Posted on 12/20/2001 9:21:44 AM PST by Rockinfreakapotamus
A "Letter to the Editor" by Jay Wolfe
It seems to me that the number of Elvis sightings cannot compare to Senator Rockefeller’s numerous appearances in West Virginia this year. Has anyone else noticed how publicly attentive and responsive Rockefeller has become to his constituents?
I wonder if my letter to the Senator, dated February 1, 2001, informing him that I plan to be his opponent in the 2002 election, has had anything to do with his public rebirth? Let me remind you that, February 1, 2001, was the day Rockefeller voted against the confirmation of John Ashcroft as Attorney General.
Since then, the Senator’s re-election campaign operations have been working twenty-four seven. For example, he made statewide visits to meet with editorial boards of most of the daily newspapers explaining in detail why he would vote against granting a $600 tax refund to West Virginia’s working families. He has been front and center explaining how federalizing baggage handlers would make air travel so much safer. On statewide radio while discussing the events of September 11th, he announced that he is having second thoughts concerning his long time opposition to a missile defense system. And rumor has it that Hallmark, even in a recession, is having a robust year because the Senator has greatly expanded his Christmas card list.
However, the re-election propaganda machine has been noticeably silent over the Senator’s most recent controversial vote granting himself a nearly $5,000 pay raise. In an attempt to block the pay raise earlier this month, Democrat Senator Russ Feingold made a logical plea to all senators. In essence he said that considering the facts that the budget surpluses have ended, the economy is in a recession and thousands of workers have been laid off, now would not be a good time to increase senators’ salaries to $150,000. Senator Rockefeller voted with the majority to raise his own salary anyway.
Senator Rockefeller may be one who gives his salary to charity each year because of his own personal wealth. If that is the case, it is an honorable act that is to be commended. Nevertheless, I recall the New Jersey senate race last year in which Jon Corizine spent $60 million of his own money to get elected. Seems to me that we could have reduced congressional salaries by $5,000 and still had multi-millionaires lined up to buy a seat of influence.
So, the message we received is that West Virginia families don’t deserve a $600 raise while Senators deserve a $5,000 raise. Come on Senator Rockefeller, the rationale escapes us. Give us a clue. Why did you vote yourself a pay raise?
M. Jay Wolfe
PO Box 89
Salem, WV 26426
NOTE: Bold text emphasised by me.
No, that was a dual award to my senators, Patty (tennis shoes) Murray, and Maria Cantdowell. Oops, no, I'm wrong. Our Patty got the "Dumbest in the Senate" award, and Maria got the "Most Inconsequential." Those are both such tough awards to give out. So many deserving candidates, it's hard to pick a winner!
Needless to say, I think W needs to make a trip to WV and pay us WV Republicans back for our work for him. This is a hell of an important race, and it IS winnable.
Still get sick remembering the years Wofford was a PA senator. Oh well, PA has been described as Philly and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between, so we too ever have our work cut out for us LOL.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
(Vincent Price laugh)
Not wanting to be a social worker all his life, he chose politics. He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, then became secretary of state. He ran for governor in 1972 and was buried by Arch Moore. He was elected governor in 1976 and re-elected in 1980. source
... and then hightailed it to D.C. as soon as he could. I'm curious - does anyone know where he supposedly lives in W.Va.? He has to list some address as his "residence" in the state that elected him, but I haven't been able to find it.
Here is an interesting site: Twisted Sister's Dee Snyder goes tete-a-tete with Senator Rockefeller and Albert Gore over music lyrics.
"Somewhere" indeed. I'm sick of so-called representatives like Rockefeller and Mollohan who only drop in on their "home state" occasionally to get a little face time on the local evening news.
Robert Byrd, General Delivery, Sophia WV
Rockefeller... no entry at all, except for "Justin Aldrich Rockefeller", born 1979, (PO Box 10, Dunmore, WV) obviously not the Senator.
You'd think the Senator from WV would be somewhere on the WV voter roll, even with a PO Box for security.
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