20080318 In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

March 18, 2008

Recently there has been a push to televise all local government meetings in Carroll County.

And then - last week the story broke that (now former) New York governor Eliot “Mr. Clean” Spitzer, otherwise known as “love client no. 9,” had violated his marriage vows and broken a number of laws by taking “acting lessons” with an “aspiring-singer.”

There is a relationship between the two events and issues. Bear with me and I’ll attempt to make my point…

Governor Spitzer mercifully resigned on March 12 and ended a sensational 48 hours of salacious melodrama of position, power, greed, and human failings.

The ironies abound in this tragedy.

In his previous job as attorney general of New York, he had gained a reputation as a ruthless boar in his relentless crusade against wrongdoing on the part of Wall Street.

To further his own political ambitions, he made it great sport to ruin the reputations of Wall Street executives.

He often used the very same laws that in the end brought about his own demise.

However, anecdotal accounts indicate his unpleasant approaches were not centered on bad folks. He was, by many accounts, an equal opportunity misanthrope, often treating foes and colleagues with equal disdain.

Once he took over the governor’s office he quickly proceeded in going back on as many of his campaign promises as possible and fought with everyone – on both sides of the political aisle.

He raised taxes, added to the state’s payroll, and increased spending by 7 percent. In the paradox of contemporary taxation policy, the more New York raised taxes, the larger the state deficit grew. New York residents and businesses fled the state in astronomical numbers - and as he leaves office, he leaves behind a huge budget deficit and $2 billion in tax proposals.

One of the many golden rules of life is always treat people well when you’re on your way up because you never know when you’re coming down.

In the end, as Governor Spitzer faced a life-altering crisis, he was completely alone with no friends.

I often wonder about this “human” aspect of community leadership when I attend – or watch public hearings on the local Carroll County public access Channel 24 and witness the incivility and hypocrisy.

Locally a leadership void continues to persist. And one wonders why.

Many folks feel disenfranchised and alienated because there are too many “Spitzers” in office, locally, in Annapolis, and nationally, who aren’t doing their job and aren’t honest with us.

Then again, in today’s political environment, why would anyone want to leave the comfort of their families – their jobs, to take on leadership positions in the community where personal attacks and character assassination is a blood sport for those who may disagree with certain decisions?

And astonishingly those who are the most unpleasant are the ones who want others to respect their point of view and have an opportunity to be heard.

Recently there has been a push to televise all local government meetings in Carroll County.

A position I whole-heartedly support because personally attending these meetings is so incredibly unpleasant; why would anyone want to go?

They’re hard enough to watch on television, but at least when we watch them on TV, we can change the channel – or leave the room.

In recent memory I have had a number of folks tell me that they never gave much thought to this or that pressing issue of the day. But after having seen and heard the folks who are against it - - they’re for it.

A case in point is the fella who asked for my position on the airport… I shared with him that both sides have good points – that ought to be heard…

That in the end, the commissioners need to decide what is going to be best the greatest majority of Carroll Countians… That the commissioners are obviously not going to make everyone happy with this issue. There is no silver bullet or win-win.

He told me that he never thought much about expanding the airport until he saw the folks who are against it in action and now he wholeheartedly supports expanding the airport. Hmmm.

And recently in Carroll County; in an interesting twist, some of the folks who have been privately (and publicly) the most unpleasant are now publically claiming they are being bullied and pleading for civility.

I’d rather watch it all happen on TV.

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff http://www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

NBH

20080318 In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

20080121 Clinton Obama Edwards slug it out in South Carolina

Debate: In-SC-(D)-Clinton-Obama-Edwards-(3/3)-Jan. 21, 2008

About This Video Added: January 22, 2008

1) Obama, Clinton spar on Reagan 1:34
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton spar over Reagan at the South Carolina debate.

2)Viewers react to health care debate 1:37
Watch debate viewer reaction to John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama as they discuss health care.

3) Voting record up for debate 1:52
Sen. Barack Obama and John Edwards get into a heated exchange about their past U.S. senate votes.

4) Clinton discusses Iraq policy 1:20
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton says she would have U.S. troops out of Iraq in a year.

5) Edwards, Obama debate Iraq 2:47
Sen. Barack Obama and John Edwards discuss their policies on the Iraq war.

6) Viewers react to John Edwards 0:42
Watch debate viewers react to John Edwards talking about fellow presidential candidates squabble on stage.

20071226 This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A Christmas Tragedy

Kevin E. Dayhoff

We are all mourning this Christmas season after last Wednesday’s senseless death of Smithsburg police officer Christopher Shane Nicholson, 25.

The Joy and Sadness of Christmas

Tom McLaughlin

It’s almost over. I have just about cleaned out the four-story townhouse and have over 100 boxes of stuff. I say stuff because I was not sure what to throw out and what to keep. Most of the stuff was Mom’s and Dad’s.

WE GET LETTERS!

WE GET LETTERS!!! A Walkersville resident commiserates with Steve Berryman and his thoughts about I-270 and its effect on our community. CLICK HERE!!! CLICK HERE!

---

Monday, December 24, 2007

Frederick Children

Roy Meachum

These observations appeared in my Frederick News-Post column the December sleigh-bell-bedecked horses pulled wagons through downtown streets; a spectacle that had disappeared several decades before. It was also the season when my column first appeared.

Family Traditions – Old and New

Farrell Keough

Think back to those exhilarating days just prior to the big event; the chill in the air; the anticipatory extra step in your gait; the constant talk among your friends as to what you might find on that oh-so-special day.

---

Friday, December 21, 2007

More Lennie

Roy Meachum

You want proof farmers have become the new outcasts? Check the Thursday front page of the Frederick News-Post for Commissioner John L. Thompson, Jr.'s latest bureaucratic fandango.

Santa’s in the Seein’

Norman M. Covert

Pardon my impertinence, but a long time ago my blue eyes assured me in the darkness of an early Christmas morning that Santa Claus had come and gone. No question. No debate.

---

Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Primary Explanation

Chris Cavey

Next month will be the beginning, nationwide, of presidential primary voting. In my travels I have run into many people who are both surprised and confused about the advanced voting season. So here is a little primer to help you through the quandary of what and why.

Why Be a Republican? – Part 3

Farrell Keough

When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not your friend. [U.S. Marine Corps]

WE GET LETTERS!

WE GET LETTERS!!!!! A Monrovia resident applauds the Natelli Corporation for its proposal for a YMCA at Urbana and makes suggestions for improvements to the county's planning process. CLICK HERE!!!!! CLICK HERE!

---

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Playing “The War on Christmas” Card

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Fortunately, this year in “The War on Christmas,” no overwhelming weapons of mass Christmas destruction have materialized and it appears that Christmas is winning. And that’s a good thing.

The Chesapeake Bay

Tom McLaughlin

It absolutely can’t be that dirty. No way. The Chesapeake Bay that is. All the information flowing in says the waterway is a cesspool complete with garbage floating on top of its entire length and breath. There are no fish. Anyone catching any are having hallucinations and eating imaginary meals. The water quality sucks with a capital “S.”

Why Be a Republican? – Part 2

Farrell Keough

Aim towards the Enemy. [Instructions printed on U.S. Rocket Launcher]

---

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Today's Uneasy Iraq

Roy Meachum

Holiday seasons are ever thus: intent on buying gifts and celebrating the season, few Americans notice what's happening in the rest of the world.

Why Be a Republican? – Part 1

Farrell Keough

What is the similarity between an air traffic controller and a pilot? If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies; if the air traffic controller screws up…, the pilot dies. [Anonymous]

20070923 French Foreign Minister Kouchner responds to be being interrupted

French Foreign Minister Kouchner responds to be being interrupted

On Sunday, September 23^rd, 2007, “Amy Proctor” posted the video below on the “French Foreign Minister Calls Code Pink 'Stupid' During Interruption.”

It is a relatively priceless moment captured on video.

Ms. Proctor wrote, in part:

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who last week said "We must prepare for the worst” against Iran (referring to war), addressed Center for Strategic and International Studies where he was interrupted by (sigh, who else..) Code Pink.

Read the rest of her post here: French Foreign Minister Calls Code Pink 'Stupid' During Interruption

Meanwhile, enjoy this:

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1199226888

###

20070914 Gentleman Brad

Gentleman Brad

September 14^th, 2007

It is the kind of publicity that all celebrities should want to receive. And well, for that matter, everyone should want this sort of attention.

Gentleman Brad Pitt “delighted the manager of NYC’s Patek Philippe boutique when he purchased a watch, The NY Daily News’ Rush & Molloy reports, but it was more than the purchase that endeared Pitt to the manager. ‘He is the most polite, well-mannered, unpretentious customer, and we have lots of celebrity clients,’ he reportedly said. ‘He is a gentleman, ‘true and true.’ ”

####

20070806 The Associated Press lays out the welcome mat for vacationing French President

The Associated Press lays out the welcome mat for vacationing French President

August 6^th, 2007

Vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire French President Nicolas Sarkozy has personally discovered the American welcome mat.

Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and freelancer Vince DeWitt took the opportunity to show him the courtesy of getting under his skin while the president is trying to get some personal R and R.

Of course, as told by the Associated Press, it was the French president who was out of line.

Perhaps the next time Messrs. Cole and DeWitt go on a personal vacation with their families, they could tell us their whereabouts so that we may show them the same courtesy of giving them the same treatment in return.

With civility at an all time low in our great country, one wonders when the press might stop reporting or facilitating it and start taking responsibility.

In today’s world of anonymous comments, wall-to-wall coverage of snot-nosed sniveling irresponsible Hollywood moonbats and the highlighting of the lowest common denominator commentary on critical public policy decisions, how far will the coarsening of the American dialogue go before we reach saturation to the point of refusal?

Of course the American media set the standard by reporting – sanctifying and sanitizing Cindy Sheehan every bowel movement while President George W. Bush tried to take a vacation on his personal ranch. But that was OK because the smug, arrogant, and self-righteous liberal media justified that with their typical situational ethics.

When was it that we lost track of the human factor of how we approach elected officials and other community leaders who step-up to the plate to try and make a difference and accept huge responsibilities on behalf of an increasingly ungrateful and disrespectful public

Sarkozy Berates Photographers In N.H.

CONCORD, N.H., Aug. 6, 2007

(AP) French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his temper with two American news photographers covering his vacation Sunday, jumping onto their boat and scolding them loudly in French.

The confrontation came Sunday afternoon as Sarkozy and companions were headed for open water in a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee when he spotted Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and freelancer Vince DeWitt aboard Cole's boat, which was outside a buoy barrier monitored by the New Hampshire Marine Patrol.

Before Sarkozy spotted him, Cole had driven his boat up to the patrol boat, identified himself and received permission to be there.

"He was happy and smiling and he waved at the security people as he was coming out," Cole said of the president. "And then he noticed us taking pictures and his happy demeanor diminished immediately."

The men said they watched through their lenses as Sarkozy pointed toward them and his boat began moving in their direction. Coming alongside Cole's boat, Sarkozy, clad only in swim trunks, jumped aboard and began shouting at them.

[…]

More…

20070625 Oh Sugarshoot and golly gee my Soundtrack is rated PG

Oh Sugarshoot and golly gee my Soundtrack is rated PG

June 25^th, 2007

Well, I guess Crablaw has started something here dag-nab-it.

Heckfire, after I read, “Crablaw is R-rated,” - oh perish the thought; I – like W. Crodhil over at “Politics Hon,” was also amused and piqued with curiosity.

Ahhh - I try very hard to keep things “G rated.”

Then again, first of all; I just don’t talk that way… and I try like h-e-double-toothpicks not to use offensive words like “taxes” or “Kennedy” or even “McCain Feingold.”

The second point is that I want “Soundtrack” to make it through the Carroll County Public Schools’ filters and just as importantly, I always wanna avoid a rebuke from my wife.

Holy cow, to my dismay, I’m rated “PG” for using the words, “dead,” and “gun.”

E-gads; the Dr. Pepper went flying at Andrew Kujan’s comment on Bruce Godfrey’s post…

Fiddlesticks; so just how are we to discuss “Baltimore's crime or transit problems in the foreseeable future.” (Crablaw 6/25/2007)

Unbelievable isn’t it.

Crap. I’ll just have to resort to writing about Disney productions.

Kinda makes ya wonder now doesn’t it; like whatever.

####

20070618 Stacking the deck against Justice Thomas by Pillage Idiot

Stacking the deck against Justice Thomas by the Pillage Idiot

June 18, 2007

Attila at the Pillage Idiot has obviously spent considerable time and energy in penning an excellent review – of a review of "Supreme Discomfort, The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas" to Orlando Patterson.

Mr. Attila’s post is certainly well worth the time and I highly recommend it and want to thank Mr. Attila for taking the time to pull it all together so that others may benefit from his insights.

In a feeble attempt to add to Mr. Attila’s excellent commentary I call the readers attention that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas actually answered this book eloquently in a speech before the National Bar Association in Memphis, Tenn., on July 29^th, 1998.

{A note to Mr. Crablaw, he mentions Marvin Gaye's album, What's Going On?}

See my article on “Soundtrack,” “20070423 What Going On?”

And see the end of this article…

Supreme Court Justice Thomas said a number of poignant things, including:

I'd like to thank the members of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association who have been so courageous and forthright and kind to invite me to join you this afternoon. As has become the custom, a wearisome one I admit, this invitation has not been without controversy. Although this is unfortunate, this controversy has added little value in the calculus of my decision to be here.

[…]

Unlike the unfortunate practice or custom in Washington and in much of the country, the court is a model of civility. It's a wonderful place. Though there have been many contentious issues to come before the Court during these initials years of my tenure, I have yet to hear the first unkind words exchanged among my colleagues. And quite frankly, I think that such civility is the sine qua non of conducting the affairs of the Court and the business of the country.

[…]

With respect to my following, or, more accurately, being led by other members of the Court, that is silly, but expected since I couldn't possibly think for myself. And what else could possibly be the explanation when I fail to follow the jurisprudential, ideological, and intellectual, if not anti- intellectual, prescription assigned to blacks? Since thinking beyond this prescription is presumptively beyond my abilities, obviously someone must be putting these strange ideas into my mind and my opinions. Though being underestimated has its advantages, the stench of racial inferiority still confounds my olfactory nerves.

[…]

Of course there is much criticism of the Court by this group or that, depending on the Court's decisions in various highly publicized cases. Some of the criticism is profoundly uninformed and unhelpful. And all too often, uncivil second-guessing is not encumbered by the constraints of facts, logic, or reasoned analysis. On the other hand, the constructive and often scholarly criticism is almost always helpful in thinking about or rethinking decisions.

[…]

I have found during my almost 20 years in Washington that the tendency to personalize differences has grown to be an accepted way of doing business. One need not do the hard work of dissecting an argument. One need only attack and thus discredit the person making the argument. Though the matter being debated is not effectively resolved, the debate is reduced to unilateral pronouncements and glib but quotable clichés.

[…]

The summer of 1971 was perhaps one of the most difficult of my life. It was clear to me that the road to destruction was paved with anger, resentment, and rage. But where were we to go? I would often spend hours in our small efficiency apartment in New Haven pondering this question and listening to Marvin Gaye's then new album, What's Going On? To say the least, it was a depressing summer.

What were we to do? What's going on?

[…]

Read the entire speech here: 19980729 Clarence Thomas Answers His Critics by Clarence Thomas

Meanwhile, Mr. Attila begins his piece by noting:

A book-review editor can elicit a positive or negative review of a book (and the subject of the book) simply by choosing a reviewer with known views.

You know all you need to know about the New York Times's feelings toward Justice Clarence Thomas (as if you didn't know it already) when you see that the Times Book Review assigned the review of "Supreme Discomfort, The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas" to Orlando Patterson. Patterson, a respected black intellectual, is a sociologist, not a lawyer. If the Times had had any interest in examining Justice Thomas's legal views, it would not have offered the review to a non-lawyer.

Why is that relevant? Justice Thomas has been a member of the Supreme Court for 15 years and, contrary to the ever-present sneers about his taking orders from Justice Scalia, he has developed a strong and individual jurisprudence over that time. You'd barely know this from reading Patterson's review.

Please read the rest of the article, “Stacking the deck against Justice Thomas” by the Pillage Idiot

_____

Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

####

20070606 “Haughty and nice” by Kelly McCormack “The Hill”

Haughty and nice

By Kelly McCormack The Hill

Posted January 11^th, 2007

I have found myself reading and re-reading this piece from The Hill – from last week. I just found it to be an interesting glimpse into the day-to-day interpersonal relationships of Capitol Hill.

As any of us who have served in elected office are aware – staff can make or break ya. And I have been on both ends of that paradigm.

The rule is that you accumulate enemies by just “being,” so don’t make any.

It also gave a glimpse at some aspects of intergenerational studies…

Always – ALWAYS be good to staff…

Haughty and nice

By Kelly McCormack

June 06, 2007

Though most interns are young, work for free and have grand ambitions to learn the ins and outs of Congress, they tend to be the most bothersome to service-sector employees on and around Capitol Hill.

They don’t tip well, ask annoying questions and tend to be the rudest people in the nation’s capital, many employees say.

[…]

The employee, who has worked on the Hill for more than 20 years, said she has “plenty” of favorite lawmakers. “They treat us just like their staff,” she remarked.

The cashier said interns were the worst-behaved in the cafeteria. “They don’t really know” how to act, she said.

[…]

“Members are not rude at all. I’ve never met a rude member,” the employee, who has been working on the Hill for 17 years, said. Specifically, she said, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) is very friendly: “That’s my girl.”

Interns are typically the rudest, not regular staff, the employee concurred.

She said her pet peeve is when interns point at food items and rudely inquire about them, though she noted that she has an old-fashioned standard for politeness that some young people do not abide by.

[…]

He said he regularly deals with staff members, many of whom are very friendly. Clyburn and Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) are exceptionally nice, he said.

Read the entire article here: Haughty and nice

####

20070424 Epithet advice

Epithet advice

April 24, 2007

For those of us who prefer to maintain family friendly sites Don Surber has some advice: Use this epithet

Hmmmm

####

20070402 President Bush and Senator Bryd

President Bush and Senator Bryd

April 2^nd, 2007

Hat tip: Don Surber – from last Friday.

Touching photo…

I found this picture on Don Surber’s blog:

“One of the most touching photos in years taken by an AP photographer moved across the wires last night (Thursday) and few newspapers published it. The Daily Mail did. It showed President Bush helping Robert Byrd walk.”

The rest of his comments on the photo can be found here: “1,000 words.”

####

20070305 Time to Give Coulter the Cold Shoulder

Time to Give Coulter the Cold Shoulder

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/tapscotts_copy_desk/2007/3/5/Time-to-Give-Coulter-the-Cold-Shoulder

March 5^th, 2007

Not to beat a dead horse, but I continue to be annoyed with Ann Coulter’s behavior at CPAC recently. Read: 20070303 Ann Coulter comment on Edwards is reprehensible and 20070303 Ann Coulter comment on Edwards is reprehensible and Crablaw’s “In Re Coulter.”

But I did not express myself as well as Mark Tapscott did in “Time to Give Coulter the Cold Shoulder.”

I wrote to Crablaw the other day:

What Ann Coulter said was yet another polarizing distraction to what has compounded to be a major annoyance and she and her ilk are certainly not productive in all of us coming together to face the challenges in our nation and in our society. Yes, she should apologize, but for me, that will not even be good enough as I have grown convinced that manifestations of her garbage mouth are not situational – but systemic.

Perhaps it is time we ignored this irresponsible element in our public discourse.

Apparently the continuum of thought is also along the lines of its “Time to Give Coulter the Cold Shoulder.”

Reading Mr. Tapscott’s blog post will be time well spent.

He included a must read: “An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter.”

It began with thoughts I wholeheartedly endorse:

“Conservatism treats humans as they are, as moral creatures possessing rational minds and capable of discerning right from wrong. There comes a time when we must speak out in the defense of the conservative movement, and make a stand for political civility. This is one of those times.

[…]

CPAC sponsors, the Age of Ann has passed. We, the undersigned, request that CPAC speaking invitations no longer be extended to Ann Coulter. Her words and attitude simply do too much damage.

You will miss way too much if you do not read all of Mr. Tapscott’s remarks and the entire letter signed by an impressive array of “Credentialed CPAC 2007 Bloggers.”

Mr. Tapscott’s post can be found here: “Time to Give Coulter the Cold Shoulder.”

####

20070303 Ann Coulter comment on Edwards is reprehensible

Ann Coulter’s comment about John Edwards is reprehensible.

March 3rd, 2007

And speaking of “20070303 The Pillage Idiot says” and “$)*%&#@(&!” - - whether it was a bad joke poorly delivered or whatever – Ann Coulter’s use of a slur to describe presidential hopeful John Edwards is reprehensible.

Click here to see Ann Coulter's controversial comments on John Edwards.

Or just click: “Ann Coulter uses slur to describe John Edwards @ CPAC”

There are plenty of polite and even colorful words available to disagree with the positions and views of presidential hopeful John Edwards.

Ms. Ann Coulter unnecessarily gave Mr. Edwards relevancy (see “John Edwards Hopes to Raise 'Coulter Cash' After Commentator's … Comment”) when she resorted to using a slur in her Conservative Political Action Conference presentation to describe the person that is John Edwards.

Disagreeing with his views provides more than ample fodder for discussion but attacking him as a person is off the table and cries out for an apology.

Until she apologizes, I certainly hope that Fox News and “Townhall.com” drops her from their repertoire.

Ann Coulter uses slur to describe John Edwards @ CPAC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx9Bi3C4rs8

#### !?*&%#@!! ####

20070303 The Pillage Idiot says

The Pillage Idiot says... $)*%&#@(&!.

March 3^rd, 2007

I’d like to echo the remarks the Pillage Idiot recently made in a blog post: “$)*%&#@(&!.”

Kudos for our fearless leader of the Maryland Bloggers Alliance for saying that “George Carlin's seven words you can't say on the radio” rarely appear in his blog.

I must say that it is one of the reasons that I enjoy his blog.

I am dumbstruck to find the use of foul language in the blogosphere. Yeah, it’s an exercise of free speech, but nevertheless the right to free speech comes with responsibilities.

Whenever I come across a blog site or blog post with foul language, I exercise my right to move on to another web site – in haste.

If someone has such little grasp on their language skills and cannot articulate a position without the use of the foul language, my view is that they have little to offer me as to their opinion.

I dare say that I am hardly “little Miss Goody Two Shoes,” (Where did that expression come from anyway?) but I try hard to talk the walk and avoid the foul language on this web site and applaud Attila for his post and his blog.

Find his post here.

####

20070222 Meta: Rules for Comments

Meta: Rules for Comments

February 22, 2007

I cannot agree with Mr. Bruce Godfrey more.

This is the one aspect of being a blogger – and one dynamic of the internet that is so incredibly unrewarding: monitoring inarticulate childish churlish behavior.

It is so profoundly sad.

Please read Mr. Godfrey’s post “Meta: Rules for Comments,” and if also agree, please link to it and spread the word.

Also read: “This is why I don't publish too much information about myself.”

And bear in mind that the callous churlish behavior needs to be shouted down, whether it occurs on the right or the left. I have found cringe worthy behavior on both sides of the aisle.

I try to subscribe to the “the terms of the Family Friendly Blogroll.”

Monitoring comments is a pain. If you ever find a comment on this blog that is inappropriate, please e-mail me at: kevindayhoff(at)gmail(dot)com immediately.

As far as my posts are concerned, if you ever find any of my posts offensive, let me know.

Yeah, some of them are in poor taste. I’m reminded of that by my wife…

Whatever.

The blog, “Kevin Dayhoff - Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies” never fails to make it through the local public schools web filters.

(Well, yeah, I have considered taking that one post down – but I skewer the right side of the aisle also. See here - - and here.)

I’m ever mindful of the watchful eye of my wife, sister-in-law (who is a seminary student,) and my mother-in-law, who is a practicing “Preacher’s Daughter,” and the product of four or five generations of pastors. My goodness, if I stray, the Family Friendly Blogroll patrol is the least of my worries. Do you have a spare couch?

If you find that I stray, please tell me quickly before my family finds out. What do you call a 53-year old artist and writer without family support:? Homeless.

Thanks again, Mr. Godfrey.

####

Civility

20061202 Feedback on a previous Liberty Republican Club post

Feedback on a previous post 20061130 Doug Howard's Liberty Republican Club,

and who was positive or negative and when.

December 2nd, 2006

I’ve received some feedback on the post titled: “20061130 Doug Howard's Liberty Republican Club,” in which I said “The other conservative candidate who went over well was Dennis Beard and many hope that he will stay involved in the county also. He also stayed positive.”

No one who has called or e-mailed disagreed that Mr. Beard was not conservative, but many called to my attention that it was not their perception that Mr. Beard stayed positive.

Some worried as to whether or not Mr. Beard was conservative enough – especially in light of the support he received in the general election from some of the more liberal and moderate members of the Republican Party.

After some peeling away the layers of this onion, it has been represented that much of the negative campaigning was done by the Democratic Central Committee of Carroll County or third party proxies, and that Mr. Beard followed-up on that negative campaigning in his campaign at the debates and in person.

One person called to my attention an ad in which a candidate’s children were even drug into the fray. Ay caramba.

I did not personally witness Mr. Beard going negative

I also had it reinforced that some folks who were initially inclined to vote for him, did not vote for him after they witnessed him going negative and/or they discovered that the leadership of the Freedom Area Citizens Council and the liberal Republican Mount Airy Mayor were supporting him.

Whatever. To be certain, I have certainly had my differences with the current Mount Airy mayor, but I’m not too sure he’s that liberal.

I will agree with many who wish the leadership Freedom Area Citizens Council would be less polarizing and divisive. It is about as close to “local government” as it seems that we are going to get in Eldersburg for the foreseeable future. (I have always supported municipal incorporation for Eldersburg. It would be a win-win for everyone.)

Ultimately, in the last election, looking at it from a political science perspective, the main mistake the coalition of Carroll County Dems and liberal Republicans made was running three commissioner candidates; which split the vote among folks who wanted to vote for another moderate conservative to work with incumbent commissioners Julia Gouge and Dean Minnich.

As the past election campaign wore on, anecdotally it appears that many folks tuned the campaign out. I certainly did.

However, just like many folks, with whom I consulted, many did not want to get involved as folks who practice the politics of “outrage” are not comfortable with just saying that they agreed with this or that, but felt it necessary to personally attack the person, the individual’s family, church and profession when expressing disagreement.

Ultimately, many of us have rejoiced that the election is over and want so desperately to begin anew and rekindle a pleasant and positive broad sweeping discussion on the issues with as many ideas brought forth as possible so that we may weigh and measure what is the best approach for most Carroll Countians.

We can always hope.

Kevin

For more discussion, click on: "Civility."

20061128 Rashomon, My Dinner with Andre and Picking out the perfect tree

Rashomon, My Dinner with Andre and Picking out the perfect tree

Picking out the perfect tree

Chasing windmills with Jim and Kevin – and Laura McCandlish

November 6th, 2006 – November 28th, 2006

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff

Baltimore Sun reporter Laura McCandlish does a wonderful capturing the essence of yet another “Jim and Kevin adventures in the quixotic.”

James E. Slater, Jr., AICP, QEP, the Carroll County Government Environmental Compliance Officer, and I got together Thursday, November 2nd, 2006, for the third year in a row, in our annual quest for the perfect Christmas tree for the front of the Carroll County office building on North Center Street in Westminster.

Ms. McCandlish rode along with us to witness yet another continuing sequence of Louis Malle’s “My Dinner with Andre;” the 1981 movie, written by and starring Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn – only with Jim and Kevin.

Meeting Ms McCandlish and spending several hours in the county van with her and Jim was delightful. Jim and I are both passionate about reading and writing and it was fun to have an english major along for the ride.

And yes, it is true, that to a certain extent true, Jim and I agree on very little politically. We even have some “pathway conflict” on approaches to environmentalism. We both love to read – and read, and read - - and we love to talk and talk and talk, about what we have read; especially the esoteric nuances of environmentalism and science – especially the natural sciences.

Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 was right before the general election in which, for the most part, Jim and I probably cancelled out many of each other’s votes and politics was one of the subjects de jour.

Ms. McCandlish had written several articles in which it was my feeling, the Baltimore Sun was attempting to fuel divisiveness in the county. (I know, you are, like, soooo surprised…) A divisiveness that may very well have been present in the county with a few local attention-getters - so desperate to be relevant, and insiders; but a divisiveness, that for the most part, in my view, does not exist in Carroll County.

For an outsider to read the articles, my concern was that they misrepresented Carroll County – or at least fed into stereotypes which only exist with the simplistically oriented.

To make matters worse, Ms. McCandlish writes quite well. I have enjoyed her work. She is persuasive and compelling and I wish that she confined some of that persuasive and compelling to “columns” and not news articles.

Memo to the local newspapers; Andrew Sullivan said it best in a post on August 17th, 2005, “This red-blue thing isn't real: it's a grid put down on the landscape by lazy pundits in order to foster a conflict that isn't there so the people who profit from conflict can work their way with us.”

For the most part, in my view, Carroll Countians certainly have their pathway conflicts and political disagreements; however, we are usually pre-occupied with family, sports and community - - not partisan political disagreements.

There are many of us in Carroll County who don’t play the red-blue game. And, as the election season wore down, most of us had - had it with a few vocal folks, for whom every disagreement in the county is some huge Kabuki Morals conspiracy laden death match.

It is more like Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 classic movie version of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s “Rashomon.” Everyone has a version of the truth. In Carroll County the analogy gets even better as the original movie was done in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and dubbed in English. Sounds like many of the conversations in Carroll County.

(The “Rashomon Affect,” if you will recall, is the dynamic in which the subjective analysis and resulting perception of an occasion by observers, is filtered, which causes many different but equally factual accounts of the event(s) in question.)

When we were all riding together, “Rashomon” came to mind several times, but Jim and I spared Ms. McCandlish of that esoteria. If you will recall, it rained, symbolically throughout the movie and the book. Just as it had been “raining” symbolically and literally in Carroll County in the weeks – months, just before the election.

Yet the day when Jim and I got together to pick out the perfect Christmas Tree for Carroll County citizens – it was a beautiful day…

Again, for emphasis, there are many conservatives and liberals in the county who are the best of friends and do not let their political disagreements get in the way of friendship, family, art, literature, community and kids.

At first when I discovered that Ms. McCandlish was going to go along with us for the ride, I felt concerned for her mental sanity as I am sure that she had not a clue as to what she was getting into.

To make matters worse, Jim, who I consider one of my best friends, and I had not had a chance to talk with one another for months and months.

So lots of conversations had been bottled-up, just waiting for some time together. To make matters worse, I was dead tired and bleary eyed from spending too much time with the laptop and peering into the abyss of a computer screen. I needed several cups of coffee and some Fox News while doing my vegetable routine on the living room couch. I was not in a mood for subtle diplomacy with a Baltimore Sun reporter as scrivener-voyeur.

Unfortunately, I have developed a huge distrust for Baltimore Sun writers, for which I do not have for most newspaper writers in general, unless they earn it.

Too many really really bad experiences…

Jim and I had done this routine several years ago with another Baltimore Sun reporter “who didn’t get it,” and the resulting article was less than desired. As soon as a number of our colleagues were told that a Baltimore Sun reporter was tagging along, they bailed. Who needs gotcha-journalism, when you’re having fun, and getting some time together and looking for a Christmas Tree.

Some reporters do not understand the “human aspect” of the folks who volunteer their free time for public service.

Although at first Ms. McCandlish had a bit of that “deer in headlights” look – justifiably so. But whoa, Ms. McCandlish was a real trooper and fit right in. She is welcome to be company anytime Jim and I decide to get together and chase a windmill or two around.

Jim and I talked a little politics until we both became worried that Ms. McCandlish was beginning to ponder whether she had a greater statistical probability of surviving the Jim and Kevin show as opposed to surviving the leap from a county van at 40 miles per hour.

Ms. McCandlish writes quite well and it was a pleasure to have a writer accompany us.

The county community Christmas Tree is a big deal, as hopefully it is one piece of iconography which will bring folks together as the holiday season approaches.

This year’s tree is beautiful and I couldn’t wait until Mike Whitson and his merry Bureau of Facilities folks men installed it and got the lights up.

Please enjoy Ms. McCandlish’s article while the hyperlink works. After the hyperlink goes dead, I’ll paste the rest of her article in this post. For now, please click on, “Picking out the perfect tree - Officials search high and low in county for holiday spruce that's a cut above the rest.”

Note: I began this piece on November 6th, 2006 and just today, November 28th, 2006, re-visited it. The link has gone dead – and I have pasted her entire piece here. It is a keeper. Thanks Ms. McCandlish.

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061002 Drinking the Kool-Aid

Drinking the Kool-Aid

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 2^nd, 2006

I so enjoyed the latest post by Attila at the Pillage Idiot.

Attila writes: “With my friends, unlike so many liberals I've encountered, we can tactfully avoid contentious political issues to maintain our friendship, and with my friends, you simply couldn't hope to find nicer, more decent people.”

However as his post continues; he has had experiences in which folks just won’t let go of their all-consuming need to tell everyone about their outrage with current politics…

In my experience it is folks who erupt about Republicans or President George W. Bush – or the Carroll County Republican party.

Oh, give it up already.

I take an enormous amount of pride in saying that I have not a clue as to what party many of my friends are registered and often do not give a rats-behind as to what is their political views.

Having many writer and artist friends, my life is full of many folks who hold different political views than me. They are great folks, with integrity and work hard to contribute and make a difference in the community.

For the most part, when I get together with friends, I’m much more concerned with the welfare of their family, their latest vacations, what books and movies or art shows they are interested-in these days or how their children are doing in school.

Talking about food, landscaping, vacations and pets is much more human and ultimately more rewarding.

Although I can enjoy talking politics, I hardly ever talk politics with my elected or appointed official friends and like it that way.

I’m especially am not fond of artists who “get political” in my face. Politicizing the arts is as bad as politicizing a friendship. (Oh yes, I believe that Hollywood-types or performers maintain their first amendment rights; however, I reserve the right to not patronize their movies – or art shows. Shut and sing.)

On a personal level, at best, I can find it amusing that for some folks, everything in their lives is based on their hatred of President George W. Bush and Republicans. But usually I avoid the humor by avoiding their company.

Folks for whom everything is political are clueless one-dimensional bores.

Please go to Attila’s post – and be sure to follow the links and also read the comments… It is way too funny.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20060910 Minnich A Concern About the Body Politic

Minnich: A Concern About the Body Politic
September 10th, 2006

From: Friends of Dean Minnich [mailto:tucker495@adelphia.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:54 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: A Concern About the Body Politic

Please feel free to distribute this to anyone who has a concern about ethical processes in an election; and anyone who received any of the venomous tracts mailed out this past week.

We all expect elections to be a time of debate and disagreement. In many local elections, for example, pro-growth development forces are being opposed by those advocating more cautious, slower-growth policies, resulting in intense public disagreements.

Carroll County, however, is unique among all in the level of outright vilification and downright hatred some have displayed. Their tactics mirror many used by extreme religious and political movements built more on fomenting hatred and division than on airing legitimate public policy differences.

1. Loyalty to the party is emphasized over policy or community and absolute adherence to certain slogans is required over all other considerations.

2. The focus is on division, attempting to exclude the opposition. A strong personal hatred is usually manifest, resulting in a "divide and conquer" mentality excluding those with differing beliefs or loyalties.

3. There is no real discussion, in favor of short slogans with little substance.

4. Complete intolerance is encouraged with one accepted perspective; others are to be excluded.

5. The opposition is dehumanized by "over the top" negativity about personality, personal habits, personal ethics and non-policy issues.

6. Campaign messages are all negative, vilifying the opposition as unfit to serve, with no positive policy comment.

7. Big lies are presented as fact, using deceit as a campaign tool that focuses on outright false or misleading statements that are easily disputed but then repeated anyway. The opposition is accused of standing for the very things they oppose, or failing to do the very things they have accomplished.

8. Sensationalism is reflected in substance and form, with outrageous, shocking statements that are repeated in a massive repeat advertising campaign where money is no object.

9. Cynicism is reflected in the disregard of accepted processes - elections laws, campaign regulations and normal community standards.

10. Behind it all is contempt for the voters. A belief that lies work, based on the assumption that voting public are fools. These groups despise the very public they say they want to serve.

Anyone who has faith in democracy must hope that on election day, voters will reject these efforts to destroy our sense of community and undermine our basic respect for one another. No matter who wins, let us encourage voters to support candidates who propose positive ways to solve problems by working together rather than those who just spew hatred and deceit.

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