Huntington West Virginia Blog - West Virginia Election 2006

John Raese WV US Senate Election 2006

stephanie@sheck.com (Huntington West Virginia) — Tue, 23 May 2006 08:06:18 -0400

The West Virginia Primary Election 2006 is now over, and the November General Election 2006 is now before us, and the US Senate Race is before US, We the people are allowed a choice. The WV US Senate Election 2006 offers us two choices. John Raese who is such a state of stark raving republican mania that he is under the delusion that he is qualified to replace Byrd in the WV race for US Senate Election 2006 . We also have the choice of a well known commodity Robert Byrd. John Raese is involved in the West Virginia Radio Corporation that owns quite a few far right wing radio stations throughout the central part of the State of West Virginia. John Raese also owns the Morgantown Newspaper to my understanding. I seriously wonder if John Raese will exploit his media holdings against senator Byrd.

WV US senate election 2006 offers us the choice of voting for Senate Incumbent Robert Byrd D - WV who is the most senior democratic WV legend in the Senate, or John Raese. The Election revolves more around economics than anything. Robert Byrd has acted in the Senate to bring a huge amount of Money into West Virginia, and that money creates a huge amount of construction and badly needed jobs in the state of WV that only a senior US Senate representative can manage to bring home.

John Raese does not have the intelligence or understanding of economics to comprehend that West Virginia gets such a big chunk of the federal pie is because WV has two very powerful senior members of the US Senate representing this state of WV. This is why John Raese would make a poor senator because he does not understand all the economic good that Byrd has done. The federal funds acquired by Robert Byrd for this states medical schools have to no small degree expanded rural health care in this state. John Raese has no known track record in projects that are beneficial to children and most certainly not on that scale.

John Raese must understand that the WV US Senate Election 2006 will hinge on the politics of economics because pork is very big money. Republican candidate John Raese will no doubt offer a right wing ideology and rhetoric that is a very poor substitute for the gigabucks that come to this state as the result of the senate seniority held by Senator Byrd. Raese can certainly accuse Byrd of cornering the market on Pork,

John Raese claims that he is a Reagan style Republican, and in this state of WV that is the kiss of death because West Virginia and its economy starved to death during the Reagan Era and many voters will remember that during the WV Senate Election 2006, and remember it well to the detriment of John Raese. Reagan was not good for WV and John Raese knows it. The only people who believe that propaganda are the brainwashed members of the Rush Limbaugh fan club, and hate radio addicts.

The WV US Senate Election 2006 will give US a choice to determine if we wish to throw away a huge amount of federal money and jobs for this state in favor of a tired and outdated Reagan Era ideology offered us by John Raese. Big money and jobs mean progress and it is sheer republican insanity to promote outdated neocon ideology over big money garnered by the efforts of Byrd in the Senate and this will influence votes in the WV Senate Election 2006 and John Raese knows it.

Senator Byrd is doing a wonderful job, I assume, watching John Raese make a total idiot of himself in a vain self centered and futile attempt to unseat the Senates Senior Democratic Legend. It is total insanity for John Raese to suggest that anyone can bring home more bacon than Robert Byrd. Be advised that Robert Byrd is big money industry in this state and it is a matter of good economics to see it continue in the aftermath of the WV US Senate Election 2006. It is crazy for West Virginia to even contemplate throwing away a senior member of the Senate in favor of a untried newcomer like John Raese, because there is no possibility that John Raese can outperform a senior member of the Senate as long as the US Senate runs on seniority in its rules and power structure. I don't want this state to shoot itself in the foot with the help of John Raese, as far as the ability of Robert Byrd to bring home federal money to WV. Robert Byrd does bring home the bacon and that is why everything you can think of is named after him. That is exactly why everyone votes for him and John Raese is obviously not bright enough to understand that. Robert Byrd is going to spank John Raese in the coming general election.

In an economic context John Raese is bad for business in WV, and the fact is that the Senate runs on seniority makes it absolutely impossible for any freshman senator to be as productive as a senior member, and therefore I intend to cast my Ballot for Robert Byrd in the WV US senate election 2006 as a matter of logical politics and a matter of the best economic interest of this beloved state of West Virginia. The republicans under the influence of John Raese yell and gripe about Robert Byrd and PORK but the have no answer for the question of: Hey John Raese, kindly tell us, wheres the beef? We really hope John Raese is not chicken to answer this meaty question.

I will vote for Robert Byrd in the WV US Senate Election 2006 because I desire to prevent John Raese from bringing back an outdated Reagan Era mentality that has harmed this state in the past. I intend to endorse the efforts of Byrd in the WV US senate election 2006 . The man has served this state with distinction and most likely will die in office rather than take a well deserved retirement. That is called self sacrifice and that concept is far beyond the understanding of the GOP. Senator Robert Byrd has more than atoned for the racial sins of his youth. When president Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." Bob Byrd listened.

Hiram Lewis 2006 Election

stephanie@sheck.com (Huntington West Virginia) — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 01:33:54 -0400

Election 2006

U.S. Senate Race Political Commentary for West Virginia

34 Year Old WV National Guard Captain Hiram Lewis has declared himself a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in West Virginia 2006 Election.

U.S. Senate Candidate Hiram Lewis's 2006 election web site has touted his commissioned connection with the WV National Guard in his capacity of a military officer to promote his political ambitions and leadership skills. It is understandable that a retired military officer would do this, because the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest is made void by the retired status. It is questionable if it is ethical to use ones current position with a state military organization to promote ones own political ambitions. This creates the appearance that the West Virginia National Guard endorses candidate Hiram Lewis in the 2006 Election.

The state police are not allowed to do this, is it permissible for a National Guard officer to do so? As I understand it, 34 Year Old Captain Hiram Lewis still holds an active commission in the West Virginia National Guard.

Captain Hiram Lewis's website reads more like a military resume, and Curriculum Vitae than a partisan political web site for a GOP senatorial candidate in the 2006 election.

Captain Lewis in his status as a National Guard officer is both a state employee, and a military man. The National Guard is the state military under the state Constitution, which is sometimes federalized to supplement the needs of the U.S. Army in time of war. The state of West Virginia funds the State Police, and the State National Guard from the states military budget. Mr. Hiram Lewis needs to clarify on his 2006 election web site that the WV National Guard does not and cannot endorse his political actions.

If he does not do this voluntarily, the Governor should be petitioned to order him to do so. Remember the Governor is the commander in chief of the state national guard as authorized by the state constitution. Captain Hiram Lewis needs to get it through his head that Joe Manchin is his commanding officer, prior to posting his affiliation with the State National Guard on a partisan political website for the 2006 election.

With the current situation in Iraq, and Afghanistan, there is a very real possibility that Captain Hiram Lewis may well be called to active duty in a military capacity for deployment to a combat zone...The US Army very much needs military officers with supervisory legal experience to manage the scandal laden prisons used to house Iraqi detainees. Captain Hiram Lewis is well qualified for a position as a warden there with his legal background as an attorney.

There is a very real possibility that he may be needed, because men with his combination of legal and military credentials are very hard to come by. Being a candidate for federal elected public office, would give Captain Hiram Lewis a viable exemption from potential deployment overseas for the duration of his term of office if elected. The fact that he is the GOP candidate for an elected office would give him exemption from deployment overseas until the election is over.

Traditionally, the National Guard and regular Army will not deploy its personnel overseas, if they are a federal candidate, party nominee, or holder of an elected public office out of respect for the constitutional electoral process. If Hiram Lewis advances his political capacities, it will diminish his military capacities for potential deployment.

There are several members of congress who hold commissions as national guard officers but they are not eligible for deployment overseas for exactly this reason.

That is what the military is all about, supporting and defending the constitution and the electoral process.

Mr. Hiram Lewis claims his campaign is not based on personal animosity for Senator Byrd. I wonder what his real motive for running for office is. A man of Captain Lewis's self professed military leadership skills are far to valuable to waste in public office in time of war. The war in Iraq is very unpopular among some members of the National Guard, but they are to be commended for doing their duty in spite of personal aversions to the Bush Administrations Iraqi cause.

However there are many members of the National Guard who will attempt all legal means to evade deployment to a war that they see as unjustified. I feel that the needs of the nations military are far greater than the needs of the State of West Virginia for a Republican Senator.

If Captain Hiram Lewis desires to serve the public, this is commendable. I wish to advise him to serve in the military capacity that he is most well trained and qualified. Patriotic West Virginian's cannot vote for him in good conscience, because we do not wish to deprive the armed forces with a qualified officer with scarce skills in time of war. This is simply a matter of patriotic sentiment on my part. There are several units of the WV National Guard currently in Iraq to my understanding.

Governor Manchin is the commander in chief of the WV National Guard, and our esteemed governor is well capable of making full use of Captain Lewis's greatly needed military leadership skills.

Captain Hiram Lewis has already done one tour in Iraq and he is commended for that, and if he desires to serve in a political capacity, he should follow the example of Dwight D. Eisenhower and patiently wait until the war is over to throw his political hat into the ring. General Eisenhower was a mature man who knew how to bide his time for political ambitions, and Hiram Lewis needs to patiently wait till the war in the middle east is over, before launching political salvo's at the U.S. Senate's senior democrat.

Traditionally Americans don't pass out military accolades until long after the war is over, and Eisenhower was smart enough to understand that. At age 34, Hiram Lewis has yet to reach that level of maturity. The question before the West Virginia voter is, is Bob Byrd too old, or is Hiram Lewis too young?

Robert Byrd is a fine Senator, and Hiram Lewis is a fine Military Officer with supervisory JAG Corps experience. The U.S. Senate needs Robert Byrd, and the nations military needs Hiram Lewis. Both men should serve in the capacity where they previously shown talent, and have established a proven track record. Mr. Lewis has a choice in engaging in political fighting with the democrats, or using his military talents to fight the armed mortal enemies of our nation. The question that profoundly begs an answer is "What are Hiram Lewis's priorities"? Does he even know?