Tim Echols on his Masters request: ‘It was a mistake’
The following article by my AJC colleague Kristi Swartz is raising eyebrows around the Capitol:
Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols began criticizing his fellow commissioners for being too cozy with lobbyists even before he took office.
I am uncomfortable taking admission, taking tickets to sporting events from those that I regulate,” he said.
Yet, using official Public Service Commission letterhead, Echols went straight to the Augusta National Golf Club to request two complimentary practice round tickets to this year’s Masters, long after tickets had been distributed to one of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments through a lottery system.
Echols, rather than defending himself, is acknowledging the breach. He just sent the following in an unsolicited e-mail:
”The March 2 letter requesting my name be put into the practice round lottery should have been done on my personal letterhead. Period. It was a mistake.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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143 comments Add your comment
Buddy Hawkins
August 25th, 2011
11:26 am
And did he apologize for threatening an armed shakedown if he didn’t get the tickets? Sending the request on official stationary is the minor issue here.
ByteMe
August 25th, 2011
11:31 am
I suppose our state ethics board will get around to investigating it when they get some money.
Nicebowtie
August 25th, 2011
11:37 am
Can the clown!
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
August 25th, 2011
11:38 am
The ol’ boy asked for tickets and when he didn’t get them threatened to show up and create a mess by backing up the limos carrying VIP’s and personally checking out their licenses.
To my way of thinking, that’s a dang “shake-down” and should be dealt with accordingly.
Of course, it won’t because the Ethics Commission has been defanged by certain people who don’t like ethics investigations and Tim Echols has an “R” behind his name.
Glenn Lanier
August 25th, 2011
11:38 am
Mr. Echols,
Your mistake was an easy one to make, and if this is all you have to cover for you are a saint compared to most of your consticuency. Keep up the good work!
Glenn Lanier
That's Goofy
August 25th, 2011
11:43 am
I have Masters tickets and didn’t have to threaten or shake anybody down.
southside GOP
August 25th, 2011
11:43 am
Is this any suprise? Tim Echols is a Oxendine protege. This is exactly what Oxendine did to insurance companies and small lending institutions for years. The mistake was on the part of his opponents for not defining Echols for what he is: a little Oxendine.
For the democrats who try to use his “R”, the “R”s overwhelmingly rejected the shake-down artist in cheif (Ox) and did not know that Echols was connected.
“It was a mistake.” | Blog for Democracy
August 25th, 2011
11:45 am
[...] No, Tim Echols, it was more than “a mistake.” [...]
Road Scholar
August 25th, 2011
11:46 am
Ethics?! Who needs ethics? They’re Republicana!
Bucky
August 25th, 2011
12:03 pm
Jim, Y’all have posted the original letter to Augusta National. Could you also post his follow-up letter, after they didn’t kowtow to him, in which he said he was coming with an armed PSC employee to personally enforce the “limo laws”?
Chess
August 25th, 2011
12:03 pm
Good Ol boy shakedown for sure. White on white slim and non-ethical. I do declare.
- Foghorn Leghorn
R U Kidding Me?
August 25th, 2011
12:05 pm
One more time … U.S. Attorney Sally Yates WHERE ARE YOU?
There is more political corruption in Georgia than a whole room full of U.S. Attorneys can tend to! But the Obama appointed Yates continues to sit on the sidelines while the GOP politicians continue to line thier pockets. Here is a documented shakedown of Augusta National by an elected official. Any first year law student could get a conviction. But not Ms. Yates. I can’t believe Nathan Deal’s appointment of her husband to some meanial state board would buy her silence. Come’on Sally, grow a pair and start doing your job!
Clancy
August 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
He is barely into office and it went to his head just like oxendine.
Remember this guy at the next election and run him out office.
We voters are the ultimate ethics committee.
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
12:07 pm
Dear Friendly Failing Bank of Georgia,
I will be checking up on some limousine services and need your help. I will need a 2 million dollar signature loan made available to me so I can make sure the limousine service I use is in full compliance of the law. Please keep in mind that I have no intention of paying the loan back, the loan is being used solely for investigative purposes. While I’m there I would like to take the time to examine your electric bill so I can check for overcharges.
Tea Party Forever xoxoo,
T. P. Echo-Chambers, PSC
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
12:11 pm
@ Bucky – If there is such a follow-up letter, he is not just unethical – but a criminal blackmailer.
He should resign for his “mistake”, and that should not be the end of it if there IS such a follow-up letter.
dbm
August 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
stupid is as stupid does..
TIM
August 25th, 2011
12:19 pm
The Public DIS Service Comm should be abolished. They don’t show up for work, the don’t care about who they serve, and they make up assinine reasons to take trips on the taxpayers dime. Time to fire all of them!!
tr
August 25th, 2011
12:21 pm
He should not have been making a special request on any letterhead. Should have gotten through the lottery or not at all. Great example of unethical behavior!
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
12:23 pm
Not sure if his email really goes to him, but on his website http://www.timechols.com/
Tim@TimEchols.com
Ashley
August 25th, 2011
12:31 pm
Lately theres one word that leaves a bad taste in my mouth….Lobbyist, and everything underhanded that goes along with it.
Fed Up
August 25th, 2011
12:33 pm
“One more time … U.S. Attorney Sally Yates WHERE ARE YOU?”
I’d like to echo the earlier comment made above. U.S. Attorney Yates needs to get busy with several outstanding ethics issues..start with the top, and the investigation of Governor Deal. We’re waiting and watching to see if her husband’s appointment prevent her department from perusing this. She needs to delegate it to an assistant attorney and recuse herself!
dixiesdemons
August 25th, 2011
12:39 pm
GOP values !!
Poleesemenses
August 25th, 2011
12:40 pm
This was a stupid, and selfish, attempt to gain favor for practice round tickets through his political position. Stupid: He says the letter was to “be put into the lottery for Monday practice round tickets.” The deadline for submitting the proper form for obtaining those tickets through the lottery system for 2011 was (I believe) July 1, 2010. Selfish: Using the letterhead to “promote” his position at the Georgia Public Service Commission. Glad he explained what the Commission does. Could this be a soft threat? Stupid again: WTF does knowing someone who was in the Olympic Torch Relay have to do with gaining priority in the ticket selection? Since golf at Augusta National was shot down and not approved that year as a sanctioned Olympic event, it seems like it would have hurt his chances!!! Mr. Echols, did you ride the short bus to school as a kid?
RememberDuaneAllman
August 25th, 2011
12:40 pm
What a complete jerk. Please God, bring the Democrats back to power….the Republicans are killing us with their hypocrisy!
Bucky
August 25th, 2011
12:45 pm
Centrist:
According to the article, there is such a letter. I quote:
“After getting no response to the March 7 letter, Echols sent a follow-up letter March 16 to Augusta National’s executive director, Jim Armstrong, announcing: “My intention is to spot check limousines that are serving patrons and professionals to make sure that these limousines are properly registered with the state of Georgia.”
In that letter, Echols wanted access to the grounds of Augusta National during the early rounds of the tournament so he could, with an armed Department of Public Safety official, check limo drivers to see whether they were properly licensed with the state. Augusta National denied Echols access, and he later called off the operation after pressure from other commissioners.”
Brenda
August 25th, 2011
12:55 pm
I want to see the follow up letter.
Aquagirl
August 25th, 2011
12:55 pm
Translation: “Whoops, got caught, sry! note to self: leave less paper trail next time.“
Wondering
August 25th, 2011
1:02 pm
If you want to see the second letter, send a request to his office. Under the Open Records Act, he then has three days to respond.
Charles
August 25th, 2011
1:06 pm
Using State letterhead is only a minor infraction. In the letter he specifically mentions that he is a statewide elected official. So regardless of what letterhead he used, he believed that his position would get him the tickets. When the friendly request was ignored then he used the strong-arm approach. It was a mistake, then the second letter would never have been sent. He would have simply accepted the decision of Augusta National. He didn’t.
Proportionalist
August 25th, 2011
1:08 pm
Three days to respond is not the same as three days to deliver. He might take all year!
Carpetbagger
August 25th, 2011
1:20 pm
The US Attorney of Northern GA and her office is a joke. They’ll go after the easy ones. If there is any gray they’ll hide behind a busy schedule. Echols, Nathan Deal, Marvin Arrington, Mickey Lloyd, and the ilk can rest easy with this clown in office.
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
1:20 pm
The public needs another utility surcharge if consumers wish to compete with the lobbyists. Our Republican office holders understand one thing only,….MONEY. Go ahead and tack on a surcharge so the customer has a spot at the trough. The fund could be used to bribe our elected officials, rewarding them for occasionally doing what is in the public’s best interest.
The Snark
August 25th, 2011
1:21 pm
Where did you people get the idea that U.S. Attorney Sally Yates is responsible for policing state ethics violations? She is responsible only for enforcing federal criminal laws, not state ethics codes. That lies in the hands of the Republicans who control the … oh, never mind.
PS Echols is a crackpot, pure and very simple. The other PSC commissioners have their problems, but at least they’re not crazy.
The Producer
August 25th, 2011
1:22 pm
Fore….
Augusta Tourney Official
August 25th, 2011
1:23 pm
Don’t f#(k with me PSC fella, this ain’t my first time at the rodeo.
Double Zero Eight
August 25th, 2011
1:30 pm
Sounds like he is a protege of our current governor.
All will be forgiven as usual. “This too shall pass”
in Georgia.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
1:55 pm
Once again the voters in Georgia show just how ignorant they are.
I agree about Yates.....
August 25th, 2011
1:55 pm
but what about the press’s pet Sam Olens? Is he going to get on this, or will he get another pass for passing on a chance to show he’ll take on someone who matters?
J Throckmorton Malcontent
August 25th, 2011
1:57 pm
Golf is Republican crack. One little white ball and soon they’re wearing plaid pants and acting like criminals. It’s sad, really.
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
1:57 pm
Olens passed on his Cobb County Public Safety Director, Mickey Lloyd, who later was thankfully forced to resign.
DogPound
August 25th, 2011
2:10 pm
How out of touch. The use of Stationery is what he calls a mistake? Doh! Its the treats and strong-arming and the extortion that matter, dumba**! Well, it now appears that we have a new “favorite target” who stepped up and, for no reason other than his own self deluded sense of importance, made himself a target for the AJC and all other media to target this jerk over, and over, and over again. It ought to be interesting.
Religious Wrong
August 25th, 2011
2:16 pm
This man is such a phony! Another one of those insincere, right-wing radicals that hides behind his religion and then shows no remorse when he’s outed. It’s time for everyone to wake up and smell the coffee…we have another one of these fanatics moving to the forefront now(TX Govenor Perry). It’s time for moderation!!!
Republican Activist
August 25th, 2011
2:17 pm
Tim better be careful about building up his treasures here on earth.
cash in
August 25th, 2011
2:25 pm
classic politician—lies about gifts to get elected—then starts shaking down connected companies right away with threats to investigate limos and drivers, so he can get pricey tickets to the masters? corruption—to the core. It never ends and is getting worse
Jed
August 25th, 2011
2:27 pm
Echols is almost as corrupt as the rest of the members of the PSC (seriously, the way they sell out Georgians to Big Utilities brings Judas Iscariot to mind). He just limits his corruption to driving that LNG car everywhere on taxpayers’ dimes and trying to use his position for graft.
As for many of the comments here, it has nothing to do with being “right wing” or a Republican. Corruption is corruption, it goes both (ideological) ways.
billy
August 25th, 2011
2:42 pm
what a complete arse this guy is…what an embarrassment to the State of Georgia….I live abroad and am so ashamed to be a Georgian after reading this….who cares what the political party….this guy is an idiot and completely crazy as hell….what is wrong with Georgia, mama????
jay
August 25th, 2011
2:45 pm
Extortion clear and simple. He should resign. No, he should be arrested.
honested
August 25th, 2011
2:50 pm
Wait a minute, why was a PSC member even involved in such a request?
I thought tickets were the responsibility of SouCo, GaNatGas and AT&T.
Shame on them for making this man soil his hands!
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
2:58 pm
In addition to emailing Echols directly requesting he resign – Tim@TimEchols.com,
suggest filing a complaint with the PSC for them to pressure him:
http://crs.psc.state.ga.us/Consumer/Contact/utilityIndustry.aspx?type=Complaint
double
August 25th, 2011
3:05 pm
Honested wonder why Bill Orfice White not posted he loves this Echols?
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
3:10 pm
Or we can all just complain on this blog and let it blow over.
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
3:14 pm
The one thing that equals a hyperbolic liberal is a hypocritical conservative.
JP
August 25th, 2011
3:17 pm
Never, EVER trust anyone who wears a bow tie! Did you hear that, Jere Woods?
honky talkin'
August 25th, 2011
3:33 pm
Another hypocritical republican. Can’t say I’m shocked.
Diehard
August 25th, 2011
3:37 pm
Has anyone ever seen Tim Echols and Billy Lovett in the same place at the same time?
Penny Lane
August 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
Everything about this stinks.
And to think I voted for the guy….!
Corruption
August 25th, 2011
3:44 pm
This is yet another example of our politicians using their power for personal gain. I hate to be the debbie downer but this incident is far from isolated. These type of things go on continuously at every political/government level to varying degrees. Politicians no longer represent their constituents making our system is completely irrelevant.
dre
August 25th, 2011
3:54 pm
“Never, EVER trust anyone who wears a bow tie! Did you hear that, Jere Woods?” – I was JUST about to post this! Thank you JP. And I am not kidding either. Bow tie = pretentious arse
R U Kidding Me?
August 25th, 2011
3:55 pm
The Snark:
No one said the U.S. Attorney is supposed to respond to ethics violations. What Echols did is much more than an ethics violation. The face value of a ticket to the Masters is $38 I believe, but you can’t buy one on the open market for less than $1,000. Trying to shakedown Augusta National over a pair of tickets is a criminal violation (extortion) and a violation of his oath of office. I know it’s probably business as usual for the good old GOP boys under the Gold Dome, but it also happens to be breaking the law.
I was told by a member of the news media that Deal firing the Ethics Commission staff because they supeoned his financial records really p.o’ed the Feds and thats why the FBI is now set up shop in Georgia. All of this and no Sally Yates.
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
@ R U posted “I was told by a member of the news media that Deal …”
This adds no value since it is now just partisanship. Echols needs to resign. Deal was fully vetted during his campaign, but partisans (hence the news media) won’t let it go any more than the Executive Secretary of the Ethics Commission. If Echols and his dwindling supporters can just say this is simply more partisanship – he might keep his job until the next election.
JOHN
August 25th, 2011
4:25 pm
Dirt bag. Let us not forget he was once the campaign manager for John Oxendine and even the OX ran him off. He needs to go. Now. Guys like this give honest Republicans a bad name. Resign, Tim.
No diploma on her wall
August 25th, 2011
4:33 pm
Republican.
No other words needed.
R U Kidding Me?
August 25th, 2011
4:38 pm
Centrist
Just because I was told something by a member of the news media doesn’t make it not factual. It’s a fact that the FBI has since set up shop and opened an investigation into the activities under the Gold Dome. Various news sources have reported it.
“Deal was fully vetted during his campaign” R U Kidding Me? His campaign only created more questions about his conduct and answered none that I can recall. Are you saying that because Deal resigned from Congress at midnight or face criminal indictment he’s been “fully vetted”? The only person that would make that claim would be Deal’s cohort in crime, Chris Riley.
Bama Bill
August 25th, 2011
4:41 pm
Nickols ain’t worth a nickle – can him now for such a cheezy shake-down ! This is totally unacceptable behavior for a public servant – recall the dude !
honested
August 25th, 2011
4:46 pm
John,
Can you give me a list of honest republicans?
I have half a matchbook cover if you need something to write it on.
double
August 25th, 2011
4:47 pm
R U only person msking that claim,cohort or mugwump.
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
4:47 pm
@ R U – the news media (especially in GA) is extremely partisan, so whatever you are told on the sly is more than suspect. Great that the FBI is setting up shop as one party governments start playing fast and loose – wish they had done it long ago when we had Democrat corruption running rampant. Deal won by a landslide even with all of the Democrat and media charges which were dismissed as partisan politics. All the questions got answered – partisans just didn’t like them.
Simply slandering all Republicans or “stupid” Georgians who vote for them does not advance a BI-partisan call for Echols to resign or be forcibly removed from the PSC.
double
August 25th, 2011
4:48 pm
making
honested
August 25th, 2011
4:52 pm
centrist
“All of the Democrat and media charges were dismissed as partisan politics”
By whom?
The obfuscation may have been effective, but I doubt there was any wholesale dismissal.
At least the state gives nathan a place to stay.
And landslide? Did you get to see the diebold source data?
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
5:17 pm
There is effectively no ethics commission after the intervention of our saintly gov’ner. We is just so fortunate to live in Georgia. I would really like to see the face of every Officer of every bank that has gone under in Georgia; that we the taxpayers have paid for; placed on the front page of every Georgia newspaper. What a swell bunch of Americans they are.
LIMOGUYS
August 25th, 2011
5:23 pm
Well what the article doesn’t say is the positive impact he has had on the Limo industry shaking out those that are not legal. He has been doing this long before he requested tickets and it is about time. The number of kids going to proms were spared potential dangerous situations thanks to him and he has been the only one in the history of the PSC that I can recall doing something about this. The article also does not state that the limo industry had asked him to please help with enforcement at events such as the masters, proms, major golf tournaments and more. From I can tell , yeah error in judgement which he admitted, but the intentions is what his job is all about.
Barry Soetoro
August 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
honested:
I’ve got a match – if you can think of an honest democrat’s name to write on it.
R U Kidding Me?
August 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
Centrist = Another GOP/Tea Party Kool-aid Drinker
In the Republican World, everything you say is exactly correct. “It’s not my fault, it’s the biased news media’s fault!”; or “It’s not my fault, it’s the bank’s fault for loaning me the money in the first place!”. Excuses, conspiracies….anything but accepting the truth. Democrats were just as guilty when they ran the Gold Dome, except they were a bit more discrete about it. It seems since the GOP took over, there is no shame. It’s every man for himself. Graves, Rogers, Deal, Perdue,Cagle, Richardson,Balfour, Staton,Echols ; none of them have been particularly discrete about their activities. I guess the FBI just needs to pack up and go home. All of these men were “vetted by the voters”. So, let’s move along, nothing to see here.
Bob
August 25th, 2011
5:27 pm
Why do we keep electing trash to represent us?
honested
August 25th, 2011
5:31 pm
barry,
I make a mild pun and you come back with that chuckmeat billhilly nonsense.
honested
August 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
RU,
The new mantra might be ‘I was elected, so what did you expect!’.
The Goobernator
August 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Tim Echols…once had a dog… that ate a lot of homework.
Centrist
August 25th, 2011
5:39 pm
Well, this group actually stayed on task for half a day before reverting back to partisanship and name calling.
Too bad that Echols now gets a free ride. (Remember him – the subject of this blog?)
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
5:54 pm
The Goobernator wrote, “Tim Echols…once had a dog… that ate a lot of homework.”
Centrist will be here any minute trying to explain to everyone that it was actually the “liberal media that ate Echols’ homework.”
Kavariontae
August 25th, 2011
5:59 pm
I will make it a point to remember this guy come the next election.
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
6:04 pm
“I will make it a point to remember this guy come the next election.”
This incident will give Echols the confidence he needs to one day run for governor.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
6:04 pm
The only way he will be kicked out is if another well known R runs against him in the primary. Sad but true.
double
August 25th, 2011
6:05 pm
The news is not biased.Just same political party being so deceptive.Always some excuse maker or spin doctor trying to cover for their party offender.
Bob
August 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
Here’s how the system works. Ga Power wants an 18% increase, so they ask the PSC for 33%. The PSC who is ignorant and uninformed, but politically savvy grants them a 24% increase…”look how much we saved our fellow Georgians”. And, because we are all idiots, we continue to re=elect them. Why do we need a PSC in the first place? Doesn’t competition determine prices? Oh that’s right, our PSC has decided that we don’t need competiton. Why do we continue to elect trash to represent us?
R U Kidding Me?
August 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
Centrist:
“Well, this group actually stayed on task for half a day before reverting back to partisanship and name calling.”
Partisanship? Is that it? Partisanship? That’s what everybody is that doesn’t agree with you? They’re either partisan or the biased media? That’s how you rationalize everything? Let’s see … someone doesn’t agree with me so they must be partisan or a memder of the biased media.
Now don’t run sit in the corner and say somebody called you a bad name, but doesn’t that sound just a tad bit out of touch with realty? I fault the Democrats just as much as I do the Republicans, so there is no partisanship here. But the facts are pretty clear that lately its been the GOP guys who have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Echols was stupid enough to even put it in writing! Oh, but I forgot, it was that biased AJC who broke the story. Must not be true. Everybody move along, nothing to see here. it’s just partisan politics. And remember,” that bank should have never loaned me that money cause they knew I couldn’t pay it back” – Tom Graves, dedicated Republican and Tea Party Idol.
No Longer Republican
August 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
I think it is hilarious when people start comparing today’s corruption by the Rethugs as the same as the Democrats of yesteryear in Georgia. You have to remember one thing – they are the same people! They just switched from the Democratic Party to the Rethuglican Party, and now the Teapublican Party. They are all one in the same. When they saw it was in their best interests to switch parties they did. I knew Sonny Perdue when he was a Democrat. i lived in Nathan Deal’s district when he was a Democrat. Yes the grandaddy of them all Murphy is gone, but these are those who followed him. It is nothing new. I was a Republican in Georgia when everyone else was a Democrat and then when Republicans wanted power in the south they used abortion and other social issues to win. (Which by the way, is the reason I am ‘No Longer Republican’)Please remember the crooks in Atlanta are the same as they always have been, just now they have an R next to their name.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
The same result as what we get from all the deregulatiion that has taken place in DC.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
6:16 pm
Millions of Dems changed party when LBJ passed the civil rights legislation.
Bob
August 25th, 2011
6:17 pm
Folks, it’s not partisanship…it’s stupidity. Quit electing the most eloquent and best looking idiot, but look for substance and common sense, regardless of the party. Reading most of your comments, I wish some of you would run.
double
August 25th, 2011
6:20 pm
DannyX Centrist says he is atheist but sings kumbaya.If this is not a hypocrite.Claims to be centrist.Full blood pug.Could get papers on him.
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:22 pm
R U Kidding Me?’s comment was way back at 12:05, but what Federal law would a first-year law student get a conviction on Echols? Not that they could try a case anyway. Besides, if US Attorney Yate had done something, most southern conservatives would have screamed that the Obama Administration was on a witchhunt.
No Longer Republican
August 25th, 2011
6:25 pm
If Centrist is in the middle, I would HATE to see the far right!
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:33 pm
Applause for No Longer Republican. Southern conservatives are the real RINOs. These are the same Thurmond Dixiecrats who highjacked the Republican Party. They complain about their representatives, and try to blame their shortcomings in some form or fashion on those “intellectual elite liberals.”
The Centrist
August 25th, 2011
6:39 pm
No Longer Republican. Don’t mess with my after-namesake. You have to read what he says. He actually agrees with you. Echols is a skunk who won the PSA office as a Republican, but you don’t have to call him a skunky republican…now that is being partisan.
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:43 pm
Echols now realizes that he is not high enough up the southern conservative food chain. Most real southern conservative lap dogs can get some kind of ticket to something at the Masters, so they can where a hat or polo shirt with the Master’s logo on it. Silly SC…Tricks are for Kids.
Real Athens
August 25th, 2011
6:44 pm
Republicans? Dixiecrats?
How about Sneetches?
The Sneetches
An allegorical story for prejudice and discrimination, and also offers a lesson of materialism and entrepreneurship.
Sneetches are a group of vaguely avian yellow creatures who live on a beach. Some Sneetches have a green star on their bellies, and in the beginning of the story the absence of a star is the basis for discrimination. Sneetches who have stars on their bellies are part of the “in crowd,” while Sneetches without stars are shunned and consequently mopey.
In the story, a character named Sylvester McMonkey McBean, calling himself a “fix-it-up chappie,” appears, driving a cart of strange machines. He offers the Sneetches without stars a chance to have them by going through his Star-On machine, for three dollars. The treatment is instantly popular, but this upsets the original star-bellied Sneetches, as they are in danger of losing their method for discriminating between Sneetches. Then McBean tells them about his Star-Off machine, costing ten dollars. The Sneetches formerly with stars happily pay the money to have them removed in order to remain special.
However, McBean does not share the prejudices of the Sneetches, and allows the recently starred Sneetches through this machine as well. Ultimately this escalates, with the Sneetches running from one machine to the next,
“until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
whether this one was that one… or that one was this one
or which one was what one… or what one was who.”
This continues until the Sneetches are penniless and McBean departs a rich man, amused by their folly. Despite his assertion that “you can’t teach a Sneetch,” the Sneetches learn from this experience that neither plain-belly nor star-belly Sneetches are superior, and they are able to get along and become friends.
Will we ever learn?
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:48 pm
Now folks. If you read…you will see that Echols, unlike most corrupt folks, didn’t get the deadline memo. Otherwise, Augusta National would have honored his request!!!
RGB
August 25th, 2011
6:50 pm
If this idiot had any self-respect, he’d resign tomorrow.
Nobody likes a bureaucrat using the police power of the state to hustle a couple of golf tickets. Republicans especially resent a bully government, so those of you with snide remarks about this guy being representative of all Republicans should go–well, I won’t say it.
Conservatives detest bullies who circumvent the law–which is why we oppose the current short-time resident of the White House so precipitously.
Echols should resign.
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:52 pm
Real Athens. Way too long just to same that those who individual make less than $50K per year (in todays dollares) and claim to be southern conservatives have been “punked” for generations.
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:53 pm
Why should Echols resign, since southern conservatives would replace him with “something” just as bad?
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:56 pm
RGB…Conservatives must be “bullies.” Why else would you call liberals “wimps?”
Barry Soetoro
August 25th, 2011
6:56 pm
homested:
The new mantra might be ‘I was elected, so what did you expect!’.
That’s what I’ve been telling the people! I was elected, so what did you expect?
Gee, the weather is just great here at Martha’s Vineyard! Even as I have enjoyed myself on the taxpayers’ dime, I have been focused like a laser on jobs and the economy.
Fore!
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
7:00 pm
Oh, so Echols’ excuse is that he should have put his “request” on his personal letterhead rather than the PSC. Yep, that clears things up. Anyone want to bet that he will not be re-elected?
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
7:04 pm
Barry can’t stay on topic if his intellectual life depended on it. You want to bet on the difference between the time spent on Martha’s Vineyard versus Crawford, Texas? We won’t include time spent with Daddy. Oh yeah, Echols still didn’t get any tickets.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:07 pm
He asked for practice round tickets
He has cheapened the seat he holds
For that he should resign
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:09 pm
Smoke, a bully would do that in public, a true coward does it hiding behind an anonymous blog
Real Athens
August 25th, 2011
7:11 pm
“Way too long just to same that those who individual make less than $50K per year (in todays dollares) and claim to be southern conservatives have been “punked” for generations.”
Huh? Perhaps you should buy a vowel? Or Strunk and White?
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:13 pm
Barry, you mean he didn’t have any vacation leave built up?
Do you mean there is a GSA purchase order for that rental?
Do you mean the Secret Service protection?
Just what are you talking about?
eatmotacos
August 25th, 2011
7:21 pm
The Obama strategist wrote Georgia off long ago – not only are they not going to waste a millisecond of their time campaigning in this backward, redneck state, their attitude is “you made your bed, now lie in it. They aren’t going to waste a dime of the DOJ’s resources on rescuing dimwits from themselves.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
7:24 pm
Barry Soetoro Still haven’t gotten over Obama beating your good old boy McCain in a landslide eh pal?? Really sucks to be you eh?
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
7:27 pm
Where is td tonight? I feel lost without his illiterate defense of GOP office holders. Barry, you just don’t have the same uummmph as td. Sorry, man. You’re just a td wannabe.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
SR, td may be misguided but never illiterate
Actually miss Last Man Standing too, original thought to duel with and not some twisted logic wrapped in a middle ground handle
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
7:52 pm
Echols, do everyone a favor and resign. You have disgraced yourself and your office. Any person using his/her elected or appointed office to gain something of value without compensation brings the word ‘malfeasance’ to mind.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
7:53 pm
findog:
I’ve been reading but not posting. I believe I’ll return, at least for a while.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:55 pm
good man
JAWJA
August 25th, 2011
8:07 pm
SHAME ON GEORGIA!!! WE
HAVE A TOTALLY CORRUPT GOVERNMENT!
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
8:20 pm
A virtual Republican Hall of Shame- from the Gov’ner on down!!!
double
August 25th, 2011
8:23 pm
LMS as which alias?
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
8:28 pm
The real LMS would have an excuse for any Republican, and would NEVER call for resignation. You, sir, are an imposter. Prove otherwise.
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
8:36 pm
findog, td often makes good points, but much more often not. I suspect he’s a decent guy, but his use of the language, his spelling and syntax, are neither indicative of a good education, nor of one who reads regularly. Why I give a damn, I don’t know. Good night all.
I think the real LMS must be ill. LMS, if you’re reading, I wish you the best.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
8:45 pm
Serious Robuck:
I am reading, and the best to you, too. It won’t take long for you to know that I am no imposter.
You get a ‘pass’ tonight.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
8:47 pm
dribble:
Still stirring the pot, eh?
BTW, you now know I am not an imposter, don’t you? Think about it . . .
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
8:58 pm
Welcome back LMS!
Where have you been? Out having fun watching illegal aliens starving, living under bridges dying from lack of medical care?
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
9:11 pm
DannyX:
Thank you for the welcome.
“Out having fun watching illegal aliens starving, living under bridges dying from lack of medical care?”
If they are not legal immigrants, I want them deported to their country of origin. Our economy is so stressed now, we can ill afford taking on someone else’s problems. If they choose to violate our laws and enter the country illegaly, they can live under bridges. It’s painfully obvious that the federal government will not enforce its’ own immigration laws.
plane driver
August 25th, 2011
9:13 pm
There were at least two other candidates in that PSC race who stood head and shoulders above Echols. Even his campaign should have raised ethics complaints using all his non profit teen pact kids for his political ground game. This guy is as corrupt as he can be, and he learned it all from his mentor, the Ox.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
9:13 pm
I must leave now. It’s time to sleep and prepare for the coming day.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 25th, 2011
9:15 pm
Let’s make sure to keep in perspective the fact that Bush and Cheney committed 9/11: Viz. “The New Pearl Harbor,” Griffin, Ph.D..
G-d is not mocked. There is no “thin” line between good and evil.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
9:17 pm
Last Man Standing What’s painfully obvious is that the US govt will never deport 12+ million immigrants. Also painfully obvious that there will have to be some path to citizenship for them all. Write it down.
Denise Caldon
August 25th, 2011
10:32 pm
As a Plaintiff in a Georgia Whistleblower case which confirms serious violations by our state’s higher education system that continue to be ignored by our state’s judicial system, I encourage you to read the Associated Press article that states, “The FBI has assembled a new squad to investigate corruption among judges and legislators in Georgia, though the top federal agent in the state is being tightlipped about what cases are developing.” Click on: http://www.macon.com/2011/08/22/1673295/fbi-team-takes-aim-at-corruption.html Then ask the Attorney General’s Office why they filed an Objection to the Motion which would have allowed the public to finally read the facts – given that AG Sam Olens pledges more government transparency. We find the article above of strong interest given that Judge Downs denied the Motion to lift the Protective Order. Stay tuned……
Crooks Rule
August 25th, 2011
10:36 pm
psc — crooked to the core—-trying to squeeze companies for free benefits in exchange for less “regulation.” Bribery is a federal offense–will the FBI investigate this crooked member?????
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 25th, 2011
10:52 pm
The FBI certainly has jurisdiction over Bush’s and Cheney’s 9/11 treason. Heard anything of their efforts in the matter?
honested
August 25th, 2011
11:34 pm
Wow, I had affairs to attend to and missed all the fun.
Barry, since I wasn’t here, I hope you use plenty of astro-glide while you are fantasizing about our President.
The echols case points out all too clearly why it is dangerous to ‘elect’ some of the offices currently on the ballot. Citizens are completely unaware (although they should be) of the potential damage PSC candidates can do. The winners are usually heavily funded by tentacles of the Utilities they regulate (and so many of you thought Citizens United was a good ruling) and they maintain their allegiance to their funders. Why else would we have had a bill before our vaunted General Assembly that guaranteed each of us ‘ratepayers’ would be beholden to our monopoly electric utility for at least $14.00 per month each until someday when the Utility says they have all they need. Then, in a quiet and perfunctory manner, the PSC supports the Lege’s noble decision and we are all on the hook!!
This is madness and should have been reason to eliminate any and all incumbent PSC members, but that don’t happen here.
Good evening everyone. Enjoy the ‘bounty’ our republican masters have ‘rained’ upon us.
Prez Oboz
August 25th, 2011
11:50 pm
Should we call him Tim McHeckler when the spoiled brat when doesn’t get his way!!!
The arrogance of power
August 26th, 2011
6:15 am
He apologizes only after being exposed by the news media. Bravo to the AJC and others for catching this abuser of public office.
South Georgia retiree
August 26th, 2011
7:20 am
Echols is obviously in training to be the next governor. With a little more extortion experience, he’ll probably win.
Politi Cal
August 26th, 2011
7:47 am
And I would say that electing him to this office was also a “mistake.” At least we can fix that!
simplythetruth
August 26th, 2011
8:27 am
Between this shake down artist and guys like Chip Rogers, the Republican Party in Georgia is doing a pitiful job in policing itself. They are beginning to act just like their political opponents. Who suffers? Every damn body in this state… that’s who….Its time for ALL politicians to clean up their act.
Dumb and Dumber
August 26th, 2011
9:11 am
Its funny how folks on this blog are blaming Obama and the US Attorney for the ethical lapses of GOP politicians in this state. We are the ones who elected these clowns, yet when they show themselves to be pigs at the trough, we blame Obama and his appointed US attorney.
Now that’s priceless hypocrisy.
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:07 am
Bob — “Why do we need a PSC in the first place? Doesn’t competition determine prices? Oh that’s right, our PSC has decided that we don’t need competiton.”
Because we don’t want to end up like California did when they deregulated electricity in the late 90s and people’s bills TRIPLED.
Bill Simon
August 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
I believe this falls under the Extortion Statute of OCGA, which reads as follows:
“45-11-5. Extortion generally
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “extortion” means an unlawful taking by a public officer, under color of his office, from any person of any money or thing of value that is not due to him or more than is due to him.
(b) Any public officer who shall by himself, his deputy, his agent, or other person employed by him be guilty of extortion in demanding or receiving other and greater fees than by law are allowed him shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be dismissed from office.”
Regardless of the use of official stationery or not, Echols attempted to use his position, as well as a threat of force, to obtain tickets of a dollar value. That’s extortion, even in the barest reading of this statute.
Do we have an Attorney General or a DA (Fulton County’s Paul Howard where Echols’ office is, or in Richmond County, where the Masters’ organization is) willing to apply the law here?
Or, do we just let constitutional officers off the hook if they say “It was a mistake”?
SpaceyG on Twitter
August 26th, 2011
3:32 pm
I am deeply regretting ever asking to be taken-off of Echols’ email distribution list. It was a great show. Silly me.
south of the gnatline
August 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
Yes, Georgia has the most brazen bunch of crooks marauding as public elected officials in the nation. No telling how many free passes to the Masters and to Bulldog games have been grafted- oops, I mean grafted, by those grateful corporations they represent. As for the mysterious comment about the Olympic torch bearer, I imagine that’s an attempted chummy good ol’ boy salute to Billy Paine, who headed up the Atlanta Olympics, and well as the Masters now. Anyway, I wish we could track all the graft and bribes. For example, how many free campaign billboards are going to be given out to all those who voted in favor of that nefarious billboard bill this past session? How many free trips will Jason Shaw get, in response to the $30 million in tax breaks he got for Delta? Next time there are political debates, or a chance to ask questions of any state pol, I wish someone would ask each incumbent: did you go to the Masters this (or any) year? And just who paid for your ticket?
Bobby G.
August 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
“Golf is Republican crack. One little white ball and soon they’re wearing plaid pants and acting like criminals.”
Quick somebody, tell Obama. If you can get him out of whatever sand trap he’s in at the moment. Wouldn’t want him to start acting like a criminal. Whoops, too late!!!