10/3/2008 9:12am
Subject: Re: Mistake
From: Sallie [See, editor of the Hampshire Review]
To: Michael Hasty
Michael,
Why don’t you send me a press release on the Supreme Court hearing the Legislature’s appeal in the case. [sic] I’m not really interested in a first-person op-ed at this point.
Thanks,
Sallie
10/4/2008 1:30am
Subject: Re: Re: Mistake
From: Michael
To: Sallie
Sallie,
In the past couple of years, you have published at least three personal reflections on the “tribunal” issue, that I can recall, by people who I know for a fact have not attended a meeting of the Committee to Reform Hampshire County Government in more than three years, if ever.
Yet now, in the week when the West Virginia Supreme Court meets to hear arguments in a case that has been historically unprecedented from the beginning—presented by the state’s pre-eminent constitutional law scholar, Bob Bastress, one of the losing candidates in this year’s Supreme Court Democratic primary, to Chief Justice Spike Maynard, the other losing candidate—you don’t want a first-person observation from the guy who wrote the first draft of the bill that resurrected the issue in 2005, after the House failed to pass it the first time; did all the back-door negotiations with the Attorney General’s office to get their cooperation on the bill; recruited Bastress as pro bono attorney in the case; personally talked House Political Subdivisions Chair Tim Manchin into leading the way to finally get it passed by the House in 2007 (though not the Senate); has written three major op-eds on this issue prominently featured in the Charleston Gazette; was the only—repeat, only—citizen of Hampshire County to attend all three circuit court hearings, in which we, the plaintiffs, won on every single count; and knows all the Legislature’s lawyers on a first-name basis.
You are not being honest, Sallie. It is extremely disappointing to me, your former friend, that you are as big a liar as your husband Charlie, who has never, in five years, had the courage to admit to anyone that I quit, and he didn’t fire me, because I injured his precious little male pride.
Please do not publish my op-ed. Pay a reporter to write your own story.
Fuck you,
Michael
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2 comments:
Michael,
I have been reading your blog with interest and I thought I would interject a quote from an original pantheist, Chief Luther Standing Bear, from his 1933 autobiography:
“I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating of life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures and acknowledging unity with the universe of things, was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization.”
Michael, welcome to Hampshire County. You have rediscovered the reality behind the façade of the great natural beauty of our county -- and “our” is the preeminent word.
Because of the inherent elitism of our county they know their place and yours, as you’ve been reminded. I have lived here for 35 years and have instigated eight grievances against the county or WVSD&B (most in the last 10 years; one ongoing) over my rights versus their right to trample them. Every grievance stemmed from an arrogant disregard for basic civil rights.
Michael, there will never be a tribunal in this county because that would mean shared power – a violation of their culture and traditions where the masters of the estate make all decisions, never bowing to the plebian class. After all, they have worked for generations to assimilate their powers and they certainly are not going to be dictated to by an interloper like you!
Hey Mike, You really ARE radical, no wonder I liked you as soon as I met you today in Hedgesville. We share many similar beliefs about our great state and the folks who run it into the ground on a daily basis, we are kindred spirits in the fight to bring real democracy to our state. Welcome aboard, we have many friends in common and I look forward to seeing and hearing from you much in the future.
John Christensen, Berkeley County, WV. jbc4re@yahoo.com, please keep in touch!
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