http://pittcountynow.com Tue, 7 Sep 2010 04:52:02 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/388/41/liberaltarians-the-new-political-activists-in-bed-with-ron-paul-and-barack-obama.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/388/41/liberaltarians-the-new-political-activists-in-bed-with-ron-paul-and-barack-obama.html A growing number of the American youth is bridging the gap between American liberalism and Libertarianism as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And by ‘youth’, I’m sadly enough referring to a certain class of people under the age of 40; specifically the ones who still frequent bars and get the bulk of their news from The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

It’s as if they don’t realize, or care, that the economic components to American liberalism and Liberta... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:43:48 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/384/32/perry-v-schwarzenegger-california-becomes-the-latest-battleground-for-gay-marriage-rights.html Ripped from the headlines…

On August 4, a federal court in California struck down the gay marriage ban, popularly known as Proposition 8, and handed a victory to thousands of gays and lesbians who demanded they be entitled to “marry” their partners. Civil unions weren’t good enough, for in their eyes they are a “separate-but-equal” classification that made them feel like second class citizens. True equality was their desire. From plaintiffs’ standpoint,... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:56:51 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/380/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-economy-part-i.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/380/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-economy-part-i.html (The twin disasters of the Stimulus Package and the response to the Gulf Oil Spill)

Or maybe he just continuously takes is eye of the ball. Then again, I rather like the Kanye West’s approach to summing up complex issues, as he did in his evaluation of George W. Bush’s response to the Hurricane Katrina natural disaster. In fact, maybe Kanye could write this piece himself about Barack Obama’s apathy towards the economy; however, considering Kanye’s education level an... Read More]]> Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:46:54 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/352/32/outrage-muslims-plan-mosque-at-ground-zero.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/352/32/outrage-muslims-plan-mosque-at-ground-zero.html Thanks to the incredibly successful third-annual Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce Olympic and Sprint Triathlons, which was held last Saturday, over 300 triathletes from across nine states now have our own Washington, North Carolina, circled on their events-destination maps.

In 2007, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Catherine Glover tapped into her youthful creativity and connections to reach this unique demographic of competitive athletes, and three years later, 350 triathlo... Read More]]> Mon, 2 Aug 2010 14:56:12 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/349/32/immigration.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/349/32/immigration.html "It's a Sad Day When our President Twists our Constitution to Protect Illegal Immigrants Rather than Besieged American Citizens"

We have a President who is complicit in the flagrant lawlessness by illegal immigrants. Arizona takes the first step to stop him.

Immigration is a bitterly contested issue in the United States right now. Currently, there are about 10.8 million illegal immigrants living and working in the shadows. It is approximated that at least 1/3 of all Hispanics a... Read More]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:59 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/345/32/charges-of-racism-are-hurtful-for-both-sides.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/345/32/charges-of-racism-are-hurtful-for-both-sides.html Publisher's Note: Diane Rufino delves into a subject that has long been one of her major concerns - racism. Many Liberals strongly believe that, "it is high time to have a national discussion on race." Well here it begins from the bowels of Beaufort County Now: Diane Rufino Style.

The Author's Note: The theme originated as a post on my blogsite. The article below actually represents a running thread of several posts and includes comments which criticize my points. The criticisms are clearly... Read More]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:58:21 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/340/32/the-secondary-effects-doctrine-and-religious-respect.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/340/32/the-secondary-effects-doctrine-and-religious-respect.html (how this doctrine can be applied to our current dilemma over Religion - to help get it back into our Schools and into public life, without offending the current “Separation of Church and State” jurisprudence)

In light of the serious consequences that have resulted directly from the removal of religion in our schools and in our society, I wish to propose a possible legal pathway to the re-introduction of religion.
There is a doctrine, called the “Secondary Effects” d... Read More]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:31:39 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/316/32/constitutional-watch-christian-legal-society-v-martinez-the-supreme-court-just-doesn-t-get.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/316/32/constitutional-watch-christian-legal-society-v-martinez-the-supreme-court-just-doesn-t-get.html Christian Legal Society Chapter of the University of California, Hastings College of Law v. Martinez Fall Term (October) 2009, Decided June 28, 2010

On June 28th, the Supreme Court handed down yet another disappointing and discouraging decision regarding religious expression and association in this country. It seems that the Court with the responsibility to preserve the intention and integrity of our Constitution and to see that it is faithfully executed and respected, has turned its back on th... Read More]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/314/32/constitutional-watch-the-mcdonald-case-the-supreme-court-gets-it-right.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/314/32/constitutional-watch-the-mcdonald-case-the-supreme-court-gets-it-right.html On June 28, 2010, the Supreme Court decided one of the most important Second Amendment cases in U.S. history. McDonald v. City of Chicago. It marks a huge victory for conservatives, for Constitutionalists, for the NRA, and for common sense. This case represents a consolidation of cases filed against the Northern District of Illinois against the City of Chicago and Village of Oak Park challenging their gun ban laws which prohibit the possession of most handguns. Petitioners challenged the Chicag... Read More]]> Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:39:44 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/310/37/government-interests-illegal-alienage-and-the-innocent-underclass-an-equal-protection-overview.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/310/37/government-interests-illegal-alienage-and-the-innocent-underclass-an-equal-protection-overview.html Most of us have heard of Arizona’s new, much-maligned statute that requires cops to question anyone appearing to be in the country illegally. Regardless of whether Arizona’s law presents practical or constitutional difficulties, many Americans have been encouraged to see state legislators attempting to take a proactive stance against those who insist on entering and remaining in the United States illegally—persons whose undocumented status is largely ignored by federal immigrati... Read More]]> Thu, 8 Jul 2010 11:18:04 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/299/9/what-is-going-on-with-the-hospital.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/299/9/what-is-going-on-with-the-hospital.html Publishers Note: Generally, we mostly just publish Delma Blinson's excellent well-considered news and commentary on the on-going condition of the public school system, and how it each of us; however, this treatise on the condition of the Beaufort County Medical Center is so thorough in its questioning of its past and current practices that I would be remiss if I did not provide this fine opinion piece to our readers.

Mr. Blinson's editorial begins with the premise that he recieved an MP3 ... Read More]]> Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:17:16 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/293/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-environment.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/293/17/barack-obama-doesn-t-care-about-the-environment.html I know he cares about staying in office, and when possible, does as his constituents wish, but does he truly have a passion for saving the fragile wetlands and estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico from the onslaught of oil currently spewing from British Petroleum’s destroyed Deepwater Horizon rig? I don’t believe so.

Just as Kanye West announced to the world, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” when making an analysis as to the effectiveness of the Bush Admi... Read More]]> Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:29:38 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/286/31/at-odds-with-freedom.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/286/31/at-odds-with-freedom.html The United States of America has a beautiful and amazing history. Our success has been the catalyst that set most of the world free. It is our freedom that has attracted intelligent and creative people from around the world in pursuit of their dreams. Our tremendous success is not a result of some genetic trait or an evil conspiracy. Our success is the result of freedom - economic, political, and civil liberties. We are not by any means perfect and we have more recently developed some serious pr... Read More]]> Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:53:16 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/280/32/across-the-great-divide.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/280/32/across-the-great-divide.html Publisher's note: Diane Rufino, our most prolific contributor of Greenville, wrote this article with the collaborative efforts of Ron Pate of Clayroot, also of Pitt County.

As we all know, this is an election year and a lot is at stake. The present administration shows no intention of slowing down or changing its dangerous course. And conservatives show no intention of slowing down their attempts to usher in “real change” in November.

As Mike Hayes and I have been able to underst... Read More]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:25:15 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/256/32/back-on-my-soapbox.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/256/32/back-on-my-soapbox.html Publisher's Note: This submission is the continuation of a multi-part series that began as a give-and-take retort blast between senior contributors Mike Hayes, in the Liberal corner, and Diane Rufino, in the Conservative corner. Contributor Hayes intiated this verbal slugfest with his submission "Physician Heal Thyself." The question remains: Who will end this "knock-down, drag-out"?

I thank Mr. Hayes for his thoughtful response to my piece, “Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace.”... Read More]]> Mon, 24 May 2010 12:38:24 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/253/17/at-least-eric-holder-appears-to-be-an-honest-man.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/253/17/at-least-eric-holder-appears-to-be-an-honest-man.html He just also appears to not be that smart. Of course, he could just be lazy, which gives him a dang good excuse for not being that smart. Regardless, he does pose an accurate reflection upon the Obama Administration, which is: Maybe they are all just an extremely lazy bunch.

Recently this was all revealed before the House Judiciary Committee, on May 13, 2010, upon a direct query by Representative Ted Poe, R, Texas, Attorney General Eric Holder admitted: “"I have not had a chance to... Read More]]> Mon, 17 May 2010 12:13:15 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/242/17/no-habla-ingles.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/242/17/no-habla-ingles.html Today on Mothers’ Day at 3:22 p.m., with a house full of mothers from all sides of the family, I was interrupted by a constituent, Neil Keech, from the North Creek precinct - Schrams Beach neighborhood. Now I don’t mind constituents calling me on any given Sunday; actually, if they relate the point rather quickly, as Neil did, I appreciate them ever so much more. However, Mr. Keech took my appreciation to an even higher level. Neil related to me an issue, which he folded into a st... Read More]]> Tue, 11 May 2010 13:24:53 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/231/18/ding-ding-ding-diane-round-three.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/231/18/ding-ding-ding-diane-round-three.html Publisher's Note: This submission is the third in a series that was initiated by Mr. Hayes' treatise, "Physician Heal Thyself," regarding the subtle positives inherit within the political / governing machinations that is today's brave new world. Resident Conservative editorialist Diane Rufino offered her obvious retort and there you have it: Round 3, with Mr. Hayes finding his voice to espouse his fresh counter point.

Diane Rufino's most recent article gives a very cogent and convincing argu... Read More]]> Mon, 3 May 2010 11:47:09 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/230/32/speak-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/230/32/speak-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace.html This article is in response to the article, “Physician, Heal Thyself,” by Mike Hayes.

I enjoyed reading Mike Hayes’ article very much. I couldn’t agree with him more about the need to appreciate societal progress, but it should never be at the expense of individual liberty. That is my personal opinion, of course. The role of the government is to provide and protect Equal Rights, not equal things. Unfortunately, people have watched the government try to embrace soci... Read More]]> Mon, 3 May 2010 11:43:26 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/229/31/understanding-your-thinking.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/229/31/understanding-your-thinking.html Understanding how we, as humans, think and behave requires knowing a bit about the way life developed. As far as we know, humans are the most intelligent and complex life forms in existence. Our capacity for understanding the world has surpassed what is required for us to survive. This doesn't in any way mean that we are all geniuses; it simply means we might all be capable of understanding much more than most of us seek to understand.

Some believe that our large brains are actually an interna... Read More]]> Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:32:40 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/225/18/physician-heal-thyself.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/225/18/physician-heal-thyself.html The American experience of a representative democracy is certainly not the most efficient political system devised by man, but it is the best attempt to balance out the needs of both individual liberty and societal progress. However, the current political and social milieu belies the strength afforded by our founders intention. We are currently heading down an internal path that is destructive in both intent and content.

Please allow me to explain in more detail.

The American relationship be... Read More]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:34:03 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/224/32/rage-against-the-machine.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/224/32/rage-against-the-machine.html I am writing this article about the week-end leading up to “Wreckonciliation Sunday” – March 21, 2010 – the day the Republic died. The day the government voted to take over Healthcare. The day the government voted to take away personal choice. The day our elected officials ignored the will of the people and took that huge leap down the road to socialism. Two very precious American ideals died on Wreckconciliation Sunday - the idea that we are a republican form of gover... Read More]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:12:55 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/214/17/just-a-few-thoughts-before-we-turn-down-that-road.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/214/17/just-a-few-thoughts-before-we-turn-down-that-road.html Presently in the United States of America, it is a road that is inevitable, and incalculably the wrong way. I found the beginnings of that inevitable path when I represented Beaufort County at the NACo (National Association of Counties) Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. That portal to tomorrow’s America is one that steal’s one’s individuality and repays us in the unification of a different day.

Now, we must all agree that a different day will surely embrace us all, ... Read More]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:13:09 EDT