There are several developments in the last week or so that merit comment. Maybe some of these same subjects have been on your mind too.

First, I want to take my hat off to Bill Shipp who seldom gets such notice from me. He has lately written some powerful columns [Links at bottom ] which look like they're taken from the GHC Campaign 2006, Georgia vs. Downtown Atlanta.

Bill has pounded the secrecy regarding the hidden promises from the state and Atlanta taxpayers for bids for the NASCAR Museum which are designed to benefit Atlanta business interests.

He has correctly identified several Georgia political occurances over the years. These include elections, issues and influence behind the scenes. His conclusions may not cause his more progressive following to dance with glee.

It's nice when you can say something positive about someone, particularly if you have been critical of that someone in the past.

Such is the case with State Representative Ed Rynders, who both I, and others at GHC have not been overly kind to about the Fair Vote on the state flag. I called him a NeoCon.

Recently, I had the occasion to have a long in depth conversation with Mr. Rynders. We talked about everything I know falling into true conservatism and those who grasp bits and pieces of it while violating the largest part in the name of 'conservative' politics.

Following the conversation, I'm convinced of two things for sure. First, Rep. Rynders didn't engage me in a long conversation to curry political favor or an endorsement. I think he was very sincere in wanting discuss conservative politics and allow me to make up my own mind if he is a NeoCon. He's not.

From the conversation, I learned a second thing. He is more in tune with much of what we at GHC believe than we imagined. He has bucked both the House and Perdue leadership on certain issues, and he does believe there is something to the principle over party observation. He also candidly admitted there are times where leadership may have steered him where he wished he hadn't gone. The flag was not one of them. While he is not a listed sponsor of HB-15 calling for a Fair Vote with the '56 flag included, for reasons he explained (which I don't agree with), he is and will be supportive of HB-15.

He has a better understanding why we at GHC feel as we do. We don't disagree that either of Governor Perdue's opponents may be worse than Perdue. What I think he now understands is that we don't have to support any of the evils before us. We have been betrayed and it's payback time. If we have to go through another one term governor or two to establish our message loud and clear, we're up to it.

I'm thankful for the conversation and I believe we both have new found respect for one another. Besides that, Ed spent a lot of years in radio in the Albany area. Anyone that can last that long in radio has to have some admirable attributes. I know.

My final thought for today has to do with the deplorable ruling out of Arizona where a rancher who protected his property has lost it to illegal aliens he detained, fed and released.

Morris Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center entered a suit for damages for the illegals and won. Part of the case was based on a default judgement against the rancher who supposedly violated a weapons charge from a previous conviction and was in prison at the time of the trial.

Under SPLC's guidance, the illegals claimed the rancher pistol-whipped them. That's strange when you consider he also fed them and gave them blankets.

We don't know all the actual facts. We do know of a pattern reported in previous Dees cases where witnesses were found to be lying under oath in order to lay a foundation for a case. Dees himself has reportedly been sanctioned by the court for suborning perjured testimony.

It mystifies me to try to understand how illegal aliens, violating the law, go free and end up owning the ranch they invaded.

Welcome to the land of opportunity where you can enter illegally and take possession of property and it's yours. For instructions call Morris Dees at The Southern Poverty Law Center.

And we thought the Supreme Court got out of hand ruling on Eminent Domain.

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He voluntarily serves as chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.