Everybody in our state is impressed by the brilliantly successful football program and its coaches, but we don’t similarly lionize the exalted professors and researchers on our campus. How about singing the praises of both?
As an emeritus professor in the School of International Affairs, Gary is an avid Bulldog fan of all UGA sports teams. He plays golf, and when he takes respite in the afternoon, his biggest challenge is determining where to enjoy a glass of wine: his front porch, his den, his backyard, or his study.
Gary’s entire environment is an inspirational venue for reading and keeping up with what goes on in the world.
Recently, he and Joan hosted a fun group to interact with Greg Bluestein, political columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A Georgia alumnus, Bluestein is an indefatigable reporter-writer whose enthusiasm and commitment to his profession are extraordinary.
He analyzed the nasty gubernatorial campaign with insights on what all this means. He gave high marks to Athens native and governor Brian Kemp for his family bent.
Bluestein made no predictions but is curious about the governor’s race where the two leading candidates seem likely to spend $100 million collectively in the fight to win the right to move into the governor’s mansion on West Paces Ferry Road.
While at Georgia, Bluestein was editor of the Red & Black, the campus newspaper, and took great delight in following the Bulldog football team — and he’s still at it.
He has written an insightful book: Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power. Often referred to as the state’s “chief political reporter,” Bluestein also is a very knowledgeable columnist as well as a popular speaker.
The setting in Gary and Joan Bertsch’s backyard garden was perfect for Bluestein’s insightful remarks. Shall we say, a good time was had by all?