Many of you have expressed concern about the Route 113 railroad crossing in Milford. Here is the word from Deldot in cased anyone missed it Friday morning:

“Norfolk Southern Railroad is scheduled to provide repairs at the Route 113 rail crossing between the Route 14 intersection and Kings Highway beginning on Monday, September 8 and ending on Thursday, September 11, weather permitting.  Work will involve removing and replacing the rail ties, and repaving the roadway tie-ins.  The work hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.  Travelers should expect intermittent lane closures and delays each day.  However, both Route 113 northbound and southbound will have one lane open to traffic at all times.  Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in the area. For further information, please contact David Taylor of Norfolk Southern Railroad at (302) 398-5001.” 

 In addition the Representative for this district is Robert Walls. Here is his contact information:

Legislative Hall Office		Outside Office
P.O. Box 1401 Dover, DE 19903 302-744-4351		Carvel State Office Building 820 N. French St. Wilmington, DE 19801 302-577-8474

E-mail: robert.walls@state.de.us

One other note, the repairs to begin September 8th  will allow for some improvements, but full repairs are on the list for 2009, according to Rep. Walls. Any comments?

In good conscience I cannot stand by and watch a good man like Greg Hastings be savaged by friends of John Atkins. Thursday Mr. Atkins paid me a late day visit. Apparently I’m not following his script and serving as his campaign publicist. Until recent days I was neutral about the race for the seat in District 41. This despite a steady stream reaching my ears of vile allegations against Mr. Hastings, a man I believe to be good to his wife, his family and his community.

John suggests I don’t like him because he’s now a Democrat. No, Mr. Atkins, it’s because you accuse Greg of failing to show up for a candidate’s forum when the man is out of town attending the funeral of his best friend. In my church a factual omission is considered a lie. It’s because Mr. Atkins accuses Greg Hastings of turning hard working farmers into the environmental regulators when in fact Mr. Hastings responded to a constituent concern when the farmer dropped chicken carcasses on the property line. The buzzards that followed then decorated the neighbor’s home with droppings. Mr. Atkins, I support Greg Hastings because I find him to be an honest man, who stepped up to help his community in trying times, after you embarrassed your family, your constituents and your office.

I’ve been involved in political campaigns as volunteer or reporter for nearly 30 years. During that span I’ve only been impressed by just three people. A Democrat, Joan Christensen, serving in the New York State Assembly. Rick Guy, a conservative lawyer working for the federal government and maintaining his Christian principles in a partisan work atmosphere. Number three is Greg Hastings. He’s the type of fellow I aspire to be in my own life but so often fall short. He’s the type of man I someday hope my daughter and niece will meet. He’s the kind of Christian I long to be.

You, Mr. Atkins, from my vantage point, are a selfish man who believes he’s entitled to power. You are, from my view, a petty and vindictive man unable to come to terms with your own shortcomings. A man who wounded himself but only looks for others to blame and you twist the truth and smear good people to your own advantage. You’re right; maybe I don’t understand Delaware, however. Where I come from we don’t stand by in silence as good men are ridiculed and belittled and subjected to scorn.

Mr. Atkins, if you seek an enemy begin each day by staring into the mirror. I fear it won’t offer much reflection. The voters are likely going to send you back to Dover. You represent the weakness of most of us and that includes me. Mr. Hastings will move on but he’ll still have what’s most important in life. God, family and the respect of his associates. It profits a man not to sell his soul for the world but for the Forty First?

These two republicans face each other on The Dan Gaffney Morning Show next Wednesday 7am to 8am on 92.7 WGMD radio.  While we wait for the excitement of the debate, what are your thoughts on this race?  (the winner of Bennett vs. Baker will face Democrat Joan Deaver)

Mark Baker and family from his web site.

Judson Bennett picture from his web site.

The signs are a secondary issue. I can no longer remain silent. There isn’t any reason why Mrs. Hastings should pick up her home telephone to hear a man making threats on the other end of the line. The only woman in this race is also feeling the heat. Sources in the GOP tell me that Barbara has received threats by email. Is it open season on women? Then, again, a threat is probably considered mild by people who actually belt women.

It may be that none of the candidates are responsible. This is called deniability. It does tell us there are “friends” of a candidate more than willing to cross a line. Threats are serious in any campaign. It may be time for Mr. Atkins to order a cease and desist. I’ve not made any endorsement in this campaign because I trust in the voters of the district. Need I say more?

People tell me Barbara has raised this point before and the emails were nothing more than spam.  So when I learned of the troubles with Mrs. Hastings two weeks ago I asked many questions of political insiders.  Maybe Ms. Lifflander isn’t quite as erratic as often portrayed.  I’m not claiming any candidates are directly responsible and I’m sure they’ll agree threats have no place in this campaign. 

UPDATE

John Atkins telephoned me today and said he doesn’t like the implication he’s behind this sort of behavior. His point is taken. He also explained that it isn’t uncommon for candidates to get berated in public or at home by people opposed to a candidacy. So I will grant that he doesn’t condone such behavior and would like to see it come to an end, across the board. John suggests that signs and threats aren’t the real issue in this campaign but instead a dialogue between the Democrats and Mr. Hastings. Still no debate scheduled and John is willing. Mr. Hastings is on record saying he’s willing to debate but not until after the Democrat primary. I’m guessing Mr. Atkins sails through that initial process and that debating then commences. John also tells me modern technology makes intimidation and the defacing of campaign signs more and more unlikely. It’s likely someone may turn up with video of a vandal at work.

Atkins campaign signs get tagged.  Atkins supporters fight back with the “thank you” sign.

This sign was up for most of the weekend, but has been since been removed at the request of Representative Hastings.

Yes, it’s Joe!

Any thoughts?

We made the August 20th postings…

http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/

Long Neck, DE

Men sailing wooden ships across oceans were brave. A man flying a cloth wrapped box from New York to Paris was brave. The people going into space are the same. All I did was ride a bicycle but Wednesday I did pass a museum where these people are honored. Trying to sleep Tuesday night I imagined myself racing down the National Mall during the last leg of my ride, a Sousa march in my head. Yet when I got there and pulled the bike up beneath the gaze of Lincoln…

I pedaled slowly along the mall and stopped at the monument dedicated to the troops of World War Two. My ride was even slower at Capitol Hill. A suspicious backpack had been abandoned near a tree. I just happened to be on a bicycle, wearing a backpack and with a global positioning system on my back basket. I certainly got noticed! Once it was cleared up we went to the office of the Minority Whip and were escorted to the House Floor. The Minority Leader shook my hand and offered a thank you. His office had our petitions for about 40 minutes and then had us meet with the staff from our home district. Our local Representative doesn’t like returning our calls and the young lady we chatted with didn’t seem pleased to see us. Maybe they thought I wouldn’t make it? Matters got worse as our conversation in the “Cloakroom” was overheard by bloggers from Redstate.com and I believe a site called the Humanitarian. Redstate.com should have a notice about our arrival. Can I note she did accept the petitions?

Speaking of folks we met, I wish Jim Gerlach lived a bit more to the south. The Congressman from Pennsylvania appears to be a “regular” human being. He came by and spoke at length with Denny, Walt and me and is a most unpretentious man.

And can I give an endorsement for the Jamis Commuter? This well engineered bicycle handled open roads, rumble strips, old railroad beds, wooden planks, the bumpy trails at Rock Creek Park and the brick streets of Old Town, Alexandria. I’m in love. If we can’t drill and can’t use shale oil and can’t use coal and can’t use nuclear power then I guess I’ve discovered the Honda of the bicycle world.

I heard some news this week, in between stops, and it appears the “Peace Dividend” is a bit too 90s and Al Gore, well, he’s suddenly as relevant as love beads and the Pax Americana was a myth, as we learned 7 years ago.

I want my government to have some stones. I want the people serving in my government to have some stones. The folks I mentioned at the top had big sets and are now enshrined at the Smithsonian, in our hearts and our memories. Don’t let it fade away.

South Alexandria, Virginia

Day two started a bit later than Monday. I didn’t gobble breakfast from my open refrigerator. I fueled on pancakes at the hotel and then whipped across an urbanized stretch of suburbs and to a park and then down along Rock Creek. At one point I was pedaling along beneath a canopy of trees when a leaf fluttered down in front of me. A small but beautiful scene in a big and lovely park. Then the terrain got a little difficult. Some rocky and bumpy stretches of trail and my handle bars loosened. Luckily I was carrying my wrench and solved the problem when the ground leveled. Day two had its own brain meltdown. I reached a tunnel and walked my bike through it. Hugging the narrow walk at the side and someone told me later there is a bike trail around the tunnel but the sign is posted at the tunnel entrance and not at the trail. Day one had a boo-boo too. My mind on the ride I walked into a gas station and got distracted and walked into a ladies room. No ladies were embarrassed but I sure was as I was washing up when one walked in and asked if I’d made a mistake.

It was hot Tuesday in the Washington area but not as humid as I expected.

It also appears we’ve got the GPS working once again. Maybe that should’ve been my lead? This means you can track Wednesday’s leg to Capitol Hill. It should be cooler and I’ve no objections to the change in weather.

My last worry deals with the GPS. It’s mounted on a basket on the rear of the bike and it has batteries and wires and I’ll have the backpack tomorrow, stuffed with petitions. And I’m going into one of the most security-sensitive cities on the planet. Walt and Denny have called ahead and explained to the House Gallery and asked that Capitol Police be notified. I don’t have a scratch yet and getting slammed to the pavement could bring that to an end.

I’ve spotted some beautiful things, as I’ve mentioned, but was disappointed just east of Denton when I saw two American flags dumped on the shoulder of Route 404. And there is garbage too but nowhere near what I expected. There are also a great many cyclists in the immediate Washington area. Even some out in Glendale but the bike trail there was so quiet it was sometimes a spooky experience. Yet the trail is straight and smooth and free of four wheeled vehicles. We did see a gasoline price in Virginia today of 3.45.9. Are you happy hearing it? You know, your doctor can find just a little gangrene but it doesn’t mean the patient is getting well.

We’ve got a lot riding here and it isn’t only me. It can’t stop tomorrow.

Glendale, Maryland

At 4:30 P.M. I stopped pedaling outside an old unused entrance of the National Arboretum. Denny and Walt came by about fifteen minutes later and we called day one closed. I just climbed out of a long soak in the tub and after dinner it’s off to sleep. Tuesday we plan a trip across the northern and western suburbs of the big city. The Eastern Shore was nothing but a dash through low flat country before the heat of the day settled in. We’ll do most of our traveling early tomorrow and plan to spend Tuesday night near Mt. Vernon. This is more tiring than aching and a good night’s sleep should be great preparation. My preference would be to get day 2 out of the way early and then Wednesday it’s mostly a down hill coast until the last minutes at the far end of the National Mall. We’ll see you all soon and God bless.