Does Zack Matheny Have a Napoleon Complex?

It was interesting to see that Zack Matheny felt a need to complain to the media about Danny Thompson's campaign ads.  After all, they are both Republicans; and we are even supposed to believe they are both conservatives.  Are we not?

Zack spent the first three years of his time on the city council as a member of the Melderec con Simkins majority.  Over the last nine months or so, he has dipped his toes in the waters of conservative governance under pressure from the local GOP and perhaps C4GC. 

Of course, it seemed from afar that he never really wanted to vote on the landfill issue very much.  And in fact, when push came to shove over the last several weeks, it became clear he would not vote in favor of reopening the landfill to residential trash if Waste Industries was brought up for a vote.  That had the effect of killing any possibility of switching vendors in order to salvage the effort.

We are led to believe that he is somehow "controlled" by his employer-- a huge real estate concern-- and therefore could not vote on the landfill.

From the earliest days of this city council session, it has been apparent that Matheny, for some reason, has felt the need to undermine Danny Thompson.  It began with his childish insistence upon sitting next to the mayor at council meetings even though he is only a district representative.  It seems there has been a need to drag someone else down in order to boost himself up.

Now, he appoints himself to sit publicly in judgment of Thompson's campaign ads, even though the two men are not running against each other; and even though they are nominally members of the same party.  Somehow, we are to believe that it is Matheny's role as an incumbent District 3 candidate to judge openly other people's campaigns.

Surely, the News and Record loved publishing the story.  Unlike many of their recent local stories, they made this one available online without a hitch.

When Thompson voted for the budget, he voted for many of the things cited in the campaign ads, and helped make them happen.  One of his opponents this fall, dear Nancy Vaughan, voted against the budget.  So she voted against all those things.  He was part of the majority that passed the budget, and she was not.

I don't know whether Matheny intensely dislikes Thompson; or if he merely has felt threatened by him.  But Zack is now behaving, once again, like a Perkinette.  He is falling back in line.  The Melderec con Simkins tool is re-emerging.

It appears that the local Republican party leadership has a problem on its hands once again.  Perhaps it is long past time for them to usher Matheny toward the friendly confines of the local Democratic Party-- where he belongs.

Update: Triad Watch raises questions about Matheny's involvement in a land deal off HW 68; and asks about some of Zack's campaign donations and reporting.

Comments

[bubba]

Oh, but remember the flack some of us took from certain stalwarts because we refused to support Matheny, and suggested he needed to face a primary challenge?

There's excellent reasons why D3 is rated "pass" for conservative voters this year.

[GreensboroObserver]

Interesting how you've neglected to mention the butt whuppin Thompson received from John Hammer the last two weeks. I thought conservative values included honesty. Thompson thought he could out-smart campaign finance law and his ads are another attempt to deceive. It seems like you're more interested in "shooting the messenger".

BTW Vaughan voted FOR the budget. I assume you're man enough to issue a correction. What "other things" do you refer to?

[Joe Guarino]

Vaughan voted against the budget this year. I hope you are man enough, or woman enough, or whatever you are, to apologize.

Campaign finance law is "inside baseball". Insiders pay attention, the general public pays less attention. It appears to me, from the article, that Thompson believed he was technically in compliance with the reporting requirements. Thompson should clean up whatever needs to be cleaned up with his reports.

But let's remember there is somewhat of a tradition of local politicians and PAC's here in Greensboro violating campaign finance law and failing to make timely reports. They tend to get away with it; and there tends to be little but a wrist slap at most.

In fact, the Simkins PAC took $5,000 illegally to help Action Greensboro pass the bonds it favored three years ago. And the treasurer of that PAC still remains the chairman of our Board of County Commissioners in spite of that gross violation. What happened there makes Thompson's incident seem like small potatoes. The fact that reporting violations have occurred previously does not make it right. But Thompson's incident hardly qualifies as public corruption; whereas the incident with Action Greensboro and the Simkins PAC surely did.

It was inappropriate for Matheny to offer himself as the arbiter of Thompson's campaign ads. But let's remember-- Matheny has been associated with the PAC that took the 5G from Action Greensboro. And he has been a big supporter of the Greensboro Partnership, of which Action Greensboro is part.

[michele]

I'm not going to comment on your opinion of Matheny or Vaughan. Irrelevant. I saw the campaign ads on Thompson's Facebook before the N&R article. I laughed out loud. They're so over the top, the only thing they neglected was to show Thompson in a Superman outfit. I mean, come on. "Danny Thompson allowed private citizens to manage the farmer's market." "Danny Thompson reduced taxes and balanced the budget." "Danny Thompson cut $10 million in wasteful government spending... and lowered property taxes." "Danny Thompson added 40 officers to the police force... implemented a downtown curfew... and ushered in a new era of respect at the Greensboro Police Department." Really? Danny Thompson did ALL THAT -- by himself? Dude, seriously. What is he, the emperor of Greensboro? Look, he voted for some good stuff, but it's ridiculous for him to take credit for all that. What stands out for me about his time on Council is the library porn filter thing, which I agreed with him about. Why isn't there a campaign ad about that? That actually WAS all about Danny Thompson. I don't know who his PR people are, but those ads are funny and dumb. They make him look like a giant egomaniac. Zack just pointed out the obvious. Attacking him is just an attempt to deflect from the reality that Thompson got some bad PR advice. He's done things that conservatives agree with and applaud him for. But pretending to be Superman is just silly, and it makes him look bad. You can blame Matheny for that if you want to, but it's not fooling me.

[Joe Guarino]

Michele, if you look at the language, he is not claiming that he did it by himself. And he is not claiming that a single council member can do that. The ads are not, by any means, an outright lie. Yes, they might seem "over the top" to some; and perhaps the ads could have been done differently. But that does not make Zack's involvement more appropriate, or his intentions more pure. It was a deliberate attempt to undermine someone who he, for some reason, perceives to be a rival.

I happen to think that some campaign claims made by candidates on the other side stretch the truth, and attempt to mislead. I have written about some of these claims here. But Matheny does not appear to be concerned about those false, misleading claims. And neither does the News and Record.

[GreensboroObserver]

Sorry Joe according to the 6-21-11 minutes the only person who voted against the budget was TDBS. (page 12, item 11-113)

Are you serious - Campaign Finance is like Inside Baseball. Don't you know that it's campaign finance irregularities that have sent people to jail and ruined careers (Jim Black, Mike Easley, Meg Scott Phipps just to name a few.). We don't get to pick and choose what laws we follow. Elected officials should be held to a higher standard because they take an oath.

You deflect criticism of Thompson's malfeasance by pointing the finger at Simkins and Action Greensboro. That's not a valid defense. It's like saying "Please Judge don't find my client guilty of robbery because other people do it to."

Hammer states "Two years ago Thompson violated the spirit of the law, and this year
according to his own statements and actions, he violated both the letter and spirit of the law." In other words he's getting worse instead of better ... And he broke the law.

It's obvious to all that you have a double standard when it comes to your friends.

[Joe Guarino]

Observer, what do you think should be done about Action Greensboro and the principals in the Simkins PAC who happen to be elected officials, given the nefarious public corruption suggested by the transmittal and acceptance of that $5g?

You have not demonstrated that Thompson was aware he might have been in violation. This is not even remotely the same level of violation as Jim Black. But if you truly read my previous comments, you will see I made it clear that the situation should be rectified; and I pointed out that the fact that many others violate reporting requirements does not make it right. I hope he is careful in the future about this kind of thing, in part because Republicans and conservatives tend to be held to a higher standard.

But in fact, in Greensboro politics, violating campaign reporting laws has not really been treated as an unforgivable sin, particularly when committed by a Democrat.

Finally, my recollection is that Vaughan voted against the budget because there was no pay for reserve police officers and because of the reduced funding for the Greensboro Partnership. I would appreciate if you could provide a link if you wish to rebut that point. I seem to remember there were two votes against the budget-- TDBS and Nancy Vaughan.

[Joe Guarino]

"After Carruthers was named acting city attorney, the real meeting started and the conservative majority passed a no-tax-increase, no-water-and-sewer-rate-increase, hold-the-line budget by a 7-to-2 vote, with Knight, Matheny, Wade, Thompson, Rakestraw, Perkins and Kee voting in favor of the $438.8 million budget, and Bellamy-Small and Vaughan voting against it."

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-c-2011-06-22-208755.112113-Coalition-Holds-No-City-Tax-Hike.html

[bubba]

There's excellent reasons why D3 is rated "pass" for conservative voters this year.

[Joe Guarino]

I think if I lived in district 3, I would write in George Hartzman, even though we disagree on some issues. At least George would not be part of the old machine; and would not be a purchasable commodity.

[Bubbles]

Actually,Bubba Hartzman was purchased during the last election. He made a big deal of only taking contributions of $100 or less. That was until someone gave him $1000. Then he took the $$$$ and scrubbed the pledge from his website. It didn't take long for GH to fail his own test.

[Bubbles]

Sorry that last post should have been addressed to The Good Doctor. You guys sound so much alike that sometimes it just all runs together.

[Joe Guarino]

Bubbles, George made an error in judgment when he made that pledge. That is not necessarily uncommon for those new to the process.

George is a fiscal conservative who would not be a pawn for the TREBIC/Melderec crowd, would not be a part of the old machine politics, and would not be a purchasable commodity.

[Roch101]

"But that does not make Zack's involvement more appropriate" -- Joe

Reading the article, I'm wondering why your finger wagging is reserved for Matheny alone; Robbie Perkins, Jim Kee and Mary Rakestraw are all involving themselves.

While the bulk of the article is the weak he said/she said type of reporting, it does also compare some of Thompson's claims to the record.

[Joe Guarino]

Roch, Zach Matheny's comments were featured most prominently. Jim Kee is an east Greensboro Democrat, so it is not unexpected that he might be critical. Robbie Perkins has been on the other side politically for a long time, so his comments are not unexpected. Rakestraw's comments were not explicitly critical of Thompson.

But Matheny has attempted this silly straddle, trying to make it look like he is all things to all people. He pretended to be a conservative approximately 9 months-- just long enough to discourage a conservative primary challenger-- and now he is back to his old ways.

[Roch101]

GreensboroObserver wrote: "Sorry Joe according to the 6-21-11 minutes the only person who voted against the budget was TDBS. (page 12, item 11-113)"

This is not correct. From the minutes:

"Being no additional discussion on the item, Mayor Knight asked for a vote on the main motion. The ordinance was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Kee, Knight, Matheny, Perkins, Thompson, Rakestraw and Wade. Noes: Bellamy-Small and Vaughan."

Read it: http://greensboro.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=greensboro_5eda6adddb1b9c6cd41daacc639c2a0a.pdf

See it (01:47:11): http://greensboro.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=15&clip_id=1211

[Roch101]

I'm sorry Joe, I thought you were being critical of council members inserting themselves into the campaign claims of Danny Thompson, I did not understand that your disapproval was confined to those who inserted themselves AND disagreed with Thompson's claims. Thanks for clearing that up.

[conservativewatcher]

It's obvious that Zack Matheny has become part of the problem in local politics.

[Jonas]

To my knowledge the 40 officers that Thompson refers to "hiring" were paid for with a grant for three years. They have not been included in the 2012-13 budget. If that is the case, the officers will be laid off or absorbed into the attrition and retirements. Net = 0.

[Abner Doon]

"Hartzman was purchased during the last election."

Who was I purchased by?

"He made a big deal of only taking contributions of $100 or less."

True, as the Hammer brothers lobbied for me to come off of the pledge
to get more advertizing money
and then held it against me.

"That was until someone gave him $1000."

Also true.

By Jackie Wieland, who worked with both Zack and myself?

Wonder why John Hammer, who was told of this,
didn't report it?

"Then he took the $$$$ and scrubbed the pledge from his website.

It didn't take long for GH to fail his own test."

It certainly was stupid to take the Hammer brother's advice.

It was stupid to trust the News & Record
to report against their own interests.

It was stupid to think the Rhino
wouldn't have thrown me under a bus
as Zack overspent me by 5 to 1.

I thought the papers would cover Zack's Zoning Commission
votes relative to his campaign contributions.

They did not.

I thought the papers would cover Zack's ties
to his employers real estate properties
relative to D3 and the Urban Loop.

They did not.

They protected him by not reporting what they should have.

Same thing with Robbie now.

Same with Skip.

Why hasn't John Hammer gone after Robbie
on the Gunter's Crossing grant?

Hammer is trying not to go under.

Voters best interests seem to be tertiary.

[Abner Doon]

Why does the News & Record refuse to release the audio
of the interview between Zack and myself?

Why is it the only one missing from their files from 2009?

[Abner Doon]

At the 9/10/2007 Zoning Commission Meeting,
Zack voted for attorneys Derek Allen's
Henry Issaacson, Charlie Melvin requests,
including a rezoning for Alliance Commercial,
after recieving $2,000 from principals
of Alliance Management on 6/21/2007, and 6/26/07
and the papers and the News & Record Editorial Board
didn't seem to think it was newsworthy.

ES Melvin cut Zack a check for $250 on 7/30/07.

Derek Allen of Brooks Peirce
that makes a lot of money off Greensboro's taxpayers
cut Zack a check for $250 on 6/12/07.

Charles Melvin Jr. of Smith Moore,
paid $250 on 7/6/2007.

Henry Isaacson paid $100 on 8/3/07,
the same day his son Marc gave $100.

All while Zack voted for these people's stuff
while he worked for taxpayers on the Zoning Commission.

[Abner Doon]

What did Jackie have to gain by giving me money
compared to those above?

[Abner Doon]

Considering what Bev Perdue got her hands dirty on,
how is what Zack did and does any different?

http://triadwatch.blogspot.com/2011/09/doesnt-this-sound-familiar-greensboros.html

Didn't Zack Lobby the North Carolina State Congress
to pass the law that killed RUCO?

Was Zack representing the best interests of Greensboro's voters
or his employers?

[ab]

Bubbles?

[sensei]

Abner - You can't trust anyone but yourself, especially when money and/or politics are involved.

[Abner Doon]

"In politics, nothing happens by accident.

If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."

Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
.
.
Unfortunately, I figured it out after.

[Abner Doon]

On June 11, 2007,
Zack Matheny voted for a rezoning for Carroll Capitial Investments, LLC,
represented by Robbie Perkins,
for Roy Carroll.

Zack recieved $1,000 from Mr. Carroll's PAC on 10/30/07.

Mr. Carroll also gave $1,000 checks to Robbie, etc...,
as he garnered about $4 million in tax breaks
for Centerpoint.

Is this not a conflict along the lines of what AP reported
about Bev Perdue?

[Abner Doon]

On June, 11, 2007,
Zack also voted for a rezoning for Eagle Road, LLC,
which is Mega Builders
which is owned by Guilford County Commissioner Mike Winstead
and Joseph McKinney Jr.
Which was represented by Henry Isaacson

Henry Isaacson paid $100 on 8/3/07,
the same day his son Marc gave $100.

Mike gave Zack $1,000 on 8/3/07

Joe paid Zack $1,000 on 8/3/07

How many who are reading this think these votes
and campaign contributions are material?

If they are material enough for Bev Perdue
to be placed on the front page of the News & Record,
why are the local acts of the same contemptable ethics
not reported on by the press?

[Abner Doon]

On June, 11, 2007,
Zack also voted for a rezoning for Wendover Industrial Center, LLC,
owned by Cooper Brantly
who also owns apartment properties near where the Loop is going through
down the street from our now very taxpayer supported Science Center
represented by Charlie Melvin

Cooper Brantly Jr. gave $150 to Zack on 7/30/07
and $200 in 2009.

Charles E. Melvin Jr. gave Zack $150 in 2009
after donating on 7/6/07.

[Abner Doon]

On June, 11, 2007,
Zack also voted for a rezoning for D. Stone Builders
after Mr. Matheny moved to approve the request.

Mr. Stone then paid Zack $500 on 7/17/07,
a little more than a month later.

[Abner Doon]

On June, 11, 2007,
Zack also voted for a rezoning for Carrolland Corporation
represented by Henry Isaacson.

Zack recieved $1,000 from Mr. Carroll's PAC on 10/30/07.

Henry Isaacson paid $100 on 8/3/07,
the same day his son Marc gave $100.

[Abner Doon]

On October 8, 2007,
Zack voted for a rezoning for Wendover South Associates Limited Partnership.

Derek Allen of Brooks Peirce represented the applicant
whose firm makes a lot of money off Greensboro's taxpayers
wo cut Zack a check for $250 on 6/12/07.

Who owns Wendover South?

Why Mega Builders?

Why doesn't any of the minutes from the meetings
identify most of the LLCs getting rezoning
one might ask.

Mike Winstead gave Zack $1,000 on 8/3/07
a little more than two months before.

Mike's partner Joe paid Zack $1,000 on 8/3/07.

[Abner Doon]

There are a bunch of others,
but I can't figure out who owns the LLCs.

This is no different from what Bev Perdue is doing.

How is it any different from this:

Pulled Agenda Item #31 Local Developer and Crony Capitalist Roy Carroll Wants $4,176,775 in Economic Incentive Grant and Loan

http://triadwatch.blogspot.com/2011/09/pulled-agenda-item-31-local-developer.html

Kieth may save Greensboro's taxpayers more than $4 million.

Worth a front page story?

who is Land Port Investments LLC?

How is Greensboro not a microcozm
for what is happening on the state and federal levels of
government?

How can we improve economic development in Guilford County
if the local papers won't call out the local Cronys?

How has the local press not enabled a worse economy
by not keeping our capitalists
from bribing our local leaders?

I brought all this up at forums
and no one reported anything.

I brought this up at the interview
with Amanda Lehmert, Allen Johnson and Doug Clark
of the Greensboro News and Record
and they did nothing.

They didn't even want to review the minutes
of the zoning meetings.

How have we not been betrayed by our local press?

LINDA SHAW 03/23/10 Roy Carroll II Carroll Companies Developer TREBIC MEMBER
ZACK MATHENY 10/23/09 Roy Carroll II Carroll Companies Developer TREBIC MEMBER
DIANE BELLAMY-SMALL 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
Kirk Perkins 5/2/2008 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
Paul Gibson 5/2/2008 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
ROBBIE PERKINS 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
SANDRA ANDERSON GROAT 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
TRUDY WADE 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
YVONNE JOHNSON 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
ZACK MATHENY 10/16/2007 Roy E and Vanessa Y Carroll North Carolinians for Leadership in Government TREBIC MEMBER
JIM KEE 10/27/09 Roy E. Carroll Carroll Companies Real estate development TREBIC MEMBER
ROBBIE PERKINS 10/13/09 Roy E. Carroll II Carroll Companies Developer TREBIC MEMBER
TRUDY WADE 10/23/09 Roy E. Carroll II Carroll Companies Real estate developer TREBIC MEMBER

[Abner Doon]

Here we go again:

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 10/4/2011

20. Resolution authorizing Economic Development Incentive Grant and Loan, not to exceed the amount of $4,176,775 in total, to Land Port Investments, LLC. to be funded by appropriating up to $4,176,775 of voter approved Economic Development Bond funds. (No attachment) This item was postponed from the 9/13 meeting of Council without further advertising. COUNCIL IS BEING REQUESTED TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THE AGENDA TO BE READVERTISED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT A LATER DATE.

Land Port Investments is owned by Roy Carroll.

It doesn't say that though.

Robbie just got paid the Mr. and Mrs. Bell

Roy just paid Robbie's campaign $1,000.

http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/elections_cms/docs/2011%20docs/35dayinprimary/PERKINS_ROBBIE_35DayInPrim.pdf

Joseph Brantly - $250

four Browns.

Elizabeth Cone.

Charles Hagan

Mr. and Mrs. Isaacson.

Yvonne Johnson

Don Linder

ES Melvin

http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/elections_cms/docs/2011%20docs/midyr/PERKINS_ROBBIE2_midyr11.pdf

Cooper Brantly

Joe Bryan Jr.

David Craft.
Didn't Mr. Craft just get approval
to run the farmers market?

I saw his name somewhere else this year as well.

DH Griffin

Randall Kaplan

James McNairy

Royce Reynolds

The Samets

Susan Schwartz

William Soles Jr.

Thomas White, Alliance Management
.
.
.
Could Greensboro be run by an oligarchy?

[Everest]

Poor Lil' Abner, still trying to fight the good fight...alas, the citizens of Greensboro have spoken - and spoken loudly. Perhaps if you could cobble together a coherent sentence, instead of ridiculous rheoritcal questions written in a garbled format, you may have gotten a few extra votes. Probably easier for your ego to believe that you got beat like a drum because you couldn't raise enough money - even after going back on your word.

And if you're looking for ego in the N&R story Joe, you better start with Danny's...rarely before has someone with so little record spent so much time/money screaming about his "accomplishments"...and your comment about Zack's vote on the landfill screams hypocrisy. His employer's business partner is a direct party to the transaction, and nearly everyone that looks at the transaction agrees Zack shouldn't vote...yet you blast him for not voting.

Finally, I know you and Danny are close, and he serves as an inside source for many of your posts...but you're awfully sensitive when it comes to criticism of him! Is it simply too much for you to watch people call him out? Boy, I hope Danny doesn't wander off the reservation and criticize any other candidates!! That would really not be fair!! Your defense of Danny and obsession with Robbie's marital status is really beginning to undermine your credibility overall - no pretense at all of "fair and balanced."

[Abner Doon]

Hello Everest.

I was wondering how long it would take
for you to chime in.

What are your thoughts on the ethics
of campaign finance and Zack's role on the Zoning Commission?

Is it OK for David Craft to have been paying our leaders
while gaining a City contract?

Is it OK for Roy to cut big checks
and try to get another $4 million out of Greensboro's coffers
while hiding behind an LLC?

[Abner Doon]

Isn't it amazing Everest,
how Roy got the AMEX real estate deal
along with Richard Beard?

Everest?

Are you there brother?

[bubba]

"Your defense of Danny and obsession with Robbie's marital status is really beginning to undermine your credibility overall - no pretense at all of 'fair and balanced.'"

Your record as a shill for corruption and bad stewardship of public resources is well established.

Before you call anyone a hypocrite, why don't you disclose your personal and professional involvement with the crony capital gang that continues to poison our city?

[Everest]

Your record as a shill for corruption and bad stewardship of public resources is well established....Bubba

If I didn't think you were so serious about the conspiracy you think you're continuing to uncover, I'd think your posts were outloud funny....what's so hysterically funny Bubba is that you're like the guy in Dealy Plaza screaming "I saw a guy on the grass knoll!" You're so certain of corruption/conspiracy that it drives your every local political thought - facts be damned....

And lil' Abner, you continue to use insinuation and supposed corrupt links to hammer away at people, but I don't see a whole lot of proof. In your playworld is every single individual political contribution unethical and illegal? If Joe Guarino gave money to Danny Thompson, and Danny voted the way Joe wanted on an issue, is that a causal relationship that reveals corruption? Should every single person with any business before any city or municipality have their individual rights stripped in supporting candidates they support? Perhaps you believe that...I seem to recall you wanting to limit those rights - an abridgement of rights the SCOTUS might find worrisome. It seems that if the people of D3 had a problem with this, or were worried about even the hint of impropriety, they would voice that concern with their vote...alas, they remain supportive of Matheny. And it appears very few sense opportunity for an upset in D3, as evidenced by his lack of serious interest by others to unseat him.

Finally, Joe I'm curious...Danny has voted in direct opposition to your view on several big issues I would have thought you to find objectionable...yet the blinding loyalty and falling in line as Defender #1 continues...with NEVER a word otherwise - why is that?

[Abner Doon]

"In your playworld is every single individual political contribution unethical and illegal?"

An attempt at generalization
to undermine your opponents arguments Everest?

"Should every single person with any business before any city or municipality have their individual rights stripped in supporting candidates they support?"

Again a generalizaion.

All, no, some, yes.

"Perhaps you believe that...I seem to recall you wanting to limit those rights - an abridgement of rights the SCOTUS might find worrisome."

Everest, are you saying you backed Citizens United?

Tell me you are kidding.

I would love to know what you do for a living.

Maybe you're Bill Burckley?

Read any Karl Rove books lately?

"It seems that if the people of D3 had a problem with this, or were worried about even the hint of impropriety, they would voice that concern with their vote"

How can the people of D3 have a problem with X,
if the local news industry doesn't tell anybody?

What are your thoughts on the ethics
of campaign finance and Zack's role on the Zoning Commission?

Is it OK for David Craft to have been paying our leaders
while gaining a City contract?

Is it OK for Roy to cut big checks
and try to get another $4 million out of Greensboro's coffers
while hiding behind an LLC?

Nice deflection from some pretty obvious questions Everest.

Scared to answer?

Should "all" of those naming themselves Everest answer?

You can't defend on the facts,
so you attack with stereotyped labels of discrimination?

Bring it on brother.

[Harold]

Zack enjoys hearing himself talk. Him and Diane take the cake.

What an ass to rip apart another Council member's campaign ad when it's not your opponent.

[Abner Doon]

No one has called out Diane
for protecting Robbie's left flank
so no one else actually qualified would want to take the chance
to step up.

If the press doesn't tell anyone,
no one knows.

Somehow it became them against everyone else.

Our best interests are being less than looked after
by many of those who should.

Local, State, National.

We have betrayed our children.

[Everest]

I did support Citizens United Abner, as did most conservatives. The SCOTUS made the correct ruling, which effectively leveled the playing field, as opposed to only allowing labor unions to spend on campaigns. I'm for DISCLOSURE Abner, not limiting other's ability to financially support the candidates they want to...you were probably a Mccain/Feingold (a disgraceful piece of legislation) supporter too...how'd that work? All that did was drive money deeper and make it harder to track - but if labor unions can confiscate union wages to fight battles their members may not support, then corporate America should be able to expend its resources to support those causes it wants. At least in Corporate America, if I don't like what the company is doing I can sell my stock, or avoid their products...tough to do anything if you're a union member...

And who gets to decide Abner, who can support candidates and who can't? You? The same candidates you already think are corrupt? Who? And who decides what "business before the City" means? Does that include City employees? How about relatives of City employees? How about those citizens that receive local/city assistance? How about private contract employees that handle work for the City? See where this rabbit hole goes Abner...? You'll have to excuse me if I don't rush to your side in support of having my individual freedoms restricted even more - I've got a Chicago-style team in the WH right now already telling what kind of healthcare I've got to by and from who, as well as telling my bank what to charge (or not) for a variety of services, and what kind of car I should be driving, and on and on and on....I've had enough of that for a while, thanks.

[Abner Doon]

"It seems that if the people of D3 had a problem with this,
or were worried about even the hint of impropriety,
they would voice that concern with their vote"

Everest

Could they have a problem,
and not know?

How many voice thier concerns?

How many in Greensboro
have ever givin a political candidate
more than $50?

Less than 1%?

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions,
they don't have to worry about answers."

Thomas Pynchon

Very deceptive language Everest/Bill.

Zugzwang on that one.

"Lying by omission

One lies by omission by omitting an important fact,
deliberately leaving another person with a misconception.

Lying by omission includes failures to correct pre-existing misconceptions.

…Propaganda is an example of lying by omission."

Wikipedia
.
.
.
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something
when his salary depends on his not understanding it."

Upton Sinclair
.
.
.
"When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind
as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe,
he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime."

Thomas Paine
.
.
.
Sleep well?

Look in the mirror alot?
,
,
,
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

Aldous Huxley

[Abner Doon]

What are your thoughts on the ethics
of campaign finance and Zack's role on the Zoning Commission?

Is it OK for David Craft to have been paying our leaders
while gaining a City contract?

Is it OK for Roy to cut big checks
and try to get another $4 million out of Greensboro's coffers
while hiding behind an LLC?

[Abner Doon]

"if labor unions can confiscate union wages
to fight battles their members may not support"

Agreed that this is wrong.
.
.
.
"corporate America should be able to expend its resources
to support those causes it wants."

I don't believe corporations are people.

What if the cause they support is killing a lot of people?

There have to be limits.

How about a little Glass-Steagal?

The anti regulatory rant doesn't become your rhetoric
.
.
.
“Here’s the trick.

Take your opponent’s argument to a ridiculous extreme,
and then attack the extremists.

That leaves the opponent to sputter defensively.

In strawmanese, you never specify who ‘those who’ are.

They are the hollow scarecrows you set up to knock down.”

William Safire
..

.
.
“people who consistently distort the truth,
…are in no position to lecture anyone about values.”

Richard Bruce Cheney
.
.
.
Please argue a specific point.

[Abner Doon]

What are your thoughts on the ethics
of campaign finance and Zack's role on the Zoning Commission?

Is it OK for David Craft to have been paying our leaders
while gaining a City contract?

Is it OK for Roy to cut big checks
and try to get another $4 million out of Greensboro's coffers
while hiding behind an LLC?

[Abner Doon]

"If you choose not to know something,
especially if that something is something you should know,
you are morally blameworthy."

Robert P. Lawry
Director of the Center for Professional Ethics
.
.
.
You may need to think about what you're doing Everest.

You must not believe in hell.

[Abner Doon]

"I did support Citizens United Abner, as did most conservatives."

See how Everest puts himself on the same side of the table
as "most conservatives"?

Message - I am with "you"

We are against "them"

They are all evil.

We are all good.
.
.
.
"Always and never
are two words you should always remember
never to use."

Wendell Johnson
.
.
.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:13