Floyd County DemoDisneyDixiecrats issue courageously mundane statement about racism, then return to fundraising.

Actually no, the party's chairman said almost nothing of substance. Why would he, after so many years of relying on sheer nothingness?

It’s past time to look ourselves in the mirror and recognize we must be an active part of the solution. Every single one of us.

Strong stuff, Squire. Solid. Gibberish, but artful.

On the other hand, here's a guy who actually has something to say about the topic. Maybe he can do it because he's not depending on right-wing voters.

The intro follows. I advise you to click the link and read the essay in its entirety.

Racist Policies and Racist Systems, by Perry Bacon Jr. (Bluegrass Beat)

I have received a lot of messages from friends/readers asking what I think about what’s happened in Minneapolis, Louisville and across the country over the last week. So here are my thoughts. I want to emphasize 1. I’m speaking simply for myself and not trying to represent the views of black men, black people or any other broader group. 2. I’m not an expert on racism or policing, as I will explain below.

Even the "Father of Europe" is expected to play by the rules.

Perhaps a marquee posting will help make the point. "Remembercharlemagne," please take note.

NA Confidential believes in a higher bar than is customary in the blogosphere, and follows a disclosure policy with respect to reader comments.

First, you must be registered with blogger.com according to the procedures specified. This is required not as a means of directing traffic to blogger.com, but to reduce the lamentable instances of flaming and personal attacks on the part of the anonymous.

Second, although pen names are perfectly acceptable, senior editor Roger A. Baylor must be informed of your identity, and according to your preference, it will be kept confidential.

My record of preserving confidentiality is unimpeachable. Our disclosure policy is simple, fair, and enforced without exception. It is like a condom helpfully preventing the spread of anonymous malice, which we abhor.

To reiterate, I must know your identity for you to post comments here, so please comply, or I will be compelled to delete all future comments from you.

I've said "please" twice, and now say "thank you." There will be no further warnings.

Randy Hubbard and Salman Rushdie … where are you tonight?

Earlier this week, a prominent New Albanian Republican finally, formally announced his mayoral bid. Here’s an excerpt from the Tribune’s coverage.

Former Floyd County Sheriff Randy Hubbard entered the New Albany mayoral race Wednesday, saying he’d been coaxed by residents “disillusioned with current and past administrations” …

… Asked what his goals would be if elected, Hubbard replied, “At this point, I just need to talk to people in the community” to find out what issues are important to them.

I’ve no interest in disputing the prevailing local wisdom holding that Mr. Hubbard is a man of exacting professional integrity, primarily because I’ve no reason to doubt it unless proven otherwise. To me, it’s a given.

Rather, might we briefly glance past the testimonials and acknowledge the hair-pulling, maddening incongruity of a high-ranking community figure’s weeks-long courting of citizen disillusionment, his certain deliberation and careful planning leading to Wednesday’s well-crafted announcement, and then a bizarre, vacuous comment to the effect that after all this thought and consideration, he still has no personal recognition of pertinent issues, but must ask community members to provide him with some?

That’s simply incredible, but in the open air museum of congenital dysfunction known as New Albany, somehow we’re the ones regarded as crazed and dangerous for discussing numerous issues on a daily basis for months -- years -- and expecting those seeking our votes to approach the table with a platform in their hands.

See: Mr./Mrs./Ms. Candidate: Just in time for the filing period, here are my modified rules of voting engagement.

Why insist? Without a coherent system of policy ideas -- without a platform -- the phrase “disillusioned with current and past administrations” has no substantive meaning apart from “my clan – your clan,” and we’ve seen where that particular “policy platform” has taken the city over long decades of decay.

With all due respect – and I want to be fair to him – how is it possible that Mr. Hubbard cannot think of a single issue beyond funding sources when so many pressing items currently crowd the city’s collective agenda? To be sure, integrity’s a promising start, but Mr. Hubbard and his fellow aspirants must do better than that.

Gratifyingly, someone already has done better.

Randy Smith, owner of Destinations Booksellers and a former contributor to this blog, is writing a series of guest columns for the Tribune. All the columns are archived together on-line.

SMITH: Walk this plank, candidates

By earning it, I mean that (city council nominees) will have campaigned on a platform of ideas. I believe that any candidate who does will benefit from a sharp increase in turnout that this city has seldom seen.

While no candidate will embrace all of these proposals (in fact, they’d probably be crazy to do so), I offer them up as a menu for action, free of charge, to any candidate bold enough to articulate them further. Some are tougher than others. Some will be controversial. But I believe in them all.

By local standards of antebellum ward-heeling and foot-dragging, it’s an audacious and ambitious notion to offer a unified system of ideas, and not unexpectedly, Randy’s already under attack for trespassing against New Albany’s long and sad history of anti-intellectual underachievement.

(Who in the hey do you think you are? This is our neighborhood, too. Do you even live downtown? BS.)

Note that the preceding comment refers not to genetic engineering or the advocacy of teenage sex, but to Randy’s suggestion that the city’s downtown streets be given bicycle lanes. If something as wholesome and healthy as biking prompts such gasbag Limbaughesque vitriol, just imagine how the remainder of his impeccably rational pleas for New Albany to gingerly consider joining the 21st century (soon, please) are going to be received down at the Luddite Bar & Grill.

Go here and read about policies and principles, and next time you drop in to Destinations to pay homage to the power of the written word – to the realm of ideas – say thanks to the proprietor for not being a coward.

Given the New Albany political climate in 2007, thinking publicly qualifies as an alternative lifestyle, and the open advocacy of thinking is a revolutionary act -- and we need as many of these revolutionary acts, and as quickly, as we possibly can find them.

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Link: Candidate filings (updated daily)