UPDATED: The Tip Line tells us that Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard has also joined the boycott of the Fayette Citizen’s blog debate. Stay Strong, Candidates. Stay Strong.
All four candidates for Fayette County Sheriff, and five of seven candidates for the Fayette County School Board, have refused an invitation from the Fayette Citizen to participate in its “Online Political Forum”. It seems that not only did the candidates believe that the questions asked were “overly negative” in tone, but have also read the blogs, and find them filled with “many slanderous and baseless attacks on the character of each candidate for office.”
The School Board candidates took the high road, and said in a joint statement, ”If you would like to re-draft your questions in a positive manner, we will reconsider responding to them.”
Now that they have done it with Genarlow Wilson, everyone wants to jump on board the train to have more laws changed because they are “mean.” Too bad they don’t think it is a problem to willy nilly tinker with the OCGA. How high minded they are!
The Georgia Supreme Court was asked Monday to consider its ruling that freed Genarlow Wilson last year when deciding a challenge to a life sentence imposed on a sex offender. The request was unusual in that it was made by both the prosecutor who wants the life sentence upheld as well as the public defender who contends the sentence is cruel and unusual punishment. At issue is a mandatory life sentence imposed in December on Cedric Bradshaw in Bulloch County for failing to register as a sex offender for the second time.
John McCain continues to hold a substantial lead over Barack Obama in Georgia. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows the presumptive Republican nominee attracting 53% of the vote while his Democratic rival earns support from 43%. One percent (1%) of voters would opt for former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr who is running as the Libertarian candidate for President. Three percent (3%) of voters are undecided.
A month ago, McCain enjoyed a similar ten-point lead, 51% to 41%. Rasmussen Reports has conducted four polls in the Peachtree State this year and McCain has led by double digits in all four. Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss appears to be in good shape for his re-election bid.
McCain is viewed favorably by 60% of Georgia voters, Obama by 47%.
The current survey found that up to 6% of Georgia voters might consider voting for Barr. Most of these are currently McCain voters. If all 6% voted for Barr, the race in Georgia might be competitive. However, unless McCain is clearly headed for defeat nationally, it is unlikely that Barr will make enough of an impact to threaten the Republican winning streak in the state.
Last Wednesday, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would overturn a series of Supreme Court decisions that have narrowed the definition of disability under the American With Disabilities Act of 1990.
The ADA Restoration Act (H.R.3195), which restores the original intent of the ADA by clarifying that anyone with an impairment, regardless of his or her successful use of treatments to manage the impairment, is entitled to seek a reasonable accommodation in the workplace, received 402 votes in favor and 17 votes against [Source: United States House of Representatives, Roll Call #460, June 25, 2008]. Five of those seventeen “nay” votes came from Georgia Republicans.
Paul Broun, Jack Kingston, John Linder, Tom Price and Lynn Westmoreland voted against the legislation that specifically:
“The Atlanta Press Club will host 10 live debates for statewide offices and five local debates this primary season, giving statewide candidates a chance to discuss the issues.* The debates will take place July 1, 2, 10 and 13 at Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), located at 260 14th Street in Midtown, in front of a live studio audience. Press club members, journalists, college students, and supporters are invited to be part of the audience.
For more information please click here or call The Atlanta Press Club at 404-577-7377.”
Set those DVRs! Bloggers and v-bloggers at the ready! Chickens welcome!
NOTE TO ERICK/ADMIN: On the new version of WordPress admin tool, obviously just implemented for PP, the Indent function doesn’t appear to be working with this template. I had some issues with another blog with this too; ended-up having to switch templates.
Under current state law, a person’s DUI convictions are counted against them for five years, with the fines, jail time and community service requirements growing with second and third offenses.
But beginning Tuesday, a person’s DUI convictions will be tallied for 10 years. And a fourth conviction will become a felony, bringing up to five years in jail in addition to more community service and higher fines than the first three convictions.
The five Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate sparred over campaign cash, their resumes and gay marriage in the first televised debate of the race Sunday night. Each sought to make the case that he’s best equipped to take on Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Now, here is what I think:
Jim Martin v. Rand Knight in a runoff, with Rand Knight potentially besting Jim on the strength of union turnout efforts.
The Georgia Department of Revenue is moving to eliminate one excuse that local officials give when they’re raising property taxes: The state made us do it.
The department, at the direction of Gov. Sonny Perdue, is trying to make sure county officials know they don’t have to revalue property every three years. The department is proposing a new regulation that, among other things, spells that out.
PARTLY WHINEY WITH A STRONG CHANCE OF UNJUSTIFIED SELF-IMPORTANCE
Finley Peter Dunne coined the phrase “Politics Ain’t Bean Bag” around the turn of the last century, pointing out the obvious:Politics isn’t a children’s game.Frankly, I have no idea what “bean bag” consists of, though I did have a Toss Across when I was a kid, and have to assume it was similar.
I’m thinking that the bean bag reference is lost on the up and coming generation of current politicians, who seem to all actually believe what their parents have been telling them for as long as they can remember.But here’s a horrifying news flash to you if you are considering running for office.You are not as smart, sophisticated, good looking, or charming as you think you are.The voters are not your parents, and are not here to excuse all of your personal insecurities and shortcomings.In fact, they will pick at them and magnify them.You better be prepared, have thick skin, and be ready to defend any thought, action, or statement you have ever made if you are going to step into this arena.
To update Mr. Dunne’s quote for contemporary comprehension, I offer you the following:
Despite the obvious similarities among the contestants, Politics ain’t the Special Olympics.There are not people waiting around to give you a hug just because you reached the finish line.
In Macon two years ago, I ran Judge Tilman Self, III’s race. It was a five way race with a lot of unknown candidates.
To build up name recognition, we used a diamond shaped 2′ x 2′ yard sign. It was a good looking sign that really stood out from the pack. The lettering was a serif font, with a red band of color in the sign — standard blue sign, white letters, red decorative element.
We were the first in the area to use a yard sign like that and it worked very well. People really connected the campaign and sign, helping build great name identification, which we saw reflected in some polling we did.
I got a good laugh tonight when I saw Sam Hart’s yard sign. It is a blue 2 x 2 diamond with serif font and green band of color. It is a very good looking sign.
Of course, there are a few problems:
1. Why is the sign out? Sam is running uncontested in the July primary. He doesn’t need it.
2. The signs are pretty pricey — about a dollar more per sign than the standard 18 x 24. I’d never recommend using a diamond sign when you don’t have to worry about name id. Sam, most definitely, does not have to worry about name id. Likewise, as a former elected official, he probably should have used the same logo he had been using, so people connect him.
It is definitely not a fatal error, but it is definitely an error. Nonetheless, it is a very good looking sign and I am definitely flattered.
With three weeks left before Democratic voters head to the polls to pick a nominee to face off against Republican Saxby Chambliss in November, the five candidates running in the July 15th Democratic primary participated in a 60-minute debate sponsored by Fox 5 Atlanta (WAGA-TV).
The debate touched on a variety issues from money in politics to troop withdrawal out of Iraq. And while there was a lot of agreement among the five Democrats on stage, there were also some disagreements as well.
Former U.S. Senate staffer Josh Lanier took on Jim Martin asking if the Democrats’ 2006 Lt. Governor nominee should lead by example and stop accepting money from political action committees and special interest groups. Martin, in response, seemed to suggest that he would not refuse money from high dollar contributors.
“I play by the rules that all candidates play by…rules that Saxby Chambliss plays by,” Martin said.
A couple of people have emailed in asking why we at Peach Pundit hate the guy. We absolutely do not. We just are mindful of the qualifications of Superior Court judges. We appreciate Michael coming on and making his case, but we think, and presume he now agrees, that he was mistaking in his reading of the qualifications.
I hope in 2010 he will run. In an email to the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers listserve yesterday, Michael re-interated he believes he was correct in his argument, but did not want to get bogged down trying to defend the argument and distract from the race.
We have not really mentioned Judge Flake, that he was running against. I’ve had a case before her before and found her to be extremely fair and decent, but I have also heard prior to my case before her and afterwards that she has a very high reversal rate, which is generally an indication that it’s worth challenging a judge (though beating an incumbent judge is very difficult).
In any event, we wish Michael Rothenberg our best and hope to see him run in two years.
Just into the Rogue109 command center come unconfirmed tips from threefour five people that Michael Rothenberg plans to end his campaign for Judge Gail Flake’s seat in the Superior Court of DeKalb County sometime next week.
Evidently, he is already staking a claim on a 2010 run for another seat in that court. He’ll be “legal” then so good for him.
Just into the Rogue109 
