Lang, Sears’s soft landings won’t be enough; how many times can you say ‘report?’ May 2, 2008
That’s it?
So, you’re telling me, according to the WVU administration ALL that will happen is that Provost Lang and Dean Sears will ONLY be rewarded with teaching positions paying a whopping $145,000 and $200,000?
Honestly, the head hunchos at WVU and in the Manchin administration (that’s all one and the same now, right?) would think that the WVU supporters, alumni, donors, and students will be satisfied that the largest scandal in the history of the university will end with the culprits entering lucrative professorships?
Holy smokes.
And, just how many times can Manchin say “report?” In an SAZ interview, he must have said “report” 100 times. Refer to the report. We are going to follow the report.
The problem?
The panel was charged with figuring out if Bresch received her degree and to provide recommendations to insure a degree wouldn’t again be awarded on false pretenses.
Joe and Garrison have both wrapped themselves around the report (which basically calls the administration incompetent) as the proof they need that Garrison shouldn’t step aside.
Message to Joe: THE PANEL WASN’T ASKED TO RECOMMEND WHO SHOULD BE FIRED AND WHEN.
The panel was NOT charged with figuring out which heads should roll. They made it clear that the problems were so bad, you couldn’t get away from lopping off the heads of Sears and Lang (little did they know that they would have cushy professorships waiting for them knocking down 200 big ones a year).
But, I’ve read the report. I’ve read it (as the Gov keeps suggesting over and over) and I don’t know how you read the report and not think this administration needs a massive shaking.
I’m sorry but Lang an Sears won’t be enough.
And, I understand they are trying to get to the weekend to get a day or two break from the hourly beatings they are receiving, a la Muhammad Ali’s famous rope-a-dope.
It’s a riot listening to Joe. He keeps telling the media they just need to move on. Of course, he was saying that same thing after Bresch was first awarded her degree.
What they don’t understand is while administration sychophants like Phil Kabler would shrivel up and go away when Manchin told him too, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will not.
They will continue to persue.
They will continue to investigate.
They will not go away, no matter how many times Mojo tells them they should.
Because they aren’t tied to the state and because they are infinitely better than the local “investigative” paper, the Charleston Gazette has complete walked on the story, the Post-Gazette will continue to ask. And, continue to FOIA. And, continue to probe.
And, more will come.
It seems now that Garrison and Machin and the BOG have jumped into the same fox hole and are just hoping that if they just wait it out, the shelling will stop.
Maybe they are right.
But, if they really think the Lang and Sears STIFF punishment will rectify what was the largest scandal in West Virginia University history, they are underestimating the Post-Gazette. And, they are underestimating the alumni who are angry, and the donors who have pledged.
This story won’t go away because Joe says it should.
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8 Responses to “Lang, Sears’s soft landings won’t be enough; how many times can you say ‘report?’”
The ostrich approach to crisis resolution.
Stick your head in the sand till it goes away.
I’m thinking this is a great made for TV Movie…
This sorry episode is a microcosm of West Virginia politics for decades. However, people can easily understand this soap opera–AND THEY DO!
The key to cleaning up THIS mess, and West Virginia in general, is to change the players. Thankfully there is an excellent candidate stepping up to the plate in the form of Russ Weeks. I hear those who say that no one can oust Emperor Joseph–however, the same sorts also declared Sen. Bill Wooten invincible when Weeks ousted him. Read his book, “No Strings Attached”– agree and cry over the corruption which keeps this State and everything in it the toy of the politically powerful.
We, the voting citizens of West Virginia, can fire Joe Manchin. That done, BOG, Higher Ed. Com, Garrison, etc. can be ousted.
WVU has been a political toy for decades–and Lang the enforcer. It is disgusting. They have sold everything except the cracks in the sidewalk.
Years ago I dubbed it “Minnie Pearl U” and suggested that the Mountaineer have a price tag hanging from his coonskin cap.
Operation “Protect Future Senator Joe” continues with victories on two fronts.
The two sacrificial operatives have been taken care of with lucrative teaching positions in exchange for falling on their swords and staying quiet.
And we have deployed our WVU Doctor weapons to defend Garrison against the Faculty.
Yes my friends, not only will we win the battles, we will win the war. Our goal of sending our Top General to the US Senate when Byrd strokes out is at hand !
Speaking of the prospects of replacing Mojo in the governor’s mansion, I noticed on his TV ad that he takes credit for creating 23,000 jobs. Can someone tell me where and in which industries?
I would enjoy the clownish behavior of the previous Manchin, however I was willing to enjoy his antics un till he cost the state $300 million dollars.
The current Manchin has made the previous clown seem like a novice. With a straight face he tells the citizens of WV to move on.
I believe he is on to something, he will announce a grand project for jobs in WV just before the elections.
He will appoint Danny Wells as the Commissioner of education implementation,
” Shrimp Boat Danny” will announce that everyone that has attended WVU (him self included) will be awarded an eMBA of Bull Manure – (Socially accepted language).
Can you imagine the industry that will come knocking at our doors?
The reason Danny will be the appointee is because of those great pictures he runs in his ads with Father Mojo.
Folks it is very simple, and it does not require any special knowledge,
1. Heather the eMBA of privilege calls Garrison.
2. Garrison the appointed stooge makes a call to Walker.
3. Walker gets the job done.
4. Garrison moves a couple of shills.
5. Mojo the immaculate says, read the report.
6. West Virginia citizens eat more _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
7. Manchin announces party at the Tent Room , Lunch & Shrimp for Danny will be served.
7. Case closed
from an emailer…
i don’t know where they got it, but the guys on 58 Live last night read the transcript of the conversation with Garrison and Manchin…
And, manchin kept saying, if I talked to him, then this is what i would say. And, then he said he didn’t talk to him, then he said maybe he did, but all that he could remember is this and that and that if he did, then he would have said this.
You need to get your hands on what they had and put it on the blog, people will die laughing reading it.
from an emailer…
in reading your article today, it reminded me of a thought I had a few days ago after hearing Manchin lambast “that out of state paper” for it’s refusal to let this story go, suggesting, “that’s the real story.” Holy cornered animal, batman! You know where he learned his PR technique? At the altar of Clintonism. Note the trend: defer, defer, defer, then spin for 2 days, then go on a school-yard-bully offensive. Where do they get off turning cronyism into “bring the pitch fork and tar and feather that fer’ner!-ism?”
Arrogance.
But, I suppose that’s typical of a liberal ideology that believes government (and, hence, themselves) is the answer to what ails ya and can do no wrong. It almost reminds me of….what did they call Hussein’s PR guy….Baghdad Ali? “Baghdad is not under attack! It is still a glorious regime!” (said as buildings are exploding from behind him).
“Look at the report” (KA-POW, the Alumni Association pulls back support). “Look at that underhanded Pittsburgh paper!” (KA-BAM, the Faculty Senate sets its “no-confidence-ridden agenda!”)
Frankly, I’m willing (perhaps naively) to give Garrison the benefit of the doubt. But when you start bullishly using, “Is that a rabbit over there?” PR, you’ve got a problem!
Re the above comments about 58 Live - where have we heard that before? Oh yeah, O.J. Simpson. “If I did it …”