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Re: Hatteras lighthouse meets Hermitage

PaulTerrell — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:16:20 -0400

Did Basnight meet with Putin?

Re: Hatteras lighthouse meets Hermitage

Kingixolib — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:14:27 -0400

Wonder if they are over there to help them plan to build a country club pier. Hope not cause if that is the reason, pretty soon Bev will be traveling there to do a ceremonial shovel turning.

Re: Coble, Miller head to Russia

dahedgehog — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:59:16 -0400

Someone should ask Coble if he believes in free trade. After all, it would be hypocritical of a politician to claim that he is an advocate of free trade, but at the same time take trips to foreign lands in order to increase barriers to trade.

Un Jour Ailleurs and soup de jour.......

domewatcher — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 07:21:49 -0400

Opie and Andy just can't understand the European trip?

Opie: “Pa, I read in the audit report where one receipt said it was for a ‘meal for 4.’ The total was $227.00.”
Pa: “Well, Op, those Frenchies eat high on the hog.”
Opie: “But, Pa. It turned out to be a bill from “Un Jour Ailleurs.”
Pa: “Those French restaurants all have funny names. Like that Chinese place in Tarboro….Lin’s Super Buffet. Man, that’s fine eatin’.”
Opie: “But, Pa, the bill really turned out to be from a ladies dress shop. That’s what “Un Jour Ailleurs” is….a ladies clothes store.”
Pa: “Well, Op, I know a little Frenchie talk. The French word “jour” translates to “soup.” When you get older and go to one of those ‘two-fork diners’ in Cary you will see a blackboard that says, “Soup de Jour.” That means ‘soup of the day. “
Opie: “But, Pa, why would it say “Soup de Jour” if “jour” means “soup? They already have soup written up there and adding jour is saying it twice?”
Pa: “It’s called a double negative. They use them a lot in Cary.”
Opie: “Oh.”
Pa: “And the “Un” means “one” in France. Dual means two and trace means three. And then “ailleurs” means “ailing or sick.” See, Op, mothers always give soup to sick children. So these 4 ladies went to get some soup after all the stress of missing their flight and changing hotels. Women get stressed out sometimes…….. and soup is the best thing to calm a woman down. Always remember that, Op.”
Opie: “I’ll remember that, Pa. ‘Un Jour Ailleurs“ means one bowl of soup for ailing women.”
Pa: “Good, Op. Keeping women calm is a good way to avoid felonies.”
Opie: “So you think the auditor made a mistake? I mean, about the linen jacket?”
Pa: “That’s the thing, Op. The soup was probably made from linen. Linen is a member of the potato family…..freshly washed sheets always smell like a baked potato. See, Op, the French eat snails and turtles and French bread. So they probably eat linen jackets rather than giving them to the Salvation Army.”
Opie: “Gosh, Pa.”
Pa: “Everything is pretty simple if you just take the time to sit down and think it through.”
Opie: “Why didn‘t the culture people try to figure this all out before they went on the trip?”
Pa: “That is the question, dear Op, to suffer the pangs and arrows……...”
Opie: “It’s hard for the average taxpayer to figure it out, ain’t it, Pa?”
Pa: “Op, I don’t think the average taxpayer is meant to understand. Just vote for more of the same. They‘ll do it again and we will complain and then they will do it again and we will complain. I think it‘s called a Ponzi scheme or either the Circle of Gold or robocalling.”
Opie: “Gee, Pa. I can‘t wait to go to Cary and order “Un Jour Ailleurs!”
Pa:’’ “Op, you’ll fit right in.! But tell them you want the soup hot. They eat a lot of cold soup in Cary. I‘ve never understood that…..cold soup? But then again I‘ve never understood Cary.”

Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive

rapidtransit — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:29:30 -0400

I read in today's N & O that Mary Easley hired Senator Rand to represent her in the trip scandal. Are there likely to be charges in this. I remember that Gov. Easley said that it was all due to the exchange rate and that made cheeseburgers cost sixty bucks. It looks like the auditor has found more than the dollar devaluation. Change the name to the cultural of corruption instead of culture of corruption. Sad.

Being the "Good Steward."

domewatcher — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:14:46 -0400

Opie and Andy are still discussing the audit report on the museum goodwill tour:

Opie: “The audit report stated that the additional cost to the state resulting from the missed flight was $3,041.49.”
Pa: (whistle): “That’s a lot of money, Op.”
Opie: “It really is, Pa. How could that happen?”
Pa: “I don’t know, Op. Must have had a flat tire on the state bus or something.”
Opie: “Who pays for that extra $3,041.19?”
Pa: “I believe, at first, the taxpayers were going to have to pay but I think the auditor has said that maybe they ought to stick someone else with the tab.”
Opie: And then changing hotels in France had a total extra cost of $5,252.67.“
Pa: “It’s really adding up, isn’t it, Op?”
Opie: “I didn’t know we had that much money in the whole state. Who pays that?”
Pa: “Well, Op, they’re still trying to figure that out…..but that’s not the point. The point is that the state should be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money.”
Opie: “What’s a steward, Pa.”
Pa: “Op, that’s a person who takes care of other people’s money or an airline employee. And some stewards are on boats and some are winos. But most are on airline flights.”
Opie: “But they missed their flight.”
Pa: “And the steward made them pay….big time.”
Opie” “I don’t want to take care of other people’s money if I’m gonna waste it like that.”
Pa: “Opie, you’d never do that. You are a good boy and I raised my youngun’ right. No, you’d take care of other people’s money better than your own. Just like when Rev. Tucker preached about the “Good Steward." You‘d do the right thing. That‘s what my boy would do…..the right thing.”
Opie: “I would, Pa. I’d stay away from felonies.”
Pa: “I’m proud of you, Op. Go on that trip with the culture club and teach them about the culture of spending someone else’s money…..wisely. Just because it’s not your money does not mean you should waste it. Wasting money is bad, Op.”
Opie: “I know, Pa. What do you think the auditor said when he saw the expense records from the trip.”
Pa: “Op, the News and Observer is a family newspaper and I do not think they would print what the auditors said when they went through those receipts. Opie, have I ever told you what an expletive is?”

Is the museum exhibit coming to Mayberry?

domewatcher — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:40:39 -0400

Opie and Andy contiune talking about the auditor's report on the delights of the ballet, caviar and linen jackets....

Opie: “We sent those culture people to Russia to arrange a museum exhibit?”
Pa: “Sounds like they had a grand time of things.”
Opie: “Do you think they can convince those Russians that we have culture?”
Pa: “Probably, Op.”
Opie: “Do you think those Russians will send a museum exhibit here?”
Pa: “Depends.”
Opie: “Depends on what, Pa?”
Pa: “Whether or not those Russians read the auditor’s report.”
Opie: “Why, Pa.”
Pa: “Because if the Russians see how unorganized and rinky-dink that trip was they won’t send the art exhibit.”
Opie: “Why not, Pa?”
Pa: “They’ll know we’re not smart enough to ship it back to them.”

Pa, what is culture?

domewatcher — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:56:44 -0400

Opie and Andy are still discussing North Carolina politics.

Opie: “Pa, why does the state sent cultural people to France and Russia?”
Pa: “Op, we want those people to know that we have culture.”
Opie: “What is culture, Pa?”
Pa: “Culture is appreciating art and music.”
Opie: “I love the picture show and listening to the radio station in Mt. Pilot….especially Leonard Blush.”
Pa: “ Then, Op, I’d say you got culture!”
Opie: “Gosh, Pa. I didn’t even know. Will they take me on one of those culture trips to Europe?”
Pa: “Maybe, son. You’ll have to stay away from felonies.”
Opie: “I’ll be good, Pa”
Pa: “Then I’ll call the Governor’s office and tell them to book you on the next European Vacation.”
Opie: “What’ll I have to do? I mean on the trip. How should I act?”
Pa: “Stupid…..act stupid, Op. You’ll fit right in.”
Opie: “OK, Pa.”
Pa: “But Op, stay away from felonies. Spending time in a Turkish prison is no fun at all.”
Opie: “I don’t want to go to Turkey.”
Pa: “You may not want to but if they keep missing flights and changing hotels….well, there’s no telling where you may wind up.”
Opie: “Is anyone else from Mayberry going?”
Pa: “I think Otis is going.”
Opie: “What makes you say that, Pa?”
Pa: “Have you seen the liquor bills?”

Re: Bev - share your travel records with us

concerned53 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:15:58 -0400

Beverly, have you sent in your travel records yet to either the N&O or to Les Merritt? Or have you misplaced them until after the election?

The "pdf" is....... pretty doggone fascinating!!!!!

domewatcher — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:00:46 -0400

If you get a chance read the "pdf file" of the auditor's report on the "Trip of the Century."

The auditor's comment range from sad to hilarious. Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Daly, Leno, Colbert.......they would go nuts over this report. Missed flights, changed hotels, caviar.....I would love to have seen the "Three Stooges" do a show on this trip.

Read the full report. You'll not be disappointed. State government can be fun.

Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?

concerned53 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:53:25 -0400

All politicians & other public officials, as well as their wives/husbands, should be held to a higher standard versus a lower one. So you may be surprised but if deemed excessive & paid for by the taxpayers, they should be held accountable as well.

I am glad that you agree that there is a stinch around Easley's trips (Mary's trip was not anything like a "farewell tour" that a President would have with other heads of state).

Mum, however seems to be the word coming out of Beverly's camp as I don't believe that she has ever released her travel records. Her not doing so causes somewhat of a bad smell as well. McCain should do the same thing in his role as a Senator.

Re: Auditor: Easley trips excessive

danmanley2299 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:42:11 -0400

would you include Bush/Cheney and McCain on a similar list of corrupt DC politicians? In June his weeklong tour through European capitals has the same stinch of the Easley trip, a glamourous farewell tour with leisurely schedule including castle visits and lavish dinners.

but i guess that is different.

Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?

wwf165 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:31:16 -0400

Bev is probably shaking in her boots because she doesn't want to reveal her travel logs and trip expenditures. But this is nothing new - we don't hear anything from Bev except the promise of whistling from Andy.

Does anyone know if she campaigning/traveling while she is getting paid her LT Gov salary? Have these questions been asked?

Re: where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?

PerDONT — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:27:44 -0400

One trip verses one thousand trips, it doesn't matter. This is an example of the excess of the corrupt leadership in Raleigh. Throw out Mike, Mary and Bev and bring in new leadership so we can break this vicious cycle.

where is Bev's outrage re: Easley's extravagance?

concerned53 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:17:58 -0400

I haven't heard word one from Beverly regarding what she felt about the excesses by Mike and Mary Easley. If she has nothing to hide, then she ought to make a public statement to communicate her outrage. But then again, has she shared her travel expenditures as Lt. Governor?

Come on N&O and Observer, give her a call and ask her. I want a response from her and not her spokesman (who I sometimes think is the one running for governor as I very seldom hear her quoted outside of prepared speeches, etc).