Free-For-All Friday 1/22/09
Decatur Metro | January 22, 2010Use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week.
Comments unofficially close on Monday.
Use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week.
Comments unofficially close on Monday.
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rebecca r wrote in this noodle-scratcher to kick-off FFAF…
“can anyone tell me if it’s standard practice or something weird for a restaurant
not to give change below a quarter? this happened to me recently at local
decatur restaurant, and the waiter told me they didn’t keep anything less than a
quarter in their change drawer …. subsequently, some people in my group
didn’t get change (however minor) while others, who might have been owed say, 90
cents, received a dollar instead …. this is after tip, and everything …”
I support that practice, so long as it is disclosed…
Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I hate walking around with change in my pockets.
I am pretty sure that that is illegal. Even though the customer may benefit when the place rounds up, any time they round your change down they are charging higher than the advertised price (against the rules) and presumably not paying sales tax on that additional revenue, even if it’s just a few cents.
This is completely bizarre.
I was a waitress, bartender and restaurant manager for a decade and I have never heard of such a thing. I’d say it’s the waiter being lazy and I would call the manager before someone gets really mad at the restaurant.
Speaking of odd restaurant practices in Decatur, why does Taqueria del Sol not let people wait for a patio table…after they’ve waited in line to order? I wouldn’t want to sit next to those smelly bathrooms either.
TdS, just let them wait for the outside table if they want and don’t make us all uncomfortable by engaging in an argument with them! Those TdS people seem so grumpy and unhappy all the time, and maybe it’s because of these weird policies they have to enforce.
Here’s my gripe. How come so many drivers ignore the rules of a 4-way stop, especially at the intersection of Oakview and East Lake in Oakhurst. I can’t tell you how many times drivers have bolted out in front of me when it’s not their turn or just totally ignore the stop sign completely and just plow through that intersection. I’ve lived in Oakhurst for 11 years and the problem is getting MUCH worse. How about a traffic light or even just a flashing yellow/red light there, or does a pedestrian have to be hit and killed before that can happen?
Thank you! MARTA buses are the worst at the intersection. Regular drivers are nearly as bad.
I agree, it’s terrible there – especially at night. Also, the fence at the house on Oakview when turning of Maxwell is terrible as well. You have to move your car really slow and almost place it in the street to turn.
The one at the green house? In front?
What about when people turn the 4-way stop there @ E Lake and Oakview into an 8-way stop by pulling along to the right of you if you don’t IMMEDIATELY turn on your turn signal to indicate that you’re turning? I have to give those folks a little or a lotta horn, depending on how my day has gone…
That is the WORST interssection in all of Decatur!
Hmmm.. perhaps a vote is necessary. I think the worst intersection in Decatur (as far as potential fatalities are concerned) is at Church and Forkner/Medlock. At least half the time, someone runs the light on Church, even with the recent narrowing of the street a little further towards Decatur. One literally has to sit at the light and wait until everyone is finished running it before proceeding. Now, intersections that are just a pain (I’m not, in the least, saying the one in Oakhurst is just a pain) are a different matter.
Medlock/Forkner & Church is very dangerous indeed! Locals on Medlock do know to pause before proceeding when the light turns green. I continually see drivers on Church run that light like it’s not even there! It’s amazing that there hasn’t been a serious accident there…
On another note, coming from Medlock through the big 6 way Scott/L’ville – N. Dec – Medlock intersection, I’m amazed at how many people ignore Medlock and turn right on red from Scott/L’ville onto N. Dec.
Any left off of Scott Blvd. onto a residential street except at the light at Coventry. Cars behind you act like they have the right to go 60 miles an hour in the left lane even though you clearly have your left signal on while you wait for the oncoming traffic to clear so you can turn.
My vote is for the weird intersection between College and Howard near the Friends Church. Between the RR tracks, the confusing curve on Howard and the Y-shaped crossing, it is a frustrating place to navigate.
That IS a crazy intersection, and I live around the corner.
What also gripes me is that people drive down Adair like it’s a main roadway. It’s a residential, cut-through street folks. With stop signs. And children playing, and puppies. And not enough room for two cars to pass. Slow down, especially when folks are backing out of their driveway.
Worst intersection is dependent on which one you have to experience the most and whether your in a car or bike or pedestrian. I agree the one at E. Lake and Oakview is bad. Also, the one near the Friends chuch. Church and Commerce is bad on foot due to the turning lanes. As is Clairemont and Commerce – mostly because the through traffice is moving at 65 mph or higher. Most drivers cruise through the right turn without even looking for pedestrians. Scott and N. Decatur is bad too. McDonough and College may be the worst for cyclists and pedestrians, though.
Hey, check this out:
http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story.aspx?storyid=140017
Remember boys and girls, keep your grades up! or the hammer comes down.
Where should we go for a special dinner tonight- it’s a group of 8 and includes a child
What about Leon’s? I was there last night with some friends and there was at least one group with a baby in a high chair. The have a few big booths that I think could hold 8. And my food and beer were fabulous!
you might want to try a place that takes reservations unless you’re getting there very early. you might be waiting a long time on a weekend night at someplace like leon’s that doesn’t take reservations. maybe something like watershed, feast, etc. we got burned last weekend trying to walk in with a group of 6 in a couple of places w/ no reservation.
What about the new Irish pub on the square they have a booth that is very enclosed and kids are very welcome.
Well the new sirens just got tested for the first time.
Color me unimpressed. The first spin up sounds awesome, it does a great job of stirring up that feeling of impending doom. And then it just kinda plateau’s into a boring single tone that changes only a fraction as the horn rotates. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being bad, 10 being perfect:
Loudness: 10
Spin up: 10
Primary sound: 3
Spin down: 7
Announcements: 0 (No “this is only a test?”)
Compared to Agnes Scott’s siren:
Loudness: 5
Spin up: 9
Primary sound: 8
Spin down: 9
Announcements: 10 (when you can hear them)
i missed the spin-up and drove into my n’hood with the long monotone sound going off. i actually didn’t notice it for awhile b/c it was so monotone and wondered how effective it would be vs. the up and down classic wailing of the agnes scott alarm.
when i got out of my car it was deafening though i must say. i just wonder if i’m in my house asleep would it be enough to wake me.
I’m confused. That was ASC’s siren! I guess the other 3 or 4 across the city went off too? That’s why it was louder for everyone else. Here on campus, it was just really loud as always.
ASC sold the siren to City of Decatur, so they no longer operate it and there will no longer be any announcements.
Hey DM, time to take the holiday light motif off the masthead at the top there. This goes for people with lights still on there home too. Though, oddly enough I don’t mind the lights on the trees on the square. So, don’t listen to a word I say.
I love the lights on the trees in the square and I hope they stay!
100% with you Chad. You’re supposed to take down your Christmast lights by New Year’s Day, but inevitably people keep them up until February every year.
Unless you celebrate Three Kings Day or whatever it’s called on January 6 or have several birthdays in the family in January or like to light up MLK day or own a pizzeria!
I have never seen the law that says all lights down by New Year’s. Also, I’ve never seen the law that requires lights be hung in the first place.
Really, what’s with the “supposed to?” And Catholics call it Epiphany — that’s when my parents would take our Xmas stuff down. My white lights are still up because I love them… if anyone wants to drive down Thomas Road and get annoyed.
Epiphany is also observed by other liturgical denominations like Episcopalians and Lutherans.
And Hume resolved it with the unresolved ought/is dilemma.
Hey, don’t forget Chinese New Year and then Presidents’ Day and St. Patrick’s and Easter and Cinco de Mayo. However, they definitely have to come down by June…
But on Memorial Day you put up the red white and blue lights that remain up through Flag Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, right? Then there’s Columbus Day, could leave them up for that too. Although they could be red, white and green lights for the Italian Columbus.
Then it’s time to decorate for Halloween, hooray!
My kid doesn’t attend CSD (yet), but I was thinking about collecting/donating those ‘box tops for education’ that you get on certain products. Is there a place to drop these off somewhere?
I suppose I could just give them to a CSD parent on my street, but I don’t really want to create a hassle for someone else.
All four elementary schools and maybe even College Heights should have collection boxes in their lobby. By middle school, the thrill is gone. A school community that promotes Boxtops for Education and collects energetically can earn up to $1500 a year–not chump change for our money-starved schools. I think all of the schools earn at least $300/year even without promotion. I applaud you for starting the habit early. Throwing away a Boxtop for Education coupon is like throwing a dime
As a non parent, I too was wondering some easy ways I could help out the schools. What is the scoop on Kroger/Publix– do they have any school related frequent shopper programs we should be hooking into? other things the schools collect?
If you are near Renfroe, stop in the office and pick up a Publix keytab . Last I checked they were sitting in a little basket right there on the front desk. It’s a little mini card that attaches to your key chain. Every time you shop at Publix, have them scan it and a (small) percentage goes to Renfroe.
Kroger used to have a program where the cashier would scan your keytag and a portion of your sale would be donated to the school your keytag was linked to, but they changed the program this year. Now schools have to create an art project on a certain theme, which is judged. If you win, then the money you are awarded has to be spent according to Kroger’s rules.
Whichever school is your future school would probably be happy to take your Box Tops off your hands, and probably has a stash of Publix keytags to give away as well.
Definitely everyone that cares about kids in Decatur should get the Publix Partner cards or keytags. It’s a total non-brainer, costs the user nothing, and can earn around $4,000 per year for CSD schools whose parents/community promote and use them; even without promotion most schools get around $800/year. Some huge schools in Gwinnett/Cobb even earn $10,000 to $20,000 per year with them. All you do is hand it to your cashier when you check out just like you use a Kroger Plus card or CVS card. A percentage goes to your school. Given how regularly many folks shop at Publix, that small percentage adds up fast. If you want to support more than one school, you can hand two or more Publix cards to the cashier and the earnings from that sale will be split among the schools.
The hardest part is for the PTAs to get those cards into the parents’ hands because our kids change schools so frequently in CSD. All you have to do is go to your CSD school of choice, ring the bell, go to the office, and ask the receptionist for a Publix Partner card. Sometimes they are sitting out on a counter in the office. If you want to support more than one school, you can hand two or more Publix cards to the cashier and the earnings from that sale will be split among the schools.
I think a great Decatur Metro contribution to the community would be to get all of us to use the passive (aka free) ways of earning money for CSD schools. A healthy school system benefits everyone in the community. The promotional programs that earn money for the schools off the top of my head are:
– Publix Partner Cards (best lucrative/ease of use ratio)
– Boxtops for Education (very popular with kids; also good L/EU ratio)
– Target Red or Visa Cards (lucrative but less used)
– Georgia Power True Blue for Schools (or something like that) (very lucrative but few know about it)
– Campbell’s Labels for Education (less useful; yields prizes not $)
I hope I do not sound too cynical to say “what ever happened to ample funding of schools through tax proceeds?”. Decatur has the highest real estate tax rate (that I am aware of) in the metro and our real estate values are relatively high. Our schools should be well-funded.
The notion of giving to the schools and children is sympathetic, but it should be unnecessary. Our mandated tax dollars should amply and completely fund our schools. Our discretionary charity contributions should go toward causes that should are not entitled to tax dollars.
Again, it’s the 85% residential/15% commercial zoning makeup of the city. There’s not enough commercial to pay the taxes for services they don’t use (businesses don’t have kids, unless you count Varsity Jr.).
In most cities, there’s a larger % of commercial property to offset the burden on residential property owners. But even with the highest taxes in the state, Decatur has trouble making up for this discrepancy. That’s why we keep discussing annexation.
If the student population continues to grow, like many believe it will, it will be more of an issue than just “space” (which is less important but gets people more riled up because it’s tangible). It’ll be how do you fund CSD without again raising taxes?
Let me say that all of these passive fundraising efforts are done by the PTO/PTAs and are not part of the CSD budget. But you’d be surprised at some of the “optional” activities and supplies that get funded by the PTA, e.g. field trips so all kids can attend, special programs or activities, supplies for teachers, family nights, one time book purchases for the RMS library, technology. Not sure but Clairemont’s remedial Saturday Math Academy may be partially or totally funded this way. CSD schools would look a lot more bare bones without what the PTO/PTAs invest in them annually. I could be wrong but I believe that some of the schools raise as much as $40,000 to go into their school annually.
I don’t think the average resident without children in school realizes how tight funding has gotten for public education. That’s why there’s so much tenseness about what money goes where and for what. If things were better funded, hard choices like paraprofessionals in needy classroooms vs Central Office staff to write grants wouldn’t have to be made and both important needs could be met.
Karass, I second your request for a primary DM post outlining easy ways to help decatur schools- there are lots of great suggestions here that would make for an easy post. I also hope that who ever writes up the schools’ annual report in the Decatur Focus also considers including a column on how all city residents can help the schools.
Last I checked, Glennwood and Winnona Park were not collecting Box Tops or Campbell’s Soup labels anymore. You might want to call first.
Many years ago I linked my Target RedCard to Glennwood, so they receive a little bit of money through Target. I chose Glennwood because with the 2-year interim of students’ and parents’ time, they don’t get nearly as much investment from the parents or community.
Also, most schools probably have a printer ink recycling bin from Cartridge World on N. Decatur Road. They pick them up from the schools several times a year and the schools get a check in return. Save your ink cartridges from the landfill – recycling them is a nice little fundraiser.
Two things:
1. How do we go about trying to get a roundabout put in at that intersecton of Ponce/Northern/Nelson Ferry? That’s the perfect spot for one. Besides, the light from Nelson Ferry to Ponce takes for-fing-ever.
2. I have nothing against cyclists as a group, but I swear I’m gonna end up hitting one if they don’t start following the law. Why do some cyslists think that stop signs don’t apply to them? This morning I came to a complete stop at a 3-way intersection. I was turning right. A cyclist came from my left and approached his stop sign. After I stopped (I arrived at the intersection first), I began to pull out to turn right when the cyclist just went through the interesection and came close to hitting me as I slammed on the brakes. Then he yelled at me as if I did something wrong! This is not the first time I’ve seen cyclists blow through that same stop sign.
#1 – talk to the City Engineering people
#2 – If you figure out how to solve the cyclist problem, please let us all know. They want cars to Share the Road, but they don’t want to. I would hate for an injured cyclist to go to court and lose a big liability case, but maybe that’s what it would take.
Totally pissed this weekend to be driving behind two cyclists in the middle of the lane RIGHT NEXT TO THE PATH. This was over by Depeaux. I have no sympathy for them when they are riding in the road right next to the PATH that has been paid for by god knows whose money but is perfectly acceptable for riding bikes.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a home foundation repair person? The rains have really taken a toll on my old brick house (with a dirt crawlspace). Sure would appreciate a good lead.
I’m having my 100-year old brick foundation repaired at this very moment by Structures, Inc.
So far, they have been pleasant, professional and reasonably priced. A strong word of warning: Don’t go with any of the big companies who claim on the internet to do “foundation repair”—they are really waterproofing companies who want to do a hard sell on waterproofing, and when they get busy with that work (as after the recent floods), they will give your foundation repair a low priority.
I finally found Structures when they were recommended by an engineer (Runkle Engineering) that I hired to evaluate a proposal by one of the waterproofing companies—the engineer told me that the waterproofing company’s proposed solution would have failed in a few years. Save yourself the trouble and go with someone who really just wants to repair your foundation.
If your repair is less complicated than mine, you can try Anglin Foundation Repair, a small firm that will do simpler foundation repairs. They wouldn’t touch mine because the house had to be jacked up, but they might be able to do your repair. Good luck!
Thank you, Ruby! For the information and the company names. Best of luck with with your home repair!
I wish I could tell my neighbors who anonymously left a copy of city code on barking dogs in my mailbox about the hour-long standoff from 6-7 am that I had with the hissing opossum who was taunting my terriers from atop of her perch on our property fence. I tried to “break it up” but that opossum meant business. Sorry neighbors. Love you all but am a wimp when it comes to opossum hunting. Not that I had any firearms to do it with. We’ll do a better job locking the terriers down to avoid wild kingdom in south decatur.
See? This is what I meant when we were discussing this in last week’s FFAF (at least, I think it was that thread). Why do people do things like this? For someone to put a copy of the ordinances in your mailbox was just downright unneighborly, IMO– smacks of something a Gladys Krabbits-type would do. I’d be wondering every time I crossed paths with my neighbors which one had felt the need to administer the blind slap. I mean, I don’t know you, JaneDoe, but you don’t seem like an @sshole just by your post. I think your neighbor should’ve just knocked at your door, greeted you in a friendly manner when you answered, and then talked to you about the barking. That way, you would’ve been able to explain your situation, your neighbor would’ve been able to put a human face on the notice that your dogs’ barking was a nuisance, and both of you would’ve come away with some understanding and, most likely, a lot more goodwill toward each other. *sigh* I know in the overall scheme of things, this isn’t a huge deal, but I get weary of the cravenly self-righteous sometimes. Smacking one’s neighbors around with the City Code doesn’t make someone a better citizen, it just means they don’t have the spine or common sense to reach out on a personal level to solve a (relatively small, temporary) problem.
Going out on a bigger limb, I have to say I’d rather hear dogs barking outside than hear kids screeching inside a restaurant. [Woo-hoo-- talk about poking the bear!
]
Lest my statement about you not seeming like an @sshole gets taken out of context, I said it to indicate that you don’t seem like you’d be unapproachable, so your neighbor shouldn’t have felt the need for stealth (or, as Land so aptly tagged it, “passive-aggressive”).
No taking out of context, here. I think I’m pretty approachable. I wasn’t voted “Friendliest” in my Senior HS class, but I was voted “Worst Car” and I took it as a compliment.
As for the kids in a restaurant scenario, hubby and I are @ Parker’s last night, trying to get romantical by the fireplace, and all we kept hearing was, “Come on baby, smile for Grandma so she can make your picture!” being shouted at the kids sitting with their adult-types at the table next to us. Good times.
Actually, I think that was my family. We were there early, so it shouldn’t have been such a problem. It was a birthday party.
A grandmother taking a picture of her grandchildren, yeah I can see where that would ruin someone’s evening. Kittens snuggling with dogs, a Boy Scout helping an elderly person across the street, etc., those kind of sweet moments must make you positively nauseous.
But seriously, if the mere presence of children and grandparents in a restaurant bothers you, I believe you’ll be safe in an adult’s only joint like the Vortex in L5P. But if you’re going to dine in Decatur, especially at an earlier hour as Nellie mentioned, then you’re going to have a few kids around. Sounds like Nellie has a good wrangle hold on her kid while in restaurant, so the annoyance should have been kept to a minimum.
Barking dogs – screaming kids, they don’t bother me. Wanna know what I hate? Ugly people! There is nothing worse than going out for a nice dinner and not being able to enjoy your food because the ugly people at the next table turn your stomach. Ugly people – you know who you are- just stay home!
Well, if you notice “Jane” wasn’t complaining about my well-behaved child, but about my mom taking photos of her family. My child was taken outside every time he started to act up. Rumandlimes would have approved.
Don’t get me started on old people….
What about people who are ugly AND old???
It doesn’t get worse than that!
But I’d rather be dead than
To be ugly an’ old.
–Langston Hughes
Funny you should mention screeching inside restaurants. We were at a Fine Dining Establishment last night seated near a party that was so loud we could hear every word they said. Their volume set off an arms race of loud talking with everyone around them, until the whole room was basically screaming at their dining companions just to be heard. And it wasn’t just the acoustics in the restaurant either, since the whole room went quiet again once that party left.
Kids don’t always know better. But the adults should.
“anonymously left a copy of city code on barking dogs in my mailbox ”
That’s passive aggressive…
That is freaking awesome. I want a hissing possum
Pretty sure that Hissing Possum is playing at the Earl next week.
The county paved my road several months ago and buried the granite curbing in the process. Now my yard and the road are at the same height and its edges are beginning to wash away with all the heavy rain.
I know they used to dig out and reset granite curbing after paving. Is that still the practice and who should I contact?
If the County did the paving, then why not contact the County Roads and Drainage Public Works folks?
There should be a gutter spread designed into the road for stormwater…city/county should fix that.
Has no one caught DM’s nearly as awesome as the hissing possum Varsity Jr. joke?
I thought about offering “Son’s Place,” but I didn’t want to be a downer….
For your information:
“The Faith, Family and Freedom Kickoff Event, sponsored by the Georgia Christian Alliance, will be held on February 6, 2010, at Riverwood High School (5900 Heards Road N.W., Sandy Springss GA). The event will commence at 10:00 am. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine will participate in the gubernatorial candidate forum, which will be moderated by Dick Williams. In addition, Secretary of State and Attorney General candidates will participate in debates which will be moderated by Jim Galloway and Jim Wooten. This event will afford you the opportunity to hear the views of many conservative candidates that are running for office.
Tickets for this event are: Advance $25.00 per person; $10.00 Child under age 12; and $30.00 at the door. Lunch from Williamson Brothers BBQ will be provided. Please contact Mychal Walker to reserve your tickets for this event. Mychal can be reached at ”
PS- I tried to arrange this to take place in Decatur but all I got were strange looks from the organizers. Maybe next time.
Perhaps you got “strange looks from the organizers” because they understand that this event, which appears to be a forum primarily to raise money for & airing the views of conservative candidates, isn’t likely to have drawn a very large or enthusiastic crowd in Decatur (which, for better or for worse, is decidedly more liberal than conservative).
Cubalibre: “in Decatur (which, for better or for worse, is decidedly more liberal than conservative)”
I wonder how you define and measure that? In any case, surely a liberal point of view is that any peaceful gathering to discuss politics is welcome.
Decatur has long been known as the People’s Republic of Decatur, though that nickname has died out a bit in recent years, and it always had a reputation as a white liberal enclave, just as Midtown has the rep for being a safe haven for gay men.
I think Cuba can somewhat define and measure her statement by the 2008 election results:
Taking the City of Decatur polling places and averaging the votes out, Democratic candidates won about 78% of the vote.
You can break it out by precinct here:
http://www.dekalbvotes.com/#
Hey NellieBelle…
I know Democrats won DeKalb, but that’s not the same thing as being liberal.
So by liberal you mean something close to the Latin root? Understand. That is impossible to measure!
I think NellieBelle pretty much has it covered. While you’re correct that “Democrat” doesn’t always = “liberal”, I think you’d be pretty hard put to declare that the majority of Democrats aren’t on the liberal end of the spectrum. Sure, you can find the odd Republican who doesn’t ID as a conservative, but those are also a scant minority. Here’s the thing: even though I identify as “moderate”, I do have some liberal leanings. I just don’t see “liberal” as the four letter word that some folks seem to think it is, and so I don’t think having a community identify as mostly liberal is a negative connotation.
As for the proposed GCA forum, you’re probably right that the liberal folk here would welcome an opportunity to engage in a peacful discussion, but that’s not what that little gathering is all about. It’s a fundraiser, & I don’t think there’s any question that its core support lies outside of Decatur, so that’s why it selected the location it did– it knows it won’t accomplish much in the way of fundraising if it comes here.
Ah, you just mean left-wing. Most Democrats are probably left-leaning or center-left.
Whether someone is liberal or not depends on the issue, I suspect. People can simultaneously hold liberal and illiberal views on different issues.
Will GA have a Tea Party candidate for Governor this year?
I can’t say I sympathize with many of their positions, but I like how they’ve been willing up until this point to go after members of both big political parties at the drop of a hat.
A Tea Party candidate sure would make the GA governor’s race more interesting.
Well guess if your definition of “interesting” means being entertained by what’s probably one of the largest assemblies of the lunatic rightwing fringe ever, then you’re right on. The Tea Party’s message tends to get lost by the actions of its most visible element, who all appear to be seething with fury more over the fact that Obama is actually President than at any of his policies.
Sorry– that should’ve been “I guess”…at any rate, if you’re interested in The Tea Party, maybe you’ll find this interesting: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/chuck-todd-admits-fox-news-created-and.
Gotta agree with my cupcake girl.
Got to agree with my cupcake girl. The anger terrifies me!
An unfortunate and complete misreading of the movement, Cubalibre. Though it’s decidedly populist, I know both intelligentsia and multimillionaires who’ve been very active in the movement to slow the potenitially irrevocable, unprecedented socialist swing in Washington. It’s not just about Obama, though he’s the principle face of the movement given that he campaigned as a centrist; it’s about the party in power abdicating responsible leadership to its radical leftist fringe. It’s blindness to this reality that lost the elections in Virgina, New Jersey and even Massachusetts. If we want to grow together as a nation, we need to ignore the polar outliers and steer closer to the middle course. The Tea Party movement has reminded both parties of the mass of voters in the middle that has been unsatisfied with either political option.
Sorry, Georgia– I stand by my statement. You can say the Tea Party’s core message & main purpose are for “populist/centrist protest” all you like, and you may even believe that. I don’t doubt that there are some folks in the movement who are fed up with the way the 2 majority parties have been doing things (heck, there are a lot of people who are). However, when so many of the “patriots” who attend & speak at these rallies are hoisting signs depicting Obama as (amongst other things) a witch doctor, Hitler, a monkey– or worse, excoriating him & calling him things like “the [N-word]-in-Chief” (not to mention the screeching hysteria of the Birthers and the Tenthers, which are large sub-factions within the Tea Party), and on top of that, cannot articulate anything about their “positions” except sheer rage over Obama being President, then it’s hard for anyone to see past these things to get at whatever the legitimate message may be. Further, like any other group, the Tea Baggers are defined by their most visible, vocal element– and unfortunately for any moderates who may find themselves in agreement with the core message, this means the crazies carry the day. Finally, I don’t hear too many of these Tea Party moderates calling their paisans on the carpet for these shennanigans, so forgive me if I find your statement just a tad disengenuous.
George is never disingenuous…nor ill-informed. So….agree to disagree. I would suggest that the wierdo quotient as seen on the news should be more ascribed to a more liberal media wishing to skew the perspective their audience has of the attendees.
Like when they show gay pride events on TV, they just show the drag queens and nearly nude folks, while ignoring the 90% of attendees who are you and me…everyday folks.
I am a centrist and fed up with Dems, Repub, and Obamalosi. I will vote accordingly.
That is all.
And I fed up with people calling the media liberal. The media is not liberal; overall, it’s sensationalist and is pandering to the lowest common denominator.
I stand with you Cubalibre.
Of course the media portray only the sensationalism – what media outlet ever shows sober, well considered “differences of opinion”? Yes, the print and TV media are slightly left of center. Talk radio is definitely right of center. Its a fact, but it’s not a problem.
Yes, there are extremes on either side – that is my point. Remember the horrible, vile things said by the left about GWB? The accusing signs, the false accusations, the burning effigies, the uttered vulgarities, even the bumper stickers (e.g. “buck fush” – I remember seeing lots of those in supposedly sleepy Decatur.) Do the thoughtful people of the center-left embrace those radical leftist nut-cases? I hope not. Was that the core of the otherwise legitimate complaints about Bush. Of course not.
I recognize this is no forum for an argument – so this will be my last post on the subject. But it’s patently clear that you don’t understand the meaning and impact these events. The simple fact that you use the suggestive sexual phrase ‘tea-baggers’ belies your stance: irrational and angry.
Really, George? You think I’M angry, but the Tea Baggers (a euphemism 1st coined by the party sympathizers themselves, not me or the “liberal media”– they only stopped using it once someone pointed out what the slang synonym was) aren’t? I’m not angry, I’m too tired of feeling the cynical, right-wing-generated acid rain to be angry. I’m simply weary of the disengenuousness (and I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt here) of so many people in that “movement” who now gag at the Obama gnat but eagerly swallowed the Bush camel for 8 years. And yes, I’m certain there are people who believe themselves to be truly moderate in that lot, but really– if there are moderates, they’re the exception, not the rule.
Yes, of course the left derided Bush, but not this soon; even the “liberal” media didn’t start the Bush-bashing right out of the gate. He even had the honeymoon period for months after 9/11 to look like a hero, until it became painfully obvious that he wasn’t. The rightwing nattering nabobs (thank you, Agnew) came after Obama before he’d scarcely taken the oath of office, and have escalated their rhetoric into violence and threats against the President’s life (much of that escalation courtesy of none other than– you guessed it– followers of the Tea Party). And for what? For trying to dig us out of the festering turd of a mess left by Dubya, et al.? Sorry, but calling a spade a spade isn’t me being disengenuous, angry, OR ill-informed. It’s simply calling it a spade, which is what it is.
On a lighter (non political) subject:
I gave my wife Mary a Christmas gift that plays old records and converts them to CDs (BTW- Got it for under $100 at Kohls). Right now, she is playing Eric Clapton’s “Crossroads”, record 2, side 2. There is much I would like to forget about the Sixties but listening to Blind Faith “Can’t Find My Way Home” on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon brings back fine memories of a more innocent time.
Is there anyone still in Decatur who remembers seeing the Box Tops at the Sting Ray Lounge in Suburban Plaza sometime in the late 1960s? Those were the days!
The Box Tops! Alex Chilton! I wasn’t born then but I would have been there had I been alive.
Ah, Steve Winwood– one of my all-time favorite male vocalists. I was too young to go to concerts in the late ’60’s, but if I hadn’t been, I would definitely have been at Woodstock ’69… That, or I would’ve migrated to Swingin’ London!
I was there Mr. B! Thanks for that blast from the past.
Box Tops definitely before my time. Not even old enough for Big Star. But now I’ve got the song in my head and I’m going to be singing it all night. I might never have seen Alex Chilton, but I saw some crazy concerts by those guys who sang about him.
I’m in love, what’s that song? I’m in love, with that song!
My mom had the Box Tops on vinyl. I played it on my Mickey Mouse mono record player. Alex Chilton was 16 and sounded more world weary and drunk than Johnny Cash.
Did anyone get a note on their mailbox this weekend about “creatures in Decatur?” I’m paraphrasing because I’ve left it at home, but it was something like: “Beware of Creatures in Decatur” and something about staying home and not going out. Made me think of zombies but the note didn’t specifically say that.
Nelliebelle:
Ok, see CNBC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN…but I agree with the sensationlistic aspect. Pot stirring is another term that comes to mind.
I’ve been to a Tea Party, and at least at the one I attended, there were no nazi symbols, N-word signs…just fed up tax payers. I am not saying those things don’t exist, they obviously do, but I stand by my example about media portraying the more “lurid” factions at such events. So take sides if you wish, but that wasn’t my intent ( to be devisive).
But I don’t think it’s due to liberal bias. I think it is due to general asshatness from the media.
Now, on the general @sshatness of the media, we can all agree. With the exception of Christiane Amanpour, I’m not sure there are any actual journalists working today.
Seriously!? What about John Oliver?
“I’ve been to a Tea Party, and at least at the one I attended, there were no nazi symbols, N-word signs…just fed up tax payers.” Then you must not have attended the ones held on the Capitol steps here, or the Mall in Washing, D.C. There were rabid frothing demogogues a-plenty, signs and all.
Look, Jack, you’ve never seemed like an unreasonable person (at least here), so I have no reason to believe that you believe what you’re saying. But the old adages– “Birds of a feather” and “You’re known by the company you keep”– are true. It may not be fair to tar all “fed-up taxpayers” with one brush, but if they’re not busy distancing themselves from the crazies, then they get smudged by association. I wouldn’t want someone to confuse my beliefs (centrist Libertarian with some liberal leanings) with those of Neal Boortz or Glen Beck, so I don’t identify as a Libertarian, even though that party’s views come pretty close to mine. Sorry, but people who call themselves members of the Tea Party are going to be associated with the fringe element, so unless you’re OK with that, better call yourself something else, or being more vocal about putting the smackdown on the whackjobs.
OK, boys and girls, time to put away the knives. Political arguments about left and right, conservative and liberal, Democrat and Republican, and fringe elements on both sides do nothing but irritate readers, bruise egos, and force people to one-up their adversary.
Let’s take a breather and step back. We should really be spending our energies on what really matters to Decatur. You know, things like misbehaving children in restaurants, YDFM’s cranky employees, and how much UT paid to use the DHS football field.
P.S. DM, are we getting close to the record number of comments in a single thread?
Hmm…not sure about other FFAFs, but the unofficial comment leader in my head has been the Allen Wilson demolition post with 117. So yes!
…doing my part to jack it up to the record number…
Is “Free Westchester” a liberal or conservative motto? Could be libertarian.
What knives??? *kicks ground, scuffing shoe* You never let us do ANYTHING!
Geez, Eric, you ruin everything. I really enjoy semantic discussions of nomenclature, ontology and perspective. Thanks.
Funny, my mom is a card carrying member of the Republican Women, and even my Wii fit says I lean left (but only a little). For my money the only difference between us is that I believe both major parties are controlled by major interests that do not care very about individuals, but care a great deal about maintaining their positions of power/influence . . . but the Democrats do a better job of making it look more like they care about individuals and less about enriching themselves and their supporters (supporters sounds better than cronies, doesn’t it?).