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DEL.ICIO.USA special session of the Legislature just got less interesting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It looks like Republicans in the Senate have reached an agreement among themselves to avoid open warfare.
Less than a week after announcing that he would run for Senate president pro tem, the No. 2 position in the chamber, state Sen. Mitch Seabaugh has sent an e-mail to his colleagues.
”In discussing the roles in which we can best serve our caucus and ultimately the people of Georgia, my passion and my experience is best suited by again serving as our caucus whip, provided of course that the caucus would allow me the opportunity to again serve,” he says in an e-mail, according to Peach Pundit.
Seabaugh’s ambition was built on the notion that the current Senate president pro tem, Eric Johnson of Savannah, would run for lieutenant governor. This, it seems, still holds.
By bowing out of the pro tem race, Seabaugh leaves the field to Tommie Williams of Lyons, now the Senate majority leader. Speculation is that Chip Rogers would move into the majority leader spot.
This leaves state Capitol hounds with only the race for House speaker to keep the blood flowing.
Comments
By Bill Kecskes
August 1, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Sen. Mitch Seabaugh will make an excellent Lt. Gov. in 2010!!! You have my full support Mitch!
By tim
August 1, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Mitch is a good man.
eric johnson clearly just got humiliated. couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. anyone who has had to deal with eric knows what a pompous jerk he is. looks like he got what was coming to him.
that’s a pretty solid new leadership team.
By Cobb GOP
August 1, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Let me get this right….Chip Rogers/Mitch Seabaugh were going to run for the LG,then the President President Pro Tem and now are going to accept the position that Johnson wants them to have and Johnson loses?? No my friends,this is an example of an experienced guy schooling guys that arent ready to make the move up!!!
By Hancock
August 1, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Tim - Yes, that is a solid leadership team. But, everything else you said could not be further from the truth. The rules of the Senate say that you cannot be a candidate for another office and serve as Pro-Tempore at the same time. So, Eric Johnson had to step down. He was not “humiliated” in any way. Also, Eric Johnson gave his blood sweat & tears to the effort of Republican control. He was kicked around in the minority by jerks like Mark Taylor and treated like pond scum. NOBODY had more of a reason to be arrogant or retaliate when the GOP took control than Eric Johnson. But he did not! He treated every senator with respect and restored dignity to the Senate that was long forgotten before he became Pro-Tempore. Eric is a class act! You have no idea what you’re talking about and my bet is that you have probably never even met him!
By tim
August 1, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
actually, hancock, i work down there every day. I have had to deal with that pompous windbag almost daily.
He is one of the most disliked jerks down there, and that’s saying something considering the company he keeps.
eric has been fighting tooth and nail for the last 6 months trying to position for LG and keep president pro temp. this rules nonsense you’re spouting is true, but eric was fighting it tooth and nail. he stepped down becuase he could not get anyone to support him staying in leadership.
he got kicked out. it’s his own fault.
and I don’t think anyone got schooled. only eric would try to spin it that he’s somehow smarter than everyone when he got his butt kicked out of leadership.
By Kerry Catlin
August 1, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Hancock, isn’t “rules of the Senate” an oxymoron? Maybe if you’d read the state constitution, you’d understand that grift and graft is hidden from the daft.
Then maybe you wouldn’t look like such a trouble maker when you comment, and then maybe we’d have non-partisan agreement in the assembly and Georgia would enter a new era of progress and civil harmony.
But no, you have to be a wise guy. It’s like when they tried to ruin Grant by telling Lincoln he drank. Lincoln said, “Find out what brand of whiskey he drinks and send a case of it to all my generals. He fights. “
Maybe you should read more about Lincoln, and Lee, and the battle of Gettysburg and how 100 thousand men can fight for three days and the outcome depends on just one man.
Maybe you should be more of an American instead of a show off know it all global citizen.
By aristoggle
August 1, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Interesting news out of Gainesville - http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=212006
Johnson will run to replace Cagle as Lt. Gov. if Cagle runs for Gov.
By jr
August 1, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Eric has served faithfully, but the Lt. Governor position should be the face and future of the GOP. Senator Johnson doesn’t have that potential. There are only a few that do. If for one, think that Senator Rogers does an outstanding job representing the current and future of GOP leadership. I hope he would consider a Lt. Governor run.
By Senator Comments
August 1, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
All of this smoke filled back-room stuff sounds good, but there are many senators who are not very pleased. They vote on these positions. They are not decided by a handful of people behind the scenes and the leaked to the press.
The votes have not been taken on these offices. Don’t assume anything at this point. Others may jump into these races.
By Hancock
August 1, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Tim – I too have spent lots of time at the Capitol and know a very different Eric Johnson than you describe. You are entitled to your opinion. But are surely in the minority! He could not have survived as Pro-Tempore for six years (without so much as a challenge) if the majority of folks agreed with you.
Kerry - Wow! I knew our mental health departments in Georgia were struggling. But, your post is proof that we really need to focus more resources there! Do they let you out on day release or did they discharge you completely?
By Anne
August 3, 2008 4:45 AM | Link to this
Is it just me, or is anyone else convinced that “Hancock” IS Eric Johnson?