Free Republic

Joe McCutchen says he’s been spending four hours a day pretty much every day trying to spread the word about Dalton Mayor David Pennington’s campaign for governor. “I’ve got Pennington bumper stickers on both my cars. I wear a Pennington sticker everywhere I go,” said McCutchen, an Ellijay resident. “We’ve got a bunch of people here who are really fired up. We’ve got people in Dalton who are fired up. I’m getting calls every day from people all over the state who want to join what I call the Pennington Army. I’ve been involved in politics for 50 years and...

Signs stating “Don’t Cruzify America” and “End the Shut Down” greeted travellers on the Atlanta Highway by the Georgia Square Mall — the location of Rep. Paul Broun’s office — Friday afternoon as about 25 protesters waved their displeasure at the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government. Amy Rosemond said she had been thinking about the protest since the shutdown started Oct. 1. She, like others present, said she took particular umbrage at Broun’s line-in-the-sand of refusing to support any spending bill that does not defund the Affordable Care Act. President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats held their own...

Those who buy some health insurance plans on Georgia’s Obamacare exchange won’t get network access to Hamilton Medical Center and most local doctors. In northwest Georgia, only two carriers are selling health insurance plans on the exchange: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Alliant Health Plans. Officials at Alliant say exchange customers will have access to all the doctors and hospitals in their regular network including Hamilton and most local doctors. But Blue Cross Blue Shield officials say exchange customers won’t have access to all the providers in its regular network.

Attorney Benjamin Crump said he wants to bring national attention to Georgia after the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson. Crump is no stranger to the national spotlight. He represented Trayvon Martin's family and helped pushed for prosecution in that case. A jury exonerated neighborhood watch George Zimmerman. Crump is now representing Johnson's family. The teen was found dead in his high school gym in January. His body was stuck upside down in a rolled-up wrestling mat. Investigators with Lowndes County Sheriff's Office ruled his death accidental. Today Crump joined Johnson's parents outside the Superior Courthouse in Lowndes County. He called...

ATLANTA (AP) -- A south Georgia teacher accused of engaging in sex acts with a teen while knowing he was HIV-positive has been indicted by a grand jury. A five-count indictment filed Wednesday charges 29-year-old Phillip Marquis Burns with child molestation, aggravated child molestation, reckless conduct, child enticement and criminal solicitation. The indictment says Burns masturbated and had oral sex with a 16-year-old boy and asked another boy to send him explicit pictures of himself. Dougherty County court clerk officials say Burns is being represented by Willie C. Weaver, who also serves as a City of Albany Municipal Court judge....

Police have arrested an 84-year-old man accused of pointing a gun at anti-President Barack Obama protestors. In the police report, an investigator said Smith stated "he kept the weapon in the vehicle for the carjackers. He stated that he had the gun with him on the day of the incident, but stated that he did not present it to the protestors." He "stated that everyone was lying on him in an attempt to get him into trouble."

WASHINGTON -- Of his 45 lifetime arrests, Rep. John Lewis said Tuesday's was the most pleasant. The Atlanta Democrat participated in a large demonstration supporting immigration reform on the National Mall, then along with seven other U.S. House Democrats and about 200 others, was arrested for blocking traffic in front of the Capitol. The civil rights movement veteran was an old pro at being arrested, so as he and his colleagues were placed in plastic handcuffs and led to a paddywagon, he was dispensing a few tips. Said Lewis: "I encouraged them to just be patient and adhere to the...

Citizens United is endorsing Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) in the crowded Georgia Senate primary. The nod from the conservative group will give the Tea Party favorite a boost — and establishment Republicans new reason to be concerned about the race. Establishment Republicans have publicly fretted about Broun winning the primary, fearing he might not be the party's best candidate in a general election. The congressman regularly refers to President Obama as a socialist and communist, and has said evolution and the big bang theories are lies "from the pit of hell."

The American Conservative Union (ACU) rated these seventeen Georgia State Senators as Conservative All-Stars: Don Balfour, Charlie Bethel, Dean Burke, Buddy Carter, Ronnie Chance, Tyler Harper, Hunter Hill, Jack Hill, Bill Jackson, Fran Millar, Jeff Mullis, David Shafer, Cecil Staton, Jesse Stone, Ross Tolleson, and Renee Unterman. ElectTheRightCandidate.us graded them as replaceable RINOs. This discrepancy occurred because the two systems use very different grading systems. Both used conservative legislations like SB 101 that prevented the government creating a database of gun owners. However, the real test is how politicians vote on non-conservative legislations. Only ElectTheRightCandidate.us used the following non-conservative legislations....

Father Ray Leonard, a Catholic priest who serves a Georgia military base, was not allowed to celebrate mass at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay this weekend. “Shutdown: No Catholic service till further notice,” a sign posted on the chapel said. Leonard — who is contracted with the Department of Defense to minister the military on the base — is not allowed to work on the base during the federal government shutdown. In fact, the general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA has warned that — under current law — some military priests under contract could even

Two Gwinnett County women claim they were threatened with a gun while conducting a protest to impeach President Barack Obama. "I was standing there with a sign and I looked and he had a gun pointed at me," protestor Toni Pendley told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh. Pendley said she was conducting a peaceful protest that elicited a not so peaceful reaction.

Looks like the media may have latched on to a fraudster: Chad Henderson is the media’s poster boy for Obamacare. Reporters struggled this week to find individuals who said they had been able to enroll in one of the law’s 36 federally run health-insurance exchanges. That changed yesterday, when they found Henderson, a 21-year-old student and part-time child-care worker who lives in Georgia and says that he successfully enrolled himself and his father Bill in insurance plans via the online exchange administered at healthcare.gov. But in an exclusive phone interview this morning with Reason, Chad’s father Bill contradicted virtually every...

<p>LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Police near Atlanta are investigating an attack on a group of women as they protested on an interstate overpass and carried signs calling for President Barack Obama's impeachment.</p> <p>The women told police they were demonstrating on the Steve Reynolds Boulevard overpass in Gwinnett County on Saturday, when a man pulled up beside them. They said he pointed a gun at one of them and splashed another with an unknown liquid.</p>

As public sentiment against Barack Obama continues to grow, more and more patriots are joining forces with a nationwide campaign to impeach the failed president. Many of these protesters join with other locals to hold signs of disapproval on overpasses across the U.S. While opposition is to be expected with any politically charged event, one group of Georgia women recently learned just how threatening the left can be toward conservatives. While holding signs above one road in Gwinnett County, protesters say they received multiple threats — including one by a man with a gun. The man reportedly pulled up to...

A new Landmark/RosettaStone poll conducted yesterday of 1000 registered voters says 46% of Georgians blame Democrats for the partial federal government shutdown, 39% blame Republicans. More (received via press release): The numbers among self described independents is more informative, with Independent voters blaming the Democrats by an aggregated margin of 53%-29%. 17% of Independent voters also surveyed say they think “all sides” share some of the blame. The survey also asked voter opinion of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. 56% of Georgia voters say they want Obamacare either “de-funded” or “delayed by one year.” Only 33% of...

Grady Memorial, Georgia's biggest hospital, announced today it will lose $45 million dollars a year because of Obamacare.

As of midnight Tuesday morning, the U.S. House and Senate had not reached an agreement on a continuing resolution to fund the government. That means several government services will be shut down. Rep. John Lewis made a statement early Tuesday morning, after the federal government was shut down for the first time in 17 years. "I am very sorry that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not believe in government and the collective good it can do to help citizens, businesses and communities lead more humane, productive lives. They do not share our democratic...

<p>NORCROSS — A Norcross-area homeowner shot a would-be burglar in the face Thursday morning.</p>

President Barack Obama famously promised, “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” He later got even more specific.“If you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have,” Obama said.But as Obamacare’s rollout approaches, we have learned this is not true. Here are the ten states where consumers may like their health care plans, but they won’t be able to...

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Police say a homeowner shot a man trying to break into his house in Norcross on Thursday. According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, the homeowner called 911 around 11 a.m. and said that two men were attempting to get inside his house on Greenway Road. The homeowner grabbed his handgun and fired after he said one of the men tried to force his way in through a window. Both suspects then fled the scene, according to police.

Police say that an Augusta teen who had been sought for questioning in a shooting Saturday acted in self-defense. After a “complete and thorough investigation,” Richmond County sheriff’s investigators determined that Anthony Hampton, 17, shot Willie Casey Jr., 47, who later died, Sgt. Shane McDaniel said. Hampton, who cooperated with investigators, was found to have acted in self-defense, and no criminal charges will be filed.

Sherie Luffman has been without health insurance for the past seven years. “I had to cancel it because I couldn’t afford $750 a month in insurance premiums, and I’m more than two years away from qualifying for Medicare,” said Luffman, first vice chairwoman of the Whitfield County Democratic Party. “I’m really looking forward to the Affordable Care Act taking effect. I’ll be able to buy insurance on the health care exchange. I’ll qualify for federal assistance to help pay my premiums. I’ll be able to go to the doctor when I get sick instead of waiting to see if I...

Holy viral phenom! Has Roswell's caped crusader jumped the shark? In less than a month, Roswell dad-of-four Blake Wilson earned cult status thanks to Vine videos in which he wears a Bat Man mask while handing down parental edicts ("tables are for glasses, not asses") and making safety PSAs. Now that Wilson's gone from BuzzFeed listicle to fawning HuffPo feature to a guest on the Today show, one has to wonder: will this Honda Odyssey-driving suburban patriarch be the latest Atlantan to snag a reality series, or is this the end of a meteoric fifteen minutes?

This is a shameless plug for a good man trying to make a positive change in the Georgia education system. Richard Woods announced his candidacy about ten days ago at the Tiftarea TEA Party Patriots weekly meeting. It is his second attempt for this office, losing to John Barge in 2010 by less than 1,000 votes. Mr. Barge's record in office, compared to the values expressed by Mr. Woods then and now show the voters made a mistake. Please visit Mr. Woods' web site. Read his positions on things like Common Core. Provide any help you can to put a...

East Point Police are looking for suspects in an attempted carjacking and beating of an 80-year-old man. It happened September 14th as Creston Portis was returning to his East Point home after visiting friends. East Point Police Lt. Cliff Chandler said the crime hit the police department hard because the victim’s son used to be a police officer with East Point. “This crime is particularly disconcerting to us at the police department,” he said. “We are particularly concerned at the level of violence that was exhibited by these perpetrators.” Police said Portis was approached by two males and one female...

Police have enlisted the help of a trapper to round up a group of feral hogs scaring residents of a subdivision in suburban Atlanta. Some parents fear sending their children to a school bus stop in the Lithonia area, where up to four of the hogs are roaming the streets and eating trash in front yards. Authorities hope the hogs can be trapped in cages by Wednesday morning, DeKalb County police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said. “They’re causing quite a stir to say the least,” Parish said shortly before noon Tuesday, as she headed out to the neighborhood, about 17 miles...

Channel 2 Action News has learned one Gwinnett County police officer has given more tickets for texting and driving than any other officer in the state. Ch. 2’s Amanda Cook spoke with the officer about how drivers are making it so easy for him to give the tickets. Gwinnett County Police Officer Jessie Myers said if you do anything on your phone besides make or receive a phone call, he will pull you over. He said the most common place to catch you in the act right at traffic lights. “I’ve written almost 800 tickets for unlawful communications device this...

A sailor at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay was arrested by Kingsland police after he allegedly took a 13-year-old girl on base and sexually molested her in his room in a barracks. Aaron Flores, a 25-year-old petty officer 3rd class, was arrested after investigators interviewed the girl and Flores Thursday, Kingsland police said Monday in a prepared statement. Flores is a machinist mate aboard the USS Rhode Island, Navy officials said. The investigation began after the mother of the girl's mother alleged to Kingsland police that her daughter had been molested by a sailor on base. The girl is not...

Drag a $100 bill through MSNBC and there's no telling what you'll find. On today's Morning Joe, the ever-classy James Carville likened GOP primary voters to low-quality prison inmates. Carville made his asinine analogy in responding to Joe Scarborough's suggestion that Republicans can still prevail in coming election cycles if they do the "smart thing." Carville said the situation reminded him of what Lester Maddox said the problem was in the Georgia prison system: the quality of the inmates. According to Carville, the GOP's problem is the quality of Republican primary voters. View the video here.

20 Sep Republican Sen's Who Are UNDECIDED On Defunding Obamacare! Let's help them decide! Please RETWEET!! #DefundObamacare pic.twitter.com/xn8nG6Y9v6

The Talk Shows September 15==22nd, 2013 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz.THIS WEEK (ABC): Reps. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Tom Graves, R-Ga.STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The home invaders who kidnapped a 14-year-old girl from a Clayton County home have made a $10,000 ransom demand, family members said Tuesday.

Authorities said the victim was snatched about 2 a.m. Tuesday after two armed men broke into her home in Ellenwood, a suburb of Atlanta, though the back door "The mother actually tried to hide the two kids," Clayton County police officer Phong Nguyen told NBC affiliate WXIA. "There was a little dog in the house and it started barking so the intruders shot the dog. They demanded money and jewelry from the mother," he added. The mother said she didn't have any cash of value "so instead they kidnapped the 14-year-old girl." Her 15-year-old brother was not harmed, police said.

A Georgia health care company will lay off over 100 employees due in part to Obamacare, according to a WSB-TV report: "We have confirmed more than 100 Emory health care employees are going to lose their jobs in part because of the Affordable (health) Care Act," said a local anchor. "I think it's bad it's affordable health care and people are losing their jobs," said a man interviewed by the reporter. "It's sad. It really is," said another man. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes and cars and everything they worked all their life for."

... Department spokesman John Chafee says a man was shot in the leg and a woman was shot in the arm Sunday afternoon. Chafee says the shooting happened on Northside Drive near Markham Street, about three blocks south of the Georgia Dome, where thousands gathered to watch the Falcons play the St. Louis Rams.

One college football tradition in Georgia will soon disappear: Letting politicians into the stadium for free. A new law taking effect next year bans lobbyists from giving Georgia’s politicians free college football tickets, a rite as well-established as Game Day beer and barbecue in the football-obsessed South. … Disclosure reports show that lobbyists have given Georgia politicians nearly $1,400 in college football tickets and related entertainment since the start of the season in late August. That’s just the beginning. … Many lawmakers get tickets in Georgia because the Legislature controls the $6.4 billion higher education budget, including the roughly $1.9...

Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) released the following statement in favor of Congressman Tom Graves' (R-GA-14) legislation to defund ObamaCare: Lee: "Congressman Tom Graves has introduced a bill today that would continue to fund all the functions of government and protect the American people from ObamaCare for at least one year. The House should pass this legislation immediately and send it to the Senate. The president has delayed the implementation of ObamaCare for big business, unions, and his special interest supporters. Congress should act to delay it for the rest of the country, as well."

The Democrats’ one best hope at a competitive Senate race in Georgia is already exhibiting signs of weakness. Since her July announcement, Michelle Nunn’s nascent campaign has sought branding grounded in entrenched Georgia political roots, thanks to her famous father, while ensuring daylight between party and president. The Points of Light CEO made no mention of party affiliation in a campaign announcement email, and a two-week tour across the state, dubbed “What Washington Can Learn From Georgia,” appeared more akin to her career in nonprofits than a show of political force. Yet an increasing slew of unforced errors is undermining...

For the third straight day, high temperatures in Atlanta are breaking records for how low they are. Saturday’s high was 66 degrees as against the normal high in the upper 80s. The temperatures put a chill over, “It’s kind of a freak of nature that it’s even cold – it’s August and we’re wearing jeans and coats, and it’s very weird,” said Regan Koski, event manager for Decatur’s Blues, Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival. “I’m from Atlanta, and I still can’t believe this weather. It’s crazy,” Wynn said. “I would expect this in November. Not in August. Not in Atlanta.” Thursday...

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia teen convicted of fatally shooting a baby in a stroller was sentenced Thursday to spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole after the grieving mother asked a judge to punish the gunman for taking "the love of my life." De'Marquise Elkins, 18, stood silent and showed no emotion as he was sentenced in a courtroom less than two weeks after a jury found him guilty of murder in the slaying of 13-month-old Antonio Santiago during a robbery attempt. "His first word was never heard. His first sentence was...

Above: Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Chief Doug Jordan meet in Phoenix.- Unbelievable! The Grantville, Georgia Police Chief has been suspended for a week - without pay - merely for visiting Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio during his vacation. Chief Doug Jordan and his wife planned a recent trip to Arizona to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They had honeymooned there 31 years ago. They paid for the trip and its expenses themselves. While there, Jordan thought it would be a great idea to see if he could meet with Arpaio. He was honored when Arpaio agreed to do so.“I meet with...

Hoping to avert a possible government shutdown at the end of the month, Rep. Tom Graves introduced a bill Thursday that he and dozens of his conservative colleagues believe could solve a looming fiscal fight facing Congress.But his proposal, which defunds the president’s health care law, is likely to draw intense opposition from Democrats should it come up for consideration.With current government funding set to run out Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year, Graves’ legislation would fund the government just below post-sequester levels for the next 12 months while delaying and defunding the Affordable Care Act,  also...

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia teen convicted of fatally shooting a baby in a stroller was sentenced Thursday to spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole after the grieving mother asked a judge to punish the gunman for taking "the love of my life." De'Marquise Elkins, 18, stood silent and showed no emotion as he was sentenced in a courtroom less than two weeks after a jury found him guilty of murder in the slaying of 13-month-old Antonio Santiago during a robbery attempt.

Share this important message with your friends and family! CHECK OUT THIS LINEUP! Col. Allen West, SE Cupp, Gene Simmons, Gov. Rick Perry, Gary Sinise, Robert Davi,  Mark Levin, "Coach K" Mike Krzyzewski, Hulk Hogan, Herman Cain, Dana Loesch, and Sen. Ted Cruz are supporting Troopathon 6 - won't you? We are so blessed to have such an amazing lineup for this year's Troopathon event. Just look at the list below of pro-troop supporters supporting Troopathon this year. Ranging from Governors to congressmen, radio and TV personalities and commentators, sports legends,  foreign policy experts and musicians. People from all...

In a secret meeting on Tuesday morning, Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) hosted a bipartisan group of senators and House members in the Capitol’s basement. According to several participants, the lawmakers plotted ways to stop the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Since the diplomatic situation is fluid, there was no final consensus on how best to combat the administration, but potential legislative maneuvers, press appearances, and letters were discussed. Several undecided members asked questions. Aides say Paul planned the gathering over a week ago, and the list of attendees grew by the day. He is pleased, especially, by...

rantville Police Chief Doug Jordan was suspended without pay for one calendar week at Monday’s city council meeting. The reason for Jordan’s suspension was that he violated a policy given by City Manager Johnny Williams. “I require all my employees to inform me of anything that is not routine in nature,” Williams said. “A trip to Arizona and an article in the paper that was not discussed with me or the police committee is not routine.” Recently, Jordan traveled to Arizona to meet with “America’s Toughest Sheriff, Joe Arpaio.” Following their meeting, Jordan expressed his hopes to establish Grantville’s own...

President Barack Obama has brought together Dalton area residents from across the political spectrum. They joined forces to oppose his plans for military strikes against the Syrian government. “I don’t want to see us in another war,” said John Anthony, chairman of the Whitfield County Democratic Party. “We are tired of war. What’s going on over there is a civil war between the Sunni and the Shia, and we need to stay out of it. I support the president, and I will continue to support him. But I just don’t think military action is the right thing.” Anthony was one...

Fox confirms Vice President Joe Biden will have dinner Sunday night with a group of GOP Senators who could be swayed on Syria. The topic of conversation is expected to be what the President needs to say in his Tuesday address.

Gov. Bob McDonnell's administration has reached a deal withAmazon.com Inc. for the giant online retailer to start collecting sales taxes in Virginia. The agreement calls for Amazon to start collecting the taxes of purchases made by Virginians on Sept. 1, 2013.

With officials from the Judicial Branch demanding that Congress end across the board budget cuts from the sequester, federal judges from the Tenth Circuit start to gather today for a judicial conference at a "five star" Colorado resort that features three golf courses and a "scenic mountain backdrop." The Tenth Circuit gathering at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs was postponed from a year ago because of budget concerns, but court officials argue canceling the gathering entirely would have actually cost taxpayers money. ... "The primary cost of judicial conferences is judges' travel and lodging, and in 2010, that totaled approximately...