Blog

Attack Ads: Don’t Let a Billionaire Think for Georgia  “If You Hear It 20 Times Before Breakfast, It Ain’t News.” It’s Saturday morning, March 21, 2026, and I’ve had the local TV news running while I work. Somewhere between the weather and the “coming up next” teaser, I realized I’d…

🇺🇸 Salt, Light & the Ballot Box: A Wake-Up Call to the Church Are We Sleeping While the Republic Burns?  What I’m about to say matters more than just about anything else I’ve written on this blog. In about two months, Georgia voters will walk into a voting booth and…

⚓ Full Sails, Full Hearts, and a Full Plate! 🙏✝️ Sunday, March 1, 2026 Well, I don’t know what your Saturday looked like, but mine felt like the Lord set the whole day on “High Cotton” and just let it play. It started early, the way the best days always…

I Finally Agree With the Democrats—And That’s What Scared Me Straight February 25, 2026 Well now, grab yourself a rocking chair and pour some sweet tea, ’cause what I’m about to tell you might just knock your boots off. Last night, Debbie and I settled in to watch the State…

A Southern Fried Guide to Surviving Election Season Or: Why Your Lazy Neighbor’s Vote Counts Just as Much as Your Educated One—And That Oughtta Scare You Silly A Field Guide to the 2026 Georgia Primaries Part One of a Series That Just Might Save Our State It’s 2026 in Georgia,…

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler! — Mardi Gras, Lent, and the Gumbo of Life” By Dean Burnette February 17, 2026 If you’re reading this from South Louisiana, there’s a decent chance you’ve already heard a marching band at 9:12 a.m., smelled somebody’s gumbo from two streets over, and watched a…

When the Fox Guards the Henhouse: A Southern Boy’s Take on “Nonpartisan” Election Analysis Pull up a chair and pour yourself some sweet tea, folks. We need to have us a little talk about propaganda dressed up in Sunday clothes. Well now, I just finished reading something that got my…

When Good People See Different Things: A Letter About  Truth, Compassion, and Finding Our Way Home “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” – Proverbs 18:15 My friend Jennie—and she IS my friend, make no mistake about that—posted something on Facebook…

When Georgia Needs a Voice That Won’t Back Down: Why Kandiss Taylor Has My Vote Dean Burnette | Faith, Family, Politics | January 27, 2026 We’re living in interesting times, folks. And by “interesting,” I mean the kind of times that make you want to check if you accidentally wandered…

“Change Is Gonna Come”… but is this the change we want? – And Why Your Vote’s the Last Line of Defense By Dean Burnette, Grateful USA Citizen I’ve been chewing on something lately, and it’s keeping me up at night. Not the price of gas, (thank goodness its hovering around…

Counting Blessings and Making Memories: A Christmas Worth Remembering “The best things in life aren’t things at all—they’re people, memories, and the music that ties them all together.” Well now, here we are on the backside of Christmas 2025, and I’ve been sitting here in my favorite chair, sweet tea…

A Thanksgiving Symphony: Pittsburgh, Prayers, and the Soundtrack of Gratitude Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Thanksgiving Day, 2025 Well now, here I sit in the Steel City, a Louisiana boy transplanted to Georgia clay, now finding himself in Steelers country with a full heart and a cup of coffee that’s still trying…

The Port of Savannah is the Closest Thing to a Foreign Mission Field Without a Passport Or: How I Learned You Don’t Need a Passport to Be a Foreign Missionary  A Thanksgiving Log from the President’s Chair – Maritime Bethel Savannah   Posted November 23, 2025 – Southern Fried Thoughts…

Passin’ the Baton: David’s Psalm and Our Family Legacy Over Morning Coffee By Dean Burnette | November 8, 2025 | Faith, Family Well now, settle in with your coffee, friends, ’cause this morning the Good Lord decided to wallop me upside the head with something profound while I was doing…

Courage, Commitment, and the Call to Duty Gratitude for Those Who Step Up First things first – I want to tip my hat to Kandiss Taylor, Brian Montgomery, Krista Penn, and Pat Farrell. These four patriots have raised their hands to succeed Buddy Carter as our representative for Georgia’s 1st…

The Tail Wagging the Dog: A Southern Perspective on the 2025 Government Shutdown By Dean Burnette – Louisiana Born, Georgia Grown, and Still Not Crazy (Yet)   October 29, 2025   (Politics | Southern Fried Thoughts)   Now, listen here, and I don’t mean to preach—well, maybe a little—but the…

Fried-Golden Parachutes & Premium Parasites—A Family Talk about the Insurance Squeeze By Dean Burnette | Louisiana-born, Georgia-grown, grateful-to-be-American Pull up a rocker and set the sweet tea between us.  I’ve been stewing on these double-digit rate hikes the big insurers are wanting to slap on Georgia families like a cast-iron…

Pull up a chair. The sweet tea’s cold. Faith • Family • September 15, 2025   By Dean Burnette – Georgia clay on my boots, gratitude in my heart I don’t want to post a political persuasion targeted at a specific group of people, so I won’t write anything that…

When Hatred Pulls the Trigger: A Call to Prayer and Hope September 10, 2025 Well now, friends, I’m sitting here this evening with a heavy heart and a mind that just won’t quit spinning. Sweet tea’s gone warm in my glass, and the words I need to share feel as…

When Faith Meets Politics: What Kind of Representative Do We Really Want? A Southern Fried Thought on Character, Conviction, and Kandiss Taylor Well now, pull up a chair. I’ve been stirring a thought around in my head all morning, and it’s got more kick to it than a pot of…

Well now, pull up a chair and let this old Southern boy pour you a glass of sweet tea. It feels like just yesterday, but the calendar tells me it’s been twenty long years since Hurricane Katrina tore through my home state of Louisiana. Twenty years. Lord have mercy, time…

The People’s Champion: Kandiss Taylor for Congress By Dean Burnette | August 24, 2025 Pull up a chair, friends. This one’s worth your time A Story Worth Telling I’ve lived long enough in the South to know a real story when I see one. Kandiss Taylor’s is one of those…

Faith & Family | August 9, 2025  A Southern tale of divine intervention, mysterious visitors, and the miracles we almost miss Down here in Georgia, we know two truths like we know sweet tea stains:   1) God moves in mysterious ways.   2) Sometimes He sends angels wearin’ flannel...

The Federal Reserve: Who Holds America’s Purse Strings (And Why It Matters)   A Bank Like No Other   Picture this: a mighty oak door creaks open in a stately marble building. Inside, a handful of folks in tailored suits shuffle papers and sip coffee while deciding how much it’ll…

July 29th, 2025 Well now, bless their hearts, I just read about a gathering down in Savannah where folks were singing the praises of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Now, before y’all start reaching for your smelling salts, let me be clear as sweet tea on a summer day –…

By Dean Burnette | Southern Fried Thoughts   July 22, 2025   —   Y’all, something’s been weighing heavy on my heart.   I got a postcard in the mail from something called Cross For Georgia, making some mighty serious accusations about our state GOP leadership. At first glance, it…

Sweet Tea, Donuts, and Zydeco Dreams   There’s something about Louisiana that gets in your blood like hot sauce in a pot of gumbo. If you’ve ever wondered why we Cajuns are so proud of where we come from, let me tell you—it ain’t just the food (though Lord knows…

(A Southern Fried Thoughts Post by Dean Burnette) Well now, Savannah, Georgia. There ain’t many places on God’s green earth that capture the soul of the South quite like her. Moss-draped oaks, history whispering on the breeze, and yes, those beautiful horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping down cobblestone streets, a living postcard…

A Southern Perspective on Why Thomas Jefferson Would Be Grinning Like a Possum Eating Sweet Potato Pie Author: Dean Burnette Date: July 4, 2025 Well, folks, happy birthday to the grand old lady herself. Two hundred and forty-nine years old and still the prettiest girl at the dance. As the…

Posted in Politics | By Dean Burnette Well now, my friend David done stirred up something fiercer than a hornet’s nest at a church picnic with his recent Facebook observations. He’s got some thoughts about why folks like Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders ought to quit calling themselves socialists if…

How to Spot the Mean-Spirited Politics That Ain’t Worth Your Time Posted in Politics • By Dean Burnette Well now, friends, I’ve been chewing on something like a hound dog with a tough bone, and I reckon it’s time to spit it out. After attending our recent Georgia GOP State…

Just got back from the Georgia State GOP Convention up in Dalton, and let me tell you, it was a weekend, alright. Politics ain’t for the faint of heart, is it? This past weekend at the Georgia GOP State Convention was about as smooth as a dirt road after a…

Defunding NPR and Harvard Isn’t Anti-Intellectual—It’s Pro-Democracy Published by Dean Burnette | Southern Fried Thoughts Well now, gather ’round the sweet tea pitcher, folks, because we need to have ourselves a conversation that’s been brewing longer than my mama’s Sunday gumbo.  The mainstream media’s been carrying on like a wet…

Alright now, pull up a chair. Got somethin’ heavy on my heart today, somethin’ important to talk about. This Memorial Day, 2025, feels a little different, maybe because it marks a special, yet sorrowful, anniversary. Just the other day, I was tellin’ you folks about Noah’s Ark Encounter up in…

How a Cajun Mama’s Wisdom and Noah’s Big Boat Reminded Me What Really Matters — Well now, folks, I just got back from a little adventure up north to visit Debbie’s family, and let me tell you, sometimes the good Lord has a way of teaching you lessons when you…

There’s something about that moment that “Eight Seconds of Glory” when the chute gate swings open that’ll teach you more about life than a year’s worth of Sunday sermons. Not that I’m knocking preachers, mind you. But when a 2,000-pound beast with horns like railroad spikes and a disposition meaner…

Hey my ol’ friend, I hope you’re sippin’ on somethin’ cool and enjoyin’ the sunshine wherever you are!  Let me pull up a chair on this virtual back porch again. Appreciate you throwin’ another log on the fire of this conversation. You’re makin’ me think, which ain’t always comfortable but…

A Response to my Friend Eric. Hope this message finds you in high spirits, my friend! You’ve raised some mighty fine questions, and I appreciate the chance to “hash” ‘em out over a good ol’ fashioned virtual back-porch chat. Now, let me grab my sweet tea, and we’ll dive right…

Posted April 25, 2025 – I saw a post about government interference in private universities, and I gotta say, I respect where my friend is comin’ from. He’s right; academic institutions should be focused on the pursuit of knowledge, and that’s a noble goal. However, I’d like to offer a…

Posted April 20, 2025 – Mornin’, y’all! As I sit here sippin’ my coffee, this Easter morning finds me sittin’ here, countin’ my blessings, and feelin’ downright grateful for the gift of Faith. Momma always said faith was like good soil, and she sure did plant that seed deep in…

Posted April 15, 2025 – Y’all, gather ’round for a minute. Dean Burnette here, Louisiana born but planting my voting roots deep in Georgia soil. You know, every now and again, that old Charley Reese column, “545 vs. 300,000,000,” pops up on the internet like a Whac-A-Mole. It’s been makin’…

Posted April 11, 2025 – Hey y’all! Dean Burnette here. I’ve been posting about the undeniable, positive changes our country is seeing, thanks to the millions of folks who voted for Donald J. Trump and the work his administration is doin’. As I’ve been sharing the positive strides and actions…

Well, heaven’s got ‘em a good one now.  My old friend Fred Harget left us yesterday, and if there’s any justice in the hereafter, Saint Peter’s already handed him a rod and reel and pointed him toward the best fishing hole up yonder. Back in the ‘70s, there wasn’t a…

Posted April 5, 2025 – Y’all won’t believe what the media isn’t telling you! While they’re fussin’ over President Trump’s travel costs, they’re sweepin’ a $4.7 TRILLION spending binge under the rug from the last administration! Let me tell ya something—real leadership isn’t about penny-pinching on flights; it’s about courageously…

Posted April 5, 2025 – Y’all ever notice how the media twists every good thing our country does into some doom-and-gloom story? Bless their hearts, it’s like they’ve got a PhD in “If It Ain’t Broke, Let’s Pretend It Is!” For years, other nations slapped tariffs on American goods like…

Posted March 21, 2025 – Folks, I gotta say, I’m mighty disappointed in a post my friend shared from Rick Steves. Rick Steves’ “glossary,” but I’ve gotta say, as your friend and fellow American citizen, this post has me feeling more disappointed than a farmer in a drought. I reckon…

Posted February 27, 2025 – A Thought from the Heart of Dixie Hey there, friends! I’ve been tossing around some thoughts lately—thank you, late-night TV! You know, this whole idea of “pre-hating” someone, particularly when it comes to figures like Trump, got me to pondering. Seems like we’re living in…

Posted February 15, 2025 – Dear Heavenly Father, We come before You with hearts full of gratitude and spirits lifted by Your love. As we say in the South, “Thank ya, Lord!” for all the blessings You’ve showered upon us. We’re reminded of Your promise in Philippians 4:6, “Do not…

Posted February 11, 2025 – My good friend—a fine school teacher, mind you—just put up a Facebook post that got me thinkin’. He’s talkin’ about how the new administration startin’ in 2025 is plannin’ to “rule” instead of govern. But, truth be told, what he’s describin’ sounds an awful lot…

Posted February 7, 2025 – Folks, I’m fired up and I’m not alone. As a proud American citizen and Georgia voter, I’m sounding the alarm on the blatant bias in NBC’s Today Show and their local/national news programming. It’s time to hold them accountable for the harm their one-sided reporting…

Posted February 5, 2025 – As I sit here watching NBC local and national news, I’m struck by the glaring bias in their reporting. It’s like they think they’re smarter than us, tryin’ to shape our opinions instead of giving us the whole story. Have you noticed how the news…

Posted January 26, 2025 – Folks, it’s high time for some plain talk. As we embark on this new chapter in American history, let’s talk about our new government and the age-old question, “What’s the difference between a Liberal and a Conservative, a Biden and a Trump?” Now, don’t you…

Posted January 20, 2025 – PREEMPTIVE PARDONS: When the Fox Guards the Henhouse Y’all, let me tell you something that’ll make a billy goat puke, it’s about this whole preemptive pardon debacle that Joe Biden just pulled off. Let me tell you, as a taxpayer and a voter here in…

Posted January 20, 2025 – A Word from the Peanut Gallery: Let’s Get America Back on Track! Folks, I’m sitting here on January 20th, 2025, feeling a mix of emotions – relief, hope, and a whole lotta frustration. We’ve just wrapped up four long years of watchin’ our country take…

Woke up at 4:30 this morning with Dixie on my mind and a heaviness in my heart. I couldn’t shake the thought of our beloved Dixieland, and the heritage that’s bein’ erased right before our eyes. I’m talkin’ about the South, y’all. The land of cotton, where the tea is…

Posted January 16, 2025 – Good mornin’, y’all! “Well, bless my soul! Sometimes life’s like a slow roll down the mighty Mississippi, smooth as a well-used river rock. Other times, it’s a whitewater rapid, raging and unpredictable. But y’all, whether we’re fishin’ or just plain floatin’, we need to trust…

Posted January 12, 2025 – Well, butter my biscuit and call me confused! Dean Burnette here, and let me tell ya somethin’, Y’all ain’t gonna believe this, but Meta has decided to throw in the towel on its fact-checking program, and our dear President Biden has called the move “really…

Posted January 8, 2024 – Y’all, let’s take a moment to chew on the recent shake-up over at Meta and what it says about the past 8 years of their “fact-checking” business. Well, I’ll tell you what, folks, seems like ol’ Zuck’s done seen the light! Maybe that California sun…

Posted January 3, 2025 – You know, sometimes the Good Lord has a way of sending folks into your life that just fit like an old comfortable chair on a Sunday afternoon. That’s exactly what Gary and Shelly Morin were to our little Tuesday night small group. When they first…

Posted December 29, 2024 – Well, y’all, it’s almost a brand new year – 2025! Can you believe it? Seems like just yesterday we were dodgin’ Y2K bugs and tryin’ to figure out if Al Gore was gonna invent the internet. As we stand on the brink of 2025, I…

Posted December 23, 2024 – Y’all, it’s Dean Burnette here, comin’ at you live from the most bless-ed city south of the Mason-Dixon: Savannah, Georgia. It’s the night before Christmas, and the air is thick with the smell of pralines, Spanish moss, and just a hint of sweet tea vodka…

Posted Dec 13, 2024 – “Y’all, I’m fixin’ to give a big ol’ shoutout to the self-employed folks out there. Jeff Foxworthy hit the nail square on the head this mornin’: ‘To successfully be a self-employed business owner, you have to be comfortable with a level of stress that would…

Posted December 12-2024 – Y’all, with 13 days till Christmas, my heart’s as full as Aunt Joyce’s pumpkin pie! Down here in God’s country, we’re counting our blessings like we count pecans in a praline – one grateful handful at a time. Shoot, even my old dog Myles knows there’s…

Posted December 7, 2024 – Friends, as I sit here reflecting on President Roosevelt’s powerful words from that fateful December morning in 1941, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for this great nation of ours. Y’all, we’ve faced some mighty tough times, but by God, we’ve always pulled through together. When those…

Posted Dec 5, 2024 – Dean Burnette here, your favorite concerned-yet-humorously-skeptical citizen. Gather ’round, because it’s time to have a little chat about a brand new concept that’s sweeping the nation faster than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I’m talking about the fabulous, the fantastic, the…

Well hey there, y’all! Happy Thanksgiving from down here in the South! We got a whole lot to be thankful for this year, As we gather ’round the table this Thanksgiving, sipping sweet tea and feasting on turkey with all the fixings, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense…

Posted November 22, 2024 – Y’all ain’t gonna believe this, but it’s been 16 YEARS since this woman took pity on me and said “I do.” Sixteen years ago today, up in snowy Gatlinburg, with the Dollywood lights twinkling, Debbie Burnette made me the luckiest man alive. Little did I…

Posted November 18th 2024 – Now, picture this: 43 monkeys decide it’s time to break free and see the world on November 6. And you know what caused it? The door was left open! Yessir, it was left flappin’ in the breeze like a Walmart supercenter on Black Friday! Turns…

Posted November 16, 2024 – Well, folks, here we are. The dust has settled from the November 5th election, and if you’re anything like me, you feel as if you’ve just walked out of an episode of The Twilight Zone. You know the one—where everything seems bizarrely familiar yet strangely…

Posted November 10, 2024 – Mama always said good things come to those who wait, and we’ve done our fair share of waiting. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We’ve got a chance to bring more manufacturing back home, make our streets safer, and…

Posted November 6, 2024 – Well, folks, gather ‘round and lend me your ears, because I have something to say, and I promise it’s not just another tale about the weather in these here parts! November 5th, 2024, will go down in history as a day when the great American…

Posted October 16, 2024 – I’m saddened by the assumptions and accusations you made about me based solely on a yard sign. I want to express my concern about the labeling of supporters of the former President as “hateful and horrible.” Many of the claims you listed are presented in…

Posted September 20, 2024 – – The political landscape can feel overwhelming, but engaging in voting is crucial for shaping our country’s direction. – Donald Trump is often portrayed negatively by the media; it’s important to evaluate the facts. – Notable acts of kindness attributed to Trump include: – Paying…

Posted Sept 18, 2024 – As a concerned citizen, father, and Christian, I’m compelled to speak out against the blatant manipulation of our democracy. It’s time to expose the truth behind the government’s and media’s attempt to control the narrative and sway public opinion. For far too long, our government…

Posted September 7, 2024 – As we approach the upcoming election, let’s all reflect on the importance of our vote. In this election, we are faced with two very different candidates who, like all of us, are far from perfect. So, when we support one candidate over the other, we…

Facebook Post Sept 4, 2024 – I want to share some thoughts with you that I hope will challenge some long-held assumptions about wealth and government. For years, Democratic politicians have painted a picture of “Rich People” as greedy and selfish. They argue for bigger government and higher taxes, promising…

Posted to Facebook September 1, 2024 – I recently came across a post that sparked a lot of discussion and concern for me. As a Christian, I felt compelled to respectfully share my perspective and clarify some misconceptions about my faith. To my friend who shared Atheist Girl’s post, I…