An example of what's wrong with politics

State Sen. Nancy Schaefer is looking for a boost before the Republican primary runoff on Aug. 5. Schaefer, the incumbent candidate, is even willing to bend the truth in a way that I believe misleads voters. It is wrong in so many ways and is exactly what discourages me about politics.

She recently sent out a flyer with a quote from Gov. Sonny Perdue. It seems like a ringing endorsement. Problem is, it's not. Instead, it is just a flattering quote. When you put it on campaign literature, it seems more like an endorsement and less like a kind comment.

Here is what the flyer says:



The problem is, Perdue isn't endorsing anyone for this race. Here is what he said about it:

“I trust the people of that Senate district to make their decisions. I don’t think they need a governor sitting in Atlanta from middle Georgia trying to tell them how to make those decisions. I know I had a few calls over a mail-out that was done.

“It was unfortunate. I had not had any conversation with either of the candidates - either of the three candidates - in there regarding any kind of endorsements, and some people felt I had chosen sides and it was not the case and it’s not the case today,” he said.

The question was raised a few minutes later in the program by a caller, and Perdue reiterated that he had “absolutely not” endorsed anyone in the race. “If I were up there, I could be a little offended if the governor was trying to tell me how to elect my legislative representative.”

You see, politicians aren't afraid to use things and take them out of context. While they may not be telling a lie, they certainly bend it in their favor. It is frustrating to have to deal with these types of games instead of dealing with honest, up front people.

I hope Schaefer loses her reelection bid and is replaced with someone the voters can trust.

A tough year for the number 7

For years the number seven has been synonymous with success. Perhaps it became popular with God created the world and rested on the seventh day. Or perhaps it had something to do with Mickey Mantle, who wore number seven and had a love affair with the nation as a baseball great. Whenever it started, the number seven has had a powerful aura for a long time.

That is until recently.

Earlier this month, the city of Atlanta decided to close down Fire Station No. 7. The city is facing a major budget crisis and Mayor Shirley Franklin decided closing the city's oldest fire station would help. While the decision might help the financial woes, I wonder how residents in that area are allowed to burn. I mean it is kinda like saying, we're going to save some cents and all of you on fire can just stay on fire. (Note to self, don't catch fire in Atlanta)

But I digress. This is about the number seven, not about mass riots and spreading fires.

Our local Atlanta teams have done a pretty good job of diminishing the meaning of number seven recently. The face of arguably Atlanta's most popular team wears number seven and all he has done is be a disgrace. Of course I am talking about Jeff Francour and the Atlanta Braves. The golden boy that grew up in the metro area, can't hit a lick and is struggling in the field. He was even sent to the minors to get his head straight. How can the future star of this organization bounce between the majors and the minors? Since he has been called up, he hasn't been much better. Just last night, the Florida Marlins walked three batters in front of him. What does no. 7 do? Swing at the first three pitches and strike out at a very very high fastball, There's your star, doing what he has done best this season-striking out.

And then there is no. 7 for the Atlanta Falcons. The well-documented Mike Vick disaster that decimated the team and the status of the number 7.

There is an old and corny joke that asks why the number 6 was scared (because 789, of course). But right now, it appears the number 7 is the one shaking in its boots.

Why I didn't vote

I know I should have, but I didn't. Yesterday was pimary Tuesday and I didn't vote. Now part of that was because I had to work all day. Technically, I could have found time to vote but to tell the truth, I just didn't care that much.

I guess I am like many people that only seem to care about the presidential election. I know that our local politicians are more important to us in many ways, but I really have trouble caring about them. And as much as I have tried to follow the races, it all seems like it is the same ol' BS.

So, I didn't really see a reason to vote. Now, why didn't you vote?

What's inside the giant meat Pinata?

Here is a little beauty I saw while wondering around near Pryor St. So, create your own caption or tell us what you think is inside.

Graffiti artists beware!

OK, this is just funny. A dude jumps out of a tree to attack potential graffiti violators. HILARIOUS!!

By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cabbagetown has had an ongoing problem with graffiti. Early Sunday morning, resident Rodney Bowman took the matter into his own hands.

Bowman perched himself in a tree to catch vandals who had been spray-painting a concrete wall that runs along a set of railroad tracks and borders his neighborhood.

The Krog Street tunnel, which connects Inman Park and Cabbagetown, is Atlanta's wildest, scariest, free art gallery. The concrete canvas is frequently 'updated' by unknown artists.

Around 2:20 a.m., they showed up.

Two young men, Joshua Ward, 19 and Jesse Jaeger, 21, started spray-painting the wall when Bowman sprang from the tree and attacked Ward, according to an Atlanta police report.

"It took me a few seconds to realize what was going on," Jaeger said Wednesday. "This guy just jumps out of a tree. I was like, 'Did that just happen?' We're still telling people about it. It's one of those things that, when you tell people, they don't believe you."

Bowman, 43, walked over to Ward and punched him in the face twice before the young men ran away and called police, the report said.

When an officer arrived, Bowman told him that "he had been watching the area closely" and "jumped out of the tree" to confront the vandals, the report said.

Ward and Jaeger admitted to police that they came to the concrete wall to spray paint, but they said they thought it was legal, the report said.

Jaeger said he and Ward were under the impression the wall -- just a few blocks from the Krog Street tunnel's famed concrete canvas -- was a "free space" where graffiti is allowed.

Jaeger said that, as they starting putting graffiti on the wall, Bowman sprang from the tree that was about 20 feet from them, fell down and walked toward Ward.

"I told you about [expletive] with our wall!" Bowman said, according to the report.

An officer gave Bowman a ticket for disorderly conduct, and Ward and Jaeger were ticketed for defacing a building, the report said.

In front of police officers, Bowman asked the young men what they were doing out there so late at night, Jaeger said.

"You were in a tree at 2:30 in the morning," they replied, according to Jaeger.

Bowman could not be reached for comment.