3 NOV 06: WHO DO'YA LIKE?
It HAD to happen sooner or later, and Thursday it did. Only five days before the election, a candidate for Columbus Mayor appeared with the Northern Little League All-Stars - and gave the world champions handouts! Oh, the power of incumbency....
Bob Poydasheff called a Government Center news conference with the Northern All-Stars - to announce he's giving the team the food he won in a Little League World Series bet with New York's Mayor. Apparently the mayoral campaign committees were too low on money to send the team to St. Louis, for that other World Series.
Bob Poydasheff said he could have kept the apples and chocolates from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But he decided the Little Leaguers earned them, so they should have them. Now baseball stat sheets will need a new column: E.F.A. - the earned fruit average.
Bob Poydasheff also disclosed he went ahead and sent his part of the World Series wager to New York. Isn't it this sort of charity which led to a million missing dollars in landfill fees?
The other candidates for mayor now have to scramble to arrange their own pre-election media events with the Northern All-Stars. Jim Wetherington could take the field with them for a practice session - but of course, he'd have to slow-pitch underhand.
Are you waiting to see which mayoral candidate the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer will endorse? I know of at least one Phenix City blog taking notes on the newspaper's choices - then encouraging readers to vote for the other candidates.
I'm not really sure how much impact a newspaper endorsement really has. Four years ago the Ledger-Enquirer backed Cathy Vaughn (then without the Williams) for Muscogee County School Board - yet after the election, Mary Sue Polleys still was nice enough to let reporters stay inside board meetings.
I was reminded Thursday of a more unusual set of endorsements. This year Esquire magazine is recommending candidates for every open seat in Congress and state governors. Yet for some woman, it did NOT hold a public vote before naming Scarlet Johannsen the "sexist woman alive."
I'm not sure what led Esquire magazine to make more than 450 political endorsements. Maybe the editors are trying to inspire readers to get involved in the election process. Or maybe they're trying out candidates for the magazine's annual "Dubious Achievement Awards."
Esquire magazine is endorsing Mark Taylor for Georgia Governor, criticizing Sonny Perdue for signing the controversial "photo ID" law for voting. Apparently the Taylor campaign couldn't figure out a clever way to make an attack ad about that....
In the Alabama Governor's race, Esquire magazine is full of praise for incumbent Bob Riley. Among other things, it notes Riley has NOT been indicted for misusing state funds. Well, maybe he didn't have to take any - because he's still living off the interest of the taxes he never paid.
Esquire is a bit unpredictable when it comes to endorsements in U.S. House races. The magazine backs incumbents Sanford Bishop and Terry Everett. But after a few nice words about Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, Esquire turns around and endorses opponent Greg Pierce. Apparently spending "free time talking about family values" is wrong - especially when Scarlett Johannsen is on the cover.
In a Georgia Congressional race, Esquire brings up something I hadn't heard before. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland apparently went on cable TV's "Colbert Report" to promote a Ten Commandments bill - but when questioned, he could only name three of the commandments. So? That only proves Westmoreland's point - we need the commandments posted inside Congress, so lawmakers can remember them.
Esquire declares Lynn Westmoreland a "hypocrite" for that appearance on cable TV, and endorses opponent Mike McGraw for Congress. Apparently it paints the Republican red -- as in embarrassment....
After considering all the famous names in all the races and watching countless commercials in recent weeks, your blog is prepared to do something it has never done before. Yes, I am making an endorsement for the very first time! My choice in the 2006 election is (insert drum roll here).... attorney Ken Nugent.
Yes, I'm backing Ken Nugent - because he pulls no punches. He says he'll get me a check. And he's helped ordinary people just like me get checks - for tens of thousands of dollars. I'll go buy my own mix of apples and chocolates, thank you....
And Ken Nugent won't keep me waiting for results, either. When he says "one call - that's all," he undoubtedly means it. Those slow and boring public hearings on proposals and zoning adjustments won't be needed anymore.
(What's that -- you were expecting me to endorse someone for the "sexiest woman alive" in Columbus? I'm really not sure I should go there. For one thing, I understand Deborah Singer is already taken....)
E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of endorsements in the mayoral race....
I am looking for a letter in the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, a Letter To The Editor. (October 29, 2006)
I've heard people complaining about Bo Callaway of Pine Mountain supporting the Mayor of Columbus to run again . Some people thought Bo was out of line,since he lives in Harris County, Georgia.
I have been told that it appears that Howard "Bo" Calaway is speaking for the family. I am curious and I just wanted to read the article .
I saw the T V commercial one time, but I didn't catch all Bo said.. Do you know where I can locate the letter? I couldn't remember if he was speaking for himself or a spokesman for the Callaway Family. It might have been in October 29, 2006 (Letters To The Editor.)
My interest in the T V Commerical and the Letter to the Columbus Ledger Enquirer Editor is......I'm supporting Jim Weatherington.
Thank you .
Sandra
Maiden name Waldrop
Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia
I don't have last Sunday's paper, Sandra - but from what I recall of the commercial, Bo Callaway speaks for himself in the TV commercial. His backing is a bit like John McCain going to Alabama to support Governor Bob Riley, President Bush visiting Georgia on behalf of Mac Collins, or the Orlando area Board of Realtors rooting on Sonny Perdue.
We have one other e-mail, about a high school arrest we mentioned Thursday:
Years ago a nice young teen forgot his hunting rifle in the rack in the back window of his pick up..On Monday morning he drove to school from his country place without removing the rifle..He was sent to the Alternative School to finish out the year..Now he is a responsible adult and I'm proud to know him...Now what will happen to the Shaw student?
Well, the Shaw High School student is a senior - so I think it's too late for him to transfer to Northside, and be on their champion rifle team.
(Failing that - hmmmm, here's an idea. Pair that teenager with a rapper, and offer a new show to MTV: "Hunting with the Stars.")
BIG PREDICTION: When the annual Steeplechase is held at Callaway Gardens Saturday, not a single horse will attempt to chase down a steeple.
Now let's jump over a few Thursday news headlines:
+ Authorities announced 38 Columbus arrests, in a national crime crackdown called "Operation Falcon III." With a name like that, I thought it involved getting Michael Vick to throw touchdown passes.
+ Columbus Police reported Tony Pittman was arrested on charges of robbing a convenience store on Second Avenue. Pittman reportedly goes by the nickname "Short Dog" - so maybe this Short Dog needs a long time inside a "pen."
+ Columbus State University hosted a forum on the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Roy Bourgeois of S.O.A. Watch told WRBL the WHINSEC students should be trained in providing food, not firing weapons. But would grapes really fit well inside the barrel of pistols?
+ Power of Praise Church in Opelika held the third night of its "winter revival." If they're holding a WINTER revival in Opelika in the first week of November, they deserve the early freeze they're getting.
+ Instant Message to Pierce Furniture on 38th Street: Did I see one of your people with a sign on River Road last weekend? And wasn't he promoting the same "retirement liquidation" sale you had last November [14 Nov 05]? Which member of the staff is leaving this year?
SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: How we're dealing with "attack ad" overload....
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