North Carolina: State of Secrecy
In Virginia, the US Navy, the Governor and the Senators put all their cards on the table about possible sites for Outlying Landing Fields. In North Carolina, we know sites are still being considered, but the Governor and our two do-nothing senators decide it's better if We the People don't know what they're planning.
The legislative Black Caucus finds itself on the defensive because of possible conflicts of interest in how scholarships are awarded. The leadership goes into hunker-down mode, fully expecting the crisis of confidence to blow over.
A Republican representative in the NC House RESIGNED this week, while leaders refuse to explain why to We the People. They are claiming this is a "personnel" issue. Sorry, but that dog don't hunt. This is not a "personnel" issue. This is a public servant behaving like a pervert in a public office. An elected representative was forced to resign by the leaders in his party - and they don't explain why.
The North Carolina Senate takes a page from the Dick Cheney Rules of Order, with a handful of rich white guys deciding what the Senate budget will be, then ramming it through without debate. The only parties participating in the deliberations appear to be Basnight, Rand, Dalton, two power companies, and a few insurance companies.
Another Republican representative is seen groping a woman at a party, against her wishes. In our don't-ask-don't-tell State of Secrecy, no one comes forward to call the representative out. No one goes public with the story that he's a loud-mouth lush who is an embarrassment to his so-called conservative credentials. It's all just business as usual.
What a freakin' mess. It's no wonder two-thirds of the people in North Carolina who are eligible to vote don't even bother.
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I have to admit to issues with this one.
I want the bastards outed. I want them embarrassed as hell. But particularly in the case of former Rep. Almond, I don't want any lawsuit that his victim might be able to bring against him to be ruined by publicity beforehand, nor do I want her to be victimized further by being hounded by the press.
As for the other Rep., we shall see what we shall see.
Points taken.
I figure the Almond deal is done. I'd be surprised to see lawsuits, etc. Just my opinion.
A
PS I don't mean to focus only on these issues. Because despite all the efforts around transparency and visibility, I have a nagging feeling that the Bush posture on secrecy is quietly pervading government at lots of levels. The contrast between NC and VA on the OLF is striking and alarming.
I have been trying
to show how the Navy is willing to do two diffrent things with regard to this OLF. They are willing to allow the resisdence of VA to stay in their homes in a zone that the Navy states is incompatable for the people of NC.
Not only is our representitives keeping the sites away from the people, but they are not questioning the Navy as to why they are allowing this inconsistancy to happen. NO, our politicians are more worried about money then about preserving the livelyhood of their constituents.
Just what are our representives thinking? Why do they insist on prostituting us (or these new sites) to the Navy?
We have been questioning the Navy about inconsistencies and we have also been asking our representitives to keep us informed. Are they listening to us? NOPE.
A. your right. When our representitives insist on keeping us in the dark, on both sides of the isle, it makes it easy to ask why? Why should we care what group is in charge, they will do what they want without concern to us.
When we do ask them pointed questions, they refuse to answer us or will state "the process is in process and needs to run its course before intervening".
To many politicians are more worried about reelection then doing whats right. One of the problems is to many politicians are merely puppets to the people who financed them for that office. To many politicians have to answer to money.
If politicians did the right thing, they would be reelected everytime. However, to get elected, they must sell their souls to money. Once they belong to money, they will never belong to us, the people.
The politicians that are not slaved to money should be standing up and saying, these are the sites that we of North Carolina to include the GA are willing to sacrifice for 2 squadrons of super hornets, 400 jobs and $30 million for the Havelock area. However, we also know that many if not all these 400 jobs are sailors that will come with the jets. How many people in the Havelock area who live there today will actually get a job because of these 2 squadrons coming to the area?
Our politicians should be cleaning up their house and making their elected positions respected. Currently, politicians are just nessecary evils. Something has to fill that position.
How many people are outraged by our politicians to the point where we just wont read up on any more scandels.
You can make this arguement about almost any process going on with government. We the people are mushrooms. To many politicians feel they are Solomon's dealing out edicts to us dummies. That we are not smart enough to grasp the true ramifications of the situation they are dealing with. That is why they insist on keep us in the dark. They feel we wont understand the problem anyways.
Secrecy and Bush
I totally agree.
Not to digress too much from the NC stage, but this is pertinent, I swear. We little folk are not the only ones who see this pervasive problem with Bush and his various postures on presidential privilege. Bruce Fein, the gentleman who actually wrote the articles of impeachment against President Clinton appeared with Bill Moyers, and said the following:
I found a great discussion about this particular Moyers Journal program on Kos, but can't find the diary now. Read the transcript for some great insight on why we ought to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Brother Almond! We have change the secret handshake!
figure the Almond deal is done. I'd be surprised to see lawsuits, etc. Just my opinion.* A
It is! But I have his slim and porn e-mails.....let Paul Stam defend them! I have never seen a political party focus on sex and secretly as these cult bastards.
Mr Stam military background was in Intel research...These former spooks are for real in politics. This idiot has even gone so far to say that voters shouldn't have a right to vote for judical candiates....
IF -
If they would DO what is right - the people would back them 100%. All they would have to do is SPEAK. Out loud. To the people - with the (%*&# media PAYING ATTENTION.
We don't care about whassherface Hilton - we care about what is happening in our State and in our Nation.
Hello?
Well Anglico, since you asked:
A Republican representative in the NC House RESIGNED this week, while leaders refuse to explain why to We the People. They are claiming this is a "personnel" issue. Sorry, but that dog don't hunt. This is not a "personnel" issue. This is a public servant behaving like a pervert in a public office. An elected representative was forced to resign by the leaders in his party - and they don't explain why.
maybe this is why:
According to Howie Klein at DownWithTyranny:
Did I mention that David Almond was a vice chairman of the committee on children, youth and families?
I can't tell if that is the best snark I've ever read...
or the most depressing true account.
John Edwards is great!
- Sam Spencer, BlueNC, 7/3/07
I wish it were snark
I fear that it's got an element of truth.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
It's no wonder the cover-up is on.
If this is true, I would imagine the R's would move mountains to keep it under wraps.
I really think this is why we're not hearing more about it.
Once that happens, I'm sure there are policies, etc. that kick in that prevent people like Speaker Hackney and the HR folks at the GA from talking about it. I hope that the woman sues his ass.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Actually...
"The North Carolina Senate takes a page from the Dick Cheney Rules of Order, with a handful of rich white guys deciding what the Senate budget will be, then ramming it through without debate. The only parties participating in the deliberations appear to be Basnight, Rand, Dalton, two power companies, and a few insurance companies."
The Senate Appropriations Committee is chaired (along with Senator Dalton) by Senator Linda Garrou and Senator Kay Hagan, two prominent and respected women. They attend all deliberations and certainly stand in contrast to your description that the Senate Budget team in nothing but a bunch of "rich white guys." Furthermore, Senator Charlie Dannelly, an African-American, is a vice-chair of the committee and regularly attends the negotiations. These hearings and discussions have been public and the conference meetings with the House have an open-door policy.
I understand that this blog enjoys being inflammatory in order to provoke response, but there should be some modicum of accuracy behind the accusations you make. There is no need to invent conspiracy where none is evident.
Hi
I'm taking it upon myself to reply - because, well, just because.
Thanks for your comments. No one here wants to publish inaccuracies, I'm sure.
But this:
I don't think anyone is trying to be inflammatory in order to provoke a response. If that's the case, it wasn't inflammatory enough - because no response has been forthcoming, unless your post is the response. As for inventing conspiracy - we the people can only go by what we see. So, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then until someone comes and unveils something other than a duck, by god, we're going to call it a duck.
You present yourself as someone with some knowledge of what's going on in Raleigh. If that's the case, then please share what you can about the Almond situation, and what the hell Joe Boylan thought he was doing?
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Hello Friendly c
Maybe you know something about this OLF and what sites are being bantered about? Any info on that would be great. Do not know why our legislators insist on making me a mushroom on vital issues that effect an entire region of the state. 5 counties directly and many indirect due to flyovers and noise.
As Icloud stated, you sound like you have some nsite on whats happening under the dome.
Im tired of being left in the dark here in the NE by our wonderful folks in Raliagh (dam, still cant spell that town, least I stopped calling it richmond, finally)
I'm telling ya, Parmea
Whenever you decide to run for office, man, I'll be your official spell-checker. You rock. :)
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
You will be one very busy person!
I actually tone things down when I write here. I was told folks dont really like to read to much info. And they just dispise math. I like math. Math is my friend. Math is goood.
And I dropped out of a college course cause I had to write a 12 page report on history. I was word shy! might go back to college for my associates degree and become a substitute teacher when im not running the county! U just might have a job come next december. Or you will be in a looney bin tryin to figure out just what the heck I was a sayin.
Do you do grammer also?
It's grammar
and yes, I do grammar.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
egads
I cant even write a 3 paragraph document without something wrong.
Im laughing my butt off over here! 7 words and im dyin laughing at myself!
My supervisor loved and hated me when it came time for evaluations on the guys. I had great ideas of what I wanted to say, but I just killed the spell checking program. But normally he was a good writer with good GRAMMAR skills, so I just fed him stuff and he went smooth with it. Kinda did that will all my documents. Folks like my ideas, just not my ramblings on paper.
Dont know how many times bubba was on the original draft, but never made it to the smooth.
Your picture reminds me of one of my bosses when I was trying to get a point across. Ok, parm, tell me what you want to say........ok, i got it, this is how you will say it.......(In bosses mind: gads, i gotta have patience with this knucklehead!)
That ain't the way it works
According to Senator Rand there is a difference between what's on paper and what actually happens:
Stop the NC Association of Realtors
Polluting our State Legislature with money.
You would think that a
You would think that a Senator as experienced as Rand would have people to take care of that sort of thing for him. Campaign finance is tricky, indeed, but it's not rocket science.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Stand corrected
Never let it be said that I'm trying to be inflammatory.
I restate my original post to include:
A bunch of rich white guys, a couple of women, a black guy, two power companies, the sprawl lobby, and a handful of insurance companies
Is that better?
Oh, c'mon Anglico
Light some fires.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
As long as we agree...
Anglico, your bitterness has consumed you. How is the Senate following the "Dick Cheney Rules of Law?" The Senate chairs (who we have previously established represent a diverse population) conducted their budget negotiations with the door literally open. Such is the case with the current budget negotiations with the House, where some lobbyists do attend as is perfectly their right. But they have no right to speak out and would not be recognized by the chair if they did so. This is nothing like, for example, the way Dick Cheney formulated an "energy policy," in the early part of this Administration, which was conducted behind closed doors and with the counsel of undisclosed ad visors.
Such secrecy is reprehensible but none was practiced by the Senate or their House counterparts (who have been spared your criticism for reasons unknown). The Senate budget that was produced was debated on the Senate floor thoroughly and passed with only 2 dissenting votes,the nays coming from Republicans known for their distaste of virtually all major legislation. Meanwhile Cheney's energy plan was so contentious that it never became a legislative reality.
I suppose you will chalk up this nearly unanimous support for the budget as a testament to Basnight's influence, or perhaps you will simply attribute this feat to your mysterious and ominous lobby friends, who enjoy unprecedented power despite no witness ever seeing these people at the budget meetings (which, again, were conducted with an open door policy).
It's obvious that you disagree with positions taken in the Senate budget and then I suppose you invented nefarious motives thereafter to further justify your outrage. It's a fine line in politics though: sometimes legitimate corruption or cronyism pollute every action of a government (like Dick Cheney); sometimes the government just makes a decision you personally disagree with for no reason more evil than the decision-makers thought it was a better course of action (like the NC Senate).
ha
I stopped reading at
"with the door literally open"
In the sense that even other Senate Democrats complained that they werent listened to, then yeah the door was open. But in terms of transparency and sunlight....not so much.
"Keep the Faith"
LOL - That's Rich!
See, Blue.... sometimes we do share ... hah hah ...
I did finish but the paragraphs that followed lost their lustre somewhat.
I don't have bitterness
I have an intense desire to see change.
The fact that the Senate budget approved was "near unanimous" is a pretty good indication that it was rammed through. I've talked only with a few Senators, and the impression I have is that everyone knows how they're supposed to vote - and that resistance is futile, so to speak. Maybe my sources are full of sour grapes, but that's what they say.
I withdraw the comparison to Cheney . . . it's not a good analogy. I don't withdraw my criticism that special interests have undue influence . . . and also have the ear of leadership.
PS
I have only slightly less worry about the House. It's all relative and sometimes it's useful to focus. In the budget negotiations, the House positions seem more reasonable.
One more thing on the Senate: the "near unanimous support" for cutting taxes on the wealthiest is a sure sign the fix was on. With progressive Senators going along with such an outrageous position suggests a take-it-or-leave-it compromise crafted by leaders. Maybe you think that's just democracy in action, but it all seems just a little too tidy to me.
I'm out for the rest of the day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Perhaps the analogy
Perhaps the analogy comparing the NC Senate to Cheney is not as apt as it could have been, but the attitude that seems to be trickling down from Washington and spreading through state government is one of almost divine entitlement instead of elected responsibility. Because of the decidedly big D Democratic filter I view things through, I tend to see it more in our elected Republican officials rather than our our elected Democrats, but I acknowledge that's my filter. It may very well be there in both. (I don't think so - but anyone who wants to show me an example of state Dems behaving badly...oh wait. Rand. OK never mind.)
I don't think it's unreasonable to point out that over-arching attitude in our legislature. They work for us, not the other way around. When they don't perform to expectation, we have a right and a responsibility to call them on it.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Imagine conducting
Imagine conducting negotiations with the people who have pushed and pushed and pushed to have you do something - and spent lots and lots of money to have you do something - sitting over your shoulder? Can you really conduct the people's business with lobbyists sitting over your shoulder?
Maybe it is their right to be there - but maybe it's time for their influence to be limited. Maybe it's time we paid close attention to these lobbyists - and limited their ability to influence our government. Maybe it's time for publicly financed campaigns, and the end of PACs.
In my opinion.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID
I wonder
how much of a politicians contributions for RE-election comes from lobbys? Maybe not the first term as the lobbists just dont know you. But second term, wonder what the percentage is.
If the politician is truely supporting us, it should be zero as he should be telling these lobbys to pack sand.
But we are now back to the power struggle. without money, you cannot get elected.
With money (not of your own) you owe to much to to many lobbys to represent the people.
Whether this preception is true or not. It is a preception that permeates the avg voter to the point of apathy toward politicians.
Because politicians love to keep secrets, do extremely stupid things, suck up to lobbists more then the common person and not keep us little folk informed, I just dont care what they do. I cannot remember the last politician I got excited for. At best, a politician will get to tolerate on my scale. Not many get to that point. Apathy and loath or the normal degree of acceptability.
Is the only way to get a politician to listen to me is to "bribe" him with "contributions"? Today, I have to say yes. I cannot afford to constantly bribe my politician nor should I have to.