Monday, October 31, 2005

Capito... too cool for congresswoman?


Capito on Q & A


LAMB: So what have you learned from Senator Byrd about being a senator for the last eight terms?

MOORE CAPITO: Well, I think that being in the Senate looks like a pretty cool job.

LAMB: Why?

MOORE CAPITO: Well, I think you get a lot more influence. Certainly he represents the entire state, and that presents a lot of huge opportunities. The Senate does things differently. I‘m not sure I agree with it, but if I ever got over there I would probably think it was great.



Notice the key statements here: "looks like a pretty cool job", "I think you get a lot more influence", if I ever got over there I would probably think it was great".

This is definitely the mark of a rookie and she has no place being a senator any time soon. Why take the egg when you have the golden goose?

Some Republicans Are Confused

I am going to repost Mr. Brewster's article enlightening those dimwitted Repubs on the meaning of Modern America. Recently it seems we have slid from our orgininal intentions in hopes of obtaining some other goal. Maybe we were trying to become a proxy for news, but that is over with now. Our orgininal meaning was to provide our brutal commentary and stay firm on criticizing the corrupted Republican Party.

Original Article

Friday, July 22, 2005
What is Modern America?


Apparently some of you GOPers are confused. This blog isn't about intellectual topics on how to improve the life of everyday Americans and West Virginians. This blog is nothing more than a counter-punch to the Right-Wing attack machine that has brewed on a national and state level. We will occasionally talk about certain issues on this blog, however, don't make comments that ask where our substance is, we let our party leaders do the policy work.

Our substance is simple: We are Blood Thirsty Democrats, ready to attack any Republican that we put our crosshairs on.

It's a simple formula. Remember what happened to Barry Goldwater? It's kinda like that.


Now, remember that.

William Stewart Wants An Explaination And Now!

One thing that is great about government of the people, for the people and by the people is that we can be very critical of our leadership without the fear of being harmed. Or can we? Does Valerie Plame sound familiar? Or what about Nixon's Enemy List? Should we use caution when criticizing those in command? Of course we should, but that should not hinder us from speaking our mind.

A moment this morning, I took a couple of minutes to say that Alito is a "yes man" [for Bush], and William Stewart was all over that comment like Vic Sprouse on a wad of bills. Did I go too far? Was my statement unjust and false? If so, should I apologize or just get a primetime tv show on Fox?

What do we know about Samuel Alito?

He has served on the federal appeals court for 15 years since President George H.W. Bush nominated him in 1990. He was the deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration from 1985 to 1987 and assistant to the solicitor general from 1981 to 1985.

Among his noteworthy opinions was his lone dissent in the 1991 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, in which the 3rd Circuit struck down a Pennsylvania law that included a provision requiring women seeking abortions to notify their spouses.

Former appellate judge Timothy Lewis, who served with Alito, has ideological differences with him but believes he would be a good Supreme Court justice.

"There is nobody that I believe would give my case a more fair and balanced treatment," Lewis said. "He has no agenda. He's open-minded, he's fair and he's balanced."


There is much more information on ol' Alito making its way to the public as we speak, and I would imagine that it will be more information helpful to his Supreme Court bid. But when was the last time you seen an open-minded, self thinking, fair and honest individual working with the Bush administration? They all seem to get fired or their families get harmed in one way or another.

Despite any evidence that shows Alito may be an honest man whom determines law fairly, it is very much fair to suspect that the most corrupt administration in America's history has nominated yet another man who will say "yes" to the executive branch for years to come. If not, his family may be harmed.

If Mr. Stewart wants to discuss distortion he needs to contact Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Carlson, Robertson and countless of other Republicans who distort data in the name of money. And if Alito has made one mistake, one unwise decision, he is going down in the name of Democratic Domination.




Alito Info
----
Houston Chronicle
MSNBC
Bloomberg

Forget the criminal investigations ...


President Bush will today nominate Samuel Alito, a yes man, to the Supreme Court today according to reports.

Also this headline in the Gazette caught my eye: "Manchin not the only Democrat to buck party on abortion". I am just curious if people have forgotten that they have been 'pro-life' for the length of their careers. This is not something new, and Byrd's base can vouche for it.

And one by one the most notable WV Republicans are stepping down from the option of running against Byrd. Ireland and Capito know better, but their Junior Conservative Hiram "Bucky" Lewis needs some help understanding this. Does this piss off the Republicans? That their most beloved politicians are too scared to run against Byrd? You bet it does, as WVConservative has pointed out.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

West Virginia and its Coal

Article


Through his West Virginia Coal Conversion Initiative, Gov. Joe Manchin is promoting development of coal liquefaction processes that convert coal to motor fuel. He promises streamlined permitting for companies that want to build coal conversion plants in West Virginia that can produce highly desirable motor fuels.
...
But West Virginia's energy opportunity extends far beyond coal-to-motor fuel opportunities.

The American power grid is a thirsty beast that demands more and more energy, and coal is the nation's most affordable energy source for the foreseeable future. Coal's critics object loudly to the burning of fossil fuels, but the doomsday crowd offers few alternatives that can satisfy the nation's energy needs.




Further Reading

Along with Senator Byrd and the rest of West Virginia's leadership (besides Capito), I am confident that more opportunities will present themselves to West Virginia in the form of jobs. And not just any jobs, but coal/energy related jobs that will benefit WV and demonstrate how our roots in Coal is long standing and bright. As more inventions and innovations revise the life of the coal industry, we can again smile and welcome the chance for a better WV... but we gotta keep an eye on that Blankenship guy.

Manchin's New Role.


Governor manchin has been appointed to the Medicaid commission.

The national panel will advise U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt on how to modernize the state-and-federal insurance program.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush also was named to the commission.

Other members include health policy leaders, state health department officials, public policy organizations and people with disabilities.

Medicaid provides health care for more than 300-thousand needy, aged, blind, disabled and low-income West Virginians.

The state department of health and human resources said earlier this year that it needs to cut nearly 116 million dollars out of West Virginia's medicaid program because it faces a 156 million-dollar deficit.

Source

I am curious as to where this will take ol' Manchin. I see more fame nationally being gathered, that's for sure.

Blankenship, will this guy ever shutup?

Source

Blankenship Avows His Role in West Virginia
Posted 10/27/2005 06:00 AM

Blankenship insisted he has no political motives in his dabbling in the Mountain State's political landscape. Instead, Blankenship explained, his motivation is good citizenship.
Story by Steve Novotney

WHEELING -- Who is Don Blankenship?

It's a question, not a campaign slogan.

Not like "Who Is Brent Benjamin?" The Republican candidate's campaign used common curiosity last November, and Benjamin dethroned former West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justice Warren McGraw.

But who is Don Blankenship? Now that's a question posed in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle as often as residents above the Mason-Dixon hear, "Paid for by Don Blankenship" on television.

Those are the political ads, the TV spots broadcast in the state's largest markets promoting whatever Blankenship believes in or denouncing what he doesn't. For instance, it was Blankenship who supported Benjamin's victory, and it was Blankenship who spent six figures opposing Gov. Joe Manchin's failed pension bond amendment in June.

His day job, however, means little to citizens of the state's northern counties because "Massey Energy" is not a household name here. Blankenship serves as president, chairman and CEO for Massey, the fourth largest coal producer in the United States with 19 mining complexes in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.

Blankenship insisted he has no political motives in his dabbling in the Mountain State's political landscape. He said he possesses zero political aspirations or premeditated, revenge-driven agendas against the Manchin administration.

Instead, Blankenship explained, his motivation is good citizenship.



Rest of the article.

Good citizenship aye? Sorry if I seem too skeptical, but I am. When was the last time a Republican did something out of the kindness of his heart? Well, I can tell you that I wasn't even born. Blankenship wants to see all of his buddies run the state of WV so he can make more money. SImple as that.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Byrd Meets With AEP CEO

Article Here

Washington, DC (HNN) – . U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-WV., met with the head of American Electric Power (AEP), in hopes of strengthening West Virginia’s case for a new advanced coal-based electric power plant.

“West Virginia has the workforce, the coal, and the desire to be home to a new AEP power plant,” Byrd said. “AEP has a strong presence in West Virginia. We have proved to be a good partner with AEP in the past, and I believe that our partnership will continue to grow.”

“If West Virginia is selected for this new power plant, it would mean an infusion of new jobs, construction of a 21st century facility, and a continued commitment to West Virginia coal. This new plant would be a mainstay of West Virginia for many years to come,” Byrd said.


Complete article

One man who has the ability to bring jobs and opportunity to West Virginia is Robert C. Byrd. And if the AEP decides to build the power plant in WV, then Byrd's billion dollar industry plan will be well on its way. This is something Capito, or any other Republican in West Virginia, is not capable of doing.

Byrd is the word and shall remain in 2006.

Monday, October 03, 2005