On Chip Rogers’ departure from the Gold Dome
Just a few years ago, Chip Rogers was a rising star in Georgia politics. He was a possible contestant for the lieutenant governor’s office if Casey Cagle sought higher office, and a sure-fire future gubernatorial candidate himself. Today, he said he’s leaving the Legislature altogether for a position at Georgia Public Broadcasting — a sharp, sudden end (for now, anyway) to a once-promising political career.
On the positive side, Rogers was strongly associated with the causes of school choice and property-tax reform. He pushed the first measure involving vouchers (for students with special needs) and tried unsuccessfully the last couple of years to expand that program to children of military and foster families. He helped reinstate the state’s Charter Schools Commission, after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, by maneuvering this year’s constitutional amendment through the Senate. He was a likeable guy, and he went after big ideas.
He also attracted his share of critics, and controversy found him time and again. Some of these controversies — for instance, a business deal (with U.S. Rep. Tom Graves) gone bad — were more serious than others — such as a much-ridiculed bill requiring consent for the implantation of microchips.
But the most politically damaging controversy, by far, was his role in the leadership putsch in the Senate two years ago. Rogers helped lead the group of senators who stripped Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of some of his powers so that they could run the chamber themselves. As the Senate’s majority leader and a telegenic, Atlanta-area legislator (he represented Cherokee County), he was a leading spokesman for a chamber that was criticized many times over the past two years for appearing rudderless. Neither Gov. Nathan Deal nor, more publicly, Speaker David Ralston, relished seeing their legislative priorities subjected to a Senate run by consensus within the GOP caucus.
Most bills, whether large or small in importance, ran the risk of becoming ensnared in the chamber’s running leadership fight. In the end, most of the more prominent bills during the last two legislative sessions managed to get through the Senate run by Rogers and President Pro Tem Tommie Williams. But the arrangement required their constant vigilance and, from my dealings with them, seemed to wear them down — both in terms of their energy and patience, and in terms of their standing with their own caucus.
First Williams announced he would not be running again for pro tem, then his chosen successor was defeated soundly in a post-election caucus meeting. Rogers dropped out of his own re-election bid, and rumors started circulating almost immediately that he’d be out of office before year’s end.
Rogers’ departure almost closes the book on the first era of the Georgia GOP’s rule under the Gold Dome; he took the majority leader position when Glenn Richardson was speaker and ran the House with Mark Burkhalter and Jerry Keen; Cagle was lieutenant governor and Eric Johnson was Senate president pro tem; and Sonny Perdue was governor. Only Cagle remains in elected office (at this point, you’d have to say he was the winner of the Senate’s two-year “experiment”).
At age 44, Rogers is too young to write off as a potential comeback candidate one day. But for now, like that first GOP-led era, Rogers’ legacy will be a mixed bag: Some big early successes, followed by less accomplishment even as the GOP’s majorities grew larger, and more questions and infighting than answers toward the end.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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146 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 4th, 2012
8:09 pm
John Lewis USED to be 10 times the man Chip Rogers is, Glenn Beck.
But if we all gauged success by past performances only, there would never have been a President Obama, would there?
Look before I leap...
December 4th, 2012
8:13 pm
@Tiberius
It’s not the loan per se, it was the entirely slimy way he and Graves tried to weasel out of it.
“Selling” the property to an uneducated, unskilled patsy for $10K (and money never changed hands) then arguing he should not be held accountable because the bank should have KNOWN he had no way to pay the obligation back when it loaned him the money in the first place.
Maybe the above does not make him corrupt, but it does make him a d–che bag.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 4th, 2012
8:18 pm
Agreed, Look before I leap, but I was just highlighting the hyperbole in A teacher’s comment.
Again, won’t miss the guy at all.
But then, having interacted with many under the Gold Dome over the years, I have a particularly low opinion of the caliber of people we elect to public office across the state.
From BOTH parties.
Glenn Beck
December 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
So chip as done what that you adore him so much
Is he your man crush
Glenn Beck
December 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
Tiberius
On that we agree. I know several who “reside” at the Dome. Both D and R. Most are less than stellar
St Simons
December 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
lord i was borrrn a gamblin maaaan….
can’t pay back his ‘loan’, the money ‘went away’…
looks like Chip ‘rolled the dice’ heheh and came up snake eyes.
now, the skool-fer profit snake oil salesman is taking a ‘job’ at
educational teevee.
Taking ‘bets’ heheh you find his crooked *ss at the trough of
the first for-profit-jesus-rode-the-dinosaur-charter-scam.
aaa
December 4th, 2012
8:59 pm
Sounds like a scandal is coming soon. I’m guessing an affair.
mike
December 4th, 2012
9:05 pm
st simons: great post! Charter school = scam = corporate profiteering = public discontent = accountability = i resign! can ya dig it?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 4th, 2012
9:09 pm
And some people on this blog falsely claim conservatives can’t move on from elections . . . .
Nice to see liberals actually can’t.
Bye Bye
December 4th, 2012
9:10 pm
Bye bye MicroChip. Don’t let the door hit your in the ass.
Old Hippie
December 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
Chip Rogers, like most of the Georgia GOP elected officials, is an embarassment to the citizens of the state. I’m surprised GPB would have anything to do with his crazy ass.
Hopeful
December 4th, 2012
9:13 pm
The guy sounds like a lot of people loved Chip Rogers
He was ok I don’t have a bad word toward him he tryed
Caused I really didn’t know him well give me 9 words that
Tell me why I should are shouldn’t like him ok
Dusty
December 4th, 2012
9:16 pm
Well, the bashing of Chip Rogers seems to be rolling along. I hope he is successful at PBS as they seem to think he will be. Not many people getting good job offers these days.
I congratulate MarkV as being the most pragmatic blogger here. Nice to see his mellow mood.
Now Glenn Beck and JAWJA seem to think they have received engraved invitations to leave Georgia. Only people who ought to leave Georgia feel that way. I only suggest leaving Georgia out of the kindness of my heart. Why stay if you hate it? And poor old Glenn and JAWJA object everytime even under all the different ids. they use. Settle down,felllows, whomever you are at the moment.
And now, a moment of truth!! Oven fried chicken and oven fried eggplant can be baked together!!!! It gets a bit mushy (the eggplant, not the chicken) but is very tasty There! You learned something you did not know. That is the whole purpose of blogs, is it not?
independent thinker
December 4th, 2012
9:16 pm
Does this mean it is safe for Big Bird to come out of hiding now?
St Simons
December 4th, 2012
9:21 pm
For profit jaysus rode the dinosaur charter skool scam
or
I gambled away the money, Guido’s lookin fer me
or
rules for managing taxpayer monay don’t apply to me
wishing
December 4th, 2012
9:30 pm
Wingfield didn’t even mention ethics controversy and Agenda 21. Nor did he mention that little chestnut of a story about being accused by teenagers hired by his campaign to steal opponents signs. I guess that would be too much to expect.
mike
December 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
Our Republican side-show legislature is mute testimony to the ignorance and hate-filled public in this state. Can you really imagine anything else? Especially with the “poster boys” Tiberius, Linda, md, Lil’ Barry, I Report, cc, etc. on this blog? You got the government you “deserve.” Enjoy it!
Dusty
December 4th, 2012
9:44 pm
I bet Kyle got a smile out of some local news today. Emory University’s president has announced that they will be closing their programs in JOURNALISM, plysical education and visual arts.
Seems Emory wants to enhance core strength and expand academic strengths.
Well, you can always go to UGA to be a sterling journalist, play football and enjoy beautiful visual arts.
So there Emory, picky picky!! I do hope you did not close Basket Weaving Bionics. Liberal students there gotta specialize in something! I think they were;protesting today.
Jim S
December 4th, 2012
9:48 pm
Earlier tonight, it was sad to see The Leader duck out of the capitol in a trot while some of his staff (state employees?) appeared to hinder Lori Geary of Channel 2 from seeking an interview,
Its amazing how bold the contempt or disregard is for the citizens of this state for The Leader to be just given a high level state job to rescue him. Ethics in state government are nowhere to be seen in this entire matter. One irony is that regular state employees are warned to avoid “even the appearance of impropriety”.
Too bad for the staff at GPTV who will have to endure the “employment” of The Leader. The hypocrisy underlying this whole thing stinks.
@@
December 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
Don’t know that much about Rogers.
About that bill regarding microchips?
Our own Vice President is a believer.
Biden – And we’ll be faced with equally consequential decisions in the 21st century. Can a microscopic tag be implanted in a person’s body to track his every movement? There’s actual discussion about that.
You will rule on that — mark my words — before your tenure is over.
Can brain scans be used to determine whether a person’s inclined toward criminality or violent behaviour?
You will rule on that.–Roberts Confirmation Hearing September 12 2005
What does that say about Joe Biden?
Dusty
December 4th, 2012
9:55 pm
Well, it seems that mike the tike is not contrite.
Also, he has not noticed this blog is designated as CONSERVATIVE and there are strong conservatives posting here.
You, mike, volunteered to come here as no invitations were sent out. So remember the words of Truman: “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”
My boo
December 4th, 2012
10:06 pm
He’s the poster boy for regressive malfeasance.
Dusty
December 4th, 2012
10:12 pm
Jim $
For a moment I thought you were talking about President Obama ducking out the door. When’s this ;three week vacation starting? I think I hear that big ol’ Air Force One warming up. Will it be fresh pineapple or Boston baked beans this time??
Yep, it is a little hard to keep up with our “leaders’ these days. They don’t seem to feel “at home” in the White House when they get there. All the fun seems to be just in getting there. After that, it’s all those bothersome decisions to make. Cjeez!!
mike
December 4th, 2012
10:24 pm
I distinctly remember back when Saint Ronnie of the Trickle Down was elected, they used the term “lonely Left.” I think “lonely Right” is in order now. How does it feel?
getalife
December 4th, 2012
11:13 pm
Dusty,
ODS much?
chip caught the gay.
Anyhoo, economy is looking better for 13.
Chin up Americans.
BillVol
December 4th, 2012
11:39 pm
Chip Rogers’ legacy will be his tearing down campaign signs of his opponents. Starting with his first campaign, when he ran against Dawn Marr for state house. Rogers is as dirty as they come. Karma has finally come around to get him.
clix
December 4th, 2012
11:55 pm
” It wasn’t our fault. They never should have loaned us the money. They knew we couldn’t pay it back”
GOOD RIDDANCE!!! Our leaders should be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Corruptness from top to bottom. And it’s both sides at all levels. And Deal, when you co-sign a loan with someone you are stating that you will stand good for it in the event they default on it. What a mess. You’re all a disgrace and embarrassment to the people who elected you.
getalife
December 5th, 2012
12:21 am
“a birther activist said that President Barack Obama and the United Nations are using “mind-control” to implement a sustainability agenda is resigning from the state Senate.”
Kooky.
hsn
December 5th, 2012
12:24 am
Hahaaa… So the Chip is going to work for Public Broadcasting. . How ironic !
Weren’t you cons fighting to kill all government support for PBS?
Come on, Chip, practice what you and your con brethren have been preaching and get out of “anything” supported by the “evil” government.
DeborahinAthens
December 5th, 2012
6:23 am
Didn’t Deal appoint him to GPB? I can’t believe they would hire such a mindless jerk without pressure.
catlady
December 5th, 2012
6:50 am
So Chip fleas, I mean, flees. We will soon find out why. Less than a month ago he stood for re-election, and now he is going to give his district the “joy” of paying for another election? It should come out of his hide! Just as Deal’s run from his lapses cost several hundred thousand for the election to fill his seat.
GPB, you have lost my yearly donation, and I will encourage others to pull theirs as well. Remember Susan Komen? Are you listening?
catlady
December 5th, 2012
6:59 am
He will seriously embarrass GPB within 6 months.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 5th, 2012
7:02 am
And sure enough, all the mind controlled dembots arrive here to sustain their agenda of greed and envy.
Rightwing troll
December 5th, 2012
7:09 am
Quitting after ten years of running the state into the ground to go be govt moocher …how typical
Cherokee
December 5th, 2012
7:38 am
“You’re all a disgrace and embarrassment to the people who elected you.”
I dunno. The people of this state mindlessly vote Republican no matter how corrupt and self serving the politicians are. I’m not sure they have sense enough to be ‘embarrassed.’
And no, Dusty, this is home – sorry, but I’m not leaving.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
8:04 am
Ailes’s orders mean new rules. Ailes’s deputy, Fox News programming chief Bill Shine, has sent out orders mandating that producers must get permission before booking Rove or Morris.
Two conservative idiots down, millions more to go….
JamVet
December 5th, 2012
8:05 am
ask@gpb.org
Email them if you have something to say about this bizarre decision…
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
8:06 am
The people of this state mindlessly vote Republican no matter how corrupt and self serving the politicians are.
Except when it comes to Governor (err, the TOP job in the state)… that’s where the Cons show there “country first” mettle…..
mwuahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
8:16 am
Don’t ever vote for anyone named “Chip”
curious
December 5th, 2012
8:31 am
Rogers is going to use his leftover campaign money to pay on his $2.1 million loan.
After all he is a man of integrity.
JF McNamara
December 5th, 2012
8:32 am
Big Bird had better watch out. The Republicans now have an inside guy. That Bird is as good as dead.
jd
December 5th, 2012
8:44 am
Kyle — that two year experiment was employed when the R’s first took control of the Senate to gag Lt. Gov. Taylor. When Cagle was elected, Johnson and company changed the rules back. Then, when Rogers came to power, Cagle was castrated…
yuzeyurbrane
December 5th, 2012
8:47 am
Kyle, do I sense a certain admiration for this con artist? Chip is the classic con artist and could just as easily sell stocks, used cars, aluminum siding or sub-prime mortgages to the less sophisticated. After all, to be a successful con artist you have to be more likeable than your average person. And, don’t you even have a little journalistic curiosity as to the real reason he has abandoned, at least temporarily, politics just a few months after enduring a hard fought reelection campaign?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 5th, 2012
8:54 am
What is the government but one giant con artist?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 5th, 2012
8:55 am
Has anyone seen the last round of stimulus money lately?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 5th, 2012
8:57 am
One good thing about obama’s reelection, at least he won’t have to use billions of our tax dollars to fund another campaign.
Whirled Peas
December 5th, 2012
8:57 am
It is time we stopped picking the pockets for the citizens to fund a government broadcasting system. Take the funds designated for PBS and use them to fund the US Post Office for a while. Or better yet, privatize mail delivery and use the PBS funds to pay down the debt.
JamVet
December 5th, 2012
9:10 am
What is the government but one giant con artist?
Air Iran is ready when you are.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
9:11 am
What is the government but one giant con artist?
And yet you still live here? Perhaps Brazil is more to your liking? Nairobi? Lots of others to choose from.
JamVet
December 5th, 2012
9:12 am
Hating America – the new GOP platform.
(And secret to their recent stunning election day success…)