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Column
By
Frank Gillespie
The Madison County Journal
August 23, 2000
Frankly
Speaking
 Time to de-annex Atlanta?
An interesting conversation has emerged
on the Internet among traditional Southerners. A suggestion was
made that Georgia de-annex Atlanta, declare that the city is
no longer a part of Georgia and allow them to form their own
state. Those proposing the move say that Atlanta is so far out
of step with the rest of Georiga that both sides would be better
off with the split.
It is my opinion that my friends who made this suggestion had
their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. That is especially
true when the discussion turned to the question of keeping the
Varsity and Georgia Tech.
Another point of discussion was where to draw the border. Obviously,
North Atlanta and Sandy Springs would stay with Georgia, and
South DeKalb would be sent along with Atlanta.
This discussion was generated by news stories concerning Atlanta's
refusal to fly the legal Georgia Flag and the current crop of
revelations about corruption in city government. Another development
that many Georgians find disturbing is the effort by Governor
Roy Barnes to establish regional commissions that reduce the
sovereignty of local governments surrounding Atlanta.
Two proposals that have emerged from the discussions are a non-binding
petition that expresses Georgia's unhappiness with Atlanta's
political actions and a proposal that the state capital be removed
from Atlanta and returned to Milledgeville. One writer suggested
that the capital be removed to "the smallest, most red neck
town in Georgia."
I agree that some way needs to be found to let the current leadership
in Atlanta know that the rest of the state strongly disapproves
of their policies and practices. City officials are quick to
agree with, and even lead, the attacks on Southern icons. They
kowtow instantly to the bigoted demands of the SCLC and NAACP
and support their efforts to blackmail Georgia into taking down
our Southern flags, monuments and carvings (including the carving
on Stone Mountain). They are making every effort to save the
discriminatory affirmative action program even though it is the
source of most of the corruption that has cost the city of Atlanta
millions of dollars.
Kicking Atlanta out of Georgia will not solve the problem, even
if we could do it. That would remove the few restraints state
government now has over the city's abuses. I would like to see
a bill introduced in the legislature that would suspend Atlanta's
charter until they agree to changes that would correct the major
abuses, including a requirement that they fly the legal flag
of Georgia at all city buildings. I would like to see Sandy Springs
receive the city charter they have been seeking for the last
several years. I would like to see a major portion of the state's
offices removed from Atlanta to a more central area where we
can reach them without having to fight Atlanta's smog and traffic.
Finally, I would love to see a new statewide newspaper staffed
by traditional Southerners that would present full, balanced
and fair coverage of news, events and celebrations within Georgia.
We can't kick Atlanta out of Georgia, but we can pressure them
into cleaning up their act.
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County Journal.
His web page can be accessed at www.mcga.net. His e-mail address
is frankg@mcga.net.
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Column
By
Ben Munro
The Madison County Journal
August 23, 2000
In Other Words
As race heats up,
Gore resorts to stupid antics
Sometimes I wonder whether if these presidental
candidates want to run our nation or the local chapter of the
Sigma Chi fraternity.
Just the other day, I opened the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
to find an article about Al Gore embarking upon some sort of
riverboat "party" campaign where he's supposedly drumming
up support with the usual political song and dance act to show
us "hey man, I'm a cool guy."
This is not surprising to me, as candidates attempt to be Mr.
Cool when it comes time to getting your votes and the insincerity
sickens me. Gore for years was the stoic tree-hugging, vice president
of the White House while Bill Clinton frolicked about the Oval
Office. So what has brought about this drastic change in behavior
from Gore? It couldn't have anything to do with selling his soul
to the latest polls, could it? Monday's AJC said that Gore's
riverboat "party," which was on a 400-mile trek down
the Mississippi River, pulled into dock with the sexually suggestive
Rolling Stones tune "Brown Sugar" blaring from the
campaign vessel.
Come on Al, for years you acted like a Barry Manilow fan. Why
are you breaking out the classic rock now?
According to the article, "Fun Al," as it referred
to him, has ditched the traditional suit and tie and suddenly
developed a taste for denim. In addition to this, he has suddenly
gotten frisky with his wife again, as he gave Tipper a long kiss
in front everyone at the Democratic National Convention.
When asked if the "make-out session" was an attempt
to give a signal to voters, Gore told reporters, "I was
trying to send Tipper a signal."
OK there, ladies' man. Gore was trying to show voters he was
a cool Romeo but still monogamous, unlike his predecessor.
But Gore was taught well by ol' Bill Clinton, who was a genius
in conniving the public into thinking he's a cool guy. After
all, it was Clinton who got up on stage at the Aresnio Hall show
in 1992, slipped on a pair of shades and played the saxophone,
capturing the MTV generation. Soon the battle cry of "we
need younger faces and change in the White House" emerged
and Clinton rode that wave for two elections. George Bush and
Bob Dole were just too old for us. I mean, these guys were war
heroes and all, but could they jam on stage?
I sincerely hope that George W. Bush knows how to play a mean
electric guitar. It could come in handy in today's elections.
If I was picking a candidate to host a party, I would by all
means pick the fun, laid-back, Rolling Stones-listening party
animal that Gore wants to be.
But for selecting a president, I want a seasoned veteran who
has been around in the military and in politics and is secure
enough in himself that he doesn't have to transform himself for
everyone.
Gore is selling himself to this idea that we need some movie
star type in the oval office, a ploy by Clinton that unfortunately
worked twice.
According to the article, Gore said that during the campaign
people would see "who I truly am." Well, it's more
like "who you truly want me to be."
I can't wait to see where Al Gore's party accross the nation
takes him next.
So Al, when are you hosting Saturday Night Live?
Ben Munro is a reporter for the Madison County Journal.
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