All posts by Michael

The Merging of the Constitutions – Part II

This article originally appeared in the May 3, 1996 issue of The Cobb Chronicle and is reprinted in its entirety with the exception of a reference to 9/11.  It is always worthwhile to check on where we are to determine if we are following the map for our ship of state. This is the second of a two part series on this subject.

By
Michael S. Opitz

This column continues … Read more...

The Merging of the Constitutions – Part I

My following column appeared on April 5, 1996 in the Cobb Chronicle. It is always worthwhile to check on where we are to determine if we are following the map for our ship of state. This is the first of a two part series on this subject.

By
Michael S. Opitz

The United States Supreme Court, in its historic 1964 decision, ruled that prayer in public schools is illegal because … Read more...

A Brave New Society – Huxley Would Be Proud

By
Michael S. Opitz

Because of the myriad of state and federal laws, including a Supreme Court ruling regarding marriage between people of the same gender, we now have a many faceted foundation to discuss related issues.  The debate is now in full swing regarding its extension to full legal recognition of civil unions or “domestic partner” relationships and homosexual marriages.

If the direction of our society is to be … Read more...

Israel’s Elections: Netanyahu Wins and Obama’s Actions/Reactions

By
Larry Laibson

It is very disheartening that Israel, our long and steadfast ally in a troubling region, receives lukewarm or almost chilling receptions by Obama and his Administration. Problems have persisted in recent years and Obama’s approval in Israel has been the lowest of any President acerbated by numerous examples including unrealistic demands for unreasonable concessions to create a Palestinian State, lukewarm support during the Hamas shelling of Israel … Read more...

Manufacturing – The Key to America’s Success

By
Michael S. Opitz

Manufacturing is the foundation of the America’s middle class as well as providing the economic, social, and political stability that has kept our country strong and growing for over 200 years. It is important to recognize that manufacturing has a jobs multiplier effect. For every manufacturing job created, six to eight additional good paying blue and white collar jobs are created. That is a Bell Labs … Read more...

Election night 2014: What happened?

By: Randy Evans

On a night when Republicans were expected to do well, they did. Well, to be more accurate, on a night when Democrats were expected to do poorly, they did – losing in places they never expected to lose (like Iowa and Colorado) and slipping further and further behind in state capitols and legislatures around the country (including governorships in traditionally dark blue states like Maryland and Massachusetts).… Read more...

2016 presidential candidates: Too many to count

 By: Randy Evans

With the final stretch of the 2014 election to begin, political operatives have already started to line up key supporters and activists for the 2016 presidential election. Not surprisingly, this includes visits (indeed repeated visits)to Georgia by potential presidential contenders, especially as another Super Southern Tuesday starts to take shape.

Read more...

The Politics of Impeachment

By Randy Evans

Desperate people do desperate things, whether in sports or politics. As Democrats concede that they face “strong headwinds” in the upcoming November midterm elections, most pollsters and pundits concede that 2014 could be another historic election year with huge gains for Republicans. Meanwhile, Republicans have adopted a bunker mentality hoping to avoid the kinds of catastrophic gaffes that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in years … Read more...

God in the Classroom

By Michael Opitz

Let’s start with the basics in several educational disciplines. First let’s look at Civics.  The separation of church and state is not found in the U.S. Constitution.  It is, however, found in the Constitution of the former Soviet Union.  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has publicly lobbied the point that because the U.S. is part of the world community; they (members of the Supreme Court) must … Read more...

Educational Issues Can Cause Political Fire Storms

Observations©
By Donald S. Conkey

Educational issues cause political controversy – always have and always will. Some educational issues, like the current school board Ed-SPLOSH renewal issue, can even lead to political fire storms. But this current issue is only a candle compared to the school board issue that was created in the late 1990s.

During the 1990s Cherokee County was in the middle of its transformation from being primarily … Read more...

Georgia Political News Coverage

By J. Randolph Evans

As the 2012 elections approach, voters are starting to pay attention.
Everyone agrees that cable news and the internet (including Twitter and
Facebook) have changed the world – especially the way voters get their
information. Both cable news and the internet give them what they want
when they want it. Yet, local media coverage remains an influential
part of the voter decision-making process.

Every Georgia officeholder, … Read more...