Throwback Thursday

We recently stumbled across a private collection of Georgia political campaign memorabilia primarily dating from the 1980s to today, but including some older pieces. We’ll be showing you some of the collectibles from the vault, concentrating initially on the early 1990s. Today’s button is a circa 1992 Jack Kingston for Congress button from his first campaign.

We’re also considering how to work some of this memorabilia into the next issue of James magazine. Please email us if you have some interesting mementos from past campaigns, or photos of campaign swag or events from Georgia’s past.

Ray McBerry claims victory for first time ever

Failed 2010 candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor Ray McBerry (or someone purporting to be him) sent out an email this morning claiming victory in his lawsuit against the former owners of SWGApolitics.com. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that a blogger libeled McBerry. From the email:

SWGAPOLITICS.com was formerly a successful political blog following and reporting on Georgia politics until early 2010 when the owners made the decision to publish libelous statements about businessman and then-Republican candidate for governor, Ray McBerry.  Because of Ray’s strong conservative stand for States’ Rights and the Constitution, one of the former owners took it upon himself to publish libelous reports in an attempt to tarnish Mr. McBerry’s character and to prevent his growing support in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary.  Although the owners received orders from Mr. McBerry’s attorney to “cease and desist” with the libel, they chose not to do so.

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, after more than two and a half years of legal proceedings, the domain SWGAPOLITICS.com officially became the property of Ray McBerry as part of a settlement awarded in Mr. McBerry’s libel suit against the former owners — the former owners choosing to settle out of court rather than have a jury of their peers decide the case and the amount of award.

Here’s a little bit of background on the lawsuit, by Jim Galloway.

In 2003, Ray McBerry quit his high school teaching job in Henry County after a mother accused him of having an improper relationship with her 16-year-old daughter, a student at a neighboring school.

A state licensing board later sanctioned the teacher, who admitted to lying to school officials about meeting the girl.

On Monday, McBerry, a former Republican candidate for governor, sued the mother of the young woman and the operators of a southwest Georgia political blog for accusing him of “child molestation” during his unsuccessful political campaign.

The suit was filed in Henry County Superior Court.

I’ll start the bidding for the website domain at $20.

Macon elections

With early voting starting Monday, the Macon Telegraph today profiles the two incumbent Macon City Councilmen, Charles Jones and Virgil Watkins, and unsuccessful 2008 candidate Regina Davis, who are competing for the District 8 seat on the Macon-Bibb County Commission.

From State Rep. Allen Peake’s excellent email newsletter, we learn that all of the candidates for Macon-Bibb County Mayor and Council have been invited to a Bibb County Candidate Meet and Greet at Bibb GOP Headquarters, 2720 Riverside Drive in Macon, tonight at 7 PM.

Dr. John Barge begins farewell tour

State School Superintendent John Barge sets out on a farewell tour of Georgia, having failed to quash speculation that he will run against Governor Nathan Deal in the Republican Primary next year. Whether Barge runs or not is immaterial as he’s finished in Georgia politics either way. Barge will be the third Republican State School Superintendent to end his or her political career in the Twin Towers.

Earlier this week, Dr. Barge spent the day with Gainesville City Schools, meeting with officials, parents and teachers, and attending a student assembly.

Next week, Barge will head to Augusta, where he will visit A.R. Johnson Magnet School next week and recognize the school’s naming as a 2012 Georgia School of Excellence in Student Achievement.

In other education news, Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo announced that SACS concluded that no accreditation violations occurred in relation to the complaint by School Board Member Kelly Marlow.

Americans for Prosperity protests today

Americans for Prosperity Georgia will be meeting in two locations today to protest collusion between big government in the form of Obamacare, and big insurance companies.

Today at noon they’ll be waving signs at the Intersection of Galleria Pkwy. SE & Cobb Pkwy. next to the Cobb Galleria Center 2 Galleria Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA, 30339, near the Georgia Blue Cross Blue Shield offices.

At 5 PM, the party will move to Buckhead at Lenox Rd. NE & Peachtree Rd. NE across from Phipps Plaza in Buckhead 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30326. They suggest parking at Phipps Plaza. I personally suggest Davio’s inside Phipps Plaza for dinner afterward. It’s a little pricy there, though.

Obamacare

In yet another unforeseen (by the Administration) consequence of the UnAffordable Care Act, UPS announced that it will not pay for healthcare for employee spouses who can obtain coverage through their own employers, saving an estimated $60 million per year.

Tim Sweeney, a healthcare analyst with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, which has never met a government mandate or tax that it didn’t like, says not to blame Obamacare for the UPS announcement.

“The ACA doesn’t change what [businesses] are facing,” Sweeney said.

Seriously, does anyone pay attention to what the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says?

DeKalb corruption worse than earlier reports?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Grand Jury report on the investigation that led to the indictment and suspension from office of CEO Burrell Ellis recommended additional investigations be undertaken into procurement practices by the county.

Pro-tips for Politics

1. Like I said yesterday, everything will be recorded. Not only by the Liberty crazies, but by the Democrats. Greg Williams of the Buckhead Young Republicans wrote on their Facebook page that a “Leftist videographer” was present for their last meeting. Don’t create the next “macaca moment.”

2. When you’re sending out press releases via email, adding a bunch of exclamation points to the subject line doesn’t enhance your likelihood of being picked up. It enhances your chances of being ignored for looking like an overenthusiastic amateur.

Chatham County GOP Awards Dinner

The Chatham County Republican Party will hold its 2013 Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Desoto Hilton, 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, Georgia. For more information, email Tara Rocker.

Welcome NewsMax.com

If you head over to the GaPundit website, you’ll see a new feature in the right-hand sidebar. We’ve added a newsfeed from NewsMax.com to provide links to national political news. Let us know if you like it or find it useful.