Tuesday's elections show voters won't back bullies

A journalist is a person with nothing on his mind and the power to express it.

- Russell Baker

So what was behind all the Election Day upsets?

I think it was a backlash on bullies.

Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes might look like a nice guy (which I think he is), but too many people saw him as the shrewd, political lawyer who pushed around schoolteachers and changed the state flag without asking.

He lost.

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges came to our area and told the nuclear trucks to go away - a threat to the jobs of one of the region's top employers.

He lost.

State Sen. Charles Walker is a powerful politician who did things his way and wasn't shy about it, either. He also wasn't shy in supporting his son for a new congressional seat.

Both lost.

Max Cleland might not have been a bully, but he didn't have to be. He had Zell Miller do it for him. And we watched TV commercial after commercial of a combative old Marine defending "his friend" and practically daring us to vote against him.

Many did.

Even longtime House Speaker Tom Murphy, Georgia's historic boss of bully-dom, was sent into retirement.

Here's what I think happened. A lot of voters went to their polling place Tuesday, looked at the ballot and said, "You know, I really don't like this guy."

That's why voting booths are the ultimate bully pulpit.

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MAILBAG: Marge Wood of Aiken sends a postcard from the famous Angkor Wat ruins in Cambodia. She writes: "Words cannot describe this place - a must for the adventurous spirit."

Closer to home was Carl Glymph of Augusta, who sends a Western card from Texas.

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one passed along from Ruth Tewes, (although I don't really know if I understand it.)

It seems there were 11 people dangling from a rope over a cliff. Ten were men and one was a woman. They all decided that one person should get off, because if they didn't the rope would break and everyone would die.

No one could decide who should go, so finally the woman gave a really touching speech saying how she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children, giving in to men, and not receiving anything in return.

When she finished speaking, all the men began to clap.

Reach Bill Kirby at (706) 823-3344 or bkirby@augustachronicle.com.