[GATOR NAVY]

When it was convenient to carve West Virginia out of Virginia, for that purpose the North changed its mind.

I know the counties that formed West Virginia had voted against secession in the first place. I take it that's what the Union used to legitimize the split. But I hadn't realized before I read this that there was a Constitutional ban on splitting admitted states. It appears that it was a case of crass politics just as you say.

140 years later, at least Virginia has sent some Republicans to Congress. West Virginia has blessed the rest of the country with the a-hole Robert Byrd for over 40 years.

[You Dirty Rats]

At least West Virginia voted for Dubya in 2000; if they hadn't, President Gore would be kissing Saddam's ass right now in Baghdad.

Then again, if West Virginia was part of Virginia, it all would have gone to Dubya anyway.

I say Virginia should sue to get its counties back. It would get Sheets and Jay Rockefeller out of the Senate, which is reason enough to do it.