Disagree With Democrats? Keep It to Yourself . . .Or Else

Since the election of Obama, liberals have gone after their political dissenters.  First came White House attempts, fended off by the media, to declare Fox News a non news outlet, banishing them from the press corps. Then came years of the left's near fetish level fascination with "sedition."  Tea Parties, Republicans, libertarians, nearly everyone associated with opposing this president gets tarred with the word. "Sedition" is the idea that speech that disrupts government functions should be criminal.  Twice in American history have sedition laws been passed, both during wars with Great Powers.

The scandal over improper IRS harassment of groups opposed to the current federal government will not subside, despite the administration's best efforts.

Worst of all, last fall, a Washington Times  reporter uncovering problems with the air marshal service had her research materials illegally seized by the Maryland State Police and turned over to the Department of Homeland Security.

Last week brought more stories of liberals and left wing attempts to chill speech or silence opponents.

Public outcry forced the Federal Communications Commission to back off of a plan to send monitors into broadcast and print media newsrooms to ask "invasive" questions about story selection and coverage.  The FCC is mandated to regularly submit reports about potential barriers to small operators and entrepreneurship.  Its questionnaire included many questions about journalism decisions, which could have a chilling effect on issue coverage. Many experts agree this violates the First Amendment, at least in spirit.

And finally on the state level, as West Virginia Metro News's Hoppy Kercheval puts it, some Democrats "can't stand a feisty Republican."  West Virginia's elected Republican attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, faces the possible stripping of his constitutionally mandated powers. Like others, his "crime" seems to be strenuous opposition to the efforts and plans of the Obama Administration.  Morrisey has been an outspoken opponent of infringements on the Second Amendment and EPA attacks on coal and power.

House Republicans and others noted that the state constitution and recent case law forbid the state legislature from doing precisely what House Democrats are trying.

The pattern is pretty clear.  Speak out against Obama, oppose his administration's plans, and his allies try to bring the power of government down against you, usually illegally.  Why can't America have bipartisan discussions and compromises?  Partly because of this dynamic.

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It, Especially For Old Fashioned Political Reasons

If only most marriages ran as smoothly as that between the Mountaineer Sports Network and West Virginia Radio Corporation.

For over sixty years West Virginia University sports have been broadcast over the network affiliates of WVRC. This arrangement has given WVU total control over its marketing and promotions while giving WVRC and Metro News high visibility and decent profits. Now outgoing president Mike Garrison wants to add disrupting this arrangement to the Magical Misery Tour of his presidency.

Garrison and others argue that bidding out the rights to broadcasts represents the wave of the future. Syracuse, Connecticut, and others do this currently. Others argue that WVU's arrangement reflects the much more profitable broadcast model that professional sports franchises utilize. One could certainly argue that this model works better for WVU, since its sports have been described as the state's "professional" teams (meaning that the audience responds to the teams in the manner that big city residents treat their professional franchises.)

What few people have said outright is that this may be nothing but hardball politics. West Virginia Radio Corporation is run by former GOP US Senate candidate John Raese. Metro News' most visible personailty besides play by play man Tony Caridi is political commentator Hoppy Kercheval. Kercheval has a daily radio program and online commentary. He grew into an outspoken critic of Garrison over the past several months.

Could this be an old fashioned Bogg Hogg type political revenge ploy? Hopefully Garrison will not be permitted to do the university any more damage before his fall departure.

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This is Bob Hertzel's column that discusses the issue. Although discussions have been in the works for some time, it is interesting that the issue has just recently come to a head.

http://www.timeswv.com/wvu_sports/local_story_188230156.html

Could Darryl McGraw Be Near the Dustbin of History?

For years the McGraw family held a stranglehold over a section of the Democratic Party. They held sway by stoking the anti-corporate resentments that a large segment of West Virginians have carried since the early part of the last century. Warren McGraw a few years back lost his seat on the State Supreme Court of Appeals to free market defender Brent Benjamin. This could register as a sign that the old prejudices are dying off quickly. Could Warren's brother Darryl be next?

As attorney general, Darryl McGraw has unceasingly waged war on those seeking to do business in West Virginia and with the state government. His regular lawsuits help to create an anti-business climate. Certainly when our state gets referred to as a "judicial hellhole," part of the problem lies in McGraw's aggressive stance.

The long time incumbent may not make it through the primaries this time. Hoppy Kercheval reported recently that Governor Manchin's chief legal counsel Carte Goodwin might be considering a run. A charismatic former Ripley football and basketball standout, he will likely have the support of the state's business community as well as the ever popular governor. The pragmatic Goodwin would be a much more business friendly nominee for the Democratic Party than the incumbent. A successful tenure in a Board of Public Works position could serve as a springboard to the Governor's Mansion as well.

If this comes to pass, it could also signal a possible wider goal for Manchin. Republicans have rightly leveled criticism at his administration for baby steps towards free market reforms. Economic experts have proven that former Soviet republics currently have a more business friendly climate. Manchin's faction of the Democratic Party must understand that should the Republicans organize a strong effort in 2008, they could achieve a great deal. Almost eighty years of Democratic rule have done little for the state's economic position. Voters will hold Democrats responsible if they do not see real change soon.