On August 31, 1864, Confederates charged Union forces at the Battle of Jonesboro, in which the CSA suffered more than 1400 casualties in one hour.

Atlanta Mayor James Calhoun surrendered the city to federal forces on September 2, 1864.

Calhoun’s two-sentence letter, directed to Brig.-Gen. William Ward stated:

“Sir: The fortune of war has placed Atlanta in your hands. As mayor of the city I ask protection of non-combatants and private property.”

The cornerstone of the Georgia State Capitol was laid on September 2, 1885.

The last hanging in Atlanta took place on September 1, 1922 outside the Fulton County jail.

Author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien died on September 2, 1973.

On September 1, 2004, United States Senator Zell Miller, a Democrat, spoke at the Republican National Convention.

Later that evening, Senator Miller had a televised run-in with Chris Matthews.

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This monument stands in Banks County, Georgia.

Photograph courtesy of Gould B. Hagler, Jr., author of Georgia’s Confederate Monuments: In Honor of a Fallen Nation.

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 Look! Up in the Sky!

Visitors to Athens for the Georgia game this weekened may have noticed this love letter in the sky – a message from the Ending Spending Action Fund SuperPAC. I assume that the usual disclaimer is omitted here because of the exemption that states “a disclaimer notice is not required for communications using skywriting… or other forms or advertising where it would be impracticable to display the disclaimer notice.” Or maybe it’s just not pictured.

Here’s a video also produced by the Ending Spending Action Fund and they have a website at AbsolutelyNunn.com.

AJC’s Bill Torpy thinks Republican women are just “white girls”

Most days I enjoy Bill Torpy’s column in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, but today I’m puzzled whether referring to former DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer as “the white girl” is merely politically incorrect or an attempt to ratchet up the racial rhetoric in a county that’s seen more than its fair share of corruption and racial politics.

The white girl outdid them all.

In recent years it has become accepted fact that DeKalb County is a mess. And within that narrative is a subplot saying much of the mess is due to corruption among some black politicians and government officials.

Now, it turns out that Commissioner Elaine Boyer, the board’s sole Republican, a white woman from North DeKalb and a good-government watchdog, was stealing money faster than a busy smash-and-grab crew.

For what its worth, the AP-style guide reserves the terms “boy” and “girl” for people under the age of 18.

There’s simply no excuse for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to engage in a War on Women. Why would Torpy write that, and why would the AJC editors let it slide by when one can imagine no circumstances under which a male Commissioner would be referred to as a “boy.” Kudos to Michael Thurmond, former Georgia Commissioner of Labor and DeKalb County Interim School Superintendent for getting this right:

Michael Thurmond, a former legislator and elected state labor commissioner, is a longtime DeKalb resident who was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to help pull the county’s schools out of the ditch. He stressed he was speaking as a former pol, not an educator. OK, agreed.

“Public corruption is an equal-opportunity vice,” he said. “We reinforce our beliefs, no matter what the facts are, to see what we believe, to reinforce our pre-existing perceptions.

“The fact that Elaine Boyer may be pleading guilty may be filtered out by beliefs, biases and prejudices,” he said. Then he added, “As an African-American who has spent 30 years in politics, Elaine Boyer is not representative of all white Republican female elected officials.”

Newsbites: Politics across Georgia

Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway has an invitation for Congressman Hank Johnson – Gwinnett Daily Post.

“I don’t think I have Hank’s cellphone number,” Conway said this week, “but I would like to contact him the next SWAT callout we have and, instead of taking one of our armored vehicles to the location, I would invite Hank to walk up to the door and see if they’ll surrender their weapons and come out peacefully. Because Hank seems to think that’s all it takes.”

“The congressman’s bill is not in any way trying to take Sheriff Conway’s tank away from the Gwinnett County sheriff’s department,” said Andy Phelan, Johnson’s communications director. “All Congressman Johnson’s bill would do is limit the types of weaponry that are free through the 1033 program and put important accountability standards in place for this program.”

The bill — which Phelan said currently has about 15 co-sponsors, including one Republican — would prohibit the following from being transferred directly from the military to law enforcement agencies: automatic weapons that are .50 caliber or greater; “highly mobile multi-wheeled vehicles, armored vehicles, and mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles”; drones and other aircraft; grenades, “including flash-bang grenades and stun grenades”; silencers; and “long range acoustic devices.”

Lilburn and Norcross in Gwinnett County will hold City Council Elections in November, and Peachtree Corners voters may see a referendum on alcohol sales – Gwinnett Daily Post.

“The city has yet to call an election, but I do anticipate one item for [Peachtree Corners] voters in November — a referendum on whether to approve package sales,” said Peachtree Corners communications director Judy Putnam.

Christina A. Cassidy with the  Associated Press has got a listicle of “5 Things to Know about Georgia Election,” which is a good refresher for political junkies – via GainesvilleTimes.com. This one sends a cold chill down my back:

Runoffs?

Under Georgia law, a candidate wins only if he or she claims 50 percent plus one vote. Depending on how Libertarians perform, a close race for Senate or governor could lead to a runoff. And that’s where things get tricky. Earlier this year, state lawmakers responded to a federal judge’s ruling that Georgia must give more time for overseas ballots and extended the time period between the state primary and the state runoff to nine weeks. But lawmakers didn’t make the same change for the Nov. 4 general election. That means a runoff in the governor’s race would be the traditional four weeks long and held on Dec. 2, while a runoff in the Senate race would be five weeks after that on Jan. 6.

The AJC reviews how the weaponization of SuperPACs has affected races in Georgia – Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The fiscally conservative Ending Spending Action Fund Super PAC has spent $1 million since late July to attack Democrat Michelle Nunn, much of it as Republican David Perdue was crossing the finish line in a draining primary runoff. The National Republican Senatorial Committee reserved $2.5 million of airtime in August and September to bash Nunn, as well.

The American Chemistry Council, a trade group for chemical companies, spent $720,000 on ads promoting Perdue as a future partner to Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.

The Nunn campaign spent more than $2 million on ads of its own in late July and August, and it went negative on Perdue in response to the attacks on her. Emily’s List, a group that backs women who support abortion rights, jumped in the fray with a $1 million buy in late August attacking Perdue.

The money and the vitriol is flowing as well in Republican Gov. Nathan Deal’s race against Democrat Jason Carter.

The Republican Governors Association dropped $1.5 million on ads that cast Carter as a “liberal trial lawyer” and questioned his willingness to expand Medicaid. Campaign finance disclosures show that Deal’s campaign, at the least, has spent an additional $2.4 million this year on TV and digital ads.

More outside help for the governor could soon be on the way. The RGA has reserved time to unleash a new volley of ads boosting Deal as November nears. And the governor is also courting casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire who is a major GOP benefactor, to chip in to his campaign.

 

In Savannah this weekend, a group celebrated the 280th anniversary of the landing of the first Salzburgers in Georgia – Savannah Morning News. The Georgia Salzburger Society dates the landing as March 12, 1734.

The City of Kennesaw has imposed a one-year moratorium on new pawn shops and payday lenders – AccessNorthGa.com.

At least 365 incumbents in 435 Congressional districts are likely to be reelected, according to the Associate Press – via Savannah Morning News.

Alabama is considering an amendment to the state constitution to enshrine gun ownership as a fundamental right – AP via NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com

A public forum to discuss medicinal cannabis will be held in Gainesville on Thursday – GainesvilleTimes.com.

Two Augusta Commissioners are seeking the Attorney General’s opinion on how to disburse SPLOST funds to nonprofit organizations – Augusta Chronicle.

Lacking rules to govern the cleanup of areas made toxic by illegal meth labs, the Georgia Department of Public Health counsels “common sense and due diligence.” – Augusta Chronicle.

Local Party News

The Oglethorpe County Republican Party will open its new headquarters on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 6:30 PM to host Republican candidate for State School Superintendent Richard Woods. Free hot dogs will be provided.

A new Young Republicans chapter will be started in August later this week with a meeting on September 6th, 7:00 pm, at Carolina Ale House, 203 Robert C Daniel Parkway, Augusta,Ga 30909. Contact Sam Haffner at (706) 414-8151 for more information.

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Central DeKalb GOP Women: Meeting with Bonnie Perdue

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DeKalb County GOP: Take The Senate Tuesday

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Middle Georgia Republican Women welcome Mike Daugherty

September 2 @ 6:00 PM

VFW Memorial post 6605, 1011 Corder Rd. Warner Robins, Ga.

+ Google Map

Mike Daughery is Founder, CEO & Pres. at LabMD, as well as author of the Non-Fiction Thriller, “The Devil Inside the Beltway”

Over the last six years he has personally witnessed a government power grab and intimidation that, if not for the fact that it is all real, would make for a brilliant novel.

 

Meal $15 Donation, RSVP to bch5050@cox.net

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West Point Society of Atlanta: College Football Hall of Fame Gala

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Cobb County YR: Meeting with Sen. Judson Hill & Rep. – Elect Bert Reeves

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Savannah Area GOP Women: Monthly Luncheon Meeting

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Sen. Johnny Isakson: Brunswick – Public Town Hall Meeting

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Fulton County GOP: Road To Victory Dinner

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Sen. Johnny Isakson: Hinesville – Veteran-Focused Town Hall Meeting

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Cobb County GOP: Breakfast with Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

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Gwinnett GOP: Breakfast with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle & Sen. Johnny Isakson