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June 10, 2005
 
COMMENTARY: Capito and Raese: Fools NOT to Run
 
by Sebastian Tutte

[Image: us-sen-robt-c-byrd.jpg (6493 bytes)]
The Hon. Robert C. Byrd,
U.S. Senate

Huntington (Special to HNN) – Anytime a Republican of the stature of say, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito or former GOP State Chairman and limestone magnate John Raese, decide to put their name on a ballot opposing a legend like Democratic U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, weighing the matter carefully in their minds is appropriate.
 
After all, Byrd--and his followers--have a lot at stake. For Byrd, it's his myth as the unbeaten, self-styled "Soul of the Senate." For his minions, it's their positions of power and influence in Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. They're used to having things their way, and they might fight like hell to keep it that way, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Capito or Raese.
 
However, sometimes too much analysis causes paralysis. Moreover, the occasional large truth can oftentimes far outweigh the complex little truths. In this case, there are some obvious large truths that should compel either or both of these huge Republican names--Raese or Capito--to bolt for the nearest post office to send in their forms to officially file for Byrd's seat:

An overview of the exhibit floor at Intel ISEF 2004, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore.
John Raese c. 2000

DEMOCRATS STUCK: The Democrats are stuck with Byrd for as long as he wants to run. And he wants to run, despite being nearly ninety years old with health and looks that will never get any better. Capito or Raese, both in their early to mid-fifties, will be the picture of good health when compared to the little old man on the stage. The voters will be mindful that this is, after all, a six year term.
 
POLLS LOOK GOOD: Even Byrd's own polling data suggests that, even after fifty years in Washington representing West Virginians and all that hype about being West Virginia's "Billion Dollar Man" during his heyday as Senate Appropriations Chairman, Byrd still only leads Capito by a less-than-comfortable ten points in the polls. Ten points! That's nothing a good Karl Rove-sponsored $14 million television ad campaign can't handle.

[Image: us-sen-robt-c-byrd.jpg (6493 bytes)]
Shelley Moore Capito
Congresswoman, R-W.Va.

BYRD IS IRRELEVANT AND A NEARLY TOTAL EMBARASSMENT TO WEST VIRGINIA: Even if you can forgive Byrd his racist outbursts over the years, no doubt stemming from his early experiences as a Ku Klux Klan recruiter, his entire melodramatic act is getting old and wearing thin. Comparing himself to the legendary greats of the Roman Senate is a sad cry for help as well.
 
And please take note, worthy challengers: West Virginians have already repudiated Byrd twice in the past five years by giving their electoral votes to the Senator's least favorite human being alive today, President Bush.
 
In short, Robert C. Byrd's best days are behind him and his worst days are just ahead. He hasn't brought back nearly the pork he was able to do before the Republicans took over in 1994, so it makes all the sense in the world for West Virginians to want at least one U.S. Senator from the majority party to represent our interests in D.C.
 
Quite frankly, It's the best opportunity either Capito or Raese will ever have to get into the United States Senate, and it will not come again. They're the only ones with the name recognition and wherewithal to take on the white supremacist from Sophia, but if one of them does, it will really only take one stiff breeze to knock this Byrd off his perch.
 
Stranger things have happened in West Virginia politics. Just ask Charlotte Pritt, Oshel Craigo, and a young Jay Rockefeller, all of whom have felt the harsh thud of falling off their mounts at the hands of a Republican underdog.
 
With either Capito or Raese running a well-financed campaign against Byrd, the entire Washington, D.C. press corps will descend upon us like locusts to watch this once-in-a-lifetime race, a true fight between different generations and different worldviews. Chris Matthews will take up permanent residency in Beckley with Raleigh County GOP Chairman Joe Long as a regular guest, along with Raese or Capito.
 
And Byrd? Maybe in order to show that he is still one of us, he will let the cameras show him opening the little door to his West Virginia "residence" in Sophia's post office.
 
"Erma! I'm home!"
 
Sebastian Tutte is a freelance writer from Huntington.