Introduction

In this U.S. News article, Kennesaw State University is described as: “…a public institution that was founded in 1963. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 40,591 (fall 2023), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 570 acres.”

On the KSU campus is a building named the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center. It is the campus hub of student activities.

I would guess that, maybe, 50 people on a campus of 41,000 students and faculty have any idea of who Joe Mack Wilson was.

These 50 people (and I may be way over-estimating) might know he was a Georgia Democrat State Representative from Cobb County in the 1970s and 1980s, and a former mayor of Marietta who died in office in 1993.

Of those 50 or so people on the KSU campus, I am betting no one…and I mean NO ONE knows who Wilson really was, and how he carried-out the duties of being a member of the State House.

The facts say that Wilson was an unapologetic racist who made no bones about it in the State House…going so far as to be recorded in depositions in the early 1980s redistricting lawsuit titled Busbee v. Smith, 549 F. Supp. 494 – Dist. Court, Dist. of Columbia 1982.,

If you so desire, you can do a CTRL-F on the linked lawsuit above to lookup the actual N-word (I have it masked) that was part of Wilson’s everyday speech…and discover quotes like the following, uttered directly out of mouth of then-State Rep. Joe Mack Wilson (along with some Bolding by me of significant sentences):

#17 in FINDINGS OF FACT: “Representative Joe Mack Wilson is a racist. Wilson uses the term “ni–er” to refer to black persons. (Wall Deposition, Vol. II, 57.) He stated to one Republican member of the Reapportionment Committee that “there are some things worse than ni–ers and that’s Republicans.” (Wilson Trial Testimony, 436.) Wilson opposes legislation of benefit to blacks, which he refers to as “ni–er legislation.” (Wall Deposition, Vol. II, 59; Coverdell Trial Testimony, 598; Wall Deposition, Vol. I, 30; Randall Deposition, 65-66; Wilson Deposition, 122, 148; Phillips Deposition, 36; Holmes Deposition, 52-55.) His views on blacks are well known to members of the General Assembly. From the House reapportionment committee to the Conference committee, Wilson played the instrumental role in 1981 Congressional reapportionment and he was guided by the same racial attitudes throughout the reapportionment process that guided his other legislative work.”

In an article published in the Marietta Daily Journal in 2013, former Governor Roy Barnes is quoted as saying: “He disliked Republicans and blamed them for (the Depression) till his dying breath…“He was a champion of those who had no voice. He was a true populist.”

Yeahhhh…A “champion of those who had no voice…”, eh, Roy? Is that how one who spent their life despising, denigrating, and denying Black people any rights, and being, perhaps, the only adjudicated racist in this country, should be remembered?

In short, Roy Barnes, like so many other Democrats, was lying to cover-up the true nature of who Joe Mack Wilson really was.

So, in 1994, when the decision to name the student center on KSU’s campus after Joe Mack Wilson came about, I am betting that it was then-Democrat State Rep. Roy Barnes who proposed and sponsored the legislation to name a college building after an adjudicated racist, and approved by the Democrat-controlled State Senate, the Democrat-controlled State House, and signed by the Democrat Governor Zell Miller…all of them likely being racist white folks themselves who revered and honored Wilson’s legacy because he said their thoughts out loud.

In early 2010, after being elected Speaker of the House, David Ralston’s first piece of legislation he was intent upon getting done was the renaming and revising of what had been in operation in state government since 1985, the State Ethics Commission, and subsequent State Ethics in Government Act of 1985.

He got it changed to become the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act of 2010, and, subsequently, renamed the Ethics Commission to become the “Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.”

What an ingenious, Orwellian way to change the definitions of things and how this state worked in terms of the word “ethics.” Make it an unwieldy, complicated name to write and remember, and also wipe-out any vestige of the concept of “ethics” in Georgia government. Classic employment of what George Orwell described in the naming of various government agencies in his book 1984.

After observing Ralston on my own over many years, as well as reviewing and reading the massive amount of research performed by people like former FBI agent Derek Somerville on all the times Ralston abused legislative leave privilege to delay justice for hundreds of victims of his accused criminal clients, my educated opinion is that David Ralston was a textbook example of an actual sociopath.

This guy HATED the concepts of “ethics” and “morality” and…really…any kind of principles decent people sought to govern and maintain for themselves.

According to Somerville’s detailed research in visiting, gathering and organizing court filings from eight different county courthouses involving Ralston’s various cases over the years, Ralston filed for 1,091 legislative leaves to delay justice in 279 cases (Derek’s PDF of his PowerPoint can be read here).

Note that I am not addressing the detailed nature of many of these cases as a vast majority of all the cases he ever took on as a criminal defense attorney involved child molestation cases. That is not why I label Ralston a sociopath.

As it was explained to me by attorney Guy Davis (back in 2013 after I wrote this PV about Ralston), everyone deserves a defense attorney when they are accused of a crime, even accused child molesters.

Ralston was a sociopath because he continually lied to the courts in his legislative leave requests for continuances, and also in the carrying out of his duties as Speaker, the “ethics law” example being just one of many. He didn’t care about the law, he loved to abuse the law. Doing so gave him a private tickle in his psyche every single time he abused it.

Here’s a sampling from Derek’s Facebook post from a couple of days ago regarding a few details about David Ralston’s history of abuse of the legislative leave process:

“• Ralston used legislative leave to delay trials scheduled by the court for his clients in 279 cases: 137 civil and 142 criminal.
• Ralston delayed cases for his clients in 8 north Georgia counties: Gilmer (425), Fannin (378), Union (105), Pickens (51), Cherokee (45), Dawson (44), Towns (29), and Lumpkin (14)
• 53% or 577 of those legislative leave requests were issued by Ralston during periods when the legislature was NOT in session.
• The year Ralston became speaker, he had a 128% increase in the number of legislative continuances (36 submitted in 2009, 82 submitted in 2010 after becoming Speaker of the House).
• In 2012, just 2 years after becoming Speaker, Ralston submitted 164 legislative leave continuances. That’s at 450% increase versus the year before he became Speaker.
• Ralston delayed the trial for his client charged with RAPE, AGGRAVATED CHILD MOLESTATION, and SIMPLE ASSAULT for 4 years between 2014-2018. It was only in 2019 when his 1,091 total delays were exposed that he was forced to take his client into court, who pled GUILTY and is now a registered sex offender.”

Here’s a link to an old AJC article that you need access to get to behind the paywall, but the first two paragraphs read: “Two women have filed complaints with the State Bar of Georgia accusing House Speaker David Ralston of misleading judges when he used his legislative privileges to delay hearings for clients of his legal practice…On several occasions when the powerful lawmaker cited his “legislative duties and obligations” to keep criminal cases from moving forward, he was actually campaigning, according to the complaints obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”

Like a really talented sociopath, Ralston weaseled his way out of those complaints with an ever-so-accommodating State Bar (eye roll).

Quite honestly, and not to throw a tangent too far off the current conversation, Ralston’s demeanor and unprofessionalism in the practice of law explains perfectly why Clint Bearden (Ralston’s law partner at the time, prior to him being named a judge) thought it was okay to lie in the case of the State vs. Nydia Tisdale.

In that case, ADA Conley Greer didn’t give a sht about the truth and Bearden escaped a perjury charge. I can only imagine what kind of half-assed Superior Court judgeship a lying POS like Clint Bearden presides over currently.

LYING is what Ralston was a master at, and for the many members of the State House/State Senate who spend their time lionizing Ralston, I can only say that its clear that at least 30% of y’all (I’m conservatively guessing here as to the percentage) are textbook examples of narcissists who are/were jealous of Ralston’s natural abilities to lie, and seek to emulate him in every way possible (especially people like State Rep. Chuck Efstration).

Before I begin here, I will point out that I did strongly oppose what Colton Moore and his sleazy henchmen did against Senator Bo Hatchett’s wife back in September of 2023.

However, in measurements of outrageous things that occur in Georgia politics, the acts committed by legislator David Ralston far outweigh the acts Colton Moore was involved with in September of 2023. Ralston is on the identical level of outrageous behavior as Joe Mack Wilson was in measurements of low-class, dirty-dog behavior.

Now, to the issue at hand. In all references I made above regarding Ralston, you will note that, except for the initial sentence identifying him as having been elected “Speaker” in 2010, I never called him or referred to him with that title.

The same is going to go for State House Member Jon Burns. I didn’t elect Burns to be the House Speaker. He’s not MY “Speaker.” I don’t give a flying eff about “decorum,” especially in light of the fact that Jon Burns has now demoted himself to being a pathological liar. 

So, he will merely be referenced as “Mr. Burns,” and his faithful POS General Counsel, named Keith Williams, will be referred to as “Smithers“…in a reference to the two characters on the TV cartoon called The Simpsons.

Granted, Williams does not wear glasses, but his haircut is amazingly similar to Smithers’ style:

So, to bring everyone up to speed super fast on the events that culminated in last Thursday’s (January 16, 2025) events in front of the entry doors to the Georgia State House’ chambers, we have these links:

3/14/2024 – Senator Colton Moore speaking in opposition of SR 687, a resolution to memorialize David Ralston: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjEWtkCMvNU&ab_channel=NydiaTisdale

Shortly after that speech occurred in 2024, Mr. Burns issued a rebuke from the House and whined about the timing and nature of Moore’s speech, and (I cannot locate the video or anything from Mr. Burns from back then) banned Senator Moore from stepping foot into the House chamber until he apologized for his remarks.

There have been people, like Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who said at the time of Moore’s speech back in 2024, that at that time, “this is not the time for this kind of speech…”

If Moore had waited until some other time to make his objections known, Burt Jones, and others, would have said, “Well, you should have spoken-up when the resolution for Ralston was in play…We cannot do anything about it now…” (and, I know this is true because that was the excuse Brian Kemp, after being told several things regarding the true nature of Deal,  gave to someone after he had already signed the legislation lionizing Nathan Deal to have his name on the new Justice Center).

So, that is exactly why it was appropriate, and the right time when a bill was in play to honor a POS like Ralston, for Senator Moore to make an objection on the legislation. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot (whether they are elected now, or formerly elected).

On January 14, 2025, Mr. Burns issued this letter to Senator Moore…where I excerpt the following to point to Mr. Burns’ knowing Lies:

“As you will recall, on March 14th, 2024, following your vile, disparaging, and false comments in reference to the character of former Speaker David Ralston…”

Contrary to the beliefs of Mr. Burns, and others, there is NOTHING “vile”, nor “disparaging,” nor “false” about the comments Senator Moore uttered in opposition to the permanent memorializing of David Ralston via naming a building at North Georgia college after him.

The truth is never “vile.” The acts committed by former lawyer and legislator David E. Ralston to delay hundreds of cases, both civil and criminal…those acts constitute “vile acts.“

Bruce LaVell has a video on Twitter of part of the incident dealing with Colton Moore attempting to enter the House chambers for a joint session to listen to Governor Kemp’s speech….and that Big Guy who first pushed Moore back was the designated Doorkeeper of the State House.

For the record, “Doorkeeper” does not appear anywhere in the Georgia Constitution. I looked here. Its a fabricated concept, much like Mr. Burns’ accusation that Colton Moore “lied and disparaged” the character of David Ralston; David Ralston’s own, voluntary acts, disparaged his character all by himself while he was alive.

Whereas, the term “Senator” actually does appear in the Georgia Constitution, and has more rights than a ‘doorkeeper.’

Now, the 2nd guy you see in the video wrestling Moore is the Legal Counsel turd I deem to be called Smithers. And, you see in the video that he actually ended-up throwing Moore to the floor so that Moore’s body landed hard on his side.

Smithers had ZERO rights to touch Moore. NONE. He should be charged with battery (and have his hair gel taken away).

Now, Folks, that floor is not made of wood…it is not made of linoleum…it is not concrete….I’m pretty sure it is very hard marble. That floor does not give.

So, when Moore later went to the hospital, after bonding-out of jail, he was likely sore, and he may have fractured or broken something.

Then, later that day, the Twitter/X account of Mr. Burns issued this contrived series of lies:

Note that in the Bruce LeVell video that the “law enforcement officers” were NOT involved in the situation until after Moore was violently thrown onto the ground…so that claim in Mr. Burns’ tweet is 10,000% FALSE.

Since Burns was inside the House Chamber at the time of the incident, he didn’t see a thing. This concoction was authored by the lying douchebag I call Smithers.

And, Moore is the one Burns claims to have used “force???”

Really? I see Smithers is the one using force to bear hug Colton Moore and throw him so Moore doesn’t have a chance to break his own fall.

So, for the entirety of what Mr. Burns’ tweet claims, I say F*ck Burns, his lies, and Ralston’s ‘legacy.’

Ralston’s legacy, like Smithers’ lies, should be wiped from any vestige of decency in this state, including a name on a college building.

Y’all in the Georgia State House and Senate…y’all just keep on violating the Ten Commandments every day you engage in such idol worship of things like “Ralston’s legacy.”

There’s one in there regarding worshipping false gods/idols; a lot of y’all break it (along with the ones prohibiting lies and prohibiting adultery) every single day.

Y’all who believe this bullsht from Mr. Burns about the POS formerly known as “State Rep. David Ralston”…keep-on worshipping false idols.

Whitewash his true legacy like the Democrats whitewashed Joe Mack Wilson’s legacy.

Something far bigger than your feeble minds can conceive of will challenge you on that one day…and likely block your entrance into where you are hoping you deserve to spend Eternity.

And, hey, maybe you’ll all be as lucky as Mr. Burns is likely wishing…that he is allowed to rejoin Ralston…in a similar type of Hell Ralston caused many victims of his clients via their stalled justice with his lies on legislative leave.

PV Publication Disclosure

The Political Vine was established on July 24, 2000 by Georgia Republican & Georgia Tech grad Bill Simon. All material contained herein (unless otherwise noted) is written by a commonsense political thinker whose agenda is to deliver researched facts, analysis, information, humor, and opinions in a satirical/sarcastic environment that is far different from any other news source you will come across.

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