Message Board - Post Here

Note: commercial messages not accepted.

Notice new verification system when submitting post. Look forward to the feedback.

Name: Rob
Date: 8/6/2010 2:15:36 PM
Message:
Hey Cletus, I just heard that Obama is going to encourage democrats to "run against George W. Bush" this November. Brilliant. Look how well that has worked for them so far. Way to go dems! You go ahead and run against Bush who is two years retired. We'll run against you.

Name: Cletus Tubbs
Date: 8/7/2010 6:18:18 PM
Message:
i can't wait to vote for anything but a democrat. this country is in a mess thanks to liberal idiots.

COMMENT

---

Name: FincherSupporter
Date: 8/6/2010 8:19:10 AM
Message:
I just finished reading my progress and noticed Mr Mitton's ads. This is why HE thinks he's the right choice.

He's visited all the schools! Well let's hope so if his children went to them.

He's supported all the spending on buildings. Maybe someone should tell him this is part of the problem.

He keeps jobs in Pickens County. True, however those Pickens County jobs often go to out of county and out of state employees.

8 Yrs experience. Kind of obvious.

Attended 200 BOE Metting. I hope so he was PAID to attend them.

Served in different Chairman positions for the board. Well I hope so after 8 years.

Balanced 8 school budgets. Again, that's what the job is.

Parent of 3 Pickens county educated children. How does this make you a GOOD board member?

Is this the BEST he can come up with after 8 years?

High school Rankings by GA Dept of Education

GILMER 70 PICKENS 107

Gilmer 2010 Graduation Rate 86.6%
Pickens 2010 Graduation Rate 80.9%

Gilmer- Made AYP
Pickens- Did NOT make AYP

WE CAN DO BETTER! VOTE FOR DAN FINCHER!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/6/2010 2:42:34 PM
Message:
Mitton also had an opportunity to do something about the the school admin who keeps getting edited out of my posts but kept silent. (Those weren't expletives I was writing!)

Name: Dragon
Date: 8/6/2010 3:24:03 PM
Message:
Heck NO on Fincher!!!!!!!! The man doesn't even know when, where and how to file his disclosure's....which he's required to do.

Anyone that watches the knowpickens.com videos can see that he's a puppet for someone. He might be a great guy and I'm sure he is but he doesn't offer any responses to the questions more than a few words.

Vote MITTON!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: jeep
Date: 8/6/2010 4:18:53 PM
Message:
The next board member to go needs to be Easterwood. When does he come up for election? I watched the video. I thought he came off as a complete @ss!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/6/2010 4:26:56 PM
Message:
No to Fincher: If that is your only argument against Fincher, please don't vote. You are just too damned stupid.

Name: NO to Fincher
Date: 8/9/2010 9:15:30 AM
Message:
Rob.....you must be one of Fincher's puppet masters......ha ha ha Fincher doesn't have a clue about anything and he mentions nothing but "cutting from the top and move it to the bottom".....boy that's someone with a plan!! Rob please move back to wherever it is you came from and fix their school system before you try and fix ours.

Name: LocalParent
Date: 8/9/2010 10:18:34 AM
Message:
I watched the video! I thought Easterwood and Trammell were completely un-proffessional! The best they have is Fincher has not filed a disclosure. He said he had no problem with it and would. That was the best they had. It seemed to me that Trammell and Easterwood are pretty scared about Mitton losing! THIS ALONE SHOULD WORRY YOU!

Mitton supporters,
do you really want people to watch the video? They'll hear or should I say not hear Mitton speak up when it comes up he didn't answer e-mails. Remember the last debate when he said he rarely receives them but welcomes them. Or Maybe the numbers with a 30 point drop that he was UN-AWARE of. He DID -finally- admit there are problems in the system.


Remember to get out tommorrow and VOTE FINCHER!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/9/2010 5:15:57 PM
Message:
NO to Fincher

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm my own man and live where the hell I choose. I'm nobody's puppet, idiot, but perhaps in some regard Mrs. Rob's. What will eat you alive is that I'm heavily involved in trying to fix this school system, and will remain so. It is simply time for a change of command. These guys have served, and served long and it's time to relieve them of their coziness in office with their empires they have built. The founders saw this as potentially oppressive almost 300 years ago. Time for new blood on our board! The empire is striking back! (Forgive me, that was a bit corny but it works)

Name: NO to Fincher and his boy Rob
Date: 8/10/2010 11:03:16 AM
Message:
Rob, you pompass ass, exactly what empire have the school board members built? They receive very little pay for serving so where's the Empire? I guess their empire is having to hear whiners like you complain all the time because you didn't get your little precious way. Come on, you like to spew the rhetoric so let's hear it. It's quacks like you that move here because you didn't like the area you were in and think you're God's gift to society and want to "change" everything because you see some big injustice. Please load your little red wagon and hit the road and don't let the door hit ya where the big lord split ya!!

VOTE MITTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: jeep
Date: 8/10/2010 1:22:26 PM
Message:
Mitton Man....here's the thing. Lot's of LOCALS want Mitton and the rest of the board GONE! We've seen all the statistics as to why we need a new board. To be fair, please list all the GOOD things these board members have done! hint....all the new buildings are not considered good.

Fincher got my vote!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/10/2010 8:06:59 PM
Message:
NO NAME:

You are a complete moron. In light of that, I will happily share with you that not only am I free to live wherever the hell I choose, I also love my country enough to have placed my life in her hands in service for many years. It will please you no more to know that I own a home here, am married to a teacher here, pay taxes here and am as entitled to my opinions as you are. Only difference is that you seem to be extremely militant in your views, as you strenuously demand that opposing views get stifled, and the holders of those opinions move away. You sound like a closet liberal, which is funny because your candidate is a republican. You would serve the liberals better with how you express yourself. If you were on our side, you wouldn't be so angry. Remember, if I left Pickens, 2 conservative votes go with me-not to mention our money and my employer's money that we spend in YOUR county.

Hell of a mindset you have there. I recommend you get your head out of your rear end, get over your personal "clinging" issue with your incumbent who sat there for years and allowed this school system to stagnate and join the rest of us who are sick and tired of the status quo.

And regarding the empire: these folks make six figures a year without any mandate to produce results for their money, all we can do is fire them. Experience alone doesn't get you re-hired. Has that ever worked for you in the private sector? Or are you a mooch.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/11/2010 8:32:07 AM
Message:
MittonMen.......Do you get it yet? The results are in.

Name: Ed Jones Jr.
Date: 8/12/2010 4:34:18 PM
Message:
TO: No To Fincher.....How's that " vote for Mitton " working out for you fella. Good grief , they just never learn . I'm with Jeep , we need a whole NEW school board . If nothing else , Easterwood ( and a couple of his pals ) needs to go .

COMMENT

---

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/5/2010 3:27:02 PM
Message:
here's a question that you non-hypocritical, honest, trustworthy conservatives might be able to help me with: why do conservatives say the deficit is too large, but at the same time say the bush tax cuts for the rich should be extended? seems like two contradictory concepts, considering that almost all of the current deficit consists of the bush tax cuts...

Name: Cletus Tubbs
Date: 8/6/2010 3:36:07 PM
Message:
pinto were you always this stupid or do you work at it everyday? i've seen more talent in the north end of a south bound mule. you make some of the most profound idiotic statements i have ever heard except for being at a democratic convention.

Name: Rob
Date: 8/6/2010 4:25:05 PM
Message:
The Bush tax cuts benefitted EVERYBODY. Capital gains, marriage penalty- gone. Death tax-gone. Top rates lowered. When Bush left office the deficit was $400 Billion after 8 years. Obama has tripled that in less than 2, with wreckless spending. Now we wait for the Obama tax increases, which historically pave the way for more spending programs (the European model). Whereas Bush (back in 2002-2003) ensured more money was left in the private economy we had a very good recovery from 9/11/01 into 2006 (curiously when the dems took over congress).

Unemployment was 4.5% to 5% until around 2007, give or take. Liberals lie about these numbers a LOT, but thankfully intelligent folks know enough to call you on it. This may not be the answer you expected, but it is truth.

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/9/2010 11:45:59 AM
Message:
Um...Robot? Have you read the newspapers in the last year or two? do you know what the unemployment rate is today? do you still think those bush tax cuts benefited ANYONE!?!? the bush tax cuts were obviously the single most devastating transaction made by the federal government in the last 50 years, and anyone who is awake right now can see the obvious. besides, I was calling on honest, non-hypocritical conservatives - surely even you Rob, don't think you fit that bill at this point? I mean we all know how honest, consistent, and hypocritical you are here, you demonstrate it repeatedly every day...

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/9/2010 12:20:30 PM
Message:
in fact Robot, you essentially admit that virtually NO ONE benefited from the bush tax cuts: marriage penalty (only affects those that get married, and it was only about $5 anyway), capital gains (only the top 7 percent of taxpayers reported capital gains in 2005), the death tax (paid by an imperceptibly small percentage of people - less than 1 percent), and the top rates (those paid by the top 5 percent). So YOUR OWN list of EVERYONE truthfully includes almost NO ONE. What a dolt. You continue to argue for giving the ruling class more power, and you don't even know it...

COMMENT

---

Name: Ed Jones Jr.
Date: 8/5/2010 10:55:20 AM
Message:
TO: Editor....First , let me say that I know what hard work it is to keep this website up to date and I , for one , thank you for that effort . I must say though that this format is almost un-readable in the way the threads are set up . One finds page after page of the same posts , not knowing if one has gone back far enough to see if anyone has responded to his previous post . If nothing else , this repeating format has to be eating server space at a fast rate . As Jeep pointed out , it is becoming easier to start a new thread on the same subject as opposed to posting a commet , which may end up hard to find at best . And no , I don't know of an easy fix , I only feel this is not the best way to go . Any suggestions from our readers or editor ?

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/5/2010 4:28:21 PM
Message:
yes the moderator of this forum can easily switch to a phpbb3 board which I have offered to help set up if they are interested. it actually allows for cataloging different discussions and categories, the only draw back from a phpbb3 board is users have to register and use a username and password. The phpbb3 board is an open source board and it takes some time to set up but it is free, migrating any posts here would not be possible unless they use a mysql database for these posts. On the upside having to register to post keeps degenerates and fakes away from the board. There are many other open source boards out there, and depending on the mods capabilities it can be anywhere from easy to extremely hard to create the perfect board.

Here are some website links if any one is interested in starting a board or the moderator would like to look for an easier board to use for moderation.

http://www.phpbb.com/
www.FreeForums.org
http://www.vbulletin.com/(not free)

if anyone would like to know more about these boards and how to set them up let me know here and we can arrange a way to get you through the process.

Name: Rob
Date: 8/5/2010 7:09:00 PM
Message:
I echoe Ed's post. I recently suggested collapsing the initial post and its daughter posts into the first sentence or so, allowing us to click and expand. Thanks in advance if you can try this, and for all you have done thus far

Name: Unknown
Date: 8/6/2010 8:58:30 AM
Message:
Unknown message

Name: Rob
Date: 8/6/2010 2:08:30 PM
Message:
Madness, that's actually a good idea re: board format. Webmaster, what say you??

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/6/2010 5:49:17 PM
Message:
Rob,

I thank you for the compliment and as I have spoken with the editor on this subject they went this route to see if it would work but a php board would eliminate a lot of the spam and the editor would still be able to moderate the forum with more ease.

The moderator would even be able to still approve what gets posted and if an i.p. would be able to view or even access the board. If the mod would like I would gladly take some of my time to go to the progress and help the current web editor to set it up properly. I have created 4 of these boards for friends of mine as well as my own on the site I used to run.

COMMENT

---

Name: Rob
Date: 8/3/2010 7:36:18 PM
Message:
I would like you liberals to pay attention to the beginnings of the demise of Obamacare, and what one of your reps has (oops) disclosed to his constituents at a town hall:

Last month at a town hall in Hayward, Calif., a constituent asked Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) about Obamacare: "If this legislation is Constitutional, what limitations are there on the federal government's ability to tell us how to run our private lives? … If they can do this, what can't they?" Stark, a long-time advocate of government-run health care, gave an honest yet troubling answer: "The federal government can, yes, do most anything in this country."

Yesterday a federal court in Virginia agreed with the logic, but not the Constitutional understanding, of Stark's view of federal government power. In the first substantive legal ruling on President Barack Obama's health regulation law, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson held that the Commonwealth of Virginia raised a valid substantive theory to challenge Obamacare and that its democratically passed Virginia Health Care Freedom Act provided it standing to challenge the federal individual mandate. On the issue of that mandate, Hudson wrote: "Unquestionably, this regulation radically changes the landscape of health insurance coverage in America. ... No reported case from any federal appellate court has extended the Commerce Clause or the Tax Clause to include the regulation of a person's decision not to purchase a product, notwithstanding its effect on interstate commerce."

Echoing the court's ruling, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said: "This lawsuit is not about health care, it's about our freedom and about standing up and calling on the federal government to follow the ultimate law of the land – the Constitution." And it is becoming more and more clear that Obamacare makes it next to impossible for Americans to even track, let alone check, federal power. While the Joint Economic Committee released a report showing that the President's health law created an impenetrable web of at least 47 new bureaucratic entities, a CRS report from earlier in the month drew an even starker conclusion: "The precise number of new entities that will ultimately be created pursuant to PPACA is currently unknowable."

How are the American people supposed to check the power of the federal government if even the official research arm of Congress cannot keep track of all the bureaucracies Congress creates? It can't. The CRS report goes on to say: "Under the new law, the Government Accountability Office must appoint at least 83 new members to six new boards. It is unclear how GAO will be able to independently audit these entities when the [Comptroller General] has appointed their members." And the matters these new bureaucrats will be regulating are not minor. One such entity, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, is empowered to make Medicare payment policy, including which procedures (like mammograms) the federal government will or will not pay for. And the President insisted on making the IPAB's decisions virtually impossible to overturn.

As long as President Obama is in the White House, full repeal of Obamacare is not possible. But its web of undemocratic, unaccountable bureaucracies can be defunded. And that is exactly what conservative candidates across the country are promising the American people they will do. This is a good first step, but it is not enough. The Obama administration will stop at nothing to protect the expansion of government. Just last week it wasted $700,000 of your tax dollars on a national cable television propaganda campaign promoting the President's new law. In the ad, celebrity Andy Griffith tells American seniors that under Obamacare "like always, we’ll have our guaranteed [Medicare] benefits." But as documented by FactCheck.org, "the truth is that the new law is guaranteed to result in benefit cuts" for the 10 million seniors currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

The American people are already fighting back against these tactics, and they are winning. In total, 33 states have mounted legal and legislative challenges to Obamacare. The American people are going to continue to fight this intolerable act in Congress, in the courts and in the states. It may take some time, but they are going to win.

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/4/2010 12:34:00 PM
Message:
this post depicts the desperation some conservatives are feeling now, hammering away on points that have long been disproven and even abandoned by the more high-profile conservatives. trying to deflect attention away from afghanistan, andrew breitbart, racism, ethics, sharron angle and everything else that is going against the conservatives now. anyway you can thank Bush for hte govt control - I call this the Age of Bush, because the former prez expanded govt in an unprecedented way, invoking the name of war as the reason (by the way Robot, we are still at war - remember?). Obama has expanded the govt only minimally compared to the bush. and anyway we are at the point of no return. once the govt is expanded it is almost impossible to go back, partially because unloaded-gun-carrying tea party rednecks would have the freedom to clobber each other with the butt of their pistols.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/4/2010 12:56:28 PM
Message:
Rob,

Though I understand your hatred of Obama and of the health care reform, I do not understand why it is that you don't yet understand the importance of universal health care. Republicans seem to to say the same thing over and over again about the health care reform and yes even many democrats now, but the issues have not been fully worked out yet it doesn't mean it is going to end. Laws take time to write as well as bills. Not all are perfect hell not even half are justifiable. But I can tell you that if it meant that I would have to give up 40 percent of my income to make it to where people can be treated to me the ends justify the means, people are denied coverage or even cut from their existing plans because they get sick and it cost the insurance companies money to take care of them. Now please explain to me why these same insurance companies record record profits yet deny most procedures?

"Record profits" come from the same people who pay into this scam of an insurance deal to be denied coverage when they get sick. and all the republicans keep saying is it is unconstitutional but don't you have any feelings about the fact that when you pay 75 dollars a month to up to 300 dollars a month for insurance for your family and yourself that if you get cancer you can't get treatment to be unconstitutional as well these insurance companies steal peoples money by denying coverage and no one seems to care because it has been going on so long that it is the norm. I am not knocking your post just questioning the judgment of so many people who can't see what is really going on. I was just denied by my insurance for new glasses because with out telling me my policy has been changed to not cover dental or vision. seems to me that the more you pay into these companies the less you get in return and while I understand capitalism I don't not understand open theft of money paid to cover health issues. Please understand I am not attacking or even questioning what you wrote only the theory behind insurance and coverage to the people who are refused because these companies only care about profit and not the people who pay it.

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 8/4/2010 1:04:20 PM
Message:
Rob,

This post is a direct copy from the Heritage Foundation website. Why?

Name: Rob
Date: 8/4/2010 3:57:11 PM
Message:
Ellison, you are a direct copy of old guard, some other guy, and someone about a year ago who claimed to be much younger as well as ripping off the identity of a liberal history author. Why?

Yet I can't quote the Morning Bell at askheritage.org? Does that offend you?

Name: jeep
Date: 8/4/2010 5:30:03 PM
Message:
Madness....you complain about $300 a month and then say you would gladly give up 40% of your income for univeral healthcare! And then there's the fact that you have Pinto agreeing with you again! Tell me why I should have to pay for someone else's healthcare. For that matter why should I pay for ILLEGAL ALIENS healthcare. The majority of us do NOT want Obamacare!

Name: jeep
Date: 8/4/2010 5:45:55 PM
Message:
Ellison....Would you rather Rob cut and paste from ACORN and MOVEON.org?

Name: Rob
Date: 8/4/2010 5:51:37 PM
Message:
Mr. Madness of the Pickens no-names,

First, it has been written here a dozen times and substantiated over and over again, that health ins. companies actually profit very little, in comparison to hundreds of other interests. You have bought into the liberal lie, hook-line-sinker. You really need to unplug from the matrix and try to think for yourself, pal.

Answer this: why do you think you are entitled to other people's money? What makes you think I should have to be forced to supply you with medical coverage? Please tell me you have a logical answer for this. (By the way, you are perfectly free to move to a socialist country where your beliefs may meet the pavement- but be warned-they are all moving toward capitalism)

I have a story too: I recently had my teeth cleaned. I waited so long that I needed some intense damn cleaning! Guess whose money I used to pay for it. Mine. I also recently got glasses. Again, nobody in VSP paid for them. I budgeted for that. If (God forbid) I get cancer, I pray that there will be a charitable org. that will help me, as many incredible orgs have helped millions (including the woman Obama paraded in front of the country to gain support for Obamacare... yep, her med bills were paid in FULL by one of these charities- look it up, doofus)

33 states have now filed constitutional challenges against Obamacare, and MO rejected it by over 70% yesterday. If you still believe the rest of us should be forced by threat of jail time to pay for your medical care, I suggest you get busy packing, get your passport, sell your belongings at the flea market and move to Cuba where medical is socialized, everyone is covered, and no one is healthy because there is no medicine. (look it up).

Dasvidaniya, comrade. Pay your own bills.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/5/2010 9:17:14 AM
Message:
You CAN buy Cancer insurance? I'm sure it will be cheaper than giving up 40% of your income.

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 8/5/2010 9:57:46 AM
Message:
Rob,

No, I'm not insulted that you copied verbatum from the Heritage Foundation site (after condeming many others of the same thing) but I am insulted that an educated person would need to post a verbatum copy as their own thoughts on the subject.

A quote? No sir, a quote would have mentioned your source. You did not do that.

My personal opinion: We will likely be required to pay for this health plan whether we want to or not. Every President does what they want and not what the population wants anyway.

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/5/2010 11:27:54 AM
Message:
jeep - if you're talking about low income people, who comprise the plurality of American citizens, then in the pre-Obama system, adequate health insurance premiums would cost way above 40 percent of the family's income. that's the whole point and it's one reason so many poor people are uninsured. this is basic math.
one thing you are right about - the majority do not want Obamacare. The majority - and the vast majority - want universal health care.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/5/2010 11:53:20 AM
Message:
In response to Jeep and Rob,


I pay for my insurance I don't ask for handouts I am concerned more about the human condition and the way people treat each other. Jeep in the health care bill it specifically states illegal aliens are not eligible for health care so drop that noise because that is all it is.

Rob,

I think you and all the other people saying I am believing lies should read this

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HealthCare/health-insurers-post-record-profits/story?id=9818699

It states record profits for insurance companies just this feb. so why you want to make this a personal thing by saying I am gullible or in the"matrix" maybe just maybe you should stop using biased sources for your articles and start looking every where on this subject instead of your republican based news media. And that is just one article I am sure if you use google you can find many more I only typed record profits for insurance companies and this is the first non advertised payed link.

The other thing that concerns me and you guys are sure to attack this is Republicans claim to be about the people yet everything you people spout is why should I help my fellow man this is very uncaring and unchristian, yet I always here that republicans are pro life if your so damned pro life why is it so hard to help your fellow human being and quit complaining that it's going to hurt my wallet. It seems to me that you Republicans are more pro me than pro life. Lets get real here since you want to flame me for asking you why you are apposed to helping your fellow man now I am going to be totally real. You Republicans are full of it, you say "We are for the people" yet everything the Republican party does is totally against the people and totally for your own wallet. Every time someone does something to try to help the people if the Republicans think it is going to affect their wallet they try to do anything they can to stop it. Money is not the most important thing in life.

Jeep,

Yes I complain about having to spend money on my glasses that's why I have insurance my insurance was supposed to cover my glasses and my dental now they do not and it was done with out any formal notification which is one of the things the health care bill will not allow. Insurance companies take and take and take then change your policy with out notifying you. so yeah I am definitely going to complain about things like that it is just another thing that makes health care reform make sense.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/5/2010 1:08:22 PM
Message:
Pinto....THANK YOU for continuing to disagree with me! When you start agreeing I will be worried!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/5/2010 7:19:56 PM
Message:
Ellison, You have a reputation that you created, that of a fraud. Sorry you don't like my means of quoting, but I did use a colon, dork.

You had NO problem with the cooch pasting all his crap here that he passed as his own thoughts (no colon) but now you protest. You are still a liberal jerk, ellison. I make no secret of my fondness of the Heritage Foundation. I wrote of this even in the Progress several months ago. If I can find one nice thing to say, at least you MAY have read the information, since you made the effort to google my damn post you petty a-hole.

Name: Cletus Tubbs
Date: 8/5/2010 7:49:44 PM
Message:
i still see you liberals are hell bent on your own destruction. it has been going on about a year now and pinto has never agreed with anything or anyone. i'd say more but i enjoy watching my dog scratch his butt a whole lot more.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/6/2010 10:55:55 AM
Message:
Madness....The Lions club might be able to help you if you are having trouble buying glasses.

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 8/6/2010 12:49:41 PM
Message:
Rob,

Why the hostility? I only pointed out that the article was verbatum from the Heritage Foundation website and was asking why, if you are so educated, did you need to "steal" someone else's thoughts and not give credit to the original writer.

My post is below. No where did I call you a name, insult you, nor suggest anything slanderous. Why did you feel compelled to write such a "heated" post as a discussion? This is why many of us would love seeing you disappear from this forum. You are just too woundup for a normal conversation and cause many of us to write "heated" responses to your attacks.


My prior post:

"No, I'm not insulted that you copied verbatum from the Heritage Foundation site (after condeming many others of the same thing) but I am insulted that an educated person would need to post a verbatum copy as their own thoughts on the subject.

A quote? No sir, a quote would have mentioned your source. You did not do that.

My personal opinion: We will likely be required to pay for this health plan whether we want to or not. Every President does what they want and not what the population wants anyway."


Your heated response:

"Ellison, You have a reputation that you created, that of a fraud. Sorry you don't like my means of quoting, but I did use a colon, dork.

You had NO problem with the cooch pasting all his crap here that he passed as his own thoughts (no colon) but now you protest. You are still a liberal jerk, ellison. I make no secret of my fondness of the Heritage Foundation. I wrote of this even in the Progress several months ago. If I can find one nice thing to say, at least you MAY have read the information, since you made the effort to google my damn post you petty a-hole."


BTW Rob, for the thousanth time I AM NOT A LIBERAL BUT AN INDEPENDANT (NO PARTY) VOTER and grow tired of people like you who cannot tell the difference. Since you are not privy to my emails, you would not know that I DID MENTION THE LACK OF CITATION WITH HIM. There was no need to google it...I already read the Heritage Foundation articles for the comical value on some issues. I also read the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Journal, Miami Herald, Dallas Star, amoung others for an overall news experience.

I hope one day you will be able to discuss current issues without the need of calling people a "petty a-hole", a "liberal jerk", or cursing. Doing this just makes you appear less educated and common rather than an intellectual.

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/6/2010 12:53:49 PM
Message:
I don't agree or disagree. I just know how to identify and use basic arithmetic, unlike most users of this message board apparently...

Name: jeep
Date: 8/6/2010 1:32:51 PM
Message:
Madness....If you are worried about the human condition then by all means you should help where YOU can. I'm sure the Good Samaration Clinic would welcome your help. I have a soft spot for Kids. I sponser children at Christmas every year. I would never ask my Congressman to try and enact a law requiring others to do this. Now I know what you are going to say healthcare is not the same. Well guess what? NOBODY is denied healthcare is the US. A hospital can NOT turn you away. I'll agree we might need some reform. How about something like allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines. This would add the competition that ultimately brings down cost. Another one. Make doctors post their prices just like a dentist, chiropractor, cosmetic surgeon, etc would do.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/6/2010 2:43:14 PM
Message:
Jeep,

It's not a money thing you. You fail to understand what I am saying so let me make it clearer for you.


I pay for INSURANCE the Insurance is SUPPOSED TO COVER VISION AND DENTAL the INSURANCE AGENCY that I pay CHANGED MY POLICY with out NOTIFICATION. Which is one of the thing the universal health care bill is SUPPOSED to STOP I don't know if you get it yet but the reason I am complaining is not because it costs me more money but BECAUSE I ALREADY AM SUPPOSED TO GET THESE THINGS BECAUSE I ALREADY PAY FOR THEM. do you understand now? I made it all caps so you could actually read it instead off being snide and talking about whether or not I can pay for something I already pay for.

Name: Ed Jones Jr.
Date: 8/6/2010 3:06:33 PM
Message:
TO: Stop The Madness....I just spent about $ 5,000 at Jasper Dental and another $ 250 at Dr. Davis for new eye glasses and exam ( feel free to check if you desire , I'll sign a release ) out of my own pocket . So lets see , 40 % of $ 5,250 = $2,100 which you can send to PO Box 43 , Jasper Ga . 30143 . A check would be fine , cash is always nice . I'll even put you on my Christmas card list !

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/6/2010 6:07:23 PM
Message:
Ed,


Sure I will run right over and pay for you as a matter of fact why are you asking me and not your republican brothers and sisters on the board you guys slander together why not pay together? you see why would I help you when you refuse to help anyone else that's the view you republicans take. tell ya what come Friday I will go to your doctors and pay some of your bill just to prove I am sincere now lets see the rest of you stand up pickens county residents do the same thing. You see unlike everyone who is opposed to this idea I would be willing to help in any way I can and I can tell you now 40% of my check next week won't be a large amount becauseI make a small wage. Hell I will tell you now I moved here in October of last year and started at my job a week later I make $10 an hour and only work about 15 hours a week at this job. The rest of my time is spent raising my children. All the other income in my home is made by my wife that's right I said it my wife I can not give her income away but I can mine. so here's the deal I will give up 40 percent of my next weeks check to your eye doctor or dentist all you have to do is accept that there are other people out there that care enough about you no matter how twisted your views are and then do the same for the next person who needs it. hell who knows maybe you will even see a change in the way people behave if we all cared about each other like it should be this is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA if we can't unite on the home front we sure as hell don't have the right to think we are better than anyone else.

Oh and when I do go pay you will make a public acknowledgment that I did this and you will then say how important it is to help your fellow residents. And you will openly state that the next person who asks for help on medical bills you will give up 40% of your next pay check. When you agree upon these terms the money will be paid. and until then don't say another word about how wrong it is. You see I mean what I type and I hold no qualms with calling you out on your own b.s.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/6/2010 6:20:06 PM
Message:
I have one more question for you ed Jones jr.


Did you go to school in pickens county because if you did I may need to rethink home schooling some more. I never said paying 40% of any ones bill I said I would give up 40% of my income. maybe you republicans need to stop trying to twist words and go back to school to learn to read. I can tell you now your not the first to try to twist my words and you sure as hell won't be the last but I can tell you it has happened more on this board from you jeep and rob then anywhere else in my entire life because you greedy self righteous republicans don't read you You skim and if you don't like just the little bits and pieces you can read, You slam it versus reading the whole thing. Seems like a popular trend with you republicans. Hell they even do the same thing in congress.

Name: Rob
Date: 8/8/2010 10:40:04 AM
Message:
Ellison, you have morphed again! You have also repeatedly described yourself as a "progressive", which is in NO WAY independant, and certainly, absolutely, in every way imaginable makes you a liberal socialist.

Will the real Ellison please stand up!?!!!!?????

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 8/9/2010 3:33:41 PM
Message:
Rob,

As I've stated before, I use the terms "Independent" and "Progressive" as a description of where I stand and not an endorsement of any political party.

I am "progressive" by the fact that I believe the US needs to concentrate on education, growth, and achievement. You do realize we are the only superpower left in the world yet other, smaller countries are better educated. (i.e. Japan, Germany, and England). Growth comes from jobs staying in the US and not in China, Taiwan, or Mexico where some company can pay lower wages but charge more for an item. When this concept of making products overseas was itroduced decades ago, we were told it would LOWER the cost per item but I have only seen INCREASES. Lastly, world achievement comes from the fact that the US is providing a higher standard of living than other countries.

Because I am for the progress of the US, I am an "independent" voter. That means, for the sake of those who don't know, that I don't vote for a party such as Republican, Democrat, Green, etc, but for the candidate that has the best grip on reality.


BTW, I see you used the same old tactic of changing the perspective away from you to me.

Why the hostility? I only pointed out that the article was verbatum from the Heritage Foundation website and was asking why, if you are so educated, did you need to "steal" someone else's thoughts and not give credit to the original writer.

No where in my post did I call you a name, insult you, nor suggest anything slanderous. Why did you feel compelled to write such a "heated" post as a discussion? This is why many of us would love seeing you disappear from this forum. You are just too woundup for a normal conversation and cause many of us to write "heated" responses to your attacks.
I hope one day you will be able to discuss current issues without the need of calling people a "petty a-hole", a "liberal jerk", or cursing. Doing this just makes you appear less educated and common rather than an intellectual.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/9/2010 5:08:09 PM
Message:
I see Mr. Ed Jones Jr. has nothing else to say which is my point.

Name: Lord Hideotri
Date: 8/10/2010 11:06:15 AM
Message:
But remember that Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say

Off to vote, but may leave goobernatorial blank. Was going Handel, but can't after her taking an endorsement from the northern nitwit.

COMMENT

---

Name: jeep
Date: 8/2/2010 2:57:32 PM
Message:
BigEasy.....I started a new post so that I didn't have to keep scrolling down. First I have to disagree with you on the public participation at board meetings. Setting a time limit is fine. Even limiting how many can speak at each meeting is acceptable. Having to get "permission" and tell them exactly what you are going to discuss is ridiculous. Why? They don't respond at the meeting. If you are a regular reader of this board you also know that the board not answering e-mails seems to have some merit. From what I've heard of the High School there are more problems than just the principals private life. Many parents think it is mis-managed. I'll give you a big reason why I think Mitton needs to go, aside from the job this board has done, He works for the chairman of the board. Too much of a conflict for me to be comfortable with.
I'ld love to hear your take on the whole "renting of the gyms" and the new alternative school location since these surely were approved by the board.

Name: Big Easy
Date: 8/3/2010 9:27:52 AM
Message:
Jeep....I had forgotten about having to let them know what your topic is going to be. That doesn't really bother me to much but if they're not going to respond then what does it matter what you want to talk about. The hard part about this stuff is you don't know what's true and what isn't and as has been stated is lack of communication from the board on certain issues. I understand some of it is a personnel issue and they can't comment on but procedural issues aren't. It still blows my mind that we paid all that money for the new wing at the high school and alarm system but we don't even turn it on. That's just an outright failure on the command staff at the school.

Initially I was concerned how the Trammell and Mitton working together would affect the school board but from the couple of things I've checked on they didn't always vote together so it wasn't an issue for me.

As for the renting of the gyms....(I want get into the complete failure of our past commissioners as it pertains to expanding the recreation department to the level of our neighboring counties have) I don't think we need to be charging a rental fee per se but we do need to charge a cleanup fee and a refundable security deposit for any damages. I would venture to say 60 to 70% of the time when someone uses the school facilities they're not left in the condition they found them in although sometimes they're left in better condition!! Someone does have to pay the power bill to. It is all the "same taxpayer's money" but it does come out of different budgets so somewhere I guess the bean counters have to make it all wash out. I know a couple of years ago when my kids were in JYSA football Jasper Middle School had them pay a security deposit to use the field, pay for cleanup of the stands and for security. The principal at JMS told them who would be doing the cleanup and what the pay rate was and the same for the security even though they had parents volunteering to do it. I'm sure it was easier to just pay the school and know it was taken care of rather than relying on parents. I have no idea how it's been done in the last few years. If the school system thinks they need security then I think they should have to pay for it through the sheriff's department.

As for the alternative school I do think it's our responsibility to provide this for our students and here locally if feasible.

C'ya

Name: LocalParent
Date: 8/3/2010 11:12:43 AM
Message:
Big Easy
You said too many parents are "sue happy" and this is why the system has a lawyer on payroll. That statement is amusing on so many levels. First, educational lawyers rarely work on a contingency basis. The legal fee's are also only about 1/2 of what a parent has to pay. They have to hire "expert witnesses" to testify. The court will NOT grant reimbursement for anything but legal fees even if the parent wins (Winning doesn't guarantee reimbursement of legal fees). The only thing a parent get's from "sueing" a school system is the education the child "should" have been receiving and a large bill for standing up. There were only 4 Due Process hearings that were fully adjudicated in the state of Georgia in 2009. So who are all these "sue happy" parents?
Any other guesses as to why the taxpayers have to pay for the district to have a lawyer on payroll?

Name: jeep
Date: 8/3/2010 12:52:29 PM
Message:
BigEasy....I'll agree with you on most of it, but LocalParent does have a point. Aside from the recent lawsuit, where are all these sueing parents? And I have to point out the lawsuit didn't seem to favor the school system. Are we paying the district lawyer to attend meetings? Seems pretty frivolous. The AYP report does show Students with Disabilities(SWD) and The Economically Disadvantaged(EconDis) didn't make AYP. Using the GDOE numbers SWD's made up 12% of the schools population and EconDis make up 54%. That's the majority of our schools population! The whole "graduation for all" slogan just doesn't seem appropriate after looking at these numbers. Wonder why Ballew hasn't given us his excuses....er I mean statement yet on AYP?

Name: Big Easy
Date: 8/3/2010 1:10:05 PM
Message:
Local Parent....that's my opinion as to one of the reasons the school attorney is there I have no specific idea(s) why he's there or what the board's requirement is for him. I would rather him be there and us avoid a lawsuit than him not...better safe than sorry. Every child "should" receive an education but that's subjective to the parents and each child's situation. Every parent wants the best for their children and "should" expect that from the school system within reason.

C'ya

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/3/2010 1:39:07 PM
Message:
Yes there is a reason that they have to have a lawyer on staff actually a couple of reasons and I will list them in no particular order.


1. A student is injured in a traffic accident on the bus.
2. a student is injured in the halls or the school itself due to their own mistakes.
3. a student fee ls he is being "picked on by a teacher"
4. A student is molested by a teacher
5. a student accuses a teacher of physical altercation falsely.

And I could continue for quite bit longer as stated earlier not just in this state but all over the country parents are "sue happy" this is a fact of life and to have a lawyer on retainer is actually a fiscally responsible thing to do. And from what I have heard about the school system in this county they really do need one because some teachers administrators and staff are not all up to par when it comes to being a person that follows the law. To many examples of this irresponsible behavior have been seen or talked about and quite frankly not justifying their behavior is common practice in this part of the state.

So yes a lawyer is definitely a necessity.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/3/2010 7:59:09 PM
Message:
Madness....Maybe we need a whole team of lawyers! The problem with hiring a system lawyer is that lawyers specialize. I'll be the first to say if the systems attorney can do it all than he's one hell of a deal! I actually remember Pinto saying quite a while back that any real problems are handled by some law firm NOT the system's attorney. That stuck with me because I wondered what kind of legal dealings Pinto has had with the system. Another concern is how can conflicts not come up. This is a local lawyer so obviously locals have used him and are friends with him. How many times would he have to recluse himself. I also have to question if it's so "fiscally responsible" why Pickens is one of the few counties doing it. Why not just buy insurance to cover this?

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 8/4/2010 12:27:53 PM
Message:
there are way too many lawsuits against the school system. the schools should be allowed to do whatever they want to the kids without fear of any legal repercussions or paying restitution to the victims.
...ah the limited mind of jeep...if ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest subject on the planet. in a way, i'm jealous.

Name: Stop the madness
Date: 8/4/2010 12:40:28 PM
Message:
Jeep,

I understand your trepidations about having a lawyer on staff and yes it is possible that an outside firm handles all the court room and legal actions but a lawyer on retainer allows the board to ask what needs to be asked with out having to contact the firm and ask them and have to pay a hefty amount of tax payer dollars to answer.

Now with that being said I am 36 years old and every single school I ever went to (mind you none were here in Georgia) had a lawyer or a staff of lawyers on retainer. the fiscal responsibility comes from not having to go to an outside firm and pay top dollar to the firm for answers.

As far as the lawyer being local you are right he probably is friends with a lot of people in the area but that kind of helps the system because the lawyer knows how these people he may know will act or respond. In court however he would have to recluse himself due to conflict of interest. Which is why an outside firm is probably used. Now I don't always agree with how schools do business and spend tax payer dollars I have to say honestly that having a lawyer on retainer is in my opinion a thing that is a needed and wanted thing because we all know some student somewhere in our lives who have tried to get over and falsely accuse someone of wrong doing, and then the knuckle head parent who fall for it do get "sue happy" to quote once again the earlier post.

And the only reason I know so much about this stuff is my best friend is a lawyer in the state of Ohio and he deals with cases just like the mentioned cases that could possibly arise.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/4/2010 5:40:17 PM
Message:
Madness....I just don't see where the money he is paid is justified. He's not an education lawyer. If the school thinks it needs a lawyer why not hire one in the field they are in? I guess we should just agree to disagree!

Name: MadMomma
Date: 8/5/2010 7:21:19 AM
Message:
What ya'll really need to ask is when did it become neccesarry to hire a lawyer and why.
Why is this lawyer getting almost [deleted] raises each year! What's going on that warrants this!
I'm tired of our schools hiding everything from us parents. They expect us to trust them with our children then refuse to tell us what's REALLY going on in our schools.
SHAME ON PICKENS COUNTY SCHOOLS!!!!!!!

Name: Rob
Date: 8/5/2010 9:12:07 AM
Message:
madmomma- exactly what are the teachers hiding from parents?

Name: Rob
Date: 8/5/2010 9:55:59 AM
Message:
To quote Dave Ramsey, "It's just plain STUPID to raise property taxes to pay for huge school budgets" yet it is happening everywhere despite the increasing outcry.

I have spoken before on the need to charge fees for use of school facilities. Those facilities are there for school use. Period. In the past, groups have used these places and wrecked them- left them trashed, left lights on all night or weekend, you name it. A firm position had to be taken here, and it is working though the previous offenders got pissed off but oh well. Simply because these facilities are tax-funded does not imply the right for full and free use at will.

I have to play devil's advocate here and say that to a degree, these district employees do have rights to privacy when being investigated for possible wrongdoing just as private sector employees. What enfuriates me is the degree to which certain people in leadership appear to vigorously cover and cover up. Most of us know that the [deleted] yet there appears to have been no forced accountability let alone even the hint of an investigation. Legally, even the level of truth surrounding the inuendo is enough for reassignment, but why make it 3 counties that have taken that route? In an age when the public is demanding accountability for public officials, it appears absolutely nothing has changed.

As for the question regarding teachers not speaking up, I can't speak for them all but I'm sure most of them don't wish to participate in the soap opera, and wish to keep their jobs. If there was a clear and present danger to the kids, they would but complaints go up, not out, and fall under the rules of internal privacy laws and such. However, the state has laws on the books (GPSC, Ethics Commission) that clearly indicate NO tolerance, and provide for a level of transparency during investigations which was NOT available locally because of the county/state firewall. Makes me wonder why we have a GPSC when local boards can simply keep everything private and no one is the wiser.

All of this supports our need to clean out the current board so that maybe we can get some sanity back, before [deleted].

COMMENT

---

Name: jeep
Date: 7/29/2010 8:28:45 PM
Message:
Any updates on the grand Jury report on the school being opened? [Editor's Note: It has not been opened. We'll have an update in next week's paper.]

Name: Bob Hayles
Date: 7/30/2010 11:50:19 AM
Message:
jeep...sometimes thing happen that we'll see, but just not immediately. I assure you there will be some action taken regarding "un-hostaging" that report next week.

Also, the findings of the Child Abuse Committee (don't know the "official" name) are NOT exempt from the state sunshine laws, and ARE subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and the chairman of the committee will recieve an FOIA request next week as well.

The arrogance of everyone...school board, grand jury, judge(s)...in keeping information from the taxpayers and parents of Pickens Co is unacceptable and must be...will be...circumvented and the public will, in the end, know what happened.

And anyone who broke the law will be exposed. Will they be dealt with by the legal system? That depends on Joe Hendrix.

Bob Hayles
http://www.juicymaters.com/nationalpolitics/2010/07/30/charlton-hestons-a-torch-with-no-flame/

Name: jack
Date: 7/30/2010 4:39:35 PM
Message:
Joe Hendrix has to 'go along to get along' and it is highly unlikely that any official in Pickens County will be found at fault for violating any laws of the State of Georgia , or County or any other laws of the land. there will be an excuse of some sort to explain 'why not' to placate the taxpayers

Name: jeep
Date: 8/2/2010 10:54:41 AM
Message:
Jack...you may be correct on Joe Hendrix. No different than our board of educations response to the matter. IF it get's opened at least the rest of us can see the truth. I've always wondered what would happen if our board (or any government branch) would just admit a mistake was made and tell us how they were going to fix it instead of making excuses.

Name: Skippy
Date: 8/3/2010 8:02:28 PM
Message:
An attorney on the payroll is probably cheaper than paying $$$$$ per hour for each and every phone call, consultation, and board meeting attended. From what I see, the guy isn't getting rich by any means.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/4/2010 10:56:39 AM
Message:
Skippy....I'll assume you commented under the wrong post. The School attorney is ALSO the county attorney. If he makes the same from the county than I have to say that sounds like a good portion of his income. I actually understand why the county would hire him since they need more of a paper lawyer (contracts, real estate, etc). I would think the school would need an educational attorney. And aside from attending board meetings what does he do?

Name: jeep
Date: 8/4/2010 12:41:18 PM
Message:
Skippy... I just looked up the average pay of lawyers in the US. They make between $50,000 and $150,000. The attorneys pay isn't a secret it's listed on the Open GA website. Soooo I'm kind of thinking that the school gig is pretty big! My real concern is HOW many of these fees are neccessary. What else is the school paying for that's not really neccessary. Let's cut some of the fat and keep our teachers in the classrooms.

COMMENT

---

Name: Rob
Date: 7/28/2010 6:54:05 PM
Message:
To accompany the story Bob broke here, the democrats have struck again in a similar vein:

Mortgage loan originators will have to be fingerprinted and sign up to a central registry to do business in future, according to final rules issued on Wednesday by the Federal Reserve and other regulators.

The rules are part of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, also called the S.A.F.E. Act.

They were issued by the Fed, Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Office of Thrift Supervision, Farm Credit Administration and National Credit Union Administration.

Mortgage brokers came under tough scrutiny in the wake of the 2007-09 financial crisis, with some lawmakers and regulators sharply critical of underwriting standards and practices that were seen as so loose they helped foster a housing price bubble.

The S.A.F.E. Act specifies that mortgage brokers who are employees of agency-regulated institutions must register with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry,

“As part of this registration process, residential mortgage loan originators must furnish to the registry information and fingerprints for background checks,” a joint release from regulators said.

Fingerprints.

And ILLEGAL ALIENS in Arizona are enjoined from even having to carry their damn green cards as of today. Hey democrats, where are your priorities?

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 7/29/2010 11:55:57 AM
Message:
well, its not really the democrats fault here. remember, the republicans said over and over that they would never pass a law that has the right priorities, namely preventing the fat cats (not lowly mortgage originators) from ripping off the poor as they were allowed to under the bush and apparently still are allowed to. the bill is watered down because of the democrats' fear of republican opposition to a real bill. the original bill proposed by the democrats had the same finger printing provision for CEO's, CFOs, and US Senators. but the republicans said no way to that...

Name: satisfied parent
Date: 8/4/2010 6:35:57 PM
Message:
Jeep,
Have you ever though that the large subgroup of econonomic disadvantaged students come from so many parents not having jobs, so thus their children are on the free and reduced lunch program? There is not a whole lot that Mr. Ballew can do about subgroups whether it be disabled children or the economically disadvantaged, they are Pickens County Children and as such Mr. Ballew and the Board try to take care of everyone. Each school in Pickens County made AYP, that's a good effort, lots of schools in the state cannot make that claim, true, when all the subgroups are added together system-wide the system gets a raw deal because of something that cannot be controlled. Get over yourself, excellent education programs are happening all over Pickens County. GET OUT and Vote for Mark Mitton.

Name: jeep
Date: 8/5/2010 9:44:14 AM
Message:
Satisfied......I'll try to dummy the numbers down for you so you can understand. The GHSGT is a test required to graduate. In 2009 76.1% of all students passed the math portion. In 2010 72.9% passed. ALL groups failed the math portion of the GHSGT. Guess what ultimately drops when these scores drop? The Graduation Rate! Guess what happens if the school continues to NOT make AYP? The state can take over our schools! Guess what happens in GOOD school sytems? Home values increase, Economies are stronger, and most important the kids get a GOOD education! Hope that makes sense to you!

Name: LocalParent
Date: 8/5/2010 11:02:22 AM
Message:
SatisfiedParent
Why Can't Mr Ballew do anything for the Economically Disadvantaged and the Students with Disabilities? That's his job.

Name: satisfied parent
Date: 8/5/2010 1:08:06 PM
Message:
Local Parent,
When did it become the school superintendent's job to become a job placement coordinator for the parents of economically disadvantaged children or a doctor to heal physically disabled children? Come on, use some common sense!!! I don't believe that is found anywhere in his job description.

Name: AYP
Date: 8/5/2010 1:35:07 PM
Message:
This county did not make AYP last year. This county doesn't put the education values first, they would rather show movies all year round in HS than teach students. Another thing, if a student wants to drop out of HS, they are set free without consultaion or any kind of trying to convince them to stay. The parents go in, and sign a paper, and off they go! No wonder this state is #48 out of 50 in the country! Maybe the state SHOULD take over our schools, then maybe the children of Pickens County might get a better education than we have now.

Name: satisfied parent
Date: 8/6/2010 7:09:42 PM
Message:
AYP,
Have you run a reference on school systems that have been taken over by the state? I have and I guarantee you that is something that you better pray never happens. Besides, as far as Pickens County being taken over by the state, it's not going to happen, not anytime soon, because they are not in any danger. We did pretty dog-gone well compared to the rest of the systems. Again, if you don't like the system, get your duds and move somewhere that makes you happy. Oh, I forgot, you don't know how to be happy, is there anything in the school system that pleases you?

COMMENT

---

Name: Bob Hayles
Date: 7/28/2010 11:01:14 AM
Message:
Another tidbit from the abomination that is Obamanation...

That recent financial reform bill...the 2300 page monstrosity that no one who voted for it had read...well...

Included in the bill is an exemption for the Securities and Exchange Commission from the Freedom of Information Act.

Without the results of FOIA requests, Bernie Madoff would still be ripping people off, Goldman Sachs, et al, would still be doing business as usual, and SEC regulators would still be watching porn on the internet when they should be working.

How's that hopey-changy thing workin' out?

Bob Hayles

Name: Rob
Date: 7/28/2010 2:52:24 PM
Message:
Right you are, Bob. I just read that myself. Just another example of h9ow this administration has lied to the American people to further their agenda.

Name: jeep
Date: 7/28/2010 8:02:36 PM
Message:
Just the fact that we have politicians voting on bills they haven't read is scary enough.

Name: pinto colvig
Date: 7/29/2010 12:03:25 PM
Message:
yes jeep - kind of like the patriot act, or bush's medicare bill, or clinton's welfare bill, or the budget every single year, or the iraq war resolution. here's a little secret about congress that everyone else has known for the last 200 years - congressmen DO NOT read the bills they vote on. they never have. they assign their staffers to read the bills, and the staffers advise the congressmen on how to vote. congressmen who got what they want from the lobbyists who write these bills, vote yes. those who didn't get what they want, vote no. anyway, if that is the biggest criticism you have, then you must believe, deep down, that Obama is doing a pretty darn good job.

Name: Jeep
Date: 7/30/2010 1:28:25 PM
Message:
Pinto....you know you actually made a little sense. You are right about politicians and how they vote. Have you figured out why the incumbants are getting voted out? Hmm maybe it's not a secret. When Pelosi told us we had to vote in the healthcare bill to find out what's in it I think the last of the clueless ones caught on.

COMMENT

---

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 7/27/2010 12:55:47 PM
Message:
I found the recent article out of the Bent Tree gated community very funny.

Cathy Carden wants to remove the deer from the gated community because the deer are damaging the community ecosystem with their constant nibbling on the dogwoods and undergrowth.

Heaven forbid that the deers bring the property value down!! I suppose the million dollar homes are better for the ecosystem?

Someone please tell this lady that the deer are not the destroyers of the ecosystem but man is. We have destroyed more animal habitats in the name of "civilization" in the last 50 years than humans have done in 2000 years.

Name: jeep
Date: 7/27/2010 8:24:25 PM
Message:
I gotta agree it's pretty funny! I look forward to seeing the deer myself.

Name: jeep
Date: 7/28/2010 9:42:35 AM
Message:
Rob....Nice idea. The food bank would probably welcome the venison!

Name: R. Ellison
Date: 7/28/2010 1:24:48 PM
Message:
Rob,

Are you illiterate, stupid, or just wanting to argue over everything under the sun.

My post was about Cathy Carden's misguided statement made from behind the elite Bent Tree Gates. She said that the deer were destroying the ecosystem (not my statement but hers) of her private, precious slice of heaven by... OMG, eating the vegitation that God created for food.

Yes, I'm poking fun at this person. In the article, She is driving her golf cart (uses gasoline, propane, or electricity) rather than walking. She is talking about how the deer have eaten the vegitation and now she can see the world outside her elite gated community.

BTW Rob, I never said "save the deer" but I am saying directly how stupid this ladies comment was. The deer are only doing what they instinctively do... they are eating. I suppose the next thing this lady will do is put up a sign stating "No deer allowed"... like they are squatters on her land or something!

Yes Rob, I do realize the venison that can be provided to our citizens. I belong to a group of locals that do just that. We take our alottment and give them to families that can use the meat to feed themselves. The problem is not with the deer but the elite people, like Cathy, who think they can build a house (in a natural setting) and not have some form of wildlife venture across her land.


Rob, I am not a scholar but a "learned man of faith" and evidently you are not. We do have domain over the animals (as food or sacrifice to God) but we were never given domain over the land, sea, or air. That is God's domain. If you will tolerate the remedial Sunday School leason...

In Genesis 1:28-30, we are told that man was given:

"dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth. And God said, Behold! I have given you every herb seeding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree seeding seed; to you it shall be for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every creeper on the earth which has in it a living soul every green plant is FOR FOOD"

In Genesis 2:15, we further learn:

"Jehovah God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to WORK IT and KEEP IT."

This verse sums the issue for you. Humans are to work the land, maintain the land, but no where did God give us ownership of the land to destroy it. Our domination of the animals is spelled out..."AS FOOD"! What Cathy wants is not Biblical but selfesh. She views the deer as lowering her home value and nothing more.

Name: Rob
Date: 7/28/2010 5:15:39 PM
Message:
Relax, ellison. In this case we are talking about the same thing. Perhaps I misunderstood your mission in this case. I am in total agreement and understanding that man is directed to kill for food only. I would only agree with a deer kill if it was proved that the deer would feed people. Especially if the meat would be targetted for needy families. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Name: Rob
Date: 7/28/2010 5:31:49 PM
Message:
Ellison, I do want to be clear on where I stand regarding animals v. man.

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you [plural] every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

As in the case of the Delta Smelt's health preventing farmers from making a living in CA:

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/09/11/emptying-reservoirs-in-the-mid/

Animal rights wackos have gone completely over the edge. A man's life is worth more than that of an animal. God, and common sense agree.

Name: jeep
Date: 7/28/2010 8:10:30 PM
Message:
Gotta agree with Ellison on this one.

Name: MC
Date: 7/28/2010 10:35:21 PM
Message:
If Ms Cathy is bothered by the deer in Bent Tree, why did she move to a mountain community? The most beautiful sight in Bent Tree is seeing the wild life, deer, bear and turkeys. Everybody says how over populated Bent Tree is withut deer. Not so. When there was a drought sure you saw more deer coming through your property looking for vegatation but know with a busy rain season I see less on my property. Ms Cathy needs to get a life and leave the deer to nature.

Name: Brian
Date: 7/29/2010 11:18:46 AM
Message:
Apparently you have never been in Bent Tree. Or, perhaps your notion of "elitist" is much different than most.

Name: Ed Jones Jr.
Date: 7/30/2010 11:08:42 AM
Message:
ROB: I think there should be room for all of God's animal creatures , right next to the mash potatoes !

Name: Ed Jones Jr.
Date: 7/30/2010 11:24:06 AM
Message:
Brian : Not sure who your reply was directed at , you didn't say , but I have to say that of all the prople I have met from Bent Tree , and thats a bunch , I remember only two that didn't have a " Bent Tree Plate " on the front of their car . How many people running around with " Jasper " plates or " Pickens " plates on the front of their cars have you seen ? I'll answer for you - None , Nada , not one . Prehaps a re-read of Webster's is in order !

Name: Rob
Date: 8/3/2010 4:29:00 PM
Message:
Ed, nicely said! I like my deer burgers medium, with coleslaw and fries. I eat everything I kill, save for the flies on my back porch. If I don't want to eat it, I don't kill it.

I wonder if these folks have seen all the deer repellents on the market? Some of them are very effective.

COMMENT

---