Righteous indignation

Cross-posted at Safe As Houses.

This is absolute insanity.

Seriously, I want to know what the new publisher has on J.T. because it must be really good to result in one of my former trusted colleagues and valued mentors penning some of the most ridiculous, poorly articulated and factually inaccurate editorials that I've ever seen. Because since that guy showed up, we've seen praise of Rep. Paul Broun's faux stimulus giveaway and an obsession with Congressional procedures, often times at the expense of the usual constructive dialogue on local affairs that I've come to appreciate from J.T.

Listen, I've got little love for Rep. Keith Heard. I don't think he's a terribly effective legislator, isn't awfully responsive to his constituents and his support of The Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme is justification enough for a primary challenge. But, I'm also capable of enough rational thought to recognize that, at times, the guy is right.

The line of argument in the Athens Banner-Herald, it seems, isn't capable of it ....

However, the fact some in the House opted for a more obstructionist course doesn't absolve Heard of blame in this sad little episode. Heard either knew, or should have known, that his resolution possibly might provoke a reaction in the full House, particularly insofar as it presumed to ascribe the perfectly legitimate sentiments of the black caucus - and, very possibly, any number of other legislators - to the entire body.

In short, for Heard and like-minded House members to throw a political bomb, and then display outrage at its clearly foreseeable explosion, is the height of disingenuousness and pointless political opportunism.

I mean, what in the hell are you talking about? What planet have you arrived from? Do they have politics there?

Are you familiar with the concept of resolutions?

Somehow this editorial managed to label a resolution honoring the President of the United States a 'political stunt' ... which is a head-scratcher for me. Somehow the obstruction in the Georgia House of Representatives cooked up by a group of Republicans so desperate to avoid actual governance is Heard's fault. Somehow this opposition's deliberate delay and subsequent defeat of the resolution, something unprecedented in the Georgia House, is Heard's fault (remember that the same body, in 2005, with overwhelming support from the Legislative Black Caucus, passed a resolution honoring President George W. Bush for his response to Hurricane Katrina). Somehow introducing a resolution honoring a president with a 70 percent approval rating is politically dangerous because it might 'provoke a reaction.'

Obviously, then, since a resolution is a political stunt, the ABH must be furious over the 732 other resolutions that have passed this legislative session.

Where was the outrage over H.R. 113 that honoring the work of the Hall County Chamber of Commerce CEO? Why wasn't the ABH up in arms over H.R. 43 offered by Rep. Bob Smith that commended former Oconee County Commissioner Don Norris since, arguably, since he's a conservative and that should surely anger progressives?

Or, for that matter, why the silence on the Georgia Power Ponzi Scheme? As I noted earlier, if you're going to get all high and mighty over Heard offering one of the hundreds of resolutions that get approved with no discussion - because, as the editorial argues, he should be focused in like a laser beam on our state's challenges - then why no focused criticism on his support of that bill?

The only bomb-throwing going on these days is from the ABH's editorial pages, though, it seems, most of what they like to toss as of late are duds.