Georgia Politics Unfiltered

A Flashback to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

2008-07-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

There's really no reason for me posting these two videos from the Opening Ceremonies for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta except for the fact that...

A.) Gladys Knight does an excellent job singing the official state song, "Georgia On My Mind"

and B.) This trumpet player is the cat's meow. He's the bee's knees. He's just awesome...totally awesome.

Fulton County Residents To Vote On Library Bond Referendum

2008-07-18T16:30:00.000-04:00

On November 4, 2008 Fulton County voters will vote on a $275 million bond referendum for the construction, expansion and renovation of their public libraries.

If approved, the bonds would provide funding for the detailed Library Facility Master Plan, which includes 8 new libraries, expansion of 2 libraries, and renovation of 23 libraries. The bond issue also includes $84 million for the construction of a new Central Library, with the remaining (approximately $85 million) coming from private funds.

The library’s master plan was developed over the course of 24 months and included a series of public input sessions throughout the county. The plan maintains 34 libraries, the current number of libraries in the system, by eliminating leased spaces and its oldest libraries. Fulton County last issued a library bond in 1988.

"I am glad that the Board took this opportunity to demonstrate vision and leadership," said Commissioner Robb Pitts (District 2, At-Large). "The cost for average homeowners will be less than the cost of a cup of coffee every month. Certainly an investment in the education of our children is worth that and more."

"A public private partnership will not only make the new Central Library more financially feasible, but it presents an opportunity for private citizens and the business and philanthropic community to demonstrate their support for their library system," said Commissioner Nancy A. Boxill (District 6). "I am confident that our community will step forward to build a central library that is as outstanding as the vibrant community in which it is located."

John F. Szabo, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System Director, said, "This is a great day for libraries and for the Fulton County citizens who value what libraries bring to their community. We are grateful for the leadership of the Board of Commissioners in recognizing the importance of public libraries and to the citizens who continue to voice their support and opinions. We are one step closer to having the world-class library system we know Fulton County residents want and deserve."

A summary of the Library Master Plan is available on the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System website, www.afpls.org.

Five Candidates Qualify for Senate District 13 Special Primary

2008-07-18T14:14:00.000-04:00

Secretary of State Karen Handel announced that five candidates qualified to run in the special Republican primary for state Senate district 13. State Sen. Joseph Carter withdrew from the Republican primary in June to make a bid for Superior Court Judge for the Tifton Judicial Circuit.

The special primary election will be held in conjunction with the August 5th primary run-off. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

The following five candidates qualified, paid the qualifying fee of $400 and will be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order:

John Dickey Crosby
Horace Hudgins
Wally Roberts
Rusty Simpson
Bob Usry

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. The Special Primary will be held in Ben Hill, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner and Worth counties, and a portion of Wilcox County. Advance voting will be held Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1, 2008. To find your advanced voting location, contact your county registrar’s office.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, August 1, 2008. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar by close of business on Election Day, August 5, 2008. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail.

Voters will be required to show photo identification when voting in person. For more information on the requirements for photo ID, please call 1-877-725-9797 or visit www.GaPhotoID.com.

Barack Obama Shuns Max Cleland at Atlanta Event

2008-07-18T11:05:00.001-04:00

Politico.com is out with an article today that details an incident that occurred during Barack Obama's visit to Atlanta last week when Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland was disinvited from appearing with Obama at a fundraising event due to his alleged lobbying activities.

...Cleland — despite his iconic status — was abruptly disinvited from appearing with Obama in Atlanta July 8, three sources familiar with the incident said.

Cleland has told associates he was asked to appear at an Obama event in Atlanta on July 8, only to be told at the last minute that he wouldn’t be welcome, apparently because of the campaign’s blanket policy of barring lobbyists from giving money or appearing with the candidate. [Source: Politico.com, "Obama disinvited 'lobbyist' Cleland", July 18, 2008]

According to Politico.com reporter Ben Smith, Max Cleland is registered to lobby for Tissue Regeneration Technologies; a company whose products are aimed at helping soldiers recover more quickly from battlefield industries.

John Marshall, an adviser, said that even though the former Georgia Senator and Secretary of State is registered to lobby he has never done so and spends most of his time campaigning for friends and taking care of his father.

Vernon Jones Hits The Road With Stops Across Middle & South Georgia

2008-07-18T10:34:00.000-04:00

Looking to score a knock-out blow against his Democratic opponent, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones began a three-week sprint to the August 5th run-off election with campaign stops in Albany, Columbus, Macon and Savannah.

During his visit to Albany, Jones thanked the voters of Dougherty County; a county he carried with 58.5% of the vote.

"Y’all did good for me," said Jones. "Southwest Georgia is extremely important to my election. Southwest Georgia is extremely important to Georgia and Georgia’s politics." [Source: Albany Herald, "Jones makes Albany stop", July 18, 2008]

In Columbus, the seat of Muscogee County which Jones carried with 57.9% of the vote, the DeKalb County CEO railed against U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss saying the Republican was a "me-too" senator, going along with whatever President Bush wants.

"Chambliss supported the war and never questioned the president," Jones said. "In six years, what has he done about oil prices?" [Source: Columbus Ledger Enquirer, "Senate candidate visits Columbus", July 18, 2008]

On to Macon where he won Bibb County with 52.4% of the vote, Jones discussed his platform of fiscal responsibility, support of faith-based initiatives and a move toward energy independence [Source: Macon Telegraph, "Candidates set in Aug. 5 Senate runoff", July 18, 2008].

And finally, in Savannah where Jones captured 62.2% of Chatham County's vote, he likened himself to prominent senators from Georgia's past including Sam Nunn and Richard Russell.

"I am a conservative Democrat, along the lines of Sam Nunn, Zell Miller and Richard Russell," Jones told reporters at Savannah City Hall on Thursday. [Source: Savannah Morning News, "U.S. Senate runoff candidate campaigns in Savannah", July 18, 2008]

Jones also teed off against his run-off opponent Jim Martin saying that Martin was a liberal who would vote against balancing the federal budget and building a strong national defense.

Democratic Platform Meetings Begin Tomorrow

2008-07-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

Last week the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign unveiled Listening to America: The Democratic Platform for Change, a bold new initiative to involve the American people in the development of the Democratic National Platform, giving Americans the opportunity to organize and engage in Platform Meetings in all 50 states. Just a week after the launch of this ambitious platform program, interest is through the roof and in the last eight days alone, 1,300 platform meetings in all 50 states -- including town hall-style meetings, radio call-ins, and web chats -- have been scheduled.

"Barack Obama's message of change, the 50-state strategy, and these Platform Meetings are all components of the same goals of unity, transparency and change," said Michael Yaki, National Platform Director. "Americans' immediate and enthusiastic response demonstrates how thirsty Americans are for change, and how eager they are to be heard after seven years of an administration that has ignored people's wishes. People are no longer interested in my-way-or-the-highway politics. The renewal of America begins with listening to the hopes, fears, and dreams of the American people."

The Platform Meetings will take place in all 50 states from July 18th to July 27th. Americans nationwide are invited to attend these meetings. To further the open exchange of ideas, policy representatives from the Obama campaign and the DNC will be on hand in as many meetings as possible. Each Platform Meeting will produce a written summary, which will be reviewed as part of the drafting process.

Information about locations of platform meetings can be found at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listening/.

Erik Underwood to Appeal Secretary of State's Decision

2008-07-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

Republican-turned-Democrat state Senate candidate Erik Underwood has announced that he will be appealing the decision of Secretary of State Karen Handel to disqualify his candidacy and remove him from the ballot.

On July 14th, Handel ended Underwood's bid to unseat state Sen. Nan Orrock after finding that he did not own property, pay rent or receive mail in the 36th state Senate district.

Underwood was one of two people challenging Sen. Orrock in the Democratic primary. The other candidate, Andre Jerry, was soundly defeated receiving 28.4% of the vote to Orrock's 71.6%.

Underwood says he will ask a judge to order a new election.

Quote of the Day: the Dick Pettys edition

2008-07-17T22:18:00.000-04:00

"The oldest rule in politics applies in challenges to a Speaker - if you shoot at the king you'd better finish the job." [Source: Insider Advantage Georgia, "It's More Than A Rumor - Richardson Will Face Challenge For Speaker's Gavel", July 17, 2008]

Dick Pettys has been around Georgia politics long enough to know that it takes a lot of chutzpah to challenge a sitting Speaker of the House for his job. Win and you'll be known as the giant slayer. Lose and...well, your influence in the legislature will be somewhere below that of the spotted owl society.

From within the House Republican ranks, State Rep. David Ralston has emerged as Glenn Richardson's rival for Speaker of the Georgia House. And already, five Republican lawmakers have declared their support for Ralston; Reps. Tim Beard, Tommy Benton, Doug Collins, Terry England, and John Meadows. [Source: Braselton News Today, "Benton, England back Richardson’s ouster", July 17, 2008]

Rep. Benton seems to think the votes are there to retire Richardson from the Speaker's rostrum. However, House Rules Committee Chair Earl Ehrhart believes otherwise.

"The Speaker has over 90 rock solid votes in a caucus of 107," Ehrhart wrote on the Peach Pundit web page. [Source: Peach Pundit.com, "More on Jeff Lewis (and Steve Davis)", July 16, 2008]

No one knows how this coup attempt will go down until the House Republican Caucus meets to determine who'll be its nominee for Speaker.

Georgia Politics Unfiltered Leads in '08 Election Day Traffic

2008-07-17T11:59:00.000-04:00

A review of the site statistics for three of the five major Georgia politics blogs show that more people log on to Georgia Politics Unfiltered for their election day coverage.

For the two elections held in Georgia this year, the February 5th Presidential Preference Primary and the July 15th General Primary, Georgia Politics Unfiltered received 1,378 and 1,897 unique visitors respectively.

In comparison, Tondee's Tavern, a prominent Democratic blog, received 487 unique visitors on February 5th and 1,157 unique visitors on July 15th. Another high-profile Democratic blog, Blog for Democracy, received 796 unique visitors on the 5th of February and 1,285 unique visitors on the 15th of July. [Source: StatCounter.com site statistics -- Blog for Democracy; Georgia Politics Unfiltered; and Tondee's Tavern]

Site stats for Georgia's other two prominent political blogs, Peach Pundit and JasonPye.com weren't publicly available online.

It's very exciting, and humbling, to know that more people rely on Georgia Politics Unfiltered for their election day news and analysis.

In just over a month, Georgia Politics Unfiltered will be in Denver, Colorado providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of the historic Democratic National Convention.

If you haven't already done it, bookmark this site so you won't miss a minute of the convention coverage that won't be shown on t.v.

Vernon Jones Lifts A Line From Casey Cagle

2008-07-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

In 2006, then-state Senator Casey Cagle ran television ads against his Democratic opponent for Lt. Governor, Jim Martin, accusing Martin of being "alarmingly liberal." In one spot, Cagle spoke to the camera and said, "Jim Martin's not a bad man, but his false attacks and liberal policies are bad for Georgia."

Casey Cagle went on to beat Jim Martin by nearly twelve points in the 2006 General Election and became the state's first Republican Lt. Governor.

Vernon Jones, who faces Jim Martin in the August 5th run-off for the Democrats' U.S. Senate nomination, trotted out a familiar line from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle's successful campaign against Martin hoping it will bring him similar success.

"Jim Martin is a nice man but he's too liberal to win statewide in Georgia," Jones told the Associated Press.

That comment had Jim Martin accusing Jones of using the Republican playbook.

"That's a good Republican attack," Martin said. "And that's the problem. Vernon Jones voted for George Bush twice and now he's using the Republican playbook." [Source: Macon Telegraph/Associated Press, "Jones, Martin face off for runoff in Senate race", July 17, 2008].

One thing is true. The "Jim Martin is a nice man, but too liberal for Georgia" line was very effective in 2006. The question now is how effective will it be in 2008.

Unfiltered Thoughts on the Obama New Yorker Magazine Cover

2008-07-16T14:15:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I was asked to give my take on the New Yorker cover featuring a caricature of Barack Obama in full Osama bin Laden-like, radical Muslim terrorist regalia with his wife, Michelle, sporting an afro and holding what appears to be an AK-47 over her shoulders.

It's obvious to me and to anyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously that the New Yorker magazine cover is a parody; a satire of what some folks, incorrectly, think about the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois and his wife.

However, if the Obama campaign's reaction to the New Yorker magazine cover is any guide, we know now that they take themselves way too seriously and don't know how to receive a joke that is meant to poke fun at their detractors, not them.

When the New Yorker magazine, with the now "infamous" Obama bin Laden cover, first graced the world stage (and yes, the world is talking about this, which I'll point out later on), Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton released a statement that said, "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. "But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree." [Source: Associated Press, "Magazine's 'satirical' cover stirs controversy", July 14, 2008]

The candidate himself, Sen. Obama, told CNN's Larry King that he thought the magazine cover was an "insult to Muslim Americans." [Source: Associated Press, "Obama says New Yorker insulted Muslim Americans", July 16, 2008]

Now you'd think that with the millions and millions of dollars raised by the Obama camp, they'd be able to afford to buy themselves, and their candidate, a sense of humor.

To quote the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, It is a sad commentary on the state of politics in the United States that Barack Obama and his campaigners couldn't afford to laugh at the cover of the latest New Yorker magazine, which features an obviously satirical caricature of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and his wife, Michelle. [Source: The Globe and Mail (Canada), "Manifestly satire", July 16, 2008]

But as I've written and said so many times before, our nation is becoming a society full of pansies and girly-men who get offended at the least little thing.

Case in point, do you think we'd ever see a skit like this on Saturday Night Live today?

I don't. Why? Because someone somewhere might get offended.

You could clock it with an egg timer the amount of time it would take for Al Sharpton to organize a protest in front on NBC Studios.

So, if want to know what I really think...

...I think Barack Obama and his handlers need to grow a pair of titanium-alloy balls and stop acting like a bunch of pussies.

Voters Send Sharon Beasley-Teague Back to Georgia House

2008-07-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

Despite reports of unethical behavior during her term in office, voters in south Fulton County's 65th state House district rewarded Sharon Beasley-Teague with another two years as their state Representative.

Beasley-Teague faced four challengers in yesterday's Democratic primary and beat them all with 53.6% of the vote.

Earlier in the year, it was reported that Sharon Beasley-Teague was the target of investigations by both the State Ethics Commission and the House Committee on Information and Audits concerning her campaign finance disclosures and the use of taxpayers' dollars to finance trips to Jekyll, Tybee and St. Simons Islands [Sources: CBS 46 Atlanta, "State Rep. Accused Of Ethics Violations", February 11, 2008; Insider Advantage Georgia, "Lawmaker's Travel Expenses Raise Eyebrows Under Gold Dome", February 11, 2008].

Sharon Beasley-Teague beat her nearest competitor by over 1,000 votes.

Jones vs. Martin: Analysis by Georgia's Media Markets

2008-07-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

A reader sent over the following analysis of how Vernon Jones and Jim Martin performed in each of Georgia's ten media markets.

With all precincts in except 9, here's the breakdown via TV market (Markets are here in map form, http://ekb.dbstalk.com/TVMarkets/Maps/georgia.gif)

Chattanooga (5981 votes):

Martin - 38%
Cardwell - 24%
Jones - 16%

Greenville (6992 votes):

Martin - 45%
Cardwell - 27%
Jones - 17%

Jacksonville (6134 votes):

Jones - 34%
Martin - 27%

Tallahassee (19K votes):

Jones - 36%
Martin - 32%

Columbus (23K votes):

Jones - 50%
Martin - 35%

Augusta (29K votes):

Jones - 54%
Martin - 29%

Savannah (36.9K votes):

Jones - 46%
Martin - 36%

Albany (45K votes):

Jones - 46
Martin - 33%

Macon (55K votes):

Martin - 45%
Jones - 38%

Atlanta (258.6K votes):

Jones - 38%
Martin - 33%

In the area(s) where Vernon Jones was in the news for the longest, he recieved 38%.

Denise Majette recieved 57% of the Atlanta market while leading in the primary with 41%. She then won 71% of the Atlanta market in the runoff while winning the state 59% to Cliff Oxford's 41%.

But Vernon has outpaced Denise in southern Georgia (Denise won Augusta by 14 in the 2004 runoff).

Can Vernon actually win a runoff without strong support in Atlanta?

He didn't win a majority in either DeKalb or Fulton. Majette won 76% in the runoff in DeKalb while Jones won 43% in the primary.

Just some things to consider.

The Third Time Wasn't The Charm For Donzella James

2008-07-16T04:23:00.002-04:00

In 2002, Donzella James left what many considered a safe state Senate seat to make a bid for Georgia's newly created 13th congressional district.

She was beaten by then-state Sen. David Scott in the Democratic primary.

In 2006, Donzella James made another run for Congress against David Scott and was defeated once more in the primary.

This year, Donzella James challenged David Scott for Congress in the 13th district and with 97% of precincts reporting, James appears to be headed towards a third defeat at the hands of Congressman Scott.

David Scott - 30,184 (63.8%)
Donzella James - 17,134 (36.2%)

There's no word if Donzella James will make a fourth attempt in 2010, but there are some who hope that James will throw in the towel and call it quits.

Huttman Appears to be Headed to Victory Over Hailey

2008-07-15T22:37:00.002-04:00

In the race for the state House District 81 Democratic nomination, Chris Huttman leads Cecillia Hailey with 67.2% of the vote.

11 of 16 precincts are reporting.

Chris Huttman - 367 (67.2%)
Cecillia Hailey - 179 (32.8%)

The winner of today's Democratic primary faces Republican state Rep. Jill Chambers in the General Election.

It's Barrow vs. Stone in the 12th district

2008-07-15T22:22:00.002-04:00

With 83% of precincts reporting, it appears that Congressman John Barrow and former congressional staffer John Stone will meet in November.

In the Republican primary, Stone cruised to victory over his two opponents garnering 60.3% of the vote. Across the aisle in the Democratic primary, Congressman John Barrow defeated state Sen. Regina Thomas with 77.9% of the vote.

Quote of the Night: the Markel Hutchins edition

2008-07-15T22:07:00.003-04:00

"We believe victory is at hand."

5th district congressional candidate Markel Hutchins speaking to his supporters this evening.

With 34% of precincts in, Hutchins trails John Lewis by 47 percentage points.

Marshall Defeats Liberal Opponent By Wide Margin

2008-07-15T21:32:00.003-04:00

Jim Marshall both cruised to victory tonight over his Democratic primary opponent, Robert Nowak.

Nowak campaigned on a "real" Democrat platform accusing Marshall of voting too much with the Republicans in Washington.

In the end, Marshall beat back his liberal opponent with a margin of victory of more than 50 percentage points.

75% of precincts reporting:
Jim Marshall - 31,285 (85.6%)
Robert Nowak - 5,242 (14.4%)

Marshall will now face Republican Rick Goddard in November.

Paul Broun Hands Barry Flemming a Landslide Defeat

2008-07-15T21:22:00.003-04:00

With 56% of precincts reporting, Georgia Politics Unfiltered is ready to project that Congressman Paul Broun will win the 10th congressional district Republican nomination and face Democrat Bobby Saxon in the November 4th General Election.

Paul Broun - 24,256 (74.0%)
Barry Fleming - 8,530 (26.0%)

Brown, Jackson Battle For Run-off Spot in Fulton Sheriff's Race

2008-07-15T21:14:00.003-04:00

With 32% of precincts reporting, Fulton County Sheriff Myron Freeman has captured 28% of the vote in his bid to keep his job.

Frank L. Brown and Ted Jackson are both tied for the coveted number two spot with 18% of the vote each.

The top two vote getters in the Democratic primary for Fulton County Sheriff will face each other in the August 5th primary run-off.

Jim Powell Projected to Capture Dems' PSC Nomination

2008-07-15T20:27:00.002-04:00

With 9% of precincts reporting statewide, Georgia Politics Unfiltered is going to project that Jim Powell will capture the Democratic Party's nomination for the district 4 Public Service Commission seat currently held by Angela Speir.

Speir decided against seeking another term on the PSC.

Despite Powell's early lead and project win, he still may not appear on the November General Election ballot.

Secretary of State Karen Handel recently disqualified Jim Powell as a candidate for the Public Service Commission. However, Powell was granted a last minute stay from a Fulton County Superior Court Judge. A hearing is scheduled to determine whether Powell will remain on the ballot.

Vernon Jones Maintains Double-Digit Lead in Gwinnett

2008-07-15T20:17:00.001-04:00

With 34% of precincts reporting in Gwinnett County, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones maintains a double-digit lead over his nearest competitor.

Dale Cardwell - 994 (22.22%)
Vernon Jones - 1708 (38.18%)
Rand Knight - 326 (7.29%)
Josh Lanier - 161 (3.60%)
Jim Martin - 1285 (28.72%)

With 6% of precincts reporting statewide, Jim Martin leads Vernon Jones by six points.

White County Reports First; Martin, Cardwell On Top

2008-07-15T19:24:00.002-04:00

One precinct in White County has reported their results and here they are:

Cardwell - 24 (26.4%)

Jones - 9 (9.9%)

Knight - 13 (14.3%)

Lanier - 4 (4.4%)

Martin - 41 (45.1%)

Election Results Open Thread

2008-07-15T19:09:00.002-04:00

First, here's where you can keep up with tonight's election results as they trickle in.

Statewide Election Results (Secretary of State's Office)

Fulton County Election Results

Clayton County Election Results

Gwinnett County Election Results

Now that we've got that out the way, the word on the street is that voter turnout is way low. Whom that benefits is anyone's guess...until the results start coming in.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

2008-07-15T17:00:00.001-04:00

...And two hours until the polls close.

At a moment like this, I can't help but wonder, what would Jimmy Buffett do?