If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should take some time to read the Online Journal of The State Journal political editor, Chris Stirewalt.

It’s called “The Rail.” Check it out regularly! Chris Stirewalt’s The Rail

I wouldn’t call it a traditional blog, it’s more of a… well, online journal - just as the name states.

Chris is a young talent in the State and a good, true-blue conservative. He’s ripped me a time or two, but that’s to be expected (just so you know I wasn’t trying to be a yes-man).

You can see him with Bray Cary every week on Decisions Makers. He and Bray are a good team and really do a good job of analyzing West Virginia politics.

I enjoy reading the State Journal.

Bray Cary has to be considered one of the most influential people in the state. I wasn’t sure about him at first… especially when I heard who some of his investors were, but… watching Bray every week on Decision Makers has solidified my opinion of him.

He truly wants change. He believes we need a complete rewrite of our state’s laws (and an insertion of Virginia laws instead - AMEN!). He sucks up too much to Manchin and doesn’t ask him the tough questions… well, wait, he asks him the tough questions, but Manchin gives his normal evasive or non-answer and Bray let’s him get away with it.

But, I understand. He’s a pragmatist and I’m sure he believes Manchin has the popularity to make those changes. So, he wants MANCHIN to make those changes. Hopefully, he’s figured out by now that Manchin has already slipped the gear from drive into neutral and has set the administration on autopilot.

What does makes me laugh about the State Journal is that I get absolutely NO coverage in it. It’s a riot.

I guess that’s better than the pounding I take in the Gazette.

Their main political coverage comes from Juliet Terry, who once said the world would be a better place if only everyone was as wonderfully super terrific as my ex-wife. After I saw that comment on my ex’s blog a few years ago, I pretty much assumed my coverage in the State Journal was over.

And, well, it was.

I would get a kick out of issues I was championing the last two years, especially Meth lab laws, Logan’s Law, etc… there’d be a 1000 word article written about it, asking everyone else - except for me. I could care less, of course. Most of the people reading the Journal are business-oriented people who most likely were supporting me anyway, but, it would just crack me up.

But, I’ve said I would rather have Julie’s non-coverage than Phil Kabler’s coverage where if you goggled the words “highly publicized divorce” you’d see ‘Gazette - Phil Kabler - Vic Sprouse’ running down the page, so I’m not complaining!

But, their editorial page is solid and anchored by Chris’ commentaries.

Chris is always insightful, even if I don’t always agree and we should do our best to support the conservative blog world. The addition of “The Rail” adds a strong conservative voice to the blogosphere.