I don’t disagree with anything Daisy May wrote – well, other than that “keeper” thing.

My point (which was before the election for Speaker nominee) was that there were other things of greater importance. My response is within the context of this thread (The Larry O’Neal Story) and referred to considerations for selecting the next Speaker.

The concerns of lobbyists should not come before the concerns of the citizens. Clear enough?

You’re making some very good points. I doubt Kenny will concede any, tho.

Legislators should not do business with lobbyists. It’s …. well …. unethical.

It’s not a matter of attorneys. Legislators who needs some cosmetic surgery shouldn’t barter for the services in the halls of the Gold Dome with a registered lobbyist who just happens to run a resort clinic just over the Mexican border.

I don’t see how dating a lobbyist or providing services to or accepting services from a lobbyist are any different.

An elected official has one client. And only one client. Me, the citizen (not the literal me, Mad Dog).

A lobbyist is not a citizen anymore. A lobbyist is a merchant for special interests who barters in many, many coins.

Any legislator who accepts those coins, takes 40 pieces of silver.

Well done, Daisy.

What good is anyone that sees only the good or only the bad in others?

I’m optimistic about the new leadership. I really do believe things will be much better.

This format is new here and your reply was in the best place possible.

See you around!

Sorry this is out of sequence. I am new and there is no reply link to your last response (have never been much of a blogger).

You highlighted the important issues perfectly. I hope that the agenda of the state will come before that of lobbyists. I am not willing to recruit girlfriends for the legislature to have clean water.

Hopefully the new leadership will bring legislators closer to the people they serve.

I am concerned that we only have one chance to get this right.

Sinking revenues (probably until ’12 or ’13 at best), water problems, transportation and education are looming problems. There will be no easy decisions in the next several years. We can’t afford more unethical behavior among our leaders or among the rank-and-file house and senate members. I hope they understand.

As far as I know no one has declared me the keeper of anything. I do try to keep my temper, my principles and a good sense of humor.

I do believe things are about to change for the better. Let’s see.

I don’t know who crawled under a rock and died and declared you the keeper of matters of great importance, but I am very concerned about lobbyists having such undue influence on legislators.

When the democrats were in power, lobbyists and corporations retained legislators who were attorneys for large sums of money to sit on their ass until the legislative session came around. Nothing has changed under Republican leadership. While we are talking about ethics reform (if this is even constitutional), the legislature should consider not letting lobbyists retain the services of attorneys who are also legislators. You can’t stick your foot out at the capitol and not trip a lawyer. It isn’t like there is a shortage.

Since attorneys are bound by attorney client privlege they may not be forced to disclose their clients or how much their clients paying for services. It is a perfect slush fund.

Though I am not a Larry O’Neal supporter, I do not see the need for concern, either. There are other matters of greater importance.

This is exactly why Ralston or Hembree ought to be speaker. Ralston demonstrated courage by running last year, and Hembree has no baggage. It’s time for a new leadership team, and a clean slate.

Perhaps I need to make myself more familiar with the Senate Rules Committee – but one disaster at a time please.

When are you going to call for Don Balfour to step down from Senate Rules Chair?

On a personal note, before you attempt to lecture me on “just pontificating,” I will point out that you do not know me. You do not know what I do and what I do not do.

I was working to help build the state GOP when Larry O’Neal was still running for office – and losing – as a Democrat.

As for “giving the benefit of the doubt” to those who failed to stand against Glenn Richardson, I am doing so though their abject cowardice makes it difficult.

Again, I am not referring to Glenn Richardson’s affair. I know that is what you wish to discuss because you believe you can excuse Larry O’Neal in that one regard.

You can claim “cheap shot” but O’Neal failed to stand against Glenn Richardson when the opportunity presented itself. He, in fact, voted FOR Glenn Richardson to continue as Speaker. Those are facts – and they are facts you neither deny nor attempt to refute or explain.

Larry O’Neal does not represent a break from the past. He clung to the Richardson administration when he knew it was wrong. Please don’t tell me there was not concrete proof. Larry O’Neal is not stupid and neither am I.

Having failed to stand against Glenn Richardson he now wants others to stand with him against people who are much better than Glenn Richardson ever was on his best day. Why is that? It could be because this requires much less personal or political courage.

Count me in that group of angry Republicans that want a clean slate with new leadership. Larry O’Neal has come out with all these bullet points on ethics he would like to implement. My problem with O’Neal is that if he thought these were important (keeping in mind he was part of the leadership-so much that he was included in a meeting at the Governor’s mansion) why did he wait this long to propose them? Others have been calling for reform for some time. Where was O’Neal? Why was he so silent? Georgia deserves leaders with courage and commitment.

Many of us (myself included) have put in long hours to build a Republican majority in this state (at one time fighting Democrats yes including O’Neal) What has happened and been allowed to happen has been a flat betrayal to us and the voters of this state. The House caucus has a chance to begin righting the ship before it sinks. It is sinking quickly.

Sorry, there is no strong case for electing Larry O’Neal as Speaker and a very strong one for opposing him. He may be a nice man, but he has only recently gained a voice and a weak one at that.

Thanks for responding. First of all the vote was 75 – 25 to be accurate.

Affairs are not the only reason to depose a leader.

In 2008 there was clear and open evidence of Glenn Richardson’s management style: dictatorial, vindictive and power-hungry. Richardson created an atmosphere in which many – apparently including Larry O’Neal – were afraid to do the right thing. That alone was reason enough to have voted against Glenn Richardson. He had become a tyrant and failure to stand against tyranny encourages its growth.

There is no false morality tale here. David Ralston had the courage to do the right thing and suffered the consequences for doing so. Where are Larry O’Neal’s scars?

Do you not wish Larry O’Neal had done right and voted against Glenn Richardson? Why did he fail to do so?

Larry O’Neal is not the best choice for Georgia House Speaker and neither is Bill Hembree. I do not agree with Hembree’s heavy-handed campaign tactics myself.

Ralston has proven that he is capable of making those difficult decisions when it’s not easy to do what is right. Larry O’Neal and Bill Hembree have not yet stood in that fire even when the opportunity presented itself.