NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/30/2009 Closing Gitmo

Newsbusted is new for 1-30-2009 video is above.

Topics in today's show: Closing Gitmo. Spike Lee says God created bad economy to help Barack Obama get elected. Obama wins battle to keep his Blackberry as president. Britney Spears plans autobiography.

PORKER OF THE MONTH GOES TO TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LA HOOD

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named newly-minted Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Porker of the Month. As a member of Congress from Illinois between 1995 and 2008, then-Rep. LaHood made the most of his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, over time becoming adept at spending more and more of the taxpayers’ money. His congressional rating with the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) went from a mediocre 68.8 percent during his freshman year to an abysmal 11 percent in his last year in Congress. In fiscal year 2008 alone, Rep. LaHood was responsible for securing 52 earmarks totaling $58.9 million. According to the Washington Post, $9 million worth of his earmarks last year benefited campaign contributors, and Rep. LaHood ranked in the top 10 percent of all members who obtained earmarks. In his new position, Secretary LaHood will preside over the distribution of tens of billions of tax dollars for transportation projects in the economic stimulus package now moving forward in Congress. In addition, Secretary LaHood will be involved in the 2010 transportation reauthorization bill. Such transportation bills have increasingly become vehicles for billions of dollars in congressional pork, including Alaska’s notorious “Bridge to Nowhere.” For his long-standing disregard for the taxpayers’ money and an abundance of concern over how he will administer the Department of Transportation, CAGW names Ray LaHood January Porker of the Month. Read more about the Porker of the Month.

Bank of America Questionable Conference Call

You can't make this stuff up.

Breaking news from The Huffington Post:

Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community's top legislative priority.

Participants on the October 17 call -- including at least one representative from another bailout recipient, AIG -- were urged to persuade their clients to send "large contributions" to groups working against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), as well as to vulnerable Senate Republicans, who could help block passage of the bill.

...Donations of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to Republican senatorial campaigns were needed, they argued..."If a retailer has not gotten involved in this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to [former Sen.] Norm Coleman and all these other guys, they should be shot. They should be thrown out their goddamn jobs," Marcus declared.

Not only are some of the most non-trusted companies in America blatantly trying to buy off Congress, but they're using our bailout money to do it. Enough!

If there was ever a time to ask your friends to join our political "donor strike" in support of fundamental campaign finance reform, this is it.

Please forward them this email and ask them to sign up here:

http://change-congress.org/?partner=boa

Together, thousands of us have pledged not to donate a penny more to politicians unless they support "citizen-funded elections" for Congress -- a combination of public financing plus Obama-style small-dollar donations.

Instead of politicians spending their time begging those who got us into this economic crisis for big-dollar checks, politicians will have to spend their time being responsive to regular people. That's the way democracy should work.

Thanks for changing Congress,--Lawrence Lessig & Joe Trippi

P.S. Now, at this moment of outrageous news, all of us can do our part. Please forward this email to at least 10 friends today and put the pressure on Congress to say enough is enough.

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/27/2009 National Park Service Still Cleaning Up Inauguration Mess

New Video click on above from Newsbusted for 1-27-2009 below is what is in video.

National Park Service still cleaning up inauguration mess. U.S. conducts military strike in Pakistan. Drug dealers selling Obama-branded heroin. Jon Stewart says Obama sounds just like Bush.

Letter of Inquiry to the State Board of Elections on Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro

It is time someone ask the questions that need to be answered and Triadwatch has sent a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Election. Below the fold is the letter sent to the state. This was first reported back in November on Triadwatch , CLICKHERE then fellow blogger Joe Guarino had a post titled "Action Greensboro's Pay to Play", CLICKHERE , and now this past week John Hammer from Rhino Times has a front page article titled "A Questionable Campaign Gift", CLICKHERE , hey John better late than never. This issue has brought up a lot of issues and it is time that the citizens of Guilford County start playing by the rules and laws of this state in regards to campaign laws.

Below is the letter sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections in regards to some questionable campaign gifts as the Rhino Times has titled.The letter was sent a few months ago and is still sitting in Raleigh. We will see what the State Board of Elections has to say about this issue. Stay tune.
______________________________________________________

North Carolina Board of Elections
ATTN: Kim Strach, Director of Campaign Finance
P.O.Box 27255
Raleigh, N.C.27611-7255

This is a formal inquiry into the 3rd quarter campaign contributions for the George C Simkins Jr Memorial Political Action Committee
SBOE ID # STA-C3750N-C-001

According to their 3rd quarter campaign disclosure report for 2008 on page 3 of form there is a $5,000 contribution from

Action Greensboro
317 S. Elm Street
Greensboro N.C. 27401
336-379-0821

This contribution brings up a lot of issues that need to be resolved or brought to the attention of the NCBOE. Below is a few questions that need to be addressed.

Is the maximum contribution $4,000 per cycle?

Can a 501c3 non profit organization like Action Greensboro give to a PAC?

It is listed as contributions from indviduals on line #6 under receipts, how is that possible?

Victor Farah has no job title or employers name under contributor information, is that allowable? NCGS 163-278.11 states that this needs to be provided and the best efforts for the treasurer is out the door on this treasurer Mr. Alston.

Is it also illegal for a professional association, corporation or business entity to contribute to a political committee under NCGS 163-278.19?

Also on 4-17-08 on the first quarter reports there is a outside source of funding which is a transfer of funds from a certificate of deposit, the question, is this a legitimate outside source and do they have to disclose the whole funding from this certificate of deposit or can it be a open funding tool with no indication of how much money is there to be had?

The enclosed attachments will highlight the problems with this report from this Political Action Committee.

These are some questions that need to be answered about this Political Action Committee and would like a response back as soon as possible and a e-mail to see if there is something else that needs to be done to find out about this issue with the George C Simkins Jr. Memorial PAC. Thank you very much and a reply is requested as soon as possible.



Keith T. Brown
3728 Pembroke Terrace
High Point North Carolina 27265
336-812-3630
e-mail: tarheez3@yahoo.com

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/23/2009 Aftermath of the Inauguration of President Obama

New video from Newsbusters on Triadwatch click on video above.

The aftermath of the inauguration of President Obama. 68 percent of Americans think Obama will do a good job. More obese Americans now than overweight ones. Oprah Winfrey blames thyroid problems for weight gain.

ALERT ALERT North Carolina State Legislators Have New E-Mail Addresses Time To Change

Triadwatch just found out that all of the e-mail addresses of our North Carolina General Assembly have changed below is a list of our e-mail addresses from the Guilford Delegation.

The old e-mail addresses still work but am sure that in the future those will go away so here are the newest e-mail addresses.It looks like State Representatives Katie Dorsett, Stan Bingham and Phil Berger still have their old addresses still on their web page. I am sure it will be switched soon.

GUILFORD DELEGATION E-Mail Addresses

House

Alma Adams House District 58 Alma.Adams@ncleg.net
John Blust House District 62 John.Blust@ncleg.net
Pricey Harrison House District 57 Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net
Maggie Jeffus House District 59 Maggie.Jeffus@ncleg.net
Earl Jones House District 60 Earl.Jones@ncleg.net
Laura Wiley House District 61 Laura.Wiley@ncleg.net

Senate

Phil Berger District 26 philbe@ncleg.net
Stan Bingham District 33 stanb@ncleg.net
Katie Dorsett District 28 Katied@ncleg.net
Don Vaughan District 27 Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/20/2009 Inauguration Edition

Newsbusted for 1/20/2009 Inauguration Edition, click on the video above

Huge preparations for Obama's big day. Oddsmakers bet on whether Obama will use the word "banana" in his speech. Newsweek announces major layoffs. Pa. couple arrested for spending $175,000 that was accidentally given to them.

What is Wrong with this Picture of Greensboro?

The Greensboro Telegram have a article called "Visitors Can Walk Across Greensboro in 2 Seconds", CLICKHERE for the article. Can anyone see what is wrong with the picture? If so leave a comment.

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/16/2009 Lou Dobbs Interested in Border Security Job

Newsbusted for 1-16-2009,
Topics in today's show: Demand for inauguration house rentals lower than expected. New York Times sells ads on front page. GM sells first 2010 Camaro. Jim Carrey talks Prozac.
You can see the video above on Triadwatch or click on the title to go to newsbusted.org.

Simkins PAC Fourth Quarter Campaign Contributions Are In

The George Simkins Political Action Committee Fourth Quarter campaign forms are reported with a total of $4,500 coming from 3 people. To see the returns click on the title above or CLICKHERE then go to fourth quarter.



Contributions from individual came from one person


Charles T. Hagan Jr. gave $2,500 with the usual missing report about job title and employers name from treasurer and Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston

Committee Contributions



Citizens for John Parks gave $1,000 who is a Guilford County Commissioner



Cowell for Treasurer gave $1,000 N.C. State Treasurer



____________________________________________________



UPDATE: There is a letter that was sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on the status of the George Simkins PAC third quarter returns which uncovered contributions made from Action Greensboro $5,000 and to find out how a non profit can give money to this Political Action Committee, and other discrepancies in their filings.

If you would like to see the other post on this issue CLICKHERE

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/13/2009 President Elect Barack Obamam Goes to Washington

Topics in today's show: Barack Obama moves to Washington, Joe the Plumber as war correspondent, New York faces coldest weather in 15 years, and Amy Winehouse accused of smoking crack for breakfast.

Campaign Contribution's in Guilford County: John Hammer Rhino TImes

This is a new segment of TRIADWATCH where we will take a campaign contribution form filled out from elected leaders or local weekly editors like the first one for this segment John Hammer from the Rhino Times to show the citizens of Guilford County as to who is giving their campaign contributions to local elected leaders. All you have to do to see the form is click on the title above or you can go to the Guilford County Board of Election CLICKHERE to see all the candidates. Triadwatch will do a little research on each campaign form but all you need to do is click on the title to see the whole form.

Our first member of the Guilford County campaign contribution watch goes to the editor of the Rhino Times in John Hammer.

Ever since 2000 which is a far back as you can go online it shows that John Hammer has a total of $3,478.71 in his campaign. This money could be going to a good cause maybe like the Greensboro Clean Elections CLICKHERE , or you could give it to local blogger Cara Michelle Forrest CLICKHERE , and she can put it to a good cause. It must be a running joke that John Hammer still fills out a campaign form or maybe he is secretly going to run for Mayor come this fall.

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/9/2009 President-Elect Barack Obama Will Use Middle Name

Topics in today's show for 1-9-2009: Obama will use middle name in inauguration, Aretha Franklin performs. NYT gets sued for saying woman had affair with John McCain. Washington state drivers ignore ban on cellphones while driving.

The video can be seen above or you can click on the title and go to Newsbusters.org

NEWSBUSTED on TRIADWATCH for 1/6/2009 FIRST VIDEO OF 2009

Newsbusted is back in 2009 and here is the topics for today's segment. You can see video on top of TRIADWATCH.

Hillary Clinton celebrates 2009, Barack Obama named "Person of the Year," Sarah Palin has new grandson, Rod Blagojevich asserts himself, "Dark Knight" will not be screened in China.

Heart of The Triad Meeting Everyone Welcome

Below the fold is a planned meeting for the Heart of the Triad "HOT". There are plenty of issues with this whole concept of HOT from annexation to air quality to traffic issues. It is time more people become aware of the massive undertaking of this Board and the total conflicts of interest that are shown when people like Robbie "Pave It " Perkins Greensboro City Council member and local developer sits on the Strategic Planning Committee.

Also one of the main aspects of growth is who has the water and sewer. The city of High Point extended their water and sewer to Kernersville to facilitate the new Fed Ex ground hub. Their will be a sharing agreement between these 2 cities on the water and sewer. This action will stimulate growth to this area minus the input of Greensboro and a new friend at the table in Oak Ridge.

Why should High Point and Kernersville give up control of this area? It makes no sense whatsoever.

There will be a lot of talk in future if this committee gets any funding from the State of North Carolina or in other words your tax dollars. It is time for triad residents to read up on this issue which can be found by going to the PART web site CLICKHERE or the section on Heart of theTriad CLICKHERE .

Below is the meeting and a contact at Piedmont Area Regional Transportation and facilitator for HOT.

________________________________________________________

Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
8:30am
PART Office Building
7800 Airport Center Drive Yahoo Maps CLICKHERE
Greensboro, NC
Suite 101


Lisa Chislett
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation
7800 Airport Center Dr. Suite 102
Greensboro, NC 27409
336-662-0002 - phone
336-662-9253 - fax
lisac@partnc.org
http://www.partnc.org/

2009 Should Bring New Focus on Greensboro Politicians-Guest Column

Many of you here on Triad Watch know me from covering public education in Guilford County for the last two years as part of Guilford School Watch (and my unsuccessful 2008 Guilford School Board at-large campaign). But honestly, we can't talk about reforming public education until we deal with the issues in our community that provide barriers to a solid public education.

For a brief period of time this past year, I did a small blog called Triad Job Watch, at the beginning of this summer's economic spiral. But alas, we can't even talk about bringing jobs to our area until we deal with the issues in our community that provide barriers to solid economic development.

And rather than me wax poetic on Guilford School Watch, I wanted to join my friend Keith Brown, who has quickly become an ally in the ongoing struggle against local corruption in our city and county halls, in dropping some thoughts on our fair city, Greensboro, in 2009.

You see, maybe it's me, but we have a lot of problems in our town and none of them are being addressed properly by our so-called elected leadership.
Jobs (or the lack of jobs) are just one aspect of what's killing Greensboro. For the last several days, in rapid succession, we have seen announcements in the News & Record on company shutdowns and layoffs. And our elected leadership is incredibly silent. Our soon-to-be-major employer, FedEx, just announced a delay in their mammoth hub at PTI Airport. You would think that there would have been a statement from someone down at City Hall...you think? Of course not.

And our jobs problem has permeated this city long before the economic downturn of 2008. Greensboro (and the larger Triad, for that matter) has been suffering a major economic downturn for the past 10 years. And our local officials continue to wonder why this area continues playing third fiddle to Charlotte and the Triangle. They continue to wonder why the brain-drain in this area is unbelievably high.

The silence from our so-called elected officials is deafening.
We have a brain-drain because we don't seem to have any real economic development activities going on in our city right now. Recruitment of companies to our area is an absolute joke, and just as many people in this area are underemployed as they are unemployed. You cannot sustain an economy on $9/hour service jobs while continuing to make this area relevant.
A recent Business Week article touting "Grey Skies over Greensboro" CLICKHERE was a damning spectacle on all things wrong with our city. Did anyone from City Hall come out in defense? Did anyone say anything at all?

The silence from our so-called elected officials is deafening.

The record unemployment/underemployment problem we're having is stretching into our schools (record numbers of free/reduced lunch applications at Guilford County Schools), our healthcare facilities (record numbers of ER visits from citizens lacking health insurance), and it may be spilling over into a crime problem that is now out of control.

There seem to be no less than five robberies in Greensboro reported...DAILY, in the News & Record. Burglaries are on the rise all over town. The shootings and killings...even in broad daylight, are astronomical.
And yet...any reaction from downtown?

The silence from our so-called elected officials is deafening.

The irresponsible development with no regard of citizens and neighbors with respect to sensitive zoning cases is crazy. Taxes are high. Infrastructure needs are growing and are not being properly addressed.

Where's our mayor, Yvonne Johnson? She seems to be absent from what's going on in our city. Our City Council...ditto. My councilman, Trudy Wade, rolled into City Council a couple of years ago fresh from a stinging loss of her long-time seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Since then, she hasn't shown me much at all.

I expect my City Councilmen to be visible in the community, to set up community meetings and town halls, to circulate among school events...where is Wade? Where is Mayor Johnson? Where is Police Chief Bellamy on our crime emergency?

Where is the elected leadership of our city?

Oh...I'm sorry...they're busy giving city manager Mitch Johnson another chance to do a job that he's failed miserably in.

The silence from our so-called elected officials is deafening.

Greensboro...take notice. City Council...take notice. Mayor Johnson, take notice. 2009 is at hand and the municipal elections of 2010 are at hand. We'll be watching you just a tad bit closer this year. Because frankly, Greensboro is headed down the wrong track. And this train will derail unless urgent changes are made...and fast.

Who's with me?

-- Erik "E.C." HueyEditor, "Guilford School Watch"

e-mail: guilfordschoolwatch@gmail.com

http://guilfordschoolwatch.blogspot.com/

Member of the Coalition of the Concerned Citizens of the Triad

Simkins Political Action Committee A Part of David Wray Lawsuit

The Simkins Political Action Committee is now a part of the David Wray lawsuit against the City of Greensboro.

This new development was brought to the forefront by local blogger Ben Holder and his site called The Troublemaker CLICKHERE

Then friend and local blogger Joe Guarino made a post CLICKHERE

While looking at the lawsuit brought against the City of Greensboro there was a interesting points made which were #18 and #19. If you would like to see the whole lawsuit thanks to The Troublemaker click on the title above or go to the posts provided by both bloggers.

Here is what item #18 said:

Hinson was represented by a prominent Greensboro attorney with ties to a well -known African American Political Action Committee in Greensboro ( the "Simkins PAC").

Here is what item #19 said:

The Simkins PAC has over the years demonstrated an ability to mobilize members of the African American community in Greensboro for purposes of targeted voting, and has been so successful that politicians running for office in Greensboro, whether white or African American, seek the endorsement of the Simkins PAC in order to be elected.

_______________________________________________________


The Simkins PAC has been getting a lot of scrutiny lately and TRIADWATCH has a inquiry with the North Carolina Board of Elections as to the contributions of a certain non-profit named Action Greensboro to the Simkins PAC . Here is the post on that issue back on November 9, 2008.

Here is the title of the post "Simkins PAC in Bed with Action Greensboro Illegally"

CLICKHERE

Everyone is well aware of the Simkins PAC and the total vote buying scheme that this PAC is a part of.My hope for the future is for the African American community to say to this PAC , screw your piece of paper endorsement I have a brain.

It will be interesting to see how this will play out in a court of law and to see the implications on the Simkins PAC.