Speaker Glenn Richardson must resign from public office
Glenn Richardson must resign.
Richardson, the speaker of the Georgia House and probably the second most powerful person in state politics, has long had a reputation as an immature bully drunk on his own power, a man more interested in his personal gratification than in the affairs of Georgia. Given his volatile personality, he did not seem destined for a long run in politics.
That reputation was confirmed yesterday in a devastating TV interview with his former wife, Susan. Among other things, she confirmed rumors of several years ago that Richardson had been having a lengthy affair with a lobbyist for Atlanta Gas Light.
To make matters worse, at the time Richardson was championing an important piece of legislation that was highly favorable to the utility. The bill would have required Georgians to fund a $300 million natural gas pipeline on AGL’s behalf, a project that even at the time was a clear corporate boondoggle. With Richardson’s muscle behind it, the bill passed easily in the House but later foundered in the Senate.
The speaker’s reaction was classic Richardson: He threw an all-out hissy fit, threatening reprisals against Senate leaders for their refusal to approve the bill. The incident further poisoned relations between the House and Senate, helping to doom cooperation on far more important matters such as transportation funding and the budget.
The relationship between Richardson and the lobbyist had been a poorly kept but until now undocumented secret at the Capitol. According to the report by Fox 5’s Dale Russell, the former Mrs. Richardson produced emails between the speaker and his girlfriend in which Richardson said he “can and will bring all hell down on (AGL)” if it dared to fire her as a result of the rumors. (The woman later resigned under less-than-clear circumstances.)
Susan Richardson also produced emails and text messages — sent just last month, more than a year after she and the speaker had divorced — in which Richardson threatened to beat her and use DFACS and the Georgia State Patrol to hound her.
Given that situation, Richardson’s resignation from office is mandatory. The legislative session that begins in January will be one of the most important in a long, long time, and by his behavior Richardson has forfeited any right or claim to a leadership role in its deliberations. Legislators do not need to enter the session with this scandal hanging over their heads; it needs to be resolved, and resolved now.
One final point: Until now, Richardson’s actions have been largely his responsibility and should not be construed as an indictment of House Republicans or Republicans in general. Neither party has a monopoly on bad behavior. However, if Richardson is allowed to remain in his powerful position after these revelations, it can and will be read as an endorsement of his behavior by his fellow Republicans, and voters should respond accordingly.
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193 comments Add your comment
The Professor
December 1st, 2009
9:34 am
That’s why I am no longer a Republican!!
Boogers for the Children Fund
December 1st, 2009
9:38 am
“as an immature bully drunk on his own power, a man more interested in his personal gratification”
Sounds as if Richardson took a page from the Pelosi, Reid, Obobo handbook.
“in which Richardson threatened to beat her and use DFACS and the Georgia State Patrol to hound her.”
LOL…hilarious! Then again perhaps some IP address checking might be a good idea before we toss out the baby with the bath water.
PS…perhaps she needed to be beaten?!!
Kevin
December 1st, 2009
9:41 am
I watched this interview last night, and it just about turned my stomach. Jay said it best– drunk with power. If Susan’s accusations are right– and I have no reason to believe she’s lying– the Speaker has been using his political power to achieve personal goals.
Susan came across in the interview as a classy lady, and someone who is simply flat out DONE with anything associated with her former husband.
Adios, Mr. Speaker.
Normal
December 1st, 2009
9:41 am
Booger…bless your heart.
jconservative
December 1st, 2009
9:43 am
“in which Richardson threatened to beat her and use DFACS and the Georgia State Patrol to hound her.”
Sounds exactly like Sarah Palin going after her former brother-in-law.
Use of personal government power for personal revenge.
Richardson has to go.
danjonglee
December 1st, 2009
9:48 am
This is far worse than a 22 year old intern…
Mrs. Godzilla
December 1st, 2009
9:50 am
somebody send him a map of the Appalachian trail…….
Dave R.
December 1st, 2009
9:53 am
Wow! Using political power to push a personal agenda that is bad for the state!
Replace the word “state” with “nation” and the entire Democrat caucus should resign according to Jay’s logic.
Boogers for the Children Fund
December 1st, 2009
9:53 am
Women lie all the time. Perhaps this one is telling the truth perhaps not…it will all come out in the wash.
Rightwing Troll
December 1st, 2009
9:54 am
I actually felt sorry for the guy there for a week or so. I thought his suicide attempt was because of the loss of his wife and family to divorce and he, like myself, misses the prospect of getting to see his kids each and every day.
How silly of me to empathize with those who have no empathy…
Turns out it was just another attempt at control by an angry control freak. I’ll bet there’s been some physical abuse in that relationship as well…
Joe Frank
December 1st, 2009
9:55 am
Did you feel the same way about President Clinton?
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
9:58 am
I was very disturbed by the article in the AJC which the wife said he used suicide as a means to try and control her. If that is true, that is a very serious accusation and a sign of one sick individual. I have a “former friend” once who played that game during a divorce. He staged a suicide attempt to try to get his wife back. When you play that card……all deals are off.
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
9:59 am
Rightwing Troll,
I felt sorry for him too, and still do — just on another level. I really don’t see how the man can hang on to his job after this.
Finn McCool
December 1st, 2009
10:00 am
From the postings we can see who “tows” the party line, can’t we. Doesn’t matter the problem, what matters is which team they play for.
I suppose Booger and Dave R. carry billfold pics of Larry Craig, too. Oh my!
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
10:01 am
Dave R.,
Don’t be so limiting – you could also substitute the word Republican.
Jenifer
December 1st, 2009
10:03 am
The Appalachian Trail has become the Trail of Tears, I fear.
USinUK
December 1st, 2009
10:03 am
wow … booger putting the a$$ in class … his mama must be so proud
Boogers for the Children Fund
December 1st, 2009
10:04 am
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
9:58 am
His actions are sick, however, no more sick than womens typical games they play daily due to the “goldmine” on which they sit everyday…lol, so they think.
This guy, if these rumors are substantiated, should resign and find him 3 or 4 fem playmates…
mike
December 1st, 2009
10:05 am
Jay –
“However, if Richardson is allowed to remain in his powerful position after these revelations, it can and will be read as an endorsement of his behavior by his fellow Republicans, and voters should respond accordingly.”
Does the same logic apply to Charlie Rangel and the Democrats? Or is this another double standard?
Dave R.
December 1st, 2009
10:07 am
Bosch. Nah, the Republican caucus actually has some people I’d like to keep – 5 or 10 of them at best.
But the entire Democrat caucus? Can ‘em all!
mike
December 1st, 2009
10:07 am
The Professor –
“That’s why I am no longer a Republican!!”
Yeah, you need to be a member of a party with honest people like Charlie Rangel, William Jefferson, John Murtha and John Edwards. LOL
mike
December 1st, 2009
10:11 am
jconservative –
“Use of personal government power for personal revenge.”
Your ignorance is pathetic. Palin’s political enemies wasted lots of public money on that witch hunt and her actions were determined to be appropriate.
Maybe you should spend less time bleating ignorant talking points and more time informing yourself.
BTW: can any liberal go a day without talking about Palin? Your obsession says a lot more about you than it does about her.
Midori
December 1st, 2009
10:11 am
wow … booger putting the a$$ in class … his mama must be so proud
that pretty much sums it up……….
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
10:11 am
Boogers,
No, when you play the “I’m gonna commit suicide card” – that’s about as low as a human can go in an attempt to try and manipulate a person. To do so, they are participating in emotional manipulation that is abhorrent – if you don’t take me back, my death will be on YOUR hands and our kids will blame YOU. No personal responsibility at all. It’s disgusting.
Joan
December 1st, 2009
10:13 am
If the Professor is truly a professor, then he is a democrat, and probably always was. The Democrats are the ones who hand out money like it was water, and academics live or die on those grants and contracts they get from the government.
Mrs. Godzilla
December 1st, 2009
10:14 am
…the goldmine they are sitting on…..
Somebody has some serious insecurities where women are concerned. No wonder he home alone with a cheese sandwich.
Finn McCool
December 1st, 2009
10:15 am
A major defection in the conservative blogosphere
Charles Johnson, founder of Little Green Footballs, announces a final break
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2009/12/01/lgf
Another person sees the writing on the wall: The American right wing has gone off the rails, into the bushes, and off the cliff. I won’t be going over the cliff with them.
Common Sense
December 1st, 2009
10:16 am
Off Topic to Jackie:
Nothing new here !!!
“Marines to be first wave in new Afghanistan plan”
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=138233&catid=40
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
10:18 am
Block,
You might wanna trapse over to the other thread – that’s the war thread.
Boogers for the Children Fund
December 1st, 2009
10:18 am
Mrs. Godzilla
December 1st, 2009
10:14 am
“alone with a cheese sandwich.”
LOL…Actually Ms Godzee…I usually beat them at their own game, send them packing and await their reprisals, if they are ballsy enough. In other words when Im thru with them I toss them out the door and move onto the next one…LOL!
“Women are like street cars” Jagger/Richards.
Taxpayer
December 1st, 2009
10:18 am
Then again perhaps some IP address checking might be a good idea before we toss out the baby with the bath water.
So, NOW, you want to step back and reflect. What’s different now.
Paul
December 1st, 2009
10:19 am
You sure to have some entertaining politicians in Georgia!
But THIS story is… waitwaitwaitwaitwait…..
It’s all a lie. Period. Construed. Made up. Politically motivated. The truth is there, in the link, for all to see.
Fox reported it.
Time for a new thread, Jay.
Heading back downstairs to the prior thread to play.
But before I go… hey Bosch, look at the difference one or two words can make:
“if Rangelis allowed to remain in his powerful position after these revelations, it can and will be read as an endorsement of his behavior by his fellow Democrats, and voters should respond accordingly.”
Didja hear? Rangel’s a crook!
Peadawg
December 1st, 2009
10:21 am
“That’s why I am no longer a Republican!!”
So you’re saying all Republicans cheat on their wives/husbands?
USinUK
December 1st, 2009
10:22 am
Finneus –
“Charles Johnson, founder of Little Green Footballs, announces a final break”
well, having visited his site on a few occasions, I don’t care if he’s left them … I sure as hell don’t want him.
…
meanwhile …
“send them packing and await their reprisal”
how on earth does booger send his right hand packing???
bob
December 1st, 2009
10:25 am
Why is this an issue, Barney Frank’s live in lover was a lobbyist for Fannie Mae while Barney and his buddies backed billions of bad loans. We are electing a mayor, Reed, that had to pay back taxes to get into the race, yes, another democrat tax cheat. For every bad repub, two or three examples of bad dems can be named. Geitner,Dacshle,Rangle,Murhta, Kanjorski. Both parties really suck, focusing on richardson shows we don’t care about the person as much as we focus on the party. Dem does it, fine, repub does it, now we are concerned. What hurt Georgia the most, Richardson and his lobbyist for the pipeline that did not come to completion, or Barney’s affair with his Fannie Mae lobbyist that caused the underwriting of a Trillion in bad debt.
hi, i'm a mike-tard
December 1st, 2009
10:25 am
BTW: can any liberal go a day without talking about Palin? Your obsession says a lot more about you than it does about her.
Maybe. But d’bags like you certainly cannot.
Boogers for the Children Fund
December 1st, 2009
10:26 am
UK…LMAO!!
USinUK
December 1st, 2009
10:26 am
Peadawg –
“So you’re saying all Republicans cheat on their wives/husbands?”
as the priest said in The Quite Man, “I’m not sayin it’s true. I’m not sayin’ it’s not. I’m just saying there’s talk.”
Paul
December 1st, 2009
10:26 am
Okay, I had to come back and address that story’s a lie assertion.
The idea it’s a lie is a lie. Footage was faked.
Fox was critical of a rightwing superduperconservative Republican goofball.
Everyone knows Fox gets their stories from Republican talking points.
You’ve been punked, Jay.
Normal
December 1st, 2009
10:27 am
A lot of Richardson apologists out there…could it be because he’s Republican and therefore morally blessed? If he does quit, I bet he will become a Democrat, hahaha
Mrs. Godzilla
December 1st, 2009
10:28 am
Boogers
Maybe one day you’ll find a keeper. If not, just keep it covered.
Brad Steel
December 1st, 2009
10:28 am
For narcissistic, philandering, petty politicians, South Carolina ain’t got nothing on Gaw-gaw!
Normal
December 1st, 2009
10:30 am
how on earth does booger send his right hand packing???
I don’t care who you are…that’s funny, good one USinUK!!!
Common Sense
December 1st, 2009
10:31 am
Bosch:
I goes where I goes without your permission.
Jackie
December 1st, 2009
10:32 am
@Common Sense
We both know the Marines will head to Afghanistan. The question is, what is their mission?
We are sending our military and our treasure to a war that has no redeeming quality.
Why are we supporting a corrupt, drug dictatorship?; why should we pay our military to guard the opium trails and the proposed UnoCal pipeline?; why should Harmid Karzi’s brother be able to skim an estimated $1 Billion dollars from the aid sent to the country?
To add further insult to injury, news reports indicates our insertion of military personnel into Afghanistan further destabilizes Pakistan, who has an estimated nuclear arsenal of more than 50 weapons. Does that bring India into war with Pakistan?
Get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, NOW!
Midori
December 1st, 2009
10:33 am
For Mike: http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/RogerR/2009/RogerR20091201_low.jpg
Rightwing Troll
December 1st, 2009
10:33 am
Yes it does, by all means get rid of Rangel and any other Democrats who offend you.
What, you aren’t in thier constituency and you can’t do anything about them staying in office?
Bosch
December 1st, 2009
10:35 am
Block,
I’m just suggesting since that is the topic of conversation downstairs – but by all means – carry on with your randomness.
Mr Right
December 1st, 2009
10:35 am
I don’t care if they are Democrats or Republicans if they don’t act right throw the bums out!! To many people give them a free pass if they happen to be the party you like. We need to get rid a lot of jerks in both parties.
Peadawg
December 1st, 2009
10:38 am
USinUK, like there haven’t been democrats who’ve had affairs ***rolls eyes***