The Hills Are Alive (Part deux)

It's no secret that I love politics. In West Virginia the democratic majority is a rare breed, that has formed its bedrock from the support of labor unions and the conservative lower-middle working class. Though I have gone off to college I still stay in tuned to the issues facing the state, and it excites me that many of the up coming elections are going to be heated. First, there are many rumors afoot that Robert C. Byrd will be retiring before the end of his term in 2012.
Just an aside-if you are clueless as to the record of Senator Byrd, he is one man that America will remember. He is currently President pro tempore -meaning third in line for the presidency in the event that Biden and Pelosi can't hold the post. He's been Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader, and twice Majority Leader. He's been the Leader of the Democratic Party, and holds a 'pork barrel' full of records including longest serving, longest tenured, longest living Senator, and my personal favorite for one of the longest filibusters. Anyway, with him leaving and our own Governor JOE Manchin left to appoint someone-the speculation is everywhere. Names like former Governor caperton have been popping up. Reguardless of eho the Governor appoints-his second term of office will be up in 2012, which creates another interesting race.
Many Governor hopefuls have already made themself known to the public stage. One such hopeful is a State Senator Jeff Kessler, who has already filed. Many other names are circulating like Morgantown's Ron Justice, Speaker Rick Thompson, Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, and my personal favorite State Treasurer John Purdue.
One thing is for sure the cards are in play for the next few years to be intense on the state's political stage, and I think the fact that it's already being talked about is a sign that there is going to be a great race in the future.