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9/24/08
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Second gov debate low key by comparison
Format, questions not conducive to fireworks, but Manchin perturbed enough to violate rules
The second gubernatorial debate of the 2008 campaign last night was a quiet and low key affair compared to the first event on Monday, due to the inclusion of Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson, a format of rotating panelists, and questions that entirely avoided hot button issues.Even so, at one point Gov. Joe Manchin was so irritated by remarks by GOP challenger Russ Weeks that he asked the moderator for a chance to rebut, even though rebuttals were not permitted under the debate's format.Moderator John McVey agreed -- reluctantly it appeard -- to grant Manchin rebuttal time, but also allowed Weeks and Mountain Party hopeful Jesse Johnson another crack at the subject as well.What it was about Weeks' remarks that got under Manchin's paper-thin skin is unclear, since Weeks was offering little more than his standard The Journal, WEPM deserve praise for debate series in EP
The Journal in Martinsburg and radio station WEPM deserve high praise for the time, trouble and effort devoted to staging no less than eight candidate forums featuring roughly 16 local and state political races, with typically two debates at each night's forum.The forums kicked off about a month ago, and The Journal's John McVey (and Maria Lorensen before her recent resignation) and WEPM's David Welch and Hans Fogle put in yeoman's work to pull off the events.The Eastern Panhandle community is fortunate to witness such well structured and informative forums. Most communities are not so well served.Some local Republicans were upset that a U.S. Senate debate was not among the featured events, but Jay Rockefeller would clearly not participate in a face off with challenger Jay Wolfe. The local GOP faithful say that when Attorney General Darrell McGraw refused to appear for a debate, challenger Dan Greear was afforded time to speak anyway, and they wanted the same for Wolfe.It is not a point without merit, but it also does not erase the hard work and planning that the local media entities have devoted to furthering the cause of democracy through the debates that have occurred. As is the case with all political hacks and the media, I have had my differences with The Journal and no doubt will again. But I also want to give credit where it is due, and the decision by reporters, editors and broadcasters at The Journal and WEPM to give up so many of their evenings for the furtherence of educating the public is commendable indeed. Job well done.Above gubernatorial candidates Russ Weeks (foreground right) and Joe Manchin (background center) greet voters following Thursday's debate at Hedgesville High School in Berkeley County. Below, Weeks, Manchin and the always dapper Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson prepare to debate as moderator John McVey of The Journal and reporter Hans Fogle of WEPM take their places.
McCain appears on Letterman
After two or three weeks of being roasted almost nightly by David Letterman for canceling an earlier appearance on his show, John McCain appeared Thursday night on the program.Letterman said that "all was forgiven," but after a few minutes of joviality, Letterman's claws came out and he grilled McCain aggressively on everything from Sarah Palin to McCain's attacks on Barack Obama. Clearly, Letterman's heart is with Obama.Letterman at one point attempted to equate McCain's relationship with G. Gordon Liddy with Obama's association with terrorist William Ayres -- a tact that almost was certainly planted by the Obama campaign.McCain pointed out that unlike Ayres, Liddy went to jail and has paid his debt to society.comments about the state of the West Virginia economy. Manchin seems to get more perturbed by criticism of his economic policies than he does about anything said about the degree scandal at West Virginia University -- which was not asked about or addressed during the entire debate, except briefly during Weeks' opening and closing statements.
For his part, Johnson primarily provided an entertainment factor. One part of the forum allowed each candidate to pose a question to the other two, and Johnson's seemed to have something to do with "water," a word he mentioned about 98 times during his question, even noting at one point that the human body is made up of 65 percent water, or some such figure. Johnson was the only candidate that McVey had to cut off (twice) for going over his allotted time.The questions by panelists focused in large part on Eastern Panhandle specific issues, including subjects like locality pay, highway funding and the PATH controversy, which involves a proposed high-voltage electric line and associated quarry projects. You can read The Journal's coverage here.On Sunday, Weeks, Manchin and Johnson will appear in a debate for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which will last only a half hour and be moderated by Scott Finn, the former Charleston Gazette reporter who is now the TV station's news director. The program will be taped Sunday afternoon for broadcast at 7 p.m. that evening, with a rebroadcast scheduled Monday at 9 p.m.. The truncated format will make each question and answer particularly important. Then, on Tuesday, the candidates travel to Morgantown for the fourth and final debate of the campaign, this one sponsored by the Dominion Post.
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The Walker for Supreme Court campaign on Thursday announced the formation of Women for Walker, a statewide grass roots coalition made up of women supporting Beth Walker's candidacy. In addition to spreading the word about Beth Walker, Women for Walker is emphasizing the importance of women becoming involved in the election process this fall. Hundreds of women from across the State are part of Women for Walker, a number expected to more than double before the November 4 election."I am honored to have the support of women who believe in the importance of electing a justice who will be fair and impartial without regard to partisan politics," Walker stated. "Throughout our campaign, I have been grateful for the grass roots support and encouragement of women across the state."BETH WALKER
Walker campaign announces 'Women for Walker' coalition
McCAIN-PALIN, HALLOWEEN STYLE -- Delegate Patrick Lane and his wife, Sara, helped their children get particularly creative for Halloween this season, with son Patrick II, eight months, and daughter Morgan, 12, decking out as John McCain and Sarah Palin for trick-or-treat season.
Court kills Dems' bad campaign bill
Manchin, Democrats wasted $100,000 of tax dollars
UPDATED FRIDAY 9:30 p.m. As Republicans predicted he would do, a federal judge on Friday struck down provisions of a campaign finance bill forced into law by Democrats in a special session called by Gov. Joe Manchin back in June. West Virginians for Life had challenged the bill.Judge Thomas Johnston ruled that the new law -- like the old one -- remains "unconstitutionally vague" and cannot be enforced, as reported by The Associated Press.During the special session, Democrats roundly criticized the GOP for refusing to suspend the rules and allow the legislation to be passed in one day. But as Senate GOP leader Don Caruth said at the time, "As much as it might be exciting to portray this as a political issue, we think it's a good government issue." Some Democrats have apparently already been making the issue part of their campaigns against their Republican opponents, but now Republicans have turned out to be right.As GOP lawmakers explained at the time, they support full disclosure as much as anyone, but such elements must be written in such a way that withstands constitutional muster, and the new bill clearly did not. Democrats primarily forced the bill into law in an effort to protect Attorney General Darrell McGraw from third party attacks in this election.Delegate Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, tried to save taxpayers roughly $100,000 wasted by Manchin and the Democrats in June, saying then that “Unlike our Democrat counterparts, and unlike their chairman, Nick Casey, most Republicans have paid attention to changing circumstances.” Developing...