The Gipper strikes again

By Joe McAdory

An Opelika-Auburn News online poll asked: Who do you consider the best president in U.S. history? The choices were FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, JFK, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, or someone else.

I’m not shocked at the leader, but the margin by which he’s leading is staggering. Ronald Reagan is the clear choice of many with 267 votes, as of Wednesday morning. Bill Clinton is a distant second with 121. FDR is third with 119. Generating the least amount of votes is Teddy Roosevelt with 16. I believe many people don’t remember just how good a president he really was.

Reagan is still fresh on our minds and so many positive things happened for our nation under his watch. Personally, I’d vote for FDR considering all of the things he got this nation through.

I don’t consider Bush as one of America’s best presidents, but I was interested to see how many folks would vote for him. So far, 33 have. Bush has been dealt a difficult hand of cards to play as the prez.

Hail to the Chief.

Educate yourself about MRSA

By Joe McAdory

The ‘Super Bug’ MRSA has made the national news lately and has even had a few outbreaks in Alabama. There is much to learn about this bacteria, that can be easily contracted if we do not exercise proper hygiene—like washing our hands.

To learn more about MRSA, check out this Web site from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Then go wash your hands.

http://www.adph.org/epi/Default.asp?id=1822

Hubbard blasts Davis in column

By Joe McAdory

District 79 state representative and Alabama Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, penned a spirited column regarding Congressman Artur Davis and former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.
Here it is:

Artur Davis and His Carnival of Conspiracy
By Rep. Mike Hubbard

It is not often that the Chairman of one political party has praise for a member of another party, but, at one point, I actually thought highly of Congressman Artur Davis.  He seemed to be one who was willing to reach across partisan lines and depart from the extreme liberal views of the Democrat Party when reason and common sense told him to do so.

My opinion recently changed 180 degrees when, in a remarkable turn of events, Davis became the top defender and advocate of former Alabama governor and convicted felon Don Siegelman. 

It was only a few months ago that Congressman Davis dismissed the ridiculous and unfounded accusations that Don Siegelman’s conviction by jury was the result of a politically-motivated prosecution rather than the greed, graft and corruption that ran rampant in his administration. 

But in a congressional hearing held this week, he showed his true colors – that of a partisan who will say anything and do anything to gain the attention of the media and the liberal left. He showed that he is willing to sell his soul for political gain.

Much of Davis’ supposed argument for Siegelman’s innocence centers around the affidavit of a shadowy attorney with ties to some of the Riley administration’s biggest political enemies.  In her filing, attorney Dana Jill Simpson claims knowledge of a conspiracy to falsely prosecute Siegelman that sounds more like the plot of a John Grisham novel than anything that could happen in the real world.

According to her story, the Ku Klux Klan, the White House, Karl Rove, one of Richard Scrushy’s defense attorneys and a host of other characters arranged an elaborate plan to unjustly place Siegelman behind bars.  When questioned by attorneys with the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, however, Simpson’s story fell to pieces, and she has since refused to talk with the press or anyone else about her concocted tale.

Some members of the House Judiciary Committee have even suggested that her affidavit be investigated for possible perjury charges. Similarly, newspapers across the state have looked into her claims and proven time and time again that her facts simply do not add up.

When the facts are objectively reviewed, it is obvious that the only person to blame for Don Siegelman currently residing in Oakdale, Louisiana as federal inmate #24775-007 is Don Siegelman.  Yet the conspiracy theorists and the liberal left, including Artur Davis, continue to spin tales to the contrary.

I honestly believe Congressman Davis knows as well as anyone that Siegelman was convicted by an unbiased jury because he corrupted government and committed crimes while serving as governor.

Unfortunately, Artur Davis’ personal political ambitions will not allow him to publicly admit the truth.

Some cities slicker than others

By Joe McAdory

I enjoy traveling, seeing new places. Not that this has anything to do with anything else, but below are the 10-largest cities I have traveled to, in no particular order.

Atlanta—We often have to travel to Atlanta just to get where we really want to go.

Washington, D.C.—Can’t wait to do that again.

Miami—It was like a different country.

Dallas—Big buildings. Pretty flat.

New Orleans—Never want to go there again.

Indianapolis—Like Dallas.

Columbus, Ohio—Sneaky big. A lot of people, but spread out.

Charlotte—The South’s new corporate base.

Tampa/St.Pete—Good weather, lots to do.

Orlando—Tourists really compound the traffic.

Jacksonville—Largest city by square mileage.

To be honest, I prefer mid-sized cities. Less traffic, and still all of the things you really want. Guess that’s what we’ve got here.

See a shuttle launch if you can

By Joe McAdory

Space Shuttle Discovery blasted into orbit Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Fla., taking seven on another repair mission to the international space station. I’ve seen the shuttle launch on television dozens of time and each launch is spectacular in its own right.

But nothing beats actually being there.

Last July, I stood along a causeway over the Indian River in Titusville to watch Discovery soar toward the heavens and it was a sight to behold. To hear the roar of the engines and feel the ground shake, man that was cool. I shot the launch on video and managed to take a couple of pictures. Sure, the footage doesn’t compare to CNN’s, but it’s mine.

If you’re ever in east central Florida at the time of a launch, why not make the trip to Titusville and watch history? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. And while you’re there, stop by Dixie Crossroads and fill up on rock shrimp and corn fritters.