"I have never been involved at any point with the group in a formal or informal way."

--6th district congressional candidate Mark Walker, in the N&R, backpedaling furiously from his suddenly-toxic supporters in CGGC.

What counts as "informal" involvement? Anyone got pics or docs or anecdata to share re Walker's closeness with the group?

FWIW, I was leaning toward Walker in the run-off. 

Comments

[Roch]

You voted in the Republican primary?

[Joe Killian]

I don't know what informal involvement means, necessarily, but from the story:

"Walker did, however, give money to the group. According to state records, he made several donations totaling $210 between May 2012 and July 2013. Walker said he didn’t specifically remember those donations, but he guessed they were part of political fundraisers thrown by the group for other candidates.
Berger also made a $70 contribution to the group in 2011 and $140 in 2012."

[Fec]

Yesterday, I was sitting at a light beside Walker's wife. She looked over, saw me staring at her, and visibly shuddered. I get that a lot.

[Ed Cone]

Roch: Sorry to be unclear, I meant my rooting interest in the run-off, based on his likability and grass-roots effort and the possibility that his time as a pastor might, maybe, perhaps make him a gentler voice in Congress than Berger Jr. When I do get to vote, it won't be for either man.

[Spag]

Walker will survive (that doesn't mean win- Berger has the upper hand before all of this), but if he puts the Scarlet Letter on C4GC, they won't.

[John]

Pretty sure that Walker used to be the pastor at the church where all these nitwits attend.

[Roch]

I see, Ed. I was wondering if you'd changed lanes.

[William Monney]

John, Jeff Hyde supports Berger not Walker. Wasn't Hyde a founder of C4GC? Maybe there is something to Walkers statement.

[Hartzman]

NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT

Phil Berger, Jr. REP
14,502..... 34.31 %
Mark Walker REP
10,865.....25.70 %
Zack Matheny REP
4,927.......11.66 %
Bruce VonCannon REP
4,847.......11.47 %
Jeff Phillips REP
3,303.......7.81 %
Don Webb REP
1,769.......4.18 %
Mike Causey REP
1,193........2.82 %
Kenn Kopf REP
454..........1.07 %
Charlie Sutherland REP
413...........0.98 %

= 42,273 REP votes
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US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 06 - DEM (VOTE FOR 1)
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT

Laura Fjeld DEM
17,482.......56.63 %
Bruce Davis DEM
13,387........43.37 %

= 30,869 DEM votes
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If Zack, Bruce and Jeff's REP votes go to Walker

4,927 + 4,847 + 3,303 = 13,077 plus Walker's 10,865 = 23,942 to Berger's 14,502, some of which he will lose and/or gain from a month of negative tactic feedback.
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If Berger wins, Ed Cone and friends can be counted in the "I made that happen" camp.
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I severely think you folks should consider the unintended or otherwise consequences of what you are doing...
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Ed is effectively endorsing a candidate to win the seat who he ideologically despises, but who is a member of his socioeconomic class.

Be careful what you wish for.

The Republican candidate will most likely win.

Would most here prefer Walker or Baby Berger?

I have met and interviewed both men.

Be careful of what you wish for Ed.

[Ed Cone]

Now I wish I hadn't filed that lawsuit.

[Hartzman]

If you help bury Walker, you elect Berger Jr., and his dad, and Karl Rove and the like to more access to power.

What would Walker do that the Bergers and friends wouldn't that more supports your base line?

A good chunk is my guess.

Would you rather have a music teacher that knows how to listen and adjust or a pawn of the establishment?

You might not want to answer that one.

[Joe Killian]

A little earlier in this comment thread someone stated that Jeff Hyde supports Berger not Walker and asked if he wasn't one of the founders of Conservatives for Guilford County.

Hyde was one of the founders of Conservatives for Guilford County and one of its most vocal members at its beginnings. More recently he's had less to do with the group, however, and has been concentrating his energies on his work as co-director of the Justice For All NC Super PAC.

I haven't spoken to Hyde recently about who he supports, but finance records show that last December he gave $2,600 to Walker for NC.

[Ed Cone]

Thanks for the info, Joe.

George, just to be clear -- am I surreptitiously working to get Berger Jr elected because after all these years I'm a secret Rovian, or am I just a useful idiot for writing about big local news that might harm Walker?

[Hartzman]

I think you're having fun with some who aren't in your circle of friends who you can kick while they are down.

You defend/ignore Mike Barber's public corruption, which is also a "big local story", bigger I would say, but love this one.

You ignored Koury's public corruption but love this one.

You ignored defaulted City provided loans for Nancy Hoffmann's cronies...

This is "big local news" because the players are easy targets that don't include some of your well heeled acquaintances.

In the process, I think you are "surreptitiously working to get Berger Jr elected".

I have found that you tend to defend what's in your best interests to defend, and enjoy piling on the ridicule for those who you don't have an interest in.

[Andrew Brod]

Ed, you're like a one-man Illuminati!

[Bob Grenier]

".....I just a useful idiot for writing about big local news that might harm Walker?"

Why don't you write about how Killian framed the story to fit his meme, one that ignored the pertinent facts of the matter?

Let's start with this: the suit is titled Adkins v. Martin, not C4GC v Martin.

[Andrew Brod]

Well, that's an easy one to debunk. The suit is actually Adkins, Adkins, Riddleberger, Riddleberger, and Conservatives for Guilford County vs. Martin. So C4GC is indeed one of the plaintiffs.

[Bob Grenier]

W"ell, that's an easy one to debunk."

Really?

Let's get Killian to ask the attorney who filed the case why the attorney added C4GC to the case, and who from C4GC specifically gave him permission to do so.

He won't, because he doesn't want to get an answer that blows his "Let's Make It All About C4GC" crusade.

[Ed Cone]

All my years of blog posts and newspaper columns advocating for higher marginal tax rates, universal healthcare, reduced defense spending, gay marriage, more regulation of the financial industry (the one that paid George until its obvious corruption became undeniable and business went south and he suddenly grew a conscience), and against the inordinate power of moneyed interests -- all revealed as an elaborate, deep-cover Rovian ruse to elect a guy I'm on record as planning to vote against.

And I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids!

Bob, your story has changed from "the group named on the suit is not named on the suit" to "the group named on the suit shouldn't have been named on the suit," which is a much more interesting assertion. Are you saying the attorney acted without the knowledge and permission of the other plaintiffs?

[Joe Killian]

I have a call in to the attorney that has yet to be returned.

Would be glad to ask him that and a number of other questions.

[Bob Grenier]

"Bob, your story has changed from "the group named on the suit is not named on the suit" to "the group named on the suit shouldn't have been named on the suit"

No, thats just your wrong interpretation, one which you came up with to shape the message you're sending.

I find it interesting that you have not removed my comments on this thread, as you have done in every previous comment I've made since you renewed activity.

[Hartzman]

Again;

"You defend/ignore Mike Barber's public corruption, which is also a "big local story", bigger I would say, but love this one.

You ignored Koury's public corruption but love this one.

You ignored defaulted City provided loans for Nancy Hoffmann's cronies..."
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And now you and Andrew's buddy David Craft, who served on the GPAC "Citizen Engagement Committee", is going to cash in on a new hotel with Lomax downtown.

Nice.

Looks like David stood to profit from more than $50 million in taxpayer funded spending while you guys were lobbying for the GPAC.

[Axelskater]

I did not support either one of them in the 1st election.
I am not a member of C4GC and I think most people would know that for an absolute fact I never have been. I could care less about their law suit or membership minutiae. I have never attended or been associated with any "Tea Party" group for that matter, just the GC GOP and before that the YR's.

But I wholeheartedly hope Berger Jr. does not win, as over the past year I realize I misjudged PBJ, and had a lesson in how some things in NC politics work. I don't really like what I saw then, or today. I saw a few nasty behind the scenes tricks over the last few months that made me ill. I just want someone in congress who will at least listen to me - and other Republicans of all types, and Unaffiliated voters, and Democrats. I think in this run off only one of those people will do that.
I don't have to agree with him on every issue. I just have to know he'll at least listen to me and consider all of the 6th in his decision making process.

[Hartzman]

Looks like David Craft enabled profit for himself via everyone else's debt;

"...We should use our survey efforts as a two-way communication tool
in order to share historical and other perspectives on Performing Arts Centers (“PAC).

- An idea was shared to conduct a Poll
in order to educate the community about our efforts.

However, the poll we are suggesting is an awareness poll
– not an opinion poll.

http://www.gpac2012.com/assets/docs/GPAC_citizen_engagement_minutes_3_1_12.pdf

[Andrew Brod]

1. It's David Craft's brother Daniel who co-owns the land on which the Hampton Inn will reportedly be built. I don't know how that family works, but I don't share my business profits with my brother.

2. The Hampton Inn will be at the other end of downtown, so it's more likely to benefit from overall downtown development than what's generated specifically by the TangerCPA.

3. There's nothing unethical about a private citizen advocating for downtown development and then not benefiting from it. Even if David Craft were to benefit in a direct way, that's hardly unethical.

[Andrew Brod]

Of course my saying that just exposes my conflict of interest! How will I benefit by making the above points? Not at all! But that's not the point in Hartzmanland. I'm Facebook friends with David Craft and therefore I'm part of the plot by which... um, David gains nothing. It's a textbook conflict of interest!

... in Hartzmanland.

[Andrew Brod]

I just got a Facebook notification from David Craft about his Thirsty Thursday thing! The plot thickens!

[Ed Cone]

George, I hope you're happy now. Karl just sent a message via my secret decoder ring saying I'm out. He even called me a traitor to my (alleged) class. That really hurt. Your allegations against Barber were, to choose my words carefully, silly; details have been discussed here previously. The list of people who ignore your claims is very nearly coterminous with the list of people who are aware of those claims, in part due to your extraordinarily elastic version of guilt by association -- I honestly don't even know what you're talking about in regards to David Craft, who must have forgotten to mention it at the last cabal meeting.

Bob, this is the first time in a while you've managed to make comments about the topic, rather than the author, which is why your comments are still up. Those comments are factually wrong -- the suit does name C4GC as a plaintiff, no matter how often you say otherwise -- but they are relevant. Gold star for Bob!

And so back to George: Like Bubba, you are not welcome to make endless off-topic personal attacks here. You're free to comment, and to be wrong, but keep it on thread or watch it disappear.

[john hayes]

Not so fast, Ed. How do you explain away your involvement in this?

The ribbon from an omphalos teaches the pocket related to another waif.

Sometimes an amorously rascally taxidermist wakes up, but the necromancer

beyond a taxidermist always gives secret financial aid to another bicep!

A niggardly midwife self-flagellates, but the cleavage goes deep sea

fishing with a amour-propre related to the bonbon.

The hardly comely gonad approaches a snow from the bicep.

Most people believe that a dilettante ostensibly takes a peek at a starlet

behind the mastadon, but they need to remember how completely the

ballerina toward a waif panics. The Interloper, although somewhat soothed

by a rapacious gonad and an irreconcilable fetishist, still avoids

contact with her from a bubble bath around a mastadon, can be kind to her

a rapacious girl with a clock, and makes love to the dark side of her

midwife. Some maestro falls in love with the piroshki.Sometimes a self-actualized

piroshki self-flagellates, but a bonbon living with a piroshki

always satiates the labyrinth! A lowly bride, a bubble, and a girl are

what got Mitzi into trouble. Sometimes some ungodly omphalos ruminates,

but a boy behind another omphalos always avoids contact with the strawberry-blonde tenor!

Most people believe that the girl assimilates a coward, but

they need to remember how barely a coward behind a philosopher daydreams. Indeed,

another maestro from a philosopher sanitizes an alchemist.

Most people believe that a cup feverishly admonishes a mastadon toward a marzipan, but

they need to remember how usually a somnambulist takes a coffee break.

Now and then, the midwife falls in love with a midwife living with a

mirror.

[spag]

Unless C4GC were not authorized as parties, they are parties.

Bob, you have to concede that this suit was very dumb.

[Roch]

""You defend/ignore Mike Barber's public corruption" -- George "Make the world a better place despite me" Hartzman

Ed is too polite in calling that accusation silly. It is loathsome. It relies on a willful misrepresentation of a sequence of events and a refusal to incorporate all of the facts. Now I'll be polite: you've destroyed your credibility, George.

[Andrew Brod]

He did that already.

[Ed Cone]

John, do you have a random-word generator or was that an actual cut-and-paste from Hartzman's blog?

Brilliant in either case.

Axelskater, tell us more about what you saw from the Berger campaign.

[Hartzman]

Are you fellows saying Barber didn't omit his taxpayer funded benefits for his non profit on his City Council financial disclosure or First Tee's tax returns?

Are you saying Mike didn't put 24.5 cents of every taxpayer subsidized dollar he raises into his pocket in 2012?

No problems with Mike's accountant going from about $2,000 to $15,000 from 2011 and 2012 without explanation, after he donated to Barber's campaign, and filed his campaign finance forms without charging the campaign?

No problem with Barber and his accountant refusing to release their 2013 990?
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"Your allegations against Barber were, to choose my words carefully, silly"

Ed Cone
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No problem with First Tee donating $10,000 to the Wyndham and then the Wyndham donating the money back months later?

[Ed Cone]

We've discussed this in detail elsewhere, George. Many people, including me, questioned the high ratio of executive pay. Pretty much nobody but you and Billy confused First Tee providing services to the City with the City providing services to First Tee.

Now let's stick to the topic, please. Karl Rove wants it that way.

Still hoping Axelskater will elaborate on this: "I wholeheartedly hope Berger Jr. does not win, as over the past year I realize I misjudged PBJ, and had a lesson in how some things in NC politics work. I don't really like what I saw then, or today. I saw a few nasty behind the scenes tricks over the last few months that made me ill."

[Andrew Brod]

Correction: According to the N&R, David Craft is an owner of the parcel of land in question. The BizJ story I first saw mentioned only his brother.

It's still not unethical.

[Roch]

"No problem with Barber and his accountant refusing to release their 2013 990?"

When is that due?

[Ed Cone]

Seriously, though, let's move that discussion elsewhere. Thanks.

[Roch]

Seriously though, when is that due?

[Spag]

"The Interloper, although somewhat soothed by a rapacious gonad and an irreconcilable fetishist, still avoids
contact with her from a bubble bath around a mastadon". That is right up there with "crabalocker fishwife".

Axelskater, don't indulge Ed's request. He's digging for dirt with partisan motives.

[Hartzman]

"Tax-exempt organizations must make annual returns and exemption applications filed with the IRS available for public inspection and copying upon request..."

http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Exempt-Organization-Public-Disclosure-and-Availability-Requirements
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When is Form 990 due?

Form 990 is due on the 15th day of the 5th month following the end of the organization's taxable year. For organizations on a calendar year, the Form 990 is due on May 15th of the following year.

http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Public-Disclosure-and-Availability-of-Exempt-Organization-Returns-and-Applications:-Public-Disclosure-Overview
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I asked for them from both Barber and his accountant in writing, and Barber on a phone call.

[Roch]

"I asked for them from both Barber and his accountant in writing," -- George

You asked for it before it was due and publicly portrayed that as a "refusal" by them to provide it. You are dishonest.

Thanks for the accommodation, Ed. I thought it was important to pin this deception down. I'm done.

[Ed Cone]

Uh, Sam? Didn't you hear I'm working for Berger on the down low?

Anyway, Karl says hi.

[Stephen]

I'm enjoying the different, sassier Ed. You can come to the Cabal meetings now, Mr. Cone.

[Hartzman]

Mr. Barber refused to provide them on the phone.

Made the point of saying he would not provide them.

Most non profits are already done, like Wyndham's, which were due to the city 90 days after year end.

Either way, the question is how much he paid himself in 2013, which he refused to disclose on the phone call we had.

Mr. Rossabbi appears to have been retained, considering our correspondence.
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"Your allegations against Barber were, to choose my words carefully, silly"

Ed Cone

[David Craft]

Sorry, I missed all the excitement a the mention of my name.

Yes I own a small interest in the property where a Hampton may go. I have owned this almost 8 years, well before any discussion of a GPAC. The site is a half mile from the GPAC site.

Now that Hartzman lost his paying gig he is back at shooting at shadows.

Wasn't this post about Mark Walker to begin with?

David Craft

[Hartzman]

Brazil made 247,500 in 2010 as Wyndham's Director, and the Wyndham gave First Tee $4,994;

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/566/085/2010-566085407-07209b36-F.pdf

Took $270,000 in 2011, as First Tee got #30,000;

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2011/566/085/2011-566085407-080d3d42-F.pdf

In 2012, Brazil made an even $300,000, and First Tee got $3,000 + $10,000 + $68,115 from Wyndham, 24.5 cents of every dollar of the money First Tee from $107,000 City of Greensboro taxpayer subsidized Wyndham went directly into Mike Barber's pocket.

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/566/085/2012-566085407-09410f2f-F.pdf

In 2013, Brazil made $341,925, and First Tee paid Wyndham, yes, paid Wyndham $10,000.

[Andrew Brod]

A word (and number) salad likely to be tossed (get it?) by Ed.

[Ed Cone]

Hard to shut him down when other people keep engaging with him.

[Andrew Brod]

Oh, so it's my fault now?

I don't mind his ramblings. I mean, it's random meaningless stuff and I'm saddened by his need to print it (my jabs at him notwithstanding), but it's oddly compelling.