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By Tom, on March 17th, 2011%
By now, you have probably already read Jeff’s post on the fate of SWGAPolitics.com. I wanted to take a few minutes and express my views on the subject.
First, SWGAPolitics was really something special. It introduced me to some wonderful opportunities. For example, it was through this blog that I became a columnist for The Albany Journal. I’ve met quite a few folks in the local media and government and gotten to know some of them very well. I’ve gotten to know Jeff who is truly a close friend. It was something special to be sure. Continue reading Tom on the Fate of SWGAPolitics.com
By Bill Waller, on December 28th, 2009%
As an author, I’ve been afforded a unique opportunity to reflect on my body of work with Southwest Georgia Politics. Jeff released my top ten articles that received the most views. I am somewhat surprised that a few which received loads of comments, did not make the list. However, the ones that generated the most interest seem to have a common theme. In case you missed the list, here were the top posts for 2009 by yours truly:
Continue reading Reflections on Bill Waller’s Top Posts For 2009
By Tom, on December 23rd, 2009%
I guess it was all just to much. Seven hours into jury deliberations, Buie changes his plea to guilty in what has been described as a “teary-eyed” confession to Judge Denise Marshal. As a result he gets a year in jail, has to pay $5000 in restitution, can’t work for a government entity again, and is banished from Dougherty County.
It’s not close to enough, but it beats what looked like was going to happen. Continue reading Buie verdict aftermath
By Jeff, on December 5th, 2009%
Tom and I will both be out and about in public today, though not officially on SWGAPolitics.com work.
We will be at the Leesburg Christmas Parade in about an hour with our families, where Tom and his son are marching in the parade with the area Cub Scouts.
LP-SWGA has a general meeting today, and Tom and I are the Vice Chair and Chair, respectively.
My wife and I will also be at the outdoor movie in Leesburg tonight which caps off the Lee County Spirit of Christmas festival. It starts at 6p tonight, and it promises to be an enjoyable experience for the whole family!
We hope to see you out there!
By Tom, on October 26th, 2009%
As you come to SWGAPolitics.com and attempt to comment, you may notice a slight change. Starting this morning, you will need to register to comment. It’s a simple one time thing, and I know it will probably seem like a pain. I really do.
However, some recent comments that Jeff and I have come to believe are from someone who is just trying to stir up some trouble has necessitated the need for this step. We didn’t want to do this, but it just seems necessary at this point. While we want discussion, and we rarely shrink away from much of anything, especially controversy, it doesn’t change the fact that we would much prefer real discussion versus someone just stirring the pot.
We will require that a real name be put on the registration, but it will not necessarily be required as a screen name. We know a couple of folks who need to use an alias due to their jobs, and so long as we know it’s them, they will be allowed. The same rules as before apply. If you have a vested interest in something, you need to self-disclose that interest, no personal attacks, you all know the drill.
We hope you will help us make this transition as seamless as possible.
Thanks,
Tom
By Tom, on September 18th, 2009%
It was suggested we do an open thread, and I figured “what the hell”. There’s tons of interesting stuff going on, and frankly Jeff, Bill and I only have so much time in the day anyways, so feel free to talk among yourselves. We’ll be monitoring (and possibly joining in), but as there is no topic, it’s impossible to go off topic!
So enjoy!
By Jeff, on September 11th, 2009%
Looking at the list of people who have filed so far to run for Governor of this State in 2010, there are quite a few more than you may be aware of.
First, let’s dispense of the “usual suspects”. Obviously, there are at present 7 Republicans running (in no particular order): Nathan Deal, Eric Johnson, Karen Handel, Austin Scott, John Oxendine, Ray McBerry, and Jeff Chapman. On the Democratic side, things are not quite as hectic, with 4 usual suspects: Roy Barnes, David Poythress, DuBose Porter, and Thurbert Baker. The Libertarians have a single candidate currently running, John Monds.
Honestly, expect one of those people to be your next Governor. Exactly which one is up for debate, and will be probably for the next 14 months or so. (Though in roughly 10 months, that list of 12 gets pared down to 3.)
However, there are some other candidates who have officially filed that you may not be aware of, and I wanted to at least mention their existence:
Daniel Alvin, who filed as a Democrat and lives in Savannah
Al Bartell, apparently running as an Independent, lives in Atlanta and his voicemail says he is a “Master Consultant”.
Carl Camon, the current Mayor of Ray City, running as a Democrat
Robert Ingram, running as a Democrat, lives in Hephzibah
Matthew Jamison, of Atlanta, no party listed. Even more interesting is that the phone numbers on his filing are either wrong numbers or have been disconnected. Is filing for Governor really that cheap, or did this guy just have some money he had no idea what to do with?
Berry LaSalle Perkins, also of Atlanta, also no party listed.
Here’s the thing: With Georgia’s ballot access laws as draconian as they are, you will never see these guys running with no party on a ballot. Not unless they can somehow convince 5% of the registered voters statewide to sign a petition to get them on it – and that would require a MASSIVE ground game, one that you would think would at least have a website or SOME kind of news article about it.
Even guys who are purportedly running for the Democratic Party nomination, such as Alvin and Ingram, need to set up some kind of website and get some kind of game going if they expect to be taken seriously. Heck, even Carl Camon has a website, and most barely expect him to get the full Ray City vote in the Primary!
But hey, all of these people have decided to run, and I wanted to at least mention them one time, just in case you were under the impression that you didn’t have any options at the polls! 
By Jeff, on August 29th, 2009%
As I begin to type this, Austin Scott is on the steps of the State Capitol in Atlanta, completing a journey he began on June 27 in Chickamauga that wrapped around the entire state, going into many communities that had probably never personally seen a Governor candidate.
I personally walked 10 miles with Scott back in July out of Bainbridge and into Climax, and it was a good chance to get to talk to the man as both a man and a politician. Many of his actual ideas and policies I completely disagree with – but that is to be expected with a GOP candidate. But I trust the man. And in someone I know I’m going to disagree with, that is the number one thing I look for – that I can trust them and that they’ll listen to me. Scott does both.
[Continue Reading]
By Bill Waller, on August 25th, 2009%
A protest against the proposed healthcare reform is being planned for Sanford Bishop’s Albany office on Friday, August 28, 2009. The event will be from 12 noon until 1pm. Protestors have meet Bishop at most of his announced stops during his August break. Bishop described the break as being more accurately called “district workdays” instead of a break during the town hall on healthcare held at ASU.
This may be your last best chance to get your voice heard about the healthcare debate before the Congressman returns to Washington.
Following the protest, the assembled group will gather at the Sunset Grill located in the Albany Mall. The plan is to discuss the next step in the ongoing debate. The two Republican candidates for Congress, Lee Ferrell and Mike Keown, plan to be in attendance too. If you have not met either of them, this could be your chance. The meeting at the Sunset Grill following the protest is being sponsored by FreedomWorks. The event is BYOL (buy your own lunch.) If you are interested in attending, you need to send your indication to freedom.works@mchsi.com so that they can be assured everyone will have a seat.
Continue reading Protest and Counter-Protest
By Bill Waller, on August 13th, 2009%
The month of August will offer many opportunities for protesting the legislators that favor representing special interests rather than constituents. It has already been mentioned on SWGA Politics that there are many dates to protest Congressman Sanford Bishop.
Friday, August 14, 2009, a group of citizens plan to gather in front of Bishop’s office from 12noon until 1pm. This is just a reminder of that.
I spoke with a friend today during the school’s open house. He expressed his disappointment with the Saxby Chambliss meeting and then mentioned that Bishop has a town hall meeting scheduled at ASU. He wasn’t sure that he could attend that one. If you cannot attend all of Bishop’s functions, at least plan to attend a few. He is here to listen to the people. It is time to stand up.
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