Baker scores a big name for gubernatorial fundraiser

Only one problem: The fundraiser will be in New York.

From Attorney Gen. Thurbert Baker's campaign office:

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker announced today that President Bill Clinton will deliver remarks at a fundraiser to benefit his 2010 campaign for Governor of Georgia. The event will be held in New York City on Monday evening, December 7, 2009, at the residence of a Baker supporter.

“President Clinton brought people together to build a strong economy and create a record number of new jobs. That’s what I will do for Georgia as Governor, and I’m honored to have President Clinton’s support and counsel as we work to bring a much needed new direction to our state,” Baker said.

Update: The next filing deadline isn't until Jan. 8, but I expect Atty. Gen. Baker will continue to prove himself a strong fundraiser between now and then.

But I think it's reasonable to ask how much of all the candidates' money will come from out of state. Baker has already shown a particular strength in out-of-state fundraising, for better or worse.

Nov. 19, 1863: The Gettysburg address

Today is the 146th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's most famous speech.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

John Oxendine fail English? That's unpossible.

AKA: Whose Team Oxendine's proofreader?

I've been at home sick the last two days and I'm kind of grinding through emails right now.

This one from John Oxendine's gubernatorial campaign made me stop, as they so often do, and check his campaign site to make sure it was an actual campaign email:

"I guess the Georgia Democratic Party has changed their name to the DemoHate party of Georgia," said Tim Echols, campaign manager for John Oxendine. "Having failed miserably at winning elections based upon policy and ideas, Roy Barnes and party chair Jane Kidd and the liberals at the Georgia Democrat Party have launched their third hit piece on John Oxendine.

Echols said that last week, using the time honored Clinton tactic of politics of personal destruction, the Democrats have asked on their website whose the most corrupt politician in Georgia.

"Our first observation is they made a glaring oversight by failing to include Roy Barnes," said Echols. "Secondly, this valuephobic Democratic party has clearly telegraphed that they intend to ooze only hate, maybe because they know they can’t win the election in 2010 if the election policy and issues."

Echols said being called corrupt by the Democrats of Georgia is a little like being called ugly by a frog.

On the plus side, I'm pretty sure there's only one made up word in there. By the way, this is the attack Team Oxendine is upset about.

Perdue in Afghanistan

The governor's office has some pictures of Gov. Perdue's trip to Iraq and Afghanistan up now on their Web site. That includes this shot, which shows the governor and others meeting with Gen. Stanley McChrystal.


If nothing else, at least bottled water is readily available.

Speaker Richardson: I took steps to end my life

Wow. I hope Speaker Richardson can move on from this and find happiness. From his office:

ATLANTA – Today Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson released the following statement:

“As you know, in an effort to protect my family, I have and will continue to have a practice that I do not discuss my personal and private life. However, in this situation, I feel compelled to speak out in order to possibly help others. For the past two and a half years, ever since my separation and divorce, I have struggled with the disease of depression. Depression is a disease which affects millions of people everyday in this country. Like most people who suffer from depression, I regularly see a physician and take prescription medications.

“While depression often seems to be resolved on occasion, when personal trials or tribulations arise, it flares back up. That is what occurred with me. My depression became so severe that I took substantial steps to do harm to myself and to take my own life. I am thankful that because of medical intervention I have instead been able to now receive help and support.

“Just as the estimated 17 million other Americans who share the challenge of depression, I am ashamed and embarrassed. I realize now the high level of love and encouragement that surrounds me, and that is why I am sharing this with you. It is my hope that by coming forward and admitting my depression and attempt to take my own life that others may have the strength to seek treatment, too.

“The effects of depression peak during the holiday season we are now approaching. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out to them. Listen to them. Take their fears and concerns seriously.

“I ask that the media use discernment if they report this and remember my friends and family who are also hurting. I fully believe this has and will continue to push me to find my best self and use my position of leadership to raise awareness and let others know they are not alone. Thank you for your thoughts and your prayers.”

A sunshine audit in Georgia

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation says law enforcement agencies are the least likely to fill public information requests in a time matter.

From the foundation:

More than 100 journalism students across Georgia tested the state's Open Records Act for compliance in October 2008. Two-thirds of custodians complied with the records request. What is notable about the audit is that one-third of public record requests were unfilled. Many students reported they were intimidated and treated rudely. Law enforcement custodians fared the worst in the statewide audit with 58 percent non-compliant. Surprisingly, Georgia's public universities had a 70-75 percent compliance rate. The results indicate that these statewide compliant rates mirror the daily complaints fielded by the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

You can download the full report on the foundation's Web site. The pdf link is on the right hand side of the page.

You might also consider donating to the foundation, which you can also do through that link. They do good work, and are a valuable resource for reporters and citizens alike.

From Hollie Manheimer, an attorney and the foundation's executive director, who is always just a phone call away when I have a question about open records laws:

"We understand the economic realities of today‚s world, but ask you for your generous support to continue educating the public and public officials about open government and why it is important. It is a job that will never be done, and requires extra vigilance in this economic climate where media companies have decreased funds to fight open government battles."

Hooray for commentors!

Every now and then I lose my head and read the comments of a newspaper story looking for insight.

More and more I'm surprised how often I find it 12 percent of the time:

krismcmillian wrote on 11/11/2009 07:56:24 PM:

I think Reichert is making the only choice he can under these circumstances and I applaud him for having the courage to do so. City Government still needs to be managed like a business and sometimes shrewd decisions need to be made. At least he is giving these employees till after the holidays and some notice so they can start looking for other employment. I was laid off about 5 years ago and it was the week before Thanksgiving. My supervisor informed me of my layoff, stood by while I collected my things and walked me to the door. It was an awful experience.

johnnyallman1 wrote on 11/11/2009 07:45:03 PM:

Is it just me or does mayor reichert remind you of a carnival worker. You know the guy that stands out front of that tent and says, "for just one dollar you can see the man with no head".

Barnes v. Perdue in 2014? Deja vu all over again

Mr. Galloway points us toward this story in the Rome News-Tribune, in which former Gov. Roy Barnes may have hinted at a willingness to serve just one term if elected again next year.

I've been meaning to see what the state constitution has to say about multiple, but non-consecutive, gubernatorial terms. Now seems like as good a time as any. From Article V, Paragraph I:

Governor: term of office; compensation and allowances. There shall be a Governor who shall hold office for a term of four years and until a successor shall be chosen and qualified. Persons holding the office of Governor may succeed themselves for one four-year term of office. Persons who have held the office of Governor and have succeeded themselves as hereinbefore provided shall not again be eligible to be elected to that office until after the expiration of four years from the conclusion of their term as Governor. The compensation and allowances of the Governor shall be as provided by law.

Not only does that tell me that Gov. Barnes can serve two more terms, it makes me wonder whether Gov. Perdue can run again in 2014.

Although, presumably, Gov. Perdue would still be a couple of months short of being 4 years removed from the conclusion of his term when November 2014 rolls around.

Fox: Hannity to address video switch up tonight

On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart called Sean Hannity out for using video from a previous, much larger, Tea Party gathering to make a health care reform rally from last week seem significantly larger than it was.

If you haven't seen the video, it's nearly as hilarious as it is damning.

Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

I called Fox News for comment, and a spokeswoman said Mr. Hannity will address the issue on his show tonight.

By the way, Media Matters has looked at Fox News'supposed predeliction for doing stuff like this and decided that: "Fox News has repeatedly used doctored video and photos to smear progressives."

That's also known as lying.

9:40 p.m. Update: I forgot to watch most of Mr. Hannity's show because I was watching The Fantastic 4 on FX. I think that's funny on a couple of levels.

10 p.m. update: Hannity covered it at the very end of his show:

"(Jon Stewart) was right... he was correct, we screwed up... it was an inadvertent mistake, but a mistake nontheless. ... I want to thank you, and all your writers, for watching."

I believe almost all of that.

Macon government: A cautionary tale

Tonight Macon Mayor Robert Reichert unveiled a long-awaited plan to lay off 31 employees and eliminate 36 open positions.

It appears he can do that, at least on an "indefinite" basis, without council approval, based on the way this vote went down, though a lawsuit is always possible.

The council's Public Safety Committee also heard a request from the Macon Police Department to make the public information officer position at the 300 officer department a civilian one, instead of sworn.

I did not time the discussion, but there were 10 council members in that meeting, and 8 of them spoke on the issue.*

Then the committee voted for the change, 4-1. It will probably go before the full 15 member council next week.

It seems to me that the Macon City Council will exercise far more control over whether the public spokesperson for the Macon Police Department is an actual police officer than it will over whether 31 people are laid off and 36 other positions are also eliminated.

That is an interesting way to run a railroad.


* There are 5 members on the committee, but it is common for members to sit in on committees they are not on.

p.s. Macon is still better than your city, unless you live in Athens, Smyrna or Savannah.

October revenue figures

If there's good news to be had here, it's that October 2008 was a relatively decent month for state revenues, so you're not just comparing brutally awful to awful.

From the governor's office:

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of October 2009 (Fiscal Year 2010) totaled $1,140,090,000 compared to $1,386,860,000 for October 2008 (FY09), a decrease of $246,770,000 or 17.8 percent.

The percentage decrease year-to-date for FY10 compared to FY09 is 15.1 percent.

Update: I wonder, is there any realistic threshold state revenues can drop below that will put a tax increase on the table for the Republican majority in a 2010 election year?

From Alan Essig at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute:

The revised projection means Georgia likely is facing a $1.26 billion budget shortfall. This is an additional $320 million budget shortfall on top of the $940 million budget shortfall previously announced. ...

Also problematic are more than $2 billion in non-recurring revenues in the base of the FY 2010 budget. Unless lawmakers take a more balanced approach to solving this fiscal crisis, an approach that includes revenue options, Georgia will be facing further cuts to vital public services in FY 2011 and 2012, including those to healthcare, public safety, and education. ...

In order for Georgia to prosper, lawmakers must not rely solely on cuts to public services. Georgia can not cut its way to prosperity. The governor and General Assembly must look to raise revenues, as a majority of states have done, including a majority of our conservative southern neighbors. They must take a balanced, informed, and thoughtful approach to solve the state fiscal crisis, and this must include strategic revenue options.

Meyers: A Paul/Buchanan candidate for Congress

General Lucid Idiocy policy: Get criticized for poor media management, get interviewed by a blog with a dumb name. Five questions for Valerie Meyers, who recently announced a run for U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall's seat here in the 8th District:

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I'm a mother of two and I am a business professional here in Warner Robins. I work for a computer science corporation as a technical writer and a business analyst. Lived in Warner Robins for about 5 years and have always been interested in politics and been active in the Georgia Republican party over the last two years and did some campaign work with Ron Paul over the past two years as well.

Why are you running for Congress?
This campaign is about giving people an opportunity to vote for someone who is very strong about returning power to state governments and local governments and decentralizing the way that we send all of our tax money to the federal government and then they send it back to us conditionally. We want to just keep our money here in Georgia and we think we know best what to do with it here.

What are some of the first things you'd change?
My goal is to go up there and shrink the size of the federal government. ... I think we have too many programs. I think we need to limit the sphere of influence of the federal government. ... That means reducing some things like the Department of Education, energy, those kinds of big-government, wasteful-spending areas in Washington. Those are the kinds of things I want to see dismantled and taken down and returned back to the states.

How would education function without the Department of Education?
That's a good question. Back before the federal government became so involved it was state run. everything was local. ... I think mostly what the federal government does right now is send down testing, standardized testing for students of each state. ... Those kinds of things are what I think are not helpful. Each community has the right to decide how to educate its children.

What figure that maybe people have heard of would you say you are most similar to politically?
Like I said, I worked for Ron Paul's political campaign for quite a while. So I would say more in line with him and his principles. I also had a good respect for Pat Buchanan back in the 90's. But I think he's a little more isolationist than I am. I'm more of a free trader. But those two figures I would be proud to say have influenced me politically.

Ms. Meyers (campaign Web site) makes four in the GOP primary for this seat. The other three:

Ken DeLoach (site) is a Houston County preacher.

Angela Hicks (site) is an attorney here in Bibb County. She lists her height, weight and lack of illegal drug use on her campaign Web site.

Paul Rish (site) has been head of the Bibb County GOP.

Bonaire woman enters GOP fray in 8th District

From today's Telegraph:

Valerie Meyers, a civilian employee at Robins Air Force Base and part-time graduate student, intends to enter the race for the 2010 Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District seat. Meyers will be the fourth candidate to enter the race, joining Bibb County Republican Party Chairman Paul Rish, Macon business owner Angela Hicks and Central Fellowship Christian Academy dean of students Ken DeLoach. ...

Reached by phone Thursday evening, Meyers declined to comment before her official announcement Saturday.

Folks, do what you like. But, if you want good media coverage, don't put out a campaign announcement then decline to talk about it.

And, if you do that, don't have your campaign kickoff on a Saturday. And, if you do that, please don't schedule it for 8:30 a.m., as Ms. Meyers has done.

You might also pick a day when the incumbent is not planning a town hall meeting, followed by a flight to Washington, D.C., to vote against his own party's health care bill.

This advice will cost you nothing.

President's statement on Fort Hood

President Obama was at the closing of the Native American Tribal Nations Conference when he delivered these remarks, provided by the White House:

... But as some of you might have heard, there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don't yet know all the details at this moment; we will share them as we get them. What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed, and even more have been wounded in a horrific outburst of violence.

My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the families of the fallen, and with those who live and serve at Fort Hood. These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk and at times give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.

I've spoken to Secretary Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and I will continue to receive a constant stream of updates as new information comes in. We are working with the Pentagon, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, all to ensure that Fort Hood is secure, and we will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government.

In the meantime, I would ask all Americans to keep the men and women of Fort Hood in your thoughts and prayers. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident. And I want all of you to know that as Commander-in-Chief, there's no greater honor but also no greater responsibility for me than to make sure that the extraordinary men and women in uniform are properly cared for and that their safety and security when they are at home is provided for.

So we are going to stay on this. But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.

Again, thank you for your participation here today. I am confident that this is going to be resulting in terrific work between this government and your governments in the weeks, the months, and years to come. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Americus hospital, wrecked by tornado, being rebuilt

Ground was broken Tuesday to rebuild Sumter Regional Hospital, which was flattened by a tornado in 2007.

Former President Carter attended the ceremony. From the Americus Times Recorder:

The new, four-story, 76-bed hospital will be surrounded by medical office buildings and a running/walking track, all on the 280-acre site located just off U.S. Highway 280 West. Construction is expected to be complete by 2011.

And with the groundbreaking, it was announced that Keith Petersen, interim CEO of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, was named CEO. We’ve welcomed Petersen before in these columns, and we are pleased with the announcement.

For the record, Keith is a Lucid Idiocy reader and the father of one of my good friends, Joe Petersen.

Should the courts I.D. anonymous tipsters?

There's an interesting criminal case covered in today's Telegraph. Attorneys for three folks accused of setting a fire that killed two young boys want the court to force Crimestoppers to give up the name of the anonymous tipster that led to the arrests:

The lawyers contend that the identity of the tipster and the police informant should be disclosed so that they can be interviewed as witnesses, helping the defense prepare Braswell’s case.

If allowed to speak to the tipster and informant, the lawyers would be better prepared to challenge statements at trial and could discover witnesses who might testify on Braswell’s behalf. Also, the disclosure may shed light on the prosecution’s case, according to the motion.

Also, my clients would like to set that guy on fire.

Friend of the Witches Hammer

On page 6A of The Telegraph's Sunday print edition, we ran this story about the congressional race in the New York 23rd, which does not mention Erick Erickson.

I imagine we did this without undue consideration. I thought some of Erick's fans outside of Macon might find that funny.

Grift Drift calls him "The Witches Hammer," a phrase that historcally appears to be very anti-witch instead of very much pro, as I would have thought.

Who wants to lay odds on whether my friend Mr. Erickson digs that? It should be noted that he was deft in the wake of the Atlantic article about the 23rd race.








Only the city of Macon could lasso The Witches Hammer.

Herring: "King and Spaulding coup advances"

I think Neill Herring is a man who likes some strong metaphors, too.

To be sure, we are looking at a lot of King and Spalding work, influence, and I dare say billing, on water and the environment toward the end of Gov. Perdue's term.

The Daily Report reports "a King & Spalding partner will be the lead attorney on the state of Georgia's appeal of a federal judge's ruling that threatens to cut off Atlanta's access to Lake Lanier as its water source."

A recent King & Spalding partner is also the new head of the EDP.

Headline source: E-mail subject line, Neill Herring. Subscribe to The Daily Report for less than a dollar a day.

The "hill to die on" language was too strong, but now I'll totally redeem myself.

I was trending toward the inaccurate. Apologies.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia doesn't have the same microscope-to-the-condition political accuracy as, say, The Simpsons, but it is awesome.

This episode, "The Gang Runs for Office," is available for a short time on hulu. With some cursing, and advertising.


"It's cheap politics. It's not going to get us that bribe."

Strippers, predators, *a hill to die on* in the 141st

*Too strong and not a good metaphor. Apologies.*

These are mailers the House Democratic Caucus is sending out against Rusty Kidd in the four-way race to replace Bobby Parham in state House District 141, which is centered on Milledgeville:




Three things here:

1. When, exactly, did the state Democratic Party decide that Rusty Kidd, son of long-time Democratic legislator Culver Kidd, was one of the world's most dangerous predators?
2. Was it around the time Kidd filed to run as an independent and started dodging questions about his party affiliation?
3. Does the state Democratic Party see District 141 as a *hill to die on?*

----
Update: I just spoke to Angela Gheesling McCommon, who's running as a Republican in this race. She said she was recruited to run by House Majority Leader Jerry Keen and House Majority Whip Jan Jones. The Dems don't want him, the R's don't want him. If elected, will Rusty Kidd be a man without a party?
----
The fliers above focus on Kidd's business, Quick Loans, and obviously cast him as a payday lender. Kidd says he charges 5 percent interest on a 30 day loan, not 600 percent like some of the payday lenders "that we ran out of Georgia."

It's actually the other fliers that are more fun, though. They focus on Kidd's role in a classic Georgia political scandal: The Daufuskie 5.

In 1995 five state legislators and a handful of lobbyists headed to the South Carolina island for a golf junket, and someone paid four strippers to tag along.

While it seems terribly reasonable to me to take political leaders to an exclusive island out of state and bring along some girls from The Cheetah, this apparently rubbed some folks the wrong way.

James Salzer at The AJC did a "what ever happened to" piece on these folks back in 2007 and quoted Kidd:

"A lot of events that take place have hostesses who come by just to carry on conversation," lobbyist Rusty Kidd, who invited the dancers along, said at the time. "It was an innocent thought and nothing but innocence took place. But the perception is not good."

Honestly, who among us hasn't innocently invited strippers to a resort?

Wade Ellis, who lobbied for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce back then, took the main fall for the Daufuskie trip when he lost his job, The AJC reported. But just who invited the ladies is a little unclear.

These days, Kidd says he only discovered that the dancers were invited after they'd left Atlanta. Cell phones weren't so common back then and it was too late to turn the girls around, he has said.

It's worth noting, though, that AJC articles from 1995 say the ladies stayed at the resort for 3 days. That coverage is a hoot to read, by the way, though you'll have to access it through Lexis Nexis or The AJC's archives, both of which cost a little money.
----

Update: I should have noted that the Democratic caucus is supporting Darrell Black in this race. Another Republican, Casey Tucker is also in the race.

Kidd's campaign site is here. Gheesling-McCommon's Facebook page is here.

It's also worth noting that Mr. Black is the only candidate who hasn't filed his campaign fundraising disclosure yet. But I spoke to him yesterday and he said they're working on it and it will be filed this week.