A lot of you may remember way back in 2010 that we had a pretty spirited campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor of Georgia. The original candidates were then Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, former Secretary of State Karen Handel, then State Senators Eric Johnson and Jeff Chapman, all-around kook Ray McBerry, then State Representative Austin Scott, and the ultimate winner then Congressman Nathan Deal. I had originally been for Commissioner Oxendine but after his fourth place finish in the primary, I formally endorsed Karen Handel instead of Nathan Deal, and though Deal won, I have never once regretted my decision.

Since the election, Oxendine has slipped into a Nixon-like self imposed exile, Johnson went back into the private sector as an architect, Chapman was elected to the Georgia House, McBerry is still fighting the Civil War, Scott was elected to the US House of Representatives and Deal became Governor. But what became of Karen Handel? Well many of you may have heard that not long after losing the runoff to Deal Mrs. Handel went to work for the Susan G. Komen foundation as its’ Vice President of Public Affairs. You may even remember that she left that position last year when first the Komen Foundation pulled funding for Planned Parenthood but then reversed its’ decision when it bowed to pressure put on it by the pro-choice movement. Handel even turned down a severance package offered to her by the Foundation. Since then she has written a book about her experiences with Komen called "Planned Bullyhood", which is a MUST read, by the way.

You may ask why am I bringing all of this to your attention? Well I can tell you that there is a lot of political buzzing about the very real possibility that Karen Handel will be running for the Republican nomination for the US Senate seat that will be left vacant by the retiring Saxby Chambliss. At present, US House members Phil Gingrey, Paul Broun and Jack Kingston have all officially announced their candidacy for the seat while there are some rumors that another House member, Tom Price, will remain in Congress instead of throwing his hat in. It is in my opinion that Handel is far more superior than any other candidate out there and can represent Georgia with dignity and honor and will be a much better candidate to run statewide against any Democrat. It’s also my opinion that the Democrat to beat will be Kasim Reed, current Mayor of Atlanta.

Only Handel will be able to garner the statewide appeal necessary to beat a strong candidate such as Reed. She already has a very large network of supporters who have been begging for her to make the plunge and she has the experience to be an excellent Senator. Further, she has shown with her dealings with the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood that she won’t compromise her beliefs and is certainly a person with the highest level of integrity. Gingrey will do well in his local area as will Kingston, but neither is very well known outside their own district. Broun is known, but generally not for reasons that are good for a candidate as he is the Republican version of Vice-President Joe Biden, aka "The Human Gaffe Machine." Now please don’t get me wrong...should any of these other candidates win the nomination, I will be supporting them, but Karen Handel is my first choice and I offer my 100% endorsement of her campaign...should she run, which I sincerely hope she does. All I can say is Run Karen Run!

Arguably one of the most respected Superintendents in Georgia has agreed to become the Interim Superintendent for the Bibb County School System, as  Steve Smith, who retired last year after serving as  Lowndes County Superintendent for 10 years takes the reigns.  Smith has very deep ties with Macon and Middle Georgia as reported below by The Valdosta Daily Times last year when he retired:

"Born in Lincolnton, Smith moved to Augusta at the age of 2 with his parents, Ernest and Barbara Smith. Eleven years later, at the age of 13, he moved to Macon.

In 1969, Smith entered Macon State College in Macon, graduating two years later with an associate’s degree in psychology. The following year, he began studying biology at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. His initial goal, which was formulated at the age of 12, was to work as a veterinarian.

However, after registering for and attending an elective class outside of the biological sciences, Smith found himself on a different path of study. And in 1973, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, realizing he was meant to work with people. Smith thought briefly about pursuing a career in law enforcement, having grown up watching cops-related shows on television, but he never thought about becoming a teacher until an old high school coach mentioned it.

When a position opened up at Clarke Central High School in Athens that same year, Smith took it. For one year, he taught citizenship and U.S. history and coached football, soccer and baseball. The following year, he returned to Macon, accepting a job at First Presbyterian Day School teaching physical science, U.S. history, government and economics and coaching football, basketball, and track. Except for a brief three-year stint as an educational and national accounts representative with the 3-M Company in Atlanta, Smith remained at the school until 1982.         

Smith returned to Georgia College & State University that same year, eager to earn a master’s degree and teacher certification in history and government. He went on to earn a second master’s degree in education administration. While doing so, he worked as a teacher and coach at Central High School in Macon.

In 1989, Smith became lead principal at Central High School, maintaining his status as coach at the same time. During the six years he served in this position, he found himself back in the classroom at Georgia College & State University, working toward an education specialist degree. Afterwards, he was promoted to supervising principal at Central High School. The coaching duties were gone, but one steadfast thing remained — his passion for learning. Smith entered Georgia State University in Atlanta where he earned a doctorate in education administration and supervision. He then accepted the position of superintendent of the Pulaski County School System in Hawkinsville.

“As principal, folks were always telling me that I would be a good superintendent,” Smith said in an interview with The Valdosta Daily Times in 2004. “That doctorate was the last rung on the ladder for me. I never dreamed I would hold a Ph.D. and be superintendent of a school system.”

Looking back, he credits his years of coaching and teaching experience with his continued success as an educational leader. Smith said being a coach helped him learn how to build a team of individuals who respect each other and work together. His time in the classroom is equally, if not more so, invaluable.

“Some of my most enjoyable moments have come from teaching in the classroom and the relationships formed with my students,” Smith said in 2004. “I took a lot of pride working as a teacher.”

Smith considers himself a student- and teacher-centered superintendent and believes in the concept of shared leadership and empowering others to participate in the decision-making process. He said the toughest aspect of his job is making decisions that affect an individual’s future, including terminations and reductions in force. The best part is seeing people succeed."

After retiring, Smith joined the faculty of Valdosta State University as a member of the faculty at the School of Education. 

When he left, Lowndes County had one of the best school districts in the state largely due to his handling of it.  Though he has his work cut out in Bibb, Smith will most certainly be up for the challenge.  WeArePolitics wishes him well and hopes that this is the beginning of getting the Bibb County School District back to where in needs to be:  In the front of the educational pack instead of the laughing stock of the Southeast.

I’m going to say something that a young, conservative, 22-year-old college republican should never say: I LOVED the Obama campaign. It was enticing, it was young, and it was exciting. Jason Mattera, one of my favorite authors, wrote his book “Obama Zombies” explaining the Obama campaign in-depth to see exactly why so many young people were obsessed with this man. My generation followed him like a 13-year-old girl follows Justin Bieber on twitter. But WHY? Students don’t care about politics and they don’t care about policy. Heck, most of them aren’t even registered to vote. But Obama won re-election by effective use of new media. Liberal movie stars endorsed him, MSNBC and CNN went to bat for the President, and MTV made him hip and cool. Obama used social networking to the extreme because he knew the voter base that he needed included young, college-aged students who check Facebook 50 times a day and tweet in detail about the minutia of their lives. Their interest in politics begins and ends with Saturday Night Live’s opening spoof. This is why Tea Party Patriots decided to do things differently this year, and they started at CPAC.

 

“It was created to provide us with freedom. Our city became a great beacon of hope and liberty to the world. It was a shining city upon a hill. Fifteen years ago, freedom died.” The opening narration of the Tea Party Patriot’s “Take Up the Torch” video, meant as a mock-trailer for a type of “Hunger Games” movie, sent chills through the audience (video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xReYMOL8nZY)

By using a parallel to a popular book and film, Tea Party Patriots reached out to college students. They understood that social media needed to be utilized in order to influence young voters. Heaven knows the left has influenced us enough! During the conference, Tea Party Patriots also handed out QR code “contribution” cards featured in the film that, when scanned, would link directly to TPP’s CPAC site, a tactic that had my peers intrigued and informed. The youth of America were drawn into the Tea Party Patriots party at CPAC and the entire room looked like a “Capitol” party straight from the pages of the Hunger Games. What’s funny is that this mock trailer wasn’t popular with older audiences. GOOD! It’s not meant for you! While the older generation may not have liked this video, young people couldn’t get enough of it. “This is so cool!” “It’s just like the Hunger Games!” “I really hope they decide to make this into a movie!” I heard this from real college students. It was a hit with my generation and brought more attention to the conservative cause.

In the weeks following CPAC, Ben Howe, a writer at RedState, decided to critique the video. And a harsh critique it was. In an interview with libertarian Michelle Ray’s “In Deep” blog talk radio show with Conservative Daily News (here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cdnews/2013/04/05/in-deep-with-michelle-ray-1). he was asked: Should conservatives make conservative art, or be conservatives that just make art? Ray argued the latter, and I believe this is a reason the right is losing this generation.

It’s time conservatives figure out that media is the new way to campaign. Sure, most conservatives that dabble in films don’t have multimillion dollar budgets like MGM or Universal. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try. I want to applaud Tea Party Patriots for making the “Take Up the Torch” video. It was fun, it attracted students, and most of all: it was inspiring. Everyone that saw the video knew it wasn’t just a video; it was a statement, an attractive statement. This video has been seen over 125,000 times and has been shared dozens of times, rippling through my College Republican circles with rave reviews. It’s turning heads, but grey-haired heads still disagree with the marketing tactics. Michelle Ray, in her radio broadcast, pointed out that it’s ok if we disagree. It’s healthy that we aren’t all in unison like the democrats. Ok? I guess James Madison, father of our Constitution, was completely out of place when he said that factions are bad and a detriment to our liberty. And I guess we should stop parading around the “unite or die” snake flag that was so popular during the Revolutionary War of which we are so proud. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think we should all be zombies of the Republican Party. But I do think we need to present a united front, because we are slowly killing ourselves. My generation prefers democrats, because they know where they stand, and they stick to one message. Republican messaging is, frankly, all over the place. It’s ridiculous that we cannot even stand behind one conservative filmmaker and put our stylistic differences aside. This is a battle that we are LOSING, so we need to get our act together and support each other. Divided, we are going to fall, and it’s already started. A socialist still sits in the White House and the Senate still has a democratic majority. Instead of sticking with the status quo, the Tea Party Patriots decided it was necessary to change their marketing game plan—and guess what! It’s working.

History teaches us that influence is wielded by those that control the pen or the podium. But in my generation, the screens of social media have been added to those tools. Right now, the left owns that game, and they are united. So start supporting conservative attempts at creative marketing, or the game will be over before you even figure out how to play.

Longtime Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen has just formally announced his run to become Macon-Bibb's first consolidated Mayor. 

WeArePolitics wishes Joe the best of luck in his campaign

There is no question that the state of our local educational system in Bibb County is in a shambles.  Thank goodness s there may be some light at the end of the tunnel and this time it may not be a freight train that has a direct path towards the students and taxpayers.

Over the past two years, since the coronation of King Dallemand, the Bibb County School System has not only been a local joke, but thanks to him and the propaganda machine he put into place a statewide, nationwide and worldwide joke.  Some folks have started to take notice…

I would guess that largely in part to the gigantic dropout rate of the public school system, The Magic Johnson (Yes…..THAT Magic Johnson) Bridgescape Center was opened in Bibb County as an alternative for students who can’t make it in the mainstream public school systems.  According to Principal and Director of the Center Lamonica Sanford, Middle Georgia was also chosen as the location because, “Middle Georgia has urban centers, including Macon and Columbus. Students have access to public transportation to be able to get to a Magic Johnson Bridgescape center in these cities. In the next few months we will open centers in Savannah and Augusta.  All of these cities are listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as being within the top 14 metropolitan areas in Georgia.  We will also open two satellite campuses at Fort Gordon (Augusta) and Fort Stewart (Savannah) Youth Challenge Academies.”  But Bridgescape is different than other schools of its toe that are already in Middle Georgia such as the Elaine Lucas EL Academy.  Bridgescape is totally FREE!  Yes… you read that right.  It’s free…

Ms. Sanford states, “The Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center is a program of Provost Academy Georgia.  Provost Academy Georgia is a public high school open to all students who are eligible for grades 9 - 12.  There is no tuition for the program or the school.   As with most schools, there may be minimal costs to families for optional extracurricular activities and fieldtrips, and peripherals like binders, pens, etc.  In cases where a student does not have access to required computer equipment, the program will loan a laptop to the student, and provide a subsidy to the family to off-set some internet costs.  This is based on financial need.”
I went on to ask Ms. Sanford what the differences were between The Magic Johnson School and other schools that charge for high school diplomas for kids who cannot complete a traditional educational path, as well as what role are parents expected or encouraged to play in their children's involvement in your program and what if anything does your program do to address the very needs of your potential students including mental health issues, poverty, parental lack of involvement, etc?  Her response should enlighten and encourage you:
“The Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center is a dropout prevention and recovery program designed to help high school aged students who are either at risk of quitting school or who have left and want to return to complete their high school education and earn a standard high school diploma. This is not a credit recovery program or a traditional alternative school for misbehaving students--it is a full-service high school program with a complete curriculum ranging from remedial courses through Advanced Placement for all four grades of high school. Provost Academy Georgia is a public high school, not a private school or company.

Students can attend an AM or PM session, Monday – Thursday, and work online from home as well.  The center is staffed with onsite education teams to assist students in their daily studies and includes teachers, counselors/advisors, and other professionals who work together to provide academic support and post-graduation assistance for students, including those with learning disabilities.  Students take online classes in our computer lab but also receive onsite and online tutoring from qualified teachers.  All teachers hold, at minimum, a bachelor's degree and the high school teaching credentials required by the state. Many teachers also have graduate degrees.  Since our program is part of a public high school, all of our students have to meet the same graduation requirements that other public high school students have to meet. All of our students are required to take all the state-mandated tests required of all Georgia public high school students.

Every family is assigned an advisor before students begin classes.  The advisor's primary objective is to make sure each one of his/her students is making progress and meeting or exceeding his/her academic goals.  During the enrollment process, the advisor has a conference with each family to create an individualized learning plan for the student.  The student’s prior academic record, goals, and learning needs are considered when creating the plan, and the plan is adapted by the advisor as needed throughout the year based on the student's pace, performance and assessment results.

Our goal is to make it easy for parents to take an active role by staying informed about the curriculum and their student's achievement. With our Parent Portal, each parent receives a log-in which gives them access to all of the relevant information about student progress from a single homepage. Parents are not required to provide direct instruction or tutoring like they might in some other online programs.  Parents may also contact their child’s advisor and instructors if there is a concern or question about progress. For students without parents, or with disinterested/unable parents, the advisor plays a crucial role in keeping the student on track for graduation and providing a caring adult. Students can call, text, or email their advisors anytime.”
Awesome stuff, huh?  And all for free. 

Another group of educators are also looking at other alternatives to help our children here in Bibb as no less than six groups have shown interest in creating Charter Schools here.  Foremost and primary are former Westside High School Principal Laura Perkins who along with former Westside Graduation Coach Esterine Stokes are creating the Academy for Classical Education or ACE. 

According to Perkins, “The Academy for Classical Education is slated to open in August of 2014 but a school site has not yet been determined for many reasons.  The most important reason is that the founding members want to insure first, that Bibb County residents want and will support a charter school.  Charter schools have become a wonderful option for parents in many of the larger cities in Georgia and other states.  Macon has yet to open a charter school but that could all change with the opening of ACE.  An online petition and survey can be found at www.academyforclassicaleducation.com and ALL community members interested are asked to complete both the petition and the survey as both are needed to prove to the district and the state that a charter school is warranted for the Macon/Bibb County area.  Once the Founding Board has the assurance from the community, the search for a school site will officially begin.”

 “ACE will open with grades 6-8 and will add a grade each year until the configuration is a 6-12 program.  Founders Laura Perkins and Esterine Stokes believe that teachers make the real difference in the success of any school and are truly the lifeblood of a well-performing school.  Only the very best, academic practitioners will be invited to teach at ACE.  A second vital factor in the integrity of a school is the role that parents will play.  We know the importance of strong parenting in the life of a child, but that strong parental role is equally needed in schools.  Parents and teachers must work hand in hand in order for students to grow and learn.  At ACE we will value the relationships of parents and encourage them to be a part of the strategic growth plan of our school.  Bibb County has a long and rich history of producing excellent students from schools filled with incredible teachers.  In spite of the last few years, we believe that can still be the case and want to make that desire a reality at ACE.”

Further Perkins states that, “A proposal has been made to the local Board of Education and the state Department of Education for a charter school that will use a curriculum called a classical education curriculum delivered in a blended learning model.  Classical education is a curriculum best defined as a pattern of learning that is developmentally appropriate.  It is extremely language-focused and students working with this curriculum become adept at using words in their written and spoken work rather than pictures, videos, etc.  This is important because the brain works harder to develop language skills as this process requires the brain to translate a symbol (words on a page) into a concept.  The Blended Learning model enters into the equation to enable teachers to utilize a variety of technological resources to reach students both inside and outside of the classroom.” 

If you would like to find out more about ACE, there will be two public forums upcoming very soon.  Please join them at Northway Church on Zebulon Rd. across from the Chic Fil A on April 9th from 7-9PM.  The 2nd will be at Harvest Cathedral on Rocky Creek Rd. on April 23rd from 7-9PM. 
 
Ok, so far we’ve addressed the futures of Middle School kids, High School kids and kids who can’t make it in mainstream education…What about the little ones, like my son Teddy who is about to enter the 1st Grade?  Well, another group called Charter Group Educational Foundation out of the Atlanta area, will be trying to start a Charter School for K-8 as well!  This group, headed by Chairperson Lyn Michaels-Carden as well as Treasurer and CFO Danny Dukes, already operates two other Georgia schools in Coweta and Cherokee Counties that are very successful.    (On a personal note, I’ve known Danny for many years and trust him very much.)
 
According to their website, CGEF  “was founded by a diverse group of Georgia based individuals concerned with the option of quality school choice for families and students in Georgia. The purpose is to provide a premier academic school option for students and families in Georgia. Each member is a proud Georgia based, business and/or community supporter with hopes and visions for a continued and evolving, academically successful Charter School. The Board is responsible for the legal and financial obligations, establishes policy consistent with the School's mission and vision, and ensures that the programs and operations of the School are faithful to the terms of the charter.”  As for the schools, they are part of the Charter Schools USA family and “will foster students in a culturally diverse environment providing them with healthy learning and growth in order to prepare students to be lifelong learners who contribute to society.” 

Keep in mind that a Charter School has to perform up to standards or they lose their charter.  The same can’t be said about the Public School System.  Do you think this might be a good thing for Bibb County?  I certainly do!
 
For the first time, taxpayers will have a choice.  A real choice.  Right now if you aren’t happy with the way things are you either move out of the county, or pay for private schools.  Charter Schools are a win-win for everyone.  They give quality education for free to accepted students…They create jobs for teachers and faculty who are not happy with the public system…AND they give taxpayers a break instead of having to pay double for education for their children.
 
Now PLEASE don’t get me wrong.  I am a HUGE supporter of public education.  However, our school system in Bibb County needs competition to improve and the citizens have the right to have a choice.  Please join ACE at their public forums to see how Charter Schools can help you and your children.  Also, if you have a child who has dropped out of high school or is on the verge of dropping out, I urge you to contact Ms. Sanford at Magic Johnson Bridgescape.

Last week, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two cases about same-sex marriage. Tuesday’s arguments were on California’s ban on gay marriage (Proposition (8) and Wednesday’s case was on the Defense of Marriage Act that bans federal benefits to gay spouses.

 My focus is on the Proposition 8 case as I find it the more compelling one since it raises the most fundamental constitutional questions: among them are the powers of the states under the Tenth Amendment as it relates to marriage on the ballot.

I'm a staunch advocate of the Tenth Amendment. We're the United States for a reason and a very profound one too. The States gave birth to the nation.  The Union was formed by the individual colonies to be called States. 

Our Founding Fathers saw to it that the States retained sovereignty over all governmental functions not specifically deputed to the central government. The Tenth Amendment is enshrined in the Bill of Rights, the frst ten amendments to the Constitution:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Since 1998, states and the voters therein, have exercised their Tenth Amendment rights regarding the definition of marriage in ballot referenda across the country.

In November, 2012, voters in three states – Maine, Maryland and Washingon – legalized same-sex marraige. In Minnesota, they rejected an attempt to withdraw the subject from debate and judicial scrutiny through.a state constitutional amendment.

And last May, North Caolina voters approved the traditional definition of marriage. (After the vote, North Carolinians were labeled bigots, homophobes and ignorant yahoos by those supposedly "tolerant" advocates of same-sex marriage). The amendment passed by a margin of more than 20 percentage points: a margin not unlike that in many other states which have voted to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples – a total of 30 states having done so.

In surveying the issue of marriage on the ballot,The National Conference of State Legislautres observed:

 “The majority of previous statewide votes on the issue of marriage has sought to define marriage as between one man and one woman, effectively prohibiting same-sex marriage. Between 1998 and 2012, there were 31 votes in 30 states on this issue, and in all but one case, voters agreed to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. [Italics Added] The single exception was in Arizona, where in 2006 voters rejected a same-sex marriage ban. However, Arizona voters went on to approve a ban in the 2008 election. In November 2012, Minnesota was the 31st state to consider a constitutional provision limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples, and they rejected their proposed ban.”

Which brings me to Proposition 8. How could the Court rule?

According to a New York Times analysis, the Court has three optiions: Uphold Proposition 8, Strike Down Proposition 8 or Decide That Supporters of Proposition 8 Lack Standing to Appeal.

Constituional law issues and subsequent Court rulings are often very complex and full of nuances as the graphic in the link above shows..For the sake of brevity, I refer the reader to the link for a more substantative look at how the Court could rule.

A word of caution: predicting how the Court could rule is risky business. It may decide to essentially  punt, not rushing to make any sweeping decision but rather defering to the political– not judicial – process as the more prudent course letting that and society itself work it out.

Marriage licenses are issued by the states, not the federal government. The definition of marriage is a state prerogative, not a federal one: a prerogative in this instance initiated by state legislatures and affirmed or rejected by the people. Each state – under the powers of the Tenth Amendment - should be able to define marriage as it chooses.

I trust the Court will Uphold Proposition 8. We are a government of the people, by the people, for the people – a principle some nowadays find rather quaint.

Last June, the Court rendered its momentous decision on the constitutionality of what's affectionately (?) known as ObamaCare. A  potentially momentous decision is coming on Proposition 8.

Exactly one year ago today, I wrote an article on the Court's hearing of oral arguments on the ObamaCare case. I concluded that article with the following – a conclusion most appropriate to the Court's expected ruling this June on same-sex marriage:

“Presidents and Congresses come and go. The Supreme Court is immutable. The Founders made it so.

The Constitution immunizes the Court from the passions and vagaries associated with the other two branches of government...

The Supreme Court will be in the firestorm whatever its decision...That ruling  will come on an issue at the center of...an already fractious, partisan climate.

 There will be hysterical eruptions from one side or the other. That's the nature of our democracy. But so is the Rule of Law.

“This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice,” (Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.)

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'God save the United States and this Honorable Court,' (We Are Politics, April 2, 2012)

Editor's Note:  I had the honor of speaking to Congressman Bob Barr about his candidacy for the Georgia 11th District Congressional Seat.  Congressman Barr is without a doubt one of the most intelligent men ever to have been elected to Congress and will do our state proud when he is elected.  WeArePolitics is extremely honored to endorse his candidacy.

WeArePolitics:  "Congressman Barr, why are you running now?"

Congressman Barr:  "Washington is in a mess and needs the type of help I can bring BIGTIME.  With Congressman Gingrey's departure it seems like the right time for me to step up to the plate."

WAP:  "As a returning Congressman, will you recieve your tenure back?"

Barr:  "Yes!  I served in Congress for eight years and I have been told that I will recieve my seniority back.  This is very important for Georgians in that I won't be viewed as a Freshman Congressman right off the bat, but will be able to serve in more senior positions in committees vital to our economy and National Defense."

WAP:  "When you were in Congress before, you had a reputation of holding President Clinton's feet to the fire.  Will you ask for hearings to complete the investigation on what really happened in Benghazi and hold President Obama accountable for this?"

Barr:  "Yes, absolutely.  The way the Administration handled Benghazi was completely unacceptable.  I recently watched the movie "Argo" and was reminded of how similar the actions of the Carter Administration were in dealing with Iran in 1979 and how the Obama Administration has dealt with the horrible situation in Benghazi.  There were the same types and series of mistakes made in 1979 in Iran as there were in 2012 in Benghazi.  There was absolutely no intelligence gathered in either situation.  The whole thing is unacceptable.  The public has the right to know."

Congressman Barr will indeed hold the current Administration accountable as he did with President Clinton.  In an article last year Barr wrote,

"What Republicans should not brush aside, but should continue to focus on, is that “Benghazi-Gate” represents a most serious series of errors committed by the Obama Administration – errors in judgment, intelligence, security, and policy that began long before the September 11th attacks; and which continued even after the tragic death of Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

This is serious business; and whatever smokescreens the Administration and its defenders throw out there – charges of “sexism,” “racism,” “partisanship,” or whatever – must not be permitted to pull the GOP off target. The GOP is the loyal opposition in this equation, and must not allow itself to be bullied into submission or start chasing animals down irrelevant rabbit holes. If the Republicans in either House flub this, then the incompetence displayed by the Obama Administration in meeting the challenges not only in Libya, but in Iran, Egypt and elsewhere, will continue and likely result in future debacles."

I firmly feel Barr will be one of the ones not to 'flub' this.  Or anything else for that matter.  In his statement to the press announcing his candidacy, Barr states:

"I want to serve again in the Congress of the United States because I love this country; because I believe in this country; and because something has to be done to start getting things done in Washington." 

Once again, I firmly feel that Congressman Barr will be one of the ones who CAN and WILL start getting things done in Washington.  There is no question our country is in the perverbial ditch.  We need men like Bob Barr to get us out of it.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Former Congressman Bob Barr has announced today that he will be running for Congress to fill the spot left vacant by Phil Gingrey, who will be running for US Senate.  Congressman Barr is a contributing writer to WeArePolitics and we are extremely proud to endorse his candidacy.  The following is a statement released by Congressman Barr a few moments ago. 

With the support of my family and the encouragement from friends across the district; I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for Georgia’s Eleventh Congressional District.

You might wonder why on earth anyone would want to serve in Congress in this day and age; considering the complete and frustrating inability to get stuff done in our nation’s Capital. 
Actually, it’s quite simple.  

I want to serve again in the Congress of the United States because I love this country; because I believe in this country; and because something has to be done to start getting things done in Washington. 

Is the current situation frustrating?  Absolutely.  But is it worth it to keep fighting and trying to get things done despite the obstacles?  Absolutely.

You see, I’ve been there. I know how hard it is to fight the system and the obstacles.  But I also know it can be done. I know how to push and work hard and maneuver to once again get things done for this country, for Georgia, for the 11th District, and for our families.

I want to return to Congress and serve once again to help break the log jam that is stifling the economy and driving freedom and prosperity further and further from our grasp.

I am running to bring a strong and effective voice for fiscal conservatism and personal liberty to Congress.

I am running because taxpayers are fed up with the mess in Washington and they want a Member of Congress who can get stuff done.

Congressman Gingrey has done an incredible job in Washington, and I join with friends across GA 11 to thank Phil and his family for their dedication.   But now, let’s talk about the stuff we need to start getting done right now. Important stuff -- lower taxes, less spending, fewer regulations, more liberty and greater freedom.
 
Unfortunately, that is not the direction in which our country is moving. 

We need someone who knows Washington; someone who has proved his ability to move legislation, to break gridlocks; someone to fight the good fight, yes, but also to WIN the good fight.

That’s what I did in Congress before, and that’s precisely why I need to return to the battlefield and knock some sense into the place. ·        

Like orienting Congress so it works WITH small business owners and job creators, not against them.·        
Like stopping the decline in America’s military strength and diplomatic stature in the world. ·        
Like keeping America free, respecting the Constitution, honoring traditional values, and working to not only stop this massive expansion of the federal government, but to begin to actually reverse it.

I start on Day One knowing how to accomplish those goals. I’ve had the honor of serving Georgia in Congress before. I have the seniority and experience it would take someone else years to accumulate. And, friends, we simply do not have years to educate someone new.

That’s why I’m running.

During my service in Congress, I was recognized by both supporters and critics as a champion for economic freedom, religious freedom, and individual liberty; in short, I was an avid champion of and for the Constitution. I was proud to take the lead in advancing pro-business and pro-family legislation.  I will proudly carry that banner again.

When Bill Clinton and the liberals tried to take away our guns and attack the Second Amendment, I led the fight to oppose them. The liberal media attacked, the Democrats attacked, the White House attacked; but I led the effort successfully in the House to repeal the Clinton gun ban.

That’s the toughness and drive we need back there today.

I stand up for working folks, because I am one – a small business owner; like many of you who go to work, pay their taxes and keep America free. That is why and how I worked for and supported the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that gave America a balanced budget for the first time in more than three decades, and cut taxes at the same time!  We can do it again.  It won’t be easy. But we must begin.

So, I stand here today as I did once before, in 1994, and ask you to join with me in returning our country to greatness. Returning individual freedoms; returning America to our rightful, strong, secure position in the world. We’ll return to a smaller, more effective government; one that can perform its constitutionally-enumerated powers, help those truly in need, and then get out of our way. Return our hard earned money to our pockets, and quit giving it to a government already bloated with bureaucracy and regulatory powers.

That is the stuff we must and can get done.

That is why I’m running. 

I need your help.   Thank you. 

Bob Barr

The United States Supreme Court today heard arguments in a case challenging Proposition 8 -- California's voter-approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It is unclear how the court will rule. Most observers expect Justice Anthony Kennedy to provide the deciding vote in a 5-to-4 decision. In two previous cases involving homosexual rights, Kennedy sided with the court's liberal majority.

That said, supporters of same-sex marriage cannot take Kennedy's vote for granted. While writing the majority opinion striking down state sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas, Kennedy also wrote that his decision "does not involve whether the government must give formal recognition to any relationship that homosexual persons seek to enter." Translation: Kennedy was not embracing the concept of men "marrying" other men -- at least not in 2003.

The justices may be hesitant to issue a sweeping ruling that invalidates the laws of dozens of states, many of which were approved at the ballot box by the voters specifically to prevent judges from redefining marriage. Even a left-wing activist like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a former ACLU attorney, concedes that Roe v. Wade was a mistake. At a legal symposium last year she remarked, "It's not that the judgment was wrong, but it moved too far too fast." Well, she's half right -- the judgment and the timing were both wrong.

As for the conservatives, all eyes are Chief Justice John Roberts. He stunned conservatives and brought joy to the White House with his support for Obamacare, albeit on relatively narrow grounds. And a homosexual family member, who attended today's arguments at the Supreme Court, believes Roberts will rule against Proposition 8.

If the court desires, it can dodge the issue completely. The question of standing and the court's jurisdiction has come up in both the Proposition 8 case and the challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage case because neither the state government nor the federal government were willing to defend the pro-marriage laws. The justices took the unusual step of asking for an additional brief by Harvard Law Professor Vicki Jackson specifically addressing this issue. You can read more about that here.

Editor's Note:  WeArePolitics would like to welcome Leanne Livingston back as one of our contributing writers.  Leanne was one of our first group that founded WeArePolitics over two years ago.  

Leanne Livingston is a 22-year-old junior at The University of Georgia studying Political Science and minoring in Communications.  Leanne has had a passion for the subject since high school when she debated competitively, ranking in the national top twenty of policy debaters in 2009. At a young age she has already served as a speechwriter and consultant for state representatives, as well as writing the copy for Herman Cain’s on-camera narration of the Tea Party Patriots 9-12 events opening video.  She currently serves as activism director for the UGA College Republicans, a club of which she is actively involved. Leanne also serves as the Northeast Regional Director for the Georgia Association of College Republicans state board. She hopes her articles inspire you to look beyond pure politics to the core values of Conservative Republicans to better shape the youth of today.

Leanne has also recently been selected as a Summer Intern for Congressman Tom Price!

The lights flashed, music blared, the crowd roared, and the spotlight commanded center stage as the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers. But this was no free concert on a beach in Florida for my spring break. In fact, I, along with my collegiate peers, didn’t migrate south to get a tan, nor did we take our swimsuits out of their drawers. Instead we packed suits, ties, dresses, heels, and note pads. We traveled north to Washington D.C. for a week. Why, one may ask, would college students forego the allure of the beach packed with free parties, rock star bands, and the promise of a stunning tan? For some of us, it was to see this man the announcer was introducing: Paul Ryan. For others it was to visit the exhibit halls for job opportunities, while others wished to travel onto the Hill to view session. For Spring Break 2013 I traveled to CPAC, and apparently so did most other college students. This year, the Conservative Political Action Conference boasted of a huge millennial turn-out. Upon registering for the event, you were required to state your “status” and after going through the numbers, CPAC announced that 41% of the attendees registered as students. Looking at demographics, 52% were between the ages of 18 and 25. It looks like the conservative movement is getting a bit more hip, and after this last election it is in dire need of a makeover; a young and energized makeover.

 

In the 2012 presidential election, the youth numbers were frankly embarrassing for the Republican Party. In young voters aged 18-26, President Obama won this age group with 60% of support and Romney won 37% of college students’ hearts.  I tend to blame the lack of political knowledge of college students. I blame their apathy. I blame their ignorance. I blame their obsession with Angry Birds instead of foreign affairs. But in the end, I blame myself, and those who have given up on my generation and our future. While the Republican Party and its members declare interest in youth involvement, I will never forget a time when I was campaigning for a candidate in the GA GOP chairman race. As I was handing out stickers for my candidate, an elderly gentleman declined my sticker and stated, “Oh honey. You’re too young to understand these politics. You’ll know better when you’re older.” I was dumbfounded. I can easily shrug these comments off, but for many others, those words could be the difference between a student’s dreams of running for office or staying at home living in his parent’s basement wondering how he could make any difference. I’m afraid that most adults within the GOP have had a certain mindset toward my peers, that those who are disinterested are worthless, and those who are politically bent are good for free labor but shouldn’t be the focus of any real efforts on behalf of the party. If I were disinterested, I would have gone to the beach. But instead, I found myself bundled up against 40 degree temperatures, a roaring wind, and pulling on skirts and heels every morning instead of shorts and a t-shirt.

To me, CPAC was a tall glass of water on a sweltering beach. Everywhere I turned there was an event hosted by the College Republican National Committee, the Young Americans Foundation, Generation Opportunity, and even Tea Party Patriots offered an open bar, pizza, and karaoke night. What college student refuses free beer!? This is the first time millennials (my generation) clutched a ballot in their hand, and after seeing the last two election results, the Republican Party is realizing just how valuable those few minutes we spend in the voting box are, and how important we could be to the party. It’s going to take a lot of changing to reach to a youth who is more accepting of socially liberal agendas, but ask any student and they will say they want to keep their hard earned money, especially when all they can afford are ramen noodles. If you boil it down for a college student, we understand that big government is bad. I’ve seen it first hand. However, our entire life we have been taught to spread the wealth. It takes time for college students to get it, but they will. It’s going to take a lot of changing, a lot of talking, a lot of persuading. But the first step is to actually reach out. This is the largest untapped voting population by the Republican Party…a population and generation that will turn into tomorrow’s leaders. And if we don’t get to them first, in 15 years my generation could be sitting in their parent’s basement watching a documentary about how conservatism died, as they play Angry Birds version 5.0. Or maybe, we’ll just go to the beach.