The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

In the last week, we here at Liberty Dispatch have been rough on Ernest Bailes. We do so because we feel he is not the right man for the job. It is as simple as that. At every event we have heard Mr. Bailes speak, he just doesn’t quite get all of the Conservative points in relation to government, individualism and the founder’s view of severely restricted government and a people free from its coercion. From refusing to acknowledge property taxes are an issue, to not seeing the issue Joe Straus has cost the Conservative side.  

We could have made this point without digging into every aspect of the negatives in his campaign. We could have done the perfume flowery comparison of the two. However, we were sickened to hear how Bailes decided to go after Strahan. We simply suggest Ernest run on his own merit.

The local Chairman in Liberty County is corrupt. He diminishes the office he holds by not following party rules, ignoring his executive committee and divisiveness. We fully expected a man like Ken Coleman to stoop to dirty politics once his feelings were hurt. But, we expected better of Bailes.  

These stories are known by many people in our county of underhanded, buddy placing, friends above competence in positions. An elite few who think they rule the kingdom and appoint yes-men. Every election you can think of in this county has a backdoor side where someone is plotting against someone because they’re not just like them. Those people are usually quite irrelevant and honestly provide great amusement. Let’s see, at one time they tried to say Ross Ward wasn’t from Liberty when he ran against Ken Coleman. Oh, and who can forget the postings about Jay Knight having an adulterous affair on the hood of his car and supposed video of it when he ran against McNair. As well, Leon Wilson was a racist when he ran against Norman Brown. People see this cycle after cycle here. It is nothing new. The problem is when the light is shown upon all their disgust. They are shocked someone will finally say something. Then of course, it’s off to discredit who’s exposed their corruption.

 This go around, they went to attack not only a good man who was born and raised here, but included folks to spread this ugliness that they are overtly aware they are selling a false narrative. We’re sorry, but that’s just wrong. In fact, some of those same people who KNOW these stories and even felt the nastiness directed at themselves have joined the propaganda, either knowingly or out of ignorance. They added Bailes to those talking points and weakened him as a candidate.

Now, if you want to sit around drinking tea and having cookies with the likes of old Liberty gossips and no good washed up politicians like Tookie Kirkham and Terri Bivins, that’s fine. Nothing wrong with being in the club and feeling important. But, here at Liberty Dispatch, we have never come in soft on such people and their actions. We won’t start now. We’ve been doing that way since 2006.