Doug Collins still evaluating his 2022 options
BKP Politics, News February 17, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga – Former Congressman Doug Collins didn’t rule out a potential governor or U.S. Senate run in 2022. He confirmed he’s weighing his options and would make a decision in the future.
“I’m concerned about conservatism right now,” Collins expressed. “If that means I need to be on the ballot, I’ll be on the ballot.”
There’s a divide in the Republican party between Trump supporters and those trying to pull away from the embattled former President, especially after January 6.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – Kentucky) appeared to try to appease both sides by voting to acquit Trump and then condemn his actions in a follow-up speech.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Collins stated that McConnell’s always been about “McConnell and the Senate,” not the America First agenda set forth by Trump. On Tuesday, February 16, Trump responded to McConnell’s speech. In it, he called the minority leader a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack” and forewarned Republican candidates that they “will not win again” following McConnell.
“I’m very disheartened, and I think it was disingenuous of McConnell to make [the statement] after the fact. In my mind, it’s hard to say, well, it was unconstitutional, so I just voted to acquit, but then give a scathing speech and op-ed where basically, he said, ‘I hope he gets charged in court. You don’t do that.’” Collins remarked about McConnell’s actions.
The former Congressman commented how he’s talked to people all over the country who are tired of “the work as usual” and want honesty.
“We’ve got to get all Republicans on the same page,” Collins stated. “There has to be a fix here. The President laid out a great vision. We saw a lot of stuff, and now they can’t be well, we don’t like some of what he did, so we’re going to turn and try to do it differently. That’s going to be a hard row.”
President Trump asked Doug Collins if he wanted to run for Governor during one of his rallies for David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Trump’s made it clear he intends to find someone to primary Kemp after the Governor refused to overturn the election.
Earlier this week, former Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for a potential 2022 Senate run against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga).
Voter Confidence
Approximately 100,000 voters in the Ninth and Fourteenth Districts stayed home during the January 5 runoff. Many of those voters lost faith in the system.
Doug Collins with President Trump
“You let somebody else talk you out of doing what this Constitution gives you the right to do,” Collins expressed to those who stayed home. He added if those people voted, David Perdue at least would have kept his seat.
On January 5, the top vote earner was Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga), the second Republican Public Service Commissioner Bubble McDonald, and Senator Jon Ossoff (R-Ga) came third. Republicans turned out, but the Republican stronghold districts stayed home.
“You can’t tell me that Republicans, if they had just shown up that we couldn’t at least get David over the line,” Collins emphasized. “If you did not vote on [January 5] because you let somebody else talk you out of it, I can’t help you.”
He understood that people feel disgruntled after the General Election, but they need to focus and get their heads back in the game.
However, Collins believes that Georgia Republicans need Trump to win in the state. The party needs to find candidates who can win and effectively get the message out.
“We’ll have an advantage because Joe Biden is frankly so bad, and the House and Senate have shown their true colors. We’re going to have plenty to run against, but if we have people who won’t vote, it’s going to be a problem,” the former Congressman stated.
Collins ended the interview by telling listeners to look out for information soon about his future apart from running for office.
Sen. Gooch comments on protest in US Capitol
Featured Stories January 11, 2021ATLANTA, Ga. – Before heading to the state capitol and the start of the 156th General Assembly, Republican Senate Majority Whip Steve Gooch expressed concern about the events that took place Jan. 6 in the U.S. Capitol Building and the nation’s move toward socialism.
Five people died and more than 40 were arrested after a mob stormed the US Capitol and overran Capitol Police. While the liberal news media blamed Trump supporters, others have said it was Antifa.
Senate Majority Whip Steve Gooch
“I am really sad it happened,” Gooch said. “It was a complete disappointment and a disaster. If the people that did that were Republicans, they should be ashamed of themselves and I hope they are arrested. But we don’t know who it was. The protests we saw in Atlanta last year are not acceptable either. We should not allow people to protest with violence. They should not damage public or private property or do harm to other people.”
Republicans are still angry over the defeat of President Donald Trump in November and Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler on Jan. 5.
Gooch was one of only nine state senators to sign a petition calling for a special session of the General Assembly. The petition failed to gain enough signatures.
“I can tell you that out of Georgia’s 11 million people, there are a lot of upset folks over what is happening in this country the last 10 years,” he said. “We continue to move toward socialism and away from our conservative values and our morals. “We’ve got to find a way to get our people back on track, to get them focused on family, Christianity and doing the right thing. That job is going to take more than elected officials. It’s going to take citizens everywhere to make that change.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has joined presumptive Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in calling for extreme measures like invoking the 25th Amendment or impeachment to remove the President.
“I don’t believe either is healthy for this country,” Gooch stated. “We should just let the transition take place over the next two weeks. The President has acknowledged he will move out of the White House and guaranteed a smooth transition to the next administration.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Ralston urges caution amid election fraud concerns
News, State & National December 8, 2020BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) advised prudence before superseding the state constitution. Mayor Giuliani presented a witness in last week’s Georgia Senate hearings who urged the General Assembly to convene under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The move would overrule state law that a special session can only be called the governor or three-fifths majority from both legislative bodies.
Previously, Ralston and Giuliani spoke about the Article II option are looking into it. If a constitutional method surfaces, Ralston confirmed that he would be open to it.
“I’m not sure what that would look like,” Ralston stated. “We’ve got to be very, very careful because whatever we do will set a precedent. This issue of can we come into a session and disregard the fact that there’s been two or three certifications, whether we agree with them or not…that’s something I think we’ve want to tread very, very carefully around because that could be used against us someday.”
During a phone call with President Trump, Ralston relayed that the President was “upbeat” and wants a special session of the General Assembly. The Speaker warned it would be an “uphill battle.”
Governor Brian Kemp (R) released a statement on Sunday, December 6, stating that calling a special session to establish “a separate slate of presidential electors is not an option that is allowed under state or federal law.”
Also, the General Assembly doesn’t have the required three-fifths majority to convene. According to Ralston, the House is two votes short.
He added that President Donald Trump (R) could make a case that he won Georgia, and Ralston has reviewed “enough evidence to raise questions that need to be answered.” For this reason, Ralston hasn’t signed any statements supporting the outcome of the Georgia election.
“I’ve never seen in my public career the level of anger and concern that’s out there now. People are very upset, and I get that. I’m upset,” Ralston said. “I believe it’s vital he be reelected. His policies are good for this country, particularly when compared to policies of the other party.”
The Speaker admonished anyone considering not voting in the January 5 runoff, calling it “handing over the keys of the U.S. Senate to Chuck Schumer.”
Hear from Senator David Perdue (R).
On Thursday, the House of Representatives Governmental Affairs Committee will convene to discuss Georgia’s elections.
Ralston urges caution amid election fraud concerns
News, State & National December 8, 2020BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) advised prudence before superseding the state constitution. Mayor Giuliani presented a witness in last week’s Georgia Senate hearings who urged the General Assembly to convene under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The move would overrule state law that a special session can only be called the governor or three-fifths majority from both legislative bodies.
Previously, Ralston and Giuliani spoke about the Article II option are looking into it. If a constitutional method surfaces, Ralston confirmed that he would be open to it.
“I’m not sure what that would look like,” Ralston stated. “We’ve got to be very, very careful because whatever we do will set a precedent. This issue of can we come into a session and disregard the fact that there’s been two or three certifications, whether we agree with them or not…that’s something I think we’ve want to tread very, very carefully around because that could be used against us someday.”
During a phone call with President Trump, Ralston relayed that the President was “upbeat” and wants a special session of the General Assembly. The Speaker warned it would be an “uphill battle.”
Governor Brian Kemp (R) released a statement on Sunday, December 6, stating that calling a special session to establish “a separate slate of presidential electors is not an option that is allowed under state or federal law.”
Also, the General Assembly doesn’t have the required three-fifths majority to convene. According to Ralston, the House is two votes short.
He added that President Donald Trump (R) could make a case that he won Georgia, and Ralston has reviewed “enough evidence to raise questions that need to be answered.” For this reason, Ralston hasn’t signed any statements supporting the outcome of the Georgia election.
“I’ve never seen in my public career the level of anger and concern that’s out there now. People are very upset, and I get that. I’m upset,” Ralston said. “I believe it’s vital he be reelected. His policies are good for this country, particularly when compared to policies of the other party.”
The Speaker admonished anyone considering not voting in the January 5 runoff, calling it “handing over the keys of the U.S. Senate to Chuck Schumer.”
Hear from Senator David Perdue (R).
On Thursday, the House of Representatives Governmental Affairs Committee will convene to discuss Georgia’s elections.
Anti-Trump protesters host car caravan during Evangelicals for Trump rally
News September 16, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Indivisible Lumpkin (IL), a little-known, bitterly anti-Trump group staged a car caravan to protest Eric Trump’s appearance at Tuesday’s Evangelicals for Trump rally at the Reid Barn.
The small group of 10-12 met at Ingles on Bethelview Road to place “Dump Trump,” and “Lock Him Up” cardboard signs and fly “Black Lives Matter” and “Biden for President 2020” flags. But they had difficulty with the signs which more than once got carried across the parking lot by high winds
The leader of the group refused to be interviewed. One gentleman from Forsyth County who consented to an interview but declined to give his name, said of Joe Biden, “He is not my favorite Democratic candidate, but he is the candidate I support. He is progressive enough for what matters right now.”
Biden has flip flopped on the issue of fracking. Initially, he said he would stop it. More recently, he said he would not.
The anonymous Indivisible Lumpkin supporter said, “I would like to see an end to fracking. I don’t think it is good for the environment, particularly the ground and groundwater. We may not fully agree on that point, but we are a lot closer than I am to the rest of the GOP.”
He also called the issue of defunding police a misnomer. “It’s more about putting the funding in places it is more likely to help,” he said. “Funding militaristic police equipment and other things is not necessarily the best use of those funds. So I support moving those funds to a different place.”
The caravan was kept far away from the rally and it is unlikely any of the 500-600 Trump supporters who attended were ever aware of their presence.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com