Hang in there; election nears

Now I know how the cat feels.

Remember the feline from the 1970s poster, hanging from a limb by his claws? The caption read, "Hang in there, baby; Friday's coming."

In this case, though, I'm hanging by my fingernails, and the caption reads, "Hang in there; Nov. 8 is coming."

I'm sure I'm not the only person ready for the campaign season to end. We say it every election: This one is dirtier than the last one. But it probably isn't. It's just that every nasty deed in every election around the country gets amplified by the Internet and talk radio until it seems like we're deafened by it.

In one of the more recent episodes, we've got Michael J. Fox vs. Rush Limbaugh. Not since Max Cleland have we seen someone so blatantly use a personal disability for a political purpose - or the person critical of them get blasted so hard for insensitivity.

Hey, boo hoo, Mike; cut commercials for politicians, people are going to take shots at you. Likewise, Rush, beat up on a Parkinson's patient, and even you aren't deaf enough to avoid the indignation.

We also had U.S. Sen. George Allen in Virginia taking a beating after calling a stalker from his opponent's campaign a name that, apparently in some obscure place on the planet, is considered derogatory.

Then, Allen's folks read opponent James Webb's novels and distributed sexually graphic excerpts.

We've even got the Senate incumbent in Tennessee being accused of attending a party where Playboy bunnies frolicked. Which I suppose is bad, though I could think of worse places to be caught.

Like, say, Congress.

Hang in there, folks. Nov. 8 is just a week away.

Ban vetoed

Occasional complaints still circulate about Columbia County's smoking ban, but for the most part everyone - including bar-and-grill owners - have gotten used to it.

It was interesting, then, to see the other day that Dekalb County passed a ban similar to Columbia County's - and Dekalb's elected chief executive officer then vetoed it.

"Sometimes our government goes too far," Vernon Jones said, "and I think this is one of those cases."

A lot of folks around here would agree with that sentiment - particularly bar owners.

Speaking of such places, I visited the Sidetrack Bar and Grill the other day, and owner Chuck Large proudly showed off his just-completed second dining room.

It has a place for a dance floor, a nice fireplace and seating for about 60. It's not in the same room as the bar, so he hopes it will attract more families.

It should. Try the Yankee Philly cheese steak. Best sandwich in town.

Bond neglect

Anyone know where those "No Bond" signs came from? They seemed to pop up all over town this weekend.

While no one has claimed them, there's also no one outside county goverment coming forward to offer organized support for the bond.

Traditionally, when governments get a sales-tax or bond referendum on the ballot, they ask the county's Chamber of Commerce to pay for promotion of its passage. That's because it's illegal to spend public money in support of a vote - although Columbia County has come perilously close in this case to doing so with all their flyers and mailers providing "information" on the bond.

The chamber's only support has come from a few members writing letters, and then only because a member poll showed most favor the bonds.

There will be plenty of blame if these bonds fail. But some of it could, legitimately, be put on a lack of trying to win its passage.

Barry L. Paschal is publisher of The Columbia County News-Times. E-mail comments to barry.paschal@newstimesonline.com, or call 706-863-6165, extension 106.