Sunday’s News and Messenger had a great article on the Coffee Party entitled Still Brewing. It featured Bob Settle, Bill Golden and Al Alborn all sitting outside a Woodbridge Starbucks drinking coffee and explaining the Coffee Party. The men spoke a little about their politics, which were surprisingly centrist and conservative.
Jonathan Hunley, reporter for the News and Messenger, apparently wanted to give Corey Stewart, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, a chance to clean up his act. He had been unflattering to the Coffee Party the previous week at their kick off meeting. It didn’t work. Stewart once again shot himself in the foot. Poor Corey is running out of feet real quickly:
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart isn’t buying that, however.
He said that if everyone in the Coffee Party was a “middle-of-the-road veteran” such as Alborn, he might have more respect for the group.
But Stewart said Byler and Park are just “ultra-left attention-seekers” who “despise” him and Supervisor John T. Stirrup Jr., who led the county’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
“This is just an ultra-left fringe group,” the Republican said.
Corey, Corey, Corey! This kind of talk has no political capital. The Coffee Party isn’t about you or John Stirrup. The Coffee Party isn’t about Annabel Park or Eric Byler. The Coffee Party isn’t about the 3 men who were interviewed for the story.
I find it frightening that the only people Stewart seems to have respect for are ‘middle-of-the-road veterans’. Does that mean that everyone else is an ultra-left attention seeker, a fruitcake, a nut, or crap? (his descriptors, not mine)
A review of the article will be forthcoming. Chairman Stewart’s words, meanwhile, deserve to be handled separately.
Why does the Chairman continue to shoot himself in the foot making derogatory remarks about his constituents? There are a bunch of people out there who see themselves as Coffee Party People. They do not deserve to be called names, especially by the county Chairman. This behavior sets a bad precedence. Do we assume Mr. Stewart is a member of the Tea Party and sees the Coffee Party as competition or do we just assume he doesn’t want to be re-elected? I can’t vote for anyone who gratuitously calls strangers names, not even knowing who they are.
Mr. Stewart ought to find out who the people are and go shake their hand. These are the people who want to be part of shaping their government. Aren’t those people the folks we used to call a PATRIOTS? What happened to that term?
@Rez
I didn’t say he HATED Vets, Rez. I said he INSULTED them.
And no, Stewart didn’t know there were Vets at the party because he never bothered to figure out who WAS there. All Stewart saw were people with different opinions, so he had to dismiss them ASAP for whatever reason.
Why is it important to know there were so many Vets there? Because Vets are the people who have made sure free speech is still possible. Yes, people who take part in the democratic process also protect free speech, but Vets have laid their lives on the line for our freedom.
There was a woman at the party who had served in the Navy for 22 years. And yet, someone who didn’t like her political beliefs called her “unpatriotic.” Her response was, ’22 years in the Navy…how much more patriotic can you get?” These folks are tired of having their patriotism questioned just because they believe differently than others.
Our Vets are getting kicked around by people who do not appreciate their service, by people who are disrespectful and unthinking. And I believe Corey Stewart is one of those people because he could not be bothered to think, “You know, these Coffee Party folks might be people I should actually listen to…they might have experiences that I don’t know anything about.”
I think that is an important point, Pinko. I still contend no one should be dissed. But still you made an excellent point about the vets.
I’m glad you said that. I’ve seen Corey’s patriotism questioned a few times in the past few days, and I think that’s really really unfair to say that about him.
Again, this isn’t a good argument. What if 1/3 the coffee party was made up of lawyers – just to pick a random example. Would everyone be running around plastering up headlines saying “Corey insulted lawyers”??
I never thought this argument made sense. If the Coffee Party gets big enough, it will have large numbers of people in all professions. If Corey says some nasty remark then, are we going to make up a list of all professions he insulted?
It is overstating, and oversimplifying what happened with Corey and his remarks, to say he “insulted vets”. People are running with this, calling him not patriotic and even more meaner things. I just think it is plain wrong. I am not defending what Corey said (although I’ve been accused as doing that on here the past few days) but I’m saying some of what people are saying about him in response to his remarks – are really stretching the facts. But, it makes for great great headlines!
If someone directly said “lawyers are xyz” where xyz is some bad term, yes!
BUT, Corey did not say “vets are xyz”, he said the Coffee Part was xyz (insert the various things like fruitcake, etc.).
Again, it is really bending the truth. And, the MAJORITY of Coffee Members are not vets.
In mathematics, if you talk about one set of things, and only 1/3 of that set of things belongs to a second set of things, and someone says X about the first set of things, you can’t say they said X about the second sets of things! It is an incongruent relationship and logically not valid.
But that is EXACTLY what’s being done here. It is stretching the truth to almost a ridiculous amount.
Corey may have said X about the Coffee Party, but he didn’t say X about vets! However, people are running around and saying he called vets fruitcakes and so on. No, he didn’t. Get real.
It does make for great headlines though – when one reads “Corey Stewart said XYZ about Vets”. People say – wow – what an unpatriotic guy. He directly called vets all those nasty things! They won’t bother to read the details, and then it will spread around like wildfire. It’s like the old telephone game where someone says something to someone else that isn’t true – and before you know it, everyone believes it.
I’m sure that’s what is intended by people who are saying “Corey Stewart said XYZ about vets” and we can see the result is happening – Corey has been labeled several times as being unpatriotic, etc. It’s perfect for people who hate Corey and want to plaster him with inaccurate labels.
t
OK, so we all admit Corey had no idea Vets were there.
Yet, people are running around trying to make it sound like he said nasty things about Vets.
I could take any statement Obama has said lately about Republicans, and find some group of Republicans (who are vets, who are doctors, who are teachers) and say Obama said XYZ about them.
I bet if I did that here – everyone would come out of the woodwork saying “how dare you say Obama said that about vets, doctors, teachers” (whatever profession I said he said those things about).
I just am sure that would happen, and everyone would say it was very unfair of me to say that. Just pick anything he’s said recently about Republicans – even something like “they are obstructionists”. If I said he said vets are obstructionists, I know a lot of people would not be happy I said that and they’d say that I was being very inaccurate. And, that would be true.
But somehow, in regards to Corey, it’s fine to say that!
I just find it interesting.
It’s not okay for anyone to say such things, Gainesville. The fact is, we dismiss people and their needs automatically. Even groups I don’t like have legit needs that must be addressed by our leaders.
Corey has a history of being disrespectful to those he doesn’t like. This makes some people very, very angry.
I’m tired of being dissed by and angry with local government. I am thankful to people who try to make sure my needs and the needs of my family are met. I am very simple that way.
And that’s the reason you don’t make those kind of statements. People like Elena and I come along and grab a headline about it. The vets in attendance were definitely pissed off. Everyone else was pissed off.
This should be an easy lesson to learn. Apparently it isn’t for the Chairman since he either:
1. Doesn’t give a crap or
2. The social skills/political learning curve is very steep.
And while we are on the subject, I will continue to post Cory-isms each and every time he puts his foot in his mouth. Maybe he will finally learn not to say inappropriate things at inappropriate times. Maybe he will learn to represent the county better. Better governance starts by not insulting his constituents.
Any time you make ugly references to any group of people whom you know nothing about, you run the risk of insulting someone. It is just an unintended consequence. Learn Corey, Learn.
That’s fair enough. Although, I wonder if the vets (even though they were understandably pissed off) liked themselves being used in that manner for the sake of making headlines.
That is definitely true. Although I would amend that to even groups you do know about – if you are going to make negative statements about them, you will run the risk of offending someone. So I would say knowing about or not knowing about a group isn’t part of the equation.
The vets were not pissed off that they made the headlines here. Why would they be? Most vets I know don’t like being referred to as ‘crap.’ We were on their side.
I didn’t say the vets were pissed of that they made the headlines here. Please go back and reread what I said in my post #61.
This is what often happens on this blog – someone says I said something that I know I didn’t say. It is clear I said they were “understandably pissed off’ by what Corey said. I said I wondered if they liked themselves being used in headlines for the sake of making a political point.
Let me try to say it differently then, just to clearly explain the point I was making:
I’m an engineer. Let’s just hypothetically say something like the coffee party or tea party forms (I won’t use either of them as I got pilloried earlier for saying something about the coffee party that was only hypothetical). Anyway, let’s say the ABC Party forms, that has some set of ideas about politics. One third of the members of the ABC Party are engineers. Then, some politician – we’ll call him Mr. X – says “the ABC Party members are a bunch of idiots”.
Next, some blog says – “Mr. X says nasty things about engineers”!
At first, I’d be really angry at Mr. X for saying nasty things about the ABC Party.
But, next I’d be very angry at the blog for using engineers in that way, just for some kind of political gain or for making headlines, or to get more traffic, or whatever.
THAT is the point I was trying to make.
I reread it and I still thought you asked how the vets felt about being used as headlines here. I don’t know any other way to read it. I answered what I thought was your question.
I said they weren’t pissed off that they made the headlines here. Perhaps Al can answer the question better than I can. I shouldn’t have tried to answer for the veterans.
Calling on Al!
I agree with GR. To point out some invented Macaca moment is a red herring as people like to say on here.
Criticize our BOC chairman for what he said, criticize him for his decisions and actions, but there is no need to invent a criticism that shouldn’t exist.
His beef was with the leaders of the movement and what he said was inappropriate. case closed.
And while I believe that Mr. Byler and Ms. Park have a right to their opinions, it sure sounds like to me to not be an organization founded to counteract bad behavior by the Tea Party but rather an organization founded on liberal versus conservative. And their public pronouncements seem to me to be disingenuous in painting it as being about just civil discussion. I have read some postings that lead me to that conclusion on the facebook comments and their own web page.
And by the way, I know none of the principals in this discussion from Corey Stewart to Eric Byler. What my opinion is formed from is their own writings and pronouncements.
What’s wrong with founding an organization that isn’t conservative?
I am sorry, I stand by our decision to post the story as being critical of vets. Corey KNOWS Al Alborn and knows he is a vet. It doesn’t matter if there is one vet or 45 vets, he insulted vets. Al Alborn is one of the Manassas area/PWC leaders.
I don’t think he intended to insult vets. I think he shot off his mouth without thinking, thus getting involved in an unintended consequence, which was us picking up the event.
Had Corey not ridden into office on the backs of others, perhaps I might protect him. When I think of who he has surrounded himself with and what those he has surrounded himself with have done to other people who might be considered political opposition, to Corey, I believe pointing out who was in that group he shot his mouth off over is small potatoes.
I expect Sharon Pandak might just agree with me.
Just a small case in point.
http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2006/09/21/finally-meet-sharon-pandak/
And that link came from doing a google search. I wasn’t pawing around over in the sand box looking for dirt.
Rez and GR, don’t take my word for it. Read what Colonel Davis expressed about his personal feelings.
@Gainesville Resident
Ah, I love Aristotle’s logic argument. Allow me to correct your construct and apply it to the case in point (I love logic arguments… you’re an engineer so I assume you also spent a lot of time studying logic in its various forms because of its application to systems).
In general terms,
All Coffee Party Members are nuts, fruitcakes, and unpatriotic,
x attended the Coffee Party (where “x” = any of the folks who attended the Coffee Party); therefore, x is a nut, fruitcake, and unpatriotic.
In my specific case,
All Coffee Party Members are nuts, fruitcakes, and unpatriotic.
Al is a Coffee Party Member; therefore, Al is a nut, fruitcake, and unpatriotic.
Now, do you understand why anyone who attended the Coffee Party meeting might be offended (the first example)? Do you understand why I was offended (the second example)? I’m asking from the perspective of the logical construct as insults are very personal.
To closed on a purely logical argument, all nine vets have the right to be offended by the Chairman’s comments. At least four of us registered our offense through various means (I particularly salute Colonel Morris Davis). I won’t speak for the other three; however, while I find your argument interesting, I also find it irrelevant (nothing personal) since you are not an involved party (no pun intended). Unless you are source of the target (one of the targets, in this case), you lack standing to really comment on or assume how others feel… and you do lack standing on this issue (nothing personal).
I’m a vet; however, I’m also a gentlemen. I don’t know you; however, I’ll assume you consider yourself the same. My father taught me that a gentlemen recognizes both the appearance of a slight and an actual slight and corrects both cases. It really doesn’t matter whether the slight were accidental or intentional… a gentlemen treats the outcome the same. It’s not something you debate. It’s not something where another opinion matters (such as yours, nothing personal). It’s something you correct… and quickly.
But, that’s just how a gentleman would handle it.
Regarding how do vets feel,,, I can only speak for myself. I recognize the issue creates “content”. I don’t mind that. If I’m unhappy with how I’m treated, I’ll simply go somewhere else or… I forget who said that famous quote to someone who was unhappy with how a blog addressed an issue; however, I think it goes, “If you don’t like it, get your own blog”. (Now I remember). Once again, you lack standing to really get involved in how vets or anyone else involved feels because… well… that standing thing (again, nothing personal).
ok, I’ve beat that to death. Circular arguments grow old very fast… so I’m done. I’m guessing M-h is also.
Is this a great Country or what (and yes, it is a great country).
And there isn’t anything wrong with founding an organization that isn’t conservative. When did I say it was? But when you try your best to make it sound like it is neither liberal nor conservative but just about civility when it might not be, that is the issue.
Deflect all you want about the issue. it is what I said that matters and most people will read what I said and understand it.
And I am supposed to know that Corey Stewart knows Al Alborn? When was that revealed? He sounded like someone who did not get too involved in politics until this coffee party. So now, he is someone who would come to the attention of the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors? Gee, that sounds pretty important to me.
What does Sharon Pandak have to do with this discussion?
Gee, have I done the terrible faux pas of disagreeing with you? Thus it was some ad hominen attack as you like to say.
But you are right–I can go somewhere else. And I think I will because your abuse is sometimes too hard to take. So if you don’t want to ban people but drive them away as your past two weeks have shown, you have succeeded. You no doubt have my email if I have misread you. But stop the talk about how mistreated you are until you look in your own mirror. you and Ms. Elena chose to start these threads–man up enough to take the opposition to it and stop complaining about it.
I don’t paw in any sandbox by the way. I actually read reliable sources and not just the dribble that you like to read. Then I make up my own mind instead of what I am being fed.
@Rez
My last comment before I watch “Chuck” (I can’t help it, I LOVE that show… and I’m not even sure what it’s about… I just love over the top spy shows where good guys kick the **** out of bad guys… ).
Rez, Gainesville Resident, and anyone else, why don’t you guys come to a Coffee Party and find out for yourself what we are like? We are looking for diverse opinions… come on down! I assure you, we are not nuts or fruitcakes and are very Patriotic… and you don’t have to be a vet to join!
It’s difficult to talk about what you don’t know; however, you can fix that.
“Chuck” is a frivolous guilty pleasure… why don’t we all take a break and watch it together?
…in different places.
Great post Al, I hope that Rez will just come and check it out, he doesn’t have even to say anything, just observe at first is he prefers.
Rez, I am sorry you feel that way. I have to be able to respond on my own blog and I wasn’t picking at you. I was explaining our position and how *I* feel about it.
I thought I had explained about Al serving on various county committees as a private citizen. Maybe you didn’t see it. Corey appointed him to his budget committee. I hope that clears it up.
I also probaby need to reiterate that I am not a Coffee Party member (not a joiner type) and therefore, I have not tuned in to their website.
And I hope you don’t leave. If we wanted you to leave, we would be upfront about it. 🙂
Thanks Rez. Again, my problem is with saying “Corey Stewart said bad things about vets”. He didn’t DIRECTLY say bad things about them – which is what that statement implies. Yes, he INDIRECTLY said bad things about them. That’s been my argument all along. I’m glad someone here agrees with me about that – as I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought that way.
OK, Al – I really appreciate you taking the time to write that. I’m glad you love logic arguments too – so we have that in common.
Well, I can’t argue with what you wrote – and with your own feelings obviously.
So yes, I do understand in your specific case how you were offended. Thanks for using logic to demonstrate why you were – maybe for me personally it’s easier for me to understand that than to understand some paragraph of written words!
Thanks again for taking that time to respond to me – I definitely appreciate it.
And, I’m sorry for what happened there – where you did feel offended. Certainly, I have respect for all vets, current military members, and past military members even if they didn’t fight in a war. In my job, I work with current military members (and some former ones actually) on almost a daily basis.
I’m getting off-topic, but I do appreciate what you wrote and thank you for taking the time to write it – it helped me understand where you are coming from on this issue. And, I’m glad to hear you like logical arguments too!
And yes, Al – you are correct, as an engineer – and an electrical engineer at that – I studied digital logic circuits in very advanced courses including during my master’s degree study – so obviously have a good background in that. However, I also like math and logical mathematical constructs.
I watch Chuck too by the way – that show is great.
I appreciate the invitation to the Coffee Party. I have an odd personal quirk about me that I don’t do well in large crowds of people – it has to do with a childhood of being bullied. Anyway, it’s one reason I kind of avoid meetings of groups of people.
But, you make a good point about it being difficult to talk about something you don’t know, so that’s a point well taken.
Perhaps sometime I’ll take you up on your invite to a Coffee Party meeting – I do appreciate that.
I hear where you are coming from Rez and actually I find myself in agreement with a lot of what you’ve said.
I do remember reading on here that “one of the Coffee Party members was appointed to a committe by Corey”. I don’t specifically remember it being said until very recently that Corey knew Al, or that Al was the one referenced in that earlier post about being a committee member appointed by Corey. I may have missed that – although usually my memory for these kinds of details and time sequences is fairly good. Anyway, it’s a moot point as to how those dots were connected on the blog. Still, just because Corey knew Al, and knew Al is a vet, it is still a little bit stretching it to blast up a headline that says “Corey insults vets”. It implies to me he insulted vets – and it had NOTHING to do with the Coffee Party – he just made some wild statements specifically about vets – saying something bad about their service to the country, etc.
At the same token, I understand how Al feels, and he was good enough to explain it to me in his post where he wrote at a level I could understand. I appreciate that, and can see how indeed he felt he was personally insulted.
Anyway, I forget what point I was going to make here – other than I hope Rez sticks around, if only that he makes me feel I’m not out completely on a limb here with some of my views. If not, well I enjoyed reading his posts while he was here – and they made the points better than I was able to, for the things we agreed on.
I’m not a joiner type either – but I do appreciate Al’s invite to a Coffee Party meeting. He has a valid point about talking about something you don’t really understand.
…”Chuck” was great… will he ever get the Girl? …we all need a “guilty pleasure” in our lives.
You should take him up on his invitation, GR. I think they have an event planned as a matter of fact.
Here is the link to the last incident with the vets. The comments are from Colonel Davis, so I am assuming we may consider it from the horses mouth.
https://www.moonhowlings.net/index.php/2010/03/18/corey-stewart-insults-coffee-party-military-vets/#comments
That’s a good question. I like “Chuck” because he is a nerd basically, and so am I. So I can relate to it that way, and would have been scared out of my pants like he was in some of the situations he’s forced to get into as a result of what happened to him. It is a great show!
Maybe I will, I might just sit far back and observe. I really clam up in large groups of people. But it’s not a bad suggestion, and I do really appreciate the invite from Al.
@Gainesville Resident
Darn G-R… your “nerd” observation hit a bit too close to home… oh well, what did Socrates say, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
@Skeptic
That was good, Skeptic!
Yes, I think Skeptic is on to something… I’m surprised how many folks like this show..
I think there’s a lot of nerds out there – probably some people wouldn’t admit that about themselves though. I don’t mind it being said about me, however. Anyway, that contributes maybe to the show’s success. Plus it is a good combination of comedy and an action/spy show.