West Virginia

updated 5:08 a.m.

Contains only posts that are ID'd as local content. An explanation. Want to help improve our local content filter? Add keywords here.

McKinley 4th-highest spender for taxpayer-funded mailings

So much for his promises of smaller government. Parkersburg News and Sentinel Rep. David McKinley, R-1st, from April to December spent $263,083 on the mailings, the newspaper reported citing a review of records kept by the House of Representative's chief administrative officer. Here's what his opponent, Democrat Sue Thorn, had to say to the paper about it: "Despite big campaign promis...
West Virginia Blue - 5:08 a.m.

The real war on coal

My friend Sean O’Leary wrote this well researched op-ed in the Martinsburg Journal, and I reproduce it here in its entirety… maybe now we can get Bob Manchin off Obama’s ass… Much is made of President Obama’s and the Environmental Protection Agency’s “war on coal”. And it’s true. In order to reduce air pollution and [...] ...
Under The LobsterScope - Sat 8:29 a.m. - 14 clicks 14 clicks

Romney Added to his Lies last week:

 • Romney said Obama’s record includes “the first trillion deficit in history.” That’s a blatant lie — the day Obama was inaugurated, there was a $1.3 trillion deficit Bush had left for him to clean up. • In New Hampshire, Romney saidObama is “focused on taking away from those who have the least.” That’s blatantly [...] ...
Under The LobsterScope - Thu 12:11 p.m. - 12 clicks 12 clicks

WV coal mining jobs rise under President Obama

Despite the lies told by Sen. Joe Manchin (Joe Manchin) and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (Joe Manchin) and the Friends of Coal Barons Who Kill Miners, President Barack Obama's EPA has not spelled doom to coal jobs. In fact, the opposite is true : While the Obama administration and the EPA may be taking a harder look at mountain top removal mining permits, a quick look at coal mining employment in West...
West Virginia Blue - Thu 7:44 a.m. - 12 clicks 12 clicks

Anti-Obama, anti-EPA hysteria campaign funded by W.Va. taxpayers

Ken Ward has a must-read post up about an upcoming "War on Coal" TM event put on by The Coal Forum. It's bad enough that our politicians spew this nonsense, but now they're making us pay for it. ...
West Virginia Blue - Wed 2:26 p.m. - 14 clicks 14 clicks

Tennant responds to W.Va. primary ballot misinformation

Released by Secretary of State Natalie Tennant: I am writing to correct misinformation which has been circulated in print and social media, relating to the appearance of a convicted felon, as a candidate for United States President, on the recent democratic primary ballot. I am concerned that because of misstatements and inaccuracies, the confidence of the electorate may have been shaken. The...
West Virginia Blue - May 11 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

No W.Va. DNC delegates for Judd

Democratic Party Executive Director Derek Scarbro tells the Gazette no one filed to be a Judd delegate. Any Democrat wanting to be a delegate to the national convention had to file a statement of candidacy and a statement designing which presidential candidate he is supporting with the state Democratic Executive Committee by 5 p.m. on Election Day. In addition to no one filing to be a Judd de...
West Virginia Blue - May 10 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Snuffer gears up to lose to Rahall again

The GOP clown car in WV-03 has coughed up a nominee - crazy religious right Delegate Rick Snuffer, best known for a few failed runs for office - including a 2004 effort against Rahall. Snuffer was able to squeeze his way into the House of Delegates in the Republican wave year of 2010, and has devoted his time to such pressing non-troversies as gay marriage and flag displays. Facing a loss...
West Virginia Blue - May 9 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

How a convicted felon received so many votes

Our fellow West Virginians once again make this state a joke to the rest of the world, but some of this goes on Sen. Joe Manchin (Manchin  Party) and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (Manchin Party). Washington Post : The president angered voters with new Environmental Protection Agency policies, which some see as a "war on coal" and have stalled mining permits for the state's coal mining industry. ...
West Virginia Blue - May 9 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

On Manchin

DB in the comments: Manchin changes his tune ... as soon as someone calls him out on it. What this shows is a man lacking in any leadership ability whatsoever. He strong arms and panders his way through life thinking only about what is best for Joe Manchin. He uses the fear, ignorance and racism of his constituents to promote an agenda that is all about Joe Manchin. His real base is the extrac...
West Virginia Blue - May 9 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Joe Manchin Single Payer and Personal Responsibility

Senator Joe Manchin was at the Peking Restaurant in Martinsburg last Friday. He was asked about a single payer health insurance system -- a system that most western industrialized countries have in place. Manchin said he didn't know enough about it to support it. Instead, he called for personal responsibility. See the video and story here. ...
West Virginia Blue - May 9 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Sue Thorn calls out McKinley for Blankenship ties

From a Parkersburg News and Sentinel story: "West Virginia's economy is highly dependent on the extraction industry. That's why I'm deeply concerned about mine safety and the health of our workers and families," Thorn said in a statement to the newspaper. "Congressman McKinley, who has accepted money from Don Blankenship (former coal company executive,) continues to accept dirty money from com...
West Virginia Blue - May 7 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Rahall, Rockefeller won't do Lieberman impressions

From an AP story: But the state's sole Democrat in the U.S. House, Rep. Nick Rahall, and Manchin's senior West Virginia colleague, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, both said Wednesday that they will vote for Obama. ...
West Virginia Blue - May 6

Manchin apologizes for comment: why I am supporting him in November

I went to a meet and greet for Joe today at the Monongalia County Democratic HQ. There were about 20 people there, and he talked to us as a group for almost two hours. He said that he wished that he hadn't made the comment about not supporting the President for reelection. He said that his reason for saying it was to get the White House's attention- which worked- but that he didn't realize how mu...
West Virginia Blue - May 6

Jay Rockefeller investigating Murdoch's empire of slime

Elections have consequences. If Jay had lost to Raese, the British press wouldn't be writing about one of our Senators investigating Murdoch's right wing sleaze machine. The only thing Raese would be interested in is how to get on Fox News and how to score campaign donations. Rockefeller investigation Murdoch. Thanks, Jay! ...
West Virginia Blue - May 3

Odds and ends

A few items of note from the last week or so: - Earl Ray follows Manchin's Republicratic lead, refuses to come out in support of President Obama. - Environmental groups rank banks based on coal support - Sen. Manchin responds to Gazette charge that he's a DINO - Sierra Club Beyond Coal  director: "Banks Risk Public Health, Mountains, and Climate by Financing Coal" ...
West Virginia Blue - May 2