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...

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. ...

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.

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....

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...

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 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...

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...

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.”  ...

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...

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...

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...

Quiet time for politics seem to end this week…WV House Speaker Thompson resigned…Obama sandals get noisy…the media is looking for a new Watergate [if your old enough to recall it]…some young hungry reporters have visions of being the next Woodward & Bernstein [key...

We were present for the Reagan Revolution.  Jenny and I served in the presidency of Ronald Reagan.  Often over dinner we recall the Reagan approach to government and issues.  Likewise, we discuss that the “conservatives” in today’s world must engage in redefining the...

After Senator Manchin’s announcement that he had reached a deal on background checks in the gun control debate yesterday several people I spoke with asked how he did it.  The answer came this morning when The Charleston Daily Mail ran an article that appeared in The...

Small States The significance of small states is the subject of a lengthy article in The New York Times. The focus is on their growing importance in the U.S. Senate. Throughout the article you can feel the message of unfairness to urban America. When a publication...

Republican activists should be aware the State Party is now paying for mailings and phone calls for candidates in non-partisan elections.  Just open these links and see for yourself. https://phillipsbillboard.com/media/photo1.JPG...

February is the month the groundhog appears…well guess it’s time for PHILLIPSBILLBOARD…to show up before the month is out…seems political news has been slow during hibernation. What has really been slow is a significant Democrat to emerge for the U.S. Senate seat …now...

Senator Joe Manchin continues his “campaign” of attracting national media attention.  This morning’s New York Times features him front page with a color picture.  A NYT reporter joined Senator Manchin in Beckley where he brought 15 citizens together for a discussion...

Inaugurations present new opportunities and expectations.  As I sat watching Governor Earl Ray Tomblin take the oath of office for the third time I thought about that day 17 years ago when Governor Cecil H. Underwood took that same oath for the second time. There is a...

POLITICAL TIDBITS as we ended the first week of 2013. Another Republican…House GOP Leader Tim Armstead understands the importance of working with Democrats…he recently told the Register-Herald in Beckley…"We’ve already had discussions with Democratic members about...

As we enter 2013 it’s fun to think about what is In & Out.  Here is my list of 13. In                                                                     Out RGIII                                                                   Romo No WV...

My recollection is President Obama promised the American people the “most transparent government ever.”  How could I have missed this story? While West Virginia coal miners are providing an honest day’s work to provide the energy that fuels the Internet, EPA...

[Editor’s Note:  Guest commentary is welcome on PHILLIPSBILLBOARD.  Bob Harris grew up in Charleston, WV and sent the piece below following our post about the EPA Administrator’s planned departure.  Harris is based in Washington with extensive Capitol Hill experience....