Fresh Loaf

As reported yesterday in the AJC, Gwinnett County police raided the wrong Lawrenceville home in an attempt to break up a suspected methamphetamine distributor. Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered spoke with state Sen. Vincent Fort about the issue.

The Democrat lawmaker who represents parts of Atlanta — and who also received one write-in vote for Cobb County Tax Commissioner on Nov. 4 (!) — introduced legislation last session that would’ve banned the use of “no-knock” warrants statewide.

State Sen. Vincent Fort (D – Atlanta) reacted to the article detailing the mistaken raid of John Lewis’ home saying the incident would be laughable if it weren’t so serious.

“This is just the reason why we need a statewide law restricting no-knock warrants,” Fort said.

More insight and info is over at Andre’s.

A recent Democracy Corps poll focused on Georgia shows a slight 46-44 margin for John McCain over Barack Obama and a 48-44 margin for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss over Democratic challenger Jim Martin.

But it was a question about the 2010 Governor’s race that caught my eye:

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Polls continue to show U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss with a tight race against Democratic nominee Jim Martin:

From SurveyUSA:

Four weeks ago, when SurveyUSA began tracking the Senate race in Georgia, Chambliss, who is running for his second term, led Martin by 17 points. Two weeks ago, before the candidates debated, Chambliss led by 2. Today, in polling conducted entirely after the 10/09/08 debate which included all three candidates, little has changed.

18% of Georgia voters say they have already voted; among them, Martin leads by 4 points; among those likely voters who have not yet voted, Chambliss leads by 4. Votes are counted in 22 days; any outcome is possible.

(Hat tip to Andre Walker at Georgia Politics Unfiltered)

Andre Walker at Georgia Politics Unfiltered points us to a WMAZ (Macon) poll conducted by SurveyUSA that says U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss now leads Democratic nominee Jim Martin by just two points.

This latest poll seems to confirm the numbers released by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) yesterday that showed Chambliss leading Martin by just three points [Source: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "New Georgia Poll Shows Martin Within Three Points Of Chambliss", September 29, 2008].

U.S. Senate – Georgia

Saxby Chambliss (R) – 46%
Jim Martin (D) – 44%
Allen Buckley (L) – 5%
Undecided – 5%

The Atlanta blogger who got in hot water this morning for taking money from politicians is accusing his accusers of doing much the same thing.

“This just another case of the pot calling the kettle black,” Georgia Politics Unfiltered’s Andre Walker said in an e-mail about Atlanta Progressive News.

APN reported early this morning that Walker received payments from U.S. Rep. David Scott’s campaign (apparently for designing a website) and also ran favorable coverage of Scott. Decaturguy blogged last year that Walker had set up a website for Vernon Jones and also covered Jones’ Senate campaign.

But Walker sent campaign disclosure reports to CL showing that APN received a total of $575 for ads from politicians whom the website endorsed: Angela Moore for Georgia secretary of state in 2006, Able Mable Thomas for the fifth congressional district this year, and Donzella James, who ran against Scott in the 13th congressional district this year. (more…)

SEE UPDATE here.

A leading Georgia political blogger is being accused of conflicts of interest for doing work for politicians and failing to disclose it. The issue raises a couple of broader questions about ethical standards for political bloggers.

Atlanta Progressive News released an investigative article early this morning that details work done by Georgia Politics Unfiltered’s Andre Walker for U.S. Senate candidate Vernon Jones and incumbent Congressman David Scott, as well as a long list of favorable posts on Scott.

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Fire the editor! Fire the publisher! Fire somebody! Hell, call a fucking exorcist over to Marietta Street at this point. There really should be an award given to this story for the hideous, patronizing writing “style.” From the AJC — apparently now hiring only the most ridiculous writers on the planet.

— Spacey at Mostly Media blasts the city’s only daily for running what she considers an unrevealing fluff piece about Michelle Obama’s former roommate at Princeton. AtlMalcontent praises the work, offering the notion that it’s more revealing than it appears.

It is becoming more and more clear that Shirley Franklin’s legacy, which once shined so bright, has turned to dust.

— Decaturguy at AtlantaPublicAffairs touches on the city’s continuing crime issue and says it may join sewer repairs and greenspace preservation as part of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s legacy.

On the campus of LaGrange College, Dr. Vernon pulled out his stethoscope, gave the nation a full physical, and diagnosed the U.S. of A with a cold.

“America has caught a cold, and it needs to get well,” the two-term DeKalb County CEO said.

— Andre at GeorgiaPoliticsUnfiltered writes about DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones’ visit to LaGrange College and his chances for winning his U.S. Congressional campaign in a refreshingly diverse political climate.

Before I get to those other bills, let me briefly talk about the plan to reduce the commission from 7 members down to 5. One of the reasons I believe that legislation hasn’t been introduced yet is the legislators behind it haven’t found a way to get the bill written as a general bill in order to by-pass the Atlanta-Fulton delegation.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered provides a succinct summary of legislation at the Capitol that will most impact Fulton County.

1. Take my little, yippy dogs to a children’s playground after dark and let them run around off-leash.

2. Get stupid drunk at Shawn Mullins’ 40th birthday bash and, with his family in the audience, yell out “You went to college Shawn?!”

— Decaturite at DecaturMetro weighs in on two things he witnessed this weekend and, upon reflection, wouldn’t do himself.

Over the years, as I built up a good clientele and found myself spending more and more time in the space, I have been working to make this room warmer, more inspirational and better organized. Right now, the space is cozy (dimensions to come) and the walls are what could best be described as a putty color. As a result, I find myself throwing open the blinds, turning on the lights and begging the sun to move just a little bit that way, no…that way…yes, that’s it…to liven things up in here.

— Paige at the Avery Lane Experience gives us a glimpse into her freelancer’s lair and asks for suggestions as to how she can improve it. (My advice is on the way, Paige.)

It also makes you wonder, if they were looking for a viable excuse to get rid of the festival in the first place, and the drought made for the perfect scapegoat?

— Duane Moody wonders if the mayor’s decision to keep Pride out of Piedmont Park this year because of the drought might simply be a convenient excuse to thwart the GLBT community’s biggest annual party.

Duane may be on to something.

The mayor also told the Dogwood Festival people that they couldn’t have their festival in Piedmont Park. What color are Dogwood blossoms? WHITE! Think about it.

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The Speaker claims the Senate “shirked” its responsibilities today. I say we did exactly what we were sent here to do – to carefully and thoughtfully decide which actions benefit the people of Georgia.

— Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, blogging for Peach Pundit, calls B.S. on fellow Republican Speaker Glenn Richardson.

Long story short, the House voted yesterday to override 12 of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s vetoes from last year. The Senate is constitutionally required to “immediately consider” the House vetoes. Speaker Richardson is claiming “immediately consider” means vote now. Sen. Johnson says “immediately consider” means start reviewing it carefully.

CL’s Scott Henry explains more here.

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I think that shows the difference between Clinton and Obama. Bill & Hillary Clinton have displayed an interest in civil rights as well as the larger African-American community even when they weren’t running for office. Obama on the other hand, well…he needs the black vote…enough said.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered thinks Clintonic interest in civil rights and African-Americans is sincere, but Obamanian interest is just political.

I wonder if he laughed when he wrote that, because I laughed when I read it.

But hey, dreaming about tax ponies will mitigate the risk of recession. How long before we hear the Stache say that?

— flackattack at Tondee’s Tavern predicts House Speaker Glenn Richardson will cite the state’s economic downturn as another reason to support his tax overhaul.

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“My wife and I both approached the podium during the period when remarks of citizens are permitted, but were physically blocked by the police chief at the direction of the Council,” Gravitt continued.

Gravitt says that he plans to file a lawsuit against the ban and also seek a temporary restraining order against its enforcement.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered quoting Alan Gravitt, who says he was banned from speaking during the public comment portion of a College Park City Council meeting.

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Greenovation is a mash-up of green + renovation and I’m telling you it’s hot, HoT, HOT, in Hotlanta.

— EcoHome Guy on eco-friendly home renovation in Atlanta.

Screaming man rides the trains a lot because several years ago, he found $2,600 on a train or in a station, and turned it in. He was, rightly, hailed for his honesty and given a lifetime free MARTA pass. You can debate how much of a prize that is.

— Charles Davidson at Rowland’s Office, on a screaming man regularly seen on MARTA

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You’ve got folks out there who are advocating censorship because someone’s feelings might get hurt. That’s the society we live in; a society full of pansies that’s afraid to say anything that’s even remotely controversial because somebody somewhere might have hurt feelings.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered, responding to controversy that apparently followed after a Kell High School student wrote an anti-gay editorial for the school newspaper.

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What should the U.S. do with him? Does deporting him and his wife change anything? I would rather that you find out as much information from him as possible and see if we can learn anything we didn’t know before he forgets all of it.

— JB at The Barkan Dawg thinks accused Nazi death camp guard Paul Henss shouldn’t be deported.

Edwards – $14,909
Obama – $12,400
Richardson – $4,600

— Decatur Guy at Atlanta Public Affairs lists the top recipients of presidential campaign cash from Decatur.

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Hillary Clinton – 34%
Barack Obama – 25%
John Edwards – 13%
Bill Richardson – 8%

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered on a statewide Strategic Vision poll of likely Georgia voters

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So we get to reduce our troop number to pre-Surge levels by summer of ‘08, which means after 6+ years, we will still have a force in Iraq in excess of 120,000 troops.

And that is perceived as progress…

-— FlackAttack at Tondee’s Tavern on Surgin’ Gen. David Petraeus’ troop-deployment projections for Iraq

If there are black girls out there dating white guys, I say more power to them. I honestly think there is some legitimacy to the theory that black folks are “sick of each other.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered, on a CNN.com story about black women dating white men

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While I am capable of seducing women easily, I only do so rarely

— Starboard Tack at Living and Dating in Atlanta. You and me both, brother. You and me both.

Also worth reading is his recent post about the benefits of dumping a woman just after you’ve had sex with her.

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I have to say, that it really doesn’t bother me that I have to pay for services, but when it comes to Comcast, you get the absolute lowest of the low service, and frankly, I fucking tired of this company having me by the balls.

— Duane Moody’s groin is the target of at least two conspiracies. First his foreskin goes missing, now Comcast has his testicles.