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SOME
RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SOME RANDOM SUBJECTS.
Fat
jokes are strictly forbidden in this space -- except for Ted Kennedy.
Therefore, the announcement that Gov. Sonny Perdue is going on a diet is a
legitimate news story. Word is that Perdue decided to slim down after
being informed by his staff that the four major food groups are not peanut
butter, ice cream, banana pudding and chocolate. (Oops! How did that fat
joke get in?) …
What
isn’t funny is the governor’s ethics reform legislation. He has taken a
worthy goal – strengthening Georgia’s woefully weak ethics laws – and
politicized it. Perdue proposes to get rid of the current commission and
appoint a majority of the members himself. The governor’s spokesperson
tried to paint a good face on this ugly idea, stating the commission
“rightly or wrongly has taken a lot of criticism for its lack of
effectiveness." That claim is not only incorrect, it is insulting. I
served as a member of the state ethics commission for five years. The
commission has been extremely effective despite the handicaps placed on it
by law. Packing the commission with Friends of Sonny will not make things
better, just more political. Yet, this legislation will probably pass
because most Georgians don’t understand what is going on – or care...
Henry
Aaron’s only claim to fame is that he used to hit a ball with a stick,
which evidently makes him a big deal to some people. Aaron recently
introduced Bill Clinton to a crowd as “still my president,” which tells
you how Hank’s morality meter is calibrated. Does Aaron care that “his”
president had serious zipper problems in the Oval Office? Do you imagine
George W. Bush lies awake at night worrying about what a guy who used to
hit a ball with a stick thinks of him? Hmm, I believe I just answered my
own questions…
I have
stated many times my opposition to the Confederate battle flag as the
official state flag. Blacks rightfully find it offensive, and despite all
the blah-blah from flaggers about “honoring our heritage,” our heritage is
that we picked a fight with the Yankees and they beat our butts. Why do I
want to remember that? However, if the Confederate flag would spare us
the spectacle of another NBA All-Star game, which shut down the city of
Atlanta and had zero benefit for the rest of the state, I might be willing
to listen…
One of
the most maligned organizations in our country is the U.S. Postal
Service. Let me rise to their defense. I had to rely heavily on the
USPS for the notification and distribution of my recent book. I give them
an “A” for effort and execution. No problems whatsoever. They deserve a
better reputation than we give them…
I
received some great responses following my recent criticism of the
French. My favorite was from an Athens reader who sent me an analysis of
France’s military history and pointed out that the only time the French
were ever on the winning side was when we did most of the fighting for
them, plus the French Revolution. But as the reader noted, the reason
they won that one was because they were fighting the French. Trés
bon!…
I have
a grandson who will soon get his driver’s license and two others ready for
learner’s permits. I’m not sure they appreciate the anarchy that awaits
them on our roads. Rep. Larry Walker (D-Perry) and several of his
colleagues are trying to help. They have introduced a bill in the General
Assembly to lower the speed limit for big trucks on Georgia’s highways. I
would be amazed if the bill became law and if it did, truckers probably
wouldn’t obey the new law any more than they do the current one, but Rep.
Walker, know that one grandfather is grateful for your effort….
Finally, I am pleased to announce that I have found the ultimate weapon in
my war on squirrels. It is a red-tail hawk. This fierce-looking creature
lives in my trees. The same squirrels that used to chortle when they saw
me and my Red Ryder now skedaddle when they see my new best friend, the
red-tail hawk. God is good.
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