Editorial

OP-ED: Talk Nation Radio

: Talk Nation Radio (found at talknationradio.com) has long been hosted wonderfully by Dori Smith. I've enjoyed being a guest on her program and am now honored to be hosting the show.  I'll have a new show available every week.  Guests lined up include Robert Naiman, Pat Elder, Michelle Brown, Karen Malpede, John Horgan, Cindy Sheehan, Jeff Cohen, Coleen Rowley, Marcy Winograd, Jeff Clements, Dahr Jamail, and Bruce Gagnon.  But the first guest is Paul Chappell. Enjoy! Read more

OP-ED: Oil’s Well That Ends Well

Oil wells off the coast of South America’s only English-speaking country, Guyana, are now being drilled in earnest. Already Guyana’s economy is benefitting from millions of dollars being pumped by two companies into their operations. Should the drilling release the expected millions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, the country’s economy will boom. Read more

EDITORIAL: Manchin Earns a Zero on Life

This may be a first.  West Virginians for Life split their endorsement in the 2010 U.S. Senate race between Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican John Raese.  How well we remember the picture of Joe Manchin just smiling away with his friends from the West Virginians for Life main office. Read more

EDITORIAL: John Raese Receives Standing Ovation at WVU Children's Hospital Benefit

Let's face it: in a political campaign, getting to know the real person behind the candidacy can be difficult, especially in a statewide contest.  Unless you go to a gathering where you can actually speak with a candidate directly, all you can really glean about a politico is their position on the issues, maybe a little about their professional background.  On such scant information, we are asked to elect our leaders. Read more

EDITORIAL: Joe Manchin: Proudly Pro-Choice

Out of the three U.S. Senate candidates on the ballot this year--two Democrats and one Republican--just two of them can be said to be pro-life. 

Former Democratic Delegate Sheirl Fletcher and Republican John Raese have long supported the pro-life movement in West Virginia, supporting groups like West Virginians for Life with their time and financial contributions.  Fletcher served in the House of Delegates as a pro-life member from Mon County, and John Raese has been firmly pro-life throughout his 28 year span in state politics. Read more

COMMENTARY: A Nation at War: Where's the Music?

Editor's Note: This column originally ran on Nov. 10, 2009 and is even more relevant today

"Over There" ... "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition" ... "Say A Prayer For The Boys Over There" ... these and scads of other songs permeated the airwaves, juke boxes, radios and anywhere that sound could be received during dark days of wartime for generations. But not now! Read more

OP-ED: A One Percenter Puts Over $200 Million into the Peace Movement

I'll tell you who did this below.  First read part his rather unusual letter: Read more

EDITORIAL: Too Many Manchins Spoil the Broth

Dynasties are essentially un-American.  The soldiers who fought for America's independence with George Washington were fighting against the idea of one family, in their case King George III's, ruling over them in the New World.  But what would those some revolutionary soldiers make of the Manchin family up in Marion County this year? Read more

DEVOTION: My Whole Heart

Yesterday, we waited in faith and trepidation to hear what

the cardiologist found during my friend's heart cauterization. Read more

OP-ED: How to Strengthen the UN’s Ability to Maintain International Peace and Security

Conservative politicians often portray the United Nations as a powerful monster, poised to gobble up the United States and other countries and put them under alien rule.

Read more

MANN TALK: Nature's Stamp and Its Clues to Happiness

We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities,…still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin.” Charles Darwin, 1809-1882.   

          “All happy families resemble each other, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910. Read more

EDITORIAL: Like his Uncle A. James, Joe Manchin Plays us for Fools

Once again, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is everywhere, all the time when you turn on the TV.  One wonders when the man has time to tend to West Virginia legislation in Washington, as he assumes the position of Guardian of the Catholic Church and self-appointed Defender of the WVU Faith.  But the truth is, Joe Manchin was needed on neither the recent Obama contraception issue, nor WVU's move to the Big XII. Read more

PARALLEL UNIVERSE: Where Are the Aid Flotillas to Syria?

Less than two years ago, the headlines screamed about the so-called aid flotillas to Gaza, initiated by Code Pink and other so-called "Progressive" groups -- including the notoriously anti-Israel American Friends Service Committee. The boats sailed from Cyprus and Turkey and were intercepted by the Israeli Navy, which had reason to believe that smuggled weapons aboard the boats would reach the Hamas-controlled enclave -- which is continuing to shoot rockets into Israel. Read more

OP-ED: 'I’d Climb the Highest Mountain': When Movies Were Family Friendly

When did you first see the movie "I’d Climb the Highest Mountain?’" Cleveland, Georgia is home to the Old Stovall Covered Bridge that spans Chickamauga Creek. This 1890s structure appeared in the movie "I’d Climb the Highest Mountain".\

 This wonderful movie was made during the 1950s, when families spent quality time at the movies where Coca Cola was a nickel, hot buttered popcorn a quarter and for a mere quarter you might see a double-feature film, cartoon and newsreel. Parents did not worry about the sexual, bad language or graphic scenes of the early films because most were family friendly. Read more

OP-ED: Chat I Just Had With Homeland Security

After publishing this report I was contacted by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  The individual involved never returned my call.  Instead I heard from Brian Hale who said he had been with Director Morton at the event recently held at the University of Virginia and discussed in my report. Read more

OP-ED: Where is Conyers with Impeachment Threats Against President for Iran Attack Now?

It may have been the one and only thing which prevented an attack on Iran during the Bush years. Chairman of the Judiciary Committee John Conyers spent years fending off nationwide calls to impeach George W. Bush over the invasion of Iraq, the shredding of the Constitution after 9/11, and other high crimes and misdemeanors culminating in a summer of 2008 "non-impeachment impeachment hearings,"in which witnesses such as Rep. Brad Miller, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Rep. Walter Jones, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, constitutional scholar Bruce Fein, former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, Vincent Bugliosi and many others came together to implore the committee to bring articles of impeachment. Read more

OP-ED: Don’t Cry for Argentina

The national and regional interests of Commonwealth Caribbean countries would hardly be served by backing Argentina in its long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

  Read more

OP-ED: ICE Director Confronted on Intimidation of Nonviolent Citizen Activism

John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, spoke on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  Here's the University's report.  Here's the local newspaper's. Both report only on what Morton said, without mentioning what he was asked about by members of the audience following his opening remarks. Read more

EDITORIAL: Manchin Has Opportunity to Make Strong Foreign Policy Statement

The recent slap in the face to the U.S. at the United Nations by China and Russia over the crisis in Syria is certainly telling of their partnership with the United States.  Senator Joe Manchin take note: the Russians and Chinese may not be the best of allies.  But as a member of the Armed Services Committee, the West Virginia senator can help send a message abroad.  Read more

Nuclear Disaster Lurks America as Fukushima First Anniversary Nears

Dear Editor,

As you know , there are 23 General Electric Mark I Fukushima-clone reactors operating in the U.S. Nothing has been done to upgrade them or close them in the past year. All of them should be closed (along with all of the other "pressure suppression" reactors). None of them should escape being a target of protest and exposure this Spring. Read more

EDITORIAL: Manchin's Protest on Behalf of Religious Causes a Bit Late

When Governor Joe Manchin made it into the U.S. Senate, religious conservatives in West Virginia had reason to be hopeful.  After all, Manchin came from a long line of dedicated Catholics and had a reasonably consistent pro-life record as a Governor.  What more could voters with religious underpinnings to their political beliefs want? Read more

OP-ED: The Betrayal of the Nobel Peace Prize

Alfred Nobel's will, written in 1895, left funding for a prize to be awarded to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."  Read more

EDITORIAL: State GOP Achieves Robust Ballot for 2012

While neither major political party can boast maximum strength right now, we have to hand it to the WV Republican Party for finally filling the top of the ballot with quality candidates.  The often heard complaint from Independents and conservative Democrats, looking for an alternative to the Democratic Party's slate, is that the Republicans don't run any serious candidates for many positions.  They can't say that this year. Read more

MANN TALK: Harvesting and Harking at Year's End

A few days at the end of the year were atypical. Although the nights were frosty, the daytime temperatures reached the sixties by early afternoon. On one of those days I doffed my obligations and went to the farm with the singular intention of listening to the muteness of winter and sitting on my porch looking at the pause in the glories of the place. Read more

DEVOTION: Super Bowl of Hunger

What is my purpose for being. Why am I here. Today, what is my calling. Lord, what would you have me to do?   "Everyone is searching for you." Read more

OP-ED: 'Forgotten Bookmarks': A Valentine to Used Books

When I titled this column, I considered employing a more sophisticated word than “used” to describe the dear, dusty, musty and cherished volumes that, like treasure seekers with metal detectors, we sometimes happen upon.
Read more

Manchin's "Influence" with Obama Just Isn't There

Hearing a difficult truth can be hard to bear.  However, sometimes it's absolutely necessary to solve what seem to be intractable problems.  At the national level, such problems can impact hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives.  So it's time the truth is told about U.S. Senator Joe Manchin's supposed influence with his fellow Democrat, Barack Obama. 

The truth is:  Manchin's influence doesn't seem to exist.  After a full year in the U.S. Senate, Manchin looks far more influenced by Obama than the other way around. Read more

EDITORIAL: Will Pro-Life Issue Be a Challenge for Manchin in Democratic Primary?

While Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Raese looks to have a reasonably calm Republican primary season with no opposition, Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin may have a headache on his hands in the Democratic Primary. Read more

OP-ED: 27 of 35 Bush Articles of Impeachment Apply to Obama

When Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush on June 9, 2008, the 35 had been selected from drafts of nearly twice that many articles. Read more

OP-ED: The Caribbean: Not So Gay

On the Caribbean island of Barbados with a population of about 250,000 people, approximately 3,426 persons are living with HIV, and the Minister of Health, Stephen Lashley, has warned “that is not likely the exact figure”. 

  Read more

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A Note from Home No Longer Good; School Absences May Become Abuse

“A Bill to amend and reenact §49-1-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
amended, relating to child abuse and neglect; clarifying that a child who
is physically healthy and presumed safe is a neglected child if the child
is habitually absent from school without good cause. ”

This horror is being voted on by the Committee on Education Friday morning
at 9:00AM. There are numerous reasons to oppose this legislation not the
least of which is the ambiguity. Nothing in the legislation defines what
constitutes “habitually absent” leaving it up to school officials to decide
when to take legal action. Read more

COMMENTARY: A Crazy Republican Attack That Obama Himself Agrees With

Imagine if a bunch of the craziest war-hungry Republicans in the House filmed themselves in a nutty bat-guano video packed with lies addressed to the President of the United States.  And then imagine President Barack Obama almost immediately agreeing with them.  I can think of two ways in which such a series of events could go unnoticed, as it just has. First, it could be about something insignificant. But this was about undoing the automatic cuts to the military mandated by the failure of the Supercommittee (remember, the top news story of a few months back?).   Read more

A Dad’s Point-of-View: What I Will Leave My Boys

The recent death of Steve Jobs was yet another stark reminder of the fragility of life. No matter how rich or famous you are, the grim reaper does not care. While I won’t admit how close in age Jobs and I are, I will admit that I fully recognize that my life could end any moment, though I pray it doesn’t. There is still too much to do, see, and too much work left to do. Read more