CANDIDATES WHO ARE PINNING their hopes this fall on running as political outsiders against the corruption and ineptness of incumbents, whether in Washington or in Atlanta, might want to pay close attention to what happened in Georgia's GOP gubernatorial runoff.

Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel buttressed her campaign on repeated attacks on the way the state Legislature does business. As Handel said in her ads, the three most powerful forces there often are "sex, lies and lobbyists." The fact that it's now in Republican hands after a century of Democratic control hasn't made much difference in the way it operates.

But Handel rolled the dice by making that argument the core of her campaign. Her efforts to stigmatize the Legislature would have played well in a GOP primary if the Legislature was controlled by the Democrats. But it's not. And many of those GOP state representatives and state senators took umbrage at her comments and went to work - hard - for her runoff opponent, former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal of Gainesville.

Even though Handel narrowly won the balloting in the big cities and big suburbs in the runoff, Deal won the vast majority of Georgia's 159 counties. He no doubt got a big boost from the efforts on his behalf by legislators representing the smaller counties, where the legislator and the sheriff typically run local politics. Georgia political website Insider Advantage reports that many GOP legislators were so incensed at Handel's tactics that they personally shelled out for robocalls on Deal's behalf.

The bottom line was Handel rolled the dice - and lost.

There's no question but that there is an anti-incumbent sentiment among many voters, but it appears just as true that those who know and like their leaders will stick with them even in times like these. This summer's primary results in Cobb bore that out. Only two local legislators - Sen. John Wiles (R-north Cobb) and Rep. Don Wix (D-Mableton) - were unseated. And both were victims of unusual circumstances. Wiles was embroiled in the fallout from a much-publicized teen drinking party last Christmas; while Wix fell victim to the changing demographics of his district.

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IF YOU SAW an official-looking mini-motorcade in the vicinity of McCollum Field on Friday afternoon or evening, you can now tell your children and grandchildren someday that you once saw Bill Clinton. Or at least, you saw his vehicle.

The former president jetted into McCollum late Friday afternoon en route to a concert that evening by R&B singer Usher at the Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts. He and his police escorts then motored to CEPAC and back. (Clinton, like other recent presidents, flew into Dobbins Air Reserve Base many times when visiting the metro Atlanta area. But that privilege is reserved for current commanders in chief.)

Concert promoters had booked a room for Clinton at the Waverly Hotel near CEPAC so that the former president, who had flown in directly from Haiti, could freshen up before the concert. They also were prepared to provide him a fried chicken dinner. But Clinton, who has suffered heart issues in recent years, reportedly passed up the chicken in favor of a healthier dinner, sources told AT.

After the concert and his entourage motored back up to McCollum and jetted on to his next stop.

Such is the life - and the perks - of a former president. At least, this former president.

EVENTS: Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society will have a reception Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marietta Educational Garden Center, 505 Kennesaw Ave., to introduce the forthcoming book, "Marietta, the Gem City of Georgia: A Celebration of Its Homes - A Portrait of Its People," written by local historian, Douglas Frey and illustrated with full-color photographs by Jim DiVitale. The author will be on hand to talk about the book and designer Michael Leidel will present a slide show of the photographs. Pre-sale copies will be offered for sale - cash, checks or credit cards will be accepted. Delivery of the book is expected this winter. The event is free for members of CLHS. RSVP to Nancy Gadberry, CLHS Executive Director, at (678) 594-4994 or executive.director@cobblandmarks.com. ...

ONE OF the Marietta History Museum's favorite speakers, Don Lillie, will discuss the history of glass paperweights from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and display examples of pristine weights and common collectibles. The event is free to members and $5 for non-members. Call (770) 794-5710. ... The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art will have "Martinis and Music" from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday with the band The Gorilla Monkeys. ... The next "Sneak a Peak" at the Aviation Wing site under development by the Museum of History is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Volunteers will provide free guided tours around the site and inside the aircraft. The nonprofit Operation Stars and Stripes, Inc. will have games for children and the opportunity to see what items are needed for military men and women.

MORE EVENTS: The Cobb Library Foundation will host its third "Meet the Author" quarterly luncheon Aug. 23 at the Georgian Club. Jeffrey Stepakoff, author of "Fireworks Over Toccoa," will speak and have books available for sale and signing. The author was raised in Atlanta and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has "written by" or "story by" credits on 36 television episodes, has written for 15 different series and has worked on seven primetime staffs, including the Emmy-winning "The Wonder Years," "The Magic School," "Major Dad," "Simon and Simon" and "Dawson's Creek," where he was executive producer.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are $25. Proceeds benefit the foundation's Gail Rogers Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance for library staffers pursuing a master's degree in library science. ...

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SICK BAY: Marietta Councilman Philip Goldstein has his left hand in a cast after breaking it while playing catcher in a synagogue-league softball game, and having surgery to have four screws inserted. ... Dupre's Antique Market will continue to operate in its current location at 17 Whitlock Ave. Mike Barie has leased half the building and will be the operator. The antique mall continues with most of the old dealers and has attracted new ones. This leaves new building owner Goldstein with the remaining half of the building for lease.

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APART FROM THE USUAL denunciations of the MDJ by Cobb school board members, Saturday's "team-building" meeting for the board didn't make much news. The Saturday edition of Around Town was remiss, however, in indicating that Republican Scott Sweeney of east Cobb is soon to be seated on the board. In fact, Sweeney must still face Democrat Rick Welkis in this fall's elections.

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THE NEXT Alexis Grubbs Benefit Golf tournament is Sept. 14 at Brookstone Country Club. Registration will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. To play, to sponsor or do both, contact Linda Hill at (770) 424-2947 or cobbcountybar.org.

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JUST ANNOUNCED: Writer and humorist Garrison Keillor will be sharing tales of Lake Wobegon on Nov. 17 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Tickets went on sale Friday. Call (800) 745-3000.

RETIRED ARMY COL. JAMES BOGLE - the foremost late-20th century authority on "The Great Locomotive Chase" - died in his sleep Saturday night at his home in DeKalb County. The chase took place in 1862 when Union raiders under the command of James Andrews hijacked a Confederate train in Big Shanty (present-day Kennesaw) and headed north, hoping to burn bridges along the strategic W&A Railroad as they went. Instead, their train, pulled by the locomotive "The General," was overtaken and they were captured. Their story has been the basis of two movies and one play, "Stealing Dixie," being staged at Theatre in the Square in Marietta.

Bogle's father worked for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, which had custody of The General, and young Bogle began collecting all the materials he could about the train, the chase and those involved. Bogle served in the Pacific during World War II, earning the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

He later co-authored "The General and The Texas" about the raid. In 1980, he assisted in the erection of a marker in Oakland Cemetery on the site where Andrews and six of his raiders were hanged in 1862. And in 1982, Bogle, a past president of The Atlanta Civil War Roundtable, supervised the restoration of the locomotive Texas on display in Atlanta's Cyclorama.

Bogle's death marks the passing of the third of the local "Greatest Generation" historians who devoted most of their focus to the Civil War's impact on Cobb County, the others being the late Dr. Phil Secrist and the late Bill Scaife of nearby Allatoona, both of whom died in the past two years. Present and future local historians will remain much in their debt.