Your morning jolt: Sonny Perdue comes down with a case of Bulldog frustration

Note to Mark Richt: Bulldog frustration now extends to a certain address on West Paces Ferry Road.

From the Savannah Morning News:

[T]he alumnus in chief – Gov. Sonny Perdue – has joined those who are barking at the Dawgs.

Gov. Sonny Perdue. Ben Gray bgray@ajc.com

Perdue, who played for Georgia in the 1960s, said Monday the team needs more “intensity” and must get “serious about winning.”

“I hope it’s temporary,” he said at a news conference that was about politics until someone noted Georgia is 0-3 so far in the Southeastern Conference.

“I love Coach (Mark) Richt,” said the former high school and college quarterback, who now calls plays for state government.

But Perdue, who recently gave an inspirational talk to the fledgling Georgia State University team, had only tough love for his alma mater.

“There is a level of intensity that we’ve got to demonstrate for the rest of the season,” said Perdue, who had a cameo role in the film, “We are Marshall.”

The governor said the Dawgs must “let the fans … know we’re serious about winning.”

“We have a national championship threshold,” he said, “and we ought to be dissatisfied every season that doesn’t happen.”

Here’s the thing: You can imagine Perdue giving nearly the same pep talk to the Republican who wants to replace him. Just replace “Dawgs” with Nathan Deal.

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At the same presser in Savannah, U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, declared that it would be “a heavy lift” to get the federal cash necessary to dredge the harbor of Savannah in time to match the completion of similar big-ship improvements to the Panama Canal.

Again, from the Savannah Morning News:

“I think it’s going to be tough,” said Kingston, a Savannah Republican who met reporters Monday with Gov. Sonny Perdue. “I think the challenge is real.”

Perdue said one hurdle is getting approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which he said will act on the matter next summer.

The Corps is studying environmental and economic impacts of deepening the harbor from 42 feet to 48 feet – deep enough for the new ships.

But Kingston said an even bigger barrier is finding the $450 million needed for the project.

He said the state has committed $150 million, which means supporters must persuade federal officials to ante up the remaining $300 million.
That will be the hard part, said Kingston, who added that he’s been pushing the project for 13 years.

“Right now, for every dollar we spend, 40 cents is borrowed,” he said, referring to deficit spending, “And we are going to have tough budgets ahead of us for the next several years.”

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On Monday, Republican nominee for governor Nathan Deal got an all-important shout-out from talk show archbishop Rush Limbaugh, who took up the matter of GOP candidates and poor finances.

Said Limbaugh:

”Chris Dodd gets all these sweetheart deals from Angelo Mozilo, whatever his name was at Countrywide on these mortgages?

“That’s something you and I can’t get. That’s something Christine O’Donnell can’t get. That’s the kind of stuff that’s acting people. This is what the ruling class doesn’t get.

“The fact that some guy named Nathan Deal had a failed business venture and might have to sell his house and liquidate other assets to cover the debt, that’s something people with relate to. He’s not stealing from anybody. He’s not being shown any favoritism. He took a risk, he’s paying the price, and he’s running for governor. He can relate to a lot of people.”

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Ken Hodges, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, has delivered absolute proof that the modern political campaign season extends far, far too long.

Scratch that. Melissa Hodges, his wife, took care of the delivery.

The couple announced the birth of John “Jack” Bryant Hodges in the wee hours of Monday. The newest Hodges weighed in at seven pounds, six ounces.

This is the second child born during Ken Hodges pursuit of the attorney general’s office. Margaret Hodges was born in May of last year.

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Blog for Democracy has posted what it says is a robo-call paid for by the campaign of state Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta) – or someone close to her. Chambers faces Democratic challenger Elena Parent in the Nov. 2 general election:

”This is an important voter alert for PTA members in DeKalb County. Candidate Elena Parent has taken over $22,000 intended for our school children in campaign contributions from a law firm representing the corrupt DeKalb school board.

“DeKalb County can no longer afford to have politicians Crawford Lewis, the indicted former school superintendent, and Elena Parent jeopardize our school system’s future. Since these contributions became public last week, Elena Parent has repeatedly refused to return the money.

“Please call Elena Parent today and tell her to return these contributions….”

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