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...

CHECK GOVERNOR'S PRIMARY BELOW..... Obama’s FY 2012 budget sounds more like a 2012 campaign plan.....since November his repositioning has been in high gear. OLD NEWS…..you might have missed…..Sarah Palin and daughter Bristol are attempting to trademark their...

The “Anything Can Happen Primary” is now underway.  Just to get us here the Governor went to the U. S. Senate, an Acting Governor took office, and the Supreme Count mandated an election, the Legislature rightly disregarded party conventions and put a primary election...

YEAR OF THE WOMAN…..if early activity is any indication the next Governor may be a woman…..first out of the campaign gate was current SOS Natalie Tennant and Betty Ireland former SOS has today announced a serious campaign team…..it is strong and likely costly. Back a...

Peggy Noonan knows what a State of the Union speech is all about.  Her weekly column in The Wall Street Journal today takes a serious look at President Obama's attempt. She was a primary speech writer and Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan.  She is an author...

West Virginia read Kimberley Strassel @ WSJ Cap and Trade Returns From The Grave.

We heard “Hope & Change” delivered by President/Candidate Obama in the State of the Union Address.  It was just as columnist Charles Krauthammer describes as “the old Obama in new clothing.”

President Obama and his administration on the very day he took office – January 20, 2009 - started its attack on West Virginia.  Every West Virginian knows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been trying to shut down our state.   Senator Rockefeller and...

There have been some early observations in the national media about the 2012 presidential race.  If you have not been keeping up you may find this helpful.  Click and read. Obama could survive some bumps on the road to the 2012 reelection Who Can Win the GOP...