newsobserver.com projects - Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption - Comments

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

bniolet — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:49:07 -0400

We seem to have abandoned political discourse here so we have cut off comments on this post.

Re: Moderator please?

cdtew — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:48:33 -0400

You're very right, but I believe to this point I've had some of the best grammar you'll see. Don't let your pedantic britches get too tight, it'll surely distract you from the real issues.

Re: Moderator please?

Isaac136 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:46:09 -0400

People. Please. Standards.

I disagree. Protzman already made a personal assault on CitOp and I by making his comment about a pneumatic wood-splitter.

That should be "Proztman already made a personal assault on CitOp and *ME* by making his comment . . . "

Engagement in petty flame-throwing on a blog is no excuse for abandoning good grammar.

Re: Moderator please?

bnartist — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:54 -0400

Protzman was referring to the thread. This is inane.

Re: Moderator please?

cdtew — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:05:20 -0400

I disagree. Protzman already made a personal assault on CitOp and I by making his comment about a pneumatic wood-splitter. In addition, I feel like criticizing a person for failing to debate an issue in good faith, and in shirking from clarifying their opinions and having them subjected to criticism is a valid use of the comments.

Dome, I might be wrong about this, but I was merely letting Protzman know I don't appreciate his inability to partake in a serious discussion (See below).

As an alternative and additional defense, I would like to point out that Protzman is no private Joe Blow who has an opinion. He is a well known and self-promoting public figure who is open to a higher degree of criticism, and thus any attack on his intellect or ability to debate rationally are as valid as scharrison's attack on Art Pope's tustworthiness, or as CitOp's opinions of George Soros.

Finally, it should be noted that scharrison, as an active contributor to BlueNC, has a vested stake in seeing any criticism of his compatriot wiped off the books.

If Dome would edit the title, I would have no objection; it was a bit overboard, but I can no longer edit it myself. The content, however, i feel is valid.

Moderator please?

bnartist — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:45:37 -0400

There's no call for this kind of comment. It violates the Dome's Code of Conduct Part 1. It is a direct personal attack and juvenile baiting that contributes nothing to the discussion. There is a succinct line in the NC House Rules that seems apt:
Decency of speech shall be observed and disrespect to personalities carefully avoided.

There has already been a call to avoid personal insults or attacks. This "warlock" comment ignores that admonition.

The Wicked Warlock of the Left Retreats

cdtew — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:18:17 -0400

Protzman -- Somehow I figured you couldn't handle a little two-sided discourse. I hope the arguments you have on your blog sustain your "intellect", vast as it may be. A normal argument on BlueNC, viz,

"James_Protzman: I really hate Richard Burr;
ObamaFan919: No, you're wrong, I hate him more;
EllieKinnairdRoxMySox07: No, you're both wrong, we should take all the energy we put into hating Richard Burr, and instead love our President."

FIN

Scharrison -- Unless you've not been paying attention, the only Republicans left to investigate are Steve Troxler and Cherie Berry, and I highly doubt the two of them are doing anything fishy. There are literally no other Republicans with power; what use is it investigating those without power.

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

Kingixolib — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:12:27 -0400

Issac136

Bravo!

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

Isaac136 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:09:39 -0400

Point taken, scharrison, but as I mentioned earlier, the people in power right now are the Democrats, and it's appropriate that they be under scrutiny. The idea that Merritt's foundation would have greater incentive to investigate them doesn't bother me in the slightest. As a Democrat, I want to see my party clean up its act, and I don't see that happening by within-the-ranks action.

As for medical marijuana, I'd be a big fan of such a prescription, but I don't think it's going to help what's ailing us just at the moment. What we need is something to stiffen the spines of state workers to speak out against abuses by the fat cats in power. Those fat cats, currently, are Democrats, and everyone who works for the state knows that the abuses are there and are tolerated by the Governor.

The N&O has performed a valuable public service in its investigations into Easley's abuses, but we need all the help we can get.

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

scharrison — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:56:54 -0400

"I don't know that it's fair to say that Frank Perry is "admittedly partisan," and don't accept as a given that one's political affiliation prevents a person from investigating corruption from a bipartisan perspective."

I didn't say Frank Perry was partisan, Isaac, I said staffing (2 JLF VP's) and funding (pledge from JWP Civitas) came from an admittedly partisan source. And here's the admittedly:

The mission of the Civitas Institute is to facilitate the implementation of conservative policy solutions to improve the lives of all North Carolinians.

As far as "investigating corruption from a bipartisan perspective" thing, keep one thing in mind: those investigations cost money, and Art Pope isn't going to spend his money going after Republicans, unless they're a threat to other Republicans. And if anybody reading this thinks he would finance a truly bi-partisan watchdog group that could/would target Republicans, you need to quit smoking that medical marijuana.

The Predator State

AquaMan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:32:34 -0400

Les, please take a look at these for profit medical corporations hooked on goverment subsidies to delivery profits to their shareholders

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

CitizenOpinionated — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:14 -0400

Isaac- I too applaud your openness to let the organization do its job and see what happens and it is too early to tell...

if anything James has left the building but I do not dare call James Elvis as I have a feeling he will be back!

Someone said "Where's Protzman?"

James_Protzman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:53:53 -0400

This thread has caused me to delete my Dome bookmark, take some aspirin, and move over to the other side of the intertubes. That's because engaging in an exchange here is like jamming my foot into a pneumatic log-splitter. Not fun. Not productive. Not even good for starting a fire.

Ya'll have fun yelling at each other without me. I surrender to your collective wisdom and wish you all the best.

James

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

cdtew — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:08:54 -0400

Isaac136, as a Republican, I applaud your open-mindedness.

Re: Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

cdtew — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:07:24 -0400

Merritt said they will act in a "nonpartisan manner". As of 17:30 July 1, 2009, they have yet to act. Your claims are baseless, and are mere speculation. Good job in being close-minded and prejudiced.*

* Which, under dictionary definition, is "a preconceived judgment or opinion, or an adverse opinion formed without grounds or before sufficient knowledge"

Merritt starts foundation to fight corruption

bniolet — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:55 -0400

Former state auditor Les Merritt has formed a nonprofit foundation dedicated to rooting out public corruption.

The Foundation for Ethics in Public Service opened its doors in May and exists to help expose corruption across the nation, Merritt said. Unlike his time as auditor, Merritt won't have the advantage of being able to order agencies to cooperate. He said the foundation will rely on the same tactics and methods used by investigative journalists — good tips and public records.

"We need more watchdogs you just can't get too many out there," Merritt said.

Merritt, a Republican, lost his seat last year to Democrat Beth Wood.

The foundation will rely on anonymous tips for many of its investigations. Others may come from journalists, who because of staff cuts, don't have the time to pursue stories in detail. The foundation can check things out and turn the information over to reporters, he said.

Frank Perry, a retired FBI agent and former investigations chief under Merritt will direct investigations for the foundation.

Merritt said the foundation has a funding pledge from the John William Pope Foundation, which is directed by conservative patron and former lawmaker Art Pope.

Merritt says that his organization will be nonpartisan. Merritt said he does not plan to run for auditor again.

"I honestly believe this can be more worthwhile," he said. "I don't ever plan on running agin. It's certainly not helping me get set up that way. This can be a whole lot more fun."