Feeling sorry for Georgia Republicans these days, we decided to help them out with a Christmas gift. So we came up a new brand-building political slogan for GOP House members: “Cooperate, Don’t Copulate.” We also have a new public service message to run on Georgia Public Broadcasting when the House is in session: “It’s 10:00 p.m. Do you know what lobbyist your state representative is with?"

They could easily pay for the public service ads by selling a newly patented device we developed for GOP House movers and shakers: "Zip-Lock." It's portable but can't be dislodged after the sun sets over the Dome from January to June. 

THE SAD, PSYCOTIC LEGACY OF GLEN RICHARDSON

Soon to be ousted House Speaker Glenn Richardson showed up at the Gold Dome on Thursday to address his Republican caucus members one last time. Refusing press interviews, he snuck in the side door late, and for a while, few members even knew he was there. During roll call, when his name was called, he softly acknowledged his presence. One member, thinking it was a prank, said to me, “now that’s a sick joke.” But it was actually Richardson.

His farewell speech, delivered from the podium was ill-advised, somber and eerie. Fighting back tears, Richardson said, “I take full responsibility for my failures,” and admitted that his political unraveling was his own doing. He also said the he should have died, but didn’t. “God brought me back, I don’t know why,” he said.

Apparently unmoved by it all, his caucus gave him scant, if any, applause at the conclusion of his address. I think I may have heard a faint “golf clap” or two.

But what’s really at issue is Richardson’s credibility. In the middle of everything that has transpired of late, sources told me he was still using his plane to fly to visit his lobbyist girlfriend. So one really has to wonder if he gets it.

JERRY KEEN ON THE ROPES

GOP Majority Leader Jerry Keen (St. Simons) survived the House leadership ethical cleansing in round one. But he’s not out of the woods just yet. Keen, who has one more year left on his leadership term, can be recalled if at least 35 Republicans House members – one third – sign a petition requesting his dismissal. He would then be removed from power, but would be free to run on the House floor.

The bad news for Keen: one committee chair told me on Thursday night he represented the 35th signature on the recall petition. The good news for Keen: new speaker David Ralston may want to put the leadership changes behind the caucus, and just let Keen serve out his term this session.

KAREN HANDEL’S CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY

Here is our advice for GOP gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel: go buy a power ball lottery ticket – you will most likely win. The stars just keep aligning for the Secretary of State in her one-time dark horse bid for the state’s top job. First Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine gets pummeled with a plethora of bad press concerning his campaign donors, then Congressman Nathan Deal gets busted for his “Sweetheart Deal” company’s no bid contracts with Georgia, then former State Senator Eric Johnson has to play defense as to why he didn’t pursue the ethical allegations against Richardson when he chaired the committee, and now Mark Burkhalter, her chief political nemesis in GOP-vote rich North Fulton County, resigns his leadership post. She just may end up the last candidate standing.

Maybe God really is a woman, after all.

LOCKWOOD FOR STATE SENATE?

Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood, fresh off an unopposed election to a second-term, is now considering a run for State Senate, D-56. Lockwood would join three other candidates in the race: Brandon Beach, John Albers and David Belle Isle. The favorite, Wendell Willard, withdrew this weekend to stay in the Ga. House. Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker called Lockwood “an interesting candidate that would present an interesting choice.” Several influential state house legislators reportedly contacted Lockwood over the weekend to encourage his candidacy.