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Our friends at American News Project filmed a video in which they provide a rundown of yesterday’s John McCain fund-raiser in Atlanta — you know, the one former Christian Coalition president Ralph Reed tried to hype, then backed away from. (Reed didn’t attend the event.)
Follow the jump to view the video.
OBAMA’S SECRET: The Democratic presidential nominee has picked a running mate. But he’s not gonna tell you who it is.
NO-SHOW REED: After hyping John McCain in anticipation of last night’s Atlanta fund-raiser (and after the GOP candidate allegedly told him ‘no thanks’), baby-faced former Christian Coalition prez Ralph Reed decides not to grace the event with his presence.
COUNCIL HEARTS TADS: Late last night, Atlanta City Council green-lighted controversial Tax Allocation District funding for the $125 million Center for Civil & Human Rights museum and the multi-billion-dollar Beltline transit-and-trails project. More than $200 million was approved — which marks the first infusion of government funds for the Beltline.
NO PRESSURE: The Georgia Bulldogs are the top-ranked college football team this year. It’s the first time the UGA team has started a season with the top ranking. Last year, the Dogs finished No. 2.
DESPERATE DEPOT: Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc. expects profits to tumble 24 percent in this weakened housing market year. Still, the world’s largest home-improvement company reported unexpectedly high profits this quarter.
SICK VITAMINS: A Marietta man claims his daily vitamin caused his hair and fingernails to fall out. Apparently, he’s not the only one.
— A year ago, Amy Morton was in Iowa campaigning for John Edwards. On Georgia Women Vote, she recounts her trip and a tender moment with Elizabeth Edwards.
— Speaking of disgraced political types, who gave Ralph Reed a ticket back into the party? ATLmalcontent looks at John McCain’s association with Reed and smells a “sell-out.”
— The Atlanta PD plans to use undercover officers in the ever-continuing quest to get rid of panhandling downtown. At Terminal Station, B King wonders if that is the wisest use of manpower although he agrees something has to be done about the situation.
— Dave gives his Sunday AJC a final read at Rather Than Working and shares the email he sent to Julia Wallace, the paper’s editor. In short, he’s disappointed with the cutbacks and isn’t renewing subscription.
— Over at Reporter-Cub, there’s a break from the usual snarkiness for an essay on how our inner-child helps define us as adults.
— And finally, Ashley at Random Atlanta has discovered just how rough times are: God is selling real estate. Ouch.
— Georgia has its own Montauk Monster, and it’s called, simply, Bigfoot. Details will be unveiled Friday, so says Peach Pundit.
— Despite evidence to the contrary, Georgia Politics Unfiltered claims, “There is no sex in the courtrooms of Cobb County Superior Court (or the judge’s chambers for that matter).” Does lesbian sex count?
— Georgia Politics Unfiltered also updates a post from yesterday that hyped today’s political forecast from CQ Politics. CQ’s shocking revelation: In the presidential election, Georgia is “Republican Favored”!
— According to Lucid Idiocy, the food crisis is over. Gov. Sonny Perdue supports biofuels. And the Montauk Monster was spotted drinking margaritas at the Jekyll Island Club. (OK, I made that last one up.)
— Georgia On My Mind has posted photos of the ancient Etowah Indian Mounds. No apparent news there, seeing as how they were built nearly 1,100 years ago. They’re real purty, though.
— Media Matters‘ SpaceyG says she isn’t all that bummed about waking up with John McCain. Political Insider’s Jim Galloway says McCain isn’t all all thrilled about waking up with Ralph Reed. No word on who John Edwards is waking up with.
RALPH REED AT ATLANTA PRESS CLUB: I swear that it’s perfectly Christian to take millions from one casino to lobby against a competing casino.
Ralph Reed is a long-time master of fiction. What J.K. Rowling has done for juvenile wizard stories, Reed has done for the myth that the Republican Party is a beacon of Christian decency. Despite his well earned reputation as a masterful teller of tales, it’s only recently that the Duluth political consultant has turned his attention to novels.
Reed’s new book, Dark Horse, is a “political thriller” about a fictional presidential campaign featuring a black Democratic candidate, a loudmouthed minister and an assassination. Discussing the book at the Atlanta Press Club last Thursday, Reed said any parallels to the actual 2008 campaign are coincidental since he started the book years ago.
Asked about this year’s campaign, Reed said if the election is about style that Obama will win, but if it’s about substance that McCain will win. Never mind polls that show voters consistently agree more often with Democrats on policy issues. Once a tale-teller, always a tale-teller.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Disgraced right-wingers don’t die, they just write books.
Ralph Reed, who became the first executive director of the Christian Coalition and used it to become a national player in Republican politics, has taken a cue from Newt Gingrich and turned to fiction.
Reed, who was defeated in the Republican primary two years ago by Casey Cagle in his quest to become Georgia’s lieutenant governor, has written a political thriller called Dark Horse that comes out tomorrow.
Thumbing through the book, it’s not as bad as I’d expected although it’s certainly no masterpiece. And it’s not exactly family values-friendly. Take this passage, which appears to reveal that Reed has a fetish for women of color:
“G.G. Hoterman and Stephen Fox followed Jeffrey Gabel’s African-American executive assistant as she walked down the hallway. Her hips swayed rhythmically in her designer dress, which was a tad short even by L.A. standards; her long legs were mesmerizing as they moved back and forth in four-inch heels.”
The book’s page on amazon.com features blurbs from the usual suspects: Karl Rove, Sean Hannity and Robert Novak. Says Rove:
“Ralph Reed has written a lively novel that crackles with real-life political drama. Dark Horse is a page-turner that combines an insider’s knowledge of politics with the suspense of a thriller. You won’t be able to put it down.”
Well, I did put it down. Several times. And once to read CL’s award-winning graphic cartoon, “The Book of Ralph.”
Just to help separate fact from fiction.
Ralph “Baby Jesus” Reed has written a novel.
Dark Horse is a “political thriller” that follows a fictional presidential campaign through a brutal primary, a muddled general election, an assassination and war with them dang Eye-ray-knee-unz.
Dark Horse comes out on June 3 in hardcover, eBook, and stone tablet, in English and Aramaic. Reserve your copy now, though I’m sure it won’t be as good The Book of Ralph, available for free right here.
