Quote Of The Day

Our old friend the witch burner, Erick Erickson.

I hope for a Perry rebound. He’s on his first wife still and has the most consistent record of conservative policies. And we hate the same people and institutions. We have the same general world view.

Note use of the word "hate". This from the man who routinely questions Jimmy Carter's Christianity.

My Morning Wooten

As we travel towards the end, I have shirked in my Wooten duties. Reasonable Jim showed up today and I nearly shirked past once again. But there are a couple of morsels today too tasty to resist.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorses, in principle, a Palestinian state next door — on the condition that it is demilitarized and that the Palestinians recognize Israel’s right to exist. Fat chance. Wake me when other states in the region accept, without some poision-pill condition, Israel’s right to exist unmolested.

Jim was apparently asleep in 1978 (Egypt) and 1994 (Jordan). Of course, given who was in power at the time of those two peace treaties, is it any wonder Jim's memory is a little fuzzy?

Ever notice how seldom somebody identified as “activist” has a real job, especially a real job in the private sector?

Off the top of my head, I can name a dozen "activists" I know personally who have jobs in the private sector - including two small business owners.

Once upon a time, thoughts of the Atlanta Constitution turned to Henry Grady's "New South" and Ralph McGill's snapping Gene's suspenders. I'm not here to conflate a single sentence blurb in a column of random thoughts with the downfall of a legendary newspaper. But, it is important to remember that there was a time when great men walked those halls and those great men recognized the power of their position and they grasped with fierce determination the unsheathed pen and used the magic of that instrument to promote the betterment of the city and the people they so loved.

It's only a single sentence, but there is more myth spun out of that single sentence than ever emerged from Joel Chandler Harris' house down in West End. Worse, it is a myth designed not to raise up our city - our people - our new south. Instead, it is a mealy mouthed myth of marginalization - of exclusion - of disdain.

You're better that this, Jim. And what's worse is you know it.

Carter and Hamas

There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Georgia these days over the latest actions of one of our native sons. President Jimmy Carter recently visited Hamas, the enigma which is the simultaneously a terrorist organization and the ruling party in the Palestinian Authority.

So why would Carter visit this group? To lavish them with hugs and kisses? To continue to prove to the world that he hates Israel?

Not really.

In his talks with Hamas leaders, Carter sought to persuade the group to declare a unilateral, 30-day cease fire in Gaza as a good-will gesture. But Hamas was having none of it. Early Monday, Carter said, he called Mashaal one last time to try and convince the Hamas leader to accept the idea. “I told them, ‘don’t wait for reciprocation,’” Carter later told reporters. “Just do it unilaterally. This will bring a lot of credit to you around the world, doing a humane thing.

Of course Hamas turned him down. So naturally Carter, named by Georgia blogger Erick Erickson as "history's greatest monster", flashed his famous grin and patted the misbehaving killers on the head.

Not really.

They turned me down. I think they’re wrong. I did the best I could on that. I don’t understand their rocket decision.

Another part of Carter's Hamas trip you may not hear from the Pharisees intent on dragging his heretical ass to the Sanhedrin was his attempt to attain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

In this he was also unable to sway Hamas.

There will be those who dwell on these failures, but it is doubtful in their crowing on the lesser accomplished they will whisper their apparent wisdom on how to accomplish the greater good.

Wing Nut Conspiracy Land

Oh and you thought I was pissed yesterday.

There's yet another story floating around the sphere purporting more evidence of President Carter's anti-semitism.

Former Holocaust Museum Council member Monroe Freedman alledges thirty years ago President Carter complained there were "too many Jews" on the council. He also claims Carter rejected a potential board member because his name sounds too "jewish".

Oh, how the smell of blood seems to refresh memories.

I don't know if the allegations are true or not, but I would ask when someone relays them to you that you consider the source. Freedman's statements came in an "exclusive" interview with World Net Daily.

Not familiar with World Net Daily? Well, for those of you who do not take a dip in that fetid pool on a regular basis, let me present you with a few examples of their fine journalism.

Last week, WND "reported" an exclusive interview with an Air Force officer who reported seeing UFOs in Arkansas. It took only a few days for the Air Force to explain to the soft headed children the "lights" were caused by fairly standard parachute flares being used in a training exercise. For good measure, the original article was accompanied by an advertisement for a book that discusses the possibility of UFOs being demons sent by Satan.

Other "news" World Net Daily has covered in the past?

• Despite reports from the FAA and the Department of Defense, WND continues to put forth "evidence" TWA 800 was shot down by a terrorist missle. Once again followed by an ad for some whack-job conspiracy theorist.


• An alledged "super highway" from Mexico to the U.S. created under the auspices of NAFTA. Followed by an ad for their own newsletter containing articles on a conspiracy in the highest levels of government to create a North American Union with Canada and Mexico


• Multiple attacks on Evolution usually single sourced to a creationist minister such as Ken Ham, usually followed by an ad for a book on James Ussher, the 17th century Bishop who claimed to have sussed out the exact time the world was created.

But let's talk a little more about this Jerusalem Bureau, the one who uncovered Carter's alledged comments. In one week, its star "reporter" Aaron Klein had the Israeli government secretly handing over the West Bank first to Mahmoud Abbas and then to a European task force.

World Net Daily's motto should be "All News Fit To Make Our Subscribers Froth At The Mouth".

The internet is a wonderful thing. But sometimes, it's still just the internet.

Jimmy Carter, Ken Stein and Israel

I've been pondering over the last few days how to write about the latest Jimmy Carter flap. Part of me wants to shout at him that he isn't helping anymore. Part of me wants to yell accolades for someone who continues to ask the difficult questions no matter the consequences. Throw in an instinctive urge to defend another South Georgia boy and you get a slippery eel of a mess with a handle that seems too tough to find. However the lack of comment from a blog of my nature seems dishonest.

I recently remarked to some fine folks that I believe Jimmy Carter could have been the greatest Secretary of State this country has ever seen. As President, he was lacking. He was not the absolute disaster some on the right would believe but I am not so delusional to ignore the severe problems brought on by his at least perceived lack of leadership. In my biased mind, I like to believe he was a good man beaten down by a crap ass job in a crap ass town.

I haven't read Jimmy Carter's latest book "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid", but I have heard him interviewed on both NPR and Meet The Press. I came away from both with the feeling that he was right. The rhetoric was not inflammatory. Colored by my belief that President Carter is as knowledgeable about the Middle East as anyone, I took his points to heart.

It did not take long for the right wing in this country to pounce on Carter's stance as anti-Israel. Fuel to the fire was added when Carter Center fellow Ken Stein resigned his "position" at the Carter Center. Stein was the Carter Center's first Executive Director but President Carter states he has not been affiliated with the Center in 13 years.

A prominent fellow, even one who inhabits a basically emeritus position, resigning over Carter's stance is certainly newsworthy. It gave me pause. As I am wont to do when I struggle with a particular issue, I wait for the chaff to begin to clear. Rush to judgments are not in my nature.

John Sugg sweeps away some of that chaff by providing a context on Ken Stein and his possible motivations. His current position is with Emory University's Institute for the Study of Modern Israel. Alledgedly a think tank funded by staunch pro-Israeli supporters. A fact that is conveniently ignored both by the local media and right wing blogs.

But all this is sideshow, isn't it? The real question is Israel. I'm weirdly reminded of a discussion I once had with a friend about the American Civil War. He asked me if the Civil War were fought today would I take up arms to defend Georgia. I paused. He was astonished I would even hesitate. I explained that although I know Georgia would be wrong, to not defend your home would be difficult.

It is not an easy thing to criticize a people who have given so much to defend their homeland and I will not do it now. But the question is open in my mind. I will endeavor to learn more and if I find criticism is needed, it will be given. Until then, I will continue wrestling the eel.