Totally unscientific and results do not constitute an endorsement.
Georgia Attorney General Poll
by
Tags:
Comments
69 responses to “Georgia Attorney General Poll”
-
This comment is really funny in light of where the votes came from.
-
I would like to add that I am not, nor am I affiliated with, the so-called “Tony” who posted the above.
Watching this race is like watching Florida play Tennessee every year: if only there were a way for both of them to lose.
-
Hopefully, this is a good omen of votes to come! 🙂
-
Well it is Friday, the end of the week and 691 votes later. The poll hasn’t changed from 61% Hodges and 38%Teilhet since Monday. So, I am calling Hodges the winner of the Blog for Democracy poll!!
-
That “Steve” is not actually me, lol.
-
Steve,
I believed you arrived in Georgia just a few months after our last big statewide primary race. What an awful go round that was…and the computer antics were all over the place. There is a reason everyone tracks IP’s so closely these days. Do feel free to google ‘wiki’ and ‘cathy cox.’
-
Well, unless you oppose the death penalty and its unfairly arbitrary application in Georgia, in which case a prosecutor in the AG’s office may not be your ideal scenario.
-
case = create in that last sentence. I type gud.
-
Thanks, that was what I was getting at. 🙂
-
“I would like to point out that the Attorney General’s office oversees all death penalty cases..”
Not quite. The trial level work is done by the District Attorney’s Office; however, the AG’s Office represents the State in any appeal after a death sentence is pronounced.
-
Hodges is a great Democratic candidate. He cares about working families, protecting Georgians from fraud, and the environment. He has fought public corruption – prosecuting his own sheriff in Dougherty County for breaking the law and helped prosecute Sidney Dorsey, the DeKalb county sheriff who had Derwin Brown murdered. This is why Hodges has the endorsement of DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown and the District Attorney of DeKalb County Gwen Keyes Fleming.
Sheriff Brown has worked with Hodges and knows that he is a strong candidate for Attorney General. The people who have met Ken Hodges and have worked with him, know he is a man of integrity who were serve the people of Georgia well.Also, I would like to point out that the Attorney General’s office oversees all death penalty cases, which is just another aspect of the race where prosecuting experience will be helpful.
-
As Jen said, just because other states have enacted bullshit laws doesn’t mean we need to follow suit. I have no problem with taking DNA samples from those convicted of felonies. I have a problem with the notion that a person loses the right to object to the seizure of a DNA sample to be entered into a database for perpetuity, simply because they were arrested for a felony (even if never convicted).
Also, the information revealed by DNA far exceeds that of fingerprints–for example, it could implicate a blood relative even if they have never been arrested or consented to giving a sample. It reveals protected health information that other federal statutes have granted heightened protection, such as genetic disorders.
We will have to wait and see how SCOTUS rules on the constitutionality of DNA seizures from arrestees, and SCOTUS sucks thanks to Bush so the odds are good they will find it constitutional, but it’s not a slam dunk. And it shouldn’t be.
Also, don’t even get me started on what a nightmarish backlog this will case for GBI and for every major felony that is appealed.
-
Why don’t you all go over to the AJC voter guide where each candidate lists their issues:
http://www.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc10/candidate-detail.do?id=194904409
And actually voting on the issues is something to consider as well.
-
Overall, there are some serious constitutional issues with the DNA collection thing. But since when do laws have to be constitutional? (sarcasm sarcasm). The issue, obviously, is where to draw the line such that rights are not violated. Look at all the broo-has over warantless search of laptops by customs agents.
-
Not to be a tinfoil-hat conspiracy theorist, but if hodges has oodles of republican funding (campaign treasurer is part of richest repub families in ga), and he contributed to saxby in the past, maybe hodges is the ‘alvin greene’ of the Georgia AG race???
-
First, just because a law has been enacted does not mean that some of us would still not consider it unconstitutional or as I like to call it, “bullshit.”
Second, the law enacted in Tennessee, which Teilhet stated his proposal is modeled after, only takes DNA samples from violent felony arrestees. Teilhet’s proposal would take DNA from all felony arrestees.
Third, “..possibly free people who were wrongly convicted.” What is this about? If law enforcement already has DNA on file of the perpetrator and it doesn’t match the arrestee and / or convicted person, that’s it. You don’t have to stay in jail until they can match the DNA to someone else.
-
Suckity McSuckpuppett, to be precise
-
FYI: We don’t have degrees of manslaughter in Georgia. It’s just Voluntary Manslaughter or Involuntary Manslaughter.
-
While my knee-jerk reaction to the proposed DNA-collection-upon-arrest was to scream “unconstitutional”, this policy is already in effect at the federal level and in 21 other states. The argument being made is that this would catch more criminals and possibly free people who were wrongly convicted. Personally I’m not sure….your fingerprints versus your DNA does not seem too different…to some degree
-
I am also considering voting Republican in this race, and I NEVER vote Republican. If Telheit wins I will have to decide whether I can hold my nose and vote for him despite his proposal of a blatantly unconstitutional DNA sampling program. If Hodges wins, I am not sure it is possible for me to hold my nose.
You know what would be nice? If the supporters who are showing up here to repeat talking points, etc. actually responded to these genuine concerns from a longtime Democratic voter (and attorney) rather than just slinging mud at the other side or repeating how experienced their guy is. How do you convince me that your guy deserves my vote despite my strong reservations?
-
I would doubt that any politician would use their own office IP address to troll with….that would be somewhat obvious…
-
It’s not easy to do. Just because multiple comments are coming from a single IP, it doesn’t mean it’s a single person. Most law offices, government offices, and yes, campaign offices have a single IP address. Sometimes people who live or work in the same high-rise can have the same IP. It’s not a fingerprint, but more of a street sign.
-
*does not call IP addresses out.
-
My guess is they are coming straight from Teilhet’s HQs (except for Steve’s of course). But hey, it looks like a TON of people commenting. Too bad political insider does call IP addresses out.
-
I’m the only one posting from my IP. Swear to you. Unless someone else is hacking into my account. SOBs.
-
Yeah, I realized that right after I typed it lol. Couldn’t delete it tho. Please disregard that as a lack of lunch response.
-
Yeah, I just checked IP addresses and of course, they’re all coming from the same place. Not too smart.
-
I think that’s a different Melissa, who was agreeing with you.
-
These suckpuppets are great.
-
It’s not just that he helped Senator Chambliss beat Senator Cleland, he also helped get him into Congress which made the step to Senate that much easier.
I’m with Tony.
-
This is an interesting race to watch.
Hodges has a whole boatload of dirty laundry, but so far his opponents have been ‘playing nice’ for the most part.
As a Democrat, I hate to say this but, if Hodges wins the nomination, then I’m voting Republican.
-
Hodges, some loyal Democrat…giving two grand to Saxby Chambliss.
-
Wait a minute….so Hodges gave money to Saxby to help him defeat Max Cleland?????? Them’s fightin words….
Saxby ran the most slimy campaign in history….and Hodges helped to pay for that???
For those too young to remember, Cleland is a disabled Vietnam war veteran. Saxby Chambliss made a TV commercial saying thay Cleland supported terrorists.
Even fellow republicans said Saxby went too far and called on Saxby to bury the TV ad…..but he did not.
Maybe Hodge’s $500 contribution paid for at least ten airings of that pathetic and disgraceful TV commercial.
-
Any other candidates have documentary films which show them breaking the law? Speak up now!!
-
http://www.eff.org/cases/rehberg-v-hodges
Of course the fat lady has not sung just yet on the Phoebe-Putnam case. While unlikely, if Hodges lost this case, he could get disbarred, which would complicate his ability to serve as AG.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTOY-6Nm1_M&feature=related
Tell me, if you were on a grand jury, and you saw this video, that you would not vote to indict the shooter?
It’s been said in many cases a DA could “indict a ham sandwich”.
This was a ‘ham sandwich moment’ for Hodges, and he ended up with mustard on his face.
-
Good point, Jen. Additionally, another one of the the duties of the AG’s office is to defend the State’s decisions on Certificates of Need. Given Hodges’s connections in that industry there are some nervous people both downtown and elsewhere about how that process would pan out under Ken.
-
Now looking at the Do No Harm website…too bad you cant see the whole film online…. You would think Teilhet would be handing these DVDs out at their campaign events 🙂
-
What really grinds me about Hodges is that he blames the grand jury for not indicting Deputy Glisson in the Walker case.
A good prosecutor has tremendous power with respect to what witnesses are called, what evidence is presented, and what he recommends to the grand jury members.
The Walker case should have been a case where Hodges recommended Manslaughter 1 or Manslaughter 2, not just leave it up to the jury. I’m sure the jurors thought that the deputy had ‘been through enough already’….but that’s not how justice is supposed to work.
When a man shoots and kills an unarmed man on the ground, SOME sort of charges should have been brought.
-
I’m sorry…what does that have to do with anything. Did he marry Phoebe Putnam? No, he married Melissa Hodges, who was a reporter on the case.
Look, this is the type of post that makes me irked with Hodges. It’s a straw man, and really makes no sense. Address the issue at hand, and don’t beat around the bush!
-
And that pretty much makes no difference, seeing as the AG’s job really is not in the courtroom. I would like to know how many times AG Baker has been in the courtroom arguing a case in his tenure.
-
8/16/00: Post-primary, post-qualifying. Jim Marshall (D) was his opponent. Look it up on Wikipedia, or better yet ask the SoS.
3/2/02: Donation to Saxby the same year he challenged Max Cleland (D). Though this was pre-qualifying, it was incredibly obvious that there would be a D and an R in the race. It’s like someone saying that they donated to Ken Hodges in January of this year, but it wasn’t against a Republican. He’s been campaigning over a year. It counts, so don’t treat me like a child.
He also donated in 2007 (you can look this up on the FEC site). I have not been able to confirm that there was a Democratic opponent declared at that time yet, however if Mr. Hodges thinks that there would not have been, he is sorely wrong. It’s a US Senate race, not a race for the Kangaroo Court. Of course there would be a declared Democrat.
-
Also note that when Hodges left Albany:
– He married the reporter who covered the Phoebe Putnam case, who later got a high-paying job at Phoebe Putnam hospital
– He now works for the law firm that represents….wait for it….Phoebe Putnam hospital.
-
So in Summary, what does Hodges have in his favor:
a) A Film showing his misconduct and him breaking the law as a prosecutor.
b) A case where an innocent man is killed, and he cannot get a grand jury to indict.
c) A law is passed so other district attorneys cannot make the same mistakes (SB 313).
So he left Albany in a ‘train wreck’ status, and now you want him to bring this level of incompetence to all of Georgia?
-
But wait, there’s more:
Go onto YouTube and search for ‘Justice4Ken’.
A man named Ken Walker was shot and killed by the police. View the video (it’s very disturbing).
Here is an unarmed man face-down on the ground, restrained by three deputies, but since his left hand was free, a fourth deputy walks over and puts two 9mm rounds in the man’s head.
Hodges put together a grand jury whose witnesses included a bunch of cops, the cop who pulled the trigger (who broke down in tears on the stand), and he did not even have them testify under oath (which led to a new LAW being passed….yes a NEW LAW …..Senate Bill 313)
Hodges DID NOT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION as to what bill the grand jury should return. Therefore the officer who shot Walker was not charged. As a result there were protests in Albany…..lots of protests. The GBI got involved, as did the Feds.
There’s a reason Hodges left Albany…..
-
Hodges has experience on both the civil and criminal sides of litigation.
-
To all you Hodges supporters:
View the documentary film called ‘Do No Harm’.
This is a feature-length film showing the prosecutorial misconduct of Hodges regarding the Phoebe Putnam hospital case. Repeat: a FEATURE LENGTH FILM showing how Hodges broke the law while receiving money, employment, and favors for his client.
His opponents did not make this as a Swiftboat smear piece, this is a film that has been aired nationally, (but GPB, bowing to political pressure, did not air it).
Do No Harm makes Mike Nifong’s handling of the Duke rape case look almost harmless.
-
I think this description is accurate, “They are mostly an in-house law firm that defends the state’s decisions, actions, and liabilities.” But would add that the AG’s Office is currently prosecuting a couple cases in Fulton Superior, so yes, they do prosecute criminal cases – it’s just not the bulk of what they do.
-
This prosecutorial experience thing is a canard. The AG does not prosecute criminals. They are mostly an in-house law firm that defends the state’s decisions, actions, and liabilities. One of their heaviest litigation areas is workers Comp in which Teilhet has tons of experience.
-
All I know is my experience with Rob Teilhet. This past session A.B.L.E., ACLU, AFSC and others groups worked hard to try and get Anti-Racial Profiling legislation passed. He promised ABLE and other groups he would support it – he was on the committee.
He did absolutely nothing. He didn’t even show up to his committee meeting on it the day of the vote. It was Judiciary – so it was taped – if you don’t believe me.
-
Found the records on OpenSecrets.org:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?name=hodges&state=&zip=&employ=&cand=Chambliss%2C+Saxby&all=Y&sort=N&capcode=htvgg&submit=Submit9/9/93 – $500
8/5/94 – $500
8/16/00 – $300
3/2/02 – $500 -
I can’t find any contribution records for Mr Hodges. Can someone please provide links to opensecrets.org, newsmeat.com or other legitimate sources that would document Mr Hodges contributions to the Chambliss campaign? Thanks.
-
Do you mind providing the info re: giving money to Saxby. Feel free to shoot me an email at jenatlanta [at] gmail [dot] com.
-
How about both sides are sounding more and more retarded.
-
“if getting nothing done in the legislature is your definition of experience, then I guess you’re right”
–You, my friend, obviously don’t know a thing about Rob Teilhet. If you want to talk about negative attacks, then go ahead. But you’re spewing a few of them out yourself.
I won’t even get into the failures Ken has made as a prosecutor. I’m not talking about percentages, but actual cases.
Also– can you explain to me how there is 1 type of lawyer–the type that works every day in a courtroom. Because I’m pretty sure that extremely qualified, well-educated, and intelligent lawyers exist (I know some) that don’t spend time in a courtroom.
-
I have no association whatsoever with Rob Teilhet’s campaign. I am an outside observer. Prove to me otherwise, because you will be dead wrong.
@Bengal- I could care less about who is endorsing whom. I have never, and I will never, base my decisions on endorsements. I base it on facts. So with that:-Why does the mailer lie left and right? Is being an elected DA for 14 years suddenly not an elected office? How is he not a career politician? I see none of you commented on Martin’s piece yet.
“Ken never gave against a Democrat when he gave to Saxby.”
THIS IS WHOLLY UNTRUE. I have facts to prove it.
-
Officially? I was the other. And regardless, I’m not making any endorsements. What Sara is saying as far as ‘legal entanglements’ are concerned is about where I come out of it too. JMP
-
I don’t like either one. I dislike Hodges’ behavior in the Phoebe Putney mess, and I am really pissed off about Telheit’s proposal to take DNA samples from every person arrested for a felony. So, I’m one of the 2 undecided votes.
-
Jen: Regardless of the claims that Teilhet has made about himself, Ken, and the office of the attorney general, there is only one candidate in the race that has the qualifications to lead an office of 100 attorneys. That man is Ken Hodges. Please continue to read up on both candidates and reach your own conclusion. Ken may not have the endorsement of this blog, but the endorsements that he does have are significant. http://www.kenhodges.com
admin: Why are you running a poll if you don’t value the results?
Teevie: Prove to the world that Ken is running a dirty campaign. Where has Ken made a false attack on his opponent? When did Ken show a misunderstanding of the VRA? I think you’re the one that is confused or incapable of understanding regular English. Ken never gave against a Democrat when he gave to Saxby. Do your research and don’t just blindly follow the lies from Rob. Same goes for “prosecutorial failure.” You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, because if you did, Ken would not have the kind of record he does. Do you know any other candidate in the race who moved the conviction rate for crimes against children from below 50% to nearly 100%? Is that what you call a prosecutorial failure? Regarding Rob, if getting nothing done in the legislature is your definition of experience, then I guess you’re right. But I’m pretty sure you don’t know what you’re talking about, and Ken’s 20 year legal career is the kind of experience you wish your candidate had.
Melissa: it’s funny, you’re right. Teevie is being a mouthpiece for Rob, making false attacks against Ken, and at the same time accusing Ken of being negative. Am I missing something?
Rubyduby: We only have suffer through the negative crap until Rob gets out of the race. I promise once he loses on July 20, his lies will also go away.
Jen (again): Would you want a prosecutor that doesn’t use the authority granted to him by the office? Do you want an attorney general who doesn’t want to do his job? If so, then don’t vote for Ken.
JMPrince: Are you just going to allude to “plenty else” because you know that what Melissa was saying is that the court didn’t even have to look at giving an “exoneration” because Ken was doing exactly what he was supposed to do as the district attorney?
-
Not exactly MS, it’s not an exoneration. More of a technical sort of deal. I’m sure it’s more useful than not however. Still, there’s plenty else going on there too. JMP
-
However, if he acted outside the bounds of his role as prosecutor then he would not have immunity.
-
Clarification: The 11th Circuit dismissed the case on immunity grounds, not its merits. It’s an important distinction.
-
Hodges is running a strong campaign. He outraised BOTH republicans last quarter combined and he has continued strong fundraising to get out his message. He has the ability to win in November and he would be strong for the entire ticket bringing out his South Georgia base. As for the Phoebe non-story – it says it all when the 11th Circuit dismissed the case.
-
What I can’t seem to understand is why on earth should we have to suffer through another candidate that is going to drown in negative crap and reeks of scandal (and you know they will drag Hodges and that Phoebe Putney crap all over the airwaves day and night until you can recite it in your sleep and they will twist it, along with all the other things Teevie mentions above until even his own mom wouldn’t vote for him).
Can we at least try to put up some resistance to the GOP that won’t self-destruct right out of the gate?
-
Hodges is a great candidate and person and the most qualified for the job. I think Teevie’s post above says it all about which candidate has actually been going negative and running a smear campaign from the very beginning. The only thing Hodges has done has call him on it.
-
At 83 votes I added a “not sure” field. Talk about unscientific.
-
I think there is far too much against Ken Hodges. I have met Ken on a few occasions, and he really is a nice guy, but he is running a dirty campaign, that in my book, has been characterized by lies and half-truths. Martin’s column on BfD (xposted on BTT) hits part of the issue, but it should also be mentioned about Hodges issues on misunderstanding the VRA, mischaracterizing the role of the AG, donations to Saxby Chambliss (each time against a different Democrat, I might add), and prosecutorial failures. Rob Teilhet may not be the perfect candidate (rarely is there one), but his experience lends him to the job. For me, it’s not even close.
-
I think Abstain should be a third option. This is the only race where I’m completely on the fence.
Leave a Reply