Andy Johnson – The View from a Drawbridge

Andy Johnson, or Unethical Politicians are Nothing New

Not a day goes by when there isn’t some outrageous story about a corrupt politician. I’m relieved that most of us are still shocked by this, but I can feel the cynicism growing all around me like kudzu on an abandoned Southern house. I rue the day when we all become so used to it that it doesn’t even raise any eyebrows. That’s what they’re working toward. That’s what they’re hoping for. That’s why we can never allow ourselves to look away.

I have personal experience with this outrageous lack of ethics. For me the poster child for a slimy politician is this man: Andy Johnson of Jacksonville, Florida.

andy-johnson

Most of you won’t have heard of him. He’s rapidly sinking into obscurity. In the 80’s, though, he was a member of the Florida legislature. (If you want to see his smug face back in those days, go here.) It tells you much about his effectiveness as a politician that he was eventually defeated by Corrine Brown, an even bigger embarrassment to the Democratic Party.

I had the misfortune of crossing paths with this distasteful man long after his political career had taken its nosedive. For many years he was the host of a progressive talk show in Jacksonville Florida, and my boyfriend at the time worked for him, often without pay. (Had I known that at the time, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to do business with the man, but I could only work with the information I was given.)

I’ve written time and time again about how this man stole $3,500.00 from me and refuses to pay it back. That’s why he has his very own category on my blog. Suffice it to say, I took him to court and won. I also have a lien on his house, for all the good it will do me. (If you’re interested, it’s Duval County, Florida, case number 16-2010-SC-000516.) The interest that has accrued would make this lien worth buying from me, if you are so inclined. That’s probably the only way I’ll ever see that money again, because I’m not cut out to be a debt collector.

I’ll never stop telling the truth about what Andy Johnson has done. I have the truth on my side, at least. He’ll never have that. You wear the chains you forge in life, Andy.

I guess my point is that the political corruption we are seeing today is nothing new. The difference is, those of us who have been wronged have a lot more forums in which to speak out about these offenses. The cockroaches no longer have the luxury of the dark. That, at least, is a step in the right direction. I hope someday these roaches will be squashed by justice.

________________________________

Check out my refreshingly positive book for these depressingly negative times. http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Pitt Bulls Don’t Have Nothin’ on Me

Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, long-time progressive radio talk show host in Jacksonville, Florida, whose branding is “Never neutral, but always fair”, stole $3,500.00 from me and refuses to pay it back.

For more details on this, refer to the many blogs I’ve written about him, listed in my menu, or simply go to the first one I wrote, here. It still is one of the most viewed entries in this entire blog.

In a nutshell, I took him to court. The judge ruled in my favor. And now I have a lien on his house. Since he is currently living in it, I cannot force the sale. But I can continue to speak the truth. I can also keep that lien up to date.

Which is what I did just the other day. Since I recently bought a house, I submitted an affidavit of address change to the clerk of courts in Jacksonville. If ever he sells that house or passes away, I want them to know how to find me so they’ll be able to give me the money I am rightfully owed, plus their outstanding interest rate. I also have the satisfaction of knowing this lien is ruining his credit, at the very least.

Since the court case was in 2010, Andy is probably trying to wait me out. He probably thinks that after 10 years, the lien will expire. But he doesn’t realize that I can extend the lien an additional 10 years, if necessary, and I have every intention of doing so. And he’s not getting any younger or healthier, so this could go either way.

Believe me, I have my calendar marked to extend that lien. Because when I see an injustice and I can do something about it, I’m like a Pitt Bull. I clamp down, and I never, ever let go until that wrong is righted.

Power to the people.

I’m proud to announce that my book is now available in paperback, kindle, and deluxe color edition! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Liberals Aren’t Exactly Squeaky Clean, Either

Man, oh man, but it kills me to write that! I wish I still thought politics was a battle of good versus evil rather than a “better the devil you know” scenario. Life would be so much simpler without my current cynicism. I’d like to think there were good guys to root for. But no. It seems that politicos are all rotten to the core, with very few exceptions. And that says something really scary about us in general, since we choose to have these people represent us.

The first news item I saw on the day I wrote this was this one about Corrine Brown. Until very recently, she was a representative from the State of Florida, a Democrat who served 12 terms in office, mainly because her district was so ridiculously gerrymandered that no one could ever vote her out. I always felt she was an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. I once saw her make a college commencement speech and she couldn’t string a grammatically correct sentence together if her life depended on it. I also saw her attend a State of the Union address wearing a banana yellow suit and one of her signature polyester low-rent wigs. She nearly knocked people over to shake Clinton’s hand.

This woman was constantly being accused of dirty dealings, but she always seemed to wriggle out of things until now. This time she has been found guilty of 18 counts of tax evasion and wire and mail fraud. They say of the $800,000 raised by her One Door for Education Foundation, all but $1,200 found its way into her bank account. Can you imagine how many scholarships that could have provided to underprivileged children? Who steals from children? What’s next? Dropkicking puppies into the St. Johns River? Sheesh.

Oh, but she’s not the only dishonest one. I’ve written multiple times about Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives. This man stole $3,500 from me, and I have the winning lawsuit and the lien on his house to prove it. I’ll never see that money unless he sells his house because heaven knows he’ll never do the right thing and pay up. The interest I’d earn by now is astronomical, but I can comfort myself with the fact that I will not be silenced and I at least have the pleasure of ruining his credit rating with the truth.

The irony about this is that if you look at his Facebook page right now, he’s shouting “I oppose crooks, D or R. Now I say; told you so! Corrine guilty!” Oh yeah, Andy? Then WHERE’S MY MONEY????

Another cold comfort: it doesn’t look like Andy has got a progressive radio talk show anymore. That, or he really sucks at self-promotion. The thought of him being the progressive voice of Jacksonville, knowing what I know about him, made me sick. So at least there’s a tiny bit of justice in this world.

So, yeah, I may be liberal, but I’m mainly disgusted. Sometimes I wish I believed that hell existed. But hell, in truth, is politicians. D or R.

poop

Check out my refreshingly positive book for these depressingly negative times. http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Andy Johnson: A Boil on the Butt of Jacksonville’s Progressive Community

One of the reasons I’m thrilled to be out of Jacksonville, Florida is that it’s an extremely conservative community. I often felt like a lone voice shouting in the wilderness when I lived there. Unfortunately, the most strident progressive voice in that town belongs to Andy Johnson, the moral equivalent of a scum-sucking catfish.

Strong words, I know, but I come by them honestly. This man tricked me out of $3,500.00 and I have the winning lawsuit and the subsequent lien on his house to prove it. Here’s a man who puts himself out there as the voice of liberal morality, and yet he blatantly disregards a court order to pay me back the money he took, and cares not one whit for the financial hardship this has caused me. That tells you all you need to know about the content of his character.

The thought that he used to be in the Florida House of Representatives leaves me slightly queasy. Our politics may be similar, but this man does not represent me. I’d be embarrassed to say he did. It’s enough to make me want to vote republican. Almost.

You can read the full and sordid details about Andy Johnson’s underhanded dealings here. Or you can get an abridged version of events here. You can get details on how he blatantly lied about the situation to a reporter and my documented evidence of it here. If you’d like to confront him about this situation, read my suggestion about that here. And if you’d like to buy my judgment at a discount and make a nice profit from collecting the money, read about my offer here. If you would like to talk about other nefarious deeds of his, do so here. If you’d like to read more about how my lien is ruining Andy’s credit, do so here. And for a log of all my articles about Andy, go here.

Andy Johnson in all his infamy.

Andy Johnson is a Heel, but I’m NOT Achilles

The downward spiral that has been my life for the past 5 years really started when Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, stole $3,500.00 from me, and despite the fact that I won the court case and have a lien on his house, he refuses to pay me back.

Looking back, I can see that I let that situation get the better of me. As my circumstances became more desperate, I started making more and more foolhardy choices, and things began to snowball until I found myself in a deep crevasse of desperation, not quite knowing what to do with myself.

Why on earth would I give this man so much power? In retrospect it disgusts me. He has swindler written all over him. The fact that someone can’t even make it as a politician, which is already one of the lowest forms of life, says a great deal about his character.

The fact that I let his betrayal and thievery send me into the profound tailspin that it did says a great deal about mine. I am too trusting. I need to be more self-protective.

Most of all, I need to get some perspective. This man is pathetic. Yes, I am connected to him for as long as this lien can continue to destroy his credit. There’s no getting around that, because he’ll never pay up voluntarily. But other than occasionally spreading the word about who he really is, I shouldn’t pay him any further attention.

I’m starting to take back my life. He, on the other hand, will continue to sell his soul because he refuses to do the right thing. That makes me pity him.

No photo of Andy Johnson is connected to this blog entry. Frankly, I’m sick of looking at the man.

You can read the full and sordid details about Andy Johnson’s underhanded dealings here. Or you can get an abridged version of events here. You can get details on how he blatantly lied about the situation to a reporter and my documented evidence of it here. If you’d like to confront him about this situation, read my suggestion about that here. And if you’d like to buy my judgment at a discount and make a nice profit from collecting the money, read about my offer here. If you would like to talk about other nefarious deeds of his, do so here.

What I’ll Miss/What I Won’t About Jacksonville, Florida

When you know you’re about to move away from a place, the things you’ll miss about it become all that much more poignant, and the things that irritate you become increasingly annoying. I’m definitely experiencing those feelings now. Without further ado, here’s what I’ll miss and what I won’t about Jacksonville, Florida.

What I’ll Miss

Friends, obviously. With my crazy work schedule, I went for quality, not quantity, and the quality I got was priceless.
The funky neighborhoods of Riverside, Murray Hill, and San Marco. These places, full of quirk and personality, were what made this city so tolerable.
The Riverside Arts Market. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.
The main branch of the Jacksonville Public Library. I could go on and on about this place, as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art on one side of it, and the Chamblin Bookmine on the other, but I’ve already done so in my blog entry My Jacksonville Indulgence.
The croissant donuts at the Edgewood Bakery.
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. The garden is the most gorgeous oasis I’ve ever seen. Sometimes I’d go there on free Tuesday afternoons and bring a book and just sit. Pure bliss.
The three drawbridges that I’ve worked on for the past 13 years.
The local music programing on WJCT, 89.9, our local NPR station. In particular I love Electro Lounge and String Theory. I have no doubt I’ll continue to listen to these programs on line.
The Florida Theatre. I’ve seen some amazing performances at this gorgeous venue.
The St. Johns River, when it isn’t green with algae.
Kingsley Plantation. This national park seems to be Jacksonville’s best kept secret, and that’s a shame. It’s full of amazing history. Just walking through the ruins of the slave quarters will really make you think.
The Independence Day fireworks on the river.
Aunt M’s Fried Chicken at the Valero Gas Station on the corner of Zoo Parkway and I-295. Not only is the chicken beyond compare, but they treat you like family.
The downtown skyline at night.
The Maxwell House Plant. When they’re grinding their coffee, all of downtown smells fantastic.
The Luminaria every Christmas that lights up Riverside with candles.
The low cost of living.
Big Jim.
The Jacksonville Zoo. I love this place, and the fact that I can’t afford to visit one last time before I go is killing me.
Treaty Oak.
Folio Weekly. This alternative weekly newspaper is a delight.

What I Won’t Miss

The cruel, relentless, brutal heat and humidity.
The threat of a long overdue hurricane 6 months out of the year.
The lack of seasons.
Andy Johnson. This former member of the Florida House stole more than $3,500 from me and refuses to pay me back. Read more about this here.
The religious conservative mindset that always made me feel like a lone voice in the wilderness.
The racism. It took a viral internet campaign to get the school board to finally, after decades of debate, think that maybe it was a good idea to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School to something other than that of the founder of the Ku Klux Klan.
The resistance to public art.
The flat, never-changing landscape.
Congressman Ander Crenshaw. This hyper-conservative, homophobic gasbag is impossible to work with, and the fact that he keeps getting re-elected tells you all you need to know about this area.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown. She may be a democrat, but this polyester-bewigged, ebonics-speaking woman is only in office because of her extremely gerrymandered district, and even she knows it, because when they tried to change that, she screamed bloody murder She’s an embarrassment to the party.
The Florida Times-Union. This newspaper is an extremely biased, inaccurate rag.

As you can see, Jacksonville is a mixed bag. After living in the area for 30 years, of course I’ll miss it. But it’s also time to go. As a friend of mine says, “Onward and upward, into the future.”

As anyone who has been following my blog knows, Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, stole $3,500.00 from me, and despite the fact that I won the court case and have a lien on his house, he refuses to pay me back. You can read the full and sordid details about his underhanded dealings here. Or you can get an abridged version of events here. You can get details on how he blatantly lied about the situation to a reporter and my documented evidence of it here. If you’d like to confront him about this situation, read my suggestion about that here. And if you’d like to buy my judgment at a discount and make a nice profit from collecting the money, read about my offer here.

So, what more is there to say? Well, quite a bit, actually. It occurred to me the other day, while discussing the situation with a friend (because I take every opportunity to spread the word), that someone who would do something so underhanded couldn’t possibly be working in a vacuum. This level of scumbaggery, in my opinion, is rarely an isolated event. And in fact, a few people have contacted me privately and intimated that he has done things to them as well. I will respect their privacy and not share the details here, but I am going to open wide a window of opportunity and offer to use this highly public and completely free forum to share your Andy Johnson stories, because cockroaches hate the light.

As much as it pains me, my Andy Johnson entries are often my most viewed entries on a daily basis, so rest assured your account will get a wide readership. It kind of feels like the most vitriolic parts of my blog are the parts that garner the most attention. I long to cut them out like a cancer, but feel the need to share the truth until I see my money, and since it seems like that will never happen, I guess I will have to rip the scab off my scar tissue every few months and continue to sally forth.

Having said that, I may as well go all out and become a central clearinghouse for all things underhanded with respect to this man, so if you have any TRUE stories about Andy Johnson’s nefarious deeds, please contact me. You can add short stories in the comment section below, or, if your story is as long and complicated as mine is, we can dedicate an entire blog entry to the subject if you would like. I only ask that all your information be factual or your personal opinion about those facts, because I want to maintain this blog’s credibility. And with all things Andy Johnson, the truth seems to be much stranger than fiction, so who needs to falsify?

I will state quite emphatically that all views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the originator of The View from a Drawbridge and/or any/all other contributors to this site.

So come and get him people! The truth shall set everyone free except, perhaps, Andy Johnson himself!

I wonder what he thinks about as he gazes quietly off into the distance like that. “Who can I rip off next?”

Andy Johnson For Sale

And then in an even more sickening plot twist, he actually lied about it to a reporter despite the fact that I have a stack of documentation that proves everything I’ve said. You can read about that here. I don’t know if it’s an over-active sense of self importance on his part, or a mental illness that makes him actually believe his version of reality, but there you have it. It’s Andy Johnson’s world. We’re just living in it.

And what an ironically warped world it is. His motto is “Never neutral. But always fair.” If Andy Johnson were fair, and as progressive as he purports to be on his radio show, he wouldn’t be screwing me over in this blatant fashion. I’m just a little fish in this big pond of ours, and who are the progressives out here to defend if not the little fish? Clearly this man is a phony.

I really have pretty much given up on the concept of ever seeing my money. Instead I’ve made it my mission to tell my story about this man to as many people as I can. And I have definitely been successful there. Of the over 17,000 views my blog has received to date, far and away the most viewed entries are the ones I have written about Andy. The word is spreading.

I’m sure it has spread to potential advertisers, too, so I suspect he would have been out a lot less money if he had just chosen to do the right thing and pay his judgment as any law abiding citizen would. Instead, through this blog I am the gift that keeps on giving, and frankly that gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d much rather get my money so I could delete these poisonous entries from my blog and forget this man even exists, as I feel these posts taint the overall good I attempt to do here with my writing. But I won’t hold my breath.

I am considering contacting the people who currently advertise with him next. I think it’s only fair that they know exactly whom they chose to endorse. Of course, that means I’ll have to listen to his radio show, and that makes me sick, in spite of the fact that our politics are ironically similar. It’s just that knowing what I know about the man, I find the sound of his voice and the image he attempts to project to be distinctly galling.

I do have another card up my sleeve. It occurs to me that by having this lien on Andy’s house, I essentially own a piece of him. (Talk about galling.) This is having a negative impact on his credit as well as on his reputation. And since the lien increases in value by six percent a year, it’s actually a nice little investment. Currently that original 3916.00 lien, which includes court costs, is now worth at least $4,856.00. (I have no idea if that interest gets compounded.)

Why is this a good investment when the man has no intention of paying me back? Ah, but here’s the beauty of it. There are companies out there that will buy judgments. Granted, I won’t get more than 50 percent of the money, and that’s being very optimistic, but I would get the satisfaction of knowing that they would most assuredly collect. And since Andy didn’t voluntarily do the right thing and I had to resort to this method of getting this judgment satisfied, I would feel guilt-free about continuing to spread the word for all eternity. Crime definitely does not pay. So sad.

This could all go away if Andy would just pay up. Barring that, I suppose I’ll have to engage in a bit of modern day slavery. Does anyone want to buy a piece of an overweight, overblown, former politician? I have here a judgment that’s currently worth $4,856.00. I’ll take $2,400.00 for it. Cash on the barrel head. You pay, I walk away, and you have all the fun you want after that, as will I. The family has at least two vehicles you can go after. Come and get it!

Doesn’t he look all puffed up with his own self-importance?

Actually, that’s the bad karma chewing him up from the inside out.

The Best of The View from a Drawbridge

I cannot believe it, but today is the one year anniversary of my blog! What a ride this has been. I’ve managed to post an entry every single day for an entire year. I would have never guessed I’d have this much to talk about.

By writing this much I’ve learned a great deal as well; about myself, about various topics, and about the people who have been kind enough to leave comments on my many posts. I’ve also made a lot of new friends and been introduced to a lot of unique perspectives. I am very grateful for this experience. It has been, and will hopefully continue to be, one of the highest points in my life.

At the time of this writing, I have 168 followers, and an average of 35 views per day. I have received 2,842 comments, and people from 102 different countries have stopped by. And that includes China, which is a country I never expected to see, given the internet restrictions there. Welcome, China! I hope someday North Korea will have the freedom to join you.

My most viewed entry, by a country mile, is Andy Johnson, SHAME on you!!! I guess people are just naturally drawn to descriptions of gross fraud by public figures.

My best title, in my opinion, is Weather, ‘tis Nobler.

My best sentence, without a doubt, is “Barack Obama eats boysenberry aspic on melba toast while doing the watusi in a frothy silk kimono.” That comes from my entry entitled I’m going Slightly Mad. You’ll just have to check it out if you want more details.

I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to decide which of my blog entries this year was the best, or at least which one is my favorite. This was not an easy job. I went back through every single entry and narrowed it down to four possibilities. From there I asked my friends to give me their opinions, and they were most gracious about taking the time to share their thoughts with me. The feedback was so overwhelming that I feel confident in saying that my best entry this year, by far, was How to give HORRIBLE Customer service.

I wanted to thank you, dear reader, for hanging in there with me this year. I hope that we’ll be enjoying each other’s company for many years to come.

This is a map of all the countries who have stopped by to visit me. The list of countries on the left was so long that it actually scrolls off the page. Woo hoo! (Africa, I hope I’ll be seeing more of you soon.)

Tag: Andy Johnson

Andy Johnson, or Unethical Politicians are Nothing New

I have personal experience with this outrageous lack of ethics. For me the poster child for a slimy politician is this man: Andy Johnson of Jacksonville, Florida.

I’ll never stop telling the truth about what Andy Johnson has done. I have the truth on my side, at least. He’ll never have that. You wear the chains you forge in life, Andy.

Check out my refreshingly positive book for these depressingly negative times. http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Pitt Bulls Don’t Have Nothin’ on Me

Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, long-time progressive radio talk show host in Jacksonville, Florida, whose branding is “Never neutral, but always fair”, stole $3,500.00 from me and refuses to pay it back.

For more details on this, refer to the many blogs I’ve written about him, listed in my menu, or simply go to the first one I wrote, here. It still is one of the most viewed entries in this entire blog.

In a nutshell, I took him to court. The judge ruled in my favor. And now I have a lien on his house. Since he is currently living in it, I cannot force the sale. But I can continue to speak the truth. I can also keep that lien up to date.

Believe me, I have my calendar marked to extend that lien. Because when I see an injustice and I can do something about it, I’m like a Pitt Bull. I clamp down, and I never, ever let go until that wrong is righted.

Power to the people.

I’m proud to announce that my book is now available in paperback, kindle, and deluxe color edition! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Liberals Aren’t Exactly Squeaky Clean, Either

The irony about this is that if you look at his Facebook page right now, he’s shouting “I oppose crooks, D or R. Now I say; told you so! Corrine guilty!” Oh yeah, Andy? Then WHERE’S MY MONEY????

So, yeah, I may be liberal, but I’m mainly disgusted. Sometimes I wish I believed that hell existed. But hell, in truth, is politicians. D or R.

Check out my refreshingly positive book for these depressingly negative times. http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

Andy Johnson: A Boil on the Butt of Jacksonville’s Progressive Community

The thought that he used to be in the Florida House of Representatives leaves me slightly queasy. Our politics may be similar, but this man does not represent me. I’d be embarrassed to say he did. It’s enough to make me want to vote republican. Almost.

Andy Johnson, Take Heed

This made me wonder how that lien is impacting his credit. According to the Nest, a website dedicated to all things financial, the answer is, basically, a heck of a lot. (And my petty little self can’t resist saying that it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.)

Andy Johnson does have kids, and by leaving such a sickly financial legacy behind him, he also is doing nothing to help them get ahead. I do feel sorry for them, but it could so easily be rectified if he paid up. He is his own worst nightmare, to be honest.

Face it, Andy, you’ve lost. For the sake of your family, do the right thing. My credit score is 772. What’s yours?

Andy Johnson is a Heel, but I’m NOT Achilles

The downward spiral that has been my life for the past 5 years really started when Andy Johnson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, stole $3,500.00 from me, and despite the fact that I won the court case and have a lien on his house, he refuses to pay me back.

Looking back, I can see that I let that situation get the better of me. As my circumstances became more desperate, I started making more and more foolhardy choices, and things began to snowball until I found myself in a deep crevasse of desperation, not quite knowing what to do with myself.

Why on earth would I give this man so much power? In retrospect it disgusts me. He has swindler written all over him. The fact that someone can’t even make it as a politician, which is already one of the lowest forms of life, says a great deal about his character.

The fact that I let his betrayal and thievery send me into the profound tailspin that it did says a great deal about mine. I am too trusting. I need to be more self-protective.

I’m starting to take back my life. He, on the other hand, will continue to sell his soul because he refuses to do the right thing. That makes me pity him.

No photo of Andy Johnson is connected to this blog entry. Frankly, I’m sick of looking at the man.

What I’ll Miss/What I Won’t About Jacksonville, Florida

What I’ll Miss

What I Won’t Miss

As you can see, Jacksonville is a mixed bag. After living in the area for 30 years, of course I’ll miss it. But it’s also time to go. As a friend of mine says, “Onward and upward, into the future.”

Andy Johnson Scumbag Central

Andy Johnson For Sale

The Best of The View from a Drawbridge