Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Arkansas Politics Tim Griffin does NOT want better for veterans
Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 7:16 AM
Griffin admits the vets deserve better than what they now have. He proposes, however, nothing but objection to the VA plan to move to 10th and Main. He at least, for once, didn't noise about the non-starter of an idea to commingle money for vets in the dump the city is trying to rig up for non-vet homeless on Confederate Boulevard in remote southeast Little Rock. Talk about a slap to veterans.
Griffin admits what I pointed out was missing from yesterday's Democrat-Gazette article about the visit from the House Veterans Affairs Committee chair. He's a Republican, coming at Griffin's invitation. You may be sure their comments are coordinated to beat up on the VA for failing to adequately broadcast the move. There's been community talk for months now, however, and even with a year of advance notice and discussion it is unlikely to move here or anywhere the embedded NIMBY attitude certain to greet such a facility no matter where it is put. Also missing from Griffin's recitation is the VA's real estate agent, who said he told the city of Little Rock about the move in November. Missing too is the fact we reported that Mayor Mark Stodola is on record as being inalterably opposed to an earlier VA proposal to move — IN 2007!!!! — not to Main Street, but directly across the street from a Salvation Army shelter. If not there, where exactly would the city welcome veterans? Alcatraz?
Five years later, the VA has been thwarted at every turn and the mayor and Tim Griffin want to delay a better place for veterans yet again.
Moral: It is easy for Tim Griffin to say vets deserve better, but hypocritically empty when he offers no solution. He fails to note, by the way, that the downtown community is not unified against the idea of renovating a currently derelict building on a commercial stretch to staff it with professionals serving military veterans committed to improving their civilian lives.
In the face of this solid idea for the improvement of the lot of veterans, Griffin wants to stop theclock and start over again. And he claims to be interested in something better for veterans? Talk to the hand, congressman.
PS -- I wrote about the City Board's handling of this issue in my column this week.
Speaking of Vets Center, U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin
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March 16, 2012I was slow off the mark this morning because Mayor Mark Stodola and I spent more than an hour talking about this and that this morning at the River Market. /more/
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A clinic is not a homeless shelter
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Vets' artwork to be on display
March 14, 2012The many programs offered by the VA to veterans at its day clinic at 2nd and Ringo include art therapy. /more/
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A morning cheer for Jim Dailey, Sharon Priest
March 9, 2012A round of applause this morning for former Mayor Jim Dailey and Sharon Priest, director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, who told the Democrat-Gazette that they didn't believe development of a vacant building at 10th and Main for a vets' clinic would deter Main Street redevelopment efforts. /more/
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Tim Griffin making plans? UPDATE
March 9, 2012Tim Griffin's name has popped up in domain names suggesting races for governor and Senate. His spokesman says the campaign didn't buy them and has no knowledge who did. /more/
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Dispelling myths about veterans
March 7, 2012Those who stayed until the bitter end of last night's Little Rock City Board meeting would have heard a thoughtful plea from a retired Air Force officer/physician in support of the Main Street center for veterans. /more/
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LR Board delays vote on vets center ordinance
March 6, 2012The Little Rock Board of Directors, at Mayor Mark Stodola's suggestion, deferred action tonight on a new zoning ordinance aimed at making difficult, if not impossible, for the VA to put a new day center for veterans at 10th and Main. /more/
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Support builds for veterans center on Main
March 6, 2012A number of people are organizing in support of the VA's attempt to improve its facilities for veteran services by moving a clinic from an inadequate space at 2nd and Ringo to a long-abandoned car dealership at 10th and Main. /more/
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Vet Center fight heads to Tuesday showdown
March 5, 2012The Little Rock City Board will consider Tuesday night a new ordinance drafted at Mayor Mark Stodola's insistence to prevent the VA from placing a better facility for veterans at 10th and Main in an abandoned car dealership. /more/
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Little Rock's government at work — sigh
February 29, 2012Two things about last night's City Board meeting: * BID PREFERENCES: It does questionable benefit to the city to pay 3 percent more on city contracts to a company headquartered in the city if most or all of that company's employees go home to Bryant, Cabot, Sheridan and Lonoke every night. /more/
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Comments (18)
Showing 1-18 of 18
Please, Democratic Party, get us a viable candidate for this district. I cannot wait to vote against this hypocritical tool. It's time to get the Koch brothers and Karl Rove out of Washington and out of my district.
And it's time to get our veterans the care they've EARNED! We've got to quit treating veterans who need help like some social disease. The reason that they need help is that WE'VE sent them out to fight our wars (both necessary and unnecessary). By not giving them the help they deserve, we not only impoverish them, we impoverish ourselves.
Frankly, I would contend that they deserve BETTER than a remodeled car dealership. Let's put them in the Stephens Building.
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"It is easy for Tim Griffin to say vets deserve better, but hypocritically empty when he offers no solution."
Translation - "I don't have a solution but I admire the problem."
The ADG article Griffin did the oldest political ploy in Arkansas, polished to a fine tone by Orval Faubus
Orval would say, "sure we need a new school (courthouse, road, etc) but, we just can't decide where to put it."
Orval would joke about that line over and over. The more things change.....
elwood--a friend who was partial to Orval told me the following tale (her family was in Orval's administration).
Faubus was campaigning for his first run for Governor. In NE Arkansas he stopped to admire a farmer's new barn. "That's a fine barn you built for your horses," Orval said. "What we really need now is a fine school for your children." Orval was a teacher.
"But those horses are thoroughbreds," the farmer said.
I can't put my finger on it but everything about Griffin repulses me. Perhaps it is that everything about him repulses me making it impossible to point to any one thing that offends. But he does offend with his rhetoric and his goofy position on issues such as the proposed veterans facility. Surely there is someone better in the second district. There just has to be. Griffin is an embarrassment to the district and the state. To think we went from St. Vic to this goober makes me gag.
"Please, Democratic Party, get us a viable candidate for this district. I cannot wait to vote against this hypocritical tool."
Perplexed, my friend, I'm riding shotgun with you.
borrowing a few words...
"Please, Republican Party, get us a viable candidate for this district. I cannot wait to vote for someone besides this hypocritical toad."
I tried to support the Democratic party in Pulaski Cty. All they want to do is have little parties. Something needs to change.
Still, I'll vote for any lame insider they want to prop up against Griffin.
Phone rang just before lunch. Griffin was having another of his "Town Halls." Of course I hung up. But if he had a real Town Hall, I'd be there donkey badge and all, which reads "Vote Democratic. The Ass (picture of donkey) you save may be your own."
Congressman Griffin, emboldening the terrorists one vet at a time.
This little piggie's track record is so slimey, it is nice to see him(not really) up-close, choking on his answers. What a stooge.
He is the antithises of what we really need now, more than ever in Washington and locally. Agreeing with the others, please run someone against the pig.
Stodola and Griffin believe that people are disposable if they are of no use to them any more. The vets have merely outlived their usefulness to S. and G. .
If Tim Griffiin's mouth is moving, there's a 90% probability what's coming out of it is a lie.
If you support the new Vet Center, please sign the petition at the following website. Encourage others to sign it too.
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-playi…
Where were all of the "Chest-Pounders" for the Veterans during and after Vietnam? I have no clue about the central issue of where a new Vet Center should be placed, but I shudder to see such an issue used as a political football by Liberals.
I am a ten year Army veteran. I left the military to raise my children. Since I left the military I cannot get gainful employment because my military experience "isnt real world experience". I will soon be homeless because I cannot afford rent AND food for my family (I applied for state assistance a month ago and I'm told to keep waiting). You think homeless people are a problem? Try having your one year old hold up her plate and beg for food when you have none. You say you support the troops? How about support us getting jobs that we can support our families on. I have been convinced that the state of Arkansas is anti veteran. The only job I can get is part time at walmart, 15 hours a week. yet high school students with NO experience in anything get more hours than I do. I jsut don't believe the American public cares about us anymore and this situation with the Vet clinic is proof.
Mr. Dalton, As a vet I can say that it was the conservative war-drum beaters who turned their backs on Viet vets, just as they are doing now. They hold vets up on pedestals during the wars, so they don't have to go. And ignore vets after a war so they don't have to compensate vets for taking the risks.
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