Perdue – More Talk, No Action

Raleigh – Yesterday, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer called on Governor Bev Perdue to ask for the resignations of Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young and Correction Department Secretary Alvin Keller for their failures in their public positions. Governor Perdue responded by calling Fetzer’s criticisms “empty words.”

Young, former chief legal counsel to Mike Easley during his tenure as governor, was promoted by Perdue to the top position at the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Unfortunately for the state, Young has proven unable to successfully conclude any investigation he has undertaken. He was asked to find out about a directive from the executive department requiring destruction of email records and never questioned the person making the allegation. He was appointed to find missing highway patrol records relating to travel by former Governor Easley and found nothing. The appearance is that he will never “find” anything embarrassing to a Democratic administration. Keller, for his part, was hired to put more probation officers to work and provide needed oversight and security for the people of North Carolina. After nearly a year on the job, what progress has been made? There are actually fewer probation officers now than when Keller was appointed.

Governor Perdue also told reporters, “I can’t judge what happened under the prior administration. My only comment about that is I wish it would end very quickly and go to trial or whatever and be done with it, because we are all sick of it in North Carolina.” (“Perdue called on to fire 2 cabinet members,” WTVD, 2/8/10)

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“More than one year into her term, Governor Perdue continues to offer the people of North Carolina exactly what she said – empty words. We have heard her empty words about creating jobs, improving education, and ending corruption in state government. It’s pretty obvious that this Governor is willing to ‘wish’ for change and talk about changing things but is unwilling to take effective action.”

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Business as usual Bev

Via NCGOP:

Today, hundreds of North Carolina Republicans are filing paperwork to run for public office. This day represents the first step on the path to a majority in 2010. It represents the beginning of the end of corrupt government in Raleigh, including the Governor’s so-called attempts at transparency and reform.

Governor Bev Perdue called herself the “Education Governor” and shortly thereafter slashed the state’s education budget while continuing to fund pork projects. Recently, she dubbed herself the “Jobs Governor” despite unemployment increasing on her watch. For those of us who closely follow her administration and its similarities to her predecessor Mike Easley, we call her “Business as Usual Bev.”

Just a short time ago, we completed a press conference, during which I continued our calls for real reform in state government. I called on Governor Perdue to dismiss two high profile state officials: Alvin Keller, Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

Alvin Keller took over the Department of Corrections and left little doubt that his #1 priority was filling the large number of parole officer vacancies. A year later, the number of vacancies has actually increased from 109 to 141. Tragically, this lack of supervision has been witnessed this year when suspects are charged but not properly monitored and then strike again. Keller recently refused to turn over records showing the details of the probation system. Keller also made headlines last year with his mishandling of the proposed release of prisoners who were sentenced to life in prison. His attempts to spin the story for the purpose of damage control have brought ridicule and shame to his department and our state.

Reuben Young was Mike Easley’s chief legal council and recently made headlines when it was learned that he was in charge of determining the merits of a state employee’s claim that the Governor’s office ordered emails to be deleted. Young stated that he found no evidence to back up the employees claims, which resulted in that person being ridiculed and eventually losing her job. Young is the same man who approached Mike Easley’s “go to guy” Ruffin Poole after Poole returned from a bachelor party in New Orleans paid for by an Easley supporter and state board appointee. Poole basically told him it was not an issue and Young let the issue drop. In other words, he looked the other way.

Reuben Young now serves as Bev Perdue’s Secretary of the Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety. Reuben Young is a holdover from the incompetence and corruption of the Easley administration and if she isn’t “Business as Usual Bev”, he should be fired.

These two men were Perdue’s first appointments. She said she chose them because of their “willingness to make changes and tough decisions in their new departments.” She went on to say she “wanted leaders who could get the bottom-line results that I expect from everybody who works for the state of North Carolina.” The “bottom line” is that Bev Perdue needs to show the willingness to make tough decisions and dismiss Young and Keller immediately.

Also during today’s press conference, I noted that the issues surrounding both of these men might never have seen the light of day if it were not for the investigative work of local media. (Their hard work on corruption is even more impressive given the difficult access to public records involving state government officials.) In fact, it has been the media and local “watchdog” groups that have been policing state government, as the internal system of checks and balances that are supposed to be in place within government are just not working.

I challenged Governor Perdue to convene a panel of journalists and citizens to educate her on the roadblocks that exist in the access to public records. From their recommendations, she should take swift action to put into place new directives for state agencies that would provide easy access to public records, for the media and citizens alike.

One of our Founding Fathers, James Madison summed up the dangers of a government that does not provide transparency of its actions in the following statement: “A popular Government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or perhaps both.” North Carolina, which used to be known as the “Good Government State” is getting dangerously close to Madison’s definition. We need to stop business as usual, and change starts at the top: with “Business as Usual Bev.”

Tom Fetzer
NCGOP Chairman

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Fetzer Calls for Dismissal of Two High Ranking State Officials and for Perdue to Provide Easier Access to Public Records

“It’s time that ‘Business as Usual Bev’ started backing up her rhetoric when it comes to ethics and transparency.” – Tom Fetzer NCGOP Chairman

RALEIGH—NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer today called on Governor Bev Perdue to remove from their positions Alvin Keller, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, and Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Fetzer also called on Perdue to convene a panel of journalists to determine barriers to access to public records and have those barriers lifted immediately.

Fetzer referenced Young’s time serving as former Governor Mike Easley’s Chief Legal Council, saying that Young failed to properly investigate claims that the Governor’s office instructed employees to delete emails. Fetzer charged that “Young either orchestrated the cover-up or observed it with a casual indifference.” Fetzer also noted Young’s inclusion in the recent Ruffin Poole indictment, where Young failed to properly investigate the Easley staffer about being taken on a private jet to New Orleans for a bachelor party thrown by an Easley supporter. Fetzer said Young is a “holdover from the incompetence and corruption of the Easley administration” and that Perdue should dismiss him from his current post immediately.

Fetzer outlined Keller’s lack of results as the head of Corrections, including his poor handling of problems surrounding the state’s probation system. Keller had made filling vacancies of parole officers his #1 priority; but the number of parole officers actually went down during his tenure. Recently, Keller has refused media requests to release records showing the details of supervision of those out on probation and backpedaled on his ordered to release prisoners who were sentenced to life in prison.

According to Fetzer, a lack of internal checks and balances has left it to the media and private “watchdog” groups to uncover corruption in state government. Fetzer said he believed even more problems would be discovered if access to public records was easier. He proposed that the Governor put together a panel of journalist and members of concerned citizens groups to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of access to public records. “The governor should listen to common sense recommendations from those who know what the obstacles are and then, using whatever is within her power as Governor, implement reform by executive order.”

“Bev Perdue has called herself the ‘Education Governor’ and then promptly signed a budget that slashed education. She called herself the ‘Jobs Governor’ when unemployment increased on her watch. It’s time ‘Business as Usual Bev’ started backing up her rhetoric when it comes to ethics and transparency,” Fetzer concluded.

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A Tall Order

So I got my first video camera about two weeks ago and have spent the last two Saturdays making a short piece. This one is a visit with Larry Johnson, owner of Tall Order Music, a new music store in Reidsville.

The transition effects went haywire in my software and I am still very much learning how to do video for web. But I hope to make this a habit and something that benefits the community.

Any tips on video for web from the crowd will be gladly accepted.

Filed under: Reidsville

Summing up the schism within the right

This hits the nail on the head.

Filed under: National , neocons, southern avenger

Idiocy

Aren’t the neo-cons dead yet:

Fourth, if the U.S.limited its strike to taking out Iran’s nuclear facilities and did not attempt any regime change, it would require few “boots on the ground” and entail relatively few casualties, making an attack more politically palatable.

Just as 9/11 caused voters to forget George W. Bush’s meandering early months, a strike on Iranian facilities would dispatch Obama’s feckless first year down the memory hole and transform the domestic political scene. It would sideline health care, prompt Republicans to work with Democrats, and make the netroots squeal, independents reconsider, and conservatives swoon.

Maybe the worst op-ed I have ever read.

Rebuttal.

Filed under: National , Iran, neocons, war

Mabe to file for County Commissioner

To all Rockingham citizens,

As you know the 2010 election for 2 County Commissioner seats will be open this year. Mrs. Dallas and Mr. Stanley are democrats who currently hold those seats. There are currently ALL DEMOCRATS (5) on the Board of Commissioners. It is my intention to break up the tax and spend liberal’s party of democrats and put some common sense and conservative ideas and plans on the table.

To do this we will need lots of help from many people across the county. Our team is looking for people to help look after the finance, town hall meetings, fund raising, and getting other teams across the county to help work the voting districts and help get out our message.

The time is right, the year is right, and the issues have never been so important. This election is for the people and by the people of Rockingham County and the people elected should work for the people of Rockingham County and not Tom Robinson.

Please join me to help stop the wasteful spending, forced annexation, increased property taxes, increased property values, and increased sales tax. Lets put accountability, responsibility, and conservative actions in Rockingham County. To be a part of this winning team to send me an email or call me as to how you wish to help. My email is kmabe12 and my cell number is 336-613-5963 and at home 336-623-3538.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would want to join us in our fight. I will make an announcement at the GOP Breakfast Feb 06 at the Golden Corral and officially file in Wentworth at 9:30 AM on Feb 08.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Keith “ZERO” Mabe

254 Meadowood Road

Eden, NC 27288

Cell 336-613-5963

Home 336-623-3538

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JONES TO FILE FOR ELECTION TO THE NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (NC65)

Rockingham County – Former Rockingham County Commissioner Bert Jones announced today that he will file for election to the NC House of Representatives next week when the filing period opens. Jones served as a commissioner from 2004 to 2008, before opting not to seek another term.

In 2004, Jones ran a successful campaign on a platform to protect citizens’ rights and to control government spending. He says that he wants to take that approach to state government. “The government is literally spending us into bankruptcy, and more people are realizing this is not sustainable,” Jones said. "We must preserve our children’s future by spending within our means." Jones noted that together the national and state debt is now about $250,000 per family and continuing to grow at a rapid pace. “We are fast moving toward a social and economic trainwreck, and no one is even slowing down the train, much less changing course.”

Jones said his experience as a commissioner would be invaluable as a state representative. “Where do we even start?” Jones began. “No one understands better than the commissioners how the state saddles economically depressed counties like ours with its unfunded mandates. It leads to higher taxes and less funding for critical services, and cripples our potential for job growth. And, look at what they did to the mental health system, and now government wants to control healthcare!? And, while we struggle to update our 100-year-old courthouse and jail, some of these politicians in Raleigh are raising taxes to fund their campaign promises and to build things like teapot museums. That’s just not right."

"I hope people are ready to say ‘enough is enough’,” said Jones, who is running as an independent unaffiliated candidate. “For me, it begins with what I believe to be biblical and moral truth, and that shapes my philosophy about government and politics. We’ve seen too many examples of arrogance and corruption in Raleigh, and government at the state and national levels is out of control. I believe most people are ready for a change from politics as usual."

The election will be November 2.

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Thought for the day

Came across this post on the blog Coming Anarchy:

Often I find myself exasperated with commentary on the internet which frequently represents the extreme and the childish, with no indication of understanding or nuance. The short-form of the blog only exacerbates the problem. It is almost enough to abandon the enterprise altogether. But all hope for public discourse on the internet is not lost! The point made by Hitchens, that sometimes things are just that simple tempers my irritation. It is a useful aphorism to keep bias in check.

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Berger: Don’t Leave Founding Fathers and Constitution out of U.S. History Classes

Raleigh – Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) responded to the ongoing controversy involving proposed revision of the U.S. History curriculum in North Carolina high school classrooms by sending letters to Governor Bev Perdue and State Superintendent June Atkinson asking them to oppose the ill-advised changes. Under the new curriculum, North Carolina U.S. History classes required of every public high school student would omit history from the country’s founding until 1877, leaving out the context, history, and background of seminal moments and events, including: how the country came into existence, the writing and ratification of the Constitution, and North Carolina’s critical role in the life of the young nation from colonial times through the Civil War.

Senator Berger writes in part:

“From the time North Carolina opened its first public school, our classrooms have been a place for students to learn about and celebrate our country’s founding and North Carolina’s unique place in our constitutional Republic. Ignoring key parts of our history and heritage fails to provide the sound, basic education that all students need and deserve.

“North Carolina’s public schools have been a key to providing opportunity for our young people. The proposed curriculum changes will shortchange our students and North Carolina’s future.”

Full letter after the jump:

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Remember Eve

This is how ridiculous our society has become. Remember Eve Carson. Remember that her killers should have been in prison for parole violation but the state’s administration was too busy feeding at the public trough to see to the state’s business.

The lawyers also have asked the judge to rule out the possibility of the death penalty in the case, saying the prosecution’s pursuit of the federal charges and capital punishment is unconstitutional and based on racial bias.

I wonder if Demario picked Eve because she was white, attractive and powerless in the face of the “Durham man.”

The death penalty is sought because he shot the UNC student body president in the face in the middle of the street after he kidnapped her and made her take money out of the ATM.

Asshole deserves to die.

Filed under: 1 , demario atwater, Eve Carson

Plain speaking

I’d like to echo what Joe said about what Doug had to say:

Unless some miracle saves him, Poole seems likely to end up in prison. If he does, he’ll follow a state agriculture commissioner, legislators, including a speaker of the House, a lottery commissioner and a congressman. Easley himself and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards are under investigation and look to be in a heap of trouble.

Clearly, there’s been a culture of corruption in Raleigh.

But it’s not confined to Raleigh. Local officials, ranging from a sheriff taking payoffs from video poker operators to a prosecutor implicated in fixing drunken-driving cases, have abused their offices, too.

It all points to the need for serious new laws governing the behavior of elected officials.

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Why not level the playing field?

Sam Hieb reports on a JLF study of the impact of expanded charter schools in North Carolina:

JLF’s Terry Stoops does more than just recap awards shows. His new report shows that school districts across the state would be forced to close more than 150 traditional schools if new charter school performance standards applied to all public schools.

The Triad would be forced to close 37 schools, with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County losing 18 schools and Guilford County losing 14. Alamance-Burlington would close four schools, and Rockingham County would close one.

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Easley’s secret e-mail account

The hits keep on falling from the NC Democratic Party ethics machine:

Former Gov. Mike Easley kept a private e-mail account that he used for state business.

Easley’s former communications director Sherri Johnson testified in a deposition that Easley kept the secret account and used it for state business. Johnson was being deposed as part of a public records lawsuit filed by The N&O, The John Locke Foundation and several other news media outlets over access to e-mail messages.

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Open question

Are there any Democrats out there who can explain how a man who ran for president railing against deficit spending can in good conscience raise the annual budget deficit to record levels?

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More Democrats who hate freedom

This time its another example of a Democratic constituency fighting tooth and nail to prevent freedom in education:

Unions are also seeking to strangle charter schools with red tape. New York already has the "card check" unionization procedure for teachers that replaces secret ballots with public arm-twisting. And the teachers unions appear to have collected enough cards to unionize the teachers at two highly successful charter schools in New York City. If unions force charters to enter into collective bargaining, one can only imagine how those schools will be able to maintain the flexible work rules that allow them to succeed.

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Dismantle the NC Democratic machine to end corruption in Raleigh

Former NCGOP Chair Jack Hawke calls for a cultural change in Raleigh:

During the last campaign for Governor, Pat McCrory campaigned against a “culture of corruption”. His premise was that the state had to change the culture of doing business as usual. The Democratic Machine dismissed his premise by declaring the problem was just one or two individuals and not the culture. The machine offered a few “reforms” and went on with business as usual.
The result has been more scandal involving the Governor, Majority Leader of the Senate, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and indictment of the Senate Democratic Permanent Caucus Chairman. With the Speaker of the House already in prison, the state has witnessed leadership of both Houses of the General Assembly charged with crimes. Not to be outdone, the Executive Branch is faced with Grand Jury proceedings against the former Governor and a 51 count indictment of the former Governor’s closest assistant.

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The president hates health insurance for children

The president’s proposed budget cuts SCHIP by about $30 million. I expect wailing and gnashing of teeth among the Democrats who painted Republicans as "against children’s health" last year. I recall that the primary opposition raised by the GOP was due to the House refusing to exclude adults from potential recipients of SCHIP money.

The budget also cuts family housing for military personnel by about 20 percent or $500 million.

NYT has this awesome handy newsgraphic to let you see into the nation’s spending priorities.

What’s that tiny square in the bottom right corner?

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Black Republicans then and now

Some say the national Republican Party is without leadership and a voice. I say this is a pretty strong voice.

This video features our own Pearl Burris-Floyd who made history recently that went largely unnoticed across the state.

Filed under: National , black history month, Michael Steele

Life in a Republic (or will the elected reps listen to the people?)

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Dear Supporter of Responsible Health Reform,

Is Congress "fiddling while Rome burns"? Despite intense public opposition to health care legislation, CNN reports that House and Senate leaders say the "push for health care continues."

Just how unpopular is the irresponsible health legislation before Congress?

• Americans oppose the Administration’s health care plan 55 to 39 percent, and those who strongly oppose more than double those who strongly favor, 45 to 19 percent. NPR Survey, 1/20-21.
• By 58 to 38 percent, Americans generally oppose the health care proposals under consideration in Congress. CNN/ORC Survey, 1/22-24.
• Only 31 percent of Americans believe the Administration’s health care plan is a good idea. NBC/WSJ Survey, 1/23-25.
• Nearly 7 out of 10 Americans want a new course on health care reform. CNN/ORC Survey, 1/22-24.

Even though health care legislation was described by one Democratic Senator as being "on life support," congressional leaders are still trying to pass a harmful bill just to follow through on a political promise. This attitude is dangerous for American workers, families and taxpayers: when politicians ignore what the public wants — and when politics trumps reason and good government policy, watch out!

Congress needs to START OVER and reform the health care system in a way that helps employers provide health care to their workers, reduces costs rather than driving up deficits, improves choice and competition, and protects the employer-provided health care relied upon by 160 million Americans.

The Campaign for Responsible Health Reform

For more information, visit www.ResponsibleHealthReform.com.
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What took so long?

From the hard to believe file:

After a career spanning nearly a half-century as a solo artist and a member of groups like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Neil Young won his first Grammy Award in a pre-telecast ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The award, for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package, was shared among Mr. Young and his art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo for the boxed set “Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972).”

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More on the NC DemocratIC Party’s stranglehold on freedom

When special interest politics in Raleigh comes to an end, lots of good ideas could start moving forward. Like the idea of making state schools compete with charter schools for education dollars:

Despite (the) warning and the hundreds of millions in grant funding at stake, Democratic legislators in our General Assembly in 2009 blocked several bills that would have raised or lifted our state’s charter school cap. As in past years, the problem was that a handful of powerful and well-funded special-interest groups, led by the N.C. Association of Educators, colluded with state education leaders and the Democratic legislative majority to block attempts to raise or lift North Carolina’s cap. Legislators in Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee and California took heed of Duncan’s warning and embraced pro-charter laws and policies. The General Assembly chose the business-as-usual route.

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Contributing to the delinquency

Carter Wrenn lays out Mike Easley:

Mike Easley may know nothing or he may know quite a lot but either way Mike Easley made his own unique contribution to Ruffin Poole’s downfall. Our children learn the most from us not by what we tell them or teach them but what they see us do. It is how we live and act day to day and not our words that permeates their lives.

Ruffin Poole was twenty-five – he was a young man from a small town in an intoxicating political maze and he should have known better but a different mentor might also have led to a happier outcome.

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Perdue Reports More Illegal Flights

SBOE Should Conduct Investigation

Raleigh – Late on Friday afternoon as North Carolina braced for a major winter storm with Governor Perdue still out of the state vacationing at a mystery location, Governor Perdue’s campaign for the third time disclosed illegal flights that she previously failed to properly report. This time, the campaign reported eight additional flights valued at $4,534. This brings the grand total of improper flights to 31 totaling a value of $25,000. “The committee already had disclosed 17 other flights from Perdue’s successful 2008 campaign for governor in August, followed by six more in December.” (“Perdue’s campaign finds 31 undisclosed flights,” Greensboro News & Record, 1/29/10)

Former Governor Mike Easley was previously fined $100,000 by the State Board of Elections for taking improper flights and failing to disclose them in campaign finance reports. Governor Perdue has not yet been subjected to a fine or disciplinary action from the state board for similar actions.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“This marks the third time Governor Perdue has been forced to admit that she received illegal flights during the 2008 campaign. This is ridiculous. The State Board of Elections should conduct a thorough investigation of her campaign finance reports.”

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Ruffin Poole to be a household name in this state by Labor Day

Carolina Journal reports on Ruffin Poole’s first day in court:

Former federal prosecutor Kieran Shanahan attended the hearing and spoke to reporters afterward. He gave the federal government high marks for its indictment.

“In terms of having a governor on trial, you want to have somebody like Ruffin Poole who’s on the inside giving actual live testimony,” Shanahan said. “So, assuming the facts bear out that former Gov. Easley was involved, Ruffin Poole would certainly be a blow to any defense that Easley might have to off er."

Also:

Shanahan said that Easley is “unquestionably” still the primary target of the investigation, despite the laundry list of charges against Poole.

“If he cooperates, his sentence is going to be basically determined [by] the level of his cooperation,” he said. “If he can help the government secure a conviction, that’ll substantially reduce his sentence.”

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