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Wow, I did not realize that Kemp approved a $5 million wall around the capitol in the same year he trimmed budget lines. Protestors had thought of it as temporary barriers, but it's a taxpayer paid 8 feet wall with spikes? But KKK-aligned protestors can just enter? What's the point of the wall? We just saw people hanging off the walls of the US capitol. Such misplaced and wasted money.
Well, while I may not always agree with the priorities of the Georgia Legislature, I don’t know if the “wall” (more like a black steel fence) may be all that misplaced or a waste of money at this point in time.
Kemp and state government leaders probably got spooked after the effective firebombing of the Georgia Public Safety headquarters (a facility which includes the headquarters of the Georgia State Patrol) in Southeast Atlanta back during the summer.
Theoretically, the wall around the Georgia State Capitol building should not really affect the ability to peacefully protest because the designated area for protests, demonstrations and public assemblies technically is supposed to be at Liberty Plaza, which is located east of the Gold Dome across Capitol Avenue.
But given the current environment that appears to feature a rising threat level of unrest and violence (back in the summer of 2020, the threat of violence and unrest appeared to come from the left side of the political/social/spectrum; now the threat of violence and unrest appears to be coming from the political/social/cultural right), the investment in protective fencing around the Georgia Capitol does not necessarily seem to be all that bad of an idea.
The white nationalists and affiliates (including “former KKK member” Chester Doles) that entered the Capitol to drop off protest petition paperwork have well-deserved reputations of being despicable people who engage in and foment violence, often against innocent people. But on the day that they entered the Georgia State Capitol to drop off paperwork, they did seem to be not engaging in violence at that particular time on that particular day.
Well, while I may not always agree with the priorities of the Georgia Legislature, I don’t know if the “wall” (more like a black steel fence) may be all that misplaced or a waste of money at this point in time.
Kemp and state government leaders probably got spooked after the effective firebombing of the Georgia Public Safety headquarters (a facility which includes the headquarters of the Georgia State Patrol) in Southeast Atlanta back during the summer.
Theoretically, the wall around the Georgia State Capitol building should not really affect the ability to peacefully protest because the designated area for protests, demonstrations and public assemblies technically is supposed to be at Liberty Plaza, which is located east of the Gold Dome across Capitol Avenue.
But given the current environment that appears to feature a rising threat level of unrest and violence (back in the summer of 2020, the threat of violence and unrest appeared to come from the left side of the political/social/spectrum; now the threat of violence and unrest appears to be coming from the political/social/cultural right), the investment in protective fencing around the Georgia Capitol does not necessarily seem to be all that bad of an idea.
The white nationalists and affiliates (including “former KKK member” Chester Doles) that entered the Capitol to drop off protest petition paperwork have well-deserved reputations of being despicable people who engage in and foment violence, often against innocent people. But on the day that they entered the Georgia State Capitol to drop off paperwork, they did seem to be not engaging in violence at that particular time on that particular day.
While I might agree with rationalizing the cost in terms of fear and a sense of security given recent events, I hesitate to do so especially when we do focus on what you mention it is–a fence. At no point would it protect the building, pedestrians or patrons from firebombs. And whether or not the white nationalists were actively engaging in violence, legislators were evidently scared enough to evacuate the building. Were they serious, they might have indeed built a solid wall as implied in my post. I won't belabor the point though, because I understand your rationality of their actions but also don't believe the weight of a $5 million dollar fence given their behavior and its superficial shielding making it moreso poor defensive decision-making.
While I might agree with rationalizing the cost in terms of fear and a sense of security given recent events, I hesitate to do so especially when we do focus on what you mention it is–a fence. At no point would it protect the building, pedestrians or patrons from firebombs. And whether or not the white nationalists were actively engaging in violence, legislators were evidently scared enough to evacuate the building. Were they serious, they might have indeed built a solid wall as implied in my post. I won't belabor the point though, because I understand your rationality of their actions but also don't believe the weight of a $5 million dollar fence given their behavior and its superficial shielding making it moreso poor defensive decision-making.
I think that you make some excellent points.
The fence is not enough to keep the state Capitol building from being firebombed by some really nefarious actors who are really motivated to commit such an evil act.
Closing down the streets around the immediate perimeter of the state Capitol (including Capitol Square, Capitol Ave., M.L.K. Dr., and Washington St.) likely would work better to accomplish that objective than the steel fence with spikes on top.
Though, their thinking probably seems to be that the steel fence likely might help them establish a secure area around the building which (combined with the establishment of Liberty Plaza as the designated area for protests, demonstrations, assemblies and public gatherings at the state Capitol) might help them keep protesters (and maybe rioters) away from the building.
Also, given Chester Doles’ notorious history and reputation as a “former” member of the KKK, it is completely understandable why many legislators would not want to be in the state Capitol building while Doles and company were lurking in and around the facility seeking out high-ranking state officials by name.
Last year at this time, the state budget topped legislative news — not exactly a topic that gets the people fired up. But there’s a good chance that this year’s legislative session will be less … boring.
Since the last session convened in January 2020, there’s been a pandemic. New examples of police brutality drew people into the streets for protests nationwide. Georgia Democrats won the state’s two U.S. Senate seats for the first time in a generation. And just last week, a violent mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol.
Middle Georgia legislative leaders state Representative Miriam Paris and State Representative Minority Leader James Beverly, both of Macon, spoke to WMGT-TV 41NBC (Macon/Middle Georgia) about their hopes for the 2021 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
A state police SWAT team patrolled Georgia’s Capitol on Monday as lawmakers gathered for the first time since rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington and threatened to take their grievances to statehouses around the country.
MACON, Ga. -- As the Georgia General Assembly reconvened for the 2021 legislative session, Georgia elections and voting are likely to be a significant talking point.
Some proposals seem to revolve around absentee voting by mail, identification for absentee ballots and removal of ballot drop boxes. There's also discussion of removing elections out from under the Secretary of State's office and changing runoff rules.
Sigh. I never voted absentee until this year and guess what: I love it. It is more convenient for me and the added bonus is I am now not going to my polling place on election day so those who do vote in person on election day have an easier time. There has not been one shred of evidence of mass fraud. We haven't had a problem with on demand mail in voting in this state in 15 years, but when the tide changes and Georgia votes blue for the first time----FRAUD MUST BE STOPPED. It really is that ridiculous. Given the history of voter suppression in this state, it is legitimate to make the claim of what this is: making voting easier shifts the electorate a bit to the left and making it harder shifts it to the right. Not a new game (see Texas and Ohio), just a renewed focus in Georgia and I assure you I am not surprised at all.
Now that my personal displeasure is out of the way....lol.
The new SOS website where one requests an absentee ballot online DOES add security. Beyond just a name and address, one must enter the Driver License or GA ID card number of the applicant requesting the ballot. DL numbers are much more difficult than birthdays to acquire if someone was up to ill intent. For a vast majority of people, this will add 2 steps to the verification: using a DL number to request, and a signature to match when returned. For those without a driver license: sign the request form and the signature match will be done twice (will be a much smaller number of people with the online request being available). This improves the process without restricting access.
My point is the current ploy to restrict absentee ballots is nothing more than an intentional obstacle to make voting more difficult which drives down Democratic turnout. A spade is a spade. If more security is needed, add it to the mail in process (and no, adding a copy of a driver license to a vote is not okay--even I couldn't do that at home with my current tech setup). This is suppression disguised as protection. Shameful!
Sigh. I never voted absentee until this year and guess what: I love it. It is more convenient for me and the added bonus is I am now not going to my polling place on election day so those who do vote in person on election day have an easier time. There has not been one shred of evidence of mass fraud. We haven't had a problem with on demand mail in voting in this state in 15 years, but when the tide changes and Georgia votes blue for the first time----FRAUD MUST BE STOPPED. It really is that ridiculous. Given the history of voter suppression in this state, it is legitimate to make the claim of what this is: making voting easier shifts the electorate a bit to the left and making it harder shifts it to the right. Not a new game (see Texas and Ohio), just a renewed focus in Georgia and I assure you I am not surprised at all.
Now that my personal displeasure is out of the way....lol.
The new SOS website where one requests an absentee ballot online DOES add security. Beyond just a name and address, one must enter the Driver License or GA ID card number of the applicant requesting the ballot. DL numbers are much more difficult than birthdays to acquire if someone was up to ill intent. For a vast majority of people, this will add 2 steps to the verification: using a DL number to request, and a signature to match when returned. For those without a driver license: sign the request form and the signature match will be done twice (will be a much smaller number of people with the online request being available). This improves the process without restricting access.
My point is the current ploy to restrict absentee ballots is nothing more than an intentional obstacle to make voting more difficult which drives down Democratic turnout. A spade is a spade. If more security is needed, add it to the mail in process (and no, adding a copy of a driver license to a vote is not okay--even I couldn't do that at home with my current tech setup). This is suppression disguised as protection. Shameful!
Excellent points and comments.
The changes to voting that are being proposed as a top legislative priority during the 2021 session of the Georgia General Assembly are not necessarily about combatting “fraud” as much as they are about helping to ensure that the Republican Party is able to pushback (or at the very least slow to a crawl) the rise of the Democratic voting bloc that fueled stunning Democratic victories in 3 very high-profile statewide races during the 2020 election cycle.
After losing the Presidential election for the first time in 28 years and after losing a statewide race for the first time in 14 years and being confronted with a rapidly growing and apparently very ascendant Georgia Democratic Party, the Georgia GOP is motivated to do whatever it may think it has to do legislatively to restore its statewide electoral majority and protect its remaining legislative majorities.
While they may no longer possess the legislative supermajority that they did back in the mid-2010’s, the GOP still enjoys large majorities in both chambers of the Georgia Legislature.
And not unlike the once ultra-dominant Georgia Democrats before them when they were threatened with the rise and ascendancy of the Georgia Republican Party out of the fast-growing Atlanta suburbs and exurbs back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the recently once-dominant Georgia GOP of the early 2020’s is going to be highly motivated to use the political power of their remaining majority control of both chambers of the Georgia Legislature and all state government constitutional offices to attempt to hold on to majority control of Georgia state government for as long as it can while attempting to slowdown and impede the rise of an ascendant Georgia Democratic Party rising out of the expansive metro Atlanta suburbs.
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