How dare they!
Yesterday, during Supervisor’s time, (# 8 at 5:06) John Stirrup asked for a directive to send the AG a letter thanking him for protecting their rights because he has filed suit against the federal government. John Jenkins apparently was the only one with stones enough to object. The directive was voted on and passed along party lines. There no citizen input.
Mr. Jenkins called the move political and said it should not be part of the governance of that body. Mr. Jenkins should be commended for speaking out and both he and Mr. Principi should be praised for going on record in opposition to this incredible outlandish show of partisanship. The BOCS has absolutely nothing to with the HCR law that just passed. They are a local governing body. If they want to individually write to the AG and kiss up to him, that is their business. Do it on their own time. They do not have the right to do it for the entire county and they do not speak for me.
They have pulled an end run. Those 6 Republican supervisors do not speak for me. They do not speak for all the citizens of Prince William County. They did not poll the citizens. There was no warning. Now my name goes to an attorney general whom I did not vote for praising him for wasting my money on something I disapprove of doing.
Didn’t they learn a lesson from the initial immigration resolution of July 10, 2007? John Stirrup must have that tingle going down his leg over this one. He seemed almost as giddy introducing the directive as he did that night we all saw him on TV at the Republican convention.
Stirrup, Stewart. May, Nohe, Caddigan, and Covington: You do not speak for me. Write your own suck up letter but do not do it in MY name.
For Starryflights electoral history seems to have ended in November 2008. Didn’t we have a subsequent election in 2009 — sort of a landslide which put that very AG into office? I guess Starryflights was busy and missed it.
Somehow, I kind of doubt that Al wouldn’t be asked again. Assuming he made a good contribution to that committee, I can’t believe he wouldn’t be reappointed again based on some letter he wrote like the one about their letter to the AG, or because of his involvement with the Coffee Party. I just really can’t believe that. But, maybe I’ll be proven wrong.
@marinm
Can I get an Amen here for Marinm ????
Was it just me, or did anyone else get the sense that Corey used the Vets as props for a photo op at the BOCS meeting yesterday? Right on the heels of the MJM article and blog threads criticizing him for, intentionally or not, insulting Vets at the Coffee Party meeting, Corey includes in his agenda amendment for Tuesday’s BOCS meeting moving the presentation for the Vietnam Vets ahead of Citizens Time. He’s then all over the Vets having his photo taken. Rich Anderson, who was at the meeting for something else said that he had not expected to speak but that Corey brought him from the atrium to speak at the presentation for the Vets. Del. Anderson then makes remarks flattering in terms of Corey and BOCS vis-a-vis Vets. Also, on the front page of the County’s web site today is a photo of Corey surrounded by Vets (www.pwcgov.org). Again, is this just me being paranoid, or is it theatrics on Corey’s part with the Vets? Watch the rebroadcast and see what you think. Moon – maybe you are more powerful than you thought in getting this kind of reaction from Corey.
To be fair, no one would believe on the basis of any letter the BOCS writes to the AG, that everyone in PWCS agrees with them. That’s stretching it a bit.
We need term limits for Congress too.
Not too get off-topic, but I’m not happy with how the Boy Scouts have changed since I was in them either, both as a scout and as a staff member at a scout camp. That’s great that you are an Eagle Scout – that’s quite an accomplishment. I can’t claim anything like that unfortunately.
The Health Care bill was passed by a Congressional majority and signed by the President. There was nothing unconstitutional about it. If it were unconstitutional, then so is social security, medicare, draft registration, the income tax and dozens of other measures.
The BOCS ought to be considering how they’re going to go about implementing the bill rather than opposing itl. Quit being such sore losers!
Yes, but somehow the Tea Party is all wrong, even though that’s exactly what they are protesting. Of course, I know, they are trying to define the Tea Party by its fringe elements and claim the whole Tea Party is a big angry mob engaging in uncivil behavior.
To me, that’s no worse than the vets being used as props for an article with the blaring headline “Corey says bad things about vets” (well, that’s not an exact quote – I forget now the exact headline – but reading that headline would make one think he directly said bad things about vets – and it lead to some posters saying he was unpatriotic, blah blah blah”.
But apparently, it’s fine to make examples of vets if it suits you, but if the opposition does it, it’s not fine. I sense a double standard here.
The BOCS has nothing to do with implementing the bill! What would they POSSIBLY have to do with that?
One could say there’s a lot of sore losers that their side didn’t get elected to the BOCS too.
Or that the Republicans got in for governor, AG, etc.
So stop with calling people sore losers who are just expressing their opinion. I suppose you wouldn’t say the Democrats were sore loses when Bush got elected his first term.
You know, I think Corey did a great job recognizing the vets… I understand the damage control and photo op issue; however, don’t care. I was really glad to see Supervisor Jenkins in the crew. He is a true gentleman.
@Wolverine
I understand WHY people have tea parties, and I don’t blame them. I also don’t blame them for being angry. I DO blame them for turning into mobs that intimidate and in some cases, threaten via signs and words.
I honestly don’t like where this healthcare bill took us. I’m not only concerned about those who are forced to buy insurance, but I am worried about the Vets and the TRICARE issue (that I don’t know much about, I admit). I also worry about unfunded mandates which, as Frank Wolf pointed out, will tax our Medicaid system. (Or is it Medicare? I always forget). I am uncomfortable that the bill passed by the skin of its teeth and that there is so much state opposition. The dynamics are explosive at this point, and so is the anger. Extreme prejudice against people because of parties and social leanings are ruining our chances of truly reforming anything.
Sorry…I know this isn’t a thread about heathcare. I’m shutting up now.
Starryflights obviously does not understand the meaning of “unconstitutional.” Just because a bill is passed by the Congress and signed by the President does not make it “constitutional.” That comes when someone objects and takes it to the court system, where the third branch of government makes a judgement as to constitutionality. Now, do you get it, Starryflights?
Don’t you dare shut up, Pinko. I, for one, enjoy your comments.
Getting back to the AG letter…the BOCS doesn’t have a right to do that as a local, governing body. In doing so, they give the impression that we all agree when we have not even been heard.
Local government needs to be just that. Else, they are wasting our time and money and misusing the authority we have given them.
@Wolverine
Welcome to the minority! Hee hee!
@marinm
Same with the Girl Scouts. Unfortunately, that seems to have changed….
@Posting As Pinko
I am curious Pinko, what part of post # 50 do you disagree with?
Well, now the BOCS will have to wait and see if their action comes back to bite ’em on their butts. Virginia, because of the GA’s passage of HB10(?) will have to take a slightly different strategy than the other suing states – and shoulder the cost alone. Perhaps after the cost is tallied, the BOCS will look even worse for putting its endorsement in writing at a time when our finances are pretty grim both here (PWC) and at the state level. The Board can’t very well point at other party members and say they were forced to take that stand by their party. They signed their names to this. If they want to be a bunch of toadies, that’s fine with me – just don’t imply that their constituents agree with them. Have the guts to write as individuals.
@PWC Taxpayer
If the BOCS is going to write a letter in the name of our county, we should at least know they plan to do so. This action was not on the agenda and was never publicized the way acknowledgments and commendations usually are.
They probably do this more than we know, and that bothers me. It makes me wonder what else they are sneaking by. To me, this is really not about the content of the letter or my opinion on the subject. It’s about transparency and being heard.
Does that help, Tax?
@Censored bybvbl
“the GA’s passage of HB10(?) will have to take a slightly different strategy than the other suing states – and shoulder the cost alone.”
What do you mean by that Censored?
Unfortunately some want to have it both ways. Starryflights doesn’t like them writing the letter to the AG about a national issue. At the same time, Starryflights wants the BOCS to spend money and time to think about how to implement the healthcare reform plan!
That’s hilarious!
PaP, here’s a WaPo article about how Virginia is taking a different tack.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/23/AR2010032304224.html?sub=AR
@Need to Know
Probably 450 comments in 3 different threads might have gotten a little attention. Elena and I just set the wheels in motion and the blogger/contributors do the rest.
I hope that the blogs serve to let our elected officials know how the constituents feel.
I need an “i” up there in Virginia!
@Censored bybvbl
Thanks for the link.
AG C. looks rabid in that picture.
It is very typical to define any movement by its most radical elements. The anti war movement was defined in the minds of Americans by Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink. There were plenty of people, probably 95% of the people who opposed the Iraq war who didn’t disrupt congressional meetings or camp outside of the Bush home in Crawford Texas. Plenty of people didn’t hang George Bush in effigy who opposed his policies.
It is just human nature to grab hold of the obvious and use that as a focal point. That is the reason it is so important for leaders to get hold of those who might detract from the real message of any movement.
@Moon-howler
The danger of any group is that its most radical members will take over and distort the mission. Then the group gets a bad name. Those who don’t wish to be associated with that kind of behavior often leave which results in the radicals holding more power in the group. I think we are seeing this with the Tea Party movement. The radicals have taken the spotlight. And I do think at this point there are many more radicals than anyone wants to admit.
Censored, you got your i.
Al, I thought it was nice to honor the vets also. Corey did a very good job of relating the history of the Vietnam War period to Prince William County. Many people don’t know that.
I will compliment the Chairman when he has earned it and in this case, he has.
I choked up. Those are my guys.
@Moon-howler
Me too. All I could think of was how grateful their wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and a grateful nation are that they made it home. I salute them all… and appreciate the fact that they were recognized by our elected officials. Corey was obviously enjoying the company of those vets, and they his… and that’s how it should be.
Yes, that’s how it should be. And I am glad he did the right thing.
part one. check
Part two ( )
@ PINKO ” March 24th, 2010 at 16:50 | #80 Reply | Quote @Moon-howler
The danger of any group is that its most radical members will take over and distort the mission. Then the group gets a bad name. Those who don’t wish to be associated with that kind of behavior often leave which results in the radicals holding more power in the group. I think we are seeing this with the Tea Party movement. The radicals have taken the spotlight. And I do think at this point there are many more radicals than anyone wants to admit.”
This is why I will not join ANY group. The message gets lost and I think it does more harm…coffee part included…just wait. It all STARTS with good intention but the bottom line is you CANNOT CONTROL people, places or things!
coffee partY 😉
I am just so disgusted with them all I could throw up. I was VEHEMENTLY against the war in Iraq from the get go, but I didn’t get to choose to spend BILLIONS upon BILLIONS there now did I? THe disaster we call health care in this country DOES effect everyone. Was this the best bill, NO, but it’s the best we have right now. You know what the difference is between car insurance and health insurance, you’ll NEVER NEVER NEVER NEED car insurance if you don’t have a car. One person on this blog right now, ONE person, raise their hand and tell me you don’t have a body? Anyone…..anyone……anyone? Oh, I see no one has raised their hand, because we ALL have a body, and self preservation dictates that when we get sick we seek help. Guess what else, you don’t get to control when you get sick, the human body is funny that way. Do people see where I am goin’ with this one. IF you don’t have health insurance and you get sick, YOU WILL SEEK HELP. When you don’t pay the entire bill up front, YOU jack all of our prices up. When YOU go bankrupt, YOU jack all of our prices up. When people get to choose whether or not that exist in a human body, THEN they can choose NOT to have health care.
http://www.coffeepartyusa.com
bwwwahahaha….no comment.
Elena, Bear said that the war costs were not added into the budget.
I am getting a bit tired of repeating this, but please believe me that the Tea Party is not a “group” in the sense of an organization. All those outfits you see with various claims to be the Tea Party here or the Tea Party there are not representative of the main force. They are mostly sideshows which unfortunately draw the laser focus of the media and the blogs. Old Wolverine is a Tea Party man but he is not a joiner, just a talker and opiner and inveterate voter. I tell you that your moment to see the “real” Tea Party will come in November 2010. Then you will see my elderly mother, a down deep Tea Party believer, at the polls, along with my elderly mother-in-law and a host of younger Tea Party believers all the way barely to voting age. (Just in my nuclear family I have seven Tea Party votes hard and fast.) They won’t be coming with guns in hand but with their voter registration cards.
I said before that there is anger out there. I suspect that what the President and his congressional allies try to bring down the pike between now and November will only serve to reinforce that anger. None of the Tea Party people in my acquaintance would ever think of spitting on a congressman or breaking somebody’s window or cutting a gas line. But you just let the media direct you to the ‘fringe” of any movement, diverting your attention from the main regiments of a growing army. And did I mention that our “underemployment” level is now over 20% or that the IMF is now pointing a finger at us over our dangerous deficit and national debt (AAA bond rating getting very iffy) in the same way they used to scold nations in the Third World. First time in history for the IMF to look at us like that. More deficit spending anyone?
Doggone it, Al. If guys like us are going to be used as stage props by politicians, we ought to get us a fee scale — maybe even hire agents. “Show me the money!!”
The Vets deserve all the recognition we can possibly give them. Al adds a good perspective to this. Maybe I’m a bit too cynical about Corey but I’m very frustrated by his 180 degree turns on issues many of us originally supported him on, and his selling out to development interests. My attitude toward him now is fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Al, I’ve said it before but will repeat it. We need people like you on the BOCS who will never give us reasons to be cynical.
@Wolverine
Perhaps we should join the Screen Actors Guild? Then, we could expense our VFW and American Legion hats.
@Wolverine
But, Wolverine, the Tea Party IS a movement. That is even more threatening than a group when a movement is being propelled by radicals.
Personally, I try to avoid movements by staying out of partisan groups and groups that can easily turn into something other than they profess to be. When any group gets out of hand, I am outta there.
Great, and I’m glad MH also took the time to say what Corey did was good. It was disturbing to me to see other posters saying just the opposite. For those people, Corey is in a no-win situation.
You know, after reading about the violence going on in Virginia and Nationally (glass breaking, death threats, a gas line being cut, etc., etc., etc.,), I believe that the behavior of the Chairman and the BOCS must change. The fact that our Chairman called a group he was unfamiliar with and incorrectly characterized as “against” him nuts, fruitcakes, and perhaps unpatriotic (the Tea Party Comparison) followed by a very partisan letter designed to pander to a specific population within the County at the expense of the rest of us just fans the flames of violence and cultural war.
IMHO, our Chairman and the BOCS MUST lead to cool down both the cultural climate and the rhetoric in Prince William County. When the first brick is thrown, it should be saved and delivered (civilly) to the Chairman’s office.
I think I’m not alone when I say that Prince William County has been through one Cultural War instigated for purely political purposes. That experience arms us to recognize when we are being lead into another one.
Mr. Chairman… don’t take us there again.
@Al
Give me a break – now look who fanning the Flames!
@Gainesville Resident
GR (IMHO) it’s not a black or white world (as some would prefer), It’s many shades of Gray. It is no accident that we live in a GREAT county with (IMHO) excellent public services. I try not to forget that.
As one of the citizens pointed out during Citizens Time at the last BOCS meeting, our Chairman and the Supervisors knew what the job consisted of so I have no problem criticizing them on a scale equal to my passion for the issue while not forgetting the good things they do (and the bad). (IMHO) one should keep this perspective unless they want the job. Many of them are available next year.
Since the job is part time and these guys all have “day” jobs, I’m not sure why any of them would actually run (or run again) in the first place. I thank them all for their service.
That’s very true about it being many shades of gray. Lately there’s been a lot of attempts by the press to paint things as black or white – in my opinion, in terms of the left and the right. So, you’re point is very well taken.
I actually don’t know why anyone would want to have the job of being on the BOCS. As you say, they all have day jobs. For me, my day job is more than an enough, and I value what little free time I have outside of it. In some ways, the being a member of the BOCS is somewhat of a thankless job – as you often get bombarded by criticism no matter what you do.
You know, I really don’t mind a few “rhetorical bricks” as long as they are delivered in a civil manner. I don’t ask that people agree with me, I just ask that they are open to a civil dialog from which we both learn. There’s a lot of that on this website.
I’m a huge fan of the Constitution and the First Amendment and honestly take pleasure in those who disagree with me because they are exercising their right to free speech.