An excellent AJC article on the GOP's Southern Strategy.

Between 1968 and 1988, the Republicans won five of the six presidential elections, and desegregation was managed in a way acceptable to national opinion, save for the 10 to 15 percent on the left and the 10 to 15 percent on the right. However, since the mid-1980s, three new circumstances have emerged.

First, the Republicans have become much more focused on economic policies that, in the name of business and the markets, have favored the top 1 percent income group. Second, use of the race issue by GOP presidential nominees has had less to do with real racial policy (as in the '60s and '70s) and more to do with gratuitously raising convenient themes and prejudices -- Willie Horton in 1988, the visit to Bob Jones University in 2000 and the various flag incidents.

The importance of the second circumstance lies in the political requirement of a third. During the Bush Era, the Republican presidential nominee got 53 percent of the popular vote in 1988 but won less than a majority in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Non-white voters are becoming more numerous, pro-rich economic policies are a poor draw and in the Northern states so is the GOP's increasing over-Southernization. War in the Persian Gulf could override these problems in 2004, but then again war benefits wore off quickly in 1992 with the economy in the doldrums.

The upshot is simple: For all its talk about reaching Hispanics, blacks and Asians, the GOP also has a pressing strategic need to use cultural themes to maintain a high level of support among white Southerners in order to eke out electoral-vote victories in normally close states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Missouri.

Lets repeat my favorite part again:

Second, use of the race issue by GOP presidential nominees has had less to do with real racial policy (as in the '60s and '70s) and more to do with gratuitously raising convenient themes and prejudices -- Willie Horton in 1988, the visit to Bob Jones University in 2000 and the various flag incidents.

Can you imagine the GOP using gratuitous themes and prejudices? Can you imagine southern racists voting for the GOP without closely looking at all the GOP policies? I can.

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Atlanta Humane Society gets hammered by local rescue groups.

The Atlanta Humane Society runs the Fulton County shelter under contract. You would think this unique arrangement would lead to better euthanization rates than shelters run by county employees. The statistics are not good.

Fulton County Animal Control, the agency that collects strays, impounded 13,102 animals in 2001 and euthanized 10,761. That statistic, an 82 percent kill rate, makes the government shelter the most lethal for lost or unwanted pets among the four most populous counties in metro Atlanta.

Rescue groups have largely been ignored by Atlanta Humane Society director Bill Garrett in their effort to see more strays adopted. They have been trying to remove more animals for rescue for many years.

"When I first started there, he was very hostile about the idea of working with rescue groups," said Nancie Liles, who worked briefly in the fund-raising department of the Humane Society in the fall of 2001. "He said they were all fanatics, they were all crazies."

The groups have lately begun to approach the Fulton County about making changes, and are getting some results. The county plans to advertise for qualified managers, and may begin seaching for a new vendor to run the facility. You of course can contact commissioners if you would like to see changes made. You can get contact information for them here.

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No confedrate flags allowed at Sonny Perdue's inaugural.

Actually they have banned any flag waving. Posters and umbrellas will also be banned. I wonder if I could wear my confederate flag t-shirt?

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Salon's Kaufman argues Serena Williams as Sports Person of the Year Award.

Since I know that Lance Armstrong was not even the best cyclist last year, I won't get into a debate about Lance vs. Serena. I won't even argue how to define sportsman or sportswoman vs. athlete, which I feel are different. Lets get to the really stupid statement.

.....he won one race in a sport so obscure that most Americans can't even name another of its events, and so limited that its skill set can be described thusly: pedaling fast and not falling over.

Uhh,.. well no. That is not really correct on several points.

Obscure events? To most Americans, yes. I suppose most Europeans could not many many football teams other than the Dallas Cowboys. I think most people in the world knows who the US Postal Teams is now. At least in Europe.

Lance not only has to pedal fast and not fall over to win a grand tour he needs to be able to pedal fast for long periods of time, up mountains, down mountains at 60+ miles an hour into really nasty curves on them, by himself, with a team, and with a peloton. Physically, he has to train to be able climb, time trial, and even sprint. Most great riders cannot become great grand tour riders because their body cannot take the abuse for three weeks.

Mentally there is a lot going on also. As a team leader he has to instruct his team on how to race. He has to be a race general. (You don't think Michael Vick just tells everybody to run around until they are open, do you?) There is much strategy in a grand tour; for the whole race, for each stage, for each mountain climb. Strategy will change as teams attack, or riders withdraw.

Saying the skill set needed to win the Tour is being able to pedaling fast and not falling over is like saying that the only skill set needed to win a major tennis tournament is to run fast and hit a yellow ball over net. It is asinine.

Of course I would never really take any column or article from Salon on sports seriously. I don't think watching TV and knowing how to type is all that is needed in the skill set to be a sports reporter or columnist.

Update: And of course Kaufman is getting flamed, but I have a feeling that is what he was hoping for.

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Bill O'Reilly in battle with ex-homosexual minister.

I really do not care about O'Reilly, but have a more important issue this brings up. Why can't the religious right forgive Bill Clinton for getting a blow job when they have forgiven Stephen Bennett for giving them? I'm not saying there is anything wrong with either, but the religious right normally seems to like heterosexuals better than homosexuals. Hmmmm.

I do like the ex-gay minister accusing O'Reilly of being a "homosexualist."

Who is his dentist?

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The first step is to admit you have a problem.

Via South Knox Bubba a hilarious video clip.

"......and I am a blogger"

Real player version.

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Perdue continues to back away from flag referendum.

Well he said he wants it, and sooner as opposed to later, but he has no timetable for it. Of course, the referendum would be non-binding, which translates "doesn't really mean anything."

Cathy Cox, Democratic Secretary of State, points out that a constitutional amendment would be required to hold a referendum. Upon hearing that, Perdue thrust his hands in his pockets, said "durn," and kicked at the dirt, "well, I guess we can't have one."

G. Greene, blogging on the new blog Political State Report points out that a 1993 opinion letter from a former state attorney declares that:

"a statewide referendum would be an abdication of the exclusive authority of the General Assembly to enact laws."

Who wrote that opinion letter? Michael Bowers, a Republican advisor to Perdue during his campaign. Certainly Bowers would have pointed out that opinion while Perdue was campaigning on the promise of a referendum? Maybe?

"Double durn!"

It is pretty amazing the Michael Bowers has suddenly appeared in my blog twice in two days. I can't remember hearing his name for years and years.

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Jeff Berry of Creative Loafing takes on Republicans and their sodomy desires.

For example, a homegrown case, Bowers v. Hardwick which upheld a 19th century ban on consensual sodomy. That would be adults, married or single, straight or gay.  

The Bowers case is the unseemly legacy of former state Attorney General Michael Bowers, who most Georgians remember for his humiliating admission of a 15-year adulterous relationship during his failed campaign for governor (incidentally, adultery is also illegal under Georgia law). In 1997, Bowers' mistress informed me (in the presence of her attorney, Lin Wood) that the affair was ongoing during the time Bowers v. Hardwick was heard in D.C. She also admitted that the two had engaged in "a lot" of sodomy during their affair. She admitted the same in a George magazine article published a year later.

Hypocritical, ain't it? The very man whose name is attached to the most famous anti-sodomy case in American history was himself engaging in illegal sodomy even as he argued to criminalize such behavior for everyone else. One can only imagine how the justices would've decided the case in 1986 if they'd known of this duplicity. Of course, by his own admission, Bowers' defense of the sodomy law was mainly rooted in the desire to use the power of the state to harass gays and lesbians.

Maybe there are more important issues Republicans could confront? Jeff?

Considering the important matters that affect our nation, it is seriously distressing that Republicans are wasting time on pointless issues like outlawing oral and anal sex. But we should've known they'd behave like this. This is the same crowd that cheered four years ago as more than $100 million in tax money was wasted on an investigation into the details of a presidential hummer.

Yes, friends, in the new Republican America, the government wants to eavesdrop on your phone and e-mail conversations, review your credit card and movie rental records, and spy on your Internet and travel habits -- all in the name of preventing terrorism. Now the right-wing minions are pleading with the Supreme Court to retain the authority to send police officers into your bedroom to arrest you for engaging in consensual sex acts that the government deems to be "deviant." Remember that the next time you hear a right-winger refer to Democrats as the "Party of Big Government."

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This pisses me off a little bit.

I thought I was doing good with 398,000 miles on my '94 Ford Ranger. I don't drive enough to get mega mileage anymore.

Jim Jeter of Douglasville even beats me out as the local champ with 1,000,000+ on his 1982 Toyota Starlet, whatever that is.

Now if I can win the bidding on ebay for the front left parking light, my truck will be complete again.

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Diana Ross gets stopped in the name of love.

While trying to get to a video store to rent a copy of Glitter.

Okay, how about MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Divas?

Ms. Ross, I said to touch your NOSE

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A compassionate conservative.

I do not like Sonny Perdue's politics, or the way he used the southern racists to get into office. You can't say he does not help children. He and his wife take in plenty of foster children. I also know that he has reached out to knowledgable people to start forming policies to improve the Division of Family and Children Services.

That being said, go over to his website and find me a single picture that includes anybody that is not lily white. I would be very interested in seeing if he and his wife take in foster children who are not white. Just curious and I may be wrong, but I would like to know.

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My 2003 predictions

At some point in the year we will see headline :Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist carves up liberal legislation like he used to carve up kidnapped cats!

To raise money NRA begins raffle where the winner gets to pry the gun out of Charlton Heston's cold, dead fingers.

Foreign media becomes obsessed with the question: Is Dick Cheney alive? US media shows film of Bush trying to read to African-American children.

How much brush can a Bush bushwhack?

USA Today begins contest: Which old saying does Bush completely screw up first this year. It will be called "Fool me once......"

Democratic leaders finally find some balls, tennis balls. They turn them in to the lost and found.

Conservative media refuse to carry the top story being pushed by bloggers: Laura Bush wearing Trent Lott's old wig.

Trent Lott starts hanging out with Michael Jackson thinking he is black.

Anti-abortionist groups purge young members saying that they can not afford them. Besides they are always making a mess.

Georgia pro-confederate flag groups propose new flag. It is a white triangle on a black field, pointy side up, with two black circles side-by-side. It is about heritage, not hate.

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Gangs of New York

I saw the movie this weekend. A very good yet very violent film. Daniel Day Lewis was amazing. Leo was so-so. The casting was dead on.

I did not realize how much they were going to dwell on the Civil War and the draft. Lincoln had instituted a draft, I believe the country's first, but you could avoid service for a $300 payment. I found it amusing that even back then the rich could avoid the draft, just like they could when most of the Bush Administration was of draft age. There was no National Guard to desert from, as Bush did, however.

Racism was certainly an issue, and not just against African-Americans. The Irish were looked down upon. Anybody that was not a native was hated. Of course their definition of "native" was slightly twisted. Indians were not mentioned as "natives." A native was somebody who had fought for their country, or who had ancestors that had fought or sacrificed for it. Basically a native was anybody who had come over on a boat, or whose family had come over on a boat. They just had made the journey before the non-natives.

The gulf between the rich and poor was huge back then, as many believe it is becoming again. The poverty was severe, and life was hard for the underclass. People did not worry about hygiene, they worried about getting food.

There was just a touch of bloodshed, and one or two exposed female breasts.

Since a country should be able to learn from its past, I certainly hope people get to see this movie.

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Old Cycling photos.

I just posted a few old cycling photos from the late '90's. Of interest to bike geeks only.

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Atlanta has 69 year-old Little Richard headlining its New Years Eve celebration.

That is kind of pathetic. Is this the best Atlanta can do?

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Top Ten Hangover Cures.

This is via South Knox Bubba, whose blog you should be reading frequently.

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Two very good opinion pieces on Bush, two different viewpoints.

This one is supposed to be pro Bush, but it makes Bush look Peter Sellers in "Being There." It does point out that even with this in mind, Bush is one of the most powerful presidents in history.

This second one questions why Bush has such a large approval rating, which he really doesn't have- but the mainstream press won't tell you that (see Take Back the Media flash animation.). The article includes Bush's best accomplishments- like "has learned to effectively read a Teleprompter"- and lists why we might not be better off since Bush has come to power. A very good read.

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Drinking tonight? Get a free ride home.

SafeRide America, AAA Auto Club South and Safe Holiday from Checker Cab are all offering free rides home for New Years Eve partiers. All it takes is a phone call.

Checker Cab offers the rides from about 200 participating bars and restaurants. Safe Ride America offers a ride for you, and a driver for your car, from about 60 participating bars and restaurants.

AAA Auto Club South's Tow to Go will pick you up, drive you home, and tow your car there for free from bars, restaurants, clubs, and private parties in the metro Atlanta area. You do not have to be at a participating business. This program actually has been running since November 25th, and continues thru tomorrow. In addition to Atlanta, this program includes all of Florida and Nashville, Tennessee. I believe you can get this service by the AAA Emergency number, 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-1134).

Don't drive drunk. If you need a reminder about what can happen, read this story. Yes, that is a worst case scenario, but waking up in jail to a baloney sandwich breakfast when you were hoping to wake up next to someone sexy is not any fun either. Nor is taking MARTA to work for a few years.

Be safe, be smart.

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Howard Dean has my vote.

I don't know if he can pull it off, and the odds are against him, but I really like this guy. He talks the issues, does not waffle, and has a great vision he feels he can make reality. If he can get through the Democratic primaries, I think he could make a very strong run for President.

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Hilarious Flash- Nikkoman!

Via Matthew Stoller at The Most Fun Bestest Commentary Anywhere Ever.

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Great stuff from the "Fishwrapper" in Creative Loafing.

So do your part. Stand up for your country -- and SPEND. Run up that debt. You say you only owe $5,000? Don't you know that's exactly what Saddam Hussein wants? You'll cripple America by not spending enough. Start flashing those credit cards. Get that debt up to ten big, twenty grand or more.

You're not quite sure how you're going to squeeze those payments for the new road monster into your budget. And God only knows what to do about the soon-to-arrive Christmas credit card bills. But it's treasonous to worry about such twaddle. Are you a traitor? I should hope not.

What you shouldn't do is pay attention to the news that home foreclosures in Fulton County were up 22 percent this month compared to November . Don't sweat those dunning notices from the mortgage company. Bet your paycheck on the Georgia lottery, and ignore the cynics who chide that the games are just a tax on the stupid.

And, puh-leeze, don't pause in your shopping to wonder why the banks -- the same ones that sent you those credit cards -- lavished their friends in Congress with cash in order to change the bankruptcy laws so that, while gangrenous outfits like WorldCom and Enron can dodge their debts, you'll have to keep paying and paying and paying.

And there is more.

Here are some other things you don't want to ponder if you're a stand-up patriot. Don't you dare fret over the fact that while the median income of all American families increased only a little more than $3,000 over the last two decades, the wealthiest 1 percent saw their earnings soar more than $400,000 -- and as the Bush $1.3 trillion tax break for the rich kicks in, that separation is going to accelerate. Zoom. The rich really will be different -- in ways not imagined since the Middle Ages.

This column I am linking to again is a must read. I really like the dig at Republican hack, crappy AJC columnist Jim "I can kiss Republican ass better than anybody else" Wooten, while looking at the year's political spin.

To wit: Last week, Republican Party spokesman and sometimes AJC columnist Jim Wooten penned this clever line: "Sen. Trent Lott, in an attempt to save his skin, has flipped. Now he's a liberal Democrat. Bye." Interpreted: Being a racist, a segregationist, a bigot, was just dandy with Republicans such as Wooten. To renounce such ideology -- as Lott pathetically tried to do on his infamous BET network interview -- makes one a "liberal."

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The poor are still poor after the holiday handouts.

Look, the people who are putting themselves out to help are good people and they are doing good things. Bless each and every one, but the fact remains that the day after this happy lightning strikes them, the recipients of all of this effort and all these good intentions are just as poorly off as they were the day before it hit.

.....

We will spare no amount of money in the (admittedly) worthy cause of holding Saddam Hussein to the deal he cut to stop the Gulf War just short of unhorsing him. We can afford tax cuts that, in gross disproportion, mostly benefit our most affluent, with, we are told, more of the same on the agenda for '03.

And the voice of privilege, The Wall Street Journal, laments that the poor are unfairly getting away without paying income taxes and calls them "lucky duckies" because of it.

We have indeed slipped into class warfare in our country, but it is being fought top down, as the well off harvest new gains for themselves from the powerless poor. And no number of charitable gestures, admirable as they are in their own right and welcome as they may be for the moment, can make up the difference.

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A Take Back The Media flash on Bush's falling poll numbers.

What falling poll numbers? Bush's falling poll numbers. The poll done by Time and CNN. Time did not even mention the poll's results on its web page. CNN briefly mentioned Bush's falling numbers. Did you know that 51% of the American's polled do not trust Cheney? Some very interesting numbers.

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Who was the athlete of the year?

Well, you have to get the correct people on the list. For the men, at least they included Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds. Mario Cipollini was more dominant than Lance in cycling this year, winning more grand tour stages and the World Championships. He should have at least made the list. To have a women's list without Paula Radcliff is moronic, however. She only shattered the Women's world marathon record this year, as well as dominated on the track.

Super Mario, aka the Lion King.

Paula Radcliffe.

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I leave town and everybody gets fired!

Curt Fraser and Tim Bothwell, head coach and assistant coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, were fired. I don't know if this is the answer to the Thrasher's problems, but some people think it will help. I think playing better defense is going to help more than anything. I will mention that both games I was at were won by the Thrashers. Perhaps giving me some tickets would help? I like them about 8 rows off the ice near either goal.

Lon Kruger, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, was fired. I quit watching pro basketball many years ago, so can't really comment on this at all. Kruger says that he was suprised by the firing. At 11-16, that may be like saying you were surprised that Harpo Marx's wife died at age 94.

Since Stan Kasten seems to be in charge of two failing franchises, maybe he should be the one to go?

Evidently Christopher Rude, previous longtime morning show and more recently afternoon drivetime DJ, was let go by 96Rock sometime recently. Since he was one of the reasons I gave up on radio in Atlanta, I had no idea he was not on the air anymore. It looks like he was replaced by two guys who are similar to the pair of idiots who run the morning show. The new guys' claim to fame seem to be "Heterosexual Pride Parade" and "Homeless Survivor." Aren't you just all excited and all?

Before I left for Christmas, Glavine and Millwood vanished from the Braves roster. Furman Bisher has some thoughts on that. However, if I had a nickle for everytime he has been wrong..... well, I wouldn't be writing $17 million checks to a church, but Fisher is old and often wrong, so I would have some spare change to toss in the collection dish.

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