Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > October > 03 > Entry

Johnny will come marchin’ home?

The Southern Political Report is reporting here that Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Marietta Republican, will run for governor rather than another U.S. Senate term in 2010.

Isakson enflamed speculation about his plans on Monday, when he announced that his chief of staff, Heath Garrett, was leaving to begin work on Isakson’s campaign — omitting the tiny bit about what office Isakson will seek.

The political web site pushes the story along a tad.

It quotes “a source extremely close to Isakson” as saying, “Basically, the entire leadership of state government and business has been bombarding Johnny to come home to Georgia and take the reins of state government. Johnny will continue to say that the gubernatorial race is not on his immediate radar screen, but Garrett would not be moving to Georgia three years out were it not for the fact that we’ve basically drafted Johnny and he can hardly say no.”

Small correction to the above quote — as chief of staff, Garrett has always worked out of the Isakson office off I-75 in Vinings. But the larger point remains.

Three years out, let the tea-leaf readings begin.

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Comments

By Abomi Nation

October 3, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

Georgia can’t go that long without a Governor.

We need someone to fill the vacancy now!

By Will Jones

October 3, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Georgia, please tie the Bush/Cheney “can” on Isakson and make him go back to his daddy’s real estate business… he’s proven he can’t handle honest work. The greatest State in the Union deserves honor and righteousness. Li’l Johnny doesn’t qualify.

By Hellinahandbasket

October 3, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I guarantee Isakson will when if he just does two things:

1 - not just address the abuse, neglect and lack of medical care our injured soldiers on Georgia bases but actually do something about it. I propose hidden or public microphones and cameras either on volunteer soldiers entering the PTRP program or asking for medical attention. It will do the one thing the situation needs the most ‘ACCOUNTABILITY’ of the superior officers. Also, a non-profit, volunteer based civilian committee made up of parents of soldiers and civilian healthcare providers assigned to each base that monitors and reviews the medical departments actions and makes surprise inspections and visits. 2 - also hold accountable the thousands of illegals here in Georgia. In addition to committing the illegal act of coming here without registering, not paying taxes while enjoying our educational,healthcare and financial aid services, they are endangering our very lives as they do not have the same shots that we are required to have so there has been a distinctive rise in TB and hepatitis because they are in our schools, restaurants and society. We often wonder why our schools SAT and other scores are so low and our children not getting an education but not many consider that when our educational system especially certain counties, is inudated with illegal children that cannot speak english that our teachers are required to give them specialized attention and education thus leaving our legal children who we pay taxes for to color or made to do busy work while the illegal children get one on one tutoring. The bottom line is that illegals are not doing the jobs that legal citizens won’t, they are doing them for a lot less and in the end it is the greedy companies that are making the money because they pay less without benefits and in reality they should pay a decent wage and provide or offer benefits which would insure legal workers a chance to take care of their families. Law enforcement knows where illegals work, live and play but they ignore it. If you want some hint of this just look to the AJC, right of this column…’mundohispanico’ ‘The voice of the Hispanic community since 1979’

If Isakson addressed and made positive changes with these two issues I doubt he’d have any problems becoming the next president if he wanted.

By Doucheatron5000

October 3, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

I have been very proud of Johnny, except for his initial support of the “immigration” bill.

Come home, but listen to your constituents.

By Close Source

October 3, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

A source so close to Isakson that he doesn’t even know that Heath Garrett already lived in Georgia??? That disqualifies the whole article!

By Ga. Conservative

October 3, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

How well is this going to play out in South Georgia when they find out that Isakson is the choice of Big Business Atlanta executives & the Chamber of Commerce which rural Georgians do not view favorably.

By Gary

October 3, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Ga Conservative. Isakson will play real well in South Georgia. The man already has. Look at his Senate Election. He won his primary against two very good opponents in 2004 and then won 58% of the general election vote for the Senate. His appeal statewide is very very good.

By South Ga Voter

October 3, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

We will NOT vote for him as Governor.

Isakson will steal all of Atlanta’s tax money that is earmarked for South Georgia. Although Atlanta generates that money it belongs to us. We could care less about your traffic problems.

He does however make a good Senator.

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