Governor Manchin Names Old Family Friend as Senator to Replace Robert Byrd
Today is an extraordinary day in West Virginia. Gov. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) appointed his former legal counsel, Carte Goodwin, to fill the unexpired term of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) for the next few months. The West Virginia Legislature is amending state law to allow for a special election in 2010, opening the door for the 62-year-old Manchin to run for the remaining two years of Byrd’s term. And Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va) is hosting a fundraiser at his home in Charleston for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.); a fundraiser that Manchin is not attending according to West Virginia MetroNews.
“Robert C. Byrd was a giant. We can never replace him,” Gov. Joe Manchin said. “Regardless of whoever occupies this seat now and in the future, it will always be known as West Virginia’s United States Senate Seat that was occupied for nearly 52 years by our beloved, faithful public servant, Robert C. Byrd.”
The death of Sen. Byrd affected not only the lives of the citizens he touched or annoyed, or the various agencies that depended on the billions of dollars of earmarks he brought back to the state over the last 52 years, but the very shape of West Virginia politics itself. Like a splash of a pebble in a pond, the ripple effects could either be an opportunity or a catastrophe for a state that continues to rank at the bottom in areas such as poverty, education, unfunded liabilities, etc.
National media outlets and conservatives constantly point out that West Virginians voted for former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). This is seen as a positive sign that a Republican could win in the possible 2010 special election for Senate. However, it’s not quite that simple.
West Virginians can be divided into three political categories: Republicans, conservative/moderate Democrats, and liberal Democrats. Many West Virginians align themselves in the conservative/moderate Democrat category and that shows itself in state government. Take Gov. Manchin for example. He is pro-life, pro-gun, and was endorsed by both the AFL-CIO and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, which also support him as a possible U.S. senator. This past general session the legislature passed a bill allowing mothers who come in for an abortion to see an ultrasound of the fetus. That bill was pushed through and sponsored by Democrats.
Liberal Dems and Republicans sit on the fringe.Liberal Dems in this state tend to be environmentalists, pushing for stricter regulations on mining, the end of mountaintop removal, and support for cap and trade. Republicans have simply had trouble gaining traction in the state ever since its founding. Currently the state party is in turmoil, with a chairmanship election only a week away. The current chair, Dr. Doug McKinney, is accused by party members of corrupt and unethical activities, including illegal use of corporate donations and bullying.
The one high-profile Republican that has a chance against Manchin is Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). She is pro-choice, but is seen as an up-and-coming leader in the House, often at House Minority Whip Eric Cantor’s side. She was a strong voice against the health care bill passed earlier this year, as well as Obama’s financial reform plan. She has the war chest and the name recognition to challenge Manchin in a Senate campaign, but despite pressure from national media and Republican insiders it may be a smarter move to stay where she is and wait until 2012 or 2014.
A giant? Never replace him? Heck, there are KKK members all over West by God. Pick one.
>Republicans have simply had trouble gaining traction in the state ever since its founding.
Nonsense. West Virginia was solidly Republican until the end of Reconstruction in the South (1876). It went Democratic for the rest of the 19th century, and then turned Republican again until the New Deal. It has only been reliably Democratic since the 1930′s.
I’m just surprised that Joe didn’t try to appoint himself in Byrd’s set.
““Regardless of whoever occupies this seat now and in the future, it will always be known as West Virginia’s United States Senate Seat that was occupied for nearly 52 years by our beloved, faithful public servant, Robert C. Byrd.”
“Robert C. Byrd, the greatest public servant West Virginia has ever known, and a true giant of American history, has left quite a legacy.”
Just wow. They really got out the extra strength bull**** this time.
There can be only one…no, wait, wrong fantasy…
Always two there are, and now that the Master is gone
the Apprentice must carry on the quest for absolute power.
I couldn’t resist; Byrd is a Dead Ringer for Emperor Palpatine,
and by all accounts the resemblance was more than skin deep.
But seriously folks, neither the state of West Virginia nor
the U. S. Senate needs anyone to carry on for Byrd; The game
he played so well for so long is over, and his successor will
find it a major task to help clean up the mess he left behind.
The new game is not Pork-barrel power politics as usual,
not really politics at all; In Hard Times, the states must
provide for themselves, and the first step is to select honest,
competent administrators, who can keep the basic functions of
government going, those that provide people with the necessities
of life.
It sounds crazy now, but after the November elections prove just how
fed up people are with Tax-and-Spend, after taxes and Inflation start
to rise in January, and certainly after the first state government collapse,
probably in California before 2012, it will sound like good advice.
“”…certainly after the first state government collapse, probably in California before 2012, it will… “”
Fantasy. As long as the federal government is printing money, California will not be allowed to simply collapse. They will destroy the dollar before they let that happen. They are waiting until crunch time, because it will be so disasterous, but don’t entertain illusions they will not air drop freshly printed billion dollar bills on California to keep the leftist labratory experiment solvent. I know it’s illegal, against the constitution, yada yada , but we are not being governed by that document anymore. We are a nation of men, not laws.
Strange but true;
In the Sherlock Holmes story, the clue was the strange thing
the dog did not do in the night: The dog did not bark at the
visitor, because the dog knew the visitor.
TPTB know that Ca. will collapse, with levels of violence
typical of third world countries like Mexico, and they will
continue to ignore this familiar fact to avoid frightening
the children.
Of course, after it happens, the children will never trust
anything TPTB say, and that will increase the uncertainty
which is paralyzing private sector decision making;
What thing which just does not happen here will happen next ?
Paging Homer Stokes, Paging Homer Stokes…
Brothers! Oh, brothers! We have all gathered here, to preserve our hallowed culture and heritage! We aim to pull evil up by the root, before it chokes out the flower of our culture and heritage! And our women, let’s not forget those ladies, y’all. Looking to us for protection! From darkies, from Jews, from papists, and from all those smart-ass folks say we come descended from monkeys!
I have to say I admire the Democrats about the fact that they never leave anything to chance. You can bet your last dime that the Democrats have been planning on this maneuver for a long time and they have every possibility covered. However it plays out the Dems won’t lose this seat. It will still be in the D column for the foreseeable future.
This kind of crap is proof the government has jumped the shark and has no moral authority to tell us how to live.
52 years for the KKK member – but they complain about fake racists in the tea party.
Actually, KMarx, most West Virginians are remarkably unbigoted and unprejudiced against their black neighbors. The KKK is long gone and the “racial divide” is much less than you’d see in most northern blue states.
Off topic. Has anyone seen a picture of Harry Reid’s kid running for Governor, Rory Reid (Who hadn’t run an ad/ nor posted on his political website his family’s last name, due to the stink associated with it until ~10 days ago)?
Rory Reid looks more of a twerp than his old man! And these are the, ahem ‘Leaders’ of our nation? Rory looks like a prepubescent weakling. Governor!? hahahaha
Interesting that the poor hard working people of West Virginia will be represented by two American aristocrats, Jay Rockefeller and Carte Goodwin. It is so obvious that America is beginning to resemble the ancient regime of France. We are now totally controlled by the rich and privieged class with their Ivy League degrees and their private clubs and exclusive gated communities. No wonder the Obama regime looks down its long nose at the hoi polloi who pay the taxes that keep him and his family living the life of luxury and arrogance.
Remember, we are talking about “West, by God, Virginia”, the state Byrd built with our tax dollars. You cannot drive a mile, or so it seems, along any major highway without seeing a building with Byrd’s name attached to it. If you think for one minute, WVA is going to allow anyone to represent the state who is not in the same mold and mindset as Byrd, then you have no sense of the politics of WVA. After all, a man who was a member of the KKK and wrote praises about how much it was needed, had Obama singing his praises in the end. He was celebrated as a hero, forget about his past, never mind, nothing to see there.
Double standards? Ask Trent Lott about his innocent remarks during a speech praising Strom Thurmond. The freaking press, Democrats, liberals, NAACP, and every other far left organization in America was all over it and he was removed from his position in congress. But, Byrd? No past affiliation or actions were enough to warrant any criticism at all.
From what I read, West Virginia is in political chaos due to Byrd’s death. Manchin has the stooge, Carte Goodwin, essentially as a place holder until the November elections. However, this special election may well backfire on Manchin. The Nepotism with Byrd aide, Goodwin, also smells rotten to the core as well.
actually the KKK is still ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
robert c byrd will be greatly rememberd fer wat he did with the KKK. and he will never be fergotn. go KKK