Did Tea Party boss Chip Tarbutton give himself big ‘award’?
Chip Tarbutton and Greg Aldridge
Thursday we brought you the hilarious news that Roanoke Tea Party President Chip Tarbutton was the recipient of an award for “Environmental Exceptionalism.” It came from a bizarre outfit called Virginia Green Menace, which in fact has close ties to the Roanoke Tea Party.
I knew this because Tea Party honcho Greg Aldridge is Tarbutton’s ever-present sidekick. And it was Aldridge who presented the award on behalf the Virginia Green Menace.
Well, it turns out, the ties are even more incestuous than that. For this information I have to credit J.M. White, a relatively recent — and valued — regular here. JM did some digging, and this is what turned up:
1. VirginiaGreenMenace.com seems to be little more than a seldom visited hole in the wall where around four or five people pass links back and forth (very rarely) to one another in fits of obsessive, paranoid, atta-boy grab-assing. They’ve had five comments on their posts since November of last year, with the most recent one being posted in January of this year. Two of those comments are from the site’s four regular contributors. Basically, when [Aldridge] told Dan he couldn’t talk because he was setting up an event, they were probably just waiting in line for a six-top to open up at Ryan’s.
2. And to put away forever the assertion that this is in any way a legitimate award: a whois search reveals that the VGM website was registered by one Leslie “Chip” Tarbutton on 5-30-2011. Surprise! Surprise!
Basically, this “Environmental Exceptionalism” prize is the equivalent of a bank president instructing his VP to give him a “Best Boss” award. So … I go back to my original comment on this thread:
“When they get tired of blowing smoke up others’ butts, they just blow it up their own.”
Thanks, J.M.! So it seems what we have here is an internet circle-jerk populated by a handful of people from the Roanoke Tea Party.
By the way folks, here’s the Network Solutions whois page where you can see for yourself who registered the domain.
On the same thread, Greg Aldridge responded:
“As for Chip registering the website, that is false. The website resides on My personal server because I started it. The Domain name got registered by Chip because I was locked out of my domain account the day I was setting it up and he offered to help using his account.”
Note: When I called Greg Aldridge about the award Thursday he said he couldn’t talk because he was too busy. But he denied the award was an outrageous joke, no matter how much it seemed to be. (He was in the middle of setting up a Tea Party luncheon in Roanoke for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli).
In comments on the original post, Aldridge at first suggested the award was a satire aimed at Gene Marrano, for writing an article in the The Roanoke Star about himself (and others) receiving an award from the Cool Cities Coalition. But in later comments he insisted the award from VGM is real.
September 22, 2012 - 11:00 AM
This is really, really funny. How bored do you have to be to make up awards and give them to yourselves?
So what Marrano wrote an article about it? He and several other people were given the award at the same time. It wasn’t supposed to be hard-hitting investigative journalism…the Roanoke Star isn’t exactly that sort of publication. Dan tell us he when he gets various recognitions….so what?
LOL! Good one JM and Dan. (I think an article in the main paper would be appropriate for these hustlers.)
These guys are jokes. I don’t have a problem with people getting involved with politics, but creating your own organizations to pass awards back and forth is ridiculous. What’s even more ridiculous is the minions that follow these rejects and can’t see there is something wrong with them.
Actually the small number of participants makes me happy. It means very few are buying into the lunacy.
Dave. G
An article in the paper is just what they want. That just feeds their egos. Better to ignore the imbeciles.
I almost feel bad for the guy, but he kinda brought this on himself.
I like Aldridge’s response to it the most. He says that it’s false that Tarbutton registered the website. Then, he says that it’s true that Tarbutton registered the website… but he hosts and maintains it himself. So it’s true, but it’s false. Wait, no… It’s false, but it’s true.
Newsflash, Mr. Aldridge: I never said anything about who runs the website. I’ve run three websites that I neither owned nor registered, but I’m good friends with the people who did… which is the point.
I’m starting to see how people like this work. It’s a flaw in processing Boolean logic. I have a hypothesis about it, but I’m sure no one is interested in hearing what some poor hick tradesman from Podunk, VA thinks about true=false psychology in the paranoid mind.
Anyhow, thanks for the hat-tip, Dan. And thank you for the compliment, as well.
Thia link is on the Roanoke Tea Party’s site. Stop voter fraud, join the Romney election day task force.
http://www.mittromney.com/forms/apply-election-day-task-force-0
Looks like the Tea Party has plenty lemons.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/house-republicans-environment_n_1903647.html
They need to throw one of these awards to the House republicans.
How ironic Dan does a column on this. Is this really any different from the meaningless awards he receives from the Trial Laywers or the SCLC?
Since Dan’s not a trial lawyer it’s unclear how this is at ALL like your example, SuzieQ.
Fair’s fair…they need to come up with something to award Aldridge now.
#10 suzie, your jealousy is really unbecoming. What a twit.
Sorry for the typo, I meant to say it is not “run” by chip. again he did me a favor. Sorry If I don’t have an overabundance of time to devote to proffreading these discussions.
And dan continues to be asserting what isn’t true:
“In comments on the original post, Aldridge at first suggested the award was a satire aimed at Gene Marrano, for writing an article in the The Roanoke Star about himself ”
Again, I brought that up simply to defend the attacks as evidense of the hypocracy being commited by Dan and his commentors.
I did not make the claim that this was satire at any time on Dan’s blog.
Suze@10..
Of course the main difference in the awards that Dan receives from groups like those you mention is that he isn’t part of the paid leadership of them. You can argue the vaule( or lack thereof) of such awards, but you won’t find them devalued on the basis that Dan created these groups and then cooked up awards to give to himself.
This seems to be some kind of common practice among convervatives. Dr. Jerry Falwell was Dr. Jerry Falwell precisely because he created a university which awarded him a doctorate.
Go Figure.
“some poor hick tradesman from Podunk, VA thinks about true=false psychology in the paranoid mind.”
I’d like to hear about it. Nothing amazes more than stuff people believe. It’s my opinion that’s impossible to create a scenario too bizarre to exclude all humans from believing it. Someone will evaluate said scenario and no matter how convoluted or unrealistic, will decide it represents a good answer.
The sole purpose of the right wing media and their handmaidens is to perpetuate their lies, false and distorted memes and give a patina of credibility and legitimacy to their lunatic fringe ideals.
The lie that the main stream media, government and even local papers “don’t tell the truth” because they do not allow them to lie, mislead and distort the truth for their political and ideological gain has gone on long enough. Idiocy like this helps us show what they really are.
The internet has been “the great leveler” for their BS. Thanks to Dan and a the brave souls who try to refute the madness and keep their agenda known and disputed!
Let’s see now—
Trial Lawyers Association—A distinguished organization (bipartisan bhy the way) of attorneys who are on the front lines protecting their clients
and repreenting them in accordance with the legal framework establishe by the Constitution. Included are some Suzie favorites like Greg Habeeb, Bill Stanley, Morgan griffith and others.
SCLC– a large and very effective organization that for years has foughht and won hundreds of battles ffor civil trights and helped move America in a positive fashion toward raciaql equaqlity.
Virginia Green Menace— A group of five bitter paranoiacmen who intermittently exchange emails on a website and who are convinced that the UN is plotting to overthrow local governments (especiaqlly Roanoke County) and destroy everyone’s property rights.
Anybody see any difference in these organizations.? Yeah I thought so.
What was the point of even doing this? Is Mr. Tarbutton going to put it on his resume or something?
Marrano didn’t give himself the award. How does this situation even remotely relate to the award Marrano – and several others – were given? Just because he wrote about it? So what?
I do think the Virginia Green Menace would make an excellent Halloween costume. It’s sort of like the Jersey Devil, only more mythical.
The most amazing (and scary) thing about all of this is that in fifteen minutes of research, I was able to find both Mr. Aldridge’s and Mr. Tarbutton’s home addresses. I also know what I assume to be Aldridge’s wife’s name (or at least a relative who shares the last name), their “media group” and through the magic of google StreetView, even know what kind of vehicles they drive.
Now if I, poor stupid hick, can find all of this with an internet connection and minimal effort, don’t you think the U.N. could as well? Their pockets are just a little deeper than mine. This is where the conspiracy unravels. If he had any legitimate information on a fiendish plot to eradicate our property rights and create a one-world government, he’d have vanished by now. If I’m going to take over the world, I sure as hell am not going to let it be exposed and possibly undone by a small band of paranoid misfits in some mid-Atlantic backwater burg.
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It’s time to use that tinfoil to wrap up your leftovers, Mr. Aldridge. Again, if you had any real, damning knowledge and tried to expose it, you’d have been neutralized by now. You’re remarkably easy to find. Game over.
(Disclaimer: I will NOT release any personal information I’ve obtained on either Aldridge or Tarbutton. I may think he’s ignorant, paranoid and a ducking, dodging doofus, but he has every right to privacy. Besides, it wasn’t at all hard to find.)
I just find it hilarious that anything thinks the UN gives a rat’s butt about Roanoke County. When you can choose to invade and occupy trailer park-landia or Tuscany…seriously, what do you think they’re picking?
I can see the Virginia Green Menace as a cartoon character that is the nemesis of some super-hero, like “Poison Ivy” is to Batman…
You guys are all correct. If phony awards are going to be given for purely political purposes, they should be limited to actual awards . . . like say, the Nobel Peace Prize, right?
I like the comic book villain idea for the Virginia Green Menace. Are there any artists on the blog willing to give it a try?
“You guys are all correct. If phony awards are going to be given for purely political purposes, they should be limited to actual awards . . . like say, the Nobel Peace Prize, right?”
Chuck,
Boss Tarbutton’s award rolled off an ink jet printer. The Nobel Peace Prize is $1 million after taxes. It’s clear to everyone which one’s a joke and which one is not.
#21 I agree, Kristen, it is hilarious. It makes me laugh, but it also makes me want to cry that people are so stupid. Especially when elected officials buy in to the stupidity.
Kristen, Tarbutton will probably put it on his resume because he somehow thinks he has a legitimate political career. Perhaps it’s time to put up or shut up for Tarbutton and Aldridge. Run for office and see how much clout you really have. If you don’t win then fade away, please.
ICLEI poses no threat to any country. The growing epidemic of ignorance sweeping across this country poses grave danger.
Seriously, Chuck, comparing this to the Nobel? I saw where you attempted to defend pammalla and her ill-tutored filth. Is it worth the effort?
In that case, the Nobel Peace Prize is a million-dollar joke.
Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize “for extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The question we have to ask is who has done the most in the previous year to enhance peace in the world,” the Nobel committee chairman, Thorbjorn Jagland, said in Oslo after the announcement. “Who has done more than Barack Obama?”– LOL! I guess they didn’t plan on the president’s drone war and the Middle East being on fire just a couple years later. Oops! Yeah, this “prize” is a friggin joke.
Not agreeing with an award is not what makes it “phony”. Not that we expect you “low effort” folks to grasp that. The Emmy’s were pretty “phony” last night too. When you people chose not to get it, you do it in neon, every time.
31 – not to mention, at that time Obama hadn’t done a damn thing except get elected (with help from an adoring media).
Nobel Peace Prize – an award given by liberals, to liberals, for being liberal.
Good catch The Other Rick, can anyone guess why a Nobel or any other “Peace” prize would not be given to a NeoConservative? When was their last effort to broker a peace instead of drawing arms? When was their last overture of detente, diplomacy and disarmament rather than threats? FGS, Reagan invaded GRENADA! Go ahead, do the research…we’ll wait.
I like how no one can really defend the absolute phoniness of Tarbutton’s award. They have ZERO defense of it, so instead they parade false equivalencies. It’d be humorous if it wasn’t so pathetic and completely predictable.
Nobel Peace Prize > pseudo-”Best Buddy” award
That equation holds true in every universe, everywhere, ever. Now quit deflecting and stay on topic. Quantify (or even qualify) the legitimacy of Tarbutton’s award first, then we’ll talk about Obama’s Peace Prize all you want.
Somebody tell it to breathe before it passes out…
“dobbs says:
I like the comic book villain idea for the Virginia Green Menace. Are there any artists on the blog willing to give it a try?
Posted on September 23rd, 2012″
I think his sidekick should be a worm.
Somewhere, there’s a right-winger who desperately wishes the Nobel committee had awarded a Peace Prize to Hitler, or Stalin, or Mussolini, or some other less notable bloodthirsty dictator like Idi Amin.
Then they could REALLY have a ball criticizing the prize. Alas, it’s been handed out to folks like Martin Luther King Jr., Teddy Roosevelt, Henry Kissinger (really?), Jimmy Carter, Mother Teresa and (horror of horrors) Al Gore.
As for Obama, did he deserve it? Nah, he didn’t. But you can’t fault him for that. It’s not like he APPLIED for it or anything. He didn’t have any control over what the Nobel committee did.
Great reading everyone. I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the RTP’s weak arguments get treated like the thin paper that they are. JW, you make great points. Mind if I ask, what sort of tradesman are you?
JM,
Is it not possible to agree that the Tarbutton award is completely phony while also agreeing that Obama earning a Nobel Peace Prize (for nothing) is phony? It sounds like Tarbutton created his own award, which is sad. But Obama earning a Nobel Peace Prize for nothing other than his ‘soaring rhetoric’ is just as sad. I would say both ‘prizes’ are rather pathetic and predictable.
When was their last effort to broker a peace instead of drawing arms?
Ronald Wilson Reagan brought down the Soviet Bloc without a shot being fired. Where is his Nobel?
Meanwhile Nobel laureate Barack 0bama has proven the most bloodthirsty president in 40 years.
The Nobel Peace Prize is $1 million after taxes. It’s clear to everyone which one’s a joke and which one is not.
I think it’s hilarious Nobel had to reduce its prize money because it’s endowment is losing value. Seems European countries like Norway followed the economics advice of Nobel laureate Paul Krugman
And while we’re ignoring Reagan for bringing down the USSR (perhaps that was the problem), we should also note peace-loving Nobel recipients like Yasser Arafat.
Hey Contra…I have Word and a lcolor printer here at work, and have a few moments to spare. Anything you particularly feel like being awarded today? I could whip something up and get it over there in no time.
“Of course the main difference in the awards that Dan receives from groups like those you mention is that he isn’t part of the paid leadership of them.”
Neither Chip nor myself are part of the “paid leadersip” of either group.
Obviously, many of you seem to be filled with a lot of hate. I would like to encourage you to let go of your hate and learn to let people live their lives and be free. We would all be a lot happier. I guarantee it.
“Obviously, many of you seem to be filled with a lot of hate. I would like to encourage you to let go of your hate and learn to let people live their lives and be free. We would all be a lot happier. I guarantee it.”
I agree, Greg. Let people live their lives and be free from fiction masquerading as fact.
Greg, the only two local government officials who will talk to you guys are the two pandering whack jobs that the Republican Party won’t even have anything to do with. The Roanoker Magazine made Elswick a star by putting his picture on the cover and giving him a platform to criticize County government and the controversial Rec Center (the $35million thing your buddy Butch voted for). Now that he’s one of them he hasn’t done a damn thing he said he was going to do in that article profiling his candidacy. Butch Church, good ole family value Butch…..just ask any of his six ex wives. You guys are dangerous.
Electrician Mike: I’m truly a carpenter, but I do it all, from breaking ground and grade work to handing over the keys when a place is finished. I’ve worked highway, commercial, residential and private construction. I come from a family of carpenters and masons. I try to stay away from plumbing as much as possible, but I can do that, too.
Right now, I’m “doing time” as a property manager for 57 units in the Blackburg/Christiansburg area, but I’d love to get back to building things instead of maintaining them.
I also engineer, fabricate, invent and tinker (power generation and rainwater retention (a non-potable supply for flushing toilets, showering and washing clothes) primarily). I also specialize in providing long-winded responses to simple questions, apparently.
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matt: of course you can disagree with the merits of both at the same time. Even Dan has said that Obama probably doesn’t deserve his Nobel. Regardless, one has nothing to do with the other and this thread is about the RTP and VGM, not the Nobel committee or their motives. Again, it’s little more than a poor attempt at deflection from the topic at hand. For the record, Obama didn’t do squat to earn his Nobel, IMO.
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Mr. Aldridge: Still doing anything you can to dismiss your detractors, I see. I forgive you; it’s ingrained into your psychology, after all. I’ve not made one hateful statement regarding you or this issue. I don’t hate anyone, yourself and your beliefs included. This is America; you’re free to believe in any ludicrous ideas you wish, just as I am free to condemn or ridicule them.
I have nothing but pity for you, not hate. How sad it must be to believe that some organization is hell-bent to destroy your way of life and liberty and believe it so strongly that you’re willing to go to such lengths. It’s also sad that you can’t see that many of the people who started the cry about Agenda 21 all those years ago have now abandoned it. You’re just rehashing a rehash of a rehash and frankly, I’m still unconvinced.
What are your plans for the population of this planet when it exceeds 10 billion? How about 20 billion? You’re probably not worried about that, are you? Can you even see that far ahead or does your fear keep you myopic? By the way, that is the most effective means to control a population – fear. Just witness the last ten years as proof. If and when the UN comes to take away my property and ship me to a habitation zone, I’ll go down fighting it in a hail of gunfire and explosions. The difference between you and I? I don’t live my life in fear of it.
Anytime you’d like to enlighten us with your own ideas for the long-term sustainability of this planet, I’m all ears and would love to hear it. So far, you seem to be all smoke and no fire, though.
Oh yes, it is only our hate that cannot see your meritorious selection Mr. Aldridge. What gave us away?
Why did I know that Suzie would claim Reagan “brought down the Soviet Bloc”? Since the right wing is still terribly afraid of them and considers them “our No. 1 geopolitical foe”, I find it hard to accept that they are “down”, but no one credits Reagan with that feat except right wingers who remember selectively his brave words.
Nixon, Carter, Gorbachev and Yeltsin ALL had much more to do with the fall of the Soviet bloc than St. Ronald Reagan, who would be kicked out of the GOP if he was alive today.
Carter
Snicker. It’s hard to think of a Commie dictator that DIDN’T roll that guy.
I would say the #1 reason the left hates Reagan is precisely beacause he brought down the Soviet bloc.
No, no, Dano, I know the Nobel is a genuine prize. The joke was giving it to Obama for getting elected. Giving it away as a political gesture diminishes the integrity of the award and at the end of the day, isn’t a lack of integrity your real issue with the VGM award?
“Kristen says:
Hey Contra…I have Word and a lcolor printer here at work, and have a few moments to spare. Anything you particularly feel like being awarded today? I could whip something up and get it over there in no time.
Posted on September 24th, 2012″
Thanks Kristen, but I bought a document frame at the Dollar Tree today and it had a blank Certificate of Achievement already in it! So I just filled it out with my name and yours. We are now officially recognized as having achieved being Pretty Freakin’ Funny. I hung mine next to my 2nd grade Vacation Bible School Attendance/Memory Verse Award. You’ll have to make your own, though. Congratulations!
Thanks for expressing your ideas in this article. The other thing is that whenever a problem takes place with a laptop motherboard, individuals should not go ahead and take risk involving repairing that themselves because if it is not done right it can lead to permanent damage to the full laptop. In most cases, it is safe just to approach a dealer of a laptop for that repair of the motherboard. They’ve technicians who’ve an know-how in dealing with mobile computer motherboard challenges and can get the right prognosis and conduct repairs.
Yes, I think red sole shoes summed it up nicely.
Again Chuck, the issue is neither the “integrity” of the award or whether anyone/everyone agrees with it. The issue is that while a group, with a real agenda/purpose may give an award to anyone (i.e. the attendance at Sunday school and Participation at Camp) when someone involved with the organization then “wins” the award, even if it had been legitimate, few to none will appreciate the point.
The Nobel team gave Obama that award for what they saw and hoped would be “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” He did not lobby for it. He was not on the team that chose him. He has no ties to the organization whatsoever and in humbly acknowledging he felt he had not earned it, he gave his winnings to charity and tried to move forward with dignity. That you even keep trying to compare that to this clown cluster is patently absurd and shows your inability to go beyond partisan politics. Just like Tarbutton and Aldridge.
This “award” doesn’t even compare to the Ig Nobel Prizes.