Courier Herald column for the week of August 13th: My friend and Athens radio host Tim Bryant asked a question on his show last week, which he then extended to his Facebook followers. He wanted to know others opinion as to whether Athens Clarke County would become “more red” or neighboring Oconee County would become
One of the most intriguing stories of the year is the situation surrounding the Cobb County Board of Commissioners’ decision to invoke home rule to change their district map, rejecting the district map passed by the General Assembly. While it may seem straightforward, it is more nuanced. It deals with political philosophy fundamentals and constitutional
If democracy is in danger, and Democrats genuinely care about and want to protect and advance democracy, then why do they continue to defend and eagerly engage in what is obviously harmful to democracy, while labeling as enemies of democracy those who don't?
This week’s Courier Herald column: When the Supreme Court made law from the judicial branch in January of 1973, I was 3 years old. Let’s stipulate for the record that the men and women who remember times before Roe vs Wade are well into their AARP years. I am old enough to remember, however, when
This week’s Courier Herald column: It was January of 1975. Wheel of Fortune made its television premier. The Atlanta Falcons used the first pick of the NFL draft to add Steve Bartkowski from UCLA to their roster. And down at the Georgia capitol, 27-year-old Calvin Smyre of Columbus was sworn in for the first time
There will be a lot of institutional knowledge leaving the capitol this evening when the gavels bang Sine Die. None of them have served longer than Representative Calvin Smyre of Columbus. First elected in 1974, he’s served as a member of the majority and minority parties. He’s humble, but wields quiet power when needed and
This week’s Courier Herald column: A few months ago I wrote a column suggesting that it was time to accept electric vehicles as mainstream. Too many, mostly from conservative political circles, associate the advancement in technology with overreaching political agendas. The two concepts can and should be treated separately. Adapting to new technologies and incorporating
Congratulations to Senator Nikema Williams for winning what is likely the smallest vote in Georgia’s history to send someone to congress. The Democratic Party of Georgia’s 44-member executive committee selected her as the replacement for the late John Lewis. Williams earned 37 votes. She will have to face a Republican, Angela Staton-King, but I don’t
I can’t add to the well-deserved paeans to Congressman Lewis but I can share a few memories that hopefully highlight him as a person. Even with the most charitable interpretation I can’t say that I was close to, or truly knew him. I did have several close experiences with Congressman Lewis over a 12-year period.
I suppose it’s not really that much of a surprise if you live here but Georgia was moved into the toss-up category by The Cook Political Report. So sayeth the soothsayers: “Georgia has joined Arizona, North Carolina and Florida in the Toss Up column, although, at this point, Biden would be slightly favored to win at
