News-Record.com

Allen, Thank-you for writing honestly about Bellamy-Small, you have my respect in this matter. Is there any chance something like this can make the front page?

Is there any chance that the same honesty can be shown and a front page story on other lame comments/actions of other black (so-called) officials....ie, Deena Hayes?

I'm embarrassed by what some officials can get away with because of their color. I still hear the words "slave/slavemaster" echoing in my ears.

I enjoyed the honesty from today's editorial concerning the VSN program, but will the N&R hold Deena's feet to the fire over her comments and investigate her relationship with minority contractors? These corrupt individuals give us all a bad name.

DBS is a liberal politician who caters to her base. She uses her position to get what she wants under the guise of "serving" the community.
She'll continue to do as long as her constituents believe she is representing their interests.
Many in "her" community view the police as an occupation army, and dearly wish they could pummel a police officer (or the White Establishment in general) with mere words as DBS did. I believe they're probably applauding her today. While her behavior appears juvenile and petty to many, it delights her base because they see Greensboro politics as an "us [black] versus them [white]" struggle. DBS struck a blow against "The Man" the other day and they loved it.
Sadly, I fear DBS's popularity in her community is enhanced because of her latest antics.

good story Mr Allen,after the one about Skip Alston,i was afraid you would get your fingers broken.

Jaycee:
I don't see the issues raised during Bellamy-Small's tenure as liberal or conservative. She has simply shown poor judgment, which is inappropriate no matter what political philosophy you subscribe to.
Nor do I believe her behavior has enhanced her standing among her constituents.
Remember, she barely beat a newcomer, Luther Falls, in the last election, and, in fact, thought she had lost until the final returns trickled in.
Also, I have heard complaints from some of her constituents.
Falls seems determined to run again. If the election were held today, I believe she'd lose to him.

Taxpayer:
As of today, all fingers are intact.

Alan, you don't think her constituents are happy about DBS making the White Police shake in their boots and bend and kiss her ring? Come on...this is Greensboro! What you categorize as "inappropriate" many see as striking a blow for the black man against the white establishment. She's a goddess in some quarters.

Jaycee:

Please show us one instance of applause for Councilwoman Bellamy-Small's behavior. Also show us the evidence that her actions have enhanced her popularity in any community.

Frankly, your characterizations and prejudging of the black community are disgusting.

I agree with Dave. The main things I hear in Bellamy-Small's district is that she talks more a better game about her community interaction than she delivers.
I also would dispute Jaycee's assumptions about how the black community is reacting to the traffic incident.
Maybe it's coming, but as of yet I have not received one shred of positive feedack on her actions.

So you both believe that not one single solitary citizen in all of Greensboro (or DBS's area) has any positive feelings for her?
You guys think that everyone thinks exactly the same way you do??
Wake up, there's a whole world out there of which you have no knowledge.
I could take you to neighborhoods and sit down with folks who applaud DBS and her actions to "stick it to the Man" every day of the week.
You should get out more.

Jaycee,

I agree and I'll bet Deena Hayes is laughing her A&& off at Bellamy's antics. Score another one for the race card players!

Allen, "painfully guarded", "building a high wall around youself" "Well spoken, tight-lipped"
"book smart-politically naive", "touts accessability but doesn't speak".

Allen, in all honesty, these are all things that could equally be applied to yourself.

Now we all know that you are probably saying to yourself at the moment you read this, "but I'm just like that with you smug n.High Point a#@holes", but don't you see that's how DBS thinks of the people who would dare question her.

Good column, Allen. I agree this isn't a liberal/conservative issue. It is a behavior/conduct issue.

Bellamy-Small's conduct is unbecoming an elected offical and she does her constituents a disservice. Here's hoping the voters kick her to the curb in the next election.

OK, Jaycee. I'll call your bluff. Let's you and I go out together into Dianne's district and ask for reactions to the traffic stop.

I personally think th enegative publicity alone has sealed her fate. She'll lose in the next election because her honesty has been questioned. For some reason everyone who takes over that district has problems. Some said Belvin Jessup wasnt experienced enough for the job and didnt accomplish much. A friend of mine said he could pick up on his inexperience watching the city council meetings. Earl Jones was too contraversal for some, now they are saying that Diane Bellamy-Small isnt an honest person.

Any good newspaper/reporter would have already been in Bellamy's hood taking a poll of reactions. I'm waiting for Thursday, I'll be the Rhino has already been.

Instead of assuming what the reaction is, as Jaycee is doing.
PS: I won't say it qualifies me to know what everyone there thinks, but I did grow up in that district and go there often to visit.
My offer to Jaycee stands.

Oh, no...it's just a ploy to get me to the N&R building so Lex can punch me in the nose, as he threatened one time. Not a chance...
Allen, I doubt you'd have much trouble on your own finding someone in DBS's district who doesn't like the police and just loves it when someone like her "gets over."

Aw, c'mon, Jaycee, I'll meet you outside of the building. And I won't bring Lex.

Yeah, sure, that's what Lex said..."I'll meet you out in the parking lot!!"
I ain't fallin' for that one...

Allen,

Why are you and the News-Record, in general, making such a big deal about this incident with DBS? So, she made a little huff over being stopped by a rookie cop for speeding 15 over the limit. That's probably not any more serious than what happens in this city so often?

For example, here is another traffic stop incident involving the police that I don't recall being an issue to the powers that be.

"An off-duty officer had spotted a car being driven erratically on Battleground Avenue late one night and followed it. Radio tapes showed the officer reporting that the car was all over the road, doing 55 in a 35-mph zone, and at one point turning across four lanes. By the time an on-duty sergeant, Areta A. Moore, arrived at the scene, it was known that the car was registered to Chief White. His son was at the wheel. Sgt. Moore later said that she detected a slight odor of alcohol. However, the chief, with whom his son was talking on a cell phone when the officer approached the car, was allowed to come and drive him home without sobriety tests being administered or tickets written."

"Johnson, like White, found no fault with that situation. He also found some of the other integrity issues that were raised, such as officers using their police identification cards to gain free admission to Christie's Cabaret, where topless dancers perform, to be "no big deal."

So, if Mitch Johnson found no fault with that incident, why isn't he defending DBS now? Is there some reason why DBS is the target de jour?

As was mentioned before, Deena Hayes has done stunts much more egregious than DBS, and the News-Record always gives her a pass. You do as well. So, why the pile-on on DBS??? Does DBS know too much about what really happened with the Wray Story, and the powers want her out of the spotlight? And, wasn't she your source for the leaked RMA Report? If so, you owe her a debt.

Allen,

Someone suggested to me that the reason that DBS is getting different treatment is because she isn't protected by the Simpkins PAC, where as some other politicians, mostly certainly are protected. Say it isn't so, Allen. Is the Simpkins PAC that powerful in Greensboro politics and daily happenings?

Stormy, I think it's safe to say you're being Allen'ed.

It is kind of fun going on Allen's blog here. It's like going to the state fair and stepping up to one of those shooting galleries where they have like these bears or hillbillies that kind of jump out from behind barrels and bushes and stuff and start taunting you, telling you you can't hit the broad side of a barn etc. Then you hit them and that shut's them up. Everytime Allen gets his bell rung, that's the end of the discussion, finito.

Allen, do you really think that when you don't answer that people won't notice that you've been dinged?

Sounds like you guys need to do lunch.

Seriously, and we can talk about this at the Smooze, (I can't confirm yet because I'm on the soccer-dad track and may have a game.)
there does seeem to be some confusion, on this blog more than any other, about the expectation of reply from the blogmaster. It seems at times contentious, incendiary, passion-inducing subjects are deliberately posted, replies are directed to certain people and there is no reply. Now I can certainly appreciate random bloggers not wanting to carry things any further, but it would seem the blogmaster would be held to a higher standard.

Is this supposed to be a bullitin board or a discussion? Do you post your rant and leave?
That's cool if it is. Just say so. It seems there is confusion about this.

It just seems that silence is used as a way to de-certify certain posters, whether the blogmasterposter is sick of the subject, deems it "unworthy" of reply etc, whatever. It just seems smug and condescending.

I mean, what does everybody else think?

If the blogmaster thinks the person posting is out of their flipping mind, go ahead and say it.
If you don't want to talk about a certain subject just say "I'd rather not reply".

I mean, I guess you could put a disclaimer at the top of the blog and just say "The Management reserves the right to post on contentious subjects but reserves the right to ignore your posts, particularly if your political orientation differs with that of us here at the N&R.".

Let people have it-if you think they're fools. This is one instance where mom's old axiom: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" does not apply.

For instance, yesterday Doug told me I needed therapy. Totally appropriate. Infintitely preferable to just ignoring somebody who takes the time to visit your blog.

I don't mean to be rude or unresponsive. But you tend to beat dead horses on threads that deal with other subjects.
As I said before, you may need your own blog, which you could devote to school issues if you'd like.

Neither of Stormy's posts above had anything to do with the schools other than a passing reference to Deena Hayes.

And even if they did, the whole selectivly applied, High Point busing mess, represents a protean problem in this county-race and the people who exploit it. It represents the #1 problem that is keeping us from competing with other areas. It's a millstone. It's the canary in the mine and the canary's on life support. For someone in your position to simply ignore people who speak to it is not right.
How do you think that can ever be helpful?

Also, another point. You want us to go to another blog-I don't think Morgan or Jennifer the ever wrote any editorials propping up the Dotmeister.

You want those poor gals taking your grief.
Not very gallant, Allen

I mean, what does everybody else think?

************

I think Allen is absolutely right on this. If people repeatedly try to hijack threads, he's well within his right to ignore them. Like Allen said, you could start your own blog and write to your heart's content about this, rather than trying to ruin someone else's blog.

There is no such thing as "hijacking" a thread for Pete's sake! It's supposed to be a discussion!!! If you don't like someone's response then don't read it! All you whiners are just big ass babies!

I'm going to start talking about turnips! I love turnips. It was not the headline of this blog but if comments twist and turn, they can cover other topics! I love turnip soup, turnip casserole, turnip chitlins, turnip patee, yes I LOVE turnips!

How ya feeling "just saying"? ..funny how you can "just say" but others can ONLY say what you're in the mood for hearing!

I'm sick of you whiney weenies that want to control others thought AND words! Allen, you're included in there too! Your silence on High Point school topics is the loudest censorship to date!

The irony of the NHP crowd calling someone else a "whiner" is too good to let pass without mentioning it. That would be like Britney saying someone else needs to clean up their act.

Just S., I'm trying to understand what you're saying.

Any thoughts on why Stormy's posts above were "hijacking"?

Wasn't talking about Stormy at all.

Allen, just in case you forgot, Stormy's non-hijaking question was:

(paraphrased)

Do you think the Simpkins PAC is so powerful in Greensboro politics that they can determine who gets "protection"?

Just Saying, don't worry. I am not from North High Point. I'm sure you could already tell because of your clairvoyance. In my opinion, asking a question about the original thread is not a form of hijacking. However, like someone else said, sometimes discussions naturally lead to other subjects. It's OK. We don't need anyone to police it other than the original blogger.

Just, I misunderstood, I thought you were implying that people got ignored because of hijacking.

I have made my feelings known on this deal for some time. Repeat hijackers suck. Many times discussions do go off on tangents which is fine. We are not talking about tangents here. We are talking about single minded, dead horse beatin, off topic, NHP interjections in any and all threads. Call me a whiner but like many I have had enough. If your purpose is to turn off everybody to your legitimate concerns and the plight of the kids in NHP ... you have succeeded at my keyboard. Victory is yours. You have bored us all to tears. Your cries have the same effect on me as Deena Hayes' constant bellowing of racism. None.

Mick,

You mentioned NHP and kids in your post. How dare you! You are beating a deadhorse. Never, never, never, mention them in the same post again.

Also, please go to "NHP" (wherever that is) and tell the hijacked kids that topic is "a dead horse beaten". Better yet, ride the bus with them to school and then read them your post.

I for one will gadly shut up about this topic when it is RECTIFIED!

You are driving possible supporters away. Do you care? Put your energy where it can do some good. Inserting NHP/SW/Dot into a thread about DBS is a WASTE of your efforts and our time. Do something that might make a differance somewhere where it can make a differance.

This is my last comment to this as you can do what you want, where you want but....

Your passions, efforts, wit, abilities are admirable. Your efforts commendable. Your choice of venues and/or topics in which you CHOOSE to put forth these very same qualities is lousy. You make us not care. Again "race card" analogy. Basketball analogy: It is not a good pass if no one catches the ball.

Frankie:
Simkins PAC? Nah.I seriously doubt it. I don't see any conspiracies here.

As for why it's a big deal, it's not that big, in and of itself. But as another in a litany of incidents, it raises questions about Bellamy-Small.

I must be missing something here.
where has this blog been hijacked?????

Thanks Skeet. I just reread the entire comment section and never found the hijacking. Other than Allen saying, "But you tend to beat dead horses on threads that deal with other subjects" and then mentioning schools, the comments were right on track. Simple discussion, like a blog should be. That was Allen's answer to a simple, on-topic question.

"Just saying" is always such a suck-up. She must have been some kind of shrink in a former life. She wants to lead every discussion but then call herself "just saying" so she sounds neutral. Amazing, she sounds just like my ex.

Allen, thanks for your vague response, seriously.

I thought I explained it in the original post: the tax problems, the blow-up over a corner office, etc.

..."driving possible supporters away"--Mick.

Help me here Mick. What is there to support? If I needed "supporters" I'd go get them. It cannot be rectified if the entire cities of Greensboro and High Point got on their knees. This is exactly the problem. I do appreciate you trying to direct us problem people on what you see as the correct path, but until 6 folks on the school board grow up and decide to educate kids, there is nothing that can be done. If you seriously think you can change the minds of Dot, etc..and it seems you know the one's I'm talking about, then PLEASE let me know. All reasonable efforts are futile, you can ask any "NHP-er", all we can do now is make jokes. Really, believe me I don't get up every morning and plot to see which threads I can hijack. This is an important issue and it's too bad that your day is ruined when you have to read about it on a blog.

With all due respect, is this all you think and talk about? Is it the subject of dinner conversations? Do you broach it at parties?
I understand your passion. And I appreciate it ... to a point.
I just don't think any of us wants to discuss all North High Point all the time.
And I mean that in the nicest way.

I think yelling "hi-jacked" on a blog without it being true should be a punishable offense. It's like yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater. Sometimes the unnecessary panic causes more trouble than the actual offense. Sheeesh.

Allen,
Yes, and I mean it in the nicest way. It will continue to be my priority until my children are no longer being jacked around.

You throw the word "appreciate" around like you really want me to believe it. I have NEVER once seen you "appreciate" how it feels to have your children plotted on a map and bused!

I'm sorry for having a one-track mind. But when God gave me a uterus to bear children I guess I took him seriously.