W.Va. governor urges fall election to replace Byrd

[davidinalameda]

Source: MSNBC

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) joined a growing chorus that includes Republicans urging that the special election to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd be held this fall -- instead of in 2012, as state law dictates.

At a news conference this morning where he made the announcement, Manchin said he would "highly" consider running for the seat if it is held this fall -- though he has ruled out appointing himself until the election.

The state legislature, which is dominated by Democrats, would likely have to change the existing law to make that happen. Manchin also said he would ask "the state attorney general to weigh in," AP writes.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/07/4630982-wva-governor-urges-fall-election-to-replace-byrd

[napi21]

1. What's taking him so long to appoiint someone to replace Sen. Byrd?

Because Sen. Byrd was so old & frail, I'm sure he has thought about replacements for quite a while.

[Tx4obama]

9. Senator Byrd was buried YESTERDAY. Manchin is showing respect. n/t

[tomhayes]

2. huh?????

1)What ever happened to "the rule of law?"

2)Couldn't they have changed it before Sen Byrd died? He was ill for quite some time.

[williesgirl]

3. This fucker obviously has his own agenda. He needs to follow state law & appoint now.

And he needs to consider the state, not himself, when he chooses. Not some weakling that will just step aside for him in 2012. rec'd

[frazzled]

4. How nice of him to clear the field for himself ...

and ignore his state's constitution in the process.

Sure, a governor sitting on a war chest sees this as his one opportunity to move up the ladder unimpeded. No one else would have the organization or funds to jump in a race that will occur 4 months from now. I hope some other Democrats take it to court, to be ruled on constitutionally.

[Jennicut]

5. Oh for crap's sake. Manchin is letting the possibility of getting the seat go to his head.

We could lose that seat in November too. And to get the unemployment benefits passed we need a replacement ASAP. What an idiot.

[DallasNE]

11. The Easy Route Would Be For Him To Appoint Himself

And a lot of people are suggesting just that. What I think he is doing here is trying to steer the Legislature into passing a law to clean up the existing law so an election can be held in November. With that change he would announce for the November election and name a replacement for Byrd to serve until January 2011. Had Byrd lived another 5 days there could have been a clean transition with an appointment that would last until January 2013. As it is the law calls for a "special election" without stipulating when it should be held. Republicans want something like what happened in Mass. Manchin wants it to be part of the November elections. Frankly, I think he is taking the high road here and agree that it is the right move.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

12. You're right (see my post below)...........

but it may leave us a D short in the Senate until Nov.

[MadAnne]

15. Exactly. n/t

[BlueIdaho]

6. Don't tell us tell him.

http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=36

[doc03]

7. Manchin has been waiting for Byrd to die to get his seat

for years. Everyone was expecting him to appoint someone to keep his seat warm until the next election. It would be safer for him to have a special election and run for it rather than taking a chance and appointing someone to keep it warm until the next election. He don't want to take the chance his appointee would run in the next election. If he can't get a special election he may appoint himself anyway. Manchin is a DINO he wouldn't be any win for the Democrats.

[The Hitman]

8. If it was a GOP Governor

He'd appoint himself in a heartbeat.

QUIT DICKING AROUND! It's politics and everything is coming down to this one vote. Now get your ass in gear and, if not you, some other democrat's ass in the seat.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. I just got off the phone w/ Gov. Manchin's office (re: Byrd replacement).....

The nice lady I talked to told me that state law may prohibit an interim replacement of Senator Byrd if there is to be a special election this fall. According to her, the legality of a 4-month interim appointee is in question and that the governor, the SOS and the state's attorney are currently hashing out the details of what can and cannot be done. So, we are possibly looking at a diminished DEM majority in the Senate until after the elections in November.

I would tell you to light up their phones and email, but I really don't know if it'll do any good (if you choose to, please be nice). I did, however, make sure to highlight not just the plight of the unemployed, but homeless veterans and suffering state services that have been hit by this cutoff of Federal contributions. She said they've received a bunch of correspondences regarding this and that Gov. Manchin understands, but that they are doing all they can to get things moving.

Contact page: http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=36

PLEASE NOTE: This info is based upon a single phone call to an aide of the Governor. I cannot provide cites. YMMV.

[spinbaby]

13. You know, it's been decades since I've lived in WV

Back then the entire town of Farmington was pretty much owned and run by the Manchins and A.J. was in his glory. They were slimy cheats back then and it looks like not much has changed.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. Manchin would gladly let the seat go GOP than let another Democrat have it

It's exactly what he did when he lost the Democratic primary for governor in 1996.

He refused to endorse the nominee, Charlotte Pritt, and it's a well-known fact that he worked behind the scenes with a group of "Democrats for Underwood" to elect a rightwing coal executive, Republican Cecil Underwood, as governor.

Many of these fake Democrats are high-profile allies of Manchin today - including one Mike Oliverio, who recently defeated Democratic Rep. Mollohan in a primary after running a campaign courting teabaggers and saying he wouldn't support Nancy Pelosi as House leader.

Be warned: Manchin is the second coming of Zell Miller

[MadAnne]

16. They weren't exactly behind the scenes. n/t

[doc03]

17. I live just across the Ohio river from WV and I agree

from what we hear Manchin is nothing more than a DINO and same goes for Oliverio. Oliverio is farther right than the Rethug.