"Craziest SOB"

Thomas Massie figured out the Trump phenomenon very early on, and more clearly than most. Massie is a dedicated Ron Paul/Rand Paul libertarian who ran as a Republican and will have served eight terms in Congress from northern Kentucky by the time he leaves office in January.

Like many current Trump supporters I know, he opposed Trump right up until the GOP nomination in 2016. Back then, when he still felt free to state his beliefs openly, Massie made an observation that struck me as unusually perceptive and prompted me to write today:

“All this time, I thought they were voting for libertarian Republicans. But after some soul searching I realized when they voted for Rand and Ron and me in these primaries, they weren’t voting for libertarian ideas—they were voting for the craziest son of a bitch in the race. And Donald Trump won best in class, as we had up until he came along.”

That insight struck me as a key to understanding much of Republican politics dating back to the Goldwater era and the “Southern Strategy.” What many libertarians interpreted as ideological support for limited government and individual liberty turned out, in many cases, to be something very different: a backlash against the social and political order created by the New Deal, the Great Society, and the courts and reform movements of the twentieth century, expressed through recurring waves of populist resentment embodied by figures like Goldwater, Wallace, Reagan, and ultimately Trump.

George Wallace, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and thank you for your attention to this matter.

As for the real libertarians, I have known several dating back to the 1970s, including Jim Clarkson, a local political gadfly here in Rome who championed our effort to establish a new newspaper. The libertarians I have known were true believers, much like Massie himself. I have always respected their consistency and dedication, even when I disagreed with them.

But I believe individual liberty has to be balanced with strong safeguards for the general welfare. I believe in the Preamble and its six principles of republican government. I believe in King’s idea of the Beloved Community. Margaret Mead once said that the earliest archaeological evidence of civilization was not a weapon or a tool, but a healed human femur — proof that someone who had been broken was cared for long enough to heal. Whether or not the story is literally true, the insight behind it matters. Civilization begins when human beings recognize obligations to one another. Without the shared protections and mutual responsibilities that enabled mankind not merely to survive but to flourish, liberty eventually collapses into the unchecked power of the strong over the weak. A society that recognizes only individual freedom, with no concern for the common good, risks losing both.

A femur that healed 3000 years ago.

How I voted this time around

Several people have asked which candidates I supported in the Democratic primary and why.

First, I want to say that I think we have a strong field of candidates overall. I listened to the Democratic and nonpartisan Atlanta Press Club debates and researched the candidates as carefully as I could. In many races, my decision came down to choosing among two, three, or even four good options.

Here’s where I landed.

One additional note: I generally advise folks to skip the “State Democratic Party Questions” on the ballot.

These are what I think of as “push poll” questions. The preferred answers are usually obvious, and the questions have no legal effect. Both parties use them, and in my view they mostly serve to make the ballot longer, slower, and more complicated for voters.

I believe they are largely a waste of time, and I wish party leaders would stop placing them on primary ballots.

In the nonpartisan judicial races, I voted for all four challengers. I have been deeply disappointed by recent Supreme Court decisions regarding presidential immunity, voting rights, and reproductive healthcare. I believe Georgia’s current conservative justices have too often aligned with those decisions.

I hope you will consider supporting:

• Miracle Rankin

• Jen Jordan

for the Supreme Court of Georgia.

I also support Will Wooten and Fatima Felton for the Georgia Court of Appeals.

For Governor:

I would have been proud to support any of the four major Democratic candidates: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, or Michael Thurmond. My decision ultimately came down to electability — which candidate I believe has the best chance to defeat the Republican nominee in November.

Keisha Lance Bottoms served Atlanta ethically and effectively as mayor and clearly has the experience and leadership skills to serve as governor.

Mike Thurmond has long been one of my favorite public servants in Georgia. Few people can match his combination of administrative and electoral experience, and he remains thoughtful, principled, and impressive.

Geoff Duncan earned my respect by standing on principle under enormous pressure from elements of his former party. I admire both his courage and his willingness to challenge political extremism.

Jason Esteves impressed me from the beginning of the campaign. When I heard him speak in Rome, I was struck by both his command of the issues and his willingness to genuinely answer questions instead of relying on canned responses. He is energetic, thoughtful, and future-oriented.

In the end, I voted for Jason Esteves. That said, I remain open-minded and would gladly support any Democrat who advances.

For Lieutenant Governor:

Josh McLaurin won me over in the debate.

For Secretary of State:

Dana Barrett has the strongest background and experience.

For Attorney General:

I chose Bob Trammell in a very close decision. Tanya Miller would also be an excellent choice.

For Commissioner of Agriculture:

Another close call, but I voted for Katherine Juhan-Arnold.

For Commissioner of Insurance:

My friends are divided on this race, but I chose DeAndre Mathis.

For State School Superintendent:

Any of the candidates would do a good job. I ultimately supported former National PTA president Otha Thornton.

For Commissioner of Labor:

I voted for Nikki Porcher.

For Public Service Commissioner, District 5:

We need Craig Cupid on this important board. Georgia would benefit from another strong consumer advocate serving on the PSC.

Those were the contested races on my ballot.

I’m also proud to support these unopposed candidates:

• Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate

• Shawn Harris for U.S. House

• Vincent Mendes for Georgia House District 13

• Shonna Bailey for Floyd County Commission Post 5

However you decide to vote, please get out and vote.

Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your regular precinct location. Today is the final day of the Democratic primary and nonpartisan election.

Even if we disagree on some races, participating matters.

And please remember those last four names when general election voting rolls around this fall.