Gov. Joe Manchin Announces Plans For Fillng Sen. Robert Byrd

[PassiveObserver]

In an 11 a.m. press conference today, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin announced the plan going forward in regard to filling the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd’s vacant Senate seat.

http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/1798/b ... yrds-seat/

If you'd like to download the audio/video to use, go to http://watchdogmedia.org/westvirginia

[Jay Nunley]

I lay down a ten that he appoints Gaston Caperton.

[Bob Campbell]

I'm betting on Don Blankenship.

Naaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh......

[PassiveObserver]

The rumor I heard today was General Tackett, who I imagine is at retirement age if he want to take a break.

[PassiveObserver]

BTW apparently just audio there on our watchdogmedia website. We're still working out the bugs on the raw video on the download site. But the audio is definitely there. Help yourselves. You're welcome.

[AmpedNow]

So, are we gonna have a special open election in November, like we should?

Joe must be very confident he can pull it off... Don't think for a second that whoever his opponent is won't have massive backing from the RNC and many other conservative organizations from outside the state. He may also need outside help before it's over.

The problem is he's the type of Democrat the national party hates. He won't have many friends waiting for him in DC, should he win.

[PassiveObserver]

I also just noticed it cut off the word "seat" at the end of the subject line. I didn't mean to imply that our Governor would desecrate the body of the late Senator in an inappropriate way, lol.

[PassiveObserver]

The rumor is the WVGOP may get former SOS Betty Ireland to run should there be a special election (and there will be). Capito is smart enough to wait until 2012 or may take on Rockefeller if he stays on (he might not). She might also run for governor, but I imagine she'll pick being Senator over being Governor.

[CoolBreeze]

The Associated Press is reporting that Carte Goodwin will be Gov. Joe Manchin's temporary appointee to the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd's seat.

Individuals involved in the process identified the Governor's former chief lawyer as his pick. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.

Manchin is scheduled to present his appointee at a Friday afternoon press conference at the Capitol.

The 36-year-old Goodwin served as Manchin's general counsel from 2005 until early 2009. Goodwin now works in a private practice in Charleston. Goodwin has never held a political office.

His wife, Rochelle, is the state director for Senator Jay Rockefeller.

Goodwin comes from a powerful political family. His dad, Steve, who passed away in April, was the chairman of the WVU board of Governor's. His uncle Joseph Goodwin is a federal judge, his aunt Kay Goodwin is the head of the state Department of Education and the Arts and his cousin Booth Goodwin was just tapped as the U.S. Attorney for the state's southern district.

State Republicans are already speaking out about the appointment. House Delegate Troy Andes, a Republican from Putnam County, says Goodwin's appointment is one more example of the state's elite ruling in West Virginia. Andes says he has an issue with the appointment because none of the Goodwin's have ever been elected by the people, they've always been appointed.

[Jay Nunley]

because none of the Goodwin's have ever been elected

An apostrophe denotes possession and does not pluralize. Sorry. I miss Arp sometimes.

[genlock]

Carte Goodwin?
Shouldn't he be referred to as "Carte Bob Goodwin"?

Joe Bob
Booth Bob
Kay Bob
Etc.

[Greg Goodfellow]

just not 'ala carte'

[PassiveObserver]

Well, the House is raining on Manchin's parade. They just rejected their version of the senate succession bill.

http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/1880/b ... sion-bill/

[The Interpreter]

And now the special election is in doubt:

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/bri ... t-in-doubt

[Lester]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... a young Lester began his political career by running for (and winning) a seat on the Senatorial Executive Committee for the 12th District.

I'm pretty sure picking the successor was part of that job responsibility... where the hell did that go?

[PassiveObserver]

UPDATED: WV Legislature Passes Senate Succession/Special Election and Senate Bill

http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/1893/b ... cession-2/

About time. Audio of Tim Miley explaining the bill at the end of the article.

[The Interpreter]

Drawing held for ballot position, then the AP story suddenly says this about Robert C. Byrd:

...The 92-year-old Democrat died in June at the age of 92....

Really. At what other age would the 92 year old Democrat die?

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/97817894.html

sigh.

[AmpedNow]

The Ghost of Big Daddy will win in November.