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9th District Feature Articles
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The Republican weekly column is printed each week in the following newspapers
The Dahlonega Nugget (the weekly paper for Lumpkin)
Fannin Sentinel (one of the weekly papers in Fannin County)
Union Sentinel (one of the weekly papers in Union County)
Pickens Progress (the weekly paper for Pickens County)
The Times Courier (the weekly paper for Gilmer County)
The Independent (one of the weekly papers in Dade County)
The Walker Messenger (occasionally printed in this paper-determined on a week-by-week basis)
In addition, a few web sites/individuals pick up on it on a weekly basis, depending on the content.
Defining Political MomentsBy Randy Evans - August 11, 2008
Senator Barack Obama handled it in the best way possible - diminish it and move on - as quickly as possible - with the hope that the story (about the picture) would die out and, as a result, most Americans would never see it.
So, what was it that created near panic among optimistic Democrats? Recently, the New Yorker magazine cover reflected Senator Barack Obama clad in Muslim garb; his wife Michelle Obama dressed with militant gear; a flag burning in the fireplace behind them; and a picture of Osama Bin Laden hung on the wall.
The New Yorker, whose liberal bias eliminates the infamous “vast right wing conspiracy” as a possibility, insists that its cover is nothing more than satire. (Undoubtedly, the director of sales viewed it as an instant revenue surge as magazine sales were sure to increase as the controversy blossomed.)
Yet, the fear of Democrats everywhere had to be that this could be one of those proverbial “connect the dots” moments where a single picture instantaneously defines in stark terms the Presidential nominee (and his wife) for an American electorate that has not quite made up its mind.
Defining moments are not new in Presidential campaigns. Most often, they come in the form of a simple picture that reflects visually the unspoken suspicions of an unsure electorate about whom or what a candidate really is. Rarely are they completely accurate. Yet, they are lasting.
It happened in 1988 with a picture of Democratic Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis driving a tank wearing an oversized helmet. In 2004, John Kerry was windsurfing in a flowered swimsuit. The subliminal suspicions of a jetsetter rich kid who never grew up crystallized in a clear picture explained it all.
These defining moments are not limited to Democrats. President Gerald Ford stumbling over steps getting off of Air Force One painted a picture of a bumbling never elected President who was in over his head. And who can forget President George H. W. Bush looking at his watch during a Presidential debate and Senator Bob Dole falling off the stage in 1996. After seeing these pictures, moved on to elect and re-elect President Bill Clinton.
In 2000, it was Vice-President Al Gore’s repeated sighs that caught the attention of voters. Whatever his kissing his wife at the 2000 Democratic Convention had accomplished, his contemptuous sighs and interruptions during the debate were eliminated.
So now in 2008 comes the cover of the New Yorker magazine. Rumors and innuendo circled during the Democratic primary contest with Senator Hillary Clinton over Senator Obama’s religion with more than hints by opponents that he might in fact be Muslim. Internet buzz continued about Michelle Obama’s doctoral thesis and her “real” opinions about America.
Early in the campaign there was the flag pin controversy arising out of Senator Obama’s refusal to wear the American flag on his lapel. And based on his continued willingness to talk with America’s enemies, his opponents have raised questions about just how committed he would be to find America’s number one public enemy - Osama Bin Laden.
Amidst it all comes this picture. Time will only tell whether it was an image that connected all the dots or instead is just another passing blip on the political radar in a long Presidential contest. Senator Obama says he has seen worse. But, it is unlikely that he has seen a picture more worrisome.
Randy Evans served as the outside counsel to Speakers Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert. He is the General Counsel of the Georgia Republican Party and a member of the five-person Georgia State Election Board. He represents a host of well-known public officials including Senators, Members of Congress, Governors, and state elected officials.
Saxby Gets Things Done for Georgia
by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss - August 1, 2008
Saxby Chambliss gets things done for Georgia. And this November, it is imperative that Republicans go to the polls to re-elect him to the United States Senate.Skyrocketing gas prices are the top economic issue today. And while Congress continues to talk about the problem, Saxby has taken action. He gathered together a bipartisan group of 10 senators to draft legislation aimed specifically at reducing the price at the pump. He co-sponsored the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008 to allow states to explore for domestic oil and gas resources. He supports drilling in ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf, and in the shale of the Rocky Mountain States. Saxby understands that we must build more refineries, continue researching alternative fuels, and increase our personal conservation.
Saxby is working to reduce the tax burden on our families. He is the Senate sponsor of the Fair Tax, has fought to make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, and supports the elimination of the death tax and the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax.
While our nation is at war, we need leaders who understand the threat we are facing and support our men and women in uniform. Having traveled to Iraq six times, Saxby has seen firsthand the progress that our troops are making in the region. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Saxby continues Georgia’s longstanding tradition of leadership and advocacy for the state’s military installations and is a strong voice for Georgia’s defense industry and the military community. He is a tireless advocate for improving the quality of life for our troops, our veterans, and their families.
Saxby believes we must secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. He has rejected proposals of amnesty for illegal immigrants, and he joined his colleagues to form the Border Security and Enforcement First Caucus in the Senate.
Saxby was an original cosponsor of the "Universal Health Care Choice and Access Act" to provide individuals with tax incentives so that they can afford to purchase their own health insurance. He voted to stop cuts to our doctors treating Medicare patients and he voted to preserve PeachCare as a program for Georgia’s children.
Saxby shares our conservative values and fights for them in Washington. He has fought to protect the life of the unborn and to protect traditional marriages between one man and one woman.
Saxby is a proven skilled national leader who continues to put Georgia first, and we cannot afford to lose his voice in the U.S. Senate. Please support Saxby Chambliss for the re-election, and let’s work together to send him back to Washington to represent our conservative Georgia values. Please visit www.saxby.org to learn more and join Saxby’s team.
Saxby Chambliss is Georgia’s senior United States Senator. He is married to Julianne, and they have two children, both married, and two grandchildren. Saxby and Julianne are active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in their hometown of Moultrie, Ga.
Ninth District Quick Fact: Six (6) of the seven (7) District Attorneys serving in the 9th District were elected as Republicans.
9th District Republican Party Adopts“8 in 08 Campaign”
This weekend, Chairman Larry Toney and the Pickens County GOP hosted the quarterly district committee meeting and annual 9th District picnic. For the second consecutive year, it was one of the best attended and most enjoyable events in the history of the party. Prior to the food and fun, however, North Georgia Republicans on the district committee unanimously adopted the “8 in 08 Campaign”. To date, this will be the most comprehensive and concentrated effort at the district level to provide resources for Republican candidates in our local communities.
Earlier this year, the 9th District Election Task Force was created to provide a comprehensive overview of each race in the fifteen counties across North Georgia. From the report, the district committee unanimously approved the “8 in 08 Campaign”. The committee reviewed and identified eight local races in the fifteen counties where Democrats were elected in 2004. Due to a variety of reasons, however, the identified races should be competitive and the Republican nominee should have an excellent opportunity to present their case for change directly to the voters.
In the last ten years, every county in North Georgia except one has increased the number of
Republican elected officials. In fact, the number of Democrat elected officials in North Georgia has been cut in half in the same period. The “8 in 08 Campaign” is a strategic effort by our
district leadership to partner with our county parties to continue our recent success against good ole’ boy politics and the Democratic machine that plagued our state for decades.
It will be interesting to watch North Georgia Democratic party leaders in their attempt to brand their Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, as a new breed of politician. Meanwhile, Democrat incumbents and candidates on the ballot will attempt to distance themselves and pretend that they did not even choose to be on the Democratic ticket, while needing assistance from the same party and leaders to get elected. While this tactic has worked in past elections, voters are beginning to hold this type of politicians more accountable.
The former Democratic Speaker of the United States Congress, Tip O’Neill, once stated: “all politics is local”. While so many things in life change and transition, his quote is as true today as it has ever been. When it comes down to our local officials, more people are concerned with the safety of their community, the quality of their schools, and the economic opportunities that are available to provide for their families. This year, the Presidential and Congressional races have received a lot of attention across the country. The caliber of local Republican candidates, in combination with the liberal agenda of Barack Obama, is why Republicans in North Georgia will have a good year in 2008.
Kevin Harris is the Chairman of the 9th District Republican Party.
Ninth District Quick Fact: The 9th District GOP successfully completed the most successful candidate recruitment effort in its history. Following the recent July primaries, there are 83 Republicans across the 9th District that will be reelected in November without Democratic opposition. In contrast, there are only 21 Democrats that will automatically be reelected without opposition.
Republican Article of the Week
by Senator Johnny Isakson -- July 18, 2008
I have said time and again that the elections in the United States this year are ‘for all the marbles.’ This presidential election will be historic in many ways, but in part because I predict it will be the largest voter turnout ever in our nation.
My number one goal this year is to help U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss win reelection. Saxby does an outstanding job for Georgia in the U.S. Senate and we are going to need his conservative voice there more than ever with a new president next year. Saxby and I work together very well together in Washington and I hope Georgia voters will help send Saxby Chambliss back to the Senate.
My other goal this year is to help John McCain become president and I ask you to help, too. One of the biggest issues for this presidential campaign and for all of us in Georgia and across the nation is high gas prices. Paying more than $4 a gallon for gas is hurting the family budget and having negative repercussions for our schools, police departments, tourism industry and small businesses. I recently wrote an article for The Atlanta Constitution outlining what I believe must happen to address this issue and I want to share those ideas with you.
No matter where you look in the United States today, you can see the effects of out-of-control gas prices on the American economy and the family budget. In Georgia and across the country, the trickle-down effect of these unprecedented gas prices is spreading financial misery to our schools, local governments and small businesses. We are paying more for gas and energy than ever before, and there is no end in sight.
Enough is enough. It is long past time for Republicans and Democrats to put aside their partisan biases on energy and join together in declaring war on spiraling gas prices and high energy costs. Right now, the Congress of the United States is sitting on top of a ham sandwich starving to death. The solutions are right under our nose if we will work together to embrace them all.
Republicans must be willing to embrace conservation initiatives as well as alternatives such as solar and wind energy. Democrats must be willing to embrace nuclear energy for electricity and responsible exploration of our oil and gas resources in Alaska, Colorado, Montana and North Dakota, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic coast. Congress must pass and the president must sign legislation that removes current restrictions on these resources and their rapid development.
The rising costs for the future delivery of oil are in part based on the belief that America is not serious about reducing its dependence on imported oil or exploring its own resources at home. Unless we act decisively, the speculators will only push the price of oil higher.
In the 1960s, when America was losing its dominance in science and technology to the Soviet Union, President John Kennedy challenged America to send a man to the moon and bring him safely back to Earth by the end of the decade. At the time, we did not have the knowledge to accomplish that goal, but we had the will and we found the way.
Today, our challenge on energy supply and cost is no less daunting than the space race of the 1960s, but unlike the challenge of the space race, we do know how to reduce the cost and expand the supply of energy today. It is time for the president and the Congress to put aside their differences. We must act now and we must act boldly to expand and encourage the exploration and development of all our resources at home.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson is a Republican who represents Georgia in the U.S. Senate.
Ninth District Quick Fact: In last week’s July primary, the 9th District of Georgia had the second highest of Republican ballots cast out of the 13 congressional districts.
Left blocks progress of energy to meet needs
by Jim Pilgrim of Hall County - July 11, 2008If you like high gasoline prices, you're going to love high electric rates. Georgia rates, currently amount the lowest in the country, will be driven up by the same kinds of policies that have already helped drive up gas prices, policies that make it more difficult to increase the supply.
On June 30, a Georgia judge blocked the start of building a new plant to generate electricity, what would be the first electric utility built in Georgia in two decades.
Joan King and the rest of the global warming crowd must be celebrating. The news story ran the same day as Ms. King's latest rant against increased drilling for oil and the building of nuclear power plants to generate electricity. She seems not to care about the pain people will suffer if we don't substantially increase our own oil production. If she thinks solar and wind power can provide a substantial amount of electricity within the next five years, she is simply out of touch with the real world. It will not happen.
In other words, we have a long-term energy problem and an immediate crisis. The crisis cannot be addressed by alternative energy. For decades, the left has backed policies that have hampered refining and increased drilling and it now wants to keep us from addressing these problems. It will take too long to make a difference. Every time we fill our tanks, we need to remember who is keeping us from drilling.
Those who claim there are plenty of areas for oil companies to drill are the usual people who do not consider the basic realities of a business, price and cost. If the cost of developing and drilling a given supply means gasoline would have to be sold for, let's say $10 a gallon, then it would be foolish to drill there any time soon.
We know where the oil companies can develop and drill at an affordable cost. It is time we let them. One driver in increased gas prices is the lack of refining capacity. Here in America, not one new refinery has been built in the past 30 years. Now, as we see with the judge's decision, we are continuing to pursue policies that will drive up the cost of electricity as well.
Ms. King and her crowd, of course, hope the high prices for gasoline will be a catalyst for a more expedient adoption of alternative energy. This is not a realistic or effective solution to Georgia's immediate needs. She should also consider sharing with readers how her exclusively solar/wind-powered home and non-oil based mode of transportation has been working out for her.
Jim Pilgrim resides in Gainesville, Georgia and holds leadership positions in the Hall County and 9th District Republican Party.
Ninth District Quick Fact: In a 3 month period prior to the July primary election cycle, the Ninth District Republican Party website, www.gagop9.org, had over 1,000,000 hits.
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A Shot Across the Bow
by Sally Forest of Ellijay - July 3, 2008
In a long-awaited and landmark case, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the right of citizens to keep and bear arms is protected under the Second Amendment. It was the right decision.
The District’s law prohibiting handgun ownership was intended to address its crime rate, the highest in the country. It didn’t accomplish that. Some otherwise law-abiding citizens ignored the ban, including the late Carl Rowan, a well-known commentator and handgun control advocate who was arrested for violating the statute after confronting an intruder at his home with (oops!) a gun.
The Supreme Court’s lengthy legal argument reaches a clear conclusion. Not allowing citizens “…to use arms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense… in the place where the importance of (such) defense of self, family, and property is most acute…” failed constitutional muster.
By all indications, there was no other way to go. With an almost ideal set of circumstances, many people thought it a slam-dunk, including me. Alternatives seemed radical and far-fetched. But the decision was five-four.
Four dissenting justices said the Second Amendment secures only the right of the people “… to use and possess arms in conjunction with service in a well-regulated militia…”, and that it does not limit Congress’s authority to regulate the use or possession of firearms for civilian purposes. The District’s law fell within the zone left open to regulation by the legislators.
For those who revere the constitutional protections of individual rights, the fact that four Justices voted not to throw out the District’s ban has to be viewed with grave concern.
It’s a warning shot across the bow. It’s not the first. Look at recent Court decisions and see how many are five-four splits. If you need any further indication on the importance of Supreme Court appointments, I don’t know what it would be.
The next President will appoint one and maybe three Justices, with Senate consent. Democrats have a small majority now, but with 34 seats up for election, and only 12 held by Democrats, the chance of losing Republican seats is greater.
I understand why many want change, and Senator Obama’s charismatic style is magnetic. Senator McCain is not the first choice of many conservatives, and some vow to stay home on Election Day. That’s a mistake. Maybe you can live with a President Obama. After all, we can get the White House back next time.
Well, you can’t get the Supreme Court “back” next time. The impact of its decisions is not measured by election years.
Senators Obama and McCain are currently neck-and-neck in Georgia. Senator Chambliss has opposition. Georgia may not be the “safe bet” anymore. There are good reasons to vote for McCain and Chambliss, but judicial appointments are high on the list. We can work hard to elect them, or we can hope the ship is strong enough to take more than shots across the bow. We can hail the Heller decision, but let’s not forget it was close.
Sally Forest is the Secretary of the 9th District GOP, and a Georgia native. She is retired from the FDIC and lives in Ellijay with husband Phil.
Ninth District Quick Fact: For the first time in history, a majority of the Sheriffs in the 9th Congressional District are incumbent Republicans entering the July primary elections.
Weekly Republican Article
by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle of Hall County
June 27, 2008
As I drove out of my neighborhood this week, my neighbors' yards were yet another stark reminder of what the drought, and Florida's response to the drought, is doing to our state. The neighbor, who always had a full annual flower bed, had decided not to plant this year. And lawns that are normally bright green in the summer have begun turning brown. Yet another neighbor owns a small business that is now threatened with bankruptcy as a result of the extremely low levels. My friends throughout North Georgia have expressed similar scenarios to me. We have all been affected by the historic drop in rainfall to our state.
When one neighbor is hurting, others rush in to help. The truth is that Georgia has been a good neighbor to Florida. Georgians have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into Florida's tourism industry. We all know families who plan an annual summer trip to Disney or the Florida beaches. When destructive hurricanes hit Florida, volunteers from North Georgia rushed in to help rebuild and offered relief to those who were affected. And for years we have willingly offered millions of gallons of water to flow from my hometown lake, Lake Lanier, to the state of Florida.
Therefore, it is simply outrageous that when our entire state is suffering from an excessive drought, Florida would choose to respond by doing everything possible to drain our water. In fact, Florida has just decided to sue the U.S. Corps of Engineers on the basis that three species of mussels will be threatened. The shellfish that Florida claims are threatened survived just fine for many years before Lake Lanier was ever built. It is unconscionable that Florida would choose to elevate the water needs of the bankclimber and fat threeridge mussel over the needs of millions of human beings in Georgia.
The fact remains that any water Florida drains from Georgia impacts our entire state. All of our river basins - including the Coosa, Tallapoosa and Chattahoochee - have experienced reduced water flow. Recently, we received a new operating plan from the Corps that offers Georgia very little good news. Even this baby step toward protecting our water resulted in Florida's Governor Crist blasting the new plan as putting "the economic and environmental future of an entire region at risk."
The region being put at risk is North Georgia, not the Florida panhandle. Crist's entire case rests on the argument that draining Lake Lanier represents the best way to keep a rare species of mussel healthy. In Georgia, a shrinking water supply chokes our economy, forces hundreds of small businesses to the brink of bankruptcy, destroys the value of family homes, drains downstream reservoirs, and puts our ability to supply safe drinking water in question.
A good neighbor recognizes the needs of others and offers to lend a hand. During this drought, Florida has instead decided to slap our hand and Georgians should start responding. The State of Georgia has done her part to be a good neighbor to Florida; it is time Florida reciprocates.
As Georgia's 11th Lieutenant Governor, Casey Cagle is working to make Georgia a state where every single citizen, regardless of their current circumstances, can achieve the American dream. He is committed to creating an environment in which Georgia's citizens and businesses can prosper.
Ninth District Quick Fact: Casey Cagle is the first Republican to be elected as Lieutenant Governor in the state of Georgia. He is married to his high school sweetheart Nita, and they are the proud parents of three sons, Jared, Grant, and Carter. The Cagles live in the 9t Congressional District of Georgia (Chestnut Mountain), where they are active members of Blackshear Place Baptist Church.
The People’s Business
By Senator Tommie Williams -- 19th Senate District
Majority Leader of the Georgia State Senate
There is a common saying about government and politicians that government never acts until after there is a crisis. Just look at the prices at our gas pumps. Gas prices did not climb above $4.00 a gallon over night. For the past several years Republicans in Congress have submitted an energy plan that focuses not only on developing new renewable energy sources, but also that would allow for us to maximize the resources we already have. These efforts have continuously been blocked by leaders in the U.S. Senate. We have not built a refinery since the 1970s, and we are literally sitting on oil resources that the current leadership in Congress is blocking from being tapped into. That is not leadership…that is politics as usual.
Leadership requires tough decisions and sacrifices. Here in Georgia we have done just that. Instead of waiting for situations to happen and reacting to them, we have worked hard to avert and prepare for them beforehand. State revenue for the month of May was down 31.1 percent or $666 million compared to this time last year. Because the legislature worked hard to keep spending low and put away money into the state’s reserve fund, Georgia is well positioned to weather this time of economic readjustment. This did not happen by accident, but by purposeful and principled leadership. This was part of the commitment we made to the citizens of Georgia that we would cut spending, limit the size and growth of government and make government more efficient and accountable with the taxpayers’ money.
One of piece of legislation that the Senate has worked hard on would require state government to limit increased spending to inflation and population growth. I am proud that without even having this put into law (yet), we have kept the growth of government and spending within those limits. It would have been easy to spend the state’s surplus on pet projects and pork, but because we made the tough decisions and built up our reserves, Georgia will be able to address the current economic circumstances from a position of strength.
To ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are spent effectively within the budget, the state legislature instituted zero-based budgeting which requires agencies to justify every government program and give a true assessment of their needs, mission and effectiveness.
Because of legislative oversight and hearings, agencies are now verifying eligibility for PeachCare and Medicaid benefits. It is estimated that verifying eligibility for PeachCare and Medicaid alone has saved the state as much as $5.5 million.
These are small things that don’t make for flashy headlines, but they are principled policies that are making our state strong, now and into the future. By approaching situations in a proactive manner, our state leaders have managed state funds in a responsible fashion, so that Georgia citizens will not suffer during this time of economic slowdown. There is much we can improve on and there are serious issues that demand attention, but all in all there is much we can be proud of here in Georgia.
Senator Tommie Williams currently serves as the Majority Leader of the Georgia State Senate and has served the 19th Senate District and the people of Georgia since 1998.
Ninth District Quick Fact: All seven Republican Senators representing the Ninth District hold multiple leadership positions in the Georgia Senate, including Chairs of four of the most important Committees: Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Transportation.
When Will We Say Enough?
by Kevin Harris, 9th District ChairmanMineral Bluff, GA
This weekend, my wife and I visited friends in Northwest Georgia. Driving through Dalton, I filled my tank up as we reached I-75. Compared to the prices I had paid in recent weeks for gas, I was pleasantly surprised to fill my tank at $3.84 cents per gallon.
And then it hit me: $3.84 a gallon for gasoline? What is going on in our country? As a society, we have been conditioned for the current energy crisis.
In 2004, Democrats took control of the US Congress promising to provide relief for the increased gas prices. San Francisco Congressman Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House largely based on promises of new leadership: “Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices, taking America in a new direction that works for everyone, not just the few.”
Democrats certainly took us in a new direction! Since taking control of the US Congress, gas prices have risen $1.72. per gallon. When the Democrats gained the majority on January 4, 2007, the average price of regular gasoline was $2.33 per gallon. In only 18 months, the gas prices have skyrocketed to a national record of $4.05 a gallon. The unfortunate part of this entire situation is that there is no long-term relief in sight.
The issues of energy costs and our economic future are simply too important for partisan solutions. Many friends that are employed in construction, real estate, and land development have experienced what economists call a “rough cycle”, but what families call a devastating year. In addition, small businesses have been stretched while they helplessly watched revenues flow into energy costs instead of investing additional resources in their businesses. Even school systems, local governments, and law enforcement have been forced to readjust practices to attempt to provide services in a new economic environment.
This year, the U.S. Senate could have provided Americans relief with the American Energy Production Act Of 2008. Unfortunately, 48 Democrats voted to block increased oil supply, and gas prices have risen an additional $.33 per gallon since that time. Even worse, proponents of the Climate Security Act of 2008, by proponent calculations, will ultimately raise gas prices at least $.50 cents a gallon. Instead of attempting to provide relief, Congressional leadership is making efforts that would directly raise the price of oil at the pump.
When presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama was asked about the high gas prices, he stated: "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment." While this is certainly the Democratic vision for our country, most Americans understand that simply can’t afford higher costs on their budgets.
This should be an issue that transcends party labels, because it is impacting our economy as well as long-term security. Instead of relying on other countries, we must emerge as an energy independent nation. It is good policy to pursue energy alternatives, but that does nothing to change the current prices or the immediate future. It is time that our country begins to support a public policy that promotes the development of its own resources first.
Kevin Harris is the Chairman of the 9th District Republican Party.
Ninth District Quick Fact: This year, over 240 local citizens from the 15 counties in the Ninth Congressional District chose to run as a Republican for local public office. In contrast, less than 80 chose to run as a Democrat.
Republican Article of the Week
by Doug Grammer
of Rock Springs, GA
June 6, 2008
I don't like to generalize or to sound like Andy Rooney, but did you ever notice that Democrats are dumber than Republicans? I'm a fair guy and I know some smart Democrats, but please let me make my case. Nationally, most people know that the Democrats are unsure if they will seat the delegates from Florida and Michigan. Here's the background story on that: the primaries for president have been falling in a particular order and the Democrat National Committee and Republican National Committee wanted to keep it that way. The DNC and RNC told Florida and Michigan that if they moved their primaries too far up, th ere would be penalties. Conspiracy theorists blame the Republicans because they control the Florida legislature. What about Michigan? Did the the GOP use mind control on the Dems? The DNC decided not to seat the delegates from either state, unless they change their mind. The RNC used a fairer, smarter solution. The delegate strength from those states to the GOP convention has been cut in half.
I'm not even going to debate policy. Either you are for abortion or against it. You are for gay marriage or against it. You are for higher taxes or against them. You are for more government spending or against it. Like I said, I'm fair. The GOP got out of control on spending nationally, and that is why they lost control of congress. I don't agree with Bush on immigration, but I back him on most other issues. Nancy Peolosi said she would put an end to high gasoline prices. That was at $2.30 a gallon. Hillary was under sniper fire in Bosnia. Obama went to a church for 20 years but had no idea what his reverend was saying. Be smart and recognize when someone is lying to you.
Locally, I think the Walker County Democratic party hosted a booth at the Chickamauga Down Home Days festival. If they did, they spelled the name of their party wrong. Who are the "Democrates?" Steve Ellis, Chairman of the Walker County GOP has challenged the Walker Dems to put up their platform for 6 months. They can't tell you what they stand for as a party and don't want you to think about who the national leadership of their party is.
Doug Grammer lives in Rock Springs, Georgia, owns Southeastern Mortgages and is a State Committee member of the Georgia GOP
Ninth District Quick Fact:
In the recent qualifying period, North Georgia Democratic Parties did not have a single candidate qualify for local office in several counties in the 9th District of Georgia. In the 15 county region, not a single local Democratic Party was able to find candidates to fill every position that will be on that county’s ballots in November.
Where Has Civility Gone?
by Kevin Harris
9th District Chairman - May 30, 2008
Indeed, public service should be viewed as a privilege to make a positive difference in your small part of the world. By working together, your tax dollars can be maximized to improve our educational system, build roads, provide greater economic opportunities for our citizens, and provide an infrastructure for our children and future generations in our own communities that we can only dream and plan for in 2008. With the optimal elected officials, these things can be achieved without continuing tax increases that so many people have come to expect.
Imagine the culture of change that could be created in some communities if elected officials spent our tax revenues as if they were their coming from their pockets instead of yours and mine. Imagine genuine policy differences and discussions that did not end with personal vendettas, mudslinging, and political retribution. Imagine the potential that our great Republic could achieve through individual responsibility and working together in individual communities and regions.
It is easy to blame the candidates or incumbents and their campaigns, but each of us has a role to play if the current situation is going to change. What if candidates actually began running on the issues and providing a vision and specific action steps? What if we, as a community or region, began asking the critical questions and genuinely become engaged with the electoral process before someone is elected to office.
Sadly, the reason many people resort to negative campaigns is that they know that the voters will let them get away with it. Even worse, they probably know the some people even prefer negative campaigning. Instead of rewarding a candidate with our vote following negative campaigns, what would happen if voters held candidates accountable?
We should concentrate on unifying our communities instead of dividing them. Instead of factions, we should concentrate on collaboration. And, instead of searching for reasons to disagree, maybe it is time to search for common ground and begin identifying and solving our issues and challenges as neighbors.
As a former college professor, I wonder what the Founders of our great nation would think if they could observe the negative tone the politics have taken in recent years. I think of the Framers of our Constitution, and the months of labor they placed into crafting a document that is now the oldest written national constitution in the world. There have always been scandals, disagreements, and even passion regarding issues and ideas. For the good of our country, however, the tone of modern politics must be changed.
Articulating philosophical differences, issues, and long-term direction for our area and country is one thing, but the constant negative and digressive direction that has plagued recent elections and policy debates must stop. It is time for a culture of change.
Kevin Harris, Mineral Bluff, is the Chairman of the Ninth District Republican Party. He holds a Bachelor of Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and is a private consultant, teacher, and a life-long resident of the North Georgia mountains.
Quick Fact: Congratulations to Steve Farrow, the new DOT board member representing the 9th District. Mr. Farrow is an attorney from Dalton, Georgia and was elected to fill the remaining term following the resignation of Mike Evans.
Republican Article of the Week
by Rep. James Mills of Gainesville, GA
May 23, 2008
It often seems the liberal press almost always gets "the last word". Serving in public office, on many occasions I have watched media coverage of an event which I attended. When I viewed the liberal coverage of the meeting, however, I was astounded. When the reporter finished their story it did not even resemble the meeting I attended and their spin was totally different from the reality of actual meeting. Remember next time you are watching a "live report" on television that you are only seeing a T. V. camera man's version of what is taking place and you do not get to the entire live situation at hand. A "good media spin" on an event can totally blur the public's perception of what really happened. I have been amazed to watch the liberal agenda comment on the most recent legislative session, as they seem to focus on the trivial and neglect the real issues of substance. I would like to take this moment to share some positive accomplishments which liberals do not wish to mention.
For example, are you aware that in the last 5 years Georgia's graduation rate has increased by 10 % and it now exceeds 72%? Yes, that is worth repeating and it means that 35,000 students graduated that would have been dropouts if the Republican House and Senate and Governor had been content to maintain the status quo do nothing. Under Republicans who worked together to agree on funding graduation coaches in Georgia's middle and high schools and in the 2006-07 school year, we decreased the number of dropouts by over 2,200 students. Working together, the Republican-led legislature created 75 online virtual classes to give all students access to Advance Placement and other rigorous classes which previously were not available and yet these noteworthy accomplishments fail to be reported. We made an online SAT prep course available for every high school student and increased academic achievement standards on statewide tests. Together, we agreed to fund teacher salaries at the highest level in the Southeast to retain and attract the best educators for Georgia students. And idea that was never allowed to pass out of a Democrat controlled legislature now allows local school systems if they desire to rehire a retired teacher under certain conditions and our children benefit from their years of experience in the classroom.
Georgia Republicans led the nation by passing some of the toughest illegal alien laws in America. Hall County, which I am blessed to serve, just became part of the 287G program with the leadership of our local Sheriff and it is working! There is a legal way to enter America and if you break in our country's back door and ignore our federal points of entry, while showing no respect for our laws, then there will be consequences.
James Mills (Gainesville) serves as the State Representative for House District 25 and is Chairman of the House Banks and Banking Committee. Chairman Mills is happily married to Rita for 22 years and is the father of four children: Micah, Moriah, Malachi, and Mary Quinn.
Taxpayers hang on to your wallets
by Kevin Harris
9th District Chairman - May 19, 2008
Bob Barton is right—the Democrats are stirring in North Georgia. And because they are stirring, we Republicans are warning taxpayers they better lookout for their wallet.
They better lookout because Democrats, especially the national Democrats, are locked into the past: Tax and spend, find new “victims” to reward with taxpayers money: regulate, regulate, regulate; push polices that are based on wishful thinking instead of careful analysis—corn-based ethanol being the most recent disaster brought on by such an approach, an environmental disaster, a disaster in food prices around the world, especially in poor nations, and a disaster for energy itself.
When it comes to high gasoline prices, they point their fingers at everyone else, ignoring how their policies have aggravated the problem. (President Carter’s price controls actually propped up gasoline prices and helped OPEC; when President Reagan eliminated those controls, production, exploration, and drilling increased and gas priced dropped—and remained lower in real dollars until four or five years ago.) The solution for oil prices is not in still more regulation; the solution is in policies that will encourage great production of domestic oil and allow the building of more refineries, even as we continue the search for further efficiencies in energy, and new, reliable, affordable sources.
As to taxes, the Democrats have already eliminated important tax cuts for the middle class in hopes of generating more money they can spend with their favored constituencies—they’re bringing back the marriage tax, and have cut the child income tax credit in half.
As to spending, how much new spending have the Democrats promised, even as they vow to cut the deficit? (The senator from Illinois said he would generate money to pay for his health care programs by raising taxes on capital gains—until some of his friends pointed out that experience shows that raising such taxes actually reduces revenue—there was both a glimpse into the senator’s experience and sent one of his easy “answers” down the drain.)
We Republicans believe taxpayers and others should be allowed to keep more of their own hard-earned money; we believe in rewarding people who save and invest and create. We rely on experience, what happens in the real world, not on wishful thinking and utopian schemes.
Kevin Harris is the Chairman of the 9th District Republican Committee. He was elected last weekend at the recent Georgia Republican Convention to go to the National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota later this summer.
9th District Quick Fact: One of the key Democratic promises entering the 2006 election promises by now Speaker Nancy Pelosi was that “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” Under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership, the Democratic majority in Congress has yet to introduce any legislation that provides immediate relief for American workers from the 2006 election promises. With only six months until the 2008 elections, Republicans in Congress are again asking Speaker Pelosi to at least produce her plan so their “commonsense plan” can at least be revealed and debated.
Republican Article of the Week
by Rep. Jay Neal of LaFayette, GA
May 9, 2008
In September I will have the privilege of representing the 9th Congressional District as a Delegate at the Republican National Convention. As I look forward to this Convention and the election in November, I cannot help but think that this may be one of the most pivotal elections in American History.
This election pits opposing approaches to governing. It is apparent the Democratic nominee will be Sen. Barak Obama, and we face the possibility of electing our most liberal President.
Sen. Obama recently said voters are looking for someone who will “solve their problems”. A President who believes it is his responsibility to grow our Government to the level that it assumes the responsibility of solving individuals’ problems is unacceptable.
Our next President may also nominate three Supreme Court Justices. That fact in itself may be the greatest impact our next President will have. Sen. Obama will appoint activist judges who view the Constitution as a living organism to be adjusted according to Societal demands.
“When we get in a tussle, we appeal to the Founding Fathers and the Constitution's ratifiers to give direction. Some, like Justice Scalia, conclude that the original understanding must be followed and if we obey this rule, democracy is respected.
Others, like Justice Breyers, insist that sometimes the original understanding can take you only so far--that on the truly big arguments, we have to take context, history, and the practical outcomes of a decision into account.
I have to side with Justice Breyer's view of the Constitution--that it is not a static but rather a living document and must be read in the context of an ever-changing world. ” The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama.Obama may be the fulfillment of modern liberalism. Explaining why many working class voters are "bitter," he said they "cling" to guns, religion and "antipathy to people who aren't like them" because of "frustrations."
The voting strength of conservative evangelicals has impacted the outcome of the last two Presidential Elections, and I believe may very well be the key in 2008 as well. I have heard uneasiness from some of my conservative, evangelical friends. There are those who allow their disagreements with Sen. McCain to overshadow their areas of commonality. When people are not excited about the candidates, they tend to be less motivated to go to the polls and cast their vote.
As a conservative, evangelical voter I will proudly stand with John McCain and vote for his nomination at our National Convention. I will then go to the polls on November 4 and cast my vote for President. For the sake of our country, please join me and cast your vote for Sen. John McCain on Nov. 4. We cannot afford to allow voter apathy among conservatives to usher in Sen. Barak Obama’s brand of change.
Rep. Jay Neal pastors a church in LaFayette, GA and represents parts of Walker and Catoosa Counties in the Georgia General Assembly. He is currently serving his second term.
Quick Fact: In the November 2008 election cycle, there will be a record number of Republicans on the ballots in the 15 counties that comprise the 9th Congressional District of Georgia.
Principled Leadership
May 4, 2008
by Kevin Harris
9th District Chairman
One of the pleasures that I have experienced as Chairman of the 9th District Republican Party has been the ability to meet so many people who are working to make a difference in their individual communities across North Georgia. Each person entering public service is a unique individual with qualities and personalities that make it easy to understand why the voters chose to elect them to public office for their respective positions.
Occasionally, however, you meet a particular candidate that you just know that is a special person. For some reason, this is the impression I received from Doug Collins. When I originally met Doug only two years ago, he was a candidate running for state representative in Hall and White Counties. Representative Collins became state representative without an opponent in the Republican primary or General election.
The first time I met Representative Collins there was something genuine, and refreshing, about him. It might have been as simple as our relatively same age. It could be because Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan are among our favorites Pr
