We officially welcome Todd Rehm to Peach Pundit as our resident photo journalist. It would be a better welcome if I had a better grasp of posting pics in WordPress. We’ll have more of Todd’s work, like the Saturday helicopter pic, going forward here at Peach Pundit.
95 comments
Comments are closed.
Shafer is officially a lying sack of dog sh!t.
End of discussion.
Holy crap. Even Cecil Staton, arguably the most socially conservative man in the legislature, voted for it.
You’re absolutely right. He is a lying scumbag. Bought and paid for by the liquor distributors.
If he is running for SD 56 in north Fulton next July, we’ll get him. Just waiting for the lines to come out.
When did Shafer ever state that he supported Sunday Sales? If you can’t produce a statement to that effect, how can you say he lied about it?
If you call someone a liar and cannot produce evidence of that, You Might Be A Crook.
His response to my Facebook post… “David, my position has always been that any bill should include language guaranteeing local control and toughening the penalties for selling to the underaged. The language of my amendments had been agreed to during the last session and were part of earlier bills. One of the amendments would have arguably caused a layover.”
My understanding is that with certain provisions he would have supported it. I recommended that if underage drinking is such an important issue with him, he could certainly have offered a separate bill to toughen the penalties.
David –
I don’t agree that the language of the facebook post you cite is an indication that he would support Sunday sales, even if measures to curb underage drinking were included. You are reading more into what he actually said than I would.
I’m not saying that you are lying or misrepresenting what he said, simply that I don’t interpret it the way you do.
Senator Shafer introduced amendments to the SS bill that would have combatted underage drinking, or more specifically, sales to underage persons. It was close to, if not identical to, language that Senator Moody introduced in the past.
Shafer’s amendments failed. I don’t know if he would have supported the bill had the amendments passed, but if the amendments had passed, it would have been closer to the situation described in the facebook post you cited.
But even if the amendment had passed, I don’t believe you can read that statement as saying that he would vote for Sunday sales.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to infer that the post on Facebook would show that he supported it. I meant it only as support to having previously heard him say something along the lines of having supported the bill 4 years ago but that it went nowhere due to Sonny Perdue (just paraphrasing here…) but that he was looking for a perfect bill on this one in order to support it. Without the underage sales penalties being toughened, he wasn’t going to vote for it. Since it wasn’t a perfect bill in his eyes, but passed anyways… we’ll never know for sure.
With that said, I might donate to his opponent next year depending on who it is. Shafer should have introduced a separate bill to toughen sales against minors if that is his main objection… not try to kill this bill again.
And I will most likely be donating to any opponent of Judson Hill for standing with the Georgia Christian Coalition instead of with the majority of his constituents. If he wants to stand with the GCC, then perhaps he’s better suited as a preacher, sunday school teacher or director of a Christian non-profit… not as a law maker.
Todd, it’s interesting that you would mention amendments authored in prior sessions by Moody, who was also adamantly anti-SS. Could it be that both legislators authored nearly-identical amendments with the same end game in mind……killing the bill?
Anyone remember Shafer’s recommendation to have Moody added to Reg Industries back in 2007, just to help kill Sunday sales in committee?
Funny story (well, i think it is, anyway)…..
Shortly after this Reg Ind shenanigans, I went to check out Dan Moody’s website (MoodyforGa.org or something like that) and do some reading. In his “issues” narrative, he specifically mentioned how he favored local control…..words to the effect of “I believe issues should be left to the lowest level of government that is capable of handling them” (paraphrased).
So, I sent him a very gracious yet succinct email asking how he could be so high on local control but polarly-OPPOSED to it regarding Sunday sales.
I did not hear back from him.
His website did, however, get edited within a few days of my email, removing the issues narrative, including the paragraph on ‘local control’ .
Coincidence, I’m sure. :>)
Todd, my opposition to Shafer doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not he has changed his position. I will concede he has always opposed Sunday sales. Whether his opposition is based on his alledged close ties to a liquor distributor(s) or his desire for a statewide run or his personal religious views, the fact that he would value those above the ability for his constituents to vote on this matter is ridiculous to me.
No one knowledgeable of Shafer’s parts of north Fulton and Gwinnett would deny that they would overwhelmingly vote for Sunday sales. My guess is 80/20. We just spent years advocating local control in our incorproation victories in Milton and Johns Creek. Both incorporations passed by overwhelming majorities. We want to make our own decisions here, and the idea that our Senator believes the power to decide this issue should be invested in him instead of our city councilmen and/or the people is repugnant and, frankly, dangerous. What else does he think we should decide for ourselves? Why does he think my neighbors and I are not responsible to decide this issue?
I know it was Senator Seabaugh who used the California analogy on the danger of public referenda. In a lot of ways, I believe Seabaugh is soley worried about his influence waning if cities/counties/the public get to decide more issues. Does Shafter think this way?
I am both a Republican and a republican. I believe in the need for a legislature to decide complicated public policy issues since the public is nether educated enough nor able to dedicate the time necessary. But this is not a complicated issue. This is not prison reform or insurance reform or a convoluted rewriting of the tax code. Alcohol is a simple issue that every adult understands.
Simply put, I am concerned what this issue exposes about Shafer’s thinking.
Tiberius-
I don’t automatically assume that everyone who opposes Senator Shafer is a moron, or that everyone who opposes a single vote of his is an idiot.
You may be right that a majority of voters in his district would prefer that Sunday sales of alcohol be a local decision.
I’m inclined to believe, however, that 80% of his voters wouldn’t put Sunday Sales at the top of their list of concerns.
I’d bet that jobs, housing values, lower taxes, cityhood, and five or six other issues come way before the convenience of buying alcohol.
And I’d bet that David Shafer has been a more effective advocate on all of those issues than anyone else could be.
So will the voters of Senate District 48 throw out an effective legislator on 90-95% of their top concerns over a vote he cast on an issue that probably doesn’t make the top ten, let alone top five? If I were a betting man I’d wager against that.
How many of the members of the State House were advocating for Zero-Based Budgeting before Shafer passed his bill through the Senate at least twice? None that I’m aware of.
To me, and I’ll bet a majority of voters in SD 48, real reform at the state level that will help keep government spending in check and property taxes low is a much higher priority than that six pack they’d like to buy on Sunday.
Interesting fact that I learned yesterday. During the last two years in one of the North Fulton municipalities, there were fourteen suicides of middle-aged white men that by and large went unreported in the media.
How many of those suicides were caused by job losses, impending foreclosures, or related maladies of a cratered economy? How many were caused by the inability to buy beer on Sunday?
I’m quite familiar with the electorate in north Fulton and Gwinnett counties, and it is my professional opinion that David Shafer’s leadership on job creation, lower taxes, less government spending, fighting Obamacare and proposing realistic solutions to Atlanta’s water crisis are higher priorities than Sunday Funday.
When the primary or general election comes about in 2012, I’m willing to bet that proven leadership on economic issues trumps whatever ill-will David Shafer generated by voting his conscience.
There’s a reason we elect leaders to the Senate, not poll-whores.
Shafer is officially a lying sack of dog sh!t.
What “I’m Not A Crook” said.^
On a separate note…we have a Senator named Gooch. [snickers]
And a Stoner too!
From Lumpkin County – Dahlonega as I recall.
David Shafer as a nay? [facepalm]
It wasn’t too long ago that Shafer was building a reputation as a pretty serious leader. He was on the front line of the Tennessee River issue… back when Sonny was “praying for rain”. He had the image of a vaguely-libertarian guy with a sharp mind… back the knuckle-draggers were writing gay marriage amendments and arguing over Charles Darwin.
*Something* went sideways after Cagle decided to keep the Lt. Gov. gig after all. After backing out of that race… Shafer’s been wandering around in circles ever since, and I don’t know what to make of the guy.
Shafer was the one of the main dumbasses standing on the hose for SB10 all along. And with his considerable weight (actual poundage that is) it was putting a severe kink in it.
What, did he introduce an amendment to make Chick-Fil-A sell on Sundays too?
No, as Sonny directed us to do, Shafer plans ahead and gets several bags of Chick-Fil-A sandwiches from the drive-thru window on Saturday evening.
Even Tippins, who might be the oldest “freshman” ever in the GA, voted “Y”.
Yep, Tippins is my Senator. I’m pleased with his vote.
My Senator too, I e-mailed him and called him in the last few weeks on this. Good to know he got the message!
So much for Josh McKoon being so damned awesome. And David Shafer…really? I expected this out of tools like Cowsert, Judson Hill, Butterworth, and Seabaugh. But you? C’mon, man.
Bulloch is my old Senator and I have vehemently disagreed with him on some issues, but I have to tip my hat to the guy for this bill. The GOP base in SD11 is as conservative and evangelical as any in the state. I suspect he’s already decided he’s not running for re-election, making this decision a lot easier. But I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Isn’t Cecil Staton an ordained minister or something?
Yeah, I was disappointed in McKoon on this one too.
I’ll offer a defense (or reasoning may be a better word) for McKoon.
1) His district outside of Muscogee is very, very rural. He’s most likely voting the wishes of his constituents.
2) Jerry Luquire is one of his constituents. The Christian Coalition (the actual org, not the generic catch all for social conservatives) is strong there, and he probably doesn’t wish to try to spend political capital on this bill that he doesn’t yet have.
He’s a freshman. Give him a little time to season before giving up on him with one vote.
Shafer, meanwhile, is now free to devote full time to making banks accept Gold Eagle coins for his sound money friends.
One is fair, and I’m willing to accept that.
The other two….no. Get a spine. Show leadership.
There’s a David Schafer/sound money/buying Goldschlager on Sunday joke here somewhere but I don’t have it.
Butterworth is my Senator(50th, Hab, Rab, Steph, Frank., Hart). He didn’t vote my wishes. That being said he most likely voted the wishes of his district. I seriously doubt Sunday Sales will be put on any county wide referendum in the five counties. Maybe in some of the towns (if that’s allowed) but the chances of any city or town passing it is at best 50/50. (Maybe Mt. Airy or Baldwin in Hab)
You may be surprised. Lee isn’t exactly a booming metropolis, and yet we now allow Sunday restaurant sales even in Leesburg.
Of course, we don’t allow package sales of liquor at all here… yet. (And I’ll be long gone before it happens.)
Jeff, package alcohol sales in the 50th Senate district are pretty much limited to different small towns. As far as I know the counties are dry with one exception. Liquor by the drink is the same, private clubs and public restaurants in small towns and within the city limits. In 3 small towns that line up like a row house block where the city limits touch it runs wet, dry, wet on package sales. I’m pulling all of this off the top of my head as I don’t drink so it may not be entirely accurate but you get the general picture.
As for package sales on Sunday, it depends on quite a few factors. One fray that people don’t think about too much that goes on in small rural towns and counties is similar to the example of the bootleggers united with evangelicals against the sale of alcohol when I was a kid. The bootleggers wanted to keep their business and it’s about the same today. The private clubs and restaurants that pour on Sunday may resist what they perceive as giving up their business. As for the sale in grocery stores there are a couple of the more localized chains that aggressively advertise, buy groceries here, we don’t sell beer and they make a good living at it and they may resist Sunday Sales. And then you have those establishments that sale alcohol and are closed on Sunday who will still want to stay closed on Sunday without any new competition.
Those type examples will be decided more at the Chamber of Commerce than at the ballot box. And if it comes down like that again history will repeat itself and you’ll have those that sale alcohol united with evangelicals against any new sales.
He’s also the person who introduced Rob Teilhet’s DNA Upon Arrest bill, which passed earlier.
He’s most likely voting the wishes of his constituents.
Well, then so much for ‘margin of error’.
Also disappointed to hear him as one of those touting the famously-debunked New Mexico study. If he publicly states he was unaware of the gross errors exposed in the research, then I’ll cut him some slack on that.
One of his constituents has pushed the Arizona horse crap in the past. Hopefully his constituent will back off the horse crap. I know who the constituent is. But this is the north eastern corner of Georgia. I’ve lived here a long long long time. Attending a political debate in some of these counties has been like attending an ole time tent revival. I exaggerate not. In the early 60s my dad took me to the polls as a young teen. There were two groups standing hand in hand handing out fliers opposing alcohol sales. One dressed in overalls, the other in suit and tie. One evangelicals, the other bootleggers. Not much has changed. Seen the movie Deliverance? I met ’em.
Jim’s a big boy, he can speak for himself.
I would also offer that McKoon might aspire to statewide office one day, and a “yes” vote on this would hang him in rural Georgia…
But I’m also sure he was getting the full-court press from Luguire & Co.
Well if he’s already plotting for higher office before making a single accomplishment at his current position, then he’s unfit for whatever the next job is he wants.
And upon research, he’s not giving the whole “I voted with my constituents” line to the press. ” Also, the principle of preserving our traditions and the principle of policy concern of public safety. The notion of Sunday being a day of rest.”
Sounds like another self serving politico to me.
Yeah, because the last guy who pandered to the far right wing of the party just killed it in the July Gubernatorial primary.
Oh yeah, he finished 4th.
The “guy that pandered to far right wing of the party,” on at least one occasion(birth cert.) is our duly elected Governor. Pandering to that wing of the party is a must in Georgia as they make up a large portion of the party.
Charlie,
I’ll cut Josh some slack on this one as well, but as I wrote below, I just hope that type of reasoning is isolated to this single issue. The conclusion that a vague correlation between Sunday Sales “and people will die” is questionable at best, and regardless, that’s the type of liberal nanny state rhetoric Conservatives should oppose. Still, I haven’t given up on him either.
I haven’t spoke with him since his vote, but in general he is a very reasonable person and is very knowledgeable on policy issues, but he was wavering on this issue a couple of weeks ago. As far as the CC being strong down here……maybe, but the 29th polled (~72%) overwhelmingly in in favor of local control, and the previous state senator Harp actually tried to push this issue during Sonny’s rule.
As far as political capital for state wide office, I would think this might hurt his chances. A primary opponent could easily say he is against democracy, and even the rural voters will get to vote no, many of those area’s will probably end up holding the ban any way. And in areas that do end up allowing Sunday sales, the social cons may be pleasantly surprised that the world didn’t end, and society didn’t collapse.
I spoke to Senator McKoon this evening. He said my reasoning was fairly close with respect to the wishes of those he heard from in his district. The numbers he actually heard from who lived in his district weren’t even close.
As an aside, he and I have had many conversations over the last couple of years, and while you can always assume any young politician aspires to a higher office, we’ve never spoken of it once. Ever.
What is John McCoon seeing in that district that Seth Harp didn’t?
Here’s the deal. There was polling to suggest his district was strongly in support of of Sunday sales. There is a poll on the Ledger-Enquirer website right now that is lopsidedly pro-Sunday sales. His highly respected predecessor was a champion of it. McCoon had all the cover he needed to do the right thing. But he didn’t. He let himself get rolled by Luquire. He voted against it to CYA and preserve his prospects for future statewide primaries. This bill has proven McKoon to be the same sort of self serving politician with more ambition than abilities that everyone has grown sick of.
As of 3/17, he was still citing that assinine New Mexico study. Either he’s real dumb, or a real defective individual.
BuckheadConservative,
Please provide me a link to this New Mexico survey I’ve seen mentioned here several times, or in a nutshell, tell me what it is.
Thanks much-Calypso
I was referring to the poll done by McLaughlin (http://www.peachpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/GA-SD-29-Primary-Survey-Memo-02-10-11.pdf) showing 72% in favor of local control in the 29th state senate district. But still, your right about Luguire, and anyway, I will cut him a break.
As far as progressive ambitions, I’ve never heard him talk about running for higher office either, and in fact, he seemed really grateful to even win his current state sen. seat. But you never know, years down the road, if Westmoreland moves on, he could try for a congressional seat, or maybe at large candidate….
KD,
I looked at your poll and it was done by 300 GOP Primary voters. Sen. McKoon represents more than just GOP primary voters. He should have a feel for what his District wants. If he doesn’t have strong feelings one way or another on an issue, it’s OK for him to make a judgment call based on the number of phone calls for or against that issue.
I think he’s a great Georgia State Senator. Let’s let him get one full term under his belt before we start planning his future for him.
Doug,
I’m not sure where your coming from. I never disputed that Josh will be a great state sen., nor am I “planning his future for him.” I’m sure you know, speculation is pretty common online, but at this point it is more or less just wishful thinking. It is natural for folks to want a young, highly intelligent individual to run for office. Additionally, he is very accessible, and visible in the community. I have nothing but good things to say about Josh on a personal level, as I have already stated, he is an overall great guy. But I think it is fair to criticize this one vote, as others, including supporters and even some tea party folks have. Also, Doug, if you look at the demographic profile of that poll, it is very representative of the district, at far as religion, races, location, and other factors; and do you really think there is a 20% discrepancy between GOP primary voters and the district as a whole. Unlikely at best.
I am a little upset to see my newly elected senator vote N. Based on the way he was talking about the issue and his relation with that Jerry character, I was kind of expecting it. I am hoping these type of attacks on personal freedom, individual responsibility, democracy, and direct representation of constituents, don’t extend to anything else.
“I am hoping these type of attacks on personal freedom, individual responsibility, democracy, and direct representation of constituents, don’t extend to anything else.”
I offer that a ‘nay’ vote is precisely the bellwether for your senators belief in the aforementioned characteristics.
Who is your senator?
McKoon
Scratching my head on a couple –
Cowsert and Tolleson. I happen to know both of these guys drink (publically, I mean). They both seem like reasonable, pragmatic folks. Neither one is a Baptist. What would lead them to vote no on this?
Easy. For them, politics is self serving venture, not public service. A “Y” vote on this bill posed a (perceived) threat to their electoral future. Right and wrong goes out the door if it might cost them that title and paycheck.
Wonder who will be the first senator to start hitting up Deal to veto this??
Deal telegraphed loud and clear he would sign the bill. He’s not going to give anyone that kind of lifeline if the bill reaches his desk.
Besides, the votes are now public. There really are no lifelines left. This whole battle was about not being on record. Now, there it is. Boom.
Oh, I understand Deal’s stance on this. I was wondering if any senator was going to go all-out, hoist with one’s own petard, so to speak.
Perhaps you make a good point. I suppose one of them could make a public spectacle out of requesting Deal to veto the bill.
Agreed. More Kabuki Theater could/should be expected.
I doubt any of them will, it was all political posturing. A veto just means they’ll have to deal with it again.
I appreciate Senator Bulloch for authoring the bill. Also, I appreciate my senator, Senator Chip Rogers’, for his “yes” vote and for his continued support of the bill and helping it to reach the floor for a vote.
Follow the money.
Of course… because everyone in favor of Sunday sales is in it for the money.
I’m sick to death of that line. I just want choice. To hell with the money.
Here’s to getting our liquor quicker! Cheers! 🙂
Now we need to worry about Day 39 or 40 sleight of hand.
If the House passes a different version and a conference committee is appointed, some influential Senators may try to slow it down or bury it so it won’t get passed by midnight. Pro Tem Williams voted against it and I’m sure Casey is not a fan so they might try to kill it at the last moment.
The House needs to pass this clean. Eternal vigilance.
Can someone explain to me why Sen. Fort of Atlanta would vote against SB10, as he did? I’m perplexed as to the politics there.
He said that he observes the effect of alcohol on many of the residents of his district. Alcohol puts many vulnerable people on a vicious downward path to oblivion.
“Alcohol puts many vulnerable people on a vicious downward path to oblivion.”
It does that on Monday through Saturday as well. Additionally, alcohol served in restaurants has the same effect as alcohol sold in package stores.
I guess that’s why he’s signed every bill in previous years then.
Ha
Maybe he wants to run for Governor…
oh, please that would be fantastic. I am not so lucky.
Well, as a Christian Conservative who doesn’t drink at all, I am happy to see this bill pass. I believe in local control, NOT a nanny state whether run by conservatives or liberals.
Well…looks like I am one step closer to crossing an item off of my bucket list: Purchase alcohol in GA on a Sunday.
I have purchased alcohol in Georgia on many Sundays, and I’m not talking about in a restaurant. A country bait and tackle shop that also sells beer. Everybody around knows you can get beer there on Sundays if your timing is right. Store has to be empty – owner will then go outside and look to the left and look to the right to make sure no one is coming. Good times.
It is rather contradictory and ridiculous that some of the same people who beat their chest against the federal government telling states what to do and rush to the nearest microphone every opportunity given to shout down the federal government cast a vote against a measure that allows local communities to decide what they want to do.
Not to them, because their feeble brains convince them that they know better than we do. We just fail to understand that they are our benefactors. We are merely dumb peons.
Would you guys be willing to support local control over some other things currently being promulgated at state level? Why should some other industries be regulated at state level? Why shouldn’t the local county, rather than the state, dictate how often I have to have my eyes examined in order to get a prescription for contact lenses? There are hundreds of such examples. The short answer is, the legislature is controlled by special interests – just as they were controlled by the liquor industry in this instance.
Harry – the difference here is that the local level already regulates alcohol. All SB 10 did was remove the barrier of letting counties determine the days that same product can be sold in retail stores. Personally, I don’t think either the state or the county should be able to dictate how often you have to get your eyes examined to get a prescription for contact lenses. I think you as an individual should determine that along with your optometrist.
Yes, so why isn’t that possible? The state law says I have to have an exam every year at $80 a pop, even though my prescription hasn’t changed in 20 years and I’d be the first to know if there was a problem. I’m saying the politicians are controlled by the special interests.
Perhaps you should get a bunch of contact wearers together and lobby the Senate to change the law as we have done. I’d sign a petition for it if you want. It just doesn’t affect me, so I can’t really volunteer to put in lots of hours pushing for it. 🙂
Let me make your point for you Harry.
Would anyone be willing to allow local governments in Georgia regulate the sale of assault weapons?
I would.
The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. I think the Constitution overrules local jurisdictions, and in fact that’s what the Supreme Court recently upheld.
Ross Tolleson – shameless whore of the Baptists in Perry.
AJC has a great chart on who voted how. Keep it. Love it. Use it to knock over those Senators who profess to love freedom, local control, and less government next time you see them at your GOP breakfasts/conventions.
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/874574.html?appSession=827287733810871
I’d be happy to provide a wallet-sized version of the photo above that you could print out, laminate and keep in your wallet for quick reference without resorting to the internets.
Hah! You should pass them out in Macon.
Not a bad idea, CobbGOPer. I’ll think about that.
I’m a little fuzzy on the details, but Tommie Williams had an issue a couple years ago with the restaurant he owns (or co-owns) in Lyons, which is connected to the building that houses the church where his brother and sister in law are pastors. The restaurant sold alcohol, and it was against the law (either locally or statewide, not sure) to sell alcohol within a certain number of feet of a church.
I remember the argument he tried to make to justify selling alcohol near the church building (which I agreed with)…. just too bad (but not at all surprising) that the good sense he used to justify that doesn’t carry over to local control for Sunday sales.
And forgive me if I got the details wrong; it’s been a few years.
The purveyors of poison may win the battle, but they have hardly won the war. As the action shifts to the local communities, temperance warriors joined by the church people, MADDs, A-A, and other forces for good have had awareness raised of the determination of the oligopoly supermarkets and convenience stores to make a few dollars more on the backs of our more vulnerable citizens. During local referenda campaigns I wouldn’t be surprised to see the struggle taken right to the streets adjacent to the axes of evil, just like in the abortion wars mounted against the death clinics.
Hit ’em in the pocketbook where it hurts. Tell ’em you don’t want it. Educate the public about the evil being done to individuals, families and communities. Maybe some chains will begin to realize that the cost of a slow-moving aisle of alcohol is greater than the economic benefits.
And that’s where this battle should have been all along Harry.
This really is a local control issue. Assuming it does get to the Governor’s desk and earns his signature, not one additional drop of alcohol can be sold on Sunday with that action alone.
Local communities do get to decide certain standards of their area. In many areas, there will be no battle at all. Many urban, near suburban municipalities will welcome the change. Many rural communitites will never vote on it. And for some, there will be a battle. And those who turn out to vote in greater numbers than their opponants will win. As it should be.
Except in the coming campaigns the industry will outspend common citizens ten to one. But we are inspired to join forces, meet in battle, and defeat them by whatever means necessary including exposure and boycotts.
The more local the level, the more active grassroots will be effective against the forces of money. That’s one of the reasons I truly value local control Harry. No one ever said the world was going to be fair, but you have the best chance at a level playing field the lower the level a decision is made.
The reality is, however, that you already know your neighbors want this, and you’re not going to be successful in your neighborhood. I’m not saying don’t stand up for what you believe in, but given where you live, the die is virtually cast. Don’t let this one make you bitter.
Bowersville, as noted above have the same yet opposite problem.
Community standards matter Harry. They do define the place you live.
I’m thinking about the likes of Vincent Fort in his neighborhood. That would be a good game.
Besides, the only outcome that counts is the winning of minds. What’s defined as legal or illegal is secondary.
Senator Fort forgets that he also represents the Roswell Rd area-Buckhead-Brookhaven crowd in certain parts…but that doesn’t help his story of “downtrodden neighborhoods negatively affected by the liquor industry”
MADD hasn’t ever opposed this legislation
Maybe not officially, but I bet the vast majority of MADD members will do anything to kill the alcohol industry. There are many communities that can be brought into the struggle, including for example the Muslim community.
In the end, there were no real surprises on any GOP vote, was there? By my count, it was 21-17 GOP……and the only N I really thought could be a Y was Butch Miller, but that was based only on comments I’d gotten from someone much earlier in the process (before the caucus stalled it).
Jeff Mullis, imo, made the best argument of the day….and the same one I’d been making all along and had even passed along to several Senators. There was nothing hypocritical about being opposed to Sunday alcohol sales, for whatever reasons, yet being in favor of this legislation.
Agreed. The way Jeff’s speech started out I thought he was going to be opposed to SB 10. But then it totally took an unexpected turn and I was pleasantly surprised.
Thank you, Sen Johnny Grant for your “yea” vote on SB 10 and local control…. not so happy about your support of SB 80, DNA collection upon arrest and privacy invasion bill (more later on an appropriate thread).