Archive for the ‘"Meet the Press"’ Category

As of this weekend, Chick-fil-A is no longer the latest commercial interest roiled by an attempt to disengage from the culture wars.

That honor has shifted to Lynyrd Skynyrd, now in its 42 year as the South’s premier rock band.

From left, Gary Rossington, Rickey Medlocke and Johnny Van Zant (cq) of the group Lynyrd Skynyrd during their 2007 induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. AJC file

Earlier this month, in a CNN interview touting the band’s latest album, “Last of a Dyin’ Breed,” guitarist Gary Rossington – the group’s sole original member – explained why band members had distanced themselves from the Confederate battle emblem that had once been so identified with their performances. Said Rossington:

”It became such an issue, you know, about race and stuff, where – we just had it in the beginning as we were Southern, and that was our image back in the ‘70s, late ‘60s. They branded us as being from the South, so we showed that.

“But I think through the years, people …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Lynyrd Skynyrd rethinks Confederate flag retreat »

Kasim Reed’s shtick at home is one of bipartisan cooperation with Republicans inside the state Capitol.

But when he is on NBC’s “Meet the Press” – today was what, his fourth appearance this year? – the mayor of Atlanta isn’t on camera to appeal to the middle. Reed is there to do damage on behalf of President Barack Obama.

This morning, Reed was out to highlight GOP dissatisfaction with Mitt Romney in particularly Southern terms:

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From the transcript:

Kasim Reed: The best analysis of this election this year that I’ve heard was from a Republican friend that I was having dinner with. He said that this guy is defective. He said he’s like being a– a bad NASCAR driver on a rich team. He said no matter how good the car is, no matter how bad the pit crew is, the driver has got to drive the car. And this guy puts it on the wall every single time. He puts it…

Bay Buchanan: If he shows…

Reed: …no, no, no, …

Continue reading Kasim Reed: Mitt Romney is like a ‘bad NASCAR driver’ »

Divers with Cobb County Police Department during last week’s search for the body of 13-year-old Griffin Prince at Shoal Creek on Lake Lanier in Buford, Ga. The body of the teenager was recovered Wednesday. Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.com

In a note of thanks to divers, law enforcement personnel and volunteers who worked to recover the body of Griffin Prince from Lake Lanier, Gov. Nathan Deal this morning said he would back a lowering of legal blood alcohol limits for boaters and hunters.

Said Deal:

“The current blood alcohol limit of .10 for boating and hunting is far too high. As a state, we need to have one level across the board. When the General Assembly convenes in January, I will work with the House and Senate to pass legislation that lowers the legal limit to .08 for boating and hunting – in line with the legal limit for driving a vehicle. As governor it is my priority to protect Georgians to the best of my ability and enforce the law. Far too many tragedies have occurred as …

Continue reading Nathan Deal: Enough with the drunk boating and hunting »

Demography, like a glacier, is slow but relentless.

If you wonder why there’s been so much discussion of the Latino vote lately, take a look at these figures that Alan Abramowitz, the Emory University political scientist, drew from the Georgia Secretary of State’s monthly data:

In May of 2008, African-Americans made up 28 percent of active registered voters in Georgia while whites made up 65 percent and “other” race (a category that’s hard to interpret but presumably includes a lot of Hispanics and Asians since very few of them identify themselves as Hispanic or Asian) made up 7 percent.

In May of 2012, African-Americans made up 29.4 percent of active registered voters, whites made up 60.2 percent, and “other” race made up 10.4 percent.

So the downward trend in the white share of voters in Georgia has continued. There is certainly no evidence here that nonwhites have been disappearing from the rolls of registered voters. In all likelihood, the nonwhite share will increase …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: White voter registration in Georgia down to 60 percent »

On NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, the decision by President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign to focus on Republican Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital past was again an issue.

But Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, unlike Newark, N.J., Cory Booker, made no apologies. In fact, he criticized Democrats – former President Bill Clinton implicit among them – who are demanding that Obama “fight with one hand tied behind his back.” Watch here:

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Reed sent out advance notice of his appearance last night to fellow Democrats, with this closing message that indicates he may be about to take a larger role in state party doings:

”My goal is to represent your voice — Georgia Democrats — as we head toward victory in November together.”

Kerwin Swint, the political scientist over at Kennesaw State University, today posted his observations on Reed as an emerging national figure, but closes with this bit of criticism:

The Atlanta …

Continue reading Kasim Reed: Democrats shouldn’t ask Obama to fight ‘with one hand behind his back’ »

No pressure here.

Two weeks after Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker crashed and burned as a Barack Obama surrogate on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the same duty will fall this Sunday to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Reed, in his fourth appearance on the program, will make up a discussion quartet with Romney senior advisor Kevin Madden, former John McCain strategist Steve Schmidt, and Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress Neera Tanden.

On the May 20 program, Booker declared himself disgusted by the tenor of the current political debate: “This kind of stuff is nauseating to me on both sides. It’s nauseating to the American public. Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity; stop attacking Jeremiah Wright.”

Much hoopla ensued afterwards among Democrats. Ultimately, Booker’s communications director resigned.

The Bain Capital issue hasn’t gone away. Reed may be able to sidestep Booker’s remarks. But the mayor Atlanta will have to address similar sentiments

Continue reading Kasim Reed takes Cory Booker’s chair on ‘Meet the Press’ »

We’ve been passed word that NBC’s “Meet the Press,” on the last Sunday before Super Tuesday, will lead with GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. (Rick Santorum was the guest last Sunday.)

What’s interesting is that on the roundtable digesting Gingrich’s remarks – and presumably talking up the Democratic incumbent — will be Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Although, to be fair, Reed has become very familiar with Republican politics in the last three years.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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Continue reading ‘Meet the Press’ line up for Sunday: Newt Gingrich and Kasim Reed »

From Walter Jones and Morris News Service:

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal is considering extending the state sales tax to online purchases, he told newspaper publishers Thursday.

Eight states already tax electronic commerce, but most states have held off because Congress had signaled it would devise a national model to simplify the thousands of tax rates used by state and local governments across the country.

Deal said he wasn’t content to wait on Congress to act on immigration enforcement when he signed a tough law last year and that states may grow tired of waiting for federal leadership on e-commerce, too.

Deal said he wasn’t content to wait on Congress to act on immigration enforcement when he signed a tough law last year and that states may grow tired of waiting for federal leadership on e-commerce, too.

Brian Robinson, a spokesman for Deal, takes issue with those who say the governor is contemplating a new tax. From an e-mail this afternoon:

“It’s current law that all …

Continue reading Report: Nathan Deal considers extending sales tax enforcement to Internet purchases »

Federal campaign reports have begun to trickle in, bringing with them an outline of next year’s congressional primaries.

The 9th District congressional campaign of Doug Collins, the state lawmaker from Gainesville, reports raising $114,235 as of Sept. 30, with only slightly less on hand. Seventy-five percent of the cash came from within the northeast Georgia district.

The report from Gainesville radio talk show host Martha Zoller has yet to pop up – but her strategist, Joel McElhannon, says the campaign will report about $30,000 raised.

Collins, as you know, has strong links to both Gov. Nathan Deal and House Speaker David Ralston. Zoller has courted the tea party crowd. But the dynamics of the race may be about to change.

We’re hearing that Hunter Bicknell, chairman of the Jackson County Commission, is giving some thought to entering the race, with the object of capturing the non-Hall County vote. From the county’s web site:

A graduate of Georgia State University, Hunter …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: 9th District race for Congress may be about to grow »

Just in case you were at church, or perhaps slept in, here’s GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain making his first appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this morning. Topmost in the discussion was the viability of Cain’s “9-9-9 plan” that would include a new national sales tax:

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You can find the transcript here, if you prefer.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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

Continue reading Herman Cain’s debut on ‘Meet the Press’ »