Hot Springs Politics

Where oh where has the time gone?

2012-01-06T02:24:00.000-08:00

Politics in Hot Springs are about as exciting as watching paint dry.
I wonder when someone is going to run for office that really cares about Hot Springs and not just what will bring in the most money. You know we do have a national park within our city limits.
We need to start getting with the program and start making our water and sewer system as green as possible. Some places have already put in operation a system that recycles all the water through a natural filtering system that utilizes nature rather than big holding tanks and intense energy usage. They are raising talapia in the waste water using ponds like nature uses. We could certainly learn a lot from those towns that don't have as much water as we do. We just need to stop wasting it.

Andi Davis vs the Judge

2011-06-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Attorney Andi Davis was required to appear in front of Judge Marcia Hearnsberger today at 10am to show cause. I went as a friend of the 'accused' and to see what actually occurs between the 'defendant' and the 'law'.
The animosity wreaked from the judge towards Andi. Every statement was ignored and the judge demanded that Andi agree that taking an emergency decree to another judge was intentionally designed to get Judge Hearnsberger from denying the decree (my opinion). Judge Cook signed the emergency order when Andi's clerk had determined that Judge Hearnsberger was not available to do so.
I would hate to be a defendant in Judge Hearnsberger's court if the judge had such a dislike for my representative. It's politics is local again. Andi's a good Democrat and from her affiliations and places that she associates, I conclude that Judge Hearnsberger is a devout Republican.
I believe the point of the whole procedure was to make Andi look incompetent and the judge all powerful. It was like watching a stern parent tell the child 'you were wrong'. The child is left with no recourse but to agree in order to get the parent off his/her back. Definitely below the standard that I would expect from the judiciary.

Politics is Local

2011-04-09T23:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Saturday, April 9, 2011, Rep. John Vines (D-Dist. 25) came to the Webb Center to address his constituency about the current legislature in Little Rock. Judging by the turnout, not many people were interested. Claudia Reynolds- Lablanc set the meeting up and told me she had also invited District 24's representative Cozart to attend but he politely declined saying after the treatment he received after his debate with Jerry Rephan for the position he now holds he just didn't want to be subjected to that again. It turns out, I guess, he got his feelings hurt when we weren't impressed with his lack of knowledge about the position he was seeking . John described the ongoing struggle the legislature is having with the issue of redistricting. It has to be done after every census so guess what, we get to be the lucky recipients of this year's results. He said some want to divide Garland County into 2 or more parts, putting some of it in District 4, some in District 2 or even 3 with Little Rock and Conway. The result would be our influence would be significantly reduced and we would be effectively removed from the decision making political process. He said he thought some Republicans had a good solution and then some Democrats had a good solution but dividing Garland County was not one of them. He would stand firm on keeping the county undivided.

Ginna Watson brought up the issue of keeping local taxes in the school district in which they were raised, not sent off across the state to other districts. I told them both, her and John, it was bullshit. Schools from poorer counties or districts would get the short end of the deal while the 'rich' schools got the best of what is available. I was offended by anyone, particularly a Democrat, that would bring up such an idea in the first place. It reeks of selfish, greedy, self-serving right wing Tea Party ideology.

I just wish more people were concerned about what is happening locally so that this kind of mindset would be brought to light and people could see what is keeping them down and our state from being the best that it can be by educating everyone equitably and fairly. This does not mean diluting the system so that everybody gets a mediocre education, it means that parents and the citizens of every community have a stake in all children's education. The only way to make it work is to share the burden and demand that the schools spend the money wisely and not just on sports equipment. Parents have to be involved as much as possible. They must be reassured that their child counts no matter how poor or rich. If we have a lottery to give scholarships to every child, we owe them the best foundation to utilize that money wisely and effectively.

District 24 Representative Contest

2011-02-12T19:23:00.001-08:00

Today (Saturday February 12, 2011) the NAACP held an open forum to let everyone interested in District 24 Representative election scheduled for March 8, 2011 to meet the candidates, Jerry Rephan, Democrat and Bruce Cozart, Republican, and ask them the questions that are of the most pressing concern to the voting public. Judging by the turnout, not many are interested. I guess that will explain the Republican candidate Bruce Cozart being in the race.

Jerry Rephan, the Democratic candidate, was the most informed concerning what the issues are and how he plans to attack them when he gets elected to office in Little Rock. He explained very clearly his close family ties to the community, what he feels and knows are the driving issues behind failure in our schools, and the need to get children involved in their education at the grade school level and making them participants in their communities rather than future inmates of the penal system.

Each candidate was given 6 minutes to state their case why we should vote for them. Afterwards, the audience had 4 minutes to ask questions of each. Very few questioned Cozart, me being the first to raise their hand. I asked him if he was in support of the ERA amendment. He said he did not know anything about it but would research the issue. When I got my jaw off the floor, I could not hide my chagrin and disgust with a man purporting to run for an office while knowing nothing about an amendment that has been around since 1968 trying to get ratified. Someone that ill-informed is not someone I want representing me in anything, not even as dog catcher. He would probably have to research what the job involved and what a dog was. But I digress.

Jerry was so well-informed and forceful in his stance for improving our little part of Arkansas, I felt it was no contest. I hope anyone that reads this blog gets out there and does whatever it takes to get Jerry Rephan elected. We need educated, informed and interested people that truly care for us representing us at the local levels of government.

Garland County Democratic Central Committee Election of Officers for 2011-2012

2011-01-20T15:42:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 the members of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee elected Dr. Gene Shelby to the position of Chair for the coming term. He stated that he may be running for office again in 2012 so may have an abbreviated term if he does. The officers were the usual slate with the exception of Gene. I was wholeheartedly behind him for this position. He represents a cool head and a dedicated Democrat that follows the philosophy as well as the platform of what makes us Democrats.

The group decided and voted George Hozendorf to be our representative at the state level. This to me is proof positive that the Peter Principle is alive and well in Garland County. I hope the State committee has a broader understanding of the political process than the local group.

George refused to answer my question concerning the removal of those people that won't support the party doctrine right down the line. He put forth in an email to all members of the committee that anyone not supporting unflinchingly any Democrat in office he/she should be removed from the Central Committee. He stated that since it was 'his choice' he didn't have to answer my question or defend his opinion. Rick Saunders defended his right not to answer which led me to believe that if you aren't a sheep you're not welcome in the ranks. Their excuse is your opinion if it does not follow the "Party" is unwelcome and will be used by the Republicans to defeat any Democrat that runs. This may be the 'general' opinion of democracy in action but it aint mine. Representative Mike Ross voted AGAINST the Democratic platform by voting to repeal the Health Care Reform bill. I saw no motion to pull his membership as a Democrat.

When a person can't voice his/her opinion in a group of like minded people you end up with a fascist form of oligarchy. I was hoping that we could move beyond that with the removal of George but there are those that still believe 'passive agreement' is the better course for Democrats.

And they wonder why we keep getting our pants knocked off. If you won't stand for something you'll stand for anything. The Democrats let the Republicans frame the issues in the last election and with this philosophy the same thing will happen in the next one.

Jerry Rephan is running a great campaign for the position of District 24 Representative in Little Rock. The special election will be held March 8, 2011. I encourage everyone that wants to see the government be more responsive to the people then they will get behind Jerry wholeheartedly. His credentials are impeccable and his public service is outstanding. Whether you live in District 24 or not, I would like everyone to get out and work for his election.

I just started reading Griftopia by Matt Taibbi. I had the library order it for me. I may have to get my own copy because this book is just too good to not use as a reference and to just read over and over because it is so insightful and current. I posted on my wall in Facebook a passage from the book if anyone cares to read it. Or you can just go buy your own copy or wait until I finish it and borrow it from the library.

Half-assed Representation

2011-01-05T09:44:00.001-08:00

Today I called Washington to request that Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor support the filibuster reform action Senator Reid is bringing forth this week. It will try to make the filibuster more transparent and allow the Senate to over-ride it with a majority vote rather than the 60 now needed. (That is as I understand it, there seems to be some question as to the details).

The Washington operator informed me that Blanche had vacated the premises and was no longer available. I called Bozeman's office and the person answered with "Senator-elect Bozeman's office". Now if there is a 'vote' for filibuster reform, Bozeman can't vote , he's not sworn in, Lincoln won't vote, she's gone. That leaves Arkansas with 1 (one) Senator representing us until the newly elected officials are sworn in.

Thanks, Blanche, you did everything to help us that you could, you won't be missed by me.

Letter to the Editor - 12/29/10

2011-01-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Editor,
Oh to be a "religious fanatic/nut/bigot". I'm sure I would have all the following in the world if I "preached" the nonsense that so many seem to believe is the "truth". These people believe "words" that come straight from a book that was written centuries ago and is the "word" of those zealots that "knew" or "heard" God's voice speaking to them or what someone remembered someone as saying. Even the passages where Jesus is quoted is from someone else's mouth, not his.

The Declaration of Independence states that "When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed..."

If I understand "nature" as I was taught, it was a woman aka "Mother Nature" or "man's nature" referring to what most people do without conscious effort.

No where in the Constitution is "God" mentioned, not in the Preamble or any of the subsequent amendments.

The addition to the Pledge of Allegiance, "Under God", was added during the McCarthy years and the Communist witch hunt. In 1955, "In God We Trust" was mandated by law to be printed on all money printed or coined by the US Mint. President Eisenhower was instrumental in the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, and the 1956 adoption of "In God We Trust" as the motto of the United States. It was a long ways from 1776 and the Salem witch hunts years earlier. It was a manifest of a conservative Republican president that brought "God" into our government's actions and policy.

Now the "tea party" is giving a "gift" to the newly elected officials in a "workshop" about ethics and "separation of church and state". If these people who won the office didn't have "ethics" before they ran, what makes you think some misguided evangelist with questionable credentials will make them better servants of the general public good? And where is it mandated that the church CAN'T be involved in politics? I guess that would be under the rules of the IRS. If you want non-taxable status, you can't be functioning in any capacity that would sway public opinion in politics one way or the other. Several churches have lost their "tax exempt" status because of these "political" activities. Anybody that wants to exercise their right to vote and express their opinion is free to do so, they just can't do it from a church pulpit. Placing "political" signs on church grounds are also strictly prohibited. I am wondering how those "crosses" were allowed to stay on the lawn of the Nazarene church on Central. Protesting a political opinion is fine by word of mouth, using church property to push one's personal agenda is not. I would think they would be more involved in keeping their "tax exempt" status than re-interpreting the Constitution to meet their needs.

District 24 Election March 8, 2011

2010-12-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

It has been established that Bruce Cozart will be running against Jerry Rephan in our search for a state representative in District 24. He was selected by the Republican party of Garland County as reported in the Sentinel- Record. Write-in candidates have until noon January 7, 2011 to apply.
A drawing for ballot position will be held on or before January 14, 2011.

Now that that has been established, there seems to be more creditability being given this blog than just its name would suspect. I don't know who thinks I have the power to influence anybody in Hot Springs by what I say or don't say especially here. This blog is my opinion and as such it is open to criticism and conjecture just as any blog of its nature would be. If I have any influence at all it hopefully is that we live in a free country where the freedom of speech still exists. As long as I don't attack verbally or denigrate anyone in this blog I'm pretty well free to say whatever it is I think. Unlike the people that respond to this blog, they may or may not have the same high standards. I cannot account for the heat I've generated towards myself and others that comment here. I don't apologize either for myself or anyone else. That is their problem not mine.

I am and always will be a liberal, fiscally conservative Democrat who just happens to live in the South where that means nothing because Democrat is now another word for "Republican in Democratic clothing".

The Tea Party has taken over the Republican Party here as they have elsewhere in the country because people are afraid to hold accountable those in control of the nation's purse strings. It is easier to attack the messenger than it is to look to the cause and trying to rectify the situation through direct participation or simply calling their duly elected representatives and complaining to them for allowing the travesty that has occurred here.

Government cannot and never will be able to run on credit. We are trying and so far we're trillions in debt to every country with more fiscally responsible people running them than we have in Washington. The Tea Party wants to cut taxes, reduce government but for whom? When the jobs are sent over seas because people will work for less than an American, is it because we have a higher standard of living and can't work for slave wages while still protecting the environment and our own safety? Not according to the companies that have moved the jobs to China, Bangladesh or India just to name a few. We're too lazy and want too much for the time we spend at work. We want too much when we ask to have a reasonable work week (it used to be 40 hours), a reasonable and secure retirement and a decent education for our children. Forget health care, that's for those that can afford the high premiums charged by the insurance companies that add nothing of value to the system.
When the rubber meets the road (a euphemism that is becoming more commonplace everyday) we will have to pay the piper. Our credit limit is about at its limit. In some countries now, they will not take American dollars. Who will bail us out when the profiteers have taken all that we have to offer and then some?

People will always have 'crap' happen and the government has up until now provided a safety net to catch those from being bankrupted by conditions beyond their control. If this is a 'welfare' state than so be it. Bailing Wall Street out was WELFARE at the corporate level. Why isn't the Tea Party as up in arms over that as they are over little Johnny getting a 'free' breakfast at school?

For example, destroying the environment to produce profits for companies that want to produce natural gas at any cost is not going to make living here better and certainly will make parts of this country uninhabitable. Who will pay for that remediation? Three (3) guesses and two (2) don't count.

Pick your fights but I'm really tired of those who can't fight back due to time restraints (job) or financial insolvency being the 'bad' guys.

Like I said pick your fights but don't pick on the victims. It pisses me off.

Desperation thy name is Bill

2010-12-17T17:24:00.001-08:00

tsk...tsk...tsk Are we getting desperate? This blog is devoted to politics as anyone would assume by its name. Character assassination is best left to the Right Wingnuts. If you are one, I see you must be devoid of imagination or you would be out there pushing for whatever it is you stand for rather than typing stuff here that gives me chuckles and my friends uproarious hoots of laughter.

Oh the tangled web we weave when we practice to be stupid

2010-12-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Massah Bill, This is in response to your innuendo and 'Glenn Beck' political diatribe. I don't give a crap what you think of me and/or my politics. This is my blog and I'll say what I want.
As far as alienating Jerry's parents, you mustn't know them very well or even have any idea what it is to be a parent. Holding Jerry up as some kind of hero will never upset any parent even if they know all his warts and past indiscretions. I'm sure they know that I adore Jerry and think obviously that the GCDCC made the best choice running Jerry as a candidate against the Republicans. If I alienated you that looks like a 'good thing'. Personally, I don't care. If you're not who I think you are then you must have a twin. Continue supporting Jerry for District 24 representative. I'm sure he will appreciate your help.

Yea!!!! The Progressives Moved Into the Spotlight!!

2010-12-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

Tonight the District 24 delegates elected Jerry Rephan to represent them in the March 8, 2011 election for state Representative. The vote was Jerry Rephan 23- Q. Byrum Hurst 17.

Q Byrum stated he was the only one electable candidate due to his having already put in place a campaign organization that lost to Gene Shelby in the primary last Spring. Q Byrum citing all of his past relatives being 'good' lifelong Democrats, swore his allegiance to Jerry giving him his full support in the upcoming campaign, utilizing his volunteer staff to help Jerry hit the street running.. He claimed there was a ground swell of conservatism and both candidates shared their concern with funding state programs and the concern most people seemed to have which was witnessed by the outcome of the general election November 2, 2010.

Jerry expressed his concern and efforts to keep people out of jails and once in, to get them to be productive participating members of society rather than revolving door jail occupants. He also explained that child labor laws, Social Security, minimum wage laws, sweat shop reform were all Democrat values and issues. The Republicans' goal is to overturn all of those and return us to the era of the late 1800's when corporations ruled and people were little more than slaves to the machine. He explained that it costs $12,000 per year to keep a child in foster care. If we can teach parents how to support and raise their children in a safe and happy environment, all of society wins. Keeping children in their homes when its safe and secure is a better alternative to putting the parents in jail and the children in foster care.

We need to help Jerry get elected and help him keep this state from becoming another cog in the corporate wheel of forced labor. We are a Right To Work state which means we have an uphill battle to get wages that people can support their families on and not dependent on ArKids and Medicaid. Children deserve an education to give them a fighting chance to succeed. Parents need to be able to send their children to school with a full belly and warm clothes paid for from the wages they earned working for a responsible company.

Our taxes go to feed and support those employees that corporations refuse to pay a living wage. Taxes are being used as a tool to convince people into believing they are the ones who are paying the taxes and shouldn't have to. WRONG! Corporations don't want to pay anything particularly taxes for health care, retirement, education or anything that they can convince the public is coming out of their pocket.

Somewhere down the line, people will have to wake up and realize we are the Government. What WE pay in is what WE get out. If WE can't afford to pay in WE get nothing out. Washington's solution is to borrow and print more money. The states don't have that luxury. If Washington decides not to fund the states' needs, the states will have to raise taxes or cut social services. We are the 3rd from the bottom just above Mississippi and Washington DC on the poverty scale. Guess who is going to go hungry? Guess whose teeth will fall out? Guess whose children will die from lack of medical care?

The solution is to get a living wage, health care that is paid for by employers and not the state, retirement that is secured for the elderly so that they don't have to work to the grave and education facilities that actually teach people to be productive, involved citizens and not cogs in the corporate labor pool.

If anyone is paying attention in Washington, you know that the Republicans do not want anything positive to be accomplished by the Obama administration. With that thought in mind, what do you think their goal is for Arkansas?

Jerry Rephan will work to see that the people of Arkansas get to be safe, secure in their homes and able to support their kids without having to rely on the public dole. We can't afford to keep letting corporations off the hook. They need to pay every person that is willing to work a living wage that keeps those that have more from being over-taxed to cover for corporations' lack of civic responsibility.

Jerry Rephan neither approves or disapproves of this blog. The comments are strictly those of the editor.

Emergency Meeting called for District 24

2010-12-03T21:06:00.001-08:00

An emergency meeting of the GCDCC and the members of District 24 was called for December 2, 2010 because the person that won the election for Representative, District 24 November 2, 2010 was deceased. Rick Saunders was term limited out but it was ruled that he could stay through the next session of the Legislature but proposed to opt out.

George Hozendorf called an emergency meeting because Governor Beebe gave us 2 weeks to resolve the issue either through caucus or a primary election.

It was determined that we would have a caucus but I am going to check on the validity of the vote since the only people having a say in that process are District 24 residents. The vote turned out to be 18 for a primary and 21 for a caucus. I don't believe there were that many residents in attendance that would support those numbers. If the vote is not supported by residents in attendance, then non-resident members of the committee voted that have no right to vote.

I will ask Mr. Hozendorf to give me a break-down of the voting members.

The candidates running for the position of State Representative District 24 are Bill Wisely, Jerry Rephan and Q. Byrum Hurst. Mr. Wisely was introduced for the first time to the membership by George Hozendorf. Since this was a 'closed' meeting and Mr. Wisely is not a member of the committee I can not see why he was allowed to appear. Mr. Rephan wanted a caucus rather than a primary for costs reasons. Having a primary and possibly another run-off if 50% of the vote was not carried by 1 of the candidates would delay the seating of a Representative for District 24 until next Fall.

The Republicans have at least 2 people in mind for the position. It is imperative that we do the most efficient and committed campaign to ensure that we get a Democrat elected to this position.

...And the Fat Lady Sang

2010-11-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

George decided not to run for Central Committee chairman after all. That was nice, it allowed Gene Shelby to be nominated to that position. I hope everybody votes for him as I'm sure they will. Gene is a real progressive Democrat that was unfortunately a victim of the Garland County purge.

I think someone on the committee doesn't like Claudia Reynolds-LaBlanc and me as he/she /it sent an anonymous email saying something to the effect that it was better to be wise and think you're stupid than to think you're wise and be stupid. I figure since she and I were the only one's targeted with the message the point was that we 1) were either stupid or 2) wise.

When people lack the balls or the conviction of their opinion to express it openly and must display it in an anonymous email, it convinces me more than ever that the Democratic party is the party of wimps and dweebs. Even President Obama is being accused of not standing firm against a Republican agenda that is standing solidly against any compromise with the Democrats.

In this last Congress , we had a majority in both the House and the Senate. We also had a Democrat in the White House. Did we get anything other than a watered down health bill passed? Not much more than that. Obama was stuck with the fiasco left by the previous idiot savant vacating the White House so he was pretty well occupied with cleaning up his mess. Did he stand up for the people getting the shaft? No, he's giving the gold and all the rewards to the wealthiest Americans that donated the most cash to his election. Nothing to the people whose votes actually got him into the White House.

If we can't get anything done when we are in the majority it's damn well certain nothing is going to get done with a Republican majority in the House. We can expect Mike Ross to support their agenda as he openly and proudly proclaims he will not follow the Democratic platform agenda.

Until we get someone to stand up to the right-wing neocons and their efforts to turn us into a 3rd world economy, we are all in deep doodoo. People are now just beginning to go to the streets. I'm hoping that it catches hold here in Arkansas before it's too late or we'll all be going through x-ray machines and getting patted down to buy groceries, if we can afford them.

The Republicans want to stop 'earmarks'. That's a big PR piece of crap to keep everybody believing (except those who know what they're pulling) that they are working to keep fiscal spending under control and to bring down the national debt. The earmarks are already allocated in the budget. The 'earmarks' are for the separate Representatives' to determine where the individual monies will go and to whose state. It will have no bearing on the national debt. If Congress doesn't allocate the 'earmarks' then President Obama will. That will happen when pigs fly.

The Republicans already stopped the passage of equal pay for equal time in this lame-duck Congress. Women will just have to wait until 1) these old fogies die or 2) they get mad enough to quit buying into the Tea Party crap that undermines and devalues them at every turn of the screw and demand they get fair treatment and not a seat at the back of the bus. The last time I checked, the grocery store did not cut the price of my grocery bill because I'm a woman, the utility companies haven't given me a break because I earn less than the average man yet Congress aka the Republicans and our fair haired Blue Dogs believe we deserve less money for our labor.

As the Republicans push for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, Arizona's governor is refusing to pay for the transplants mandated under Medicaid and Medicare for patients that will die without them. The proof is in the pudding, dear ones, death panels are with us and it ain't Health Care Reform. Blame it all you want to on 'Obamacare' but this is just greed determining who lives and who dies. If you're unable to work because of a heart condition or other pre-existing disease, you're SOL.

The Republicans will stall the funding of Medicare and Medicaid to the states making them take the brunt of the costs. Taxes will have to go up since God doesn't really give a damn whether you're rich or poor. He/she isn't going to keep the heat on and the toilet flushing when you can't pay for it. I just hope people wake up and start putting pressure on this Congress to get real. There is no free ride. The only ones that believe it currently are the ones getting it, the rich and like everyone knows, no-one wants to give up power and money if they don't have to. Make them have to. Quit cutting their lawns and cleaning their houses.

Oh Boy Is It Hot or Is It Me?

2010-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Politics will be heating up very soon in Hot Springs especially in the Garland County Democratic Central Committee. Elections are coming up and our 'fearless' leader George Hozendorf as I understand, wants to run again. Considering the beating the local Democrats took in the November 2 election, I would think his best move would be to move to Alaska (I say that because they obviously tolerate anything or anyone).

The scuttlebutt is a lot of us want him out. A lot of us want to return to the Democratic values that define us as Democrats. When the one 'Democrat' that won sells himself as having voted against everything President Obama pushed through this convoluted, discombobulated, backstabbing, heel dragging Congress, it makes you wonder why he even casts himself as a Democrat. I was on a call-in talk show and someone asked Ross why he didn't run as a Republican. He said it was because he was a "Blue Dog" Democrat. Well, Mr. Ross, it looks like your little tea party is over. You Blue Dogs got trounced. Don't you think that the days of calling yourself one thing while practicing another are over?

The Republicans ran a strong Republican against Lincoln and she lost. They worked really hard to get her a win in the primary because they knew she was an easy candidate to beat. Bill Halter would have eaten John Boozman's lunch with the people of Arkansas. He's everything that we look for in a candidate; honest, hardworking, straight-shooting, roll-up-your-sleeves and dig in with the guy on the street kind of solid American. His goal has been and always will be to help Arkansans dig their way out of the miasma of poverty and social prejudice.

Now that the Republicans got their wish and have control of the House, we will see an all out attack on the social services that keep Arkansas families afloat. Medicaid and ARKids will become harder and harder to fund. Social Security and Medicare will struggle to keep the little benefits and payments to those receiving them. It won't matter that those services were over-funded by the Baby-boomers and the funds stripped by Congress to make it look like the deficit wasn't as bad as it was. The IOU left in its place is coming do so the next best thing is to shut it down completely or by privatizing and linking it to Wall Street which in essence is the same thing.

"Obamacare" will not be safe because the assault is already in the implementation stages. When they finally overturn Health Care Reform anyone with a pre-existing disease can be refused insurance again, anyone without insurance can be refused care at any hospital or medical facility, and anyone that thinks that their health insurance rates went up because of the Health Care Reform package passed and signed into law by President Obama, will find that their premiums are still going to go up because the cap that the Health Care Reform bill put in place will no longer apply. Being poor and working at a minimum wage job where you are dependent on social services to care for your children will find all of that gone. Companies like WalMart will either have to start covering all employees with health insurance or people will just die from lack of medical care.

The rich wanted their tax cuts made permanent and the people believed them. They believed it was to keep and make jobs. Small businesses making under $250 million a year usually don't hire people. They are hedgefund operators, lawyers, CPAs or other one owner businesses. Guess what? The rich don't buy from WalMart or KMart or Target. So those jobs will disappear as people are no longer able to afford even the 'stuff' made in China. The rich like paying less than the average American in taxes because it gives them more free time and money to enjoy their island resorts and private cruises. If you want a job they will always need gardeners, maids, servants, chauffeurs and nannies. College education will be available only to those whose families can afford the high cost of tuition. It will be another form of indentureship when the college graduate is forced to work for any company that gives him enough money to pay back all the loans his parents couldn't cover.

Welcome to the new America. If you don't like this scenario then I suggest you get active and start going to the streets and letting your representatives know how you feel about this country. It is ours not a corporation's. We don't have much time left. 2012 is just around the corner and the big boys that didn't play in this election are already gearing up to buy the next one. As long as we have the right to demand redress against our government we better take advantage of it. It may be the next liberty taken away.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-08-18T01:07:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Picketing the Debate

2010-08-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Friday morning, a group of YOUNG people from Fayatteville and other parts of Arkansas converged on the Convention Center to protest the exclusivity of the 'scheduled' debate. It turned out to be a 'canned' interview of the Republican candidate John Boozman and the incumbent Democratic senator Blanche Lincoln. The sponsors were the Association of Arkansas Counties. It was their 42nd annual conference. According to the Sentinel Record, "it was not a debate". Since the questions were pre-selected and had to be 'county-related' so the information given by the candidates must have been extremely informative. The reader can consult the Sentinel Record for all the details concerning the 'non-debate'.
There were about 50 people that felt strongly enough, including the Green candidate John Gray and Independent Trevor Down that picketed for the right of redress according to the First Amendment. Arriving at 8am to let the press and the attendees see how much it means to all of Arkansas to have an open debate, we were too late to see anyone arrive. Having been told the 'debate' would start at 8:30am it seems we were hornswoggled by the media. Everyone behaved civilly even though we were disillusioned by the lack of concern by the media for all persons running for the office of U.S. Senate. The fact that John Gray represents the values that used to be the foundation of the Democratic Party, he was excluded from the discussion.
When the right to know is controlled by the media or a group of elected officials enjoying a conference at Arkansas taxpayers expense, it seems the voters are the losers.
Channel 4 (NBC) and Fox news in Little Rock interviewed the candidates for their opinion on the picketing. Only one was included in the evening news sound bites. The voters of Arkansas need to get off their couches and ask the media to give them the information or allow the people with the information to give them access through the public airwaves. Censorship by omission is still censorship.
The bright spot on the whole affair was the turnout of young voters. Our country may be saved yet. They will not buy into the negative ads concerning "gay marriage" or "abortion" or "racism". They were all born after the law was passed requiring seatbelts in every vehicle, Title VII giving girls the same access to funds as the boys' football teams, Voter rights and desegregation. Their best friends may be gay, black, Latino or old or infirm. They aren't concerned by those issues as having any real bearing on what impacts them directly. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan that worries them. The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that worries them. Health care concerns them because they have family members that are denied health care just because the company they work for does not supply it. They understand that we cannot continue to fund a military establishment as a means of employing young people in America. It is counter-intuitive and counterproductive.
Pretending that we are fighting a war against terrorists that only feeds into the paranoia such as that surrounding the building of a mosque in New York City, is counterproductive. We have an infrastructure that is falling apart before our eyes and yet Washington blindly signs away our youth and our society with its needs, social and physical, to feed a Pentagon gone nuts with money. They are like a kid in a candy store, their eyes are bigger than their stomach as they hemorrhage our youth out on the fields of battle in places that are only necessary to 'test' new war toys. The machines that are too dated or impractical, they sell to other war torn countries to up the ante and feed our paranoia. Do we see any of the profits from the sale of these war toys returned to us as the primary investor as would be the case with Wall Street? No, a resounding NO. Congress just writes them a bigger check.
We need to hear from all candidates that feel Washington is out of control. We need to hear that there are alternatives to the same ol' same ol'.
We do not have to keep sending the" best of the worst" back to Washington year after year. We need to let the voters know there are alternatives out there.

Debate Convention Center Between 2 Conservatives

2010-08-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

This morning a debate is scheduled between Democratic Senator candidate incumbent Blanche Lincoln and Republican candidate John Boozman to start at 8:30am at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Apparently the debate is to be between 2 conservatives that you can only tell apart by their clothing. Ideologically and in principle they are the Bobbsy Twins. The one candidate that could give Arkansans a choice at the polls is not included and that is Mayor John Gray running on the Green Party ticket. The Blue Dogs (Mike Ross, our Representative from the 4th District included) do NOT support President Obama's agenda. If we have a Democratic President where is the support that is promised by voting for a Democrat? The current representatives will not support the President and the goals he is trying to achieve for all Americans. How can we ever get out of the quagmire the Bush years put us in if we keep sending the same people back that got us in this mess in the first place?

This debate will be picketed by many that believe in America we have a right to know what all the candidates stand for. Letting a vested interest determine the knowledge people have access to is stacking the deck in their favor. It is not Democracy in action, its fascism.

Town Hall meeting 3rd JP District

2010-08-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Councilwoman Cathy Kehely called a town hall meeting last night at Jones Hall that was lightly attended. It was to get input from the citizenry what they wanted or expected from a new police chief. Judging from the turnout, not much. The City Manager and other city departments were represented as well as the fire department and the sanitation department. I commended the sanitation department for doing an outstanding job of making sure our streets were clear of trash. If you ask they will respond. I called them continuously about the nasty neighbors I had that thought the city dump was right in front of their house. The City brought them more trash barrels and left notes telling them that was against the law and then sent a crew out to handpick the litter left on the street by these miscreants. These people finally got the message and my street is relatively clean. Ask and you shall receive. Great job by the city sanitation department.
Back to the meeting, surveys were passed out to all attendees to rate the importance of what they felt the new chief should exemplify. The questionnaire included amount of experience, education, civic involvement, racial diversity and fair treatment, managerial skills and ability to promote good will among the troops. It will be interesting to see what the majority of Hot Springs residents value in the chief of police.
The subject of a new jail was addressed as well. Since the county owns the jail and the city just rents space, it isn't up to the residents of the city to decide where and when a new jail will be built. The county residents like it just where it is and the residents of Hot Springs want it out in the county away from the historical Prospect/Quapaw district.
The city residents voted for a new jail but lost to the majority of the county voting the bond down due to the fact there was now sunset clause on the tax. In the meantime, Cathy told about visiting the jail that was built to house 80 and has over 200 inmates waiting to go to trial. A disgrace in a society that propounds to be so enlightened. A new jail will be built and there are those with interests in the land around the current courthouse expansion and county jail that want to build a complex right next to the historic district. The area has been fighting crime waves for years from people getting out of jail and walking into the neighborhood and stealing whatever is handy. I was robbed twice while sitting in my living room when I lived on Prospect. I never heard the guy enter my house on crepe soled shoes.
I just hope that the 'people's will' prevails and the vested interests in Hot Springs lose the battle to build next to the current jail.

Progressives and Fighting Back

2010-07-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

It is heartwarming to read someone else 'get it'. The following article should give everyone that believes we're under attack by the right wing nuts should understand and approve of the following article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072502756.html?wpisrc=nl_pmopinions

If that doesn't drive you off the couch, nothing will.

With the release of the papers on Afghanistan and Iraq in Wikileaks to the public, it should help cement the knowledge that we need to quit waiting for the elections to do our civic duty. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Constant vigilance is the only way we will ever retain our country.

Right now its controlled by corporations as a totalitarian government in which we are the suppliers of the funds to wars we cannot win and lifestyles we can only watch on HGtv. Taking Social Security to fund wars because they are too expensive to fund with just taxes is criminal and larcenous. Saying that Social Security is broke is like saying Fort Knox is a myth. Social Security was funded by the largest working group of people in the history of the US; the Baby Boomers. They paid more money into Social Security than was being utilized by the retirees on SS. That was the money that built the Middle Class. Congress had never seen so much money just sitting there waiting for the Baby Boomers to retire. Congress took it and paid down the national debt and left IOUs in its place. Now the debt is so huge, Social Security taxes can't make a dent in it so they are going after pension funds next. If your fund is in stock, have a happy life living under a bridge or with your kids, if they will let you.

Anyone that supports the Republican agenda better not be relying on Social Security to get them through to the end. The Democrats are as big a part of this scam as the Right Wing. They know what side their bread is buttered on. The war machine needs money, lots of money. They are taking it away from the old, the indigent, the disabled and the infrastructure of the united States. The dam that broke in Iowa was just a shot across the bow.

In Response to BenThar and Pink Puppy Political Watchdog

2010-07-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

I guess BenThar is a member of the Executive Committee since what he/she stated was not a part of the general meeting. As far as 'threats' go, do phone calls telling the person to 'back off' count? The DOJ frowns upon such practices as far as I know. When someone is restricted from expressing their opinion in a democratic meeting attended by "Democrats" there is something wrong and it smells to high heaven.

Maybe one of these days when the Republicans have gained full control of the country by fraud and deceit with the Democrats blessing by just idly sitting by and watching out of fear of being "unChristian", maybe they will wake up and realize what it was they gave up.

The "Party of No" is gearing up to win in November by denying jobs, unemployment compensation and filibustering every bill the Democratic majority has tried to pass. The economic failure will fall on the party in power (they hope). It will probably work because the Democrats like the GCDCC, are sitting on their hands and letting them. Putting Democrats back in office because they call themselves such even when they side with the Republicans is not good politics, its betrayal. If we can't hold our candidates accountable to the Democratic philosophy how can we expect people to support us when we are in power? We look like a duck, we walk like a duck, so we must be a duck. For too long we've been turning into "them" and its believed we can't win in Arkansas unless we do. My question is "WHAT?"

GCDCC Meeting July 21, 2010

2010-07-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

The meeting went as planned, no surprises. The press was there I guess expecting the question of George Hozendorf illegally voting Ginna Watson off the Election Commission being settled today which was brought up at the last meeting and then being tabled until tonight. No one brought the issue up so the meeting went as usual. The guest speaker was unable to make it but had his subordinates stand in for him. They wanted people to volunteer at the Democratic office they opened behind Perkins' Restaurant on Central. Anyone interested in canvassing or making phone calls were invited to just show up. Their hours are 9:00am until 9:30pm everyday except Friday.

I confronted Charles Tapp about the need for pushing more of a progressive agenda and he told me in no uncertain terms that Arkansas was a conservative state and if we wanted to stay in power we would have to continue along that line. I felt like the red-headed step-child at the meeting.

Fortunately, I got to go to the Hot Springs Village Democratic meeting on Friday, July 23, 2010. They have more progressives up there and they are more willing to speak out for the progressive issues that we as Democrats have traditionally endorsed. Unfortunately, the HSV guards profiled everyone that entered the Village with the intentions of attending the Democratic meeting. The lady guard demanded my drivers license and then informed me that having my birth date covered was in violation of the law and if a state trooper stopped me I would be fined or worse. I was greatly relieved to know that having my drivers license in a protective sleeve that only covered the back from being scratched or damaged (the magnetic strip) was going to bring down the wrath of God and my government. I am always happy to know that Big Brother is taking care of me.

Joyce Elliott was a guest and as usual I was so impressed with her. I hope everyone that cares about the fact that the Republicans have an agenda to take us back to pre-Depression times, are going to send her money or work on her campaign to win District 2 House of Representatives (Vic Snyder's district). She agrees with me that we need to stop apologizing for being progressive or liberal. Reagan put the onus on us and the Democrats are rolling over and playing dead.

Ms. Blanche Lincoln was a late arrival (she got lost) and had her usual "I'm the best and we're going to win in November" speech. Her biggest selling point is that she is at the helm of the Agriculture Commission. But the funny thing is that if she loses, the position will go to another woman who isn't tied into the poultry industry or the rice industry. I will get back with the details later. It was noted in Alternet that Lincoln is behind by about 20 points in the polls.

Congress is trying to pass a bill that will give small farmers a better chance of competing against the big agriculture machine. Blanche is against it because Tyson doesn't want small farmers getting in the way of their profits.

Title VII or is it Title XI?

2010-07-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

While having a discussion with a good friend, we couldn't remember the exact title number that gave women the right to the same funding in sports as boys' sports. Girls and women that are setting track world records, winning at golf and even successfully competing with men have that law to give credit. Before then, you were relegated to the role of bystander.
While researching it, I opened my Encyclopaedia Britannica and lo and behold I came upon this definition of government. I herewith submit it for your edification and interest:

"government, the political system by which a nation or community is administered and regulated.
...

Totalitarian dictatorship is perhaps the most modern form of government. Generally, a dictatorship is established when an organized minority seizes power by force or fraud and rapidly assumes complete control over the government. A mass party grows out of this original group and looks to it for the reconstruction of society; it is the existence of this mass party that distinguishes these governments from historical tyrannies or absolute states. Opposition to the dictator is stifled by the imposition of state control over all forms of expression including science, religion, and the arts; the institution of secret police and spying networks and the suppression or destruction of all opposing political parties. Because of the atomization of society resulting from these measures (even the family may be atomized), revolutionary organizations can find no structured base, and no totalitarian dictatorship has ever been defeated from within."

The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 5; Micropaedia, Ready Reference, 15th Edition, p. 393

I hope everyone reading that gets chills down their spine as I did.
To stress the possibility that that is the case here in America I submit the following article for the same purpose:

Washington Post
July 19, 2010
A hidden world, growing beyond control

The top-secret world the government created in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has become so large, so unwieldy and so secretive that no one knows how much money it costs, how many people it employs, how many programs exist within it or exactly how many agencies do the same work.
These are some of the findings of a two-year investigation by The Washington Post that discovered what amounts to an alternative geography of the United States, a Top Secret America hidden from public view and lacking in thorough oversight. After nine years of unprecedented spending and growth, the result is that the system put in place to keep the United States safe is so massive that its effectiveness is impossible to determine.

The investigation's other findings include:

* Some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies work on programs related to counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence in about 10,000 locations across the United States.

* An estimated 854,000 people, nearly 1.5 times as many people as live in Washington, D.C., hold top-secret security clearances.

* In Washington and the surrounding area, 33 building complexes for top-secret intelligence work are under construction or have been built since September 2001. Together they occupy the equivalent of almost three Pentagons or 22 U.S. Capitol buildings - about 17 million square feet of space.
* Many security and intelligence agencies do the same work, creating redundancy and waste. For example, 51 federal organizations and military commands, operating in 15 U.S. cities, track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks.

* Analysts who make sense of documents and conversations obtained by foreign and domestic spying share their judgment by publishing 50,000 intelligence reports each year - a volume so large that many are routinely ignored.

These are not academic issues; lack of focus, not lack of resources, was at the heart of the Fort Hood shooting that left 13 dead, as well as the Christmas Day bomb attempt thwarted not by the thousands of analysts employed to find lone terrorists but by an alert airline passenger who saw smoke coming from his seatmate.

They are also issues that greatly concern some of the people in charge of the nation's security.

"There has been so much growth since 9/11 that getting your arms around that - not just for the DNI [Director of National Intelligence], but for any individual, for the director of the CIA, for the secretary of defense - is a challenge," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview with The Post last week.

In the Department of Defense, where more than two-thirds of the intelligence programs reside, only a handful of senior officials - called Super Users - have the ability to even know about all the department's activities. But as two of the Super Users indicated in interviews, there is simply no way they can keep up with the nation's most sensitive work.

"I'm not going to live long enough to be briefed on everything" was how one Super User put it. The other recounted that for his initial briefing, he was escorted into a tiny, dark room, seated at a small table and told he couldn't take notes. Program after program began flashing on a screen, he said, until he yelled ''Stop!" in frustration.

"I wasn't remembering any of it," he said.

Underscoring the seriousness of these issues are the conclusions of retired Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who was asked last year to review the method for tracking the Defense Department's most sensitive programs. Vines, who once commanded 145,000 troops in Iraq and is familiar with complex problems, was stunned by what he discovered.
To view the video or read the transcript yourself, the following url is for your ease of locating:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/articles/

Sleep well, the country you went to sleep in may be gone before morning.

Democratic Party of Arkansas State Convention

2010-07-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

The convention was convened shortly after 10:30am with all delegates being recognized by county. Governor Beebe addressed the attendees as well as Senator Blanche Lincoln, Senator Mark Pryor, Rep. Mike Ross (Dist. 4) and the candidates running for the open districts. After the general meeting and discussion, Garland County delegation elected their representatives to the State Central Committee in Little Rock. They are:

Katie Gibson
Norma Newman
Peggy Yeric
Jackie Davis
Jerry Yeric
Gene Shelby

Congratulations to all of you, you represent the most committed of all of us to the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

The platform was approved with the addition of the implementation of the ratification of the ERA. I hope it finally happens. Being told I am a citizen with full rights is not the same as having them defined by the Constitution which has traditionally only recognized men. And no, I won't share a toilet with men (oops, I forgot Exxon stations), and no, I won't have to serve in the military at the front in case of a war (oops again, we have women fighting in the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq). Well, there goes the argument against the approval of the ERA. At least those were the most stressed reasons to oppose the ratification.

Response to Comments

2010-07-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

In response to Ben Thar's comments I offer up the following:
In my previous blog I did say it was the "ADP" which at the time I wrote it, it made perfect sense to me since it is the Arkansas Democratic Party. Unfortunately its called the Democratic Party of Arkansas.
Now in response to his other complaints about input to the Party Platform, the input as I said in the blog, occurs or is supposed to occur at the PRE-CONVENTION meeting held Wednesday, not on the Convention floor as he suggested.
Whether Mr. Thar likes it or not, I appreciate his input. I know that what I'm writing is not going out to outerspace unread. If he reads anything besides my blog he should know that every publication has to make corrections to what they have printed. I am, unfortunately, subject to the same type of errors.
This blog is to open up a discussion that is totally lacking in politics in Hot Springs. I can't speak for the Republicans but then maybe if they start reading this blog I'll find out if that is true for them too.

Pre-Convention Meeting july 13, 2010

2010-07-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

A meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Karen Garcia of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee at 5pm at the Democratic Headquarters, 608 Grand Ave. The purpose was to have a pre-convention meeting to inform all delegates what their responsibilies were and the times the separate committees convened Saturday in Little Rock.
Karen informed us that we were short the number of delegates allowed so that anyone that had signed up as an alternate was therefore elevated to delegate position. The GCDCC was also eligible to place 3 men and 3 women on the Executive Board. The Chair and Vice-chair being automatically members by default. John Martineau said he wanted to run for one of the positions and asked for the support from those members present.
The Party Platform was not going to be available for discussion until Saturday morning as the DPA Rules Committee hadn't worked it out completely for publication.

The first thing I was waiting for was an opportunity to be a part of the Party Platform. We, as a grass roots organization, must have input into the Party Platform particularly since it hadn't been formalized. Agreeing on what we want the Democratic Party to achieve in the upcoming cycle is the sole purpose of the pre-convention. How can it be "democratic" if no one says what it is they expect their party to stand for? It is the reason we have the Blanche Lincoln's and Mike Ross' doing their collective "what's good for me is good for Arkansas" hoe down in Washington. Karen never asked for input on what we thought our goals and aspirations were for the Party. Like sheep to slaughter, we are expected to shut up and 'vote Democrat'. It is the purpose of the pre-convention to get everybody to agree on what the goals of the Party should be and to present a united front to the general assembly Saturday. The last convention we went to, every other county had all their ducks in a row. When the dust settled, Garland county had no delegate going to the National Convention in Denver because the other counties had joined forces to get the delegate they wanted. The largest county committee got snookered. It looks like it will happen again.
It points up the one thing lacking in Garland County is leadership.