Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2008 > January > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRain, Polar Bears, earmarks, salaries
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thinking Right’s weekend free-for-all. Pick a topic:
• Drat. The weather never cooperates. “Driest on record” would have been an effective marketing tool to push legislation like DeKalb’s proposed mandate that owners of homes built before 1993 replace toilets and shower heads when the property’s sold. Then more than 43/4 inches of rain falls in four days. And just as the global warming campaign gathers steam, Britain enters the new year expecting one of its bitterest winters in 100 years. Act on water, but with facts, not emotion.
• Sign of the times: Of 11 first-births-of-2008 at Atlanta-area hospitals, only four were to couples who shared a surname.
• Virginia imposed fees ranging from $250 to $3,000 on drivers convicted of traffic offenses. Those are in addition to the usual fines. A motorist exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph, for example, would pay the fine, plus $1,000. The fee goes to transportation. It was passed by a Republican-controlled General Assembly as a tax alternative. The ostensible purpose is to deter bad driving and improve road safety. Since the law took effect July 1, 519 people have died on the highway, 10 more than the same period in 2006. Republicans who fee-and-spend are worse (more devious) than Democrats who tax and spend. Don’t fee my car, speeding ticket or cellphone for trauma centers. Tax and appropriate, upfront and in the open.
• Not on the list of adventures to do before I die: participating in any Polar Bear Swim on New Year’s Day at Lake Lanier. Or anywhere else for that matter. I could be wrong, but I’d say anybody over the age of 20 who does that is not from around here.
• When looking for somebody to represent me in the U.S. Senate, it’s unlikely that I’d shop the Polar Bear Swim. And it’s unlikely, too, that I’d look atop a 32-story tower in downtown Atlanta, which is where Democrat candidate Dale Cardwell spent nights in subfreezing weather. Boys, we are a nation at war. Judgment counts.
• Need more evidence that Washington flat doesn’t work? Hans von Spakovsky, the former Fulton County GOP chairman who had been appointed to the Federal Elections Commission by President Bush, left office on Dec. 31. He’d been caught up in the games of Congress, his January 2006 recess appointment blocked from Senate confirmation by Democrats Barack Obama of Illinois and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. In response, the GOP blocked two Democratic nominees. Von Spakovsky is a fair and capable man, maligned by liberals who made him the whipping boy of their opposition to voter ID. As The Wall Street Journal said in endorsing him: “The issue isn’t competence but political revenge.” The FEC now has two commissioners. Four are required to act on anything.
• Congratulations to five Georgia congressmen: Paul Broun of Athens, John Linder of Duluth, Tom Price of Roswell, Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville and Nathan Deal of Clermont. All account for less than a million dollars each in earmarks, the pork members of Congress insert into the federal budget. Broun, who just landed in Congress, had zero — a fine showing. Hank Johnson of DeKalb asked for $500,000 for fixes on Glenwood Road; his colleagues upped that to a million. Fixing local roads is not the business of Congress.
• New Year’s Resolution: Drop my panda PR team. Hire the one that can get almost half the front page of the Sunday paper to get all of Georgia to agonize over this pressing question: “Is the Thinking Right columnist underpaid?” They did that for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. My question, though, is whether she knew what the job paid when she took it? It’s a shot in the dark, but I’m thinking yes. Besides, I can’t give her pay any think-time; I’m worried sick about how our mayor’s making it in Smyrna on $21,600 a year. Franklin’s job pays $147,500.
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Column
Comments
By jbmlaw
January 4, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Good morning again, all. I don’t think I can competently monitor two blogs, so I expect to be in and out here only today.
The new babies item is a depressing start for the new year. All of them condemned by parental irresponsibility. The only saving grace is they survived “choice.”
Virginia drivers may be less competent than Atlanta drivers – the Ensign so avers – but I doubt it. I also believe the sole purpose of traffic control is to impoverish our citizenry. I would abolish all traffic laws, and put that enforcement money into morgue expansion.
On polar bear swims, that is proof that mental illness can strike unexpectedly, but afflicts mostly males.
Democrats have raised “failure to vote on appointees” to a high art, and now magnify it as a virtue. Schmucks. If the Senate fails to exercise his right to advise and consent, perhaps the appointment should be assumed “approved.” Nothing in the Constitution would preclude such an interpretation.
Re earmarks, I am pleased to see there are some principled congressmen in our midst (and I’ll give Johnson a pass there too, since it was his lunatic compatriots who upped the ante.)
I cannot envision any bureaucrat “earning” more than $21,000 per year; if you pay them more, it will only encourage them.
By SharonH
January 4, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Imagine that. Instead of reveling in the birth of those healthy babies, you were counting up to see if their parents were married. How Christian and right-wing of you Jim. You are one piece of …………………….work.
By Mid-South Philosopher
January 4, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Good morning, Jim,
Well, it looks as though the people…at least those in Iowa…are looking for a change. On the Republican side, it seems that Huckabee presents that change. Huckabee is a social and religious conservative. Unlike the current occupant of the White House (who is a corporatist), Huckabee is on record as being more fiscally liberal than some of the others in the field. So, if he is elected, no one should be surprised (as we were when Georgie showed his true colors) that he will go along with increased spending (Democratic or Republican).
If Huckabee should win in New Hampshire, he would be in a good position to do some broken field running. McCain may be the only one who can stop him. We shall see.
On the Democratic front, Obama appears to have tapped the sense of the people. I’ll bet Hillary is fit to be tied! Be on the look out for a massive Clinton attack in New Hampshire.
Stick a fork in him, John Edwards is done. He had to win in Iowa. He didn’t.
If Romney goes down in New Hampshire, it is over for him too, albeit, he has the dollars to hang on through “Super Tuesday.”
Just a few more days and the boys and girls under the dome will be back in session. Do you feel as sick to your stomach about that as I do? Wonder if you could get a good S.A.T score from the composites of the leadership of that crowd?
As for the Thinking Right columnist being underpaid, I will recommend you for a raise. You ain’t gonna get it, but I will recommend it. Not all of us can get our pork project through!
Have a good week-end.
By jm
January 4, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
I wonder is Chief Justice Roberts knew what the job paid before he took the job. Of course that is not stopping him from lobying for a raise.
I see Mr. Wooten is following the Repuplican play book by turning up the fear machine once again. Funny thing, judgement was not consideration when W the incompetent decided to launch a war of choice almost five years ago.
By Profit
January 4, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Let us look up the proper term for babies born out of wedlock: Hmm, Mr. Webster says the proper term is “b*******.” Ok, so 7 out of 11 Atlanta births on New Years day were b*******. Does anyone have a problem with using proper terminology?
By Profit
January 4, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
heh heh heh, Hillary has been Bill’s doormat for decades, now both Barack and John have wiped their feet on her. This tells me that Hillarity does not have the Right Stuff to go toe to toe with Akmed and Abdul, let alone Cho and Mikhail. Send her back to New York with her tail between her two hind legs.
By B.P.O.E.
January 4, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Lol at Dale Cardwell. Democrats are so pathetic.
If Cardwell were a Republican Senate candidate he would have done the stunt right. He could have shown Georgia that we are in a war and judgement matters.
He should have camped out in a Hartsfield-Jackson airport restroom stall wearing nothing but a diaper.
Amateurs.
By Biff
January 4, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
If Georgia had a surcharge for exceding the speed limit by 20+ MPH the state would be flush with cash in about 2 weeks.
In VA and Maryland 20+ over the speed limit is a wreckless driving charge. Plus their speed limits are 65, not 70. Radar detectors illegal in VA and DC.
By London Correspondent
January 4, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
“Britain enters the new year expecting one of its bitterest winters in 100 years.” Garbage. One weather forecaster predicted a 3-day severe cold spell. The Met Office contradicted it, and have been proven correct. You’ve just wildly exagerrated a wild claim by one forecaster for your own political purposes. Not that it matters, you’re just another stupid righty who can’t grasp the difference between weather and climate.
By D
January 4, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
Just to play devil’s advocate here, how many of those 7 couples with different last names were where the mother kept her maiden name after getting married? This is the 21st century, after all.
By Just Curious
January 4, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Could it be possible that some of the couples that didn’t share surnames were married. Not all women assume their husband’s name when they marry. As if it was anybody’s business.
By No Laughing Matter
January 4, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Seriously, Jim, you get paid for this?
By MADMOMMY
January 4, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Again people take the best and make it the worst. Ok, so a few babies were born to parents who are not married. Who are we to say that the couples weren’t engaged and just didn’t want to “rush” the day? Don’t use and outdated surname for children. It’s not their fault, it lies with the parents.
Huckabee is going to take over and I can’t wait. We are in need of someone to say what we need to hear and not be afraid to do because of “political correctness.” I am so over everyone being PC and saying just what people want to hear. Why don’t you read up on Mike before you start complaining.
By Andy
January 4, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Up until this point I voted Republican in every election since I was 18 but until Saxby gets off his drunken corporate earmark spending spree AND truly convinces me he is against amnesty for illegals all my options are still on the table.
I don’t trust any of these career politicians as far as I can throw them and I think Iowa showed us last night I’m not the only one who thinks this way.
By Just Curious
January 4, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Gosh Jim, if your parents shared the last surname, can I assume that all columnists whose parents shared a surname are idiots just because yours did? What’s your point…If times are a’changin’, why do you insist on living in the past?
By Another taxpayer
January 4, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I agree. The weather never cooperates.
As opposed to 8 out of 22 in non-Atlanta-area hospitals?
Eliminate these mis-representations. Replace “Republican” and “Democrat” with “Leech”. It’s catchy and one syllable.
In my earlier years, I jumped in the Liberty Bell pool in October once — only once.
Lack of judgment would be using gas heat in his confined space. He got your attention.
Two non-acting commissioners or four non-acting commissioners. Tough choice. Now replace commissioner with politician. Rinse, cycle, and repeat.
Give them time. They will either learn the ways of the pork or seek non-governmental: employment, pension plan, 401k, health care plan, dental plan, etc.
Don’t even get me started about overpaid government employees. Look no farther than some county managers. Look no farther. I said, Look no farther. Now, stop looking — Now!
By jct
January 4, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Has anyone thought that some of these new mother’s decided to keep their maiden name? I married late in life and I did not change my last name. My mind did not immediately jump to that the couple might not be married. What bothered me more was the woman who listed no father. That one was an immaculate conception.
By Political Foreskin
January 4, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
I like to wait and read a few comments before I post and 4 good reason: Drat! Nobody gets Wooten.
It’s unreal. I laughed heartily at his complaint about all that late rain ruining his political agenda. funny, funny stuff. Then, Wooten switches 180 degrees and mixes theology with news in his moral lament about single moms. Jim’s staunch religious beliefs would serve well in Iraq, where they too would throw those babies out with the Bathist Fatwah(wah). sorry.
Another 180, and with a secular one-two punch, Jim admonishes a senatorial candidate for being seen atop an office tower at night, and then he gives 5 other Ga. congressmen high grades for low earmarks. (I guess Wooten wouldn’t caucus for Spiderpig, then eiter, eh?)
Now there’s a pork project!
Jim, dont be frustrated. If I get it, then that means there’s thousands of us who get it. The uber-pudwits who pretend to wonk on this blog do not detract from the low-key ironic threads that you are mending our spirits with, (over coffee). You’ve got plenty of us in stitches, trust me.
Thank you, and Bravo, sir.
(for the pointed ditto-heads who didn’t get wooten or me: “Drat” is a Bart Simpson exhortation. “Spiderpig” is a Simpson movie character, thus my overall joke is revealed. To “get” Wooten, or me, you have to keep up with popular culture and at least read something once in a while, you under-nursed gas bubbles)
just kidding. lol. :)
By ron
January 4, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Good morning all.Polar bear swimming is only temporary insanity.Once you hit 32 degree water,you sane back up again in a hurry.My wife and I are married.We do not share a surname.Brothers and sisters do though.Where I live,the term b——-d went out with high button shoes.I will make it a point to pen the AJC and ask for a raise for Jim Wooten.I didn’t read about Poor Shirley’s lack of recompense,I did read,with interest,her famiy’s problems, in an alternate paper.A lot of smoke there,some fire probably.All Yankees;drive around Virginia when heading south.You don’t have money enough to drive through.Shades of old Cowpens,S.C.Have a good day all y’all
By Another taxpayer
January 4, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Drat! I don’t get it. I don’t get it. I don’t get it. I don’t get it….
By ron
January 4, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Mr.P.F.,I once read an explanation of a J.R.R.Tolkein book.I didn’t understand the explanation,but I did understand the book.Some people can’t/won’t make themselves clear.
By Profit
January 4, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Ah calls em as ah see’s em, a baby born our of wedlock is defined in the dictiorary as a b*******. Next question: how many of the 7 b******* born on new years day were paying customers? Medicaid don’t count as payin’ customers, seein’ as how the taxpayer is picking up the tab. Next next question: how many of the 7 b******* were born to a female who is here illegally?
By Carolyn Wilder
January 4, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Hi Jim, I enjoy your columns usually, especially the Friday ones. And I sometimes read your blog…seems like a lot of the same people post-with the same tired old comments. Hope you and yours have a great 2008. Mine has started off really good with the bulldogs whipping those Rainbows.lol
By Diogenes
January 4, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Good Morning, Jim:
Concerning your comment: Republicans who fee-and-spend are worse (more devious) than Democrats who tax and spend. Don’t fee my car, speeding ticket or cellphone for trauma centers. Tax and appropriate, upfront and in the open.
Appropriate taxation would make government rational; that’s somewhat old fashioned in this Republican era,isn’t it?
By jbmlaw
January 4, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Dear PoFo @ 9:19, spiderpig, spiderpig, does whatever a spiderpig does (join me on the chorus)
By Diogenes
January 4, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Jim,
Concerning your comment: “Boys, we are a nation at war. Judgment counts.”
What could make it more obvious that the only war we need to win is the one against our own politicians?
Having said that, I acknowledge that Huckabee “won” in Iowa. Woe is us.
Rationality in politics has become so elusive.
By Dusty
January 4, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Spiderpig, spider pig, whomever you are,
Please take your baggage and travel afar.
And please, take PoFo with you in your economy car.
Thus we will manage to escape his usual faux pas.
By holdingAJCaccountable
January 4, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Does anybody really think if we upped the mayor’s salary to $1,475,000 we’d get ten times the return on our investment? Or even two times the return? For that matter, even two times the number of potholes fixed? Hell for that matter, even two more potholes fixed? That dog just won’t hunt.
Oh, it might take time to hop out of its limo (which of course the taxpayers need to provide to keep the job “competitive”) to pee on yet another broken fire hydrant (or a taxpayer’s leg) but that dog definitely won’t hunt.
By holdingAJCaccountable
January 4, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Does anybody really think if we upped the mayor’s salary to $1,475,000 we’d get ten times the return on our investment? Or even two times the return? For that matter, even two times the number of potholes fixed? Hell for that matter, even two more potholes fixed? That dog just won’t hunt.
Oh, it might take time to hop out of its limo (which of course the taxpayers need to provide to keep the job “competitive”) to pee on yet another broken fire hydrant (or a taxpayer’s leg) but that dog definitely won’t hunt.
By holdingAJCaccountable
January 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Does anybody really think if we upped the mayor’s salary to $1,475,000 we’d get ten times the return on our investment? Or even two times the return? For that matter, even two times the number of potholes fixed? Hell for that matter, even two more potholes fixed? That dog just won’t hunt.
Oh, it might take time to hop out of its limo (which of course the taxpayers need to provide to keep the job “competitive”) to pee on yet another broken fire hydrant (or a taxpayer’s leg) but that dog definitely won’t hunt.
By Another taxpayer
January 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I don’t get it. I don’t get it…..
I would not have gotten it had I not recently been reading about The Far Side comic and ran across the reference to Homega Man. What I really got a laugh from was the dialogue on the episode of Cheers, between Woody, Cliff and Norm, about the cows.
By Jim's a Cherry Picker
January 4, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Happy New Year Jim!
When you say “with facts, not emotion” when referring to acting on our current water predicament…do you mean like the Army Corps did?
Or do you mean like Sunni did?
Is asking the state to pray for rain a fact based effor or an emotional one?
Also, what did you think about Bookman’s column from yesterday regarding our legislature’s misplaced priorities?
It really seems funny to moi that Richardson is so wound up about taxes, but the citizens of the state don’t even rank that on their list…isn’t he supposed to be representing us? Or is he just representing a handful of wealthy landowners who want a free ride? My guess is he’s working for the landowners….you know…the folks that are paying him.
Oh…and while i’m on that subject, if his nutty idea should pass, I’m going to start an import business in Chattanooga. I’ll buy a car for you in TN and deliver it to your front door. No crazy GA Taxes!
By Another taxpayer
January 4, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Cherry Picker,
Didn’t you hear about the new jobs to be created? The Georgia Border Patrol. We’ll be watching the Chattanooga crossing real close.
By holdingAJCaccountable
January 4, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
“Or do you mean like Sunni did?” Touche’. In NBA parlance, I’d say Mr. Wooten just got “posterized” by Jim’s A Cherry Picker.
By GeorgiaValues
January 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Dale Coldwell is an absolute idiot.
What a dumb stunt.
By holdingAJCaccountable
January 4, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
If Dale Cardwell wants to compete with Vernon Jones, at the very least he needs to have a “threesome” while he’s up there on that tower.
At least that might keep him warm. If not he might as well change his name to “Coldwell” as he’s likely to be colder than a well digger’s arse in the middle of winter.
By Caucus Carcass
January 4, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
I think that in spite of Bhutto, in spite of Iowa, and in spite of the nagging and persistent overall pessimism, this country is going to be fine just knowing that Spiderpig is out there, fighting crime, terrorism, and hogwash.
Is he tuff? Listen, bub, in the movie “Carrie”, they used his blood…
By 21st Century
January 4, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
To all those making the ‘b*d’ comments, please find a crowbar and crack open your minds for a minute: it is possible in this country for two people to be married and not share the same surname.
And “we are a nation at war. Judgment counts”? You mean like having the judgment to not borrow money from China to pay for a war that we can afford ourselves because of too many tax cuts? Or like not having the judgment to do anything about our addiction to foreign oil, which is why we’re in this mess in the first place? I’m just interested to know which kind of judgment we’re talking about here.
By Denverguy
January 5, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
Jim -
Concerning your observation about the 4 out of 11 births being of parents of different names, it is pretty obvious that you are assuming that they are all single mothers with absent fathers doomed to a life of a welfare state and little hope.
Don’t make unsubstantiated generalizations to justify your prejudices. Sure there is a problem in society with deadbeat dads with unresponsible mothers but many parents choose not to be married but are long term companions and loving parents.
My wife and I have an eight month old baby but when we got married she chose to keep her maiden name. So we are married with different names, have a loving family, pay our taxes, etc, etc. Why do you make such asinine and outdated assumptions about generic statistics to promote your agenda?
By Denverguy
January 5, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
Jim -
Concerning your observation about the 4 out of 11 births being of parents of different names, it is pretty obvious that you are assuming that they are all single mothers with absent fathers doomed to a life of a welfare state and little hope.
Don’t make unsubstantiated generalizations to justify your prejudices. Sure there is a problem in society with deadbeat dads with unresponsible mothers but many parents choose not to be married but are long term companions and loving parents.
My wife and I have an eight month old baby but when we got married she chose to keep her maiden name. So we are married with different names, have a loving family, pay our taxes, etc, etc. Why do you make such asinine and outdated assumptions about generic statistics to promote your agenda?
By gafarmer
January 5, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Wooten, check the records. I have a bet that your assumption of one parent first 08 babies (unwed mothers) is accurate within 2. Help me start the year a winner.