2 NOV 08: THUS SAITH THE....
Here's hoping your weekend is going as wonderfully as mine is. I'm getting extra sleep. I'm enjoying Sister Schubert's cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I picked up half-price post-Halloween chocolate at stores Saturday night. And the negative campaign commercials have only three days to go!
"I voted for John McCain. I voted early." Plenty of people probably could make this statement in Columbus. But it surprisingly was made Saturday night by a church pastor, in the middle of a worship service. And no, it was NOT revealed during a prayer of confession.
Pastor David Rathel told worshipers at Rivertown Church John McCain is a "little better" when it comes to the issues of "gay marriage" and partial-birth abortion. But he openly longed for a presidential candidate who's "a lot better," and wished James Dobson was on the ballot. Of course, critics say "Focus on the Family" focuses too much these days on the ballot box....
David Rathel admits as he grew up, he wondered why all our U.S. Presidents were all the same - white men. We should note Rathel IS a white man. Apparently his family wasn't close to anyone from The Big Eddy Club, who could have put his thinking in line.
David Rathel admits his dream is to have "somebody run this nation who's of a different gender." He likes Barack Obama's message of hope - but said in the middle of his sermon: "I'd rather have him, with a different mind." Rathel wasn't specific about what that meant. But he stopped short of declaring Mr. Obama a Muslim.
The Rivertown Church Pastor invited worshipers to pick up photocopied "Presidential Voter Guides," supplied by the Family Research Council. They list the candidates' positions on many issues. While there are plenty of differences, both John McCain and Barack Obama oppose a constitutional amendment to define marriage. Their dictionaries must be 30 years old, like mine is....
After attending Rivertown Church for most of the last two months, the election was admittedly the last topic I expected to come up this weekend. Pastor David Rathel hardly ever brings up topics in the news. After the big stock market drop, he didn't even give a pep talk for members to keep tithing.
So did David Rathel cross a line, by announcing his choice in the Presidential race and his reasons why? The Rivertown Church Pastor stated his personal political views, which could risk the church's tax-exempt status. But he didn't tell his congregation to do what he did - unless you noted the title of his sermon: "Thinking Like God."
This statement wasn't quite like the Columbus pastor I heard in October 2000, who told his congregation during a service: "Let's all pray George W. Bush wins the election." I stayed away from that congregation the next week, protesting such a blatant political statement. But you know, maybe that group was closer to God than I realized....
Pastor David Rathel held what he called a short "town hall meeting" with his small Saturday night congregation about the election. Rathel said he stood in line more than two hours, before casting an early ballot. But one member said she only waited 20 minutes. There truly are advantages to living in Harris County....
No one else in the congregation dared to speak up, about who received their vote. Perhaps they were stunned at how open the Rivertown Church Pastor was -- even declaring John McCain the "same old same old." Yet if Mr. McCain received David Rathel's vote, maybe Rathel is older than he looks.
(David Rathel did NOT say how he voted in any other races. But he half-jokingly said after seeing the names of some "jokers" down the ballot, he considered writing in his own name for a couple of positions.)
Meanwhile, the NAACP organized a march from South Commons Saturday. It's part of a campaign across the South called "Vote Hard." And if you don't use the restroom before you get in a long line, it could be exactly that.
In a bit of a surprise, the Barack Obama campaign announced it's buying one last round of commercials across Georgia before Election Day. I saw one ad during the ABC Saturday night football game. So there, you see - the Democrat is redistributing wealth already. That campaign money ought to be spent in Florida and Ohio.
The Barack Obama campaign explained commercial time was purchased in Georgia because the state is now "within the realm of possibility." Why don't they save that money for something more important - like the health care improvements the candidate is promising after Election Day?
(BLOGGER'S NOTE: It's our custom to be politics-free on Election Day - so if you have a last statement to make about the campaign before the polls close, send it to us today.)
Our newest blog starts with poker, then goes in directions which could surprise you. Visit "On the Flop!"
E-MAIL UPDATE: Friday's newspaper had a big front-page picture of the Bibb Mill fire. But something else caught a reader's attention....
I like the way the L-E had a picture of the carjacker, thief, thugs, mother in this mornings paper, describing her as THE VICTIMS MOTHER. The poor victim.
Of course, this was an error on the Ledger-Enquirer's part. The teenager is an "alleged victim" in journalistic terms, based on whether Frank Lumpkin III is convicted in court. If he goes on The Tyra Banks Show, the "alleged" title somehow would disappear.
We have another upset blog reader - although that's not really unusual for him:
"Sir" Richard:
I'm going to refer to my copy of the dictionary and get the definitions of three words. Foolhardy, stupid and crazy. I'm certain that I fall into one or more of those categories and probably all three!
#1 Foolhardy = Daring, impetuous,or ventursom. Hmmmm, I can live with that!
#2 Stupid = Dumb, assinine, or idiotic. Ow, that one stings, but if the shoe fits------
#3 Crazy = Mad, loco, or looney. .I won't capitulate to that one - but I'm certain that there are those who would concur!
Looking back at the past six years; I was foolhardy enough to belieive that "Hurt'sboro was worth saving. Boy, was I wrong! It was stupid of me to even think that the citizens would support an effort to clean out the Town Hall, attend council meetings, and exhibit any kind of civic pride.
Only a mad man would e crazy enough to pursue the cause any further. but I firmly believe that persistence will bring justice; not tomorrow, nor anytime soon but in the short lived future.
The news I received today about the proposed Hysterical District, was both numbing and spine stiffening. It seems that an Alabama Review Board has overruled the outcry of objections to any such district in favor of the smattering of self serving idiots that want it. In essence, it was foolhardy to object,because there was no doubt that the members of that board were too stupid to recognize the overall squalor in "Hurt'sboro! You would have to be crazy; to think that a sign along the highway designating a district in "Hurt'sboro as historic, will convince wayfarers to traverse our potholed streets, or to chance being mugged, raped, or shot while visiting there.
Constable R.J. Schweiger
Perhaps when the Hurtsboro Historic District is created, it will include several markers identifying key locations - such as the last person to hold the title of Constable there.
The Alabama Historical Commission Review Board met Thursday. The results have NOT been posted at the commission's web site, but for some reason only one historical marker is listed in all of Russell County. The commission may be too embarrassed to list the one about "Indians hanged," which probably scares people away from the Phenix City Riverwalk.
Rayford Tapley becomes the new mayor of Hurtsboro Monday. In a TV interview during our vacation, he promised to seek an audit of the city's finances. I somehow doubt Robert Schweiger will be satisfied by this - unless his own representative is allowed to count the dollar bills personally.
One other e-mail must be held, because it has a claim requiring further review. Now before I hurry off to bed for that extra hour of sleep, let's check some weekend headlines:
+ WRBL reported someone stole a Fletcher Oil Company tanker truck. These stupid criminals - haven't they noticed the price of gas has dropped below $2.30 a gallon, because demand is way down?
+ Columbus Police kept 38th Street closed west of Second Avenue, while firefighters watched for new flare-ups at the River Mill fire. Authorities say several underground floors kept burning, after the main fire was contained. This news inspired several local Baptist preachers to revise their sermons for today.
+ Synovus Financial confirmed it's applying for federal bailout money. Trouble is, the money requires an exchange for preferred stock - and Synovus doesn't have any. We're simply of common stock in Columbus, you know....
+ The soul band "Maze" with Frankie Beverly performed at the Columbus Civic Center. I like their song "Joy and Pain" - but if this is the closest Columbus can come to a cornfield maze, there's still some work to be done.
+ Albany State felled Fort Valley State 31-7 in the Fountain City Classic football game. I live near South Commons, and never have seen so many cars parked on my block. Someone charged five dollars for parking - and I'd like to thank that person for not leaving an envelope on my windshield.
+ Mississippi mashed Auburn 17-7. The Tigers now have lost four games in a row, their chances of a bowl game are in serious doubt -- and it might be time to start watching the Auburn trustees, to see if they're making trips out-of-state.
+ Florida flattened Georgia 49-10 in Jacksonville. This win was more difficult for the Gators than the score indicates. It was all they could do NOT to jump around on the field after every touchdown.
+ Instant Message to whomever found a 20-dollar bill in a First Avenue parking lot: You should thank me for that. I saw it first, but left it there because of the Saturday Sabbath. The Bible condemns people even picking up sticks on the Sabbath - and you could buy some large-sized firewood with that money.
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