IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..Sen. Joe Manchin is listed on USA Today’s lawmakers to watch list…..he is one of the six newbies listed…..and the only Democrat. Manchin is beginning to set himself apart from the Obama crowd…..West Virginians will keep a watch on that.
A big week ahead for Republicans….the Republican National Committee convenes to name a new Chairman [hopefully]…..some RNC observers believe Michael Steele will lead on the first ballot…..even with [hopefully] a new Chairman can this national group become relevant again?
Follow the money…..or is it follow the leaders? In the 2010 election cycle Karl Rove & former RNC chair Mike Duncan founded American Crossroads to help GOP candidates…..they raised $71 million…..while Steele ran up a $20 million debt at RNC.
Mike Green a retired Morgantown businessman is on to something…..he sent an email to friends saying…..we must find a way to get [WV] off our butts and start actually doing something…..he is talking about research & technology…..Green should know what he is talking about…..he has a background in technology…..his credentials include being an adviser, investor and board member for several privately held technology companies…..he included an example of his point…..check out the link….send this to your legislator.
Joselyn King [political reporter for The Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register] covered the Legislative Lookahead session…..an annual event organized by Associated Press & WV Press Association…..click this link to learn about the square off by Governor hopefuls…..then read all the session hints offered by Governor Tomblin…..great work Joselyn.
Volunteers from the WV 2000 Bush presidential campaign will remember Brad Dayspring…..he came in to help put the State in the Bush column…..not a harder worker……today Brad is spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor…..we are proud of you Brad…..BTW thanks again for all your smarts in 2000.
“Redistricting is the most political decision in the Legislature that is not really partisan-based, but rather incumbent-based.” Never a truer statement made by Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred to the Legislative Lookahead session.
State Legislators will be greeted by TEA Party members when they arrive to open the 80th session January 12th…..a statewide rally is planned at the capitol building at 10:30 am.
Senator Manchin is back in action…..he launches a ‘Call for Common Sense’ tour Monday…..during the Senate’s first work period of the 112th Congress…..everyone knows he works hard…..loves the action…..and should be able to repair any remaining damage from missing two pre-Christmas votes.
SOS Natalie Tennant wants to position herself as the technology governor…..is she too young to recall Governor Cecil Underwood was labeled the “Technology Governor”…..working with then Senator Tomblin and former House Speaker Bob Kiss…..Underwood proposed and passed the legislation to create the state’s Chief Technology Officer…..Tennant was on the “hopefuls” panel Friday.
Back to State Republicans…..active on the campaign trail…..that is for Governor…..is former SOS Betty Ireland…..she has a known name which will help…..Sen. Clark Barnes is traveling…..Mike Stuart may be looking…..Mark Sorsaia was the first to establish a committee…..and Mike Teets is a favorite of grassroots Republicans.
“IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE [Christmas] another costly SPECIAL ELECTION in 2011.