Georgia Political News for May 21, 2012

It’s occasionally heartbreaking to bring you an adoptable dog every weekday, as I know intellectually that quite a few of the dogs I look at every morning will be put down. So today, we have two dogs from the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter, whom I feel I neglected last week.

“19918” is a medium-sized shepherd mix (left) who was turned in by her owner and is said to be a young, friendly dog.  She is already spayed. Something about that goofy-looking face makes me want to go pick her up today.

“24259” is a young and friendly male dog, who is called a “Catahoula” in the shelter classification system, which means “has spots and we don’t know what else to call it.” When I look at 24259, however, I’m thinking “That’s a pointer, I bet he’ll train up well to show me where the birds are.” I can’t tell if his tail is docked. Even if that dog won’t hunt, I think he’d be a great-looking accessory to your Browning over-and-under.

The Gwinnett County Animal Task Force is preparing its final report and recommendations to the County Commission. According to the Gwinnett Daily Post story:

A major focus of the task force’s recommendations was euthanasia. Calling it a “last resort,” the suggestion of the task force is to make it mandatory for euthanasia to be approved by three people: the rescue/adoption coordinator, who will certify “every effort to send the animal to a rescue” has been made; a veterinarian, who will verify that the animal cannot be treated at the shelter; and the shelter director, who will confirm alternative outcomes have been exhausted and space is becoming an issue.

As is, the shelter is mandated to keep animals for at least five days.

The issue of space as related to putting animals down is one contested in the task force’s report. The group had someone document empty cages at the shelter on 17 randomly selected days throughout February, March and April. On average, 68 cages were empty per visit.

“Our inquiries about why dogs are put to death when space is available have met with two replies, neither of which is acceptable,” the report said.

Those replies, according to the task force:

“Empty cages are used during the cleaning process to prevent the spread of disease.” The size of the shelter allows for alternatives, the task force said.

“Some cages have to be left open for incoming dogs.” The number of empty cages exceeds the number of dogs received on an average day, the task force said.

A total of 1,858 dogs were euthanized in 2011. More than 2,000 cats were put down, another point of contention for the task force.

“Ending an animal’s life must be performed with extreme concern for the level of stress and discomfort experienced by the animal,” its report said. “Current methods of restraint and injection used with cats do not meet this criterion.”

More information on the Gwinnett County Animal Task Force is available here. If you live, work, or do business in Gwinnett County and wish to contact County Commissioners about the report, you may find information here.

Yesterday, DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer, Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson held a fundraiser for the county spay/neuter program. If you were unable to attend, I’m pretty sure they’ll still accept a donation if you visit www.helpdekalbanimals.com or contact Commissioner Boyer’s office at 404-371-2844 or email ecboyer [at] dekalbcountyga [dot] gov.

Georgia Republican State Convention 2012

One of the privileges afforded by getting up every weekday morning at 4:30 AM to bring you this news is that I am able to highlight candidates for whom I am working professionally, or whom I like personally, and Republican Public Service Commissioner Chuck Eaton checks both those boxes.

Eaton had the best (and only) directed use of the jumbotron screens at the Convention. Unfortunately, the Georgia Republican Party shot down both his proposed use of “Welcome to the Jungle” as his walk-up music, and the pyrotechnics. Here’s the greatest walk-up ever, but it’s not safe to watch at work or around kids).

Eaton’s speech ended by asking Delegates and Alternates to text “Chuck” to 28748 and take a moment to share your opinion on an important matter of state energy policy with him. PolitiKlout assisted with the text-survey technology, which is still accepting your input, or you may visit Chuck’s website and vote online there or click below.

 Public Service Commissioner Stan Wise picks up GOP Challenger

Pam Davidson, who previously ran for PSC in 2008 in the Republican Primary and took eventual nominee Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Jr. to a very close 52-48 result, announced her challenge to incumbent Republican Stan Wise.

“Georgia needs new leadership on the PSC to effectively address rising energy costs for the ratepayers of our state,” said Davidson.

Here’s a little history that should be relevant to GOP Primary voters this year. In 1992, Bobby Baker became the first elected statewide Republican constitutional officer since reconstruction in the runoff that also sent Paul Coverdell to the United States Senate.

In 1994, the elections of Dave Baker and Stan Wise to the PSC gave Republicans a majority on that body, and paved the way for our eventual domination of Georgia politics. For the intervening years, Wise has been a steady presence in our party and a stalwart fundraiser; it’s not a stretch to say that Stan deserves a share of credit for Republican gains during that period.

But his opponent’s connection to the GOP is suspect at best. After losing the 2008 Republican Primary, Pam Davidson endorsed the Democratic candidate who shared the ballot with Barack Obama. Do not be fooled by an opportunist pretending to be a Republican.

Ethics

Common Cause of Georgia will hold an Ethics Reform Panel tomorrow night at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 471 Mt. Vernon Hwy in Sandy Springs. A reception at 6:30 PM will be followed at 7:15 by a panel that will include Jim Walls of Atlanta Unfiltered, Julianne Thompson of Georgia Tea Party Patriots, William Perry of Common Cause, and some hippy from Occupy Atlanta.

Expect a follow-up event in a location like, say, Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Among the topics is likely to be Speaker David Ralston’s speech to the GAGOP Convention.

The House speaker came close to accusing those associated with the movements of consorting with liberals. His message came at the end of a 10-minute speech that closed out the afternoon session.

”In times of great majorities like we enjoy now, we must remember that there are those around us who seek nothing less than to divide us. There are those who would sow the seeds of dissension and discord in order to advance a self-absorbed agenda that’s not consistent with the best interests of our party.

“Let me be very clear. Regardless of the course that others may take, as for me and the people’s House of this state, we are going to stand united, working hard, standing Republican shoulder to Republican shoulder, to make Georgia a better state – and not align ourselves with media elites and liberal special interest groups. …”

Conservatives fired back:

Members of the Capitol Coalition of Conservative Leadership this morning issued this response:

“We strongly condemn the comments made by Speaker Ralston regarding ethics reform. Strong ethics and accountability are not a matter of right versus left. They are a matter of right versus wrong.”

“Rather than open his heart to the cries from citizens that we have the right to call for accountability, he comments reflect those of someone who seeks to divide our party by falsely accusing those who stand for our values of being divisive. His comments were arrogant and pompous and show an attitude that is anything but a humble public servant.”

The statement appeared over the names of Julianne Thompson of Georgia Tea Party Patriots; Kay Godwin and Pat Tippett of Georgia Conservatives in Action; and Dan Becker, president of Georgia Right to Life.

For my part, if I ever find myself on the opposite side of an issue from Georgia Tea Party Patriots, Kay Godwin and Pat Tippett, and Georgia Right to Life, I’ll carefully examine the ground upon which I stand to see if it’s rock or sand.

Also notably, the 2012 Georgia Republican Convention adopted a resolution supporting “reasonable caps on gifts to elected officials from lobbyists.” Here is the text of the resolution that passed overwhelmingly. I guess the convention was taken over by liberals too.

 Gingrich, Deal join Team Romney

 

Jim Galloway has two pieces on Newt Gingrich’s assumed role as Mitt Romney’s attack dog; rather than repost them all here, I’ll give you the links here and here.

Errin Haines also has a recap of Newt’s speech:

“My intent was to come here wearing a Gingrich sticker,” he said. “But I want to make a key point, including to those of our friends who are still deeply engaged and deeply emotional: Every person in this room has an absolute obligation to help defeat Barack Obama for re-election,” Gingrich said to cheers and applause.

“To every conservative, everywhere in America: When your choice on the one hand is Barack Obama, and your choice on the other hand is Mitt Romney, no serious conservative could possibly believe that electing Barack Obama is acceptable … for America.”

After the Convention, Governor Nathan Deal announced that he too is supporting Romney for President.

“I have talked to Gov. Romney and certainly I will support his candidacy,” Deal told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday. “He obviously is going to be the nominee of the party and I’ll certainly support him in that capacity.”

Romney endorsed Deal’s fall 2010 gubernatorial bid after backing Deal’s opponent in the Republican primary, Karen Handel.

Still, Deal didn’t hesitate to respond Sunday when asked if he was supporting Romney and said he’s confident Georgia voters will end up backing him too.

“Certainly I don’t think the state of Georgia is going to have much doubt that they support a conservative in the White House, and Gov. Romney will be the one that they choose,” Deal said. “He’s conservative enough for me.”

As for the rest of the Republicans who have not yet endorsed Romney, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

Question about Casino Gambling resolution

What is that all about, and how did it get before the Resolutions Committee? And why did many of us first hear about it on Friday or Saturday? Surely there wasn’t a groundswell of Republicans clamoring for Casino gambling in Georgia that somehow escaped everyone’s attention.

Nobody’s surprised by the Personhood ballot question, but casino gambling? Really?

Award for most-overwrought prose in 2012 Convention coverage

Goes to Tim Chitwood of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for this morsel:

Like a sinner bathed in the light of redemption, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took to the Republican pulpit Friday to sing the praises of Mitt Romney, the presumptive presidential nominee Gingrich condemned during party primaries.

Winners at the Convention

Randy Evans is our new Republican National Committeeman and Linda Herren retains her seat as Republican National Committeewoman. Congratulations to both of them.

Ginger Howard apparently put up a strong challenge, if rumors of a 19-vote margin in that race are believable, and she’ll be an odds-on favorite when the seat opens up due to term limits.

Best line from the floor microphones at the Convention goes to some hippy who said, “Quite bogarting this convention!” Apparently that term, “bogart” means

 To keep something all for oneself, thus depriving anyone else of having any. A slang term derived from the last name of famous actor Humphrey Bogart because he often kept a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, seemingly never actually drawing on it or smoking it. Often used with weed or joints but can be applied to anything.

Well, now that song by Little Feat (and covered frequently by Phish) makes sense.

Kenny Powers endorses Ron Paul

Who knew?