Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 16, 2014

The Magna Carta was sealed by King John on June 15, 1215.

The charter consisted of a preamble and 63 clauses and dealt mainly with feudal concerns that had little impact outside 13th century England. However, the document was remarkable in that it implied there were laws the king was bound to observe, thus precluding any future claim to absolutism by the English monarch. Of greatest interest to later generations was clause 39, which stated that “no free man shall be arrested or imprisoned or disseised [dispossessed] or outlawed or exiled or in any way victimised…except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.” This clause has been celebrated as an early guarantee of trial by jury and of habeas corpus and inspired England’s Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679).

On June 14, 1736, James Oglethorpe ordered plans to be drawn for a new city to be called Augusta.

George Washington accepted the assignment of leading the Continental Army on June 15, 1775.

The Oregon Treaty was signed on June 15, 1815 between England and the United States, establishing the border between the U.S. and Canada.

On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln addressed the Illiniois Republican Convention as a candidate for U.S. Senate and warned that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

The Atlanta Constitution was first published on June 16, 1868.

Campaigns and Elections

Former President George H.W. Bush has had an eventful week. Last week, he signed a letter raising funds to elects a Republican to the United States Senate from Georgia.

Mr. Bush’s letter, sent out on behalf of the Senate Battleground Fund, a joint fundraising committee of the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is significant because Ms. Nunn has worked for seven years as chief executive of the Points of Light Foundation Inc., a charity promoting volunteerism that was founded by Mr. Bush. Ms. Nunn, who is on leave from the charity while running for the senate, has used photographs of her together with the 41st president in her commercials and has mentioned him repeatedly while campaigning.

Mr. Bush, who just turned 90 years old, endorsed neither Republican and never mentioned Ms. Nunn by name in his letter, simply referring to “the Democratic nominee.” But he writes that “nothing could be more important for America’s future” than the Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate.

“I have been disappointed by the current Senate leadership,” he wrote. “To bring genuine, positive change to the Senate and to America, we must put Georgia in the GOP column come Election Night 2014.”

On Thursday former President George H.W. Bush jumped out of a perfectly functional helicopter with a parachute to celebrate his 90th birthday. The same day in College Station, Texas, the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum held a “crazy socks” party to celebrate the milestone. I was in Savannah on Saturday and was pleased to see several Young Republicans at their State Convention honoring the 41st President by wearing crazy socks.

Former President George H.W. Bush can no longer walk because of complications from Parkinson’s disease, but that didn’t stop him from taking to the air for a tandem skydiving jump on the morning of his 90th birthday today in Maine, just before 11 a.m.
Outfitted in a red, white and blue parachute, Bush fulfilled a promise he made on his 85th birthday in 2009, when he made his last jump.

In all, Bush has made eight skydiving jumps, including jumps on his 75th and 80th birthdays.

The supercarrier George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has been ordered into the Persian Gulf in light of the recent turmoil in Iraq.

If you enjoy trivia lists, the Houston Chronicle has you covered with 11 facts about President Bush (41).

While we’re on the subject of veterans and the military, the Georgia Republican Party Veterans Committee and GAGOP Second Vice Chair Ron Johnson presented SFC Carl Morgan with a sports wheelchair.

11th Congressional District Debate

Bob Barr and Barry Loudermilk took to the stage at Kennesaw State University Saturday night in a Primary Runoff debate in the 11th Congressional District. From the AJC:

A former congressman, Barr said he would support a U.S. military strike on the Sunni extremist militants who have captured large portions of northern Iraq and are advancing toward Baghdad.

“I would advise [President Obama] to use the air strike capacity that we have — both man and drone capability — in this situation,” Barr told the audience at Kennesaw State University.

“The targets are clear. There is very little danger — with these folks marching down the highway — of collateral damage as they say — killing innocent civilians. [The militants] provide a perfect target. We have the weapons to do it for surgical airstrikes and drone strikes.”

Loudermilk, a former state lawmaker, expressed caution.

“If there is a clear and present danger that Iraq poses, we must intervene on behalf of the safety and security of the United States,” he said, noting his son serves in the U.S. military and could be deployed. “But if it does not, then we should not be engaged. I can’t answer that question right now.”

Loudermilk also bemoaned the state of Afghanistan.

“We should have learned our lesson from the Soviets,” he said. “That is a war that I think we are not going to win. We never had a clear objective… I do think without a clear objective, it is time to pull our troops back out of Afghanistan. There are much more hostile enemies we are facing today.”

Barr and Loudermilk also said they support inquiring into whether Obama should be impeached, though Loudermilk predicted nothing would come of it with Democrats controlling the Senate.

“The problem is if [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid is still in control of the Senate, it will be a wasted exercise,” Loudermilk said. “The threats to this nation are real and we have to prioritize what we are going to do. Yes, we should proceed with impeachment hearings. But we have to look down the road. Are we going to waste our time when the Senate is just going to kick it back?”

Moments later, Barr responded: “Despite Barry worrying about whether the Senate would go along with an inquiry of impeachment, the time has come to try to do everything we can to hold this president and his administration accountable…”

The Marietta Daily Journal contributed Editorial Page Editor and columnist Joe Kirby as a moderator and also provided coverage of the debate.

Kirby’s first question mentioned the stunning loss by U.S. Rep Eric Cantor (R-Va.) earlier in the week to professor Dave Brat. He asked if the shake-up in the U.S. House of Representatives meant a freshman or a veteran was better prepared to lead in the future.

Loudermilk began by alluding to Barr’s years in Congress from 1995 to 2003.

“My worthy opponent doesn’t hesitate to let everyone know that he’s been to Congress and I haven’t. And that’s true. I’m not a Washington insider,” Loudermilk said. “There is an adage in the House of Representatives — and in the State Senate — that if you want to get anything done, give it to a freshman.”

Loudermilk continued by saying freshmen in Congress have not been taught what they can’t do and haven’t been “corrupted by the system.”

Barr responded in kind.

“I’ve been called a lot of things, but I’ve never been called a Washington insider,” said the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential candidate. “Maybe I misheard what Barry just said. If you face a very serious problem in Washington, one that goes to the heart of our nation’s defense, which involves a very complex process … that the adage in Washington is ‘Give it to somebody that doesn’t have any idea what they’re doing and has just gotten here,’ that’s a new one on me. I hate to tell y’all, but that ain’t going to work.”

Barr said the Obama administration “hides” unwanted cuts deep in legislation and it takes experience to know where to look. He said as an eight-year veteran of Congress he is running on his track record.

 

[Moderator and Georgia’s Republican National Committeeman Randy] Evans asked the candidates what they thought the single biggest issue facing the 11th District is.

Barr answered, saying the biggest issue is saving Lockheed-Martin’s Marietta plant and preventing the closure of Dobbins Air Reserve Base through the base realignment and closure program. He said his experience is crucial toward doing so.

“We cannot afford a rookie in that seat in the next two years,” Barr said.

Loudermilk agreed about Lockheed’s importance, touting his experience in the Air Force and in the Georgia General Assembly.

“Lockheed is of extreme importance,” Loudermilk said. “We must keep Dobbins operating and open.”

Speaking of Lockheed and Dobbins, Cobb County Businesswoman Kim Gresh mentioned their imporantance in her endorsement of Barr.

BARR’S CAMPAIGN got a welcome surge of good news late this week with the announcement by Kim Gresh that she is endorsing Barr. Gresh served as campaign chair for 11th District congressional hopeful Tricia Pridemore, who narrowly missed the runoff.

“As a small business owner and a taxpayer, I know Cobb County and our district need Bob Barr,” said Gresh, who was chosen as the 2012 Cobb County Citizen of the Year by the MDJ and is widely known for her civic activism. “Bob has the skills, proven experience and the seniority to get to work immediately to reduce the burden on local job creators so they can create more jobs for taxpayers here in our community.”

“The single largest employer in our district is Lockheed — and only Bob Barr has a proven track record of not only protecting but expanding Lockheed jobs,” she added. “More than this, there are hundreds, if not thousands of businesses that exist only because the presence of Lockheed and Dobbins. Marietta and Cobb County need Bob Barr protecting our Lockheed jobs.”

 

FORMER Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway and veteran Councilman Philip Goldstein rarely agreed on much during Dunaway’s tenure, but they both now agree Barr is the best candidate for the 11th. Dunaway endorsed Barr early this month and Goldstein did so this week, saying, “The seniority Bob will retain is extremely valuable to Marietta and Cobb County. When a local government or small business runs into federal bureaucrats who want to red-tape us to death, Marietta knows, because he has proven it to us, that he will get to work for Marietta and achieve results.”

Current Mayor Steve Tumlin endorsed Loudermilk earlier this month.

[Disclaimer: I’ve done some paid work for the Barr campaign.]

More Cantor and Georgia

Jody Hice has jumped on Eric Cantor’s defeat in his race for Tenth Congressional District against Mike Collins.

“The outcome was like an earthquake, sending shockwaves through the political establishment,” Hice said. “Why did it happen? What does it have to do with the Republican primary here in Georgia’s 10th congressional district? Cantor lost because he was on the wrong side of two key issues: the debt ceiling and illegal immigration. Cantor had repeatedly voted to raise the national debt ceiling. Cantor was perceived as waffling on the issue of amnesty for illegal aliens.”

In the release, Hice said his competitor Collins supports raising the debt ceiling, while he is against it. He also compares himself to David Brat, who defeated Cantor, in his strong position against amnesty.

“By voting for me, Georgia voters will send a true conservative to Congress and send a message to the Washington political establishment: Quit wasting money. Quit piling up debt. No amnesty for illegal aliens. No more business as usual in Washington,” Hice said.

Tom Price out of leadership race

Congressman Tom Price has declared himself out of the hunt for a leadership position in the wake of Cantor’s loss.

“The encouragement I’ve received from colleagues over these past couple of days has been humbling,” he said. “My position has always been that I’m ready to serve in whatever capacity might best help unify our team, promote our conservative principles and, above all, pursue positive solutions on behalf of our constituents. To that end, at this time, my focus is on the opportunity to serve as the next chairman of the House Budget Committee.”

Don’t take this job if it’s offered to you

The Cherokee County Board of Education will appoint a new member to fill the seat vacated by former member Kelly Marlow.

School district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said the board will select the interim member by a majority vote Thursday, and the new board member will be sworn in before the start of the July 23 meeting.

“That person will serve from when he or she is sworn in until the person who wins the November special election is sworn in,” Jacoby said.

Former District 1 board member Kelly Marlow Trim resigned her seat in April after her felony conviction, leaving a vacancy on the board for nearly two months.

Since more than half of the convicted school board member’s four-year term remained when she resigned, local law required the district hold a special election to fill the vacancy.
The special election will be held at the same time as the general election Nov. 4, and the board will appoint an interim board member to hold the position until the elected member can be sworn in.

Three people applied to the district by the June 5 deadline to be considered for the interim position, including: Kyla Cromer, James “Jim” Nicholson and William “Bill” Wuth.

 

Cromer, who ran against Marlow in the 2012 election — and lost by 24 votes — said in May she planned to apply for the interim position and to run in the special election.

Best political line of the weekend award

Second District Georgia Republican Party Chair Joseph Brannan wins the award for “best political line of the weekend” in his interview with the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

You are active in the state Republican Party, Have you always been interested in politics?

Yes, even though my family was never as directly involved in the party as I am now, my parents and grandparents took an interest in politics. They were active in the process, they consistently voted and were informed on the candidates. They made sure I followed along, too — some of my earliest memories include President Reagan in one way or another. One time, my grandmother checked me out of school to see Phil Gramm give his presidential campaign announcement in front of Wynnton School — the atmosphere was exciting and that sealed my interest.

Are you content with being a political operative or do you ever see a point where you seek elected office?

I joke with my friends and co-workers that “the only thing I’m running is radio stations.” It’s the perfect politician’s non-answer of course, but I do enjoy serving in the background on the party side. I have great respect for our elected officials, both Republican and Democratic, because they do put themselves out there to be judged by citizens and the media for every decision they make. I don’t know that I have thick enough skin or the capacity to do what they do. Being involved in the party is a great middle ground for a political junkie like me.