When taking a high school government class, my teacher once gave my classmates and me a chance to earn extra credit on a test.
For each presidential candidate we could name, we would get a point added to our test score. As our teacher announced this, I sat in my desk in disbelief. I knew every candidate running (for both the Republican and Democrats as it was a presidential election year with no incumbent.)
I secured 13 points of extra credit on that test and even had the teacher point out to the class that I knew them all. I got some funny looks from classmates, although some knew I was a political junkie even then.
“You would know them all,” one classmate said.
Perhaps the thing I was most proud of (although I kept it to myself) was the fact even the smartest person (grade-wise) in our class did not get them all. He had a madder-than-mad look on his face when I was recognized for knowing them all. He could not come up with two of the names.
A high school student in a history, civics or government class in 2019 would have a great chance for some extra credit if this offer was made to them today by a teacher at test time.
While the number of Republican candidates running will be low (President Trump does have one legitimate primary challenger as of this writing), the Democratic field is as crowded as perhaps it has ever been. The number is still expected to grow even larger in coming weeks and months.
In recent columns we have given this list but it has increased in number since then. Declared Democratic presidential candidates for 2020 include U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Miramar, Fla. mayor Wayne Messam, former Congressman Beto O’Rourke of Texas, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, author Marianne Williamson of California, former college football head coach Robby Wells of Georgia and entrepreneur Andrew Yang of New York.
As a bonus extra point on your test, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld is running as a Republican against President Trump.
The national Democratic Party has set an interesting bar for candidates to meet in order to be included in debates. If a candidate receives donations from 65,000 people, then they will be invited to participate. There is no set limit on the amount of money that has to be raised. If someone contributes $1 then it counts for that candidate’s total.
Even as high as the current total is for Democratic candidates, there are at least six more top-tier names which are looking at making a run for the White House.
One of these includes former Vice President Joe Biden, who would likely jump to the front of the pack if he entered the contest.
Outside of the Republican and Democrats, some interesting names have surfaced for the Green and Libertarian parties. Former Minnesota governor (as well as actor, professional wrestler and Navy Seal) Jesse Ventura is being mentioned as a candidate for the Green Party.
Michigan Republican Congressman Justin Amash has been reported as expressing interest in being the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. Amash, similar to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (also a Republican) of Kentucky, votes in a Libertarian, strict constitutionalist manner.
Both Ventura and Amash are known nationally and it would help boost both of those third parties by having them as their respective candidates. Ventura was actually elected Minnesota governor as a member of Ross Perot’s old Reform Party.
For the record, the Libertarian Party currently has 15 declared candidates for its presidential nomination in 2020 while the Green Party has eight. These parties will select their nominees at their national conventions next year.
While I am no longer a student and no longer take exams as part of the education process, I wonder if I would get some bonus pay at work for being able to name all of the 2020 candidates similar to what I got back in the 1988 race. Something tells me probably not.
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Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Press Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Entries by Chris Bridges
Bridges: Simple things make life more enjoyable
Is it true that we enjoy the simpler things in life more the older we get?
It seems that is the case.
In a couple more months I will be 48 and recently I found myself enjoying the simple joy of having a blue sky above with plenty of warmth and sunshine. Our recent weather has been a mix of warmth, cold, rain and wind, so nice weather days are always a blessing.
For Georgia we always seem to have a mixed bag when it comes to our weather. The closer we get to spring the tougher it gets to take days which don’t get out of the 40s.
As a child, we really don’t notice things like the rain or the sun. If it’s raining so be it. If it’s a clear day, that’s great, too. Yet when we have days here in the Deep South where the weather is actually colder than Montana then something seems off in the universe.
Another odd thing I have noticed more than once is how it is often 20 degrees colder where I live than in the town an hour away where I grew up. Someone has to explain how that is even possible.
It isn’t until we get older that we begin to appreciate little things that as children we so often took for granted. It probably has something to do with the fact that as adults our lives are filled with more stress. From work to bills to countless other responsibilities, we can’t help but feel bothered when the small things we take pleasure in are taken away, even for a little while.
It’s those things which help us get through the winter blues and sprint full-speed into spring.
Some of the things which are no longer taken for granted from my perspective include:
•Birds singing in the backyard after taking more food and water to them. Their bright colors (red birds have been abundant this year) always help cut through the grayness of winter and remind us that spring truly is not far away. Even now that we are officially in spring I love to see the red birds fly in as soon as I leave feed for them.
•A restful day off after several consecutive days of work. My feet and back are definitely thankful.
•Talks with an old friend and how you realize that even though your childhoods were years — decades — ago, that those events of yesterday are only a conversation away.
•The return of daffodils each year.
•The times when the power bill is opened and my heart doesn’t stop for a moment.
•Memories of columns by Lewis Grizzard, Celestine Sibley and Furman Bisher. Nothing against those doing it today but the Atlanta paper is not the same without these columnists.
•When the auto repair shop tells me that nothing needs working on under the hood.
•The enjoyment of holding a new book in your hands and beginning the process once again of discovering the contents within.
•How an old movie or an old song can take you back to the year they were released.
•The site of an old barn in a field that can still be seen from time to time off the highway. There’s one not far from where I live and I always make a note to glance over at it as I pass by.
•The Missing 411 book series by David Paulides. If you are not familiar with his work I encourage you to read one of his books.
•Those friends who check in on you daily. Yes, it’s easier to do with e-mail, texting and such, but knowing someone thinks enough of you to do so does mean a great deal.
•For the times when the phone doesn’t ring in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. We all know it usually is not good news at those hours.
•Those who have guided us, influenced us and encouraged us during our adventures in life. From family members to friends, we should never take anyone we care about for granted. Nothing is guaranteed in life from one week to the next or one day to the next. It’s why we should all be thankful for those little things which make life more enjoyable.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Press Association. You can send comments about this column to pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
It seems that is the case.
In a couple more months I will be 48 and recently I found myself enjoying the simple joy of having a blue sky above with plenty of warmth and sunshine. Our recent weather has been a mix of warmth, cold, rain and wind, so nice weather days are always a blessing.
For Georgia we always seem to have a mixed bag when it comes to our weather. The closer we get to spring the tougher it gets to take days which don’t get out of the 40s.
As a child, we really don’t notice things like the rain or the sun. If it’s raining so be it. If it’s a clear day, that’s great, too. Yet when we have days here in the Deep South where the weather is actually colder than Montana then something seems off in the universe.
Another odd thing I have noticed more than once is how it is often 20 degrees colder where I live than in the town an hour away where I grew up. Someone has to explain how that is even possible.
It isn’t until we get older that we begin to appreciate little things that as children we so often took for granted. It probably has something to do with the fact that as adults our lives are filled with more stress. From work to bills to countless other responsibilities, we can’t help but feel bothered when the small things we take pleasure in are taken away, even for a little while.
It’s those things which help us get through the winter blues and sprint full-speed into spring.
Some of the things which are no longer taken for granted from my perspective include:
•Birds singing in the backyard after taking more food and water to them. Their bright colors (red birds have been abundant this year) always help cut through the grayness of winter and remind us that spring truly is not far away. Even now that we are officially in spring I love to see the red birds fly in as soon as I leave feed for them.
•A restful day off after several consecutive days of work. My feet and back are definitely thankful.
•Talks with an old friend and how you realize that even though your childhoods were years — decades — ago, that those events of yesterday are only a conversation away.
•The return of daffodils each year.
•The times when the power bill is opened and my heart doesn’t stop for a moment.
•Memories of columns by Lewis Grizzard, Celestine Sibley and Furman Bisher. Nothing against those doing it today but the Atlanta paper is not the same without these columnists.
•When the auto repair shop tells me that nothing needs working on under the hood.
•The enjoyment of holding a new book in your hands and beginning the process once again of discovering the contents within.
•How an old movie or an old song can take you back to the year they were released.
•The site of an old barn in a field that can still be seen from time to time off the highway. There’s one not far from where I live and I always make a note to glance over at it as I pass by.
•The Missing 411 book series by David Paulides. If you are not familiar with his work I encourage you to read one of his books.
•Those friends who check in on you daily. Yes, it’s easier to do with e-mail, texting and such, but knowing someone thinks enough of you to do so does mean a great deal.
•For the times when the phone doesn’t ring in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. We all know it usually is not good news at those hours.
•Those who have guided us, influenced us and encouraged us during our adventures in life. From family members to friends, we should never take anyone we care about for granted. Nothing is guaranteed in life from one week to the next or one day to the next. It’s why we should all be thankful for those little things which make life more enjoyable.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Press Association. You can send comments about this column to pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: Competition is always a good thing
One of the great things about our country is the open and free enterprise system.
Imagine if we only had one choice when it came to buying a vehicle or having repair work done. Imagine if we only had one alternative when it comes to going out to eat. It would not benefit the consumer if there was only one plumber, one electrician or one choice for medical care.
Many believe a part of the reason our public school system has so many issues is that leaders know those schools will always be there. Some believe it would greatly benefit the government educational system to make all schools private. This would allow the bad schools to be weeded out and closed down. That will never happen though and we all know it.
Fortunately, when it comes to educational choices, there are numerous private schools educating students in 2019. If you notice you’ll see the number of choices when it comes to private schools has skyrocketed in recent years. That is not a coincidence.
When it comes to politics, choice should also be viewed as a positive even though it seems some don’t think so. When Sonny Perdue ran for re-election as governor of Georgia he faced a primary challenge from Ray McBerry.
As the campaign progressed, McBerry found it stunning how the state GOP shunned him.
The state party would not even list him on its official website giving the impression Perdue was running unopposed in the GOP primary.
We are now seeing another example of this on the national level for the Republican Party.
Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld is challenging President Trump in the 2020 GOP primaries and caucuses. National party leaders aren’t happy about it.
Weld called Trump a “corrupt, narcissistic guy” in response to Republican National chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel’s comments at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference.)
During a question-and-answer session before conservative activists, McDaniel was asked to comment on the possibility that Trump could face opposition from within his own party for the 2020 presidential nomination.
“They have the right to jump in and lose,” McDaniel was reported as saying. “That’s fine. They will lose horribly.”
McDaniel bragged on Trump’s more than 90 percent approval rating among Republicans nationwide and said the country “is booming.”
“Jobs are coming back. Wages are up. Our military has been strengthened. Our veterans have been taken care of. Our trade deals are stronger. We have put rule-of-law judges at every level of the courts. “So have at it. Go ahead. Waste your money, waste your time and go ahead and lose,” she said.
Weld fired back that McDaniel’s comments were “shocking” because the RNC chair is required to be neutral and “her endorsement of Donald Trump for president is an attempt to silence the voices of millions of Republicans across America who have every right to be heard.”
But the RNC in January also unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing Trump and pledging its “undivided support.”
It is possible President Trump could face another primary opponent. There have been other rumored to be pondering jumping into the race and are seeing how Weld’s candidacy plays with voters.
Regardless of whether Weld is the lone challenger, it is really shocking to see how his candidacy is being viewed. In theory, Republicans are supposed to favor competition and free enterprise in all ways. One has to wonder why that would not be true for political contests. One choice on the ballot is something you see in countries run by a dictatorship.
New Hampshire Republican Party chair Steve Stepanek has said that Weld is not welcome in the GOP. It goes back to the fact that Weld was the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate in 2016.
“He’s a Libertarian, and if he wants to run for president as a Libertarian, that’s fine,” Stepanek said. “But we don’t want him back in the Republican Party. He can’t switch political parties back and forth for his own political purposes.”
Well, actually he can. It all goes back to the benefits of choice. In reality, Weld has run for and been elected to office much more as a Republican than as a Libertarian.
Certainly, GOP voters are free to vote for President Trump. In all reality, he is going to be the Republican nominee in 2020 and is the favorite to be president another four years.
That doesn’t mean voters shouldn’t have a choice. Weld is set to give them that choice if they want it.
In no way can that be viewed as a bad thing. It’s somewhat mindboggling that some in GOP power positions seem to think it is. And given President Trump’s nature, I think he would welcome the challenge from Weld or anyone for that matter.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Imagine if we only had one choice when it came to buying a vehicle or having repair work done. Imagine if we only had one alternative when it comes to going out to eat. It would not benefit the consumer if there was only one plumber, one electrician or one choice for medical care.
Many believe a part of the reason our public school system has so many issues is that leaders know those schools will always be there. Some believe it would greatly benefit the government educational system to make all schools private. This would allow the bad schools to be weeded out and closed down. That will never happen though and we all know it.
Fortunately, when it comes to educational choices, there are numerous private schools educating students in 2019. If you notice you’ll see the number of choices when it comes to private schools has skyrocketed in recent years. That is not a coincidence.
When it comes to politics, choice should also be viewed as a positive even though it seems some don’t think so. When Sonny Perdue ran for re-election as governor of Georgia he faced a primary challenge from Ray McBerry.
As the campaign progressed, McBerry found it stunning how the state GOP shunned him.
The state party would not even list him on its official website giving the impression Perdue was running unopposed in the GOP primary.
We are now seeing another example of this on the national level for the Republican Party.
Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld is challenging President Trump in the 2020 GOP primaries and caucuses. National party leaders aren’t happy about it.
Weld called Trump a “corrupt, narcissistic guy” in response to Republican National chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel’s comments at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference.)
During a question-and-answer session before conservative activists, McDaniel was asked to comment on the possibility that Trump could face opposition from within his own party for the 2020 presidential nomination.
“They have the right to jump in and lose,” McDaniel was reported as saying. “That’s fine. They will lose horribly.”
McDaniel bragged on Trump’s more than 90 percent approval rating among Republicans nationwide and said the country “is booming.”
“Jobs are coming back. Wages are up. Our military has been strengthened. Our veterans have been taken care of. Our trade deals are stronger. We have put rule-of-law judges at every level of the courts. “So have at it. Go ahead. Waste your money, waste your time and go ahead and lose,” she said.
Weld fired back that McDaniel’s comments were “shocking” because the RNC chair is required to be neutral and “her endorsement of Donald Trump for president is an attempt to silence the voices of millions of Republicans across America who have every right to be heard.”
But the RNC in January also unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing Trump and pledging its “undivided support.”
It is possible President Trump could face another primary opponent. There have been other rumored to be pondering jumping into the race and are seeing how Weld’s candidacy plays with voters.
Regardless of whether Weld is the lone challenger, it is really shocking to see how his candidacy is being viewed. In theory, Republicans are supposed to favor competition and free enterprise in all ways. One has to wonder why that would not be true for political contests. One choice on the ballot is something you see in countries run by a dictatorship.
New Hampshire Republican Party chair Steve Stepanek has said that Weld is not welcome in the GOP. It goes back to the fact that Weld was the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate in 2016.
“He’s a Libertarian, and if he wants to run for president as a Libertarian, that’s fine,” Stepanek said. “But we don’t want him back in the Republican Party. He can’t switch political parties back and forth for his own political purposes.”
Well, actually he can. It all goes back to the benefits of choice. In reality, Weld has run for and been elected to office much more as a Republican than as a Libertarian.
Certainly, GOP voters are free to vote for President Trump. In all reality, he is going to be the Republican nominee in 2020 and is the favorite to be president another four years.
That doesn’t mean voters shouldn’t have a choice. Weld is set to give them that choice if they want it.
In no way can that be viewed as a bad thing. It’s somewhat mindboggling that some in GOP power positions seem to think it is. And given President Trump’s nature, I think he would welcome the challenge from Weld or anyone for that matter.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: The 2020 presidential election has begun
Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, will be the official start of the next presidential race at least in terms of voting.
On that date, the Iowa caucuses will be held. It promises to be a fascinating thing to watch simply because once again one of the major parties will have more candidates than you can count on two hands and possibly two feet thrown in.
Numerous Democrats, some known nationally and some not as known, are already on the campaign trail. A few weeks ago, we mentioned in this space those who had already officially begun their quest to become the Democratic nominee and to eventually unseat President Trump.
Those Democratic hopefuls included South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, businessman Andrew Yang of New York and former college football coach Robby Wells of Georgia.
Since then U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and U.S. Se. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have also launched their bids.
While that is a long list of names, in reality, it is only going to continue to grow. There are also rumblings that former Vice President Joe Biden is considering a run as well as 2016 candidates Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders.
As mentioned before, it remains to be seen at this point if Donald Trump will have any serious competition for the Republican nomination. While it is not unheard of for an incumbent president to have a primary challenge (remember the entertaining Pat Buchanan campaign in 1992 against George H.W. Bush and Ted Kennedy challenging President Jimmy Carter in 1980) it would take a political upset of epic proportions for the incumbent president to lose in his own party’s nomination process.
There is talk of a potential third-party challenge in 2020 (outside of the Libertarian Party and Green Party) but we have not seen a legit independent candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. The most persistent rumors continue to be John Kasich (Ohio) and Michael Bloomberg (New York).
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is said to be considering an independent bid for the White House and has already made stops in Iowa.
It should be stressed, however, that any independent candidate faces tough odds to achieve ballot access in all 50 states and that really must happen for him or her to be viewed as legitimate and to have a chance at getting in the debates which has pretty much a closed party for those who are the Republican or Democratic nominees.
While Perot certainly gained his share of attention in 1992 and even was involved in the debates, he did not win a single electoral vote in either of his campaigns. You have to go all the way back to 1968 when George Wallace formed his own political party and actually won five states in the presidential general election.
Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld (who was the Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee in 2016) is reportedly considering a primary challenge to President Trump.
Jesse Ventura is also said to be considering running on the Green Party ticket. The former Minnesota governor, Navy Seal, actor and professional wrestler has said (in true pro wrestling style) that he could win a debate with President Trump due to his background in broadcasting and as a pro wrestler. It would certainly be an entertaining debate.
A Ventura candidacy would certainly make the race more fun to watch.
With President Trump flipping several swing states in 2016, the Democrats will certainly have their work cut out for them. While some would like for you to believe that President Trump is vulnerable, he has proven time and time again that he can overcome any crisis that is in front of him. His core supporters are more loyal than even those of the most recent President Bush.
But first up will be the contests to decide the Democratic (and maybe Republican) nominee. After the Iowa caucus the campaign moves to New Hampshire (Feb. 11, 2020), Nevada (Feb. 22, 2020) and South Carolina (Feb. 29, 2020.)
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, will see several states voting including Alabama, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia. Georgia has not set its primary date yet, but it will likely be in March.
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Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
On that date, the Iowa caucuses will be held. It promises to be a fascinating thing to watch simply because once again one of the major parties will have more candidates than you can count on two hands and possibly two feet thrown in.
Numerous Democrats, some known nationally and some not as known, are already on the campaign trail. A few weeks ago, we mentioned in this space those who had already officially begun their quest to become the Democratic nominee and to eventually unseat President Trump.
Those Democratic hopefuls included South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, businessman Andrew Yang of New York and former college football coach Robby Wells of Georgia.
Since then U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and U.S. Se. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have also launched their bids.
While that is a long list of names, in reality, it is only going to continue to grow. There are also rumblings that former Vice President Joe Biden is considering a run as well as 2016 candidates Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders.
As mentioned before, it remains to be seen at this point if Donald Trump will have any serious competition for the Republican nomination. While it is not unheard of for an incumbent president to have a primary challenge (remember the entertaining Pat Buchanan campaign in 1992 against George H.W. Bush and Ted Kennedy challenging President Jimmy Carter in 1980) it would take a political upset of epic proportions for the incumbent president to lose in his own party’s nomination process.
There is talk of a potential third-party challenge in 2020 (outside of the Libertarian Party and Green Party) but we have not seen a legit independent candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. The most persistent rumors continue to be John Kasich (Ohio) and Michael Bloomberg (New York).
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is said to be considering an independent bid for the White House and has already made stops in Iowa.
It should be stressed, however, that any independent candidate faces tough odds to achieve ballot access in all 50 states and that really must happen for him or her to be viewed as legitimate and to have a chance at getting in the debates which has pretty much a closed party for those who are the Republican or Democratic nominees.
While Perot certainly gained his share of attention in 1992 and even was involved in the debates, he did not win a single electoral vote in either of his campaigns. You have to go all the way back to 1968 when George Wallace formed his own political party and actually won five states in the presidential general election.
Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld (who was the Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee in 2016) is reportedly considering a primary challenge to President Trump.
Jesse Ventura is also said to be considering running on the Green Party ticket. The former Minnesota governor, Navy Seal, actor and professional wrestler has said (in true pro wrestling style) that he could win a debate with President Trump due to his background in broadcasting and as a pro wrestler. It would certainly be an entertaining debate.
A Ventura candidacy would certainly make the race more fun to watch.
With President Trump flipping several swing states in 2016, the Democrats will certainly have their work cut out for them. While some would like for you to believe that President Trump is vulnerable, he has proven time and time again that he can overcome any crisis that is in front of him. His core supporters are more loyal than even those of the most recent President Bush.
But first up will be the contests to decide the Democratic (and maybe Republican) nominee. After the Iowa caucus the campaign moves to New Hampshire (Feb. 11, 2020), Nevada (Feb. 22, 2020) and South Carolina (Feb. 29, 2020.)
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, will see several states voting including Alabama, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia. Georgia has not set its primary date yet, but it will likely be in March.
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Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: A new spring season inches closer with each day
We are still a few weeks from it officially being spring for another year, but the recent warmer-than-usual temperatures have had the upcoming season on the minds of many, including this writer.
I think most all of us enjoyed the near 80-degree day back on Jan. 31. It seemed to give everyone an extra spring in their step, at least for a little while.
And while the sun has struggled to show itself of late at least we’ve enjoyed, for the most part, temperatures near normal for mid-to-late February. Folks, you have to take what you can get this time of year and be thankful for it.
Spring and summer are, without a doubt, my favorite two seasons. Early fall is nice, too, but you can definitely take winter and dispose of it, even the ones we have in Georgia. The recent warmer temperatures have been welcome after the early winter we endured in our neck of the woods. Quite frankly I fear Old Man Winter is not finished causing havoc, though, and I am more than concerned that March and even into April may end up being brutal before all is said and done.
When it does finally get here for good, spring always seems to replenish the mind, body and soul. Some of the things I look forward to include:
•The return of high school baseball: Once we get past the early part of the season when the weather is often still cold and windy, it is quite enjoyable spending an afternoon at the local ball park. On those perfect afternoons when the sky is blue and the temperature is warm, it has always been one of the best parts of my job as a sports writer to cover a local high school baseball team. Through the years I have been fortunate to witness some quality teams and I am eager to get back to the diamond in 2019.
•Yard work: For many people, working in their yard is viewed as a necessary evil and for a long time it was that way for me. Even when I bought my first (and to date only) house more than 20 years ago I viewed it that way. However, in recent years I turned yard work into a stress reliever and legitimate form of exercise. Being outside in the spring and summer soaking up the sun has become something I look forward to during the winter months when I’m not able to do it. I have already thought of a couple of projects that I want to try this year and as a bonus, yard work is good exercise for me.
•Fishing: When I was younger I had a passion for fishing, although I admit I have not been in years. I keep saying I am going to take it up again but always never seen to have the time. Perhaps this is the year I will make time. Some high schools now even have competitive fishing teams. Now that is something I might actually could have excelled at back in the day. At one time I enjoyed fishing so much I actually thought about doing it professionally.
•Fort Yargo State Park: To me, this is one of the best attractions in Barrow County, where I live. Even during the winter months, I enjoy going although it’s certainly more pleasant during the warmer months. For me it’s about relaxing and taking time to reflect. Once spring arrives and continuing going all the way through the fall I often make several trips a week when my work schedule allows. I take my chair (the same one you see me sitting in at those baseball games) and just sit, often for a couple of hours. I’ve been known to sit and look at the lake until the sun goes down.
•Car washing: I like to keep a clean vehicle year-round and it’s funny some of the looks I get when people drive by during the winter when I’m washing my car. Of course it’s more tolerable to do this when it’s warmer. I’m one of those though who has washed his vehicle when there was still snow on the ground (“Hey buddy! Don’t break your neck looking at me!”) so during the warm months I usually wash mine once a week. I’ve even had co-workers through the years ask me to wash theirs when they notice how clean mine typically is.
Spring is inching closer to being here once again and I am certainly glad. Let’s just hope we don’t have to endure another winter storm or another below-freezing cold snap before it gets here. My mind keeps going back to that snow and ice storm in 1993, which happened in March. Ironically I was on spring break during my senior year of college at the time. If I had only known, I wouldn’t have passed up those invitations for a trip to Florida during that week instead of being snowbound inside my house with no electricity.
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Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
I think most all of us enjoyed the near 80-degree day back on Jan. 31. It seemed to give everyone an extra spring in their step, at least for a little while.
And while the sun has struggled to show itself of late at least we’ve enjoyed, for the most part, temperatures near normal for mid-to-late February. Folks, you have to take what you can get this time of year and be thankful for it.
Spring and summer are, without a doubt, my favorite two seasons. Early fall is nice, too, but you can definitely take winter and dispose of it, even the ones we have in Georgia. The recent warmer temperatures have been welcome after the early winter we endured in our neck of the woods. Quite frankly I fear Old Man Winter is not finished causing havoc, though, and I am more than concerned that March and even into April may end up being brutal before all is said and done.
When it does finally get here for good, spring always seems to replenish the mind, body and soul. Some of the things I look forward to include:
•The return of high school baseball: Once we get past the early part of the season when the weather is often still cold and windy, it is quite enjoyable spending an afternoon at the local ball park. On those perfect afternoons when the sky is blue and the temperature is warm, it has always been one of the best parts of my job as a sports writer to cover a local high school baseball team. Through the years I have been fortunate to witness some quality teams and I am eager to get back to the diamond in 2019.
•Yard work: For many people, working in their yard is viewed as a necessary evil and for a long time it was that way for me. Even when I bought my first (and to date only) house more than 20 years ago I viewed it that way. However, in recent years I turned yard work into a stress reliever and legitimate form of exercise. Being outside in the spring and summer soaking up the sun has become something I look forward to during the winter months when I’m not able to do it. I have already thought of a couple of projects that I want to try this year and as a bonus, yard work is good exercise for me.
•Fishing: When I was younger I had a passion for fishing, although I admit I have not been in years. I keep saying I am going to take it up again but always never seen to have the time. Perhaps this is the year I will make time. Some high schools now even have competitive fishing teams. Now that is something I might actually could have excelled at back in the day. At one time I enjoyed fishing so much I actually thought about doing it professionally.
•Fort Yargo State Park: To me, this is one of the best attractions in Barrow County, where I live. Even during the winter months, I enjoy going although it’s certainly more pleasant during the warmer months. For me it’s about relaxing and taking time to reflect. Once spring arrives and continuing going all the way through the fall I often make several trips a week when my work schedule allows. I take my chair (the same one you see me sitting in at those baseball games) and just sit, often for a couple of hours. I’ve been known to sit and look at the lake until the sun goes down.
•Car washing: I like to keep a clean vehicle year-round and it’s funny some of the looks I get when people drive by during the winter when I’m washing my car. Of course it’s more tolerable to do this when it’s warmer. I’m one of those though who has washed his vehicle when there was still snow on the ground (“Hey buddy! Don’t break your neck looking at me!”) so during the warm months I usually wash mine once a week. I’ve even had co-workers through the years ask me to wash theirs when they notice how clean mine typically is.
Spring is inching closer to being here once again and I am certainly glad. Let’s just hope we don’t have to endure another winter storm or another below-freezing cold snap before it gets here. My mind keeps going back to that snow and ice storm in 1993, which happened in March. Ironically I was on spring break during my senior year of college at the time. If I had only known, I wouldn’t have passed up those invitations for a trip to Florida during that week instead of being snowbound inside my house with no electricity.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: Always remember to be thankful
A rather rough bout of illness last week had me bed-ridden for several days or longing to be at least.
During these times one’s mind tends to cover many subjects from work, to family to friends and to all things truly important to us. It’s easy to get caught up in our work-driven lives. Work, after all, is essential unless we are one of the lucky few who win a lottery. My luck hasn’t turned on that, yet.
Still a break from work is often needed both for physical reasons and for mental rest and recharge as well.
After a trip to the doctor got me started back on the path to better health I had to remember that rest has always been the best natural medicine.
With that in mind I spent some time last week pondering the true important things in life, those things which we should be thankful for whether they are big or small.
For me it’s about being thankful for:
•The fact the days are starting to get a little longer. More sunshine is always a good thing.
•The anticipation of a big football game when your favorite team is involved.
•Hearing a song that magically has the power to take you back in time years or decades.
•A good night’s sleep and for the fact I am not one of the many who has trouble sleeping.
•An email or note from someone after a column I write connects with them in some way.
•For the fact that winter does not last 12 months a year.
•That I do not live in North Dakota or Minnesota when the calendar reads February. I love our neighbors up north and in the northwest but living in a freezer for months out of the year is not for me.
•The personal sense of satisfaction I get from having something printed in the newspaper. For me it has never gotten old especially when I am able to highlight the positives people do.
•Memories of summers from my youth. Days that were spent swimming or going to camp or playing recreation baseball or riding motorcycles or going fishing is something I miss.
•Childhood friends who are still good friends today.
•For the fact my cats Lexi, Herman and Timmi are always thankful to see me when I return home.
•For good neighbors in a time when so many don’t even take the time to know who they are.
•A supportive family which will always be on any list of this nature I compile.
•Spring afternoons at the local baseball field after the weather has warmed up of course.
•A well-made movie that is still as enjoyable on the 10th watching as the first.
•Late-night talk radio be it sports, politics or about things that go bump in the night.
•The comfort my recliner brings after a long day of work.
•For my nieces, great nieces and great nephew.
•That I have been able to cover high school athletics for more than three decades. I have had the pleasure of writing about some remarkable young student-athletes in that time. Great stories are all around us and I am thankful for being able to share some of them with you readers.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
During these times one’s mind tends to cover many subjects from work, to family to friends and to all things truly important to us. It’s easy to get caught up in our work-driven lives. Work, after all, is essential unless we are one of the lucky few who win a lottery. My luck hasn’t turned on that, yet.
Still a break from work is often needed both for physical reasons and for mental rest and recharge as well.
After a trip to the doctor got me started back on the path to better health I had to remember that rest has always been the best natural medicine.
With that in mind I spent some time last week pondering the true important things in life, those things which we should be thankful for whether they are big or small.
For me it’s about being thankful for:
•The fact the days are starting to get a little longer. More sunshine is always a good thing.
•The anticipation of a big football game when your favorite team is involved.
•Hearing a song that magically has the power to take you back in time years or decades.
•A good night’s sleep and for the fact I am not one of the many who has trouble sleeping.
•An email or note from someone after a column I write connects with them in some way.
•For the fact that winter does not last 12 months a year.
•That I do not live in North Dakota or Minnesota when the calendar reads February. I love our neighbors up north and in the northwest but living in a freezer for months out of the year is not for me.
•The personal sense of satisfaction I get from having something printed in the newspaper. For me it has never gotten old especially when I am able to highlight the positives people do.
•Memories of summers from my youth. Days that were spent swimming or going to camp or playing recreation baseball or riding motorcycles or going fishing is something I miss.
•Childhood friends who are still good friends today.
•For the fact my cats Lexi, Herman and Timmi are always thankful to see me when I return home.
•For good neighbors in a time when so many don’t even take the time to know who they are.
•A supportive family which will always be on any list of this nature I compile.
•Spring afternoons at the local baseball field after the weather has warmed up of course.
•A well-made movie that is still as enjoyable on the 10th watching as the first.
•Late-night talk radio be it sports, politics or about things that go bump in the night.
•The comfort my recliner brings after a long day of work.
•For my nieces, great nieces and great nephew.
•That I have been able to cover high school athletics for more than three decades. I have had the pleasure of writing about some remarkable young student-athletes in that time. Great stories are all around us and I am thankful for being able to share some of them with you readers.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Jacks: Casseroles to cook ahead of time for a busy week
This past week my oldest niece gave birth to a little boy, Wyatt Jax Character.
Wyatt came a few weeks early. This is my father-in-law’s fifth great-grandson. There are no girls, yet. The Jacks family is loaded with boys. My niece lives in Oxford, Ala.
Another birth on my side of the family this week, Lucas Yearwood. The proud parents are Stacie Luke Yearwood and Matthew Yearwood. Congratulations to the new parents and grandparents.
—
I love planning ahead with meals when I know I’ve got a busy week ahead of me. I usually make my list Saturday morning, then check my freezer and cabinets for ingredients and then head to the grocery store to complete my list. Sunday afternoon I can make enough casseroles for the freezer for a couple of weeks of meals. These will keep in the freezer if you use containers made to store stuff in the freezer. I have a few new ones I just made to share with you this week.
When you add bacon to anything you add extra flavor to the dish. A combination of chicken and bacon makes a great tasty casserole.
Chicken and Bacon Hash Brown Casserole
Ingredients
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (1 oz.) package ranch dressing mix
1 (30 oz.) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
8 slices bacon, chopped and cooked
Garnish: sliced green onion
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 1 ½-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, melted butter and ranch mix until well combined; stir in hash browns, cooked chicken, and two-thirds of the bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese and remaining bacon. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 20 minutes more. Garnish with green onion, if desired.
—
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables to cook and it’s really healthy. It goes with just about every meat and makes a very good casserole with ham. This casserole is loaded with pasta and vegetables.
Ham and Asparagus Casserole
Ingredients
1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of celery soup
1 can (10.75 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp. salt
3 cups ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 lb. hickory smoked ham, thinly sliced and chopped
2 carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cup fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together soups, sour cream, milk and salt. Stir in pasta, asparagus, ham, carrots, mushrooms and peas until well combined. Pour into prepared pan. In a medium bowl, stir together crackers and melted butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake until hot and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
—
Mixing pork barbecue with potatoes produces a casserole that’s very filling and definitely a Southern favorite.
Barbecue-Stuffed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
1 (24 oz.) bag frozen steamed and mashed potatoes, heated according to package directions
1/3 cup sour cream
2 Tbsps. chopped green onion
3/4 lb. smoked pulled pork
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
2/3 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
Garnish: sliced fresh jalapeños
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together potatoes, sour cream and green onion. Spread in prepared pan. Top with pork, barbecue sauce and cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with jalapeños, if desired.
—
Another of our favorites is hamburger steak casserole. All the veggies make this a filling, tasty casserole.
Hamburger Steak Skillet Casserole
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen pearl onions
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. fresh baby Portobello mushrooms, quartered
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves
2 Tbsps. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (10.5 oz.) can French Onion soup
1 cup beef broth
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 (24 oz.) bags frozen steamed and mashed potatoes, heated according to pkg. directions.
2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 Tbsps. unsalted butter, softened
Directions
In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, onions, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, stirring until beef is browned and crumbly and vegetables are tender, approximately 6 minutes. Add flour to skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add tomato, soup, broth, 1/3 cup parsley, vinegar and garlic powder, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Preheat oven to broil. In a large bowl, stir together cooked potatoes, cheese, milk, and butter until smooth. Spoon mashed potatoes onto ground beef, broil until Top is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
—
Joyce Jacks is a native of Barrow County and a graduate of Winder-Barrow High School, Athens Technical College, and the University of Georgia. She can be reached at georgiagirl2424@yahoo.com.
Wyatt came a few weeks early. This is my father-in-law’s fifth great-grandson. There are no girls, yet. The Jacks family is loaded with boys. My niece lives in Oxford, Ala.
Another birth on my side of the family this week, Lucas Yearwood. The proud parents are Stacie Luke Yearwood and Matthew Yearwood. Congratulations to the new parents and grandparents.
—
I love planning ahead with meals when I know I’ve got a busy week ahead of me. I usually make my list Saturday morning, then check my freezer and cabinets for ingredients and then head to the grocery store to complete my list. Sunday afternoon I can make enough casseroles for the freezer for a couple of weeks of meals. These will keep in the freezer if you use containers made to store stuff in the freezer. I have a few new ones I just made to share with you this week.
When you add bacon to anything you add extra flavor to the dish. A combination of chicken and bacon makes a great tasty casserole.
Chicken and Bacon Hash Brown Casserole
Ingredients
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (1 oz.) package ranch dressing mix
1 (30 oz.) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
8 slices bacon, chopped and cooked
Garnish: sliced green onion
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 1 ½-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, melted butter and ranch mix until well combined; stir in hash browns, cooked chicken, and two-thirds of the bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese and remaining bacon. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 20 minutes more. Garnish with green onion, if desired.
—
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables to cook and it’s really healthy. It goes with just about every meat and makes a very good casserole with ham. This casserole is loaded with pasta and vegetables.
Ham and Asparagus Casserole
Ingredients
1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of celery soup
1 can (10.75 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp. salt
3 cups ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 lb. hickory smoked ham, thinly sliced and chopped
2 carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cup fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together soups, sour cream, milk and salt. Stir in pasta, asparagus, ham, carrots, mushrooms and peas until well combined. Pour into prepared pan. In a medium bowl, stir together crackers and melted butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake until hot and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
—
Mixing pork barbecue with potatoes produces a casserole that’s very filling and definitely a Southern favorite.
Barbecue-Stuffed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
1 (24 oz.) bag frozen steamed and mashed potatoes, heated according to package directions
1/3 cup sour cream
2 Tbsps. chopped green onion
3/4 lb. smoked pulled pork
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
2/3 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
Garnish: sliced fresh jalapeños
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together potatoes, sour cream and green onion. Spread in prepared pan. Top with pork, barbecue sauce and cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with jalapeños, if desired.
—
Another of our favorites is hamburger steak casserole. All the veggies make this a filling, tasty casserole.
Hamburger Steak Skillet Casserole
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen pearl onions
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. fresh baby Portobello mushrooms, quartered
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves
2 Tbsps. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (10.5 oz.) can French Onion soup
1 cup beef broth
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 (24 oz.) bags frozen steamed and mashed potatoes, heated according to pkg. directions.
2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 Tbsps. unsalted butter, softened
Directions
In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, onions, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, stirring until beef is browned and crumbly and vegetables are tender, approximately 6 minutes. Add flour to skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add tomato, soup, broth, 1/3 cup parsley, vinegar and garlic powder, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Preheat oven to broil. In a large bowl, stir together cooked potatoes, cheese, milk, and butter until smooth. Spoon mashed potatoes onto ground beef, broil until Top is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
—
Joyce Jacks is a native of Barrow County and a graduate of Winder-Barrow High School, Athens Technical College, and the University of Georgia. She can be reached at georgiagirl2424@yahoo.com.
Bridges: Candidates, candidates, candidates
With the first votes for the 2020 presidential election now just a little more than a year away, many hopefuls have already thrown their hats into the ring.
With a Republican currently in the White House, it will be the Democrats’ turn to have a dizzying amount of people seeking their party’s nomination.
Most probably remember the 2016 GOP primary where there were a remarkable number of candidates. In that 2016 Republican nomination battle, it would be Donald Trump who would shock all of the so-called political experts by not only taking the nomination but ultimately becoming the next president. Believe me, there were certainly many who never thought that was a possibility. It just goes to show you nothing in guaranteed in politics, especially in the race for the White House.
Now that we are a few weeks into the 2019 calendar year, Democratic hopefuls are lining up and taking to the campaign trail. Already we have South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, businessman Andrew Yang of New York and former college football coach Robby Wells of Georgia.
While that may seem like a long list, in reality, it is only going to grow. There are also rumblings that former Vice President Joe Biden is considering a run, as well as 2016 candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Any one of these three would immediately jump to the front of an already crowded Democratic field should they decide to get into the race.
It remains to be seen at this point if Donald Trump will have any serious competition for the Republican nomination. While it is not unheard of for an incumbent president to have a primary challenge (remember Pat Buchanan in 1992 against George Bush and Ted Kennedy against Jimmy Carter in 1980), it would take a political upset of epic proportions for the incumbent president to lose in his own party’s nomination process.
There has been some talk about a potential third party challenge in 2020 (outside of the Libertarian Party and Green Party who will always field candidates for president) but we have not seen a legit independent candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. The most persistent rumors include John Kasich and Michael Bloomberg.
Jesse Ventura is also said to be considering running on the Green Party ticket. The former Minnesota governor, Navy Seal, actor and professional wrestler has said (in true pro wrestling style) that he could win a debate with President Trump due to his background in broadcasting and as a pro wrestler. It would certainly be an entertaining debate.
With President Trump flipping several states in 2016, the Democrats have their work cut out for them. While some would like for you to believe that President Trump is vulnerable, he has proven time and time again that he can overcome any crisis which is in front of him.
There really has never been anyone in the White House like Donald Trump. While Ronald Reagan’s background was that of an actor he was so far removed from that by the time he began president it was almost like a footnote. Reagan is more remembered as a governor and president now than as someone who at one time made a living in Hollywood.
Here in Georgia the big race statewide in 2020 will for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by David Perdue. Numerous Democrats, including 2018 nominee for governor Stacey Abrams, are eying the seat but it will be an uphill battle regardless of who wins the nomination. It is also likely Perdue will have at least token opposition in the GOP primary but he will be the Republican nominee.
The 2020 races will be fascinating to watch and, who knows, we might just witness the unbelievable again.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
With a Republican currently in the White House, it will be the Democrats’ turn to have a dizzying amount of people seeking their party’s nomination.
Most probably remember the 2016 GOP primary where there were a remarkable number of candidates. In that 2016 Republican nomination battle, it would be Donald Trump who would shock all of the so-called political experts by not only taking the nomination but ultimately becoming the next president. Believe me, there were certainly many who never thought that was a possibility. It just goes to show you nothing in guaranteed in politics, especially in the race for the White House.
Now that we are a few weeks into the 2019 calendar year, Democratic hopefuls are lining up and taking to the campaign trail. Already we have South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, former Congressman John Delaney of Maryland, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, businessman Andrew Yang of New York and former college football coach Robby Wells of Georgia.
While that may seem like a long list, in reality, it is only going to grow. There are also rumblings that former Vice President Joe Biden is considering a run, as well as 2016 candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Any one of these three would immediately jump to the front of an already crowded Democratic field should they decide to get into the race.
It remains to be seen at this point if Donald Trump will have any serious competition for the Republican nomination. While it is not unheard of for an incumbent president to have a primary challenge (remember Pat Buchanan in 1992 against George Bush and Ted Kennedy against Jimmy Carter in 1980), it would take a political upset of epic proportions for the incumbent president to lose in his own party’s nomination process.
There has been some talk about a potential third party challenge in 2020 (outside of the Libertarian Party and Green Party who will always field candidates for president) but we have not seen a legit independent candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. The most persistent rumors include John Kasich and Michael Bloomberg.
Jesse Ventura is also said to be considering running on the Green Party ticket. The former Minnesota governor, Navy Seal, actor and professional wrestler has said (in true pro wrestling style) that he could win a debate with President Trump due to his background in broadcasting and as a pro wrestler. It would certainly be an entertaining debate.
With President Trump flipping several states in 2016, the Democrats have their work cut out for them. While some would like for you to believe that President Trump is vulnerable, he has proven time and time again that he can overcome any crisis which is in front of him.
There really has never been anyone in the White House like Donald Trump. While Ronald Reagan’s background was that of an actor he was so far removed from that by the time he began president it was almost like a footnote. Reagan is more remembered as a governor and president now than as someone who at one time made a living in Hollywood.
Here in Georgia the big race statewide in 2020 will for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by David Perdue. Numerous Democrats, including 2018 nominee for governor Stacey Abrams, are eying the seat but it will be an uphill battle regardless of who wins the nomination. It is also likely Perdue will have at least token opposition in the GOP primary but he will be the Republican nominee.
The 2020 races will be fascinating to watch and, who knows, we might just witness the unbelievable again.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor for the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: Spring and summer seem light years away
Summer, where art thou?
The rain and the cold have become bout more than this lifelong resident of the South can take. We are firmly in winter’s grasp as of this writing as bitter temperatures moved in Sunday following another day of rain.
As I opened the front door of my house early Sunday morning the bitter chill in the air caused me to double time it back inside.
Growing up I didn’t seem to mind or notice the cold. I actually seemed to thrive on it but I guess our attitude changes when it comes to a lot of things the older we get.
Snow, which thankfully we have not seen this winter as of yet, can also be a funny thing. I remember as a child always wanting it and it seldom arriving. I remember getting excited at the mere mention of even a few snowflakes and how I would anxiously look upward hoping to see any flurries blowing in the wind or falling to the ground.
Yet, more often than not, that childhood snow would never arrive. To be honest, I wanted snow back then because it would mean the possibility of a day off from school. If we even got half an inch, I would hunker down by my radio listening for word if my school was closed the next day. Every now and then the magic words would be heard and I knew a bonus vacation day had been delivered, kind of like an extra Christmas present or a very early birthday gift.
On the very rare occasion, we would even get a couple days off, but that was as rare as the Atlanta Falcons making the playoffs back in the 1980s. Fast-forwarding to today, the roles are reversed. If I never see snow again, I wouldn’t complain. It causes too many problems from travel to the power going out to my power bill skyrocketing.
I realize the kids of today probably want snow just like I used to. Heck, I’m sure some adults do as well. But for me, all I can do now is think about summer — and being in Hawaii or the Bahamas or south Florida or, well you get the idea. Oh, for the bright, warm sun to be shining down upon me. Oh, for it to be warm enough to spend the afternoon swimming and to enjoy an outdoor cookout. And unfortunately the closest I’ve been to the Aloha State is watching episodes of Hawaii Five-O and Magnum, P.I. (the originals of course) on DVD.
Warmer days and longer days have also been on my mind in recent weeks. We were robbed of fall this year and I am still upset about it. This is Georgia after all. Yet it seems we are getting colder each year. So much for global warming I suppose.
Give me spring and give me summer any day of the week. I’ve had my fill of winter for this year. The weather during the past week has only made it worse. Unfortunately, spring, and certainly summer, seem a million miles away.
If there is a bright spot in all of this, winter in Georgia can be bipolar. While we can seemingly live within a freezer for a while, there is always a chance the temperatures will rebound and they often do.
•••
The start of 2019 means we are moving rapidly into the next presidential campaign season. In fact several candidates have already thrown their hats into the political ring. We will go over an updated list next week.
Many people remain upset and continue to boycott the National Football League since some players (not all) take a knee during the playing of the national anthem. I wonder, however, why that same level of outrage has not been heard with the government shutdown which means our servicemen and servicewomen cannot be paid for their already too low salaries.
Meanwhile, politicians continue to receive their pay. It seems to me that is worthy of protest. Both parties are at fault and I would hope we all would put our armed forces personnel above any political party. Until we realize that both sides of the two-head political monster are at fault, nothing will change.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
The rain and the cold have become bout more than this lifelong resident of the South can take. We are firmly in winter’s grasp as of this writing as bitter temperatures moved in Sunday following another day of rain.
As I opened the front door of my house early Sunday morning the bitter chill in the air caused me to double time it back inside.
Growing up I didn’t seem to mind or notice the cold. I actually seemed to thrive on it but I guess our attitude changes when it comes to a lot of things the older we get.
Snow, which thankfully we have not seen this winter as of yet, can also be a funny thing. I remember as a child always wanting it and it seldom arriving. I remember getting excited at the mere mention of even a few snowflakes and how I would anxiously look upward hoping to see any flurries blowing in the wind or falling to the ground.
Yet, more often than not, that childhood snow would never arrive. To be honest, I wanted snow back then because it would mean the possibility of a day off from school. If we even got half an inch, I would hunker down by my radio listening for word if my school was closed the next day. Every now and then the magic words would be heard and I knew a bonus vacation day had been delivered, kind of like an extra Christmas present or a very early birthday gift.
On the very rare occasion, we would even get a couple days off, but that was as rare as the Atlanta Falcons making the playoffs back in the 1980s. Fast-forwarding to today, the roles are reversed. If I never see snow again, I wouldn’t complain. It causes too many problems from travel to the power going out to my power bill skyrocketing.
I realize the kids of today probably want snow just like I used to. Heck, I’m sure some adults do as well. But for me, all I can do now is think about summer — and being in Hawaii or the Bahamas or south Florida or, well you get the idea. Oh, for the bright, warm sun to be shining down upon me. Oh, for it to be warm enough to spend the afternoon swimming and to enjoy an outdoor cookout. And unfortunately the closest I’ve been to the Aloha State is watching episodes of Hawaii Five-O and Magnum, P.I. (the originals of course) on DVD.
Warmer days and longer days have also been on my mind in recent weeks. We were robbed of fall this year and I am still upset about it. This is Georgia after all. Yet it seems we are getting colder each year. So much for global warming I suppose.
Give me spring and give me summer any day of the week. I’ve had my fill of winter for this year. The weather during the past week has only made it worse. Unfortunately, spring, and certainly summer, seem a million miles away.
If there is a bright spot in all of this, winter in Georgia can be bipolar. While we can seemingly live within a freezer for a while, there is always a chance the temperatures will rebound and they often do.
•••
The start of 2019 means we are moving rapidly into the next presidential campaign season. In fact several candidates have already thrown their hats into the political ring. We will go over an updated list next week.
Many people remain upset and continue to boycott the National Football League since some players (not all) take a knee during the playing of the national anthem. I wonder, however, why that same level of outrage has not been heard with the government shutdown which means our servicemen and servicewomen cannot be paid for their already too low salaries.
Meanwhile, politicians continue to receive their pay. It seems to me that is worthy of protest. Both parties are at fault and I would hope we all would put our armed forces personnel above any political party. Until we realize that both sides of the two-head political monster are at fault, nothing will change.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for his columns from the Georgia Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Sports Writers Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges: Old Man Winter has us in his grasp
With the calendar reading mid-January, we can’t be surprised that our familiar nemesis known as Old Man Winter has settled in once again.
For Georgia, the cold seemed to arrive early this year, too early in fact. In reality we really never had much of a fall season. We pretty much went from summer into winter. For those like myself who like any season but the one we are now in, it’s going to be a long three-month stretch (at least) before any true relief arrives.
My father often tells me we need winter. It takes care of pests and helps prepare things such as trees and our yards to return to life when the weather does get warmer. These are the months when we get needed rain for the upcoming dry months although rain for two weeks at a time is a little much. I think everyone would agree.
I certainly understand the need for winter but I just can’t bring myself to like it.
It seems lately the best we can hope for is to have a blue sky with the temperature in the 40s at the peak warmth of the day.
Folks, that’s just not warm enough for me.
It seems Georgia (and I’m still not sure how this is even possible) is dealing with temperatures similar to what our countrymen in the north are dealing with. While we don’t get as much snow (thankfully) the cold temperatures which moved into our neck of the woods in November and early December and now January have been brutal.
For those of you like myself who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (commonly known as SAD), winter is tough each year. Cold is part of it. Another element to it is the overall lack of sunlight.
Even on days when it doesn’t rain the mere fact that it is dark by 5:30 means SAD sufferers don’t get the necessary sunlight needed to fight back the winter blues.
A recent check showed that we will start getting longer days on March 10, which is actually less than two months away. That will help as long as we don’t enter a lengthy rainy spell, which seems to happen quite a good bit where I live.
I did receive a text last week from my former college colleague who has braved the frozen lands of North Dakota since we graduated in 1993. He said they are having the usual deep freeze although he seems to thrive on it. My former college colleague has always been an avid outdoorsman and covers hunting and fishing for his paper (along with some North Dakota State football for good measure.)
“Come up and I’ll take you fishing like we used to do,” my friend told me. “At times, it actually gets to be 10 degrees above zero in the afternoon.”
“No thanks,” I replied.
For me, I am looking forward to April and May in the South when the temperatures climb once again.
For me, I try to lose myself in my interests from favorite television shows or movies or being with family or friends. Often even getting a text from someone you know can help make the day better.
It entered my mind in recent days that high school baseball is just around the corner. While those first games are often brutal in terms of the weather, by mid-season at least the temperatures begin to warm up, and if we are lucky the sun will be bright overhead.
And of course, college football really doesn’t have an offseason anymore. In a couple of months spring football practice will be here and fans are already anticipating the 2019 season.
Winter arrives each year and its severity differs. I just keep saying “spring will return eventually.” After all, it always has.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for column writing from the Georgia Press Association and The National Newspaper Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
For Georgia, the cold seemed to arrive early this year, too early in fact. In reality we really never had much of a fall season. We pretty much went from summer into winter. For those like myself who like any season but the one we are now in, it’s going to be a long three-month stretch (at least) before any true relief arrives.
My father often tells me we need winter. It takes care of pests and helps prepare things such as trees and our yards to return to life when the weather does get warmer. These are the months when we get needed rain for the upcoming dry months although rain for two weeks at a time is a little much. I think everyone would agree.
I certainly understand the need for winter but I just can’t bring myself to like it.
It seems lately the best we can hope for is to have a blue sky with the temperature in the 40s at the peak warmth of the day.
Folks, that’s just not warm enough for me.
It seems Georgia (and I’m still not sure how this is even possible) is dealing with temperatures similar to what our countrymen in the north are dealing with. While we don’t get as much snow (thankfully) the cold temperatures which moved into our neck of the woods in November and early December and now January have been brutal.
For those of you like myself who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (commonly known as SAD), winter is tough each year. Cold is part of it. Another element to it is the overall lack of sunlight.
Even on days when it doesn’t rain the mere fact that it is dark by 5:30 means SAD sufferers don’t get the necessary sunlight needed to fight back the winter blues.
A recent check showed that we will start getting longer days on March 10, which is actually less than two months away. That will help as long as we don’t enter a lengthy rainy spell, which seems to happen quite a good bit where I live.
I did receive a text last week from my former college colleague who has braved the frozen lands of North Dakota since we graduated in 1993. He said they are having the usual deep freeze although he seems to thrive on it. My former college colleague has always been an avid outdoorsman and covers hunting and fishing for his paper (along with some North Dakota State football for good measure.)
“Come up and I’ll take you fishing like we used to do,” my friend told me. “At times, it actually gets to be 10 degrees above zero in the afternoon.”
“No thanks,” I replied.
For me, I am looking forward to April and May in the South when the temperatures climb once again.
For me, I try to lose myself in my interests from favorite television shows or movies or being with family or friends. Often even getting a text from someone you know can help make the day better.
It entered my mind in recent days that high school baseball is just around the corner. While those first games are often brutal in terms of the weather, by mid-season at least the temperatures begin to warm up, and if we are lucky the sun will be bright overhead.
And of course, college football really doesn’t have an offseason anymore. In a couple of months spring football practice will be here and fans are already anticipating the 2019 season.
Winter arrives each year and its severity differs. I just keep saying “spring will return eventually.” After all, it always has.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He has earned awards for column writing from the Georgia Press Association and The National Newspaper Association. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
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