Blog Topic: Raging Election

In the Loop: Pro-Medicaid Protesters Booted from GOP Convention

By Blake Aued | May 15, 2015 7:09pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

ACC Commissioner Kelly Girtz speaks at a rally for Medicaid expansion outside the Classic Center.

About 100–150 protesters were kicked out of the Classic Center during the Georgia Republican convention this afternoon as they waved signs and chanted slogans in favor of expanding Medicaid to an estimated 650,000 Georgians who lack health insurance.

The rally started outside at about 5 p.m. “There are people dying every day single day just because we’re not expanding Medicaid,” said Tim Denson of Athens for Everyone.

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In the Loop: Marco Rubio: The American Dream Is Dying

By Blake Aued | May 15, 2015 4:16pm

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio received what sounded like a stronger response from Republican convention delegates at the Classic Center than New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie with a largely autobiographical speech.

Rubio—who, unlike Christie, has announced his presidential candidacy—highlighted his life story as the son of working-class Cuban immigrants. In a speech reminiscent of President Jimmy Carter’s “malaise” lament, he said the American Dream that propelled him to political power is dying. America is weak abroad, and the economy is improving, but not as fast as it should, he said.

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In the Loop: Chris Christie: I Can Work With Democrats

By Blake Aued | May 15, 2015 10:16am

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie may not officially be running for president—yet—but he laid out a strategy for winning over blue-state voters during a breakfast speech this morning at the Georgia Republican convention at the Classic Center.

Christie was noncommittal when reporters asked him whether he’s running. In his speech, however, he made a case for a more inclusive party that’s more open to compromise.

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In the Loop: Everything You Need to Know About Bernie Sanders

By Blake Aued | May 1, 2015 11:07am

Photo Credit: Paul Heintz/Seven Days

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and self-described socialist, announced a long-shot presidential bid on Thursday, running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

Our alt-weekly counterparts at Seven Days in Vermont have been covering Sanders for 35 years, dating back to his days as mayor of Burlington. They've put together all of their extensive coverage in a blog called Bernie Beat. Click here to read up on the progressive standard-bearer.

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In the Loop: Herman Cain Defends Rand Paul in UGA Speech

By Evelyn Andrews | April 16, 2015 10:50am

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Herman Cain told University of Georgia students it is too early to make judgments about the 2016 presidential election, but advised them to discount candidates who attack members of their own party at a lecture Wednesday night.

Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential race, recorded a segment for his radio talk show during his third visit to campus in the last four years. The show will be replayed next week.

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In the Loop: Nancy Denson's Daughter Might Run for Mayor, Too

By Blake Aued | December 30, 2014 3:59pm

State Rep. Margaret Kaiser, the daughter of Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson, is considering running for mayor of Atlanta in 2017, according to Creative Loafing.

"I want to consider my options," she told reporter Max Blau. "But if I run, it's going to be because I think I would be a damn good mayor."

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In the Loop: John Barrow Is Moving Back to Athens

By Blake Aued | November 10, 2014 3:17pm

After losing last week's election, U.S. Rep. John Barrow is moving back to Athens.

Barrow, who lost his bid for a sixth term to Republican Rick Allen, has put his Augusta house up for sale and plans on coming back to his hometown, where he still owns a house and his family lives, spokesman Richard Carbo told the Augusta Chronicle.

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In the Loop: Oconee Voters Approve Liquor by the Drink

By Lee Becker | November 5, 2014 3:09pm

Oconee County voters approved by large margins the sale of liquor by the drink in restaurants throughout the county and its cities and continuation of the 1 percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for another six years.

Unofficial results show 65.4 percent of those who cast ballots approving of liquor by the drink, and 65.1 percent approving of SPLOST.

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In the Loop: Republicans Win Big in Georgia and Everywhere

By Blake Aued | November 4, 2014 11:24pm

Polls close at 7 p.m., and results should start coming in about an hour later. Check back.

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In the Loop: Georgia Voters Are Having a Tough Time Voting

By Blake Aued | November 4, 2014 1:17pm

Photo Credit: Photo via Georgetown Public Policy Review

As voters head out to elect—or try to elect—a governor, senator and a host of other state and federal officials, Georgia's polls are starting to look more and more like the Bulldogs' special teams.

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