James_Nov-Dec_2025_web - Flipbook - Page 63
“
Some would say the
Trump era contributed
to an overall polarization
in politics. Well, perhaps.
But I would argue that
the drift began earlier
as raising political
dollars for U.S. House
and Senate seats
became increasingly
costly, and as core
constancies of both
parties became more
demanding in requiring
strict adherence to
their beliefs.
“
t has been years since
I gave a speech. When
living in Atlanta I was
constantly speaking
to groups, which was
part of what I had to
do to build InsiderAdvantage polling, consulting and
James Magazine. But after moving
to Florida and coincidentally started
doing network television, I figured
that there was no reason to keep
talking. Two and a half minutes of
me once a week is enough!
Yet months ago, I accepted my
old friend Monty Veazy’s invitation
to speak to his Georgia Alliance of
Community Hospitals at an event
held in October at the Ritz at Reynolds on Lake Oconee.
Monty and I have known each
other for years and I knew there
would be lots of chances to play
those beautiful golf courses. Before
I spoke we had coffee and rolled
through old stories in the more gentle and fun way that characterized
Georgia politics years ago.
The entire event was great. Not
only did I get to see many longtime
friends, but also got to incorporate
some of what I learned about the
difficult time rural and regional
hospitals are encountering into my
appearance on Fox TV’s “Ingraham
Angle” when I returned home.
That visit made me reflect on
times gone by. Phil Kent joined my
wife and me for dinner and talked
about politics and the past, with
lots of laughs. I had a chance to see
state Rep. Butch Parrish, a great
friend with whom I served in the
Georgia House decades ago. And I
caught up with longtime friend Leo
Reichert, who was chairman of the
Alliance and has been the longtime
legal counsel for WellStar.
It’s interesting that the one
common theme which comes up
when seeing my old political friends
is how much state government in
Georgia now mirrors Washington
D.C. I’m told that Democrats and
Republicans under the Gold Dome
now must stick to their own. It isn’t
cool to be seen with someone from
the other party, much less advance
bipartisan efforts.
Admittedly I have not been to
the Capitol building— a place where
I literally grew up as a kid— in many,
many years. I haven’t had a reason
to go, and the invites have not been
exactly flowing! But I assume what
I am hearing to be true.
So, how did we get to this
point? Some would say the Trump
era contributed to an overall polarization in politics. Well, perhaps.
But I would argue that the drift
began earlier as raising political
dollars for U.S. House and Senate
seats became increasingly costly,
and as core constancies of both
parties became more demanding
in requiring strict adherence to
their beliefs.
N OV EM B E R /D EC E M BER 2025
63
