Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > August > 01
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Cathy Cox toppled by those who hate E-ballots? Not a lot of proof there.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The anti-electronic voting machine crowd was gathered at the state Capitol today to talk about their lawsuit to block use of the current system of binary vote-counting in Georgia.
That wasn’t unusual.
But then Garland Favorito, a leader of VoterGA, issued a warning to politicians who might be tempted to stifle a yawn. Former secretary of state Cathy Cox, “beyond a shadow of a doubt,” was denied the Democratic nomination for governor last year because of her dismissal of their concerns, he said.
When pressed by reporters to back up his claim, Favorito and Mark Sawyer, head of Defenders of Democracy, backed off some. Sawyer said he only had “anecdotal” evidence of their impact.
According to my colleague Carlos Campos, Sawyer pointed to a cool reception Cox got at a speaking engagement at a library in Decatur.
Favorito said he estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of Democrats in the primary either voted for Taylor or simply refused to vote for Cox based on their opposition to electronic voting.
Former Cox campaign manager Chris Riggall declined comment on the groups’ claims. But someone needs to respond for him. The Cox campaign had many problems, including a candidate who never developed a compelling message. Cox’s fumbling of the gay marriage issue didn’t help.
But to say that paper ballot enthusiasts did to Cox what Confederate enthusiasts did to Roy Barnes is a bit of a stretch. I knew flaggers. Flaggers were friends of mine. Mr. Favorito is no flagger.
Alan Dershowitz takes up the flag for Charles Walker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First he defended Claus von Bulow of Rhode Island. Then he was ready to go to bat for O.J. Simpson of California.
Now, he takes up the cause of former Senate majority leader Charles Walker of Augusta, Ga.
A Walker family spokesman says Alan Dershowitz, who likes to be known as “the best-known criminal lawyer in the world,” has agreed to join Walker’s legal defense team for a trip to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Walker was convicted two years ago of tax evasion, mail fraud and conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Last month, a three-judge panel of the 11th rejected Walker’s claim that the trial judge improperly reinstated four white men as potential jurors after Walker’s defense team had used their strikes to eliminate them from the jury pool.
Walker wants the full 11th Circuit to take up the case.
Giuliani campaign taps Ronnie Chance as its Georgia co-chair
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Rudy Giuliani campaign today announced that state Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) will serve as co-chairman of its Georgia campaign. He’ll share duties with House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
That’s been out unofficially since last week, of course. This is the official ribbon-cutting.
Chance is the only Georgia state senator signed up with Giuliani. Most of his Republicans are waiting for Fred Thompson. And waiting, and waiting.
The Giuliani campaign has one full-time staffer in Georgia, but won’t be expanding that much until Thompson tips his hand.
Chance, a public affairs man, worked for U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, and was a top field hand for the Georgia campaign of Bob Dole in 1996.
Vernon Jones on the Fair Tax
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republican presidential possibility Fred Thompson may be waffling on the Fair Tax.
But Democratic senatorial candidate Vernon Jones isn’t hedging. Or mostly isn’t. Tim Bryant, radio host for WGAU (1340AM) in Athens, sends this clip from his morning political show:
“I support the idea of a Fair Tax. I certainly believe though, that people in America should know about it,” Jones said. “A lot of times, the devil’s in the details.”
Obama and at least one Clinton headed this way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The SCLC is putting out the word today that they’ve snagged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for a Saturday dinner in downtown Atlanta, part of a weeklong celebration of the organization’s 50th birthday.
Former President Bill Clinton speaks to the group on Monday afternoon. The two other leading Democrats, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, have expressed interest, but have not committed.
They’ve got until Aug. 8 to show up.
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Dietary secrets of ex-presidents plumbed! Ice cream? Peach ketchup?!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I confess. Al Gore’s right. Journalism has become more about gossip than news.
I can no longer resist the lure of whatsherface — the child star turned booze hound. An anorexic bottled blonde with a hotel chain connection means more to me than all of Darfur.
But because I’m paid to stay on topic, I’ll let you in on this deep political secret: Former President Jimmy Carter went to McDonald’s twice in five days. Isn’t that just like him?
And Bush No. 41 has kinky tastes in condiments.Which explains Bush No. 43’s need for an authoritative father figure.
Here’s the straight poop from the Roanoke, Va., Times:
Jimmy Carter was seen at the McDonald’s in Hillsville Thursday and again at the Golden Arches in Salem Monday afternoon, just off Interstate 81.
Carter had a grilled chicken sandwich, side salad and plain ice cream at the McDonald’s in Salem, workers said. The manager didn’t remember anything else about the meal, because she left the receipt at home. Carter did wait in line.
A spokeswoman for Carter would not comment on why the 39th president stopped twice in the area.
Carter is the second of three living former presidents to take in the tastes of Southwest Virginia’s dining.
Former President George H. W. Bush visited Three Lil’ Pigs in Daleville last year. The restaurant has a metal plate on the chair where Bush sat.
Bush and his crowd downed nine meals, paid a $71.63 tab with a $100 bill and took no change.
Bush took a special interest to the restaurant’s peach ketchup.
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Looks like rough sledding ahead for Richardson’s tax plan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was in Savannah on Tuesday, and dropped in on the local newspaper to express his doubts about House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s plan to convert Georgia from a state fueled largely by property taxes to one fed by a state-administered sales tax.
(Newspaper columnist Bill Shipp was much more blunt in a piece today.)
In Savannah, Cagle told the Morning News that he doesn’t think your average lawn guy or cleaning woman is prepared to act as a tax collector for the state. “A lot of people who are in services … are not set up to collect and remit taxes,” he said.
Taxes on manufacturers’ purchase could drive up retail prices. Senior citizens, exempt from some property taxes in many counties, could see their taxes go up.
Cagle was asked if he were implying that Richardson’s proposal wouldn’t work. “I’m not drawing that conclusion,” the lieutenant governor said. “I’m just saying these are the questions that need to be answered. You draw whatever conclusions you want from the questions.”
And the conclusion we draw is that passing the Speaker’s new approach to taxes won’t be a high priority with Cagle come next January.
