2002 Columns

Don’t look now, but I think we have survived 2002. As is my custom, I plan to greet the New Year scarfing down record amounts of corn-fried shrimp at the exquisite little Georgia Sea Grill on St. Simons Island with a group of friends who are better than I deserve. The year was memorable, to say the least. We saw a French judge try to fix the ice-skating competition at the … [Read more...] about Dec. 22, 2002: A First Look at the Events of 2003

Dear Santa, I am a little tardy sending my list to you but, frankly, I thought the American Civil Liberties Union would have run you off the planet by now, being that you are a white male associated with a religious celebration. How the ACLU has allowed you to operate all these years is truly amazing. Maybe they leave you alone because you are old and fat. Even dauntless … [Read more...] about Dec. 15, 2002: A Letter To Santa Claus

In a recent column, I wondered out loud why police officers do what they do, given our lack of appreciation for them. That got me an invitation from Major Robert Sampson, commander of the Cobb County police department’s third precinct, to come experience a police officer’s day up close and personal. At the same time, I was sent a copy of an editorial from the student … [Read more...] about Dec. 8, 2002: Police Criticism Unwarranted

A couple of Republicans have twitted me good-naturedly about my prediction on these pages that incumbent Governor Roy Barnes would easily defeat GOP candidate Sonny Perdue. As is my wont, I have taken their kidding in my usual magnanimous and gracious style, choosing not to suggest that if they got a shot of truth serum, they would confess to being totally stupefied that their … [Read more...] about Dec. 1, 2002: The Fearless Seer Strikes Again

Some leftover political observations to go along with all the leftover turkey…. Here is a good example of why Sen. Max Cleland is history. One constituent, a lifelong Democrat, called Cleland’s office for help with the Veterans Administration. He was told the senator couldn’t help, even though Cleland once ran that organization. In frustration, his constituent called … [Read more...] about Nov. 24, 2002: Of Max & Scouts & Babs & Bill