In a post today at Under the Dome (a service of the Raleigh News and Observer) Ryan Teague Beckwith pointed out what he thought was the political overstatement of the day:

He quoted BlueNC and NC Politico writer (and friend of mine) Betsy Muse:

“If you live in North Carolina and your home isn’t under a rock, you know that Dan Besse is a Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor.

And then attempted to hit her with the N&O’s “big stick”:

Dome believes that rock is known as the sun.

Unfortunately, Beckwith pointed out his failure (as a writer and representative of the N&O). Along the way, though, he pointed out a failure by our own Jacksonville Daily News.

If Dan Besse isn’t publicly known as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, whose failing is it? The news organizations, of course. A candidate can only do so much. He (or she) can only buy so much ad space. It is the newspapers, television news agencies, and political parties job duty to report on candidates for election.

The Jacksonville Daily News website has one mention of Dan Besse and it’s an opinion piece from the Freedom Communications, Inc. flak in Raleigh, Barry Smith. The same opinion piece is also the only mention of State Senator Walter Dalton, Canton-Mayor Pat Smathers, and former Easley-administration official Hampton Dellinger.

Come on, Daily Newsers. Can’t you do better than that? You’ve finally realized there’s a Congressional race brewing, how about covering the other ballot items?

And, hey, since we’re on the topic of covering politics, why don’t you have a politics web-log?  I know a guy that’d be interested in writing it.

The Jacksonville Daily News has finally recognized that the Third Congressional District (NC-03) race is going to be interesting to watch in an article that describes some of the differences between current Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. and his rivals (Republican [and Onslow County Commissioner] Joe McLaughlin and Democrat Marshall Adame). Craig Weber wasn’t mentioned in the article, but since his email “announcement” in November, he hasn’t been heard from and hasn’t updated his website, my guess is he flamed out.

The article, written by Jennifer Hlad, focuses on the key differences between McLaughlin, Adame, and Jones, Jr.

For McLaughlin, it’s a matter of Jones, Jr. not supporting President Bush and not being conservative enough, especially on the support for the continuing occupation of Iraq.

“On virtually every major national security vote on the War on Terror in the last year, he’s voted with the liberals,” McLaughlin said. “The man we sent to Washington in (1995) is no longer the conservative member (he was).”

Several issues separate Adame from Jones, Jr. and McLaughlin.

On Iraq, Adame is quoted:

“There is chaos in Iraq today, and there will be chaos when we leave. But until we leave, the beginning of the end of the chaos cannot start,”

“But I believe our combat troops need to come out,” he said. “We do owe something to the Iraqis, but we owe more to our own people. The best way to support the combat troops is to bring them home.”

Proving he’s no one-trick phony, he said:

“To get elected on one issue like Iraq, or any other issue, would be a little bit dishonest,”

And Adame has the right stances on the other issues. McLaughlin only claims to be an “authentic conservative” with no real policy positions (except to support President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the Republican Party).

The article is quite good, and you should give it a read. And the reader-posted comments are quite entertaining.

Apparently the anti-McLaughlin group is more outspoken the supporters. And, just for a bonus, there’s a fellow that claims several of the separate anti-McLaughlin posters are the same person using separate names. I wonder if the Jacksonville Daily News crack tech-team can trace the IP addresses from those comments?

A few days ago, I had dinner at the local International House of Pancakes in Jacksonville and saw that in January 2008 the restaurant’s going smoke-free.

I may be there, on that fateful day. It may be, friends and neighbors, the biggest thing to ever happen in Jacksonville.

Thanks to Senator Chris Dodd’s threats of filibuster and impassioned speeches on the Senate floor today, Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled Senate Bill 2248. Granted, the bill will face consideration in 2008, but there’s time to build support now that the immediate danger is passed.

I’m still disappointed that my own Senators (Burr and Dole) failed to see past the Bush Administration’s lies and manipulations and see the Constitutional danger we live in today.

Well, have you?

I have and here’s what I said (Feel free to use it):

My name is Thomas Brock and I’m from eastern North Carolina.

I’m calling today to voice my support, and urge Senator DOLE / BURR ‘s support, for Senator Dodd’s filibuster of Senate Bill 2248, which includes a provision for the amnesty of telecommunications companies which willingly provided personal information on their customers to the United States government. These companies acted illegally in providing this information to the government without requesting proper judicial authorization in the form of a search warrant. By making legal those acts which were illegal when perpetrated, the United States Senate will be creating a dangerous precedent and violates the 4^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, which protects all Americans from warrantless searches and seizures.

I urge my Senator, ELIZABETH DOLE / RICHARD BURR, to stand up for the 4^th Amendment to our Constitution and for the rule of law in America.

Update: Reuters is reporting that the vote to end debate on the bill passed 76-10. There’s no list of Ayes and Noes, but I’m guessing that Senators Burr and Dole didn’t stand up against the Bush Administration, didn’t stand for the Constitution, and voted Aye.

If you have nothing better to do tomorrow, support Senator Chris Dodd’s filibuster of the telecom immunity legislation.

This legislation protects the telecommunications companies that allowed the NSA and other government agencies to illegally spy on Americans and is supported by the Bush Administration (who directed the NSA and other government agencies to do the illegal spying, natch).

Contact Senator Dodd’s office (Tel: (202) 224-2823 or Fax: (202) 224-1083) with suggested questions, comments, or just messages of support. You can, and should, contact your own Senators to express your support for Senator Dodd’s filibuster and ask that they support it also.

I will be contacting Senators Dole and Burr (both Rs), but I know it will be to no avail. North Carolina’s Senatorial Caucus has long been a staunch supporter of President Bush and all his policies.

Support Senator Dodd. He’s doing the right thing.

Saturday I went photo-walking in the Old Burying Grounds in Beaufort and at Fort Macon (the links are to the photo-walking albums). Take a stroll with me, won’t you?

NaPhotoPoMo seems to really be getting legs. Erin blogged it and Ontario Emperor linked to her. There’s also 9 members of the group on Ning.

Just to be clear, though, participants don’t have to register for Ning and join the group to participate in NaPhotoPoMo. I would appreciate a link or email or something to be able to keep track of how many folks participate, but even that’s not really necessary.

Maybe if we all use a Technorati tag in NaPhotoPoMo posts it’d be easier to track. Any advice?

Interestingly enough, it’s been almost a full month and the Jacksonville Daily News hasn’t reported on Onslow County Commissioner Delma Collins’ NC State Board of Elections inquiry or fines.

I even sent them a letter to the editor to tip them off and nothing.

I guess the old adage is true: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”

Good night and good luck.

Tags:

Has anyone noticed something different about the iTunes podcast store? When perusing the podcast section by category, I end up in a very unsexy list-like interface. Completely not cool. There’s no extra information on the podcasts, just the basic information (title, artist, genre, etc.).

It’s making it quite complicated to shop for new and exciting podcasts, that’s for certain.

Somebody at the local nutjob message board has been sending offensive private messages to the female users.

Remember the controversy surrounding Onslow County Commissioner Delma Collins’ 2006 failed campaign for Clerk of Superior Court?

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has released its findings regarding Commissioner Collins. In a letter dated November 5th, the Board noted that Collins accepted business contributions (in-kind contributions from Donald Keith Branch of Allstate Insurance and Michael Lazzara (Yes, the City Councilman)), paid cash for advertisement purchases, and submitted campaign finance reports late. All of which are violations of campaign finance regulations.

The letter also suggets that Collins submitted information that could not be corroborated:

You stated that the Onslow County Board of Elections instructed you to file a final report after the elections in the event that you exceeded the threshold. You also stated that Ed Brown, candidate for sheriff, received the same instructions. Neither Mr. Brown nor the Onslow County Board of Elections corroborated your statements.

The letter also directs Collins to re-open his campaign committee, pay a fee of $1,288.72, file an amended report to include all receipts and expenses, and providing a sworn statement describing the source of funds used to purchase advertising from the Jacksonville Daily News.

They’re well-earned, but not excessive, punishments.

I wonder, though, if the letter was signed November 5th, when the Jacksonville Daily News is going to get around to reporting the news?

Courtesy your local neighborhood Wikipedia:

• Twenty-one is a Fibonacci number, a Harshad number, a Motzkin number, a triangular number and an octagonal number, as well as a composite number, its proper divisors being 1, 3 and 7.
• 21 is the fifth discrete bi-prime and the second in the (3.q) family. With 22 it forms the second discrete bi-prime pair. 21 has an aliquot sum of 11 though it is the second composite number found in the 11-aliquot tree with. 18 is the first such member as well having as 21 as its aliquot sum 21 is the first number to be the aliquot sum of three numbers 18,51,91
• 21 appears in the Padovan sequence, preceded by the terms 9, 12, 16 (it is the sum of the first two of these).
• The sum of divisors for the integers 1 through 5 is 21.
• 21 is a repdigit in base 4 (111).
• 21 is the smallest number of differently sized squares needed to square the square.

My letter was printed in today’s Jacksonville Daily News. Unfortunately, their website hasn’t been updated, so I can’t provide linkage.

Unfortunately, it’s too late. The Jones County Board of Commissioners has voted to table a resolution to oppose the site located near the Jones-Onslow Border.

While the Onslow Board of Commissioners hold court with eyes and ears covered, the battle is raging against an OLF. Their absence, and lack of leadership, will allow the U.S. Navy to steamroll Jones County. With a population of less than 11,000 people and a median income just barely above the poverty line, who will stand up for those people?

Certainly not Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. Certainly not Senators Elizabeth Dole or Richard Burr. And most certainly not the Onslow County Board of Commissioners.

Even a 6-year old boy has done more than the Onslow County Board of Commissioners to fight the U.S. Navy’s plan. Joseph Dickerson wrote a letter to the Elizabeth City Daily Advance.

My name is Joseph Cole Dickerson, and I am 6 years old. I like all the animals and stuff here. I don’t want the Navy outlying landing field. The animals will not like an OLF. Some of my teachers would have to move. I would not like that. I hope people will help keep it from coming.

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners could take a lesson from young Mr. Dickerson. Unfortunately, and pathetically, they won’t.

There is some grumbling on the local nutjob message board about healthcare in Jacksonville. The writer specifically had bad things to say about Med Care facility on Hwy 17/Marine Blvd.

Says joaniecol:

What I want to know is how when a patient, who is already not feeling well, ask how long they anticipate a wait to be and be told about 45-1 hour wait - - - ask to pay for their copay up front - - only then to be stuck waiting for 2 hrs and 40 minutes before even being brought into a room. Then, another 40 minutes before a “doctor” comes in to see you - spends no more then 8 minutes with you - and then it takes another 20 minutes for “documentation” for discharge to be given.

Four hours is a really long time to be waiting for treatment…I’d guess that even the Onslow Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room would be able to provide services in that period.

Unfortunately, Jacksonville does not have very many (if any) good general practitioner doctors. The problem is that very few private practice doctors can accept Tricare (the payer for military dependents) and stay in business. This creates a vacuum for the franchise medical offices, such as Med Care to swoop in and prey on the citizens.

It’s a sad state of affairs, but as long as there are free-market fundamentalists (such as the John Locke Foundation and the Club for Growth) out there, it’s the way it’ll be.

It’s a shame and a sham that will continue until the U.S. moves to a single-payer health-care system.

Did you realize I’ve pass 2,500 posts on this blog? Me either. Holy crap. It’s no wonder I’m running out of material…

Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

In an email today, Craig Weber tossed his hat into the ring for the nomination to challenge Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. (’cuz, really, who thinks Holy Joe McLaughlin is going to win that primary?) in 2008.

Says Weber in the email to many of Eastern North Carolina’s Democratic politicos:

I have been asked by members of different groups and areas within the district and out, for that matter; and, by members of John Edwards’ Campaign; along with, two Marine Corps Generals and two Colonels, and veterans, telling me and ’strongly urging’ me to run again for Congress. There are others, including members of the Press from here to D.C. It looks like there will be a “Primary” for the Democrat Party.

I’m highly interested in these “endorsements” from the military, the media, and (most interestingly) the Edwards campaign.

I’m also interested in Weber’s identification of the Democratic Party as “the Democrat Party.” Is he now taking pages from Karl Rove’s playbook?

How will Weber differ from long-time candidate Marshall Adame? Who will be the better choice and why? These are questions we have to answer before May 2008, friends and neighbors.

Stay tuned, friends. Eastern NC just got a heckuva lot more interesting.