Archive for the ‘libertarians’ Category

Atlanta markets itself as the ATL. A better nickname would be the ATM.

Four major GOP fundraisers will be draining cash from the area today. And unless you’ve got a well-stocked wallet, you’re not invited.

U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss are hosting a fund-raiser for their Republican colleague Scott Brown, who’s attempting to fend off a challenge from Democrat Elizabeth Warren. And Georgia’s House Republicans will have Speaker John Boehner of Ohio in town.

But neither Brown nor Boehner will be at the largest event, a 6 p.m. bash at the Cobb Energy Centre that will feature a “special introduction” by Newt Gingrich of Republican presidential champion Mitt Romney. So far as we know, it’s the first joint stage appearance for the pair since that long-ago debate in Arizona.

It will also be a very private moment, limited to those willing to shell out at least $1,000 for the privilege. The Sunlight Foundation tells us that donors are being asked use the …

Continue reading Newt Gingrich’s ‘special introduction’ of Mitt Romney will be a private affair »

From Charlie Harper, aka Icarus Pundit, at PeachPundit:

When candidate qualifying ended last week, Brett Bittner was the only person who put his name on the ballot for an open seat with the Marietta School Board. He is now presumptively elected to serve the school system in the Cobb County city northwest of Atlanta.

Uncontested local races are generally not political events from which headlines are made. Bittner’s situation is unique in that he is the executive director of the Libertarian Party of Georgia. While the race is officially non-partisan, he is believed to become the third member of the Libertarian Party to hold office in Georgia.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

Continue reading Libertarian wins spot on Marietta school board by default »

Last week, in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman declared that what this country needs is a good third party.

His was just a cold assessment of “the political marketplace,” insisted Huntsman, who – as he exited the race last month — endorsed Mitt Romney. “We need something to compete against the [Democratic-Republican] duopoly that is getting old and tired,” the former governor of Utah said.

“That ain’t going to me, by the way. I’m not interested in that,” Huntsman added. Within minutes, former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer announced that he, too, had abandoned his quest for the GOP presidential nomination, and would run as an independent. Not that many noticed.

Gary Johnson speaks during the Libertarian Party presidential candidate debate in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel

Truth be told, the better third-party bet was in Athens this weekend, attending the state …

Continue reading Gary Johnson and the possibilities of a third-party candidacy »

The Fulton County Republican party had thought of tonight as an opportunity to celebrate Herman Cain’s spectacular rise to the top of the polls in the GOP race for president – but it will have to do so without the candidate.

A spokesman for Cain’s campaign confirmed to my AJC colleague Aaron Gould Sheinin that he won’t be able to make the Atlanta gig. No reason was given.

Cain’s rapidly growing staff has been struggling to keep up with increased demands. But last week, his spokesman also said a slower, more deliberate pace would help Cain reduce the number of missteps he’s made in interviews and speeches on such topics as electric fences and abortion.

And, no doubt, an appearance in Buckhead would attract a scrum of reporters who aren’t finished talking about sexual harassment.

So instead, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich will be providing the keynote address – but even that will be via a taped message from Iowa.

The 5:30 – 10 p.m. event is at the W Atlanta …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Herman Cain opts out of tonight’s Fulton GOP dinner »

Savannah and the rest of Georgia will spend the next two weeks praying that President Barack Obama will include $551 million in his budget for the dredging of the Port of Savannah.

But Larry Peterson of the Savannah Morning News thinks a Plan B may be in the works that no one wants to talk about. From this weekend:

[Gov. Nathan Deal] asked for only $563 million in bonds for capital projects such as deepening – down from the nearly $1 billion Perdue sought last year.

Deal says he did so to preserve the state’s AAA bond rating. But it also leaves room for the state to pick up the slack if the feds don’t come through.

For obvious reasons, he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“I don’t want to give the federal government any reason not to be a full partner,” he said….

But the day before, he told a group in Buckhead, “Quite honestly, I hope we don’t have to carry the whole load.”

Which, of course, was an indirect way of acknowledging that the state might do just that.

A bigger bond …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Georgia prepared to go it alone with Savannah dredging? »

The Libertarian Party of Georgia is out today with its legislative agenda.

No big surprises – the group endorses elimination of the corporate income tax, zero-based budgeting, Sunday sales of beer and wine, and so on. Read the entire platform here.

The most innovative idea may be this proposed adjustment to the use of special local option sales taxes – which are becoming a larger part of local government funding:

Many counties and cities depend on the funds from this tax and we offer the following to allow for better implementation. We offer that fractions of a percent, .5%, .25%, and .1%, rather than an entire percent be available as options for counties to consider.

We also advocate that the referendums to determine a SPLOST’s passage or failure only occur during even-numbered years’ general elections to allow for the greatest number of citizens affected to vote on the measure. Both of these proposals provide more accountability to the voters and allow for more …

Continue reading Libertarians: When it comes to SPLOST, think fractions »