Honorable Brian Kemp, Governor
206 Washington Street
Suite 203, State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
December 19, 2020
Dear Governor Kemp,
Call a special session of the Georgia Legislature. Since November 3, we have heard repeatedly “there is no credible evidence” of widespread fraud that would change the outcome of the election.
What is the basis for that statement? Has there been a court case that actually ruled on the factual claims? Continue reading
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There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that confidence in our elections administration in Georgia is in the gutter. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger can issue all the announcements he wants about how secure the election was but he may as well be saying that professional wrestling is real. There are more eyeballs rolling at his announcements than there are wheels on rolling on I-75. Continue reading
by Today Georgia takes a baby step toward reopening our state’s economy. To hear some reports, Governor Kemp is flying a crop duster across the state spraying Covid-19.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Let’s do a little review of what has happened, why it happened, and what this update to the Governor’s executive order really means. Continue reading
by Democrats in Washington have sunk to a new low. They should be focusing on an immediate response to an immediate need. Instead they use this crisis to kick Americans when they are down.
President Trump, in a two hour press conference yesterday, expressed frustration at Senate Democrats. The President said that they had an agreement but Democrats wanted to tack on provisions totally unrelated to the immediate need. Continue reading
by Early voting is going on in Georgia for the Presidential Primary which is on Tuesday, March 24. Since Donald Trump is the only one on the Republican ballot, you may wonder if it really matters. It does.
It is important. It sends a message. It shows your support for President Trump and for a conservative agenda.
When you go to the polls and cast a vote in the Republican Presidential Primary, it sends a clear message that you stand with President Trump. It is a positive influence on others when you set the example.
Lines are short in early voting. If the polling place is nearby, go ahead and cast your vote for President Trump. Definitely go on March 24 for the Presidential Primary. I appreciate your support for President Trump.
On the Trail to Send DC to DC
I have several speaking engagements lined up over the next week. With the precautions to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, these could be subject to change. Continue reading
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It was a day mixed with grief and hope at Central Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia on Friday. Two days after the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, State Senator Greg Kirk was laid to rest. Continue reading
by Governor Kemp announced that he chose conservative businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to replace Johnny Isakson as Georgia’s Senator until the 2020 special election. I have absolute trust in Governor Kemp and I stand with him in making this selection. Continue reading
by As a pastor, being around funeral homes is a part of the ministry. I have heard funeral directors sometimes comment, “they come in threes.”
Beth Slocum called me early yesterday morning and told me that her brother, and my friend, Jay Powell, died. Like everyone else who heard the news, it was a shock.
Jay was not ill. He was actively engaged in his law practice and as a leader in the Georgia Legislature. This came out of nowhere.
Beth and Jay’s father, A. J. Powell, passed away last September. He lived to be 100. That is one where family and friends grieve over a loved one but also understand that 100 years is more than most have on this earth.
In October, Beth’s husband, Jody Slocum, died after a very short illness. That one hit hard.
Beth and the whole family were leaning on Jay to work through all the legal matters of their father’s estate.
Now her little brother who also is one of the most respected leaders in the Georgia House of Representatives died of a sudden heart attack. The question that everyone asks at a time like this, “Why?”
The only thing that I could think was the old gospel song, “We’ll Understand it Better By and By.” As I write this, I am listening to a Bill Gaither Homecoming Vocal Band with the full audience singing that old song.
You may facing something that you don’t understand and find some comfort in this old song as well. Here’s the link.
I get a chance to travel around South Georgia and visit with farmers. Any time I was in Mitchell County, I made it a point to stop by Jay’s law office. If he was in, and not with another client, he always asked me to come back to his office to visit for a while.
The simple wooden table in his office usually had law books and papers stacked around with one set, in front of him, marked up with his notes. It may have been a deed, will, or a bill in the legislature that would impact millions of citizens of Georgia.
He never seemed too swamped or overwhelmed to sit and talk for a while. He shared observations on politics and always wanted my take on various matters. Rural Georgia will miss his leadership and advocacy. All of Georgia will miss his straight shooting.
Once he voted no on a bill than I advocated. I could not understand his vote and sent him an e-mail asking. He wrote back that he wanted to meet and talk about it. We did have a chance to talk a little while later.
There was no pounding the table, defensiveness, avoidance, or power play. He simply walked through several provisions in the bill that he felt were not thought through before passing.
We started the visit as close friends and ended it just as close, if not closer. I told him that I understood the particular concerns that he raised, but still felt that the bill was good and glad that it passed and was signed by Governor Kemp.
I recall one particular time that is still vivid in my memory. We had visited about several matters. I was serving on a state board at the time. The agency leaders were constantly rolling out new rules and I was pushing back.
In this particular visit with Jay in his law office, we talked about a lot of different issues but the agency matters were peripheral at most. As I got up to leave his office, he stopped me and simply said, “I want you to know that I appreciate you taking on the bureaucracy.”
I miss Jay and going through Camilla will never be the same. For family members, there are no words. The best I can offer is that we’ll understand it better by and by.
by This one hurts. I know the truth. I know the hope. I know the assurance. I tell it to others all the time. But this one hurts. I am angry about this one.
Yesterday morning, Jody Slocum stepped into eternity. Just a few weeks ago he was teaching his Sunday School class at Pinecrest Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia.
I met Jody on a Saturday evening in 2006 in Sylvester, Georgia at a campaign event for Sonny Perdue. My wife and I sat at the same table and had a nice conversation. Jody could talk to anyone about anything. It was his gift.
The next morning, I decided to visit Pinecrest Baptist Church. I remember getting out of the car and not knowing where to go for Sunday School.
A little boy was passing by and I asked him where adult classes met. He pointed over to a door and said that he thought there was an adult class in that room.
I eased the door open to see a class filled and the teacher announced that we met the night before. You know how it is when you see someone in a different place and do not connect the person and place immediately.
Jody immediately recognized me. It took a moment for the search engine in my brain to connect the Sunday School teacher with a political event the night before.
That began a deep friendship. We shared a common faith, a common political philosophy, and a common enjoyment of the lives of those who were involved in politics.
Jody was an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal and kept up with the latest reporting and editorials. He talked about the writers and subjects with such a grasp of understanding that it seemed as if he talked with them over breakfast every morning.
If I wanted solid analysis of a particular issue, I called Jody to see what he knew. He always knew the latest and did not hesitate to share his opinion.
When it came to church involvement, he was all about mission and commitment. He did not have time to complain or nitpick over non-important issues.
He had a compelling obligation to support the men and women called of God to serve, especially missionaries, pastors, and staff members. He believed that these individuals had been called by God and invested their lives.
He often spoke of them “leaving their nets” in a reference to the first disciples who walked away from a profession as fishermen to follow Christ.
We were having dinner with a friend shortly after a hurricane or flood that was in the news. Jody began to talk about the Southern Baptist disaster relief operation that had developed such a reputation, that they were the first to be called. He proudly described the logistics in detail.
Jody’s wife, Beth, served as a trustee of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. He was there with her at every trustee meeting to learn the needs.
Jody was more than just active in church. He knew why he was active. He had a firm grasp on why he was there and why a relationship with Christ was the most important relationship that anyone could have. He had a firm grasp on matters of eternal significance.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, shared his daily struggle about life here in this fallen world and stepping into eternity. “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (Philippians 1:23-24)
Jody was also torn between stepping into eternity with Christ and staying here to keep carrying out the mission. He was “hard pressed” in both directions. One truth he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt – he was fully prepared to be “absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8 NASB)
This one hurts. Not Jody! His death reminds me of the brevity of this life and the hope for eternity.
The Apostle Paul had a lot to say about this kind of thing. In the 15th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote of the return of Christ and the assurance of our resurrection as believers. Right now, Jody is in the presence of Christ and seeing everything with perfect clarity.
Paul closed that 15th chapter with an exhortation and hope. With those same words to the many friends and family who are feeling the same thing right now, I close this commentary:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58 NASB)
Obituary Maxwell-Purvis Funeral Home
by I am voting for David Shafer for Georgia GOP Chairman. I made the decision after the candidate forum in Albany.
David called me a few weeks ago and asked for my vote and support. I made no promises at the time because I know David well and also Scott Johnson. I have worked with both in some capacity and think highly of both of them.
A couple of weeks later, Scott called me and we had a great conversation. I made no promises to Scott either.
At the forum we saw three great candidates. Each candidate has unique strengths that would be of value to the party. We can only choose one.
One factor that led me to select David over the others was the phone call from him. I asked him why he was running. He shared similar answers that we hear from all the other candidates.
He added one thing. He said that he wanted to invest his time in the GOP and that he believed that he could make the biggest impact serving as Party Chair.
It was not so much the exact words that he said that impressed me. Every candidate for Party Chair wants to invest time for the GOP.
It was his sincere and humble sense of calling to run for Party Chair. He talked about investing his time in the context of how he has served in the State Senate and his desire to pour the same passion into the GOP.
Another reason that I decided on David is that he has a broad background in state politics. He pointed out the vital need to connect with both the big financial donors and big donors of time who do the work. From grassroots organizing to leadership under the gold dome, he knows how the process works and how to get things done.
At the forum, I felt that David presented himself best in his plan and his passion for the job. I believe that he is the one who is the best fit for a very challenging volunteer job that will require practically a full time investment.
David offered himself as a candidate for Lt. Governor. He narrowly missed a clear win in the primary. In the runoff he was hit with an endless barrage of negative ads and he lost by a razor thin margin. It was so close that there could have been a recount.
David conceded the race because he knew that Democrats were coming after every candidate in the general election. He felt that a recount would be a distraction from the higher goal of keeping a conservative Republican in the Lt. Governor’s office.
Every candidate for this kind of race in a party or primary usually makes a commitment to support the winner. In that painful and disappointing loss he practiced what he preached about his commitment to the Republican party.
He could have just as easily retired from the scene. He could have become bitter. He did neither. He invested his time, experience, and skills in helping Republican candidates.
Now he offers to invest his time in the place where he felt he can be most effective. I believe that is as Georgia GOP Party Chair.
If you are a delegate to the Georgia GOP convention, I recommend and endorse David Shafer. If you know someone who is a delegate, please pass on my recommendation to vote for David Shafer for Georgia GOP Chair.
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