Robert Byrd replacement not immediate concern for W. Va. Gov (Delay by Dem to avoid election)

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 6/30/2010 | Lawrence Messina

[SoFloFreeper]

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin doesn't expect to start searching for a successor to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd until after the longest-serving senator in history is laid to rest next week.

Manchin says he's instead focused on comforting Byrd's family and staff, and preparing the West Virginia memorial scheduled for Friday for the iconic figure who died Monday at 92 after years of frail health.

[SoFloFreeper]

How convenient. If Manchin names a successor before July 3, there must be an election in November.

After July 3, the 'rat successor gets to serve until 2013.

This shows one of two things: either Manchin is a hack in the tank for the coal-hating Barack Obama OR Manchin is an idiot who didn't see the handwriting on the wall that Robert Byrd wasn't long for this world and didn't even have anyone in mind to appoint.

Either way, it shows Manchin to be a dolt.

[silverleaf]

nah, he is just focused on comforting Byrd’s family and staff

yah sure

will the KKK show up at the funeral to pay their respects?

[mo]

I suspect Manchin “appoints” someone prior to July 3rd at his peril...knowing how Chicago ‘rats behave....

[b4its2late]

Either way, it shows Manchin to be a dolt.

Manchin is a democrat. Dolt is a given.

[PreciousLiberty]

“How convenient. If Manchin names a successor before July 3, there must be an election in November.”

Yes, just another example of Dems thumbing their collective noses at the rule of law, and, in fact, democracy.

Shame on them!

[Genoa]

OK, I'm confused. On another thread, the text of the law seemed to indicate that the effective date would be the date the vacancy occurred, not the date the replacement was named. So, since Byrd died before July 3, there would have to be an early election. Several comments indicated this was the proper interpretation.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

My mother always told me if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. So, for the passing of Senator Byrd, I’ll just say something nice.

Only the good die young...

[JimRed]

Either way, it shows Manchin to be a dolt.

But, a dolt with a "D" behind his name...ensured election regardless.

[beckysueb]

The Senator died before July 3rd. That means there must be a special election. West Virginians, don’t let your rat governor get by with this lie!

[buckalfa]

Manchin of course is trying to avoid a replacement election but do not think there is a conspiracy to block the GOP from having a chance to pick up the seat, because the WV GOP simply has no viable candidate or party structure necessary to win a statewide election.

[Jane Long]

And the Repubs/GOP are making loud noise about this, right?

...crickets...

[MEGoody]

I sure hope the people of WV are smart enough and have long enough memories to let Manchin know how they feel about his subversion of WV law come time for his next campaign.

[SoFloFreeper]

I believe the law says when a vacancy is “declared”, not when the vacancy actually occurs.

Yes, the vacancy OCCURED earlier this week, but Manchin is soooo busy trying to comfort the widow Byrd, he won’t get around to actually DECLARING the vacancy until after the July 3 date.

If I’m wrong, someone correct me—but I believe that is the version the ‘rats are using to avoid an election in November.

They suck.

[Genoa]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2543264/posts?page=42#42

The relevant statutes are at this link.

[SoFloFreeper]

?? are you sure? I think WV has gone Republican for like three presidential elections in a row.

The reason, I assume, that they haven’t had any Senators that are Republican in D.C. for a long time is because Rockefeller and Byrd have been in there since Nero ruled Rome.

[imfrmdixie]

Ha! That’s the best of lines....in this scenario!

[ICE-FLYER]

This is irresponsible. This clearly political action has no place. ANY reasonable person would have a contingency plan for such an aged representative on the shelf to act on when it happens.

[KarlInOhio]

That's the way I interpreted it. The date the seat is vacant (considering all the Weekend at Bernie's tricks the Dems can do to determine if the seat is vacant) determines whether a special election is needed. I did hear that they might be able to "just miss" the date they need to hit to have a special election in November 2010, and then (for some reason I haven't discovered) the next time they could have a special election is November 2012 for the last few days of the term instead of having an election in 2011 or early 2012.

I haven't figured out how that works because Ohio usually has scheduled elections every November and May (or maybe March in presidential election years to get the primary in early) of every year, along with occasional special elections (usually to sneak through a school tax levy) in August. It doesn't take two years to find a normally scheduled election or even schedule a special election.

[Genoa]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2543164/posts

Another link where the shell game is discussed. The Washington Post appears to be trying hard to point out ambiguities in the law.

[Eroteme]

On another thread, the text of the law seemed to indicate that the effective date would be the date the vacancy occurred, not the date the replacement was named. So, since Byrd died before July 3, there would have to be an early election.

That would be the plain, common sense interpretation of the law by all reasonable standards. The dems, however, do not feel constrained by reason or common sense. They will, like the Red Queen, define the law to say whatever they want it to mean. The only issue now is if Republicans will let them get away with it.