BILLBOARD News Now
Political Tidbits
We’re back…hope your holidays were fun!
Our first item is hardly a Political Tidbits…but is thought provoking.
Today January 6th…is a sad day…the very darkest episode in American history. Triston Snell said it best in her Substack today. She wrote “It is the darkest not because it was the most devastating—but because it is the most devastating attack on American to which America failed to respond. Or, rather America did respond: with silence, with complacency, with complicity, with cowardice, with timidity, with indecision waffling, with a shameful lack of urgency, with half measures that took twice the time at hand.”
We’re all living in Trump’s world…the disruptor-in-chief…will it be war or peace in 2026?
Wonder how many readers…ask ChatGPT for help in making New Year’s Resolutions?
How do you like those health insurance premium increases? That was a gift from President Trump & his Republican followers in Congress.
America’s real challenge is…how to preserve the ideals of democracy…the rule of law…equal justice…voting rights and civil rights…and social justice.
Trump looks at the U. S. Constitution…as an inconvenience…his Venezuela action…required Congressional approval…how much longer will Congress give away their power?
Florida’s The Bradenton Hearld editorially says…” DeSantis must be made to answer for diverting taxpayers’ money…for political ads…to defeat ballot initiatives in 2024. In a joint investigation The Miami Hearld and Tampa Bay Times…found at least $36 million public funds were used.
It’s time…John Q. Public…thinks about running for public office…voters at all levels are looking for fresh faces…willing to stand up for them.
Concerned about Al’s rampant spending on infrastructure…it may be concealing economic weakness in America…will the bubble burst?
Trump continues to put his name on Washington landmarks…what will he name after himself…on America’s 250th birthday? There is the Washington Monument…Reagan or Dulles Airport…or what about the District of Columbia?
America faces an urgent call to action…November’s midterm election…help change control of Congress.
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Any Healthcare Bill Will Do
Obama has been struggling with healthcare reform since entering the presidency. The problem is two fold. First, he turned the drafting of legislation over to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Secondly, he never could explain what...
Does Obama Face a 2012 Challenge In His Own Party?
This Rasmussen Report I am sending to you verbatim. “Leading liberals are already thinking the unthinkable: Challenging President Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012. According to a report on the left-leaning Huffington Post website, MSNBC host Keith...
Democrats Are Losing Independents Support
Congress returns from a summer recess on Tuesday. President Obama will address a joint session of Congress mid-week. He must believe another speech or a more “prescriptive” health care plan will put his Democrats colleagues at ease. Well, he may be too late....
“Me and Mrs. Palin”
My hobby is following the national political news. This weekend I saw where Vanity Fair will hit the newsstands nationwide on September 8th with an article “Me and Mrs. Palin”. No doubt Levi Johnston – father of Bristol’s baby – has earned real money for this one. ...
West Virginia Voter Surveys
Our readers have asked if I could get a copy of the recent voter opinion surveys conducted by Mark Blankenship Enterprises (MBE). I gather not all the media have reported on the findings. The first survey addresses political favorability ratings and economic...
Democrat Governor’s Race Continues in Central WV
Central West Virginia Democrats must think the primary election for Governor is near. Serving as Marshal of the Grand Feature Parade at the Barbour County Fair this week was House Speaker Richard Thompson (D – Wayne, District 17). The Speaker is known to be...
Manchin Traveling, Tomblin Moving North
A West Virginia tradition has been for the Governor to crown the Queen at the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins. The Inter-Mountain has reported Governor Manchin will be on an out-of-country trip. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D – Logan District 7th) will...
Democrats Can Retreat On Healthcare
Columnist Dick Morris offered an interesting perspective on how Democrats can retreat on healthcare. His theory comes from a criticism Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) offered on the Obama healthcare initiative. I thought I would share the Morris piece. In the...
Keep Your Guard Up On Cap-and-Trade
The writers of the Politico piece “Obama’s Big Band could go bust” posted here earlier implies diminished prospects for winning final passage of a cap-and-trade legislation this year. I have been thinking this may not be the case. If President Obama loses the...
Republicans Don’t Get Excited
It may seem President Obama is about to replace Jimmy Carter….you know what I mean. Or, that healthcare will bring about another 1994 congressional election in 2010. Republicans don’t get excited. There is a national election atmosphere being created by the...
Perdue Is Running for Governor
A reader telephoned to share that State Treasurer John D. Perdue has announced his candidacy for Governor. Not an unexpected development. It appears he is quietly visiting county Democratic Executive Committees seeking support. In so doing he told one that he is a...
Obama’s Big Bang
For the political junkies that read phillipsbillboard.com I came across this Politico piece. I thought it was an interesting explanation of Team Obama’s policy strategy. West Virginians will be pleased to read these writers believe passage of cap-and trade’s...
BILLBOARD Archives
Act One for WV Democrats
Act One in the 2012 Democratic gubernatorial primary played out yesterday in the Legislature. House Speaker Richard Thompson (D-Wayne) and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D-Logan) both are known as wanting to be Governor. Labor supported Thompson for Speaker in...
West Virginia Wins in Senate
It has been a while since I thought about the strength of Rural America in the U. S. Senate. Today the Outlook section of The Washington Post provides an excellent insight into how small states can influence the outcome of legislation in the United States Senate. It...
New Tone in Health Care Debate
Members of Congress look forward to August when they go home. It has become a tradition. But 2009 is different. The debate in Washington over health care has now spilled over to the towns and villages throughout America. Peggy Noonan points out in her Saturday Wall...
It’s Time for a Real Republican Summit
Over the weekend I participated in the Underwood Interns Republican Summit. The exchange of information was productive and the new faces were exciting. Driving home I thought it is time for a real Republican Summit. Nothing is getting done by the State Party. The...
A Call from Washington
A former colleague (non-political) from my days in Washington telephoned. They wanted to know if I had seen the piece “The Squandered Stimulus” in today’s The Washington Post. After reading it I thought this has to be shared. Remember this came from The Washington...
Governor Manchin Increases State’s Influence On National Level
West Virginia’s number one salesman Governor Joe Manchin has moved into a leadership role as Vice Chair in the National Governor’s Association (NGA). All of us should be proud to see our Governor in this role. He is positioned to influence policy and the direction...
Melody Potter leads for Republicans in Satellite Voting Questions
Every West Virginia voter should thank Melody Potter for raising important questions about satellite early voting. The Republican Party of WV really owes Ms. Potter. State party leaders never even appointed a committee or form a task force to look at the...
New Approach to Lobby Cap and Trade
Emails were flying asking West Virginians to contact their Representative when the U. S. House of Representatives considered the Cap and Trade legislation. The effort was successful and all voted no. But the bill passed. The action now is in the Senate. I bet there...
Thoughts on Improving the WVGOP
Doug McKinney, Chairman of West Virginia Republican Party, sent a newsletter asking for thoughts on improving the WVGOP. He asks specific questions. Since readers of this blog are interested in a two-party system in our State I thought I would share my respond to...
Majority of Republicans don’t think Palin’s qualified for President
Political observers across the country have been wondering what impact Governor Palin’s unexpected resignation would have on Republicans if she decided to make a bid for the Republican nomination in 2012. I came across this piece on the CNN Political Ticker this...
Governors Race Moves to Mountains
Is there a more beautiful place than the mountains of Tucker County to campaign? A Friends of Blackwater fund raiser was hosted Friday by Steve White and Chuck Smith two former chairs of the State Democratic Party. When two Democrats gather these days you can expect...
History Lesson on Political Comebacks
One of my objectives as a blogger is to put forward “think pieces”. One caught my attention in The New York Times “Week in Review”. It provides a history of how both national political parties have come back from bad situations. Those interested in the future of...