Replacing Howard Thompson.

Bradley County 4th District Commissioner Howard Thompson, made the honorable decision of resigning from the office his constituents elected him to serve. Wrongdoing, especially by one in high office can never be condoned, accountability being the only antidote for corrupt behavior is essential for public trust, a concept the former commissioner, who plead guilty to attempted theft, is no doubt painfully aware. But there are other factors citizens should consider before rejoicing in the apparent victory of justice served.

For all his faults, Thompson was well liked in the 4th District, being re-elected over and over to represent his people. 4th District residents seem to be a different breed from the rest of Bradley County, exhibiting an ingrained desire for political fairness reminiscent of the early settlers and they chose Thompson to keep them informed and to make their voice heard. 4th District residents are savvy people, they know who to trust their future to, and they trusted Thompson. His business dealings may have been shaky but he never wavered in his efforts to protect his people from the ravages of shady Cleveland politics. Thompson proved his tenacity when dealing with overzealous city leaders, a trait unpopular with Cleveland power mongers. There was no doubt much rejoicing from some quarters when Thompson met his downfall.

Even acknowledging Thompson's faults, will the County Commission's appointed replacement live up to 4th District expectations?

History has proven that when a replacement was chosen by people other than area residents the replacement has been a shabby match. Commissioners willing to question city dominance of county politics are rare animals and Thompson's replacement with a yes-man could be a severe blow for fairness and equity. I do not know Commissioner Cliff Eason. He may ultimately prove a fine replacement but there are concerns over who did the choosing and why. At the last County Commission Election there were 4 candidates with respectable support in the 4th District. Howard Thompson got 859 votes, J. Adam Lowe got 774 votes, T. Stacy Hayes got 754 votes, and Jim Smith got 497 votes. Why did not Stacy Hayes or even Jim Smith replace Thompson? Fairness and equity would have prevailed and the citizen would have made the choice if the runner-up was sworn in.

The loss of Howard Thompson on the county commission may have been a triumph for justice but only time will tell if his replacement will be a triumph for the people of the county.

That's what I think. What do you think?

Or, you can now make your feelings known immediately, by commenting on this editorial through our blog, The Grapevine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Osama bin Laden's head on a stick.

Finally bin Laden has paid for his crimes against the innocent. His planned assault against Americans and our homeland had no conscience for innocent life. Remember, there were 8 children vaporized in the commercial aircraft used as missiles on 911. Don't forget the people who were forced to jump to their death from burning buildings, and the long slow torment endured by those trapped to die in the rubble.

The pain did not end for the families left behind, they carry it still and always will.

Regardless of the pros and cons of the War on Terror, the citizens of this nation supported and financed the death of bin Laden. We wanted retribution for his crimes. We wanted his head on a stick as revenge for this vicious attack. That desire cost us billions of dollars but we were pleased to pay because it was important.

Then along came our beloved President Barrack Obama, with politically correct liberalism, more concerned over the feelings of bin Laden's supporters and family than the wishes of the victims families and a grieving nation. Not only did he insult us with performing Muslim religious burial rights on bin Laden's body, Obama refused to show pictures of him receiving justice. There were no individual religious rights for bin Laden's victims, just prayers over piles of bones buried in rubble and mass graves. A victim's family is permitted to view the death of a convicted killer yet Obama sees pictures of the dead bin Laden as being too graphic for the victims families to see... Hogwash.

There was no compelling reason for bin Laden's body not to be returned to the US and displayed at the memorial on the site of the World Trade Centers and finally buried at sea. Obama's government had no right to restrict closure to a most painful episode of American history. Political correctness be damned, the American people needed revenge for what happened. We paid in blood, we financed the raid. Obama is not king, he works for us, yet he protects the memory of our sworn enemy. How could we choose such a man as our leader?

May Obama's betrayal of the American people be a shame on his family for eternity.

On this one, I don't care what you think. That's what I think.

But you can now make your feelings known immediately, by commenting on this editorial through our blog, The Grapevine.


.