Just kidding. Apparently the cat has no one’s tongue on this blog! I have heard from all sorts of people who are itching to comment on various issues but there just doesn’t seem to be a thread for their topic.
So here you go. Another open thread. Now I hope to see all those comments!
M-H
Here’s a good topic:
Obama promised us ‘Change we can believe in’. But in Biden’s interview with Stephanopoulos, it’s clear that Obama will not prosecute any high level officials in the Bush Administration. In Biden’s words ‘I think we should be looking forward, not backwards.’
Would Obama care about prosecuting if it was one of his daughters that came back from Iraq in a body bag?
How can he not prosecute these criminals after all his promises to make a change? Was it all just feel-good rhetoric?
I was reading comments at InsideNova.com today concerning the Smith murders. It appears our friend Chris Royse is at it again. He was critisizing principi’s stance on 2nd amendments rights. I just don’t get this guy. He is either the most insensitive person in the world or the biggest political opportunist around. The next BOCS election is in three years isn’t it? I guess this guy just needs a big head start.
Hill should take responsibility
Your View
Published: December 21, 2008
I read with interest your Dec. 17 article regarding a Prince William County sheriff’s deputy who was arrested for the distribution of child pornography across state lines.
You can imagine my surprise while reading the article to see that my name was mentioned as the sheriff that invited the individual to join the Sheriff’s Office in 2003. I would hope that one day in the near
future, Sheriff Glendell Hill would start taking responsibility for the management of the Sheriff’s Office personnel and stop placing blame on others for his personnel’s actions.
The individual that was arrested was a volunteer at the Sheriff’s Office during my tenure and never held a law enforcement position.
Every sheriff’s deputy that was hired during my tenure met stringent background investigations including polygraph and physiological testing, thereby meeting the highest standards available at the time.
This testing was mandated for ALL sworn deputies in law enforcement positions during my tenure and to this day is protocol for most professional law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
The moment any sheriff leaves office, the job of every sheriff’s deputy and volunteer who was associated with that office is suspended. It is the responsibility of every newly elected sheriff to conduct
background investigations on every employee before reappointing or hiring them as sheriff’s deputies. Sheriff Hill is required by law to appoint his personnel every four years. Sheriff Hill has now had two
terms to conduct background investigations on all his deputies. I certainly hope that one day soon he will start assuming responsibility for those appointees and stop placing blame on his predecessors.
There are some very dedicated law enforcement employees that give outstanding public service to this community. Even with the most professional background checks, a personnel problem can arise.
Good managers accept responsibility for their hiring practices and continuously try to improve upon them. The day I took office, I accepted that responsibility and never placed blame on my predecessor.
I’m looking forward to the day Sheriff Hill does the same.
LEE STOFFREGEN
Former Prince William County Sheriff
http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/article/hill_should_take_responsibility/26579/
Here’s Royse’s comment. Didn’t that guy learn anything from the public butt kicking he just took?
Royse is despicable for bringing Principi into this. He should be ashamed.
Furthermore…why doesn’t he just blame the victims of the crime for not having a gun in their home? He might as well have…GROSS!
The “man” didn’t learn a thing! He lost the election in 2007, and is still sour about it in 2008, and had to resort calling out fellow Catholics he felt NOT worthy of Holy Communion, looks 2009 will be about guns with this guy.
There are many that believe the campaign trail lasts too long. In the most recent Presidential election the candidates starting campaigning two years before the election. Apparently, the PWCBOS campaign season takes three years. Mr. Royse has started very early, and still will get his butt handed to him on a silver platter.
Royse needs to stay away from commenting about that which he knows nothing of. Let the facts come out first before he starts acting like a know it all.
Is Royse suggesting we should all carry fully loaded side arms? Or is he suggesting that we have a loaded gun in each and every room in our houses to protect our families? A loaded rifle hanging over the fireplace? That may have well been the case during Colonial times, but nowadays, if you have kids, that could get one in some trouble. The crime that took place was a horrific one. And to drag Principi into the crime, as if he some how was responsible for what took place is just down right stupid. Is Royse suggesting that the poor family somehow failed to constitutionally protect themselves? And it’s Principi’s fault? Or is he suggesting that we should booby trap or doors, and shoot every person who approaches our home and call it our right to protect our family? It never fails to amaze me that their are such die-hard, pro-life Catholics out there who want to protect unborn life at any cost, who at any moment would take down another human being and claim it to be their constitutional right.
And Mackie…
Please specify which criminals that you would like Obama to go after…Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, armed forces recruiters etc.
Ivan: BOTH!!
Mr.Royse needs to hire a spokesperson now and until forever to keep him from putting both feet in his mouth. I have had 3 friends who have had family members involved in gun deaths one way or another. The last thing any of them wanted to hear about were their second amendment rights.
Good grief. I cannot imagine why Mr. Royse felt his words were appropriate. I cannot imagine why he feels Mr. Principi’s postion on 2nd amendment would have any bearing on this horrible tragedy. Mr. Bitter Boy needs to go immediately to sensitivity training!
Finally, I have no problem with killers receiving the death penalty. Now is not time for that debate, however.
My God! Under Royce’s view, the poor woman should have been entering her home with a loaded fire arm to protect herself? After all, it was “her right??!” For Pete’s sake, he is disgusting. I wholeheartedly agree with DG, MH, Lucky Duck, DB et al. Sheesh. Shut your trap Dude!
I read Mr. Royce’s comments and was going to respond on insidenova. But sometimes, you just have to let the comments stand on their own. Otherwise you give some credence to the comment. I was frankly appalled by his bringing politics into this tragedy. I sometimes think that when people make that kind of comment, their face has a smirk. It sickens me. And I wish that I could vote against the guy when he runs for election, but alas, I am in the wrong district.
DB,
Bush is an empty suit, but his stupidity is criminal. So he doesn’t get a pass.
Cheney has been running the show this whole time. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. He’s a war criminal. He ought to be thrown in a dungeon.
However, we all know these public figures will walk. It doesn’t have to be that way. But this is where the hypocrisy of those newly anointed to power begins. Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss.
But perhaps, if we make enough noise, we can get Obama to prosecute less well known figures who made pivotal contributions. Two people who leap to mind are David Addington, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, and John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer who ‘co-authored the Bybee memo defining torture and American habeas corpus obligations narrowly’.
You can see these two bastard lawyers in action here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9rn8w7D14
Did the newspaper yank Royse’s comment as inappropriate? I don’t see it anymore.
Before my comments get yanked from bvbl.net, here is what I said. at least I think it will stay on here–
“Hey, deficit is spelled with “i” in the second syllable. And by the way, tell Mr. Royce that his post about the death of two good people was noticed by many people in the community. Turning a community tragedy into a political statement was rank. GOOD JOB.
Greg, I sure hope you didn’t agree with his post on insidenova.com about the deaths in the Smith family and trying to make a statement about the second amendment and Principi. It showed Royce’s colors as far as many were concerned.”
A PW County Resident, I bet your remark was removed from the dark screen faster than greased lighting. I can’t imagine anyone feeling Mr. Royse’s remarks were appropriate, but then again, there is Greg. He sure defended what Royse did to Supervisor Principi.
Royse must think in limbo mode. How low can he go!!??
The Smith family needs the full support of the community and Prince William County. It does not need to hear the divisiveness of politics. Not only are the Smiths mourning, but our entire area is mourning the senseless loss of 2 of our valuable residents who touched so many lives.
Believe it or not, after an hour, it is still up.
A PW County Resident
This is what Greg had to say regarding your post.
Greg L said on 22 Dec 2008 at 10:14 pm:
” I haven’t seen it. I just got into town in the Syracuse, NY for a Christmas visit and am just now giving a cursory check to the comment threads and my inbox. I’d suspect that if Chris Royse wrote it, I’d agree with it, though. What he says might often make some folks mighty uncomfortable, but he’s pretty much been spot on in what he’s been saying.
I got a real soft spot for Barry Goldwater types that don’t mind pulling out the flamethrower once in a while. They’re my kind of people.
Dang, I ought to invite Royse as a contributor. He’s wasting his time writing letters to the MJM/News & Messenger, who only recently came to the conclusion that the rule of law is sacrosanct, but will undoubtedly start shilling for poor illegal aliens in short order.”
Latest exchange–
“Greg L said on 22 Dec 2008 at 10:14 pm: Flag comment
I haven’t seen it. I just got into town in the Syracuse, NY for a Christmas visit and am just now giving a cursory check to the comment threads and my inbox. I’d suspect that if Chris Royse wrote it, I’d agree with it, though. What he says might often make some folks mighty uncomfortable, but he’s pretty much been spot on in what he’s been saying.
I got a real soft spot for Barry Goldwater types that don’t mind pulling out the flamethrower once in a while. They’re my kind of people.
Dang, I ought to invite Royse as a contributor. He’s wasting his time writing letters to the MJM/News & Messenger, who only recently came to the conclusion that the rule of law is sacrosanct, but will undoubtedly start shilling for poor illegal aliens in short order.
A PW County Resident said on 22 Dec 2008 at 10:26 pm: Flag comment
Greg, I don’t care about the politics of this at this point. I am so glad to find out that you would agree with turning the devastating event of a mother and a son murdered into an attack about Principi. There is a matter of class and appropriateness. Sometimes, you have to put aside petty political arguments.
But, perhaps if you feel that no matter what he might have said, it is okay, then I hope people see what you stand for. Want to quote a bible verse to justify it? Maybe it is, “life means nothing as long as you get your point across.”
I am probably more conservative than most about many issues, but it was just surreal to be seeing a politcal hack job like that. So support all you want and people will know how you feel.”
Sorry to say if this is inappropriate for this thread. Remove it if you want.
A PW Resident, I am glad you felt you could come here to make your feelings known.
As you probably know, many of us have varying opinions on political issues. The 3 administrators here didn’t even vote for the same person for president, yet we all get along. I guess that is the difference. We can agree to disagree if good manners and civility are used. Differing political ideas are healthy.
The Smith tragedy, however, should have nothing to do with politics. Anyone who wants to turn it into something bi-partisan is either an opportunist, insensitive, or just a social misfit. Something this horrific should be bringing us together not drive a wedge like Greg’s words and Royse’s words have done thus far.
Here’s a fascinating documentary on the genesis of the Critical Mass movement. Such a humble idea that peeled back the layers of filth to reveal something beautiful and profound underneath.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=189314458200750949&ei=N1hQSdiTOIOorwKo9cz6Cw&q=critcal+mass&hl=en
How nice to know Greg would agree with “Cardinal Chris”. (Surprise, surprise!!)Politics has no place in the discussion regarding the Smith’s. The youngsters that have spoken out have better sense than this “heavenly union”. The true colors of these two and their ilk have been read by many truly concerned citizens, and will not be forgotten anytime soon.
I hope “Cardinal Chris” doesn’t haven’t high hopes of a shot at any office in Prince William County.
While Chris Royse is a turd and his comments were out of line, aren’t some of us sorta guilty of the same thing, since we keep going on and on about it, and thereby helping him by giving him the attention he’s craving? If the stated intention is to not let the tragedy become part of a political debate, aren’t we defeating the purpose when we politically attack Chris Royse by means of this tragedy?
Thankfully the driver of the car stayed at the scene, and this is not a “hit & run”.
Woman struck and killed on Dale Boulevard
By Uriah A. Kiser
Published: December 23, 2008
A woman has been killed while crossing the street in the area of Dale Boulevard and Forestdale Road in Dale City this morning.
It appears she was hit by a car around 5:30 a.m., but police are not considering it a “hit and run,” as the driver stayed at the crash scene, said Erika Hernandez, Prince William police spokeswoman.
Police closed all of the westbound lanes of Dale Boulevard to investigate the accident.
Stay with InsideNoVA.com for updates on this developing story.
Apparently, they’ve arrested someone in the Smith case:
http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/press_conference_to_be_held_in_regards_to_the_double_homicides_this_morning/26658/
They say it’s a burglary gone wrong. I worry about these kinds of things occurring with greater frequency as the economy gets worse and worse.
If you read the comments section in my above linked article, you’ll find some pretty bloodthirsty requests for brutal things to be done to the one who was arrested. I’ve only read 3 pages out of 7 and I’m sick of it. I hope we don’t see a replication of such savagery here. We’re supposed to be a place where people are innocent until proven guilty. That’s for better or for worse. It’s not an easy standard to adhere to. And prosecutors love to stoke the fires of public rage in order to hang defendants.
This is getting pretty obvious what you are trying to do ‘Mackie.’ It isn’t going to work. And to answer your question, yes, we are different. We aren’t a failed office seeker taking post election shots at our opponent. We aren’s a failed office seeker attempting to aggrandize our issue at someone’s misfortune. We are a blog, not an official publication. And most of us do not need to be beaten over the head to get a point across that should be part of having normal social skills.
Moving right along,………
Thanks, Chris. Does Dale Blvd have sidewalks and street lights?
APWR, your comment still there on the dark screen?
Mackie for “Official Anti-BVBL spokesperson!”
Mackie is nothing more than an ANTAGONIST!! He’s best IGNORED.
MH-
I’m not familiar with that area on Dale Blvd., and definately don’t travel down that way at night.
Street lights? Well, we can talk about the pedestrians of WG/Sudley. Pedestrians and those on bikes don’t wear the proper attire to be out at night time. They usually have on dark clothes and no reflectors(on clothing or bikes). This is a huge problem, along with the fact people do NOT cross the streets at corners, and just dart out where ever they want. Then moving on over to “Somber Sudley” where they don’t even have street lights. This is public safety issue on many levels, and especially for those high school students standing out in the pitch dark to wait for the school bus. I never understood the darkness of Sudley as a child, and even less as an adult.
Chris, I think you are going to have to keep beating this drum until the next election cycle. Perhaps Supervisor Jenkins can help you get the lights started. He apparently knows how to get things started where others don’t.
Slow, I don’t think so. It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it. Undermine from within.
On the news, 70,000 people per month nation-wide are out of their homes because of foreclosure. No one seems to know where they have gone or where they are going.
M-H,
It may be pretty obvious to you what ‘I’m trying to do’…but it still eludes me since I sincerely don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m offering my perspective and apparently this is pushing some buttons with you. But all I’m ‘trying to do’ is offer my perspective.
Now this is a very interesting comment. What social skills are you referring to? White social skills? Because people of color living in a white world learn to acquire a whole set of social skills that most white people can’t relate to. And because they can’t relate to them, white people believe those social skills are illegitimate. But they are absolutely legitimate M-H, whether white people like you believe so or not. One of these skills is the very real and very legitimate concern, when a violent crime is committed by a person of color, that other people of color have to pay a price for it. That price takes many different forms like police abuse, housing discrimination, job discrimination, white people telling you ‘go back where you came from’ because you’re not white so you’re not a complete American, etc.
I’ll give you a perfect example. In the comments of the Smith article I linked to above, was this comment from a black poster that reveals the psychological damage white people have done and continue to do to people of color:
The fact that the black person who wrote that feels they have to defend themselves simply because they happen to have melanin in their skin…it is absolutely astonishing. It is infuriating. It is also commonplace.
It is also a social skill white people have to be ‘beaten over the head with’ in order to get them to recognize that people of color bring a different set of fears and assumptions to the public table when something happens in the community.
This black person is simply reflecting the bigotry they have been subjected to all their life. Bigotry is a contagious pathology. This black person doesn’t even realize it but they are actually perpetuating the very bigotry that has psychologically wounded them all their life. The sins of the father are visited upon the son.
Come here…look at how deep the scar runs:
I am sorry you feel this way. Most people I know do not take on this sort of victim mentality. You assume a great deal about how I and others here feel. On the other hand, these diatribes do much to harm the integrity of this blog, which I believe is your intent. Your comments are perceived by most people as racist. I do not know what is in your heart, therefore I will not call you one. However, your behavior is very telling. Furthermore, you whine and advance no solutions.
The way I see it, you would be happy if all the white people moved back to their homeland, wherever that is, and left the country to non-whites. That attitude, perceived or otherwise, has no place in today’s society.
Your issues seem to run so deep that perhaps counselling would serve you better than blogging.
Have a good one.
Someone on the dark screen is so desperate to prove a point about DA Ebert that they are bringing back the Bobbitts. Funny.
They are silent about all the horrible goings on in Prince William County, probably because it does not fit the political agenda of the dark screen.
GH’s seem silent.
from Black Velvet by Alannah Myles
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
OMG! Purr-fect!!
What’s taken so long for anyone to pick up on that tune.
M-H, answer me this question. If all us “white folks” are such racists, how come we are getting ready to inauguarate an African-American as the next president? Seems as though McCain should have won in a walk last November.
M-H,
I’m not sure how it’s possible to undermine the integrity of a blog just by posting on it, but that’s definitely not my intent. Perhaps some may have that perception inadvertently but it’s not my intent. I’m giving voice to my perspective. And my intent is to present my perspective even if it offends. Others will disagree with me. Most here may disagree, but I will stick to my version of the truth as I see it.
And I definitely don’t think white people should all move away. But I do think that they have to make a lot of changes in the way they see the world around them. I don’t think this resolution is a one-off event. It’s consistent with our history and culture.
IVAN,
I’m guessing your question was directed at me. Obama’s victory is definitely a racial milestone. But the problem doesn’t go away just because of what happens to one guy.
Is modern day version of Jim Crow known as the ‘War on Drugs’ still around? If so, how come all those drugged up white kids at universities across the nation aren’t being rounded up and imprisoned. But the black and latino kids who sell them the drugs are?
What about the 2 million cases of housing discrimination that take place every year? What about the fact that resumes with white sounding names are twice as likely to get a call for an interview as resumes with black sounding names?
Has all that suddenly evaporated now that a black man, who never talked about race until he had to, who meticulously watched everything he said so as not to trigger all the stereotypes white people carry around about people of color, who betrayed a fearless warrior for the truth who was his spiritual mentor, made it into the white house?
Need more proof? You know, when George Bush stands up in front of the world, and butchers and mangles the English language, white people hardly notice. Or if they do, they tend to say it makes him more human, more approachable.
But if he were black…
Ivan, I just haven’t figured that one out. Maybe non-whites got 3 votes and white people only got 1?
Oliver Stone is one who beats people over the head with his ideas. Take ‘Born on the 4th of July’, just as an example. You go into the movie, already not a big fan of the Vietnam War and some attributes of American foreign policy. As you watch the movie, Oliver Stone takes us on a journey that sucks us in, gets us to agree with him, and then keeps hitting us with the ideas until we grow weary. He keeps trying to sell us on the idea that some things about the Vietnam War are bad, long after we have bought in. And he keeps it going, and going and going.
I believe that was actually a trademark of Oliver Stone’s generation. Now we just call it over-selling until you walk away in disgust.
The moral of this story is not to beat your allies up so they are no longer your allies. Find common ground and sell them on the idea. Mold rather than bash their brains in.
I’m going to jump on the third rail and say that I agree with a lot of what Mackie has to say about whites not knowing what it is like to get out of bed in the morning as a person of color. And, Mackie, I think your viewpont would be better expressed here by using fewer youtube examples and more personal ones although the videos are usually to the point. How do you think Americans should go about discussing race? It’s a subject that we as a country have pussyfooted around for decades (yeah, and longer).
My viewpoint is a personal one. When I was a youngster(probably many years before most of you folks were) I remember going to a restaurant in Warrenton with my grandfather. Outside the front door was a sign that read “whites only”. I haven’t seen one of those signs for a long time. When was the last time any of you heard the “N” word? The only time I can remember hearing that term in the last 20 years was at a HSM meeting a year and a half ago. I remember “poll taxes and literacy tests” in the South. I was around when the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act were signed. People of color are now elected mayors, councilmen, representatives, senators and even POUS. Our society is not perfect; but we certainly have come a long way. Utopia only exists in places like YouTube Land. I think we are reaching the point where we can behave as Pres.-Elect Obama says by “judging one by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.”
IVAN, I agree that we’ve come a long way, but a perusal of the darkside shows that we haven’t come far enough. Every crime committed by someone with an Hispanic surname is relished with glee on the darkside with the hope that they’ve found an “illegal’ – with the implication that there would be no victim had that person not been here. Fair (FAIR?) enough. But do they chase down the obviously white perps with the same fervor to see if they’re illegal Irishmen, Italians, Brits, etc.? The immigration issue in PWC is like a dousing with cold water in bringing one back to the realization that too much hate is barely below the surface.
I think as long as we as a nation or locality can continue to elect candidates whose credentials and character are more important than their skin color, we’ll make progress. And we still have a bit of progress to make on the BOCS.
I suppose people of color have similar gripes to what women in this country have. It’s ridiculous to me that we still have to defend Roe v. Wade. And as sympathetic as our male spouses, friends, political allies are, they are not living the same reality that we as women live.
Censored,
Your question is a big question. I think it’s very much a multifaceted issue. I think it’s important to not place boundaries on the discussion. I know this will lead to bruised feelings much of the time and maybe I’m letting myself use that as an excuse to get away with being mean about it. I think maybe I’ve done that with Moon-Howler and Chris and maybe some others and for that I apologize.
And I would like to give some personal examples that come to mind but I try not to give out any personal information that can be used to identify me later on. I feel free to express myself here only because of my anonymity. I never express my views off the internet. I’m sure this blog is being monitored by the police.
Censored,
It isn’t about hate it is about the rule of law. I agree they should be looking at EVERYONE not just Hispanics. Hispanics do not have the market cornered on the illegal alien front. There are several colors of illegal aliens and they should all be made to answer for their law breaking ways. The employers that employ them should be made to answer as well.
Once we get things under control in the illegal alien issue, we will be able to fix many other things. CA is going bankrupt because they can not pay for all of the illegal aliens. This will come to all parts of the us if we are not careful!!
You shouldn’t have to apologize Mackie if you believe what you are posting is your feelings. People have to get over themselves and learn that not everyone will agree with them, just as many on this blog do not agree with me and will most likely start an attack.
Chris,
BTW howdeeeee neighbor!!!!
Hey there M64!! Where the heck have you been hiding? 😉
Your court sure looks festive. You need to find your way over to Forrester Ln in Sudley and checkout the Christmas lights and moving items there.
Ivan and Censored, I agree with practically everything both of you have said. I have no idea how it really feels to wake up as a person of color and to know what anything feels like. On the other hand, I try to imagine. That’s really the best I can do.
Mackie, sell your ideas. My point the other night, in the middle of the night was, it was the wrong place. I wasn’t saying don’t discuss it, I was saying don’t discuss it there. I knew some of the people voicing complaints. It was a sensitivity issue.
Prejudice exists everywhere. No one race owns prejudice. I also cannot insult a black person into not disliking me because I am white. All I am asking that over extremely sensitive issues like when someone’s friend and son are killed, can we just walk on egg shells out of respect for someone else’s feelings?
I also get real pissy about calling other people racists unless it is horribly blatant. You walk in in a hood and a robe…that qualifies.
Welcome back /\/\3|)iç 64. Haven’s seen you around for a while.
Mackie, my first job out of college was in an office in which I was the only white person and everyone else was black. I was only there a year, but I learned so much…what it’s like to be the “only one”, and to experience the world as a black person in America. It was one of the key experiences of my life. So I understand what you are trying to say, and I don’t disagree. I hope Obama’s election can help us have honest discussions about race relations. I have participated in several discussion groups throughout the years, but it’s verrrrry hard to be totally honest…for fear of offending others, or for being perceived as racist.
I totally agree with both of Censored’s most recent posts. And I understand Mackie’s reluctance to post anything potentially identifiable. I think I’ve done a little too much of that on here and at one point I was convinced someone like Jackson Miller or Corey Stewart was probably getting a minion to try to research me! I know, totally paranoid, but still. GL outed some people on a personal e-mail from Elena a few months ago…I had been on some of Elena’s messages around that same time frame, but I wasn’t on the one he got his filthy mitts on. Man, did I feel lucky! A simple google search on me turns up a ton of hits…I’ve got an unusual last name.
I think Mackie makes a lot of good points on the blog, but I think almost everyone, at some time or another has posted something that maybe if they’d waited 24 hours before hitting submit, maybe would have changed their mind.
Anywhoooo, since this is an open thread…how ’bout them abs…Obama’s that is! Any comments?!