Political Insider

You’ve heard that GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain is getting early protection from the U.S. Secret Service.

But we’re getting mixed signals from the Cain campaign for the reason. The Associated Press points to a concern over violent flakes:

While it’s unknown whether a specific incident triggered the request, police reports show that Cain’s campaign has been the target of a threatening phone call on at least one occasion.

On June 1, Cain’s campaign office in Stockbridge, Ga., reported receiving a call from someone who did not identify himself but who claimed to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The man said that Cain, who is black, should not run for the White House.

“Tell him not to run” and “there’s no such thing as a black Republican,” the man said, according to a written statement Cain’s administrative assistant, Lisa Reichert, gave to the police. The caller did not explicitly threaten violence.

But the Washington Post reported late last night that control of …

Continue reading Herman Cain gets protection, from flakes and the press »

Water levels at Lake Lanier have dropped at a rate of about a foot a week as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers steps up water releases to keep stream levels up in a drought. Vino Wong vwong@ajc.com

Three years ago, drought exacerbated Georgia’s fight with Florida and Alabama over water. We may be headed that way again.

The Gainesville Times has unearthed a Nov. 7 letter from Allen Barnes, the director of the state’s Environmental Protection Division, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, asking it to reduce the amount of water released from Lake Lanier through March:

The amount is 100 cubic feet below the target flow meant to dilute the treated wastewater coming from Atlanta and ensure the viability of wildlife in the Chattahoochee River near Peachtree Creek.

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It’s very possible that the more the GOP contest for president narrows to a fight between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, the less likely it is that President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul becomes a leverage …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: State wants reduced flow from Lake Lanier »

We have an interesting kerfuffle underway at the state Capitol. That’s the word first used to describe it to me. Kerfuffle.

It will take some explaining.

The first thing you have to understand is that Anne Lewis, a partner in the law firm of Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP, has been involved with GOP redistricting matters for many years.

It is one of the reasons she was named general counsel to the Georgia Republican party, replacing Randy Evans.

The second thing you have to understand is that Lewis, general counsel to the state GOP, was hired this summer by the General Assembly in toto to oversee the legal aspects of the special August session of the Legislature, which was dedicated to redrawing the political boundaries for the state House districts, the state Senate districts, and 14 congressional districts.

Now, this did not mean she was everyone’s lawyer. When House Democratic Leader Stacy Abrams questioned Lewis about redistricting details, the General Assembly’s …

Continue reading New rule for Democratic lawmakers: Don’t talk to feds without your GOP lawyer present »

Because you might be flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson between now and Thanksgiving Day, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun has decided to offer you his comforting opinion on air safety.

The congressman from Athens joined House Transportation Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., at Reagan National on Wednesday, where the pair dropped a report that called the $56 billion spent on airport security since 9/11 to be a waste.

From the Washington Post:

Broun said a terrorist bomb could be put aboard an airliner “very easily” at his home airport in Atlanta. “TSA has not prevented any attacks,” he said. “It’s just been very fortunate that we’ve had no attacks.”

Broun has been a frequent critic of airport security. When last heard from on the topic, the congressman said he had witnessed security agents at an airport – he never said which one – pat down an elderly woman and child, but skip a man “in Arabian dress, who just walked right through.”

Then again, there is that Channel 2 …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Terrorist bomb could be planted ‘very easily’ at Hartsfield-Jackson, says Paul Broun »

Whether you are Republican or Democrat, an occupier or a tea partyist, the report last Sunday by CBS’ “60 Minutes” on insider trading by members of Congress should have steam whistling from your ears.

But there’s more to tell. And the news will not make you any happier.

The most egregious example cited by CBS was U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama, who three years ago was the ranking Republican on the House banking committee, and is now its chairman.

In September 2008, Bachus and other congressional leaders were privately briefed by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy’s imminent meltdown.

The next day, Bachus was buying option funds that would increase in value if the economy tanked. It did. While your 401(k) and all thoughts of retirement melted into a never-ending job at Wal-Mart, the House chairman made a tidy profit on his country’s misfortunes.

And he didn’t do anything illegal.

Financial investments by …

Continue reading Congress and a 16-year study of ‘insider trading’ »

Throughout the summer, former state senator John Douglas of Social Circle – he ran for state Public Service Commission in 2010 — may have been Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s most ardent supporter in Georgia. Where two or more Republicans gathered, Douglas was there with bumper stickers and a petition urging Perry into the race.

But no more. Douglas posted the following on the Rockdale County Republican party’s Facebook page:

“After very careful consideration and lengthy discussions with many key supporters, I am leaving the Perry camp, effective immediately. I no longer see a path to victory for him and have had great difficulties dealing with his staff.

“I still like many of his policies and would have no problem voting for him if he is our nominee. Now I am endorsing Newt Gingrich for President and will spend time in the near future explaining that move. Suffice it to say tonight that Newt champions the culture war I believe in fighting and he is a brilliant, very …

Continue reading Rick Perry loses a Georgia supporter, and Newt Gingrich gains one »

Signs of pessimism in Washington, over Congress’ inability to reach a deficit reduction agreement in the next seven days, includes this from Politico.com:

Supercommittee co-chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), speaking bluntly to a closed House Republican meeting Tuesday said any deal that the panel produces will either be an “abject [failure] or a ‘kiss your sister agreement.’”

One assumes that [failure] is something unprintable. On the other hand, green sprigs of hope include the decision by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to release a 37-page report this week critical of government subsidies for wealthy Americans.

He called it “Subsidies of the Rich and Famous.” From the Associated Press:

The report found that in an average year, those earning $1 million or more each year benefit from tax breaks and federal grant programs totaling $30 billion. His report noted that in tax year 2009, nearly 1,500 millionaires paid no federal income tax.

Among the government …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: If a deal’s at stake, consider bigger tax hikes, says Saxby Chambliss »

Today is the first day that bills can be pre-filed for next year’s session of the General Assembly.

We’re told that two lawmakers intend to submit “personhood” resolutions – proposed constitutional amendments that would declare that life begins at fertilization, as would legal protection. All abortions would be banned; in vitro fertilization would be restricted.

Mississippi defeated a similar measure last week by 58 percent.

In the Senate, the sponsor will be Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville – no surprise, given his pro-life reputation. In the House, the sponsor will be Rick Crawford of Cedartown.

Here’s the thing: Crawford is a Democrat.

“I’m from rural Georgia,” he said. “I have to be well in step, and people have to trust me to represent their interests. It’s not a surprise to anyone that I’m pro-life. This is a discussion that is appropriate for us to have.”

Crawford is currently teaching political science at Shorter College – the school that now …

Continue reading A House Democrat to sponsor personhood amendment »

From Russ Bynum and the Associated Press:

SAVANNAH, Ga.— Georgia’s 15-year push to deepen the river channel to the booming Port of Savannah got a big endorsement Tuesday from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet who finished a port tour by throwing his support behind the $600 million project and saying: “It has to happen.”

The secretary’s hosts, Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, sat grinning — and perhaps a little surprised — as LaHood promised to convene a meeting of stakeholders in Washington next month to help find funding for the port expansion, which has had a tough time securing money from a Congress focused on trimming the budget deficit.

“We’ll figure out how to get the federal dollars to make this project happen,” LaHood told Georgia officials and reporters near the dock as giant cranes lifted cargo containers in the background. “It has to happen.”

Savannah, the nation’s fourth largest container port, and …

Continue reading Obama cabinet member says Port of Savannah deepening ‘has to happen’ »

The California-based company behind a pioneering experiment at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta – studying whether human embryonic stem cells can be used to repair spinal injuries — announced Monday it would halt the research and focus on developing two cancer drugs.

Geron was the first company ever permitted to conduct embryonic stem cell tests on humans. From McClatchy-Tribune News Service:

Although the company has sufficient finances to cover its cancer-drug costs over the next 20 months without having to raise more money, it noted in a news release, “this would not be possible if we continue to fund the stem cell programs at the current levels.”

…Besides the spinal research, Geron had been studying human embryonic stem cells as possible treatments for such ailments as diabetes, heart disease and cartilage repair. The company said it would attempt to seek “partners” to continue the research and “will retain a core group of employees from its stem cell operations” through …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Company behind Atlanta study pulls plug on stem cell research »