Protest Votes

by: Clem Guttata

Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 09:22:32 AM EST

We've been having an spirited discussion in our comments that just goes to show what digby said.

(Via: Adam Bink Combating Villager pre-conceived notions.)

WV Citizen Action Group on MA-SEN Special Election

by: Clem Guttata

Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 14:47:41 PM EST

Press release from West Virginia Citizen Action Group:

Statement on MA Election and Health Care Reform

Charleston, WV:  WV Citizen Action and the WV Health Care for America Now (HCAN) campaign have always been focused on winning a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on. We will continue to aggressively work to get the best health care reform bill possible to the President's desk for his signature as soon as possible.

Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of WV Citizen Action Group and coordinator for HCAN's WV Coalition had this to say about yesterday's election:

"Tuesday's vote in Massachusetts was not a referendum on health care reform. It was a referendum on a particular candidate in a climate in which people, hard pressed and frustrated by the economic recession, are impatient for change.

When it comes to the need to make good health care affordable, nothing is different today than it was yesterday.  Congress must keep going and finish reform right. They must complete the mandate they received from the 2008 election.

We must fix health care now to keep improving our economy. We cannot continue to allow medical expenses to bankrupt our nation's families and businesses. Until we fix spiraling health costs we can't fix the economy since one of every six dollars is spent on health care.

Insurance companies and other special interests have spent millions trying to scare voters against health care reform. However, when voters are asked about key elements - no more denials for pre-existing conditions, access to good, affordable coverage for all, or rules that force insurance companies to spend premiums on health care and not profits, they agree with Congress and the President's plans.

Massachusetts has already achieved a measure of health reform, with 98% of people covered and insurers not allowed to deny people based on pre-existing conditions. For voters in Massachusetts, the issue was about what they are worried about now - jobs and the economy. It wasn't about health care."

Well said, Gary Zuckett.

Candidate Filings to Date

by: Clem Guttata

Sat Jan 16, 2010 at 11:27:47 AM EST

The 2010 candidate filing period is one third of the way over. Here's a list of candidate filings to date for the state legislature and congressional seats. (Visit the Secretary of State website for a full listing for all offices requiring state-level registrations.)

U.S. House of Representatives

David B. McKinley (Republican), CD-1, from Wheeling, Ohio County
Mac Warner (Republican), CD-1, from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Virginia Lynch Graf (Democrat), CD-2, from Charles Town, Jefferson County
Lee A. Bias (Republican), CD-3, from Barboursville, Cabell County

State Senate

Larry J. Edgell (Democrat), Distict 2, from New Martinsville, Wetzel County
Tim Reed (Democrat), Distict 3, from Davisville, Wood County
Frank Deem (Republican), Distict 3, from Vienna, Wood County
Mike Hall (Republican), Distict 4, from Hurricane, Putnam County
John L. Cummings (Democrat), Distict 5, from Milton, Cabell County
Evan H. Jenkins (Democrat), Distict 5, from Huntington, Cabell County
Jeff Eldridge (Democrat), Distict 7, from Harts, Lincoln County
Ron Stollings (Democrat), Distict 7, from Madison, Boone County
Richard Lindsay (Democrat), Distict 8, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Richie Robb (Democrat), Distict 8, from South Charleston, Kanawha County
Erik Wells (Democrat), Distict 8, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Mike Green (Democrat), Distict 9, from Daniels, Raleigh County
Ronald F. (Ron) Miller (Democrat), Distict 10, from Lewisburg, Greenbrier County
John Barnes (Republican), Distict 10, from Lewisburg, Greenbrier County
Adam Harris Milligan (Republican), Distict 11, from Summersville, Nicholas County
Joseph M. (Joe) Minard (Democrat), Distict 12, from Clarksburg, Harrison County
Walt Helmick (Democrat), Distict 15, from Marlinton, Pocahontas County
John Unger (Democrat), Distict 16, from Martinsburg, Berkeley County
Brooks McCabe (Democrat), Distict 17, from Charleston, Kanawha County

House of Delegates

Tim Ennis (Democrat), Distict 2, from Wellsburg, Brooke County
Roy E. Givens (Democrat), Distict 2, from Wellsburg, Brooke County
Orphy Klempa (Democrat), Distict 3, from Wheeling, Ohio County
Michael T. Ferro (Democrat), Distict 4, from McMechen, Marshall County
Scott G. Varner (Democrat), Distict 4, from Moundsville, Marshall County
Dave Pethtel (Democrat), Distict 5, from Hundred, Wetzel County
Wm. Roger Romine (Republican), Distict 6, from Sistersville, Tyler County
Lynwood "Woody" Ireland (Republican), Distict 7, from Pullman, Ritchie County
E.W. "Bill" Anderson Jr. (Republican), Distict 8, from Williamstown, Wood County
Jim Marion (Democrat), Distict 9, from Mineral Wells, Wood County
Larry Border (Republican), Distict 9, from Davisville, Wood County
Dan Poling (Democrat), Distict 10, from Parkersburg, Wood County
Tom Azinger (Republican), Distict 10, from Vienna, Wood County
Frederick David Gillespie (Republican), Distict 10, from Parkersburg, Wood County
Eric Jiles (Republican), Distict 10, from Parkersburg, Wood County
Mark Myers (Mountain), Distict 11, from Spencer, Roane County
Bob Ashley (Republican), Distict 11, from Spencer, Roane County
Jo Boggess Phillips (Democrat), Distict 12, from Ripley, Jackson County
Mitch B. Carmichael (Republican), Distict 12, from Ripley, Jackson County
Dale Martin (Democrat), Distict 13, from Poca, Putnam County
Brady R. Paxton (Democrat), Distict 13, from Liberty, Putnam County
Brian (Scotty) Scott (Republican), Distict 13, from Liberty, Putnam County
Troy Andes (Republican), Distict 14, from Hurricane, Putnam County
Darrell Justin Black (Republican), Distict 14, from Hurricane, Putnam County
Debra Girimont (Republican), Distict 14, from Hurricane, Putnam County
Kevin J. Craig (Democrat), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Carl L. Eastham (Democrat), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Jim Morgan (Democrat), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Matthew James Woelfel (Democrat), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Wayne Worth (Democrat), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Carol Miller (Republican), Distict 15, from Huntington, Cabell County
Dale Stephens (Democrat), Distict 16, from Huntington, Cabell County
T-Anne See (Republican), Distict 16, from Barboursville, Cabell County
Kelli Sobonya (Republican), Distict 16, from Barboursville, Cabell County
Don Perdue (Democrat), Distict 17, from Prichard, Wayne County
Larry W. Barker (Democrat), Distict 18, from Madison, Boone County
Greg Butcher (Democrat), Distict 19, from Chapmanville, Logan County
Harry Freeman (Democrat), Distict 19, from Chapmanville, Logan County
Gary L. Johngrass (Democrat), Distict 19, from West Hamlin, Lincoln County
Rupert "Rupie" Phillips Jr. (Democrat), Distict 19, from Logan, Logan County
Josh Stowers (Democrat), Distict 19, from Alum Creek, Lincoln County
Teddy "Ted" Tomblin (Democrat), Distict 19, from Logan, Logan County
Chad Story (Republican), Distict 19, from Mallory, Logan County
K. Steven Kominar (Democrat), Distict 20, from Kermit, Mingo County
Harry Keith White (Democrat), Distict 21, from Gilbert, Mingo County
Daniel J. Hall (Democrat), Distict 22, from Oceana, Wyoming County
Linda Goode Phillips (Democrat), Distict 22, from Pineville, Wyoming County
Ed Evans (Democrat), Distict 23, from Welch, McDowell County
John Shott (Republican), Distict 24, from Bluefield, Mercer County
T. Mike Porter (Republican), Distict 25, from Princeton, Mercer County
Gerald L. Crosier (Democrat), Distict 26, from Union, Monroe County
Virginia Mahan (Democrat), Distict 27, from Green Sulphur Springs, Summers County
Sally M Susman (Democrat), Distict 27, from Beckley, Raleigh County
John David O'Neal IV (Republican), Distict 27, from Beckley, Raleigh County
Linda Sumner (Republican), Distict 27, from Beckley, Raleigh County
Thomas W. Campbell (Democrat), Distict 28, from Lewisburg, Greenbrier County
Ray Canterbury (Republican), Distict 28, from Ronceverte, Greenbrier County
Margaret Anne Staggers (Democrat), Distict 29, from Fayetteville, Fayette County
Bonnie Brown (Democrat), Distict 30, from South Charleston, Kanawha County
Nancy Guthrie (Democrat), Distict 30, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Barbara "Bobbie" Hatfield (Democrat), Distict 30, from South Charleston, Kanawha County
Mark Hunt (Democrat), Distict 30, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Doug Skaff Jr. (Democrat), Distict 30, from South Charleston, Kanawha County
Sharon Spencer (Democrat), Distict 30, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Danny Wells (Democrat), Distict 30, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Meshea L. Poore (Democrat), Distict 31, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Charles Charlie Black (Democrat), Distict 32, from Charleston, Kanawha County
Tim Armstead (Republican), Distict 32, from Elkview, Kanawha County
Patrick Lane (Republican), Distict 32, from Cross Lanes, Kanawha County
Ron Walters (Republican), Distict 32, from Cross Lanes, Kanawha County
Ronald Blankenship (Democrat), Distict 33, from Grantsville, Calhoun County
David A Walker (Democrat), Distict 33, from Procious, Clay County
Brent Boggs (Democrat), Distict 34, from Gassaway, Braxton County
Carlotta Ray Evans (Democrat), Distict 35, from Summersville, Nicholas County
Joe Talbott (Democrat), Distict 36, from Webster Springs, Webster County
Denise L. Campbell (Democrat), Distict 37, from Elkins, Randolph County
Bill Hartman (Democrat), Distict 37, from Elkins, Randolph County
Peggy Donaldson Smith (Democrat), Distict 38, from Weston, Lewis County
Bill Hamilton (Republican), Distict 39, from Buckhannon, Upshur County
Jerry Reynolds (Republican), Distict 39, from Buckhannon, Upshur County
Mary M. Poling (Democrat), Distict 40, from Moatsville, Barbour County
Frank "Chunki" Angotti (Democrat), Distict 41, from Clarksburg, Harrison County
Ron Fragale (Democrat), Distict 41, from Clarksburg, Harrison County
Richard J. Iaquinta (Democrat), Distict 41, from Clarksburg, Harrison County
Tim Miley (Democrat), Distict 41, from Bridgeport, Harrison County
Mike Manypenny (Democrat), Distict 42, from Grafton, Taylor County
Mike Caputo (Democrat), Distict 43, from Rivesville, Marion County
Linda Longstreth (Democrat), Distict 43, from Fairmont, Marion County
Tim Manchin (Democrat), Distict 43, from Fairmont, Marion County
Robert "Bob" Beach (Democrat), Distict 44, from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Barbara Evans Fleischauer (Democrat), Distict 44, from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Shelby (Bosley) Leary (Democrat), Distict 44, from Fairview, Monongalia County
Charlene Marshall (Democrat), Distict 44, from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Chris Walters (Republican), Distict 44, from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Larry Williams (Democrat), Distict 45, from Tunnelton, Preston County
Stan Shaver (Democrat), Distict 46, from Tunnelton, Preston County
Harold Michael (Democrat), Distict 47, from Old Fields, Hardy County
Allen V. Evans (Republican), Distict 48, from Dorcas, Grant County
James E "Jim" Maybury (Democrat), Distict 49, from Keyser, Mineral County
Gary G. Howell (Republican), Distict 49, from Keyser, Mineral County
Ruth Rowan (Republican), Distict 50, from Points, Hampshire County
Mike Roberts (Democrat), Distict 52, from Hedgesville, Berkeley County
Robert V. "Bob" Mills (Democrat), Distict 53, from Martinsburg, Berkeley County
M. Jason Barrett (Democrat), Distict 54, from Martinsburg, Berkeley County
Terry L. Walker (Democrat), Distict 56, from Kearneysville, Jefferson County
John Doyle (Democrat), Distict 57, from Shepherdstown, Jefferson County
Tiffany Lawrence (Democrat), Distict 58, from Ranson, Jefferson County

It's still early, so don't be surprised that some expected names haven't shown up yet. In fact, there's always someone who files in the final hours of the last day, so we're a long way from having the field set in any race.

Crystal ball: 2010 and 2012

by: Clem Guttata

Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 04:15:00 AM EST

The last time I made long-range predictions I did pretty well. That's made me fool-hardy enough to give the crystal eight ball another dusting off...

November, 2010

* WV-01: Mollohan cruises to victory by at least a 10 point margin.

* WV-02: Capito wins, but gets less votes than in '08.

* WV-03: Rahall beats Spike Maynard (now a Republican) by 4-8 points in the most ugly and expensive race of his Congressional career.

* Democrats and Republicans trade a few seats in the W.Va. House of Delegates and State Senate, but neither party picks up more than 2-3 seats per chamber.

January, 2012

* Sen. Byrd announces his re-election bid.

* Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is frozen by indecision and finally decides on a re-election bid.

November, 2012

* Sen. Byrd easily wins re-election.

* Newly drawn Congressional districts force all three incumbents to work harder on their re-election bids, and one race is the closest WV Congressional race in recent memory.

* Virtually every state-wide office changes with WV Republicans managing at most a single victory.

* The next Gov. is someone who has run for state-wide office before.

* Obama cruises to victory nationally in a race that was never really close.

* Obama loses West Virginia, but by a smaller margin than 2008.

Eventually...

* Gov. Manchin takes the well worn path from Gov. mansion to college president mansion. At some point, perhaps even 2016 or 2020, he will run for Gov. again.

Candiate Filing Period Begins Today

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 08:25:05 AM EST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2010
Candidate Filing Period Begins Monday

Charleston, W.Va. - Candidates seeking office in 2010 can begin filing their paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office or their county clerk on Monday.

The filing period runs from January 11 to midnight on January 30. The Secretary of State's Office will be open until the deadline on the last day to assist any last second filers. Candidates should check with their county clerk's office to find out their hours for that day.

New this year is the requirement for all candidates in House of Delegates and State Senate races to register with the Secretary of State's Office. Previously, only candidates whose districts covered more than one county had to file with the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State's Office is prepared to assist candidates who wish to file their paperwork Monday morning at the State Capitol. The Elections Division staff will be available to answer any questions candidates may have.

Candidates can also fill out a certificate of announcement at their county clerk's office or download it and print it from the Secretary of State's website. Those must be postmarked by midnight on January 30.

More information about important dates for candidates to remember is available on the Secretary of State's website at http://www.wvsos.com. Candidates can find out when their campaign finance reports are due, when county clerks will do a random drawing for ballot position, and the deadline for a candidate to have their name removed from the ballot if they decide not to run.

"We have turned our conference room into a place completely dedicated to helping candidates file their paperwork," Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant said. "Our Elections Division will be there to answer questions and help candidates make sure they've dotted their I's and crossed their T's. We want to make this process as easy as possible, so the candidates can focus on the issues facing the citizens of West Virginia."

Starting Monday, voters can see a complete list of registered candidates on the Secretary of State's webpage by clicking on the banner at the top of the page. The list of candidates will be updated in real time.

- 30 -

You Should Run for Office

by: Clem Guttata

Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:47:42 AM EST

By Clem Guttata

If you're a regular reader of this blog and you think you can do a better job of representing progressive values than your current elected officials, you really should go ahead and run for office.  

Courtesy of the West Virginia State Democratic Party, here's information on how to run.

Filing Period Begins January 11-30

All candidates running for office in the 2010 elections must file their official candidacy papers and fee during the filing window of January 11-30. The window closes at midnight on Saturday, January 30.
  
 State Legislature & Statewide Offices

There will be only one special statewide election for the remainder of the term of Supreme Court Justice Joe Albright, who passed away earlier in 2009. The filing fee for this office is $1,210.00 and must be done at the Secretary of State's office.

All 100 seats in the House of Delegates and one Senate seat in each Senate district will be on the ballot this year.  Unlike in past years, all candidates for the State Legislature must file with the Secretary of State's office.  The House filing fee is $100; the Senate filing fee is $200.

County Offices
 
In most counties, at least one County Commission seat and the County Clerk and Circuit Clerk will be up for election.  (Check with your County Clerk for details.)  Candidates must file with County Clerk and the fees vary depending upon county.  Listed below are the range of filing fees:

County Clerk $422.40 - $554.40
Circuit Clerk $422.40 - $554.40
County Commission $198.00 - $369.60
Board of Education $25.00

Democratic Executive Committee

 In addition to all of the government offices on the ballot in 2010, all of the Party Executive Committees' elected positions are on the ballot in the May 11th Primary.  The State and County Executive Committees are the official public faces of the Democratic Party.  These two committees are charged with all aspects of promoting the Democratic Party and its candidates in addition to setting Party policies, platforms, electing Party officers (like Chairs), electing national representatives, conventions, poll workers, etc.  Also there are three district committees tasked solely with filling vacancies in elected offices. These Committees include:

•  State Executive Committee - two men and two women from each Senate District - no more than one man and/or woman from any county (except Kanawha) may be elected

•  County Executive Committee - one man and one woman from each district

•  Congressional District Committee - one man and one woman from each county

•  Senatorial District Committee - one man and one woman from each county within each State Senate District*

•  Delegate District Committee - one man and one woman from each county within each House of Delegates District*

  
 *Senate and Delegate districts that lie completely within county are governed by the County Executive Committee and do not have their own separate committee.
  
 Many of the Party Executive Committee positions are held by good Democrats who serve aptly in their positions; however, some spots draw no interested candidates and those vacancies have to be filled by appointment after the Primary.  After the election officials certify the results of the Primary each newly elected Executive Committee must meet (usually in late May or early June) for an organizational meeting to fill vacancies and elect officers.
  
The filing fee for Party Executive Committees is only $5 for Delegate District Committee, $10 for County Committee, and $20 for the State Executive Committee.  If you want to get more involved in your Democratic Party you should consider running for a Party Committee.

For more information on running for office in West Virginia, visit the Secretary of State's website here. 

For a list of precandidates for offices who have expressed interest in running, click here.

50 Years of West Virginia Governors

by: Clem Guttata

Tue Dec 29, 2009 at 10:42:38 AM EST

* Joe Manchin - Democrat 2005-present
* Bob Wise - Democrat 2001-2005
* Cecil H. Underwood - Republic 1997-2001
* Gaston Caperton - Democrat 1989-1997
* Arch A. Moore, Jr. - Republic 1985-1989
* John D. Rockefeller IV - Democrat 1977-1985
* Arch A. Moore, Jr. - Republic 1969-1977
* William Wallace Barron - Democrat 1961-1965
* Cecil H. Underwood - Republic 1957-1961
* Hulett C. Smith - Democratic 1965-1969

It is instructive to consider what they did before they became Governor, as well as what they did afterward.

Joe Manchin, Elected 2004, Re-Elected 2008
Previous offices: Secretary of State (2000), State Senate (1986-96), House of Delegates (1982-86)
Ran for Gov. once before, lost in Dem. Primary (1996)

Bob Wise, Elected 2000
Previous offices: State Senate (1980-1982), US House of Rep. 1982-2000
Post-Gov.: President of the Alliance for Excellent Education,

Cecil H. Underwood, Elected 1956, Re-Elected 1996
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1944-56)
Between terms: defeated for US Senate (1960); defeated for Gov. in 1964, 1968 (primary), and 1976.

Gaston Caperton, Elected 1988, Re-Elected 1992
Previous offices: none.
Post-Gov.: President and CEO of College Board

Arch A. Moore, Jr., Elected 1968, Re-Elected 1972; Re-Elected 1984
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1952); US House of Rep. (1956-1968)
Between terms: Lost Senate race (1978), Lost Gov. race (1980)
Post-Gov.: served 3+ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to five felonies

Jay Rockefeller, Elected 1976, Re-election 1980
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1966); Sec. of State (1968)
Lost Gov. race in 1972
Post-Gov.: US Senate (1984 - present)

Hulett C. Smith, Elected 1964
Previous offices: none
Chairman of W.Va. Democratic Party 1956-1962
Ran for Gov. once before, lost in Dem. Primary (1960)
Post-Gov.: "After leaving office, Smith returned to his insurance agency in Beckley and assumed duties as secretary-treasurer of two area hospitals. In retirement, he became an outspoken advocate for the environment. He later served on the National Council for Revision of State Constitutions, the Judicial Inquiry Commission, and as a director of First Lady Rosalyn Carter's Friendship Force."

William Wallace Barron, Elected 1960
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1950-1953), Attorney General (1956)
Post-Gov.: Served four-year sentence for jury tampering stemming from bribery trial related to his term in Gov.

Here's a summary of what offices each candidate held before their first election to Governor. Their highest held office is listed in bold.

* US Congress: Wise, Moore
* Secretary of State: Manchin, Rockefeller
* Attorney General: Barron
* State Senate: Manchin, Wise
* House of Delegates: Underwood, Manchin, Wise, Rockefeller, Moore, Barron
* None: Caperton, Smith

After their first term as Gov.:

* Rockefeller won many Senate elections
* Underwood and Moore both lost Senate races but returned to the Gov. mansion in non-consecutive terms
* Wise, Caperton and Smith did not run for elected office again.
* Moore and Barron served multi-year jail sentences

Finally, in campaigns since 1976, Wise, Caperton won on their first attempts, but Manchin, Underwood, Moore and Rockefeller all lost in their first race.

About Tuesday

by: Clem Guttata

Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 06:14:41 AM EST

It's hard to draw major conclusions from a handful of major races around the country, but that hasn't stopped the traditional media (and conservative bloggers) from jumping all over the predetermined story line.

Via BarbinMD, I agree Gail Collins nailed it:

There seems to be a semiconsensus across the land that the myriad decisions voters made around the country this week all added up to a terrible blow to the White House. If that's the way we're going to go, I don't think it's fair to dump all the blame on gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia.

Although there is no way to deny that New Jersey and Virginia were terrible, horrible, disastrous, cataclysmic blows to Obama's prestige. No wonder the White House said he was not watching the results come in. How could the man have gotten any sleep after he realized that his lukewarm support of an inept candidate whose most notable claim to fame was experience in hog castration was not enough to ensure a Democratic victory in Virginia?

New Jersey was even worse. The defeat of Gov. Jon Corzine made it clear that the young and minority voters who turned out for Obama will not necessarily show up at the polls in order to re-elect an uncharismatic former Wall Street big shot who failed to deliver on his most important campaign promises while serving as the public face of a state party that specializes in getting indicted.  [...]

We have a dramatic saga story line brewing here, and I do not want to mess it up by pointing out that Obama's party won the only two elections that actually had anything to do with the president's agenda. Those were the special Congressional races in California and upstate New York. But obviously they reflect only a very narrow voter sentiment, since one involved a district that was safe for the Democrats and the other a district that had not been represented by the party since 1872.

That's two more votes being sworn in this weekend for the healthcare reform bill in the House. Hard to spin that as bad news for the President...

The one piece of unmitigated bad news for progressives was the marriage equality bill in Maine. That stung. Thankfully, it's looking much better in Washington state.

Update from Carnacki

What West Virginia's John Cole said:

It has now been about 36 hours since the most definitive victory for conservatism ever, yet according to my sources, Obama is still President, the Senate still has 60 Democrats, and the House gained a Democrat.

I guess you have to live in the beltway or work for a cable network to truly understand election results.

Personally, the lesson I think should come from Tuesday's election is that pro-choice Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito better be worried about a primary challenger from the far right of her party.

Sign our letter for real reform

by: Carnacki

Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 23:44:08 PM EDT

I was happy to be one of the first signatories to this effort because I've seen at the state level what happens when it appears a coal baron can have a bought and paid for judge. Just the appearance of the conflict creates a distrust in the entire system.

Stop Fake Reform is intended to drive home the message.

It has generated quite a bit of buzz with Washington Post, The New York Times, and Huffington Post.

During the warrantless wiretapping debate, we referred to Sen. Jay Rockefeller as (D-AT&T). Was it fair? Overall, Jay Rock has been good for the state, but on the warrantless wiretapping and other intelligence issues, it was clear telecom corporations were able to get him to listen to them, but those of us who supported the Constitution got a metaphorical busy signal. Was it because of their campaign contributions or because he truly believed they should not be held accountable? We don't know because money clouds the issue. It is hard to believe he could be influenced by campaign contributions because it still says Rockefeller between the John and the IV in his name. Yet because the money from the lobbyists was there, we cannot be certain.

President Barack Obama raised record amounts of money in his last campaign and he did it without taking contributions from lobbyists and PACs. I'm not opposed to lobbyists or political action committees. Often they represent like-minded people who cannot be in Washington doing the lobbying themselves. But that doesn't mean the Democrats need to accep their contributions. By raising the money from individuals as they are on the nights when Obama is to speak at fundraisers, they can follow his path towards electoral reform.

The worst part of campaigning for candidates on either side of the aisle is fundraising. But when candidates like Obama rely on small-donors, the people feel invested in the candidate and work to make the candidate win.

Campaign bill not dead yet

by: Carnacki

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 08:21:37 AM EDT

Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler wants to revive legislation that died in his committee during the recent regular session.

The failed bill marked the latest effort to at least limit spending by corporations that directly target specific candidates. It also furthered attempts to require financial disclosures from independent groups and individuals that single out candidates with election-time advertising.

snip

Lawmakers plan to return next month to pass a new state budget. The Marshall County Democrat hopes the measure joins the special session agenda that Gov. Joe Manchin plans to present then.

"I've floated the idea with the Senate president of taking another run at it during the special session,'' Kessler said Friday. "Since it's such a narrow and focused attempt, it seems silly for us not to do it.''

We need clean and fair elections. When you get a coal baron dumping millions to buy a Supreme Court seat for a judge to review pending cases and then attempt to buy handpicked candidates for the state legislature, there's a problem. When you get pro-discrimination groups against gay people making robocalls without identifying who is making the calls, there's a problem.

We need more transparency to our electoral process at all levels.

What I'd like to know about discrimination in W.Va.

by: Clem Guttata

Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:25:07 AM EDT

Which delegates do we need to replace in order to pass non-discrimination legislation like SB238?

One or more legislators stopped SB238 from becoming law. Who? And, how can we make sure they're not in that position again in two years?

Public financing bill needs a little push

by: Carnacki

Mon Mar 30, 2009 at 21:02:51 PM EDT

He's chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Give him a call at 304-357-7980 and ask him politely to put the bill on the agenda. Time is running out of course. The bill is the committee substitute for SB311. Maine, Arizona, Connecticut and North Carolina have similar public financing.

We've seen what happens when people like Don Blankenship get to buy Supreme Court races like he did for Brent Benjamin in 2004.

That's a U.S. Supreme Court case currently pending. Blankenship bought the seat as a long-term investment. If we can get publicly financed campaigns, We The People can get justices who work for us and not those who spend millions to buy their seat on the bench.

West Virginia and Presidential Politics

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Feb 23, 2009 at 08:38:10 AM EST

He reviews each congressional district where Obama did worse than either Kerry or Gore. There's only one in W.Va.

West Virginia

WV-03 Rahall (D): Kerry 46%, Obama 42%

West Virginia generally sees pretty good Democratic performance, at the federal and statewide levels, but not this year. That shouldn't change too much, and the state should still favor Democrats at most levels (if not the top level).

Here's a weird quirk: the West Virginia district which most strongly supported Obama is held by a Republican, Shelley Moore Capito. Obama got 44% in WV-02, Capito's district.

The entire diary is worth a read. Here is his summary:

So, every district in the country in which Kerry outperformed Gore Obama is in either McCain's home state, Kerry's home state, Appalachia, the South, or NY-09.

[snip]

As for the South and Appalachia, not all Democrats are doomed in these areas (though some are trending away from the party) and not all parts of these states were hostile to Obama (who won Florida, and surged in Texas).

Two of the reasons most often cited for Obama slippage are racism and general demographic shifts away from the Democratic Party. Four years of a reasonably successful Obama administration should do quite a bit to counter some of the former, so hopefully the numbers in 2012 should give us an indicator of where, and to what extent, the latter was a factor.

Familiarity is another strong factor in Appalachia--an inherent fear of change and discomfort with anything new. Some district visits by a successful Pres. Obama will go a long way toward boosting his re-election numbers.

Wow.

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 10:46:51 AM EST

As another blogger pointed out recently... could it be my new found interest in the weather is nothing more than an indication of how empty my life feels with the excitement of long, long election cycle finally over?