10 FEB 06: IT'S JUST NOT MY DAY

The Georgia Senate joined the House Thursday, in approving a proposal to make every February 6 "Ronald Reagan Day." This shows how times have changed in Georgia politics. If Democrats were in charge, Coretta Scott King Day would be a law already.

What have Georgia Republican lawmakers started? They apparently touched a nerve with some people at the General Assembly, by pushing through Ronald Reagan Day. I mean, they could honor a famous late Georgia Republican -- but then again, after Paul Coverdell who is there?

(We should note Ronald Reagan Day would NOT be a Georgia state holiday with a day off - at least not yet. But when it falls on the Monday after the Super Bowl, as it did this year....)

Suddenly a series of other proposals has been filed in the General Assembly, to name days after other famous people. For instance, there's already a bill to make April 26 Coretta Scott King Day. No doubt some South Georgia rednecks want it put on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to get it all over with.

The tributes to Coretta Scott King continued in Atlanta Thursday. Dozens of people carried pictures of her outside the Capitol, to mark "Poor People's Day." But hold on a minute - if Mrs. King was that poor, how could she afford treatment in Mexico?

Closer to Columbus, some Georgia Democrats want January 30 declared Franklin D. Roosevelt Day. I suppose people in Warm Springs could mark this similar to a greeting card I received years ago - by saying, "Three chairs for you."

A few Democrats even want the state to declare a Jimmy Carter Day every fall, even though he's still alive. For some reason, his late brother Billy isn't considered worthy of this same honor....

To be fair: days of special tribute for people are nothing new in government. When Bobby Peters was Mayor, he signed a proclamation proclaiming "Jason Cancel Day" in Columbus. Who's Jason Cancel? A TV news photographer who was leaving town, and had his farewell party at Chuck E. Cheese. [True!]

But proclaiming ANNUAL days in honor of famous people is a bit different. Should Georgia do this for someone who wasn't born in the state, or ever called it home? After all, Ronald Reagan hosted an economic summit in Virginia - while the current President did it at Sea Island.

Annual days are not the only way to pay tribute to famous people. One Georgia lawmaker has called for a series of portraits inside the state Capitol, showing civil rights pioneers. But one of them is Rosa Parks -- and I've never heard anyone confirm she rode a bus from Montgomery to Atlanta.

Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson said Thursday he's reluctant to have portraits placed inside the Capitol of people who aren't state officials. But he didn't help his cause by forgetting the name of Rosa Parks at a news conference - calling her "Rosa Banks" for a moment. [True/GPB] These Republican bankers all think alike....

But Georgia's House Speaker has one idea which actually seems to cross political lines. Glenn Richardson said Thursday he's willing to have a portrait of predecessor Tom Murphy hung inside the state Capitol. And he might not even wait for the former speaker to "sine die."

So who should we call if we want an annual day in Georgia named after US? It may be open to everyone, whether they're native Georgians or not. It's just another example of Ronald Reagan tearing down a wall....

SPAM-A-RAMA: We wouldn't normally declare e-mail from the RiverCenter "spam." After all, we signed up for the mailing list. But an item promoted in Thursday's weekend online newsletter was curious:

Tap Dogs is described as rough, tough, theatrical entertainment. The action all takes place on a construction-site set with a driving score. It will be much different from the construction sites we are used to seeing on Broadway!

What's that supposed to mean? Aren't the StreetScape crews on Broadway rough and tough? They'll have to be, once they start improving the block with all the bars....

But then, maybe there's another explanation for this comment. A "driving score" will truly be different from the recent construction work on Broadway - since at times you've been unable to drive through it at all.

Lest we forget: "Tap Dogs" is a RiverCenter show in March, for which tickets go on sale today. I actually could see this taking place on Broadway -- since some businesses have beer on tap, and others sell hot dogs.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Our "Overheard Over Here" item from Wednesday has received praise from near and far. This response reached the InBox Thursday:

> "Aren't black people known for having long funerals?"

> "I don't know. I haven't died just yet."

Reminds me of the reporter who at the Super Bowl asked Doug Williams, quarterback of the Redskins, "How long have you been a black quarterback?"

Paul Hadley

I was reminded of that Super Bowl "media day" question last week, Paul - but a check of a "fact or fiction" web site found that question actually never was asked. You'll be pleased to know, however, the woman who answered our quote still is alive today.

One of these days I hope to track down Doug Williams, because I have something for him to sign. He used to play for the Oklahoma Outlaws of the United States Football League -- and I bought a T-shirt on the days the team announced a move to Arizona in 1983. I've never worn it, and his autograph will ensure I never do.

Doug Williams coached one year at Morehouse College, and came to Columbus for the annual showdown with Tuskegee. I had to be away that weekend, and couldn't find any co-workers who were going to the game. Oh well - some of them probably would have settled for marching band autographs.

Now some final thoughts from Thursday:

+ The Columbus United Way campaign claimed victory for the year, with pledges and donations of nearly $6.4 million. This is impressive, in the wake of hurricane relief - and especially impressive because the United Way logo always has its hand out.

+ The evening news reported on a decline in cancer deaths nationwide - and interviewed a local cancer survivor named Georgia Brown. If she's truly as cancer free as doctors say, she could be the sweetest Georgia Brown of all.

+ Former Lanett City Councilman Barry Waites was arrested on charges of murdering his wife in their home eight years ago. The people waited on Waites for years - but a new district attorney decided the Waites was over.

(You may recall Barry Waites ran for reelection after his wife died, and an election opponent openly asked during an election forum if Waites was the killer. Waites never said a thing, never sued Rod Spraggins for slander - and now the next person in line for arrest may be Gary Condit.)

+ Russell County officials confirmed two jailers were fired and three resigned, in the wake of last month's escape of three murder suspects. In addition, the Ledger-Enquirer reported the jail is getting new mop buckets. Maybe these will come with brakes, so inmates can't roll away very quickly.

+ Georgia House member Chuck Scheid announced he's running for state Labor Commissioner. If he's elected, Scheid promises to eliminate the office! [True/CapitolImpact.com] So why not do something even more appealing - and run for state Tax Commissioner?

+ Northside High School football coach Dwight Jones resigned, to become head coach at Peachtree City's MacIntosh High. Whoever named that school had an incredibly geeky sense of humor - because I always think of it as "P.C. Mac."

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