Democrats run West Virginia very well By Larry Puccio (OP-ED, Charleston Gazette) Recently, the West Virginia Republican chairman resorted to his favorite tactic of preaching gloom and doom about our state.  While state Republicans claim they want to better our state,...

Legislation to block EPA regulations makes significant gains in Congress By Amanda Carey (The Daily Caller) Republicans in the House and Senate made major gains Tuesday in efforts to block Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. ...

Governor Tomblin’s birthday and Speaker Thompson got the present…Teacher Unions endorsed Thompson for Governor…teachers got their present when Thompson pushed their pay raise…in legislative session. ON THE OTHER HAND…Governor Tomblin had a huge birthday [fund raiser]...

Session Damaged Our State By Mike Stuart (OP-ED, Charleston Gazette) The 2011 Legislative Session was not only a failure, but also damaging to the perception of West Virginia for those that might consider this as a possible destination to locate their business.  Read...

Trump Unplugged By Jason Mattera (Human Events) [Editor’s note:  There are uncut excerpts from HUMAN EVENTS’s exclusive interview with Donald Trump on culture, politics, and his potential run for the presidency.  Read the full story here.

Donald Trump: I’m a Committed Republican By Jason Mattera (Human Events.com) Before Donald Trump would even have a shot a Barack Obama in a general election, he’d first have to get through the Republican primaries… Read the full story here.

Barbour Slams Obama on Economy and Energy By Jeff Zeleny (NYT) CHICAGO – Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi may not yet be a Republican presidential candidate, but his travel itinerary suggests that may be simply a formality, as he visited President Obama’s hometown on...

“Now that labor unions are joining the chorus” against EPA regulations, “the pressure on the agency is intensifying,” reports the Wall Street Journal.  Check out the link to WSJ.

STATEHOUSE reports paint a picture of conflict & chaos of the just concluded legislative session…if you think this was bad…wait until next year…when members of the House  and some Senators will be running in new districts…and it is likely Tomblin, Thompson &...

Last week was the 109th birthday (March 8th ) of Senator Jennings Randolph.  To my surprise I learned in the Sunday Gazette-Mail his work of establishing the U. S. Institute of Peace is at risk. Jennings Randolph served seven terms in the U. S. House of...

THE SUNDAY TAKE by Dan Balz is a Sunday read for me.  The Washington Post columnist focused today on Obama keeping his eye on independent voters.  Obama should be keeping his eye on job creation and foreign affairs not the 2012 election.

Let the gubernatorial games begin By Phil Kabler (Statehouse Beat, Charleston Gazette) We may remember last week as the week that House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, watched his gubernatorial aspirations slip away.  Read the full story here.

Palin would base campaign in Scottsdale By Ben Smith (POLITICO) The prospect of Sarah Palin running for president is, increasingly, dismissed by a political class that sees her facing weak poll numbers -- especially in key early states – and doing nothing to correct...

David Broder is gone. For those of us who follow politics and participate in the game it will never be the same.  He was famous for walking the precincts before an election to determine the concerns, hopes and outlook for the coming election.  I looked forward to...

Manchin:  Obama has ‘failed to lead’ By Jennifer Epstein and Scott Wong (POLITICO)  West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin ripped President Barack Obama on his budget proposals in a Senate floor speech Tuesday, a rare rebuke from a freshman Democrat who clearly is worried...

Vetoing a pay raise may help Tomblin By Don Surber, Charleston Daily Mail The unwritten rule book of West Virginia politics holds that Democrats kiss up to the unions that represent government workers to get past the May primary and then kiss up to business for the...

President Obama is Boston and was welcomed by Governor Mitt Romney with an op-ed about jobs and the economy in the BOSTON HERALD.  See the front page here:    Obama Misery Index hits a record high BOSTON HERALD By Mitt Romney  |   Tuesday, March 8, 2011 ...

POLITICO Huddle this morning reports Senator Joe Manchin will “call out Obama on spending”.   Below is what POLITICO Huddle leads with in its congressional newsletter. SIREN: MANCHIN CALLS OUT OBAMA ON SPENDING -- West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who plans to...

Robins have returned…the birds are singing…where are the 14 gubernatorial  candidates…likely scrambling for funds…but this race will not be won on TV…unless the campaign gets negative…likely for Democrats…unlikely for Republicans…the smart candidates are quietly...

The World Needs a Strong GOP Mr. David Davis, a Conservative, is a member of the British Parliament.  His Wall Street Jounal opinion piece is worth a read and thought.

The West Virginia Legislature (House) is about to diminish the influence of our state’s voters and rural America in presidential elections.  The proposal would award West Virginia’s electoral votes to the candidate for president who wins the popular vote.  You can bet...

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING…..most members of the U. S. House of Representatives should be asleep in bed…..or on an airplane home….the historic budget cutting session ended at 4:40 a.m. WV’s newest member of the House…..Rep. David McKinley is a hero this morning…..he led...

Add these to your reading list of the policy and political side of Obama’s FY 2012 budget.  It seems like forever since it was sent to Congress – and it was only Monday. Why the GOP Should Welcome a Budget Battle Obama's Louis XV budget

All attention is focused on Obama’s budget in Washington and across the country.  The Washington Post has three surprising and serious articles among its most viewed today.  If you have not had an opportunity to read these do so.  After twenty five years in Washington...