Fresh Loaf

Former Congressman (and CL columnist) Bob Barr announced yesterday he’s running for President as a Libertarian.

Barr’s not going to win, but if the former Republican Congressman ends up on the ballot in Georgia, he could peel away enough voters from McCain to tip Georgia’s 15 Electoral College votes to Obama.

The last time a Democrat won Georgia’s Electoral College votes was 1992. That year, then Gov. Bill Clinton squeaked by then-President George H.W. Bush with 43.6 percent of Georgia’s popular vote, compared to Bush’s 43 percent.

Sharing Georgia’s ballot with Bush and Clinton that year was populist billionaire H. Ross Perot, who nabbed 13.4 percent of Georgia’s popular vote.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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CHINA EARTHQUAKE: Death toll has passed 12,000 from Monday’s 7.9-magnitude quake, with more than 18,000 buried under rubble in just one city.

ATTRACTING RETENTION: Only 12 percent of embattled Clayton County’s teachers are leaving the school system, which is lower than some administrators had feared.

BATTLE OF ‘WITZ: Emory political scientist Alan Abramowitz writes a Washington Post op-ed on Obama, working-class whites and “symbolic racism.”

WEST VIRGINIA: Clinton campaigns, Obama campaigns.

PASSING THE BARR: Bob Barr announces he’s running for president as a Libertarian.

DREAM TEAM: A collection of rookies and role players, the new Atlanta Dream begins its season next weekend, hoping some residual basketball fever remains in the city from the Hawks’ playoff run.

HERE WE ARE NOW: Gov. Perdue signs a bill that will give up to a 30 percent entertainment tax credit to productions of films, TV shows, commercials, music videos and video games in the state.

HAVE YOUR LAKE AND DRINK IT, TOO: Lake Lanier Association doesn’t think all lakes are created equal.

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FEUD FOR THOUGHT: GOP infighting led to major bills such as transportation funding sine dying on the vine Friday. But don’t worry; at least now you can bring your guns on MARTA. Click here to read Thomas’ sine die live blog.

BOB BARR: Forms presidential exploratory committee, indicating he’s seriously considering running against Ralph Nader for general-election spoiler.

WWE AND HGH: Homeowner discovers HGH in his Locust Grove house, which once belonged to a pro wrestler, FOX 5 reports. I’m also amused to see a pro wrestling newsletter covering HGH abuse, which is like a soap opera magazine covering cosmetic surgery.

IMMIGRATION: Gwinnett prisons begin screening inmates for immigration violations, and AccessNorthGa is on the case with an adrenaline-pumping news graphic.

CLAYTON SCHOOLS: Things have been better.

BMW CARAVAN: Two hundred seventy-one bored, rich people drive from Chateau Elan to Atlanta Raceway in Braselton in not only the Guinness world-record longest caravan of BMWs, but cars in general.

CROSS-DRESSING THE LINE? Wisconsin elementary school holds dress-up day for kids to either dress as senior citizens or members of the opposite sex, an idea the kids came up with. Christian talk radio hears about the tiny trannies, though, and goes on an angry mission of talking.

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MLK: Was assassinated 40 years ago today. Leonard Pitts writes of the sanitation workers’ strike that brought King to Memphis; Congress honors his legacy; the King Center opens a special exhibit memorializing his last days; and the Associated Press speculates on what he would have done had he not been murdered.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: General Assembly protects HOPE-eligible students in Clayton County in case the school system loses its accreditation. Meanwhile, the Clayton school board considers trying to rehire former superintendent Barbara Pulliam, who resigned in July.

CRAM SESSION: Today’s the last day of the 2008 legislative session, with most major policy items still unresolved.

BARR NONE: Bob Barr’s rumored presidential run gets even more rumored, and he may have the support of candidacy-happy Ron Paul.

ARRINGTON: Fulton Superior Court judge apologizes for expelling whites from courtroom, but offers explanation for his decision as others come to his defense.

WE’LL CALL YOU: Man robs Athens convenience store with a knife, leaves behind filled-out job application.

HAMPTON IN OUT: The most fragile Atlanta Brave hurts his left pec during warm-ups, causing Bobby Cox to scratch him from what would have been his first start since 2005. The Braves lost to the Pirates 4-3 in 10 innings.

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So, Bob Barr — ex-congressman, newspaper columnist, fierce libertarian defender of constitutional rights — visited a Savannah antique store and saw a lovely piece of furniture. It now resides in his office near I-75 and the Perimeter.

On a recent trek to visit Barr, I asked about the ornate wood … well, I wasn’t quite clear what it was. But Barr enlightened me. It’s a Chinese opium bed. I inquired as to what a famed national leader is doing with an opium bed. Barr (who had a cameo role in the Borat movie) deadpanned: “Well, John, where do you relax when you smoke your opium?”

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