July 29, 2010
EDITORIAL: Ken Hechler: The Ultimate Protest Vote Against Manchin on August 28th
The comedians in our midst are no doubt having a good time with
the arrival of former Secretary of State Ken Hechler on the stump
again. This time, the 95 year old elder stateman of West Virginia
is running for U.S. Senate in the Special Election Primary this month
against Governor Joe Manchin.
One wit on Salon.com said that he thought it would be neat to vote for a man who is three years older than Robert C. Byrd when he passed away a month ago. In another reference to Byrd, another homegrown humorist has called Ken Hechler "Big Daddy's...Daddy!"
But all jokes aside, Hechler is held in high regard by many West Virginians in both parties, even if they don't always agree with his every position on the environment. Simply put, Hechler always lets you know where he stands, generally runs positive efforts to get attention for his issues, and let's face it, he's fun to watch as he needles his political opponents.
And don't forget, Hechler is a master of political timing and still knows how to dig deep into those book royalties for some excellent TV ads.
Hechler's self-stated issue this time around is Mountaintop Removal coal mining. He has stated flatly that he doesn't think Governor Manchin has much empathy for those affected by the controversial mining practice. So apparently, paybacks are hell for Governor Manchin for not taking those affected by Mountaintop Removal more seriously.
But Hechler can also become a rallying point for every dissatisfied Democrat, tired of Governor Manchin for any number of reasons. Progressive Democrats have their beef with Manchin on the environment, but the state's teachers and state employees may take this opportunity to register their dissent with Hechler, too.
Then we have the legions of Mollohan fans, who saw their longtime Democratic Congressman take the ultimate hit in the recent primary to State Senator Mike Oliverio in the First Congressional District. The word is out on the street for all to hear that Governor Manchin helped take Mollohan out, perhaps because he saw in the veteran Congressman a rival for Byrd's U.S. Senate seat.
So let's see now. Manchin doesn't like progressive Democrats and now, with this news about Mollohan, he doesn't like even moderate Democrats. Yet true conservatives in both parties know that Manchin sure isn't one of them after a lackluster record on private sector job creation and a pro-gambling agenda.
No man is an island, but Joe Manchin sure has tried to be one during his one and a half terms as Governor. Don't be surprised if, just for fun, many Democrats decide to send Ken Hechler like a ship on fire into Governor Manchin's Kanawha River dock on August 28th.
Hechler may become the ultimate protest vote against Manchin for several thousand rank and file Democrats, for any number of reasons. Will he win? That's doubtful, but if he does better than expected, he can embarass Manchin badly in his own party before the big vote on November 2nd.
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EDITORIAL: Ken Hechler: The Ultimate Protest Vote Against Manchin on August 28th
The comedians in our midst are no doubt having a good time with
the arrival of former Secretary of State Ken Hechler on the stump
again. This time, the 95 year old elder stateman of West Virginia
is running for U.S. Senate in the Special Election Primary this month
against Governor Joe Manchin.
One wit on Salon.com said that he thought it would be neat to vote for a man who is three years older than Robert C. Byrd when he passed away a month ago. In another reference to Byrd, another homegrown humorist has called Ken Hechler "Big Daddy's...Daddy!"
But all jokes aside, Hechler is held in high regard by many West Virginians in both parties, even if they don't always agree with his every position on the environment. Simply put, Hechler always lets you know where he stands, generally runs positive efforts to get attention for his issues, and let's face it, he's fun to watch as he needles his political opponents.
And don't forget, Hechler is a master of political timing and still knows how to dig deep into those book royalties for some excellent TV ads.
Hechler's self-stated issue this time around is Mountaintop Removal coal mining. He has stated flatly that he doesn't think Governor Manchin has much empathy for those affected by the controversial mining practice. So apparently, paybacks are hell for Governor Manchin for not taking those affected by Mountaintop Removal more seriously.
But Hechler can also become a rallying point for every dissatisfied Democrat, tired of Governor Manchin for any number of reasons. Progressive Democrats have their beef with Manchin on the environment, but the state's teachers and state employees may take this opportunity to register their dissent with Hechler, too.
Then we have the legions of Mollohan fans, who saw their longtime Democratic Congressman take the ultimate hit in the recent primary to State Senator Mike Oliverio in the First Congressional District. The word is out on the street for all to hear that Governor Manchin helped take Mollohan out, perhaps because he saw in the veteran Congressman a rival for Byrd's U.S. Senate seat.
So let's see now. Manchin doesn't like progressive Democrats and now, with this news about Mollohan, he doesn't like even moderate Democrats. Yet true conservatives in both parties know that Manchin sure isn't one of them after a lackluster record on private sector job creation and a pro-gambling agenda.
No man is an island, but Joe Manchin sure has tried to be one during his one and a half terms as Governor. Don't be surprised if, just for fun, many Democrats decide to send Ken Hechler like a ship on fire into Governor Manchin's Kanawha River dock on August 28th.
Hechler may become the ultimate protest vote against Manchin for several thousand rank and file Democrats, for any number of reasons. Will he win? That's doubtful, but if he does better than expected, he can embarass Manchin badly in his own party before the big vote on November 2nd.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
