Your morning jolt: We’ve entered the 48-hour zone for political hijinks

Just because you can’t or won’t prove that you’ve created a charitable foundation, just because you’ve been fined $25,000 for failing to properly register that charity – none of that deprives you of bragging rights.

At-large Atlanta City Councilman Lamar Willis, running for a third term, is touting his claim that he’s given away $100,000 in scholarships on a flyer sent to voters over the weekend:

One unspoken consequence of the state Democratic party’s entry into the Atlanta mayoral race: It may have cost front-runner Mary Norwood any chance she had of striking an alliance with candidates left out of a run-off – if there is one.

Based on their statements in Sunday’s AJC/WSB debate, in which they accused Norwood of misleading voters on her party identification, it seems unlikely that Kasim Reed, Lisa Borders or Jesse Spikes would endorse Norwood.

Evidence of where the Rev. Mitzi Bickers, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, stands in the mayor’s race, as captured by a reader this morning:

We are officially in the 48-hour hijink zone.

Atlanta Progressive News, a liberal web site that has endorsed Norwood for mayor, says it has photos of a car with a Reed bumper sticker – loaded with yard signs for Norwood.

But that can’t compare with this item from the Clayton News Daily, on the contests in the city of Stockbridge:

Mark Alarcon, who is seeking a city council seat, and Lee Stuart, who is challenging incumbent Mayor R.G. Kelley, both said city officials have deliberately obscured their signs.

Both signs are posted behind City Hall, located at 4640 North Henry Boulevard, next to Stockbridge Florist and Gifts. Alarcon said he put his sign up on Oct. 17, the day before City Hall held an open house.

He said he passed by the sign later, and personally witnessed city employees stacking 25 bales of hay around his sign.

“I had my sign up in a particular corner, very visible,” said Alarcon. “About two hours later, I went by [again], and they had acquired another 15 bales of hay. I knew that was intentional.”

CNN says that Ralph Reed’s new Faith and Freedom Coalition in Virginia has sent a round of robo-call messages to Republican voters in that state’s race for governor, featuring Sarah Palin:

“Virginia, hello, this is Sarah Palin calling to urge you to go to the polls Tuesday and vote for Sarah’s principles,” the former Alaska governor says in the call, which was provided to CNN by one Democrat who recorded it. “The eyes of America will be on Virginia and make no mistake about it, every vote counts. So don’t take anything for granted, vote your values on Tuesday, and urge your friends and family to vote, too.”

The state Capitol will feature a serious Mutt-and-Jeff combination this morning when a congressional hearing featuring the very liberal Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and very conservative Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) convenes late this morning to discuss the real estate crisis.

Kucinich, the chairman of the House domestic policy subcommittee, released a witness list that includes:

– State Sen. Vincent Fort;

– Former mayor Andrew Young;

– Burt Manning, chief assessor of the Fulton County board of tax assessors;

– Brent Brewer, director of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s home defense project;

– And Joe Brennen, president and CEO of the Georgia Bankers Association.

While you ponder that, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:

Atlanta mayoral candidates throw final jabs, make pitches to voters.

Delta lease at Hartsfield-Jackson hits turbulence.

New state mental health director faces difficult task, critics.

Former governor does about-face on lobbyists.

Complaints against judges turn into lengthy probes.

Family of woman killed in APD raid asks for sanctions in lawsuit.

Flood maps still don’t match reality.

Some opinion:

Bob Barr says Patriot Act reform may be nearer.

Neal Boortz: Kinda wish cameras could shoot bullets.

From elsewhere in Georgia:

Augusta Chronicle: Georgia governor candidates mixed on opt-out.

And beyond:

WSJ: Employers brace for swine flu outbreaks.

WP: Bad news for Democrats in revelation of ethics probes.

NYT: Frank Rich on the invasion of upstate New York by Republican Stalinists.

Editor’s note: Given the impending Atlanta mayoral election, instant commenting has been closed on the Political Insider blog. Readers are invited to submit comments on all posts, which will be published as soon as possible after review.

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