THURSDAY OPEN FORUM

Here's Thursday's open forum. Be civil and enjoy.

Comments

[Sunny Fry]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/10/25/irate_and_independent_98867.html

Aside from the clearly-state-the-obvious nature of the article, this tickled me:

"Then there are tax problems for Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y.; questionable loans for Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.; and adulterous liaisons for Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C."

Why?

Because Republican scandals always involve sex, and Democratic scandals always involve money -- and I think it's based on what each party forces its representatives to pretend, that Republicans never get jiggy wid it and Democrats "don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love!"

[RMHarris]

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment, Sunny (which is not unusual between me and thee).

Both parties love to wallow in the hypocrisy of self-righteousness; the Dems wailing about all the "rich fat cats" while they stuff their own pockets with clandestine largesse, the Repubs scolding the population on morals issues while themselves sneaking off for a "nooner," frequenting airport men's rooms, or hiking the Appalachian Trail in Brazil.

Wrap all that up into a fishy package containing also "hope and change" and "You-lie" 'obstructionists' and it is little wonder the public is fed-up, ticked-off, disgusted, and angry about their elected officials.

For many years I argued against term limits for Congress, believing that we have term limits already --the ballot box. But I've changed my mind on that. Incumbency is so difficult to dislodge, and the public so generally apathetic, that term limits now seems a workable option to me -- a real, viable "public option."

[RMHarris]

One more post and I'm outta here until tonight: here's an AP piece breaking down the House bill.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/washington/6704315.html

Speaking of Joe Wilson's outburst of "You lie," relating to coverage for illegal aliens, here's a few paragraphs from the AP piece, on that issue and others. Ol' Joe wasn't that far off the mark:

"House leaders are also still grappling with illegal immigration, specifically whether illegal immigrants — who would be barred from getting federal subsidies — should be able to purchase insurance coverage within new government "exchanges" using their own money.

"The White House does not want this allowed, but some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other Democrats view that position as too extreme. Caucus officials were scheduled to meet with Obama at the White House on Thursday.

"The House bill would provide government subsidies beginning in 2013 to extend coverage to millions who now lack it. Self-employed people and small businesses could buy coverage through the new exchanges, either from a private insurer or a new government plan that would compete. All the plans sold through the exchange would have to follow basic consumer protection rules.

"Seniors in traditional Medicare would get improved preventive benefits. Also, the prescription coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole" would be gradually closed. However, seniors signed up for private insurance plans through Medicare could lose some benefits, as the bill scales back extra payments that the plans have been getting."

[Joe]

Sunny,
Most politicians, regardless of party affiliation, love power, and the trappings that go along with it - sex, money, etc. Ones that don't, can't be controlled. We call them One Termers.

[KaCee]

Sad, but true, Joe.

[prefab sprout]

After reading the latest updates on Atlantic Beach ( the Police Chief getting arrested, the ongoing Retha Pearce mess, the challenges to almost half the votes in the latest "election" ) I really am getting tired of the same old stuff.

The whole thing has become one long lasting and never ending series of embarrassments. And I don't only refer to the folks that are at the center of the soap opera.

I am more outraged at the total indifference of the outside authority's that have taken a "hands off" policy toward what is in essence nothing more than an ongoing criminal enterprise than I am at the AB players themselves. Why has a special Grand Jury never been impaneled by Greg Hembree to investigate this "town"? Why has SLED not made it a priority to investigate the obvious entrenched criminality there? Aside from Tracey Edge, this benign indifference from those in power is shameful.

And of course the Sun News has been one of the biggest aiders and abettors in this farce. If they would devote some resources and make this ongoing blight into a "Five Rivers" type story (and how hard would that be?) it sure would help.

[jim sefter]

It would take 3 David Wren's on hyper-adrenaline to untangle the convoluted mess that Atlantic Beach has become.

[Robert Morris]

Prefab, what you're missing about the town of Atlantic Beach is that, unlike Five Rivers, there's not really a central "source" of problems right now. Power shifts so rapidly there of late, how could there be?

For example, since the end of the Armstrong-Connor administration, it's not really the town government that's the source of the problems. The town's current adminstrator, William Booker, and its previous two, Kenneth McIver and Charles Williams, have all been pretty straightforward and honest guys. Williams (the Municipal Association guy) has a terrific reputation around the state, and McIver is extremely well thought of around Horry County. I've had less dealings with Booker since I've been doing this job (though he also seems a straight shooter), but when I was reporting on Atlantic Beach, I filed dozens of FOIA requests for extensive financial documentation on the town and never had any of them turned down or even disputed, a pretty good sign to me that things were on the up-and-up.

Instead, what you're describing are the disparate actions of a number of individuals. How do you "investigate" why Retha Pierce (a retired educator, a devout church lady and by all accounts up to a couple of years ago a generally decent woman) suddenly can't stay out of trouble with the law? Hit-and-run, DUI, resisting arrest - yes, they are scandalous, but they don't indicate some conspiracy. And the reason she stays in office is that people love her.

Rizzo's DUI is frankly less of a concern to me. The man drank too much and got caught moving his vehicle - he should probably be suspended without pay for a little while, but I don't think it suggests he's unfit for the badge. And the fact that he was so up front about it afterward, admitting his guilt and even commending the arresting officer, was exactly the right course of action. And, again, it's just the dumb move of one guy.

The latest move, the election of two write-in candidates with questionable residency in the town, is probably more troubling. They are certainly exploiting the time-honored tradition of taking advantage of the town's "transient electorate:" the easily-persuadable motel residents who now form a pretty tough-to-beat voting bloc with the similar-minded public-housing residents. The ability to use those groups to hijack elections is based on the town's small and possibly shrinking base of actual residents, but again is no conspiracy. We've described the pattern at length.

All of this of course ignores the core of good people who live or own property in Atlantic Beach and are part of or at least deeply mindful of the town's proud history, and who want to see it prosper again. The older generation's ranks are being bolstered by younger people who have found memories of Atlantic Beach vacations as children, who are now building new homes there, one by one. Unfortunately, that process has yet to create a real full-time stable middle class that wouldn't put up with these ballot-box shenanigans.

But here's the larger consideration: We struggle to get a reporter covering every viable government around here - for example all of Brunswick County and Georgetown County, with their tens of thousands of residents, each have only one reporter covering them. Since my move to editorials, David is our only full time investigative reporter. Why tie him up, or Greg Hembree's office, or anyone else, investigating the actions that only directly affect a town of 150 or so?

The story of Atlantic Beach is a sad one, and certainly an interesting one. But the repeated conclusion of so many people who invest their best intentions and best efforts there is that such a small town, where the governing structures are so fragile, is ultimately not worth the effort it would take to correct it from the outside.

[Patrick]

Sunny, Gov. Spitzer called for you. Said something 'bout money.

[Patrick]

Joe here is a perceptive post from you in June.
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Hey Robert,
Does the Chamber of Commerce pay you guys directly, or is it funneled through some beachwear store?

Posted by: Joe | June 17, 2009 at 09:47 AM
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Another Beachwear store burned down. What is it one per year to supplant lost income?

[Patrick]

Robert:
"...investigating the actions that only directly affect a town of 150 or so?"

I beg to differ! Hembree's office is dealing with a squall of decisions made in Atlantic Beach for a Bike Rally, and then a college boy was shot. Myrtle Beach has suffered and will suffer in the future for decisions made up there. For lack of a better phrase we should be their Master, as their policies affect walk-outs at restuarants, and life and limb, and our police and taxes, and bringing out the SLED folks. 150??? Their policies might affect 15,000 or 150,000 if you are living in Ohio or W.Va planning to come here in May.

[Patrick]

Pelosi Breaks Pledge to Put Final Health Care Bill Online for 72 Hours Before Vote...

Yawn. She graduated from the Obama School of Promise.

[Patrick]

1.5 million
15 million even?

[Bob Williams1]

"The whole thing has become one long lasting and never ending series of embarrassments. And I don't only refer to the folks that are at the center of the soap opera."

Kind of like the MB mayoral and city council elections, just not as well funded.........! How is that SLED investigation proceeding?

[Patrick]

If you are referencing my use of 'SLED' I meant their involvement managing the rally.

[Joe]

"Another Beachwear store burned down. What is it one per year to supplant lost income?"

Some years two burn down.