Jesse Helms: The Last Word
Posted on July 8, 2008
He built his reputation on race-baiting. He won his elections with race-baiting. And he used his Senate office as a platform for race-baiting.
The money shot.
And don’t tell me what a kind man Helms was. Barry Saunders of the N&O had it right: If he was so nice, then what he said and did in public was calculated to help himself at the expense of other people.
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Dear Chris Matthews: "Can Obama now win over the regular folks, white folks, against John McCain?"
Posted on July 8, 2008
Just wondering.
» Filed Under 2008 Presidential Election, Activism | Leave a Comment
Why Does Fox News Hate the Troops?
Posted on July 7, 2008
‘Cuz they shafted a good organization called Books for Soldiers this morning for a news blurb about a dude getting bitten by a snake at the local Wal-Mart.
Why, Fox News, do you hate the troops and the people that try to support them?
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The Canonization of a Bigot
Posted on July 5, 2008
I mentioned yesterday that former-Senator Jesse Helms died.
You would think by some of the post-death coverage of Helms that he was the pinnacle of human existence. A look at the Jacksonville Daily News would provide enough evidence of that.
Their article on Helms’ death, titled “Local GOP feels the loss of ‘St. Jesse’, is a collection of some of the most disingenuous quotations about a man most foul.
Take Onslow County Republican Party former Chairperson Peggy Vance for instance.
“He was a great man and will surely be missed. If we had more men like him in Raleigh I think we’d be in better shape as a nation than we are today,”
My goodness. Are we in such bad shape that we need a misogynistic, racist, homophobic isolationists in control? I think not.
Look at Onslow County Board of Education member Mary Ann Sharpe for another glowing quotation.
I think that’s what makes a great leader - when you realize your decisions are not just for you but for everybody.
Indeed. Especially if your definition of “everybody” is white, wealthy and heterosexual.
If those aren’t a bad enough mischaracterization of Helms, look at President George Bush’s response.
Throughout his long public career, Senator Jesse Helms was a tireless advocate for the people of North Carolina, a stalwart defender of limited government and free enterprise, a fearless defender of a culture of life, and an unwavering champion of those struggling for liberty.
Helms was certainly a defender of a culture, unfortunately, it was segregation, the culture of sexism and the culture of rich-white-man power.
And as for his being a “tireless advocate for the people of North Carolina,” Helms’ definition of “people” was extremely limited and his lack of support for HIV funding wasn’t necessarily “advocacy.”
Jesse Helms may not have been a “bad” person. He may have been only a product of his time. He certainly is not the saint that everyone wants to make him. If you want to honor him, make the effort to honor the man he honestly was: Backwards. Wrongheaded. Racist. Sexist. Ignorant. Bigot.
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The Jacksonville Daily News: Gus Wilgus Responds to My Letter
Posted on July 5, 2008
August “Gus” Wilgus, a staunch Republican Conservative and supporter of both President Bush and failed-Congressional Candidate Joe McLaughlin, has written a letter to the editor of the Jacksonville Daily News in response to my letter printed on June 27th.
Wilgus bases his argument for offshore drilling on the theory that the leased property currently held by oil companies will yield very little oil and isn’t worth exploring for oil. He may well be correct on that. I would suggest, however, that these oil companies making hundreds of billions of dollars of profit annually could invest a few million dollars here and there without great loss. I also wouldn’t think that it’s beyond reason to expect the oil companies to explore lands already set aside for exploration before giving away new areas.
He prefers to give the oil companies willy-nilly license to build oil platforms off the coast of North Carolina. I’m willing to bet that Wilgus would fight tooth and nail should some enterprising young landowner want to construct a small wind farm along the coast. It’s interesting to me that the wind farms are evil to Wilgus and his ilk, even though any danger they would present is far minimal to the dangers from oil platforms. Let’s not forget that over 4 million gallons of oil spilled onto Southern U.S. shores in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. What makes Wilgus think that the same couldn’t happen here in Hurricane Alley?
Wilgus also thinks that Jones or Duplin counties would good sites for refineries and that the pipeline could go through the port at Morehead City. Certainly, I agree that Jones and Duplin counties would be good locations for a new industry. The energy industry would be a good place to start. Instead of an oil refinery, though, how about a wind or solar farm? Certainly that would be cleaner and longer-lasting than an oil refinery.
Wilgus presented in a previous letter to the editor that we should develop and use the “God-given natural resources right here in the United States.” If his “god” gave us oil for energy, wouldn’t the same be said of the winds and the sun?
And, Mr. Wilgus, I’m not kidding about tax credits for using alternative means of transportation. You don’t mean to say that you’re against cutting taxes, do you?
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Independence Day, a Small Social Experiment and Dishonoring the Day
Posted on July 4, 2008
Today is Independence Day here in the United States. It’s the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence which marked the beginning of our revolution against Great Britain.
To the Americans out there, I say “Enjoy your Independence Day.”
Which brings me to ’round to my small social experiment…
Most Americans have stripped the honor and glory from our Day of Independence by referring to the day as “July 4th” or, even worse in my eyes, “the 4th.” It’s something that bothers the ever-living crap out of me. It’s also something that I’ve been waging a small and ever-losing war against.
For the last few days I’ve said “Enjoy your Independence Day” during any sort of human interaction.
Almost every time I get the same confused look, the same “What?” and the same half-hearted, reflexive “Oh. Happy Fourth.”
It’s downright depressing.
North Carolina’s infamous Senator Jesse Helms (R) died this morning. Helms was an extremely biased man. He hated blacks, Hispanics and Asians, along with gays and lesbians.
I had no respect for Helms and even less respect for those voters that marked the box next to his name for 5 terms simply because “You always knew where he stood”.
Though I will not speak ill of him on the day of his death, he has surely dishonored this day, this anniversary of American Independence, with his death.
» Filed Under Uncategorized | 3 Comments
US Senate: Reason 1,001 to love Senator Byrd
Posted on July 3, 2008
Anne Schroeder’s Shenanigans reports.
Bunning: “Regular order!”
Byrd: “Who said that?”
Bunning: “I did.”
Byrd: “Who are you?”
Bunning: “I’m a senator.”
Byrd: “You’re a great baseball man.”
Bunning: “I’m a senator, I have the same rights as you.”
Byrd: “Yeah man, you’re a senator.” [Ends by laughing hysterically at Bunning.]
Anybody got a YouTube of this?
» Filed Under Democrats, Politics, Republicans, United States Senate | 1 Comment
Open Letter:Dear Driver of a Gold Chevrolet Uplander in Jacksonville, NC
Posted on July 3, 2008
Dear Driver,
It was very nice to meet you Tuesday afternoon (5:30ish) at the Wal-Mart/Office Max parking lot.
I’d like to offer a bit of
constructive criticismfeedback, though. May I?Next time you’re reversing into the parking space next to the Silver Rhino, please put the cell phone down. While I’m sure that you’re telephone conversation was important, I doubt it was as important as not hitting another car while making what appeared to be a 53-point road turn.
Not only would the reversing have been safer, it would have also been more efficient and I’m almost certain that you could’ve continued the conversation shortly after completing the parking.
Thank you fellow driver,
Thomas Brock
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The Jacksonville Daily News: Wherein the City of Jacksonville Throws a Tantrum
Posted on June 29, 2008
The Jacksonville Daily News reports:
City officials say the base is luring away its best and brightest officers with salaries the city can’t compete with, but base officials said they cannot deny local law enforcement the right to apply for the jobs.
It seems to me that the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Police Department are upset that there’s a better law enforcement deal in Onslow County.
This new deal is Camp Lejeune’s civilian police force and it’s a much better deal. The new jobs offer federal benefits including the very nice health insurance program, retirement and annual cost-of-living-allowance increases. None of which the City Police or Onslow County Sheriff Departments can bear to offer.
I’d agree with Jacksonville’s City Manager Kristoff Bauer and Police Chief Michael Yaniero, if the Base were unfairly poaching officers from area law enforcement departments. Unfortunately for Bauer and Yaniero, that’s not what’s happening.
What is happening is that the Base is offering a bigger, better deal to underpaid and overworked police officers. When supporting your family and cultivating a career, the bigger, better deal is always the way to go and that’s the decision that these men and women have to make.
For the Jacksonville City Council, Bauer or Yaniero to blame anyone for their own failures to fully support the Jacksonville Police Department is shameful and embarrassing.
» Filed Under City of Jacksonville NC, Jacksonville, Jacksonville City Council, Jacksonville City Police Department, Jacksonville Daily News, Mainstream Media, Military News | Leave a Comment
Jacksonville Rails-to-Trails Formally Opened
Posted on June 28, 2008
Today at a Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and City of Jacksonville joint ceremony, the trail and bridge over Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd was opened for full use.
Dozens of cyclists, runners and walkers rode, ran or walked the path from either ends (Marines and sponsors came from Camp Lejeune and city residents from Bell Fork Elementary) to meet at the bridge over Highway 24/Lejeune Blvd for the event. The Jacksonville Mayor and City Council as well as most of the City’s Trails and Greenways Advisory Commission were present as was Camp Lejeune’s Commander, Marine Colonel Richard Flatau, Jr.
Most of the speeches (given by City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks Director Mike Carter, Mayor Sammy Phillps and Colonel Flatau, Jr. centered around the years of hard work (nearly a decade) required to complete the path and the symbolism of the bridge between City and Camp Lejeune.
The Rails-to-Trails project is good. It’s good for Jacksonville, it’s good for the residents and it’s good for Camp Lejeune. Use the path. It’s there for you.
» Filed Under Activism, Alva Williams, City of Jacksonville NC, Commuting, Fannie K. Coleman, Fitness, Jacksonville City Council, Jacksonville, NC, Jerome Willingham, Michael Lazzara, Military News, Onslow County, Photos, Randy Thomas, Reva Sullivan, Sammy Phillips | Leave a Comment
