Judge Ola Lewis, Back In The News

For someone aspiring to be a NC Supreme Court Justice, showing up in controversial stories isn’t usually a good campaign plan. Caroline Curran, over at PortCityDaily.com, has a detailed story about the latest in the ongoing saga between Judge Lewis and local activist Ed Rapp.

BOLIVIA—A Brunswick County man being sued for libel by [Judge Ola Lewis] has asked the court to disqualify the judge’s attorney [Lonnie Williams] on the grounds he orchestrated a campaign to boost her judicial reputation and keep her “on the bench” and unopposed.  The motion asks for Williams’ removal as Lewis’ attorney for several reasons, including Rapp’s contention “Mr. Williams doggedly pursued his efforts to rehabilitate Judge Lewis’ reputation,” making him a potential witness for Rapp. The motion also claims Williams sought political contributions from attorneys for Lewis’ re-election efforts.

Was there a shake-down?

Williams sent a message to 33 recipients on Nov. 23, 2009. In it he reports the addresses of 12 attorneys who responded to the North Carolina Bar Association’s judicial performance evaluation survey with critical evaluations of Lewis.. . . In some email exchanges included with the motion Williams writes a favorable rating could replace a campaign contribution. “Please send me a $250 check for Judge Lewis’ re-election campaign or send the rating sheet and affidavit. If you have already sent the letter to me as requested, you are exempted from this,” Williams wrote.

Methinks this is the beginning of a much broader story.  The jury trial in this case is scheduled for Jan. 22.  There has been no response from either Williams or Lewis to the story as of this writing.

Wind Farms A Comin’

There is a persistence about alternative energy supporters to be admired.  They don’t take criticism, don’t answer tough questions and remarkably consistent in pushing forward in spite of solid evidence to the contrary that wind farms are expensive, unneeded, sporadic at energy production and require a duplication of energy production that isn’t required from all known conventional forms of energy.

But don’t expect the local media to ask such tough questions.

(StarNews) –  ”My folks live in Holden Beach and I talked to my mom about it, and she said she likes windmills and thinks they’re pretty,” Rogers said. “She wanted me to tell you that. She said she’d rather look over the water and see a turbine than an oil rig.”

So, the ONLY criticism of wind energy is that it might be unattractive to look at?  The real issues with wind power have to do with killing birds, fires, inconsistent energy production, expense and a litany of other real issues that weren’t remotely addressed in the article.  It isn’t that I expect the media to be critical, but they at least should be concerned about being balanced or researched.

(WWAY) - “Anything new is going to be more expensive. The American Wind Energy Association, for instance on land-based wind, is looking at it being able to function without subsidies within the next 10 years,” said Mac Montgomery, who supports the proposal.

In other words, wind energy HAS TO BE SUBSIDIZED