Perdue’s water task force closed to public
A series of major legal setbacks has finally forced Georgia officials to face reality: Metro Atlanta could actually, really, for sure and no kidding, lose its legal right to draw so much water from Lake Lanier.
The consequences could be dire. If a deal with our neighboring states can’t be cut by July 2012, it won’t be a question of trying to find enough water to support continued growth. Instead, we’ll be scrambling for enough water to supply those of us already here.
With that deadline in mind, Gov. Sonny Perdue has named a Water Contingency Task Force. The group, which held its first meeting last month at the Governor’s Mansion, is tasked with producing recommendations before the Legislature convenes in January.
According to Bert Brantley, Perdue’s spokesman, the task force is searching for options that are “the most readily available and cost-effective available, options that you can bring online as fast as possible.”
“If you had been at the Mansion, you would have heard the governor tell the task force that ‘everything is on the table,’ ” Brantley told me this week. “He told them to look at literally everything.”
Of course, I wasn’t at that meeting to hear the governor say that. You probably weren’t either, because both the press and the public were barred from attending. The task force is being funded with taxpayers’ money; it is producing recommendations that will be critical to the future of the state. But the people of Georgia, the people whose lives, property and jobs are likely to be affected, are forbidden to watch.
It’s also interesting to note the makeup of the task force. In many states, a panel created to do such important work would be thoroughly seeded with experts in the field — hydrologists, people who know water law, environmental experts, scientists. It might also have a broad range of citizens, from businesspeople to community leaders.
But this being Georgia, the Perdue task force is dominated by corporate executives. By my count, more than 50 of its 87 members are corporate executives, bankers, developers or utility officials. Sixteen are government officials.
Just four represent environmental groups, and three of those four groups — the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund and the Trust for Public Lands — are land-acquisition organizations with little expertise in water issues.
According to Brantley, the extreme overrepresentation of business interests doesn’t matter.
“You’re assuming that businesspeople can’t be environmentalists, too,” he said, repeating a line also used to excuse the dominance of business interests on the state Board of Natural Resources.
Personally, I think it’s a silly argument. It requires you to believe that personal background and perspective aren’t important in how you assess a situation. A lot of businesspeople are very smart. But I’m not sure what makes them so much more qualified than Georgians of other backgrounds to ponder this issue.
According to Brantley, the task force will look at “every possible idea you’ve seen thrown out, from desalinization to fixing pipes.” It will gauge each according to cost, yield and speed of implementation.
But will corporate executives who are by instinct averse to regulation try to downplay mandated conservation as part of the solution? Will bankers and developers naturally favor the construction of major reservoirs that would also produce thousands of lakeside lots to be sold? Will water-dependent businesses try to push the burden of conservation onto homeowners? Will real estate people oppose the idea of requiring low-flow toilets before a house can be sold?
The makeup of the task force doesn’t exactly ease such concerns. In fact, it seems designed to ensure a certain set of outcomes and preclude others.
Concern about the direction of state policy is heightened by the sudden resignation of Carol Couch, director of the state Environmental Protection Division. Couch, a scientist with a background in hydrology and biology who had been deeply involved in water issues, quit unexpectedly last month with just a week’s notice and without real explanation. She was quickly replaced by Allen Barnes, a law partner at King and Spalding, which often represents corporate interests in environmental cases.
The task force’s job is very important, and its membership includes a lot of good people. But the closed process and membership betray the same value system that helped to create this mess in the first place.
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172 comments Add your comment
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
7:47 am
Maybe it would be better if all of these participants had to compete in a SimCity game that was modified to encompass Tennessee, North & South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. The result would probably be better than what we can expect from them with a simulator.
Normal
November 13th, 2009
7:53 am
Sounds to me like with the people Sonny has picked for his Task Force, camel dealerships might be a good business venture. The Geat South Eastern Georgia Desert is about to become a reality…
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
7:55 am
But this being Georgia, the Perdue task force is dominated by corporate executives. By my count, more than 50 of its 87 members are corporate executives, bankers, developers or utility officials.
Despite what you think bookman, the press doesn’t produce anything of value.
We’ll be sure to let you know what we decide.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
7:56 am
Sonny Perdue…..can’t hold his water????
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
8:00 am
Here comes the next big bomb to explode on the economy-
Fannie and Freddie also acquired $2.2 trillion in subprime loans and private securities backed by subprime loans from 1997 to 2007. Acorn and the other advocacy groups succeeded at getting Congress to mandate “innovative and flexible” lending practices such as higher debt ratios and creative definitions of income. And the serious delinquency rate on Fannie and Freddie’s $1.5 trillion in high-risk loans was 10.3% as of Sept. 30, 2009.-WSJ
And the libs in the Senate scheme and plot the one after this. Or two after this.
And you wonder why Purdue locks the press out.
Normal
November 13th, 2009
8:07 am
I wonder how ACORN got a Republican run Congress to mandate those loans…hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Boogers for the Children Fund
November 13th, 2009
8:07 am
The press has not business and more importantly no need to be in these meetings. More than ever the old saying “too many cooks spoil the soup” is applicable in todays society.
All this garbage about “being engaged” and “we are all on the same team” and blah blah blah. All lip service and quite disheartening when certain team members refuse to pull their load. At most companies ineffective management from top to bottom.
We need to bring back the good ole days of firing people. Let that happen and the rest will fall in line.
That being said Sonny-boy needs to do the same and keeping the press out is a step in the right direction.
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
8:11 am
Boo…none of that means a thing. Here’s the bottom line: it is OUR MONEY they are going to spend…but without giving us ANY INPUT to how it is spent. Ever heard of sunshine laws?
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:12 am
The “Smoke-filled Room” will allow Perdue and his cronies to steal from the poor and give it to the rich. The old Robbing Hood ploy…
@@
November 13th, 2009
8:13 am
…and Obama is gonna host “a forum” at the WH to figure out how to get people back to work.
There’s a humorous little ditty about forming committees to solve problems. Don’t have time to search for it. Anyway, it ends up something like this……
“The horse is dead! Get another horse.”
Water? Clayton County?
We’ve got ours, get your own!
jt
November 13th, 2009
8:13 am
Thank you Governor Perdue for saving the tax-payer some money.
It has been proven that the press eat more pig-n-a-blankets, they stash buffet food in their gear bags, and are notorious for double-dipping in the chip dip.
They also cheef gubanatorial china and towels.
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:13 am
If Perdue had nothing to hide, he would let the Public see what’s going on. Just sayin’
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:14 am
We voters could use a little “transparency in government” here.
jt
November 13th, 2009
8:15 am
The only worse offenders are lawyers.
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:16 am
All you people whining about the Obama Administration not being transparent, what do you say about Perdue? Hypocrisy is sure loud!
Pennsylvanian
November 13th, 2009
8:17 am
Rerun? Sonny – Disband the task force. I solved the problem last week. Call me.
Next?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
8:21 am
I wonder how ACORN got a Republican run Congress to mandate those loans…hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Probably the same way that the army allowed a Muslim terrorist to conduct hate lectures on their bases, send all of his pay to the Taliban and chit chat with al Qaeda on his cellphone.
Fear of being castigated by the goon liberal mob?
I got to give you pinkos some credit, you have figured out one of the weaknesses of America, we are decent caring people that strive to do the right thing, so you take advantage of that by calling the right thing “extremism.”
It’s too bad that we are too stupid to figure this out and run you out of this country on a rail.
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:23 am
The only truth in your post is: “It’s too bad we are too stupid……”
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
8:24 am
87 members? that’s not a task force…it’s a MOB
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
8:26 am
“The only truth in your post ”
Nah, he got one other thing right: “we are decent caring people that strive to do the right thing” – problem is he doesn’t seem to realize that a blanket statement like that applies to ALL OF US, not just the “too stupid” people. IOW, he complimented us “pinkos” without seeming to realize that’s what he’s done!
TnGelding
November 13th, 2009
8:33 am
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
8:00 am
You wish. Sorry, but you’re barking up the wrong tree…..again.
Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. We waste enough to make up for any restrictions. Sonny, let the sun shine in!
Lewis
November 13th, 2009
8:34 am
This group needs to hold open meetings and fully comply with Georgia’s Sunshine Lws. Why doesn’t the AJC fle a lawsuit to force compliance? Or the Georgia First Amendment Foundation? Or Common Cause? Why do Atlantans let our leaders get away with such disdain for democracy?
Mitch
November 13th, 2009
8:34 am
Jay, I’m curious, do you consider yourself an environmentalist? Sorry, because of your elementary school level intelligence litmus test, you cant be. You work for a newspaper, which kills no telling how many trees every day to put out rubbish like this column. So, you are obviously hell bent on destroying the environment and cannot be trusted because of your job.
Shooshines
November 13th, 2009
8:38 am
Obama to weed out Bush political appointees who careered in; Establishes new political test for career jobs UPDATED!
“In no case may an agency make an appointment of the type described below without written authorization from OPM”:
“A. The appointment of a current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under title 5 of the U.S. Code.
“B.The appointment of a current Non-career SES Executive Branch employee or a former Non-career SES Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under title 5 of the U.S. Code.”
In other words, if you worked for President Bush in the executive branch at any time during his second term in the White House, you may not be approved. The same applies if you worked for a Republican Member of Congress at any point during the past five years.
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
8:39 am
“which kills no telling how many trees every day to put out rubbish like this column.”
I guess we should stop building homes too. Just think of how many trees THOSE kill? I also guess you have NEVER heard of sustainable forest management either.
danjonglee
November 13th, 2009
8:46 am
Here’s a list of what you would get with religious environmental groups involved:
1)remind everyone businesses are raping the earth and stealing its riches, thus causing all of the water shortages
2)advocate a greater government control of land, resources, and industries
3)increase the constantly growing guilt levels
4)No solutions
Gale
November 13th, 2009
8:46 am
“But this being Georgia,…” says it all, including many of the responses I have read so far. I am not concerned that the press and public are blocked AT THIS TIME. It is a large task force and if they do it right, a public forum will get in the way of productive work. That said, I am concerned about the lack of environmentalists and hydrologists. As Jay noted, businessmen are likely to come up with business solutions. If the scientists were a bigger part of the team, I would hope the businessmen could use their experience to listen to their recomendations and assist if forming a workable solution. Neither group can function alone to find a solution for the -three- states. Let us not forget that Alabama and Florida have an interest in the GA water resource decisions, court orders aside.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
8:48 am
IOW, he complimented us “pinkos” without seeming to realize that’s what he’s done!
Gosh, maybe that’s why I said “I have to give you pinkos credit.”
Let’s examine health care for a moment, the democrat bill will cut care to the elderly, ration care for everybody else, put people in jail, raise your taxes, create death panels, just about every nightmare scenario that you can impose on a person’s freedom and life, and it is for what? So that a bunch of illegal immigrants can flood the doctor’s office and abortions are free? The trial lawyers can double their clientele?
And what do the liberals have to say about the right thinking Conservative opposition to this monstrosity? That we don’t care, we are out to get the poor, blah, blah, blah.
How many people want some hysterical pinko yelling all kinds of nonsense at them?
They just fold up, trampled by political correctness.
stands for decibels
November 13th, 2009
8:48 am
will corporate executives who are by instinct averse to regulation try to downplay mandated conservation as part of the solution?
Gosh, I don’t know! You might as well ask if those same guys will try to blame forthcoming problems on imaginary “environmental whackos”. Or if a bear poops in the woods. Who can say?
Fox Hound
November 13th, 2009
8:50 am
Our governor is smarter than you think. Sonny knows the only force stong enough to fix our water shortage is economic greed. So some “quality of life kinda stuff” gets destroyed in the process. Hey, the Georgia Bulldawgs are still gonna play their season!! So stop yer bellyachin!
stands for decibels
November 13th, 2009
8:53 am
Hey, the Georgia Bulldawgs are still gonna play their season!
Georgians do love them some socialized football.
Gale
November 13th, 2009
8:54 am
I’m curious. Why is the football team consistently referred to with the spelling DAWG. Is there a point to that? Please be gentle with the answer. I do not follow sports at all. But living in Georgia, I feel I ought to understand this one.
Joey
November 13th, 2009
8:55 am
Question: Is the debate with Florida and Alabama a debate with almost exclusively politicians and business people? If so maybe business people and politicians are the better choice for Georgia’s team.
stands for decibels
November 13th, 2009
8:57 am
with the spelling DAWG. Is there a point to that?
It is allegedly lovable and folksy to spell things phonetically. Speshully when it comes to items related to edjumakation and akka-demmiks.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 13th, 2009
8:57 am
Well, it ought to be closed to the public. The Bible says when you pray you’re suppose to do it in private, except when you maybe want to do it for show, like in Sunday morning services. Last time I looked, old Sonny’s Water Plan was prayer. Maybe this time he won’t get all the preachers out on the capitol steps with him to fix the problem. I figure a bunch of rich people praying with him in private will be more powerful.
Well, I got alot of hauling to do if all the bars and stores are going to have enough beer for you drunks tonight, so I’m off of this blog for now. Have a good day everybody.
jconservative
November 13th, 2009
9:05 am
Water crisis? Nonsense. Dig a bunch of big holes & fill the holes with water. We call them lakes. Will it take money? Sure. Can we recover the funds? Sure. When the State buys the land (third party purchase-Purdue is good at this) sell the lakeside lots for a bundle. You can sell the lots while the holes are being dug.
joe matarotz
November 13th, 2009
9:12 am
Alex, I’ll take Governement Doings for a thousand.
Answer: They are both as transparent as a cinder block.
(Cue the Jeopardy theme.)
Question: What do Sonny’s water task force and Obama’s senate health care hearing have in common?
Joey
November 13th, 2009
9:12 am
I am a big believer in water conservation. But conservation by the user at the point of consumption is only part of the water conservation picture.
Conservation of water begins or should begin as conservation of rainfall. Any Green or Sustainable organization will tell you the importance of catching rainwater in barrels or on roofs or in cisterns for reuse. But few if any will endorse construction of new reserviors in order to catch this same rainwater for reuse. To catch this rainwater in a larger more manageable facility.
The recent heavey rains and flooding amplifies the opportunities wasted by allowing all of that water to flow through Georgia or anyother state uncaptured. No I am not endorsing constructing a dam on every stream.
Lanier provides an excellent example. In the last few weeks it has captured rainwater and runoff that raised its pool 6 to 8 feet. And this is while the Corp of Engineers actively drawing the level down almost two feet over that same period.
A critical element of the Conservation or our Natural Resource, rainwater is to catch excessive rainfall and hold it for future use.
Taxpayer
November 13th, 2009
9:12 am
Clearly, all one need do to ensure continued growth and real-estate related prosperity is to build a dam around existing flood-proned areas of the state such as Douglas and Cobb Counties, for starters.
I would like to know more about Ms. Couch’s departure though. We need people in certain positions that actually believe in science and understand that things like microscopic bacteria that cannot be seen with the naked eye can kill, etc. What life preserving value does a lawyer bring to Ms. Couch’s former position. For some reason, I just am not left with the impression that this replacement for Ms. Couch is the Erin Brockovich type. Visions of peanutty butter and sugar dust just keep dancing around in my head. Someone care to dispel my doubts regarding this change.
retiredds
November 13th, 2009
9:14 am
Transparency in a Republican dominated state!!!! Jay what planet are you on? No way the powerful donors to the GA Republicans are going to let that happen. Let’s remember, Sonny and the Legislature know what’s best for the common folk of GA.
Slugworth
November 13th, 2009
9:16 am
Whatever comes out of this, the Legislature will still be a free-for-all with the special interests that don’t get their way here carving out their exemptions through individual bills. That way, if Bookman’s suspicion that all conservation measures will fall on the homeowner, the green (nursery/landscape/sod/turf) industry can still pass a bill to ensure that unessential outdoor watering remains an inherent right. Mark my words on this one as the legislation is coming.
Jackie
November 13th, 2009
9:18 am
The Repub mantra, CONFLATE, EXTRAPOLATE, OBFUSCATE.
The governor will “perform” his duties in private using taxpayer dollars to further an agenda that most likely not be in the best interest of the metro area.
The same mindset of “putting Atlanta in its place” seems to be in effect, without taking into account the metro area is the economic engine of the Southeastern United States. Ready, aim, shoot yourself in the foot.
Mort Merkel
November 13th, 2009
9:18 am
I read in the Chattanooga paper that Georgia lakes lose 150 million gallons of water a day to evaporation during summer. And, that if you pump treated drinking water in the ground during the winter when demand is low, you can draw it back out (without evaporation) during the summer when demand is higher. The article said San Antonio has billions of gallons of water in aquifer storage, taking out only what they put in, not drawing down the natural groundwater.
Bosch
November 13th, 2009
9:19 am
Again, Republicans trying to find solutions to an environmental issue is like a Baptist woman planning and directing a gay wedding. It’s not in their DNA to do so. I just hope that he has some people who know what they are doing on this “task force” instead of a group of his GOP cronies.
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:21 am
Jackie –
Yeah, Perdue should operate a nontransparent administration like President Obama.
getalife
November 13th, 2009
9:22 am
Let us pray.
Please stop raining.
There ya go.
No secret.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
9:22 am
Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf says the White House focus on deficit reduction could easily kill the cap-and-trade effort. “I think this means cap-and-trade has to go to the backburner,” he said.-Politico
bwa
Obama has spent more money on new programs in nine months than Bill Clinton did in eight years, pushing the annual deficit to $1.4 trillion. This leaves little room for big spending initiatives.
Yeah, Bush’s fault, haha, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
Joey
November 13th, 2009
9:22 am
Have we concluded that the Alabama/Florida/Georgia water conflict is purely an environmental issue?
Jackie
November 13th, 2009
9:25 am
@mike
Yes, he should!!
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:25 am
Bosch –
“Again, Republicans trying to find solutions to an environmental issue is like a Baptist woman planning and directing a gay wedding”
Are you really saying that Perdue is not trying to find a solution to the water issue?
I know that folks here are desperate to fling around gross overgeneralizations about those who dare not share their intrinsically correct views, but try to keep to keep reality in sight when doing so. Perdue is just as sincere in his attempts to find a solution to these water issues as are the people who are smart enough to share your political views.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
9:25 am
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
7:56 am
Speaking of not holding ones water, just the headline below makes me laugh:
“VIDEO: Beaver urinates on CBSNEWS correspondent…”
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
9:27 am
“World gold supply ‘runs out’…”
This can’t be!! Why just yesterday I received something in the mail saying that if I acted fast, I could purchase some American Eagle gold dollars for just $19.95 each, limit 4 per house.
david wayne osedach
November 13th, 2009
9:28 am
Mostly ‘dry desert’ States like Arizona have strict water usage plans in effect. We should take a look at what they are doing and how they handle it.
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:28 am
Jackie –
“Yes, he should!!”
Well if she should run a nontransparent administration like Obama, what are you complaining about?
You do know that Obama is being slammed by liberals (at least the ones who are not mindless partisans) for breaking his promises on transparency:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/jstreet/455160/fact_checking_obama_on_transparency
Boogers for the Children Fund
November 13th, 2009
9:29 am
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
8:14 am
Look to your fearless leader Obobo as in LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
Common Sense
November 13th, 2009
9:31 am
Is anything Obama does closed to the public ?
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
9:33 am
Seriously, who voted for this GOOBER? What an embarrassment. He’s made himself a nice chunk of change while solving nothing, improving nothing, and offering absolutely nothing of value to the people of this state. What, you thought you were gonna get your flag back? Suckers.
Jackie
November 13th, 2009
9:34 am
@mike
Gov. Perdue wishes he could begin to be as transparent as the Obama administration.
If you will remember, Georgia has an open records law, of which the Governor seems to be in violation.
Secondly, President Obama is being chastised by those that believe his government should be more open because our democracy is more robust. When all is debated publicly and legislatively, we have the means to ferret out the good ideas from the bad ideas.
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:34 am
Common Sense –
Are you kidding? Read the article I posted above. Here is another one:
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/04/09/a-flagging-obama-transparency-effort/
Obama’s broken promises on transparency has become a serious issue with liberals with intellectual honesty.
To be clear, I am not as much of stickler for transparency as many folks are, but I am not the one running around selectively making an issue of transparency on purely partisan lines.
Pennsylvanian
November 13th, 2009
9:37 am
Ohhhh, noooo!!!! Breaking news…… Hasan is paralyzed. May not be able to stand for a firing squad. Don’t you just hate when that happens? Martyrdom denied. How about a life sentence making custom footballs for the NFL. Starting from the pig….
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:38 am
Jackie –
“Gov. Perdue wishes he could begin to be as transparent as the Obama administration.”
He doesn’t have to wish. He is just as transparent.
“If you will remember, Georgia has an open records law, of which the Governor seems to be in violation.”
That’s a nice talking point, but nothing Jay describes here violates any open records law.
“Secondly, President Obama is being chastised by those that believe his government should be more open because our democracy is more robust.”
Well, why are they chastising him if he is so transparent. The truth is that he is no more transparent than his predecessor and that is why many on the left (who are not mindless partisans) are critical of him.
“When all is debated publicly and legislatively, we have the means to ferret out the good ideas from the bad ideas.”
Super. Why do you then not criticize Obama for his lack of transparency as so many on the left have?
getalife
November 13th, 2009
9:39 am
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed To Be Moved From Gitmo To New York
I guess torture will hit the court system.
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:41 am
Matlida –
“Seriously, who voted for this GOOBER? What an embarrassment. He’s made himself a nice chunk of change while solving nothing, improving nothing, and offering absolutely nothing of value to the people of this state. What, you thought you were gonna get your flag back? Suckers.”
What a bunch of empty rhetoric. Matilda can’t comment on the actual subject at hand, as she would have to read the article first. Instead she just jumps into her typical ignorant partisan yammering.
We have so much to learn from “intellectual” and “tolerant” liberals like Matilda.
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
9:45 am
“What a bunch of empty rhetoric. Matilda can’t comment on the actual subject at hand, as she would have to read the article first. Instead she just jumps into her typical ignorant partisan yammering.
We have so much to learn from “intellectual” and “tolerant” liberals like Matilda.”
Ummmm…pot meet kettle? How, exactly, does THIS rant “comment on the actual subject at hand”?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
9:46 am
Another rat jumps over the side-
White House Counsel Craig to Step Down
Bosch
November 13th, 2009
9:50 am
I totally own the Find a Five game. Just saying.
Jackie
November 13th, 2009
9:51 am
@mike
You argument is effusive, but offers little substance.
What empirical evidence do you have that will show Gov. Perdue is “just as transparent” as President Obama?
In your response to the question about the Georgia open records law, you try to conflate your response with what Jay wrote in his argument you wrote ““If you will remember, Georgia has an open records law, of which the Governor seems to be in violation.”
That’s a nice talking point, but nothing Jay describes here violates any open records law.”
Do you really believe that anyone could take your argument seriously?
Doggone/GA
November 13th, 2009
9:51 am
HEY MIKE!!! Someone’s making comments not “on subject” again!! Woooo…lookey here: “Another rat jumps over the side-White House Counsel Craig to Step Down”
mike
November 13th, 2009
9:51 am
Doggone –
“Ummmm…pot meet kettle? How, exactly, does THIS rant “comment on the actual subject at hand”?”
Ah, Captain Pedantic strikes again.
She on the other hand, read the headline, jumped to the comment section and jumped into mindless criticism that had nothing to do with a single word that preceded. She was not commenting on anything Jay wrote or anything anyone else wrote. She simple jumped in with the same kind of undifferentiated partisan yammering that she would apply to any article that had the word “Perdue” on it.
On the other hand, I read her comment, analyzed it and made a comment on her post that stems from that analysis.
Do you understand what I am saying? Let me make it simple: I read, thought and reacted. She read “Perdue” and reacted, bypassing the thought completely.
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
9:52 am
Oh, mike, you do make an AZZ of yourself when you assume. Five years into Goobener Sonny’s term during which he scrapped Gov. Barne’s plans to address our impending water issues, and two and a half years into a severe drought, somebody clued him into the warning the source of drinking water for 4 million Georgians (including Goob. Sonny) was in danger of drying up within six weeks. HE SPRANG INTO ACTION by putting his fat face on TV, holding his finger high into the air as he drawled, “The TAAAAAAAHHHHHM fuh ACKSHUUUN, is NAAAAAYAUUUH!” Then he promptly had state attorneys file lawsuits against our neighboring states. WHA? Fist of all, the time for action was not “Nayyyuhh.” It was years hence. (i.e., reserviors -jobs!- and those planned incentives for local water systems to shore up their leaks to reduce waste that were deemed too much trouble to pursue.) Then he put a big wide grin into the camera like he’d achieved something.
But sure, mike, if you’d like to tell us what an effective governor this guy has been, PLEASE do enlighten us.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
9:53 am
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 13th, 2009
9:46 am
Maybe Private Obama is in line for a promotion:
“OBAMA MAY DROP ‘CAP AND TRADE’…”
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
9:55 am
Oh, I almost forgot. Goob. Sonny requested we all “Pray for rain” and then an tornado swept through downtown while it was full of tourists. People were hurt! Property was damaged! How recklessly irresponsible!
Sean Hannity's Video Editor
November 13th, 2009
9:57 am
Doesn’t the City of Atlanta own several thousand acres of land north of town that is currently undeveloped. I’ve heard this land could be used to build another reservoir that would be bigger than Lake Lanier. We would own the land and the resources. The Corps of Engineers wouldn’t be involved. I also seem to remember hearing or reading it would 2-3 years to complete the project.
Problem would be solved.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
9:57 am
Matilda McKinney
November 13th, 2009
9:55 am
So Sonny was responsible for the tornado? That’s right, I forgot. The GOP can even control the weather. After all, W brought havoc on New Orleans by “causing” Katrina.
Glenn Beck
November 13th, 2009
9:59 am
Does Matilda wish Vernon Jones was governor?
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:00 am
Glenn Beck
November 13th, 2009
9:59 am
No, Matilda (aka Cynthia McKinney) wishes SHE were governor.
mike
November 13th, 2009
10:01 am
Matilda –
Thanks for demonstrating my point to Doggone.
You have a standard littles spiel about Perdue that you have picked up over the past several years in comment boards, in Creative Loafing and from the AJC pundits. It has clearly been a struggle for you to gather this small bit of perspective, as you rely on it for any conversation involving Perdue.
For example, Jay’s lengthy and detailed post today criticized Perdue for his handling of water issues and his lack of transparency. Your “response” had nothing to do with any of that and instead was a simple rehashing of your little spiel on Perdue.
Even your responses to me have nothing to do with what I said, but instead are more regurgitations of your Perdue boilerplate rhetoric. You appear to be incapable of actually reacting to new information and opinion and instead rely on practiced talking points that are fueled by your anger at Republicans in general. This is why I mocked the idea that you demonstrating the “intellectual” and “tolerant” nature that liberals seem to think that only they possess.
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
10:04 am
Hahaha! Y’all are so cute today!
JC, it was a joke. (Are you a blonde? I’ll exlain. See the idea that praying for rain is an effective resolution to dought-related water shortages is just as logical as believing that too much prayer could cause a tornado. See? I don’t actually believe either of those things are possible. Just a little humor, sorry to confuse you.)
GB, hey I met Vernon Jones. Travels with a frightening entourage. He offered to “cook me some eggs” in exchange for my vote. EWWWW! What a VERMIN. Seriously, a totally slimy THUG.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
10:06 am
I suspect it’s all about Sonny kicking to the next administration….Traditional GOP M.O.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:07 am
Matilda McKinney
November 13th, 2009
10:04 am
Aw shucks (big toothy carter grin), I am kind of cute, aren’t I?
Actually you didn’t confuse me. I was just trying to determine if you fell in the Farra”con” group who claimed W blew up the levees, or if you were in Kayne’s court. You remember the famous commercial to help raise money to rebuild New Orleans…”George Bush don’t like black people”.
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
10:08 am
Mike, get over yourself. It’s Friday. You’re taking Sonny’s little task force way too seriously. You’re ARE correct, though. I only skimmed the article, and did not give it deep thought. WHY? As Dr. Phil says, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Am I to believe that suddenly, after all these years, our Governor is going to do something useful and helpful to address the needs of this state? NO. Therefore, I did NOT contemplate each and every sentence as deeply as you’d like.
Argue as passionately and convicingly as you can, but you won’t give him one single ounce of cred. Sorry.
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
10:08 am
Hemorrhoids for the Children: So you’re one of those feckless debaters who argue that it’s okay to do something wrong because someone else is doing it too. You’re REAL deep!!!!!
Joey….water conservation begins with knowing what level of people & industry can be supported by the watershed, then limiting growth so that level is never exceeded.
Sonny’s oblective is to figure out a way to keep all the water for Georgia and none for Alabama & Florida…love your brother, right?
getalife
November 13th, 2009
10:09 am
Sean Hannity’s Video Editor .
Yup like Toledo Bend lake.
mm
November 13th, 2009
10:10 am
Whiner,
“Let’s examine health care for a moment, the democrat bill will cut care to the elderly, ration care for everybody else, put people in jail, raise your taxes, create death panels, just about every nightmare scenario that you can impose on a person’s freedom and life, and it is for what? So that a bunch of illegal immigrants can flood the doctor’s office and abortions are free? The trial lawyers can double their clientele?”
Yep, straight from your wingnut que card.
Jay,
Rest assured, if the GOP is tasked with solving a problem, the public will ultimately get screwed.
I see the RNC has an insurance plan for it’s members that includes coverage for abortion. Let the backpedaling begin.
mike
November 13th, 2009
10:10 am
Matilda –
“Argue as passionately and convicingly as you can, but you won’t give him one single ounce of cred. Sorry.”
LOL. Can you read? Have I made any defense of Perdue at all?
You really decide what you are going to say and what people are going to say to you before you even get here don’t you?
Very interesting.
mike
November 13th, 2009
10:12 am
mm –
“Rest assured, if the GOP is tasked with solving a problem, the public will ultimately get screwed.”
Right, because Republicans are bad and Democrats are good, right?
LOL. This blog is like a petri dish for mindless partisanship.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:12 am
mike
November 13th, 2009
10:10 am
She is good about that, isn’t she? Wonder if she could pick some winning lottery numbers for me?
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:14 am
“Obama orders intel review on Fort Hood shooting… ”
Who said Private Obama can’t make quick decisions. What’s it been, only a week?
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
10:14 am
“Have I made any defense of Perdue at all?” Um, I’ll admit to rarely reading your posts. I apologize. All I know is that you jumped on me when I asked who voted for this goober? He was a goober well before this morning’s column went up. Please get up off me now. Your closeness and your breath are making me uncomfortable. Thanks!
Taxpayer
November 13th, 2009
10:17 am
Yikes, no more insurance for you GOP women in need of an abortion. Just to be fair, I think the GOP women need to push for removing coverage for Viagra next. I just love a good back and forth and this one has potential.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:18 am
Taxpayer
November 13th, 2009
10:17 am
No soup for you! Come back in 1 year!
Taxpayer
November 13th, 2009
10:21 am
Jimmy, the soup gnatzy! Who woulda ever guessed.
Jimmy Carter
November 13th, 2009
10:23 am
Taxpayer
November 13th, 2009
10:21 am
Hahaha!! That was a great episode, don’t you agree?
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
10:23 am
Taxpayor
Focus on the Family employees also have abortion coverage…..
Some Focus …
hmmmmmm
November 13th, 2009
10:23 am
Are there any conservatives who oppose elective abortion if the life of the mother is at risk? It’s more about the public funding than it is about abortion.
Much ado about nothing. Just liberal doodoo.
Matilda
November 13th, 2009
10:26 am
JC, bless your heart.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
10:33 am
hmmmmm
so we can’t public funding to save womens lives?
The Tempest. Conservative greed and hypocrisy.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
10:34 am
insert use
Mrs. Godzilla
November 13th, 2009
10:36 am
There’s talk of the womens caucus offering an amendment suggesting no
public funding for viagra, penile implants and such.
Jackie
November 13th, 2009
10:38 am
@Jimmy Carter
Your 10:14 post implies that President Obama has not been paying attention to the killing of troops at Ft. Hood.
I think you realize that news made available to the public is very old news?