It has been apparent for sometime our relations with China are likely the most important in today’s world.  We have the issue of Taiwan, nuclear weapons, the internet, climate change and the global economy. With all the attention given to the growing economic leverage...

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele is dragging Republicans down and draining its bank account.  He has created controversy since his election more than a year ago. That’s not bad enough he even wrote a book in which he says Republicans will not in 2010 take...

West Virginia Facebook followers of former Governor Sarah Palin woke up this morning to learn she will be visiting our State.  The Fix a Washington Post political column reports she has targeted 20 congressional seats held by Democrats as we moved into the 2010...

President Obama wants lawmakers to remove state specific projects inserted in the health care legislation.  Congress should include a line-item veto provision in the reconciliation bill to force him to cut these – if the health care bill gets to his desk. His call for...

There is a bill moving the final days of the Legislature that makes no sense.  The Manchin administration had proposed using taxpayer’s money to finance the 2012 Supreme Court race. It now appears in a contested primary a candidate would get $200,000 of taxpayers’...

Senator Byrd is needed in the United States Senate more than ever.  He needs to be there to protect the Senate from itself.  It is well known the Obama administration is pressuring Congress to use a process known as reconciliation to pass health care reform.  After...

Today is the 108th birthday of Senator Jennings Randolph.  He was a man of vision and accomplishment.  He worked tirelessly for West Virginia. Jennings Randolph was a Senator for 26 years and a member of the House of Representatives for 14 years.  He never considered...

President Obama made it clear he does not care about the re-election of Democrats as he wrapped up the health care summit. After warning if there is not enough serious effort in a month’s time “….then I think we’ve got to go ahead and make some decisions,” the...

When consideration of health care reform started we were told President Obama did not want to make the same mistake as former President Clinton.  You will recall the Clinton administration presented its own bill to Congress.  President Obama turned the writing of...

Speculation has centered on House Speaker Rick Thompson (D-Wayne) as a candidate for the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2012.  He was elected Speaker in 2007 with the strong support of Labor.  Many political and business leaders have seen Labor's support as a...