Just when things may start going right, give 'em a Willie Horton issue. First the pledge of allegiance vote, now another -- More on voting by felons.
A 9-24-04 post is titled "Say what? In neighborhoods with high % of criminals who can't vote, the political voice of the entire community is diluted, & Ga. law is the culprit."
The post was about Reps. Tyrone Brooks and Bob Holmes, both Atlanta Democrats, announcement that they would introduce legislation they knew would not pass aimed at restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who, though out of prison, have yet to complete probation or parole.
The post noted that the Rev. Joseph Lowery and others spoke joined Brooks and Holmes at last week's news conference at the Capitol held to mark the release of a study indicating that the voting strength in entire Atlanta neighborhoods is diluted because so many black males are in the correctional system and thus can't vote.
The post suggested:
'Rather than making a futile legislative statement that does not discourage crime, why not introduce some legislation encouraging people not to commit felonies which do and should cause one to lose his or her right to vote until one's citizenship rights are restored upon completion of one's sentence.
"Such legislation could encourage adults to get into mentoring, shadowing, tutoring, being role models, or something similar that addresses the problem rather than minimizing the consequences of violating laws prohibiting behavior serious enough to constitute a felony."
"[F]aulting diluted voting power on reasonable and known consequences of serious violations of laws designed that protect all of us is a crock of baloney."
As a result of the post I received a "Dear Jim Bob" letter from someone on Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff who believes that society and not the felons are responsible for the crimes committed against society.
Such thinking was not isolated. On this week's Georgia Gang Alexis Scott predictably said amen Brother Lowery and company, amen. Bring it on baby.
(I say predictably, although based on what we noted in a 9-12-04 post, we had hoped she was trying to work on her credibility.
In that post we selected The Georgia Gang viewers as the winner of the week for being able to witness for the first time that I can remember Alexis Scott bragging and carrying on about a candidate because of the candidate's sex rather than race.)
Bill Shipp's take on the legislation as expressed following Ms. Scott's comments. Stupid or absurd. The Tyrone Brooks of the state are trying to run off the "few remaining whites in the Democratic Party," or words fairly close to this. (I thought to myself, thanks Dean, that was sort of what I was thinking, but did not put as bluntly.)
Well, today the PI that some other Democrats have come to my rescue other than just my buddy. The PI notes:
Speaker Terry Coleman called reporters to his office to express his personal opposition: "This is not an issue that the Democratic caucus agrees with these two legislators on. I don't think it has any chance of passing. [Felons] have to prove their worth and prove they're worthy."
State Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, the highest-ranking African-American in the House, likewise put out the word. "Georgia Democrats are opposed to any such effort. The opinions of two Democratic members of the House by no means represent the opinion of the caucus," Smyre said. David Lucas of Macon, another African-American, was of the same opinion.
_______________
I asked in a 9-27-04 post titled " Okay class, let's take a vote on how we say it today: "I pledge allegiance . . . One Nation under [God/Allah/Buddha] -- Pledge Protection Act:"
Am I getting out on a limb to speculate that we might be hearing from Sen. Miller about some of these votes? (That post gave a link showing how Georgia's congressman voted, and I refrained from urge to list names).
Despite the statements by Coleman and Smyre -- or as the PI reports it, as a result of what follows -- Republican Sen. Eric Johnson, president pro tem of the Senate, said in an email to Republicans rallying them to action: "This is not something you laugh off. This is why Zell Miller thinks his Democratic party is dead."
You owe to yourself to read the PI's article on how the "felony issue" was handled by the leadership of the Democratic Party.
Dylan is in the news this week with his biography. Dylan said "The times, they are a-changin'." The PI's take: The times have already changed.
_______________
Footnote to post: The author of the comment to the post on felons discussed above apparently thinks that just because our Vice President thinks it is okay to use the four letter f word on the U.S. Senate floor, such is fine for this blog.
I informed the author of the comment that allowing comments to be posted on a blog such as this presumes those posting comments will appreciate the rights of others -- including myself -- to be able to read comments without being subjected to lewd language and inappropriate comments.
Differing views -- such as those reflected in the -- properly expressed are of course welcome and encouraged.
The message -- clean up your comments so I don't have to delete 'em and deprive our readers of differing views.
The post was about Reps. Tyrone Brooks and Bob Holmes, both Atlanta Democrats, announcement that they would introduce legislation they knew would not pass aimed at restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who, though out of prison, have yet to complete probation or parole.
The post noted that the Rev. Joseph Lowery and others spoke joined Brooks and Holmes at last week's news conference at the Capitol held to mark the release of a study indicating that the voting strength in entire Atlanta neighborhoods is diluted because so many black males are in the correctional system and thus can't vote.
The post suggested:
'Rather than making a futile legislative statement that does not discourage crime, why not introduce some legislation encouraging people not to commit felonies which do and should cause one to lose his or her right to vote until one's citizenship rights are restored upon completion of one's sentence.
"Such legislation could encourage adults to get into mentoring, shadowing, tutoring, being role models, or something similar that addresses the problem rather than minimizing the consequences of violating laws prohibiting behavior serious enough to constitute a felony."
"[F]aulting diluted voting power on reasonable and known consequences of serious violations of laws designed that protect all of us is a crock of baloney."
As a result of the post I received a "Dear Jim Bob" letter from someone on Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff who believes that society and not the felons are responsible for the crimes committed against society.
Such thinking was not isolated. On this week's Georgia Gang Alexis Scott predictably said amen Brother Lowery and company, amen. Bring it on baby.
(I say predictably, although based on what we noted in a 9-12-04 post, we had hoped she was trying to work on her credibility.
In that post we selected The Georgia Gang viewers as the winner of the week for being able to witness for the first time that I can remember Alexis Scott bragging and carrying on about a candidate because of the candidate's sex rather than race.)
Bill Shipp's take on the legislation as expressed following Ms. Scott's comments. Stupid or absurd. The Tyrone Brooks of the state are trying to run off the "few remaining whites in the Democratic Party," or words fairly close to this. (I thought to myself, thanks Dean, that was sort of what I was thinking, but did not put as bluntly.)
Well, today the PI that some other Democrats have come to my rescue other than just my buddy. The PI notes:
Speaker Terry Coleman called reporters to his office to express his personal opposition: "This is not an issue that the Democratic caucus agrees with these two legislators on. I don't think it has any chance of passing. [Felons] have to prove their worth and prove they're worthy."
State Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, the highest-ranking African-American in the House, likewise put out the word. "Georgia Democrats are opposed to any such effort. The opinions of two Democratic members of the House by no means represent the opinion of the caucus," Smyre said. David Lucas of Macon, another African-American, was of the same opinion.
_______________
I asked in a 9-27-04 post titled " Okay class, let's take a vote on how we say it today: "I pledge allegiance . . . One Nation under [God/Allah/Buddha] -- Pledge Protection Act:"
Am I getting out on a limb to speculate that we might be hearing from Sen. Miller about some of these votes? (That post gave a link showing how Georgia's congressman voted, and I refrained from urge to list names).
Despite the statements by Coleman and Smyre -- or as the PI reports it, as a result of what follows -- Republican Sen. Eric Johnson, president pro tem of the Senate, said in an email to Republicans rallying them to action: "This is not something you laugh off. This is why Zell Miller thinks his Democratic party is dead."
You owe to yourself to read the PI's article on how the "felony issue" was handled by the leadership of the Democratic Party.
Dylan is in the news this week with his biography. Dylan said "The times, they are a-changin'." The PI's take: The times have already changed.
_______________
Footnote to post: The author of the comment to the post on felons discussed above apparently thinks that just because our Vice President thinks it is okay to use the four letter f word on the U.S. Senate floor, such is fine for this blog.
I informed the author of the comment that allowing comments to be posted on a blog such as this presumes those posting comments will appreciate the rights of others -- including myself -- to be able to read comments without being subjected to lewd language and inappropriate comments.
Differing views -- such as those reflected in the -- properly expressed are of course welcome and encouraged.
The message -- clean up your comments so I don't have to delete 'em and deprive our readers of differing views.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 5:32 AM
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