Howard Monroe And The Morning Show

I've never done it before...but may do it now

It's election day today. First day of early voting for the Interim Governor's position in WV. (Be honest, you forgot that we're still just filling the remainder of MoJo's term didn't you?)

All my life, I have argued that the good citizen should always select the best possible candidate from whatever choices are presented. "We don't pick the BEST person for the job", I have often said. "We just pick the better of the options presented".

But this year, I may vote for the Mountain Party candidate, Bob Henry Baber. I know he won't win. And frankly, I have no idea what he stands for or what kind of governor he would be.

But I am thoroughly fed up with the advertising done by BOTH the major party candidates. Bill Maloney has his devil-voiced annoucer tell us that Earl Ray Tomblin is a "career politican" who has voted for laws that "benefit his family". Tomblin's shaky-video ads tell us that Maloney received tax incentives for his own company but wants to deny them to others now. Fair enough. I know both sides to be telling the truth here.

How does that help me know who will be a better governor? Earl Ray Tomblin talks about the current positive financial state of WV economy, but what did HE have to do with it? And how do we he keep it going? Bill Maloney continually talks about his business experience, but when I have asked him HOW that helps be a better governor, he just repeats "I'm a successful businessman".

Cliche's, platitudes, talking points, and finger-pointing TV ads have worn my patience thin.

And for the first time in my life, I'm just about ready to say "to hell with them all".

 

Can we get MoJo back? A debate review.

Can we get MoJo back?

After watching tonight's gubernatorial debate in WV and also interviewing the men myself, I am frustrated.

My friend Hoppy Kercheval did his best to draw distinctions and pull specifics out of both, but I felt his pain as he was met with tap dancing, stone walling, and platitudes most of the time.

Earl Ray Tomblin says everything is getting better in the state. But I'm not sure I see how it's HIS doing

Bill Maloney was a successful businessman, but I have heard (and I have asked) no clear answer how running a drilling company translates into managing state government.

Each man has some quick-to-the-tongue talking points. Maloney, for instance, continutally says he can save millions in the state budget. But when pressed on "where" his answer has consistently been "I don't know".

Both men say "drugs are a problem in our state". But when asked about specific solutions--such as random drug testing--the answer is "whatever works to solve the problem". Well, DUH!

The TV ads have been traditional name calling ads with devil-voiced announcers and shaky video of the opponent. Effective in generating emotion against the other guy, but useless in telling us anything about what they are going to do or what kind of governor they will be.

What will you actually DO? Most of us know where the problems are. It's knowing how to SOLVE them that I want to hear about.

I'm looking for a leader. WV needs a leader.

Can we get MoJo back?

 

Ooops

A little vandalism at our site today. Working to repair. Gotta give a big thumbs up to Marshall County deputies who were here quickly and treated it seriously and professionally.

AUDIO: GOP candidate for Governor, Bill Maloney

A new poll out today shows the race for WV Governor tightening, and 3 of the candidates debate tonight at West Virginia Northern, sponsored by the college and the Intelligencer and News Register. GOP candidate Bill Maloney dropped by Broadcast House this morning to chat with me on The Morning Show.

09-07-11 Bill Maloney

AUDIO: Mike Oliverio runs for Congress again

Former WV State Senator and former congressional candidate Mike Oliverio is tossing his hat in the ring again. He ousted long-time Congressman Alan Mollohan in the 2010 Dem primary and his race with GOP candidate Dave McKinley went down to the wire before McKinley eventually won. Oliverio joined me today to talk about his desire to try again.

09-07-11 Mike Oliverio

COMMENTARY: Lottery machines are not "redevelopment"

Several years ago, Wheeling Council made big noise about wanting to control the expansion of video lottery inside City limits and, among other things, added tougher spacing requirements between lottery parlors than the State permits. But they added an "escape clause" in the law--if council decides a business is a "redevelopment site", they can waive the rules and allow the machines.

That technique has been used several times in the past few years--to allow lottery machines in the Camelot Restaurant in Elm Grove and to allow Perkins Restaurant and Bakery to consider lottery are 2 examples.

Now Greco's Restaurant on Washington Avenue is going to be a "redevelopment site"---they want to have machines. Wheeling Councilman Vern Seals objects:

"Seals also disliked a resolution declaring 45 Washington Ave., Greco's Good Italian Food restaurant, a redevelopment site. The purpose is for the restaurant to expand to install limited video lottery machines.

Seals disagreed - like he did before when Perkins Restaurant and Bakery pursued an identical request. He said a redevelopment site should be a business aspiring for a large expansion costing possibly six figures or more.

He said adding a small room for video gambling should not be deemed "redevelopment."(Intelligencer 9-7-11)

Seals is correct. It is window dressing to call the addition of lottery machines "redevelopment". It is a fig leaf to allow council's own restrictions to be overturned.

Don't misunderstand me. I SUPPORT the lottery machines in small restaurants and taverns. They are big moneymakers and should not be limited solely to the big corporate casinos. As long as they remain legal, they should be available for small businesses as well as the big boys. There is a whole new wealthy class of "lottery entrepeneurs" in our Vally and that's a good thing

But there is hypocrisy in Wheeling Council claiming they want to be tough on the expansion of gambling, but make it possible for those who have an "in" with the City to be exempt.