2006 Columns

I’m not quite sure what Jack Kingston was trying to achieve, but if it was to give the rest of us a serious case of eye-roll, then mission accomplished. Kingston is an eight-term Republican congressman from Georgia’s 1st District, an area extending south from Savannah and Brunswick to the Florida border and northwest to Warner Robins. He is also not very happy with his world … [Read more...] about Dec. 18, 2006: Dear Congressman Kingston: We The People Don’t Care About Your Problems

A sad political truth: Parties in power may change, but politicians never do. After years of being on the outside and finally gaining the majority, what do Georgia Republicans do? Start acting like the arrogant Democrats they replaced. Gov. Sonny Perdue gets two sweet land deals that don’t pass the smell test with ordinary Georgians, and a $100,000 tax break to boot. House … [Read more...] about Dec. 11, 2006: Random Thoughts On Random Subjects

To quote one of my all-time favorite singers — Frank Sinatra — crooning one of my all-time favorite songs, “It Was a Very Good Year.” Indeed, it was. The first thing I did every morning this past year was to check the obituaries and see if my name was listed. I am happy to report that it never appeared. The most significant event for me in 2006 was to realize a lifelong … [Read more...] about Dec. 5, 2006: From Obituaries To Art To Apologies, It Was A Very Good Year

I lost a hero last week, and learned a hard lesson in the process. Dr. Bill Inman died at the age of 82. Bill was a physician in Brunswick. To be as prominent and as respected as he was in the community, he had as little ego as any doctor I’ve ever known. If you ever saw the Marcus Welby character on television, you saw Bill Inman, only he was not an actor. He was the real … [Read more...] about Dec. 4, 2006: It Is Time To Say “Thank You” To Those Who Have Helped You

Two significant developments came out of Carl Sanders’ race for governor in 1970 against Jimmy Carter. First, unlike Carter, Sanders refused to compromise his principles in order to get elected. Second, once the election was over, the former governor decided to leave the political arena and devote himself to building his law practice. Today, Troutman-Sanders, which he serves as … [Read more...] about Nov. 27, 2006: More Conversation With Carl Sanders: His Race With Carter And His Legacy