On a smarter planet, Augusta membership wouldn’t be an issue
For a decade now, IBM has been one of three main sponsors for broadcasts of the Masters golf tournament, which begins a week from today. IBM technology helps to run the tournament; IBM hosts a hospitality cabin near the 10th hole for its clients and guests.
Reflecting that long and close relationship, the last four IBM CEOs have been invited to become members of Augusta National, a highly sought honor. (The Washington Post puts the number at the last eight.)
Last October, however, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano announced he was stepping down and named as his replacement a 53-year-old by the name of Ginni Rometty to replace him.
That would be Ginni, as in Virginia. And as we all know, Augusta National has yet to welcome a woman to don its exalted green jacket (it welcomed its first black member in 1990).
Ten years ago, when Martha Burk tried to strong-arm the club into inviting a woman to join its exclusive membership, club leaders resisted, insisting that any changes in its membership policy would be made in its own time, without outside pressure. Rometti’s ascension to the head of IBM offers Augusta National a natural, organic opportunity to take that step, a step that it should have taken sometime in the previous century.
Conversely, refusing to take that natural step with a corporate ally as prominent as IBM, with a candidate such as Rometti who has earned the perks that traditionally come with her job, would make the absence of women all the more glaring.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
543 comments Add your comment
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:56 pm
barking frog:
………………….
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:56 pm
It’s unconstitutional in Oklahoma to require women seeking abortions to be forced to look at an ultrasound image and to listen to a detailed description of the fetus.
District Judge Bryan Dixon ruled the statute passed by the Oklahoma Legislature in 2010 is an unconstitutional special law
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
10:56 pm
Steve – USA (I support “None Of The Above”) :
They sure do !
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
10:58 pm
oops there goes another possible VP candidate or 2.
getalife
March 29th, 2012
11:00 pm
Mental health patient number.
In the future, they will discriminate against cons.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:03 pm
getalife:
Good one !
They BOTH suck
March 29th, 2012
11:06 pm
Have a great night and a better tomorrow
Peace
BADA BING
March 29th, 2012
11:07 pm
This is a pulic forum, and you can be banished at Jay’s bidding. Yet a golf club can’t set their own rules? A private club can’t do what they want? Rules only apply at some places, I guess.
kayaker 71
March 29th, 2012
11:09 pm
Bada Bing, 11:07,
It’s called highly selective indignation….. something that Bookman has managed to be very good at.
BADA BING
March 29th, 2012
11:09 pm
0311……..I havn’t seen Trayvon’s ultra sound baby pics yet. Tommorow maybe?
Satan
March 29th, 2012
11:09 pm
Tbs busy
kayaker 71
March 29th, 2012
11:13 pm
Outta here…. Thought for the day….. Just remember, you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning. Tata.
barking frog
March 29th, 2012
11:13 pm
Bada Bing,
Jay has freedom of the
press to squelch bad
talk.
MastersMeister has
no such constitutional
freedom.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:13 pm
BADA:
No. They’re not going to show it because he was giving the technician the finger.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:15 pm
BADA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTXb-ga1fo
BADA BING
March 29th, 2012
11:15 pm
0311……that wasn’t his finger
Jm - Bloomberg Troll Strikes Again!
March 29th, 2012
11:17 pm
bad news for Nikki Haley.
BADA BING
March 29th, 2012
11:23 pm
The Taliban bans women from being members. Anyone here going to protest over there? Sign up on this blog tomorrow.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:27 pm
BADA:
Even in this country they can’t even pray with the men. The have to go to the back of the bus …… I mean mosque.
I doubt JAY will have an editorial on that one. He just sticks to Catholics and Southern Baptists who don’t ordain women as priests/pastors.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:29 pm
BADA:
I love this one. I watch it everytime I need a “pick-me-up” ! I just wish it showed the finish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJQtF3iGzTA&feature=related
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
11:30 pm
bada – good luck finding someone other than Jay who had a problem and even he didn’t seem to have THAT much of a problem with it, he just thinks it’s backward. Try reading the blog a bit before you come on here and embarass yourself
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:31 pm
BADA @ 11:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FnpaWQJO0
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:34 pm
BADA:
Is this him ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPbGPu5jySs&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL7E447E6B0F98B458
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
11:37 pm
Scout, that was pretty good. That guy knew how to throw a punch, got his shoulder into it. Funny how many bullies don’t really know how to fight.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:41 pm
For you folks still out there who can’t wait for all of the facts to come in on the Martin/Zimmerman debacle:
“12 year old kid (hardened thug) KO ‘ing a cop with his bare hands”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUHJ-Wq4PuY&feature=related
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 29th, 2012
11:44 pm
Don’t Forget:
Exactly. He was obviously a trained boxer.
The best thing to do in a street fight (if you have to) is never “box”. Close in as fast as you can nose to nose and use your elbows and knees (preferrably pinning your assailant to a wall or in a corner while you do it).
BP
March 29th, 2012
11:48 pm
JB
March 29th, 2012
6:42 pm
Yep sure you will, but right now, he has some people around who will shoot back. coward.
Don't Forget
March 29th, 2012
11:58 pm
Scout – and keep
your hands UP. Although I think Frazier would have done fine in a street fight. Cracks me up to see how some guys flail their arms, no leverage and WIDE open.
Guess you saw this
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10925357-us-soldier-dies-saving-afghan-girl
makes ya sad, makes ya proud.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
March 30th, 2012
12:02 am
Don’t Forget:
Exactly ! “Shorten the stick” (use the elbows) for more leverage !
Yes I did ……………. very sad.
Can’t wait for what JAY comes up with in the morning.
TAPS
TAPS !
Oscar
March 30th, 2012
12:40 am
BADA BING
March 29th, 2012
11:07 pm
This is a pulic forum, and you can be banished at Jay’s bidding. Yet a golf club can’t set their own rules? A private club can’t do what they want? Rules only apply at some places, I guess
__________
A social private club can do what they want. But a club where people come for business can’t. If Augusta National is a club that invites members because of business connections it no a private club entitled to do what it wants. If they invite her because she is CEO of IBM then I think they forfeit their private club designation. Legal technicalities.
Mr. Tullios
March 30th, 2012
1:50 am
With all the issues confronting us, this is the least of them.
Mr. Jay – Please write columns that affect real Americans; not the tribulations of a musterless, spoiled hag!
Fred ™
March 30th, 2012
5:43 am
No early morning peeps?
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
5:50 am
Fred, nope. I’m just giving a quick scan of the Tard Hour commentary, but will be back later.
Bud Wiser
March 30th, 2012
5:57 am
Okay.
Somebody from the left explain the so-called “big tax breaks” and all of the “subsidies” that oil companies that virtually every other company in the USA does not get.
Yawn.
I thought not.
The Journey
March 30th, 2012
6:01 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amv5UmSB2Bg
Fred ™
March 30th, 2012
6:03 am
Mystery Meat, I mean “The Journey” why do you feel the need to use a different alt every time you post the same song?
Normal, Plain and Simple
March 30th, 2012
6:13 am
Good Friday morning, all y’all…
Maybe I’ll go back to church for this…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/03/29/political-pictures-attendance-increases-exponentially/
Normal, Plain and Simple
March 30th, 2012
6:18 am
This one just because there’s a lot of it going around…
http://history.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/03/29/funny-pictures-history-hatred/
Normal, Plain and Simple
March 30th, 2012
6:37 am
I approve this message…
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/03/military-amvets-urges-affirmative-action-status-veterans-032812w/
the truth...
March 30th, 2012
7:00 am
You are an idiot……………….
Normal, Plain and Simple
March 30th, 2012
7:17 am
The Truth must be schizophrenic…
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
March 30th, 2012
7:19 am
I have no problem with Augusta keeping their little mens club all men…
I do wonder, however, how many of those men think it’s perfectly ok
for the men in government to invade a womans uterus.
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
7:27 am
how many of those men think it’s perfectly ok
for the men in government to invade a womans uterus.
Anyone think it’s NOT >95%?
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
7:30 am
Normal, good on AMVETS.
Arc of the universe is long, but it does bend toward justice, like Dr. King used to say.
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
7:33 am
Oh, and those in the GA Generally Assembly who voted for the stupid fetal pain bill know what they can do with a rusty chainsaw and sand for lube.
stevie ray
March 30th, 2012
7:37 am
Why is it anyone’s business who Augusta National admits? Jay, do you want the government to require private clubs admit whomever applies? If Augusta National wants to control who is admitted or at some point admit women, who cares? Why is it any of my business? They don’t need sponsorship to put on the tournament…..
1,756 more days (Obama) + 2,920 more days (Hilary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 30th, 2012
7:38 am
If you bought a giant SUV or a monster pick ‘em up truck since the last oil shock of 2008, then this is for you! Every giant SUV and monster pick ‘em up truck owner should have one!
I know you’ll agree with me!
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
7:42 am
“Why is it anyone’s business who Augusta National admits? Jay, do you want the government to require private clubs admit whomever applies?”
Either you didn’t read what Jay wrote…or you read it but didn’t understand it.
1,756 more days (Obama) + 2,920 more days (Hilary) formerly known as Soothsayer
March 30th, 2012
7:45 am
Forsyth County Sheriff passed out drunk discovered by paramedics after acquaintance calls 911.
I shore hope Redneck don’t find out about this!
Jimmy62
March 30th, 2012
7:45 am
On a sane planet, a private group has the right to decide their membership. Only in an insane authoritarian planet are other people able to decide the membership of a private group they don’t belong to.
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
7:46 am
“Only in an insane authoritarian planet are other people able to decide the membership of a private group they don’t belong to.”
Someone else who either didn’t read what Jay wrote, or who didn’t understand it.
Alex
March 30th, 2012
7:47 am
This is a private club and they have the right to extend or deny membership to whom ever they feel would best suit there interests. If you have such an objection to it, don’t go there. We must, however, protect and respect private property rights.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
March 30th, 2012
7:48 am
If one feels the machinations of Augusta National are none of anyones business, why then comment?
It’s none of your business.
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
7:49 am
“This is a private club and they have the right to extend or deny membership to whom ever they feel would best suit there interests”
And there’s a VERY good reason such clubs are called EXclusive.
TaxPayer
March 30th, 2012
7:52 am
I see the Georgia Republican Taliban League was hard at work under the gold dome last night.
Peadawg
March 30th, 2012
7:52 am
This is a private club and they have the right to extend or deny membership to whom ever they feel would best suit there interests. If you have such an objection to it, don’t go there.”
BINGO!
Becky
March 30th, 2012
7:54 am
After I win the lottery tonight I am going to buy Augusta National and turn it into a all gay club.
TaxPayer
March 30th, 2012
7:54 am
“Only in an insane authoritarian planet are other people able to decide the membership of a private group they don’t belong to.”
Republican men deciding women’s rights is insane.
Thomas
March 30th, 2012
7:57 am
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to African-Americans,[1] and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.
interesting..
Peadawg
March 30th, 2012
7:59 am
“Republican men deciding women’s rights is insane.”
Democrats making health insurance decisions for everyone is insane also.
Mighty Righty
March 30th, 2012
8:00 am
“I do find it interesting that the right feigned such horror at the thought that congress might approve a 2,000-page bill without reading it, yet celebrates when Scalia says he’s ready to declare that whole bill unconstitutional without reading it.”
I find it interesting that Jay doesn’t know supreme court judges make their decisions based on the constitution and evidence presented in court, not on what some portion of the public believes. They also are the only ones who determine whether something secretly snuck through in the middle of the night by a non representive congress acting in a dictatorial manner can impose its will on us.
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
8:01 am
“BINGO!”
And if you had read the first page or two you would have seen that this has already been noted.
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:01 am
Either you didn’t read what Jay wrote…
I’ve long felt that the people who complain the loudest about Jay never read more than the headline and maybe ten, fifteen words in the lede, if that.
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
8:02 am
“Democrats making health insurance decisions for everyone is insane also”
So, in your opinion Democrats are NOT in the exclusive club of “everyone”?
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:04 am
interesting..
Not as interesting as the Congressional White Caucus.
Adam
March 30th, 2012
8:07 am
RB: As I said, people USUALLY point out that his posts are stupid. And then he does respond sometimes, and sometimes not. Frankly if you have such a mancrush on him I am sure there are other, more constructive ways, of getting his attention.
JamVet
March 30th, 2012
8:07 am
And in this “private club” called JB’s forum, I’ve been busy smacking down the non-hoodied, but very suspicious, White Power elements that have infested it over the past few days.
Ain’t stopping today. Or tomorrow. Or the next day. So get used to getting your asses kicked, Lily Whites.
And threatening to run to daddy when the heat gets turned, ain’t gonna help.
Cuz I’m your daddy!
Campbell Brown
March 30th, 2012
8:08 am
Why the attacks on people giving their opinion on this? I still can’t get over the narrow – mindedness that seems to rule this area/country. Speaking your mind is still allowed. Have an intelligent argument without calling names would be impressive.
That being said, this is just another reminder that the state of Georgia is no less than 30 years behind the rest of the country on progressive ideals and movements. This is a fact not an attack.
It’s sad because I do love that golf tournament, but behind it sit a bunch of scared old men clinging on to what they think is their birth right and twisted view of how society should still be.
Wade Hampton
March 30th, 2012
8:08 am
Women will NEVER understand the humor in a perfectly-timed and well-tuned beer fluff.
.
Therefore, they would utterly ruin the ambiance of a all-men club.
.
Let the women and the Bookmans of the world have their Obama-knitting clubs.
Let the few remaining men have theirs.
Mick
March 30th, 2012
8:10 am
If the supremes knock down the whole health care bill, they will have lost the faith of a majority of the american people…
TaxPayer
March 30th, 2012
8:12 am
If Republican males continue on their path of trying to control women, they best get used to nothing more than male-only clubs. Go for it.
Howard
March 30th, 2012
8:12 am
On a smarter planet women would be in charge.
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:13 am
they will have lost the faith of a majority of the american people…
Meh. I think most Americans already see the SCOTUS as just another political power base. The Gooper appointed justices vote Gooper, and the Dem appointed justices vote Dem, on politically charged issues.
And if that’s the same as “losing faith” then I think that faith was lost back in Dec. of 2000, if not sooner.
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
8:13 am
“On a smarter planet women would be in charge”
We’re working on it!
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
March 30th, 2012
8:13 am
Gentlemen
Just remember when working on your stance swing and grip….
God invented hands before he invented women.
Wade Hampton
March 30th, 2012
8:14 am
An ORGANIC beer fluff….I meant to add.
TaxPayer
March 30th, 2012
8:18 am
Democrats making health insurance decisions for everyone is insane also.
I don’t believe the Supremes consider themselves to all be Democrats. And they certainly do not claim to speak for everyone.
tl
March 30th, 2012
8:19 am
Does she even want to be a member? Did she bring this up or is it just you guys (after reading wetzels article on Yahoo) trying to stir the pot?
And women are allowed at “heaven on earth” im taking one next week.
Mighty Righty
March 30th, 2012
8:20 am
It is time Democrats learned the difference between a subsidy and a tax write off. A subsidy is a “payment” by one entity to another. A tax write off is a business expense that reduces the axable income of the business. The Obamanistas want the simple minded to think that the government some how gives money to oil companies. Not true. The government does not write checks to the oil companies. Every business is allowed to write off the cost of doing business. Oil companies are no different.
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:25 am
Are there any all female private clubs in this country?
Doggone/GA
March 30th, 2012
8:26 am
“Are there any all female private clubs in this country?”
What’s the matter, is Google broken all of a sudden?
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:26 am
Any all Jewish/Baptist/Hindu/Muslim clubs in this country?
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:26 am
Any private clubs based soley on race?
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:27 am
It’s a rhetorical question, doggie.
Gale
March 30th, 2012
8:28 am
I expect the SC to rule the ACA mandate unconstitutional, but leave the rest of the law and let Congress sort it out. They created the mess.
I expect Augusta to not allow female membership.
I expect to win Mega Millions tonight.
I may see one of these meet my expectations.
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:28 am
Just trying to understand which private clubs we choose to persecute on the opinion pages…………
No Vahina's Please
March 30th, 2012
8:28 am
Sluts should not be allowed into Augusta. Especially high tech sluts. Next thing you know she would be asking to permit cell phones on the course.
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:29 am
We’re working on it!
yeah, we’re almost up to #78 on the list.
http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
March 30th, 2012
8:29 am
SC judge Sonia Sotomayor was a member of the womans only Belizean Court club until she quit to become a SC judge. There are other womans only private clubs. It woman decide to do that I will still be able to sleep at night.
I think people just like to be upset about nothing nowadays. No wonder no one gets along anymore.
Women Win
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
I bet Ginni could give ole Hootie a smack down.
Woodstock Mike
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
So all women’s clubs are okay?? I love dumb liberal logic.
And here’s a classic example of complete hypocrisy. Why aren’t people marching the streets for these boys? You libs probably don’t even know anything about this horrible story…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9173820/Parents-of-murdered-British-students-criticise-Barack-Obama.html
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:31 am
trying to understand which private clubs we choose to persecute
now it’s “persecution” when a columnists suggests a private organization is backward.
oh the humanity and all of the passengers!
Gale
March 30th, 2012
8:31 am
dB The interesting thing is that the United Arab Emirates is higher.
JamVet
March 30th, 2012
8:31 am
It’s a rhetorical troll’s question, doggie.
Mick
March 30th, 2012
8:32 am
stands
Yes, the 2000 decision was a turning point – for the worst!!!
stands for decibels
March 30th, 2012
8:35 am
Gale, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bangladesh, and Morocco. That’s four majority-Muslim countries with better representation of women in government than the US, and I’ve probably missed a couple in there.
a Question
March 30th, 2012
8:36 am
Nothing like the old “troll” analogy when someone states something we don’t agree with. Nice one Jammie.
Delta is Ready when you are
March 30th, 2012
8:38 am
stands,
Have you applied for citizenship in any of these countries. Sounds like you are a fan of these. If it doesn’t work out maybe Pakistan will accept you. They had a female PM. Pretty sure they need you there to let them know how to run the country.
JamVet
March 30th, 2012
8:41 am
Woo Hoo! Name jacked at 8:34.
The trolling meat is reduced to that.
Niiice.
skipper
March 30th, 2012
8:44 am
I go back to an original point; if Martha Burk was the best a group could do, they were not really serious…………….