SundayPaper.com

Nominate your hero

Kevin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Nominate someone you know for The Sunday Paper’s inaugural Unsung Heroes Award.

Why protesting against Israel won't bring peace

Stephanie Ramage — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:28:00 GMT

There is a tremendous difference between wanting peace and wanting to look like someone who wants peace.

Violence rages, but the APD says crime is down

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:22:00 GMT

“You are talking about a department that has a proven, documented track record of manipulating the numbers, so you have to consider that the police department might be doing it again."

Sanjay Gupta and Big Pharma

Stephanie Ramage — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:43:00 GMT

Accent Health network is sold to doctors offices where it is broadcast constantly in waiting rooms. It's sponsored by drug companies. One of its hosts is Sanjay Gupta. Then there's his reporting on anti-depressants...

The exploitation of Sarah Palin

Kevin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:45:00 GMT

The governor seems to be suffering from a little buyer’s remorse.

What's wrong with the Detroit bailout?

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:27:00 GMT

In 1981, they wanted protection from foreign competition. In 2008, they wanted protection from the effects of that competition and the faulty decisions they made in addressing it.

A response to critics of my MSNBC Hardball appearance

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:47:00 GMT

A lot can happen in 10 minutes, so let’s straighten a few things out. Here's a transcript of the show.

Stephanie Ramage on "Hardball"

Kevin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:25:00 GMT

Catch Sunday Paper News Editor Stephanie Ramage on "Hardball with Chris Matthews" tonight (Dec. 23) at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on MSNBC.

Stephanie Ramage on Air America's Lionel Show tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 23

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:57:00 GMT

Tune into the Air America network's Lionel Show tomorrow at 10 a.m. to hear Stephanie Ramage duke it out with Nancy Skinner over the Big Three bailout.

Aggregation versus theft

Kevin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Arianna Huffington’s Web site, the Huffington Post, has ignited a controversy that raises some intriguing questions for those of us who toil in the print media and online.

Courageous Iraqi reporter is NOT the one who threw shoes

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:45:00 GMT

Americans have heard almost nothing about the Iraqi reporter who tried to protect our president. We don’t even know his name.

An alternative to the Detroit bailout

Stephanie Ramage — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:46:00 GMT

The Big Three should file for bankruptcy and we should expand the workers' unemployment benefits. It would be taxpayer money much better spent.

Tell lawmakers to vote NO on Big 3 Bailout

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:43:00 GMT

Today, even as I write this, the Senate is, in essence, trying to force you and I to buy an American-made car that we will never drive. The $15 billion bailout they seek for the Big Three automakers in Detroit is nothing more than a fat "Thank You" check to the United Auto Workers union for getting Obama elected--and that check is being drawn on my account and yours. We, the taxpayers, are being asked to pay Detroit's manufacturers some sort of gratuity check that frankly we don't owe them. If you want to keep your car manufacturing business in business, here's an odd little idea that seems to have fallen out of fashion: Build a decent product and sell it for an affordable price.

SCANDAL: Blagojevich, the unions, Obama, the Cubs and the Trib

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:47:00 GMT

"...Blagojevich obtaining a lucrative job with a union-affiliated organization in exchange for appointing a particular Senate Candidate whom he believed was favored by the President-elect..."

Let the Big Three die

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:09:00 GMT

Allow the Big Three to die and America may well witness the rebirth of the spirit of Henry Ford, innovation and competition, unfettered by unions.

Stopping the contractor gravy train

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:56:00 GMT

Defense and State contracts provide a handy way to parcel out political favors, they create opportunities for multi-billion dollar corruption and sometimes they endanger the safety of soldiers, because American contractors often are not only unaware of the military goals for an area, they frankly do not care about them.

Don't forget to vote today!

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:32:00 GMT

Today's the day for the U.S. Senate run-off election between incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. To learn more about where I stand on this race, please see "Saxby vs. Obama and the Unions" at http://www.sundaypaper.com/More/Archives/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3354/Saxby-versus-Obama-and-the-unions.aspx

To find out more about where you can vote, visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/Elections/

Fifty-three years

Kevin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:26:00 GMT

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.

Let's be careful out there

Kevin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:06:00 GMT

A seasonal Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by hordes of eager shoppers. A shootout at a toy store in California. People, let's try to maintain some perspective, shall we?

Meet me at today's 5 p.m. rally for marriage rights

Stephanie Ramage — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:26:00 GMT

There will be a candlelight vigil at the corner of Piedmont and 10th this evening at 5 p.m. in support of same-sex marriage rights. I plan to be there, not just to support my co-worker Kirsten Ott, the Sunday Paper's fashion editor, but also to make my support of equal rights crystal clear.
I seldom make public appearances these days, but this is important.
Please join me in responding with a clear rebuke to California's prop 8 and similar legislation elsewhere. I'll bring some extra candles, but try to remember to bring your own. There's a lot of darkness out there to lift.
Signs are welcome.

N.Y. Times’ prejudice against Southerners blinds it to facts

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:42:00 GMT

The New York Times has set about painting all those Southerners who voted for John McCain as racists. The Atlanta area is at the very epicenter of the conservative-liberal seismic shift. Yet the Times didn’t think the Atlanta area important enough to explore for its story.

Black Panthers intimidate voters in Philly

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:12:00 GMT

Video shows two alleged members of the "new" Black Panthers wielding a night stick to scare away anyone who looked like they weren't voting for Obama at a polling station in Philly. I say "alleged" because although they are black and they are wearing militant garb, we don't know if they are actually members of the Panthers or just wannabes. Not that it matters much when it comes to wielding a deadly weapon at a polling station. Does Philly not have any cops? Here's the video made by a University of Pennsylvania student as posted on politico.com:

The silent majority's vote

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:57:00 GMT

If Obama wins, it won’t be by the landslide that so many have predicted. The thing that will be most astonishing to many of those on the left is the very thing that history should have prepared them for: the loud election-day voice of the silent majority.

How Palin demonstrates great leadership

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:30:00 GMT

Although she holds a personal belief that abortion should be used only in cases where pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, lately we have heard increasingly about how Palin has never sought to legislate on that belief in Alaska’s statehouse.

Join SP's Stephanie Ramage for election night coverage on GPB

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:09:00 GMT

Join Stephanie Ramage for PBS election night coverage on the Georgia Public Broadcast System's TV channel 8 and WABE 90.1 FM or streaming live at www.gpb.org/election.

McCain will close Gitmo

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:17:00 GMT

"I will close the Guantanamo Bay prison and ban torture...There is great need for American leadership in the world, and I understand that only by exercising that leadership with grace and wisdom can we be successful in safeguarding our interests."

Palin's real diversity

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:32:00 GMT

Trig Palin, and how America has reacted to him, illustrates the difference between true tolerance and cheap, easy notions of diversity.

Praise for Palin from an unlikely source

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:56:00 GMT

Eugene Robinson, a columnist for the Washington Post, supports Obama. But, he's noticed some things about Sarah Palin that we should all note.

McCain better than Obama on immigration

Stephanie Ramage — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:15:00 GMT

"McCain—a Republican—risked his political career to pursue comprehensive immigration reform, while Barack Obama—a Democrat—was late to the issue and made some bad choices once he stepped into the debate...

The much sought-after "felon vote"

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Playaz Circle is best known for hit song “Duffle Bag Boy” featuring multi-platinum artist Lil Wayne. They are currently working on a project in raising awareness for felon’s rights to vote.

Question Obama and prepare for the consequences

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:19:00 GMT

As reported by the Toledo (Ohio) Blade, "a Toledo police records clerk has been charged with 'gross misconduct' for allegedly making an improper inquiry for information regarding the man known as 'Joe the Plumber,' ...Authorities said this was done for non-law enforcement purposes and was a violation of department policy and state policy governing law regarding the use of the Law Enforcement Automated Data System database.

Democrats want to force employees to join unions

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:35:00 GMT

My Dad didn’t want to join the union, so he was singled out for abuse by his pro-union co-workers. There were death threats from union members, so he would load his .45 and take it to work with him when he left at 5 a.m. each morning. It is not at all an exaggeration to say that we lived in fear. Now, the Democrats want to do away with secret balloting, exposing anti-union employees to harassment and perhaps even violent attacks.

Response from an avid Obama supporter

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:55:00 GMT

Every now and then we get a letter to the editor that thoroughly speaks for itself. This one came to us along with a photo from a cell phone which means that this person on public assistance has a posher phone than I do.

(In response to “Who’s Going to Report on ‘President Obama’?” Stephanie Ramage, News & Views, Oct. 19) U cant stop us.ramage is on a rampage against Obama because he is black.GET OVER IT HONEY! HE WON!
Somebody should slap the taste of evil out of Stephanie Ramage’s mouth. She is wicked. GOD hears and sees everything. She will get hers on judgment day. Anyhow, who can we trust to report on how people living on Georgia streets will survive? The same people who fought for our country, that are now homeless and mentally ill? Who will report the fact that thousands of women pile up at the local family and children services office for government assistance because the economy won’t grant them a job?

"Descartes' Bones" author to visit Decatur, Tuesday Oct. 21

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:24:00 GMT

Russell Shorto, author of the brand new, mesmerizing non-fiction book, “Descartes' Bones” will be on hand for a book signing at the Georgia Center for the Book/Dekalb Library, 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur, Georgia, at 7:15pm on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Stephanie Ramage: Who's Going to Report on "President Obama"?

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:34:00 GMT

If you're having trouble finding my column this week, here it is:

McCain's final debate

Stephanie Ramage — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:27:00 GMT

“Sorry about your guy,” my friend said as he walked me to my car after the third and final presidential debate between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain.

“Oh, it’s okay,” I said. “It could be worse—he could get elected.”

He laughed until he realized I was serious.

McCain lost the third and final debate fair and square. I felt strongly that he won the first one with a fine display of foreign policy knowledge. The second was a draw. But this one was most definitely Obama’s.

Obama won the debate, but he raised more troubling issues that other media seem unwilling to touch. How is it possible that he can cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans while providing health care for all of them while allowing those who want to stick with their company-purchased insurance to do so? He only says that introducing a government plan will drive down the cost of private insurance, but the thing that will decide that is what the government plan will actually cover. It would have to cover a lot to compete with most private packages, and it has to compete if it’s going to drive down cost. He says it will be basic. But, even if it covers only half as much, how will America, with its 320 million people, pay for it if taxes are cut?

“Are you worried about all the media you’ve criticized?” my friend asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Nope, not at all, I stand behind every single word of every single story, blog or column, but I am worried about the media in one particularly troubling sense: who’s going to report on the malfunctions and misdeeds of the Obama Administration?”

For several months now I’ve watched aghast as media organizations I used to admire had one ethical lapse after another for the sake of promoting Obama. So, if they are all so in love with Obama that they are willing to sacrifice ethics and integrity for him, and they clearly are, then who will report honestly on Obama’s administration?

I’m not saying that I expect Obama himself to commit any scandalous infractions. I don’t think he will. I also don’t think Obama is a terrorist pal and I’ve never given this paper’s ink to that line of rubbish or to any insinuations about his non-existent relationship with Bill Ayers. But the media shamelessly and obviously dropped the ball this election year. They left it up to the candidates to set the agenda, when they should have been setting it. I say “they” because I did what I could—there was a lead as big as a broadsheet in Obama’s complicity in not passing a bill in 2005 to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, something that could have prevented the majority of our economic suffering today. He took money from Freddie and Fannie employees and related non-profits and looked the other way when the bill was killed. But those reporters who went after Obama busied themselves with the garbage leads about Ayers, seeking reactionary pay dirt rather than something that might be worthy of real concern. And there’s plenty to be concerned about besides his Fannie Mae connections or the weird math of less tax revenue and more spending. For one, his off-hand remark during the debate that clearly showed his soft-spot for labor leaders in Colombia also showed his insensitivity to the Colombian government, a government that carried out a daring rescue of 15 hostages of FARC last summer, and three of those hostages were Americans; a government that has supported us and been a stalwart thorn in the side of our South American arch-enemy Hugo Chavez, a thieving despot with whom Obama supporter Jesse Jackson exchanged hugs and reassurances of support in 2005.

Will you trust the media that has allowed these things to go unquestioned to cover Obama’s administration, an administration that will preside over a House and Senate controlled by Democrats? Where will you turn for truth and balance when all that will remain of a GOP counterweight in Washington is a few Supreme Court justices?

Creative Loafing's French disconnection

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:56:00 GMT

Why is Creative Loafing columnist Andisheh Nouraee writing as if France is only now warming up to us? "With an Obama presidency likely," he writes. "It looks like much of the animosity has passed." Excuse me? I’m not disputing that there’s been some boneheaded shlock regarding France coming from the right in recent years, but the hostilities ended in mid-2007 with the ascension of a French president who understands what’s at stake for the West in today’s geopolitical configuration. That was well before Obama became the Democrats’ candidate of choice and while Bush still had almost two years left in office.
In March 2007, I spent most of an afternoon with Christine Lagarde, France’s minister of trade. She was in town to give a speech at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Lagarde, an avid supporter of pro-American president Nicolas Sarkozy, spoke of how France was adopting a much more free market system to get out of the way of French entrepreneurs. She also scolded the U.S. for not being globalized adequately (less than a quarter of our business community does business overseas), but lauded our close trade relations.

She said: “In 2006, France exported €26.4 billion worth of goods to America and imported €25.3 billion from the United States. The United States is France's 6th supplier and 6th buyer and its largest customer in Europe. France is America's 10th supplier. Every second, our two countries trade €1,640 or almost $2,000 worth of goods. But this is not all. The United States is the biggest foreign direct investor in France, in 2006 American companies created 9,500 jobs in France. Today, 600,000 French employees are working for American subsidiaries which contribute to 10% of all French exports. Conversely, France is the 4th-largest investor in the United States; 550,000 Americans are employed by 2,600 French companies in the USA.”

She continued: “In Georgia alone, more than 500 French enterprises employ several tens of thousands of people. French companies such as the tyre manufacturer Michelin, construction materials manufacturer Lafarge, and eyeglass-lens maker Essilor contribute to Georgia’s economic development. France is determined to remain an open country and to strengthen trade with all countries in the world, particularly the United States.”

But she didn't just talk about our close trade relations, she also said:"France and the United States share a common destiny. France and the United States share many values that are often promoted together and exported to other countries. France's Declaration of the Rights of 1789 is closely tied to the American Declaration of Independence of 1776. We are bound by such values as an attachment to democracy and confidence in progress. We are heirs to the Age of Enlightenment. Today, France and the United States need to join hands to develop solutions to the challenges of our time in such areas as environmental protection, health, and the battle against counterfeiting. In June 7, 1777, the Marquis de la Fayette wrote the following in a letter to his wife: 'A defender of the freedom I worship, freer than anyone, I have come as a friend to offer my services to this fascinating republic (of the United States) without any personal interest. America's happiness is intimately linked to the happiness of humanity: it will become a worthy and safe asylum for virtue, honesty, tolerance, equality, and peaceful freedom.' May this be true!"
And over, and over and over again she reassured all those present of how much France relies upon and loves the United States. You know why? Sarkozy was about to win the election. Shortly after Lagarde's visit here, I went to Paris and observed the French presidential race coverage. Sarkozy was openly pro-American and he won the presidency quite soundly, and that was a year and a half ago. A mere two weeks ago, Republican presidential candidate John McCain told supporters that the U.S. should emulate France’s pro-nuclear-power approach to energy, adding “France has a pro-American president now, which just goes to show that if you live long enough you’ll see it all.”

Nobel Prize is now a political sinecure

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Just in case there was any doubt left after a Nobel Prize official told us last week that American literature as whole is not worthy of the Nobel Prize for literature, it is now abundantly clear that the Swedes and their co-horts intend to use the prize to reward anti-Bush liberals regardless of ability. The Nobel Prize for economics has been awarded to New York Times Op-Ed columnist Paul Krugman who is also an economics professor at Princeton. His grand contribution to rigorous scholarly analysis of the world's markets large and small? As described by the International Herald Tribune: "In his model, many companies sell similar goods with slight variations. These companies get more efficient at producing their goods as they sell more, and so they grow. Consumers like variety, and pick and choose goods from among these producers in different countries, enabling countries to continue exchanging similar products. So some Americans buy Volkswagens and some Germans buy Fords.He developed this work further to explain the effect of transportation costs on why people live where they live. His model explained under what conditions trade would lead people or companies to move to a particular region or to move away."
Daniel Klein, a professor of economics at George Mason University who earlier this year wrote a comprehensive review of Krugman's body of Times columns, told the IHT: "Much of his popular work is disgraceful. He totally omits all these major issues where the economics conclusion goes against the feel-good Democratic Party ethos, which I think he's really tended to pander to especially since writing for The New York Times."

NPR and the truth about the "Great Schlep"

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:24:00 GMT

National Public Radio recently devoted a segment to the "Great Schlep," an idea put forth by comedienne Sarah Silverman, the entertainer who makes safely racist comments about Asians and puts a lite, fun spin on the Holocaust, that Jewish grandkids should bribe their retiree grandparents in Florida into voting for Obama by making an extra visit to see them. All good so far, except that when NPR did its segment, following one of these Jewish grandkids on his "Great Schlep," they failed to correct, via a simple comment after the piece, the misinformation the kid gave his grandparents. He implied that McCain had obstructed the bailout when, he said, there should have been no argument about the bailout. Well, in fact there was no argument about the bailout. McCain was there front and center begging his fellow Republicans to pass the bailout bill and he and Obama agreed completely that a bailout was needed. I am not accustomed to NPR allowing its interviewees to put out misinformation without bothering to note the problem. A basic cannon of good journalism is not to allow misinformation to stand. Yet, NPR ducked the rules of journalistic integrity for this warm and fuzzy piece on Obama. Their reporters are quite savvy. He had to know the kid was wrong. But he didn't say bubkes to correct the falacy. What gives?

Enough is enough--shame on CNN

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:01:00 GMT

Okay people, get a grip. According to the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, "At the height of the Depression in 1933, 24.9 percent of the total work force or 11,385,000 people, were unemployed." What's our unemployment rate right now? It's 6.1 percent. Yeah, big difference, right? But you wouldn't know it to read CNN which offers up a load of excrement today in the form of a panic-causing story about people during the Great Depression eating squirrel and having to "catch" their meals. Well, I'd like to clue you in on a couple of things: #1- I know some of the folks who work over at CNN.com and they're very young. I, on the other hand, was born in my parents' 40s and my mom and dad were born in 1924. At the height of the Great Depression, my parents were 9 years old--and my parents (god rest my Dad's soul) wouldn't know how to comment on a blog, they wouldn't even know what a blog was. So, I would suggest to the Honeycomb Hideout Team over at CNN that they check the ages of the people with whom they talk or chat or blog and do the math and see if in FACT that person could actually have parents who were alive during the Great Depression. #2--Hell, there are people in the south who still eat squirrel and they LOVE it. My dad ate it right up until the year he died, 2003. So, while I find the idea repulsive, I keep in mind two things: The folks at CNN very seldom fact check when they pop off with their dire predictions. And, the folks at CNN are fearmongerers of the worst sort. Their ratings rely on panic, as they have shown over and over again. Don't forget that it was the Persian Gulf War and its scud missile threat that actually made CNN a going concern. They know which side their bread is buttered on...or do they? Has it occurred to the ninnies over there that maybe, just maybe, they're also scaring off advertisers with this garbage? May they reap what they sow, and may the rest of us have the good sense not to buy it.

The truth about the rightwing backlash against McCain

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:41:00 GMT

The National Review, which CNN now considers “influential”—now that it’s knocking McCain—has published an editorial that critiques McCain's plan as “creating a level of moral hazard that is unacceptable.” As if Fannie and Freddie's takeover by the government on Sept. 7 hadn't already essentially done this. When the government got Fannie and Freddie, it picked up those bad mortages. This is absolutely hilarious. It’s like watching the local whorehouse (CNN) decorate for Christmas (use conservative sources, for a change) because whatever Christian values might dictate about prostitution (CNN's biased reporting), it’s a time when men get drunk and generous (when the right wing peanut gallery can be of use to CNN in trashing McCain).

Obama's awkward debate moment

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:17:00 GMT

Obama supporters must have cringed painfully last night when their candidate pointed out that Republican candidate John McCain signed onto a bill to stop the deregulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a year after the bill was introduced. Obama, after all, didn’t support the bill at all, with good reason—Obama financially benefitted hugely from Fannie and Freddie’s deregulation, the root of our financial agony today.

The Democrats keep screaming that it was deregulation that wrecked out economy, but they don’t dare talk about specifics because the thing that specifically wrecked our economy was the massive disaster of failed mortgages under Fannie and Freddie and that was a Democratic hit job that started in the late 1990s and started leaving its bloody traces on the housing market in 2006. Yes, it was deregulation, alright, at the hands of the Democrats. In fact, fact—not some campaign spiel, but in actual fact—it was the Republicans who fought tooth and nail to stop Fannie and Freddie’s deregulation, but they were up against outrageous accusations of racism by

Meet Obama's financial crisis connections

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:22:00 GMT

Here's a link to the bill that John McCain co-sponsored in 2005-2006 to try to prevent the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage debacles that have contributed greatly to our current financial mess. Whatever happened to the bill? It died in committee. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190
And here's an interesting YouTube video. Obviously its maker has an agenda, but as far as the legislation and hearings cited in this particular video, his claims are solid.
As with anything you see on YouTube, always fact check. I did, and this one stands up. If you find otherwise, let me know (as if I even have to say that). What the hell were we all thinking about when Franklin Raines was using our tax dollars as a slush fund? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5z9lD4C2Io
Incidentally, no, I don't share the vidoemaker's views on everything else Obama-related (I certainly don't think Obama is, or ever was, a communist or was interested in being one, etc.--that's crazy talk). Of course, that's not in the video, that's just a little background for you.

Trouble ahead: Palin's plan to expand the powers of the VP

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:11:00 GMT

If your jaw didn’t hit the floor when Palin said that she would seek to expand the powers of the vice presidency using Dick Cheney’s model, then you must have been wearing your Hannibal Lecter muzzle for the evening. That, gentle reader, was a deal-breaker. That was a “get you coat and let’s go” moment. She plans to expand the powers of the vice presidency on a ticket where John McCain has more than graciously allowed an admitted neophyte to perch? For many, many voters it has been hard enough to deal with the possibility of Palin stepping into the Oval Office in the event that something untoward happens to McCain. To suggest that she’s going to appropriate some of his power while he’s still alive and kicking is insulting

Revisiting Couric and Palin

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:22:00 GMT

Katie Couric is to journalism what the Muppet Show’s Swedish Chef is to Swedish—she does a meaningless mimicry of it to great effect.

Puzzled by Palin

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:24:00 GMT

Usually, women candidates are lauded for their compassion. So, it was odd and disappointing for me—someone who’s gone to bat for Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential pick—to see Palin fail to extend that kind of compassion to Sen. Joe Biden. Please keep in mind, I am a longtime, outspoken, non-fan of Joe Biden. Tonight, Sen. Biden opened up in a way that wasn’t necessary, a way that must not have been pleasant for him, but that he felt, I suppose, might help him to introduce himself to Americans who don’t know him. He recounted what was probably the most heartbreaking day of his life—the day his first wife and their infant daughter were killed in an automobile accident. He was visibly struggling to finish his sentence. Palin, in her response to the same question, had a perfect opportunity to show compassion, in fact, for most of us it would have been the natural thing to do.

The bailout viewed from Main Street

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:22:00 GMT

Last night at the gym, a middle-aged black man who renovates houses for a living held forth on the proposed bailout: “Let them fail!” he raged. “Let them fail! People in this country need to wake up! Those banks and investors that were reckless shouldn’t get one dime, not one dime, from other people who work for a living!” He was mad as hell, and as he moved from bench to platform lugging lots of heavy weights, he continued without drawing a breath, “We have raised a whole generation to believe that they are entitled to everything, that if they make a bad decision, somebody else will bail ‘em out. If I make a bad decision, who bails me out? Nobody. Nobody. And I am sick and tired of people who think they deserve help because they didn’t get what they wanted. And here they go, telling me to vote for somebody because he’s ‘cute’? To hell with that.”

Demanding justice at the gas pump

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:29:00 GMT

So, there we were, me and about 70 or more of my fellow citizens, lined up in an orderly fashion at the Quick Trip on Briarcliff Road near Shepherd’s Lane a little after 10 a.m. today, when it seemed to me that the guy filling his small burgundy Chevy pick-up (with DeKalb County plates) had been there for a very long time and was filling his tank in a very odd fashion. He was basically squatting next to the pump away from prying eyes and I could see gas spilling in generous pools on the ground. That’s when I saw the gas cans—four or five of them. Having filled his tank, he was filling gas cans, and as he moved the nozzle from can to can without stopping the pump, generous rivers of gas were pouring onto the concrete, even as the line of cars grew.

Ramage rates last night's Obama-McCain debate

Stephanie Ramage — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:06:00 GMT

In answer to the all the emails this morning, here’s how I scored last night’s debate between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama: Unfortunately for the many Americans still struggling with making a decision, it was a tie. I thought Obama performed better than McCain on the economic part of the debate and that McCain applied, in the words of an NBC commentator, “an ass-whuppin’” to Obama on foreign policy. The problem for McCain in the first part of the debate, the economic part, is that although he is, quite rightly, crusading for a clean-up of Washington’s financial practices, Obama was able to bring the economic debate to the kitchen table and that, my friends, is where presidential races are decided—through kitchen table economics.

U.S. Supreme Court Orders Delay of Troy Davis' Execution

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:23:00 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court stepped in just two hours before Troy Davis was scheduled to be excuted yesterday and ordered a reprieve until the Court can decide if the Georgia Supreme Court did its due diligence last March when it decided against giving Davis a new trial or hearing of new evidence.

Troy Davis' fate now in the hands of the US Supreme Court

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:55:00 GMT

Troy Davis, who's scheduled to be executed tomorrow night, should get a new trial. An overwhelming majority of those who testified against him when he was convicted of murdering a Savannah police officer in 1989 have since recanted or admitted they lied. To carry out an execution based on such faulty testimony places the much-maligned death penalty on even more morally wobbly footing. If you support the death penalty, the Troy Davis case should appear to you as a threat to its future.
Now, Davis' fate now rests with the US Supreme Court. This just in from the Georgia Supreme Court:

Women, identity politics and abortion

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:21:00 GMT

The term “identity politics” has come into high vogue in the past decade, what with all the fuss in the Netherlands about Muslim migrants being out to get white Europeans and silly nativists in the United States nattering on about Latino migrants plotting to blow us all up between working shifts at our favorite restaurants—even liberals use “identity politics” pejoratively—but for under-represented minorities, nothing makes more sense than voting for someone like yourself. If you are a member of an under-represented minority, in order to get elected and work effectively once in office you must, at the very least, have the backing of your own community. That is a minimum requirement for obtaining and using political power.

At last

Kirsten — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:13:00 GMT

After a month of incredibly hard work, I've completed the program at Operation Boot Camp! Read my latest blog entry here, along with a full month of daily entries.

Pre-campaign profile of Palin

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:41:00 GMT

“She has not been partisan,” said Rep. Les Gara, a Democrat from Anchorage. “Anybody that comes to Juneau and says, ‘I’m not going to do my party’s bidding’ deserves credit. We had some very dark years under Frank Murkowski, and it has been nice to see something different.”

I'll look twice if you think twice

Kristina — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:55:00 GMT

Motorcycle safety awareness is vital. But why does the burden of the bumper sticker—"Look Twice, Save a Life"—seem to fall entirely on me, the automobile driver? Where is the public awareness program targeted at motorcycle riders, reminding them that lanes are not to be shared, that being small does not entitle them to make fancy highway maneuvers, and that feats of motorway derring-do endanger more even than their own lives—that by taking their lives so cavalierly into their hands, they're also gambling with the lives of the motorists who may swerve to avoid them?

All I'm saying is that I am very careful on the road, especially around motorcycles. But at least half the motorcyclists I encounter in Atlanta ride dangerously, zipping in and out of lanes and up the shoulder, and that makes me very, very nervous for all of us, especially them. Believe me, being nervous does not make me a better driver. So shouldn't we focus on teaching bikers to follow traffic rules and ride properly, instead of (or at least whilst we're) reminding me to allow them to make me so nervous? Looking twice is good advice, but there's more to it than that.

True, if a motorcycle rider makes an ill-advised move on the highway and causes me to collide with him at 60 mph, I'm probably not the one whose life is at risk. And a lifetime of nerve-wracking omg-what-is-that-guy-doing-two-lanes-over-is-he-coming-over-here skittish driving is, though unfortunate, a small price to pay in comparison. So by all means, let's focus on the cost to motorcyclists and not on the danger to me. Let's be aggressive about educating them. Where are my bumper stickers? I never see any that say, "Think twice, you're ON A DAMN MOTORCYCLE." Don't key my car, but I'd buy it.

Why American Women Should Be Furious With Democrats

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:15:00 GMT

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the only organization that keeps reliable stats on the issue, one in three American women, about 33 percent, has an abortion by the time she’s in her 40s. Far more American women have children by the time they are in their 40s. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, about 80 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 44 have at least one child.

Far more American women are concerned about how they can manage to have children and keep their jobs than they are with terminating a pregnancy, but the Democratic women who have set the feminist agenda in Washington for more than 50 years have made sure that every piece of legislation aimed at women gets boondoggled with abortion rights—a circumstance that makes better family leave policies and proposals for equal pay difficult to pass among moderates and conservatives.

Liberal women have failed American women shamefully and catastrophically.

Smilegate: McCain grin more devil than devilish?

Stephanie Ramage — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:42:00 GMT

I've been a John McCain fan since the 1980s. But, I've never been a fan of his smile. Watching his speeches, I've gotten the impression that maybe Cindy, trying to be supportive, told him that he has a charming devilish grin and he believed her. With the political stakes so high and tension at a fever pitch, it's a relief for me to be able to say that the candidate I so deeply admire has a smile problem and I'm not alone in noting it. If you don't feel like smiling, my policy is, you shouldn't.

Obama's bridge to Katrina

Stephanie Ramage — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:57:00 GMT

There is no failure to be found in anything that Palin has done in relation to the "bridge to nowhere." There is, however, failure to to be found in how Obama and Biden, given the chance to re-route that money in November 2005 to help rebuild areas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, didn't do so. I'm sure the victims of Katrina could have used the money, but they didn't get it because Congress--including Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden--voted for the money to go to Alaska instead.

Kudos to Trig Palin, and columnist Michael Gerson

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:15:00 GMT

It is the height of irony that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama lays claim to the idea of embracing diversity, while many of his supporters lash out at GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin for embracing real diversity on a daily basis in a very intimate way. If you are truly tolerant of the differences of others, how is it possible that you can condemn a woman for welcoming into her family someone with Down syndrome, someone who is more discriminated against than women or blacks?

CNN fails to report impact of McCain and Obama tax plans on deficit

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:54:00 GMT

Remember when Joshua Levs was at WABE, the local National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate? I do. I don’t know Josh beyond saying hello on those very rare occasions when I see him, but I wonder if he ever listens to his old employer's station. If he did, maybe on Sunday when he was narrating a little segment on CNN about the presidential candidates’ tax plans he would have mentioned the impact of their plans on the national deficit. The deficit is not a sexy topic. Americans have come to take the deficit for granted. It's that constantly dripping faucet that you get used to and then never bother to fix. But, if we don’t fix it, we're not likely to regain any kind of long term stability, regardless of who's in the White House. NPR, one of the few news outlets that reports on the deficit, offered interesting interviews about it with Rich Wolf, USA Today’s Washington correspondent, on July 28, and David Wessel, Wall Street Journal economics editor, on Aug. 13.

Paul Begala's attack on CNN's Campbell Brown

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:39:00 GMT

.On Wednesday night, after Gov. Sarah Palin's acceptance of the GOP's vice presidental nomination, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sent a text over to CNN calling Palin's speech "shrill." That word is applied to only one group of people on this planet: women. Period. It denotes, in a very derogatory way, a sense of Victorian hysteria with which the most sexist men tar women. Yet, when Campbell Brown wisely and fairly pointed this out, Democrat sycophant Paul Begala accused Brown of "toning back" her journalistic analysis, as if pointing out this obvious sexist comment by Reid was somehow an indication of softness.

New York Times admits faulty reporting on Palin

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:09:00 GMT

In their eagerness to discredit a politician, even reporters at the best of newspapers can accept shady information as fact, without checking adequately on its source. It's a sloppy way to do business, but in a hurried profession it happens. Maybe it's just because the New York Times is so huge and so widely read that it appears to rack up more big sloppy errors than most. A mispelling here and there, the occasional wrong date on an event, etc, these are to be expected at any newspaper, but the Times, in an odd turnabout, does pretty well on the little things and outrageously badly on some of the big things. Take for example the paper's most recent error in covering GOP vice presidential pick. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. This was published in today's Times:

Obama fibs about Republicans and Palin on economy

Stephanie Ramage — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:53:00 GMT

According to today’s New York Times, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience in New Philadelphia, Ohio, before Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention: “You did not hear a single world about the economy “Not once did they mention the hardships that people are going through.”

Well, he might have said that before Sarah’s speech, but it was already a huge oversight at best and outright lie at worst. Both Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rudolph Giuliani talked about the economy, specifically citing higher prices and lower home values. After their speeches, Palin took the stage and pointed to higher prices for groceries, gas, and heating oil—referring to homes in the northern United States in particular that use oil rather than natural gas for heat—and how these daily costs are undermining the ability of families to take care of themselves.

CNN's biased reporting on Sarah Palin

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Just about every mom hears this at some point in her career: “Considering the hours/travel/demands, we went with another candidate for the job/promotion.” What that means is: “You have kids, so, we won't give you the job/promotion you deserve.” Which translates directly into “We’re not hiring/promoting you because you’re a woman who acts and lives like a woman.”

Remember this, because it’s going to be very important as the Democrats seek to dismantle Sarah Palin. You see, here’s something the majority of the women’s studies crowd believes, but never articulates: “The only women worthy of power are women in drag.”

Pray for New Orleans

Stephanie Ramage — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:58:00 GMT

I'm not the religious type, but right now New Orleans and its residents, as well as the folks all along the Gulf coast, need our prayers and goodwill. In a few days, they may need much, much more than that. We went though this, almost to the day, just three years ago, and we learned a lot. We all learned about not being prepared, about the emptiness of just hoping for the best and leaving it up to someone else to protect us.

Yay!!!!! It's Sarah Palin!!!!!!

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:05:00 GMT

I couldn't be more thrilled! In an early draft of this column, I write the following about Sarah Palin:

"One excellent VP choice was suggested for McCain by former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina on Fox during the Democratic National Convention. Considering the alienation of women over Obama’s treatment of Hillary Clinton, why not pick a woman? How about Sarah Palin, the young, attractive and out-spoken governor of Alaska? I could live with that. With one son in the Army and another with Down’s syndrome, Palin intimately knows the challenges that face American families, the specters of war, inadequate health care and narrow educational options, and she knows how hard it is for women to break down barriers in the world of work."

Please let it be Tom Ridge

Stephanie Ramage — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:14:00 GMT

I wanted McCain to pick Bobby Jindal as his running mate, but back in July it became clear that Jindal, who took office as Louisiana’s governor in January, intended to stay in Louisiana. Joe Lieberman would also have been a good choice. But all the indications are that the GOP has successfully steamrolled the fiercely independent John McCain into playing ball with the religious right. It looks as though he’ll be choosing Mitt Romney. Or maybe Tim Pawlenty. Either one will be poison for the Republican ticket. Either one will insure that the GOP loses the White House. The GOP theocrats have utterly underestimated the group of people who have stood by John McCain longer than anyone else—the irreligious independents, people who may believe in God but who certainly never wanted religion to become the focal point of any political campaign.

Russia's infiltration and incitement to secession in Georgia

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:36:00 GMT

Earlier this month, Republic of Georgia President Saakashvili took the same action that any leader would take to hold his country together in the face of what looks suspiciously like a classic Russian infiltration and incitement job, a leftover from the days of Putin's old alma mater, the KGB. Americans cannot imagine having a state try to secede and the severe security problem that would present--even though such a secession by numerous states was brutally--though rightfully-- put down in the American Civil War. Even if Barack Obama were president, if a state tried to secede, he'd send in the troops to keep it from happening bc of the extremely dangerous security risk the renegade state would present to the other US states.

RUSSIA, GET OUT OF GEORGIA!

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:53:00 GMT

The first thing you'll see on the Republic of Georgia's presidential Web site is a heartbreaking listing of medals awarded for courage in "defending the motherland." Little Georgia has far too few troops to defend itself from Russia's forces. Equally upsetting is the video of Russian planes dropping bombs within full view of international news crews' cameras. Nonetheless, we need to see it. It's important to know what's going on there. Visit http://www.president.gov.ge and click on "Video Material" in the lower left corner.
And here, in case you have not read it, is Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's address to his people and the world:

Stephanie Ramage on Australian nat'l radio

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Listen in to Australian radio show Dads on the Air as Stephanie Ramage discusses shared custody and Georgia's family law courts tonight at 8:40 p.m. EST streaming at www.dadsontheair.net

Spice it up

Kirsten — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:31:00 GMT

Spice Girls belt out, "Spice up your life." Executive chef and owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Spice Market (the new restaurant in the W Hotel Midtown) can do just that. I dined there for lunch this past week with SP contributor Hope Philbrick, and I was excited to see it was more than just a market. When Americans hear "market," they think "store." But Vongerichten grew up visiting real street markets around the globe and has translated some of his favorite vendor treats into gourmet fare for you and me.

Lunch guests can be in and out quickly with the "Bento Box," a 20-minute express lunch offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for $15, which includes fragrant miso soup, shrimp dumplings and herbs; avocado and radish salad with Chinese mustard and tempura onions; a choice between beef satay, chicken skewers or pork satay; cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil; a choice of brown or Jasmine rice; and a choice of ice cream or sorbet. But Hope and I weren't trying to make it quick. We wanted to take our time enjoying our first experience of Spice Market, and that we did. We started with three appetizers: black-pepper shrimp served over sundried pineapple squares, chicken skewers with a lime-dipping sauce and Vietnamese spring rolls, which we wrapped in arugula lettuce leaves. The dishes were small and perfect for lunch-size sharing. Hope and I agreed that the shrimp was by far our fave out of the apps, but I was impressed with the meat provided on the chicken skewers.

Next we moved on to cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil, an entree we shared. The white circle of fish was ensconced in a vivid red halo, which was surrounded by an outer layer of lime green (the basil sauce, I imagine). The dish was mildly spicy, by our standards, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We paired it with a side of baby corn and broccoli with lemongrass and chili--a completely unexpected twist to veggies and a pleasant surprise. Dessert was a medley of deliciousness: strawberry green tea cake with lychee sorbet, spiced peach tatin with ginger ice cream, Vietnamese coffee ice cream and the Thai jewels and fruits made with crushed coconut ice. The sampling of offerings at Spice was a luxurious way to spend a lunch hour (or two) and get to know the global personality of Jean-Georges.

Spice Market is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Valet parking at the W Hotel costs only $6 when your ticket is validated at the restaurant. www.spicemarketatlanta.com.

China: Hate the oppression, love the torchbearer

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:48:00 GMT

Saying no to China’s oppression of Tibet—not to the Olympic Torch relay—would have been the proper approach to the torch’s journey around the world, but fanatics being what they are, there was no consideration given to, for example, the wheelchair athlete who was carrying the torch in Paris on April 6.

I agree wholeheartedly that China has overstepped its bounds and failed to peacefully address autonomy concerns in Tibet, but sacre bleu! The Olympic torch protesters are selfish idiots: being chosen to carry the torch is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for athletes, and these thoughtless demonstrators have basically ambushed and endangered those athletes by attempting to snatch the torch from their hands (and in some cases succeeding in doing so). Does this further Tibet’s cause? Not one iota. In fact, it does just the opposite. Some people who may have felt sympathetic to Tibet have become more sympathetic to China as they have watched these antics. And who could blame them? How is it peaceful to douse the dreams of the torch bearers?

The power of words and Obama's pastor

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:16:00 GMT

On March 14, Sen. Barack Obama told CNN, regarding the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s comments about 9/11 and white America, "Had I heard those statements in the church, I would have told Reverend Wright that I profoundly disagree with them,” adding, "What I have been hearing and had been hearing in church was talk about Jesus and talk about faith and values and serving the poor."

But on March 18, in a speech in Philadelphia, he admitted he had sat in church and heard his former minister make controversial remarks.

America's economic slide

Stephanie Ramage — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:33:00 GMT

For decades beginning when I was in junior high, for God’s sake, which was more than 25 years ago, lots of business gurus and education pundits warned ferociously that American students must learn foreign languages in order to be ready for a more global economy—that such a multi-lingual marketplace was inevitable.

My own rural middle Georgia high school offered French, which many of us would need as we ordered le poule avec gras at the Kentucky Fried Chicken. We stumbled through the Maison D’Etre (the “House of To-Be”) breaking grammatical rules like lamps as we went, earned passing grades and went on to college to focus on things that were more practical, like business management. Of course, we couldn’t have known then that our mono-lingualism would doom the American economy 25 years later.

Thanks to Pete Davis for this hilarious overview of the primaries

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:45:00 GMT

Pete Davis has contibuted what may be the funniest political observation I've seen in 10 years. Here's an excerpt:

Mitt Romney.
Accomplishments? Former governor of Massachusetts. Former head of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Inherits the mantle of Man with most Reagan-like Hair. Fertile as Yertle the turtle.

Possible downside with voters: His Mormon faith. Changes positions faster than a flea on a Chinese checkerboard. Relates to the common man like Rush Limbaugh relates to his ex’s.

Media Bias: If you find that Mitt is a rather stiff guy it’s not completely
his fault. It’s hard to move gracefully with fellow Latter Day Saint Glenn
Beck of CNN wedged so firmly up his buttocks.

MLK's birthday

Kevin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:48:00 GMT

Although Martin Luther King Day isn't until next Monday, today, Jan. 15, marks the late civil rights leader's actual birthday. Given that Atlanta is Dr. King's birthplace,

Mack is back, baby!

Stephanie Ramage — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:50:00 GMT

Mack is indeed back--laying a five-percentage point whoopin' on Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, even as Hillary also came from behind to take the Democratic victory in the Live-Free-or-Die state.

The truth about public health

Stephanie Ramage — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:48:00 GMT

Regarding the American hospitals/clinics in Dubai and elsewhere overseas: I think it's important that we think about what this might mean to our own health care system in the future and what it says about our present system. Our system is financially unwieldy, but the most fundamental role of any health care system is to provide health care.

Happy Veterans Day

Kevin — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:50:00 GMT

Words like “veteran” and “soldier” feel increasingly loaded these days (no pun intended).

What I'm reading

Stephanie Ramage — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:01:00 GMT

"The Family That Couldn't Sleep: A Medical Mystery," by D.T. Max. I spent a substantial chunk of my weekend with this fascinating non-fiction.