The tornadoes that hit Oklahoma have left at least 50 dead, with millions of dollars worth of damage. At least seven children from a local elementary school drowned after they had taken shelter in a swimming pool – likely the lowest spot they could find.

Erickson made his poorly timed joke around 7:30 pm. The Huffington Post reported around 7:42 that the President had already contacted the Governor of Oklahoma and offered his assistance, thoughts, and prayers to their state. Not only was Erickson’s joke tacky, but it was also just flat out wrong on its face.

Other interesting statistics:

• 56% of Americans had “some” or “a great deal” of confidence in our government. 
• 71% felt the IRS Actions regarding the targeting of conservative groups was unacceptable and 85% felt the issue was important
• 61% of Americans felt Obama was being truthful about the IRS Matter
• 42% of Americans feel Republicans are overreacting.
• 55% believe the IRS acted on its own, and was not directed by Senior Administration.

Regarding Benghazi, the American people have been generally unfazed by recent “news.” The favorable/unfavorable view of how Obama handled the situation has remained virtually unchanged over the last 6 months. 53% are dissatisfied while roundly 42% are satisfied.  50% of the public believe the statement made by the Obama administration were based on the information they had while 44% believe it was an attempt to mislead the public.

53% is not a great number for “dissatisfied”, however, the point is that what the Republicans in Congress are doing is not changing minds about the issue. Many in America, although not a majority, believe the Republicans are overreaching. However, there is a sizable portion who believe they are appropriately outraged. This is important because it shows a deep divide in our country over politics.

UPDATE: Georgia Republican convention was adjourned before resolutions were passed due to loss of a quorum after voting on the slate of candidates. I still think the following story is valid because this resolution did pass out of their committee and was expected to pass by those in attendance. 

Georgia Republicans later today are poised to pass a resolution reaffirming their commitment to discrimination, in terms of marriage, immigration, and women. The resolution, which can be viewed here, is set for passage before the end of the afternoon. Earlier in the day, Governor Nathan Deal called for Republicans to be more embracing of minorities; however, it seems his words will be lost on the crowd.

First, we have the following statement on marriage:

Whereas, the 2012 Republican Platform states, “We believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage, and promote through laws governing marriage,” and “We embrace the principle that all Americans should be treated with respect and dignity,” (Renewing American Values to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and Safe Neighborhoods, p. 31);

Republicans cannot hope to win over Georgia’s LGBT population by discriminating against their relationships. Sure, it is great that you believe “every American should be treated with respect and dignity,” however, that line is after you state their relationships are not equal to those of other groups. If marriage is truly a religious institute, then you should not be promoting it through the nation’s laws. These republicans are out of touch with the majority of Americans who support Marriage Equality.

Second, we have the following statement on immigration:

Whereas, the 2012 Republican Platform further states, “Illegal immigration undermines those benefits and affects U.S. workers. In an age of terrorism, drug cartels, human trafficking, and criminal gangs, the presence of millions of unidentified persons in this country poses grave risks to the safety and the sovereignty of the United States,” and “Our highest priority, therefore, is to secure the rule of law both at our borders and at ports of entry” (Reforming Government to Serve the People, p. 25);

Instead of focusing on the benefits these undocumented workers bring to the farmers in South Georgia, we see Republicans labeling immigration with the evils of “terrorism, drug cartels, human trafficking, and criminal gangs.” Instead of calling for comprehensive reform, they argue for stronger border control. These Republicans are out of touch with the majority of Americans, who support immigration reform.

Finally, the last passage of to note is:

Whereas, the 2012 Republican Platform states, “Faithful to the, self-evident truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to the unborn children” (We The People: A Restoration of the Constitution, p. 13-14);

Republicans cannot win over women or Americans by going against their views.

Georgia Republicans, upon passing this resolution, will show that their policy for minorities does not match their rhetoric on minorities.

All OMS CS course content will be delivered via the massive open online course (MOOC) format, with enhanced support services for students enrolled in the degree program. Those students also will pay a fraction of the cost of traditional on-campus master’s programs; total tuition for the program is initially expected to be below $7,000. A pilot program, partly supported by a generous gift from AT&T, will begin in the next academic year. Initial enrollment will be limited to a few hundred students recruited from AT&T and Georgia Tech corporate affiliates. Enrollment is expected to expand gradually over the next three years.

“Georgia Tech’s vision is to define the technological research university of the 21^st century. We will explore technologies and instructional approaches that will improve our role as a leading provider of the best and most effective education in the state of Georgia, the nation and the world,” said Rafael L. Bras, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech has been involved in online education for more than 30 years, and in the past year has taken a national leadership role in massive open online courses. Offering a master’s degree in this format is the next step in expanding Georgia Tech’s online offerings.

“We are thrilled to be able to join with Udacity and AT&T in taking this bold next step,” Bras said. “We are proud of the visionary role of Dean Zvi Galil in the creation of this degree offering from our nationally renowned College of Computing.”

“We are excited to team with Georgia Tech, whose College of Computing offers CS degrees of the very highest caliber. AT&T is a champion for innovation in education, and we are grateful for its vision in supporting this endeavor,” said Udacity founder Sebastian Thrun. “Udacity has been at the forefront of innovation in online pedagogy. We hope our work with Georgia Tech and AT&T will induce transformational change in higher education.”

The OMS CS could help address the nation’s growing shortage of qualified workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, one of the primary reasons AT&T decided to lend its financial support. The company also supports vastly expanding the accessibility and lowering the cost of quality education.

“Because of this collaboration, anyone with a broadband connection will have access to some of the finest computer science instruction in the world,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO. “We believe that high-quality and 100 percent online degrees can be on par with degrees received in traditional on-campus settings, and that this program could be a blueprint for helping the United States address the shortage of people with STEM degrees, as well as exponentially expand access to computer science education for students around the world.”

Said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan: “Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have quickly become one of the most significant catalysts of innovation in higher education. As parents know all too well, America urgently needs new ideas about how to make higher education accessible and affordable. This new collaboration between Georgia Tech, AT&T and Udacity, and the application of the MOOC concept to advanced-degree programs, will further the national debate—pushing from conversations about technology to new models of instruction and new linkages between higher education and employers.”

While courses related to the OMS CS will be available free of charge on the Udacity site, only those students granted admission to Georgia Tech will receive credit. Degree-seeking students will pay tuition based either on individual courses or the entire degree program. Georgia Tech and Udacity also will develop a separate credential for those students who successfully complete courses but do not qualify for full graduate standing.

“The OMS CS will set a new agenda for higher education—real, rigorous and marketable graduate education in computer science will now be available to tens, even hundreds of thousands of additional students around the world,” said Zvi Galil, John P. Imlay Jr. Dean of Computing at Georgia Tech. “Computing is the catalytic field of the 21^st century. Now we could potentially double the number of trained computing professionals worldwide in as little as a decade.”

Additional details on the Georgia Tech OMS CS can be found at www.omscs.gatech.edu

About Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the world’s premier research universities. Ranked seventh among U.S. News & World Report’s top public universities, the Institute enrolls 21,500 students within its six colleges. Georgia Tech is a national and international leader in scientific and technological research and education and is the nation’s leading producer of engineers as well as a leading producer of female and minority engineering Ph.D. graduates. Holding more than 848 patents and receiving approximately $689 million in research and development expenditures, Georgia Tech ranks among the nation’s top ten universities (without a medical school) in research expenditures. Visit www.gatech.edu for more information.

About the Georgia Tech College of Computing

The Georgia Tech College of Computing is a national leader in the creation of real-world computing breakthroughs that drive social and scientific progress. With its graduate program ranked 10th nationally by U.S. News and World Report, the College’s unconventional approach to education is defining the new face of computing by expanding the horizons of traditional computer science students through interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on human-centered solutions. For more information about the Georgia Tech College of Computing, its academic divisions and research centers, visit http://www.cc.gatech.edu

About Udacity

Udacity is a Silicon Valley-based start-up that brings accessible, engaging and effective higher education to the world. We believe that higher education is a basic human right, and we seek to empower our students to develop their skills in order to advance their education and careers. Udacity has been at the forefront of developing new online pedagogy that bridges education and employable skills with courses in computer science, mathematics, programming, general sciences, and entrepreneurship at www.udacity.com

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att

The first issue this scandal highlights is the nature and understanding of how our government operates. Because of the media, we generally blame anything that happens in the Executive Branch on the President. It is an easy claim to make. The President is the head of the executive branch, and therefore, is ultimately responsible. In fact, it is a true claim. However, this simplification seems to be only held to the U.S. President, we would not hold other leaders in organizations to the same level.

Let’s chose an example closer to home. At UGA, there is an extensive academic advising service. UGA prides itself that students must meet with an academic advisor every semester in order to register for classes. Most college have a structure where each department has an advisor, then the college has an advising office centralized as part of the Dean’s office of that college. Afterward, those offices report to central administration (ie, a Provost’s office) which would then report to the President.

However, let’s say there are some rogue advisors. For whatever reason, they misadvise students willfully. We don’t blame the President of UGA for this. There is an old saying that blame travels down. The reason for this is people at the top cannot be initially responsible for every problem in the organization. If advisors in the Arts and Science college willingly misadvised students, then their college is responsible for fixing it. If the scandal happens across multiple colleges, the Provosts office would need to step in.

Notice earlier, I said initially responsible. I want to further explain that. In most organizations, blame can travel up if the leadership willfully neglects to address a concern they have been made aware of or should have known about. For example, if the Arts and Science advisors willfully misadvised students, and it rose up all the way to the President and they did nothing, then the President would be responsible. Initially, it is not his fault, but if it works it way up and nothing is done, then it becomes his responsibility to fix it. This is shown in sexual harassment law. Courts have, in the past, determined that if an organization has sexual harassment training and punish those in the organization who have been accused of sexual harassment when they know about them, then the organization generally is not held liable for creating a hostile work environment.

Back to the IRS scandal. Right now, it appears the White House did not know about the IRS’s targeting of the groups. Once the administration realized it was happening, they took action by firing and punishing those involved. They made the right moves when the information was presented to them. If we are to be informed citizens, we should judge people based on what they knew, when they knew it, and what corrective actions they took once they were made aware of the situation.

The second issue is trust in Government. I will not get on my soapbox about government being an overall force of good. While the IRS did something bad, we should also note all the good aspects of Government. We run programs like Social Security to make sure seniors stay out of poverty. Medicare and Medicaid ensure that people in our country have some measure of health care. The military keeps us safe. Time and time again, we can point to government that does well. However, when scandals like these take place, they rightfully erode the trust the American populace has in our government as a force of good.

Remember that we are a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” In other words, government is made up of citizens like you, put in place by citizens like you, and serves citizens like you. If there is a problem in government, and you want to blame the person at the top, you have no higher authority to blame than the person you see in the mirror. Because ultimately, you have the responsibility to be educated, demand reform, and vote out those who abuse the system. If your first response was “I didn’t know, how is it my fault,” then you can very well relate to how the President feels right now.

Lindquist, who began her academic career nearly 20 years ago at UGA, is the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts and associate dean for external affairs at the University of Texas School of Law.

The appointment was announced by Jere Morehead, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. The deans of the 17 schools and colleges at UGA report to the provost.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Lindquist is returning to UGA as dean of the School of Public and International Affairs,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “She is widely regarded as one of the bright young faculty stars in her field, and knows both SPIA and UGA deeply and well. She will be a strong addition to our very good leadership team.”

The search committee was chaired by Rebecca White, dean of the UGA School of Law, and assisted by the UGA Search Group in Human Resources. Lindquist’s appointment is effective Aug. 1.

“Dr. Lindquist’s record of outstanding leadership in a variety of roles, including serving as an interim dean at the University of Texas, and her ability to garner support from alumni and other donors make her ideally suited to lead our nationally prominent School of Public and International Affairs,” Morehead said. “Her scholarship and teaching have been repeatedly recognized for excellence, and I am confident that she will enhance the exemplary programs of research and teaching that the school offers.”

As associate dean for external affairs for the University of Texas School of Law, Lindquist is engaged in fundraising and alumni relations for a law school that is ranked fourth among public universities and 15th among all U.S. law schools by U.S. News and World Report. Her research focuses on judicial behavior in the federal and state appellate courts, and she holds a courtesy appointment in the department of government. She joined the UT Austin School of Law in 2008 and also has served as its interim dean and associate dean for academic affairs.

She is the author or co-author of more than 50 journal articles, book chapters, essays and legal notes, as well as two books. In “Measuring Judicial Activism” (Oxford University Press, 2009) she and co-author Frank Cross identified objective, empirical measures of judicial activism on the United States Supreme Court. In her 2006 book, “Judging on a Collegial Court: Influences on Appellate Court Decision Making” (University of Virginia Press), Lindquist and her co-authors evaluated factors that influenced circuit court judges’ decisions to dissent, concur and reverse the lower court.

Prior to joining the UT Austin School of Law, she was an associate professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, with a primary appointment in the department of political science. She started her academic career at UGA in 1996, joining the department of political science as well as the department of public administration and policy, with an adjunct appointment in the School of Law. She was named associate professor at UGA in 2003.

Lindquist was a 2002 recipient of the Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, UGA’s highest early career teaching honor. She also received the J. Hatten Howard Teaching Award from the UGA Honors Program and was recognized for excellence in teaching by the graduate student organization in the department of public administration and by the Student Government Organization. She was a participant in the Lilly Teaching Fellows program, which provides opportunities for faculty to further develop their teaching skills, from 2000 to 2001, and later served as co-director of the program. She also coached the UGA Mock Trial Team, was a faculty mentor in the Honors Program and faculty adviser to the Demosthenian Literary Society. At Vanderbilt, she received the Robert Birkby Award for Excellence in Teaching Political Science and served as director of the graduate program.

Lindquist was the 2011 recipient of the best conference paper award from the law and courts section of the American Political Science Association, served as chair of the APSA law and courts section from 2008 to 2009 and was the program chair for the section’s annual meeting in 2008. She is the recipient of two National Science Foundation grants and served as a panel member at the NSF Law and Social Sciences Division for two years. She has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Politics since 2010 and on the editorial board of the Review of Public Personnel Administration since 2004. She also has served on the editorial board of the Law and Society Review.

Lindquist holds a bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in American politics, public law and public administration. She earned her J.D. from Temple University in Philadelphia, where she served as editor in chief of the Temple Law Review.

Following law school, she clerked for the Honorable Anthony J. Scirica at the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia and practiced law at Latham and Watkins in Washington, D.C. She also worked for one year as a research associate at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington D.C. assisting committees of the Federal Judicial Conference in addressing questions of judicial administration.

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead SPIA-a school that over its 12-year history has already distinguished itself as among the most prominent public affairs schools in the nation,” Lindquist said. “Under the able leadership of its inaugural dean, Tom Lauth, and through the efforts of its dedicated faculty, students, and staff, SPIA has established an impressive set of educational programs and initiatives that enhance student learning and civic engagement, and that deepen our understanding of governance and democracy. I look forward to building on these strengths and promoting SPIA’s important mission both here and abroad.”

The UGA School of Public and International Affairs prepares undergraduate students for good citizenship and careers in public life and trains future generations of teachers and scholars in the fields of international affairs, political science and public administration and policy. The school currently is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the nation’s fourth best public affairs graduate school. For more information about the school, see http://spia.uga.edu/.

Jason, from Pride Kickoff 2012!

Despite some high-level protests from gay A-Listers, Atlanta Pride will continue to be held at the Georgia Aquarium (Sorry Jane)!

The Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) is pleased to announce that the Official Kickoff Party will be returning to the Georgia Aquarium in 2013.  This perennial favorite is scheduled for Friday, October 11th and launches the Southeast’s largest Pride Festival, hosted October 12-13, which coincides with National Coming Out Day.

Scott Higley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the Georgia Aquarium said of the event, “Georgia Aquarium is once again thrilled to host the Kick Off Party for Atlanta Pride.  The Aquarium has always promoted inclusiveness and embraced diversity in all its forms, and we are glad to continue our excellent relationship with Atlanta Pride.  With the party now in its fifth year, it is a proven hit with Pride attendees,”

Atlanta Pride Executive Director, Buck Cooke, stated, “Atlanta Pride is delighted to return to Georgia Aquarium for our fifth annual Official Kick-off Party! As always, we are excited to see what our partners at Georgia Aquarium come up with in terms of ambiance and decoration for one of the most marvelous cocktail parties in Atlanta!”

Cooke continued, “This event is a perfect kick-off to the weekend because it gives our entire LGBTQ and ally community an opportunity to come together and enjoy a beautiful venue, magnificent animals, festive music, and a joyful (prideful, even!) atmosphere.”

An impressive offering of entertainment will be featured, including DJ Chris Griswold who will take to the tables in the Oceans Ballroom offering up his signature sound for the night.  Local celebrity DJ, Vicki Powell, adds her enthusiastic beat to the mix and will be spinning in the Atrium during what is sure to be a memorable evening!

Cooke offered this piece of advice to attendees, “I want to encourage folks to get their tickets earlier rather than later. Every year we are inundated with requests for tickets once the party sells out. This event sells out every year, so why wait? Purchase your tickets today!”

The event takes place from 7-p to 11:30p.  Tickets are $25 for General Admission in advance and $30 at the door or $80 for Lounge tickets.

Tickets to the Official Kickoff Party are available now at: http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/atlantapride

 “I am deeply disturbed by what I have heard surrounding the broad capture of Associated Press journalist phone records by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  I realize that we are entering into a very difficult era of cybercrime and terrorism and that we must use new methods to protect the national security of this nation that could require more intrusion than citizens have been accustomed to in the past.

 “I also understand the FBI’s concern that the leak it was investigating was very serious and damaging.  However, in our zeal to defend ourselves from outside threats, we run the risk of losing the very freedom we are working to protect.  Freedom of the press is a central principle of our democracy.  Government should take care in how it invades this aspect of our civil liberty and take every precaution to respect the dignity and integrity of these institutions and protect the vital role they play in our democracy.”

Last fall, we were working to stop a statewide marriage ban in Minnesota. Now, six months later, marriage equality is the law of the land in Minnesota.

The signs are getting clearer and clearer. The momentum is on our side. As we await the Supreme Court ruling on Prop. 8 and DOMA this summer, it’s more undeniable than ever that America wants equality.

Every single one of your friends needs to see today’s amazing news and join the push for equality in all 50 states. Share the image below on Facebook!

We set out to win in four states before the Supreme Court ruling, and we’re well on our way. There are now 56 million people living in states with marriage equality – help make it 70 million before the Supreme Court rules and share this image in support of Minnesota today.

I’m so grateful to be standing next to you at this moment. Thanks so much for spreading the word – and for not stopping until everyone is treated equally.

Sincerely,

Chad Griffin
President

First, there is the ongoing Benghazi-gate “scandal,” which is probably nothing. As President Obama says, there is no “there, there.” However, it is a headache the administration, and the Clinton camp, are having to deal with.

Then, news came out that the IRS investigated conservative groups because of political beliefs. There may actually be a real problem here; but the President and other party leaders have condemned any politicalization in the IRS. Unlike Benghazi, this news could be an actual problem that the government needs to deal with.

Finally, the Justice Department is in a spat with the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative’s top executive called a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into how news organizations gather the news.

The government would not say why it sought the records. Officials have previously said in public testimony that the U.S. attorney in Washington is conducting a criminal investigation into who may have provided information contained in a May 7, 2012, AP story about a foiled terror plot. The story disclosed details of a CIA operation in Yemen that stopped an al-Qaida plot in the spring of 2012 to detonate a bomb on an airplane bound for the United States.

Not entirely what to make of this story yet, but I generally against infringing on the Press. However, if there was a leak and the Justice Department has exhausted all other methods of obtaining the information, then it might be necessary.

In Georgia, Michelle Nunn has decided to take a bit longer to think about a potential Senate run, which is not really a problem, but is less than exciting news for us. The waiting will continue! In the meantime, Better Georgia released a poll showing that Nunn is competitive in the state; however, it is very early in the process so we should not take anything for granted! Competitive means we still have to compete and fight for the seat – so we should be prepared to do so!