Brace yourself for an onslaught of political ads on TV between now and November
5. Governor Roy Barnes has raised more than thirteen million dollars, leaving
even poor Max Cleland looking like a pauper, at somewhere around seven million.
No Republican is even close, although the Chief Executive fundraiser, who
drops by the White House occasionally for a clean shirt and more one-liners,
has tried to change that. He has come to the Peach State…..let’s
see, is it three times…..to convince Republicans that Saxby Chambliss
is the only Republican in the Senate race. VP Cheney is due in next week to
do some more piling on. Republican Bob Irvin is to be commended for sticking
in there against Chambliss. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could sneak in
under all that money, and "unbiased" Republican chairman Ralph Reed?
But if there’s anyone around who knows how to buy an election, it’s
Bush.
Speaking of buying an election, can anyone beat Barnes’ war chest ? We
doubt it; therefore, the only hope for Republicans and independents in the
state of Georgia is to work like hell to root out the canker known as the
Georgia Legislature.
That won’t be easy, either. An example locally is Representative Alan
Powell, who has collected so many IOU’s over the past ten or twelve years
that even the smudge of video poker will be hard to overcome. Add to that
the "Governor’s discretionary fund" "gifts" that
Powell will no doubt "photo op" throughout the district between
now and November 5, and Arch Adams, Powell’s first opposition in ten
years, has his work cut out for him.
It is not Democrats who are bad, it is absolute POWER. As the old saying goes,
POWER corrupts, and absolute POWER corrupts absolutely. Until we get a two-party
system operating under the capitol dome in Atlanta, you can forget ethics,
despite Governor Barnes’ posturing from now until election day.
Georgia has been in the hands of Democrats for over 150 years. No wonder we
are rated ninth worst in ethics.
For the good of this state, we need to forget party labels, and work to bring
about eliminating the corrupting power of one-party politics. The only way
to begin that process in 2002, barring a miracle in the Governor’s race,
is through a change in the legislature.
Changing the legislature begins right here at home. Neither Alan Powell nor
Arch Adams faces opposition in the August 20 primary. The decision will be
made on November 5, when you can split your ticket any way you wish.
From experience, we can assure you of this……whether you are a Republican
who sometimes votes for a Democrat, or a Democrat who occasionally votes for
a Republican, you will not turn into a pillar of salt if you split your vote.
Promise.
Money will speak louder this year in Georgia politics than it ever has before.
And money, both nationally and locally, will be shouting at you from now til
November. Talk is not cheap when it comes to politics.
This is not about Democrat/Republican. It’s about honesty and ethics.
And it’s about time we got some in Atlanta.
Your comments, pro or con, are welcome. Click on letters
to the editor, and let us hear from you.