Sex vs experience.

My mother had 2 bumper stickers on her Honda Accord -"Muller for Mayor" and "Hilary for Senate". She lived in Pa., coulddn't vote for Clinton but sent her money and supported in any way she could. She even visited my sister in NY and went a Clinton rally during her 2nd campaign for the Senate. My mom wouldn't vote for Sarah Palin and I don't think there are a lot of Democratic Clinton supporters who will find a first term Governer from Alaska a good reason to cross the aisle and vote for an anti-choice campaign that doesn't support universal health care; that thinks the economy is OK' and doesn't support equal pay and rights for women.
I have to wonder about the judgment of a politician who spends 4 months criticizing his opponent on his lack of experience and then goes and chooses a running mate with less experience than his opponent. If McCain was serious about Obama's readiness how can he possibly believe that Sarah Palin is ready to run the country if something happens to a man who will be the oldest President ever to take the oath of office if, through some terrible lack of judgment, voters send him to DC.
I admit that I had reservations about Obama's readiness for the top job. I believe in his positions on the issues and planned to vote for him but McCain clearly got points for simply being around longer, Now I have much graver doubts about the GOP's ticket's qualifications to hold the enormous power of the Presidency. This appointment make McCain look disingenuous at best, a flaming hypocrite to some.
Over the years I have worked with a fair number of female elected leaders. I know how good they can be and I have no illusions about sex being a barrier to effective leadership, wisdom and success. I also have no illusions that being President is not a job for that anyone is fully prepared for (Hell George W still hasn't figured out how to do it). But I do know that some experience dealing with national issues and bureaucracies is really helpful in being effective. Witness how Hilary Clinton got burned on health care early in her husband's administration. There are too many smart powerful players in DC to risk our fates to an untested newcomer from Alaska.
John McCain had a chance to appeal to disgruntled Democrats but I believe he missed it. He could have chosen a moderate like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman. He could have shown he is not scared of or intimidated by the social and religions conservatives of his party. He could have built a coalition that moved to the center of this country and built consensus. In contrast he choose a social conservative. yes she is a she but that doesn't make her right on the issues that matter to Hilary voters.
It will be interesting to see how this decision plays out. To see if Palin's (alleged) attempts to get her brother in-law fired from the State Police comes back to bite her or if McCain's desperate gamble helps unify his party and helps him in the polls.
If you enjoy thinking about issues like this, if you are concerned about the futuer of our state and nation or if you just like hot dogs then join me and the rest of the Dare County Democratic Party on Labor Day, Here are specifics:

Dare County Democratic Party Labor Day Rally
Monday, September 1, 2008
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cartwright Park, Manteo
(at the corner of Bideford & Sir Walter Raleigh)

Come on out and kick-off the fall election season
with your friends and neighbors
from across Dare County!

The picnic is FREE and open to everyone!

It will be held rain or shine.

Hot dogs, potato chips, side dishes, & soft drinks will be served.

Please bring a dessert and your lawn chairs.

Ciao

45 Years: How much progress?

Barack Obama, a black American, will accept the Democratic nomination for President exactly 45 years to the day after Martin Luther King's famous "I have a Dream speech". That speech was given as part of a rally for civil rights, at a time when society was still segragated and race based oppression was an overt element of American life. It is certainly a remarkable day when the race of a presidential candidate seems less of an issue than his political views.
We can be proud of the progress we have made in providing equality of opportunity in this country but we still have enormous race based problems in this country. From rural NC to inner city NY the divide between poverty and progress remains largely a racial one. I don't have the statistics but I don't need them. It is too easy to look at the faces in Columbia NC and around Columbia University and understand this truth.
Take a minute to listen to King's dream, we have reached a day when white and black children play together. We have reached a day when the people are largely not judged by the color of their skin but by the color of their character. We have not reached a day when all Americans can stand together and sing Free at Last, Free at Last. We will get one step closer today but the dream is not complete.
There is still a lot of work to be done.

Ciao

Sorry KDH aka I missed this

Nags Head's web site has a notice that Dominion Power will begin work on new power lines along Rte. 158 shortly. Personally I like the look of the large poles without service lines in Nags Head south of the YMCA. I also respect the KDH view that they only need one corridor for power lines (There is only one in Nags Head).
The other side of this issue is that as much as local government may try to control (or over control... or ruin) their turf, there are some forces that simply walk all over them whenever they want. Charter and NC Power in particular do what they want when the want and don't really answer to the towns. The gas company moved without town franchises as well. They have less impact now but could have more later. Of these, Charter is by the worst. They basically told Dare County to buzz off when the county asked for a change in cable service. They told the county "it didn't fit their business model" despite county appeals for community service.
Dominion/NC Power works hard to avoid confrontations. They have great people with really good political skills. John Hughes (long retired) and Michael Thompson (now based in Raleigh) have few peers in developing commonality of interests with local governments. However on the few occasions where these efforts fail they know how to work the rest of the system to get their way. as KDH has recently learned.

The other side of this is that NC Power/Dominion has done a good job in improving service on the Outer Banks. Our rates are as low as any in the state and the company is a leader in the electric utility industry. Look for them to get the first permit for a new nuclear generating plant in the last 20+ years next year. Their North Anna reactors have helped dropped our rates from highest to lowest in the state of the last 2 decades.

Final note: NC Power was smart enough to wait unitl after Labor Day to start work on this project. Backing up summer traffic would not have made friends.
Ciao
PS. I am pretty sure we only own one house. Since I don't earn $5,000,000 per year I guess I am not rich. I can only hope that John McCain is ashamed of himself. I believe he knows how important the issues are that face this election and the Barack Obama is qualifed to be President. Why can't he just talk about what ails us? Why won't Obama? Why don't I?
We won't start to solve it until we do!

Irony or hypocrisy

There is a fine line between an ironic comment and one that is simply hypocritical.

It was just interesting to me that here we are, you know trying to promote peace and harmony, and we're witnessing a conflict take [sic] place.

President Bush comment from the Olympics on the conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. From another leader it comes off as sincere and a timely comment but from a leader whose country has been at war through now 3 Olympics the words are weak , even meaningless. Bush sounded sincere, does he not understand see the irony (lacking insight) or is it just words (hypocrisy).

Hey OBR - Please Don't Throw Me in that Brier Patch!

Rant Warning!! Read on at your own risk!

In the past month or so my "good friend" Monty has floated a couple of his favorite fishing lures in my direction, hoping I would take the bait. Now trolling on blogs is nothing new but then neither is the kind of wobbly, weak willed waffling that waxes forth from the forum that calls itself the Outer Banks Republic. Monticello may feature Greek Revival architecture but Plato this guy ain't, more like Pluto (the dog of cartoon fame).

In July Monty held forth on Nags Head's commercial design standards. He allowed he didn't like them because they seemed to make everything look the same. He welcomes the gaudy colors of Central Square after the dull tones and design of the Y. He suggests that we are stopping the true entrepreneurs from building unique (and attractive) buildings ala the Galleon and George Crocker.
The bitch this month is that the town has committed economic suicide by dropping the maximum commercial building size from 50K to 40K (sq. ft). He further suggests that this action was taken not so much for clear policy reasons but to stymie the development of a new Food Lion store about 10 feet from an existing one. He suggests the Town's motives may not have been pure and that now they will suffer the consequences because commercial developers will not want to develop in a town that may change the rules to block them.
Hey Monty - Please don't throw me in that brier patch!!. Imagine a town that suddenly didn't sprout new strip malls and Wings every 30 minutes. Imagine a town that had a comprehensive view of itself that included a nod to its architectural heritage. Imagine a town that chose to control its own destiny and not be stampeded by the scare tactics used by developers all around the world.
I cannot count the number of times I have been told a given regulation would mean economic doom for the town. Larger lot size requirements - impossible, landscaping and drainage requirements- no one will build - size limits on homes - down right unconstitutional and un-American ( oh and no one will build smaller homes ).

Well guess what. The developers kept coming every time. Property values increased and businesses kept coming. Yes, the market now is down but not just in Nags Head, everywhere. Nags Head's attempts to control both residential and commercial development have led to a better community. Even Monty, in a brief moment of clarity, allows:

There is no denying that Nags Head projects a unique (and decidedly better) look than either Kitty Hawk or Kill Devil Hills.

Why is this, because the town decided a long time ago that the town - not the developers - would decide what the town looked like.
There is a funny story about a national bank that wanted to locate in the town. They wanted some additional curb cuts and lot coverage. Meeting with town officials they announced that these issues were "deal breakers". The town planners explained that the rules meant what they said. The bank said you don't understand unless you give us what we want we won't build here. At this pointthe town folks (much to the amazement of the developers) got up and started to leave. If the bank couldn't build to town standards then the bank wouldn't be built. Meeting over.
Long story short the bank was built to Nags Head's ordinances, the concessions weren't deal breakers at all. In fact the very reason the bank wanted to be in Nags Head was because its rules (development standards) had created a good place to live. visit and do business. Bending the rules, or even allowing them to be circumvented, doesn't work and it certainly doesn't create a attractive community.
The real question here is not what Monty thinks or even what I think but its what the Nags Head voters think. Given that Nags Head has been governed by the same people making pretty consistent decisions for the last 25 years it seems the voters aren't at all unhappy with the decisions or the way they are made.

Enough rant for now.
A few observations. If Nags Head has erred it is in not going far enough and not working harder to create buy-in from business interests and the community at large. The problems I see come from businesses that try to beat the regulations rather than embrace them, Wings is a good example. The town has allowed a fair amount of variety in external look and design. I think we would be better served to tighten up and create a more uniform look, especially commercial structures. It will give Nags Head an even more unique identity in the increasingly look alike beach town look nationwide. Beyond that Nags Head needs to do more engage developers who want to build in the town and help them understand why we think the rules will help (not hinder) their projects. (I did not do a good job of this as Mayor)
Monty suggests there is no unique Nags Head style. I disagree (with the pinko - punk). Residential design in Nags Head incorporates elements that fit well in the area: Wide porches that provide shade and catch the wind; Durable siding of cedar shakes that need little maintenance and bear rough weather well; Roof pitches and dormers allow use of the top floor for sleeping quarters. I could go on but you get the idea. No not every building in Nags Head had these elements but the roots are there and the look is both attractive and accurate.
Why shouldn't Nag Head embrace these elements? They are our roots. They make sense in our area and they look good. What has the market brought? Cookie cutter boxes built to maximize space and minimize cost. Boring, look alike bungalows, that have no unique attributes besides their blandness. You can look like everyone else or look different, I believe (and even Monty believes) that the unchecked developer look sucks.
Finally, Monty suggests the decision to reduce the max building size was triggered by the possibility of a new Food Lion rather than some profound policy analysis that demonstrates that one number is better than another.

In this case, the suddenness of this proposal came on the heels of street talk concerning the purchase of one large parcel in Nags Head and the desire of Food Lion to abandon its current store at the "Staples" center in favor of a newer, larger store at the new parcel. It is not unknown for Nags Head to act pre-emptively, as local observers recall the rush to pass new "kitchen" rules in order to prevent the old cinema location in town from becoming a night club.

So what? Nags Head passed a new standard for restaurants to make sure that what was proposed as a restaurant was, in fact, a restaurant. The alternative was a long battle with the business over a use the town didn't want. Nags Head does not allow free standing nightclubs. Existing dance spots all incorporate restaurants. Should we allow the Casino to redevelop? Maybe, but if we do it will be with appropriate standards for a dance club not under the guise of a restaurant. The new standards have not restricted the development of legitimate restaurants but they did clarify the town's desires. I could point to countless rules passed to ensure the town's vision was realized and developer's attempts to circumvent the town thwarted. Often these changes were triggered by potential developement plans. Is that a bad thing? State law is very clear about when plans are vested in the town's rules (unaffected by changes). Most development deals include a provision that the deal goes forward only when permits are issued. Developers aren't getting hurt and they certainly haven't stopped trying to build in Nags Head.
On the other hand I can point to changes that facilitated the Y, the hosipital, Nags Head Elementary School, the Village at Nags Head, Jockeys Ridge visitors center and on this list goes on. Many more changes have been made at the request of developers than to block them. When a George Crocker comes along the town will be ready to help. We haven't seen one in a long time.
Whats more each change has had merit and stood on its own as a consistent policy, if not the town would have not won the lawsuits that challenged some of those decisions. Yes, the town changes the rules and it does so in a lawful manner with best interests of the town at heart, which is more than I can say about Food Lion.

Ciao
Note. If you want to know what I think of chain businesses read this post.
Note. 2. I misrepresent some of Monty's views. As usual he hedges pretty hard in both posts. To that extent that I simplified his views I apologize. Read the posts to get the full story!
Note 3. I really like OBR a lot. It is a good well written blog all that stuff about Plato and Pluto was just to get you interested. If you read this far then it worked!!

Interesting Question: What if Edwards had won

From the N&O a blog piece on the big yawn that John Edwards gets these days. It does raise the interesting question "What would happen if the former NC Senator had won the nomination"? Not sure I know the answer but it wouldn't be pretty

Third Update: The dean of the Washington press corps dismissed Edwards' political future on "Meet the Press."

David Broder said he never thought there was any likelihood that Edwards would be the vice presidential nominee again, but he worried the revelation would hurt the next president's ability to ask the American people to sacrifice.

"He's not really very important in American politics right now, but I'm afraid this will just deepen the cynicism that the American people feel towards politicians and politics," he said.

Meantime, Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot, no fan of liberals, congratulated the Democratic electorate on "their wisdom" in not nominating Edwards, saying the party would be in "desperate straits" right now if it had.

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne agreed, saying that there would be talk of an open convention, with Edwards delegates rebelling, if he had won the nomination and the affair came out.

My guess is that he would try to shoulder on, meet a revolt at the convention then see someone elxe nominated.
I guess this shows how bored I am with the current level of political debate. How about you?
Ciao

NYT McCain’s Green-Eyed Monster - Op-Ed -

Maureen Dowd gets in right in her New York Times Op-Ed piece on just how badly the last generation's leaders resent Barack Obama. She chides Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson for they their obvious resentment to the new politcal star in the American firmament. She saves her sharpest jibes for celeb-star wannabe John McCain:

The Arizona senator who built his reputation on being a brave proponent of big solutions is running a schoolyard campaign about tire gauges and Paris Hilton, childishly accusing his opponent of being too serious, too popular and not patriotic enough.

Even his own mother, the magical 96-year-old Roberta McCain, let slip that she thought the Paris Hilton-Britney Spears ad was “kinda stupid.”

McCain’s 2000 strategist, John Weaver, was equally blunt with Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter: “It’s hard to imagine America responding to ‘small ball’ when we have all these problems.”

Now Paris Hilton is responding to McCain's video ad with an ad of her own calling the candidate "old" and "wrinkly". Of course McCain's campaign flaks decided that Paris really likes the old guy but the video doesn't really go that far.
Let's hope the polls show McCain that is imitation of Bush/Rove tactics is not what people want right now. Lets hope he decides we need a real debate on policy and vision.

Ciao

Still here

A view of the Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station.

This seems to be the slow time for local blogs. OBR and Ronnie Roach's Outer Banks Real Estate have been moribund and I have been downright lazy about posting. Thanks to those who have sent regards.
Mostly I have been taking pictures and working on several public service projects including the Outer Banks Community Development Corp. and bringing some nonprofit training classes to the Outer Banks. Going to the beach, doing some cheap beach reading and messing with pictures can fill a pretty good day.
The best way to see my photos is the Flickr slideshow.
A few thoughts:
National Politics: How desperate is John McCain? His recent video attacks on Obama have the eerie resemblance to Bush's attacks on him before the SC primary a few years back. Going negative this early just makes McCain look like the tired old-line politician he really is. I have to believe that the American public is smarter than that.
ORV in CHNS - good to see Cape Point open but the latest violation in the Salvo area sounds really violent. Why run over an egg unless you are trying to trigger a reaction. Don't count on the bill overturning the consent decree going very far. Even if it makes it out of the Senate (some chance) It will go nowhere in the House. Walter Jones doesn't have the clout to get it passed nor does he have enough friends on either side of the aisle to move it out of committee much less pass it.
It hurt to hear the NPS say they supported the consent decree, one more sign that it represents to minimum restriction that will come from neg-reg.
Real Estate - Ronnie Roach posted the truth about local real estate sales. For a little perspective read the article in Vanity Fair about the market in the Hamptons on Long Island. The very high end (over $25 mil) remains strong but the middle market ($2-$20 mil is very soft). Here is what they market was like.

In hindsight, which is the only sight there is in real estate, the giddy Hamptons market hit its peak three years ago this month. That was when any fool who’d paid $2 million for a house a few years before was doubling or tripling his money. Every carpenter and electrician was a spec-house builder, and all their wives were brokers, and the similarity to shoeshine boys trading stock tips in 1929 was lost on all. As sales flattened through 2006 and 2007 for houses in the $1-million-to-$9-million range—which is to say, for 90 percent of the market in this privileged preserve—the story was obscured, not merely by brokers eager to keep the party going, but also by the headline-grabbing sales of houses at the high end. That changed last March. “Once Bear Stearns happened,” says one real-estate broker, “the high end came to a screeching halt.”

Sound familiar.
I keep waiting for the Euro to become the common currency of Outer Banks real estate. Property here is a steal compared to beach homes overseas. If the Dutch can buy Budweiser they can buy the beach road.
More from Vanity Fair:

Europeans are circling, that much is for sure. A sign in the window of the Loaves & Fishes Cookshop catering business on Bridgehampton’s Main Street says it all: we accept euros. (At Loaves & Fishes’ wildly extravagant food shop in Sagaponack, the price of lobster salad, always the annual benchmark for Hamptons excess, is thus either $100 or 63 euros per pound this season.) Prudential’s Jane Gill, a former Ralph Lauren model, reports “a lot of Germans, a lot of Brits” for high-end rentals. “A hundred thousand dollars is nothing to them.”

If I were renting or selling I know where I would be looking for growth.

More when I get back from the beach... and work on my photos.... and read that trashy novel ... and take a nap....and ......
Ciao

This shot was the picture of the week on The State of Things radio on WUNC FM.