Nonpartisan city elections Round 4: Ding-Ding.

Florence City Council once again deferred the issue of nonpartisan elections today. Quite frankly, I'm tired of the issue so I'm not really going to get into it again. But, for members of council, let me help and give a tip: You can not vote on the a matter, until you call the question. You would think everyone would understand this, but apparently not.

Today, there was a motion to defer from Councilman Brand that was seconded. However, Councilman Williams wished to have debate. During that debate, Councilman Williams proposed an amendment (setting the deferment date to November). That secondary motion (the amendment -- the actual motion to defer being primary) was seconded.

After a little further debate, Councilman Brand moved to vote. It was seconded. THAT VOTE WAS TO CALL THE QUESTION. In other words, they had to vote to call the question on the motion to amend, so that they could vote down that amendment (setting the date of the deferment) and then proceed to vote to call the question on the principle motion. Then, they could have finally voted on the principle motion to defer.

So calling the question is put to a vote and what happened? The 4 proponents of nonpartisan voted against calling the question. In other words, they were voting for not ending the debate on Williams motion to amend. This is debate which would need to end, before they could vote against the amendment, which they wanted to do so they could move on and vote on their motion to defer. Why did they vote against it? I can only guess because despite this issue coming up at the last four meetings (the process needed to move to vote on the principle issue -- termed "calling the question"), some members of council still have not figured it out and did not understand what they were voting on.

Robert's Rules is not that difficult. Really it is not. It may behoove you to put pen to paper during these meetings and keep track of the procedure so you know where you are at.

Just saying...

The Visitors are coming back

If you grew up in the 80s, you remember V, the landmark 1983 miniseries that hooked an entire generation on Sci-Fi. Well, it looks like a remake is in the works.

Hide your hamsters.

Interesting note, Von went as a visitor to our friend's '80s skate party. Kevin won as Bernie. Von is still bitter...

Let's go Gamecocks, Let's go!

Von and I are about to head out to Cola to watch the Gamecocks take on Tennessee tonight for first place in the SEC East. Bruce Pearl's Vols are the defending champs and were supposed to be here.

Darrin Horn's Gamecocks? Not so much.

So here's hoping all 5'9" of Devan Downey shows up tonight.

Bad Brains documentary

If you are 30+ years old and you did not grow up on a commune, ship at sea or in a hospital due to being in a coma, you know the band Bad Brains. Formed in 1977, the hardcore-reggae-punk of this quartet introduced as many white kids my age to the Rastafari movement as Bob Marley and his Wailers.

Their 1986 album "I against I" is still in regular rotation on my Ipod. Lead singer H.R.'s lyrics to the song "Sacred Love" were infamously recorded via the phone, while he doing a bit in jail on a cannabis charge. The album was their most successful and I seriously doubt there is a single person my age who was into skateboarding that did not own it.

Anyway, there is apparently a Bad Brains documentary in the works. Check out the video below (hattip, Evan).

Bad Brains_teaser

Megyn Kelly doubles down on BS

Perhaps emboldened by the fact that no one at FOXNews actually cares whether their "news" is true, Ms. Kelly decided to up the ante about the horseshit talking point the GOP has been spouting about the High Speed Rail money. Ms. Kelly, decided to see just how far she could go on the BS meter and spun this gem:

It's a super railroad, of sorts -- a line that will deliver customers straight
from Disney, we kid you not, to the doorstep of the moonlight bunny ranch
brothel in Nevada. I say, to the moonlight Bunny Ranch brothel in Nevada. So
should your tax dollars be paying for these kinds of projects?

That's right, America. If the Democrats have their way, you are liable to think you're putting your kid on the monorail, only to be sending them to see Air Force Amy. I kid you not.

Special City Council Meeting called for Non-partisan election referendum

A special meeting of the Florence City Council has been called for 4:00 pm tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday March 4, 2009). The only item on the agenda is the nonpartisan referendum issue.

This will be the third attempt by the proponents of this issue to set a date. Two meetings ago, they moved to have it set, but it was not properly on the agenda. At the February 9, 2009 meeting, debate was heard on the issue. Council members Blake-Williams, Powers, Brand and Bradham voted for setting a date. They failed, as they lacked the 2/3rds majority needed to call the question. Now, those same council members have called for a special meeting just on this sole issue.

The truth of the matter is, there was never any problem with partisan elections, until this last election. Why is that? Luckily, we don't have to guess at the last City Councils' motivations, its on the record why: because they lost. Now, all of a sudden, partisan politics is bad for the City of Florence. Really? Back when they proposed this, Frank Willis said "“I think most of the people on this council see this as not about power,but as about the citizens of Florence being able to vote for whoever they want to vote for.” That wasn't the case then and it's not the case now.

The votes seemed pretty entrenched at the last meeting. Has someone changed their mind? Has Councilman Brand found "other legal venues" to bring the matter before? Have the four council members pushing this issue been studying their Robert's Rules of Order? Make your way to City Council Chambers (Room 601) tomorrow at 4:00 pm to find out.

Emmit Smith: Wordsmith

Emmit Smith Debacles the english language.