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Random thoughts on random subjects
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In lauding Dale Russell of WAGA-TV in Atlanta, who broke the story about Speaker Glenn Richardson’s dalliance with the Atlanta Gas Light lobbyist and created a San Andreas sized tremor of repentance in the House of Representatives, I misidentified a couple of members of Russell’s investigative team. Michael Carlin is executive producer — the boss of the I-team — and Travis Shields is the photographer. They deserve to be properly recognized for their efforts. Without this group, it would still be business-as-usual under the Gold Dome these days. ...
A reader asked if I thought the media would investigate Atlanta Gas Light’s role in the $300 million pipeline bill, co-sponsored by Richardson while he and the AGL lobbyist were making whoopee.  (The bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate.) I don’t know the answer to that, but I doubt it. The media generally don’t have the resources to uncover what corporations have the resources to hide. ...
I would suggest that Atlanta’s new mayor Kasim Reed, the Atlanta media, area developers, politicians and Chamber of Commerce types rent themselves a bus and travel to south Georgia and see how little the people there care about Metro Atlanta’s water problems. Don’t think the governors of Alabama and Florida haven’t figured out that situation for themselves. Their states are united; ours is not. I was in Bainbridge recently and those good folks have a hard time working up much sympathy for Malfunction Junction’s water problems and are tired of hearing that what is good for Atlanta is good for them. A little humility by the Atlanta blowhards would be a good start. ...
The peanut doesn’t fall far from the bush. Jason Carter, 34, an attorney and the grandson of President You-Know-Who, has announced that he is running for the state Senate seat held by Sen. David Adelman, President Obama’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore. The 42nd district is predominately Jewish and Carter’s grandfather is about as popular with the Jewish community as the Hamas terrorists he has so assiduously courted. Give the Carters credit. They do have chutzpah. ...
I have just received an American Flag flown in my honor over Patriot’s Square at Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan on — of all days — Sept. 11, 2009. The flag was sent to me by Brig. Gen. Lawrence E. Dudney, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix IX, which includes Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team. It was a surprise and will be a treasure. ...
You may have read that Kennesaw State University, the hidden giant within the University System is studying the feasibility of adding football to their growing athletic program. To that end, they have named legendary former UGA Coach and Athletic Director Vince Dooley as an advisor. I can tell you right now the effort will be a success if Vince Dooley is involved. When KSU gets its football program under way, maybe they will name their stadium after him. The University of Georgia should, but doesn’t seem to have the decency or class to do the right thing, thanks to petty politicians and their puppet administrators. …
And finally, my column about the Fort. Hood massacre brought interesting replies. The overwhelming majority agree that American Muslims seem to want us to respect their rules, but not necessarily to follow ours. Some readers expressed surprise that my comments even made it into the newspaper. That is a good indication of how intimidating American Muslims appear to be and what a lousy job they have done to dispel that image.
Of the readers who disagreed with me, none mentioned Muslims cowing Random House into not publishing a book they felt disrespected the prophet Mohammed or the cartoon poking fun at Mohammed that media are afraid to run. Two complained that I had disrespected Barbara Streisand (Guilty); one brought up the Crusades (Not guilty. I was at the dentist when that happened) and one reader said I was a “raving maniac” (Hmm. Let me get back to you on that one.)
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