Some "worst comes to worst" questions for "West By-God Virginia" Du'ers

[Ken Burch]

1. Your governor is a Dem at this point, right?

2. This governor retains the power to fill Senate vacancies by appointment, correct?

3. If Senator Byrd did become unable to serve, the seat would be filled by appointment almost immediately, wouldn't it?

Just want to make sure, since the supermajority is still needed on some things.

(I like the senator and I hope nothing does happen to him, for the record...just want to see what the contingencies are.)

[elleng]

1. You are correct.

I'm not in WV, but daughter attends univ there so I try to keep up. I wouldn't call their gov a star in any manner. Hope he'd consult with Sen. Rocke.

[Name removed]

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[Lasher]

2. Our governor is a bigtime DINO who would make Lieberman seem a hardline liberal

If Bobby dies in office, Manchin will appoint himself as his replacement. If for no other reason than this, pray for Bobby's good health.

[MountainLaurel]

3. That's about the long and short of it.

Joe's had his eye on that seat for a while.

[hollowdweller]

4. Sen Manchin

Scarey.

How about Chuck Chambers?

[ThomWV]

6. I am informed Manchin can not self-nominate and that the likely new Senator would be Caperton

But in any event whoever it was it would be done quickly.

[Lasher]

7. I disagree. Manchin could appoint himself.

Under state law, if Byrd dies in office, the governor would have to appoint someone to fill the seat until the next general election, said Bob Bastress, a professor at the West Virginia University College of Law.

Bastress added that the governor may be able appoint himself to the seat should it become open, but he called that a political unlikelihood.

"The talk is that, if Byrd resigns, Manchin would appoint a caretaker until he (Manchin) could run in 2012 when Byrd's term and Manchin's gubernatorial term expire," wrote Bastress in an e-mail interview.

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/524841.html

There is speculation that the "caretaker" in this scenario would be Manchin's wife Gayle. But as Professor Bastress says, he could appoint himself.