Gaston County Community Talk

01/21/2025

16-year-old Nicholas Felix left his parent's home. He was scheduled to work on Sunday the 19th, but his manager called and told his parents that he did not show up. Nicholas's hair is now cut short. He also has several cognitive disorders and has reportedly quit taking his medications. If you see him, please call 704-866-6702.

01/21/2025

01/18/2025

Today in Gastonia

01/11/2025

Judicial Integrity in Question: Analyzing Allegations Against North Carolina’s Supreme Court

By Scotty T. Reid

Recent decisions by the North Carolina Supreme Court have sparked widespread debate about judicial integrity, impartiality, and adherence to constitutional principles. Critics, such as legal scholar Gene Nichol, allege that the court's Republican majority has abandoned traditional judicial norms, favoring partisan interests over the rule of law. These allegations, if true, raise profound questions about the role of the judiciary in safeguarding democracy.

The Core Allegations

The allegations center on a series of high-profile cases, including *Harper v. Hall*, *Holmes v. Moore*, *Community Success Initiative v. Moore*, and *Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. v. Board of Elections*. Critics claim that the court's majority has demonstrated:

1. Disregard for Precedent: The court is accused of overturning established legal precedents without sufficient justification, undermining the stability of North Carolina’s legal system.

2. Excessive Deference to the Legislature: By granting what Nichol describes as “near-idolatrous presumptions of constitutional propriety” to the Republican-controlled General Assembly, the court has allegedly abdicated its role as a check on legislative power.

3. Partisan Decision-Making: Decisions like removing Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from the ballot and delaying certification of Justice Allison Riggs' election have been criticized as overtly partisan maneuvers designed to favor Republican interests.

Judicial Norms and Oath of Office

Judges swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and administer justice impartially. When courts overturn precedent, rehear final judgments, or defer excessively to another branch of government, their actions invite scrutiny. While the judiciary has discretion to reinterpret laws or reverse flawed precedents, critics argue that the North Carolina Supreme Court's recent actions reflect a troubling pattern of partisanship rather than principled legal reasoning.

A Notable Exception

Justice Richard Dietz, a Republican member of the court, has emerged as a dissenting voice. In the *RFK, Jr.* case, Dietz opposed removing Kennedy from the ballot, stating, “I believe this Court’s role is to follow the law as it is written.” Similarly, in the Riggs certification case, Dietz condemned post-election litigation that sought to invalidate votes lawfully cast under existing rules. His dissents have been lauded as examples of judicial integrity amid allegations of partisan overreach.

Implications for Democracy

The role of the judiciary is to act as an impartial arbiter, ensuring that laws are applied fairly and that constitutional rights are protected. When courts are perceived as tools of partisan agendas, public trust in the judicial system erodes. This erosion has significant consequences, particularly in a state like North Carolina, where contentious electoral and legislative battles have far-reaching implications for democracy.

Moving Forward

If the allegations of judicial partisanship hold merit, the integrity of North Carolina’s judiciary must be addressed. Mechanisms such as impeachment, judicial discipline, or legislative reform may be considered to restore public confidence. However, these measures must be pursued carefully to avoid further politicizing the judiciary.

Conclusion

The North Carolina Supreme Court stands at a critical juncture. Its recent actions, whether perceived as a "course correction" or a breach of judicial norms, underscore the importance of maintaining a judiciary that is independent, impartial, and committed to the rule of law. The public, legal community, and elected officials must remain vigilant in holding the judiciary accountable while preserving its independence as a cornerstone of democracy.

11/27/2024

🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙

11/22/2024

Elder Elderly man missing from Gastonia.

, : 63y/o Tyrone Krank was last seen by a home health nurse on October 7. His apartment door was found unlocked and all of his things, including his keys, phone, and wallet were still inside.

Please share to

11/21/2024

https://www.propublica.org/article/segregation-academies-school-voucher-money-north-carolina

North Carolina offers an especially telling window into what is happening across this once legally segregated region where legislatures are now rapidly expanding and adopting controversial voucher-style programs.

11/13/2024

🚔🎁Rooftop Cops for Kids🎁🚔

Join us THIS SATURDAY at Chick-fil-A Belmont (801 Park Street) for our annual Rooftop Cops for Kids event! We will be raising money for our Shop with a Cop program where we purchase Christmas gifts for underprivileged children and their families. We will be at Chick-fil-A from 10am-2pm and we look forward to seeing you there.

Your support and donations provided for 𝟵𝟲 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 last year! Help us make this year bigger & better.

Donate here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=M4XSTT6M9R72N

Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/9uQa6gjYPPWCVeNA/


City of Belmont-Government
Belmont Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association
Downtown Belmont

11/12/2024

Update: this young girl has been located.

Detectives are looking for 14-year-old Jzaria Crank who was last seen walking to the Erwin Center after getting off the school bus on October 31. Jzaria was last seen wearing a two-piece navy short suit with red stripes on the side and a red hoodie. Call 704-866-6702.

10/31/2024

10/08/2024

To what extent have lawmakers' and home builders' lobby efforts to weaken Building Codes contributed to the destruction in North Carolina?

10/06/2024

Watch as this satirical take roasts Senator Lindsey Graham for turning a discussion about Hurricane Helene's devastation in South Carolina into a full-throated defense of sending more bombs and bullets to Israel. In this comedic reel, we shine a light on the absurdity of prioritizing foreign aid over domestic needs, while also touching on the controversial influence of foreign lobbies like AIPAC in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

We should give a nod to warnings from past U.S. leaders, including former President Jimmy Carter, this reel blends humor with a critical look at political priorities. Perhaps the Gaston County area should look into whether or not their US Represntatives or candidates accept pac money AIPAC.

Over the years, several U.S. congresspeople and public figures, including former presidents, have expressed criticism of the influence of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) on U.S. foreign policy. Here's a list of notable individuals who have been vocal about AIPAC's lobbying efforts:

1. Dwight D. Eisenhower (President 1953-1961): Although Eisenhower did not directly criticize AIPAC, he notably pushed back against Israeli interests during the Suez Crisis in 1956, forcing Israel (along with the UK and France) to withdraw from Egypt under U.S. pressure. This firm stance against Israeli military action was seen by some as setting a precedent for future tensions between U.S. administrations and pro-Israel lobbying efforts.

2. George H.W. Bush (President 1989-1993): During his presidency, Bush had confrontations with AIPAC over U.S. aid to Israel. In 1991, he delayed a $10 billion loan guarantee to Israel over disagreements about Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank. Bush famously remarked that he was "one lonely guy" going up against "a thousand lobbyists on the Hill" when referring to AIPAC and other pro-Israel advocates.

3. John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt (Political Scientists): Although not congresspeople, their 2006 article and subsequent book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy was highly critical of AIPAC's influence on U.S. foreign policy, claiming that it pushed the U.S. into policies that were not in the country's best interest. Their work drew significant attention and sparked public debate, with some politicians engaging in the discussion.

4. Paul Findley (R-IL): A longtime critic of AIPAC, Findley authored the 1985 book They Dare to Speak Out, which described the political power of AIPAC and criticized its influence on American policymakers. Findley argued that AIPAC's efforts to silence critics of Israel hurt U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East.

5. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA): McKinney has been an outspoken critic of AIPAC, accusing the organization of having undue influence on U.S. foreign policy and campaign finance. She has claimed that her refusal to align with AIPAC’s positions led to her electoral defeat in 2002.

6. Pete McCloskey (R-CA): A former congressman and co-founder of Earth Day, McCloskey criticized AIPAC during his career for its sway over Congress. He ran against AIPAC-backed candidates and consistently voiced concern over the influence the organization wielded in Washington.

7. Jimmy Carter (President 1977-1981): While Carter has not targeted AIPAC specifically, he has been critical of U.S. policy towards Israel, particularly in his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, where he highlighted what he saw as imbalanced U.S. support for Israel, which AIPAC has historically promoted.

8. Ron Paul (R-TX): The libertarian congressman and presidential candidate has frequently spoken out against what he perceives as AIPAC's undue influence on U.S. foreign policy. Paul argued that U.S. support for Israel, driven by lobby groups like AIPAC, has led to unnecessary military entanglements in the Middle East.

9. Ilhan Omar (D-MN): Omar faced controversy in 2019 when she criticized AIPAC's influence on U.S. politics, implying that money from lobbyists shaped U.S. foreign policy in favor of Israel. Her comments sparked widespread debate about AIPAC's role in Congress.

These individuals represent a wide spectrum of criticism, from concern over AIPAC's lobbying practices to broader objections to U.S. foreign policy alignment with Israel. This criticism has often been met with strong pushback, including accusations of antisemitism in some cases, reflecting the sensitivity and complexity of the issue in American politics.

10/04/2024

Mark Robinson is shameless. smh