Katy's Conservative Corner

Democrat Mintz Sent to Federal Prison for Embezzlement

 The long, saga of Wake County's Chris Mintz (left) is over.  Mintz, a former Republican, switched to the Democrat party due to his own, sorry political ambitions. 

Your blogger first met Mintz when he was  a college student at North Carolina State University and we lived in the same precinct.  

Since Raleigh's downtown 01-06 literally had only 96 registered Republicans at the time, the eight of us who came to a precinct meeting in KCC's landlord's living room, agreed to split up precinct leadership with Mintz, taking the chairmanship and your blogger agreeing to be secretary.

Two years later, your blogger was awakened early one morning by an upset party activist and donor.  "I cannot get in touch with Chris Mintz", whaled Olga Santo-Tomas, a Cuban American, and supporter of then-Mayor Tom Fetzer.  She and her family had fled the Castro "revolution" and she has the highest respect from this blogger.  

After searching high and low, Senora Tomas and I realized that Mintz was not reliable nor reachable.  

Fast forward fifteen years.  Mintz was now president of the Wake County Republican Men's Club.  KCC thought at the time, "I wish I could have warned them."

 According to Under The Dome, the News and Observer's political blog, Mintz switched to the Democrat Party in 2005.  He wanted to run against against conservative stalwart Rep. Russell Capps (below, right) but lost in the primary to Ty Harrell, (left) who sadly defeated Capps in the general election. Harrell resigned last year due to ethics issues with his campaign expenditures.  

Capps founder of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, originally was elected in a "safe" Republican district, had been slowly been gerrymandered by the state Democrat leaders into a "swing" district and Democrats were now willing to take him on.  

 Dome reports that he was accused last July by federal prosecutors of taking more than $1 million from two elderly clients, via his position as an investment advisor.  Mintz is scheduled to serve four years. Let's hope he serves every single day of his sentence.  Your blogger does not believe in getting one day cut off of a sentence for each day of "good behavior".   

Editor's Note: Your blogger has the highest respect for former Rep. Russell Capps.  She first met him in 1992 in a parking lot in Raleigh, when he was campaigning against a convention center that was voted down by the public.  

He started a grassroots movement that stopped the wasteful spending project and gave rise to the Wake County Taxpayers Association.  He was then elected to the State House and became a champion for taxpayers statewide.  

NC Rep. Phil Berger: Tax Refund Delays Sign of Incompetence, Mismanagement

 Repeating a situation that plagued the state’s taxpayers last year, officials with the North Carolina Department of Revenue have already announced that individuals filing their taxes can expect delays in receiving their refunds.

 “Revenue Secretary Kenneth Lay told The Associated Press on Friday his agency is delaying refund checks for individuals and businesses. It's all part of the state's effort to manage cash while its tax collections remain anemic.”  (“State says expect delays on tax refunds,” WRAL.com, 2/12/10)

Officials at the N.C. Department of Revenue have long known about slow tax collections and the effect on state fund balances.  Yet, Governor (Beverly) Perdue and Secretary Lay have not taken effective steps so that taxpayers do not face unreasonable delays in receiving tax refunds from state government.  Many of the taxpayers owed refunds are small businesses struggling to meet payrolls, and the delay in paying refunds may actually cause additional job losses in the private sector.

 Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham, above left) made the following statement:

 “A second consecutive year of taxpayers facing unreasonable delays in receiving their refunds demonstrates two things about the Perdue Administration.  The first is a continuation of the incompetence and mismanagement all too evident in the Easley administration.  For too long, Democrats, in complete control of the legislature and the Governor’s office, have not been held accountable for their lack of competence in managing the state’s fiscal affairs.

 “The second is a mindset that plagues Democrats in Raleigh and in Washington - that money collected, or over-collected, as tax revenue belongs to the government and not the taxpayer.  But this is the taxpayers’ money, particularly that money to be refunded, and the only reason the government has it now is because they collected more than they should have.  The money should be returned to taxpayers promptly.”

NC's 10th Congressional District: Patrick McHenry and His Challengers by Nick Danger

  It usually takes a retirement or death of an incumbent Congressman to make a Republican Congressional primary exciting, but North Carolina's 10th District might make an exception to the rule this May.  Incumbent Congressman Patrick McHenry doesn't have just one, but two self financed challengers gunning for his seat in the Republican Primary on May 4.

What makes things even more interesting is that both Scott Keadle (below, middle) of Mooresville and Vance Patterson (below, bottom photo) of Morganton have more cash on hand than McHenry.  As of the 4th Quarter reporting date, McHenry had $149,000 on hand, Patterson $250,000, and Scott Keadle had $274,000.  This is a far cry from McHenry's 2006 campaign when he was able to bring in $1.4 million for his successful reelection. 

 McHenry has long been a lightning rod in the district since the bitter 2004 primary to replace Rep. Cass Ballenger.  In a bitter primary runoff McHenry edged out Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman by 85 votes out of 30,000 cast.  While McHenry has compiled a conservative voting record he is still dogged by questions over his combative style in Congress and the sense that he is a status quo Republican.  

This is highlighted by his unwillingness to sponsor legislation to overturn the free trade deals that have devastated the 10th District's manufacturing heavy economy.  The average unemployment in the 10th District has shot up to a painful 15% since the 2008 crash on Wall Street.  McHenry's campaign must also be wary of the simmering anti-incumbent bias that will be boiling by the time Election Day rolls around.

Despite these obstacles, McHenry remains the likely favorite in the primary.  His office has placed a heavy emphasis on constituent service and his conservative record insulates him among the Republican primary electorate.  His campaign is already beginning to canvas the 10th, a standard practice of his campaign.

 His opponents have pledged not to run a negative campaign which will also cancel any advantages they may have in money.  Still the campaign promises to be interesting given the disparity in fundraising and that two challengers have emerged to face McHenry in the strongest Republican district in the state. 

EDITOR'S NOTE; Nick Danger grew up in the 10th Congressional District and remains a political activist there.  This is not his/her real name. Underlined points are your blogger's and not the author's.

N.C. lawmakers prepare new clean-government changes :: WRAL.com

N.C. lawmakers prepare new clean-government changes :: WRAL.com.

Posted via the WRAL page.  Do you think the Democrats will enforce the laws already in place?  Of course not.  Okay, ladies and gentlemen of the GOP, go and get them!

NC GOP Honors Lincoln's Birthday during Black History Month

The North Carolina Republican Party recently sent this out to it's members, reminding them of the early beginnings of the party:

 On August 19, 1864, two men held a meeting at the White House. The men could not have been more different; their lives could not have been more alien to the other. Yet, drawn mostly by a common cause and perhaps by the forces of destiny, these two men came together in an effort to secure the future of African-Americans, a future that had been argued over in a violent civil war for over three years. Never before or since have two men so singularly important to a group of people come together as on that summer day in 1864, when Abraham Lincoln welcomed Frederick Douglass into his office.

As we celebrate Lincoln’s 201st birthday, we can look back and thank Lincoln and Douglass for bringing two races together in a way that did not seem possible in the middle of the 19th Century. Borrowing a phrase from Mr. Lincoln, “it is altogether fitting and proper” that in the month of Lincoln’s birth, we also celebrate Black History Month. Certainly, African-American history would be much different were it not for the history-altering actions of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglass.

 Lincoln and Douglass  (left) enjoyed a deep friendship that grew out of a shared set of principles: individual liberty, personal freedom, and the divinely-inspired value of every life. These principles drove Frederick Douglass to escape slavery and guided Lincoln as he rose to become the first President from a party founded on freedom and liberty.

With Lincoln as our first president, and Douglass as our first African-American statesmen, the Republican Party should be proud of our heritage. 

We should be proud, also, of the contributions of many African-Americans to the Republican cause over the last 150 years. Conservative leaders like Joseph Rainey, the first African-American Congressman, and Booker T. Washington (below) gave African-Americans a national voice in the Republican Party. The first African-American in the U.S. Senate, Republican Hiram Revels, was born in North Carolina. John Hyman, a former slave in North Carolina, was elected to Congress to represent the state in 1874. Countless other African-Americans have helped shape political history in North Carolina, and today, African-Americans hold elected positions at the state level and within the leadership of the NCGOP.

 As we celebrate Black History Month and reflect on the birth of President Lincoln, let us reaffirm those principles that gave rise to the Republican Party so long ago. Let us resolve that individual liberty, not government control, is the founding principal of our country. Let us pledge to further the work of Lincoln and Douglass, and carry their principles as our banner as we march to victory in November.

Editor's Note:  KCC thanks the NC Republican Party for sharing this information with us.  We couldn't have said this better ourselves.  We appreciate the contributions of all black Americans and honor them, this month and always.

Gov. George Allen Visits NC's 10th District by Carlton Huffman

 Republicans in the 10th District were given the rare delight of a Friday night dinner with two former US Senators and two sitting Congressmen recently.  Over 110 people flocked to downtown Lenoir to hear from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Congressman Patrick McHenry, former Senator Jim Broyhill, and the guest of honor Governor George Allen.  Candidates for the NC House and NC Senate were also in attendence to begin the campaign year as Republicans eagerly try to take control of the General Assembly in Raleigh.  If the enthusiasm and energy on display in Lenoir was any evidence then Mark Basnight and Joe Hackney better prepare to vacate their lush office space for more modest accomodations.

 The crowd was abuzz from the beginning, with only three days having passed since the "Upset Heard Around the World" with Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts.  The common refrain heard over and over in conversation was that if Ted Kennedy's Senate seat can go to a populist Republican then anything can happen in North Carolina.  

Bob Etheridge, David Price, Brad Miller, and Larry Kissell will all want to take heed in their future votes.  While mingling with the crowd Governor Allen urged everyone to follow up on this victory and work hard to send good common sense conservatives to Congress.

  After dinner was served the crowd heard from 10th District Chairman Wayne King.  Under King's leadership the 10th District has hosted visits from high profile national conservatives such as Rick Santorum, and Mike Huckabee,  with more to follow this year.  The visit of George Allen to North Carolina's Republican heartland has only further cemented the high regard in which King's leadership is held.

 Virginia Foxx had the honor of introducing the man who next to Jesse Helms can call himself North Carolina's Mr. Republican, Jim Broyhill.  At 90 years old Broyhill was still full of the fire that made western North Carolina a Republican bastion during his tenure.  Blasting the irresponsible spending by the Obama Administration, Broyhill declared that he'd never seen a more reckless fiscal policy in his life.

 But the show belonged to George Allen.  He stated that the healthcare bill was a bad stew that couldn't be cured with the addition of a few delicacies, but should be thrown out entirely.  Allen warmed to his passion of energy independence by asking the crowd in NASCAR country to start their creative engines to pursue common sense Jeffersonian solutions.  He brought the crowd to it's feet by declaring, "Americans are not addicted to oil, Americans are addicted to freedom!"  His speech was well received by a crowd that was fired up and ready to bring North Carolina and the nation back to sanity.

The event concluded with a brief Q&A session, with Allen and Congressman McHenry taking questions.  In a light moment Allen was asked if his brother, Bruce Allen, would be able to revive the flagging fortunes of the Washington Redskins as General Manager.  Allen simply quipped, "He better."  The visit to the Tarheel state only heightens George Allen's profile as speculation builds that his return to electoral politics is imminent.  Either way the event was a success and inspired the crowd to, in Allen's concluding exhortation, "To stand strong for freedom!"

 Editor's Note: Writer Carlton Huffman (right, with Gov. Allen)  is a former staff member of Pat Buchanan's American Cause and has served on a number of political campaigns throughout North Carolina and Virginia.  He is a proud graduate of Campbell University and native son of Caldwell County. We look forward to more from Mr. Huffman and hope this native son will continue covering the 10th district for us.

All photos courtesy and copyright CARLTON HUFFMAN, 2010

Valentine's Day: A Short History by Assad Meymandi

 For an etymology of the word Valentine, a bit of history and reflection might be appropriate.

Human sacrifice, self-sacrifice and martyrdom are not new. They go back to the Iron age when Virgil in his Book IV, dramatically depicted the departure of Aeneas for the Trojan war leading to Dido's plunging a knife into her breast and sacrificing herself for the love of Aeneas. 

 And we know that during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian (244-311 BC) Christians were caught and fed to the lions. 

Were those professed Christians who risked their lives and became dinner for the Emperor's hungry lions on a suicide mission as are today's fanatic suicide bombers of Islam?  A good question to reflect upon... The martyr sacrificed self. Today, the fanatic bombers sacrifices self and kills innocent others.  That is murder...

 Things got better for Christians after Emperor Constantine (272-337 AD) converted to Christianity in 313 AD. The same persecuted Christians under Diocletian were now pampered and given cushiony jobs under Constantine. What a difference a mere 75 years make!

 There were three Saint Valentines and the one we westerners strongly identify is the Saint Valentine of Rome who was a priest martyred in 269 AD by the orders of Diocletian. Some 200 years later Pope Gelasius I  (he was the pope when Saint Augustine '345-430 AD' became the Bishop of Hippo) decided to recognize Saint Valentine's love and devotion for Christianity and established by papal order the Saint Valentine's Day. It was not until Chaucer days in the fourteenth century England when the feast of February 14 first became associated with romantic love, a pure Anglo invention.

 For the past seven centuries the invention has served us well. Imagine the number of weddings that have been facilitated and children conceived by Saint Valentine.  Incidentally, Valentine from Latin valentinus means valence, and the word value takes its roots from the same origin.

My wife, Emily joins me in wishing a Happy Valentine's Day to all of you and your precious families.

Love and Joy to All, 

Assad Meymandi, MD, PhD, DLFAPA
Raleigh


Dr. Meymandi is a former GOP candidate for office and is a longtime supporter of conservative issues and of the arts in North Carolina. He is a regular contributor to Katy's Conservative Corner.

Palin, Huddleston, Breazeale, & Ellmers win Cumberland Co. Straw Poll

 The winners in the straw poll held February 6th, at the Cumberland County GOP Ronald Reagan Republican Roundup, were 8th congressional district candidate Lou Huddleston, 7th district candidate Will Breazeale, 2nd congressional district candidate Renee Ellmers and Governor and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Huddleston, Breazeale and Ellmers won their district vote and Palin was the choice of attendees for the 2012 presidential race.

 Other congressional candidates attending the event which drew over 300 people and included speeches by former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and Senator Richard Burr,  were newly announced 2nd district congressional candidate Todd Gailas; newly announced 7th congressional district candidates Tim Wilkes and Ilario Pantano; and 8th congressional district candidates Tim D'Annunzio, Harold Johnson and Hal Jordan.

 Local and General Assembly GOP candidates also were in attendance, to include N.C. Senate 22 candidate Wesley Meredith, N.C. Senate 21 candidate Wade Fowler, N.C. State House 44 candidates Brian Kent and Johnny Dawkins, N.C. State House 22 candidate John Szoka,  N.C. State House 45 candidate Jackie Warner and County commissioner At-Large candidates Diane Wheatley and Linda Devore.

No Taxes For Abortions

 According to the North Carolina Family Policy Council, Wake County and the town of Apex have removed coverage for elective abortions for their government employees, except in the case of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. 

The action brought their policies in line with a 1981 state Supreme Court ruling that found it is illegal for government entities to use tax dollars to pay for abortions.

For years, pro-life legislators in the General Assembly have tried to get such coverage removed from the state employee health plan to no avail. It's good to see local citizens and government leaders taking on this responsibility to uphold both the law and innocent human life.

RedState Blogger Bans "Truthers & Birthers"

 Erick Erickson, a blogger at nationally known conservative at "right-of-center" blog site, RedState, says he's always banned "Truthers", those who believe that the terrorist actions on Sept 11, 2001 was a government conspiracy.  

This blogger agrees that those folks are at best,a bit  "kooky".

Now, Erickson writes that banning the so-called "birthers" is next: 

":Increasingly, we have also banned a number of individuals who think Barack Obama is disqualified from being President because despite the Republican Governor of Hawaii confirming the legitimacy of the Democratic President’s birth origin as a citizen of the United States.

"Today I want to reaffirm and make it more definitive. If you think 9/11 was an inside job or you really want to debate whether or not Barack Obama is an American citizen eligible to be President, RedState is not a place for you."

Read the full post here.

 KCC has never published anything regarding such "truth" or "birth" postings from these fringe elements and never would.  This blog is written by conservatives for conservatives looking forward information about North Carolina politics from a Conservative perspective.  Groups like the John Birch society are among these fringe groups.

Your blogger applauds RedState and encourages you to read Erickson's full article.

Lawson To Enter NC 4th Congressional District Primary

 In a surprising twist to an already crowded  North Carolina's 4th Congressional District primary, 2008 GOP nominee, B.J. Lawson, has committed to entering the field. 

 In a statement released on Tuesday, he wrote:

"Recent polling data suggests 2010 will be much different than 2008.  Specifically, 72% of North Carolina Republicans say they are "definitely voting" in 2010, while only 67% of Democrats say the same; furthermore, our district's turnout was greatly influenced by the Obama campaign. Our commitment to challenge Price has been further fueled by recent upsets across the country, numerous requests from our grassroots volunteers, and the stubborn refusal of our government to do the right thing even when confronted with overwhelming public opposition."

 Your blogger agrees completely.  Additionally, Lawson (left) stated that his campaign is focused on five issues:

1. Economic freedom to create our own jobs and businesses 
2. Health care freedom that returns medicine to patients and providers 
3. Zero tolerance for bailouts and corporate welfare 
4. A federal government that operates within the Constitution 
5. Honest and transparent government 

The official announcement and filing will come in Raleigh on Wednesday.  

Analysis

KCC feels that this shakes up the field a bit.  Lawson, is well-known throughout the 4th district as he won a bruising primary in 2008 and went on to face Price in the general election.  Though Congressman David Price won re-election easily in the gerrymandered district drawn just for him, conventional wisdom tells us that every member of Congress is vulnerable in 2010.  Anti-Obama backlash is high this year, as the President's missteps are following him where ever he goes.  

Lawson should now easily move into second place, behind front-runner Frank Roche and ahead of other challengers Greg Dority and the little known, non-serious George Hutchins.  

Roche has been in the race for more than a year but with Lawson's national fund-raising connections from the Republican Liberty Caucus, he should easily be able to out-raise everyone in the field, eventually moving ahead of Roche.  

Many 4th District and NC GOP activists only became involved after the election of President Barrack Obama angered and fired them up. Most of these might not remember Lawson and but they do know Roche.  Lawson, must now reach out to these new believers and share his story.

Price can always be counted on to vote the wrong way on any issue for a fiscal conservative.  In a year when the issues are tilted towards fiscal and financial, Price has never met a tax increase he didn't like.  But, he knows how to put a good spin on the issue.  

History from Your Blogger's Memory

Price was first elected to Congress in 1986, defeating then- Congressman and  former UNC Athletic Director Bill Cobey. Cobey went on to become NCGOP State Chairman and a candidate for Governor.  Cobey had defeated long-serving Democrat Congressman Ike Andrews in 1984, after Andrews received a DUI. (Your blogger volunteered for Cobey as a College Republican at the time.)

In 1994, in an off-year election during former President Bill Clinton's first term, former Raleigh Police Chief Fred Heineman surprisingly defeated Price. (The district then covered most, if not all of Raleigh, and was more Republican friendly.) 

The Heineman campaign had already scheduled to turn off all but one telephone line, beginning the day after the election, and reporters, volunteers, and well-wishers could not get through.  The Chief, as he insisted on being called, was as shocked as anyone.  Sadly, Price returned to Congress two years later and has kept his seat since.

However, anti-Obama sentiments are much stronger than any anti-Clinton feelings ever were.  If the GOP keeps working hard and rallies the faithful, Congress is ours for the taking.  However, KCC feels we must have no more "restroom incidents" or mistresses in Argentina!

Editor's Notes: 

Congressman Price is a fixture on the local Chamber of Commerce circuit.  During this blogger's tenure at the Cary Chamber of Commerce, she wrote their newsletter as part of her position as Director of Public and Governmental Affairs.  

Anytime KCC said anything negative about Rep. Price, his office was on the phone, wanting to schedule a speaking engagement, which he, naturally received.  

Price is always accessible but we have no doubt that the Republican who defeats him will be, as well!  

NC Democrat Owens Asks University for Name Change

 From the files of "You've-Got-a-Lot-of-Nerve, Just-Who-The-Heck-Do-You-Think-You-Are?", State Rep. Bill Owens (D-Pasquotank) recently asked the administration of Elizabeth City State University to change its name. 

Business North Carolina reported in their February 2010 issue that Owens assumed that such a name change would better "reflect the school's ties to the UNC System."

But alumni wanted to keep the old name to reflect the school's heritage as a historically black university, the magazine reported.

Shame on you Representative Owens. This is another example of an arrogant elected official.  Clearly he thinks he knows better than everyone else. 

Hat Tip: Business North Carolina magazine 

Editor's Note:  Your blogger has been through a similar scenario and can relate to those at ECSU.  Shortly after KCC's  graduation from Meredith College, it was proposed that the school change it's name to Meredith University to potentially attract more students.  Alumna and students, being creatures of tradition, voted 'absolutely not'.

It appears that the students and alumni of Elizabeth City State University don't appreciate the intrusion by an elected official who feels he can over-step his boundaries.    

Palin's Palm

 Former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, has been catching a lot of flak in the lame stream media these last few days for her use of her own hand as a place to write notes.  Frankly, your blogger thinks this is just plain silly.  

Who hasn't had to give a talk and used their own palm to take down quick talking points?  It's better than a huge teleprompter that President Obama is forced to rely on!  

In her honor, this blogger dedicates KCC's palm to our favorite conservative, Sarah Palin (above left).  

Meredith College Drops Women's Studies

 The largest women's college in the Southeast has done the "unthinkable' and made this blogger a very happy woman! 

Meredith College, has dropped a conservative's least popular major, Women's studies.  Located on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, the college added the major during your blogger's study there and it puzzled KCC's mind.  After all, aren't all majors and issues, women's issues?  

Due to the poor economy, all colleges and universities are suffering and many are forced to look at eliminating less popular majors as a way of lowering costs.  Yes, others were cut along with Women's Studies, but this was something special, a victory in an increasingly liberal institution.  

Goodbye women's studies.  May you never, ever return.  Your elimination is an answer to this blogger's prayers and Meredith has another small check coming your way as our way to say thank you.

 Editor's Note:  Meredith students and graduates share a very special bond that's difficult to describe.  We often tell men and graduates of co-education institutions that "you had to go there" to understand it, the traditions, and all generations of students went through.  It doesn't matter if you graduated in 1923 or will graduate in 2013, we all share a special feeling about one another.  KCC assumes that only graduates and students from other women's colleges can possibly understand.

We thank God that this is a much more conservative institution than those in the Northeast, such as where Secretary Hillary Clinton went to school.  

 Shameless plug: Your blogger is a proud member of the class of 1989 and recommends Meredith to any high school student considering a small college atmosphere.  If you know someone who is interested in attending Meredith, this blogger can get her a waiver for her application fee.  Please email KCC at the email me link above.  They have a great atmosphere for conservatives and a college Republican club.  Your blogger can set your student up with the right people.  

(Above, Cornhuskin' Parade in 2007)  Every November, Cornhuskin' is THE major activity  and takes at least a year to plan.  Classes compete against one another in a number of events and the day kicks off with the class parade.  Every student remembers all four of their Cornhuskin's.It's hard to explain and you have to go to Meredith to understand...)

Fetzer to Perdue: Dismiss Corrupt Officials Immediately

 This morning, Tom Fetzer, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, called for the resignation of two major figures in Governor Beverly Perdue's administration.  

During her campaign, Perdue promised to transform state government and make it transparent.  Clearly, that hasn't happened (pun intended.) In short, Fetzer wants the NC Governor to clean up state Government or be prepared to face the consequences (at election time).

A copy of the press release from the NC GOP follows:

NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer today called on Governor Bev Perdue to remove from their positions Alvin Keller, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, and Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Fetzer also called on Perdue to convene a panel of journalists to determine barriers to access to public records and have those barriers lifted immediately.

 Fetzer referenced Young’s time serving as former Governor Mike Easley’s Chief Legal Council, saying that Young failed to properly investigate claims that the Governor’s office instructed employees to delete emails.  Fetzer charged that “Young either orchestrated the cover-up or observed it with a casual indifference.”

 Fetzer also noted Young’s inclusion in the recent Ruffin Poole indictment, where Young failed to properly investigate the Easley staffer about being taken on a private jet to New Orleans for a bachelor party thrown by an Easley supporter.  Fetzer said Young is a “holdover from the incompetence and corruption of the Easley administration” and that Perdue should dismiss him from his current post immediately.

Fetzer outlined Keller’s lack of results as the head of Corrections, including his poor handling of problems surrounding the state’s probation system.  Keller had made filling vacancies of parole officers his #1 priority; but the number of parole officers actually went down during his tenure.  Recently, Keller has refused media requests to release records showing the details of supervision of those out on probation and backpedaled on his ordered to release prisoners who were sentenced to life in prison.

 According to Fetzer, a lack of internal checks and balances has left it to the media and private “watchdog” groups to uncover corruption in state government. Fetzer said he believed even more problems would be discovered if access to public records was easier. He proposed that the Governor put together a panel of journalist and members of concerned citizens groups to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of access to public records. 

 “The governor should listen to common sense recommendations from those who know what the obstacles are and then, using whatever is within her power as Governor, implement reform by executive order.”

“Bev Purdue has called herself the ‘Education Governor’ and then promptly signed a budget that slashed education.  She called herself the ‘Jobs Governor’ when unemployment increased on her watch.  It’s time ‘Business as Usual Bev’ started backing up her rhetoric when it comes to ethics and transparency,” Fetzer concluded.

Editor's Note: All underlining is added by your blogger for emphasis and was not in the original press released.  

Additionally, the video will soon be available via video.  When this occurs, your blogger will update this post.

Brad Miller: Involved Where He Shouldn't Be

 Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC-13th) is the pride of the liberal wing of the NC Democrat party, but the bane of this blogger's existence.  He has caused the people of this district many problems and has never found a tax hike he hasn't liked.  

Aside from voting for every issue Nancy Pelosi has asked, he's now in trouble in a VA case in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania?  Naturally, it doesn't look too good.  Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com has the story, written by Michael Volpe.  Check it out here.

Andrew Breitbart is a professional blogger, with a fine staff and a full stable of blogs.  KCC considers him a personal hero.  Over the weekend, he introduced former Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, TN.

Brad Miller is the only "representative" that the North Carolina's 13th Congressional District has ever had and It's time we turned him out of office.  

Turns out, there are at least three trying to do just that.  Publisher/Editor Bernie Reeves recently jumped into the Republican primary, joining Navy vet and businessman  Bill Randall.  Businessman Dan Huffman also is in the race.

KCC will write more on this race later.  Meanwhile, please click on  http://www.ncgop13.org/  and donate to the 13th GOP Congressional District.  This group is charged with bringing Congressman Miller back home to Raleigh and they need your help to do it. Any amount is appreciated and you can donate via the website.  Please help.  (Sorry, but your contributions are not tax deductible.)

Editor's Note: Your blogger is a member of the North Carolina Republican Party's State Executive Committee, representing the 13th District, at-large.  Additionally, she serves as treasurer for that group.  It is the only official post she holds within the Party.  The 13th District needs all the help it can get to help defeat Brad Miller in the Fall.  It is an all-volunteer organization.

NC "Centrist" Dems Going to War With Extreme Left?

After seeing divisions and solutions for years in her own party, KCC read the following with interest.  Both major political parties in North Carolina are not without their problems and the email posted below certainly proves it.  

From an online newsletter called "PDNC Watch List", the email lays out how a group, called the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina (PDNC) is "ruining" the state Democrat party.  The author, self-described word-smith Gene Messick, sends out these emails as a part of a mailing list that anyone can subscribe to, including:

Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Greens, Liberals, Progressives, Teabaggers, and Unaffiliated Voters.

 Editor's Note: Teabaggers?  Really now. How unoriginal can one be?  

Here is the full content of the email.  It gets a bit long, but you can really see how the division in their party is laid out.  Please note that the NC Democrat Party's State Executive Committee (SEC) , is scheduled to meet this weekend in Durham. 

 Additionally, the author goes so far as to call former State NCDP  Chairman Jerry Meek a "closet progressive", discusses "progressive bullies", and has issues with the Lesbian Gay, and Transsexual people within the party.  It would appear that Mr. Messick is from former Governor Mike Easley's wing of the Democratic Party, and not the ultra-liberal, PDNC. 

Please further note, that your blogger worked on this post for over two hours, getting the editing, and formatting correct, as well as the links.  By this time, it was nearly 4 a.m. so she decided to have some fun posting photos of corrupt Democrat politicians, along with a few of her favorite political statements.  Sure, these may be a bit silly, but it did get very late...

 [NCDP-on-Trial] 158:   For Feb 13th SEC Meeting: PDNC Watch List

As long-term NC Democratic Party Faithful approach this State Executive Committee Meeting, they are faced with an external organization which is dedicated to kicking them out of control of their Party, as being stupid and old fashioned, to be replaced by political novices who understand almost nothing about political organization.  It's a recipe for disaster.  

Progressive Democrats of NC was secretly formed specifically to get rid of the Old Fogies in the Party whom they detest, which just happens to coincide with the Leadership of the entire traditional Political Base of the Democratic Party in North Carolina.  Shun moderate and centrist Democrats?  How could anyone be so politically naive?

PDNC is an extremist, external, radical organization which can not point to a single accomplishment, outside its creeping invasion and attempted overthrow of the Party.  This Corporation takes its Party Invasion Instructions from an Out-of-State Political Action Committee, Progressive Democrats of America.   These Progressives are not Democrats, but are political anarchists, blind to the damage their self-serving independent Agenda does to the NC Democratic Party.

__________________________________

*The State Executive Committee of the NC Democratic Party consists of some 700 Democrats elected by each of 100 County Democratic Parties.  

 *Because of its huge size, SEC meets normally only twice per year. (Editor's note: much like the NC GOP's State Executive Committee, of which your blogger is a member.) 

*The Number of SEC Members per County varies according to the number of Democrats registered to vote by each County Board of Elections, being one of 100 nonpartisan agencies of the State who operate all Public Elections.  NC BoE is not affiliated with any political party, serving to regulate Elections and campaign contributions.

*The SEC for the Party is the equivalent to a Board of Directors:  the elector of State Party Officers, and the maker of all Rules, embodied in the NCDP Plan of Organization, the equivalent to Bylaws.

*Each County must have at least one SEC Member, and if only one, it's normally the Chair of the County Party. Wake County has 74 SEC Members;  Mecklenburg 64; Guilford 46; Durham 32; Orange 16; Robeson 9; Onslow 8; Rockingham 7, Cleveland 6, Transylvania 4, Polk 2, etc, etc. 

*Attendance at SEC Meetings is mandatory for all 700 elected Members;  formal substitute Proxy Members may be sent. Certain elected State and Federal Democratic Officials are Ex-Officio Members, as are Presidents of formally approved NCDP Auxiliaries.  However, the private membership Corporation Progressive Democrats of NC, Inc, is NOT, and cannot be, an approved NCDP Auxiliary, and therefore may NOT send any voting members to any SEC Meeting.

______________________________________

*How then has PDNC sent its representatives to past SEC Meetings, where they have been allowed to vote and propose Resolutions which advance the narrow Agenda of this private Corporation?   As NCDP Executive Director Andrew Whalen recently stated in the Winston-Salem Journal --  PDNC "is NOT affiliated with the NC Democratic Party."

*How can this be?  How can members of a Protestant Church go to the Vatican and officially vote to tell the Pope what to do?   How can Ford stockholders attend a GM Directors Meeting and vote to instruct Chrysler what to do?  These behaviors would make as much sense as the deeply corrupted state of affairs which has been allowed to fester within the NC Democratic Party for the past 5 years, introduced on his own volition by former State Party Chair Jerry Meek with approval of no one in the Party, and perpetuated in total without restraint by current State Party Chair David Young since his election at last year's first SEC Meeting on Jan 31st, 2009.

*One SEC Meeting was held since then, in August, and NOTHING was done to cleanse this Progressive Stain from the Party, even in the face of continued direct attacks on the Party by Progressive Groups and Members, in direct violation of the NCDP Plan of Organization. 

*Progressive Bullies just flip their noses at the Party, at the Plan of Organization, at the SEC, and continue their independent Agenda of attacks and invasions, daring anyone to do anything.

*Democratic Candidates have lost elections because PDNC Corruption of the Party has weakened it, fracturing Party Unity.  With most critical November Elections for our State and Nation coming up, Progressives show no sign of relinquishing their choke-hold on the Party.   Registration for ALL Candidates to run in the May Primaries MUST be done between noon February 8th and noon February 26th, at one of the Boards of Elections.

*To be elected in November, a Candidate must Register in February, and must win in May.  It's now February, folks!

.*If Progressives are still embedded inside the Party as Officers at the end of the day on Feb 13th, they will have been approved by default, and the Party's over. Editor's Note: Literally.)

______________________________________

*Since soon after formation in 2004, Members of the private membership Corporation, Progressive Democrats of NC, Inc., began engaging in a covert plan to infiltrate the NC Democratic Party Leadership.  For years, PDNC has advocated in its Newsletters that PDNC Members should sneak into NCDP by becoming elected as Officers at all levels:  Precinct, County, District and State, growing in strength like a secret society.

*By the Jan 31st 2009 State Party Election,  Progressive mole Delmas Parker was elected 2nd VChair, and State Chair David Young advertised Statewide that he had been endorsed by the external PDNC Corporation, as did State 1st VChair Stella Adams.  A Wake Co Progressive Chapter led a massive Open Attack upon a Wake Democrat for the Office of Party Secretary, organizing Progressive SEC Members across the State by Email in their Attack on her. 

*In Editions 155 & 157, readers were promised a List of Progressives who have infiltrated NCDP as Officers.  Anyone holding dual membership as an NCDP Officer, and ALSO in Progressive Groups dedicated to the overthrow of NCDP, were offered the opportunity to remove themselves from this List prior to publication by signifying they had left their Progressive Group.  Two did.  Their names will not be found below.

*Each of the Party Officers listed below, in their prior behavior and/or affiliation with Progressive Groups, have advocated weakening the Democratic Party by promoting and supporting non-Party Candidates for Public Office, and by publicly attacking fellow Democrats they choose to dislike, in direct violation of the NCDP Plan of Organization.  

*Such self-identified traitors to the Party are Unfit to Serve as any Officer in NC Democratic Party, and must be removed forthwith.

.*This Progressive Watch List is provided as a service to NCDP, so that legitimate SEC Members attending the Feb 13th Meeting may become aware of Progressives attempting to infiltrate the SEC as Party Officers or Proxies.  

EDITOR'S NOTE:  KCC respects the Mr. Messick's candor about his party and his work to protect it.  Your blogger feels the same about her own party.  The author's candor is refreshing, which is not an easy thing to find in this era of "watch-what-you-say CYA",  big-brother-is-watching, politics.  

Please note that the underlining for emphasis  done by your blogger and not by the original author and that this piece has undergone some editing by your blogger.

Below is Messick's Watch list of those to avoid at this weekend's SEC. Read at your pleasure and you might find someone you know.  

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

.Category 1:  Progressive Democrats of NC, Inc.

[  ]   Heiderose Kolber (Orange Co), PDNC Corporate President

[  ]   Michael Sprague (Guilford Co), PDNC 1st Vice President

[  ]   Patricia Seibert (Beaufort Co), PDNC  2nd Vice President

[  ]   Isaac Coleman (Buncombe Co), PDNC 3rd Vice President

[  ]   Christopher Lizak (Wake Co), PDNC 4th Vice President

[  ]   Tara Blomquist (Guilford Co), PDNC 5th Vice President

[  ]   Sally Goerner (Orange Co), PDNC Secretary

[  ]   George Six (Henderson Co), PDNC Treasurer, fmr PDA State Coordinator

[  ]   Pete MacDowell (Orange C0) PDNC Immediate Past President

[  ]   Mary Alsentzer:  PDNC Beaufort County Chapter Chair

[  ]   Nick Divitci:  PDNC Guilford County Chapter Chair

[  ]   Gautam Desai:  PDNC Mecklenburg County Chapter Chair

[  ]   Jack Saunders:  PDNC Orange County Chapter Chair

[  ]   Michael Oder, Forsyth Co 3rd VChair, PDNC Webmaster

[  ]   Jerimee Richer, PDNC Blogger (fmr paid NCDP CommDir, removed)

[  ]   Mac Whatley Jr: Randolph Chair, PDNC Original President

[  ]   Marco 'Max' Mattia, (Wake Co) PDNC Member

[  ]   William F Franklin, (Alamance) PDNC Member, Candidate for President

[  ]   Delmas Parker (Forsyth), NCDP 2nd VChair, PDNC Invasion Facilitator

______________________________________

.

Category 2:  Progressive Democrats of America PAC

.

[  ]   Patricia Siebert: Beaufort County PDA Chapter Chair

                      and 1st Congressional District PDA Point Person

[  ]   Nick Divitci:  Guilford County PDA Chapter Chair

[  ]   Jesse Goslen: Raleigh and Wake County PDA Chapter CoChair

[  ]   Christopher Lizak:  Raleigh and Wake County PDA Chapter CoChair

                     and 2nd Congressional District PDA Point Person

[  ]   Gray Newman:  PDA Chair for North Carolina, Mecklenburg Chapter,

                     and 9th Congressional District PDA Point Person

[  ]   Michael Gould: 4th Congressional District PDA Point Person

[  ]   Pete MacDowell (Orange C0) fmr PDA State Caucus Chair, removed

[  ]   Susan Oehler, fmr Buncombe County PDA Chapter Chair, removed

[  ]   Lee Baker, fmr Guilford County PDA Chapter Chair, removed

______________________________________

.

Category 3:  Progressive Democrats of Wake County Officers

.

[  ]   Jesse Goslen, President & PDA Chapter CoChair

[  ]   Chris Lizak, Vice President, PDNC 4th VP & PDA Chapter CoChair

[  ]   Katherine Lizak, Secretary

[  ]   Sephanie Eriksen Goslen, Treasurer

[  ]   Chris Telesca, Outreach Chair & Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Tristram Evely, Activities Chair

[  ]   Michael Gould, Policy Chair & PDA District Point Person

[  ]   John Askew Shaw, Internet Chair

______________________________________

* Category 4:  Identified Progressive Witches of Wake, Etc.

.

[  ]   Doris L Weaver, fmr Chair, Wake Party, Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Don Mial, 2 terms: Wake County Party Vice Chair 

[  ]   Linda Gunter, President, Wake County Women Auxiliary

[  ]   Joanne Casey, Valentine Fundraiser Chair, Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Michael Schaul, President, Wake County Men Auxiliary

[  ]   Blaize Strenn, fmr ViceChair, Wake County Democratic Party

[  ]   Chris Lizak, Wake Co Party Treasurer, PDA Chapter CoChair

[  ]   Ruth Merkle, Cary Vice Chair, Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Stephanie Goslen, Wake Co Secretary, Wake Progressives Treasurer

[  ]   Chris Telesca, Wake Co Precinct Chair, Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Michelle Lewis, VolComm Chair, frm ExDir, Progressive Puncher

[  ]   Tristram Evely, Precinct Chair, WCPD Activities Chair

[  ]   Sallie Leslie, former Wake SEC Member while being employed by SEC

[  ]   Jerimee Richer, PDNC Blogger (fmr paid NCDP CommDir, removed)

[  ]   Michael Gould, 4th Congressional District PDA Point Person

[  ]   Amiee Schmidt, email: trueprogressive@..., NC Sierra Staff

[  ]   Betsy Wells, fmr Cleveland Co Chair, conspired with Witches of Wake

[  ]   Gerald 'Jerry' Meek:  fmr Closet Progressive Chair of NCDP

______________________________________

*Category 5:  Officers of Guilford County Party who have allowed Guilford Progressive Democrats to masquerade as a legitimate Democratic Party Auxiliary and abusively use NCDP resources.

.

[  ]   Paul Mengert, Guilford Co Party Chair 2005-2009

[  ]   Tom Coley, Guilford Co Party Chair 2009-2011    

[  ]   Lee Baker, fmr Guilford County PDA Chapter Chair

[  ]   Nick Divitci: Guilford Chair of both PDA  & PDNC Chapters

[  ]   Michael Sprague (Guilford Co), PDNC 1st Vice President

[  ]   Tara Blomquist (Guilford Co), PDNC 5th Vice President

[  ]   Other Guilford County Party Officers serving 2007-09 and 2009-11

[  ]   Gerald 'Jerry' Meek: fmr Closet Progressive Chair of NCDP

_____________________________________

*Category 6: Officers of Mecklenburg County Party who have allowed Mecklenburg Progressive Democrats of and MeckMobe/GayDemocrats to masquerade as legitimate Democratic Party Auxiliaries and abusively use NCDP resources.

[  ]   Gerald 'Jerry' Meek: fmr Closet Progressive Chair of NCDP

[  ]   Susan Burgess, Democratic National Committee Member at-large

[  ]   Joyce Brayboy, Democratic National Committee Member at-large

[  ]   David Erdman, Mecklenburg County Party Chair

[  ]   Joel Ford, Mecklenburg County Party Chair 2009-2011

[  ]   Gray Newman, Party Treasurer; President, Mecklenburg Progressive Democrats

[  ]   Concetta Caliendo, President, MeckMobe/Gay Democrats

[  ]   Gautam Desai: PDNC Mecklenburg County Chapter Chair

[  ]   Steven Porter: Precinct and 9th Congressional District Officer             

[  ]   Other Mecklenburg County Party Officers serving 2007-09 and 2009-11

_____________________________________

.

Category 7:  Officers of New Hanover County Party who have allowed Stonewall Democrats to masquerade as a legitimate Democratic Party Auxiliary and abusively use NCDP resources.

. 

[  ]   Helen Worthy, New Hanover Co Party Chair 2003-2007

[  ]   James Morgan Jr, New Hanover Co Party Chair 2007-2011

[  ]   Jill Blackman, CoChair New Hanover Stonewall Democrats

[  ]   George 'Ed' Tilley, CoChair New Hanover Stonewall Democrats

[  ]   Other New Hanover Co Party Officers serving 2007-09 and 2009-11

[  ]   Gerald 'Jerry' Meek: fmr Closet Progressive Chair of NCDP

_____________________________________

. Category 8:  Officers of Wake County Party who have allowed Wake Progressive Democrats to masquerade as a legitimate Democratic Party Auxiliary and abusively use NCDP resources.

.

[  ]   Doris L Weaver, Party Chair, allowed Wake Progressives to attach to her Party, organized Witches of Wake, Progressive Stalker

[  ]   Jack Nichols, Wake County Party Chair, 2009-2011

[  ]   Gerald 'Jerry' Meek: fm HQ: fmr closet Progressive Chair of NCDP

[  ]   John Hollingsworth, original Wake Progressive President under Weaver

[  ]   Jesse Goslen, President Wake Progressives & Chair PDA Chapter 

[  ]   Other Wake County Party Officers serving 2007-09 and 2009-11

_____________________________________

* Category 9:  Progressive Predatory Political Stalkers. Officers of Wake County Party who used Facebook, Internet Blogsites and Community Webpages to cowardly stalk, harass and smear fellow Democrats by publicly posting false, derogatory and sometimes libelous comments, commonly using false aliases to conceal their identities. This included multiple incidents of Stalkers supporting a Republican for Election to Cary Town Council by attacking the Democratic Candidate, who was their fellow Party Officer.  See also [NCDP-on-Trial] 150 & 155

.

[  ]   Joanne Casey 

[  ]   Ruth Merkle:  see also [NCDP-on-Trial] 135, Case #001

[  ]   Christopher Telesca: see also [NCDP-on-Trial] 139, Case #005

[  ]   Doris Weaver:   see also [NCDP-on-Trial] 137, Case #003

.*[Full Disclosure:  I do not visit blogs, but have been told I'm one of several Democrats being stalked by the 4 SECs above. ~ G. Messick]

_____________________________________

. *Category 10:   State Party Officers who have aided and abetted Invasion by Progressive Groups.

*Elected 2005:  Jerry Meek (Former 1st VChair Meek who won by only 15 votes over Ed Turlington after promising Progressives he would sneak in a Progressive Auxiliary if elected over Gov Easley's concern about having an LGBT State Chair.), Beverly Earle, Delmas Parker, Courtney Crowder, Ann Huggins, Muriel Offerman

*Elected 2007:  Jerry Meek, Dannie Montgomery, Delmas Parker, Courtney Crowder, Roy Lucas, Muriel Offerman

*Elected 2009:  David Young, Stella Adams, Delmas Parker, Tony McEwen(?), Kathy Knight, Muriel Offerman

*"It's the first wrong steps that count.  How easy it is to go from bad to worse, once we start a downward course."  -- Mark Twain, 1904

._____________________________________

.NOTICE:  If a number of SEC Member slots open due to resignations, you can test your wings by attending this SEC Meeting to see if SEC is your cup of tea.  Any registered Democrat in NC who would like to attend the SEC Meeting as a Voting Member should contact their County Chair for Proxy Voting instructions:  http://www.ncdp.org/counties , including a form which must be filed prior to the Meeting.  http://www.ncdp.org/files/secproxy082909.pdf

.EVERY meeting of NCDP is open to ANY Registered NC Democrat who chooses to attend as a Non-voting Member of the Party, free of charge, including this Feb 13th SEC Meeting in Durham:  http://www.ncdp.org/ 

Fetzer to Call for Resignations/Transparency

 Monday morning, North Carolina GOP Chairman, Tom Fetzer (left), will hold a press conference where he will call for the resignation for "two high profile state officials" as well as discuss details of a renewed call for transparency in state government. 

Your blogger agrees that we are not seeing it now and looks forward to the press conference.  During Mr. Fetzer's term as Raleigh mayor, he was infamous for beating on the local liberals via the press and he has continued this tradition since being elected State GOP Chairman last summer.

He will take questions following his remarks and KCC will provide the feed of the conference as soon as it is over.

Happy 99th Birthday, Ronald Reagan (Video)

Happy 99th Birthday, Mr. President!    

Born in 1966, your blogger is a proud member of the Reagan generation.  KCC was 14 when Ronald W. Reagan was elected President and 22 when he left office.  

God bless the United States of America.  We pray that the conservative movement will once again find its way and that we can restore our nation to its former greatness. Please enjoy the video, below, of Mr. Reagan's first Inaugural address.  It still inspires us today:

/

NC 4th District's Roche to File Monday

 Frank Roche's campaign has announced that he will officially enter NC's 4th Congressional District's primary race this Monday, February 8 at 12:00 noon. Roche has been campaigning for about a year and thus far is seen as the man to beat in the primary race. 

Download the entire press release, in pdf, below.  You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

Download PR 2.5.2010 Roche

Other declared candidates include Greg Dority and little known George Hutchins.  All three candidates hope to win a shot at unseating longtime, Democratic Congressman David Price, in the General Election.