Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for December 7, 2015

Georgia and American History

On December 7, 1801, Georgia’s United States Senator Abraham Baldwin was elected President Pro Tem of the Senate.

Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. Today, Lt. Cmdr. Joe Langdell, who had been the oldest survivor of the USS Arizona in the Pearl Harbor attack, will be laid to rest in the ship’s hull.

The USS Arizona battleship was bombed and sunk during Japan’s surprise morning attack on Pearl Harbor that pulled the United States into World War II.

The remains of many of the 1,177 U.S. military personnel who died aboard the Arizona are still inside the submerged wreck. It was the greatest loss of life ever in an attack on a U.S. warship, the National Park Service says.

The memorial was dedicated in 1962.

As of two years ago some 2,000 to 2,500 Pearl Harbor survivors were believed to be still alive, according to Eileen Martinez, chief of interpretation for the USS Arizona Memorial.

Here are seven interesting facts about Pearl Harbor.

GeorgiaInfo has the reactions of Georgia leaders to the Pearl Harbor attack,

U.S. Sen. Walter F. George stated: “Japan’s deed is an act of desperation by a war-mad people. The attack on Hawaii is a deliberate act of the Japanese government. I am utterly amazed. It is unthinkable… . An open declaration of war will give us greater freedom of action.” Noting the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, George optimistically predicted that “it may take two or three years to fight this war to the end.”

U.S. Sen. Richard B. Russell responded to the attack by stating: “Japan has committed national hari-kari. I cannot conceive of any member of Congress voting against a declaration of war in view of the unpardonable, unprovoked attack on us. I am utterly astounded.”

U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson, chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, added: “Of course we will have to declare war. There is nothing else for Congress to do. This is a concerted action by the Axis Powers, but I am confident our Navy is ready and will render a glorious account of itself. It probably means we will be drawn into the world conflict on both oceans.”

On December 7, 1946, the Winecoff Hotel in downtown Atlanta, previously considered fireproof, burned in the worst hotel fire to date.

On Sunday, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia hosted a ceremony to remember Pearl Harbor.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

In Plains, Georgia yesterday, former President Jimmy Carter told his Sunday School class that his cancer appears to be gone.

Jennifer Rosenbaum, who had previously announced she would run for Henry County Commission District 1, has been charged with murder, along with her husband, in the death of a 5-year old foster child.

According to records from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer Rosenbaum is facing numerous charges connected to Laila Marie Daniel’s death. Police charged Rosenbaum Friday night with murder, aggravated assault, two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree (causing excessive physical or mental pain) and second degree cruelty to children. Rosenbaum’s husband, Joseph is charged with two counts of cruelty to children causing excessive physical or mental pain in first degree.

In Senate District 43 (DeKalb, Newton, and Rockdale Counties), ballots from the December 1 Special Runoff Election will be recounted today after election night reporting apparently reported Panold Road precinct ballots as being cast in Miller Grove High precinct, which is in the same location.

The recount will be conducted Monday afternoon. Depending on the results of the recount, Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s office could certify the election as soon as Tuesday, said David Dove, an attorney for the Secretary of State’s Office.

“When petitioned for a recount, it’s in the secretary of state’s discretion to grant that recount, and the secretary of state decided to grant that in this case,” Dove said.

State Representative-elect Jodi Lott will have to get a quick start on session preparation, as her first Republican Caucus meeting will be this Friday.

Eddie DeLoach’s winning campaign for Mayor of Savannah was managed by 19-year old Carmen Foskey, who will next take some time off from the campaign trail to start college at UGA.

Savannah mayor-elect Eddie DeLoach won the runoff race last Tuesday. He thanked his supporters, friends, family and the hard work of his campaign manager.

Carmen Foskey hasn’t even been to college, but she spent the last three months running Eddie DeLoach’s campaign.

“If she had a cape on I would call her Supergirl,” said DeLoach.

As his campaign manager, she spent hours in the office preparing for the election. DeLoach says he couldn’t have done it without her.

“We slipped into a ditch a couple of times out there,” explains DeLoach, “we sat down and talked about what we need to do.”

Foskey is helping DeLoach transition into his role as mayor. Then she’s going to the University of Georgia to get a degree in January.

When he takes office, DeLoach will concentrate on spending issues, public safety, and job creation, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Tonight at 7 PM at the Gwinnett County Justice and Admininstration Center, the Gwinnett County Commission will hear from residents on the proposed $1.5 billion dollar budget for 2016.

“We invite oral and written comments about the meeting and hope to see you there,” commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said during this past week’s televised business meeting.

The proposed budget includes a four percent pay for performance increase for employees, longevity pay for county workers, body cameras for law enforcement, and funding for additional police, animal shelter, corrections, parks maintenance, firefighter/paramedic, Juvenile Court and sheriff’s deputy positions.

It would also pay for an additional magistrate judge, three new Gwinnett Transit routes, a new special victims unit in the District Attorney’s Office, senior center renovations, a courthouse expansion and a new state patrol building.

Residents can view the proposed budget on the county’s website, www.gwinnettcounty.com, or at the Finance Department’s office in the administration center. Residents who cannot attend the public hearing can also submit their feedback via an online comment form that is available on the county’s website.

The politically incorrect sign posted by Harris County, Georgia Sheriff Mike Jolley is now a best-selling t-shirt.

The Boutique’s owners say the t-shirt started as a joke and coast to coast people have laughed, picked p the phone and placed their order.

“They are supporting Sheriff Jolley and they know that this is about free speech,” co-owner Jessica Beck said.

Sheriff Jolley sign has made national headlines and a few enemies as well. He told FOX 5 News:

“The vast majority of people in Atlanta think this way.  But no one will have the intestinal fortitude to just do it.”

Click here to order your very own.

Over the weekend, the Snellville Police Department Facebook account wrote the following,

Police officers – please carry your firearm off-duty…we are so fortunate to receive the training to protect others and ourselves. Do not let that training go to waste by leaving your lifesaving tools at home while you are out.

All other law abiding, legal gun carry folks – please learn to carry safely, so you can protect yourself and your fellow citizens in the event that a lethal emergency unfolds in front of you. For those that do not carry, or want info on the topic some great sites are http://www.georgiacarry.org/ and http://www.georgiapacking.org/law.php.

Congressman Buddy Carter fired off a statement last night after President Obama’s address.

“Words must be backed by decisive action and an unyielding resolve to rid the earth of this scourge. I remain unconvinced that this Administration has either. The President is wasting time when trying to reason with the irrational or fighting for moral high ground with people who lack morals.

“We can either fight ISIS and groups over there or we can fight them here. I know where I want the fight to take place and I call on the President to allow our military leaders to create a strategy to accomplish the task. Congress stands ready to provide them with the resources they need.

“The attack in San Bernardino makes clear that terrorist networks will exploit our immigration system to plant extremists. I will continue fighting to shut off refugee resettlement for those from the conflict areas and tighten immigration screening until the Administration puts in place better screening measures to ensure we are not risking the safety and security of the American people.

“Those trying to exploit this tragedy to advance their anti-gun agenda under the guise of protecting the American people are misguided. France has some of the most stringent gun laws in the world yet Paris happened. California has some of the most stringent gun laws in our country yet San Bernardino happened. Disarming law abiding American citizens will have the same benefit to our homeland security as the Paris climate talks.”