John Linder announces retirement from Congress
U.S. Rep. John Linder was first elected to Congress in 1992/AJC file.
U.S. Rep. John Linder, the Republican from Gwinnett County, this morning announced that he would retire from Congress after 18 years.
Linder made the announcement at the dedication of a new Gwinnett County GOP headquarters. Linder aide Derick Corbett confirmed the congressman’s decision. “He will not seek re-election,” Corbett said.
The announcement, made at the tail end of a brief speech by Linder, caught attendees off-guard. “Nobody knew it was coming,” said David Hancock, District 2 manager for the Gwinnett GOP.
Linder was one of Newt Gingrich’s top lieutenants when he was U.S. House speaker, and most recently has been an advocate (paired with radio commentator Neal Boortz) for a sales tax to replace the federal income tax.
His retirement will set off a rush for his seat, which is solidly Republican. Among the likely contenders is Don Balfour, the state Senate rules chairman.
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195 comments Add your comment
Ted
February 27th, 2010
12:48 pm
It’s losers like UGA Grad that are the problem in this country. That Dentist that you demonized because of how often he works and what he drives has spent years in school perfecting a craft/trade/service, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars to himself and his family, not to mention the time invested. The marketplace dictates what he can charge. If you don’t like it, move to a country like Britain where the NHS will make sure you have the same dental coverage as everyone else. And in case you haven’t seen the average Brit’s teeth, I’ll tell you that coverage is crap.
Linder has been an outstanding public servant to the people of his district. Smart, honest and trustworthy. He will be sorely missed.
Dave
February 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
UGAGrad proves my point.
Because his dentist makes more money and has nicer stuff, he should be punished.
UGAGrad, this is the position you put yourself in by majoring in basket weaving while at UGA, when your dentist majored in something that he could actually use in the real world.
Now he provides a service that people want (even you!), and makes a great living at it while you think that bringing him down to your level of misery is the thing to do.
74Dawg
February 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
John Linder is one of the best, most honest, least power seeking members of the political class I have ever met. A genuinely nice guy regardless of political persuasion. Additionally, he is one of the few Republicans I would refer to as an “idea Republican”. He will be sorely missed. He is exactly what we need more of in Congress right now.
whatsinaname
February 27th, 2010
12:52 pm
Truth – things haven’t passed because (thank goodness) we have some people in Washington that see the current administration for what it really is, and how harmful they would be for our way of life.
Yes, you have the right to call people names. I would just hope you also have the age and maturity to know that name calling is for children and their temper tantrums
Dave
February 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
Hey Truth, did you actually research how many fillibusters there have been in the current congress?
I’ll clue you in:
0
Yup, zero. Your guy couldn’t get it done with a 78 seat majority in the House of Representatives, and a 60-40 majority in the Senate. The fact is that he didn’t need ONE REPUBLICAN vote and still couldn’t get it done.
That is called a year long ride on the failboat..
JJ
February 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
Job losses in Dec 09 were almost 700,000 and that with the seasonality associated with holidays, in November 09 they had slowed to 200K. The legacy of Bush is economic meltdown, subsidizes to bankers and big Pharam, two wars, and torture. He makes Hebert Hoover look like Thomas Jefferson.
Madison
February 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
Brian, believe me I have read the bill. I have also sent questions to Fairtax.org asking them questions about parts of the bill. They have refused to give me a straight answer. A question for you is how would the fairtax affect the housing industry? The tax on a 200,000 house would have to be paid with the down payment so a person would have to have about 70,000 at closing. I don’t think any bank would finance the tax portion and if they did you would then be paying a tax on a tax(section 801). Was that what you were sitting back waiting on?
Jeff
February 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
JJ that is flat out a lie. Not surprising though considering how dems lie and cheat. Just look at the losers in obama’s admin.
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=chart+unemployment+rate
Summit Dawg
February 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
Madison and UGA Grad……Neither of you even know what is in the “Fair Tax!”…..Read the damn book before you display your ignorance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Madison
February 27th, 2010
12:59 pm
Summit Dawg, DON”T associate me with UGA Grad and I have read the bill. You are probably not smart enough to know that bills are made into laws not books.
Alabama Communist
February 27th, 2010
12:59 pm
Meanwhile the Tea Party said today they would field 234 Candiates in the Primary to assured that no illegal Alien Lizard from Mexico would enter the Primary under the assume name of Sara Palin..
Keep doing this GOP
February 27th, 2010
1:00 pm
Is the fair tax constitutional? And how would it help the poor? We would have to cut spending big time if we employed the fair tax, including defense by billions of dollars. And we are so much in debt, thanks to Presidents Reagan, Bush41 and Bush43 that if it was constitutional, i doubt if China would go along with it.
Jeff
February 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
Hye jj you idiot. It was democrats who pushed for fannie and feddie to give loans to people who had no business getting them. It was your socialist pos guys like franklin raines and frank that screwed this country over while receiving kickbacks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300184.html
Oh and what org is still receiving billions in bailout funds and NOT having the obama admin come down on them with his regulations? That would be fannie and freddie. Idiot
Silver Creek
February 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
TC, the top 1% that earns 25% of the income also pays 40% of the income taxes. I suppose you think that’s fair?
The top 50% of wage earners pay more than 97% of the income taxes. Under the current administration’s plan, the bottom 50% will pay NO taxes at all and probably get checks back from the government (the wonderful refundable tax credits). How fair is that?
JJ
February 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
Do you understand the difference in unemployment rate verses job losses? Check the Depatment of Labor.
@UGA grad
February 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
Re: your post at 12:03- It doesn’t matter if your Dentist has a big house, a big car, and a vacation home. If you had the intellect to earn a dental degree and the balls to run your own business, you could have been a Dentist and had the same goodies. It also doesn’t matter that your insurance paid only 30% of your bill. If you had purchased better insurance (with higher premiums), more of the bill would have been covered. Do you seriously expect an insurance company to offer a policy where they pay out more on average than they take in?
You are an example of the pussification of this nation. You and your ilk resent achivers, covet that which you don’t have, and blame “the system” for every shortcoming in life. My guess is that you voted for Obama. Man up and grow a pair, son!
JJ
February 27th, 2010
1:08 pm
Banks not associated with the CRA had lower default rates than those that were not. Wow turn off Fox News and read sometime.
Chris
February 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
I see the obamabots are out today. You people are clueless. You have no idea what is happening and what is COMING unless spending by the gov’t drastically reduced. Higher taxes are coming and it will hit you. Then it will be too late. What is happening in Calif is coming here. This is what happens when you vote in socialist progressives. 15,000 former bureaucrats get pensions of more than $100,000 per year in california.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/bureaucrats-vs-taxpayers-part-vi/
td
February 27th, 2010
1:16 pm
I do not care if you are Democrat or Republican it is time to for the people to send a message to the political class. Everyone needs to vote in the primary and vote for the person on the ballot without an I beside their name. If the person is running unopposed then you need to write in Mickey Mouse as your candidate of choice. Send the message to the political class that we are tired of them not listening to we the people.
Jeff
February 27th, 2010
1:17 pm
Yes I understand. Apparently you don’t. Your first post said UNEMPLOYMENT you dolt.
Job losses have been MUCH higher in obama’s first year than in Bush’s last. That’s why the unemployment rate keeps RISING, you dumass ignorant liberal.
wild one
February 27th, 2010
1:19 pm
Just think how great it would be if the lazy sorry a$$ people of this once great country did not have a gov check to look forward to every month. A check that gets bigger the more children you burden the working class with to support, feed, educate and then incarcerate. I feel I am not paid enough for the job I do but, I was raised to work and earn what I get. If people quit waiting in their handout and had to work or starve to death maybe we could bring our country to the greatness our forefathers envisioned when they started this great nation.
tc
February 27th, 2010
1:20 pm
well silver creek, if they continue the top 1% continue to earn 25% income and we go to fair tax, i believe the fair tax math is way off as documented by several studies. you probably thought reagan was a good guy, well he raised taxes in california and though he reduced us tax rates the marginal rates were at one time 70% or close to it.
i ask this question again: if a billionire already has his gagle of assets home, cars, toys, etc.
who makes up for all that lost revenue? and really shouldn’t he have to pay proportionately for national defense protecting his vast wealth and job…..ie he lives in a $3M home, mine $300k, shouldn’t he pay more for defense than me? like i said i could support a fair tax but there should be an intangible tax that maybe phases out over time, but the numbers really don’t work based on the studies i read some time ago.
do you really think those f#cktards on wall street earned their mone?
Dave
February 27th, 2010
1:20 pm
Deficit when Bush left office(Eight years): 455 Billion
Deficit after first year of Obama : 1.53 Trillion
Liberals hate facts, they are like kryptonite to Superman.
Chris
February 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/greece-236468-government-america.html
Dave
February 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
Taxes aren’t supposed to help the poor, charities are for helping the poor.
Exactly what is wrong with this country can be summed up by people who think the government exists to help the poor.
stew
February 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
He was OK but too partisan although not liberal. He was a big supporter of CAFTA and NAFTA opening the doors to the massive invasion of illegals we have in Gwinnett. He was politically forced to become anti-immigration but it was too late. I hope we can elect a Tea Party canditate to replace him.
tc
February 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
silver creek, i do agree no one should be exempt from income taxes, i also believe if you don’t have any skin (paid taxes of some form & not too old or incapacitated) you don’t get a vote. and if you want to vote you have to prove minimal level understanding of govt and intelligence. so should our legislators, intelligence and pay their taxes. at the rate we are going don’t you think the middle class is going to be like the dodo bird?
itpdude
February 27th, 2010
1:30 pm
I want Babarr to run because he’s gooder.
Adam
February 27th, 2010
1:36 pm
Unemployment is a LAGGING indicator jj. Jobs took their biggest hits in bush’s last 2 months and obama’s first 3. My god, you would expect them to improve. There are only so many out there. The issue is obama lied about how many his admin would create. And he hasn’t come close to what he said would happen along with his 8% unemployment. The socialist progressives are trying to turn ruin this country. Most people have woken up to their agenda of big gov’t. They want nice quiet little servants and high taxes to keep them in power. This is what happens when you let idiot progressives like pelosi reid and obama run things. These idiots have never worked in the private sector in their life. They have no clue about the average american who is disgusted. 8 months until these scumbags get booted out.
@ tc
February 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
Re: your question about a billionaire needing to pay more for national defence than one of us normal folks, I’d say that he needs to pay the same, not more. The fact that he is succesful because of hard work, good choices, taking risks, and maybe even some luck doesn’t mean that he needs to shoulder more burden than we do. His backside is worth the same as yours or mine, so he needs to pay the same to defend it.
Georgia Congressman John Linder to retire | Politisite
February 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
[...] via John Linder announces retirement from Congress | Political Insider. [...]
Rick
February 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
Obama has spent more in one year than bush did in his last 4. Both were horrible when it comes to debt but obama is a monstrosity. It’s time to get a true conservative in here to cut bs gov’t programs and get this country back on track.
Michael
February 27th, 2010
1:40 pm
The Fair Tax is a Great Idea and an even Greater political platform. You see, it sounds and looks great but it can NEVER be implemented. Consequently you can talk about it all the time, run campaigns on it, have focus groups on it, but never have to worry about what will happen if it were ever enacted. It’s a McGufffin, chimera, red herring, or any other term you can use to describe how you get the people (mob) all worked up about nothing and then they take their eyes off the corruption where politicians just steal from us.
Susan Y. Gilbert
February 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
NO NO NO!!!! Please don’t leave us! You are one of the only sane ones up there!
Michael
February 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
And yes, it’s all Obama’s fault. If he hadn’t been so lazy and decided to run and win in 2004 instead of 2008, we could have avoided this disaster.
Dentist
February 27th, 2010
1:44 pm
Ted – that dentist (Linder) you glorify = here are the facts. He went to college for 8 straight years during Vietnam in order to avoid service. When he graduated he joined the AF and never went to Nam- with no chance of combat anyway. THEN – he practiced dentistry for 3 years before he realized the only reason he went into dentistry was to avoid Nam. He quit dentistry in the 70s and became a legal loan shark – thus he is one of the 10 richest men in DC. A real American HERO!
Why focus on the rich?
February 27th, 2010
1:45 pm
I’m stunned at the number of comments that begrudge people that make more than the writer of the post does. It’s very simple. If you work hard (really hard), make good decisions, develop the skills required in your field of work, and make a reasonable attempt to get along with others, you are going to make a decent living and mabe even a very good living. You might never become rich, but you are going to have enough to live on and to have a few luxuries. Anyone who doesn’t make enough to live on needs to blame themself, not others for making too much. Bottom line- you are responsible for your own actions and the results of those actions.
tc
February 27th, 2010
1:48 pm
i think some of you would root for the sheriff of nottingham v robin hood, dave do you think momentum had something to do with deficits and jobs….and the fact the those who rule business really don’t want things to change and thus stymied growth (ie banks have money but they won’t lend). i don’t want socialism but i don’t like the plutarchy developing either.
@Dentist
February 27th, 2010
1:48 pm
If Linder is one of the 10 richest men in DC, so what? That has nothing to do with his qualifications or his record. I’ve seen his home. It’s nice, but not what you’d expect a “rich” man to won. I seriously doubt that he’s as wealthy as you say….
Dave
February 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
tc,
This administration has done everything it can to ensure that nobody can or will hire anyone for the next 5 years other than government. It is funny how when Bush had a 5% unemployment rate it was “the worst economy since the great depression”, but now it is at 10% and they want to triple your electric bill via cap and trade and take over health care because everything is just peachy-keen?
I would submit that at least a portion of any momentum was caused by people knowing exactly what Obama had in store for them(higher taxes, more regulation), so they battened down the hatches early by getting rid of people.
As far as banks go, they are one of the most regulated, yet most poorly regulated entities on the planet. The government has told banks for years that they had to loan 500k to Jiffy Lube employees (CRA) for houses, then when the banks have to cover those losses on mortgages that should never have been made in the first place by holding a stronger cash position and not lending money, everyone gets all pissy about it. I remember the hoops I had to go through to buy my house 20 years ago, money in the bank, 10% down, a steady income and good credit rating. I jumped through the hoops and bought a house I could afford easily because it actually meant something back then and was something to work hard for, not some giveaway program. I don’t blame the banks for not loaning money right now, hell, I wouldn’t either.
Dee
February 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
Madison, why do you say the Fair Tax plan is moronic?
tc
February 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
@tc….so i guess his home insurance should be the same as mine? if your logic holds how in the heck did we get a progressive tax rate schedule? i guess people back then were closer together on the income earning scale…..otherwise how do you account for it.
General Sherman
February 27th, 2010
2:07 pm
Just to put it simple for you,we are losing another lying,stealing,greedy and sorry professional politician!
Bill Orvis White
February 27th, 2010
2:09 pm
Another good man run out of town by the left-wing media. His replacement will definitely be a solid conservative Republican. There is no way a left-wing Socialist Democrat will be elected to that seat. The Honorable Mr. Linder will be credited with being a fine conservative who made GA’s 7th a quality district that is home to conservatism at its highest levels. I’ll be opening my wallet to a good Republican who will run for this seat so that he can stop the Obama/Pelosi/Reid radical agenda.
Dee
February 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
UGA grad–a flat tax is not at all what the “fair tax” is–A Flat Tax is regressive, but the “Fair Tax” is not regressive. No one will pay tax on food, shelter, medicine–
Dave
February 27th, 2010
2:13 pm
Just a side note: Businesses don’t exist to provide jobs, that is an ancillary effect. Businesses exist to make money for the people who invest their money in the company.
If you look at your local store as existing merely to provide jobs, you are missing the big picture. Your own employer employs you because they need a person with your skill set and are willing to compensate you for using those skills to help them make money. They owe you nothing beyond that. If they don’t make any money, they don’t need you anymore. There is no moral imperative to keep you employed if they are going broke.
Cleo
February 27th, 2010
2:13 pm
Good riddance!
Dee
February 27th, 2010
2:14 pm
If UGA grad leaves the state of Georgia and moves to Mexico, won’t that raise the IQ of both places?
Your is possessive, you’re is contraction for you are
tc
February 27th, 2010
2:17 pm
if repubs controlled white house and congress for 6 years, why didn’t they do fair tax? they rammed bush tax cuts thru reconciliation. if it sounds too good to be true…..! maybe a state now collecting income tax could adopt the fair tax approach with feds guaranteeing some participation if it fails. then we could see if it works at state level then expand. repubs say the states are the incubators all the time.
.
Chuck
February 27th, 2010
2:28 pm
Finally! Maybe we can can get someone that really cares about disabled vets outside of photo ops and campaign stops. Good riddance.