Howard Monroe And The Morning Show

I was only kidding!

We were talking about potential VP candidates on The Morning Showand I joked that if Sara Palin was the nominee I would consider voting GOP. She's hot.

Little did I know John McCain would take my advice only a few hours later!

McCain obviously saw some disenfranchised Hillary supporters during the convention and figured he could be pick them up with a woman on his ticket.

A woman he had met a grand total of ONE time---sheesh.

Well, McCain succeeded in chasing Obama off the front page the day after the biggest speech of his life. Score political points for Johnny Boy.

But he also eliminated what many GOP strategists thought was a big stick to use against Obama--experience. If Sara Palin's time as a Miss Alaska contestant, small town mayor and 2 years as Governor of Alaska make her qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, Obama's service as a US Senator, Illinois state legislator,lawyer, teacher, and community organizer can't be disparaged.

(By the way, I do NOT think Palin's thin resume' is enough to disqualify her---just as with Obama, I need to know more about how she thinks and operates.

 Although I did have to laugh today when I heard Newt Gingrich explaining that Palin was qualified on US military matters because she has been the titular head of the Alaskan Nation Guard!)

McCain has also succeeded in returning his age to the center stage. A more traditional VP candidate probably wouldn't have reminded us that the candidate is 72 with a history of cancer. A young unknown forces us to picture Palin in the Oval Office as a reality.

Oh, baby, it's going to be a fun few months!

The Dem convention wrapped up with fireworks and an energized army of enthusiastic supporters ready to hit the streets in support of Barack Obama.

I never thought I'd see the day a huge stadium was filled with people waiting to hear a POLTICIAN speak! Some of the skycam shots were awe inspiring and thousands and thousands cheered and applauded while the music ran full and the fireworks exploded. Yep, the GOP will tell us that a-lot- of- them- had- free- tickets- and- they- just- came -for- the -show -and- elections- should- be- more- than- stage-managed- events- they're- important- political- events- not- TV- telethons- and- blah blah blah.

Baloney!

Barack Obama has inpsired the American people. He has brought a new style and energy to politics. His confidence was evident as he owned the stage at Invesco Field---laying out a vision for a changed approach to politics, calling out John McCain with a clear warning that he's NOT going to play the old political game.

We'll discuss it in-depth on The Morning Show but for now, just let me I was impressed.

Of course, I'm a big Obama supporter.

But as I watched the convention, I realized he is NOT "the best" candidate.

So, after much thought, I have a made personal decision. It was a difficult decision. My family is not totally in agreement, but I felt a strong call to make a statement.

Please click and view this video for more.

MONDAY CONVENTION NIGHT

A few quick thoughts from night #1 of the Dem Convention.

Ted Kennedy wowed me. Of course, simply being there was a triumph for the ailing liberal lion, but I was impressed that --as he performed in what may well be his final convention--his speech focused almost exclusively on the future. What is to come. No maudlin meandering through history, but a punch at the issues still needing completed. He truly passed the torch to a new generation (Obama's generation).

Michelle Obama was good. Very good. Laying out a simple AMERICAN story that Americans can relate to. A deft nod or two to Hillary and her camp. The concluding impromptu bit with Obama on the screen and his kids talking to him from Denver was touching, cute, and--again traditional America.

There were some TV pundits complaining that there was not enough "red meat"--not enough issue conversation, enough Bush-bashing and McCain complaining. Personally, I think there is plenty of time for that. Tonight they tied the past to the future. They worked to make the Obama family more acessible to "mainstream America". Let's see what happens next.

Post any comments you have about the convention here on the page.

Remember Hoppy is holding an interactive forum nighly from 9-11 over at wvmetronews.com.

Honeymoon may be over already.

Mayor McKenzie and his merry men and maid are blasted by the local paper and some letter writers in the Sunday News Register.

The paper is right in criticizing the "executive work sessions" McKenzie has been holding. The public's work needs to be done in public. It's a lot easier for elected officials to talk freely, discuss openly, when the public and media isn't watching--but openess is part of democracy.

I'm a lot less supportive of the News Register's position on a new "lowest/best bid" measure council OK'd this week.

Faintly, through the fog of sleep, I think I heard a metallic "ding"--the sound that alerts me my Treo has received a test message.

When I checked it in morning's light, I learned the Obama campaign had sent me a message at 4:13am telling me Joe Biden is the VP nominee. My e-mail box showed a message from CNN shortly before 1am with the same message.

Whiz bang, new age, hi tech, geek kid technology notwithstanding, it was still reporters with shoe leather, phones, sources, and persistency that got the info first.

Former Congressman Bob Ney was a guest on my show today. He is now out of federal prison and will be a regular contributor to the Morning Show. We talked about his imprisonment, the issues that sent him there, his hopes for the future, and more. Listen to the audio now.

Bob was on both at 745 and at 930, so there are 2 different segments and each has intereseting material.

He talks about his alcoholism, accepts responsibility for his actions, says some people were "gunning for him" when he was in the cross hairs of the Justice Department (especially in relation to what he knew about approaches from Iran to the Bush administration.

.

There's been a lot of talk this week about former Congressman Bob Ney. His time in federal prison is over and he soon will be a regular commentator on our radio show.

As has been widely reported, Ney has been working for my friend Ellen Ratner for about 6 months while he was in an Ohio half-way house prior to release. He has been preparing research and analysis for the team of folks who work for the Talkradio News Service. The Bureau of Prisons would not allow him to go on-the-air himself, but now he can.

I struggle with how to handle this on my radio show.

Looks like one of Belmont County's ongoing feuds and budget battles may be ending.

I have seen an e-mail from Sheriff Fred Thompson agreeing to the Commissioners' demand that only 4 new staffers be employed when the jail addition is open.

You will remember that the County had hoped to save at least $500,000 per year by housing their own prisoners in the new addition instead of paying other counties "rent" to house their prisoners in Jefferson or Monroe County. But Sheriff Thompson planned to hire 8 which would have effectively wiped out the savings.

On my radio show this week, Commissioner Mark Thomas told me before the jail was built, the state Bureau of Adult Detention had agreed the lower number was adequate and all of the county parties agreed. Thompson had tried to hire more as the jail prepared to open.

But the day after Thomas' appearance, the Sheriff apparently had some second thoughts and sent the commission president an e-mail saying he would agree to only hiring 4

Quick post. No rants. You've heard it loud and long already.

Three weeks into the Wheeling Tunnel do-over and they've already decided they don't have enough tiles. Need to order from Germany. It will take as many tiles to do the EAST tube as the plans called for to do BOTH.

Anyone think this is the last problem that will crop up??

Anyone?????