Roy Barnes and Dan Cox

The Former Governor Roy Barnes having a chuckle with Dan Cox, the future Former Director of the Marietta Museum of History in the museum.. Dan retired about a year later.

Governor's Mansion and Better Half

Georgia's First Lady and docent Sandra Deal

Several  years ago we paid the Nathan Deal family of East Paces Road in Atlanta a visit.

Actually, it was the annual Governor Mansion’s Christmas Opened House.  The first room was loaded with different types of Christmas Trees and decorations.  In the middle of it all was a very well-informed docent, which is also Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal.

She was very informative.  I wondered if I should have  tipped her.

All through the mansion were Christmas Decorations and different groups caroling. 

Nice. 

Plains, Georgia, November 1976

Plains Depot

In November 1976 Jimmy Carter won the presidential election.  Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's home is Plains, Georgia, where he ran his family business, a peanut warehouse.

We wanted to see some current history.   Also in November 1976, the weekend after the election we drove to Plains.  This is what we saw:

Some of these pictures were selected for the Arcadia Book JIMMY CARTER IN PLAINS, THE PRESIDENTIAL HOMETOWN by Robert Bucellato.

Loading ramp at Train Depot

Main shopping strip, downtown Plains

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Church

Jimmy Carter's mother, "Miss Lillian"

Miss Lillian appeared to be paranoid over the being touched by other humans.  She would be very congenial until someone reached out to shake hands or hug her, then she would quickly tell them to "not!"  She was a nurse and the way germs traveled probably "rubbed" off on her.

Carter Peanut Warehouse

Billy Carter 

Is Billy Carter glaring at the Paparazzi?  No, just me.

Billy Carter's Service Station

Beyond this gate was probably Jimmy Rosalynn Carter's home

Time Changes or Time Out*

On NPR yesterday evening I heard a talk, or a report, on the Republican Party having a winter meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Wasn't Charlotte where they had their last convention?  They don't like change do they?

And that is what the meeting was about; discussing  how they must change to keep up with today's changing world.  With the middle age white executive becoming less powerful  and the diverse becoming more closely to a majority  they need to change, they all agreed.

A reporter asked one party leader does that mean they are going to change their outlook, offically, on gay rights, conservatism spending, and so on.  The leader more or less said, "Absolutely not!  But we will be more polite and pretend to listen to opposing views."

*The title is strickly a lure for fans googling Dave Brubeck's stuff.

I'm Confused

Locally a gun shop owner offered a free chance to a shotgun for those who voted.  I suppose you would have to had furnish proof you voted.  After you cast your ballot in Georgia you are given a stickum that has a Georgia Peach on it and says something like "I voted!"

The shop owner had two shotguns chances for those who voted.  He picked two and the last I heard no one has stepped forward to claim their shotgun.  Which is understandable, that happens all the time, like the lady discovered she had a winning lottery ticket onlly days or a day before the time limit expired.

What confuses me is why the gunshop owner offered such a deal.  I think probably the person who would want a shotgun would mostly likely vote against Obama.

Follow me so far?

Obama is good for gun sales.  Although Obama has not said one thing to insinuate or hint he is going to outlaw gun sales paranoid people want to stock up.  They think he has it on his agenda.  Nobody has went broke over estimating the paranoida of the American public.

Gun sales has shot way up since Obama became president.

So, realistically, shouldn't the gunshop  owner have done somethilng to help Obama be reelected to keep those sales coming in?

But aside from that, it is good the gunshop owner gave people a reason to get involved in civic affairs and vote.

Like I said, I'm confused.

What Business Is It Of Congress?

Ex-CIA Director General David Patraeus's affair has stirred up congress.  They want to know why they were not told.  They probably want to know the details and see any pictures taken too.

As I see it, that was General Patraeus's privae affair (literally) and is nobody's business but his, his mistress(es), and his immediate family.  Shouldn't congress get their mind out of the dirt and get back to more important matters, like balance the budget?

What if James Bond was not part of the British Secret Service but a CIA Agent instead.  Everybody knows Bond has plenty of affairs while working on a case.  Would congress want to know all about them too? 

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing!  What is amazing is not that Obama won.  He did not win by a landslide.  It was a close race.  I am right in the middle of Repulican Land and the belief around here was that Romney was in there;  he was going to wipe the floors with Obama.  Romeny would not doubt be the next president.  What is amazing they thought Romney had the election with no problem.

I would have been suprised on who ever won.  It was too close to predict.  But they did. 

I think they deciphered things they wanted to hear as facts.  Did they watch too much FOX NEWS?

Every Vote Counts! Vote!

If you live in Georgia you might have your doubts.  Even though the surveys in Georgia show Obama and Romney are running a fairly close race, something like 45 for Obama and 55 for Romney, I think if the election will reflect that, if I am not mistaken Romeny will walk away with all the electoria votes.  Why?  Because Georgia is one of the states that the winner takes all.  That is a stupid law.

HOWEVER!  If you voted for Obama although it might not officially count it will count in the survey polls - the pulse of the public polls.  It it is 45 to 55 the politicans, if they are smart, will realize the Republicans do not have a mandate to rule, from the people or the Divine.  I think the next time they should compromise some to get favored reactions from the people who voted liberally in the previous election.  They are greedy, they want everybody's vote

By the way, many communities are arming themselves and gated communities are locking in gates in fear of the masses who will lose will stampede.  tch tch.
Nobody ever went broke over estimating the fears and paranoida of the American public.

Vote today!  Regardless of how you vote, you need to get your opinion counted.

Ex-Senator Arlen Specter Died Yesterday

This morning on NPR I heard a commentator review his notes on the late Senator Arlen Specter.

Specter spent 30 plus years as Republican Senator of Pennsylvania.   He voted his convictions more than loyalty to his party.  He voted for Obama's Stimulas Package which more or less ended his political career.

He said it was needed just like FDR's work packages were needed during the depression.

He said he would support his party when he could, but he had to vote his concious also.

It is a shame we have allowed partisan politics to rule.

So Who Won The VP Debate?

I think, again, it is according to which side you are on.  I think when Joe Biden made a good point, and if you for him, you would think WHAMO!  On the other hand, when Paul Ryan made a good point you would ball your fist up and jump like a cheerleader, maybe even do a cartwheel or a few hand springs.

Although, we must be truthful with ourselves and remember each is only a puppet for their boss.  Also, we should keep in mind that one of these men is only a heartbeat away from being the President.

Keeping the above paragraph in mind, I think Joe should have asked Paul what did he think about John Galt.

I have to hand it to both of them.  Their debate was more exciting than their bosses.

If Romney is Elected

If Elected Romey Will Fire BIG BIRD! OH NO!

During the 1st Presidental Debate last night Mitt Romney said he likes Big Bird but he said he would have to ask himself is Public Television worth borrowing money from China for?

If the same non-productive congresspeople are still there if Mitt takes office will he look at them and ask "I like you but...".

GOP and Voter Fraud Clailms

Remember not long ago the Republicans, being civic minded like they are, were concerned about voters fraud and wanted everybody to have a picture identification card to prove they are who they say they are on election day?

Isn't that honest and fair of them of trying to do what is right - I mean really RIGHT!

Here are some facts I heard:  The thousands of people who are unlikely to have an idenfication card are those who can't afford a car, so need no drivers license.  These people  are more likely to vote the Democratic ticket.

I think some agency did do research on checking out voters fraud and out of thousands or millions of people they checked, they found 7 frauulent voters.

What the picture identification will mean that thousands of pro-Democratic voters will be de-franchised from voting with only 7 actually frauds.

WAIT!  More voter fraud evidence has just been uncovered:

http://www.minnpost.com/christian-science-monitor/2012/10/potential-voter-registration-fraud-florida-gop-s-own-acorn-scandal


And it was found in the Republicans' own back yard.  Har-dee Har har har!

I See What I See