Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > January > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFor once, Dickens was on time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ve sat through countless political speeches that borrow Charles Dickens’ famous beginning to “A Tale of Two Cities” - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” - and wondered why no one ever quotes from the beginning of “Little Dorrit,” in which the words “nobody’s fault” float from lip to lip like smoke.
Even the hoariest of cliches can be fitting in the right circumstances, however. When Glenn Richardson began his speech with the familiar Dickens quote after being reelected speaker Monday morning, they seemed well chosen. With a scandal nipping at his heels, at the very moment when his party is consolidating its hold on power under the Golden Dome, this did indeed seem like the best and worst of times for the speaker.
Despite some rumored grumblings in the Republican ranks, Richardson’s reelection wasn’t in doubt. But as he entered the House chamber, Richardson was heard to ask what the vote count had been.
For the record, the vote was 113 to 66, which means Richardson must have gotten all his Republicans and a few Democrats. We say “must have” because with several new members, and without the benefit of a new face book, it’s a bit hard to tell who’s who. Democrats Bob Hanner, Gerald Greene and Bob Hanner voted for Richardson, and a few more we haven’t spotted yet.
Speaking of vagaries, it was also striking to us how unfamiliar most members were Monday with hown the Joint Committee on Ethics, which along with the State Ethics Commission will hear state Democratic Chairman Bobby Kahn’s allegations that Richardson had an “inappropriate” relationship with an Atlanta Gas Light lobbyist. We do know that because this is an odd-numbered year, chairmanship of the committee passes from Richardson - who presumbly will recuse himself anyway - to Senate president pro tem Eric Johnson. How’d you like to be in that hot seat?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Joeventures
January 8, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Democrats Bob Hanner, Gerald Greene and Bob Hanner voted for Richardson, and a few more we haven’t spotted yet.
Bob Hanner voted twice? Did Diebold make the voting machines for the legislature, too?