Friday, 12 June 2009
The Elephant in the Room
Of the cuff, one might think Republicans would approve of Elephants and for the most part you would be correct,
Magnificent beasts emanating strength, grandeur and dignity, A fitting symbol for our Party
But no one would want an elephant in the living room parked on their sofa.
The Elephant in the room is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there might be concerning themselves with relatively small and even irrelevant matters, compared to the looming big one.
We in Linn County have an Elephant in our room, not our living rooms but in the rooms we hold our monthly Central Committee Meetings.
There is a basic disconnect between the Present Executive Committee and the Central Committee at large.
It is derived from some in my opinion, flawed assumptions.
The New Executive Board came into office with a large amount of enthusiasm and plans for what they were going to do.
It turns out they did not disclose some of those plans to us, until after the fact,
Anyone who was at one of the previous meetings where vigorous debate ensued whether to change the meeting day from the first Tuesday of each month to the third Tuesday, or not, might understand the reasoning./
They might not have wanted to bother the Central Committee's little heads with such a weighty decisions,
They probably did not want the Fuss, so they made the decision for us.
Their attempt may have been taken in "Good Faith" bit I am sorry that is NOT the way the Linn County Republican Central Committee is supposed to work.
Not if you want it to function in accordance with legal founding documentation.
the Constitution of the Linn County Central Committee and the By-Laws of the Linn County Central Committee.
The above links are to PDF files, if you do not have a PDF viewer a simple Freeware PDF viewer can be obtained HERE
So how did we arrive at this crossroads?
My journey began this February when the first objections were raised about who was or was not a voting member.
I was confused and in that reaction it seems I was not unique.
I have since investigated the situation to the best of my ability and the reactions in large seem to have been.
Don't make a Fuss, we want to Elect Republicans, how does that help???
My answer has been, But we are NOT in Compliance with the Election Codes, the Constitutions of the State and County Party and the County By-Laws,
Why not FIX this mess.
Now as possibly a result of this attitude that seems to say, if we Act in Good Faith and we have everyones Best Interests at Heart, just leave things alone and we can deal with it later.
We have an Executive Board that does not think it needs a Central Committee,
Rather like a Head that does not like the direction the Body is taking so it wants to be Cut off so it can go it's own way.
Let me make one point Crystal Clear it is the EXECUTIVE Board that Constitutionally works under the direction of the Central Committee and not the reverse.,
The last few months that detail has had all the attention of an Elephant in the Room, which everyone pretends is not there and refuses to talk about.
And REALLY it is the GOP which is supposed to stand for individual citizens making their own decisions NOT just marching to the orders of some Centralized Control;
Isn't it?
The Republican Party is in the mess it has landed itself in , partly because we started acting like Democrats, We do NOT need a Newer more modern way to act like Democrats.
So it was not without careful thought and even more careful consideration of the principles involved that I have composed a motion to address this situation, the Text will be in a second post to follow this one immediatly
Folks we need to Fix this
Problems like Elephants in the Room do not go away just because we don't want to see them.
The pile just gets Higher
Like A Christian Holding Four Aces
There are those who disagree with many of my positions.
They certainly have that right and I should always be ready to listen to the Reasons for their opposition.
But when it comes to matters of Procedure, Rules of Order and Law, I wish to see their Evidence and Proof, instead of their Feelings.
In the May Linn County Central Committee Meeting, when asked How the Executive Board could close down the Permanent Linn County GOP Central Committee Office without consulting or gaining the approval of the Central Committee,
The answer seems to have been. I am the Chair I can do that if I wish to.
Smacks of Obama's answer to queries concerning the lack of Bi-partisan activity,
But in this case the statement was not made to just a disaffected minority that lost an election,
but to the Entire Body of the Central Committee.
Assertions are NOT Proof or Evidence of Legal Authority.
Pertinent Sections from the Legal Founding Documents of an Organization ARE.
Which I will now present to the Body.
Taking Note of: Article IV of the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
Which States:
The general management of the affairs of the party in Linn County is vested in the Linn
County Central Committee, subject to direction from time to time by the County convention of
the party.
And taking Note Of:
Article VIII
Which States:
The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business
of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County
Central Committee. Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn
County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Executive
Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts
shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee
And Taking Note that:
Longstanding Agreements and Contractual Obligations of the Linn County Central Committee have been voided by the Executive Board. Such actions being on the order of General and Not Routine Business and in Conflict with Actions Enabled by a Vote of the Central Committee as a Body.
Being:
Dissolving our Agreement with the Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center as a Monthly Meeting Place
and
The Closure and Termination of the Lease for the Linn County Central Committee Permanent Office which was Established by a Vote of the Linn County Central Committee.
I Move:
That it is the Consensus of this Body
That the Executive Board has Exceeded it's Constitutional Authority and Encroached on those matters which are within the purveyance of the Linn County Central Committee
and that the Body as a Whole
Requests:
IN THE STRONGEST TERMS
That henceforth
The Executive Board shall restrict itself to
Routine business of the Linn County Central Committee
During the interim of the meetings of the Linn County Central Committee
and REFRAIN
From making decisions and or taking actions in
The general management of the affairs of the party in Linn County
As is Mandated by the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
To conclude and respond to those who may be in disagreement with the above, show us your Legal Authority for those actions.
As for myself I sit here in the words of W, C Fields
with
"The Calm Confidence of a Christian holding Four Aces"
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Some Assembly Required
There are few things that can send a chill down the back of a man,
A man who is a father and husband, that is,
As the sight of this dreaded phrase.
Some Assembly Required
In the Cartography of the Family Landscape
It is the indication of Tera Incognito
Quite similar to the areas on Ancient Maps inscribed with
"Here be Monsters"
It is the signal that you face a gauntlet, which if not traversed successfully will result in the wrathful glares of wives and mothers, the teary eyes of toddlers and
The knowledge that Daddy has RUINED Christmas or a Birthday, whichever the case may be.
But be of Good Cheer Fathers and Husbands, for there IS Hope.
There is a simple Binary, Two Step Program of Recovery, which will enable you to sail through those troubled waters and emerge on the other side victorious and the Family Hero, instead of the Family Villain
They are
1) READ the Directions!
and what is more Important
2) FOLLOW the Directions!
These two Rules will carry you in good stead all the Days of your Life and in any Trials you may encounter.
The correct assembly of a County Central Committee has some characteristics in common with the ordeal of putting together the annual Christmas or Birthday gifts.
We started off with Central Committee 2007 it was to some extent complex, but not unduly.
It had a 4 part Executive Board much like the current model and a Central Committee Body composed of various and sundry Sub-Committees, a single Meeting Location and County Party Office.
Now Central Committee 209 Build A was much streamlined,
It had the same 4 part Executive Board, but an attempt was made to run that as a Stand Alone system. The single Meeting Location was replaced by a menu of options and the County Party Office was eliminated for the sake of steam lining.
There were some problem that arose. The isolated Central Committee Body and the Standalone Executive Board developed a VERY severe feedback problem resembling the situation that arises when a microphone is placed too close to a speaker.
A very high pitched angry sounding squeal arose and the functionality seemed to be lacking.
That to do?
I suggest the same thing the Wise Husband and Father decides when he realizes that Tab A will NOT fit into Slot A because Tab B seems to be already inserted.
That is take the device apart spread out the constituents and READ the Directions!
In the case of assembling County Central Committees, the directions we need to concern ourselves with are :
Having Your Cake and Eating it Too
I just got a Tax hike update from my good buddy Tim Pugh
Cedar Rapids Independance Day "Taxed Enough Already" Tea Party
GlobalBasic Info
| Type: | |
| Description: | Sending a message to the government that they need to stop spending our money on wasteful crap. People are meeting up under the aluminum tree in downtown between 1st ave and I380.
Date and Time to bel announced.
Please visit crteaparty.org for information, updates, or details.
This is a not partisan group or and anti Democrat or Obama group, both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for waste.
We are not against any party or person but against out of control government spending and waste. |
It would appear to be about an attempt to quietly raise some more of our Taxes.
I have a friend of mine on the CR Public Library Board of Trustees and he was the one lone “no” vote on the budget for 2010 that included a property tax levy increase figured into it. Now comes the actual vote to go on record for a recommendation to pursue a property tax increase – it will take place this Thursday at 4:00 PM while the rest of civilization is actually working.
The agenda action item is for an intent to pursue a 27 cent library levy increase up from the current 8 cent special library levy – an increase of 19 cents (you raise about one million dollars in revenue for every 16 cents on the levy) so this will be an increase in excess of $ 1 million dollars in additional property taxes. This recommendation goes forward from the Library Board of Trustees to the City Council that also has to vote on this – but a recommendation from an independent commission, like the Library board of trustees, gives them the cover to “do the will of the people”.
What my friend is looking for is a little support and a little attention to be drawn to this matter; the quicker you can get out in front of an issue like this, the more attention that can be brought to it and the better the chance the Council may pare it back – or with enough heat, reject the increase in total. Otherwise this could slide thru from the Library Board on a Thursday afternoon without even being covered and slipped onto next week’s “consent” agenda at the Council meeting for a voice vote – in other words, a done deal.
I am advising him to use the term “Culture of Delay” in his remarks in urging the rest of the Library Board to vote against this tax increase recommendation; Brian Fagan is the Council liaison to the Library Board and has been counseling them on how to pursue this course of action. For instance
we know that the damage done to the existing main library is in excess of 50% of pre flood value so FEMA pays for an entire new one.
However there are only two options, either raze the existing structure and build on the same site with protections against the 100 year flood event. Or second, build on a new site outside of the flood plain (like Westdale for example).
Instead of making a decision and settling with FEMA which would allow for a release of funds from them for not just a building, but also for contents – this property tax increase is being proposed to largely pay for new materials to replace, in the interim, what was lost in the flood.
Call me cynical and suspicious, but to these jaundiced eyes it looks like an attempt to raise taxes and if one opposes the raise then one is mean spirited and does not care about the damage done to the Community by the flood
AND
Get the FEMA money as well, later, Then keep the tax hike because during the shuffle no one will notice?
Remember I made the title of this
Having YOUR Cake and Eating it Too
Not
Having THEIR Cake and Eating it Too.
They are not going to be paying the higher property Tax, YOU will.
Keep a weather eye out for the July 4th Taxed Enough Already Rally
and spread the word about this Property Tax Hike.
UPDATE: Tim Pugh forwarded the Library's Responce to me.
I'd be happy to respond to this. FEMA covers our lost materials but the proposed levy increase would be for money to run our facility not for items lost in the flood. As you may remember even preflood, the library was incredibly challenged from an operating funding perspective. While FEMA/State/IJOBS will pay for a substantial portion of the capital cost of building a new building, the library levy is important because we need the operating funds to run the facility. It is absolutely critical that we have this support from the community. I can really bottom line this library levy. It really boils down to the square footage that we can support from an operational funding perspective.
We’d like to come back better than before
– with the passage of the levy, we can do that and build a beautiful new facility that will meet the needs today and of future generations. If we can’t pass a library levy, it calls into question whether we can even afford to operate a building the size that we had preflood. That’s how serious this is.
His reaction was much the same as what passed through my mind
However this building is not built, so what operating cost?
Monday, 8 June 2009
Healing the Heartland Festival
I received this email from THE Parade Firetruck man himself, Steve West.
What a worthy cause go hither and read on it'
Healing the Heartland Festival is a Three Day Event
Marking the Anniversary of the Great Flood of 2008
- A message of faith and hope for the heartland -
Music • Food • Fun • Inspiration • Community Care
Since the time I first put this video slideshow up, I have also discovered a equally moving Youtube Video.
Get reminded
The Year of the River: Flood Photography from The Gazette @ Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Information: (319) 366-7503 or www.crma.org
I received this communication:
June 8 at 9:26pm
I have an email with the list of all the BBQ locations. Would you like me to email it to you?
For those who might not know Rene is Our Local Iowa House Representative for District 37
| Representative Renee Schulte |
| | Eighty-Third General Assembly |
|
We are very fortunate here in Linn County to have elected officials who pay attention to local affairs and do not wait to be asked to offer assistance
Service Providers: I'm including you in this email so that you can pass on this free event to those who may benefit.
Everyone: Please forward this email on to all you think may be interested. It is going to be a great way to bring encouragement, help and healing to our community.
Healing the Heartland Festival is a Three Day Event Marking the Anniversary of the Great Flood of 2008
- A message of faith and hope for the heartland -
Music • Food • Fun • Inspiration • Community Care
Serve The City is a coalition of over 40 area congregations and ministries hosting the Healing the Heartland Festival.
Most of the events and entertainment are FREE to the community!
Day 1 - Friday, June 12; 6pm-9pm: Neighbors & Friends Barbecue
11 FREE, Giant, Neighborhood Barbecues will be held throughout Cedar Rapids and surrounding area. Bring a lawn chair and your appetite, everything else will be provided. No reservations necessary.
Find one closest to you & join us! (Listed alphabetically)
Bever/Erskine
Held at Bever Pavilion in Bever Park
Cedar Valley Bible / First Lutheran / Valley View Baptist
Cedar Hills
Held at the Cherry Hill Park Pavilion
Calvary Baptist/Cedar Rapids Family Church / Stonebridge
Czech Village/Linwood
Taylor School
First Church Of The Nazarene / Hus Presbyterian / The Salvation Army
Kennedy
Held in the Kennedy High School South Parking Lot
Oakland Nazarene / River Of Life Ministries
Marion
Held at Donnelly Park
Antioch Christian / Cornerstone E-Free / Faith Bible / New Life Community
Metro/McKinley
McKinley Middle School
First Lutheran / Oakhill- Jackson / Family Of Faith
Mound View
Held at Daniels Park Splash Pad Pavilion
Cedar Rapids Grace / Ellis Community / First Church Of The Open Bible. Imago Christi / Oakland Church Of The Nazarene
Noelridge Park
Held at the Lagoon Pavilion
Eastview Christian / New Covenant Bible / Noelridge Park / The Alliance Church
Palo
Held at The Cedar River Garden Center in Palo.
New Covenant Bible / Peace Church / River Of Life Ministries
Robins
Held in Robins on Saturday, June 6th
Faith Bible / New Covenant Bible
Time Check/Harrison
Held at the Ellis Park Duck Pond Pavilion
Cedar Rapids Christian Center / Edgewood Family Fellowship / Ellis Park Church of God / Encounter Christian / First Church Of The Open Bible
Day 2 - Saturday, June 13; 9am-10pm: Community Festival at the Kingston Sports Complex
Food vendors with special budget-friendly prices will be there. For instance, a hot dog, bag of chips and lemonade all for $1. Food will be available between 11am & 8pm.
9am – Cedar Rapids "Run The Flood" Run to Rebuild - Run to Recover - Run to Remember Read more about this effort at
www.CRRunTheFlood.com (Entrance Fee Required)
11am - 5pm – Community Care Tent - FREE Over 50 booths offering information and care to community members. Care Tent includes job search and resume writing, mobile medical clinic, registration & fingerprinting of children by CRPD and more.
1pm - 4 pm – Family Fun Zone - FREE Activities include face painting, balloon artist, stick-on tattoos, bounce around playground, puppets and kids’ songs. Visits from local mascots including Shucks from the Kernels and Ricochet from the Roughriders.
2pm - 5pm – Sports Zone - FREE Emcee: International Speaker Keith Cook Exhibitions: “Untitled Skateboards” Team, Basketball Exhibitionist Tanya Crevier, Mike Hagen Strength Team
Saturday Evening Main Stage Concerts & Inspirational Speakers - FREE
Emcee: Dennis Swanberg – Christian Comedian
Music for All Ages – Bands Include:
5pm David Phelps - from Gaither Vocal Band
7pm BarlowGirl - 2005 Artists of the Year
8:30pm Newsboys - New Mix with Michael Tait
Day 3 - Sunday, June 14; 3:30pm-8pm: Serve The City Day at the Kernels
Our festival winds down with a day at the ballpark.
3pm - A FREE Exhibition by the Mike Hagen Strength Team (Located outside the ballpark)
PLEASE NOTE: Regular Kernels’ ticket prices apply for entrance into the ballpark for concert and game
4:20pm - A Big Band Concert featuring a 16 piece brass ensemble
5:05pm - Cedar Rapids Kernels take on the Kane County Cougars
A River Renaissance and Freedom Festival Affiliated Event.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
The Linn County Shell Game
The shells move around and around. Where will they stop and under which shell will we find the Linn County Republican Central Committee Meeting?
I have a mental image of Central Committee members wandering in the Wilderness, trying to find the Central Committee.
You think that is an exaggeration?
On May the 27th I received this email
hey Daniel,
are you still attending the linn county central meetings ? the last two times i went i showed up at the wrong location. can you tell me where and when the next one is ? the http://www.linncountygop.org/ website is down.
thanks
My reply was"
The New Executive Board changed it to the Kirkwood Continuing Educational Bldg
they may have some at a Kirkwood facility in Marion,
I will fwd the last announcement I got from another email account, you may wish to email Dawn Brown or Brent Shulte and get on their mailing list.
I think I better send this person another email saying Disregard last location, if you have not already been informed we have moved again to
Date:
| Tuesday, June 16, 2009 |
Time:
| 7:00pm - 9:00pm |
Location:
| Marriot |
Street:
| 1200 Collins Rd NE |
City/Town:
| Cedar Rapids, IA |
| | |
Regular business meeting. Focus will be on developing
One hopes the word gets out and we do not have people spread out around the County trying to go to where the meeting USED to be.
I stumbled upon this because I noticed that for the first time in a while the
Linn County GOP, Iowa. Face book site had been updated. Since it had been inactive for some time I was curious. I have not received one of those Evite emails, so who knows?
They may change their minds yet again.
Sigh, one of the Facets of being Conservative, whether it be a positive or a negative trait, is that we like at least some semblance of stability.
I find that lacking lately.
So the Meeting has moved again and you can find out about the change on Facebook
You are not a member of Facebook?
Well then call the Linn County Central Committee Office for the latest information.
Oh I forget we don't HAVE a Linn County Central Committee Office anymore.
The New Executive Board decided we no longer needed it.
It did not matter that it was set up and established by a Vote of the Central Committee,.
They don't seem to think that we need that anymore either.
Voting to make decisions on the General Management of the Central Committee.
There is an agenda, they have plans in the works it seems.
Focus will be on developing precinct organizations to help support our elected officials and candidates.
One problem with this as I see it. First the Central Committee has to decide that is what it wants to do.
You see there is a facet to how we are suppose to operate that the Executive Board has over looked.
The Executive Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee
I have been getting the impression that they view the direction of powers and responsibility to be in the other direction.
They are mistaken,. The above was a direct quote from the County Constitution by the way.
We need to discuss and clarify these matters before ANY other actions are taken.
I have had long discussions on this subject, With one gentleman who stated and I believe it to be true that his and my ultimate goals are the same.
I think that to be true. Our ideas on Means and Methods differ.
In one communication he wrote to me:
The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do
FIRST: Is it the TRUTH?
SECOND: Is it FAIR to all concerned?
THIRD: Will it build
GOODWILL
& BETTER FRIENDSHIP?
FOURTH: Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
I have tried to stay with the Truth, but the Truth is not FAIR it is what it is. You cannot split the truth up so both sides have equal shares, The Truth may or may NOT build Goodwill or Friendship.
It is said the Truth will Set you Free, but First it will Tick you off. Oh and the Truth is not necessarily going to benefit all concerned,
If some one is acting out of mistaken beliefs they may not react in a friendly manner to having that pointed out, they may not feel that action is a benefit to their plans.
Some times you have to make a choice between what you think is Right and how other people Feel about it.
On the subject of closing the Permanent Party Office? The gentleman's opinion seemed to be that closing it did not matter, that in the Past such offices were temporary, mostly for elections.
I could have responded that the Permanent Office was a Symbol of our presence in the Community, That symbols are important,. They give Structure and Purpose.
They give us something to work toward and maintain during the periods of time between elections, That the temporary offices for the Election were the Victory Offices in Marion.
That is really beside the point. The Point is the Executive Board
HAD NO RIGHT to take such an action without the approval of the Central Committee. That is the point,
Now this man I spoke to is a very nice person, He really wants the Central Committee to function and work,.
He also wants this to be done without hurting anyone's feelings or making a big ruckus,.
My thoughts?
If you want Happiness Believe
If you want Truth Inquire.
I am not one to sit back and believe everything I am told, I looked into these matters as they are laid out in the County Constitution and By-Laws
IE I Inquired.
And I decided that this must stop and the only way that will happen is if they are brought out into the Light of Day.
Friday, 5 June 2009
Let's Pretend The Train Is Running
One of the aspects of Cosmic Synchronicity, is the same message keeps popping up.
It is as if the Universe is saying, "Not paying attention are we? Well let's see if you notice THIS."
Lately I seem to be running into the same dialog.
During a long thread on an international forum concerning some of the financial and business manipulations of our present administration a gentleman from the UK posted to me:
Your mania to dissect the done deed serves little purpose because the vast majority are now concerned with the overall crisis impact and culture solutions -- rather than the failure to perhaps cross a few " Ts" and dot a few " Is" in the past .
Myself I think trashing Contract and Lending Law, the intimidation and coercion of Creditors by the Government to be more than just failure to dot Is and cross Ts.
When I have made my views known about the situation of the Local Central Committee as regards Voting Credentials and activities of the Executive Board?
What I receive in reply, is "Let's not create a public spectacle, just let it ride, we can fix these problems in the NEXT Precinct Caucuses.
In the same manner we did NOT fix these things in the previous Caucuses?
I mean the Election Code WAS written quite some time ago.
All these messages I keep getting remind me more and more of a Soviet Era Russian joke.
Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev were riding on a train, which suddenly came to a halt.
Stalin jumped up and shouted, "I will get this train running. Shoot all the Engineers!"
The train still sat.
Krushchev jumped up and exclaimed, "I will get this train running. Give everyone a RAISE."
The train still sat.
Brezhnev just looked at the two, shook his head and said, "Draw the drapes Comrades, we can pretend the train is running.
What difference does it make?"
So every time someone tells me that the Rule of Law, Sanctity of Contracts, Constitutions, Rights of Individuals, when they become Inconvenient or in the way of the Greater Good, can be set aside and we can just act like we are doing what we should?
When I am told I am creating too much of a stir over technicalities which might hinder more important plans?
What I hear is:
"Draw the drapes Comrades, we can pretend the train is running. What difference does it make?"
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
They Are Succeeding
Cross Posted at :
Committees of Correspondence
Perhaps I have been too judgmental in my polemics.
So I got to thinking in what areas have the New Executive Board been succeeding?
Those who were at the nomination meeting may recall that one of the major platform items presented was a Precinct Initiative to, as we were informed, replicate the success of the Obama Political Machine on Precinct level here in Linn County.
To Win Elections
Well the Obama Machine did win their Election.
What have they done since?
They have been busy slighting, insulting and alienating our Allies
Here we have seen the same results with Issue organizations that one would normally think of as Allies of Conservatives,
The Tea Party movement and the NRA, we have not shined in our relationship with either.
The Obama Machine has also been busy tearing down those institutions which have served us well the during this decade and helped keep us safe.
And here in Linn County?
In the last few months, the strong system of sub-committees formed to
organize Fund Raising and Volunteer Assembly has fallen by the Wayside.
We are told that the Executive Board will follow the wishes of the Central Committee,
If they so choose.
Both the Obama Administration and the New Executive Board have plans to spend far more than the income that seems to be available.
Though here in Linn County, I have yet to hear of any viable plans to raise funds
Other than moving the meeting out of the Longbranch to placate some mysterious big donors who do not wish to be sullied by too close a proximity between the Linn County Central Committee Meeting and Demon Rum.
Oh Yes I did over look ONE of the New, Fresh Ideas
They have created a method for us to donate money via automatic drafts from our Bank Accounts for them to use for whatever purposes they so desire, With or without consulting us, or getting our approval
All this reminds me of a Song
So I guess in some Areas they HAVE succeeded in carrying through with their campaign commitments.
So we sit and wait, Wait to be informed of matters that an amazing amount of folks seem to know before we do.
It would appear there is only one function desired of the Central Committee in the present times.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Taking Turns
We have all heard many times the justification for Affirmative Action.
It is we are informed, corrective action to redress discrimination of the Past.
Well it seems that in the Post Racial Era of the Obama administration that activity has been expanded to include Voter Intimidation.
Makes sense, the Klan did it after all, it is now someone else's turn?
From the Washington Times
Black Panthers had wielded weapons, blocked polls
By Jerry Seper (Contact) | Friday, May 29, 2009
Justice Department political appointees overruled career lawyers and ended a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense of wielding a nightstick and intimidating voters at a Philadelphia polling place last Election Day, according to documents and interviews.
The incident - which gained national attention when it was captured on videotape and distributed on YouTube - had prompted the government to sue the men, saying they violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by scaring would-be voters with the weapon, racial slurs and military-style uniforms.
Career lawyers pursued the case for months, including obtaining an affidavit from a prominent 1960s civil rights activist who witnessed the confrontation and described it as "the most blatant form of voter intimidation" that he had seen, even during the voting rights crisis in Mississippi a half-century ago.
Some time back I heard a radio personality from Cincinnati, Mike McConnell say something I thought very profound.
He said that when we use terms like Reverse Discrimination, it is wrong, because we are accepting something that is not true.
That there is a third state in addition to Discrimination and Not Discrimination.
That is one of the Big Lies that some think can become truth if it is repeated loud enough and often enough.
THIS Man believed differently,
On 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
Dr Martin Luther King said, I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
He did not say, "I have a dream that one day it will be OUR turn to intimidate Voters."
It would seem that some Political Appointees in our Government don't know that,
We must remind them.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
What They Don't Tell Us
Clichés are clichés because they express obvious or Universal Truths.
There are two sayings in Politics that I am certain are familiar to all of us.
One person can not make a difference,
All politics are Local.
The first we are continuously told.
The second is an Article of Faith in the Political World.
The reasons for that dichotomy should be obvious, we have power that they do not wish us to realize.
Recent events have proven to me that one person, what they think, do, say, write, can institute change,
Maybe not in the entire system, but in the way people think.
When one person says what others are thinking, people realize that they are not alone in their thoughts, and that together, they DO have a power to initiate Change.
Now it is true that we here on the Local Level can not change the entire system,
But we CAN change what happens in our neighborhood and act as examples to people elsewhere.
When enough neighborhoods take control of their destiny on the Local Level, then the entire system WILL change.
I have presented to Linn County Iowa, the idea that there are things we need to change,
There HAS been a response, People HAVE been listening or rather reading. I can tell that by my server logs.
So we must gather together to address the problems in our neighborhood,
Those of you from elsewhere are responsible for your neighborhoods and your own destiny.
We all change our own backyards for the better, everything change.
Baby steps to start, when we have our side of the street cleaned, then we can move on to the District, State and National Level.
Just remember that bit about one person not being able to make a difference?
Is a LIE.
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