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7/8: Clark on Lucky Yates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lucky Yates, an actor and puppeteer who does a monthly talk show at the Laughing Skull Lounge next to the Midtown Vortex, brought in Clark Howard as his lead guest Saturday night.
Here’s Clark with Yates on stage. CREDIT: Rodney Ho
Naturally, Howard and Yates combined were a hoot.
“Everybody knows this man,” Yates introduced Howard. “Everybody loves this man. He has a super hot wife sitting in the second row. [That’s Lane Carlock.] You are a ladies man!”
Bart Hansard, Yates’ sidekick and an actor on “House of Payne,” cracked, “In this city, it’s not just the ladies!”
“The toast of Midtown!” Lucky exclaimed.
They talked about how his syndicated show is now in 227 stations. “The best part?” Clark said. “I own the show!”
“I own this show!” Lucky said. “I make tens of dollars a month. I can pay a bill!”
Then he got to the subject everybody was thinking:
“Where are you going from this point, mayor of Atlanta?”
The full house of a crowd applauded loudly.
Clark said Creative Loafing broke the story a few weeks ago about him pondering a mayoral run after Shirley Franklin steps down after her mandatory two-term limit in 2009. Then the AJC called to ask about it. Howard said, “That’s news to me.” He said he considered it in 1997 when Mayor Campbell was around. But he admitted “I might run for mayor someday.” And there was the headline.
Naturally, he said if he ever announces any political campaign, he has to give up his lucrative radio career due to campaign rules.
Howard then said he is considering lieutenant governor, which didn’t impress Yates. “Come on! he said. “Shoot high man! You’d get elected governor.”
“Nobody knows me in south Georgia,” Howard noted.
“Start with the mayor, turn the city around, then move higher,” suggested Yates.
Clark then outlined some priorities. He wants to split the police department into a traffic/safety division and true cops working on real crimes. He also would like more help for the homeless. And he’d get smart traffic lights that would sense when a car is there so you won’t sit there at a red light when nobody is on the cross street. And he’d cut the Atlanta city employee base, which he said is one of the fattest per capita in the country. “It’s like a make-work program,” he said. He also would like to improve the city schools, which he calls “a jobs program” not meant to serve the public. But he admitted a lot of these issues are not easy to resolve.
On a less serious note, he admitted being a lightweight with the liquor, saying one and a half beers and “I’m DUI city!” He noted this after talking about an early date he had with his current wife Lane Carlock. They met at Mellow Mushroom and he bought a $1.99 pitcher of beer. By the time he was done with the second beer, he was buzzed big time. “I’m a cheap drunk!” he said. So tonight, he drank one Heineken, then switched to a Diet Coke.
Someone in the audience asked that classic question: boxers or briefs?
“Definitely briefs,” Howard said. “They’re a lot cheaper.” Then he noted he buys them at Wal-Mart during a “tax-free holiday.” Nine briefs for $6.84, no tax.
“Lord help me!” his wife said, shaking her head.
Another audience member asked how he and Lane met. She was working as a producer for Gary McKee back on June 17, 1994 and Clark said he was taken off the air because of O.J. Simpson being chased in his Bronco. They got to talking and “that was it!”
“Thank you O.J.!” Yates joked.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Blackhorsebdes1
July 7, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
Clark is a natural for Mayor of Atlanta. He is a real common sense man who should be able to improve the financial issues and mismanagenments. He’ll also draw national attention when he is sworn; can’t you see him in coat, tie and bermuda shorts? I’m sure the dress code for employees will relax.
By jd
July 8, 2007 1:14 AM | Link to this
We need a brotha or sista fo maya… Not a white boy!!!
By flibberdgibbit
July 8, 2007 1:22 AM | Link to this
Like Clark, I’m an Atlanta native. Having just visited Chicago for the first time and seen what a city their permanent visionary mayor is doing with this classic American city has me wondering why we wouldn’t want a guy like Clark - who is friendly, frugal, and visionary - turning Atlanta into the city it wants to become, absent the backwoods politics under the gold dome.
Clark’s lucrative consumer-action show is just a stepping-stone to his REAL legacy as an Atlantan.
By Barry
July 8, 2007 5:31 AM | Link to this
Run for governor. You got my vote. I cant vote for you in Atlanta. By the way I was born in Atlanta.
By Barbara
July 8, 2007 7:19 AM | Link to this
He’s great. Wouldn’t it be great to clean up the city gov’t and school system, taking out the lazy folks who think they are entitled to a cush job and a new home in Lithonia? His ideas are solid but our city is so corrupt that they’d never vote for him. BTW Clark, I saw you in the 4th of July parade in Stone Mountain: get on an exercise program. Your belly is hanging over your pants; I was shocked.
By rs
July 8, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this
We need a brotha or sista fo maya… Not a white boy!!!
Typical mentality, why not judge someone on character, rather than race?
By a monatti
July 8, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
Clark Howard would make a great mayor of Atlanta.
He is someone we could trust without question. He would go after anyone that is wasting time or money for the city.
Clark Howard for Mayor !
What a great change of scenery that would be.
By LaShondra Johnson
July 8, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Dont nobody be wanting no white man exspecully a jew to be a mayer of Atlanta
By Boots
July 8, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Clark wold bring an array of talents and abilities to the office, but has about as much chance of being elected as the Reverend Sharpton does of being elected President.
By KA
July 8, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
Clark Howard is the savviest shopper, wisest investor, and thriftiest man on the planet, and would do wonders with the financial management of the City of Atlanta. And after he gets hisr political seasoning as Mayor, then I would definitely vote for him for governor. Having learned wise spending and thriftiness from Clark I am going to send him a campaign dollar right now! I know he will be able to get $1000 worth of use out of my one dollar contribution.
By Dr. I.Q.
July 8, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
The city propsered under the leadership of the “Downtown Business Establishment.” Then the “brothas and sisters” gained control due to the changing demographics of the city and it’s been on a downhill plunge since then.
It’s not what is best for the city, but maintaining control that is important.
It’s a very sad, but true, situation.
By Josh Massey
July 8, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Uh, there’s no such thing as the Fairness Doctrine (at least not yet.) Howard would have to give up his radio show during a campaign, but not for that reason.
By Rebel all the way, Clyde
July 8, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Wow. The scale has officially tipped on racism in this town. The blacks are FAR MORE racist than ANY whites around here these days: “Dont nobody be wanting no white man exspecully a jew to be a mayer of Atlanta”. It’s enough to bring on some good, old fashioned backlashing. Way to go, LaShondra, you make your people look SO evolved.
By J
July 8, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
What is wrong with you people. I read these blogs all the time and no matter what the issue is in the ajc there is always a few idiots (in this case one major idiot that can’t spell) that brings up race. This blog has nothing to do with race but leave it to someone in the A the bring it up. Clark is a great guy and his color nor his religion should have anything to this blog. Losondra he is a minority just like yourself although I’m not sure African Americans are a minority in the city limits of Atlanta anymore. I really hope Losondra is not a registered voter her and a few other uneducated people who post on these things hopefully are not smart enought to vote or not eligible. Go Clark or whomever is the best candiate. White, Yellow, Black or Green, muslim, Jew, or Buhdist. Peace, Love and Happyness people lets get it right. Losandra I stil luv ya.
By dekalb educator (no longer)
July 8, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
As a black woman, I am truly embarrassed by some of the racist comments on this blog. I’m wondering if the racist ones have even LISTENED to one of his shows? (sigh)
I think he would be great! (yes, I listen to Clark Howard)
By Dekalb Educator (no longer)
July 8, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
As a black woman, I am truly embarrassed by the racist comments I have read on this blog. I doubt very seriously they even know where to find C.H. on the a.m. dial.
I think he would be great and yes, I listen to his show.
By Smoke
July 8, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Rebel,
Please don’t believe for one second that “LaShondra” is really black. That’s the beauty of blogs - people can be whoever they need to be to create the dialouge they wish to create.
The NAMES, word choice and spelling make it TOO obvious that s/he was trying to create the ‘feeling’ you posted. It would be akin to me posting some garbage under the name Becky Sue.
The poster is probably someone non-black who wanted you to pick apart the name and writing style - - - all of this leading to some deeper hate-filled posts.
I am proudly black, male, a speaker of English (and ebonics if I feel like it), and see right through that post.
Perhaps ignorace is the biggest issue here.
Oh, and since you fell for it and did the “your people” thing, it seems you could stand a little work yourself. Do the people on Jerry Springer do the same for “your people”, or does each stand on his/her own merit?
Heaven help us all…
By J
July 8, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
My post was not aimed at anyone except the people that turn daily ajc blogs into racial issue’s when race should have nothing to due with the issue. Just wanted to clear that up I wrote YOU people not YOUR people. I am a Jewish male living in Atlanta and I don’t put myself in any spefic group. My people, your people, I’m cool with all peoples even you Losandra. Just wanted to clear that one up there smoke.
By MrLiberty
July 8, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t be personally impacted by you as Atlanta mayor, but your fiscally responsible attitude is something that every leader in this state could definitely learn from. I hope you run, win, and begin setting a better example for all of them.
It’s high time that government, so long as we continue to have it (anarchy would be preferable), is run like a business. There are real opportunities for value, savings, and elimination of dead weight. Just the few this blog’s intro mentioned are great to hear you talking about.
Government service is too often seen as some higher calling. In reality, it has been transformed into the lowest calling of the poorest employees with the worst, most corrupt attitudes. Every time you turn around there is another story of some government employee stealing in one manner or another from the taxpayers. High time that stopped, and maybe you are the right person to start that process.
Just be careful with these policies. Too many lazy folks are counting on the status quo to just let you get elected easily.
By J
July 8, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
My post was not aimed at anyone except the people that turn daily ajc blogs into racial issue’s when race should have nothing to due with the issue. Just wanted to clear that up I wrote YOU people not YOUR people. I am a Jewish male living in Atlanta and I don’t put myself in any spefic group. My people, your people, I’m cool with all peoples even you Losandra. Just wanted to clear that one up there smoke.
By Rebel all the way, Clyde
July 8, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I did the “your people” thing. Like distinguishing between “your people” and “you people” makes a huge difference? The point is the same. And “my people” don’t know the half of it. “Those people” are the ones on Jerry Springer. Funny how you’re so self-rightous about stereotypes, yet you assume who “my people” are.
By David
July 8, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
I believe that Clark would be the perfect person to complete many of the good works that the current mayor has started. This city has had many great mayors (of both races), but it only took one really bad one to undo a lot of the great things we have accomplished over the past half-century. Clark would be a great candidate for all the citizens of Atlanta.
By Danny O
July 8, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
CORRECTION: Creative Loafing did not break the story about Clark possibly running for mayor. It was actually first brought up in an interview published in The Watcher, the newsletter for Georgia Watch, the state’s leading consumer watchdog organization. Just thought I’d clear that up.
By TH
July 8, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
Actually, Clark is in fact almost correct. I predicted in a Creative Loafing column in 2001 that Clark possibly would look at the mayoral race in 2009 and would have to be taken seriously if he ran. I then wrote a column in 2003 for Business to Business Magazine that speculated Howard along with Kaseem Reed and Mary Norwood would seek to replace the term limited Franklin in 2009.
By Pinto
July 8, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
What is going on with 680 the Fan’s A.M. show? Did Rude get fired? They are now playing Mike and Mike in the Morning.
By T
July 9, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Smoke, THANK YOU. Your post hit the nail on the head. I can’t believe some actually thought that comment by “lj” was legit, lol. People should read more so as to know how to point out sarcasm when it’s staring them in the face.
“Dr. IQ,” you’re entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to shift FACTS for your own benefit. How you can say with a straight face that Atlanta has not prospered under its Black mayors is beyond me. Please stop smoking whatever it was you were smoking when you wrote those LIES. I suggest you do your research and study the progression of Atlanta under Maynard Jackson, Andy Young, even Bill Campbell (Gasp!) lol (do the Olympics ring a bell?), and now Shirley Franklin. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that under the city, under their leadersip (and granted many other factors) has prospered exponentially. You don’t have to look any further than the population boom to see that. Funny how some have such problems with the “Black” power in Atl, yet are breaking their damn necks to get down here. Newsflash, half of the successful businesses you and your ilk like to patronize are run by Black folks, a lot of whom have to disguise their ownership because of the likes of you.
I’ll pray for you…