This got kinda buried in all of the usually meaningless resolutions that get passed in the Georgia House of Representatives, but, as the Athens Inbox noted in February, Winterville native Thomas Harrold is being considered to serve as President Obama's ambassador to Germany. Of course, what should be a rather innocent resolution from the state legislature recommending the president choose a local boy done good is now all tangled up in politics.
The defeat of a resolution honoring President Obama and making him an honorary member of the Georgia Black Caucus by House Republicans in March, and its inability to get some type of compromise passed, has put Harrold's resolution in jeopardy.
This Atlanta Business Chronicle story offers a nice profile of Harrold for those interested.
I'm still trying to understand how Georgia Republicans, who apparently disagree so vehemently with the president, apparently feel it's perfectly legitimate to represent citizens of this state to serve under him.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Embrace the bland!
How quickly a promising thing can turn so tragically awful.
While neither Frank Haith or Oliver Purnell could do worse than the one-man train wreck that was Dennis Felton, it's hard to argue with a straight face they could greatly enhance Georgia's men's basketball program.
While neither Frank Haith or Oliver Purnell could do worse than the one-man train wreck that was Dennis Felton, it's hard to argue with a straight face they could greatly enhance Georgia's men's basketball program.
Couple of things
- It seems likely that David Poythress misunderstood Athens-Clarke County District One Commissioner Doug Lowry, particularly as Clarke County Board of Education member John Knight tells me no request for supplementary funding has been made.
- Shocked, I tell you. An unresponsive administration? A school board focused on winning rather than addressing real issues? Stunning. It's almost as if one can sense a pattern ...
- I haven't yet weighed in on this yet, but it does seem rather silly that this student group is trying to make a straight-faced argument that they weren't intending on copying Hairy Dawg. Simply because something is poorly drawn doesn't mean the intent to develop a representation of that symbol didn't exist.
- Any takers on the size of the crowd? Maybe 25 people? All with 'Fair Tax' stickers on the Chevy Silverados?
- Shocked, I tell you. An unresponsive administration? A school board focused on winning rather than addressing real issues? Stunning. It's almost as if one can sense a pattern ...
- I haven't yet weighed in on this yet, but it does seem rather silly that this student group is trying to make a straight-faced argument that they weren't intending on copying Hairy Dawg. Simply because something is poorly drawn doesn't mean the intent to develop a representation of that symbol didn't exist.
- Any takers on the size of the crowd? Maybe 25 people? All with 'Fair Tax' stickers on the Chevy Silverados?
No request from Clarke BOE
Clarke County Board of Education member John Knight said, to his knowledge, there has been no request of funding or discussion of a request for supplementary funding from the Athens-Clarke County Commission ...
We are doing what we have to do to handle the drastic education cuts that (Gov. Sonny) Purdue has mandated, and no request of funds has been or will be made.
Knight, who is chairing a finance committee meeting for the Clarke County BOE today at 5:30 p.m., said the mandated cuts from the state have dramatically affected their services, noting that they're fearing having to face a cut of 10 to 15 percent in the coming year. Still, as he pointed out, there isn't any plan to seek support from the commission.
We are doing what we have to do to handle the drastic education cuts that (Gov. Sonny) Purdue has mandated, and no request of funds has been or will be made.
Knight, who is chairing a finance committee meeting for the Clarke County BOE today at 5:30 p.m., said the mandated cuts from the state have dramatically affected their services, noting that they're fearing having to face a cut of 10 to 15 percent in the coming year. Still, as he pointed out, there isn't any plan to seek support from the commission.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mistaken conversations
A few folks familiar with the conversation between David Poythress, one of two declared Democratic candidates for governor, and Athens-Clarke County District One Commissioner Doug Lowry have reaffirmed some initial perceptions.
Namely that Lowry discussed the struggles the local governments were having with regard to meeting their funding needs, and that he mentioned that the Clarke County Board of Education was facing the same challenges ... and that a large reason for these challenges stemmed from depleted support from the state government.
There was, however, no discussion of a request by the Clarke County BOE for supplementary funding and there is no desire by the Athens-Clarke County government to provide said funding. Likewise, everyone I've spoken with has suggested that such a transfer probably isn't even allowable based on the existing law.
Poythress apparently misunderstood Lowry's discussion and/or took it out of context.
Namely that Lowry discussed the struggles the local governments were having with regard to meeting their funding needs, and that he mentioned that the Clarke County Board of Education was facing the same challenges ... and that a large reason for these challenges stemmed from depleted support from the state government.
There was, however, no discussion of a request by the Clarke County BOE for supplementary funding and there is no desire by the Athens-Clarke County government to provide said funding. Likewise, everyone I've spoken with has suggested that such a transfer probably isn't even allowable based on the existing law.
Poythress apparently misunderstood Lowry's discussion and/or took it out of context.
That would make sense
I should have thought of this sooner, but Blake says that rumors are circulating that Sen. Bill Cowsert might seek the Attorney General's seat as Thurbert Baker has opted to seek the nomination for governor.
Cowsert would probably be in a crowded Republican primary, and he'd square off against, more than likely, Rep. Rob Teilhet.
It would be a battle of the rising stars!
It would also open up the District 46 seat, which would be fun to watch. The odds are that a Republican from Walton County or Oconee County would secure the nomination, which might make it marginally more reachable for a Democrat. It's still a tough race for Democrats to capture, even without the popular Cowsert in the mix.
Cowsert would probably be in a crowded Republican primary, and he'd square off against, more than likely, Rep. Rob Teilhet.
It would be a battle of the rising stars!
It would also open up the District 46 seat, which would be fun to watch. The odds are that a Republican from Walton County or Oconee County would secure the nomination, which might make it marginally more reachable for a Democrat. It's still a tough race for Democrats to capture, even without the popular Cowsert in the mix.
Random sports roundup
- I hope I'm completely off-base on this thing, but I've got a feeling that the search for Georgia's next head coach for the men's basketball program is going to get pretty embarassing. First, you've got a successful coach with SEC ties turning down your offer of $7 million more, brand new training facilities and a recruiting hotbed just waiting to be tapped into, and now it seems that the rest of the candidates are hedging their bets ... particularly with the Memphis job remaining open.
- I've got a suggestion for Denver ... trade Jay Cutler to Detroit for the No. 1 draft pick, take Matthew Stafford and see if the John Elway comparisons hold up.
- As I noted on my Facebook status last week, I really haven't followed much of the NCAA Tournament. I just haven't gotten into college basketball this year, probably because Georgia was so awful this year. Still, Tim talked me into watching Villanova-Pittsburgh, which was one of the better games I've seen in a while. My allegiance to North Carolina holds though, and I'm banking on the Tar Heels this weekend.
- And, of course, posting will get kinda light next week as I make my annual trek to Augusta for The Masters. Granted Tiger Woods's win last week at Bay Hill was amazing, but I haven't decided who I should put my money on. I think Phil Mickelson's playing the best, but I don't want to let my personal bias get in the way. I've also got a good feeling about Camilo Villegas, and I can't rationalize it.
- I've got a suggestion for Denver ... trade Jay Cutler to Detroit for the No. 1 draft pick, take Matthew Stafford and see if the John Elway comparisons hold up.
- As I noted on my Facebook status last week, I really haven't followed much of the NCAA Tournament. I just haven't gotten into college basketball this year, probably because Georgia was so awful this year. Still, Tim talked me into watching Villanova-Pittsburgh, which was one of the better games I've seen in a while. My allegiance to North Carolina holds though, and I'm banking on the Tar Heels this weekend.
- And, of course, posting will get kinda light next week as I make my annual trek to Augusta for The Masters. Granted Tiger Woods's win last week at Bay Hill was amazing, but I haven't decided who I should put my money on. I think Phil Mickelson's playing the best, but I don't want to let my personal bias get in the way. I've also got a good feeling about Camilo Villegas, and I can't rationalize it.
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