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DEL.ICIO.USWhen you can drag Georgia’s political elite down to Perry in 101 degree heat, you’ve got clout
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Perry —If you were anybody in politics on Tuesday, and you weren’t at the beach, then you were at the state fairgrounds for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss was the big draw. He made no news, but spoke on No Child Left Behind, the ag bill before Congress, PeachCare, and Iraq.
He made a brief mention of his experience with the immigration reform bill, and continued to express surprise at the heated emotional reaction the issue generated. But he was over and done with the volatile topic in a heart beat.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson were also on the stage. Again, no news. But Cagle did have an interesting line when he described Isakson as his “first mentor in the state Senate” — given that both men are now turning over the possibility of running for governor in ’10.
Perhaps the biggest news from the luncheon was in the audience. About 1,400 attended, emphasizing the growing clout of this statewide organization of businesses — as opposed to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, which had more say-so in the state Capitol when it was controlled by Democrats.
Politically, the most important presence may have been judicial: Five members of the state Supreme Court showed up, along with six members of the state Court of Appeals.
The Supremes included Harris Hines and Robert Benham, both up for re-election next year, plus Carol Hunstein, Hugh Thompson, Harold Melton, and Hugh Thompson.
The only two missing justices were Leah Sears and George Carley — both were out of the country.
Hunstein probably bears much responsibility for the 100-mile drive the court made. She weathered a re-election challenge backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last year — by obtaining serious support from within the Georgia chamber, thereby splitting the business community.
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