Criticizing the media seems to be an integral part of the Republican election strategy. The apparent aim is to put the media on the defensive in the hope of deflecting a shallow vetting and generating more exsposure for their candidate for Vice President, Sara Palin. Some are going so far as to tell the media what is and is not newsworthy about the Vice Presidential nominee.

The expressed outrage of Republicans at mainstream news scrutiny and particular mention of Governor Palins daughter’s pregnancy is not only antithetical to its professed beliefs but out right hypocritical. Among others, Republicans embrace the viewpoint that favors a governmental role in encouraging and enforcing traditional values and behaviors in the belief that these are what keep people civilized and decent. Amajor part of conservatives agenda involves fostering religious beliefs and actions, i.e., prayer in school, anti- abortion, principled governance, to name a few. The fact is…Governor Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy came about as a result of a sinful act, yet there is no talk abou that. Instead, what you hear is…all families have their problems, it’s a private matter, it’s a shame that they would drag the children into the campaign, on and on. It won't work!

I'm a state employee and would more than likely lose my job for expressing an opinion, but Governor Perdue's "Team Georgia - Ready to Serve" training program is just one example of why we're $1.6 billion in the hole. Every employee of all our state agencies was attending, or was scheduled to attend, a three-day session on customer service. Along with thousands of others, I have already completed my training, traveling four hours to the facility and spending two nights in a motel, before the current budget crisis delayed the program. (I haven't heard if its been cancelled completely).

We're talking about sending employees all over the state to training classes which waisted untold amounts of tax dollars in fuel and housing alone, not to mention the costs of the training materials, instructors, etc... It would be interesting to see what the total would have costs had this been completed. If there were concerns or complaints about a particular state agency's (or employees) performance, then is should be adressed, but where did this brilliant idea come from? The agency that I work for has possibly the highest customer service rating anywhere, state or national. We should have been teaching the class! The way things look right now, I might lose my job anyway... Thanks, Proudly Serving Georgia!

The sham of last week’s “lights-out revolt”
Grady L. Cornish, PhD

Last week's Congressional adjournment without approving more off shore oil drilling rights has been framed as the Democrats opposition to relieving us from high gas prices. The “lights-out revolt” of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives stirred blind believers and generated skepticism among the inquisitive. Fact#1...even if Congressional approval had been granted last week the oil would not be available until ten years hence. Fact #2... Big oil companies currently have drilling rights to over 40 million acres on and off shore. Why aren't they exercising those rights? Fact #3…Big oil gets billions yearly in government subsidies. Fact#4 …Big oil contributes to Republican candidates more than any other group.

These latest moves are based upon a strategy of seizing advantage from anxiety of the moment, another wedge tactic. These shameful and deceptive strategies are based upon a belief in an inattentive and ignorant electorate.

Do not let your viewpoint be shaped by spin and deception. Consult the nonpartisan factcheck.org, which is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, for unbiased analyses of both sides' claims and counterclaims.

America is in need of a civic awakening
Grady L. Cornish, PhD

Literacy about why national, state, and local governments exist, their duties and responsibilities, as well as the nature and extent of participation in elections are indicators of the nation’s civic health.

Civic illiteracy and disengagement are abounding. What percentage of the electorate can explain the duties and responsibilities of the US President, Congress, a US Senator or Representative, Governor, State Senator or Representative, Sheriff, Coroner, Magistrate Judge, to name a few? How many have even a basic understanding of health, tax, foreign, transportation, and other policy issues? This knowledge is essential to assessing the performance of elected officials and determining their readiness to lead and manage.

Increasingly, the outcomes of national, state, and local elections are being determined purely by passion and low voter turnout. Opinion polls in general, satisfaction and performance assessment polls in particular,are all over the landscape. For example, Insider Advantage Polling about Gov. Sonny Perdue’s performance consistently shows a sixty percent plus favorable rating. By any reasonable measures those numbers do not jibe with reality. Those results tell more about either the polling methodology or the people being surveyed than anything else. A voter must know the duties and responsibilities of a Governor to effectively determine whether they are being performed. Choosing candidates and assessing the performance of elected officials based upon likeability, faith, and other limited factors to exclusion of other more relevant ones such as preparedness, vision, and performance evidences a civic challenged electorate. A company cannot survive long with none or poorly performing employees and neither can America.

A civic challenged and disengaged electorate is quite susceptible to being manipulated and handled. For the sake of a strong America civic illiteracy and disengagement must be confronted.

America’s politics changing
Grady L. Cornish, PhD

Race has been a dominant aspect of America’s political landscape. It was present in the debates about slavery in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Unfortunately today, it is still playing a subtle role in our body politics.

As ugly as it might get,the poison of racism is being drawn out. Through newspaper Opinions, television and radio discussions it is being dragged into the open where it can be punctured and stand as concrete refutation of the claim that racism doesn’t really exist anymore. It remains real, it retains the power to warp lives and futures and souls, and you can see its craftmanship throughout our society.

However, while we acknowledge that racial bias remains a powerful subcurrent in all aspects of American life, it’s also important to distinguish the subcurrent from the mainstream. There is absolutely no doubt that America is changing quickly, and for the better. The recent Indiana, Lousiana, and Mississippi Democratic Congressional wins are powerful indicators that the politic of division, particularly race related, is "on its death bed and the only thing uncertain about it is how costly will be the funeral." These Democratic Congressional wins are powerful indicators because in all three of the recent special elections Republican opponents ran ads connecting the Democratic candidates with Obama and Reverand Wright. The outcome of those elections provide reasonable examples of the rejection of the prolongated conflict fed Obama/Rev.Wright discussions of conservative television and talk radio personalities. These personalities are struggling to maintain relevance in this changing environment.

The transforming aspect of this year’s election is evidenced in the elevated importance of how a campaign is run; it now matters. Playing on racial fear and resentment for political advantage is not getting as good a reception as in prior election years. So far, those candidates who tolerate the worst in those on the fringe risk a powerful backlash, because America is not there anymore.

Questions linger about Obama
Grady L. Cornish, PhD

Despite a well written condemnation and a pointed response, questions linger about whether or not, during twenty years of membership, Presidential candidate, Barrak Obama, heard some of the controversial and incendiary sermons by The Rev. Wright, pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Ill. Moreover, these questions have instigated the assertion that if Obama indeed did hear some and failed to challenge or disassociate from Rev. Wright it’s a reflection of poor judgment, lack of courage, and thus disqualifies him for the Presidency?

A prolonged conflict-feeding discussion of the Obama/ Rev. Wright connection benefits mostly people like O’Rielly, Lumbaugh, Hannity, and similar ilk, who are stretching it to the max. Limited to the context of their own premises they, along with their guest, have discussed this matter from all possible angles. Now that the Republican Party has chosen a Presidential Candidate not of their liking, this group is struggling to maintain relevance. The people buying what they are selling have already made up their minds. The tracking polls they cite claiming some shifts among voters in the undecided category are quite skewed and therefore meaningless. Generally, voters in that group are more deliberative, thoughtful and less likely to be persuaded by people of their mindset.

To conclude that Obama’s refusal to disown Rev. Wright evidences a flawed judgement and lack of courage, and therefore robs him of the fitness to be President not only stretches the bounds of reason but also turns logic on its head.

I am a Hillary Clinton supporter but I detest political hustlers from all spectrums.