We may have another contender for the symbolic face of those religious liberty bills that state lawmakers will consider this session.
You already know about Kelvin Cochran, who was sacked by Mayor Kasim Reed as Atlanta's fire chief for publishing a religious book critical of homosexuality without following city protocol. Our AJC colleague Steve Visser reported late last night that Cochran has filed a federal complaint alleging religous discrimination.
But our corporate cousins at Channel 2 Action News aired a story last night about Josh McCuen, a Hall County sheriff's deputy who says he was fired for leading an inmate Bible study.
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On that same topic: Earlier this week, we pointed you to David Cooke, district attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit, who worried out loud that passages in H.B. 29, the liberty bill put forward by state Rep. Sam Teasley, R-Marietta, would allow child abusers to claim religious protection. Teasley answers Cooke in today's Marietta Daily Journal.
In that same article, Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds says some of Cooke's concerns may be valid -- but that the bill is not beyond repair.
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Much has been written about the nation's changing demographics and the problem they ultimately pose for the Republican party. But a counterargument emerges in today's Washington Post -- that migration patterns to the South and West are the GOP's friend, and could prove advantageous in an electoral college county:
According to data compiled by Election Data Services, a nonpartisan tracker, current trends indicate Texas would likely gain three additional House seats after the 2020 Census, growing its Congressional delegation from 36 to 39.
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U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, has risen a peg in his fifth term. Johnson on Thursday was named the top Democrat on the House Judiciary subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law.
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this survey to a friend of the blog, as it polls its members on presidential hopefuls, while raising money.
Though it includes several names -- Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Ron Paul -- who are almost certain to stay out, it is a striking view of the large number of Republicans who might seek the presidency. There are a whopping 34 people on the list.
No word yet on whether the DNC's mailer polls on Hillary's cabinet choices.
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