U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., has been appointed to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be appointed to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy,” Isakson. “The academy prepares promising young men and women to serve as leaders in the maritime industry and the armed services.”

As a member of the Board of Visitors, Isakson will visit the academy annually and make recommendations on the operation of the academy. The academy, which is operated by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1943. Its college level, four-year program is fully accredited. More than 21,700 academy graduates have served the maritime industry and the Armed Forces both at sea and ashore.

The board consists of one senator appointed by the Vice President; two senators appointed by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House; three members of the House of Representatives appointed jointly by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and by the chairman of the House Committee on National Security.

As a U.S. senator, Isakson also has a role in nominating students to the Merchant Marine Academy. The annual nomination of young people to all of our nation’s military academies is the responsibility of each Member of Congress. Those nominees who are accepted into the academies are awarded full four-year scholarships, which are valued around $400,000 each on average and include tuition, books, board, medical and dental care. Since his election to the Senate in 2004, some 120 Isakson nominees have been accepted into U.S. military academies.

John Albers running for State Senate District 56

Roswell civic leader John Albers declared today he will seek the Republican nomination for State Senate District 56. The seat is being vacated by the retirement of Senator Dan Moody.

“For the past 4 terms we have been blessed with Senator Dan Moody representing the 56th district with honor and integrity. With Senator Moody’s pending retirement in 2010, there are big shoes to fill and it is with a humble heart and passion for service that I am announcing my candidacy”, said Albers.

“Senator Moody has been very gracious with his time meeting and counseling me through this process”,said Albers.

Albers is an active community leader and family man. The father of two boys, John has been active in the Boy Scouts and coaching youth sports. He is a fourth generation firefighter volunteering in Alpharetta and also serves as the Chairman of the Public Safety Foundation.

A successful small business owner and corporate executive, John has turned his passion for serving others into leadership roles in dozens of community, civic and faith based organizations.

He and his wife of over 16 years, Kari, have two terrific sons Will & Ryan, ages 13 and 6. The Albers are active members of Roswell United Methodist Church.

Said Albers, “My faith and conservative principles inspire my drive to serve others and lead by example. I want to take that same work ethic to the State Senate to serve every person in our community.”

“Elected officials work for their constituents, not personal interests, so I encourage the voters to send me an email or call. In the coming months, voters across our district will be hearing a lot more from me and my plan for traffic relief, lower taxes, and better support for our schools in the coming months. I hope my proven record of service and conservative vision for our future will earn the vote and support of the people of this Senate District.” Albers launched a campaign website for more information at www.votealbers.com.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry is pleased to announce the launch of the “States’ Rights Tour” across Georgia beginning August 1, 2009 in Cherokee County. The tour will cover the entire state during the months of August through October.

States’ Rights has recently been a topic much in the news as traditional conservatives across America look for a constitutional solution to an out-of-control federal government; and Ray McBerry has been one of the leading speakers across America on the subject of States’ Rights for more than a decade. The theme of Ray’s campaign for governor, from the beginning, has been “Georgia First!”

The subject of States’ Rights took on a more prominent place in Georgia news in May when the state joined twenty-two other states in passing State Sovereignty resolutions in the Georgia State Senate under the authorship of Sen. Chip Pearson.

Recent attacks by Democratic gubernatorial candidates, including Roy Barnes, against the States’ Rights stand taken by several Republican candidates have led off with Ray’s photo and references to Ray’s comments about the constitutionality of States’ Rights under the Tenth Amendment. Responding to these attacks, Ray commented, “I have been speaking out on the need for the states to, once again, exercise their sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to rein in an out-of-control federal government in defense of the people’s liberty. I am more than happy to be the ‘point man’ for States’ Rights in this race for governor.”

The “States’ Rights Tour” will be joined by State Insurance Commissioner candidate Gerry Purcell and a number of other statewide and local candidates and elected officials who have expressed their mutual support for the principle of States’ Rights.

More information about the upcoming “States’ Rights Tour” will be available shortly at www.GeorgiaFirst.org or by contacting Jenny Hodges, campaign director for Ray McBerry for Governor, at 404.435.8852.

As you can see in the pictures from the previous post, I attended today’s 14th Annual Fulton County Republican Party BBQ. It was a chance for me to meet some of the candidates face to face and talk with staffers and supporters, some of whom I have known for 14 years. Last month, I attended the Gwinnett County GOP BBQ and let me say how thankful I was today that the event was indoors and air conditioned.

I enjoyed spending a few minutes with my old boss and his wife, Rusty and Jan Paul. I worked on the PR side with Rusty many years ago. Glad to hear their family is doing well. I also spent a few minutes chatting with Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, Sam Olens, Ray McBerry, Eric Johnson, John Albers and Bill Simon from PoliticalToolKit.com.

Next week, it’s the Cobb GOP BBQ on the 4th of July. Oh and by the way, today’s food was great.

State Rep. Austin Scott, candidate for Governor in 2010, announces that he will embark on a 1,000-mile “Walk of Georgia” tour to begin Saturday, June 27 at Chickamauga in northwest Georgia.

Scott’s walk will take him on foot through more than 1,000 miles of the State in order to meet citizens, listen to their concerns, and ask for their support.

“I am committed to walking throughout the State to listen to my fellow citizens about the challenges they face. I intend to walk right into a runoff alongside whichever candidate purchases the other slot,” Scott said. “Candidates talk of listening to the voters of Georgia but never give them a chance to be heard. I’m changing that with my walk with Georgians.”

The walking and listening tour will take Scott through 48 Georgia counties and dozens of cities and towns with many events along the way. The walk ends on the steps of the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Georgians are invited to participate by walking alongside Scott or by following his progress online at www.WalkingWithAustin.com.

A detailed map of the cities on the tour and the ability to put in a request for Scott to stop and speak to a group of citizens along his way are available on the website.

“I am bringing my campaign’s message of servant leadership and conservative reform to every corner of this State. This campaign is about Georgians, and that’s why it’s important for me to take my campaign on the road. While others are talking, I’ll be walking with Georgians, listening and learning about their needs firsthand,” Scott said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to Georgians in their hometowns. I want to hear what Georgians would do if they were governor for a day. This walk will give me an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our great State, and combined with 14 years of experience in the State House, I’m best prepared to govern from day one. I am going to win this race to serve Georgians,” Scott remarked.

Austin Scott is a Republican from Tifton who has served House District 153 for the last 14 years. He is chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves as a member of the Rules Committee, Way and Means Committee, and Appropriations Committee.

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Acting TSA Administrator Gail Rossides regarding the status of personal and biornetric information submitted by customers of Clear, a registered traveler program that allowed travelers access to special TSA lines at participating airports. On June 22, Clear ceased operations after its parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc., was unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.

“As Clear winds down its operation, I need to know that the deletion of this credentialing and biometric data remains a top priority,” Isakson wrote in the letter. “I am also concerned that the personal and biometric information of my constituents could be compromised.”

Clear operated security lanes at 20 airports nationwide, including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Clear customers paid $199 per year and were prescreened before receiving a special identification card that allowed them access to designated security lanes.

As part of this prescreening process, Clear collected personal credentialing information from its customers such as name, Social Security number, passport information, date of birth, address and other personal identifying information. Clear also collected biometric information in the form of facial photographs, iris scans and fingerprint scans.

Clear signed up and collected personal and biometric data for over 20,000 Georgians and an additional 240,000 customers nationwide.

In the letter, Isakson requested a meeting with TSA officials to be briefed on the steps TSA is taking to ensure the protection and deletion of this personal and biornetric information

*Editors Note – I hate polls, no offense to those doing well. I just think it jades the voters and makes it into a popularity contest instead of an issue based race.

Election 2010: Georgia Republican Primary for Governor
Rasmussen Poll: Oxendine Holds a Commanding Lead

Election 2010: Georgia Republican Primary for Governor

2010 Georgia GOP Primary: Oxendine Far Ahead of Other Gubernatorial Hopefuls

John Oxendine, Georgia’s fire and insurance commissioner, holds a commanding lead over all other Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in an early look at next year’s state GOP Primary.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Georgia shows Oxendine with 35% support among those li kely to vote in the state’s open Republican Primary. His next closest competitors are Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel with 11% and Congressman Nathan Deal at 10%. But 33% are not sure which candidate they prefer.

State Senator Eric Johnson has three percent (3%) support, while State Representative Austin Scott tallies two percent (2%). Conservative businessman Ray McBerry is supported by one percent (1%), and five percent (5%) like some other candidate.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of those likely to vote in the GOP Primary have a favorable opinion of Oxendine, while just 18% view him unfavorably. Twenty percent (20%) don’t have an opinion of Oxendine. These numbers are largely unchanged from April.

Forty-nine percent (49%) have a favorable view of Handel, with 12% unfavorable. But like all the candidates other than Oxendine, she is little known by many Georgia voters. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say they don’t know enough about Handel to voice an opinion of her.

For Deal, his favorables are 28% and his unfavorables are 14%. But 58% don’t have an opinion about the 16-year congressman.

Johnson is viewed favorably by 21% and unfavorably by 14%, with 66% not sure what they think of him.

Twenty percent (20%) have a favorable regard for Scott, while 11% view him unfavorably. But nearly seven-out-of-10 Georgia voters (69%) aren’t sure what they think of Scott.

McBerry has 17% favorables and 14% unfavorables,20also with 69% who have no opinion of him.

This statewide telephone survey of 463 Likely Republican Primary Voters in Georgia was conducted by Rasmussen Reports June 17, 2009. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
Statement from Team Oxendine:

At some point, John’s opponents will need some new spin. John has demonstrated respect for his opponents by publicly acknowledging that with six candidates, a runoff is a reality. John has demonstrated in a very consistent manner that he has earned the trust and respect of the conservative movement in Georgia and John will be the conservative candidate in the runoff.

The numbers speak for themselves.

• John has more than a three to one lead over his two closest opponents.
• When you combine the numbers of his two closest opponents, he has a greater than 10 point lead over their combined numbers.
• When you combine the numbers of all other announced candidates and the “other” category, John leads all those combined.
• John’s approval rating is at a solid 61%. John is the only Republican with an approval rating higher than 50%.

“With Roy Barnes in this campaign, Georgia Republicans understand we must nominate the strongest candidate to run in the general election. John Oxendine is that candidate,” said Kathryn Ballou, campaign manager.

“John’s opponents will say the poll numbers do not matter. The polls are not worth the paper they are printed on. In other words, John’s opponents validate the central premise of John’s campaign. John Oxendine is the grassroots Governor who represents people – the people who participate in these polls. John’s establishment opponents, who listen to the special interests in Atlanta and Washington DC, simply are out of touch with what the grassroots in the Georgia Republican Party want in a nominee for Governor,” said Kathryn.

“John’s very proud of where the campaign is and he will continue to work very hard to earn the trust and support of Georgia,” said Kathryn.

I cancelled my subscription to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution this morning. I read everything online and I’ve noticed the annoying pile of unopened papers sitting by my front door. With all of the information online, why do I need to keep giving them my money just so I can throw it away?

When the customer service rep asked why I would want to give up all that information and Sunday coupons, I responded I don’t use coupons. But in truth, I’m a savvy internet marketer. I find tons of relevant coupons online everyday – from groceries to vitamins to franchise restaurants. I get all my technical information from the interwebs – Facebook, Twitter, Fox, even AJC.com

The only items worth reading are political stories by Jim Galloway and he posts his stories instantly on Facebook and Twitter. I certainly don’t read the AJC commentaries as the editorial staff is full of wacky liberals with no clue outside the perimeter.

I feel bad as a former journalist for contributing to the demise of print newspapers but I just don’t see how they benefit me anymore.

So, I ask you, political pundits, candidates and others, are newspapers relevant any longer? Do you still heavily rely on endorsements so you can’t give up on them? Besides the occasional breaking news story about candidates, are the cash-strapped newsrooms still effective in Georgia Politics?

By: Jenny Hodges, Campaign Director, Ray McBerry 2010

We have come to a dangerous place in American politics. The fallacy of “most electable” has been a media and marketing ploy to prop undesirable candidates up and garner support from an otherwise conservative populace. What happened nationally with McCain can very possibly happen in Georgia with Oxendine. Should the establishment Republican party perceive Oxendine as most electable, and set him up against Roy Barnes, we can anticipate a Democrat for Governor.

Under Obama, the advance of socialism has been rapid and appalling. The only way to reclaim the country is state by state. And the only way to reclaim the sovereignty of the state is by raising up for Governor a man who firmly attests to, believes in, and resolves to uphold the absolute right of state government to interpose on behalf of the life and liberty of the people. That man is Ray McBerry.

The Ray McBerry campaign is an onward march of optimism and hope. Ray believes in the people of Georgia, believes that Georgians are best able to care for themselves and their families, believes that Georgians own their lives and liberty, and believes that Georgians own their local governments on the county and state level.

The duties of civil government are restricted through our foundational documents the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. These important parameters for responsible moral government do not provide for the rights of the people, but instead limit the government from infringing upon the natural rights of the people.

All of the problems facing our state come down to the basic premise: do we own ourselves, or are we owned?

The fruit of our labors should be ours, yet we labor 6 months out of every year to cover the increasing and devastating burden of taxation. Property tax and income tax demonstrate a presumption by government that it owns our wealth and owns the fruit of our labor. This presumption will stop under Ray McBerry.

The top-heavy bureaucracy of Georgia state government seeks to regulate and license every area of our lives and every area of the private business sector. This presumes that civil government bequeaths to the populace the privileges of existing within our state and building a way of life and way of making provision for our families. This presumption will stop under Ray McBerry.

With our nation in rapid decline, it is imperative that we rise up with a message of hope and confidence that rings true to the basic premise that we own ourselves and our property, that life and liberty are God given, and that the only duty of moral government is to protect individual life and liberty.

We must assert ourselves for the protection of Georgians. We must put into office Ray McBerry. A governor who recognizes as he wields the power of his office, appoints judges and important government positions, and influences the legislature, that his duty is to serve the individual life and liberty of each and every Georgian.

Jenny Hodges

Campaign Director, Ray McBerry 2010