How you know Washington isn't happy with you: They float the name of your successor

Roll Call had an interesting piece Monday. It said Republicans in Washington were unhappy with the $120,000 that Calder Clay had raised to challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Macon) for the 3rd District Congressional seat.

How unhappy? They supposedly are sounding out retired Air Force Gen. Richard Goddard to see if he would jump in the race. GOP strategist Tom Perdue had floated the name of Goddard, a good friend of Gov. Sonny Perdue, earlier this spring as a potential candidate for U.S. Senate.

It turns out you can be a Young Republican until just before you qualify for your AARP card

The National Young Republican organization has been a springboard for some of the most influential people in the party, including former Georgia GOP chairman Ralph Reed and presidential adviser Karl Rove. You can be a Young Republican when you turn 18. And you can stay one until you're 40. So it's like the political elixir of youth.

A Georgia delegation of Young Republicans recently returned from the national convention in Boston, where two of their number were named to leadership positions.

State chairman Jason Waters was elected secretary of the national State Chairman's Association, and Jason Shepherd, executive assistant to Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, was named regional vice chairman. We're not sure whether they're 18 or 40 or something in between.

-- Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this column.