Harry Covert - The Covert Letter

COUGH-UP, AMERICA

A Special Report

By HARRY COVERT

There is no evidence that Americans truly care about the rising gasoline prices.

I don’t see any citizens holding the government accountable including the Current Resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or those who prattle under the Capitol Dome on either side of the aisle. Nor are we really angry with the oil companies. I’m no economist but we ought to be more than somewhat irate with those to whom we trust our lives.

Gas prices keep creeping up. Except for an occasional blip on television; it’s business as usual for Americans. It’s acceptable now to believe the old axiom that talk is indeed cheap.

It seems to me the high oil costs ought to be a major part of the currently outrageous presidential political campaigns and the races for the House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate.

While the average American does want change, Mr. and Mrs. America have simply been lulled and dulled into accepting the status quo.

I’m convinced the politicians and their cohorts are in a win-win situation. They really don’t care what it costs taxpayers even though they feign interest and move on to those topics, which seem to be merely subject changers -- obfuscations -- the floods in the Midwest, the fires in California, the idiotic global warming stuff, same-sex marriages, criminals gone wild in the District of Columbia and no energy self-sufficiency. The obfuscations are so evident that no one wants to talk about accomplishing any thing that makes a difference. A policeman was killed last week in Prince George’s County, Maryland, adjacent to the District line. A gun didn’t kill him but it came at the hands of a 19-year-old in a stolen truck.

Why is no one angry?

I’m beginning to believe that we Americans are suckers.

In this time when we wail at the alleged failing of Social Security which government wizards tell us is going broke; that seniors won’t get their money; then they tell us no one in the government can do anything about escalating gasoline prices; that the government can’t do anything about the outrageous prescription drug prices; that the government can’t do anything about illegal aliens; that the government can’t do anything about . . . The list goes on. Tell me, what is it that the government can do?

If the truth were known, the coming Presidential elections ought to be just one ticket of candidates, Ticket Number One: John McCain for President and Barack Obama for Vice President; Ticket Number Two: Barack Obama for President and John McCain for Vice President.

Neither would make a difference for the United States come January 20, 2009.

We are led to believe the nation is in peril because of international terrorists, the oil cartel, the Iraq war, the Afghani war. I’m a bit cynical of course. Every American ought to be suspect these days. Our leaders have all become status-hungry eunuchs.

We complain among friends, and ourselves. The fire that was in the bellies of our forefathers seems nearly extinguished.

A humorist wagged a few years ago, "an honest politician is one that when he’s bought, he stays bought." That seems a bit true today.

Take a look at the latest fund-raising figures from the Federal Elections Commission. The Presidential candidates received $968.1 million through June –- let me repeat -– that’s 968.1 million US dollars. And they say the economy is tanking.

Let’s break it down even further. The nation can’t be suffering too much if the political candidates are raising these exorbitant amounts of money. We must admit, this amount of money is outrageous and probably sinful. You may ask who gets it all – campaign workers, advertising outlets and fund-raisers and others.

Of that total, Democratic presidential candidates received contributions of $605.5 million. The Republican candidates got $362.6 million.

So, let’s feel sorry for ourselves in this awful economy.

Senator Obama’s coffers have received, through June, $244,212,855.54; Senator Clinton received $229.4 million; and Senator McCain came in with $111.3 million.

So, it’s business as usual in the 50 states. The average American donated $3.22 to the presidential campaigns, not enough for a gallon of gas in the nation’s capital.· Copyright 2008.

Nolan Dawkins: His 'Incredible Day' in Virginia

By HARRY COVERT

When Nolan Dawkins was growing up, he and his childhood playmate couldn’t get a drink of water outside of their homes in Alexandria, Va.

In those days, the city was part of the old-time south where drinking fountains, public facilities and public schools were racially separate and allegedly equal.

Dawkins and his childhood chum, Bill Euille, grew up in the Parker Gray neighborhood. As adults they have been leaders of change in the city and have distinguished themselves, Dawkins as an attorney and jurist and Euille as a businessman and political leader.

Today, things have indeed changed. It was never more evident than on Thursday, June 12 when Dawkins became Alexandria’s first African American Circuit Court judge and the 18th judicial circuit’s third judge. He joins Chief Judge Donald M. Haddock and Judge Lisa B. Kemler, both native Alexandrians.

William D. (Bill) Euille, now mayor, was among the first speakers at Dawkins’ swearing-in ceremonies, first as friend and second as the city’s leader. He and Dawkins grew up on Columbus Street. Dawkins was one of seven African Americans who broke the color barrier and entered George Washington High School, graduating in 1965. Euille tagged along but graduated from T. C. Williams High School in 1967.

And, 43 years after graduating from high school, Dawkins was accepting the well-wishes from a packed audience of more than 300 well-wishers in the Franklin P. Backus Courthouse for his seating.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-46) read Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s official proclamation naming Dawkins to the Circuit Court. It was Moran who spearheaded the eight-year term through the General Assembly in March in an often sticky political struggle.

THE INVESTITURE APPEARED almost like a homecoming for the respected Judge Dawkins. His wife Lorraine and three daughters, Kelli, Kimberly and Ashley participated in the judicial "robing" of the new judge. Dawkins was greeted by his fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Mabel Lyles. She beamed with pride listening to the accolades for her pupil at the city’s Lyles-Crouch Elementary School. His first grade teacher was unable to attend.

Rev. Dr. Elbert J. Ransom Jr. set the stage for the ceremony as he invoked "Divine favor" on the Dawkins judgeship.

Retired Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court chief judge Stephen W. Rideout praised the selection of his colleague, noting how they worked together and often thought alike in the development and growth of their court.

"This is an incredible day," Dawkins said later. "A little piece of me will always be with the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. But, it’s very different up here. I am looking forward to the work. Alexandria is a wonderful city."

The ceremony was marked by family and friends. As conversations raised the decibel level in Courtroom No. 2, bailiwick of Judge Haddock, the noise was so loud that Deputy Sheriff Walt Travers, the veteran bailiff, had to call the court to order with a booming voice.

Sitting and retired local, state and federal judges, the city’s elected Constitutional officers and attorneys all filled in the courtroom.

ACCOLADES MADE IT an ever grander day for Judge Dawkins. Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, responsible for courthouse security and also an Alexandria native, said: "There is no one more deserving of this position than Judge Dawkins. He has earned this because of his outstanding reputation in our community both professionally and personally. Plus he has a great sense of humor."

Semonian said, "He’s given a ton to this community. I had the pleasure of swearing him in the first time (as judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court). And I was glad to do it again." Semonian, also a native Alexandrian, is a 1951 graduate of George Washington High School.

Dawkins was passed over in 2004 when his nomination was stymied by a politically divided General Assembly.

"He never complained and never made a fuss," Dr. Ransom said. "This is his time now."·

Copyright 2008 Harry Covert