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Abernathy Strategies
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The Republican Gazette welcomes Emails to the Editor and press releases. All submitted items must include the name and contact information for the author of the article, and all articles will only be published with the author's name included. Thank you for reading and participating in The Republican Gazette, another of West Virginia's most biased publications.
All opinions are those of The Republican Gazette and its editor, Gary Abernathy, except letters or commentary signed by others, and do not reflect the views of anyone else, including clients of Abernathy Strategies.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005
RUSS WEEKS: Not your average Joe
Manchin signals Garrison is done
"I just think you need to give people a chance to be involved in this process to fix the things that have been said that were needed to be fixed. If I ask for someone to do an independent study, and they do it and for me not to follow it, it would not be very accurate or very professional."
--Gov. Joe Manchin, May 6, 2008, defending Garrison keeping his job.
"Although I remain confident in President Garrison's ability to follow the recommendations of the independent panel's report, I am also fully aware of the concerns that have been raised by the faculty, staff, students and alumni of WVU and recognize that they must be addressed in some meaningful manner."
--Gov. Joe Manchin, May 19, 2008, signalling he has read the handwriting on the wall.
That was then...
This is now...
Manchin puts out rambling statement on lack of power
Governor tries absolving himself from blame in controversy on Garrison
WVU Board of Governors fight turmoil from within
When Gov. Joe Manchin conducts informal press interviews, he tends to ramble almost incoherently at times and provides quotes more meaningless than most auto repair estimates.But when his office issues prepared statements, they tend to be much briefer and better organized, thanks to his communications staff.On Monday, Manchin issued a prepared statement that he appears to have prepared himself. Attempting to offer a new position on the scandal involving the unearned degree awarded to his daughter by West Virginia University and the ensuing scandal centering on WVU President Mike Garrison, Manchin issued a lengthy, rambling monologue comprised of hundreds of words that, in the end, seemed to carry only one new message -- he recognizes that Garrison may have to go.After months of steadfastly defending Garrison and urging everyone to give the university president a chance to make everything right, Manchin in essence on Monday said he now understands the WVU Board of Governors may have to cut Garrison loose.He also attempted to absolve himself from responsibility in regard to the board, claiming that while he appoints most of its members, they don't answer to him. It is a rare instance of Manchin actually trying to convince the public that he is not as powerful or influential as he usually prefers.The convoluted statement is rife with the kind of round-about wording usually reserved for his off-the-cuff remarks. And the whole thing can be summed up this succinctly: "I don't control the Board of Governors, and I support whatever decision they make."The West Virginia University Board of Governors on Monday, in trying to show some sort of action on the Manchin-Garrison scandal at WVU, only managed to demonstrate even further how inept it is in handling this crisis.First, members of the board called an "emergency meeting," but clearly, no new emergency existed. As bad as the scandal is, to suddenly declare it an emergency several months into the issue was nothing but a convenient device to hold a meeting without giving the required public notice. The lack of action following the meeting is more evidence that no emergency was at hand.Further, in failing to emerge from executive session to properly adjourn the meeting in public session, the board once again thumbed its nose at its duty to the public and press.What is happening on the WVU board is crystal clear: A growing number of board members are increasingly embarrassed by the continued scandal and WVU's failure to bring about what nearly everyone in the state agrees needs to happen -- Mike Garrison being removed as WVU president. As board Chairman Steve Goodwin admitted yesterday, the meeting on Monday came about at the request of other board members, not at his behest. During Monday's meeting, several board members undoubtedly argued for Garrison's immediate removal. But Goodwin -- close friend and ally of Gov. Joe Manchin -- just as assuredly argued for more patience, hanging his hat on a scheduled June 6 presentation by Garrison to the board on how Garrison plans to "fix" this problem.What Garrison could tell the board on June 6 that would change the widespread perception of cronyism and corruption at WVU is difficult to grasp, but Goodwin obviously is continuing to hope he, Garrison and Manchin can still wait out the clock and hope everyone forgets the issue and goes home.Goodwin apparently had to offer unhappy board members a carrot, which was simply that the board would continue to meet every few days to monitor and discuss the issue.Rather than end the controversy and allow the healing to begin now, the Board of Governors continues to choose to allow the wounds to fester and spread.WVU crisis an 'emergency'
Suggestions on McCain VP are wide ranging
On Monday, the Republican Gazette asked readers to weigh in on who John McCain should select as his running mate. Several responses were received, but the only ones presented here were signed by their writers, as the Republican Gazette presents no anonymous submissions. Here are some responses coming from a variety of different points of view:I don't like the two old white guy ticket as you know. McCain needs to be aggressive because it is already looking like the political black community is sharpening its knives. I don't see any value in not choosing a minority or female for the ticket. Michael Steele would be perfect if he only had a little more on his resume. What are people's reservations about Elizabeth Dole? J. C. Watts had a good congressional resume and provides some regional balance. Certainly there are qualified Republican Hispanics as well. People of a younger generation might be swayed to vote a certain way because "it's just time" regardless of how crazy Obama is. --Stephen Smoot, KeyserHow about Sarah Palin - the Governor of Alaska? She has an impressive bio, one of the highest approval ratings among Governors (often in the 90's) and she was elected in 2006 - in no risk of losing her seat. She's young, a conservative who wants to open ANWAR, and would compliment McCain well to turn out the conservative base. -- Lisa Peana, CeredoI believe that former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge would be a good choice for vice president. This would help put New Jersey and New York into play. I don't believe that Obama can win without Pennsylvania (which he won't win anyway), New Jersey and New York. -- Jeff Billings, CharlestonThe only acceptable VP for a John McCain win is South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Mike Huckabee, the Jimmy Carter of the 21st Century, is unacceptable. Mitt Romney, the man who ran to the left of Ted Kennedy, equally unacceptable. The future of our party depends on a strong VP nominee. Mark Sanford is the only executive (McCain needs an executive) who has a proven record of adherence to conservative principles. McCain can pick anyone he wants and because he is a moderate Democrat, he will win West Virginia. But running slightly to the right or left of Joe Manchin isn't anywhere close to what we need elsewhere. Nor should we as a party, nationally, want a socialist moderate Democrat to be the Republican Party standard-bearer. -- Craig Bergman, MiltonI would think that Senator McCain has to do something to energize the party's conservative base and one way to do that is to select a running mate who mirrors their concerns on social issues. That rules out Rudy. For various reasons Romney probably isn't a great fit. Fred Thompson isn't in the conversation because he's got acting jobs to take. And it it even worth mentioning Ron Paul? He has no chance to be on the national ticket. It seems pretty obvious that Huckabee is the choice. On "Meet The Press" he said he'd be willing to do whatever it takes to help McCain win in November. I know it's not an original thought, but with the former governor all but saying he'd like the job, I'm going with Huckabee as the VP nominee. -- Kennie Bass, CharlestonI don't know if you heard or not, but on the Daily Show, McCain said he would choose Dwight K. Schrute from The Office as his running mate. That's who I would highly recommend for the VP slot. McCain-Schrute '08! -- Jim Ashley, MorgantownByrd jumps on Obama express
Sen. Robert C. Byrd joined Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Joe Rahall in going against the majority of most West Virginia Democrats with his endorsement this week of Barack Obama for president.Meanwhile, Gov. Joe Manchin continues to remain on the fence, apparently until 2009.In the recent primary election, Democrats supported Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly.