McGinty: Tax collection makes for some odd politics
Recently, a lot of media attention was given to a rather odd exchange between Roy Barnes and David Poythress, two Democratic candidates for governor, which involved the Whig Party, name-calling and a shout-out to Telfair County.

Forum: States McCarter about more than politics
States McCarter was much more than a quick rehash of Athens politics can capture. To put it simply, he was a force of nature. His service to the local government was the byproduct of a life dedicated to hard work and helping others. When we moved to Cedar Creek, States was one of the first people to ring our doorbell and say hello. That initial conversation blossomed into friendship, and States quickly became a treasured mentor.

Politics, protests and 'Pals': Bill Ayers speaks at annual human rights festival
Bill Ayers can be proud of at least one thing: He helped add a new phrase to the English lexicon. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Republicans held up the 1960s radical and other controversial figures like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as proof that Barack Obama had shadowy Chicago connections.

Yarbrough: Thoughts on politics, a portrait
Kudos to Joe Mulholland, district attorney for the South Georgia Circuit. After reading my suggestion that state government rather than schoolteachers take a furlough, he told me, "Some of us in government have already taken your argument to heart."