As students start to tour Mercer and other schools across the nation, looking for a place to call home for the next four years, I am saddened of the news from Clayton County.  For the first time since 1969, a school district has lost their accreditation.  Clayton County, just south of Atlanta, has been deemed a school district that is not preparing its students for college.  I hear that students in high schools throughout the county were literally walking out of class upon hearing the ruling.  While the students can still apply for college and still have a chance of getting in, some selfish and corrupt school board leaders have jeopardized their chances of continuing their education after high school.

This situation should serve as a catalyst in changing the way the government deals with schooling.  It goes against the American dream of freedom and prosperity to know that these kids have been held down by their own school system, the school system that their parents have paid for through tax dollars.  It is time to stop letting government schools bring our kids down, instead of helping them advance their careers.  It is time to move into a voucher system.  Milton Friedman, in Capitalism and Freedom, states,

Governments could require a minimum level of schooling financed by giving parents vouchers redeemable for a specified maximum sum per child if spent on approved educational services. Parents would then be free to spend this sum and any additional sum they themselves provided on purchasing educational services…” (Friedman 89).

Like most things, competition between schools could eliminate Clayton County’s problem before it is too late.  If a school is not performing at a standard that parents are happy with, they could use a voucher to attend the school of their choice.  While private schools would still cost money, it would be subsidized by a voucher for a certain amount of money, making it more accessible for students to attend.

It would give teachers and administrators an incentive to prove that their school is superior to other schools.  Instead of tax dollars going to failed attempts at education, they would go to vouchers that would fund schools that were performing well and require other schools to follow suit.  Teachers could get raises based on their performance instead of on how well the state handles their money.  Parents could have a more active role in examining how well their students were doing.

Many argue that the voucher system would shut down schools, but I think the opposite is true.  In the example of UPS, we see that this is not necessarily the case.  The government decided to allow other companies to begin delivering packages instead of just UPS.  Instead of shutting down UPS, it required it to be more efficient, thus raising the bar for delivery companies.  Now, you can get a package much faster than you could have when UPS was the sole delivery service.  Couldn’t education work in the same way?  Instead of schools having to shut down, they would have to step up their services at a cheaper price, which would then force the other schools to continue to offer great education.  I hope that the state legislature will consider this system in the General Assembly next year and that the Governor will follow suit.

I finally found him. I have finally found someone who will actually stand up and answer the tough question of our national debt. As I have stated many times, my generation is facing a personal debt of $175,000 per person if we don’t do something fast, and Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for Senate in Georgia, is offering a solution.

The United States, Buckley said, is burying itself in debt, creating a crushing financial burden for our children and grandchildren and —- unless it’s reduced—- assuring the demise of the nation. The only way out of the mess, he said, is to cut spending, and he has a heavy-handed plan to get that done.

“Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have the political will to make the cuts we have to make,” Buckley said in a recent interview in his 23rd-floor West Peachtree Road office overlooking the Atlanta skyline. “The reality is we’re heading for an economic catastrophe. We have to reduce spending. I’m the only candidate who will.”

Although I have stated previously that it is important to keep Democrats out of office and is usually best to vote for a Republican, I plan to support Mr. Buckley in November. It is absolutely necessary to address this problem, and Buckley’s campaign, if nothing else, will attract attention to this failure in Washington. By cutting spending, pork projects, entitlement projects, and a few government agencies that are unnecessary, people like Allen Buckley can put America in a position to succeed in the future. I’m excited that this has already gained attention on the AJC’s website, and I hope it continues to gain traction.

BUCKLEY IN 08.

Senator Johnny Isakson and Rep. Tom Price are saying that Senator Obama’s choosing of Joe Biden for Vice President indicates that he has dropped the South.  Biden, of Delaware, will not do anything to appeal to Southern voters.

During a conference call Saturday morning, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and U.S. Rep. Tom Price said that Obama chose a vice presidential candidate with a record nearly as liberal as his own, which will not appeal to the conservative South.

“This is not a ticket who will garner the support of the majority of American people,” Price said. “It’s not anywhere close to the center.”

They are right in saying that Biden’s record is not near the center, but the Obama campaign continues to rally the masses by pairing the Bush Administration with John McCain, which I think is a pretty low blow.  Yes, John McCain supported the war, but the fact that Barack Obama claims he always opposed the war is ridiculous, as he was merely a state senator when the vote reached the U.S. Senate.  Senator McCain has the knowledge to understand how things need to be in Iraq.  Was the war a great idea? Maybe not, but Senator McCain’s support of the surge, which has worked, shows that he knows how to deal with tough situations and roll with the cards that he has been dealt.  Still, the Obama campaign will say that John McCain is also neglecting Southern Conservatives.

“The Obama campaign remains committed to Georgia as evidenced by the 27 offices we have opened across the state as of today,” Obama spokeswoman Caroline Adelman said. “The McCain campaign has yet to open their first. There is enormous enthusiasm here for the Obama/Biden ticket because Georgians know they can’t afford four more years of the failed Bush policies that John McCain is offering.”

What they are neglecting to remember is the fact that the Georgia GOP has a huge base in Georgia, and while the actual McCain campaign has not set up an office, they are using other resources in the state party to garner support.  This shows that the McCain campaign can allocate resources and does not waste time and money in places where they can get help from other sources.  The Obama campaign continues to shoot itself in the foot, and McCain is rising to the challenge.  Now all he needs to do is announce a Southern Governor as his Vice President…

Matt Towery (arguably the most respected commentator in Georgia) has an article out about former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s help in the McCain campaign.

Gingrich’s “Drill Here, Drill Now” program on AmericanSolutions.com has attracted tons of support all over the nation.  This is a great example of the “change” we really need.  A grassroots attempt at rallying the masses has proven to be quite successful.  This campaign basically started on the internet with a simple petition and has grown to a huge revolution of Americans dropping their apathy for at least one issue.  Not only has it gained support for drilling, it has gained support for McCain.

If John McCain and the GOP want to thank someone for helping turn around what seemed a dead-in-the-water campaign in a matter of weeks, they can thank former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich chose not to enter the 2008 presidential race, but his decision to use his “think tank” American Solutions organization to push for a “Drill Here, Drill Now” petition back in the spring is likely the source of John McCain’s miraculous rebound in the polls.

I could not agree more.  Think Tanks have been around for decades, but what Newt Gingrich has done is something we haven’t yet seen.  Sure, moveon.org rallies troops to hate the world, but this campaign is something different and I’m excited to see where it takes us in the future. That is change we can believe in, folks.  Newt in 2012!

With Senator Obama’s announcement of Senator Joe Biden of Deleware as his Vice-Presidential nominee, Senator McCain needs to take a Vice President that has what Obama and Biden don’t have: executive experience.  Biden has been in the senate for three decades, which hurts Obama’s rhetoric of change, and he’s the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, which basically puts the Obama camp even with McCain on foreign policy.

Because of all this, McCain needs to choose a Governor.  If he does, he will be the only candidate with any executive experience on the ballot, and will have an easier time of beating Obama, who as many people are realizing, is one mile wide and one inch deep.  The polls are speaking in favor of McCain, and I actually think that he can do it, but his Vice-Presidential pick is going to be a deciding factor in November.

By the way, I thought it was funny that the Obama camp couldn’t get a text message out announcing Biden for six hours after CNN had already confirmed it.  How would you feel if the news camped outside of your house? I bet Evan Bayh just wanted to get some sleep…

Macon has got to be the best city to use to make lame puns.

As reported on Peach Pundit, Macon Mayor Reichert is saying that he believes Obama definitely has a chance in Georgia, noting the importance of the black vote and also of men like himself who are fed up with the way things are now (merely stating his opinion).

I think its healthy to have disagreements on here from time to time, and while Carl noted some important things to remember as to why McCain will be fine in Georgia, I’m going to have to agree with Reichert on this one.

Barack Obama will have pull in Georgia; there is no doubt in my mind.  Will he win? I think that is hard to say, but it will be very close.  I think that someone who has a lot of influence in middle Georgia like Mayor Reichert will have a large voice in the decision for many people from Macon, which is one of Georgia’s larger cities.  So, let’s hear it. What do the readers of DownRight say about Obama’s chances in Georgia?

Apparently, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has finally hinted at a bid for Governor in 2010.  Today at a luncheon in Stockbridge, he alluded to a desire to live in the Governor’s Mansion.

Rep. Westmoreland definitely has a solid following in his district and elsewhere.  He was the first Republican to speak last week when the revolt against the House Leadership began and he attracted a lot of media attention because of it.  While an appearance on the Colbert Report did not exactly paint Rep. Westmoreland as a smart guy, his actions, speeches, and votes show that he is working hard for his district, conservatives, and the State of Georgia.

He was the House Minority Leader in Georgia before he ran for the U.S. House, helping propel the revolution to bring the Republicans back to power.  I think Rep. Westmoreland makes a great candidate for Georgia.  I think that the Governor will support him, which should give some strong leverage against John Oxendine and Lieutenant Governor Cagle.  He has also demonstrated his ability to gain a large following and raise money.  This would definitely make the race for Governor in 2010 more interesting.

He will not announce anything until after the elections in November, as he is being contested.  He, along with Karen Handle and Casey Cagle will have to wait a long time to actually announce, but his statements today helped attract attention his way and I’m excited to see how it all pans out.

Campaign Money Watch is calling for Senator McCain’s campaign to cancel a fundraiser scheduled in Georgia that will be hosted in party by Ralph Reed, former Christian Coalition leader and former Georgia RNC Chairman.

Ralph Reed attracted a lot of negative attention when Jack Abramoff, the most famous lobbyist in Washington, was indicted on charges of influence peddling.  He also runs one of the largest public relations firms in the nation with offices in Atlanta and Washington.  He headed up the southeast campaign for President Bush in 2000 and has proved that he knows how to get voters to go to the polls.  While he lost his own bid for Lieutenant Governor because of the aforementioned controversy, his work behind the scenes for campaigns has raked in millions of dollars and votes.  I may have a bias because I love his new book, a novel about a presidential election, but I think that the McCain campaign should utilize the strengths and forget the weaknesses of Mr. Reed.

I personally do not think this fundraiser will reflect badly on the McCain camp and I think it is important to get as much money as possible from the South for this campaign.  Do the readers of DownRight disagree? I would love to hear some other opinions.

The Obama campaign released a new ad this morning criticizing John McCain for, ironically enough, having celebrity status in the media. In the ad, McCain is seen embracing Pres. Bush multiple times and making appearances on “Letterman” and “Leno.”
 

Bad move, Sen. Obama. It’s a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. If anyone is a celebrity, it’s Obama. Even “Saturday Night Live” knows that. By running this ad, the Obama campaign is only keeping the issue of his own celebrity status alive for yet one more day in the public sphere. In essence, he’s fighting fire from the McCain camp with a boomerang that comes right back to hit him in the head.

Perhaps the McCain campaign should run a counter-attack ad showing clips of Obama with Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres. Being on Oprah is a lot more indicative of your celebrity than hugging Pres. Bush, who really isn’t a celebrity at all.

On the flip side, though, as biased as it is, Obama’s recent ad, “Hands” is exactly the kind of message he should be sending if he wants to win, one that defends his positions on important issues like energy independence. If this election really is a referrendum on Obama, as so many media pundits have pointed out lately, then all Obama has to do is defend himself and makes himself look “ready to lead”, instead of shifting the focus to McCain. And all McCain has to do is the opposite–which is to poke holes in the public’s perception of Obama.

A PAC for Senator Obama called the Matthew 25 Network is targeting swing states by focusing on the Religious Vote. They are using Matthew 25:40 as their main point, which states:

“I tell you the truth, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

This PAC is putting ads on Christian radio stations in swing states and trying to get some of these people to vote for Obama based on his stance on helping “the least of his brothers.” I find it depressing that this PAC is degrading the Church by trying to latch it to a political party. For far too long, we as Conservatives have done the same thing. Jesus was not a Democrat or a Republican or a Libertarian, he was a servant to his Father. I don’t want to preach here, but it is ridiculous to try to convince voters that Obama is adhering to the Bible with his rhetoric on helping people.

I strongly believe that you can align yourself with that verse in an individual sense and I don’t think anybody is saying that we should ignore people less fortunate than ourselves. Rather, I just do not think that the Government should have a hand in reaching out to these people because it does not do things as efficient as individual organizations and groups. So to the Matthew 25 Network, don’t be fooled…we conservatives have hearts too, we just don’t want to share them with Washington.

An editorial in the Albany Herald by the President/CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and former mayor of Macon caught my eye today.

Environmental activists have waged an inexplicable war on affordable energy and economic development in Georgia, hiding behind the poorly reasoned decision of an overreaching Atlanta judge.

They should explain to the people of southwest Georgia why they blocked construction of a coal-fired power plant there — a plant that would have brought $2 billion and 125 high-paying jobs to one of the poorest counties in the state.

They should explain to homeowners across Georgia why they will be forced to swallow ever-higher energy costs — because the only energy sources Georgia can now develop will add hundreds of dollars to their monthly power bills.

And they should explain to businesses, hospitals, churches and schools why they will be required to waste months or years getting a Clean Air permit the next time they want to build a sizable new building anywhere in Georgia. Perhaps they can even explain why companies should still build those buildings in Georgia instead of other states, none of which impose such onerous regulations.

Instead, the Sierra Club and others have spent enormous amounts of time and money claiming that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, such as those the plant in Early County would produce, are regulated under the federal Clean Air Act.

Ah, Georgia’s involvement in the federal Clean Air Act.  A Fulton County Judge ruled that this plant in Early County had to halt construction because they did not have a plan to regulate CO2 limits.  She said she was merely following federal law, which in actuality, federal law says that CO2 is not subject to regulation.  Anybody wonder who is getting lobbied by the Sierra Club?  I’m not going to go into the fact that thousands of scientists believe that CO2 is not killing us all.  I’m not going to go into the fact that this power plant would create almost 200 jobs in Early County and that our state’s population has jumped 60% since the last plant was built in Georgia and that we need this power.  I am merely going to bring up a quote I have brought up before that should be the cornerstone to every politician’s life:

“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is “needed” before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents “interests,” I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  The Clean Air Act and other things like it are not making government more efficient, but rather, they are making freedom and liberty inefficient.  On a personal note, living in Metro Atlanta when I am not at Mercer, I have to get an emissions test done on my car every year; however, this law is only in place for people living in Metro Atlanta.  Apparently, people in Macon cannot cause smog and also do not ever drive through downtown.  So, I had to get this test done (which costs $20) before I left in order to renew my license plate.  The State of Georgia needs to get rid of this regulation, and the Sierra Club needs to get out of the way.

I stand corrected. I spoke out of turn on an earlier post about Bob Barr.  Most Barr supporters would rather have Obama win than McCain.  I don’t want to get in the habit of speaking off the cuff about issues I don’t know much about, so give me another chance.  Thanks.

The State budget could be facing a $1.6 billion shortfall.  In response, the Governor is doing what he can to cut 6% of the budgets from state agencies, even halting an annual raise that state employees receive.  He has also suggested getting rid of the Property-Tax Grant Relief Program, which would save the state about $428 million and cost taxpayers a few hundred dollars.  Read more about this here.  This is responsible governing, folks, and I like it a lot.

In an election year, however, state lawmakers are hesitant to support the plan, saying it is the equivalent of a tax increase.  Many House leaders hope for a special legislative session before January to come up with their own ways to take care of the problem.

In my opinion, saving $428 million dollars and cutting 6% of budgets that could largely be eliminated by halting unnecessary traveling is the most effective way to solve our problem in Georgia.  The problem in Washington is that the debt keeps growing and no one is trying to pay it down because they’re all always up for reelection and “raising taxes” does not get you reelected; however, raising taxes and eliminating a grant program are quite different.  We have to address this problem and we need to do it now before it gets worse.  These solutions laid out by the Governor are admirable and I also find it admirable that Perdue is willing to take the hit for doing this without trying to get the lawmakers involved.  If the truth be told, I bet you they would rather sit it out and worry about November than worry about our budget woes.

If anyone has a better solution, please share it with me, but I’m going to be backing the Executive branch on this issue.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the Conservative base that brought the Republican party to power with Ronald Reagan is going to back John McCain; however, instead of actually backing John McCain, us conservatives are taking it upon ourselves to keep Barack Obama from ever being anywhere near 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue.  While most people aren’t necessarily excited about a McCain presidency, they are too frightened of an Obama presidency to vote for the biggest flip-flopper of them all, Congressman Bob Barr…but we’ll get to that in a few minutes.

If you navigate your way to www.humanevents.com, which I would highly recommend, you will find more articles bashing Barack Obama than articles praising Senator McCain.  On Monday, David Freddoso released his book, The Case Against Barack Obama, and Conservatives are eating it up like squash casserole.  We love to hear about how terrible Barack Obama is.  We LOVE it.  Even the McCain camp knows it…with a campaign that is lower on funds than the opponent’s, they’re buying tire gauges with Obama’s energy plan on them to make fun of him.  While I do find this a little funny, I have to wonder if there are better ways to spend campaign money than on tire gauges.

This election has strayed so far from issues, it makes me sick.  Watching the news tonight, all I hear about are Paris Hilton and off-the-cuff comments made by Barack Obama that really have nothing to do with the matter at hand.  One reason why I can back Senator McCain is the art of a town hall meeting.  In January, I, along with some classmates, followed the South Carolina primary campaign for a week.  I watched John McCain in a few different environments, both large rallies and victory parties, and smaller town hall meetings, filled with touching stories and gripping questions.  Senator McCain reacts wonderfully to questions; he is one of the few politicians I have seen that can actually answer a question without dancing around it.  I am always impressed with Senator McCain’s willingness to hear how people feel and answer their questions.

On the other hand, Senator Obama seems to have a studdering problem when he’s asked questions he hasn’t prepared talking points for, further engraving his hope and change rhetoric, a mile wide, an inch deep.  Still, the media continues to cover the mindless issues of what Paris Hilton said or whether John Edwards has an illegitimate baby.  Would someone please cover what Senator McCain thinks about the national debt?  How about what Senator Obama thinks he can do to lower the unemployment rate?  Watching now, the MSM is covering what super hero Senator McCain and Obama would be and what movie made them cry.  Wow, I love Batman way more than Superman, guess I’ll have to vote for Obama.  Give me a break.

Moving on, I want to tell you why Bob Barr is a terrible choice for President representing the Libertarian party.  The reason is pretty much one large issue I have with Mr. Barr, namely, the Patriot Act and his support of it a few years ago.  Forget any pre-conceived notions you have about the Patriot Act and consider the basis of the Libertarian Party, little to no government oversight.  What does the Patriot Act give the Government? You guessed it…oversight.  How could someone flip-flop that much on an issue that they supported only a few years ago?  I think Bob Barr is merely looking for a few more moments of fame during this election.  The problem, and I do believe this is a problem, is that he is still polling at around 5%.  Most polls show Senator Obama at a 3% lead over Senator McCain.  Do you think those Libertarians would vote for Obama if Barr dropped?  Heck no, but they are basically handing Obama a vote by voting for Bob Barr.  Don’t get me wrong, I would closely align myself with most Libertarian principles, and I do not have any qualms with a third-party candidate running and doing damage to a campaign.  I do have a problem with someone who supported an issue that is completely against their party’s ideals.  So when you go out and give your protest vote to Bob Barr, give a second thought to who you’re voting for.  He’s not all he’s cracked up to be…even if he has horn-rimmed glasses.

All of this reminds us that the general public loves drama and mindless news.  We would rather hear that Senator McCain cried when he saw Bambi than watch him talk about his plan to keep taxes low.  I can only pray that the troubles of our day will scream louder to the public than a poolside Paris Hilton and that we will beg our leaders to address them.

There’s been quite a buzz lately in the media that Obama may actually have a shot at winning here in Georgia in November. Senator Obama himself certainly appears to think it’s possible, and he’s been making campaign appearances and dropping money on ads left and right here to prove it, despite the latest polling numbers showing McCain with a comfortable 10-point lead in the state.

The idea that Obama could carry Georgia has all to do with hype and little to do with reality. It’s an illusion created by the Obama camp, seeking to portray Georgia as a battleground state in order to divert McCain’s resources from real contests like Ohio and Florida onto states he previously counted in his pocket.

The simple fact is that Obama doesn’t have a chance in the Peach State, even with all the magical potions of hope and change that seem to be blinding so many new voters. Allow me to touch briefly on the top seven reasons why Georgia will stay red this presidential election:

1. The supposed “wave” of new voter registrations is more of a ripple- The mythical surge in voter registrations everyone’s been touting isn’t really much of a surge here in Georgia. According to the Secretary of State’s website, new registrations across the board here during the months of January-June 2008 stayed relatively consistent with, and in some cases actually dropping slightly from, the same time period in 2004, going from an average of 4.0% growth then to 3.8% this year.

2. Registering to vote and actually going to vote are two entirely different things- One of the main highlights of the Obama movement is its claim that it’s registering new first-time voters, particularly blacks, in the 18-24 year-old demographic. But as Jim Wooten, AJC political analyst, recently pointed out, these young voters are historically no-shows at the polls. Even in this past Democratic primary, with all the hooplah about record voter turnout, the percentage of 18-24 year olds in Georgia who made it to the polls was only about 12%.

3. States with more African-Americans tend to vote more Republican- It may seem like Democratic candidates, especially Obama, would fare better in places like Georgia with a high percentage of black voters, but the reverse is actually true. As political science professor and southern author Thomas Schaller notes, history has shown time and again that the more blacks there are in a Southern state, the more likely white voters are to vote Republican. It’s a trend that dates all the way back to the Passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1965, when white southerners for the first time began to vote Republican. Not to mention, every year the archetype of the “Georgia Democrat” fades away more and more, as white voters start to realize that the party of their parent and grandparents is no longer the party of their ideals.

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