The Forty First
August 27th, 2008 by Bill ColleyThe 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.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Bill, I believe the 41st district is becoming more of “WILD WEST SHOOTOUT”. I believe cease to desist order wouldn’t occur until someone esculates in retaliation. I believe these acts allegendly perpertrated by friends of a candidate, needed to be stop - NOW!!! The actions will hurt the candidates’ chances in this election. Will it take bloodshed or jailtime to end this?
August 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I find it very hard that in the 21st century a representative’s home would not have services like caller ID or call-back services. I find it also ironic that if Mrs. Hastings was so threatened by the phone call, then why she would call an afternoon radio talk show host rather than call the police. I’m wondering who really fabricated the whole story.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Doesn’t it seem as if things are getting a little childish in the Forty first??I am thankful that I do not live there!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Caller ID. We’ve got it at work. Sometimes it gives a name and number. Other times it gives a number only. Often it just says “Private”. You know, I believe John when he says he has nothing to do with bad behavior of some of his supporters and they’ve got no monopoly on bad behavior. I also believe John when he says he’s now a different guy, however. What I find truly offensive are former police officers who back him because the policeman may get a better chair in Dover. Would Pistol Pete back a reformed rapist or a reformed killer if it meant he could snatch more power? This is a dirty, dirty business.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:12 am
So Mrs. Hastings gets a nasty phone calls, speculates that it’s someone from Atkins’s camp and Atkins says we shouldn’t make claims we can’t back up.
An Atkins sign gets vandalized and with no proof as to who did it, he immediately blames Greg Hastings.
Double standard?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I am a constituent of the 41st District and a staunch supporter of John Atkins. Who are we to judge his personal life? Surely there are no halos hanging over any of us. So let us please move on from this issue which has been dealt with, whether you agree with the outcome or not, and Mr Atkins is able to continue to run for office as so many other politicians are who are far removed from sainthood and still remain in Dover or Washington.
I have personal knowledge of Ms Lifflander and would take her tales of threats via email with a grain of salt. Again, like some politicians, there are days that the truth alludes her as well.
Mr Colley, since you innocuously alluded to Mr Atkins past transgressions, I’d like to get your opinion on a story that your station posted just the other day regarding the recent arrest of Victoria Witherell, a deputy attorney general for a DUI. Not only was she arrested for drinking and driving, she has previously prosecuted alcohol related criminal cases.
I guess there is more than one fly in that ointment, huh?
August 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Getting slopped up and driving is O.K.? Ask the Biden family how it feels about drunk driving. And how about the abuse of power? And how about slapping around women? And how about ordering teenagers to lie and whatever else happened to that poor young lady? You people are punks! I’ve been silent too long. You people shouldn’t be allowed near voting booths. As of this moment I will make every effort to ensure Greg Hastings gets another term. This state needs good, Christian men in government.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Thank you, Mr. Bill! For standing firm on what’s decent and right. Sure, none among us wear halos…I guess mine slipped a few times but at the core of our being how can we continue to have people purporting to make our laws, run our lives and with the power/authority to punish those for that which they treat so lightly in themselves? Mr. Atkins issue may have been dealt with on some level but enough to where he can turn colours and try to regain his previous status? Sure, he has a right to try and whomever wishes has a right to vote for him…those who do get all they deserve and, frankly, that can be a good man who has already learned a very hard lesson or a politician who can work the angles. I hope, for all our sakes if he succeeds, it’s the former. But as to who are we to judge his personal life…who are we not? If he is successful HE will be in a position…once more…to believe himself to be above the countians by whom he is employed, many who undoubtedly have been more harshly judged for the same ‘mistakes’ as he has made but paid a higher price. Yes, it’s true we have too much of this in both State and Fed government and there’s my point. We complain…all of us…that we have too much yet some are only too ready to put those who ARE ’so far removed from sainthood’ back in a position they don’t deserve. THAT is why we continue to have so many in Dover and Washington. Maybe we need to examine why we even want such people in positions of clout and what we think we may benefit from doing so. Politics is self-serving…both for those who do the electing and those being elected.
Do your best Bill…on this one I’m with you 100%.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Perhaps we were better off with your silence. “Punk”? You must have reached far to pull that one out of your hat. And what is this “you people” you speak of? Your as ignorant as those you chastise.
And why didnt you answer my question? Are you condoning it because she is a female? What about good, Christian WOMEN in government?
As a voter in the 41st, I couldnt name three things that Mr Hastings has accomplished for us, and I pay real close attention to what goes on in and around the 41st, so why dont you get down off your high horse Mr Colley? I wouldnt ask Joe Biden for water if I were on fire considering he rather be known as “the third Senator from Pennsylvania” then appreciating the “DELAWARIANS” that gave him his seat here and he is supposed to represent.
Perhaps they need good, Christian “men” in talk radio as well.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Potnetsgal,
When someone steps into the political world thier personal life gets judged. We are evaluating whether or not they will make good decisions in the General Assembly. If someone cannot make good decisions for the welfare of thier own family, how can we trust that they will make good decisions for the welfare of the community. You want to mention all the other elected officials that have problems…just because it happens doesn’t make it right. When a consituency returns officials to office who have betrayed the public trust, that only shows a serious moral flaw in the consitutency. Look at Washington D.C., they sent Marion Barry back to City Hall hafter his drug/ prostitution arrest. No wonder they have the problems they do over there..poor, poor judgement. And it doesn’t matter about what halos are hanging over who’s heads..noone is perfect sure, but John is the one who entered the public eye. To paraphrase from Top Gun..He’s gotta be doing it better and cleaner than the other guy. Many people avoid political activity so they do not have to submit to the scrutiny of private life becoming public. John chose to open himself up, he has to be prepared to take those lumps as they come.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Crumudgeons: Are mockers and debunkers whose bitterness is a symptom rather than a disease. They cannot compromise their standards and cannot manage the suspension of disbelief necessary for feigned cheerfulness. Their awareness is a curse. I guess that means “you people” and us “punks” should agree with him at all times. I am with you on this one potnetgal.
August 30th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Potnetsgal, you are the “you people” you’ve referred to. Have you forgotten so soon that the disgraced, self-vanquished former Representative made himself into a pariah when - he had too much to drink, flashed his credentials in an effort to silence the O.C. cops that stopped him, got back behind the wheel after crossing the DE line, then later called 911 in a pre-emptive strike to avoid abuse allegations, then coersed a juvenile babysitter to keep silent about what she saw, then resigned office because he would have been embarassingly ousted from the DE House by his peers. HAVE YOU, AND OTHERS, FORGOTTEN WHAT A BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST WENT ON HERE? Is this the character of the person you want to represent your interests in the governance of our state? Are you so willing to accept such low standards? Do you think that past events won’t continue to affect John’s ability to be an effective legislator in the future? I think they will, and we have a right and obligation to uphold our representatives to a high standard. Until Greg Hastings proves he’s not deserving of our trust - he should stay. Atkins has failed that test - miserably! Plaudits to Nancy & Burntswamp, let’s send Greg Hastings - “the real man” - back to the House.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Gumboro - first off it is POTNETGAL, and proud of it by the way, secondly, living in the past only gets in the way, Thank God, Jesus only had to be nailed to the cross once, otherwise if you were in the lead, he would never have come down. Thats what makes this AMERICA and the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Just one last comment on this issue and as for me this subject is closed.
I take issue with being referred to as “you people”. Mr Colley stands on his soapbox and tauts the virtues of Greg Hastings, but no matter what the subject at hand is, Mr Colley finds it necessary to use derogatory terms in making his point, well shame on him. You are right Mr Colley when you say you are nothing like Mr Hastings, I am sure he refrains from using derogatory labels in making a point.
Of course, much like the TV and Print media, no matter what John Atkins has shown as errors in judgment with his behaviour, its not really news if everyone talks about all the good he did for the 41st district and his constituents. It may be more than making sure one of his voters no longer has chicken poop on his siding to worry about.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 am
I need my memory refreshed: John Atkins was guily of drunk driving & abusing power by flashing Delaware representative ID to Ocean City Md. Police. Bill Colley is techinally right & forget to mention: John Atkins & his wife were also drinking that night in Ocean City MD. I believe that explains John Atkins hitting his wife. Charges weren’t brought against John Atkins for so-called: “Intimidating” the teenage babysitter. If Bill Colley wants to leave derogatory post about me then I’m not dignifying him. He’s mister know-it-all that needs to be knock off from his high horse.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Roy, wholeheartedly agree with all you have said. However, what John did happened a long time ago and that certainly does not make it right. I mostly do agree with your statement about Mr. Bill Colley needing to be knocked off his high horse. Mr. Bill Rogers yesterday would not even allow a listener to call a candidate a “fool”. Mr. Colley can personally make derogatory remarks about anyone whenever the mood strikes him, either on air or in this forum. Furthermore, we are expected to accept it without complaining about it, either on the air or in this forum.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I guess i should start by saying that with all that has happened in the 41st
(mudslinging, trash talk, back stabbing and so on and so on) what issues can be solved if none of us vote for the rep. we choose is the correct one.
voting is like an opinon, you are entitled to that opinon. Now if i were to vote being unbias in my decision. It would be be for Mr. Atkins simply because of the OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION he keeps with his community, he doesn’t hide in his office or his home. John has always reached out to his people and done the best he could. Also, all of this christian talk about, good christian men and women…., A GOOD CHRISTAN WOULD FORGIVE, this is a word not many of you are famliar with. Where are those people you all speak of. If Mr. Atkins chooses to open his life for public examination, you (the public) shouldn’t poke and prod at that unless you are living a perfect life without fault or blemish.
None of us can say we are……When we do vote look past, THE PAST and vote for your future
September 5th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Are you kidding me? You really are critizing people that are not willing to vote for an alleged womanizing, wife beating, drunk who when he is eventually caught in the act he then abuses his authority, and then resigns his position so that no action may be taken against him?
Do you have that short of a memory?
How about all the mobile home people? They don’t remember how Atkins voted against their issues time and time and time again because he was a friend of Tunnell!!!
Now he’s trying to be the new messiah for mobile home owners and they blindly follow him like lemmings off a cliff.
Put down the Kool-Aid people.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
What happened wasn’t all that long ago…two years, despite the fact that Mr. Adkins (this morning on Jared’s programme) said it was ‘three Octobers’. I guess that sounds better..or longer. And, polotricks, I guess meeting you halfway in that if it were only Mr. Adkins life and that it affected nor encroached upon anyone else’s maybe I could agree that ‘we shouldn’t poke and prod around…except he wants public life so bad he can taste it and why would I want someone in a public position, helping determine what goes on in my county, my life, who has proven himself to be dishonourable. At BEST! How many letters, blogs, have been written, radio listeners calling in, people demanding that something be done about drinking and driving, that the penalties aren’t high enough for offenders and consequences too high for those who suffer because somebody decided all of that applied to ‘everyone else’ but “I’m different” and besides, “I have a Legislative I.D. card…look, see?”. And then defied the law by making a promise then breaking it when, apparently, out of OC police sight. Recently we have had callers and programme hosts discuss the need (or not) for a traffic light on Rte. 9 where a few serious accidents have taken place. An elected Mr. Adkins could very well help fight to get a light installed to ensure drivers can see and will stop. The very man who blew a stop sign that same October night. How much sense does this make to you…to anyone? “Do as I say, not as I do”…wonderful ways to live. And what do we teach our children? Integrity, morality, honesty…hopefully…then a long time friend of the family comes along and instructs them to be duplicitous, to either lie outright or by omission? He may have forgotten that…conventiently. You may have forgotten that because “its’ in the past”…but that young woman has not. Nor has her family, her friends. I don’t know the family other than in a slight acquaintanceship but it’s enough to know they have integrity, are upstanding, socially and professionally involved in their community and respected/respectable throughout. Oh…and guess what? They ARE good Christians. “Vote for your future” your say, polotricks? With John Adkins?? Ummm…no thanks. I’m looking for honesty, truth, integrity, ethics….oh, and a fully law-abiding citizen…to take office. AFter all…why not, especially when he (or she) has every right to expect me to be one.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Plowjogger, my memory is not short but, let me ask you what you are doing to help those moble home people..as a fact i’m one of them.
Also how many of us were there on the night all of this happened (i wasn’t )but i know how the media can use the infamous word (alleged) and what people in sussex county love more than anyhing (DRAMA) can turn those stories into, i don’t just mean ploitical figures either. Also Mrs. Cleveland I see your point and with you throwing around your legislative credentials of perfection. let me ask you this how many other stop signs did he blow through since he was 16, you see if you are willing to comment on the story make it the whole story not what breif you were given or heard . In your NARROW mind set you see things closed minded are you telling me that (1) persons not so perfect night has given you a life long opinon of that person. sounds shallow to me. but as i said earlier in my post, that is your opinon and i understand. Someday maybe I can ride a high legislative horse and look down on all of my loyal, hard working, ethinical citizens. Oh that are not perfect…enjoy your caviar!!
September 8th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
polotricks, I don’t, (never did), purport to be perfect and no, one ‘misstep’ in no way would have me opine or judge a person’s entire life. (And there was more than one misstep…not alleged but reported) I’m not judging Mr. Adkins…I’m saying I don’t want someone legislating how the rest of us conduct ourselves when that person, himself, defies many of the things by which we ‘minions’ are expected to live and abide by. Look, I was driving home today, just around 3pm when Bill C’s programme was about to start and there was John Adkins promo played. He ACTUALLY stated he “always does the right thing”. ???? No-one is riding a high horse but give me one good reason why principles, ethics, integrity and honesty is a thing of the past or even why the lack thereof should ever be acceptable in an employee…any employee. And if elected he WILL be an employee of every tax payer in this district.