2017 – Page 9 of 14

Forsyth County, Georgia: Some history …

Forsyth County, famous as the birthplace of Hee-Haw’s Junior Samples, has for most of the past century, existed as an intentionally all-white community bordering the black Mecca of Atlanta since 1912, following one of the 20th century’s most violent racist outrages—including lynching, nightriding, and arson. In 1987, the sleepy community gained notoriety when a small march led by civil rights firebrand Hosea Williams was broken up by rock- and bottle-throwing Klansmen, neo-Nazis, and their sympathizers. Bloody but unbowed, Williams returned the next week with 25,000 followers in one of largest civil rights marches in history. There was talk of reparations. Oprah came to Forsyth and taped her show. Protests and counter-protests yielded a landmark Supreme Court case on free speech. But most…

Jazz interlude: Kenny Barron

My wife and I went to a wonderful jazz concert Saturday Night at Spivey Hall at Clayton State University. The Kenny Barron trio was truly great. I found a high-quality documentary video of a long set with the current members. And here’s a podcast of Kenny Live at the Village Vanguard. About Spivey Hall: If you live in Atlanta and haven’t attended a concert at Spivey, check it out! Jazz and Classical, just under 400-seat capacity. Marvelous acoustics; every seat is good.

People who learn about Plant Vogtle become “uniformly angry”

Two Georgia Public Service Commission seats are up for election in 2018. Plant Vogtle will be an issue across the state next year. BACKGROUND: Georgia Power is building out Nuclear Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 despite massive cost overruns (it’s at $25 billion plus), bankruptcies, and mismanagement. Thanks to pro-utility Senate Bill 31 passed in 2009, ratepayers have been forced to pay financing costs (averaging $100 a year per customer) and therefore bearing the risk of construction, although Georgia Power alone will reap the profits. No wonder they want to keep going, right? Hearings are currently underway that will result in a February vote by commissioners, who are elected statewide, on whether to approve continued construction. One of them plans…

Swamp Thing: Georgia candidate calls for PSC chair’s resignation

Georgia Public Service Commission Candidate John Noel (D-Atlanta, pictured above) has released the following statement about the outrage-in-progress by hyper pro-utility, anti-consumer PSC chairman Stan Wise. Definitely worth a read, and John is definitely worth supporting. You can follow his campaign on Facebook and Twitter @NoelforPSC Download a copy of PSC Chairman should resign pdf BTW, John has an awesome solar-powered home that was featured in a knockout Like Tesla video. Georgia PSC Chairman Should Do Us All a Favor and Resign Immediately (Atlanta) Recent news reports reveal that Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Stan Wise plans to give Georgia Power the green light to complete Plant Vogtle, then resign to take a job in the utility industry. Democratic PSC Candidate John Noel…

Truman banned racial segregation in military 69 years ago today

Here’s your contrast of the day. On this day nearly 70 years ago, Truman signed an executive order integrating the military. I’m from Missouri, and grew up proud of Truman for doing this. Some other things Truman did that we’re missing now: Served in the military and paid his debts; said “The Buck Stops Here” and “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” Truman, who never went to college but worked hard to educate himself, is the opposite of Trump. H/T Kyle Griffin

Trump goes to GOP playbook with transgender ban

Trump announced his transgender ban while his Defense Secretary was ON VACATION. Essentially confirms a political decision from WH, not DOD led — @AdamBlickstein. Perhaps. We’ll have to see if DOD is on board. It looks like the administration is melting down. Purge at White House; Sec of State is “taking time off” during time of open disputes with WH; AG’s job is under constant threat. Madness reigns. Method to Madness: The Transgender ban is a play to the base, designed to shore up Republican prospects in 2018 Rust Belt states. It’s horrible, but straight out of the GOP playbook. Rove and Company used a similar strategy in 2004, putting state anti-gay marriage laws on the general election ballot to bring out…

Brambleman

Georgia politics, history, and other stuff

Year: 2017