Friday PSA #2

Teh Drama

North Fulton Drama Club& Barrington Hall
present

William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

May 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, 16th and 17th (Evening)
May 4th (Matinee)

Evening Shows start at dusk (about 8:30pm) with seating beginning at 7:30pm.
Sunday Matinee starts at 4:00pm, seating to begin at 3:00pm.

North Fulton Drama Club is proud to present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Reserved Tables are available! For a mere $40, you can reserve a table for six on either the left or right side of the general seating area. Additionally, for just a few dollars more, you can pre-order your dinner from Roswell’s The Fickle Pickle!

Table reservations will be accepted until day of show. Catering orders for reserved tables must be submitted before midnight on the Wednesday prior to that weekend’s performances.

To reserve your tables, please visit our Virtual Box Office!

Performances will be presented on the back lawn of Historic Barrington Hall in Roswell, Georgia. The Hall is located at 535 Barrington Drive, on the south side of the Historic Roswell Square, near the intersection of GA Hwy 120 and GA Hwy 9

Friday PSA #1

Teh Sex

Sex 2.0 will focus on the intersection of social media, feminism, and sexuality. How is social media enabling people to learn, grow, and connect sexually? How is sexual expression tied to social activism? Does the concept of transparency online offer new opportunities or present new roadblocks — or both? These questions, and many more, will be addressed within a safe, welcoming, sex-positive space.

Respecting the confidentiality and protecting the identities of participants who wish to maintain a degree of anonymity will be a top priority at Sex 2.0
.
When? April 12, 2008

Where? 1763~A Deviant Place of Decadence, 1763 Montreal Circle, Tucker, Ga., 30084 (directions)

How much? $10 until February 17; $40 until March 28; $50 after March 28.

At Sex 2.0, everyone is a participant rather than a passive attendee. This is YOUR event!

Pirate

Songs In My Head

Finally made 40
Still wearing jeans

Saturday Stupids

Brother can you spare a stupid?

The Power Of Social Media

Our own Amber in Wired's story of how the media covered the Spitzer mess:

Lots of people were at South by Southwest [when the Spitzer story broke] and didn't have time to check e-mail every five minutes," says Amber Rhea, organizer of the upcoming Sex 2.0 conference in Atlanta. "It didn't matter. They used Twitter, text messaging -- they did interviews with hardly any advance notice.

Was it really only a year ago I resisted joining Twitter because I thought it was useless?

Laying Down With Lambs

"You guys should have said more", AJC Interactivity Manager Lea Donosky said slyly.

"It's not as much fun when we don't have anyone to fight. Maybe next time they can get the GPB people here", I replied.

Thursday night's Atlanta Press Club panel on Ethics and New Media was so full of peace and love it was surprising people weren't twining flowers in each other's hair.

Some among the gathered bloggerati remain cynical but considering merely nine months ago in a similar setting we were called "entertainers" the positive attitude of the panel springs hope. Only time will tell if it remain eternal.

An AJC manager explaining how new media is about the conversation! A corporate blogger talking about communities setting standards! A GSU professor acting like a free license radical! Talk of trust and credibility from the Equifax guy!

A sure sign of the changing times was the table of new media "renegades" frequently nodding in agreement instead of growling with displeasure. Of course there were the moments where the jeans and t-shirt clad began to respond to people directly without aid of the proffered microphone. Sometimes we just can't help our instincts. The desire to be heard is just too overwhelming.

Later at Manuel's one the panelist told me he walked over to talk to us after the event but he felt like the guy in the suit trying to fit in. He said we were a tough group.

I admitted we were. But once you to know us we aren't nearly that scary.

Pass the posies. God knows, kumbaya might be next.

My Morning Wooten

First the stones. Later the love.

Rite Aid pharmacy rolls out over-the-counter paternity tests at its 4,300 stores in 30 states. The paternity test costs $29 and comes with a $119 lab processing fee. Any male suspect should be legally required to submit to testing.

The difference between a company rolling out an innovative product and the government using innovation willy-nilly? The Fourth Amendment.

Who’d have thought it? France is expected to announce that it will double, to 1,000, its commitment of troops to Afghanistan. “We cannot afford to lose Afghanistan,” President Nicholas Sarkozy told the British Parliament. “Whatever the cost, whatever the expense, we cannot afford it.” I could warm to this guy. Of course, he could have included Iraq, too.

Of course he didn't say Iraq because unlike Afghanistan France has never had troops there. Basic math says doubling zero still results in zero. Of course this positive news does harken to the halcyon days where something like 90% of the world (including Iran!) supported our cause. Good times.

The U.S. Supreme Court got it right in telling Texas it could ignore President Bush and an international court. Both tried to instruct Texas to grant a new hearing for a Mexican now on death row for killing two teenagers 15 years ago. Local police prevented Jose Ernesto Medellin from consulting with Mexican diplomats. Under the Constitution the president executes laws but can’t make them, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.

I'm going to let Sara handle this one. "What, you thought the Court was going to actually tell him he had to stop unconstitutionally spying on Americans without a warrant, issuing signing statements that negate the laws he passes, or holding in Gitmo in perpetuity thousands of people who happened to be in Afghanistan at the wrong time? Silly wabbit. This is the Roberts Court, and it will only smack down Bush when he does truly stupid out of character sh*t like try to help a guy on death row. In Texas."

The Consumer Federation of America gets reams of free publicity for its Big Oil is Bad message by predicting gas will be 75 cents a gallon higher before Memorial Day. The group could just as accurately predict where the stock market will be by Memorial Day.

For those playing Jim Non-Sequiter Bingo, B-42!

Let’s see. Should I believe today in global warming or, as the headline declares, that “Morale at CDC shows healthy improvement.” Hmmm. Global warming. It’s more likely.

And in the very next paragraph Copy Editor Jim! Wait, I'm not sure this one makes any sense either. O-32!

That's enough for today. I've got to spin something up on the APC panel. Those who go to bed at a decent hour already beat me.

Songs In My Head

A song for the weary

Let's Talk A Little Science

Any reader knows here in the Grift we occasionally divert on to side roads of music, weather and even science. But primarily the focus is on Georgia politics. Well, because of the video you see above, we are all going to head on to the scientific off ramp a bit more frequently in the future.

No, I'm not turning this into a science blog. There are many, mostly scientists, who do that deal much better.

But with Ben Stein's latest adventure, all who understand science and particularly evolution are required to speak up.

I was talking with an Emory chemistry professor last night and I posited that Kitzmiller vs Dover had effectively hamstrung the intelligent design movement. He responded, "but ironically they always find a way to evolve."

Expelled is indeed an adaptation of an earlier tool in the creationist array - appealing to a public who has little knowledge of the way science works and why the understanding of evolution is so vital. It is a tactic which tragically creates a vicious cycle of maintaining that ignorance by continually using their own "knowledge" to re-inforce that ignorance. We Americans continue our spiral into the sea of stupidity while nations as small as South Korea rise to new heights.

While it is true Edwards vs Aguillard a generation ago and Kitzmiller in this new century put to rest many large questions regarding creationism in our public schools, brushfires such as the one in Florida continue.

Stein and his ilk propose to fan these fires to re-ignite the conflagaration -which means the virtual bucket brigade has to be formed again. Scientists and layman together must grab a pail and dip some water.

UPDATE: MTheory clarifes his position at his blog. And just so there's no misunderstanding I agree with him. We just muddied the details a bit.

Pajamas Optional

Well, maybe you better throw on some real people clothes.

Let us join arms brothers and sisters and once again step into the maw of the lion.

The Atlanta Press Club is hosting a panel on blog ethics.

Ethics and New Media: How the Blogosphere is Affecting Journalism and Business

MODERATOR Dr. John Knapp, Director of GSU Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

WHEN
Thursday, March 27, 2008
5:30 – 6:30 PM – Reception with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
6:30 – 7:30PM – Panel Discussion

WHERE
The Commerce Club
16th Floor
34 Broad Street
Atlanta, GA 30303

You can register online here.

Kidding aside the APC panel organizers have always been gracious and their events have always been entertaining. Come on down and join hoo hah.

Georgia Gang Midweek Addendum

A refresher first.

Last June The Georgia Gang's Dick Williams and Phil Kent participated in a bizarre exchange regarding AJC music critic Sonia Murray.

Dick wondered aloud about the AJC having a critic "dedicated solely to rap". Which led Phil to opine "some say she can't write".

Well, boys. I do try to be helpful. You should have good hoot and holler this sunday with Sonia's latest piece on the evil rap music.

Don't say I never gave you anything.

Teach The Children

This is not a Daily Show clip.

For advocates of vouchers, until you show me how this can be prevented I cannot cross over to your side.

h/t: PZ

Georgia Gang Howler Of The Week

Dick Williams responding to Jeff Dickerson's analysis of Barack Obama's speech.

I thought Romney's was much more important.

Remind me to not seek Dick's advice on any future wagers.

Songs In My Head

Songs In My Head

Saturday Stupids

Booyah!

Just don't run off the road Amani!

Songs In My Head

New Blog

Something for your weekend.

Atlanta Bar Talk

It requires audience participation so everybody jump in!

My Morning Wooten

Let's go.

State Rep. Ron Sailor Jr. (D-Decatur) has the second-best excuse ever for missing 91 percent of recorded votes in this year’s legislative session. First best: “I was dead.” Second best: “I was engaged in a federal effort to catch other corrupt officials.”

Even I have to admit that's pretty funny.

How does a conservative or Republican know he/she is on the wrong track? The wrong people love what you’re doing... “This is something good, something we’ve been advocating.” NCLB is toast anyway if Democrats control Congress and the White House next year.

Which judging by the opinions of most education professionals and the tepid response of even, gasp, Republicans at this year's State of the Union is a good thing.

Actress Halle Berry and male model Gabriel Aubry have a daughter, her first child. The two don’t plan to marry, but she wants you to know that they feel fully committed to each other. Semi-fully, anyway. Playing a mother in her latest movie helped convince her to be one.

Ah, the essence of the "conservative" dichotomy - Hollywood is irrelevant to mainstream America except when conservatives choose to believe the actions of a few prima donnas might cause the pure hearts in NormanRockwellLand to strip clothes and make like hedonists on mushrooms.

Headline: “Migrants fear changes in Georgia.” Would that be legal immigrants or illegal? —- ‘cause they’re different.

Copy editor Jim is back! It's migrants because that is what they are. Is it possible an editor at the AJC doesn't have a Webster's on his shelf?

Relocating the Georgia Department of Corrections to the old Tift College campus on I-75 in Forsyth is a smart move... A state department could save or grow lots of cities. No need, really, for them to be here.

Everybody grab hold of something. I agree.

DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones picked up serious primary opposition this week: former state Rep. Jim Martin of Atlanta. Good guy, but he starts off sounding just like national Democrats: “I believe we should respect our troops by using them more effectively and taking better care of them when they come home.” Democrats have decided a version of that line is the safe way to frame their opposition on Iraq.

Perhaps Democrats have consulted that most revered of political oracles - national opinion. Probably a smart move since somewhere north of 70% agree with the position. I'm convinced the other 30% occupy a ranch in Crawfordville and a particular office in the AJC building.

Selah.

Not What They Planned

This may change by the time you click the link but I'm pretty sure having their promo attached to the front of the video report of that poor woman killed by the stingray is not what the Gulf Shores Chamber of Commerce desired.

Watch here.

Songs In My Head

Random Scene From Lawmakers

Sen. Eric Johnson continuing an interview with Lawmakers while a choir in the background sings the National Anthem.

We anxiously await comments from Rep. Jack Kingston's office on this shocking turn of events.

Millielou

Far be it from me to talk about weird internet handles, but Mayor Franklin is Millielou?

Millielou is the nome de Internet of Mayor Shirley Franklin. Her latest message opened with a paragraph that smacked of weariness — followed by a torrent of frustration and familial outrage.

Mayor Millielou goes on to tear Creative Loafing a new one over coverage of her daughter's recent plea deal with the Feds. Personally, there have been times when CL's rhetoric made me wince. The alternative weekly's response should be interesting.

UPDATE: I just wanted to add that the lead in that entry is one of the best I've seen in a long time.

Every now and again, we receive an e-mail from Millielou, who is short, wears a huge blossom on her chest, and runs the city of Atlanta.

Don't know if that was Bob or Jim but that's a good one boys.

Juicilicious!

Spacey turned me on to a new blog and it's a hoot! Live Apartment Fire covers local media with a wink, a nod and a snark.

At least Martin wasn’t interviewing an attractive starlet. He tends to salivate openly in the presence of female hotness.

Now that's a kindred spirit!

Songs In My Head

The In Between

We finally reached a truce.

Following myriad pleas, cajoles and threats, my family finally agreed to not use certain epithets in my presence. After long arguments and subtle persuasions both sides realized the gulf of understanding was too deep to bridge and instead chose that very southern solution - polite silence.

My mother would occasionally slip and seeing me nearby would apologize. It was one of those stomach flipping moments where all realized the child now led the way and the parent would forever follow.

My brothers and sisters continued to follow the truce until our mother left us. With her passing we were placed in the position of the top rung of the family. Families, like the packs of predators which are their heritage, require leaders and perhaps it was that struggle for supremacy which led my siblings back to the hidden truth - they desired to again casually use certain words in my presence.

At first there were gentle corrections then as things turned ugly not-so gentle accusations. Soon, as four people splintered, sides were taken and I was inexorably pulled towards the brother who was most like myself - except he was 13 years older, a product of the turbulent sixties with its bussing and violence and although no one would ever say it was dominant in his life, bigoted.

He used certain explosive words as thoughtlessly as a man might use the word Coca-cola to describe what he was drinking. He flatly stated if his daughters brought home a black man he would remove them from his life. When told that Barack Obama may win the Presidency, he rolled his eyes and muttered, "what is the world coming to?"

The polite silence was irrevocably shattered when one of my nieces finally crossed that ultimate line of race. For the dating habits of a 19-year old girl, I was sent flying on a 400 mile trip to attempt to heal a broken family.

After many tears, the family did not heal completely but remained together. They reached their own uneasy truce. The father would not interfere but the daughter would not "put it in his face". My brother frankly told me that he knew we were different and there were things I took as the way of the world which he could never accept.

We as a society have moved so far in this particular struggle but it is close by where we struggle so hard. I could no more remove my brother from my life than I could cut off my right hand because it offends. But events of this week have shown that we must all work harder. We must be willing to tell those we hold most dear, "brother, I love you but when I'm around there are things you can't do".

And change will come. Perhaps all the ones we love will not change but with each passing of that love change will be inevitable.

Many months after the "boyfriend incident" as my brother sat rolling his eyes at the possibility of a black man being President, my niece standing just behind her father sotto voce told me, "I think he'll be a good President".

Georgia Reactions To The Obama Speech

Tom Baxter:


When W.E.B. Dubois introduced the concept of double consciousness, on the eve of the 20th Century, he was talking about the dilemma of African-Americans in his own time, of “measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.”


Thomas:


Furthermore, misguided is the outside observer who assumes a pastor to be wholly representative of any individual member of that pastor’s congregation. From my own history, I can cite several examples of ministers who successfully led my home church while simultaneously maintaining opinions contrary not only to my own, but to several others in our congregation.


Rusty:


There’s a lot of Old South in my blood, which often is simultaneously a point of pride and shame. Just as it’s not adequate to condemn the South as racist and backwards without trying to tell the rest of the story, I also feel that way about my grandfather. There was a lot more good in him than there was bad. A lot more.


JMac:


One can disagree with some of Obama's policy prescriptions in a perfect legitimate manner, but to deny the reality of what he was talking about is to plug your fingers in your ears, cover your eyes and pretend that America is something else. The truth is, it isn't.

Amy:

My sister is my political barometer. She's a SC democrat, but she doesn't drink quite as much Koolaide as I do. So, I listen to her, in part, to figure out how "normal" people are reacting to whatever is going on in the political world. She supported Edwards and now supports Obama, but last week, on one of my particularly busy days, she called me and said, "You better tell Obama to 'do something' about that pastor because I've got to tell you, I can't vote for him if that's who's going to be advising him when he's sitting in the Oval office, making decisions about war and peace."


My own shortly.

Random Thought

I haven't watched the Obama speech but will shortly.


Something to think about. Isn't it interesting how quickly he went from possible radical Muslim to crazy Christian?

Media Garbage

Would you like to know how many times I've been asked in the past year how my stories are approved/checked/vetted/edited?

Probably not.

I just wonder why nobody ever asked Bill Kristol.

Kristol, the so called brain of Quayle, in his regular New York Times column quoted the right wing rag Newsmax on Obama alledgedly attending the infamous July 22 sermon of Pastor Jeremiah Wright. Only problem is on that day Obama was about 1200 miles outside of Chicago attending an event in the tiny media black hole called Miami.

You would think a writer of the "esteem" of Bill Kristol wouldn't make an error which would result in the quick guillotining of any first year staff writer. You would think the so-called mainstream media would slowly roll their dinosaur carcasses over to witness their own doom.

Probably not.

CNN has Glen Beck, Fox has Sean Hannity and the Old Gray Lady has Bill Kristol - "commentators" who continue to use such paragons of the truth as WorldNetDaily and NewsMax.

Somehow, Kristol's "fatal" error made it completely through those much touted editorial processes of the world's premier news outlet yet new media citizen journalists or whatever the hell you want to call us on this day still have to answer questions about our credibility.

Here in Atlanta, we have a journalist on a radio station where her journalism consists of 2 minute break-ins sandwiched between the latest mind-numbing dentist's office music who flatly states she would never trust anything a blogger writes.

So here's the deal. Ask your questions but there will be no more answers. Instead you must first answer my question - have you ever read my blog? Until this is answered to my satisfaction, you will receive the same amount of respect from me that you obviously have for me.

Stormin' Stupids

Now me, I was scared. But Lieutenant Dan, he was mad. ~Forrest Gump

The Boiling Skies

As someone who grew up in tornado country bad weather usually doesn't rattle me, but a spinner ripping through the high rises of downtown Atlanta shakes even the hard core weather junkie.

Grayson shot the above video of the aftermath outside the Georgia Dome. Fans were just leavin the SEC Men's Basketball Tourney.

Update: Rusty has a great roundup of local impressions.

My Morning Wooten

I'm only going to gnaw on one bone today.

The Georgia Senate passed a resolution to name the I-95/I-16 interchange near Savannah in honor of Justice Clarence Thomas. Insufficient. Name the state’s judicial building for him. Or Thomas County.

Here's a conservative idea.

How about we don't rename anything that already has a name.

How about we don't waste the taxpayer's money buying lovely little green signs displaying a person's name to add to the lovely red, white and blue signs which seem to adequately direct people around the outskirts of Savannah.

How about we leave the simple, sublime word "Justice" on the facade of our highest court alone instead of adding some bronze plaque, new carving or whatever godawful doo-dad our noticeably taste challenged legislature would design.

How about we leave a name which has served a county well for the past 183 years be. How about we avoid the financial and administrative nightmare of changing every sign, document, letterhead, envelope and poobah's nameplate in said county.

How about we conserve a little of the taxpayer's well earned money instead of spending it on some ill-conceived flight of ego. How about that, Jim?

Random Scene From Lawmakers

The House is wading into the Grady affair and as is usual it is not very pretty.

Witness the follwing exchange in the debate on HB 1299 which would allow the state to swoop in and take control of Grady Hospital is the board is not converted to non-profit in a timely manner.

Rep Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur): Would you please specify how your safety net protects the citizens of my district that are funding $40-80 million of this funding.

Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Cobb County): Well, Rep. Oliver apparently that is not enough and it doesn't meet what citizens from your district and your county actually...there are more patients that go and the cost is more to Grady than
what your county pays.

Rep. Cooper's argument regarding Dekalb may be true, but what is absolutely true is her county along with Clayton and Gwinnett racked up $16 million in bills at Grady in 2006 without paying one damned dime.

Grow up.

My Morning Wooten

Do what?

Public officials like Spitzer who cultivate a particular political image — whether that is as a change agent or a holier-than-thou crusader — fall quickly when their personal conduct fails to measure up. For Barack Obama, the stakes just went up in the Chicago trial of Tony Rezko, who is accused of bribing public officials and taking kickbacks. Obama has donated some $150,000 to charity, the allegedly illegal campaign contributions Rezko directed to his 2004 Senate campaign.

So in Jim-land, a disgraced politician caught performing some personal economic stimulus indicates potential problems for a candidate he doesn't even support? The whine you hear is the vibrating tenuousness of the through-line in Wooten's tortured logic.

What is it about the fellating of politicians which causes Republicans to read the bones as doom until the end of days for Democrats?

Local Boy Does Good

I suppose I should go to this.

On Monday afternoon, Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie will kick off his reelection campaign on his hometown’s courthouse square.

I need to check on things at the southern compound anyway.

Songs In My Head

The Block

Here's the deal.

I'm blocked.

And I have been for a while. I've spit out a few pieces over the past months but nothing to cause pride.

A good friend, a writer, once told me that writer's get blocked because they are fighting something and the block will continue until the struggle ceases.

I think I've figured out what I'm ramming my head against. Maybe tomorrow the struggle within will cease. But not today.

Of all days, not today.

My Morning Wooten

Jim is in quite a dither about the horror of Democrats in Florida possibly using a "mail-in ballot" to conduct a do-over primary.

Hanging chads, hanging mailman, here we come. Republicans really should not get too down about their prospects in November.

Wooten would have us believe people mailing a ballot would lead to a three ring circus, however during the debate on Voter ID in Georgia he was curiously silent on absentee ballot reform. On the other hand he was always eager to explain how not requiring grannies to show drivers license at the ballot box could lead to the ruination of the republic.

I'm Baaaaaaack!

No more Sarah Connor Chronicles. No more Project Runway. No more spring training. No more fishing (well, at least not this week).

It's a time of renewal and time to get this bad boy cranking again. I don't know everything that will unfold this week but I guarantee it's gonna be FIERCE!

Headed South

Going to catch the Braves in spring training. See you in a few.

Georgia Blog Carnival

Lastest Georgia Blog Carnival is up at My Mind Is On Georgia. Check it out.

Random Scene From Lawmakers

Possibly a new feature.

For the unenlightened, Lawmakers is GPB half-hour nightly recap of the day's legislative session.

Seen today.

Rep. DuBose Porter, Democratic House Leader and possible gubenatorial candidate (he's still being coy) wearing a sporty black fedora.

Not sure what it means. Maybe he's trying to roll time back to when Democrats had a few crumbs of power.

My Morning Wooten

It's been a long time since that rock 'n roll.

But you might want to get out the fainting couch because I agree with Jim more than not. Must be the whole leap year thing.

But not on this one.

The year’s great irony is the rush of Democrats to Barack Obama on his promises of “change.” Think about it. Nothing more terrifies liberals than the prospect of change from the failed policies of the past.

What terrifies people, liberal or not, is the thought of continuing the same craptastic, ruination of the last eight years.

House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s tax-swap proposal —- a portion of the property tax for a new tax on services —- is a loser for Republicans...A good leader doesn’t invite his followers to walk into a political ambush with sharpshooters from the Left on one side and from the Right on the other.

Couldn't agree more. Then again real leaders would call for spending reform before tax reform. Does anyone think that will happen before the next Sadie Hawkins Day? Or the next? Or the next? And so on.

Give Dunwoody the right of self-determination. In a metropolitan area, people should be able to control their space.

Here's a better idea. Pass one of the township bills. Either Adelman's in the Senate or Jacobs in the house will do. As far as my thoughts on the plight of the poor abused Dunwoodians? See here.

One area where Republicans under the Gold Dome promise to make important trides is education. The majority should most assuredly pass State Sen. Eric Johnson’s SB 458, which would give vouchers to parents of students in chronically failed schools and in a system that loses accreditation. The latter may include Clayton County. The Senate should pass, too, Rep. Jan Jones’ House Bill 881, which would give charter school organizers a state-level way around foot-dragging, kill-the-competition local school boards and would make it clear that the money follows the child. Local control means parents, not another level of government.

I'm still not sold on vouchers. Convince me there's a way to avoid entanglements of government and religion, particularly the snake handlers and the creationists, and I might be swayed. But I love me some charter schools. Hell, even John Sugg agrees with Wooten on this one. Maybe we're all high.

What? The drought is not part of an end-of-time cataclysmic event? No. Climatologist Doug Lecomte of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration checked the books and found that drought is a frequent visitor hereabouts. It spent three years here between 1980 and 1982 and five years here between 1985 and 1989. Then there was the visit in the early 1930s and in 1924. All told, the past 325 years have featured more than a dozen droughts. The lesson: Don’t panic. Don’t be arbitrary or stupid with rule-making. Plan, manage and store water. Droughts come and go.

No, Jim, it's not part of the apocalypse. Yet. Droughts do come and go but this one has been around for a while and has been significantly severe. The fact is the climate is changing. We also have been on a uncontrolled development binge for the past two decades. Combine these with, as you correctly point out, we haven't really planned, managed or stored water very well and Georgia is very close to experiencing a perfect storm of ecological disaster. But if you want to attack only one symptom of the disease go ahead. Our mutual friend the free market will eventually sort things out as people and businesses flee our great state - for greener pastures usually grow where the water flows.

You know a day where Sugg, Jim and I all start agreeing just doesn't feel right. What's Bobby Franklin up to these days? I need a good old fashion "railing against the crazy" catharsis.

Kingston Pantsed Again

Jack Kingston (R-Lalaland) gets caught attacking Barack Obama for not wearing a flag lapel pin while not wearing a flag lapel pin.

Perhaps the Republicans would be better served by having an attack dog who doesn't come across as the kid in third grade who was so eager to run the movie projector.

Little Earthquakes

Two things you will hear every election cycle - there's a possibility of a brokered convention and this is the ugliest campaign season we've ever seen.

The first, despite the furious mental masturbation of all the political junkies, never happens. The last brokered convention was the Democrats in 1952. The refinement of the primary process carefully shepherded by the new class of profressional political rustlers has pushed the possibility of some open political brawl into the realm of fever dreams of the deluded.

After the fever dreams pass, we wake to a world we perceive as madness, muckery and morass.

Much as the "plagarism" charges against Barack Obama caused the scribes to furiously search for previous episodes of "lifting" (not so shockingly they found a throughline of purloined political bromides back to the time of Lincoln) so does history reveal that a few pictures of a man in what westerners think is an awfully funny outfit is far from the worst bit of political awfulness the world has seen.

Grover Cleveland was accused rather publicly of fathering a bastard. Andrew Jackson opponents claimed he was the son of a prostitute and a "mulatto" to boot. Abraham Lincoln was frequently called "Honest Ape". Given the racial politics of that particular era the implication was rather obvious.

Yesterday, we had a picture of a man in a funny outfit. Today, we have some maniac with a microphone using a candidate's middle name as a smear. Neither holds much honor but neither holds much horror either. Certainly neither should unleash an earthquake of contempt strong enough to shake us from our beds. After all, the fever dreams await.

Political Geek Moment

I watch Lawmakers - the GPB nightly show on the General Assembly. It broadcasts every night at 7:00pm and is an invaluable resource for any political junkie.

Repeated viewings of anything will lead to the discovery of the odd.

I just noticed they use stock footage for floor shots during Senate debates. For at least the second time while someone spoke from the well, we were treated to a shot of Senators in their desks with Senator Dan Weber looking pensive and a Senator (I'm not saying who I think it is) rather noticeably napping. Or maybe he was just resting his eyes.

Not much but I thought it was funny. Now I'm going to be looking for naptime Johnny every time I watch this show.

Non-Journalist Crashes AP

Hopelessly non-certified/journalified/beatified unwashed video-blogger Shelby Highsmith's report on the Human Life Amendment made the AP.

Watch it here.

I wonder how long before one of us nasty bloggers crashes into a 30 second audio spot on a certain radio station living on the left hand side of the dial.

Waterboarding Reporters

I promise to get back to Georgia real soon.

So you think you know what happens during waterboarding? So did a reporter from Creative Loafing Tampa until he first witnessed it then experienced it.

For over a minute, Ruppert has a gallon of water poured over his face. He struggles slightly, but seems calm considering. Suddenly he shoots up and jumps off the bench, gagging and spitting. He takes a few moments to catch his breath before the TV cameras descend...(At this point I'm starting to question my decision)

Read the full article to see what happened next.

Blurring The Lines

I try not to allow fiction to intrude on reality. But I just heard something that resonated. From Primary Colors.

I've never heard a President use words like "destiny" and "sacrifice" without thinking bullsh*t.

That pretty much crystalizes why I support Obama. So, I'm going to indulge in embracing the platitudes of unreality for a moment.

The snark will return shortly.

A Little Revisionist History

Let's step away from Georgia for a minute and dip into the tepid pool of national Presidential politics.

While the Georgia left is all a-ga-ga over Rep. Jack Kingston's (R-Lalaland) loopy performance, David Frum played historian on Bill Maher's show friday night.

People compare him to John F. Kennedy and one of the things that's interesting about the comparisons is John F. Kennedy...was immediately tested by America's adversaries and immediately failed those tests.

One of those "tests" was the Bay of Pigs which is hard to argue was not a failure. But the other one was the Cuban Missile Crisis which to call a failure is laughable.

Kennedy actually faced Russian destroyers cruising off the coast of Florida with nukes, cowboyed up in real life, looked the bad guys in the eye and said, no.

Hardly the failure of a limp wristed liberal.

The myth spinning of "Kennedy as a failure" is usually left to the realm of late night wacko radio shows, but we can now see it is being trial ballooned as a mainstream Republican talking point.

It might be worrisome if the whiff of desperation didn't make it so laughable.

South Georgia Stupiding

The whole gang is headed south for the weekend. I know things have been quiet around here recently but something large is on its way. It's worth the wait. I promise.

Bloggers Breaking The Fourth Wall

Blow, Joshua, blow! The mash-up of traditional and non-traditional continues with blogger Jason Pye now writing a weekly column for The Covington News.

Check out his first screed opining on what the future holds for Republicans who leave their core beliefs behind.

On The Border

I’m out on the border, I’m walkin’ the line

Don’t you tell me ’bout your law and order

I’m try’n’ to change this water to wine. ~Henley/Frey

Now hold your laughter for a moment. Sen. Shafer has actually explained to me his resolution to shift our border northward into Tennessee and I have to admit it makes a strange sort of sense.

But I leave that particular conundrum to those who are more learned. No, in this time of uncertainty, when we are asea in a state of confusion, I believe it is my duty, gentle readers, to bring you comfort.

Calm your minds. For we are not alone.

In honor of the Senate's passage of the border resolution, I give you a list of other border irregularities in the U.S.

The Kentucky Bend - Credit for this one goes to my good friends Catherine and Jerry. Who inform me the state of Kentucky actually sends road crews over to the isolated enclave to work on the pavement.

The Northwest Angle - Make sure you check out the picture of the Customs Office. I wonder if the Minutemen have an outpost.

The Alburgh Tongue - Yes, dears. Vermont is a very strange place.

Carter Lake - Apparently there's a piece of Iowa in Nebraska. Latest reports show Nebraska unperturbed.

The Sullivan Line - Parts of Missouri are not Missouri. Parts of Iowa are not Iowa. And this horror led to the Honey War in which the sherrif was arrested and three beehives were cut up. Not kidding.

So you better watch out Tennessee! We know you got bees and we know what to do with them!

Selah.

Songs In My Head

Georgia Gang Howler Of The Week

Phil Kent (who else) on Jane Fonda's rather bizarre use of the "See You Next Tuesday" word on The Today Show.

Well, it's a sick, warped, liberal culture

So, when liberals aren't busy aborting babies and lolling around in laziness, they are also responsible for producing all the vulgarity uttered in the great United States of America.

The Funny

I go out of town for a few days...

"[Conservatives are less of a power online]because we have family lives because we don’t abort our kids and we believe in capitalism so we go to work." ~Erick Erickson

I'm no expert on the funny. But I have walked this Earth for close to forty years and I own a blog so that must mean something.

In my experience, the funny requires two things.

One, it must contain a kernel of the truth.

Well, we could stop there but let's give the comment the small benefit of the doubt and proceed.

But ultimately, to be the funny something has to actually be funny.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

Happy Valentines Day. Eh Screw It

Last year, my heart was filled with hate and loathing.

This year I could write about Republican meme-meisters or transparent Democrats, but frankly my heart is just not in it.

Instead I'm retreating to my hideaway in south Georgia to meditate. See you next week.

Quote Of The Day

From the Creative Loafing feature on the life of Iraqi Ahmad Ali.

If it's your day to be dead, then that's it.

When you live in hell on earth, even the most profound tends to simplify. Read the entire article. It's worth it.

Songs I Wish Weren't In My Head

Ummm. Okaaaaaaaaay.

h/t: ATLMalcontent

New Blog Alert

Covering media in Atlanta and Georgia, Spacey has started Mostly Media.

Check it out.

Georgia Makes The Innocence Project Blog

The Innocence Project Blog is a daily read. It's the outlet for news on the Innocence Project - the organization which uses DNA testing to free those wrongly convicted.

They recently took interest in HB997. The bill attempts to provide stricter guidelines in the use of eyewitness evidence in a criminal case.

It is a noble bill as the recent case of Troy Anthony Davis revealed serious issues with eyewitness recollection.

Still some oppose.

[Terry Norris, executive vice president of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association] told Committee Members that while the resolution is not legally binding, he still feels the State is dictating to law enforcement what to do.

Mr. Norris. That's their job. It's why they are called lawmakers and you are called law enforcers.

Five Bells! The Crazy Is Loose!

It's been a dry, cold season - at least under the Gold Dome. Bills fly through practically unopposed. Major issues like water, guns and Grady are shuffled around with barely a rustle. Heck, even though the Human Right To Life Amendment is still alive, Rep. Bobby Franklin has held his prayer meetings to a murmur.

It's hard out there for a blogger.

Then came SB59.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to forgery and fraudulent practices, so as to provide definitions; to provide that it shall be illegal for the owner or operator of a social networking website to allow a minor using a protected computer to create or maintain a profile web page on a social networking website without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian and without providing such parent or guardian access to such profile web page; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

In other words, unless social networking sites, i.e. twitter, facebook, myspace, lastfm, etc., provide certain parental controls their owners could end up in the hoosegow.

SB59 has that certain special brand of crazy which inspires the bloggers of Georgia to pull together on the same end of the rope.

Rusty:

So, the state Senate wants to try to ban minors from joining MySpace. No word yet on whether they plan to ban church picnics, where minors are actually more at risk than they are on MySpace.

Leonard Witt:

Of course, as someone who just started a social networking site for SoCon08 to help Georgia businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs, it worries the hell out of me.

Jason Pye (who might be ready to storm the castle):

I have an idea. Let's just ban the damn internet. That would solve the problem. Let's bring Georgia back to the stone age. We don't need technology, right? It's evil.

Even the heavy hitters at Peach Pundit:

Yet more idiot-based legislation is making its way through our Senate chambers. A few dopes think we can’t teach our kids about the Internets on our own, so they’ll just take it away.

Well, while we are all a little excited (and some us grateful for something to finally write about) the fact remains the thing is probably about as useless as hen's teeth.

First of all it's not enforceable. The only way to arrest the nasty pedophile assisting scofflaws is to raid their hosting facilities. Most of these are either located outside of Georgia or are part of a distributed network across several states. Which brings us to....

...a little thing called the Interstate Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitituion. The power to regulate commerce between the states is explicitly limited to the Federal Government meaning any attempt to affect a business in another state is patently unconstitutional. Even if the hosting facility is in Georgia given the required connectivity to servers elsewhere and the elasticity the Supreme Court has acknowledged in the clause, it would still be patently unconstitutional.

I suppose there is a small chance someone operating solely in Georgia could be arrested by an overzealous law enforcement official. They might even be inconvenienced by some time in the pokey. But imagine the outcry, lawsuits or public damage such a case would cause. Would anyone actually risk that media maelstrom? We should qualify by saying anyone outside the Georgia Senate.

Which brings us to the ultimate point. Jason has it right. Anyone who votes for this thing should be thrown out of office on the simple grounds of idiocy. If our guardians of democracy under the dome can't understand concepts taught in an 11th grade civics class should we really trust them with anything else?

More On The APC

A couple of more write-ups on last weeks APC panel.

Shelby was on the panel with me and gives his thoughts.

Nick is a techologist who wonders about our ability to confirm who people really are.

Check 'em out.

What Is Goin' On: Casey Cagle Interview

Lt. Governor Cagle was once again on Wilson's show.

Water dominated the conversation with the Lt. Gov. attempting to explain the controversial state water plan.

Take a listen here.

A Little Shakeup

I'm working on moving the site to a new URL. Since this is a simple DNS redirect your bookmarks and feeds should still work. But I haven't exercised my DNS mojo in quite a while so things may get a bit wacky. I ask your patience, gentle readers.

Griftdrift Etal At The Atlanta Press Club

You can now listen to the podcast of last week's panel discussion at the Atlanta Press Club.

Courtesy of the Georgia Podcast Network, take a gander the ramblings of myself, Southern Political Report's Tom Baxter, CNN.com's John Helton and Shelby.

Listen here.

Just Missing The Mark

The General Assembly is attempting to clamp down on child porn distribution.

Last year, Douglas County D.A. David McDade created quite a stir by alledgedly handing out multiple copies of the Genarlow Wilson sex tape. After hints of prosecution from the Feds, McDade finally stopped his willy-nilly distribution. But the genie was out of the bottle.

That one thoughtless act led to rumored viewing parties at the Capitol and ultimately to the demise of legislation which would have freed Wilson. Fortunately, the Supreme Court, presumably without the same access to the horrible video talisman, later set aside Wilson's conviction.

Now the final act of the Wilson saga begins.

Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) and David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) have submitted a bill which would prevent any release of evidence of sexual nature used in a criminal case. They should be applauded for this effort, but as Political Insider points out there one potentially big problem with the law.

Particularly worrisome to the Georgia Press Association is a provision that would permit judges to clear the courtroom when such evidence is presented during trial.

The good intentions of Rep. Golick and Rep. Ralston miss the point that the sin committed in the Wilson case was not the viewing of the material but the distribution of the material. It can certainly be argued the press and even the public to a degree have a legitimate interest in viewing all evidence which might lead to a criminal conviction. This does not means either should be able to possess that evidence.

Fortunately, the fixing is pretty easy.

First, throw out the ability of the judge to scurry the press out during a trial. Second, add that access to evidence of a sexual nature should be limited to those with a legitimate interest, i.e. the press, and that it can only be examined in the confines of a custodial facility such as a D.A.s office. Third, require the request for information be in writing and recorded. This final point will prevent those who only seek this type of material for prurient interest.

There's a lot of good here. Just needs to be shined up a bit.

At The APC

One thing I learned last night is it's harder to remember things when you are a participant rather than an observer. But I know it was recorded and also a certain Creative Loafing scribe was there so when those doo-dads are up I'll link to them.

A couple of things though.

A hint to future moderators. If your first question is going to be how many hits your site gets, make sure the local blogs don't have to follow the CNN.com guy.

One thing the panel agreed as a whole was the speed in which the political world and the electronic world is converging is astonishing. Even to those of us immersed in it every day. When Shelby began describing some experiences on the Biden campaign there were audible gasps from the audience.

Overall I had a hoot and I really appreciate the APC for asking me to participate.

UPDATE: You can see your humble scribe and read one brief summary here.

Atlanta Press Club Tonight

Just a reminder. I will be one of the panelist tonight at the Atlanta Press Club's "How Electronic Media Is Affecting Political Campaigns".

Panelists include:
Tom Baxter, Southern Political Report
John Helton, CNN.com
Shelby Highsmith, Shelbinator.com
James Williams, Griftdrift

Moderated by: Walter Jones, Morris News Service

When: Thursday, February 7
6:30- networking
7 - 8:30PM

Where: The Commerce Club, 34 Broad St., Atlanta, GA, 30303

My Morning Wooten

We may have a new subset of My Morning Wooten.

Least shocking statement of the day:

I have high regard for Limbaugh.

Of course you do, dear. After all you are brothers in the belief that facts matter less fury.

Super Tuesday: Random Thoughts

Random thoughts from a crazy night

-Democrats know how to party. I'm still waiting for some invitations from the Republicans. The longer y'all keep me out the more I will be convinced your hootenannies involve candles, paddles and cries of "thank you sir may I have another".

-Amsterdam Walk has some seriously messed up parking areas. One lot was completely isolated and practically unlit. Given some recent criminal activity in that area someone might want to look into improvements.

-Wow. It was a word heard over and over last night. Everyone predicted an Obama win in Georgia but no one predicted the avalanche of a 2 to 1 victory. Also as the demographic numbers emerged many were in a stunned daze. Obama won everywhere among everybody. Except for the blue hairs. Clinton took the over 60 set.

-When will the Frank Capra movie end? Mike Huckabee has no money, no support staff and many thought no chance. He still has no chance as last night McCain surged to a huge delegate lead but winning Georgia in fairly stunning fashion will keep Mr. Chips alive for a while.

-Congratulations Georgia. We were first and we were the story. Obama's stunning numbers and Huckabee's nail-biter kept our state in prominence all the way to the close of the California polls. Campaigns might want to consider that in the future.

-Finally, last night it occurred to me that I voted for the winner in a Georgia Presidential Primary for the first time ever. EVER. Voting for the winner feels pretty good.

What Is Goin' On: Jason Pye

In all the hoot and holler of SuperTsunami Slushy Tuesday, don't forget there's still plenty of pushing and shoving down at the state house.

Jason Pye of Georgia Legislative Watch gives Wilson a pretty good rundown of the nasty old DOT fight.

Listen here.

Looks like that inside baseball game is starting to draw a bit of a crowd.

Rep. Tom Graves On The Purge

Rep. Tom Graves was one of several Republicans stripped of his committee chair in the great DOT purge.

Today he took the well and invoked the spirit of recently departed Speaker Murphy. Things are certainly very uncomfortable in the House these days.

Jason has the audio. You can listen here.

Super Tuesday: Bloggers On Patrol

Shelby is doing the MTV thang with live video.

From the Dem side JMac and Flack (sounds like a bad indie comic) will be live blogging from the hinterlands of Athens and Cumming.

Check the voices section for others. Reports are heavy turnout just about everywhere.

The Healing

Two months before I was born, the Tet Offensive began - shredding the last desperate hope we would salvage anything from a broken war. Two days after I was born, Dr. Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis. Two months after I was born, we lost Robert F. Kennedy.

Can a life be defined by the year of its birth? No. But there it remains. A year which has haunted a nation - becoming ingrained in our very conscience. A wound on an entire generation so deep the healing always seemed far from possible.

Those born in the chaos of 1968 never knew the hope of previous years. We were weaned on Watergate, reached adulthood chased by the spectre of nuclear destruction and entered the prime of our life with the shadow of another broken war covering our future.

For four decades we, along with our beloved country, yearned for a cleansing - water to wash away the sins and sorrow of the past. We wanted nothing less than to be dipped into the river of hope and emerge back into the sunlight of a new life. A life reborn.

A life healed.

Shot Through The Heart

After two sessions, have we finally seen an end to HB 89? The infamous gun bill?

Chip Rogers of Woodstock was the original sponsor of the guns-in-parking-lots bill, and it’s customary for the originating lawmaker to be part of a conference committee...“I think you all know the significance of those appointments,” Johnson told reporters.

Translation of the political speak is the bill will slip into the ether of a never-agreeing conference committee. Isn't it interesting the boys up at the NRA hardly made a peep this year? Interesting indeed.

Blogroll Amnesty Day

Got a little email the other day.

From some old friends. Since I went from national to pretty much Georgia only, I miss talking regularly to Libby and Joe and Eddie. But I still read them every day.

But none of that matters because here is the real deal.

About a year ago or somewhere in between, a few of us started a blog amnesty day. Fed up with the high and mightyness of the few and far between, we delinked some of the big boys and gals. Our mouse whine was that if they didn't link to us, we wouldn't link to them.

And they felt our power! And went on to watch their Technorati scores rocket!

Don't matter. It was about the little blogs saying we're little but we still matter.

So today we celebrate that day raising a toast to other little guys. Folks you may not have yet seen. Well, since I've gone pretty much Georgia exclusive, y'all are just gonna have to notice a few southern voices. Enjoy.

Going Through The Motions - Tough politics and tasty music
My Mind Is On Georgia - Every state should have this kind of dedicated blog
Drive a Faster Car - Atlanta has always been a music town. Now you know why.
The Aging Hipster - God help you, there are liberals even in the moutains of North Georgia
Chicken Fat - Be careful. There may be a little more than tea in that mason jar.

You can catch many more great Georgia blogs over to the right in my Voices section.

Happy Blog Amnesty Day everyone!

Georgia Gang Howler Of The Week

You knew it was coming. Dunwoody media mogul Dick Williams was just a tad but upset about Rep. Jill Chambers committee vote to nix the City of Dunwoody bill.

She lives in Dunwoody - or maybe that should be past tense - she lived in Dunwoody.

So, the good people of north Dekalb are going take one of the few Republicans who has avoided the taint of the last two years of craziness under the Gold Dome and run her out on a rail because she didn't want to create a city that even many residents don't think should be birthed? I'm willing to take book on that bet.

Saturday Stupids

Gather together at the old carp pond

Welcome to the Crazy, Bubba

Welcome to the Georgia legislature.

A question gentle readers. How do you kill a bill nobody wants?

Your Political Insider explains.

In the blink of an eye, and with no fingerprints, the state Senate may have just deep-sixed H.B. 89, the tortured guns-in-parking-lots bill.

We wait with bated breath on news the thugs are gassing up the jets for a quick flight down here to once again place their pointy-toed lizard-skins on the chests of their wayward brethren.

Funny Ad

The above was sent in by an alert reader. Apparently it was on one of the sidebar ads. By the way, those things go far in supporting Saturday Stupids. Just sayin'!

Everybody have a good weekend.

DOT Elections Today

As CL's Thomas Wheatley points out around 10:00am today we may have quite a hoo-hah in the House. They'll be electing DOT board members! And yes, that is usually just as exciting as it sounds. As one representative put it, it's too inside baseball for most people to become interested.

However, this time could be different. Suddenly the mundane is filled with accusations of mischief, strong-arming and all kinds of hooliganism. It's too much to get into in such a short time but Wheatley gives you the thumbnail.

You can watch here.

Now that we've both built the anticipation, we'll probably have a whimper instead of a bang.

UPDATE: As feared, a whimper instead of a bang. The House just adjourned. But not before Rep. Ron "I Put The Peach In Impeachment" Forester took the well once again in an effort to force an impeachment vote against Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. I think that dog needs a new bone.

UPDATE II: Apparently they are voting. Now I think I remember they vote for this based on the district or something. Maybe Rep. Erhart is right. Maybe this stuff is too arcane for the average Joe. Anyway, Jason has the scoop at Peach Pundit. It appears scourge of Mr. Speaker Mike Evans has won.

Lookin At The Panhandle

Some interesting post-Florida analysis from the St. Pete Times Buzz.

Hillary Clinton thumped her Democratic rivals Florida. But looking at north Florida primary results the conclusion seems inescapable: Clinton is ominously weak in the Panhandle...Obama also handily won Escambia.

For those of you not from around those parts Escambia County is Pensacola. It's the home of Eglin Air Force Base, heavily veteran and heavily Republican. Now, the primary is closed and I am certainly not implying Republicans voted for Obama. But I find it very interesting.

The Griftdrift Endorsement

In 2004, I voted for a Democrat for President for the first time since 1988. After 16 years in the wilderness of the Libertarian Party, even though Georgia was a stone cold lock for George W. Bush, my conscience overrode my heart.

2008 is no different.

Although I believe Sen. Clinton and one Republican who I cannot name are capable of bringing this great nation back to the path of sanity, I believe there is only one candidate who can not only regenerate the respect Bush and company so cavalierly destroyed but has the possibility of literally changing the world.

Next Tuesday, I will vote for Sen. Barack Obama.

Senate Candidate Interviews

Rusty caught up with three of the Democratic Senate candidates at last night's Jefferson-Jackson dinner.

Take a listen here.

And by the way, I think that's the first time we've heard on record (other than his gonzo confrontation in Saxby Chambliss' office) Vernon Jones ACTUALLY stating he's running for Senate.

Another Grady Headscratcher

Last week, when a Senate resolution banning those with conflicts of interest from the Grady board was introduced, a lot of people wondered how the hell it didn't already exist.

Well, we've got a new one.

Apparently, Grady Hospital does not require or even provide incentives for its own employees to use the health system as a provider.

You might want to read that last sentence again.

However, reliable sources tell the Drift that legislation will come this week to address this problem. The more you peel this onion, the more headscratchers you find.

UPDATE: Just saw Sen. David Shafer on "Lawmakers" introducing the bill. Sen. Shafer promises a link to the text once it's available.

UPDATE II: You can read the text of the resolution here.

My Morning Wooten

Least shocking statement of the year.

Since I don’t expect to vote in the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday

Really.

Saturday Stupids

No snow so let's go.

Josh Lanier Is Running

So sayeth the Insider.

Where Is The Line?

I'm certainly not shy about criticism. In these parts there is a whole section dedicated to criticism (and to be fair sometimes promotion) of local media.

Andisheh Nouraee's Creative Loafing article on the tactics of Steve Gower and the Midtown Neighborhood Association's towards prostitutes in the midtown area created quite a firestorm of conversation across Atlanta blogs.

In particular, it has placed myself and my friends Amber Rhea and Rusty Tanton on opposite sides. Despite some of the heat which has been let loose I think something interesting can emerge.

What is bias? What is promotion of a certain point of view? Should writers be limited in using certain descriptors? Where is the line?

Instead of putting your thoughts here, come on over to Amber's place and join the discussion.

A Look South

We are days away from the Florida primaries and on the Republican side the soothsayers are mumbling their prognostications. The latest St. Pete Times poll has Guiliani in a distant 3rd behind McCain and Romney. From non-stop ads to bus tours from Tallahassee to Tarpon Springs, Mayor Rudy wants to make Florida his Alamo. But just like those hopelessly outnumbered Texicans, the bones portend doom for the candidate.

Unless...

Another thing to remember, Florida is the first — THE FIRST — state where only Republicans can vote for these candidates. Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, and even Nevada allowed independents to vote in the Republican primaries and caucuses. These independent voters have helped propel McCain to where he is now. McCain can’t count on that support.

So reports The State of Sunshine - a Tampa area blog which usually has a good feel for Florida politics. In fact the SOS boys are predicting a two way race between Guiliani and Romney.

The strange visions of political junkies? Maybe. But remember just how right the big boys and girls were about New Hampshire.

A Couple of Programming Notes

In addition to some little primary thing on February 5th, there are a couple of events the first week of the second month which might interest you, my gentle readers.

On February 7th, Shelby, myself and old media hipsters Southern Report's Tom Baxter and CNN.com's John Helton will be participating in a panel discussion for the Atlanta Press Club. The topic is How Electronic Media Is Affecting Political Campaigns. Should be a lively discussion.

Details:

When: Thursday, February 7 6:30- networking7 - 8:30PM
Where: The Commerce Club 34 Broad St.Atlanta, GA 30303

The very next day you can attend one of the premier social media events in the southeast.

SoCon '08

"Network and learn — and maybe even partner — with independent content producers, new media pros, academics and people from across the spectrum of marketing, public relations, legal, human resources and executive ranks."

It's gonna be a helluva week. See you there!

Grady Bills

I was going to write something on the Grady bills today but in a strange twist of fate, I'm very ill. So, instead I will direct you to the blog of the primary sponsor Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) for details.

Just a few comments from me.

Senate Resolution 722 creates a Grady Oversight Committee. First proposed in 1999 by then Senator David Scott, legislative oversight has been persistently opposed by those who run Grady.

The language of this resolution is drawn directly from MARTOC, the legislative oversight committee for MARTA. The entities are very analagous. Both MARTA and Grady are huge metropolitan institutions which receive no funding from the state - although that may change for Grady.

MARTOC still generates discomfort among some since MARTA remains the only major public transportation system in the country without any state funding. However, even critics have to acknowledge having the white hot light of higher scrutiny on the struggling system resulted in improvement including a revenue surplus in 2006.

The second resolution involves conflicts of interest.

Senate Bill 353 the Public Hospital Integrity Act, prevents those with a financial tie to either Grady or a major vendor of Grady from serving in a governing capacity for the hospital. This bill will help make sure that Grady’s board gives its loyalty to Grady as an institution and not to those who do business with Grady. Senator David Adelman, Vicent Fort and Kasim Reed are among the Democrats who cosponsored the bill.

The most frequent reaction to this bill is "it isn't already there?" No, unbelievably it isn't. But also note the co-sponsors include vociferous "privatization" critic Sen. Vincent Fort. The coalition is beginning to come together.

Finally, this week Sen. Shafer will sponsor resolutions regarding the sustainability of Grady. Although appropriations originate in the House, no doubt these will in some way address the $55 million Governor Perdue wants dedicated to a state-wide trauma network.

Sen. Shafer communicates to the Drift that this legislation should alleviate the concerns of those suspicious of oversight without funding as well as create a plan for Grady to become self-sustaining.

Georgia Politics Podcast Episode 15

New Georgia Politics Podcast is up.

Listen here.

Joe, Catherine, JosephG and me, grift to the d, poke fun at candidate Dale Cardwell, how Georgia is back in play for the Presidential primaries and the craziness known as Sembler.