The Georgia Follies: A Satirical Look at Georgia Politics & News

By Charles Jackson | 10/06/09

  Here's an update on five items from last month's First Edition of “The Georgia Follies:” > With Governor Sonny Perdue term limited from seeking re-election next year, there's already talk about what he plans to do. Insiders now say the governor's first priority is signing a book deal about his accomplishments after he leaves office next year. Reportedly, the governor has already sent his publisher a draft copy of... read more »

Shots Across the Bow

By Charles Jackson | 09/30/09

  Squabbling King siblings to meet. >The children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are in court with their ongoing legal battle about money .These greedy, tasteless siblings, of little accomplishment, are an ongoing embarrassment to their father's legacy. The “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” And speaking of embarrassing! Fulton County cities dominate crime list. > Of the ten metro Atlanta cities with the highest... read more »

Afghanistan

By Charles Jackson | 09/26/09

 Seventy-two hours after my post, “Bring Them Home,” another headline: 5 Troops Killed in Afghanistan Violence Mr. President: How many more troops for Afghanistan, for how long, to what end?     read more »

Bring Them Home

By Charles Jackson | 09/22/09

  I started this series of posts* as the death toll began to rise in Afghanistan. July was the first “Deadliest Month.” 43 Americans were killed. Then 45 more in August. I chronicled the continuing loss of U.S. troops with special attention to Georgians while noting my growing unease with the war. “So with each passing day, with more of our troops being killed, I'll honor their service and sacrifice - as my heart... read more »

9/12 Demonstration Draws Georgians to Washington

By Charles Jackson | 09/15/09

  Georgians from across the state and every walk of life poured into Washington last Saturday to attend the massive 9/12 demonstration. The “Tea Parties”of April 15 and the Fourth of July as well last month's Town Hall meetings, all culminated in what is so aptly being described as nothing short of historic.”We are witnessing a very rare phenomenon, the genuine, broad based spontaneous political movement with no visible... read more »

9/11

By Charles Jackson | 09/11/09

  Today is 9/11. Never forget OR forgive. The loathsome editorial page of the New York Times (9/10/09 says we should mark today as a day of National Service and, oh, yeah, Remembrance. The Times concludes by saying “Showing the nation’s strength, resilience and unity is the best way to stand up to terrorists of all kinds.” Hell no! We “stand up to terrorists” by killing them...duh. God Bless... read more »

Atlanta Mayor's Race in Black and White

By Charles Jackson | 09/08/09

  “Race has always been and remains a factor in Atlanta politics — sometimes more overt; other times more subtle,” so says an op-ed piece. This year the overt racial factor has hit like a sledgehammer in the midst of the mayoral campaigns. Last week's flap over the “The Struggle for Unity” memorandum, written by two Clark Atlanta University professors, ignited fierce and overwhelming criticism from all... read more »

FIRST EDITION: The Georgia Follies: A Satirical Look at Georgia Politics & News

By Charles Jackson | 09/01/09

NOTE: This is my first post as editor of Red County's Fulton County Georgia Web site. All too often, those of us who write political commentary take ourselves and what we say all too seriously. We tend to say the same-old, same-old thing on the same ol', same ol' issues day after day - “The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new," (Samuel Beckett, Murphy, 1938). Moreover,blog sites are flooded with pompous, boring,... read more »

Atlanta Mayor's Race Has a New Kid on the Block

By Charles Jackson | 08/31/09

  In June, I lamented the lack of new faces in the upcoming Atlanta mayoral election and next year's governor's race. However, now it won't be the same ol', same ol' at least in the contest for mayor. Kyle Wingfield, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist, recently profiled a newcomer to the Atlanta mayor's race, attorney Jesse Spikes. He's running as a non politician and hoping that the frustrations city residents feel about a host of... read more »

The Deadliest Month(s), Part IV, The Summer of My Continued Afghan Discontent

By Charles Jackson | 08/28/09

  This is the fourth “The Deadliest Month(s)” commentary.* My disaffection with the war in Afghanistan mounts and apparently many other Americans share my concerns. In July and August (thus far), three Georgians have been added to the death toll. Two weeks ago, I wrote “...However, we currently have some 58,00 troops there and some say additional forces are on the way. And we may be there for years to come. So with... read more »