Editor’s Note: The following is from Georgia Senator David Perdue. Sen. Perdue serves on the Senate Budget, Foreign Relations, Agriculture, and Judiciary Committees. Senator Perdue is currently the only Fortune 500 CEO serving in the United States Senate and is committed to using his business experience to grow the economy and tackle our national debt crisis. The pictures on this page are from his first year in office. You can view a complete album here.

To emphasize the magnitude of this responsibility, I held my first staff meeting at the National Archives—home of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We reflected deeply on the role of our federal government and the need to hold it accountable to the people we represent.

I came to the Senate with a sense of urgency to make a difference. In my first weeks, I sponsored three bills that would help put in place a system that is more representative of Georgia’s priorities, including a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, a Fair Tax system, and term limits legislation. But as a businessman with no political experience, it immediately became clear to me that Washington’s budget process is broken. It has only worked four times in the last forty years. In the real world, this would have been fixed long ago. Read more

Ten years ago this past October, I began blogging at Peach Pundit. I’ve seen it grow from a small little place for a few people to discuss Georgia politics to a broadly read, well respected political website. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed (mostly) discussions on every topic imaginable. and had the pleasure of meeting many of you in the “real world.” For that and so much more, I am grateful.

However, there is a season for everything and my season at Peach Pundit must come to an end. So you don’t get the wrong idea, this departure is completely my idea. I told Charlie and the other Editors of my decision over a month ago and at Charlie’s request, I took some time to think it over. I’ve thought it over and still feel it’s time for me to stop blogging. At this point in my life, I need to focus my time and energy on other things.

So I leave my Editorial position at Peach Pundit but will remain a part of the larger Peach Pundit community. I want to thank Erick Erickson for inviting me to write for PP all those years ago. Thank you also to Charlie Harper, Mike Hassinger, Stefan Turkheimer, Jon Richards, Jason Pye, Jessica Szilagyi, Nathan Smith, Lawton Sack, Obi’s Sister, Clayton Wager, George Chidi, Chris Farris, Jeff Emanuel, Grayson Daughters, Chris Huttman, and so many others who helped me along the way and helped grow Peach Pundit. Finally, I want to thank all of you, the readers, without whom none of this would have been possible. I will see you all in the comment section.

A friend of mine posted the following video on Facebook, which is a tribute to longtime Capitol lobbyist Linda Womack. The video features several friends and co-workers as well as her sister talking about the person who Linda was, and in the process, demonstrate what a lobbyist should be. When done correctly the job of being a lobbyist is honorable and noble. Linda epitomized that, and will be missed.

This week’s Courier Herald column:

The original opening of this column started by saying that 2015 is mercifully coming to an end. Given that many of those reading this in a newspaper this week are in areas that have flooded or are flooding, it appears instead that 2015 is not going quietly. Thoughts and prayers are extended to those affected by the weather.

As we prepare to turn the page and look toward the new year, we must also prepare to put last year behind us. The past is done. Today is what we have. It is only the future that is in our power to change.

With that in mind I’d like to revisit one of the major Georgia news stories of 2015. After 15 seasons Mark Richt is no longer on the sidelines for the University of Georgia. Gone also are his Offensive and Defensive Coordinators. Even the interim coach tapped for the bowl game, Bryan McClendon, will be headed out of Athens as soon as the team returns from Jacksonville. The changes are sweeping and thorough.

The reaction to the announcement was somewhat predictable. The calls from the fans for heads to roll were replaced by grumbles from an equally loud corner of the fan base that couldn’t understand how one of Georgia’s winningest head coaches was being let go.

Such often the case when a there is a high profile leadership change in any organization. Change is never easy. In the transition period, existing chasms and rifts are exposed and have the opportunity to grow deeper. Division has the opportunity to entrench itself with the opportunity to sew discord well into the future. Read more

…and to all, a good night.

Open Thread.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Peaches

• Longest and shortest life expectancies in Georgia.
• Georgia is no good on outbreak preparedness.
• Is it too easy for the mentally ill to get a gun in Georgia?
• One Georgia Senator hates the Constitution enough to try to stop firearm purchases during divorce.

Jimmy Carter

• Gay immigrant who fears persecution if deported wins case.
• PC professor: Happy Federal Holiday

Sweet Tea

• The creepiest reindeer.
• Americans don’t save money.
• The most overpaid actors in Hollywood.
• A diet for your genes.

Liberty Drum 

• Opting out with the TSA is about to get tougher.
• In 20 years, everything will have a chip.

Because someone neglected to include the important historical context of Festivus in his post (and thus he’ll never be admitted to the cool kids’ sock club), I offer the following at the request of regular commenter Dave Bearse:

Dear Friends,

Happy Festivus! As is Peach Pundit tradition, thanks to Charlie, I greet you this morning to mark this glorious holiday of complaints and brute strength. This year, however, we have more reason to celebrate since Festivus has arrived at the Gold Dome in a fabulous array of colors.

And so, from my home to yours, and my Twitter account to yours, I wish your aluminum poles rise high, your feats of strength robust, and your grievances aired- but few.

Enjoy the day and relish in the good natured humor that is sure to follow.

Yours in the Human Fund,

Anthony

This really is my favorite time of year. I hope you appreciate it through song.

Reflecting on the passing of Uga IX, we should be focusing on how it is unethical to continue breeding English Bulldogs as we do now and how UGA could be a world leader in canine health in adopting a new mascot rather than endless platitudes to some dog none of us has ever met.

1. WSB/AJC find 49% of Georgians killed by cops were either shot in the back or unarmed. 
2. Great job, guys.
3. “Christmas Tears” by Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons. 
4. Georgia Democrats’ inability to recruit a strong challenger against Isakson gets national attention. 
5. “Aleluya” by Rafael Solano y su Orquestra.
6. MARTA CEO brags on having one of the country’s “smartest restrooms”, saving the agency from bankruptcy, its future growth etc. 
7. “It’s Official: The Bush Tax Plan Loses Trillions and Worsens Inequality.”
8. I don’t write the headlines or the facts, ma’am.
9. Second Year Second Chance for Atlanta’s Purple Boondoggle Streetcar. And they’re going to make it worse.
10. OK, maybe I tinkered with that headline a tad.
11. Hartsfield could have 100 million passengers this year–the first airport to ever do so. 
12. The 99,999,999th passenger is gonna be so bummed.
13. How the Johns Creek PD is leading the fight against swatting. 
14. “Christmas Auld Lang Syne” by Bobby Darin. (Dude was seriously underrated). 

Several news outlets, including the Statesboro Herald, have confirmed that Statesboro native Chester “CJ” McBride Jr. was one of the six soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Monday.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in a December 21st press release:

 
Jan Moore, Mayor of Statesboro:

 
GA-12 Congressman Rick Allen:

On Tuesday, Georgia State University was announced as the new owner of Turner Field. GSU will redevelop the area within five years, adding student housing, new football and baseball facilities

There’s many things to like about the deal:

• GSU will partner with real estate firm Carter to buy the property
• Carter has a growing and decent list of student residential developments
• GSU has an excellent history of developing Atlanta for the better (maybe former President Patton will serve as an adviser for the Turner Field work?)
• The neighborhood will finally have a grocery store and 70 acres that are used for more than four hours 81 times a year
• GSU’s baseball team and football teams all had much better win percentages than the Braves (both Panthers teams will relocate to the Turner Field site)

The announcement from AFCRA–the body that currently owns the venue–caps off what has likely been the most seminal year in GSU’s history. GSU’s run in the NCAA tournament brought national fame to the school, going to it’s first football bowl game in program history, the first capital campaign and the merger of GSU/GPC means Georgia State’s future is brighter than it has ever been.