Oconee County, GA Politics

Even though I may not agree with their politics, I like to go and introduce myself to most candidates who won't try to punch my pick-up truck. So last night I saw a relatively youthful looking Dr. Paul Broun in a red polo shirt and straw hat, age 61, at the Athens Academy spring scrimmage football game and BBQ. We argued and turned heads in the relatively small and predominantly Republican crowd about the possibility of a Democrat winning. Dr. Broun told me that Democrats have no chance, and I told him that Democrats do have a chance, especially if 35 Americans a week are getting slaughtered in Iraq through next month. He kind of ushered me away from the paltry crowd so as not to scorch the ears of the nearby Republican elite faithful. To his credit, Dr. Broun was very forthright, honest and compelling in his discussion, claiming various Democrats are going to vote for him. I am sure there are more than a handful of lifelong Democrats in the over 60 crowd locally that remembers ...

Look, 10th district Congressional candidate Jim Whitehead can joke all he wants about blowing up UGA to rid the academic world of supposed leftists, but when he contends that Democrats are registering members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network to vote, dumb ass redneck now-ex member of the State Senate District 24 has gone WAY too far. Nice attempt at scare or terror tactics, Whitehead. You may have just guaranteed Dr. Paul Broun will beat your ass even before a run-off. Here is what he said to Tom Crawford via Capitol Impact in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today: The language used in the debate over illegal immigration is getting pretty rough out there. Tom Crawford of capitolimpact.com has a piece, available at Atlanta Magazine, in which 10th District congressional candidate Jim Whitehead of Evans, a Republican, explains why he’s leaning on illegal immigration as an issue, rather than the war in the Middle East. Writes Crawford: “Iraq has not been a big thing in our district,” sai...

Very quietly Lincoln County resident James Marlow has worked his way into the favorite status for the Democratic party in the supposedly non-partisan (not so) free-for-all10th Congressional District race for the June 19th special election to replace the late Dr. Charlie Norwood. Marlow was endorsed by most members at a meeting of the Democratic County Chairs (Oconee chair Becky Vaughn was not there, nor at the last meeting of the local committee) in Habersham County a few weeks ago. Laura Floyd of Oglethorpe County did make the meeting and ultimately supported the decision to back Marlow. "I thought the meeting was conducted in a serious and professional manner," said Floyd, chair of the Oglethorpe Democrats. "Six candidates made presentations and answered questions from the assembled county chairs." (13 of 21 counties were represented, with some guests in the room including former Secretary of State candidate Carol Jackson and Ag Commissioner Tommy Irvin). While ...

Another Republican Charlie Norwood wanna be emerges from Augusta...Whitehead to run for Congress By Valerie Rowell | Columbia County Bureau Monday, Feb. 19, 2007 9:54 a.m. State Sen. Jim Whitehead announced Monday that he will join the race to fill the congressional seat vacated by the death of Charlie Norwood. Mr. Whitehead, R-Evans, announced his intention to run during a news conference at the Columbia County Government Complex in Evans. "I can't be Charlie Norwood, but I think I can be Jim Whitehead. I think I can make you proud," Mr. Whitehead said. "I had such a deep respect for Charlie, a close friendship with a great man and this compels me to run for this office." Mr. Norwood, who represented Georgia's 10th Congressional District, died Feb. 13. Gov. Sonny Perdue will call for a special election to fill the seat. State Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, who also had been mentioned as a candidate, introduced Mr. Whitehead at the news conference and announc...