Feuding Republican Men and Women Kiss and Make-up!!! One big happy Family now!! Democrats Beware!! All Going to Concentrate on Getting President Trump Re-elected!! And More!!! As reported to Robert A. Williams
As I stated in my last article about the feuding between the Republican Party under Dennis Bailey and the Women Republicans of Cleveland County (WeRCC) under Marge Hooper, I was going to visit the WeRCC Booth at the 7th Inning Stretch, purchase some Trump campaign stuff and mostly see what was going on.
That is exactly what I did this past Saturday afternoon (August 10, 2019).
The WeRCC booth just happened to be one of the first places I saw as I entered the Court Square area from where I had parked. So, I walked right over, introduced myself and started talking to some of those Republican women that were there. Dennis Bailey was there too. And other Republicans. I asked Dennis Bailey how he was doing and he replied “Cordial.” Good for Dennis Bailey. Marge Hooper was not there right at that time. I was told that she had just left, but was to return soon. I never was able to catch up with Marge Hooper that day. That was probably my fault as I had other things, I wanted to do that day, like walk all around downtown Shelby and determine, in my own mind, distressed areas that might end up getting some funding from this new sales tax increase referendum that will be on this Novembers Elections ballot. More on that later in this article.
As for the WeRCC booth, I ended up purchasing a new Trump for President 2020 Baseball cap, a Trump T-Shirt and a Trump 2020 bumper sticker.
In regard to the Republican feud, discussions went like this: Marge Hooper had come to the WeRCC executive board with the proposition that she stay the WeRCC President, but vest many of her authorities and responsibilities to the Vice-President and perhaps others. That she (Hooper) had been appointed to the Region 10 Trump Re-election team and other Trump and Republican related responsibilities, including receiving Awards, and was requesting assistance with her WeRCC responsibilities. Everybody was happy about that I was told. Remember, Hooper was not there.
As for the feud. Dennis Bailey said there was no feud. That he had himself encouraged more women to attend WeRCC meetings. Of course, I realized that was likely “Code” for Bailey sending Republican women allies to WeRCC meetings for a “hostile” takeover if need be. But, all-in-all, my conclusion was this is win-win for everybody. Marge Hooper is now free to work in a more friendly environment doing what she (and I) thinks is in the best interest of our country-reelecting President Donald J. Trump, avoiding any potential “cat-fights” over inconsequential things at the local level and rise above it all. The Cleveland County Republican Party and some in WeRCC get to declare a victory amongst themselves. While WeRCC returns to being the working arm of Republican men who are mostly too lazy to do anything themselves. And the Republican men get to keep on being lazy while the WeRCC women folks are doing all the work organizing and carrying out fundraising, (wo)manning the polls and other activities. Cooking, cleaning washing dishes, laundry and such. You know, women’s work. Barefoot and pregnant. Gals, just joking. Hopefully.
Of course, the next day a source called to say that the WeRCC folks had been coached on how to identify me if I came to their 7th Inning Stretch booth, what to say and to be in solidarity. But, like I said before, overall, it appears that the feud between WeRCC and the Republican Party men is over and all is well. “One big Happy Family” as I said to Denis Bailey. Now, I said to myself, there are other things to talk about among all these political people. Like the sales tax increase referendum coming up in November.
I asked Dennis Bailey why he had supported the sales tax increase for Cleveland County. Bailey immediately replied “I support “the people’s right to choose” whether or not to raise taxes. Of course, the next and obvious questions was, then “why did the commissioners not put the referendum on the 2020 Presidential year ballot when way more people would turn out to vote?” Bailey Replied “All I am going to say is I support the people’s right to choose.”. My reply was, Dennis, isn’t that just an “apple pie” statement? (“Apple Pie” meaning a standard political “talking point” like “Guns, God and Country.”) Again, Bailey replied “All I am going to say is I support the people’s right to choose.” Then, why don’t we put the Casino on a referendum? I asked-since the Commissioners all support the Casing and much of the population does not, said I. Bailey said that he did not gamble but some do and they should have the right to choose. Then Bailey said we have no say in the Casino anyway and 4,000 jobs would be welcome. All-in-all I found Dennis Bailey’s willingness to discuss a political issue, such as it was, rather refreshing. His developing talent to disagree without being disagreeable. Perhaps Dennis Bailey has learned a good lesson somewhere along the line.
Not every Republican was willing to discuss the new sales tax increase referendum and related stuff without being disagreeable. One missed the mark completely. That person being Dr. Jason Hurst of Cleveland Community College. That shocking episode deserves an article all on its own. Stay tuned for that one. In the meantime, let’s continue.
Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine and his wife were also there at the WeRCC booth. Ronnie, in and out. During one of his “in’s” I asked Ronnie what the tax increase was going to be spent on. Of course, I get all the apple pie stuff that part of the money will go to CCS, part to CCC and part to the municipalities. All apple pie. I say, “no Ronnie,” in particular, what individual projects or uses will this money actually be spent on. Now and the future. Ronnie then says, we are going to “educate the public” on all the good things we are going to use this new tax revenue on. I asked, when is this educating the public going to happen, the day after the election? It appears to me that the commissioners are wanting to raise taxes and then figure out where to spend the money. Inferring, “Just like the Democrats!”
Ronnie gets huffy because I am trying to get some straight answers from him about what this money is for and where it will go. Then Ronnie foolishly says, “it doesn’t matter what I say. You are going to write what you want anyway.” Of course I agree. What I want to write is the truth of the matter. And if Commissioner Vice-Chairman Ronnie Whetstine refuses to tell me the truth, that is exactly what I will write. With 100% accuracy. At that Ronnie Whetstine huffs off across the street to talk to someone else, apparently hoping that they are not seeking the truth from him like I was. Of course my thoughts are, If the Commissioners, CCC, CCS, and others are doing something good and wonderful, why are they refusing to talk about it? Apparently knowing that whatever they tell me, I will check it out for the actual facts. It is called “Checks and Balances.”
The foundation of our country. Whether Ronnie Whetstine or CCC’s Dr. Jason Hurst likes it or not.
Then, later on I see CCS School Board member Danny Blanton and ask Blanton what he wants to do with the new tax money. Blanton was crystal clear. I don’t want any more money (for CCS) until we get the mess we got straightened out.” I knew exactly what he was talking about and got another reminder of that mess at the School Board meeting two days later. More on that later. Stay tuned.
Then, I made a walking tour around the Court Square, spiraling outward, block by block. My conclusion was, just like the report the Commissioners don’t want to admit, Cleveland County is a dying County and Shelby, as Cleveland County’s County Seat is a dying city. No matter how many free festivals are held in uptown Shelby financed by stolen tax dollars.
Oh Yes, stolen tax dollars by the $million funneled into the American Legion World Series by the Commissioners under the disguise of lies and deception. Never once recognizing, much less thanking, the taxpayer as the source of most of the money for ALWS. That too is an Eddie Holbrook shenanigan perpetuated by County Manager Brian Epley and the Commissioners. One piece of rock-solid evidence, a $275,000 chunk, is provided at the end of this article for those die-hard fools who refuse to believe or acknowledge that they have been had.
Back to my tour.
Vacant prime location buildings on DeKalb and other streets in the first block away from the Court Square. The buildings and industries along the railroad are closed and decrepit. The Old Rogers Theater appears to still be old, empty and shunned, likely due to who the owner is. Morgan street-shutdown buildings. Washington Street toward the Hospital, the same. It goes on and on. And those high dollar buildings, like the Bank of Ozarks, the so-called home town bank when the Ozarks are about 1,000 miles away. Everybody knows about the failure there of the original “home-town” bank. The Old Farmer’s Market still looks like the old Farmer’s Market since it was the scene of the Rick Howell orchestrated deal several years ago where the City of Shelby lost it to foreclosure. Don’t know about the inside now as that was the scene of luxury condo renovation. The Shelby Police Building looks good though. At Shelby taxpayer expense. The nice court square buildings, once decrepit due to owner negligence, now look good after round after round of grants to fix the building were obtained to pay for the upkeep the owners wouldn’t pay for. Even the Old Courthouse, now the Earl Scruggs Center can’t pay their bills without large infusions every year of taxpayer dollars. All this info is from memory as I didn’t take any notes.
So, is that where the new sales tax increase will go? To fix up Shelby real estate to the profit of rich owners who won’t pay to keep their property up. One family comes to mind. The family who almost put the peanut business in bankruptcy when they refused to maintain their out of town peanut plant in sanitary conditions. And all the rest of Cleveland County gets nothing to show for from this tax increase. If history is a guide, that will be how it goes.
Folks, that is about it for this article. I don’t get to downtown Shelby very often as I don’t, as many don’t, have much business to do there. Even the Shelby Shag Club couldn’t find a place to have their dances in Shelby. They have their Dances in Kings Mountain. Is that prophetic or what? You make the call.
Oh, one more observation. Who paid for the 7th Inning Stretch big and expensive stage?? Is that another secret ALWS taxpayer fraud??? What about that Mr. Eddie Holbrook?
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