Columns

You may have read about H.B. 244. This Republican-backed bill would require registered voters to show some sort of photo identification before they step into the voting booth. The proposal enraged black legislators. I am with them on this issue. If I had to show poll workers my driver’s license picture, they would fall down laughing and I would be too embarrassed to vote. My … [Read more...] about Mar. 28, 2005: New Trend in Georgia Politics is Music To My Ears

Rap! Rap! Rap! This session of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Burning Issues and Other Stuff is now in session. I want to remind my colleagues that our hearings are being televised. Therefore, it is critical that we posture a lot and wave our hands and not fall asleep so voters back home will think we are right on top of things. That way, nobody will bother us and we … [Read more...] about Mar. 21, 2005: Congress Examines Potential Steroid Use by Much-Beloved Columnists

In his book “Why America Hates the Press,” author Jim Fallows describes a press panel at Montclair State College in the late ‘80s. CBS correspondent Mike Wallace was asked, if he were embedded with enemy soldiers and came upon a small group of American soldiers about to be ambushed, would he try to warn the Americans? “No," Wallace said. "You don't have a higher duty. No. No. … [Read more...] about Mar. 14, 2005: Media Arrogance: Up Close And Personal

Rep. Ron Stephens, the author of an ill-conceived piece of legislation known as H.R. 218, was recently identified in this space as being from Garden City, near Savannah. Not so, say residents of that city. Even though most of the state’s media refer to him as representing Garden City, it seems Rep. Stephens has pulled up stakes and moved to an unincorporated area not far from … [Read more...] about Mar. 7, 2005: Make Government More Open and Less Secretive

The Legislature has announced plans to create a new automobile tag to benefit arts groups. If passed into law, the tags would be available in 2006 for $25. Proceeds would go to arts programs in the counties where the tags are purchased. The arts tag would join a list of other specialty tags in Georgia that include everything from wildflowers to dog and cat sterilization, and … [Read more...] about Feb. 28, 2005: Exclusive: A Look At Upcoming Specialty Auto Tags