Jul
31
2009
Rock Hill police were called to a home on Wilhurst Court on Thursday after a mother said two of her children were fighting over the last piece of chicken.
The mother told police her 8-year-old son and her 12-year-old daughter got into an argument over who would eat the last piece of chicken and started threatening each other, according to a Rock Hill police report. Another sibling, 9, stepped in to try to ease the situation. He pushed the 8-year-old to the ground and held him down until police arrived, the report states.
The Herald
Parents like this tempt me to almost want to support forced sterilization.
Jul
31
2009
North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is “pretty seriously leaning towards” running against Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr in 2010, campaign strategist Thomas Mills tell CQ Politics.
“She’s gotten very strong feedback both in state and in Washington,” said Mills.
If you paid attention to President Obama’s health care forum in Raleigh, N.C. on Wednesday, you would have noticed her there, as well.
As the number of Democratic prospects continue to dwindle, Marshall is looking like a lead contender to take on Burr, whose shaky standing at home has Democratic party leaders drooling.
CQPolitics
Marshall would probably be the only really competitive opponent Burr could get next year. The Democrats have not been able to produce anything more than third tier challengers. Marshall would make it more exciting, but I still think Burr is going to have the upper hand. Everything right now is pointing to a good year for the GOP in 2010, but that could change in a minute.
Jul
30
2009
Foxx criticized claims Lassiter had made in a campaign video professing support for housing.
“Last week, a friend sent me an emailed video in which a colleague and fellow mayoral candidate made claims about a so-called plan for affordable housing,” Foxx emailed supporters. “I almost fell out of my chair because it belies the voting record.”
Charlotte Observer
When Anthony Foxx talks about affordable housing, that’s a code name for government subsidized housing projects for crack heads and welfare trash. There are already plenty of those neighborhoods in Charlotte. They don’t need anymore. I can’t imagine why Foxx would even pick this issue to attack Lassiter with anyway. The only people this is going to resonate with are those already living in lower income areas who will vote for Foxx anyway. He certainly isn’t going to rile up the folks in Dilworth or Ballantyne. If Lassiter really is in support of this then he is an idiot.
Jul
30
2009
Put two more in the “Power Corrupts” file.
First, it’s our old friend Nick Mackey:
The N.C. State Bar has accused state Rep. Nick Mackey of “criminal acts” for failing to file state and federal income tax returns.
The charges are part of a wide-ranging complaint that could lead to the Charlotte Democrat’s suspension or even disbarment, report Jim Morrill and Gary Wright of The Charlotte Observer.
The 7-page complaint, filed Tuesday, claims Mackey:
- Failed to pay taxes from 2003-2006.
- Failed to let law examiners know about earlier unpaid taxes when he filed to take the state bar exam in 2002.
- Did not tell examiners that, as a Charlotte police officer, he had been investigated for “fabrication” of hourly duty reports.
- Violated professional conduct rules in a case involving a client who had hired him to help with an adoption.
Mackey has 20 days to file an answer to the complaint, which could end up before the bar’s Disciplinary Hearing Commission.
“I’m not going to comment on it since it’s pending,” Mackey said.
The N&O
And because stupidity loves company, let’s welcome State Sen. R.C. Soles to the mix:
Last year, Strickland was arrested after police say he was threatening to extort the senator.
Strickland told the station that Soles paid for his house, his car, and gives him a regular allowance as part of an arrangement they had if Strickland finished school.
This week, morning anchor Kevin Wuzzardo asked the Senator about the gifts at the end of an unrelated interview. The station published a transcript of the exchange.
Kevin: “On another matter, a young man named Allen Strickland told us that you’ve given him tens of thousands of dollars to pay for his house and his car, as part of an arrangement that if he finishes school, you’ll buy him these things. Have you given him that money?:
Soles: “I cannot hear you.”
Kevin: (Louder) “A young man named Allen Strickland told us that you’ve given him tens of thousands of dollars to pay for his house and his car.”
Soles: “I cannot hear you, speak up.”
Kevin: (Louder) “A young man named Allen Strickland – ”
Soles: “Speak up.”
Kevin: “Do you hear me, Senator?”
The phone then went dead. The station has been unable to reach Soles again.
The N&O
Every morning when I try to decide which of my dirty clothes are clean enough to wear, I give them a big ol’ whiff, and if I don’t pass out, they pass. My friends, R.C. Soles did not pass my smell test. This is sketchy. Way sketchy.
Jul
29
2009
I told him if he’s that desperate to find a whore, not a horse!
A Conway woman who had video surveillance of a man having sexual intercourse with one of her horses said she found the suspect behind her barn Monday night and pointed a shotgun at his head until police arrived and arrested him.
Rodell Vereen, 50, of Longs, is charged with buggery and trespassing after Barbara Kenley, who owns Lazy B Stables on Coates Road in the Wampee section of Horry County, told officers she had video of the suspect having sex with a horse then wanted to catch him at her barn.
The Sun News
I guess it’s called buggery in Conway. LOL!
Jul
29
2009
I’m a little behind the ball on this one, but Lexington town councilman Danny Frazier (R) has decided to seek the Republican nomination to run for the 69th State House seat in South Carolina. The seat is being vacated by State Representative Ted Pitts who is running for Lieutenant Governor next year.
Frazier caused a minor controversy last year when he referred to Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02) as a “wussy” for his refusal to ask for earmarks. I would consider Wilson’s refusal as standing up for principle and fiscal responsibility, but perhaps Frazier is another one of those big government “conservative” types that thinks Federal money is free.
Jul
29
2009
I guess the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (that sounds like a useless place) thinks we are too mean and nasty to kids who go out and murder people.
South Carolina’s laws make it too easy to try pre-adolescent children in adult courts, and harsh sentencing laws make it difficult for judges to spare “kid criminals” from long prison terms that rob them of a chance at productive lives, according the study by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
The study’s “poster child” is Christopher Pittman, who killed his grandparents with a shotgun in Chester County in 2001 when he was 12. A Charleston County jury heard the case in 2005 and found Pittman guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The study, titled “From Time Out to Hard Time,” states that Pittman holds the national record for the longest sentence currently being served by someone convicted of a crime committed at the age of 12. He is one of two 12-year-olds tried on murder charges in
The Post and Courier
Are they seriously trying to suggest that this kid didn’t know what the hell he was doing at 12 years old when he picked up a shot gun and blew his grandparents away? How many of you are going to buy that one? I was 12 once and I damn well knew that cold blooded murder was wrong. The fact that this kid did this at such a young age should horrify anyone at the thought of what he would be capable of as an adult out on the street. Sorry, but 30 years sounds just fine to me. He’s damn lucky he did this as a 12 year old and not 18 where he may have gotten the death penalty. All I read in that article was liberal asshattery.
Jul
29
2009
Are you feeling surprisingly spritely today? Happier than usual? Livelier than normal?
You must live in Raleigh.
THE ONE has arrived in our fair city to impart his divine wisdom on us peons. As I type this, the Dali Bama is not 20 miles away from me, and I can feel his divine aura spreading over me. It feels like a big suffocating bear hug from which I’ll never escape, much like what our government will be if he gets his way.
A long line ringed the block around Broughton High School Wednesday morning as hundreds of people streamed into the school’s gym for the president’s town hall.
Protestors and supporters of President Barack Obama’s health care reform set up outside the event.
“ObamaCare wrong for NC,” read one sign near Smallwood Drive. “Freedom isn’t free. Neither is ObamaCare,” read another.
On St. Mary’s Street, supporters held up signs as well. “I can’t afford MS,” read one.
The N&O
Praise to Obama, the ONE who can heal the sick and the teeming masses just by laying the hands of government upon them. Thank Obama that He has come to run our lives for us, for surely He and his government bureaucrats can run our lives better than we can.
Sadly, I’ll have to miss watching healing of the sick, the feeding of the masses, and the rainbow spouting out of Obama’s ass. Unfortunately, I’ve got to pay for other people’s free stuff, so I’ve got to get back to work. I’m sure I’ll catch his snake oil sales pitch later though.
Jul
29
2009
WASHINGTON – States would be required to ban driving while texting or face the loss of highway funds under legislation being pushed by a group of Democratic senators.
Aimed at reducing driver distraction and highway deaths and injuries, the proposal follows a series of studies showing the dangers of drivers taking their eyes off the road to operate the handheld electronic devices.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws making texting while driving illegal.
“The federal government ought to pass a law banning this dangerous and growing practice to protect the millions of Americans on our nation’s roads. It is a matter of public safety,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who was to unveil the legislation Wednesday along with Democrats Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.
Associated Press
Here we go again with the Federal government attempting to over reach its authority by black mailing states with their own money to do its bidding. I am not against a ban on texting while driving. I would support such legislation, but that has to be the decision of each state. The Federal government has no Constitutional authority to regulate this which is why they are using their traditional extortion tactic of denying the states their own money back for highway funding. This is how they forced every state to raise the drinking age, mandate auto insurance, and pass seat belt laws. In the private sector this would be considered a crime. Why then does Kay Hagan support extortion in the government?
Jul
28
2009
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) cast a vote in favor of Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court Justice today. This wasn’t the full Senate vote, but the Judiciary Committee vote. He was the only Republican on the committee to do so. This is no surprise as Graham has already stated that he will vote to confirm Sotomayor.
While I know many readers here will disagree, I think Graham made the right decision. Is Sotomayor qualified to sit on the Supreme Court? No, not in my opinion. Will she get confirmed to the Supreme Court? Absolutely she will. I doubt any Democrat is going to vote against her and the Democrats have a filibuster proof majority so there is no way for the Republicans to stop her appointment if they desire to. Her appointment to the court will also not shift the balance of it since she will be replacing a justice that holds similar views. Furthermore, even if her nomination were to be derailed the next pick from Obama wouldn’t be somebody all that different.
All of that is why I think Graham made the right choice and why the Republicans really shouldn’t make a fuss about this. They have nothing to gain from it and while her race has absolutely nothing to do with their opposition to her, the left wing propaganda machines will certainly spin it that way to Latino voters, a group that the GOP has already taken heavy losses with in the past three years.
Jul
28
2009
Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) has co-sponsored House resolution 615 that will require any member of the House of Representatives who votes for a public health care option to enroll in it themselves. It makes sense to me. If it’s so good, why wouldn’t they want it? This resolution won’t come close to passing so don’t get all giddy or anything and I’m sure McHenry knows that. The introduction of this legislation has more to do with making a very valid point and hitting home with it. It would be nice if the MSM were to actually pick this up, but I’m not crossing my fingers.
Jul
28
2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen
July 28, 2009
202-225-2071
Foxx cosponsors health care reform legislation
Bill expands access to health insurance with tax credits, aid to states
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC05) today cosponsored the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act (H.R. 3218) a bill that will dramatically expand Americans’ access to health insurance.
“Our health care system is in need of reform,” Foxx said. “This legislation addresses the serious gaps in health insurance coverage that exist for many families. By creating tax credits for uninsured families and new Individual Membership Associations Congress will help make health care more affordable and portable.
“Congress can reform health care and make health insurance more affordable-and we can do it without a government takeover of health care. This bill makes that much clear. It focuses on preserving the patient-doctor relationship while removing barriers to affordable health insurance and keeping Washington bureaucrats out of the equation.”
H.R. 3218 helps uninsured families get coverage through three different policy changes:
* First, it creates a health insurance tax credit of up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families.
* It also expands insurance options and access to health insurance by creating Individual Membership Associations (IMAs). IMAs would expand insurance coverage by allowing groups like trade associations, churches and other civic groups to offer affordable insurance to their members.
* Finally, H.R. 3218 provides federal incentives for states to create high risk insurance pools for Americans who have difficulty securing health insurance.
Note: Foxx is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2607 which expands access to coverage for uninsured families by creating Associated Health Plans; H.R. 1118 which gives seniors more choices and control over Medicare enrollment; H.R. 1039 which promotes health information technology; H.R. 1086 which seeks to reduce health care costs through tort reform; and H.R. 2516 which lowers costs through a bevy of health care reforms.
###
Jul
28
2009
I am seeing lots of Roger Costner signs all over, especially down Celanese Road in Rock Hill. I go down there every morning and evening to get to I-77 going to and from my office in Charlotte. I have yet to see a single sign anywhere for Greg Rogers. Is this a foreshadowing of things to come?
Jul
28
2009
OK, this wasn’t in the Carolinas, it was in St Louis, but I couldn’t pass it up. This guy deserves a medal. He gets it.
Jul
28
2009
Here is a video I came across recorded by Fire Dog Lake, a political activist group. They caught up with Congressman Etheridge and asked him some questions regarding his thoughts on the proposed health care “reform.”
Jul
28
2009
President Obama is coming to Broughton High School (Raleigh, NC) tomorrow Wednesday the 29th. He is coming to push his plan to take over the health care system in the United States. The President wants a single payer government provided health care system. A system that will ration health care and favor euthanasia over extending the lives of many of our citizens. This system will also use your tax dollars to provide elective abortions as well. And it will put all medical decisions into the hands of bureaucrats instead of your doctor. Examples of this have been seen in Oregon and Massachusetts.
In these economic times I find it irresponsible to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to exploit Broughton High Schools history and legacy. President Obama has not gained the level of maturity that a President needs when making the decisions necessary to protect every person living within these 50 United States. Many experts far smarter than I when it comes to politics have pointed out President Obama’s propensity to act out like a community organizer than as a President. He even made a Biden like gaffe when he attacked a police officer and his entire department for acting stupidly. It is time for our President to learn from his mistakes and help us fix our economy. Does he realize that solid and stable jobs is the key to unlocking the door to economic growth?
There are many ways to reform health care without creating another Medicare or Medicaid. We first need to root out the Billions of Dollars of waste in our current government run programs. This includes cleaning up both tort reform and corruption with the government and private run systems. Set up competition and incentives to make health insurance more affordable for all. And darn well keep government’s role strictly to regulation and oversight. Let American ingenuity rule the day like it has so many times in the past.
Jul
28
2009
Your Bojangles’ chicken biscuit costs a little more these days. So does the sweet tea.
If it makes it easier to swallow, the prices have risen because the people behind the counter are getting paid a little more.
Starting today, the federal minimum wage goes up. That means employers must pay workers at least $7.25 an hour, up from the current $6.55. It’s the second increase in the federal wage standard in two years, a move intended to help low-wage workers better afford the costs of living.
But with businesses already struggling with the economic downturn, it could actually intensify the pain. Employers could cut jobs, put off hiring, reduce hours or raise prices to contend with the wage increase amid the recession.
“We’re already experiencing a decrease in sales because of the economy,” said Tommy Haddock, president of Tri-Arc Food Systems, the largest franchise in Bojangles’ system with locations from the Triangle to Southern Virginia. “When you have an increase in costs with a decrease in sales, it’s a double whammy.”
The N&O
Big ups to Jonathan Cox and Sue Stock, the two staff writers who penned this piece. Usually, increases in the minimum wage are accompanied by giddy articles that read like the love letters of a star-crossed 16 year old girl. But this article actually reported on the negative aspects of the minimum wage. Good for them.
There’s really nothing I can say about the stupidity of the minimum wage that wasn’t said in this article. No matter how much more you’re paid, everything you (and I) buy now costs more. And who’s to say you’ll even keep your job? The politicians who support this are nothing more than economic demagogues who think you’re too stupid to A) understand the negative consequences of this; and B) ever rise above the minimum wage.
Jul
28
2009
In my wildest drug fueled hallucinations I never thought I’d write a headline like that. Neal Boortz is a libertarian talk show host who celebrates freedom and limited government. Raleigh City Councilman Thomas Crowder is some wacko liberal who loves big government and wants to ban garbage disposals.
In response to residents’ complaints, Crowder recently proposed a ban on letting property owners park cars on their yards -not their driveways, their yards.
He has written a new ordinance that, if adopted, would require thousands of Raleigh residents to get their cars out of the front yard and possibly spend hundreds of dollars to pave parking areas.
“If it’s not a problem it shouldn’t be imposing on anybody,” Crowder said. “It’s an environmental issue. It’s a stormwater and water quality issue. … [I]t’s a quality of life issue.”
The N&O
Typically, even when Crowder is right, he’s right for the wrong reasons. This has nothing to do with the environment or water quality. This is about my property values going down because my neighbor has eight cars in his freakin’ yard and it looks like I live next to used car lot. You can do almost anything you damn well want in the privacy of your own home- I don’t care. But when your actions affect me (ie. bring down my property values), I start caring. Your freedom ends when you make my street look like a junkyard.
Boortz criticized Crowder’s newest proposed law on his talk show Monday as government overreach. Also opposing it was councilman Phillip Isley.
“This is beyond the nanny state,” Isley said. “This is a homeowners association on steroids.”
But they’re wrong this time. Here’s one reason why:
The rules would be a major inconvenience for people like David Morton, who has eight vehicles in his front yard in southwest Raleigh. His family parks four cars perpendicular to his driveway in a way that would be illegal under Crowder’s ordinance.
Eight cars? Eight freaking cars?! No, sir. Your yard is not a car lot. You can do pretty much anything you want in the privacy of your home, but your freedom ends at the tip of my property values.
