Sad State of Affairs

I'll have to title this post later, as I just don't know how to put a name on it.

This goes way back so far, that I don't know where to begin. If time and resources permit, I'll try to pick a starting point without telling the whole history of Portsmouth and how it became what it is today.
This is just the latest in the saga from the article in the Virginian-Pilot Newspaper (Pilot-on-Line) on the recent City Council meeting.
Tempers Flare Portsmouth As Council Delays Hirings

"Portsmouth's City Council should hire the most qualified candidate to be our permanent City Manager, not let the decision be influenced by special interest groups. I fully support a transparent and equitable application process and look forward to ensuring no outside organizations attempt to illegally influence City Council."  ~ Danny Meeks

"For too long, special interest groups have sought to control Portsmouth through its City Council. I am determined to stop these lobbying efforts so Portsmouth's City Council can make unbiased decisions that benefit all our citizens." Honorable Danny Meeks, City Councilman, Portsmouth, Virginia

 ( Danny Meeks is a member of the Portsmouth City Council, receiving over 23% of the total vote count in the 2012 election cycle.)

It's no secret what has been going on in Portsmouth for years. Ask anybody in the city, the region or the State, for that matter. It has lived up to its reputation. There are a few good citizens who have tried to preserve the quaint uniqueness of my Hometown, and have put everything they have into public service, but it's been a hard row to plow.

I'll be updating this post until they carry me away. Anything you can add will be appreciated. No personal attacks, please. We'll know who you are referring to by the content of your post.

Links to Older News Articles >
http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2013/02/portsmouth-manager-attorney-jobs-suddenly-uncertain
Portsmouth manager, attorney jobs suddenly uncertain (?)

http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2013/02/sirens-norfolk-portsmouth-part-shipyard-drill#comments
This has nothing to do with the general situation except that it just shows how inept our "Powers Who Think They Are" operate. It would have been nice to alert the public in advance. "There is no actual emergency," spokesman Jeffrey Cunningham said. "It's just routine training that we are conducting."

This was not a regular "Drill" as they said. It's the sign of bigger things in the mix. Who are the stoopid ones here? Us for believing it, or them for thinking that we do? Wake up, America.

 http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2013/02/shuttered-ccdi-will-cost-portsmouth-more
A shuttered nonprofit that has cost the city $569,000 since November 2011 will end up costing it even more.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/portsmouth-weighs-tighter-leash-school-funding
Portsmouth weighs tighter leash on school funding. See below.

http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2013/01/source-grand-jury-investigating-portsmouth-surplus
Is ANYBODY paying attention ?  $52 million ? Pocket change.

Is it any wonder ?
http://www.portsmouthcitywatch.org/videos/
Portsmouth City Council Meeting Deleted Scenes
By direction of the Portsmouth City Council, effective January 8, 2013, the Non-Agenda Speakers portion of regular meetings is no longer televised on PCTV nor available for viewing at the city website and on the YouTube “Portsmouth VA” channel. As a public service, PortsmouthCityWatch.org is recording this important portion of our community conversation and intends to continue doing so until council rescinds its censorship policy. To date only Council Members William Moody and Elizabeth Psimas have expressed support in public for resuming the televising/webcasting of council proceedings in their entirety.

The Keystone XL Pipeline

Reject the Keystone XL Pipeline ?

http://keystone-xl.com/

http://www.nycga.net/events/forward-on-climate-rally-in-d-c/

A project of 350.org, The Sierra Club and the Hip-Hop Caucus.

http://www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/?gclid=CMqoweiJvrUCFel7QgodfSQAMA

The Shooter

Recent articles of the Bin Laden shooter and follow-ups.

"The Shooter will discover soon enough that when he leaves after sixteen years in the Navy, his body filled with scar tissue, arthritis, tendonitis, eye damage, and blown disks, here is what he gets from his employer and a grateful nation:
"Nothing. No pension, no health care, and no protection for himself or his family."
~ Phil Bronstein, the former editor of The San Francisco Chronicle and now the executive chairman of the Center for Investigative Reporting, is previewing a profile of the man he says is the Navy SEAL who killed Osama Bin Laden.


http://www.esquire.com/features/man-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-0313

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036697/ns/msnbc-hardball_with_chris_matthews#50775369

http://news.yahoo.com/actually-man-shot-bin-laden-free-health-care-135000508.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/11/171708839/esquire-magazine-bin-laden-shooter-on-his-own-no-pension-no-healthcare

http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-ruptured-duck/the-ruptured-duck-1.160117/esquire-article-wrongly-claims-seal-who-killed-bin-laden-is-denied-healthcare-1.207506

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2013/02/gannett-esquire-story-uncertain-future-navy-sealteam-six-member-osama-bin-laden-shooter-021113/

Dishonored and Disrespected

Obama Disarmed US Marines at Inaugural Parade

 

http://www.bob-owens.com/2013/02/dishonoring-the-corps-marines-in-inaugural-parade-had-bolts-removed-from-their-rifles/

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/02/dishonored-and-disrespected-obama-disarmed-us-marines-at-inaugural-parade/

http://www.examiner.com/article/disabled-marine-rifles-at-inauguration-signal-shift-administration-policy

http://blurbrain.com/marines-marching-in-inauguration-parade-had-disabled-rifles/

 



Mandating disabled parade participant rifles was not deemed necessary in the 2009 Inaugural. Credit: U.S. Navy Band

An Interesting Find

While researching a quote, supposedly said by both Hitler and Bush, I stumbled across this:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler

Union Banking Corp. of NY Seized through the trading with the enemy act, for
among other things, laundering Nazi money in the midst of WW 2. Director and
vice president was,  Prescott Bush , George Sr.'s father.

"An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland."
Adolf Hitler
When announcing the Gestapo to the people of Germany


"An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland."
George W. Bush
When announcing the Patriot act to the people of the USA
I remember that speech! Do you?

I've often wondered how a single man could get a nation to follow him into such a war as did Hitler. Germany enjoyed many of the freedoms that we American's often brag about; however, how did Hitler cause his people, who bragged about so many freedoms and tolerance to all, to unilaterally support his hatred against so many people? The German people were no less ignorant or stupid than the majority of modern Americans, how did he do it?? He did it the same way our own government has been doing it to us... It may be too late, but hopefully we, as Americans, never become apathetic to the point that we are blind to the dangers of those who lie to us for our own welfare. 5 stars for sheer honesty, and the brilliance of how to control a society so effectively.
-- Logan, Memphis, TN

Click on the red link at the top for more.