First off, let me just admit that the SpeakerSaga – the fallout from Glenn Richardson being accused of threatening to beat his wife and abuse his political power – is simply too much for me to track while still working a full time job. To that end, for SpeakerSaga updates, I recommend the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Gold Dome Live and Political Insider, as well as Jason Pye and yes, Peach Pundit. I’ve already said my piece on it, which is essentially that the members of the House need to be extremely careful not to play their hands too early and cost them down the road.
That said, there has been one issue that has arisen out of it that I want to spend more time looking at: ethics, and specifically how the issue affects the various 2010 statewide races.
This post will be a more shotgun style introduction, with future pieces to examine each candidate’s positions in more detail. If any candidate I don’t point out here has a proposal out, PLEASE let me know about it! (Facebook, Twitter, Email)
In the GAGOV race, so far I have seen proposals from Karen Handel, Austin Scott, and Roy Barnes. Barnes’ plan is basically to ban lobbyists. Scott’s is to create a statewide grand jury which would specifically be empowered to look into charges of corruption anywhere in the State. Handel’s plan essentially cracks down on the General Assembly – and no one else.
In the Attorney General’s race, Rob Teilhet issued a press release saying he would introduce a bill (that hasn’t been introduced as of this morning, just fyi) that would allow the State Ethics Commission more power to investigate conflict of interest complaints – very similar to part of Handel’s proposal. Sam Olens issued one saying that his ethics proposal basically encompasses more sunshine, non-qualification for elections over ethics violations, and having the State Ethics Board report to the General Assembly’s Joint Ethics Committee.
The Speaker/ethics situation is big news on the political blogs but does the general public even know or care who the Speaker or anyone else at the Dome is cheating with or on? I’ve been on all the blog sites you reference above and on each you find a hand full of folks talking to each other pretending they know something. And frankly what some candidate polling in the teens thinks or says about the whole mess is about as news worthy as yesterday’s weather. Government ethics is an oxymoron, and the lack of comments to your last several posts proves (to me) that your readers aren’t interested in which crook replaces the last one to get caught. Can we please move on?
Wilson,
I can tell you from looking at our page views and search queries that while people may not be commenting on the articles in question, they ARE interested in them.
Also, the ethics issue is one I personally deem to be major and significant. We will see over the course of time what the People think, as best I can determine based on page views and search queries – and keeping my ear to the ground.
It’s your site but I don’t see page views as an indicator. I frequently check a number of sites but just move on if the subject sucks. PP for example garners a lot of posts but if you remove 5 to 10 folks the volume goes to nothing. I’m sure they get a bunch of views but many are just passing through. And the “People” will think whatever the candidate with the best media machine wants them to think.
The Speaker, Majority Leader, and Whip are very important leadership positions. They are who determines chairmanship and committee positions and more importantly what comes before the General Assembly. In my opinion, to say this is only about cheating on ones spouse is not an accurate statement. It’s a lot more than that and we should treat it as more than that. To be honest, cheating on ones spouse is a serious security matter and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I use to have a DOD Top Secret Security Clearance (over 25 years ago). Every quarter I had to attend a security clearance refresher course. What DOD stressed to us was……. If you had personal issues such as cheating on our spouse, or financial problems, etc…. it opened us up to blackmail and our personal issues become DOD’s security issues. Are a politician’s personal issues that much different? If their personal issues open them up to blackmail (ruin your career if you don’t do this and this), then they become our problem.
Yes, the General Assembly should take a long hard look at ethics reform…… Not BS the problem like the Republicans did the last time they took on ethics reform……. We need true ethics reform.
If the general public doesn’t care enough to pay attention, so what! We all should try to do the right thing all the time, not just when someone is watching and that includes the General Assembly.
debra,
I agree this is serious business but I don’t think most folks give a damn.
Self-interest and apathy are formidable foes.
Actually, the general public do give a damn about current political scandals and ethics in government. There just not obssessed with it. Many actually live ther lives without ever following a blog, much less responding with a comment. and thats just fine. But come election time they usually come around and pay enough attention to try and elect a candidate they like. If the voting public is as useless as some believe, we would probably have lost all our rights and freedom a long time ago to unscruputulus politicians. The business I work in sees over 300 clients a day. And I can tell you, Glenn Richardson has been the talk of Atlanta in many circles. Were all waiting to see who goes down with him. Also, I personally have many clients who are transplants to Atlanta from South Georgia and I tell them about your blog all the time. So yes, while most aren’t passionate or vocal about politics, I have to believe most people do care and are searching for good candidates to represent us. And blogs such as yours are instrumental in getting vital unbiased information to them when they will need it the most,… come election time.
Ron,
I hope you’re right but do you really think even a simple majority of people in Albany know who Glenn Richardson is? And I agree with your statement: “But come election time they usually come around and pay enough attention to try and elect a candidate they like”. but likeability is a poor measure of a politician.
Wilson,
I dont really ask a lot from my politicians. My criteria for “liking” a candidate comes down to one thing – Will he represent me and my family in an honorable manner in which he protects our safety and freedom. Mabe “respect” would have been a better choice of words than “Like”. And while many in Albany may not know who Glenn Richardson is, hopefully come election time they will know who our statewide candidates are. I’ve never been to Albany, but I would assume not everyone there is braindead.