The Face of a Pompous Thug

I personally keep and practice these Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
2. Don't take Anything Personally
3. Don't Make Assumptions
4. Always Do Your Best

Now there is a Fifth Agreement:
Be Skeptical But Learn To Listen

Don't believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind words, and you will understand the real message.

If you look to the top of the left sidebar you will see the words, "Everything Is About Something Different" and a short explanation about the purpose of this Report. A little further on down the page that is explained more under the heading: "More About Joe Blow" -- all consistent with the Fifth Agreement.

Nearly a year ago after this report posted our observations on a Times-Standard newspaper, so-called "opinion" column called "As It Stands" written and as it turns out, supported, endorsed, protected and defended by the paper's management, the Joe Blow Report came under an assiduous, scathing, vilifying and demeaning attack by the guy pictured, Dave Stancliff. Here is a sample:

Well readers, this is what I have to contend with sometimes. Extremists tend to attack anything that doesn't fit their world view. There's a group at the Joe Blow Report blog that decided to attack me on May 31st and who posted a hate-filled rant about a column I did on trolls (of all the ironies!) This is a group that has the mind-set of a steel trap.
Now they have their crying towels (it took them two weeks to think of a reply) out and are blubbering to all that will read their raving. I'm not going to be intimidated by a bunch of cowards who are whining about a conspiracy between me and the Times-Standard to attack trolls! Good grief! Get a life you blowhards.
I don't know who you think you are, but I do know that you seek to impose your will upon others by reading your past posts. Now you think you can silence me by making outrageous accusations and trying to get the newspaper to drop my column. Guess again gang. You'll never be able to silence me. You best bet is to change your soiled diapers and to find someone else to pick on!

This gangster hit-man didn't us a knife, a gun, a club or even a garrote. He used the power of false, lying accusations and the prestige and position in the newspaper to justify his personal assault. Read some of what this highbinder's kind are saying about President Obama, in particular at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference here and here, compare it to what he said and you'll soon get the picture of what the Times-Standard is promoting through Dave Stancliff.

The question, within the context of keeping the Five Agreements is, what are these Republican gangster's intent? Experience reveals that their intent is to obfuscate their own personal agendas. Whenever someone shines a light on their dark ways they immediately attack the integrity of that person. They accuse their victims of the very insidious and vicious behavior and conduct they are committing themselves. They preach peace and practice war.

So, why does the Report revisit this issue? Because the kind of words these warmongers are putting out inevitably leads to action. And secondly, because his filthy crap continues to adorn the Internet. I happened to be doing some research yesterday when I came across this on Google:

1.AS IT STANDS: Joe Blow (conspiracy) Report staff bawl like babies!
Jun 15, 2009 ... There's a group at the Joe Blow Report blog that decided to attack me on May 31st and who posted a hate-filled rant about a column I did on ...
www.davesblogcentral.com/.../joe-blow-conspiracy-report-staff-bawl.html

 Having clicked on the link I noticed there were comments, so I thought I look to see who voiced their opinion when I came across something in his comment section that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The final Anonymous posting left on that blog comment is Stancliff's validation of what is written there is the truth for anyone to read.

"Hate-filled rant" sound familiar? There are some serious and potentially very dangerous problems facing this community and our country at large. To be blunt, main-stream media thugs like Dave Stancliff are at the root of some of these problems. If all Stancliff was doing was writing his own worthless opinion blog, I'd consider the source, make my observations and move on (which I did) – depending upon how vile he got. That said, this kind of filthy garbage, low-life slander is the handiwork of a prominently recognized writer for the Times-Standard newspaper. Every Sunday you can see him and his “opinion” articles right out there for everyone to read under the headline: “As It Stands.” At the same time he also has a blog by that same title where he posts the same articles. Consequently, what he writes on his blog directly reflects for good or for bad on the integrity and value of the Times-Standard newspaper and everyone in this community that supports that paper. But then, the newspaper's record for honest and unbiased reporting is extremely questionable anyway, so supporting this worthless bum is not an unreasonable expectation.

By the way, here's the link to his latest: "As It Stands: Tea Party Utopia: no taxes, no government" - Written and posted to the Times-Standard, Sunday, April 11, 2010. See if you can get his "real" message. Is it about him? Or is it about something called the "Tea Party"?

Stancliff would probably say this Report is violating it's own principles by attacking the messenger, him. What is he the messenger of? What he is is defined by what he says and does, as is this Report and the person that produces it. There is a difference between disagreeing with what someone says or does and respecting their right to do or say it. That's the clear difference between the two of us. I am NOT what I observe and report, Stancliff obviously is what he writes. We are what we are and to verbalize that truth is no personal assault. It becomes an assault when the intent is to personally harm the integrity and credibility by personal slanderous lies and malicious false accusations. What Dave Stancliff said and did is a matter of public record. If the Times-Standard intends to maintain their support and justify their existence within this community, they need to reconsider the status of their own integrity.

"Don't believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind words, and you will understand the real message."

Well reader, did you get the "real message"?

--Joe