Andi Davis vs the Judge

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

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

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

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

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

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.