The Village Scribe Online

• The Web Discloses Inconvenient Climate Truths

  The Web Discloses Inconvenient Climate Truths By L. GORDON CROVITZ For anyone who doubts the power of the Internet to shine light on darkness, the news of the month is how digital technology helped uncover a secretive group of scientists who suppressed data, froze others out of the debate, and flouted freedom-of-information [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 11:25am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• NC GOP may block independents from primaries

  NC GOP may block independents from primaries The Associated Press Friday, November 20, 2009 RALEIGH, N.C. — Unaffiliated voters have more influence than ever in North Carolina politics, but some Republican leaders want to keep them away from the GOP primary and let party members choose their own nominees — preferably more conservative [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 4:54pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Home Builders (You Heard That Right) Get a Gift

  Home Builders (You Heard That Right) Get a Gift By GRETCHEN MORGENSON  Published: November 14, 2009 ON Nov. 6, President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 into law, extending unemployment benefits by 20 weeks and renewing the first-time homebuyer tax credit until next April. But tucked inside the law [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 10:59am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• 2009 Elections: Mostly over, but a little drama left.

  N othing public is more a matter of personal perspective than the election process and as Tuesday passed into history, another exercise of our democratic rights has taken place. Those of us1 that could vote (63,404 eligible) and did (9,862 or 15.55%) performed our civic duty. The rest of you are [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 12:03am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Weddington: It’s time for a change in the mayors office

  Enclosure: [download]

  W eddington mayor, Nancy Anderson has been in office for three continuous terms starting in 2003. In her first campaign, she ran as an advocate for return to one acre (R40) subdivisions zoning, opposing the RCD cluster subdivisions that had been authorized by her predecessor, Ed Howie. She won with a [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 3:38pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Stallings: old school campaigning & dirty tricks

  A s the number the days dwindle down to November 3, another year of municipal elections will be history. In 2009, we’ve not seen anything really unusual, except perhaps the unexpected and blatant attempt at vote buying in Marvin, but we already touched on that in a previous post. In Stallings, the [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 8:57am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Dismantling America

  Will the country wake up before it’s too late? by Thomas Sowell Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many “czars” appointed by the president, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Justice (Department) concludes black voters need Democratic Party

  KINSTON, N.C. | Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliation of candidates in local elections, but the Obama administration recently overruled the electorate and decided that equal rights for black voters cannot be achieved without the Democratic Party. The Justice Department’s ruling, [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 12:44pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Trick or Treat: Developers get the treats when Loflin holds the taxpayer goodie bag

  I don’t wish to frighten the poor Union County taxpayer anymore than necessary, but in the paper this morning, the architect of many of the issues still troubling Union County arose from his lair to write a blistering guest column attacking the Commissioners Openshaw, Kuehler and Rogers. To quote another [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2009, 2:09pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Will California become Americas first failed state?

  Will California become Americas first failed state? Los Angeles, 2009: California may be the eighth largest economy in the world, but its state staff are being paid in IOUs, unemployment is at its highest in 70 years, and teachers are on hunger strike. So what has gone so catastrophically wrong? via [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 1:00pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Bailout request comes before the Marvin Council

  A fter witnessing the automobile giants & banks line up for billions in bailouts last fall, why shouldn’t a local PTA seize on the concept and boldly ask government to pay for a walking track at Marvin Elementary? After all, it is a worthy project. Apparently, funding for the walking track that [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 6:12pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The Jimmy Carter I remember is one America wishes it could forget

  Former President Jimmy Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence”, address to the nation on July 15, 1979 (written by Chris Matthews [now of MSNBC]) Good evening. This is a special night for me. Exactly 3 years ago, on July 15, 1976, I accepted the nomination of my party to run for President of the United [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 5:28pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Old Guard vs. the New: Young Republican Leader on the Rise?

  A number of new Republican leaders have emerged across the country with a surge of energy in a climate dominated by Democrats. Republican Josh Penry, currently the Senate Minority leader in Colorado, is running for governor against the incumbent Democrat Bill Ritter. The 33-year-old, who has been campaigning door to door, [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 1:12pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• “I pledge to be of service to Barrack Obama”, video shown in elementary school

  The video above was produced by Oprah Winfrey, featured on her website and created by actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. The ‘I Pledge’ video was initially presented at President Obama’s inaugural celebration and starred more than 50 ‘Hollywood’ celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Hayden Panetierre, Laura Linney, Dakota Fanning, Jaime [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 9:46am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Obama to address nations school children in the classroom on Sept 8th.

  Critics Decry Obama’s ‘Indoctrination’ Plan for Students By Joshua Rhett Miller A suggested lesson plan that calls on students to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama following his address to students nationwide is troubling and establishes the president as a “superintendent in chief,” education experts [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 3:18pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Union County Commissioners to hire an independent council to investigate Baucom, Mills & Pressley

  I n what was likely a seismic thud heard around Union County; jaws dropped tonight when the Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 (Baucom & Mills in opposition) to investigate possible ethics violations by County Commissioners Allan Baucom, Parker Mills and former Commissioner Kevin Pressley concerning the hiring by the three [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 12:35am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Union County Tea Party

  Click image to enlarge View video of Tea Party Speakers. It is in ten parts due the ten minute limitation per video by YouTube. Part 1 Speaker: John Quinn (Mayor of Indian Trail) Part 2 Speaker: John Quinn (Mayor of Indian Trail) Part 3 Speaker: John Quinn, David Waddell Part 4 Speaker: David Waddell, [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:31am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Rat out your neighbors: Is this what its come too?

  Original Web Link: White House Spy page President Obama wants you to rat on your neighbor and workmates. If you hear a disparaging word or get an email from someone running down the ObamaCare, you need to report it to the Obama’s thought police at the White House. Rat on your [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 12:52pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Democrat Health Care Plan: The inconvenient facts right from the bill.

  The Obama/Democrat Health Bill: HR3200 – Click to view The following list of page references are presented as is from the source. I encourage readers to review the complete bill is posted above. Making heads or tails of much of it will require access to the other statues text as referenced. Page [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 3:32pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Kerfuffle: The President depicted as the Joker, political satire is in the eyes of the beholder

  vs In the what’s good for the goose is good for the gander department. The Joker (aka George W. Bush) was published in Vanity Fair magazine last July was just a humorous depiction, but the Joker (aka Barrack Obama) posters showing up in LA and Atlanta this week and now virally, [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 12:28pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Let’s label our shopping malls Red or Blue.

  [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 12:16pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The Political Cartoons you don’t see in our local papers

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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 8:09am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Lightening Strike: Weddington home a total loss – WHY?

  WBT Channel 3 Report Earlier this morning, in the midst of the massive thunderstorm that swept though western Union County, a bolt of lightning struck a home in Aero Plantation, resulting in a fire that burned the house to the ground. Firefighters, according to the story were hampered by a gate [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 2:26pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Candidates for the 2009 Union County Municipal Elections

  Union’s municipal filing period expired on Friday at noon. A large field of candidates threw their hats in the ring. Look to the Village Scribe for help discerning the wheat from getting the shaft! Weddington: Seats: Mayor*, 2 Council Nancy Anderson (i) – Mayor Barbara Harrison – Mayor Walker Davidson – Mayor Hughie Sexton[1] – [...]
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  Posted: July 18, 2009, 2:20pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Your taxes as work: Social Security throws a $700,000 shindig for managers

  ABC 15 Arizona Video ABC15 Report: Social Security spends $700,000 on Phoenix conference I came across this story and I just had to share it, but it does bring a question to mind: Where is the Obama WASTE Czar? Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2009, 9:39am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Health Care: The new addition to the Bill of Rights

  House bill would make health care a right By ERICA WERNER WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democratic leaders, pledging to meet the president’s goal of health care legislation before their August break, are offering a $1.5 trillion plan that for the first time would make health care a right and a responsibility for [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 10:39am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Washington Post – The Stumbles That Led to an Ethics Blunder

  The Washington Post’s ill-fated plan to sell sponsorships of off-the-record “salons” was an ethical lapse of monumental proportions. Publisher Katharine Weymouth and Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli have now taken full responsibility for what was envisioned as a series of 11 intimate dinners to discuss public policy issues. For a fee of [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 12:56pm EDT
  by SiteAdmin

• What is the Unborn Victims of Violence Act?

  What is the Unborn Victims of Violence Act? By Jeff Gerber It is a law that was adopted by the United States Congress and was signed into law by President Bush. What it seeks to do is, “to protect unborn children from assault and murder.” It inserts provisions in the [...] [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 3:51pm EDT
  by Guest Columnist

• American Media: Send in the Clowns

  Our Founders professed that a strong free press would help keep our country free. It looks like we may find out whether their faith in journalism is/was well placed or not. The political change that I find the most horrendous, the most frightening is the collaboration of America’s national media and [...]
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  Posted: July 04, 2009, 4:41pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Americans Still Embrace Ideals from Declaration of Independence

  Americans are celebrating the nation’s 233rd birthday, and the words of the Declaration of Independence will be heard at countless patriotic ceremonies across the land. The core ideals articulated by those words are still embraced by solid majorities of the American public. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that [...]
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  Posted: July 03, 2009, 10:51am EDT
  by SiteAdmin

• OBAMA: coup in Honduras is illegal

  Krauthammer Rule of Thumb: If you find yourself on the same side as Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and the Castro twins, you ought to re-examine your assumptions. Americans need to re-examine their assumptions. We were the leader of the free world. Not anymore. REUTERS: Honduras resists pressure to allow Zelaya’s return Share on [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2009, 9:32am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Study: Political leanings drive car choice

  In the ’80s, it was the politics of dancing. In the ’90s, the politics of caring. Today, in bailout nation, we have the politics of driving. The Volvo-driving liberal and the redneck in a Chevy pickup are long-held stereotypes. But a map of car ownership – produced by R.L. Polk & [...]
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  Posted: June 30, 2009, 8:53am EDT
  by SysAdmin

• Obama’s Gangster Government

  Elections matter. None of this would be happening if not for the major media complicity in hiding the truth about the Obama and the Congressional Democrats. I have a question for North Carolina voters. Where is our Michele Bachmanns? Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: June 29, 2009, 8:43am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Cap & Trade or Capture and Traitor?

  Cap & Trade or Capture and Traitor? by Craig Horn I certainly hope that I am not one of the right-wing nut jobs to which frequent reference is made when discussing politics or the actions of our elected officials. But, I have no confidence in a Congress, or anyone else for that [...]
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  Posted: June 28, 2009, 8:49am EDT
  by Guest Columnist

• Union Toons: What dysfunctional County Government?

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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Help Stop a Flood of Tax Hikes in North Carolina

  Help Stop a Flood of Tax Hikes in North Carolina | FreedomWorks Governor Beverly Perdue’s plan calls for an additional $1.5 billion in spending for education, even as state revenues fall. How does she and other House and Senate leaders plan to make up this huge difference? With a big package of [...]
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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:39pm EDT
  by Guest Columnist

• ABC News hands over the network news to OBAMA-CARE

  ABC News hands over the network news to an OBAMA-CARE infomercial. And the Republican Party objects. Imagine that. Rome is burning and Nero fiddles. Obama and his left wing majority is disassembling our institutions and most of the Republican leadership is hiding in their personal bunkers, raising there heads long enough to [...]
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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 9:17am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Dr. MachineGun wins - Judge overturns Wesley Chapel Board of Adjustments

  O nce again, the staccato bursts of machine gun fire will be rattling the windows and the nerves of the adjoining homeowners to Dr. Michael Land’s Wesley Chapel “Sports” shooting range. In a decision which probably shocked as many in Dr. Land’s camp as as it does his opponents, Judge W. [...]
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  Posted: June 20, 2009, 10:54am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Union Toon: Indian Trail mayoral trials

  The Enquirer Journal: The Mighty Quinn … not so much Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: June 17, 2009, 6:15pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Union Toon: Cutting the Education Budget

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  Posted: June 17, 2009, 10:51am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Walpin-gate - Obama Chicago style.

  Walpin-gate – Washington Times Editorial Obama fires an IG Congress ought to open an investigation, New York Times editorialists should be in a state of apoplexy, and MSNBC hosts ought to be frothing at the mouth. Without appropriate documentation or good reason, President Obama has fired a federal investigator who was on [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 10:51am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• A matter of body language

  The photo above was published today in the Charlotte Observer (page 5A) and I felt it needed comment or at the very least an appropriate caption. “Whose more left than Obama?” “Standing shoulder to shoulder — sans the ONE” “The continental divide” “Radioactive” “A brilliance too bright to stand” “Obama and four short white guys” “The black [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2009, 10:57am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Barbara Harrison announces candidancy for Weddington’s Mayor

  The following is the Press Release: BARBARA HARRISON ANNOUNCES AS CANDIDATE FOR THE MAYOR OF WEDDINGTON Weddington, NC - June 5, 2009: Today, Barbara Harrison, a retired executive from Johnson & Johnson and Weddington activist announced her candidacy for the office of Mayor of Weddington. Ms. Harrison stated bluntly that the time [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by SysAdmin

• Weddington’s Self Serving Town Officials!

  Weddington’s Self Serving Town Officials! By Hughie Sexton Weddington shenanigans continue with the latest consideration from the Town Council to give $145,000 to Weddington High School for a weight room is just another example of how far from reality the town’s officials have drifted from their duties and responsibilities. A Union County Public [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 9:22am EDT
  by Guest Columnist

• Millionaires Go Missing — a who dunnit.

  Maryland couldn’t balance its budget last year, so the state tried to close the shortfall by fleecing the wealthy. Politicians in Annapolis created a millionaire tax bracket, raising the top marginal income-tax rate to 6.25%. And because cities such as Baltimore and Bethesda also impose income taxes, the state-local tax [...]
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  Posted: May 26, 2009, 9:30am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Why Obama cost Adam Lambert the American Idol Crown

  Is American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert a victim of America’s culture war? Through no fault of his own, did Lambert pay the price brought from a building backlash to our celebrity-in-chief Barrak Obama’s hucksterism and the ugly PC attacks on Miss California’s right of free speech. Everything else aside, Adam [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2009, 7:08pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Permits made to order, where there is a will there is a way

  As the Don adjusted his green scrubs, the Godfather remarked, “Don Nightingale, I do this because we are friends and friends are important, so if I should ask you for a favor or your help with a campaign you could never refuse me.” “Yes Godfather, I understand”, he replied. [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Morrison-Hansley wants to be reimbursed for her personal attorney costs for ethics violation

  At last Tuesday’s School Board meeting an ever belligerent Kimberly Morrison-Hansley demanded the School Board (taxpayers) reimburse her more than $7000 for attorney costs she amassed during the Board ethics investigation in 2008. She also presented a new letter from her attorney at the meeting. Subsequently, the item was tabled [...]
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  Posted: May 17, 2009, 9:12pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Flimflamming voters – a spring fling for Pryor

  R ule stretching politicians is not something new, but most don’t rise to the level or the prison digs of North Carolina’s former Speaker of the House Jim Black — but it’s not from the lack of effort. Officeholders with the kind of honor, honesty and idealism as depicted in the [...]
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  Posted: May 17, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• CNN’s John Roberts Fails to Press Gore on Bush Criticism Whopper

  CNN anchor John Roberts failed to catch former Vice President Al Gore make a significant exaggeration about his criticism of the Bush administration in its early years during an interview on Friday’s American Morning. When asked about former Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent criticism of the Obama administration, Gore claimed [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 10:58am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• GOP Leaders expecting victory by following the same losing strategy

  A merican politics is a great spectator sport; it is like a cross between Parcheesi and cage wrestling. It gets very bloody and oftentimes, the self-inflicted wounds bleed the worst. H.L. Mencken said, “Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is [...]
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  Posted: May 03, 2009, 8:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Democrats! We’re sorry we let you down

  A s a member of the Republican Party, permit me be the first to offer my apologies to every member of the Democratic Party, from coast to coast, north to south and even those still living in Canada after being driven out by the elections of Presidents Reagan and Bush (both [...]
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  Posted: April 26, 2009, 8:30am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• 1934 Chicago Tribune Cartoon - look familiar?

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  Posted: April 22, 2009, 3:50pm EDT
  by mobile

• America’s Founders would be proud

  T he closest harbor is hours away; there wasn’t a buckskin and feather headdress in sight, but last Wednesday afternoon, Union County threw a Tea Party on the steps of the Old Court House in Monroe. To echo Craig Horn, who portrayed Thomas Paine, we are “Mad as Hell” and we’re [...]
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  Posted: April 19, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• TEA Party - TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY - Join the fun

  Union County throws a TEA party, joining the hundreds of Tea Parties held nationwide. Congresswoman Sue Myrick of the Ninth District addresses the TEA Party crowd of approximately 400 people. Ms. Myrick spoke of the incredible debt that Congress and Mr. Obama pork spending policies has created. {Click image to start [...]
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  Posted: April 14, 2009, 6:07pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Toying with our fundamental voting rights — again

  F or the third year running, NC House Representative Pryor Gibson (D) is looking to deconstruct democracy in Union County, by once again proposing arbitrary commissioner voting districts. Actions like Mr. Gibson’s is often referred to as ‘gerrymandering’, a term coined in 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry and his party [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The Jonathan Thomas 2010 campaign starts with spreading shameful fabrications

  E vidently, the high road is not road best traveled when it comes to Jonathan Thomas’ political aspirations. In 2008, Mr. Thomas lost his election bid by a small number of votes — in-spite of the last minute cash infusion into his campaign by developer ’special interest’ players (Remember this is [...]
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  Posted: April 05, 2009, 12:44pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Don’t turn a deaf ear after you complain

  E lections do matter. No matter where you live, whomever you vote into office will affect your wealth, your quality of life, and most importantly your family. While most of us, who are paying the freight, have grave concerns about the road Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly is traveling, our [...]
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  Posted: March 29, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• New Feature on the Scribe: Off the Cuff

  When I started the Village Scribe five years ago, I was looking for a way to augment my two mainstay web publications, the Wesley Chapel Villagers Group and the Union County FYI with more context. I did not editorialize on those sites, but I wanted a venue to explain the [...]
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  Posted: March 25, 2009, 6:01pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Where is America’s Daniel Hannan?

  To borrow a phrase from Mr. Hannan: Mr. Obama, “You can cannot carry on forever squeezing the productive bit of the economy in order to fund an unprecedented engorgement of the unproductive bit, you cannot spend your way out of recession nor borrow you way out of debt” Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: March 25, 2009, 2:37pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The Fleecing of the Union County Taxpayer

  D rum roll, please. The winner of Union County’s first “Golden Fleece Award” is — the Union County Partnership for Progress. May we have a moment of silence for our fellow taxpayers. For the last 35 years the Golden Fleece has been synonymous with wasteful government programs. Perhaps you remember Senator William Proxmire (D-Wisconsin), [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Big lie being spread about districts.

  Big lie being spread about districts. By Fern H. Shubert (Guest Columnist) In 2007 the NC Supreme Court found that the North Carolina General Assembly had replaced one unconstitutional redistricting plan with another unconstitutional plan. The our and issued an opinion that stated districts must again be redrawn. They said this didn’t [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2009, 5:41pm EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Paved with Good Intentions

  M ore than 2300 years ago, the Chinese philosopher Xun Zi said, “The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.” Union County’s transportation policy has been on such path. For years, Union County government and municipalities have spoken with many voices, oblivious to the needs of their [...]
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  Posted: March 08, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• A Trillion Dollars here, A Trillion Dollars there

  If you’ve been watching the stock market sink and heard our fearless leaders bandy around figures around like the late Carl Sagan spoke about stars in the sky, “Billions and Billions”, then talk of spending ‘Trillions and Trillions’ needs a little context. A million dollar stack. A billion dollar stack. A TRILLION Dollars [...]
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  Posted: March 07, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Obama and health numbers don’t jive

  Medical Bankruptcies: A Data-Check “The cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds,” Obama said at the opening of his White House forum on health care reform. The problem: That claim, based on a 2001 survey, is simply unsupportable. The figure comes from a 2005 Harvard University [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2009, 9:34pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Fairness is a two-edged word

  F airness it seems, like beauty, art, truth, history and politics is a matter of perspective. Undoubtedly, Monday’s public hearing before the Commissioners, concerning the basis by which appointments to the county land use advisory boards are made, will subject the audience to a cascade of three minute speeches where the [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2009, 8:00am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Think of your doctors office operated by DMV workers

  “It’s more Obama Robin Hood.” Obama proposes spending $634 billion to overhaul the U.S. health-care system, partly paid for by limiting tax deductions for couples making more than $250,000 a year, an administration official said. He will seek the money, to be spent over 10 years, in his first budget request to [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 10:43am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Oklahoma City police officer pulls man over for anti-Obama sign on vehicle

  [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 1:42pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Analysis: Democrats self-destructing over ethics

  The Obama administration and the new Congress are quickly handing over to Republicans the same “culture of corruption” issue that Democrats used so effectively against the GOP before coming to power. Freshman Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., is only the latest embarrassment. Senate Democrats accepted Burris because they believed what he told them: [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 11:50pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Predications and wishful thinking do fools make

  Y esterday, Commissioners Parker Mills and Allan Baucom predicted the Board ‘majority’ would fire Al Greene — their hand picked replacement for Mike Shalati, whose groundless firing has cost the taxpayers $1.4 million dollars.[1] Reader Note: Mr. Shalati was fired less than 30 days from the day the then new commissioners [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 8:40pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Obama: Pay Thy Neighbors Mortgage

  CNBC vid-clip of ‘Traders Revolt’ over economic policy. Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 1:16pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Chamber of Commerce President Jim Carpenter and the tale of two letters

  F ebruary started off with another controversy embroiling Jim Carpenter, the Union County Chamber of Commerce president and Union County elected officials. The latest brouhaha concerns a letter sent by Mr. Carpenter to Commissioners Rogers, Openshaw and Kuehler. Actually there were two letters. The first one was mailed to the commissioners [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2009, 1:35pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• GOP Sounds Alarm Over Obama Decision to Move Census to White House

  {excerpt} I’ve always remembered what Joseph Stalin said: ‘Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.’ The same principle applies to the census. Since one or the other party will always be in power at the time of the census, it is vital that the [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 12:37pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Obama criticizes Republican ‘Porkulus’ chatter as same old thing

  I’ve posted this video, in case you missed it on the national news. The current Republican opposition to the ‘Porkulus’ Obama stimulus bill is well founded. President Obama knows the pork, earmarks and typical congressional largess is there. He has heard from the House and Senate Republicans as to their specific [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2009, 10:25am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• School Board imposes travel moratorium - Hansley’s wings clipped

  A t last Tuesday night’s School Board work session, BOE members voted to impose a moratorium[1] on travel, finally clipping the wings of the spendthrifts Kimberly Morrison-Hansley and John Parker. The issue has been referred to the board’s Policy Committee, to craft a new policy, hopefully to curtail the flagrant abuse [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2009, 5:15pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Lawmakers set their priorities - EJ

  {except} Curtis Blackwood, a manager of rental properties “My main objective as always is to have good government,” he said as his No. 1 priority. To him that included fiscal responsibility, something he said would be necessary with the budget shortfall. Involved with the educational oversight committee, Blackwood had several ideas for better schooling. He [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2009, 11:37am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Rush Limbaugh: My Bipartisan Stimulus

  {excerpt} Fifty-three percent of American voters voted for Barack Obama; 46% voted for John McCain, and 1% voted for wackos. Give that 1% to President Obama. Let’s say the vote was 54% to 46%. As a way to bring the country together and at the same time determine the most effective [...]
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  Posted: January 30, 2009, 2:22pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• NCDOT to close Cuthbertson Road during bridge replacement to save money!

  The specter of being cut-off from easy access to stores and the conveniences of Waxhaw is to most Cuthbertson Road residents an annoyance to be sure, but the truly more worrisome issue of extended response times by fire, police and ambulance services has residents concerned. After the bridge is closed, [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 8:45pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• House OKs $819B stimulus bill in win for Obama

  In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night, filled with new spending and tax cuts at the core of the young adminstration’s revival plan for the desperately ailing economy. The vote was 244-188. “We don’t have a moment [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 8:11pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Guantánamo detainee resurfaces in terrorist group

  BEIRUT: The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order that President Barack Obama signed that the detention center be shut down within a year. The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected [...]
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  Posted: January 23, 2009, 10:51am EST
  by SysAdmin

• Judge Obama on Performance Alone

  By Juan Williams - Columnist for the Wall Street Journal {excerpt} If his presidency is to represent the full power of the idea that black Americans are just like everyone else — fully human and fully capable of intellect, courage and patriotism — then Barack Obama has to be subject to [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2009, 6:16pm EST
  by SysAdmin

• Bush Mocked As He Arrives on Inauguration Dais

  The crowd packed on the west side of the Capitol grounds serenaded President Bush in mocking fashion when he took to the inaugural stage alongside Vice President Dick Cheney. “Nah nah nah nah, hey hey, good-bye,” a section of the crowd chanted. The crowd packed immediately below the podium received Bush in [...]
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  Posted: January 20, 2009, 2:31pm EST
  by SysAdmin

• Obama Believers: close encounter of a metaphysic kind

  “It doesn’t matter that the State of Maryland is broke as long as Barak Obama is President of the United States” — Maryland State Senator Lisa Gladden Being a former Maryland resident, I’ve lived under the economic group-think of the permanent Democratic majority and it surprises me not that the ‘FREE [...]
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  Posted: January 18, 2009, 12:21pm EST
  by SysAdmin

• Two School Board Members go overboard on travel junkets

  W e have all read the stories of Congressional junkets to tropical islands, happy go lucky congressmen having a grand time on the taxpayers dime. Well evidently, something similar to this kind of taxpayer abuse happens locally as well. Last December 4th, I submitted an information request to the Union County Schools [...]
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  Posted: January 17, 2009, 9:17pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• In Commissioner Baucom’s world: the minority is the majority

  L ast month I wanted to put together a year-end summary, revisiting the notable quotes from politicians and editorial writers for the past year. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an efficient method to retrieve those worthy quotes, so with that in mind, I have added a new topic category called ‘Notable Quotes’. Notable [...]
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  Posted: January 13, 2009, 10:32am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Sarah Palin: Unloads on the media

  Share on Facebook [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2009, 11:18pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• 9 of 11 Union County Planning Board members are No Shows at regular meeting

  The Union County Planning Board didn’t walk out of talks about how to reorganize county advisory boards. Eight of the nine members simply didn’t show up. Board Chairman Robert Allen, the only regular member to attend Tuesday, canceled the meeting because the panel couldn’t make its five-member quorum. It’s the first time [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2009, 1:31pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Leon Panetta is Obama’s pick for CIA director

  President-elect Barack Obama has selected Leon E. Panetta, a former California congressman with little experience on intelligence matters, to serve as the next director of the CIA, according to Democratic officials familiar with the decision. The selection puts the prominent Democrat in charge of an agency that has been at the [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2009, 10:06pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Happy New Year

    Here We Have Another New Beginning by Nicholas Gordon Here we have another new beginning, Another chance to be what we are not. Praised be those who recognize the rot, Portion out the guilt, and go on living. Years change far more frequently than we, Nor are our changes more than painted screens, Each placed to maximize our [...]
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  Posted: December 31, 2008, 11:59pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Is there no twilght for the Clinton machine?

  NY Democratic Advisers Talk Up ‘Caretaker’ Senator; Bill Clinton A Possibility The former president is among several boldface names being touted as possible “caretakers” for New York’s Senate seat — people who would serve until the 2010 elections but wouldn’t be interested in running to keep the job As the process [...]
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  Posted: December 31, 2008, 8:06pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• When America Gets a Runny Nose

  When America Gets a Runny Nose D. Craig Horn, Weddington, NC It was 5:15 AM when our phone rang on the day after Christmas. Pretty much all of us have the same reaction to such an event; what has happened? Who was hurt or who died? Generally nothing good comes out of [...]
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  Posted: December 29, 2008, 3:15pm EST
  by Guest Columnist

• Merry Christmas

  Christmas Wish by Myra Scovel God give you blessings at Christmas time; Stars for your darkness, sun for your day, Light on the path as you search for the Way, And a mountain to climb. God grant you courage this coming year, Fruit for your striving, friends if you roam, Joy in your labor, love in your home, And [...]
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  Posted: December 25, 2008, 12:18am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The pendulum swings Part 2: Commissioners play a new tune

  I am not equating our current Planning Board members with that infamous Board of Adjustment, but the disservice of putting financial welfare of builders/developers ahead of ensuring fair value to the homeowners and taxpayers is absolutely wrong. The Planning Board must speak for both the current and future residents, demand [...]
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  Posted: December 20, 2008, 10:10pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Colin Powell: GOP ‘polarization’ backfired in election

  “Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?” Powell asked. “Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?” “I think the party has to take a hard look at itself,” [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2008, 11:02am EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Jeff Katz fired. Is there the stink of Obama PC at WBT

  I rarely listened to Jeff Katz. I liked Jason Lewis better. Coming from the DC market with Howard and the Greaseman, I thought Jeff was relatively mild. I probably might have liked him a little more, had he took the time to research the truth about certain ‘conservatives’ who are [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2008, 6:09pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The pendulum swings. New Commissioners take their seats.

  L ast night, Tracey Clinton, the Mayor of Wesley Chapel administered the oath of office to the new Union County Commissioners, Kim Rogers and Tracy Kuehler — only the third and fourth women to ever serve on the board. This moment marks a triumph not only for the new commissioners, but the [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2008, 12:25pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• The FBI drops the investigation of Union County Commissioners

  W ith none of the fanfare, a specious gloating or the staged press conference that followed the the Shalati settlement last July, yesterday we learned the ‘investigation’ was over with a one line press release that read; “The attorneys for Commissioners Allan Baucom, Parker Mills and Kevin Pressley have informed the [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2008, 4:19pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Legacy Park: A Grand Vision for Union County or Not.

  O n Tuesday, November 19, Union County’s private-public and taxpayer susbsidized economic developement co-operative, the Union County Partnership of Progress (UCPP) presented a grand vision for a future business park in eastern Union County. Before a group of 100 or more business and government leaders at the Wingate University’s La Verne Hall, [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2008, 5:14pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• A domestic automakers crash would bring on disaster

  T he above video is circulating on YouTube concerning the plight of the American auto industry. All three domestic automakers are balanced at the edge of a cliff and the slow or lack of action by the Bush administration will likely be the final push. [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2008, 4:05pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)

• Union County short-term debt hemorrhaging taxpayers money

  D ire news continues to make headlines and considering all that’s been reported recently concerning Union County financial condition, it looks as though it will get even uglier. To begin with, Union County has $288 Million in variable rate debt, accounting for almost half of all the County’s debt (the remainder, $314 [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2008, 5:28pm EST
  by Mark D (the Scribe)