THOUGHT OF THE DAY

      From bondage to spiritual faith;

      From spiritual faith to great courage;

      From courage to liberty;

      From liberty to abundance;

      From abundance to complacency;

     From complacency to apathy;

      From apathy to dependence;

      From dependency back into bondage.”

THE FAT LADY SANG

Betty Davis said it best, "Fasten your seat belts; you are in for a bumpy ride."

After his election in 2008, Barack Obama warned everyone by saying, "Tomorrow we will begin the basic transformation of America."  He was honest enough to tell everyone what was coming.  The majority did not pay attention.  We can all see the results of his first term.

Last night, he warned us, again.  He said, "We are the American family and we will rise or FALL together."  Being as, concerning this issue, the man was telling the truth, don't be surprised at the results of the next four years.  Pack your bag; we're on the road to Babylon.  How long the enslavement endures depends entirely upon the grace of God.


In our humble opinion de Tocqueville (1805) should be required reading for all potential voters:

Alexis de Tocqueville > Quotes

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

“America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

“Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

“When the taste for physical gratifications among them has grown more rapidly than their education . . . the time will come when men are carried away and lose all self-restraint . . . . It is not necessary to do violence to such a people in order to strip them of the rights they enjoy; they themselves willingly loosen their hold. . . . they neglect their chief business which is to remain their own masters.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America Volume 2

“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

Enough said.

HARD LESSONS FOR THE NORTHEAST

Having lived the nightmare that is the major hurricane, our heart breaks for all the people assaulted by Sandy. We know what it is like to suffer through the fear during the darkness of the storm.  We know the shock of walking outside the morning after to view the unbelievably total devastation.  We have endured the aftermath; no power, roads blocked, houses damaged or destroyed, and life disrupted.  These experiences are truly life-changing. BUT, there are lessons that many folks up north are learning the hard way.  Folks down south learned these lessons long ago.

First and foremost: When the authorities issue a mandatory evacuation for the coastal and low elevation areas, GET THE HELL OUT.  Go to higher ground.  Go inland. No possessions are worth the loss of your life.

Next in importance:  Don't depend on anyone else to see to your needs.  Prepare for your own survival.  

• 1.  If you must evacuate, pack a bag.  If the storm is severe, chances are you will need clothing for several days.  You will need your medication.  If your home is in an area in danger of destruction, take along your important papers. (deed, insurance papers, etc.)

• 2.  If your home is in a relatively safe non-evacuation area and you intend to ride out the storm there, assemble provisions. (a generator, food that doesn't require cooking, cash, water, ice, gasoline for the generator, and anything else you, personally, require for survival. It is, also, a good idea to fill the gas tanks of all your cars)

• 3.  Understand that the government is NOT going to be all things to all people in a major disaster.  In the moments and days post hurricane, the cavalry is NOT right over the hill, waiting to ride to your rescue.  After Hugo, many folks in our area were without power for a MONTH.  We had to fend for ourselves and look out for one another.  No government agency was anywhere to be seen.

Relatively few people died in Hugo.  Without exception, those who did die were doing things they were told NOT to do; riding out the storm on a boat, staying in a trailer, going outside during the storm, or staying in evacuation zones. 

In this latest disaster, we, once again, see that human beings refuse to learn from history.  Granted, the northeast doesn't experience a large volume of tropical storms BUT these occurrences are NOT unprecedented. AND, the weather officials issued a plethora of warnings, advisories, and instructions during a full week before the storm actually hit.  Now, predictably, the same folks who ignored these warnings, advisories, and instructions are in a tizzy because their needs are not being met.  Unfortunately, we know from experience that this situation is bound to get worse before it gets better.  Our prayers go out to all.

 

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

During heated campaigns, candidates make all kinds of assertions.  Some of these comments are true.  Some are not.  It is incumbent upon the candidate to be savvy enough to know the difference between a comment ( if untrue) he can get away with and one that will come back to bite him.

A candidate can say, "My opponent is a liar."  Nothing usually happens.  A candidate can say, "Since my opponent called me a RINO, I have received overwhelming support."  Nothing usually happens.  BUT, when a candidate gets very specific with questionable assertions, he may create a problem for himself. This kind of comment MAY have unintended consequences.  Case in point:

In the County Council District 3 race, the newly organized group called 'The RINO Hunters' got actively  involved.  The group's stated mission is to educate the public as to which candidate in the various races is deemed a "true Conservatives" and which is not.  They initiated their local efforts during the District 3 race. The group concluded the challenger was the "true Conservative".  But, because of past affiliation with the more Liberal party and his recent voting record which sided with the Liberal Democrats on Council, the group labeled the professed "Republican" incumbent, Bob Call, as a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

When the press asked Mr. Call what effect the RINO signs was having on his campaign, the gist of his reply was,  'I'm not worried about the RINO signs.  As a matter of fact, "since they went up, I have received five thousand dollars in campaign contributions"'.  This is one of those potentially problematic situations referred to earlier.

All candidates in all races are obliged by law to file financial reports to the Ethics Commission on an established schedule, declaring all contributions and expenditures of their campaigns.  Mr. Call did not declare this supposed 5 thousand dollars in donations on any of his financial statements to the Ethics Commission.  This fact leaves this incumbent in a conundrum.  Was his statement to the press untrue or was his financial statement to the Ethics Commission untrue?  Logic dictates it has to be one or the other.

It seems the Ethics Commission agrees.  There is a hearing scheduled in November to get to the bottom of this situation.  It will be very interesting to hear Mr. Call's explanation.

NOTE:

Mr. Call may have problems on yet another front.  There are rumblings that not all of those responsible for oversight of legal proceedings are entirely satisfied that protocol was followed concerning Mr. Call's court challenge after he lost the election.  Since this issue is still being officially investigated, we will save that story for a later date.

THE LATEST OUTRAGE

It is common knowledge that DD has a vested interest in keeping Bob Call on County Council.  DD did his best to assure Call would win the Republican Primary.  He called in every favor to secure donations to the Call campaign.  When the voters of District 3 soundly rejected Call, DD's shock was palpable.  Being as Call had bungled the election so badly, it was time for DD to take things into his own hands.  It was time to sue; sue anybody, anywhere, any time.

Call (DD) sued the SCGOP, the BCGOP, the SC Election Commission, the BC Voter Registration (aka Election Commission), the BCRP Chairman, and the winner of the District 3 GOP Primary, Ken Gunn.

GE&P has spoken to scores of people directly connected to this situation.  The information we have received is shocking and as flabbergasting as it could get.  Since we have received this disturbing information from multiple sources, we have some questions for DD:

Did DD actually approach one Election Commission, personally, about getting the winner of the Republican Primary decertified, only to be told it was none of his business?

Did DD usurp the authority of the BC Election Commission by having someone in his administration hire an attorney for that defendant?

Who gave the instructions to the BC Election Commission's attorney and what were those instructions?

When, at the hearing (which looked like a lawyers' convention), a Motion To Dismiss was introduced by the attorney for the SC Election Commission, did one attorney for the defense really argue AGAINST it?  Anybody want to venture a guess as to which one?

And, last but certainly not least:

Why is DD so desperate?  Why is this tie vote so imperative?  What grizzly specter is lurking in the wings, awaiting its cue?  Looks like January 2013 will tell the tale.

TAXPAYERS REJOICE

Here's a little bit of news that will make Berkeley County taxpayers happy.  Last weekend, the SC Association of Counties held its Annual Conference.   The event is held at the Hilton on Hilton Head Island, not exactly your basic Motel 6.  Being as so many people attend, each person gets a discount rate of (minimum) $120.00 a day.  The conference lasts 3 days.  Members of the various County Councils and Supervisors etc., including Berkeley, usually attend.  The taxpayers foot this bill.  Added to this, each official is given per diem for their meals. This additional expense is covered by the taxpayers.

While attending this conference, these officials may take classes on various subjects having to do with county government.  These classes are not free and this expense is, also, paid for by the taxpayers.

One of the biggest general complaints about this function is that many of these officials don't attend any classes or forums but opt to play golf the whole weekend. That's another story.

The issue we will address today is the fact that Berkeley County Councilman, Call attended this latest conference. Having lost the primary to Mr. Gunn, Mr. Call will not be a seated Councilman in 4 months.  Why would the Supervisor approve spending the taxpayers' money for this lame duck Councilman to attend this event?

THE WEEBLE WOBBLES

When Ken Gunn blew Bob Call out of the water in the District 3 primary election, the Conservatives were ecstatic, and rightfully so.  DD, not so much.  Gunn's win meant that the Conservatives will have a majority on BC Council come January.  During this primary campaign many issues were discussed, including:

MORE TRANSPARENCE IN BC GOVERNMENT,

LOWER TAXES,

AND, A FORENSIC AUDIT OF BC FINANCES.

It goes without saying, any discussion of these issues did not make DD smile.  DD made every effort to see to it that Call was successful in the election.  Judging from the list of donors to Call's campaign, which we intend to publish, DD must have called in every marker in his little black book.  Fortunately for the Conservative effort, DD failed.

Come January, DD will have no choice but to open all the records.  No longer will 4 Councilmen be denied access to records and information or, have their requests postponed indefinitely.   No longer will DD have the power  to squirrel away MILLION of dollars in excess tax revenue.  No longer will DD have a guaranteed voting majority for whatever he proposes. And, worst of all, a forensic audit is a foregone conclusion.

With these inevitabilities staring him in the face, it looks like DD is beginning to panic.  Call has filed suit against Ken Gunn, the BCRP, and the State GOP, the BC election Commission, and BCRP Chairman, Tim Callanan.  His suit claims that Gunn was not a legitimate candidate in the primary and that Chairman Callanan misrepresented the facts surrounding the GOP filing process.  Of course, Call wants Gunn's name taken off the ballot in November and replaced with his name. ( I wonder if there's any truth to the rumors that DD tried to use his influence to get this job done himself and was told by the Election Commission that it wasn't any of his business and to go away?)

It seems that Call can't seem to take the high road on anything, even this dirty trick. Before anyone was served, he notified the Berkeley Independent that HE had filed suit.  However, anyone familiar with this mess knows exactly who is behind it.

What's the big problem, Dan? What could the new majority find out about what you have been up to in the last 5 years?  What could they find out about your "projects"?  What could they find out about the MILLIONS you spent on "consultants"?  And, the biggest  question, what could a NEW AUDITOR discover about where all the money came from and where it went?

As GE&P has said before, we are not clairvoyant; we can simply see into the future.  We predict that DD has pushed the envelope a bit too far on this one and, according to evidence that has yet to be made public,  his actions will definitely come back to bite him.