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Friday, December 5, 2008
Caroline Kennedy to join Uncle Ted in the Senate?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABC News says those rumors about Caroline Kennedy taking Hillary Clinton’s N.Y. Senate seat aren’t as crazy as they sound — and that there is a strong chance, come January, she could be serving in the chamber with her Uncle Teddy of Massachusetts:
A Democrat who would know tells ABC News that New York governor David Paterson has talked to Caroline Kennedy about taking the seat, which was once held by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. It’s not exactly shocking that Paterson would reach out to one of the most highly respected public figures in New York, but this is:
Sources say Kennedy is considering it, and has not ruled out coming to Washington to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.
A few years ago, the famously private Caroline Kennedy would be the last Kennedy expected to serve in Congress, but of course, she took on a much more high-profile role during the presidential campaign and, if she does it, would be more than New York’s junior Senator; she’d have closer ties to the Obama White House than any of her colleagues, a direct line to the East Wing.
When Robert Kennedy, Jr. took himself out of the running for the seat earlier this week, he told Jonathan Hicks of the New York Times, “Caroline Kennedy would be the perfect choice if she would agree to it.” And one more thing: We hear that President-elect Obama has made it clear that he thinks Caroline Kennedy would be a great choice.
Remember that Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, was one of the lead vetters assigned the task of looking over vice presidential nominees for Obama.
MSNBC has seconded the possibility, citing New York state Democratic party officials:
Appointing Caroline Kennedy to the seat once held by her uncle Robert would be a very popular choice politically for Paterson, who is under pressure to replace Clinton with a woman.
The Kennedy name on the ballot could help Paterson’s 2010 reelection chances. Paterson became governor after Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign during a prostitution scandal.
The Associated Press has also confirmed Kennedy-Paterson conversations about the Senate seat, and adds this background to the mix:
She met her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, while working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They married in 1986 and have three children.
She made a splash in early 2008 by writing an op-ed column for The New York Times declaring her support for Obama, saying he had the potential to be as inspirational to Americans as her father was in the 1960s. She also spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
She then hit the campaign trail with Obama, and worked on the vice-presidential search that eventually settled on Joe Biden.
Photo info: Caroline Kennedy, left, on Monday speaks with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, right, before the start of a special convocation held to present Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., not shown, with an honorary degree at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. Credit: Associated Press.
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A snubbing at a senatorial victory party?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Concern over getting U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss across the finish line apparently kept some intra-Republican tensions from breaking out into the open.
But with the election a thing of the past, so is discretion. Most disturbing to many GOPers was the snubbing of state Republican Chairman Sue Everhart at Tuesday’s victory party in her home county of Cobb.
This is from an e-mail now circulating among the GOP grassroots:
The blight on this Victory was when Tom Perdue, Campaign Manager and another Saxby employee physically blocked our State Party Chairman from going on the stage to share in this great Victory for Georgia Republicans.
Everhart was livid, we hear. And Mike Duncan, who’s running for another term as chairman of the RNC, was left hanging in the wind. He was allowed on stage, and given a speaking role. But he was asked to remove any mention of Everhart from a list of people who required Chambliss’ thanks.
Everhart is one of 168 people who will decide in January who the next RNC chairman will be.
Read the entire e-mail on the jump.
Update at 3:30 p.m.: Just got off the phone with the above-mentioned Tom Perdue, chief campaign honcho for the Chambliss campaign.
Perdue swore there was no attempt to show disrespect to anyone, and explained the events that unfolded Tuesday night this way:
— Alec Poitevint, former state GOP chairman, was given the task of opening the evening speeches because he’d had that role in many of Chambliss’ events, and because he was head of the McCain/Palin campaign in Georgia — which paired with the Chambliss campaign through the general election.
— Michael Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Convention, was assigned the honor of introducing Chambliss because of the heavy financial role the RNC played in the four-week runoff.
— Moments before the event began, Chambliss campaign and GOP leaders held a small, impromptu meeting at which it was decided that only members of the Chambliss family would be on the stage while the re-elected senator spoke. Chambliss would then introduce Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, who had just won the Public Service Commission race.
— Says Perdue: “As we all walked out [of the meeting], a long line of people were following us, and then when I got to the platform, then I stopped. I didn’t physically block Sue Everhart. I basically blocked everybody from going up on the platform. But I held Bubba McDonald’s hand so he couldn’t get away — because Saxby was going to introduce him.”
— Poitevint and Duncan were to exit the stage on the opposite side and leave the Chambliss family to enjoy the moment alone, but a riser had been moved and they couldn’t get down.
— Perdue said he did try to discourage the public thanking of individuals by Chambliss. “Once you start, where do you stop? [Chambliss] ended up mentioning a name or two, and then he stopped,” Perdue said.
— The campaign strategist said he was ready to apologize to anyone who was offended, and said he’d talk to Everhart “probably before the sun sets.” “But it was only an honest oversight,” he said.
From: Bettye Chambers
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 12:50 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient
Subject: Sue Everhart, GA GOP Chairman, snubbed at Chambliss Victory Rally
Dear Georgia Republicans
Monday night, December 2, was a great night for Georgians, Saxby Chambliss won re-election to the US Senate blocking the Filibuster proof Senate. Lauren Bubba McDonald was elected to the Public Service Commission. These wins were due to the hard work of the Republican Grassroots’ network, the RNC, The NRSC and last but not least the Georgia Republican Party headed by Sue Everhart, Chairman. Hundreds of ground troops from 42 other states came in to make this happen.
The blight on this Victory was when Tom Perdue, Campaign Manager and another Saxby employee physically blocked our State Party Chairman from going on the stage to share in this great Victory for Georgia Republicans.
Sue represents all of us who under her leadership worked so hard to make this night happen.
It was Sue, not Tom Perdue, who called RNC Chairman Mike Duncan to get Sarah Palin and John McCain down here. If Saxby’s team had done what they should have for the last six years, he wouldn’t have been in a runoff to start with and he would have had the necessary funds for his campaign.
BTW the former Chairman Alec Poitevint was included with the entourage on the stage Monday night at the Palin event in Gwinnett County and also flew around the state with Governor Palin all day.
The handwork of all Georgia Republicans made this Victory possible. Lauren McDonald recognized this Victory as a Victory for the Georgia Grassroots’ network. He thanked all Georgians for his Victory and said that he could not have done this without us, the Georgia Republican Party and it’s Chairman Sue Everhart. Lauren is truly a humble and appreciative candidate.
RNC Chairman Mike Duncan had words of praise for Sue and Linda Herren in his speech. The Chambliss campaign told him he didn’t need to mention this as Saxby would thank them. Saxby did not mention their names. Word has it that he was prepared to do so, as protocol would dictate, but was told not to at the last minute.
A side note to all of this — our Georgia National Committee Woman Linda Herren was not allowed to attend the Palin event on Sunday night preceding the state fly around. When she called for information on where to meet up with Sue and Alec to greet Governor Palin ( as protocol would also dictate) she was told by the Chambliss campaign that her name was not on any lists and the stage was full.
Reports from attendees reveal that the Chambliss campaign was getting people from the audience to fill stage positions . Both Sue and Linda have worked MANY years at the grassroots level to grow our GA Republican Party and should be treated with more respect than this!!
WE Georgia Republican’s did what no other state did, we won all of our races.
Way to go, Sue Everhart, her staff and all Georgia Republicans. We are so proud of all that you have done during this 2008 election year. Personally, I would not have been involved in the runoff election if Sue Everhart had not convinced me that I should get on board in order to help keep liberal Martin from playing havoc in our U.S. Senate.
At her encouragement, I went to numerous rallies, made tons of digital photos, created event photo web pages and e-mailed all across the state to my huge Republican e-mail list encouraging everyone to get out and VOTE — which most did.
Now I plan on writing a personal letter of complaint to our newly re-elected Senator who is now insured six more years in the U.S. Senate — thanks to the hard work of Sue Everhart and many Georgia Republicans. The least he can do is apologize to Sue and make a statement to the world about all that she and the state party have done for his and many other candidates’ behalf.
I have known Sue and Linda for many years and have worked with them on many Republican projects where I witnessed up close their dedication to our Party and Georgia.. Sue has done an excellent job as chairman, has raised tons of money for the Party and visited Republican groups (large and small) all across this state where former GA GOP Chairmen had NEVER visited.
If you feel as I do about the snubbing of Sue, I hope you will forward this e-mail (or send your own) to your list of Republicans and let the Chambliss people know how you feel. Rumors and blogs are speculating that perhaps the reason behind this is an orchestrated effort to keep Sue from being re-elected Chairman in 2009. Sorry to ramble on so, but I am upset !!
See the Senator’s Contact info at the bottom.
Bettye Chambers
Grassroots Website Builder and E-Mail Activist
Buford, GA
9th District Republican Party of Georgia
Greater Gwinnett Republican Women
Georgia State Committee Member
Georgia Women for McCain-Palin Coalition
National Federation of RW Board of Directors
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Sanford Bishop for secretary of agriculture?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Speculation about who from Georgia might join the inner workings of the Obama Administration has been riddled with the absurd. Pay no attention, for instance, to talk that former Gov. Roy Barnes is in line for secretary of education.
But this one may have some meat: U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) is being mentioned as one of the top three — perhaps two — prospects for secretary of agriculture.
As leading candidates, the Kansas City Star names Bishop, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Rep. John Salazar of Colorado.
And Sebelius says she’s not interested.
The Star attributes its report to Agri-Pulse, a Washington-based newsletter on agriculture. Says the newsletter:
Bishop was a co-chairman of Obama’s Georgia campaign, but his name surfaced in speculation only recently. He was first elected in the Black Belt district in 1992, and has been on the House Appropriations Committee since 2003 and its agriculture subcommittee since 2006.
He has been especially active on peanut issues, securing committee approval of $74 million for peanut storage in the supplemental spending bill. His voting record has been the most conservative in the Congressional Black Caucus. (He would be the second black secretary of a department that has a checkered record at dealing with African American farmers.)
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Politics and the rise of SEC football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This morning, the sports section of the Wall Street Journal — who knew? — has a tasty piece on the economics, sociology and politics behind the rise of SEC football:
The engine of this success is college football’s unshakable primacy in Southern culture — plus the recent shifts in population and wealth, the protection of politicians and some prescient financial moves by the conference that have reinforced it.
In recent years, the South has undergone rapid growth. Twenty-seven of the 50 fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country in 2007 were in the South, while personal-income growth in the region outpaced the national average over the past decade.
These changes have added muscle to the South’s historic passion for college football. While they rank low in many measures like per-capita income and educational achievement, states like Alabama and Mississippi rank close to the top in the percentage of high-school students who play football.
And among states that have more than 10 native sons playing in the National Football League, the top six producers by percentage of population are Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
The WSJ piece also notes the access that Southern football programs enjoy in state capitols:
Within the nine SEC states, two-thirds of the governors and U.S. senators are SEC alumni. In the eight Midwestern states that make up the Big Ten, just over a third of governors and senators went to one of their states’ major football schools….
Politicians have been such fixtures at the games that their practice of accepting complimentary tickets has begun to come under criticism. Before this season, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal decided to stop accepting the 10 free tickets his office was allotted.
The article even makes mention of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s 2007 effort to protect Bulldog fans from evil headline writers on the AJC copy desk.
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