22 FEB 05: OH!-BAMA
Instant Message to all Congressional Republicans: Have you REALLY thought through that constitutional amendment on selecting Presidents? If you change the rules so Arnold Schwarzenegger can run, Barack Obama may go crashing in with him.
Immigrant-turned-U.S. Senator Barack Obama spoke at a Black History Month breakfast at the Trade Center Monday. He claims he receives 300 invitations to give speeches every week. Either he's that impressive a politician - or a lot of groups are trying to meet a "minority guest" quota.
Senator Barack Obama said he chose to come to Columbus because the proceeds from the Black History Month breakfast went to the House of Mercy. By comparison, Oliver North spoke at a banquet for the Valley Rescue Mission - so now we may have red shelters and blue shelters.
But the Columbus visit also was convenient for Barack Osama - as Monday night, he attended a 65th-birthday party in Atlanta for Georgia Congressman John Lewis. Hopefully he bought lunch somewhere in between, so he spent a LITTLE money in Georgia....
Senator Barack Obama took a moment during his breakfast speech to thank all members of the U.S. military. It's something all of us really should do. Thanks to them, Iraqis now debate who should run their country as much as U.S. residents do.
Barack Osama encouraged his Columbus audience to "promote universal values." [True/wrbl.com] Perhaps someone gave the Senator wrong information - because TSYS doesn't handle AT&T Universal Cards anymore.
After his speech, WRBL for some reason asked Barack Obama for his thoughts about the Kenneth Walker case. Isn't he too busy being a Senator, to have time to serve as a new special prosecutor?
Senator Obama was polite enough to respond that it's always good to do a full investigation, in a case such as the death of Kenneth Walker But let's face the facts here - with Republicans controlling Congress, the Walker case wouldn't even get a Washington hearing if he had died after a taser shock.
A capacity crowd of 1,300 filled the Columbus Trade Center for the Black History Month breakfast - but Francine Foster told WRBL she was able to get a ticket from her uncle. That's surprising, considering Foster used to be news director at Davis Broadcasting. Simply reclaim that title, and Foster could get in for free.
BLOG-BLAH-BLAH: As we ask a Big Blog Question on the late-April civil rights "days of abstinence," we're also asking if there might be a better name for them. That question brought this seemingly unsympathetic e-mail:
Four for Fools
Quad for Quacks
Ed Joyce
Hmmmm - "Quad for Quacks," eh? I guess people should pay their AFLAC insurance premiums early, before these days begin.
Now other things you may have missed while shopping at Presidents' Day sales:
+ The "Sisters in the Spirit" concert brought several big gospel stars to the Civic Center. But apparently none of them were in a mood to give media interviews - and I know because I called and asked. It's that individual attention which makes some ministers so special....
(Then again, I should give these women the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they were praying all day, before the concert.)
+ "Inside Edition" interviewed an East Cobb Middle School student who was accused of taking a tainted cake to class. The show revealed Amy Duke has recorded a "demo tape" of music in New York -- and as we know, they're always searching for the next "ad girl" gangster rap star.
+ My beloved Kansas Jayhawks lost at Oklahoma, losing three games in a row for the first time in 11 years. So let's rephrase that - THE Kansas Jayhawks lost at Oklahoma....
+ Instant Message to Fountain City Coffee: I didn't realize until Monday you'd opened a coffee bar inside Peachtree Mall. But shouldn't it be located NEAR the indoor fountain? At least we'd know you're using pure water.
COMING THIS WEEK: E-mail about... my colon?!....
To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.
If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.
© 2003-05 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.