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By O.Hank!, February 5, 2013 12:47 pm

February 5, 2013 — It’s been a year since Spotsylvania’s new GOP majority has taken over the reigns of government. They promised big things: refunds to taxpayers, new industries, new jobs, tax cuts, more money for schools and public safety, more transparency, higher ethical standards, the sun, moon and stars…. Actually, they didn’t promise those last three things, but they might as well have. Let’s see how they’ve done so far….

First, the four GOP amigos – Ann Heidig, Paul Trampe, David Ross and Tim McLaughlin – pride themselves as strong, Tea Party conservatives who complain that government is the problem, is too big, spends too much and must be wrestled to the ground and tied up so it can’t bother us anymore. Typical Tea Party stuff. What they don’t tell you is that ALL of them were (Heidig is a retired government employee), or still are government employees. Furthermore, as they brag about their plans to chop government spending, with their new government job on the Spotsylvania Board, they now receive two or three government paychecks – plus benefits and reimbursements! Sweet! Government has been berry, berry good to them….

Well, you say…we have lots of government employees around here, so it’s unfair for you to point that out. Okay, you’re right. I’ll turn a blind eye on their employment status and hypocrisy and just look at their record so far. Remember that refund they promised? Well, they spent it. Remember the jobs they promised? The county may get 10 full-time and 40 part-time, minimum-wage jobs with the proposed Dominion stock car racetrack in Thornburg. How about school funding? They held the funding and are now micromanaging the school budget, much to the dismay of the elected School Board. Public safety? After criticizing the last Board for its improvement plan, the new Board adopted it but delayed funding the full implementation of it. And so on… Lots of talk, promises, smoke and mirrors — and very little action.

One area in which they have succeeded is repeatedly violating the County’s Code of Ethics. More on that in my next blog post….

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By O.Hank!, February 2, 2013 5:10 pm

Feb. 2, 2013 — Today is Groundhog Day.  ‘Punxsutawney Phil’ predicted an early Spring.  But reading the news out of  Washington and Richmond, it looks like we will continue living with the Republican’s Winter of Discontent and suffer more weeks of Republican obstinacy.

For the past four years, we have witnessed the constant drumbeat of Republican opposition to anything proposed by President Obama. Opposition to Obama’s budgetary and economic plans have slowed economic recovery and even downgraded the Nation’s credit rating for the FIRST time in history. This Republican temper tantrum, coupled with their plans to slash and burn government, continues to cause uncertainty in our economy. At a time in our Nation’s history when our leaders should be coming together to do what’s right for the country, Republican leaders continue to cry like colicky babies and for the first time since Obama’s economic recovery, the economy contracted during the last quarter of 2012.

Right on queue, of course, the explanation from Republican leaders and their right-wing noisemakers blamed Obama’s spending. They say we need more federal budget cuts.  But, looking at the facts, which are like kryptonite to right-wingers, federal spending is down, and in fact, last quarter’s slide is largely attributable to federal spending cuts.  Let’s get this straight: the economy slid due to federal budget cuts, and so Republicans want MORE cuts! It’s been stated before, but the media largely dismisses it, but you have to really wonder if these guys are deliberately trying to sabotage our economy for their political gain.

Washington is paralyzed by the hit and run tactics of Republican leaders.  On the state level, it’s not much better.  Here in Virginia – and in other places across America – we now have Republican leaders advocating nullification of federal laws. The latest salvo is in response to the President’s call for a comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence. Never mind that the President’s measures are backed by the majority of people, including NRA members, Republican leaders say they will ignore federal laws, and even our own Republican Senator Bryce Reeves pushed legislation to do just that! We know it’s a blatant smooch to the NRA and extremists in the base, but what kind of message does that send to our kids?

What is going on today is nothing short of treason. Yep, I said it. You think that’s harsh?  Okay, but what do you call someone whose actions are deliberately harmful to the country? What do you call someone whose actions deliberately advocate unlawful actions against the government and incite others to follow suit? Before you blow this off, let’s look at the definition of treason:

Treason – /ˈtrizən/ noun

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By O.Hank!, January 29, 2013 4:39 am

January 29, 2013 — This past week, we witnessed a Republican Party that is becoming increasingly out of touch – and desperate to hold on to power and the past!

On the state level in Virginia, GOP leaders continued their attempts to change the rules on voting and how Presidential elections are tallied.  They are still simmering over the President’s SECOND victory in Virginia, which propelled him to a second term. This happened even after GOP leaders spent last year passing legislation to disenfranchise minorities, college students and the poor.  So, this year, the GOP ramped up their efforts to make it even HARDER for these voters to exercise their Constitutional rights.

As if that weren’t bad enough, GOP leaders in the state Senate, split evenly between 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats, snuck in a redistricting bill on Monday, January 21, Inauguration Day, when Sen. Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), a noted civil rights leader in Virginia, went to D.C. to attend the Inaugural ceremonies.  With the Senate now divided 20-19, the GOP had the advantage and rammed through this bill.  Even Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, Republican, was ashamed.  Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell distanced himself from the Senate action, but whether or not he will veto the bill remains to be seen.

And as if THAT weren’t bad enough, Virginia GOP Sen. Bill Carrico led the fight to change the electoral rules of Presidential elections from winner-take-all to proportional allotments by Congressional Districts, which the Tea Party/GOP Congress gerrymandered in 2011 and which would give the GOP the advantage.  This paralleled action in other states controlled by the GOP that were won by Obama.

With these actions, the GOP motto has become: If you can’t beat ‘em, cheat ‘em.  Remember, this is the “values” Party….

Let’s face it, Republican leaders are mad!  They HATE the fact that Obama is President – and won again!  They will do anything to gain and keep power, including lying, cheating and stealing.  They and their shrinking base of old white guys HATE the fact that the face of America and Virginia is changing, so they fuel the flames of fear and use lies to divide people, and pass laws that keep people from voting and change the rules so they can win.  They continue to call the President names, and on and on and on….

Sadly for the country, it’s SOS from the GOP – a bunch of Grumpy Old Pfarts.

The day after the Inauguration, GOP Speaker John Boehner accused the President of trying to “annihilate” the GOP.   At the rate they are going, Boehner and his GOP/Tea Party right-wingers will accomplish this feat all on their own.  Here’s to their success!

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By O.Hank!, January 28, 2013 5:26 pm

January 28, 2013 — Republican Party leaders have no shame.  This past week, we witnessed history with the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.  In his speech, he challenged all Americans to reach to their higher natures, as he spoke of American values of community, equality, and helping the elderly and less fortunate.

Not surprisingly, GOP leaders and their hate machine (Fox, Limbaugh, Beck, et al.) tightly hugged their lower angels and sneeringly dismissed these things as ”liberal.”

When did community become “liberal?”  We fought a Civil War to maintain the UNITED States of America.  We tried a confederacy, and it didn’t work, and when the Southern states seceded, it was held together for a greater cause.  In Virginia, we proudly call ourselves not a state, but a “Commonwealth,” which is a community of people united for the purpose of serving and governing for the “common good.”

Equality?  Well, it’s right there in our Declaration “all men are created equal…”, signed by all those liberal founding fathers, and celebrated by Americans each year on July 4.  Enough said.

And supporting programs for the elderly and poor is a value we have supported as a Nation for almost 100 years – and even before that through churches and civic organizations.  Although it has been hotly debated since our founding, supporting the “general welfare” is embedded in our Constitution, primarily giving Congress broad authority to tax and spend monies to promote the general welfare of the Nation.  Since ours is a government of, by and for the people, our democracy reflects our values.  And since the majority of Americans support helping the elderly and poor, we have given our government and elected representatives “permission” to fund these programs, namely Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

This value of service, of helping “the least of these,” was also a commandment of Christ (Matthew 25), along with his two highest commandments – loving God and loving your neighbor.  So, not only is this value embedded in our Constitution, which again, is a living document reflecting our values, it’s embedded in the Bible and Christian values.  It is hardly liberal, and if GOP leaders and their noise machine and base want to dismiss it as liberal, then fine, I – and the majority of Americans – are liberals and are in very, very good company.

What really irritates me is that these same GOP leaders and followers parade their piety and wear Jesus on their sleeves.  But, looking at their agenda, inflammatory rhetoric and reckless actions, they are hardly displaying Christian values.  And we need to call them on it!

Now, we can discuss HOW to manage these programs to ensure efficiencies and cost-effective management, and that IS the duty of elected officials and government employees. But, today, GOP leaders and their base are not acting in good faith when they attack these programs, because they do not wish to contribute anything positive or constructive to that discussion.  They just want to gin up resentment with lies, and slash and burn these programs so they can redirect tax dollars to their priorities, namely a more bloated Pentagon and tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.  Their calls for a limited government really means that they want to limit government benefits to their cronies.

The fact of the matter is that in 2008 and again in 2012, the majority of Americans reaffirmed these values with the election and re-election of President Obama.  They are not liberal or conservative.  They are American values, strengthened by the new coalition of Americans that support the President and his agenda.

Make no mistake, though.  The GOP leaders will continue to attack these things, and we need to fight back.  We need to stay engaged.  Speak out. Write letters to the editor and contact our elected officials.  And turn out and VOTE!

Yes, VOTE!   Vote not only in elections, but everyday.

Each day, we vote to support people, products, companies and organizations by the choices we make.  Before you make that choice, whether it’s with your money or your time, find out if it supports your values.  If not, don’t invest.  We can start with Fox – not just Fox News, but all of Fox and News Corp.  That one is easy.  How about others?  Let’s work together to “out” those companies and people who are working against us and our values.  By doing this, we don’t have to wait for elections.   We can make a difference every day.  Each day, by making the right choices that reflect our values, we can make the world a little bit better.

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By O.Hank!, January 22, 2013 7:58 pm

January 21, 2013 — In his inaugural speech yesterday, the President challenged us to come together as one community, one Nation to tackle big things and move America forward.  The pundits are effusive in their praise of this overture, as if it’s something new.  But those of us who supported the President in 2008 and 2012 know that this is nothing new.  Barack Obama has been talking about the importance of community and unity for quite some time, and in fact, became famous for uttering these lines in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention:

…there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too: We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States, and, yes, we’ve got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.

Nor is it new that as the President continues to try to unite the country to address our challenges and opportunities, Republican Party leaders and their allies have already signaled that they will continue their strategy of dividing Americans and opposing the President’s agenda (see Joan Walsh’s piece in Salon).  I am continually amazed how pundits and reporters criticize the President for his inability to change the tone in Washington, as if it his responsibility and his alone.  Yes, he is the President, and he sets the tone, and like he did four years, today he asked for unity.  And like they did four years ago, Republican leaders will smile politely today, but tonight will ignore the call and continue to use vicious lies and fears to divide Americans and to stop the President.  So, who’s really to blame for the continued partisan tone in Washington and throughout America?  To the pundits who criticize the President for not being “nice” and schmoozing with Republicans, when will you wake up and hold those Republican leaders to the same standards?

As the President begins his second term, we are told that he is wiser and knows what he’s up against with the Republican, Inc., hate machine.  We the people need to be smart, too.  In 2009, we were elated that we elected the President, who espoused our vision and values.  We thought that we had done our job, and we went home.  We didn’t turn out in 2009 during Virginia’s state elections, and we didn’t fight back against the lies during the healthcare and subsequent battles.  And look what happened: Governor Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and a Tea Party Congress.

Folks, this time, we can’t go home.  We have to fight for our values.  We have to fight for our community.  We have to fight against policies that restrict voting rights and women’s rights.  We have to turn out this year and elect people who share our values and vision and will move Virginia forward.  We can’t leave it up to others.  It’s up to us.

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By O.Hank!, January 19, 2013 5:20 pm

January 19, 2013 — Today’s Freelance Star includes a story on the dual roles of that great multi-tasker, Virginia House Del./Spotsylvania County deputy administrator Mark Cole.  Among the many humorous items in the story is Cole’s assertion that he can handle both jobs by working days, nights and weekends to make sure he gets it all done.  I find that particularly amusing, because looking at Mark Cole,  one doesn’t get the sense that he has a huge metabolic rate or is burning a lot of calories, but I digress…..

More importantly, the story also once again raises the ethical violations surrounding Cole’s appointment pushed by the Spotsy Board’s new Republican majority, who either received from or gave campaign contributions to Cole.  In addition, according to to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Code of Ethics, the hiring and retention of Cole violates at least two of the tenets, possibly more.  In any case, his hiring does violate common sense and our intelligence when he and the Board try to convince us that out of 104 candidates, Cole was the most qualified.

All of this comes during the weekend when the Nation is honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.  You might ask what that has to do with the unethical hiring of Cole?  This is the same Mark Cole, who continues to push for ways to keep people from voting.  Not just any people, mind you, but more specifically, African Americans, Latinos, college students and poor people – people who traditionally vote Democratic.  Last year, he supported legislation to keep these folks from voting, and when that didn’t work in the 2012 elections, he upped the ante and introduced legislation to make it even harder!

Of course, just as he tries to justify his hiring in Spotsy, Cole tries to justify his voter suppression initiatives.  But, they don’t wash.  Again, his violation of there civil rights and voting rights violates common sense and our intelligence.

Dr. King died fighting for civil rights and voting rights.  That’s why we honor him this weekend.   And as we honorDr. King and remember the moral and spiritual movement he led, today’s story reminds us that we live in a county that is led by people who vote for and hire a guy like Mark Cole, who is working hard to undo the great work of King.  As we reflect on the life and work of Dr. King, let us also think about what kind of community we want to create and want kind of people we want leading it.  We can do better than this.

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By O.Hank!, January 7, 2013 7:00 pm

Happy New Year…especially to Mark Cole, who starts his new job this month as Spotsylvania County’s deputy administrator. I wish him much luck, for he will soon find himself frustrated with the inadeqacies of the General Assembly, where Mark Cole also starts his other job this month as Delegate.

Mark Cole, deputy county administrator…. Meet Mark Cole, member, House of Delegates (R-88). I don’t know what kind of administrator Mark Cole will make, but I do know what kind of Delegate he has been, and other than advancing a right wing social agenda, putting guns in bars and churches, and making laws that keep people from voting, Mark Cole has done nothing to help counties and local governments with managing their affairs, especially budget and transportation issues. Nothing.

Delegate Mark Cole knows how to say, “No!” very well, which seemingly appeals to the majority of people in the cushily-gerry-mandered 88th district, who keep sending him to Richmond. It will be interesting to see how that stingy, paternalistic attitude appeals to deputy administrator Mark Cole.