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DEL.ICIO.USCagle: On Glenn Richardson’s ambitions and how sexism plays into the backwash of a DOT fight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Casey spoke to the Journal-Constitution editorial board on Thursday, and a couple of our colleagues from the newsroom — Ariel Hart and Aaron Sheinin — sat in.
Cagle had much to say. For one thing, he’s betting that House Speaker Glenn Richardson isn’t running for governor in 2010.
“Glenn’s not running. No. I think that’s pretty clear,” the lieutenant governor said. You might see our Monday post for some background on this topic.
The lieutenant governor, by the way, said no such thing about his own schedule in 2010.
Cagle also pulled the wraps off some of the political infighting that has gone on since the selection of the new Department of Transportation commissioner, Gena Abraham, who was supported by Gov. Sonny Perdue — and by Cagle.
Her appointment by members of the state DOT board, by a one-vote margin, marked a loss for Richardson, the House speaker, who had backed her opponent, Vance Smith (R - Pine Mountain), chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
In January, two DOT board members who supported Abraham come up for re-election by legislators in their districts.
“There is an enormous push that is under way” to oust them, Cagle said — possibly setting the stage to revsit the Abraham appointment. “There’s been a lot of just hard ball politics.”
“The reason that it’s significant is we don’t have time to delay on transportation,” Cagle added. “If we continue to go down the path that we are on arguing over who’s going to be commissioner when we have a qualified person — or there is an attempt to undermine what has already been done — then have we really moved the process forward or have we just been bickering and arguing over nonsense?”
Abraham’s status as the first female commissioner has much to do with the lingering attitude, Cagle said.
“This is a true professional who understands what she is doing. And because she is a woman, there are individuals in my view that want to say differently,” the lieutenant governor said.
After the meeting with Cagle, Hart — she’s the AJC transportation writer — had a conversation with one of the two vulnerable board members — DOT board chairman Mike Evans.
Evans said the speaker had personally warned him to vote his way: “He said if you don’t do what I’m telling you to do I will have your board seat in January,” the DOT commissioner said.
Asked about the above, a spokeswoman for Richardson told Hart: “Obviously, there was a difference of opinion between the lieutenant governor and the House of Representatives over who should be the next DOT commissioner. However, Commissioner Abraham is bright and capable and the Speaker looks forward to working with her in the years to come.”
Comments
By Common sense
December 6, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
how in the world did these two buffoons ever get elected in the first place?
Georgia’s Republican majority is an embarrassment to real Republicans.
By Phil o sopher
December 7, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this
I have no doubt left in my mind. Georgia has had enough Republicans. I include all of them from County Commissioner on up to President (with the possible exception of Ron Paul if he can gain enough support to make it past the primary). I am sick and tired of their childish, holier than thou, hypocritical……..NO MORE.
By that_guy
December 7, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
You kids are sorely mistaken if you think the Republicans have a monopoly on petty infighting and ‘holier than thou’-ism.
But give me a time in Georgia politics, or any other states’ for that matter, when two men in relatively co-equal, but obviously rival, positions of power didn’t try to pee further than the other.
Not saying we shouldn’t hold the bar higher just because it’s always been low, but come on, it’s not like these kinds of things are surprising.
By Peter Lindstrom
December 8, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
Young is still acting like an old black person. It’s like the blacks won’t vote for a black candidate if they speak well and if they are well educated. He has already been bought by the Hillary campaign and therefore he is hoping to once again be the UN Ambassador or to be some sort of Ambassador around the world so he can continue to live the good life on the expense of the taxpayers, like he has done his whole life thru MLK etc. It is disgraceful. He is fully aware that Obama stands a really good chance at beating Hillary and she knows it too. That is why Hillary is buying people like him. They are scared of not going back into power again. Frankly, I am tired of Clinton and Bush. I would love for a Obama or Huckaby or anyonelse that is a new fresh face with new and fresh ideas.
By Another taxpayer
December 8, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this
Republican’s behaviors surprising? NO. Acceptable to this voter? NO. A true fiscal conservative would work toward a common goal of less government at all levels. A true fiscal conservative would work toward lower taxes for a given level of service. A true fiscal conservative should have trouble with paying government employees salaries that are several times that of the national average household income. A true fiscal conservative would want to see equality for all - not better health care, vision care, dental care, retirement benefits, etc., for government employees than for private sector businesses and employees. The list goes on and on……
By brad
December 8, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
That type of attitude from the Speaker is par for the course.