AntiBVBL

Since when is abortion a topic the PWCBOS needs to be addressing? We have far more critical “true crisis”. I would love to know what his fellow Supervisors thought of him throwing that in.
Anyways, what amount constitutes as a “scourge of abortion”?

I’ve thought about this a little more. Is there any video of this meeting yesterday? I would love to see this with my own two eyes, and hear with my own two ears too.

Chris,

Try this link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfPQVl1W5dQ

The account of Corey Stewart’s comments in the initial posting is not entirely accurate, but it is substantively very close (Corey actually made reference to what he termed the “800 [pound] moral guerilla in the room,” abortion; he was rotating around the microphone a bit, so perhaps not everyone heard exactly the same thing). What is important to keep in mind, though, is that Corey knew exactly what he was doing by making the abortion remark. He knows that VOICE is a long-term threat to his political career since it is committed to focusing on social justice issues that have wide appeal amongst various denominations. It focuses, in other words, on those things that can bring people together. Corey’s entire political career has been built on the very opposite, dividing people, and that’s what he was trying to do last night.

Each of the elected officials who spoke were specifically told they were only to speak about the three issues mentioned. But Corey knew there were a number of Catholic and Baptist churches participating yesterday, and if he could just get out the word “abortion” he would be planting the seed of a wedge between them and the Unitarians and other liberal protestant denominations participating. He knows he scored points with some members of the former congregations, and even their leaders, by doing so. He also knows that if VOICE does prosper he will nevertheless score points with his conservative base by dismissing the participating Catholic and Baptist congregations as not living up to all their values. Finally, Corey also knew he could milk getting credit for just showing up. In fact, the minister who introduced him was overly generous in praising him for even meeting with them ahead of time, something that was not done for the other speakers (though perhaps none of them did meet with the VOICE ahead of time), and seemed indicative of the fact that they knew he was not going to support the various VOICE positions. It also permitted him to perpetuate this gutsy “straight talk” myth he has created about himself (too many people claim to have heard Corey say one thing of substance in private and another in public to conclude it is anything but fiction).

To be honest, I think Corey played this masterfully, as he often does. It was cynical, divisive politics at its effective worst. From what I could see, he did not bolt out of the room after he spoke, but stayed a while. It also looked like a number of local religious leaders went over to speak to him as well, shaking his hand and patting him on the back. He knows that by playing the bad guy so openly front the start, that any concession he makes later, however small, will make him look reasonable, and elicit praise from the religious leaders out of proportion to anything he actually does (as occurred with the praise given in his introduction). And if VOICE does not publicly praise him for the minor concessions he eventually makes, he’ll simply argue that even the conservative congregations have been against him from the start because he has challenged them as not being true to their values, which will undoubtedly make sense to some of their members. It really was an impressive performance. The only question is whether or not the religious leaders recognize it for what it was and act accordingly, or if they fall into the trap he set out for them.

Please. Corey was absolutely right. We don’t need county government involved in Dental care. We have a glut of housing already. You’re all waaaay off the mark on this.

Why not wait until financial times get better for the United States before you’re stated goal of helping illegals can be undertaken? There’s nothing wrong with that.

And, abortion is a scourge. It is a horrible crime against defenseless beings.

Now, let’s see whether this gets posted or you moderate comments that you want to appear.

Over 40 religious institutions from Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William were present at the founding of V.O.I.C.E. – Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement. Over 2,000 asked elected leaders to act on its vision for change on affordable housing, immigration, and dental care.

Corey ought to watch his step touting housing for county employees but no one else. If you want to see a whole groups of citizens get incensed and start claiming government preference, then tell the rest of the county to go to hell when it comes to affordable housing and then brag about taking care of government people. While I think it’s great to help our county employees, you can’t ignore everyone else. Furthermore, I don’t get where Corey thinks the only way to work on affordable housing is through building more. DUH! We have thousands of empty homes right now. And you can’t figure out a creative way to use those? I’m sure some of the housing experts could give you a clue if you really wanted it–but you don’t.

As far as the abortion thing–Corey’s making up for all the Catholic hatred he’s brought on himself via Duescaster and the CLAN. Throw in the “A” word and hope you’re forgiven or hope, as Witness says, you can break VOICE apart. Guess what, Corey. These different religious groups with various opinions will not break apart the way you want them to. They aren’t like YOU and Stirrup trying to put a wedge of dissent and hatred into this community.

There are dozens of ways the County could work with VOICE but what it comes down to is they don’t WANT to.

Of course, I would love any on the BOCS to prove me wrong. But I’m not confident many on the BOCS with one or two possible exceptions have the balls to take a stand against the Chair and his VICE.

You know, listening to Corey, I can agree with him about the housing but….and a big but…did he have to say it that way? Could have have been less abrasive and said something like ‘Houses? we have LOTS of houses. I will not agree to build low income housing but I will help you coordinate where the homes are ….blah blah blah.’

There are ways to cooperate that don’t require spending money. Dental? There is a lot of medical care that is volunteer. You don’t have to provide the service. You can help locate the folks who will donate services. If you have 5 people receiving dental care, that is 5 who wouldn’t have received it. Every little bit helps.

Abortion was brought up to be divisive. I agree, Witness. Imagine that many different organizations coming together in agreement! Corey could not have THAT! It was a totally inappropriate remark to make, whatever reason. Nothing like bringing your own agenda to the party. Has anyone EVER heard Corey on the topic of abortion in the past?

Once again he thinks he can take a federal issue to the local level. He did the same thing with immigration. What an ass. Just a total ass.

MH, agreed: Corey wants to play Congress once again and ignore his COUNTY.

Fine. Then GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTY, COREY! Do us all a favor.

I was a witness too. What made Corey Stewart’s abortion stunt so ugly was how it spit in the face of the atmosphere up to that point, full of love and mutual appreciation for different people of different faiths. Everything up to that point was all about unity. Countless religious leaders had spoken, some at length, some briefly, about how they and their congregations were committed to working together across denominations and racial divisions to work toward goals that the great books of each religion shared in common, love for thy neighbor, walking humbly with God, help for the weakest among us.

Then came Corey Stewart, and he was not up 2nd, he was 3rd by the way. I don’t pretend to know the issues in Prince William with all its economic problems, so what he said to the three questions was fine with me. But, for some reason, perhaps he knew that his earlier questions weren’t going over well, he added the abortion thing at the end as a middle finger to everyone there. Two thousand people.

It was as if he was saying, “You want to all be united, well screw your united, here’s an issue that no one can agree upon, and for that I’ll be more than happy to join in.”

According to MJM:

“On the issue of dental care, Stewart said that’s not a county government’s responsibility. Those responsibilities include, public safety, education and transportation, Stewart said. ‘I do not think that that’s something local government can do or should do at this time. I think that should be left up to the state,’ Stewart said.”

This, to me, is LAUGHABLY funny. It is amazing that here, he actually calls for a clear delineation in responsibilities. Is this not the man who is famous for taking on the responsibilities of the federal government? If he were to follow his own pattern, I would expect him to be disgusted by the way the state is handling dental care, and demand that PWC draft a resolution to clean up the mouths of its constituents.

I just don’t get this guy. Aren’t his own colleagues embarrassed by his behavior and statements? Some of the BOCS members must hang their head in shame each time he publicly speaks.

I think what we have here is the next GOP “wedge issue” for future election cycles. Immigaration was a bust. They have already used guns and gay marriage. Abortion seems to be the next issue for Conservative Reps. to “push on” in future elections.

Guns of Love,
Thanks, for the video.

I do agree with Corey with regards to the housing. We have more than enough “affordable housing” with all the vacant homes due to foreclosures. I also, agree about the dental. However, I really think there could’ve been done with more tact.

Honestly, how this community get much more divided than it already is?

corr:Honestly, how *CAN* this community get much more divided than it already is?

Welcome Witness Too,

Thrusting a veritable middle finger to 2,000 people is nothing for Corey Stewart. The man obviously thrives on conflict, and there was none to be found in this particular place of worship so he decided to drum some up. Typical Corey.

Diversity Gal, you are RIGHT ON TARGET as per usual! I don’t know about his colleagues, but I am certainly embarrassed to have Corey Stewart speak for me. We are in stage two of the George W. Bush process of abuse of trust and abuse of power, disastrous policies too disastrous to deny, widespread exposure as an idiot, plummeting poll numbers. I hope that we get to stage four in time for the 2011 election. The way he behaved at this event, it seems like that’s Corey Stewart’s goal as well. He must LOVE George Bush as much as John McCain does.

Chris,

There is a way to “agree to disagree” without being in your face about it. Corey Stewart disagreed very disagreeably. He appeared to relish the role of spoiler. Instead of admitting that these were important issues but that it was not his job to work on them, he downplayed the issues and brought up one of his own instead.

Chris said: “how *CAN* this community get much more divided than it already is?”

I know that is a rhetorical question, but it did bring to mind an idea.

How about a Corey Stewart Crackdown on Abortion?!

At least two of the other four Prince William supervisors present at Mt. Zion Baptist Church made a point of speaking with the VOICE clergy leaders after the event ended to reassure them that Corey Stewart does not speak for them.

GoL,
What other supervisors attending this event?

I was also a witness, and I agree with the other accounts. We were absolutely flabbergasted by Corey Stewart’s performance. It made no sense, was divisive and demeaning to a group that has spent over three years coming together to form an agenda for social progress. But Guns of Love gave a good explanation.

Corey spoke second in a sequence of elected officials. Dick Saslaw spoke earlier in the program because he had to leave. During the elected officials segment, Fairfax went first, then Corey, then the leaders of Arlington and Alexandria, then Mark Warner. Gilmore had been invited but was unable to make it.

One of the saddest, most wrong parts for me was the groveling that dignified black pastors felt compelled to perform to this nasty, classless, pompous white guy (that’s how Corey comes across). IT JUST WASN’T RIGHT. In reference to Guns’ question, VOICE did indeed meet with all the elected officials ahead of time and it was well known that Corey would not be cooperative. See the attached article from Saturday’s religion section in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303168.html

He did NOT have to respond in the way he did. The video clip posted does not capture the complete lack of class and character that he displayed. The excitement of the room, blacks, whites, latinos, diverse religions, working together, was completely squashed momentarily by this guy, who seemed to revel in the role of nasty dude, the all powerful leader who holds the strings. He could have been much more respectful of their efforts, even if he couldn’t agree.

It was wrong on any level of human decency, and I don’t know how he can sleep at night.

Such a group “Interfaith Community Engagement” is a good thing only if it can focus on “interfaith issues”, more than non-denominational social issues. The social issues they are focused on have already been tried in some many ways by the US government and have failed miserably in every way imaginable.

1. Affordable housing. Define “affordable”. Does that mean its free? The soviets had “free housing”, and the quality of that housing was horrible. The inner cities (Chicago, New York) had “affordable housing”, huge blocks and tracts of housing, tract after track. Because it was affordable to the lowest income segment of the population, that’s the only segment of the population that moved into these neighborhoods. The people who lived in these homes in the 1960s were ALL low-middle class. In 10 years the homes were slums, the people did not take care of them. Crime increased (robbery, extortion), and GANGS took over. The drug trade protected by these gangs who claimed turf street by street, created a culture of “blood-in, blood out”, rat you die, leave you die, and became the only source of income for anyone living in these “affordable homes”. Generally they only killed each other, but many of the newer gangs (you know who they are), are now threatening non-members and killing innocent people just for fun, and just to show they do not have to follow the law. They are “run” by mafia bosses INSIDE of prisions. I cannot for the life of me understand why we allow any prisoner to have any “contact” with the outside world enough run a “gang” from a cell block.

So affordable housing is not an answer, jobs and skilled labor is the answer. Training and work ethic and job opportunity is the answer. That means creating innovative businesses that can operate in crime free neighborhoods, and pay above minimum wage to everyone (illegal immigration just keeps wages going lower and lower, eventually causing slums like you see in Sau Palo, Brazil.

So if they want to do something good, figure out how to get interfaith communities to stop creating black markets by only selling and creating jobs within just their own communities and start creating jobs for all Americans regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic group affiliation and creating a common interfaith business ethic, that prevents crime, mafias and gangs from taking over communities.

2. Funding for ESL and citizenship.
“Common” Language is something that is an attitude, not a funded government handout. What good is it to have common language classes when people refuse to use it? Almost everyone in this country can speak English, “illegal or not”, and certainly has an opportunity to use it everyday every time they utter a single word. Language is learned far quicker when people choose to speak a common language so they can understand everyone (rather than just their own minority), and far slower when different ethnicities refuse to use a common language for a common understanding. Start giving “church” services in the same language, rather than have the government pay for ESL. Then you can actually understand another religion, if you are an interfaith organization, you should have interfaith services and interfaith common language spoken. That would may far more progress than any government handout toward “citizenship”. Citizenship is about national cultural immersion time and learning a national culture, not rejecting and ignoring it.

3. Dental care? How about “preventative care?” THAT would be far more beneficial to all genders, races, religions and ethnic groups. If you don’t have insurance, you MUST focus on “preventative medical care”. The means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing, and telling people in your “interfaith church” about good dental hygiene. The same is true for health care. Stop eating foods that make 3/4 of your population and your children overweight, have diabetes, have liver disease and kidney failures because the “FAT” you have put on your body has destroyed 75% of your health liver cells (they burst, and they don’t grow back”. No amount of dental coverage or health care coverage can make up for races, religions, genders and ethnic groups whose basic cultural preferences for food, make them overweight and unhealthy. Preventative healt maintenance as a “goal” of the interfaith community engagement would solve 90% of all the disease and health problems of the lower and middle class. obesity and poor health maintenence is blind to a person’s ethnic, gender, religious and racial DNA, but not blind to the specific ethnic preferences for food that can kill you. Teaching people how to eat right, and exercise will drop the cost of all health care by 50% in one year if people will only focus on that and not “pills and dentists to fix their problems caused by poor self-maintenence. Then we need a National Health Care (NHC) system that removes the motive of profit, and removes the motive of “denying people care”, and one that gives benefits and incentives for maintaining good health through exercise and personal weight maintenence and proper diet, while covering all catastrophic disease (like cancer and heriditary disease), with government funded “free” catastrophic care for everyone regardless or race, gender, religion or ethnic group. Since NHC is a government issue, the Interfaith community engagement needs to focus on the “social” causes of poor heath maintanence, poor exercise, poor food preferences and poor personal hygiene, that are a reult of things associated with culture and religion, something the government can do nothing about. That is the proper focus of heath role of such an interfaith group.

4. Abortion is a moral issue, and since “faith” is a moral issue, the topic should be addressed from the perspective of all faiths, genders, races and ethnic groups and a common “ethic” worked out to everyones “moral” satisfaction. Again this is something inappropriate for government to do, but very appropriate for interfaith organizations to do, as the interfaith communities find ways to come together rather than remain separate and apart in “social political gangs” and divergent ethnicities.

Micheal,
Hello! They were to address three topics only. Abortion was NOT one of them.

Michael, I am not sure you understand the mission of VOICE. You sound very angry. If I read you correctly, there should be no poor people. Nice thought. I would love to see that happen.

Seems to me, Corey is practicing for LT Govenor. Here’s how goes…..Obama wins, Kaine gets a new position and Bowling moves up to Govenor. Hmmmm, sounds like an opening for Corey. Why else we he be so incredibly crass as to insert such divisiveness in a an event meant to bring people together. He must be testing out his stump speech. However, having said that, I am glad he has publicly stated he opposes any new housing proposals, that should make a vote to deny the Centers of Community a no brainer for him.

Chris,

The PW supervisors attending were Chairman Stewart, John Jenkins, Marty Nohe, Mike May and Maureen Caddigan.

Years ago during a board meeting, Occoquan Supervisor Stewart referred to affordable housing as “throwing money down a rat hole.” One of my alltime favorite board meeting moments.

Corey Stewart = lack of tact and respect. It was a complete embarrassment and I only wish I had been able warned my pastors about Corey. But then again it is probably a good thing that the faith community got to see him first hand. I do not believe Government should be running programs; however they can assist in opening doors for people and organizations willing to assist. The prescription discount card the county opened up to all its residents. For heavens sake get creative make a commitment to open a dialogue.

It is the same old shaky voice Corey that can turn you off in an instant!! Then to start rattling off on Abortion…..nit whit if you don’t believe the County ought to be assisting its citizens on the 2 other issues and you say those should be State issues does he really think the BOCS and PWC Government can work on Abortion….flipped idiot.

He had WEEKS to prepare for this meeting and this is the best he could do…..simply……pathetic

Another Witness has it right. I couldn’t remember Saslaw’s name, but he went ahead of turn because he had to leave.

Fear Not, if that quote is correct then that sells it for me. The impression Mr. Stewart left on all of us was not a gaffe. He really is a jerk. The opposite of the unity, community spirit, and inclusiveness that VOICE is all about.

I don’t know why Mr. Stewart thinks the Commonwealth is ugly enough to want him to behave that way as an audition for statewide office. I have never thought of Virginia that way.

There were a lot of other elected officials there, too, who didn’t address the group. Some I remember were Brian Moran, Mark Sickles, Chap Peterson, Toddy Puller…Corey performed for a wide audience.

I Give Up said of Corey “Flipped Idiot” Stewart:

“Does he really think the BOCS and PWC Government can work on Abortion….flipped idiot.”

My point exactly. PWC does not have the authority to legislate on abortion, just like it doesn’t have the authority to enforce immigration policy.

I’m not sure what a “Flipped Idiot” is exactly, but Corey Stewart is definitely an idiot of some kind or another.

Let’s not forget the reaction of Chairman Stewart when he was presented with a letter from 58 religious leaders in February offering to work constructively with county government to bring healing to a divided community during the discussion around the Immigration Resolution.

He called them “illegitimate and misguided” and cautioned them “…to do what they do best: serve their congregants and attend to their denominations and not get involved in partisan politics.”

Judging by his response to the formation of VOICE his position has not changed.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/02/AR2008020201999.html

The Washington Post ran a short piece on VOICE Monday under the title “Politicians Urged to Target Poverty.”

“More than 2,000 people representing 40 church, synagogue and mosque congregations packed into First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries yesterday to present elected officials with a list of priorities to help the poor in Northern Virginia.

About 20 public officials attended the service to hear the demands of the newly formed organization Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, or VOICE. It wants increased funding for affordable housing and dental care and a reduction in the backlog of U.S. citizenship applications in Northern Virginia.

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) was answered with boos when he asked the group to also help eliminate the “scourge of abortion.”

– Jacqueline L. Salmon”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/05/AR2008100502097_3.html

LOL! Affordable housing… that’s what got us into this mess…

You all are such tools.

I agree in principle with everything that Corey said.

VOICE has three objectives – affordable housing, ESOL & dental care. Corey’s responses to these objectives were NO, legal immigrants only and not with County funds. I’m not sure why he said no to the affordable housing initiative. He should have told people to move to PWC because we have homes selling at half price. Additionally, Caddigan recently spoke about some homes that I thought were built for teachers and firefighters, so aren’t we already doing something in that regard?

The ESOL initiative is somewhat problematic as well, will they now check immigration status at these ESOL classes? And doesn’t Corey gloat on a weekly basis about losing ESOL students in the schools?

I agree with Corey on the abortion issue, and I don’t understand how this group couldn’t come to a consensus. But, from what I understand the organizers had very specific objectives and spent considerable time illuminating that these were the areas where a common ground was reached. And then Corey ignored those guidelines and entered into this other arena (abortion) and that’s why we he was interrupted by the audience and the moderator.

If I could also mention here an article that I read yesterday that I found equally as disturbing as abortion, it had to do with a half million frozen embryos that are in limbo.
If I had enough time I would like to write a thread about the issue but I’m so busy these days.

Here’s the article if anyone would like to read it-
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-embryos6-2008oct06,0,4090965.story

Mando,
Do you really believe this economic crisis can be laid at the feet of the affordable housing initiative? That is one component of a housing market allowed to digress into a feeding frenzy based on low interest rates set in early 2001 to avoid a recession. The continued focus on allowing the housing market to lead us out of a recession was clearly a long term miscalculation. For the last several years, when it seemed clear that an adjustment needed to happen, the Feds just were too afraid to slow the market down and unwilling to raise the interest rates in a any substantial manner.

I did not get the impression that the goals of VOICE necessarily targetted immigrants (except for learning English) or that it necessarily involved money.

More than anything else, Corey was negative. I agree with Corey that we do not have resources to make charitable donations. I do not agree with his rudness. People can donate time, meeting space, and they can volunteer. Offering those things in a positive light, or reiterating how many half price houses are for sale here would have gone a long way towards bridging the gap and healing community. Corey chose to be offensive and a ‘maverick.’

I am pro choice. Abortion had no business being mentioned at that meeting. It wasn’t on the agenda. It would have been equally inappropriate for me to have gotten up and shouted a pro choice slogan.

Actually, whether abortion is legal or illegal, it should be a national issue and what a person choses to do is based on their own religion, sense of right and wrong, and life circumstances. It should never be based on what the government decides is right or wrong for that person.

Who decides? You or the government?

Mando, why not think a little, just a little? It wouldn’t hurt. Affordable housing is GOOD for segregation. If we’d had enough affordable housing so that the new ethnic immigrants lived SEPARATELY from the old-timers who eventually became the backbone of Gospel Greg’s Help Save Manassas cult, there wouldn’t have been any public support for Corey “Flipped Idiot” Stewart’s rise to national embarrassment.

People live in crowded conditions when they can’t afford to live better. “I came here with nothing” is how most immigrant stories begin in American history, probably including your own family line. Affordable housing is another word for ghetto in many respects. And one of the things that kept the peace in more racist times (yes, it was worse in previous times) was separating the Italians, the Chinese, the Germans, etc. in separate neighborhoods.

We simply wouldn’t have had a Duecaster Disaster if we’d had affordable housing in those places that enjoyed the housing boom, Mr. Mando. Is that why you’re so against it? You enjoy the racial division brought to Prince William County by the Anti-immigrant Lobby and hate-mongers-for-political-gain crowd?

That little spongy schemer Corey Stewart got us talking about abortion. That little spongy schemer! He has no respect for God, religion, or religious people.

He thinks of us only as cows to be led to the voting booth and abortion is the only issue that is useful to him for that purpose. If Christians (can’t speak for other faiths) are at all aware of the contents of the Bible, they stand against Corey Stewart’s politics of scapegoating, hate, and division, and they’d align themselves with organizations like VOICE. Perhaps that’s why there were 2,000 people there and the active membership of Help Save Manassas is twelve.

Thanks for the reminder GLove, never forget that Corey Stewart is constantly jabbing his middle finger at the religious community, not just this time:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/02/AR2008020201999.html

Alanna, if Corey Stewart agreed with you on anything at all, would he come out and say so publicly? He and his buddy Greg Letiecq are alienating the entire religious community of Virginia right about now. It is very, very generous of you to come to their aid.

I have mixed feelings about abortion, just as I do about immigration. But one thing I know for sure, under the leadership of people like Corey Stewart and Greg Letiecq, this county has gone NO WHERE FAST, and their weapon of choice is an issue that divides the public. So I wouldn’t give too much ground. Who knows why Corey really brought up the abortion issue. But rest assured it is not for a good cause, no matter how you personally feel about the issue.

We can probably all agree, when it comes to the abortion issue, that the one person NOT fit to decide for us, is Corey Stewart.

I suppose now our board of supervisors meetings will be consumed by his desire to end the scourge. {rolling eyes}

At this point Corey’s not even fit to appoint the “dog catcher”, for crying out loud.

ShellyB-
Mr. Letiecq only has a real leadership role of his couple of dozen minions that attend monthly HSM meetings. I do think he’s Corey’s personal political adviser, and that’s the worst choice possible. Corey needs to grow a pair, think for himself and work with the other supervisors, and most importantly work for the good of Pr. Wm. Co.

Hiiiissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!

Corey needs to think about a better image for PWC. Does he needs a new handler? His former puppeteer is not so lucid these days. Has anyone else read his rant about Unitarian Communists? I imagine those Baptist ladies had a real cow!

Old Mr. Black Velvet himself had better think about how it looks for OUR BOCS chair to go speak before communists if he really believes his own bull snortle.

Mando,

Yeah, I see affordable housing paying the freight at Lehman, as they paid out 10 Billion in Bonuses last December as their financial foundation was shaking. And just as they were trying to get money from the Fed’s, they were paying millions to exec’s who were leaving the company – Even in bankruptcy, they set aside 2 Billion to pay bonuses.

Re Affordable housing – yup, it is a shame that a new Teacher or Police Officer in PWC cannot afford a house in their own county. Why can’t the foreclosures be part of an Affordable Housing opportunity?

–I do agree with Corey with regards to the housing. We have more than enough “affordable housing” with all the vacant homes due to foreclosures.–

Then why not work to make THESE “affordable housing”????? Who says we have to build ANYTHING?

Corey’s just making excuses for not wanting to help the poor….per usual.

The propblem with Corey Stewart is he thinks he makes ALL decisions for ALL people, which is a myth thousands of people are about to dispel for him.

kgotthardt,

I see you are back to hating on Stewart. Maybe you should read a book, jog, or get a hobby. Stewart did what to majority (83%) of American voters asked for.

Now call me a racist. I am waiting.

Dime

Chairman Stewart was presented with a pin from Minnesota from the Civil War(I think).
The Chairman said thank you, and “I’m a Virginian now”. He’s only a transplant Virginian. Please, Chairman Stewart don’t discredit the entire Commonwealth. You’ve done enough damage to this county.

Dime, I have told you before (but you don’t read) I don’t hate Stewart. I want him OUT of my local government, and I want him to take his CLAN with him.

Don’t know where you’re getting your stats, so I will ignore them. If you are referring to the almighty “resolution,” I doubt you would find many people voting for it after studying the PWC fiasco.

As far as what I do….you couldn’t even imagine the span of my activities so I won’t try to torture your little mind with them Besides, I wouldn’t want to hog this blog. Just because I’m more productive than you doesn’t mean you should be so overtly jealous.

I’ve no idea if you are racist or not. If you are, please keep it to yourself. We have enough vocal racists in our government and little local CLANS.

Corey Stewart =1/8 of the vote of the BOCS no more no less and of course presiding over the BOCS meetings. The Chairman should be a well rounded and polished representative of the County however he can’t even manage to effectively communicate in a formal setting with THOUSANDS of people from the faith community….simply put…a pathetic communicator!

I don’t agree the county should be or even could be putting millions aside for different needs this should come though community and business donations or non profits, however for heaven sakes learn how to communicate in a civil and respectful manner when saying NO. His communication skills are an embarrassment.

Sometimes I think we (PWC voters) made a whopper of a mistake in making the Chairman of the BOCS an elective office. In the olden days the Chair would be forced to be more cooperative with his fellow board members. We might have sent a more agreeable type to represent us. As it is , we have a pig-headed egotist who is looking out for numero uno. And numero uno is not the county of Prince William.

kgotthardt,

More attacks. Little mind, can’t read, more productive. I am hurt. NOT!!!

Of course you want to hog the blog. You post here constantly. You are just like all the others without a leg to stand on. Personal attacks only make you look sill, petty and inmature. You hate Stewart thats why you can not post without mentioning him. Let go of the hate

Dime

Just why in the world do we need a Chairman at large?

Every resident already has representation. I seriously doubt these days most want to Corey to be a second voice, or as it turns out to be the “mouth piece” for the county. Without a Chairman there would be a cool $400,000.00 from his discretionary funds, and then his salary. I’m not sure what the Chairman gets paid for his position.

The district supervisors make just under $40,000, and the chair makes marginally more. The position is considered part-time.

Dime, there are only three or four Greg Letiecq clones left in PWC. Which one are you? Nice regurgitated talking points. NOT!

NotGregLetiecq,

Which are you? Pot or Kettle?

Truth hurts doesn’t. Stewart speaks the truth and KATIE Girl can not handle it.

Greg Letiecq clones? Maybe you should change you handle, maybe you are the clone.

Dime

Fear Not,
Thank you for the information. I thought the supervisors made about $36-$38K. Yeah, that’s a decent wage for a part-time gig. I’m glad some are willing to do this job.
NotGregLetiecq,
Good one.

Dime, come up with an original idea, and THEN try to separate yourself from Greg Letiecq. It’s not enough to stick your head in the sand and repeat the same crap.

Me? I stopped reading his blog as soon as this one popped up, just like most people who used to read BVBL.

Don’t worry about Dime. There’s someone out there for everyone, right?

On to a better topic, Citizen Tom thinks if we paid these people more, we’d get better quality leaders at the local and state level (at least that’s what I gathered from his comments one day). My response was I would gladly pay more for honesty, integrity, care about the community, quality, etc. but we can’t BUY those qualities.

So what do you all think? Would a higher salary increase the quality of our local politicians? Or would it at least encourage middle class people to run for office instead of rich folks like Corey who think they are above everyone else and don’t have to consider the “masses”?

Interesting equation, Katherine. If we had budgeted 11 million dollars for Supervisors’ pay and avoided having Corey Stewart carpetbag his way to our county, we’d have broken even if not come out ahead.

kgotthardt,

Don’t cry guys.

You finally got something right Katie, there is someone for everybody. You are a case study for that one. Go write another poem about peace and love. Yeah, that will help.

By the way, my wife is brown. She emmigated legally and hates the fact that so many are here illegally. Feels its not fair to her who worked hard to do it the right way.

I think I know why you hate Stewart so much. By arresting illegal aliens, it effects your ESOL enrollment and your pocket book.

Dime

I don’t understand this whole concept to tell you the truth.

In my HEART, I love the idea of the religions coming together to share a common bond of good but there will ALWAYS be conflict because, what is COMMON is the GOOD.

To throw politics in this coming together only adds to the CONFLICT.

Throw me under the bus, but if you look at the WORLD and all of the political and religious conflict do you really expect a group( with good intention) to change what has existed through TIME? Thousands of years? Someone would have to give and who and what moral standards/FAITH would that be?

AND as far as Corey,it hasn’t changed my opinion-only added to my ASSumption of self FUTURE promotion ( no doing current job) of his political career.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ” Matthew 16:26

I will take exception to what I said that Corey is NOT doing his CURRENT job. There is nothing wrong with one striving for something better while living in the moment. I take that back.

Do we need a chair at large? Think how much we would save by doing away with that position. Actually, it would probably be wise to redistrict the existing magisterial districts since the populations have changed so much. Just a thought.

Dime, I’m so glad your wife is brown. Thank you for sharing. It’s not really relevent, however. Whether she feels “oppressed” or not, racism doesn’t belong in our government. And no matter what anyone feels about the immigration issue, PWC has handled it poorly.

Not sure what you mean about MY pocket book, but I can assure you, anyone who works is ESOL is hardly getting rich off immigrants. In fact, people like me who work with real human beings often have difficulty making ends meet. We’re not in it for the money, obviously, nor are we IN the money.

You really should look into your anger issues, Dime.

Now again, back to better topics brought up by logical, informed human beings:

What is the difference between a Chair and a Chair at Large, MH?

Moon-howler,

I am ANGRY,lol( I guess that would make me HYSTERICAL if I can say both in one sentence ( as fragmented it maybe, lol)

That is a good question but how much money would WE all save IF our government listened to the people. Unfortunately, this has changed too. Especially in the last 2/3 weeks…

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/cnsnewstv/video.aspx?v=e4kUZuZu6U

The constitution……..going, going…..

– don’t understand this whole concept to tell you the truth.

In my HEART, I love the idea of the religions coming together to share a common bond of good but there will ALWAYS be conflict because, what is COMMON is the GOOD.

To throw politics in this coming together only adds to the CONFLICT.–

Okay, Red, I can tell you because while I couldn’t make the meeting Sunday, I’ve been involved in VOICE.

This is about religious communities acting on their faith to help those in need (which includes probably 2/3 of the population, given the issues they are addressing).

Politics enters it because politicians are the ones who can push programs through, no matter where the funding comes from.

VOICE is telling leaders, “LOOK! This is what we the people need from you. If you can’t help us get it (or won’t help, in Corey’s case), you will be voted out. We have a VOICE.”

These groups are connected in that their relgious beliefs tell them it’s not okay to trod upon the oppressed, to ignore the poor and disenfranchised, or to be selfish. This is a way to get things done by gathering people who share this very important value.

Does that make sense?

“Actually, it would probably be wise to redistrict the existing magisterial districts since the populations have changed so much.”

There’s talk about adding new ones because of all the growth, particularly out my way. Problem? It’s expensive. Another problem? Can you imagine adding yet ANOTHER BOCS member when the few we have don’t seem to be managing well already with their esteemed Chair and VICE?

“The constitution……..going, going…..”

Damn/dang/darn , if this were in the form of a QUESTION, I guess the answer would be to the HIGHEST BIDDER! What a shame! I didn’t even laugh at myself on that one

Just wondering – in your own blog, you lament about being out of work. How is that possible if you work with ESOL? Oh, that’s right – you got fired from PWCS because you don’t have a teaching degree. Then again, if my spouse had a cushy government job and I could “work” at home like you do (read: blog all day and eat ho-ho’s while e-mailing the BOCS about what a bunch of racists they are), I’d lie about what I do, too. Of course, living in Sheffield Manor where I have a lovely HOA, pool and a safe neighborhood, I’d have to find a cause de jur like you do.

I’ve found that people who say “there’s just too much I do to list” don’t have anything to do. They can’t make up anything about their “volunteer” and “work”, so they say “well, I just have too much list!!”

For someone who calls racist all the time, when someone comes out like Rick Bentley who has said his wife is African American or Dime who has said his wife is a legal immigrant, you say it doesn’t matter. Yet you didn’t hesitate to call Dime a racist before. Seems like YOU’RE the racist.

Please, do us all a favor – get a job. Since you love working with people that are here illegally, get out of the house and go work at McDonalds. Do something instead of just blogging about it.

And stop passing yourself off as someone who works in education – your own resume states that you work for some idiot fake college in Colorado – hardly working day in and day out as a teacher. And teaching night school for one semester before getting fired doesn’t count.

It’s funny that

Sista KG,

“Does that make sense?” TOTALLY! However, this concept is not new, just a different approach…this is what I meant about COMMON GOOD but there will always be CONFLICT due to religious/or non and political belief.

I APPRECIATE the WILL of good, as I always TRY to look at everything with the optimistic view even though, the rose colored glasses have been KNOCKED off my face for years now.

I don’t know if there is a DIFFERENCE between try and try again or doing the same thing over and expecting different results..are ya with me…can I get a witness?~! LOL

Okay, on a joking note….I feel compelled to celebrate someone’s retirement…gosh darn it…ONE way or the other – future or it WAS just around the corner…..

They can’t take away a GIGGLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYJyVEUaC4

Well, I heard VOICE (or the IAF) was the same organization Obama started with to do community organizing (not here, obvioulsy). And you can see he got somewhere even if he doesn’t win the election. I think VOICE is one route to making a difference. There are others and there MUST be others in order to get things done. The idea is to keep hammering at these so-called leaders until they get a clue there are hundreds of thousands of people demanding justice. And when leaders like Corey systematically dismiss huge groups like these, then leaders like Corey will be OUT. Grass roots does work. The League of Women Voters is grassroots. So is the NAACP, I believe. Sista Dawn, viva la revolucion! Hee hee!

Redistricting wouldn’t be expensive. The districts are very disproportionate when it comes to the number of residents. The Gainesville district has over 72,000 residents roughly, and I think other districts have that many. I could be wrong. Does anyone have the numbers on the residents per district.
I also, take exception to the fact that the largest district gets the same amount of discretionary funds as those much smaller. The discretionary funds should be based on population and not per district.

KG,

I got the term I was looking for -MICRO management!

Sorry. I meant to say I *DON’T* think other districts have that many residents.

Sista Dawn, viva la revolucion!

LOL, Ron Paul! WHY did this man not make it as a choice? ( insert conspiracy theme)

This is the only one, that I would have…cough…cough….given myself to with my FIRST presidential vote! I love this dude, so FAR and all along with in the last year and a half of being in puberty…LOL, ewwwwwwwwwwwww ( bad joke-all the way around)

Chris, I don’t know if they plan to redistrict PWC but I do know they are doing it for the GA/Richmond Delegates soon. We need to get a fair plan going on that. If we succeed, we would have a better chance of translating it into our county.

Tired of people referring to ESOL students as just numbers or money…These are really wonderful, hungry-to-learn kids. Teachers who work with ANY students don’t see them as money for their pocketbooks. Indeed, you are not well-compensated in the profession, so you better love it.

The teachers I know (ESOL specialists, classroom teachers, etc.) care about ESOL students as people. They see them and appreciate them for what they are. There are some challenges, but that comes with almost every child in the age of differentiated instruction. They don’t walk around bitterly labeling them “anchor babies,” nor do they pray for more ESOL students so that they can have more money. RIDICULOUS to think that they would!

You want the truth about the way things work now? ESOL teachers, like LD teachers, are being used as more of a support for classroom teachers now. When I say that, I mean that there is a lot of inclusion and co-teaching going on. Actually, ESOL and LD teachers don’t ONLY help students on their own caseloads. They are regularly present in the general classroom setting, and routinely help out other students in the class that might need help. Teamwork…together everyone achieves more:)

Maybe a survey should be done of the people who actually work with the students. I would venture to say that you will find the majority of educators believe in the benefits of the program, and aren’t upset each time they encounter a student who is not yet proficient. ESOL also gives kids a chance to learn what being a citizen is about, and to have some chance in hell to catch up.

This is not the olden days, people. Kids are constantly tested within an inch of their lives; they are not going to just magically learn the language and perform overnight without assistance in today’s classrooms. If you believe that, you have a lot to learn about language instruction and also the current state of education. If you demand No Child Left Behind (or complain about standards for educators/not enough accountabillity), you sure as hell better find a way to fund it. If children (the future of this country, for crying out loud), in general, are important to you, then act like it.

“Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men — the balance wheel of the social machinery.” – Horace Mann

So you have to ask yourself…Do you want all children to grow into adults who have a chance in this American life…or is it that you just think that the fluent kids, raised by English-only speakers, are the only ones that really matter?

OOO…Mercy Me! Sorry for the rant…lemme calm down a bit…

In any case, ESOL does not necessarily equal illegal. Therefore, its general enrollment stats are not an accurate, sufficient, or valid measurement of anti-illegal immigration initiatives. Trying to use general enrollment stats indicates to the public that there is a problem with ANYONE, legal residents included, not having a full command of English upon entry into the country. Correct me if I am wrong, but this bias is not the image that Stewart wants to portray, right? If so, he has a lot of explaining to do.

LOL! Red, you can give yourself to whomever you wish. It’s a free country (kind of).

Chris, I was saying ADDING magesterial districts would be expensive.

So would redistricting in general. Because you know the BOCS would BS it for years before reaching a sane decision. And they’d hire some Duecaster-esque type to lead the citizen committee….without any qualification checks. Meeting after meeting after meeting…..

Awesome, informed rant, DG!!! You are SO right. And yeah, I’m sick of that “all your students are illegals” crap. What it comes down to is discrimination against anyone who doesn’t speak English. People like that just use the “illegal” thing to thinly veil their discomfort and dislike of others who speak different languages.

I gotta go. Going to a writers’ group so I can, you know, write useless poetry about peace love and happiness? I’m dedicating my next poem to Dime.

K- I understood you saying adding districts. I was merely adding a more economical suggestion. Don’t let Red Dawn get you so fired up.

Chris,

I am fired up…pissed off! lol…I have BEEN trying to respond to your comment and cannot get thru…. testing

I see my post….

I wanted to respond to you about redistricting. I have a link that I thought was amusing to say the LEAST! lol

I am having trouble posting the link.

I will try key words, look it up:

AmEx rates credit risk by where you live and shop 0 The article headline found on MSN dot com

I see you with my own two eyes.

GOOD, go fish….LOL

Red Dawn,
I heard the story reported on the local news. I think it was on Channel 4. UFB!

Chris,

UFB! is right!

Another song. ( YOUR favorite, lol…It’s been a MYSTERY, why something good can hurt so bad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtXFfizk5nE

BUT while we TRY to SEE…. ( reverse lyrics) They are the ones who make the rules and get BAILED out only to be free and change them again…F”ers! lol -Hysterical…oh snap, that is another song Where is Willy Nelson, he even proposed a solution instead of the bail out -Farm Aid…laughable, NOW when that is not a NEW concept..take about promoting LOCAL consumption and going organic and Green…save the greenbacks ( dollars and farms!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TjPbeyHIO0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIzfQx98XSg

JOKE on me…I am not democratic…lol
I just liked the message of questioning the truth and not from something that MOST have ON in our house and that is a TV…get out and search

The elusive,” playing innocent on anti,” erudite Emma strikes again as her real self, a black velvet.

She is outraged that VOICE wants to do things in the community and calls them ‘out-of-touch idiots.’ Emma must have missed reading about the soup lines during the great depression. Charity and helping others survives even during a depression or recession.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the government’s push to lower requirements for home mortgages to effect ‘affordable housing’ what got the nation into the mess we are in? In an effort to help those who couldn’t ‘afford’ a home we went and gave them one (no money down, no credit checks) that they then left the banks holding. It’s always the same, no good deed will ever go unpunished. I believe in giving the little guy an opportunity, but not just handing it to the little guy. The great social welfare programs brought in the 60’s is proof that even well intentioned programs can lead to disaster, as is the ‘affordable mortgage/housing’ push today. Bottom line, if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it, and don’t take financial advice from people who drive cars that cost half as much as their homes!

SecondAlamo,

I agree with all the above but in humor , there is always someone to BLAME….

blame the baby daddy for leaving or the sugar daddy for spoiling….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDcKl-NF-s

Does anyone know if Manassas Park and Manassas City were invited to participate in the VOICE gathering? Were they invited and declined particpation or were they not invited?

SA, I don’t think anything was said by VOICE about home ownership. But poor people do need a place to live that they can afford. Often these are rentals. Having said that, many places come to mind.

I am not sure what VOICE was actually looking for, as a stated goal. However, I know that there are ways to say no and there are ways NOT to say no. All government help does not have to be in the form of a hand out. Donating meeting space, directing people to where affordable housing might be, volunteerism, are all ways of helping. The questions were very general. (will you help….?) He would have easily said yes yes yes and then qualified with it won’t be money because we have severe budget issues.

Corey needs to project that Prince William County is not a mean-spirited, redneck county and that we welcome all people. The only No, yes, No out there doesn’t project that image.

MH,

I don’t think that any elected officials from Manassas City or Manassas Park (or Fairfax City) were specifically invited to the VOICE gathering.

Guns, Perhaps they should have been and will be in the future. Housing, speaking English and dental health cross over jurisdictional boundaries. Thanks for that information though.

Define your acronyms! What in F—’s name is BVBL?

You have all drank the Kool-Aid.

Todos tomaremos Kool – Aid