Athens Politics

• Drought Work Session

  We'll be doing a bit of "liveblogging" coverage of the Commission drought work session. We've already dialed up the red carpet coverage pre-meeting coverage of Blake Aued dropping his note pad. Stay tuned for more excitement.
  
  Finally starting up; Heidi apologizes for sitting with her back to the audience, [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2007, 5:21pm EDT
  

• The Flounder Files: Really?

  
  Sigh. Why do I get the feeling that "really?" is a word I'll be using quite often with this guy?
  
  So, another email from Rand "Flounder" Knight, candidate for U.S. Senate, fell into my inbox from an anonymous friend. Here's the headline:
  
  Rand [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2007, 7:04pm EDT
  by Publius

• What can Broun do for you?

  Saw this on a blog from the Bobby Saxon campaign. Saxon, you may recall, is challenging Congressman Paul Broun in the 10th District. (The Flem is also running.) Saxon is a Democrat, but by most accounts, the most serious Democrat to run in the 10th in a while. Being [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2007, 6:41pm EDT
  by Publius

• The bloggernetz are angry!!

  At one Jim Marshall, that is. Seems Rep. Marshall, a Democrat from Macon, did the unthinkable - he voted against his party on extending children's health care.
  
  Flackattack is pee-yossed!
  
  And even more pee-yossed!
  
  Since, once upon a time, we here in "Heidi's world" had [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2007, 6:31pm EDT
  by Publius

• Get a load of this guy!

  Number of comments: 6
  Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to introduce you to Rand Knight, Democrat for U.S. Senate. You've probably never heard of ol' Rand. That's cool. For your background information, he's been in the Senate race for a handful of months and has just made the transition to actually being mentioned' [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2007, 8:06pm EDT
  by Publius

• The GlennTax Travels, part II: D-I-V-O-R-C-E

  The GlennTax travels, part II:
  in which we talk about the 'Stache's control issues and why even prominent Republicans are less than thrilled about this idea. Also, we show Elton the love.
  
  Control Issues:
  To a lot of folks, the biggest slam on the GlennTax is it's decimation of' [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2007, 10:31am EDT
  by Publius

• The Flem is loose!

  
  So it's official. The Flem is running. (HA!) If you're interested in hearing him make it officially official, you could tune into Tim Bryant's show tomorrow morning.
  
  Anywhich, Broun tells our pal Blake that he ain't skeered. Which is good, because if he [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2007, 9:03pm EDT
  by Publius

• Roundup: September 9th, 2007

  
  Here's some stuff.
  
  JMac no likey Food Lion. What's next, war on Ingle's?I wax eloquent about the GlennTax. (Preview: it sucks!)Jim T talks about noun wars. As a veteran of the gerund conflicts of '87, I can't agree more. Never again.' [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2007, 9:53am EDT
  by Publius

• GlennTax Travels: Part I

  Number of comments: 2
  [Editor's note: For the love of Girtz! You go away on a quick, year-long vacay, and this is what happens to AthPo? Seriously guys. All righty, let's pick it up.]
  
  GlennTax Travels, Part I
  In which we explore stalking horses, and how you're helping big-box business get ahead.
  [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2007, 8:44am EDT
  by Publius

• The Flem rises...

  
  According to CQ, Augusta state rep Barry "the Flem" Fleming is going to get into the race for the 10th Congressional District. And, as anyone with half a brain could've predicted, the folks down in Augusta have got a big ol' girlcrush on [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2007, 3:21pm EDT
  by Cufflink Carl

• DPG Reacts to Voter ID Ruling

  Number of comments: 2
  Here is the official response of the Democratic Party of Georgia to the ruling today upholding Georgia's Voter ID law:
  
  
  
  
  Kidd responds to Voter ID ruling
  
  
  ATLANTA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd released the following statement in response to a' [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2007, 3:41pm EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Happy belated Labor Day, everyone (NSFW)

  Words cannot express exactly how not safe for work this is. (Unless you work down on the docks or something.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2007, 3:49pm EDT
  by Publius

• Poythress Retires

  Number of comments: 2
  So David Poythress, the Adjutant General of Georgia's National Guard, has announced that he will retire in November.
  
  Is he planning to run for something?' [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2007, 10:58am EDT
  by Billy Merck

• May I See Your IQ?

  We need to start checking people's IQ's rather than their ID's in this town:
  
  Athens Commission taking hard look at doormen job: "The Athens-Clarke Commission will vote Tuesday on a police proposal to begin mandatory fingerprinting and $30 background checks for doormen to weed out criminals."
  
  Why?' [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2007, 2:32pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• Porter Thinks That Perdue Doth Protest Too Much

  This is the original, full version of an op-ed from Dubose Porter that ran in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today:
  
  
  I think I may have hit a truth nerve. I think this because our Governor responded to my comments regarding his massive public relations campaign concerning SAT scores by [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2007, 2:36pm EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Locals Sound Off On GlennTax

  From Blake's piece yesterday:
  
  
  "Imagine if Speaker Richardson was in control of this community," Dodson said Thursday at a Clarke County Democratic Committee meeting. "How much money do you think Athens would get from state coffers?
  
  "We are going to have to beg for money in' [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2007, 7:54am EDT
  by Billy Merck

• What do Chambliss and Isakson Have Against Georgia's Children?

  The Senate passed an expanded SCHIP program 68-31 on Thursday. Georgia's Senators both voted no.
  
  How can they possibly justify this? This is not a complicated issue. It's a really simple one. Either you believe that providing health care for all of Georgia's children is an important priority or' [...]
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  Posted: August 03, 2007, 9:23am EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Bongs For Broun!

  Number of comments: 2
  Broun Votes To Ease Up On Medical Pot:
  
  "U.S. Rep. Paul Broun offered Democrats a peace pipe and sent Republican leaders' hopes that he'd toe the party line up in smoke this week by voting to ease federal restrictions on medical marijuana laws."

  Get a load of Blake and [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2007, 3:49pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• A Victory For Athens

  Number of comments: 4
  If the results hold true (as Billy reports below Paul Broun is extending his lead), then this really is a victory for Athens-Clarke, no matter how you slice it. And you have Jim Whitehead and his anti-Athens strategy to thank for it.
  
  Since I wrote last week, I [...]
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  Posted: July 18, 2007, 1:12pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• Broun Extends Lead

  98% reporting, and the lead is now 371.
  
  Meanwhile, they are debating not so much Iraq, but whether the all-night session is or isn't a stunt, in the Senate.' [...]
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  Posted: July 17, 2007, 9:59pm EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Not So Fast!

  Number of comments: 3
  Well, well, looks like we may have spoken too soon in the comments. With 95% of the votes in, Broun is leading by 271 votes. In fact, Peach Pundit is calling it for Broun. I don't know about all that, but Broun is once again outperforming expectations.
  [...]
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  Posted: July 17, 2007, 9:09pm EDT
  by Billy Merck

• The 10th...in '08

  Number of comments: 5
  Tomorrow we will have the runoff special election between Jim "Did I say that out loud?" Whitehead and Paul "Sure I live in Athens" Broun, Jr. So that's what we should be talking about here on AthPo, right?
  
  Nah. If I go and hold my nose and pull the' [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2007, 10:55pm EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Allow Me to Introduce Myself

  Number of comments: 3
  As you may have noticed over on the right, I am the first to take advantage of Blackfin's cry for help. I am Billy Merck, and you may have seen me over at Athens World. I also have my own legal blog, The Georgia Law Blog.
  [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2007, 11:15am EDT
  by Billy Merck

• Help Wanted...

  Well, obviously, we are not contributing to this blog as we used to. In response to some of the complaints/comments, we going to try to open up a bit by inviting some fresh blood to be front pagers.
  
  If you're interested, send a "resumé" to blackfinday@gmail.com.
  
  "Resumé"' [...]
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  Posted: July 13, 2007, 10:35am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Whitehead: "I Don't Know A Lot Of The Political Ins And Outs"

  Number of comments: 6
  Scrolling around the Daily Planet's Voter's Guide to the 10th District Congressional runoff next week, I was surprised to hear Jim Whitehead admit in one of the posted audio clips that, since he's only been in politics for "twelve years, basically," he "doesn't know a lot of the political" [...]
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  Posted: July 11, 2007, 12:39pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• New Local Blog

  Number of comments: 13
  James Garland, formed District 1 Commission candidate, has started his own blog called "The Other Athens." Kudos to him. James has always been active in the comments section of this blog (back when there was an active comments section), and here's hoping his new blog stirs some debate and conversation.
  [...]
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  Posted: June 06, 2007, 4:53pm EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Gasp!

  Immigration Bill Provisions Gain Wide Support:
  
  "Taking a pragmatic view on a divisive issue, a large majority of Americans want to change the immigration laws to allow illegal immigrants to gain legal status and to create a new guest worker program to meet future labor demands," a new [...]
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  Posted: May 25, 2007, 3:27pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• Really?

  From today's Banner Hearald: Whitehead's people are snarky bitches who think it's funny to put signs up across the street from an opponents event, and Greene's people are just bullies....
  
  "The minutemen are coming" [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2007, 9:21am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• The Race Heats Up

  Number of comments: 4
  [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2007, 11:56am EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• Get Them Illegals

  Number of comments: 8
  I'm not sure about anyone else, but I was astounded reading Tom Crawford in Flagpole this morning about some of the leading District 10 Republican candidate's positions on the War in Iraq. Er, I mean, "War on Illegals" since the war in Iraq has...
  
  "...not been a big [...]
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  Posted: May 02, 2007, 9:41am EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• And we have our answer...

  Number of comments: 4
  A letter to Jane Kidd mass circulated by Terry Holley...
  
  Dear Jane,
  This morning I had tried to send an email concerning qualifying, but my email was not cooperating. To bring you up to date, I waited until late yesterday to see how many people had qualified and decided [...]
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  Posted: April 28, 2007, 12:01am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Terry Holley- Man of substance or slacka$$?

  Terry Holley , who a few democrats are still suppporting for the 10th despite the overwhelming support for Marlow, has a little trouble keeping up with his paper work....
  But really, he's the best choice for support of local dems and he really has a chance [...]
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  Posted: April 25, 2007, 10:56am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• New Blog

  Check out Tondee's Tavern, a new Georgia Progressive blog. [...]
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  Posted: April 18, 2007, 12:13pm EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• 10th District Update

  Fundraising so far: (Rasied/Spent/Remaining/Debt) GREENE, WILLIAM LAWRENCE10 $60,293$21,677$38,616$003/31/2007MARLOW, JAMES B JR10 $36,385$8,580$28,005$003/31/2007NORWOOD, CHARLIE10 $1,660$123,612$781,283$003/31/2007WHITEHEAD, JAMES LESLIE SR10 $265,271$21,810$243,461$003/31/2007 Who wants to bet that when Holley files his report it shows he raised LESS than Norwood (who's dead [...]
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  Posted: April 16, 2007, 2:29pm EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• From over at PeachPundit

  Pretty good catch from the guys at PeachPundit on this photo. See if you can spot what they caught their eye... Here it is in context. [...]
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  Posted: April 16, 2007, 11:11am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Yeah, this guy's gonna win...

  [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2007, 7:06am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Athens In Black And White

  Last night's vote made that abundantly clear: "The commission voted 8-2 against letting the financially struggling ACTION Inc. sell its 1.7 acres and 100-year-old former schoolhouse to a developer with plans for 17 townhouses. Commissioners George Maxwell and Harry Sims voted to approve the plans." Whether Elton Dodson is right in claiming [...]
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  Posted: April 04, 2007, 10:08am EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• Heidi's Endorsement: Andy Herod

  Back to some other news: Mayor Davison made an "unexpected endorsement" yesterday in Tuesday's D8 race. "Andy's long history of community service, extensive experience, and proven leadership make him the best choice for District 8 and has earned him my personal endorsement," Davison said in an official news release from Herod's [...]
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  Posted: March 17, 2007, 2:01pm EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• The Nanny Diaries (part deux)

  Wherein we explore the "Nanny" side of ACC government not-related to the Commission. Commissioner Elton Dodson was nice enough to stop by yesterday and set the record straight, and he "woodshedded" us regarding his stance on not wanting to see Happy Hour discounts torpedoed in Athens bars and nightclubs. (BTW, Elton, [...]
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  Posted: March 17, 2007, 10:02am EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• The Nanny Diaries

  Wherein Athens Nanny-in-Chief, Super District Commish Elton Dodson, targets "Happy Hour" for eradication. "Athenians would have to pay full price for after-work beverages under proposed changes to Athens-Clarke County's alcohol ordinance. One change would prevent bars and restaurants from charging different prices for drinks at different times of day, banning happy [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2007, 11:21am EDT
  by Todd Mitchell

• From the flying monkeys....

  OK, OK, we suck. But with JMAC doing a fine job of covering the D8 race, it's been sorta hard to compete. As a practical matter, I don't live in D8, and I don't know either of these gentlemen, and really don't have a whole lot of insight. Which is [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2007, 8:55am EDT
  by Blackfin_Day

• Hudgens Out

  This is old news by now, but still worth commenting on: State Senator Ralph Hudgens officially opted out of the 10th congressional district dog and pony show yesterday. "After three weeks of campaigning, it became very evident that I don't have the fire in the belly, I didn't have what it [...]
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  Posted: March 10, 2007, 1:33pm EST
  by Todd Mitchell

• Gossip

  According to a blurb over at Peach Pundit there are now ten people in the race for Charlie Norwood's congressional seat, seven of whom are Republicans, two Dems and one "L": CANDIDATE Paul Broun Jr., R Bill Greene, R Terry Holley, D Ralph Hudgens, R Julian Hutchins, R Evita Paschall, D [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2007, 4:38pm EST
  by Todd Mitchell

• A contrast of ideals...

  As lawmakers around the state mourn the passing of Congressman Norwood (who, not for nothing, WAS the first republican elected to congress from Georgia since reconstruction) I present these two quotes which speak for themselves: "There is a time for politics and a time for compassion. Today, the thoughts and prayers [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2007, 2:30pm EST
  by Blackfin_Day

• Congressman Norwood has passed away

  Numerous television sources (including the House of Representatives live on CSPAN, where I was watching the Iraq debate) are reporting that Congressman Norwood has lost his battle with lung cancer and has passed away. [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2007, 2:06pm EST
  by DoubleDawgDareYa

• McCarter Out; Norwood Gravely Ill

  WTF happened at the Commission the other night where States McCarter just up and quits and immediately a special election is called for March 20th? And what's the scoop on Andy Herod and David Hamilton, the two as of now announced candidates running to replace McCarter? Also stirring up the boilerplate [...]
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  Posted: February 08, 2007, 9:51am EST
  by Todd Mitchell

• Whither '08 Support?

  So the ACJ's Political Insider reports that our guv is openly campaigning for Vice President (of the U.S., one assumes), and that various members of the Georgia Republican congressional delegation (Reps. Price, Gingrey & Kingston) are lining up behind Massachusetts liberal, er, former Governor Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, it's [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2007, 10:35am EST
  by Todd Mitchell

• Frat mess...

  This Op/Ed piece today in the Banana-Herald sums up nicely the crux of this issue, and I post here for discussion, since I'm sure Chuck will enlighten us as how Athens would fall in on itself without the UGA greek system. [...]
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  Posted: January 16, 2007, 9:56am EST
  by Blackfin_Day

• The First Annual Athpy Awards

  To start us off in '07, here's a little homage to the upcoming award show season. Live from historic downtown Athens, Georgia, it's the First Annual Athpy Awards, celebrating excellence, or in some cases the obscene lack of it, in the world of Athens P(p)olitics. [Insert ridiculously long/not funny song and dance [...]
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  Posted: January 02, 2007, 12:25pm EST
  by DoubleDawgDareYa

• Happy New Year!

  Hope the holidays have been enjoyable for everyone, and of course they have had a lot to do with the reduction in posts. We promise to step it up in January, so please keep reading. Pour some out for James Brown and Gerald Ford while you're celebrating Sunday night. See [...]
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  Posted: December 30, 2006, 1:33am EST
  by DoubleDawgDareYa