BILLBOARD News Now
Who’s on First?
Trying to figure out what’s going on in Washington gets more important and difficult particularly with the government shutdown. Makes one wonder “Who’s on First”.
House Speaker Mark Johnson (R-LA) has been left out of the game…just listen to his daily press briefing. Any question gets the same response…make one wonder “Who’s on First”.
Senator John Thune (R-SD) is just learning his difficult new job as Senate Majority Leader…how to keep his GOP colleagues occupied and how to get to the magical 60 votes to end the government shutdown. His colleagues wonder when the next vote will be to fund the federal government. And so do we.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) is on watch that his crew stays in line. On the other side of the Capital House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has Democratic members waiting for Johnson to unlock the House Chamber.
President Trump’s Press Secretary says the President’s primary focus is his “Big Beautiful Ballroom”…and not ending the shutdown!
Trump had said HIS new “Big Beautiful Ballroom” would not impact the White House structure…yet yesterday the entire historic East Room was destroyed without notice. “Who’s on First”?
While Americans watch the future (destruction) of the White House, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed in the Spring has families concerned about the future of their healthcare, food assistance and what programs will be discontinued that help their families. Details are lacking. Again, “Who’s on First”?
For those old enough to remember there is a famous Bud Abbott and Lou Costello skit “Who’s on First”. You may skip ad. Click this link to add some fun to these serious matters facing our country.
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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...
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...
BILLBOARD Archives
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...
Young People Setting An Example
Two experiences I had this weekend provided encouragement about West Virginia’s young people and our leaders for the future. As a judge for a Future Farmers of America (FFA) project I meet nine outstanding young people from various parts of our State. Each were...
Corridor H Gets Good News
Senator Robert C. Byrd still has Corridor H on his agenda. This is exciting news. Governor Manchin was in Washington to brief Senator Byrd and his staff on highway needs. He reported on his telephone visit with Senator Byrd. “The first thing he wanted to know was...
What’s Going On, Sarah Palin?
A brilliant media strategy was executed by Governor Palin on Friday. She used one of the slowest news days other than Christmas to inform the political world she is changing course. Time will reveal if her political strategy (if there is one) was as smart. When my...
Another Candidate Found…..In Coalton
A reader of our blog contacted me to say I missed a potential gubernatorial candidate in my Coalton report. Unrecognized by me in the crowd was out-going Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice. My correspondent says "rumors are swirling that he may be testing the waters as...
Byrd Health Mystery
The Huddle - a must read morning briefing on the lastest congressional news contains the piece below this morning. Byrd Health Mystery: The reality is that a lot of key people remain in the dark about Sen. Robert Byrd's condition. From Roll Call's Jessica Brady: ...