Comments on: Strange happenings in Douglas County

By: BradFinATL

BradFinATL — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:07:27 +0000

The story has made front page of the local paper.

http://www.neighbornewspapers.com/318/10305967.txt

By: Icarus

Icarus — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:56:20 +0000

So, in sum, will Douglas County be changing its name to Bell County when the litigation is finished?

By: BradFinATL

BradFinATL — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:30:17 +0000

There’s only a couple other notes on this.

James Bell has, for over 10 years, been involved in the cleanup of Dogwood strip along with other civic groups. These groups have arranged special permission from the railroad to beautify the area and keep it clean. There are several newspaper clippings that outline this history.

There was a sign at Dogwood Strip, stating no posting was allowed at the strip.

Norfolk Southern has a policy of no signs on their property.

Ga State Law states no campaign signs ever in the right of way of state or federal highways, as a safety issue.

Local County ordinances claim all signs must be on private property at least 6 feet from the right of way.

Local County exempts campaigns from any sign laws.

By: A Typical White Person

A Typical White Person — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:41:43 +0000

In the old days, something like the Southeastern Legal Foundation could have possibly been relied upon to take an interest in a case like this regarding unequal application of the law.

BUT, that was in the days before SELF became just another tool for ultra-religious Republican issues.

By: Dave Bearse

Dave Bearse — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:47:45 +0000

The only thing Bell is guilty of is trespassing on Norfolk Southern property, the same crime committed by the candidates or their agents that placed the signs on NS property if they didn’t have NS permission, a virtual certainty.

By: Rpolitic

Rpolitic — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:01:29 +0000

The fact is this shoudl be an ethics violation at best. The criminalization of political campaigns is a scary thing. And for Republicans to do it even scarier.

The fact is campaigns are full contact sports. It ain’t pretty but it seems to have worked for the last couple hundred years.

By: AubieTurtle

AubieTurtle — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:32:16 +0000

Reminds me of the Ron Paul supporters who plastered his stickers and signs all over the place, on property both public and private. At least on public property they have a shaky (and wrong) claim that it belongs to them as much as anyone else so it is ok. But each time I see an ATM with a Ron Paul sticker on it, I wonder if the person who put it there has the slightest clue what Ron Paul stands for. I’m pretty sure taking private property of others to achieve the goals of the vandals isn’t in his platform.

As far as campaign signs go, they’re really really stupid. Yes, just like any other form of image advertising, the goal is to get the candidate’s name out in front of the public as many times as possible. It is really sad that they have any effect on the results of the election. Campaign signs tell you virtually nothing about a candidate that the voter shouldn’t already know if they put in at least five minutes of research before voting. Sadly, that’s too much work for a large percentage of the voting public.

Campaign signs should be treated just like dog poop. When deciding if it is ok to place a sign or let your dog squat out some droppings, there is one question to ask: Do I own this land or have express permission from the owner? If the answer is no, move along! At least some of the dog owners will pick up after their animals, which is more than can be said for the campaign droppings of most politicians.

By: Bill Greene

Bill Greene — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:43:03 +0000

Republicans who used to uphold law and order… and generally playing by the rules.

LOL.

That’s only if the rules benefit them. If not, then many of them feel that it’s OK to bend them, break them, suspend them, ignore them, whatever it takes to get their intended result.

Welcome to the new GOP. I fear for my party.

By: Obis_Sister

Obis_Sister — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:13:58 +0000

There are always strange things going on in Douglas County.

By: Rick Day

Rick Day — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:26:48 +0000

Mister Bell was NOT wrong in cleaning up those signs. Mr. Bell practiced due diligence in using every aspect of The System ™ to seek remedy.

I want to know who the three so-called “conservative Republican” candidates using The System ™ to intimidate and harass this libertarian activist.

I know James Bell pretty well. He did 10 yrs for the crime of organizing the first Georgia NORML chapter. We have better things to do with The System ™ than to give cronies a free ride concerning sign laws.

The law is the damn law, people. If The System ™ will not enforce it, the people will.

By: eburke

eburke — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:57:26 +0000

Why hasn’t Douglas County issued citations against those who put up the signs in violation of the ordinance. This kind of stuff makes me sick of the Republicans who used to uphold law and order, local government, respect for privat property and generally playing by the rules. Mr. Bell was wrong for taking the law into his own hands when he couldn’t get the County or the candidates to respect the law. But I have trouble respecting a candidate who has no respect for law or private property.