This ad should be played everywhere in West Virginia on a loop.

[amywalk]

[sop]

1. Problem is the crook who would replace Manchin will be a Republican.

Everything in this ad is true, but it would be far more productive to expose Republican big money interests plundering W.Va., and convince West Virginians to vote for a real Democrat.

[Ocelot II]

2. And who would you replace him with?

Inevitably it would be a GOPer, and there goes the majority. He sucks, but the alternative is worse.

[left-of-center2012]

3. I'd like to see the ad without this guy talking and talking and talking

[Haggard Celine]

4. It's all true, but isn't it true of nearly all politicians?

Just pick out anyone who has been in politics for 40 years and look at their assets from the time they started until they retired. Most of them seem to grow fairly wealthy, even though their salaries for their public positions are relatively modest. It's a phenomenon that a few have mentioned, but it's not discussed all that much.

I think it's mainly due to their being aware of opportunities that average people are not privy to. A lot of it is probably investment ideas that are shared with them that help their wealth grow. Much of this is borderline unethical, but probably not illegal. But really, it's usual for a politician to retire in poverty.