Your daily Letters to the Editor — Oct. 5, 2012
A case of Casey do-as-I-say hypocrisy
I never know if Dan Casey is intentionally trying to be funny with some of his columns, or if he is just oblivious to his own contradictions and hypocrisy. In the Sept. 23 column (“Disagree, but show all due respect,”) I expected to hear Casey espouse the virtues of listening to all sides of an issue while being respectful to those with whom you disagree. Casey did have an issue that he disagreed with, but he was far from respectful of those with opposing views.
His first fusillade was against the Roanoke Tea Party, a local political organization whose members disagree with the county’s membership in the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Their opinions are respectfully disagreed with by labeling them as a “ridiculous assertion,” “eye-rolling conspiracy theory,” “horse manure” and “nonsense.”
Casey’s real problem, though, was he didn’t like the replacement of the chairwoman of RC-Clear when her term expired. Casey then respectfully disagreed with Windsor Hills Supervisor Ed Elswick, who selected someone to fill the position, by calling him “passive aggressive” and accusing him of “score settling.” To top it off, Casey named his blog entry online “RoCo supervisor’s action was dumb and rude.”
William Hunter
ROANOKE
(Published Oct. 3)
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What are these supervisors thinking?
Thanks to Dan Casey (“Disagree, but show all due respect,” Sept. 23 column) for explaining the recent Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meeting at which the county’s membership in ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability was discussed and voted on.
We watched the TV version, and I was baffled by the succession of residents making the most outrageous statements from the rostrum. “ICLEI is out to take away your property rights.” “ICLEI is connected to the United Nations” (gasp!). “Climate change is a scientific hoax.” Etc.
Then came the vote. Shocked I was when two supervisors appeared to buy the arguments of the conspiracy theorists and voted against continued membership in ICLEI.
More here than meets the eye, I thought to myself. Casey’s article helped to reveal Supervisor Ed Elswick’s attitude. Shouldn’t we expect better from our county officials? Fortunately, three supervisors showed evidence of concern for and common sense about environmental sustainability. Good for them.
Tom Edwards
ROANOKE
(Published Oct. 4)
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Note from Dan: I didn’t write the headline on the column published in the newspaper or on Roanoke.com. Many readers don’t realize that, but those who deal with the press on a regular basis do, or, at the least, they ought to.
Anyway, I wrote the hed on the blog post. I stand by it, and everything else in the column.
October 5, 2012 - 1:30 PM
Some people literally do not get it, even when it is neon. If the subject had been biased blogs, then yes, Dan would have been a hypocrite. Since the subject was the County government, Dan was spot on in the way they behaved. FWIW, not to note the difference in subject matter seems to indicate your own failing, not Dan’s.
Bias is not what is bad. Lying, distorting facts and refusing anyone a chance to rebut, is what is bad. Dan cannot be accused of ANY of those things. And he certainly cannot be accused of being biased by some of the most biased people on the face of the earth. You are free to visit sites that cater to your tastes and echo your sentiments. No one is forced to read Dan in the paper or on this blog.
Dan is correct on the headlines, even commentary the paper publishes from citizens is given a headline by the editors not the writer.
So… you’re taking credit for the inflammatory headline on your blog, but not the more moderate and “respect”ful tone of the newspaper version? Interesting…
Sorry William Hunter, but I’m with Dan on this. The tea party’s “big bad UN boogeyman is comin’ after your Roanoke County farm” tin foil hat wearin’ hogwash is indeed a “ridiculous assertion,” AND an “eye-rolling conspiracy theory,” AND “horse manure,” AND “nonsense.”
too bad he doesn’t understand ICLEI
Mark,
You want me to apologize for not sugar-coating it enough?
Elswick’s action — not necessarily Elswick — was dumb and rude. It’s a slap in the face to a citizen who volunteered her time (which is rude) and it could discourage other citizens from volunteering (which makes it dumb).
I didn’t write the other hed, and frankly I think it’s a boring one. That didn’t prevent Bill Hunter from trying to hold me responsible for it, however.
too bad he doesn’t understand ICLEI
–Comment by pammala
pammala, I realize you’re an expert on the best temperature for a Slurpee machine, and on the difference between a Big Gulp and a Big Bite and whatnot. But you’re moving out of your comfort zone now. Careful . . .
(“Disagree, but show all due respect,”)
Dumb and rude.
The ironic thing is that Dan can’t see it. He’s the King of Disrespect for people with whom he disagrees but then he condemns disrespect for people he supports, even to the point of childishly using ridiculous pictures of female politicians that he didn’t like.
It’s part of the Democrat strategy of “We can do it but you better not do it” or to put it this way “It’s disrespectful to say Senator Al Franken is a big fat idiot”.
When Dan becomes an elected representative for anyone, then you will have a point, well not really, but you wouldn’t look nearly as childish and silly. Wanting politicians and public servants, even the arrogant know it alls like Church and Elswick to be respectful, has NOTHING to do with respecting the right wing loons who come to his blog of their own volition and insult his POV daily. Get a grip, you folks are falling apart and it is not pretty.
Your right Henry Dan does the same thing Rush dies to people he disagrees with. I don’t listen to Rush and I don’t like the way he treats those that disagree with him. Ditto for Dan.
There one phrase in Michael Howdyshell’s comment that struck me: “Rush dies.” I’m assuming he was talking about Rush’s ratings.
Hooray!
Does Dan I was at a football game. Why do you belittle those who disagree with you
Michael, my apologies. I didn’t know what you meant. “Rush dies” leapt out of your post at me, and I couldn’t resist.
Micheal Howdyshell:
Why does Rmoney belittle (to ultra-rich donors) those whose honest hard work earns them less than the poverty level?
danny you can dish out all the libbie garbage you want, you can call me names all you want, you can laugh at my spelling, grammar,, make fun of my mothers death and my paycheck…you are only showing lack of class and the fact that liberal have no tolerance at all for anyone that doesnt adhere to their philosophy,,typical and you just proved my point..at least I work for myself and dont answer to a boss at a libbie rag of a dying newspaper…lol
Rush rating are way better than your danny, jealous are ya?
you libbies keep referring to Romney as rmoney…ahh poor libbie coms..jealousy is not very pretty on those sad loser faces
Typical liberal dodge the real question