May, 2008 | I'm Surrounded By Idiots

Somewhat funny: Peumansend Creek Regional Jail highway sign defaced with “0420”

In no way am I promoting vandalism and/or graffiti.

Poor quality cell phone picture with a 3x computer enlargement:

Full picture can be seen here.

420 is a favorite number for a variety of reasons, but colloquially the number says pot — “let’s smoke pot”, or “someone’s smoking pot“, or “gee, i really like pot“, or “time to smoke pot”. It is celebrated and noted by time (4:20 a.m. or p.m.), date (April 20th), or in any other instance (e.g. State Route 420). April 20th at 4:20 is marked by annual events in Mount Tamalpais, CA (an informal gathering); Marin Conty, CA (the 420 Hemp Fest); Ann Arbor, MI (the Hash Bash); and Washington, D.C. (buildup towards the July 4th Smoke-In).

I’m sure there’s a cell available at Peumansend for whoever did this, by the way. :)

Profiles in Hypocrisy: John Sidney McCain

From one his oh-so-torturing email alerts:

One of these challenges is global climate change. Whether we call it “climate change” or “global warming,” in the end we’re all left with the same set of facts. Good stewardship, prudence and simple common sense demand that we act to meet the challenge and act quickly. And if we are wrong and climate change is not a threat, all we are doing is leaving a better planet for our children and lowering our dependence on foreign oil.

We would have more domestic oil if McCain would vote to allow domestic oil production (Roll Call vote #1, #2 [there’s more, I’m just too lazy to find them]).

ANWAR is estimated to have up to 11,800,000,000 barrels of oil that are recoverable (USGS). That’s $1,461,430,000,000 worth of oil (a barrel of oil is at $123.85 on the New York Mercantile Exchange right now).

That is why I have proposed a cap-and-trade system that would set limits on greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging the development of low-cost compliance options. This is a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mobilize innovative technologies and strengthen the economy.

If that’s the case, why was he complaining about Mitt Romney’s tax cut on the sale of hybrid vehicles? (The Washington Post):

A spokesman for Romney called McCain’s SUV claim “absolute nonsense” and said Romney had only called for a tax cut on hybrid vehicles as a way to encourage sales.

[…]

While campaigning for governor, Romney proposed decreasing the excise tax on fuel-efficient cars.

Anyone wonder what type of vehicle John McCain drives or rides in? (USA Today):

Though he had traveled to some campaign events on chartered planes, he flew to New Hampshire on a commercial flight and drove around the state in a rented SUV.

Los Angeles Times:

Sen. John McCain left a downtown building to enter a waiting SUV for the trip to a fund-raiser in San Francisco.

And there’s his too-many-to-count flip-flops on ethanol:

“When McCain ran for president in 1999 and 2000, he barely campaigned in Iowa, knowing that his anti-ethanol stance wouldn’t cut it in corn country.” (CNN.com)
“‘Ethanol is a product that would not exist if Congress didn’t create an artificial market for it. No one would be willing to buy it,’ McCain said in November 2003.” (Ibid)
October 31, 2006: “In a flip-flop so absurd it’ll be a wonder if it doesn’t get lampooned by late-night comedians – not to mention opponents’ negative ads – McCain is now proclaiming himself a “strong” ethanol supporter.” (Ibid)
May 2, 2008: “Every time hardworking American families buy groceries, they feel the financial sting of misguided federal policies mandating that taxpayers support ethanol,” said Sen. McCain. “It isn’t a surprise that food prices are rising when more than 25 percent of the corn grown today is taken out of the food supply and instead used for subsidized ethanol production. This subsidized program – paid for with taxpayer dollars – has contributed to pain at the cash register, at the dining room table, and a devastating food crisis throughout the world. We need to put an end to flawed government policies that distort the markets, raise food prices artificially, and pit producers against consumers. We must call on the EPA to exercise its authority to not exacerbate this already bad situation.” (National Corn Growers Association)

All around, a complete moron.

And they say that kids don’t know the value of a dollar.

The Washington Post:

Montgomery County police said today they expect to make more arrests in a bust involving three pounds of marijuana and students at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Winston Churchill High School in Potomac and Woodrow Wilson High School in Northwest Washington.

Investigators believe that several students pooled money to buy an unspecified amount of marijuana to sell to other teenagers, police said. Detectives found $6,600 and scales at one of the student’s homes, they said.

Thus far, detectives have arrested two adults and two students — a 17-year-old male from Walt Whitman and a 17-year-old female from Winston Churchill. Among the suspects not charged is at least one student from Woodrow Wilson, police said.

Don’t forget the tax raising hypocrites on transportation!

The Shad Plank reports:

For all the talk Monday over Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s transportation plan version 3.1, the most telling exchange may have occured between Del. Morgan Griffith and Del. Kirk Cox, two of the most influential voices in the House Republican Caucus.

After the pair criticized Kaine’s plan to levy sales taxes in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia (hits working people too hard) and increase the grantor’s tax (hits the struggling home industry) they were asked by a reporter:

Uh…both Griffith and Cox voted three times for HB3202, which was later ruled unconstitutional since it gave taxing power to unelected bodies. They want to “fix” HB3202 by making the bodies elected, but want to continue to impose (yes, that’s the right word) the following taxes:

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

The proposed legislation proposes a number of fees and taxes that may be adopted by local governments in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (the Authority) and paid to the Authority for specified uses. The proposed legislation, if all revenues were enacted on January 1, 2008, would generate $196.5 million in FY 2008 and $409.9 million in FY 2009.

The taxes and fees that localities are authorized to impose are:

Commercial Real Estate tax – 25 percent fair market value
Grantor’s Tax – 40 cents per $100
Motor Vehicle Rental Tax – 2 percent
Original Driver’s License Fee– $100
Transient Occupancy Tax – 2 percent

[…]

Hampton Roads Transportation Authority

The proposed legislation creates the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, which is to be comprised of local and state elected officials as well as other state representatives. The Authority would be given authority to issue debt, impose and collect tolls, administer contracts, and hire staff. The Authority must be in place by December 31, 2007, and the legislation requires affirmative action by seven localities representing half the population to create. The localities must take action by December 31, 2007, to impose the taxes and fees. The legislation also includes provisions to incorporate the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Commission into the Authority in the future, once current debt obligations on the tunnel have been fully satisfied. The proposed legislation, if all revenues were enacted on January 1, 2008, would generate $84.6 million in FY 2008 and $188.8 million in FY 2009. The taxes and fees that localities are authorized to impose are:

Annual license fee – $10
Initial license fee – 1 percent retail value of vehicle
Vehicle inspection fee – $10
Sales and use tax on motor vehicle repairs – 5 percent
Grantor’s tax – $0.40 per $100 value
Rental car fee – 2 percent rental charge
Commercial real property tax – 0.10 percent fair market value of property
Sales tax on motor vehicle fuel – 2 percent

Notice anything that they’re now railing against? Like a grantor’s tax and sales tax increases in there?

Even funnier is Griffith is so much in love with HB3202 that he voted against repealing the “abusive driver fees” (part of HB3202) two times this last session.

Everyone (e.g., Tim Kaine, Bill Bolling, Bill Howell, et al.) wants to raise your taxes.

First, Tim Kaine’s master plan (via WTOP):

Kaine proposed increasing the titling tax from 3 percent to 4 percent and boosting the registration fee by $10. The governor released details of his plan at a state Capitol news conference Monday.

The governor also proposed increasing the state sales tax by a penny in traffic-clogged northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, with the revenue to be spent only in those regions. He also wants to increase the grantors tax, which is paid by people selling their homes.

Oh, great, the housing market sucks, so let’s increase the tax for selling a house. In one word: brilliant!

Bill Bolling’s and Bill Howell’s (just as scary) master plan (via Virginia Virtucon):

“If we are serious about finding a solution to Virginia’s transportation needs, rather than simply in engaging in another round of political grandstanding, we must keep our focus firmly fixed on solving the main challenge before us – developing a realistic and constitutional framework for providing additional transportation funding in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. To try and expand these discussions to a so called statewide solution is unwise and will jeopardize our ability to find workable regional solutions for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

“I look forward to working with the members of the General Assembly to find workable regional transportation solutions for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. However, I will not support any effort to increase taxes on a statewide basis and I am confident this is a sentiment shared by a majority of Virginia taxpayers.”

I wonder if people in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia have a similar sentiment that they shouldn’t be taxed (exclusively) as well?

Because, you know, those are the only areas that need transportation funding.

What Bill Bolling is calling for, by the way, is the revival of HB3202 (minus abusive driver fees). From the bill’s fiscal impact statement:

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

The proposed legislation proposes a number of fees and taxes that may be adopted by local governments in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (the Authority) and paid to the Authority for specified uses. The proposed legislation, if all revenues were enacted on January 1, 2008, would generate $196.5 million in FY 2008 and $409.9 million in FY 2009.

The taxes and fees that localities are authorized to impose are:

Commercial Real Estate tax – 25 percent fair market value
Grantor’s Tax – 40 cents per $100
Motor Vehicle Rental Tax – 2 percent
Original Driver’s License Fee– $100
Transient Occupancy Tax – 2 percent

Hey, great, he wants to increase the tax on selling homes too. Also, isn’t the transient occupancy tax supposed to go to tourism related stuff (§ 58.1-3819)?

Hampton Roads Transportation Authority

The proposed legislation creates the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, which is to be comprised of local and state elected officials as well as other state representatives. The Authority would be given authority to issue debt, impose and collect tolls, administer contracts, and hire staff. The Authority must be in place by December 31, 2007, and the legislation requires affirmative action by seven localities representing half the population to create. The localities must take action by December 31, 2007, to impose the taxes and fees. The legislation also includes provisions to incorporate the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Commission into the Authority in the future, once current debt obligations on the tunnel have been fully satisfied. The proposed legislation, if all revenues were enacted on January 1, 2008, would generate $84.6 million in FY 2008 and $188.8 million in FY 2009. The taxes and fees that localities are authorized to impose are:

Annual license fee – $10
Initial license fee – 1 percent retail value of vehicle
Vehicle inspection fee – $10
Sales and use tax on motor vehicle repairs – 5 percent
Grantor’s tax – $0.40 per $100 value
Rental car fee – 2 percent rental charge
Commercial real property tax – 0.10 percent fair market value of property
Sales tax on motor vehicle fuel – 2 percent

Hey, a two percent gas tax increase, not a two cent increase: $0.06 more per gallon of gas, with the tax increasing every time the base price of gas increase.

It won’t just be Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, just in this last session of the General Assembly, someone wanted to create another “regional government” that would get to tax the counties in the Richmond area.

It can always get worse: Mike Huckabee at top of McCain’s short list for a running mate.

U.S. News & World Report:

Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and defeated contender for the GOP presidential nomination, is currently at the top of John McCain’s short list for a running mate. At least that’s the word from a top McCain fundraiser and longtime Republican moneyman who has spoken to McCain’s inner circle.

[…]

Let me add that a top Republican political strategist told me about a month ago that he also believed Huckabee to be the leading veep contender.

New Caroline BOS motto: “We don’t need no stinkin’ openness in government!”

Also considered: “There’s nothing wrong with planning budget cuts behind closed doors!”

The first one never gets old, by the way.

At the January 8, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting several subcommittees were created by Floyd Thomas to handle certain issues (2008-01-08 BOS Minutes):

3. APPOINTMENTS

Chairman Thomas stated that he wanted to take the Chairman’s prerogative and make some appointments of his own. He said that the School Board Superintendent, Chairman of the Board and the County Administrator meet on a regular basis and he would like to create some subcommittees, one being on education. Chairman Thomas asked Supervisor Popowicz to be a part of a utilities subcommittee where he could meet with Mr. Ramsay on a regular basis. He asked Supervisor Rozell to serve on a sub-committee for public safety, Fire and Rescue, and the Sheriff. Chairman Thomas asked that Supervisor Acors be in charge of a Finance subcommittee. He asked Supervisor Sili to be in charge of and serve as Chair of the education subcommittee.

Chairman Thomas said that these subcommittees will cover five major areas [the minutes don’t specifically mention the Economic Development Subcommittee but I believe Floyd Thomas was heading it up -ed.] of the County in a little more detail from a Board perspective and hopefully be able to report to each other on a regular basis.

Why the excessive use of underlining and bolding? The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, § 2.2-3707(C), requires the following [emphasis mine]:

Every public body shall give notice of the date, time, and location of its meetings by placing the notice in a prominent public location at which notices are regularly posted and in the office of the clerk of the public body, or in the case of a public body that has no clerk, in the office of the chief administrator.

§ 2.2-3701 defines a “public body” as the following [emphasis mine]:

“Public body” means any legislative body, authority, board, bureau, commission, district or agency of the Commonwealth or of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, including cities, towns and counties, municipal councils, governing bodies of counties, school boards and planning commissions; boards of visitors of public institutions of higher education; and other organizations, corporations or agencies in the Commonwealth supported wholly or principally by public funds. It shall include […] (ii) any committee, subcommittee, or other entity however designated, of the public body created to perform delegated functions of the public body or to advise the public body. It shall not exclude any such committee, subcommittee or entity because it has private sector or citizen members.

Are we all clear that these (sub)committees are in fact (sub)committees, and are considered a “public body” under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act? Yes? Good, let’s continue.

When I first contacted Percy Ashcraft asking when said subcommittees meet I received the following response:

At this time, no formal meetings have been called by any of the supervisors, but instead they have been briefed by department heads informally. Administratively, I have committees for all of these departments that supervisors have attended from time to time. And Mr. Thomas and I meet regularly with the superintendent and chairman of the school board to discuss education matters.

Oh, really? Then explain the Board Summary (the minutes for this meeting haven’t been approved [or posted] yet) for the April 8, 2008 meeting (link):

The Board authorized Supervisor Acors to work with Mr. Ashcraft and Financial Advisor Courtney Rogers at the Finance Committee meeting on April 15th on possible areas to make the necessary budget cuts to compensate for the difference in the tax rate.

After I quoted that portion to Ashcraft, he stated the following:

These are not subcommittees they are overseeing as no members have been appointed to any committee. I have turned the matter over to our County Attorney for him to render an opinion and direct the Board from this point forward.

So, I guess it’s alright for the Finance Committee to meet behind closed doors and plan budget cuts. Comforting…

Again, after pointing out that Mr. Thomas appointed a member to each of the committees, he stated the following:

I appreciate you providing the background and again I am having our County Attorney review this. The term “subcommittee” is what needs to be defined here. As I stated earlier, we have not formally appointed subcommittees which would include members of staff and possibly the public. If it is the desire of the Board to formalize this process, they can certainly do that. But at this point in time, it is not set up that way.

Uh-huh.

“[A]ny committee, subcommittee, or other entity however designated, of the public body created to perform delegated functions of the public body or to advise the public body” is a public body. These bodies clearly meet the definition of a “public body” purseant to § 2.2-3701 but the county refuses to disclose when these bodies meet and what they discuss during the meetings.

The Free Lance–Star offers free editing assistance to I’m Surrounded By Idiots.

The following comment was left on my post “It’s official: Stafford County is ran by morons.“:

Interested reader Says:

Speaking of morons, I think you mean “run by.”

Tis true, I stand corrected.

However, check out the IP used to leave the comment:

63.169.19.222

63.169.19.222 goes back to “Free Lance-Star” (service provided by SPRINTLINK).

That’s pretty funny coming from someone at an organization that issued the following correction for the story on which my post was based:

The task force studying illegal immigration in Stafford County said in its report that it recognized the need to provide emergency medical care to persons in need, regardless of immigration status. The report also said it should provide those public health and preventive medical services that ensure the general health of the population, including immunizations, outbreak investigations, TB investigation and case management, STD/HIV clinical services, communicable disease management and treatment, and other public health services as required by federal or state law. A story yesterday incorrectly reported the recommendations of the task force dealing with these medical services.

Among other (recent) editorial blunders made by The Free Lance–Star:

Inability to properly map out the location of a triple murder/one suicide. (May 7, 2008)
Falsely stating that Tasers require a concealed handgun permit and falsely stating that a concealed handgun permit would allow someone to carry a concealed Taser (no permit is required). They refused to issue a correction even after I repeatedly sent e-mails to their staff regarding the issue. (April 12, 2008)
Acting as the sympathetic mouthpiece for a convicted terrorist while calling him an “activist”. (March 25, 2008)
Falsely accusing a former Lake of the Woods assistant manager of incompetence and having a relationship that was “too close” with a contractor (and all they could say is “Oops, my bad”). (March 22, 2008)
Incorrectly stating that all of the 99th House of Delegates District is part of the 28th Senate District when it isn’t. No correction. (February 21, 2008)
Inability to distinguish who Albert Pollard is: Using a picture of Richard Stuart (his former opponent) and convicted spy Jonathan Pollard instead of a picture of Albert Pollard. (February 20, 2008)
Numerous errors were reported regarding the legal battle between Patricia Mancini and Price Jett Jr. over a Stafford County School Board seat. Only a partial correction was issued. (December 28, 2007)

It’s official: Stafford County is ran by morons.

The Free Lance–Star:

A group studying illegal immigration in Stafford County suggests Stafford seek the right to sanction businesses that hire undocumented workers, and to deny illegal immigrants a public education and emergency medical services.

My Lord, where to being?

A) Wow, that’s compassionate.

B) So, will this be the county’s response to someone having a heart attack?: “Let’s see, you’re not illegal, so get in this wheelchair and we’ll admit you.” Or: “Let’s see, you’re an illegal, go out in the street and die. Next!”

C) Last I checked Stafford County doesn’t run a hospital. Yes, MediCorp is planning on building one in Stafford County, but the county won’t be running it (thank God). MediCorp would laugh these people out of the building if the county came with this proposal.

D) Since the only “emergency medical services” the county provides would be EMTs/Paramedics, are they going to be ordered to play 20 questions (in addition to the work they have to do) and find out if someone is an illegal?: “Yo necesito tu papeles.” (I need your papers.) If the person is an illegal, are they going to deny them transport to a hospital and kick them out of the ambulance?

E) See A.

[…]

The report does not quantify the financial and social impact of illegal immigration in Stafford.

[…]

The report concluded that “Although we cannot quantify that impact, anecdotal evidence, as well as common sense, would dictate that it exists.”

Of course, we have no evidence to support what we’re saying, but it’s true. Trust us, we’re the government.

Scharpenberg said it’s unclear how many employers hire illegal immigrants but that “there’s a lot of winking and nodding in Stafford businesses.”

Another one of those “we have no evidence, but it happens; trust us” comments.

That’s evidence (no pun intended) of crack governing.

May 7, 2008 Caroline County news roundup

The Free Lance–Star:

Four winners in the Bowling Green Town Council election–Daniel Webb, Glenn McDearmon, Jason Satterwhite and Otis Wright–will be the first to serve four-year terms on the body.

That’s because winning candidates with the four highest vote totals for the council will serve four-year, rather than two-year terms after yesterday’s election.

[…]

The remaining three winners, Mark Mallin, Bobby Ketterman and Eric Hinson will serve two-year terms.

The Free Lance–Star:

For the second time since 2004, candidates in yesterday’s Port Royal election tied for a seat on the Town Council.

Caroline County Registrar Danette Moen said write-in candidates Richard Cope and Oliver Fortune both received 18 votes to win the seventh seat. Only six candidates were on the ballot.

Moen said the tie will be broken at the Clerk of the Court’s Office today or tomorrow when one name is “drawn out of a hat.”

Funeral arrangemnts for Mildred Loving (The Free Lance–Star):

Mildred D. Loving, 68, of Milford died at her residence Friday, May 2, 2008.

Survivors include a son, Sidney Jeter of Tappahannock; a daughter, Peggy Fortune of Milford; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grand-children; and two brothers, Douglas Jeter of Milford and Lewis Jeter of Clinton, Md. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Loving, and a son, Donald Loving.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Caroline County Community Center, 17202 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, with the Rev. William Gibson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Stephens Baptist Church cemetery, Central Point.

The body may be viewed from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Cedell Brooks Funeral Home, Port Royal, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the center.

Online guest book available at brooksfuneralhome.com.