Stop Animal Abuse and False Attack Ads

Folks, I’ve never sent a head photograph of myself to any of the papers I write for. Some publications like to use one to connect a face with a name. It’s not out of false modesty that I have not adhered to this practice, but just that I have yet to find an unbreakable camera. Rest assured though, that if you see a person walking around with a 1940s or so typewriter in place of a head, that is likely me. Please feel free to drop a quarter into my begging cup.
OK, enough of the frivolity … on to serious topics. This is addressed to the individual(s) who threw the helpless kitten to its death off a local overpass the other week. I hope you leave this earth soon and spend the rest of eternity in the fire pit reserved for your ilk. You deserve no less. However, in the spirit of Christian forgiveness, I hope you truly repent for your sin. If so, you should spend the rest of your life dedicated to helping unwanted animals.
On an unrelated subject — but well within the range of my ramblings — shame on the large local newspaper (not this paper) for running a political advertisement thinly disguised as a letter to the editor. Democratic state house candidate Mary Tinkler should have to report this as a contribution in kind on her financial disclosure forms. I refer to her assertion that Bobby Harrell “has been suspended from all legislative duties …” until charges brought against him have been resolved.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I do not recall ever meeting Ms. Tinkler, but Mr. Harrell is an acquaintance of mine. I offer no opinion of thee merits of the allegations brought against him, but her statement stretches the truth to beyond the breaking point of a well-chewed piece of gum. Ms. Tinkler would have uninformed people believe that Mr. Harrell was suspended by some high legal or political authority. The truth of the matter is that Mr. Harrell suspended himself until the dust settles. Unlike other politicians in her party (Bill Clinton and Charlie Rangel come to mind), he did not cling to his position while investigations were underway.
Well, I have to make this column a little short and run to the post office to buy some more stamps. You see, I do appreciate the responses some of you send me over the computer. Keep them coming. However, please remember to include the proper postage on your e-mails. The visibility of my screen is starting to really be impaired by all the little forever stamps I have to stick to those incoming messages marked “postage due.”
James David Altman lives in West Ashley and has been a contributing columnist for several publications. He’s the son of the late former S.C. Republican House of Representative of John Graham Altman III. You can reach him at rabidreb@gmail.com.