Fresh Loaf

CLARK HOWARD No match for Mickey Mouse

On Nov. 3, thousands of Fulton County residents cast their votes for candidates who weren’t even on the ballot. Courtesy of the county’s election gurus, we present the more interesting write-in results:

• Clark Howard: The city’s penny-pinching guru earned 33 votes in nearly every Atlanta race, including mayor, City Council president and Atlanta school board.

• Musicians: Voters placed their trust in Frank Zappa, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Jello Biafra, Jerry Garcia, Henry Rollins, Ted Nugent, David Lee Roth and Mick Jagger.

• Conservative icons: Glenn Beck led the crowded pack of right-minded write-in candidates. Others: George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Neal Boortz, Karl Rove, Ronald Reagan, Joe the Plumber, Cain, Chuck Norris and Joe “You Lie!” Wilson.

• Karl Marx: The long-dead father of communism was a write-in for the Atlanta school board and Atlanta City Council District 7.

• Sid Mashburn: The Howell Mill Road haberdasher who can magically turn Atlanta’s slobs into dapper dons garnered one vote for the Post 1 At-Large seat won by Michael Julian Bond.

• Cartoons: Jesus, what is with people and Mickey Mouse? The squeaky-voiced rodent garnered 34 votes. Other pen-and-ink candidates: Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny, Goofy, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Scooby Doo, Mr. Magoo, Porky Pig, Homer Simpson and Garfield.

• Hilariously generic “people”: “A Christian name person,” “Reasonable person,” “No lawyers,” “Indie rock elitist,” “Dirt road repairman” and “Cracker fuck.”

• Reptilians: When Norm Coleman and Al Franken quibbled over votes in their 2008 congressional race, much ado was made about write-in votes for “Lizard King.” “Hail the Lizard King” and “Lizard King 4 USA,” you had a friend on Nov. 3.

Click here to download an Excel document listing the full write-in results for all municipal and Gold Dome races in Fulton County.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Last week on Fresh Loaf, we delved into a mysterious topic that has puzzled Atlantans for at least a decade: the etymology of “Murder Kroger.” What is the backstory on the nickname for the depressingly downscale grocery on Ponce de Leon Avenue? After some pontificating , our commenters appear to have figured it out.

“I’ve always preferred the alliteration of ‘Killer Kroger’ over the somewhat sloppy sounding ‘Murder Kroger.’”
— “O”

“’Crack Kroger’ is the preferred nomenclature of those in the neighborhood.”
— “DOC”

“I go to this Kroger all the time. I always called it the ‘Ghetto Kroger.’”
— “Chris”

“there’s already a ‘ghetto kroger,’ it’s the one further down moreland.”
— “sassyassy”

“i’ve always called the ponce location ‘murder kroger’ because someone was stabbed to death in the parking lot. sadly, i can’t find any verifiable source to confirm this.”
— “thedionysian”

“Cynthia Prioleau, 25, left the crime and the cold weather of her native Jersey City, N.J., nearly four years ago for the gentler climate and the slower, seemingly friendlier pace of Atlanta. But she died in the parking lot of a Ponce de Leon Avenue supermarket Monday evening, shot to death by an irate motorist she had sprayed with a can of Mace.”
— From a 1991 AJC story posted by commenter “The Answer”

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John Oxendine

On Oct. 15, GOP gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine e-mailed supporters to alert them to a “vicious attack” by “homosexual activists” at local gay weekly Southern Voice regarding his defense of marriage between a man and a woman. He asked supporters to help him fight the “gay lobby” — by donating money, of course.

“The radical homosexual activists over at Southern Voice have launched a vicious attack on me — by name — for my defense of traditional marriage in America. These homosexual activists join a long and growing list of those on the radical Left who are, by their very attack, acknowledging who the true conservative is in this campaign and who they are afraid of.”
— Oxendine, in an Oct. 15 e-mail to campaign supporters

“Those who are engaged in homosexual behavior are people—who need love and forgiveness, and who need to understand the love of God.”
— Oxendine, in an Oct. 9 e-mail to supporters

“So sacred is your marriage that when your baby Jake is born, you immediately put him in a starring role in one of your campaign ad commercials? No way is that exploiting the family, right?”
— Southern Voice news editor Dyana Bagby, in the Oct. 12 blog post that raised Oxendine’s ire

“Marriage has not, in fact, ‘always been’ between ‘a man and a woman’ — for most of the period of the Old Testament, from which Oxendine and his brethren like to quote a certain passage from Leviticus to condemn us, marriage was between a man and several women.”
— Southern Voice Editor Laura Douglas-Brown, in an Oct. 15 response to Oxendine’s plea for funds

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Last week, it was reported that a wooded area behind a Marietta office park had become a squatters compound for nine of Georgia’s registered sex offenders. A state law that bans sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of areas where children might gather has forced numerous offenders into homelessness, including the nine squatters. Those squatters now have to find another place to set up camp; the Georgia Department of Transportation ordered them off its land Sept. 29.

“It’s really very common that we find people living on our land, often in tents or under bridges. We don’t want to allow anyone to live on our property, for liability issues.”
— Mark McKinnon, a spokesman for the Georgia Department of Transportation, quoted in the Marietta Daily Journal

“I walked to Wal-Mart, bought a tent and made a little place to live. That’s how much I don’t want to violate probation.”
— William Hawkins, a resident of the camp, quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“I don’t think it was the Georgia Legislature’s intention to render people homeless as a result of this law. This result does nothing to make women and children more safe, and only makes law enforcement’s role more complicated.”
— Sara Totonchi, public policy director for the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights, quoted in the AJC

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Last week, it was announced that Grady Memorial Hospital will officially move forward with plans to close its dialysis unit. To the dismay of patients and advocates, a judge lifted a previous restraining order on Sept. 25 that prevented the clinic from closing its doors. The decision sparked intense scrutiny from patients and advocates.

“The only option is to count the days until he dies.”
— Abebech Tadesse, speaking about her 69-year-old father and Grady dialysis clinic patient, quoted in the AJC

“They’re treating the closing of this clinic like it’s the closing of a dental clinic, as if people’s lives don’t depend on it.”
— Samuel Tabares, whose father is paralyzed by a stroke, quoted in the same AJC article

“Those who are less fortunate or who have less access to care will always have a home at Grady. But even in that context, Grady has some tough decisions to make. Otherwise, we won’t be in business.”
— Matt Gove, a senior vice president at the hospital, quoted in the Wall Street Journal

“Atlanta can’t live without Grady.”
— From Grady Memorial Hospital’s website

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On Aug. 17, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that condemned death row inmate Troy Davis deserves a chance to present new evidence in his case. Attorneys have long argued that Davis didn’t kill Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989 and that key witnesses have recanted testimony.

“The substantial risk of putting an innocent man to death, clearly provides an adequate justification for holding an evidentiary hearing.”
— U.S. Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority Aug. 17

“We should be prepared to go to the moon and back in order to avoid executing an innocent man. Every stone must be turned, every possibility fully explored, every alternative narrative put to rest to the extent possible. Justice demands no less of us.”
— From an Aug. 19 Augusta Chronicle editorial

“He should have been dead two years ago … Every delay is awful for us every time. I’m not saying Davis’ family isn’t suffering either. But Davis had a choice. Mark didn’t … I want it to be over.”
— Anneliese MacPhail, mother of the murdered police officer, in the Aug. 19 New York Times

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Seven months after President Barack Obama was sworn in, a fringe contingent still suspects he’s ineligible for the post because, they claim, instead of being born in Hawaii — as the evidence makes clear — he actually was born in Kenya.

“I have seen the original vital records maintained on file by the Hawaii State Department of Health verifying Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen.”

— Hawaii Health Director Chiyome Fukino, in a statement issued July 27

“It’s just a few cranks out there. It’s like when the networks bring on the three remaining Klanners in America.”

— Ann Coulter, during a July 27 appearance on Fox News

“I have no idea where he was born.”

— U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., responding to an interviewer who asked if he thought Obama was born in America and if he considered “birthers” to be crazy

“What I don’t know is why the president can’t produce a birth certificate. I think that’s a legitimate question.”

— Former House Majority Leader and current Senate candidate Roy Blunt, responding on July 29 to a question about Obama’s eligibility

Sources: TPM, AP, MSNBC

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While the debates in Congress over health care reform have intensified this week, members of Georgia’s congressional delegation are all over the map in their reasons for supporting, but in most cases opposing, significant government reform — some more vehemently and bluntly than others.

“The poor have no chance, under the current system, to get the kind of care and follow-up they need. This House bill … is a historic step toward a new approach to health care in America that can quiet the fear associated with health care costs. It can relieve the significant financial stress on families, especially during this period where money is very tight, and provide coverage for millions of Americans who are currently uninsured or may have lost their jobs.”

— Congressman John Lewis, in a press release issued July 17, after the Ways and Means Committee passed America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

“What we’re talking about is a move toward socialism. … You’re going to have a socialist bureaucrat in the exam room between the doctor and the patient.”

— Congressman Phil Gingrey, at a July 7 forum on health care reform at George Washington University Hospital

“[Canada and Great Britain] don’t have the appreciation of life, as we do in our society, evidently. A lot of people are gonna die. This ‘government option’ that’s being touted as this panacea — the savior of allowing people to have quality health care at an affordable price — is gonna kill people.”

— Congressman Paul Broun, in a July 10 statement on the floor of the House

Sources: AJC.com, Office of Congressman John Lewis, Media Matters

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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The Georgia GOP gubernatorial primary is still a year away, but gubernatorial candidate and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is ahead of the pack when it comes to kissing up to conservatives.

“I am running to protect the business community in Georgia from Roy Barnes and his anti-business friends. I am running to protect Georgia farmers from Roy Barnes and his environmentalist wacko regulators. I am running to protect the traditional values Georgia holds dear from Roy Barnes and the liberals in Atlanta. … I am going to run a positive campaign. “

— Oxendine plays defense against current candidate and former Gov. Roy Barnes in a June 24 fundraising pitch to supporters. The Democratic nomination is still more than a year away.

“[If elected governor, I'll] make it so uncomfortable that Planned Parenthood is not going to be able to operate in this state. They’re going to start losing money, and we’re going to make it economically difficult for them. … Yes, they will be out of business in Georgia. They will leave the state of Georgia.”

— Oxendine in a YouTube video uploaded May 12

“When I see this and my other three kids, it reminds me of why it’s important that I run for governor, and why it’s important that we transform government.”

— A campaign video posted hours after the July 8 birth of Oxendine’s son, showing the candidate with his wife, who’s cradling their newborn in a hospital recovery room

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On June 23, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted to an affair with an Argentinian woman, following in a long line of less-than-faithful Southern politicos.

“It’s gonna hurt, and we’ll let the chips fall where they may. … The bottom line is this: I’ve been unfaithful to my wife. … I spent the last five days of my life crying in Argentina.”

— Sanford during a June 23 press conference

“There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them. … I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I’m … not proud of.”"

— Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich admits his infidelity in a 2007 radio interview with “Focus on the Family“

“I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. … You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself.”

— Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, in a 2008 statement about his affair

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Michael Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, was released May 20 from a federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. He will be completing the final two months of his 23-month dog-fighting sentence in his Hampton, Va., home.

“Without one single doubt, Vick’s skill level will return. Will a team be interested in bringing him in to play? That’s difficult to determine right now on two levels: public relations and football. … He must be willing to do whatever it takes to help a team win as he rebuilds his life and career.”

— NFL exec Mike Lombardi, from his May 18 entry on National Football Post

“He’s erratic throwing the ball because of his mechanics. … It’s not his feet or his arms, it’s his release. … But now that they’ve got all these spread offenses, the Wildcat they’re running, a guy like Michael could be tremendous.”

— Roger Theder, San Diego Chargers assistant coach, quoted May 17 in the AJC

“I think Michael is just like so many other guys that I have seen. … It’s a young man that made a mistake and is looking for a chance to recover and move forward.”

— Tony Dungy, former Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts head coach, to the AJC after meeting with Vick in Leavenworth

“We’re not interested in being part of a cynical ploy that’s nothing but public relations. … We believe that the behavior he has shown might very well be an indication of psychopathy and we’re asking for a brain scan and a thorough psychiatric evaluation.”

— PETA spokesperson Daphna Nachminovitch, on PETA’s rejection of Vick’s offer to participate in an advertisement for the group

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Gov. Sonny Perdue last week irked many fellow Republicans when he vetoed a bill that would have slashed the state capital gains tax. Critics warned the bill would have cost the cash-strapped state between $340 million and $1 billion in lost revenues.

“I’m scratching my head…If I were the governor, I would have said, ‘Where is that? Let me get my pen.’”

— House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, in the May 11 AJC

“Cutting capital gains taxes would have encouraged more investment into the state. It is a sad day when this type of legislation gets vetoed by a Republican governor.”

— State Insurance Commissioner and GOP gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine in a May 11 press release

“If Governor Perdue vetoes it, I hope legislators will consider overturning his veto. The JOBS Act could do a lot of good for Georgia.”

— David Raynor of the Georgia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business

“Republicans I talked to in the legislature are angry and demoralized.”

— Pro-growth, anti-tax Wall Street Journal columnist Stephen Moore, writing about Perdue’s veto

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On April 28, longtime Atlanta community advocate Phillip Rush died suddenly from a blood clot. His nonprofit work included fundraising for gay youth support programs and smart growth efforts. Rush was 55.

“He was about community empowerment — he lived for bringing diversity to the table. … That was his life.”

— Doug Carl, Rush’s close friend, in a May 1 AJC obituary

“What I loved about Phillip was that my impression is that he had come from privilege [and] for Phillip that was never an excuse not to do for other people and never, ever an excuse to stop learning. He was so interested to find out more about people, about how we relate to each other, about what might help and what won’t help.”

— Longtime activist Duncan Teague in an April 28 Southern Voice obituary

“The power of the individual voice is much more amazing than you might think.”

— Rush in a Nov. 2, 2007, SoVo article about providing services for gay seniors

(Courtesy the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta)

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Last Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss expressed concern over USDA deputy secretary nominee Kathleen Merrigan’s controversial past — as a proponent of organic farming. Since 1998, Chambliss’ campaigns have received more than $2.1 million from agriculture-related industries whose practices are not as environmentally friendly.

“I do have some concerns that in promoting your passion for organic and sustainable agriculture that you tear down other types of agriculture and those with another point of view. … [F]armers and ranchers are the biggest environmentalists we have in America because they make their living off the land.”

— Chambliss, speaking to Merrigan during her confirmation hearing

“These farmers and ranchers who represent the vast majority of agricultural production deserve a USDA that will fairly represent them and not put forward false choices.”

— A March 19 letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, signed by Chambliss

“Senator Chambliss has a stellar record when it comes to supporting American agriculture.”

— From a May 10, 2007, press release by the American Farm Bureau Federation, a national trade organization that awarded Chambliss its Golden Plow award

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Every year, Georgia lawmakers drop some rather eccentric bills in the hopper. Surprisingly, not all of them become law.

“…and upon successful [implantation] on the uterine wall, each blastocyst shall be allotted two (2) troy ounces of 18-karat gold bullion, to be held in trust by the mother or court-appointed agent…”

— Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-East Cobb, from the “Embryos and Ingots Act of 2009”

“…the Ascended, having no further claims upon [said automobile], may be deemed to have effectively transferred title to nearest remaining family member or other designee Left Behind …”

— Rep. James Mills, R-Gainesville, from the “Post-Tribulation Property Settlement Act”

“Whereas, saw palmetto has worked wonders for the prostate glands of many in this [elected body] … the General Assembly hereby orders the second week of April be declared ‘Saw Palmetto Week’ within the borders of this state.”

— Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus, from a self-explanatory resolution

“…this paragraph shall not apply to any person…who traps beaver upon the [public rights-of-way] … for the purpose of preventing, reducing, or stopping damage…resulting from beaver activity …”

— Sen. John Bulloch, R-Ochlocknee, from an actual bill to allow registered persons to trap beavers.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton

Several Republican state representatives on Thursday opposed a privileged resolution to make President Barack Obama an honorary member of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus. Members of the caucus called the move political, offensive and bizarre — the state House has passed “thousands” of honorary resolutions without objection, one lawmaker said.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with the color of his skin. It has to do with his policies being inconsistent with our core beliefs as Republicans.”

— State Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, and 2010 governor candidate, after stating that the legislation read as if the entire Legislature endorsed the president.

“We pass [other] resolutions about people we know nothing about. It’s a matter of respecting the office.”

— State Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta

“In my 35 years I’ve seen many resolutions. And I’ve never seen this type of action taken on the floor of the House. Now there’s a dark cloud over Georgia. And somebody has to remove it. This is a political act.”

— State Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Macon, the Black Caucus’ national chairman, who had planned to deliver the resolution to Obama at the White House on March 20.

(Courtesy House Communications)

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Sen. Preston Smith

The Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act, which passed the state Senate last week, would outlaw the creation of human embryos for the purposes of stem cell research linked to treating Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative neurological disorders.

“I am absolutely opposed to creating embryos to cure a disease.”

— Gov. Sonny Perdue, quoted March 10 by the Associated Press

“Human cloning efforts could possibly lead to embryo farms, shades of movies such as The Island, where humans are cloned for their body parts.”

— Daniel Becker, president of Georgia Right to Life, in a March 10 AJC op-ed

“I don’t believe in the destruction of human life in the interests of science. … I don’t think it was right when Dr. [Josef] Mengele did it.”

— State Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, during the Senate debate

“At exactly the time the president of the United States has said he’s putting science above politics, we’re sending the unmistakable message that Georgia is anti-science.”

— State Sen. David Adelman, D-Decatur, during the Senate debate

(Photo courtesy Sen. Preston Smith)

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Hudgens

State lawmakers are fearing another Nadya “Octomom” Suleman, the California single mom who recently birthed octuplets — as well as six other children — through in-vitro fertilization. As a result, legislators have introduced a controversial bill regulating fertility treatments. It reportedly won’t go anywhere this session.

“The taxpayers are going to have to fund the 14 children [Nadya Suleman] has. I don’t want that to happen in Georgia.”

— Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, in the March 3 Wall Street Journal.

“It’s the right of the person who has gone through this procedure to decide what they can do with those embryos, not their doctor, and certainly not the government.”

— Barbara Collura of Resolve, a national infertility association, in the March 3 WSJ.

“One crazy woman out of a population of 300 million. Can we say overkill?”

— A comment by “grouse” in response to a March 4 Augusta Chronicle article.

(Courtesy Senate Press Office)

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Millard Fuller, a deeply religious and successful entrepreneur who gave up his fortune to found Habitat for Humanity International, died unexpectedly last week near his home in Americus at the age of 74. The organization has built more than 300,000 homes for poor people across the world.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Millard Fuller has literally revolutionized the concept of philanthropy.”

—Bill Clinton in 1996, after awarding Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

“It’s not your blue blood, your pedigree or your college degree. It’s what you do with your life that counts.”

— Fuller to Time, in a 1989 profile.

“Millard would not want people to mourn his death. He would be more interested in having people put on a tool belt and build a house for people in need.”

— Fuller’s wife Linda, to the Associated Press.

(Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity International)

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Rush disses Obama. Obama disses Rush. Gingrey disses Rush. Gingrey begs Rush for forgiveness.

Rep. Phil Gingrey

“I would be honored if the drive-by media headlined me all day long: ‘Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.’ Somebody’s gotta say it.”

—    Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on his Jan. 16 show

“You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.”

—    Pres. Barack Obama to GOP leaders on Jan. 23

“It’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh … to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.”

—    U.S Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, as quoted in a Jan. 27 Politico.com article about criticism of Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

“I clearly ended up putting my foot in my mouth … and I just wanted to tell you, Rush, that I regret those stupid comments.”

—    Part of Gingrey’s lengthy apology on Limbaugh’s Jan. 28 radio show

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A Jan. 7 killing and armed robbery at the Standard Food and Spirits sparked community outcry — and questions over who’s to blame for a rise in Atlanta crime.

“The idea that we have a city where this kind of violence can happen is completely unacceptable. … What we have seen is cuts [in police hours] made [by Mayor Shirley Franklin] without consultation and collaboration.”

— Atlanta Councilmember Mary Norwood, who attended a Thursday morning vigil for victim John Henderson, in a Jan. 8 AJC article.

“I proposed a modest tax increase [in early 2008] dedicated to public safety and the Council chose to roll back taxes in spite of our warnings. … [Norwood] has never sought to discuss the budget recommendations with me and I find her remarks today to be ludicrous and irresponsible.”

— Franklin’s response to Norwood, in a Jan. 8 press release.

“i would be happy to pay more taxes for a safer community. but our family can and will leave if the city doesn’t address this problem.”

— Adam Bartolett, in a post on the Atlantans Together Against Crime and Cutbacks’ Facebook page.

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Clayton County Chairman Eldrin Bell

Clayton County commissioners approved a developer’s request to relocate 311 graves from a historic African-American cemetery next to Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport. On Dec. 16, opponents held a press conference to criticize the decision.

“I’ve seen my daddy dig many graves back there. He hand-dug those graves, so I know where they are.”

— Betty Bowden, who says she has ancestors in the cemetery, in the Dec. 18 Clayton Daily News.

“Some of these developers will put cement over their mama.”

— John Evans of Operation LEAD, an anti-discrimination group, in the Dec. 16 AJC.

“The person who wants to move these graves has met the standards of the state, as well as the board…I have invited the families to monitor [the transfer of the grave sites] as it takes place.”

— Clayton Chairman Eldrin Bell in the Dec. 18 Clayton Daily News.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Last Tuesday, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones presided over his final commission meeting. Love him or hate him, he’s steered the county through difficult times. He’s said some memorable things, too.

Vernon Jones

“I’ve been able to raise a lot of money without the endorsements from the losers in the Democratic party.”
— Jones describing his U.S. Senate campaign fundraising efforts to the AJC in April.

“There’s nothing illegal about a menage a trois.”
— Jones quoted in an April 2, 2008, CL column in reference to a 2005 rape allegation. He was not charged in the incident.

“[State lawmakers] don’t have any idea about local control. And they’re about as clueless as a pigeon with an iPod.”
— Jones speaking to CL on Nov. 4 about the Legislature’s unwillingness to recognize local government’s jurisdiction.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Outgoing Dekalb County CEO Vernon Jones and his incoming replacement, county Commissioner Burrell Ellis, have each publicly accused the other of mishandling the transition process.

“I have nothing but love for Commissioner Ellis, but due to the complaints from employees and appointed citizens, I made it clear to him and Kevin Ross they could not harass or threaten people who they suspect didn’t vote for Commissioner Ellis; and the meeting ended.”

-Jones, in a November 14 AJC story, explaining why he kicked Ellis’s transition team out of his office. Ellis denies the accusation and says Jones has not produced a single example of alleged harassment or threats.

“It appears to me that he’s just throwing a tantrum because he’s a lame duck with nowhere to go.”

-Ellis, in the same story. He accuses Jones of trying to keep Ellis’s team from reviewing county budget and management records.

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U.S. Senate Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley released four ads last week blasting Saxby Chambliss, the Republican incumbent.

“Saxby Chambliss spends your money like a drunken sailor — $3 million for golf lessons, $110 million to help Gallo wines and Sunkist advertise… Maybe your money would be safer with a drunken sailor. No offense to drunken sailors.”

— The first of Buckley’s four radio ads

“Have you been to the emergency room lately? Did you bring an interpreter? Thank you. Do you know what a fiscal conservative is? Neither does Saxby.”

— The third Buckley ad, narrated by an angry male

“Who the hell is paying him?/It’s a long list so listen in./Big law lobbyists and big oil, too/He ain’t concerned what’s good for you/Illegal immigrants at my door./Saxby says make room for more.”

— Buckley ad with a military-style cadence

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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