Look, while we appreciate all y’all sending us press pieces on Friday afternoon, and others of you complaining about the comments chaos earlier in the day… It’s time for you to decompress for the weekend.

Here’s a shot, almost live, from Tanalach Media World Headquarters:

From left to right, that’s a Rising Moon, Big Green Egg getting ready for some burgers, the boys jumping on the trampoline, and Radio Paradise on the deck speakers. Oh, and it’s 70° and gorgeous.

I humbly suggest if you’re uptight about Georgia Politics at this point in time, you should start with the beer and improvise the rest.

Have a great weekend.

Rasmussen is out with some new polling in head-to-head general election match-ups between former Gov. Roy Barnes and the top four Republicans.

The poll also shows overwhelming support for the issue of Sunday alcohol sales to be decided by residents over local leaders.

Barnes vs. Deal

Roy Barnes	40%
Nathan Deal	43%
Other	5%
Undecided	13%

Barnes vs. Handel

Roy Barnes	39%
Karen Handel	42%
Other	5%
Undecided	14%

Barnes vs. Johnson

Roy Barnes	40%
Eric Johnson	38%
Other	6%
Undecided	16%

Barnes vs. Oxendine

Roy Barnes	41%
John Oxendine	41%
Other	6%
Undecided	11%

]]> http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/03/19/new-poll-from-rasmussen-on-gubernatorial-race/feed/ 15 http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/03/19/closed-comments-on-balfour/ http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/03/19/closed-comments-on-balfour/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:30:40 +0000 Clayton http://www.peachpundit.com/?p=21635

I just closed the commenting on the Balfour thread from yesterday. We’re getting a large number of complaints, and there is potentially bad information in some of the rumors (shock!)… And everyone who can do some additional fact checking is either mobile or busy.

We’ll give you a forum to discuss the situation in short order. It’s Friday afternoon… go relax instead.

Well, that only took 14 months…

I am strongly in favor of reforming the health care system, but I don’t think this bill is going to do it, and therefore I can’t support it. It puts too much of the burden of paying for it on working folks who are already being overcharged, and that’s not fair. It threatens to overwhelm Medicaid in Georgia, and that’s not right. And it barely touches the insurance companies, and that’s not smart. We can do better and I’m ready to start.

Glad to see he finally got the message.

[UPDATE] Sanford Bishop will be looking for a new job come January as he is now voting YES on ObamaCare.

As Jason Pye broke last night, State Senator Don Balfour declared yesterday he was out of the race for the House of Representatives and was done with the Georgia Senate.

This afternoon, there is now some softening of his position as it relates to the Georgia Senate. Sorta. It seems that someone can’t make up his mind if he is truly done with elected office.

Balfour said he would decide by the upcoming qualifying period in the coming weeks if he would try to continue his 18-year tenure in the Georgia Senate, where he now heads the powerful Rules Committee.

The political fight over the past few weeks, since U.S. Rep. John Linder’s surprise announcement he would retire from office, has been brutal, and Balfour said the stress of trying to be a leader in the state’s grueling process to cut billions from the budget has been too much.

“It got very frustrating,” he said, pointing to a quick political response over higher education funding when he said budget cuts may drive a tuition increase. “In the past two weeks, I haven’t been sleeping well. … I’ve lost a lot of weight. … I just don’t have a peace about it.”

After so many years in public office, it’s certainly curious that only now is he finding himself unable to handle the rigors of his position. Curious.

Whatever his decision, it’s going to be quite a ride and I recommend that we all follow this recommenation*.

*Everyone except Ben Harbin, that is.

State Sen. David Shafer threw his support to State Representative Clay Cox’s 7th District Congressional campaign today.

Quoting from a release issued by the Cox campaign:

“Clay Cox is a good friend and he will make an outstanding Congressman,” Shafer said.  ”When I decided three weeks ago not to enter this race myself, I encouraged Clay to run.  I am counting on him to fight for our conservative principles and help bring fiscal sanity to Washington.”

Hawkins Press Release via email:

CALLS FOR HONEST CONSERVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CREATE JOBS

CUMMING, Ga. – Republican candidate for Congress State Sen. Lee Hawkins said Friday that a bill being promoted as a “jobs” bill by State Rep. Tom Graves is a sham and, urged legislators to replace it with Hawkins’ own jobs bill.

“Graves’ so-called jobs bill is a sham,” said Hawkins.  “His legislation contains fine print that would only allow it to take effect if there is a budget surplus in the state of Georgia.  But he knows full well that today we have more than a billion dollar deficit, and we are years away from having a budget surplus. It won’t create a single job. It’s just another fake gimmick that politicians have used for years to trick voters.”

“Georgians demand real tax cuts and a genuine plan to create jobs. They want genuine conservative leadership and genuine tax cuts.”

“This legislation is like so much of what comes from Washington politicians from both parties. It’s time for real conservative tax cuts, not more fake legislation designed to get people elected to office. ”

“We need tax cuts, this year, to spur job creation, not years from now,” said Hawkins. Hawkins has led and is supporting an alternative jobs bill of tax cuts that would take immediate effect in fiscal year 2010 and would spur immediate creation of jobs. Hawkins bill, which is starting in the State House as HB 1204, will help employers begin creating jobs immediately. Hawkins will be the Senate sponsor.

Hawkins, a candidate for Georgia’s Ninth district congressional seat, further stated that last year he had supported the 2009 Senate version of the JOBS bill. “It was very different from what later passed the House, but neither 2009 version contained the $500 million surplus requirement.”

From CNN:

TUNE-IN ALERT: head to CNN.com or CNN.com/LIVE at 12:00 p.m. ET today for a special sneak peek at what we’re calling John King, USA BETA. It will be a true behind-the-scenes experience where internet users can see how a show comes together in the final stages. Guests include Ron Paul, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, Erick Erickson, Jane Hamsher and Aisha Taylor

We’re getting reports in tonight that State Sen. Don Balfour is not running for Congress in GA-7 and will not seek re-election to the legislature.

Stay tuned for updates.

[UPDATE] Galloway has the press release.

Please join the Georgia Republican Party

for a

Young Professionals Event*

featuring The Yacht Rock Revue

Tuesday, April 13^th

6:00-9:30 pm

Atlanta Brewing Company

2323 DeFoor Hills Road, N.W. Atlanta 30318

Admission includes:

-Beer, Soft Drinks and Souvenir Glass

-Food provided by Williamson Bros BBQ

Tickets

(available on a first-come, first-served basis):

Online Purchase

$30 Early Bird Special

(ends Wednesday, March 24^th)

$40 (ends Friday, April 9^th)

Please click here

$45 At the Door

Sponsorship opportunities available.

Please contact the Finance Department at 404.257.5559 x239 or x274.

*This event is only for guests 21 of age and over. ID required at the door.

The GAGOP defines “young professional” as someone who is, knows, or once was a young professional.

Contributions to the Georgia Republican Party are not deductible as charitable contributions for state or federal income tax purposes. Federal law requires political committees to use our best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200.00 in a calendar year.   State law requires political committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of any person making a contribution of $101.00 or more in an election cycle.  Individual contributions not exceeding federal limits will be deposited in the Georgia Republican Party federal account.  Corporate contributions will be deposited in the Georgia Republican Party non-federal state account.  Contributions to the Georgia Republican Party federal account are limited to $10,000 per individual and $5,000 per multi-candidate PAC per calendar year. Contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited. A copy of our report is available from the Federal Election Commission in Washington, DC and from the State Ethics Commission in Atlanta, Georgia.

Paid for by the Georgia Republican Party

Not authorized by any candidate or any candidate’s committee

P.O. Box 550008– Atlanta, Georgia 30355 404.257.5559 – WWW.GAGOP.ORG – 404.257.0779 (fax)

Sue P. Everhart, Chairman ● Bob Mayzes, Treasurer ● Rob Doll, First Vice-Chair

from his press release:

SAVANNAH — Senator Eric Johnson, Republican candidate for Governor, today opened his Savannah campaign office at 329 Commercial Drive in Savannah. The office will initially be open from 10 AM – 3 PM Monday through Saturday and serve as the hub for political efforts in Southeast Georgia.

“For 17 years you allowed me to represent you and for that I am incredibly grateful. Together, we fought for strong families, smaller government and free enterprise,” Johnson told local supporters that joined him in his hometown for the opening. “But there is more work to be done. That’s why I’m running to be Georgia’s 82nd Governor.”

Johnson also spoke about his commitment to putting Georgia back to work and his plan to spur private sector job creation.

“Don’t let anybody tell us that our best days are behind us. With the right leadership, Georgia can emerge out of this recession faster than the rest of the nation and be stronger than ever before,” continued Johnson. “And folks, I’m just the guy to do it.”

An architect and a respected conservative leader, Eric Johnson served as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. In that role, he passed legislation that cut taxes and spending, empowered small businesses, and protected doctors and businesses from frivolous lawsuits. He and his wife Kathryn have two grown children and live in Savannah. For more information please visit www.JohnsonForGeorgians.com.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed a substitute version of SB 418, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act this morning, setting it up for placement on the calendar for the full Senate to vote on before Crossover Day, March 25th. This legislation will establish a state surveillance system for the monitoring of prescribing and dispensing of certain medications. The database will included most pain relievers, anxiety medications, sleep aids, anti-diarrheals and anything containing codeine. This database would bypass Fourth Amendment requirements for a warrant for this information.

Reason recently looked into the consequences of this action:

At the beginning of last month, the State Senate passed a bill that would prohibit involuntary microchip implants, which is not a threat. Here were facing a real threat of government invading our personal privacy and relationship with doctors and the Senate is ignoring basic civil liberties. Nice.

I’m hearing that former Gwinnett County Commissioner Tommy Hughes is thinking about jumping in the race to replace retiring 7th District Congressman John Linder. Hughes server on the Gwinnett County Commission from 1993 to 2001.

Doing the bidding of our founder, I’d like to pass on an item from our tipline that Rep. Michael Harden will be on CNN Headline News this afternoon at 5:30pm. Rep Harden will be discussing the proposed bill to require those receive unemployment benefits from the State of Georgia to undergo drug testing. No word yet if CNN will require Rep. Harden to pee in a cup before he’s allowed to answer any questions.

Please watch CNN Headline news tonight at 5:30, CNN weeknights at 7:00pm starting next week, and please also buy one item from each of their advertisers.

The Associated Press is reporting that Jimmy Carter is urging Obama to meet individually with GOP leaders to heal “an unprecedented divide” between our two major political parties. While I agree with his sentement, I can’t help but think “there goes Jimmy again” when he gives the following example of how bipartisanship can work:

Former President Jimmy Carter and former Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker are lamenting the partisan politics in Washington and say Democrat and Republican leaders should work together because voters are getting frustrated.

Carter said Wednesday the division between the two parties over health care reform and other issues is unprecedented.

Baker, a Republican, and Carter, a Democrat, worked together on the Panama Canal treaty during the late 1970s. The treaty returned control of the passage to Panama two decades later.

I would like to see a more civil and respectful tone return to debate of differing views in D.C. I can’t say I’m too excited to use an example that says “look how much we can give away if we just work together to do so.”

Yeah, that’s two national posts in a row. I’m Irish, today is March 17th, you figure it out. I’ll be back to working on some state issues after another pint or two.

I’ve received some requests to open up a discussion and/or to post a few links on Heath Care reform as it appears we’re nearing the final stretch for this beast in D.C.

Normally, we stick to GA only issues here, but major events (national campaigns, game changing issues) often cause the comments to tend to spill over into other threads.

In an effort to let the folks in our online community express their feelings without destroying the GA specific discussions, I’m opening up this thread. Post what you like related to Health Care only, but keep it civil. Flame wars will get you in time out, while repeating partisan talking points from either side ad nauseum will just annoy most of us.

Have at it.

Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana will be hosting a joint fundraiser with Georgia’s Sixth and Ninth Congressional District Republican Parties. Received via email:

For a few weeks I have dropped hints that there is news coming out of the Ninth.  I am not referring to the joint 9th-11th picnic to be held in Gordon county on April 17th; 24 candidates speaking with a straw poll.  More info on this event can be found at www.goppicnic.eventbrite.com .

What I am talking about is that I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana will be doing a joint fundraiser with the Ninth and the Sixth at the Cobb County Galleria on June the 2nd.  Some of the metro-counties have commanded an out of state speaker, but I don’t recall a District doing that in recent years.  I hope you will attend.  The host committee and further details will be announced in a few weeks.  To learn more about Congressman Pence, go to www.mikepence.com .

Thanks,

Doug Grammer aka GOPGeorgia

Chairman, Ninth District of GOP Georgia

I’ve been dying to tell you all for a while and this explains why I haven’t been around much lately. I’ve been busy.

Erick Erickson Joins CNN’s Roster of Political Contributors
Erickson to Appear Regularly on John King, USA, beginning March 22

Prominent conservative commentator and RedState.com editor Erick Erickson will join CNN as a political contributor, it was announced today by Sam Feist, CNN political director and vice president of Washington-based programming. Erickson will appear weeknights on John King, USA, which launches Monday, March 22, as well as provide perspective and commentary to other programs across the network.

“I grew up in Dubai and then in rural Louisiana as an obsessive news junkie. CNN was the only place to go for nonstop news,” said Erickson. “Joining CNN is like coming home and being in Atlanta makes the decision right for me and my family.”

“Erick’s a perfect fit for John King, USA, because not only is he an agenda-setter whose words are closely watched in Washington but as a person who still lives in small-town America, Erick is in touch with the very people John hopes to reach,” said Feist. “With Erick’s exceptional knowledge of politics as well as his role as a conservative opinion leader, he will add an important voice to CNN’s ideologically diverse group of political contributors.”

Erick Erickson currently serves as editor-in-chief of RedState.com, a property of Eagle Publishing, Inc. Under his leadership, RedState.com has become the preeminent right of center community online. Prior to leading RedState.com, Erickson practiced law for six years and managed a number of political campaigns, and he currently serves as a member of the Macon, Georgia city council. He studied political science and history earning a bachelor’s degree at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Erickson also earned his juris doctorate from Mercer’s Walter F. George School of Law.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

-30-

For more information, visit www.CNNPressroom.com.

If there is interest in forming an NCAA March Madness bracket contest I’ll be happy to set one up (probably with ESPN). It’s pretty easy to do, the winner would be the person who correctly picked the most games over the length of the Tournament, and as many people who want to join can. Needless to say, the prestige that accompanies being the Peach Pundit March Madness Bracket Contest Champion in incalculable.

If enough of you are interested, I’ll set it up Monday night.

Update by Tyler: Doug Deal has set up the bracket at  http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joinprivategroup

Group ID: 141074

Password: tanalach

A national left-wing blog is having fun with Ray McBerry’s little gem of a statement released yesterday. TPMMuckraker has seized upon this comment by McBerry:

I choose to salute the Georgia flag and the original Betsy Ross American flag instead of the current federal flag which represents the present unconstitutional leviathan in Washington.

According to Muckraker:

An aide to a rival gubernatorial campaign told TPMmuckraker he had seen McBerry decline to salute the American flag at candidate debates and forums. “He literally steps back … a foot or so,” the aide explained.

Ray McBerry doesn’t deserve the paltry 2% support he’s currently receiving in the GOP Primary for Governor. Perhaps he could do us all a favor and withdraw from the race.