheap way to produce energy," said Maynard. "She'll have to put on a hard hat, but I'm sure she won't mind."
Is Spike Monaco trying to line up an all-expense paid vacation to the Riviera, this time paid for by the insurance industry?
Judging from his latest press release, Don Blankenship's former Supreme Court judge and vacation buddy is in favor of making seniors pay more for their Medicare coverage, is in favor of insurance companies denying claims for people who have paid their premiums and is for denying insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Spike Monaco also thinks it best that your healthcare decisions should be made by your insurance company instead of your doctor.
Rep. Nick Rahall and Rep. Alan Mollohan had our backs on the healthcare reform vote and we need to remember that as they campaign against Republican opponents this election season.
The corporate interests are aligning against them because Rahall and Mollohan stood up for the people of their districts.
Nearly 20 percent of the people in Mollohan's WV-01 and more than 20 percent in Rahall's WV-03 are currently uninsured. This measure will help the vast majority of them obtain healthcare coverage as well as make life easier for the elderly on Medicare in addition to lowering the deficit for all of us.
This isn't the healthcare measure many of us wanted and think Democrats should have worked for, but it is a step in the right direction to improve the lives of many people.
Yes, this is short notice. Yes, there's some basketball games on tonight. But, hey, that's what TIVO is for, right!
If you're anywhere near Beckley tonight, head on out and remind Rep. Rahall he needs to vote for healthcare reform for West Virginians.
We've come so far, we can't stop now! So please, join Health Care for America Now, West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, WV FREE, Southern Appalachia Labor School and other organizations...
TONIGHT IN BECKELY FOR A VIGIL IN SUPPORT OF HEALTH REFORM.
We need to show Congressman Rahall that we stand in solidarity for this historic piece of legislation that will expand health care for millions.
WHEN: 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. tonight (whenever you can stop in!)
WHERE: 301 Prince Street, which is downtown, next to Rahall's office and across from the Old County Courthouse.
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