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VISIT NO MO MOJO
In the text box below, nominate your West Virginia Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected.
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
UPDATED DAILY!
Mojo9/24/08
9/24/08GET YOUR 'DEGREE!' (Click image for details!)
SARAH TONIGHT!
GOP superstar center stage as Democrats still struggle with how to handle Palin phenomenon
The Sarah Palin Show returns to prime time tonight as John McCain's unorthodox running mate goes head to head with the Bully of Bluster, Joe Biden, in the one and only vice presidential debate of the 2008 campaign. What will be most interesting is how Biden chooses to conduct himself in tonight's face off. Will he simply be somber and serious and treat his opponent politely but cooly? Will he try to dominate the encounter to prove himself the brilliant, experienced statesman the Obama campaign has entrusted to balance Barack's own lack of experience? Or will he try to be cute and clever, cutting jokes about Palin's star status and beauty queen looks? Will he flirt with her?The betting here is that Biden, who typically considers himself the smartest guy in any room, will not be content to be staid and boring, and will instead go the clever rout, which will be disaster for him.For her part, Sarah is always Sarah. What you see is what you get, which is why she connects so easily with so many Americans. Few politicians are as comfortable in their own skin as Palin seems to be. Even when reporters like Charles Gibson and Katie Couric are playing stump the band with her, the Alaska governor cheerfully moves forward, whether asking Gibson, "In what way, Charlie?" when asked a stupid question about the "Bush doctrine," or telling Couric with a smile, "I'll get back to you on that," when pressed for specific examples of McCain's record.Sarah Palin knows the press is out to get her, and you know what? She doesn't care! That's why tonight, she's likely to be as confident and unflappable as she has been since McCain unveiled her to the public in Dayton, Ohio, regardless of the barbs that come her way.Palin knows what her role is, and her responsibility. She was brought on board to motivate and activate a moribund GOP base, and to keep it motivated. She has done her job, and continues to do it with glee. Any support she picks up outside the base is just icing on the cake, so she doesn't try too hard to court it, merrily skipping along like the Happy Warrior that she is, delivering barbs to Obama and Biden and manna to Republicans across the land. She makes no apologies for her deeply held conservativism, and if the press wants to take shots at her, hey, they're a bunch of liberals anyway, right? They're the enemy! The base only loves her more.So tonight, Sarah will just be Sarah, and Biden will be, well, Biden, which means it is impossible to know what he will do. But don't be surprised if tomorrow's stories focusing on gaffes and missteps are being written about Joe, not Sarah.Weeks: Life nod to Mojo disappointing
Gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks said Wednesday he is disappointed to learn that West Virginians for Life has given its endorsement to Gov. Joe Manchin, even as Manchin has put the life issue on the backburner during his administration.“The members of WVFL’s governing board to whom I have spoken all understand how much more committed I am to this issue than my opponent,” said Weeks. “I am very disappointed that the organization continues to cling to an outdated policy of endorsing incumbents even when challengers are more dedicated to pro-life principles.”Weeks said Manchin has repeatedly ignored pleas from pro-life advocates to push for legislation like a measure to end all taxpayer funding of abortion.“As governor, I have pledged to include at least one piece of pro-life legislation in my agenda every year, and I will keep that promise,” said Weeks.In June during a special session of the Legislature, Manchin snubbed West Virginians for Life and the pro-life movement, but anxiously catered to trial lawyers and a specific track interest.Before the session began, Weeks challenged the governor to include a bill designed to end taxpayer funding of elective abortions in West Virginia. But the governor responded by saying that special sessions were reserved for emergency funding issues, and abortion topics should be addressed in regular session with more deliberation and input.“Clearly, the governor was not being honest,” said Weeks. “By adding to his call for the special session items like campaign finance legislation and a greyhound track bill, Joe Manchin has proven that anything is fair game for a special session if it's important to him. Sadly, protecting the lives of unborn children is not an issue that fits that category. If I’m elected, the pro-life community will have a real voice in the governor’s mansion.”Weeks, meanwhile, has been preparing for his first debate with Manchin, set for Oct. 13 at the Clay Center in Charleston, and televised to most of the state. The event will also be broadcast statewide on MetroNews.Adams wins endorsements from two groups
Bob Adams, candidate for state Senate in the 16th District, has tallied two more endorsements from leading organizations around West Virginia.The West Virginians for Life Political Action Committee (WVFL PAC) has announced its endorsement of Adams, as has the West Virginia Citizens Defense League (WVCDL).WVFL PAC is the internal PAC for West Virginians for Life, the state pro-life organization. WVFL is affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee and is working through education and legislation to build a society where innocent human life is respected, from conceptioon until natural death.Brian Louk, WBFL Executive Director, stated, “We commend Mr. Bob Adams for pledging to protect unborn children from abortion on demand.”The WVCDL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support an individual’s right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.In its endorsement process, WVCDL-PAC evaluated the records of incumbent legislators and asked all legislative candidates to complete a questionnaire on their views concerning several legislative issues important to gun owners.“I’m honored to have the backing of these two excellent organizations,” said Adams. “My commitment to protecting innocent human life, and my belief in defending the Second Amendment are well known. In the state Senate, I’ll fight for economic and family issues important to the people of Berkeley and Jefferson counties.” Adams is running to win the seat held by state Sen. John Yoder, who is seeking a circuit court judgeship in the Eastern Panhandle.Former GOP chair a new Wall of Fame inductee
Former West Virginia Republican Party Chairman David Tyson is one of four members of the Huntington community being inducted tonight into the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.As a story in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch on Wednesday noted, "His accomplishments include teaching 12 years at Marshall University and serving as state chairman of the Republican National Committee. He formerly served as a student member of the West Virginia Board of Regents and now serves as chairman of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. "In 2005, he was appointed by President Bush as a member of the President's Advisory Board of the Arts at the Kennedy Center. His service as president of the Rotary Club resulted in the Rotary Club being recognized nationally on the Oprah Winfrey television program and his service as chairman of the Huntington YMCA resulted in the expansion of its programs."