Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Election Commission Meeting Announced

Virginia (Ginna) Watson has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission in Little Rock. Tammy Lambert did refuse to swear George Hozendorf in as commissioner on the Election Commission of Garland County. To do so would have violated the law concerning contested elections et al. I will forego my opinion because everyone that votes has a dog in this fight.

July 5, 2010, a meeting of the Election Commission has been called and publicly announced in the Sentinel Record yesterday, to be convened at 10am in the Election Commission Building on Ouachita Avenue. The public is invited to attend. I hope everyone that is concerned for their right to vote and the sanctity of the Commission attends.

Along a different tack, I am adding my opinion of the disaster we are all facing in the Gulf of Mexico. It is an editorial I submitted to another website. I hope you understand my concerns and if you believe in God now would be a good time to pray.

Never before in the history of our planet have we done so much damage in so little time as what BP did with that well in the Gulf of Mexico. The truth about the end is somewhere in the knowledge hidden away from public scrutiny by the ones that decided money was more important than public safety and the environment. It will end and unfortunately it doesn't bode well for any life form along the coast or any place less than a hundred feet in elevation. The Gulf is a cauldron systematically reducing the salts in the water by evaporation to a density that settles out and forms salt domes under the soft sediments that filter down from above. As depth increases so does pressure. For every 30 feet, you add one more atmosphere of pressure. Anyone with a calculator can do the math. At 5000 feet, everything is compressed and held stable by the lack of seismic forces such as witnessed in California. Because it is so 'stable', people forget this is the most seismically active part of the earth. Anybody who has driven over a highway in and around Houston, Texas can attest to the movement of the ground. They are growth faults and the Gulf coast is defined by them. Because the sediments are soft they slide over each other without a whisper (unless you pave over them as the highways are apt to be then you notice one side of the road is higher than the other). It surprises a lot of first-timers to the Gulf coast that the roads are so 'stepped'.

Little variations in the pressure and the salt moves up and around through the sediments. Oil is created and retained by the impermeable barrier of the compressed clays and diatom carcases that filter down forming shale and limestone seals.

Now along comes the arrogant leaders of BP who know that this is a huge reservoir and they have the money to drill to whatever depth they want. Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead! Ignoring the geologists and geophysicists that they hired to keep the well safe and profitable, they cut corners and now we, the people of the US will bear the cross of their folly. No one knows what is happening down there except its not working the way it was supposed to. The well can't be capped and it sure as hell doesn't need to be drained because all that salt will move and the oil will gasify in the chamber left behind increasing the risk of a tumultuous blowout of horrific proportions. I just hope that if they are drilling a sideways well to get to the broken pipe that its an injection well. Pumping water into the chamber to keep the oil from turning to gas will, I hope, delay the inevitable. I'm sure that there are geologists with far greater knowledge than mine that will have a different perspective. All I have to go on is the well logs I read while working for Gulf Oil in International Exploration. A gas bubble will bring anything sitting above it to the ocean floor. I believe that's why BP hasn't moved a super tanker onto the site. Losing one of those ships would be really hard to replace.

I dove some of the salt ridges formed in the Gulf. They are the only variation in an otherwise invariable seascape of sand and silt. One is called Stetson Banks and it lies approximately 85 miles from Galveston. Its one of the few places to dive that you can get down to the bottom and still not violate the dive tables.

If you have friends or relatives living or working along the coast, I would suggest you tell them to make other arrangements for a living. The toxic gases being released right now are causing problems for those working to clean the shores. No one is wearing respirators that I have seen. I just hope they have better insurance than the first responders at WTC on 9/11/01. I have never been a doomsday person but this looks like I may have to change my perspective.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Clinton Library Opening of Emergency Preparedness: Hurricanes and eathquakes

I was invited to the opening last night and was pleasantly surprised by the whole affair. Former Senator David Pryor and our current Senator Mark Pryor with their spouses as well as several notables of whom I never was fortunate enough to meet were in the audience. Former FEMA Director James Witt was the guest speaker. What an enlightenment! When someone REALLY cares about the people, we get the kind of government we can believe in and support. Witt discussed the philosophy and the results of his term as director under Bill Clinton. Many funny stories and some that just made you glad we have the memories of a time when sanity and reason ruled the White House.
I cornered Senator Mark Pryor immediately after and asked him what he was going to do as our representative to see that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico never happened again. I would not let him go even though he looked a might uncomfortable with my questions. I figured it was cheaper than flying to Washington to see him so I might as well take advantage of the situation.
I explained that I had many years experience from the early '80s through the 90's with the oil industry working in exploration, worldwide and domestically. I told him that I went to many OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) meetings in Houston. The industry was seriously working to protect the environment and to prove that they could drill in deep water safely. Since then, the impetus for that research had dried up (as BP stated that the technology they were using was at least 20 years old).
I asked him to please instigate and put forth the legislation that would return those safeguards to the industry and even toughen them up in light of the BP fiasco. He said the first thing was to get the oil flow controlled at the well. I countered with that was a given, we needed legislation NOW to keep it from happening again. He said he would do that. I guess being put on the spot and having witnesses to his response was the cause of his look of discomfiture.
I've never had the opportunity to do that before and I just hope everyone will contact his office and tell him to keep his word and protect the US from greedy opportunists. We can't let him believe that I'm the only one watching him.
After all his years as a "Washington Insider", I was a little surprised at his candor.
It's a little hard to believe the man is a member of The Family and proud of it.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Unsolicited Mail Demanding Grievance filing with State Democratic Party

I received an envelope yesterday containing a pre-typed letter to Todd Turner, Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas with a hand addressed stamped envelope to Todd Turner. Herewith is the contents, typos and all (I will try not to add my own):

==============================================================

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Todd Turner
Chair, Democratic Party of Arkansas
1300 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
FAX: 501.376.8409

Garland County Democratic Committee Concerned Members
June 14, 2010

Attention: Todd Turner, Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas

The purpose of this memo is to file a grievance to the State Democraitc Party of Arkansas regarding the Garland County Democratic Central Committee and specifically the Chair of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee, George Hozendorf.

On June 14, 2010, George Hozendorf, Chair of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee, called a special meeting of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee Executive Committee for the purpose of removing Virginia "Ginna" Watson from the Garland County Election Commission. The rationale presented by the chair, George Hozendorf, was due to the reduction to two polling locations for the Run off election on June 8th from 40 in the general primary on May 18th. However, the question is, if Ginna Watson had not been elected chair of the Garland County Election Commission on June 11th by the members of the Garland County Election Commission, would George Hozendorf, Chair of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee, have been asking for the removal of Ginna Watson from the Garland County Election Commission? The additional question is does the County Committee have the authority to remove anyone from the County Election Commission?

Arkansas Code # 7-4-102 County boards of election commissioners - Election - Oath states:
(a) (1) The county chair of the county committee of the majority party and the county chair of the county committee of the minority party shall be member of the county board of election commissioners together with one (1) additional or third member selected by the county committee of the majority party at the same time as the election of party officers.

(How can the County Committee select someone at mid-year versus at the time the party officers are elected after the first of the year?)and

Whereas
The State Board of Election Commissioners responded to enquiries regarding this issue that the County Committee did not have authority to remove a member of the County Election Commission.
And whereas the position of county election commissioners being a public office with a fixed term, and there being no power of removal conferred by statue, the Garland County Central Committee had no power to remove a County Election Commissioner, and
Whereas, the selection of the Party's members of the County Election Commission occurs at the time of the election of the County Committee's Officers (which is in January), it is improper to submit additional names to the County Election Commission other than the vacancy due to a resignation until January when the County Committee Officers are elected.

Whether or not we agree with the decision of the Garland County Election Commission to have only two polling locations during the run-off election in June 2010 is not the issue. No laws were broken and the appropriate processes were followed by the election commission. The Garland County Committee or specifically the Chair of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee is not in compliance with Arkansas Law in seeking to remove Ginna Watson from the Garland County Election Commission.

These actions are not in accordance with the Arkansas Code 7-4-102 and accordingly we respectfully request the Democratic Party of Arkansas to intercede in these actions of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee and prevent any further action of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee to remove "Ginna Watson" and replace her on the Garland County Election Commission as planned the by the County Committee on June 16, 2010. The DPA is respectfully requested to intervene and prevent any further actions of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee on this matter until there is an official ruling regarding the authority to remove Ginna Watson from the Garland County Election Commission.

We accordingly request action of the Democratic Party of Arkansas on this Grievance.

Thank-you,


CC: Georgen Hozendorf, Chair of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee

====================================================================
And so it goes...

I respectfully ask that the person tell everyone that was mailed one of these who he/she is. To ask someone to sign their name to an 'anonymous' letter and mail it as if it was of their own accord and wishes, ranks right up there with the lowliest coward in the world.

If you are trying to incriminate someone that called for a vote of no confidence Wednesday of George Hozendorf, you're way off base and this is a cheap shot at manipulating public opinion.

Hot Springs Politics just wants to set the record straight- Claudia Reynolds had nothing to do with this farce.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

GCDCC County Convention

Tonight shortly after 5:30 pm George Hozendorf called the Central Committee to order. After the pledge, Claudia Reynolds-LeBlanc read into the minutes a motion to call for a vote of no confidence of George Hozendorf, Chairman of the GCDCC. A motion was made to table the vote until next month so that the law and all the particulars could be addressed to the satisfaction of all Committee members. Rick Saunders came to the defense of George as though questioning George's ability to conduct the office of chair, was almost sacrilegious. After a heated discussion about what the laws were and why a vote of no confidence was being called, It was vociferously accepted with a few dissensions. Business moved on. George Horzendorf stated that his sole purpose was to get Democrats elected to office. Barbara Butler questioned the commitment of Blanche Lincoln as a Democrat since she did not support our president Barack Obama and his agenda whenever it came before her as a Senator. She said the Blue Dog Democrats were not supporting the Democratic platform by not supporting the President therefore were voting as Republicans. George told her this what not the place to hold that kind of discussion and very curtly shut her off. Ann Hair then took the floor and said that the purpose of this committee was to air all sides and opinions even those that were not particularly popular to the rest of the group. That democracy allowed this type of discussion and this Central Committee was the forum for any topic of concern without a person being threatened or humiliated.
There will be more later concerning this as it develops.
Karen Garcia then announced the delegates to the State Convention to be held July 17, 2010 in Little Rock. We are allowed 39 delegates and only had 28 signed up by the end of the meeting. Anybody that wanted to be a delegate was pretty much assured a seat at the convention. Considering the reaction to anyone disagreeing with the 'majority' it was no wonder they can't get a full slate of delegates.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Executive Committeee Hatchet Job

Yesterday the Executive Board of the Garland County Democratic Committee was called to order by Chairman George Hozendorf shortly after 5:30 pm. All but 1 of the board members appeared. Channel 4 (NBC) and channel 16 (FOX) were there videotaping the proceedings. The Sentinel-Record had a reporter present also.

This run-off election has drawn national interest hence the media being there. This meeting was to remove Virginia (Ginna) Watson as Election Commissioner who George stated 'it's my understanding that since Mrs. Watson serves at my pleasure that I have the authority to ask her to step down'. George made it clear there was to be no discussion or questions allowed by those outside of the board. A motion was raised and seconded to allow Ginna to explain her reasons for the fiasco of only 2 polling places being open for the run-off. It was a witch hunt of the 1st magnitude and when someone is removed 'illegally' from a position of trust, defending themselves should be a given. George would have preferred that not to be the case.

The media reported that there was no legal precedence for the Executive Committee to remove anyone from any commission. George has set himself above the law and has instilled himself as the reigning party Chair of the majority party on the Election Commission. By a vote of 9 to 4, Ginna was removed from office. According to the letter submitted by Charles Tapp, his resignation would only take effect upon the election of a third party member to the Commission. George declared himself publicly, the new Chair without Tapp having formally resigned. He apologized for erring on that issue. This whole fiasco is an effort on his part to put himself in control of the Election Commission AND the Central Committee. He is so partisan in his politics I have a hard time believing he's a Democrat. I was totally amazed at the people on the Executive Board that went along with it. They had a secret ballot so no one would have to face the 'victim'.
George made a disparaging remark to a female member of the Central Committee that she can 'come naked as long he didn't have to look at her'. He doesn't want Arkansas politics run by a bunch of 'Texas Jews'. Wow! That's our elected leader? What 'Texas Jews' he was referring to I don't know, maybe he'll explain Wednesday when we have our 'unannounced' County Convention where delegates to the state convention will be selected. I bet I'm going to have a hard time getting on that list.

None of this stuff is ever publicly announced. I got a copy of the minutes of the meeting he called June 8th, 2010 only by the back door. Those minutes are supposed to be open to anyone that wishes to see them. They were so poorly written, there was no mention of who suggested the removal of Charles Tapp. A member that was present was defined as 'mystery'. When pressured to know if roll call was made at that meeting I was told it was. Then how can there be a 'mystery' person at that meeting?

Excerpt from minutes:

"...

Since there were multiple errors made in the last election cycle, there is the threat of additional lawsuits and further action. There is pressure from the Department of Justice, the ACLU, the Democratic Party of Arkansas Secretary of State. It was considered that potential very bad press might be somewhat alleviated by an immediate resignation, of the Chair of the Election Commission, Charles Tapp. It was also suggested that resigning would allow him to leave with dignity versus other official action that might be taken. Stan Schrader moved that we direct the Chair of the Committee, George Hozendorf, to request the resignation of our representative on the Election Commission, who is currently serving as Chair. Leon Davis seconded. The vote was taken by voice. The only opposition was Lawrence Adkins. The motion carried.

The State Convention will be held on July 17. ..."

No mention of who first raised the issue of removing Tapp. These minutes are so poorly scribed that when the debate went to how long anyone served as a commissioner, no one could recall the exact details and there were no minutes from previous meetings asked for or offered to clarify this issue. John Martineau stated that the terms were for 3 years to be staggered so that a term expired each year in January after having drawn lots to determine who got the 1st 1 year term, the 2 year term and then lastly the 3 year term. George believed that the terms expired in July. No one could remember the exact decision and when it was made. God love these guys. We have the Keystone Kops running our county Central Committee.

I would love to replay the film that our television cameras captured because I still have a hard time getting my mind around this. Maybe if I watch it enough it will all become clear. And then maybe just a nice cold beer would do better.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Executive Meeting Monday 5:30pm Democratic HDQ

I hope all those interested in the GCDCC are aware that there will be an Executive Board meeting at the Democratic HDQ at 5:30pm June 14. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming County Convention will be handled since it was never announced in the newspaper or any notice given to the membership at large. According to the secretary, Katie Gibson, of the GCDCC everyone should have known since it is mandated that within one (1) week of the run-off election there has to be a County Convention.
Since no minutes were distributed of the last Executive meeting George Hozendorf called (June 8, 2010), it will depend on what was said and reported there that will set the mood for this meeting as the minutes become available for all to read.
Membership dues are required in order to run for delegate or any other office so if you're not paid up, please do so. Dues are $40 for a 2 year membership on the GCDCC. This will be a subject of a later blog.
The Republican Party announced their convention in today's newspaper so they are in full compliance with state law. How this oversight on the part of our leader to NOT announce the Convention will be questioned by those who want to follow the law and don't want the Republican party to have any opportunity to make something of a minor error.
Details will follow as they develop.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Our New Election Commissioner












I was informed that George Hozendorf, chairman of the Garland County Democratic Central Committee, appointed himself to the position of Chair over the Election Committee. This has been a traditional way to conduct business in Garland County and I'm sure it's statewide. The chair of the GCDCC is automatically chair of the Election Commission.
That was until Barbara Thexton worked with her allies to get Charles Tapp removed as Chair of the GCDCC about 6 years ago (if my memory serves me right). When she won the chair, she then appointed Tapp as the chair of the Election Commission, a post he's been returned to every 2 years since.
I asked John Martineau to nominate me to the position but it looks like George has cut me off at the pass.
The law suits that were filed against the Election Commission have been dismissed because Tapp resigned. If the lawsuits were about Tapp that would be okay. But this is about the disenfranchisement of a whole slew of voters by the Election Commission. I need someone to step forward that voted Tuesday and had to drive from across the county in order to vote (it would really be great if he/she was a handicapped voter also only because they were the worst positioned voters at the Election Commission office). Anybody that could NOT get off from work in order to vote, I would really like to hear from them too.
We need to change the way business is ran in this state, especially with the manipulation of the polls the way they were here. Everybody's vote should be counted and everybody should have a fair chance to get to the polls if they so desire.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Parking Lot June 8 run-off election
















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Hot Springs Politics- Election 2010

The primary/ run-off elections are over, big business won the day as usual. When Michael Moore said that 4 million Americans read at or below the 4th grade he must have used Arkansas as an example. How anyone can vote against their own best self-interests just to be a part of a group that doesn't exist except in the minds of the people pulling the puppet strings is beyond me.
When the voter yells to vote for the farmers (aka Blanche Lincoln), he is having his strings pulled by someone that needs him to vote against the farmer and in favor of BIG Agribusiness. He does not see himself as a part of the labor movement because he's a "Farmer". Farmers don't "labor" they work the fields and raise the crops that feed their families and the rest of the world. He sees himself "independent" of any force outside of his manual labor required to operate his machines. Government is to protect his interests against those things over which he has no control; weather, over production, under production, foreign imports, and foreign markets. His control consists of machinery costs/repairs/maintenance, health costs and the availability of schooling for his children.
As long as the farmer views himself isolated from the rest of the "labor" force, he will always be a pawn in the electoral process. He will be played like a finely tuned orchestra.
And now we are here in Hot Springs where the process is so ingrained people don't even know anymore that they are being "played". The Election Commission is composed of those selected by the Chair of the local county central committee, Republican and Democrat. They set the rules, select the days for early voting (within set state laws which can be interpreted in many ways or totally ignored), what machines will be used and where the polling places will be. The dominant party will have 2 members on the Election Commission while the subordinate party will have one. As of today they are Charles Tapp, Chairman (Democrat), Virginia (Ginna) Watson (Democrat), and Twyla Brown (Republican).
If you wondered why only 2 polling places were open, consider that Halter carried Garland County in the primary. Labor was behind him (Arkansas Labor, NOT Washington Labor, they aren't registered to vote here). People that "work" are called "labor". When you work FOR someone, drawing wages, you work the hours he/she demands. You get paid whatever they are willing to give you that you can survive on or not. Situations make strange bedfellows and a lot of people are working jobs they hate because it pays the most or the hours give them the flexibility to live a "life'. Rarely does the "boss" care if you get time off to vote or not.
Now we're down to the crux of the matter. The polls were open only during the week when most "labor" can't get off or are too far from the polling place to make it during the hours its open for early voting. Closing the polling locations near their homes and work, disenfranchised "labor" which had supported Halter in the Primary. Lincoln won Garland County.
This is not about who won the Senate race, it's about the polls being manipulated to keep some people from voting. The handicapped were forced to walk long distances because the Election Commission parking lot had few Handicap parking spaces available, lines of cars were forced to maneuver around entering and exiting voters trying to get to and from their cars.

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