Thinking Right's weekend free-for-all. Pick a topic:

> Henceforth the word "but" will be standard issue in weather school. It could rain for 40 days and 40 nights, "but" Lake Lanier's still down and the drought's still on. Just so you don't forget and think it's OK to water your lawn. No news can be good news in times of crisis.

> I've no idea what this means. It's a version of Grady CEO Pam Stephenson's quote. But here goes: "I'll never apologize for being Jim Wooten." Huh? And this, too: "I wouldn't have signed an unfair contract." Unfair to me? Unfair to thee?

> Democrats, divided for months over whether to offer the first black or the first woman for president, have a solution to their dilemma. The Green Party has chosen Cynthia McKinney.

> Raul Castro is one word away from being a free-market capitalist. Addressing Cuba's parliament, he said: "Socialism means social justice and equality, but equality of rights, of opportunities, not of income." Change the word "income" —- a step in the right direction —- to "outcome" and he's one of us.

> Dang. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki turns out to be a Nancy Pelosi Democrat. The clue is in the headline: "Iraq handing out cash to citizens on the streets." She's proposing another round of "stimulus" rebates to add to the deficit since the first one worked so well.

> The King children need not be embarrassed around me about their squabbling and all. I'm unplugged. Today, tomorrow ...

> Not surprising that a beagle that disappeared in New York five years ago showed up in Atlanta. It's been that way with people for 30 years. Why not dogs?

> The ball's in your court, Congress. Both the president and Congress have to act to lift the ban on expanded offshore exploration. Bush did. Thanks. And it may or may not be a coincidence that the price of oil dropped $6.44 a barrel the next day. When buyers —- or speculators, as Democrats prefer to call them —- think we're serious about doing something, they'll react in anticipation. It's now up to Congress to follow suit.

> In the week's elections I am cheered and dismayed. Cheered that the lone remaining veteran of World War II still in the General Assembly —- state Rep. John Yates of Griffin —- won re-election with a primary victory. Dismayed that the conservative cause lost a stellar performer, state Rep. Jeff Lewis of Cartersville, who lost by 186 votes.

> You gotta hand it to U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens). He has solidified his support in a staunchly Republican 10th Congressional District about as quickly and well as I've seen a politician do. He defeated state Rep. Barry Fleming of Harlem, the majority whip of the Georgia House, 71 percent to 29 percent, carrying every county.

> After Tuesday, the entire Cobb school board that proposed to spend $75 million to provide laptop computers to every middle school and high school student, as well as the superintendent who recommended it, will be gone. Veteran school board member Betty Gray —- who opposed the laptop deal —- lost to David L. Morgan, husband of state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, in the Democratic primary. He's an interesting guy and a good addition to the board. Morgan struggled mightily with the Atlanta school board in an effort to create a charter school, Achieve Academy.

> Comparing the Gwinnett straw poll today on MARTA to the referendum nearly 40 years ago is meaningless. Different county, different people. Once again in unison: Dirt's permanent, people aren't. Which is why it's foolish to assign personality traits or values to place. I hate it when those in neighboring counties to the south speak of my county, Cobb, based on the stereotypes of yesteryear. Same with Gwinnett.

> Voters in Clayton County should be embarrassed. After all that hoopla about the schools, turnout was 21 percent. The problem is not photo ID. It's potential voters who make noise expressing their anger. And then are missing in action on election day.

> Jim Wooten is associate editorial page editor. His column appears Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. His Thinking Right blog appears daily on ajc.com.

jwooten@ajc.com

Blog with Jim Wooten six days a week at ajc.com/opinion.