The writers of the Politico piece “Obama’s Big Band could go bust” posted here earlier implies diminished prospects for winning final passage of a cap-and-trade legislation this year. I have been thinking this may not be the case.  If President Obama loses the...

It may seem President Obama is about to replace Jimmy Carter….you know what I mean.  Or, that healthcare will bring about another 1994 congressional election in 2010.  Republicans don’t get excited.  There is a national election atmosphere being created by the...

A reader telephoned to share that State Treasurer John D. Perdue has announced his candidacy for Governor.  Not an unexpected development.  It appears he is quietly visiting county Democratic Executive Committees seeking support.  In so doing he told one that he is a...

For the political junkies that read phillipsbillboard.com I came across this Politico piece.  I thought it was an interesting explanation of Team Obama’s policy strategy.  West Virginians will be pleased to read these writers believe passage of cap-and trade’s...

Act One in the 2012 Democratic gubernatorial primary played out yesterday in the Legislature. House Speaker Richard Thompson (D-Wayne) and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D-Logan) both are known as wanting to be Governor.  Labor supported Thompson for Speaker in...

It has been a while since I thought about the strength of Rural America in the U. S. Senate. Today the Outlook section of The Washington Post provides an excellent insight into how small states can influence the outcome of legislation in the United States Senate.  It...

Members of Congress look forward to August when they go home.  It has become a tradition.  But 2009 is different.  The debate in Washington over health care has now spilled over to the towns and villages throughout America. Peggy Noonan points out in her Saturday Wall...

Over the weekend I participated in the Underwood Interns Republican Summit.  The exchange of information was productive and the new faces were exciting.  Driving home I thought it is time for a real Republican Summit.  Nothing is getting done by the State Party.  The...

A former colleague (non-political) from my days in Washington telephoned.  They wanted to know if I had seen the piece “The Squandered Stimulus” in today’s The Washington Post. After reading it I thought this has to be shared.  Remember this came from The Washington...

West Virginia’s number one salesman Governor Joe Manchin has moved into a leadership role as Vice Chair in the National Governor’s Association (NGA).  All of us should be proud to see our Governor in this role. He is positioned to influence policy and the direction...