BILLBOARD News Now
Hitler’s Edifice Complex
(Editor’s note: The Atlantic magazine spans more than 165 years and reflects major shifts in American culture, politics and media. In the 19th century The Atlantic evolved to emphasize thoughtful, in-depth writing. Today it published a piece by author Timothy W. Ryback, who wrote about Hitler obsessing with adding a new wing to the Reich Chancellery. Atlantic says the story is worth your time.)
He wanted it big. He wanted lots of gold, lots of marble. He wanted visitors awestruck by his architectural expansion of the country’s symbolic seat of power. “They should sense the strength and grandeur of the German Reich as they walk from the entrance to the reception hall,” Adolf Hitler told his chief architect, Albert Speer, outlining his plans for an extension to the old Reich chancellery, at Wilhelmstrasse 77 in Berlin.
The new annex, connected to the chancellery by a marble corridor hung with crystal chandeliers, was part of Hitler’s ambitious plans to align the Berlin cityscape with his vision for the future of the country. Hitler wanted a Triumphbogen, a triumphal arch, twice the size of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He wanted an “Avenue of Splendor” for military parades. “The Champs-Élysées is a hundred meters wide,” Hitler told Speer. “We will make our avenue twenty meters wider.” A planned Volkshalle was to accommodate 180,000. The Eiffel Tower could fit beneath its cupola. This “Hall of the People” was to be topped by the largest swastika on Earth. Berlin itself was to be rechristened as Weltstadt Germania, “Capital of the World.”
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Final Look
The 2014 election cycle is the first in which I have not been actively involved at some level in years. What a mess it has been to observe and I am certain readers have seen the same. There has been so much money with some of it questionable, too many untruthful ads...
Daisy
(Editor’s Note: With campaign ads beginning to flow there is none more famous than “Daisy.” Mr. Babb’s piece is offered for those new to campaigns and political advertising. For those inclined to watch a link is provided below.) By Drew Babb Drew Babb teaches...
Political Tidbits…9.01.14
It’s Labor Day…traditionally the start of the 2014 campaign season… but it started 11.07.12…not to be outdone the 2016 is already underway…at least for the presidency…and Senator Manchin being a placeholder for WV Governor. State GOP Chair Lucas and his 2014 team have...
Running
(Full disclosure: I am a member of the WV Racing Commission. The views expressed here are strictly my personal ones). There is nothing as exciting as horse racing. Saturday will be the 45th running of the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack &...
Manchin For President?
POLITICO’s Huddle reports this morning that U. S. Senator Joe Manchin has not ruled out running for President. The story by Scott Wong is below. By Scott Wong ([email protected] or @scottwongDC) IF HILLARY PASSES, MANCHIN FOR PRESIDENT? - Sen. Joe Manchin says a...
Lottery Revenue vs. More Taxes
A new opportunity for the Lottery industry and horse racing became public last week. EquiLottery a Kentucky based company has developed an innovative horse racing and lottery game. Just last month I wrote with Lottery revenue continuing to decline I would assume the...
Have We Learned?
An earthquake hit the Republican Party last night. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) was defeated by a Tea Party challenger. This will fuel Tea Party types with the real impact hitting in 2015 and 2016 as battle for the Republican nomination moves into...
Why Not?
Revenue in our State is needed as badly as pothole filling. The legislature faced with trying to find funds to restore “people” services in its recent special session had to move money from one account to another. No one can argue about funding badly needed social...
Political Tidbits…5.27.14
Political Tidbits…5.27.14 2014 primary election is over…summer is almost here…and the traditional start of political campaigns is long over…campaigns now are continual…likewise it appears negative campaigns are edging into mean ones…expect to see mean and costly races...
Where’s the money?
“Where’s the money” is the question facing legislators as they enter the final stages of the 2014 legislative session. It appears the only ideas for getting more money to balance the state budget is a tax on cigarettes or tapping into the rainy day fund. Here some...
Who Will Control WV Legislature?
Who Will Control WV Legislature? Candidates begin to file for West Virginia offices tomorrow. The 2014 election will not be like any we have seen when it comes to the WV Legislature. A national movement has been underway which has helped both Republicans and...
Ready Set Go?
January first two thousand fourteen is the beginning of the 2014 election season - but not for WV Republicans. They have used every day and opportunity during the last year. On the other side appearances would say Democrats are on idle. For GOP stalwarts the late...
BILLBOARD Archives
Must Read
Most of my readers are either political junkies or people interested in politics, government, public policy or commentary. So here are “must reads.” Political polling always seems a mystery to those not engaged in the practice of campaigns. There is an excellent...
Extremism
There is a cancer growing on the Republican Party. Extremism. Extremism does not win national elections. Senator Barry Goldwater only won 6 states and 52 electoral votes in the 1964 presidential election. Winning the nomination was one serious fight in the GOP. ...
BREAKING – US Supreme Court to Look At EPA
The court will review six petitions that will look at reversing EPA’s power over carbon dioxide emissions. Click here for a USA Today report for details.
Political Observations
Over the last four years various readers say they like the pieces I post from elsewhere. Today all the newspapers are full of commentary. Jim Lees long involved in reform efforts and WV Democratic politics writes about an "election of ideas" saying the 2014 U. S....
Many Mansions & Tidbits
The story goes…when A. James Manchin [Joe’s Uncle Jimmy] was once running for the House of Delegates he often told audiences “…in my house are many mansion were it not so I would have told you”…well there is Gayle, Mark, Brooke, Tim, Joe IV, Heather and many more I...
Politics & Horses
If you follow me on Twitter @TygartValleyWV you know I am an avid horse racing fan. This is a big weekend when politics and horses will merge. Horses and jockeys known across the country are already shipping into Mountaineer Racetrack for the WV Derby. They will...
Democrats Dilemma
Democrats current dilemma in West Virginia is not unlike that confronted by Republicans over the last fifty years. During those years Republicans seemed only to win elections with candidates named Moore or Underwood. The Party was never strong, organized, well...
Gool Ole Days
Anyone who follows the happenings in Washington sees a place where it seems no one can get along, find solutions or enjoy themselves after hours. That was not always the case when Ronald Reagan was President, Tip O’Neill served as House Speaker and Howard Baker lead...
College YR’s Offer Repairs
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has taken issue with former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole who last week said the GOP should put a sign on the door “closed for repairs”. Chairman Priebus said on Fox News Sunday “we are open for repairs.” ...
Political Tidbits…5.30.13
Is Conrad Lucas State Republican Chair preparing for a run for Congress in the Third Congressional District…in a rare news conference yesterday he called out Congressman Nick Joe Rahall for his vote on jobs & energy…two key issues in any congressional...
“Closed for Repairs”
Sage advice was offered to Republicans by former presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole over the weekend. “I think they ought to put a sign on the National Committee doors that says closed for repairs until New Year’s Day next year and spend that...
Washington Insight
During my twenty-five years in Washington I worked in both the Congress and Executive branch. Though I pay attention to what goes on in Washington little did I realize since coming home in 1993 how much both have changed. Doing my morning reading I found two...