When President Obama comes to Atlanta on Monday, Roy Barnes will not be at his side. The Democratic nominee for governor is scheduled to be campaigning that day among the good people of South Georgia, which puts as much distance as possible between himself and the president.
However, once Georgia Republicans settle on a candidate of their own in the Aug. 10 runoff, Barnes is likely to find it a little more difficult to maintain that separation. Judging from rhetoric in the GOP primary and races elsewhere around the country, Republicans plan to make the 2010 elections a referendum on Washington in general and Obama in particular, even in races such as governor that have little or nothing to do with the federal government.
Here in Georgia, that means the GOP will be trying to link Obama to Barnes as if they were Siamese twins.
Results of a recent poll conducted by the Georgia Newspaper Partnership explain the virtues of that strategy. Among other things, the poll found that 56 percent of Georgians oppose the president’s controversial health insurance reform plan and support its repeal.
Overall, only 37 percent of Georgians approve of Obama’s job performance. Among likely white voters, where the GOP is strongest, that approval rating falls to 18 percent. In light of those numbers, defining the election as a referendum on Obama makes a lot of sense.
Fervor also plays into the GOP calculation. In nonpresidential elections, motivating turnout is difficult. Party leaders hope that by depicting a vote for a Republican as an act of rebellion against Washington, they can inspire their base and convert anger at the federal government into gains at the state and local levels as well.
But here in Georgia, that strategy has yet another important advantage for the GOP.
The party has held the governor’s office for the last eight years and for most of that time it has controlled the Legislature as well. Yet in all that time, it has made little progress in addressing critical state challenges such as unemployment, transportation, education and the water war with Florida and Alabama, among others.
(Barnes, in contrast, was accused of trying to do too much too quickly as governor from 1999-2003, which some believe caused his defeat.)
The GOP has been particularly apathetic, and at times even antagonistic, toward metro Atlanta, an attitude that has allowed other metro regions to emerge as competitors.
Transportation, for example, has long been key to Georgia’s prosperity, but in recent years we’ve been investing less per capita in transportation than any state but Tennessee. And even when the economy was doing well, Gov. Sonny Perdue and his colleagues were slicing billions from state aid for education, another important driver of long-term prosperity.
Perhaps as a result, Georgia’s unemployment rate has now exceeded the national average for 33 consecutive months. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Georgia has lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any state but California, a state with almost four times our population.
That record contradicts GOP claims that low taxes — and by extension low public investment in our physical and human infrastructure — would make the state a leader in job growth, a message that they continue to preach even now.
As both parties understand, political campaigns are almost always won by the side that is able to define the agenda. While Georgia Republicans try to stoke public ire at faraway Washington, Barnes will ask voters to look instead at what’s happened for the last eight years under the Gold Dome in Atlanta.
That is, after all, where a governor has the greatest impact.
287 comments Add your comment
Granny Godzilla
July 27th, 2010
7:28 am
That’s only only fair.
Handal and Deal have running mates named Bush and Cheney.
joe matarotz
July 27th, 2010
7:29 am
Jay, we get it that you are against lower taxes. If you personally want to pay more, by all means be our guest.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:31 am
Let the games begin! Barnes in a landslide. Obama lives to fight another day.
God Opposes Pettiness.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/pettiness.html
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:32 am
Georgia politics give me a rash. Pandering to emotion and fear is a way to get elected maybe, but then what? Emotion and fear won’t fix what’s broken.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:33 am
TnG – from your link:
I believe people who go into politics want to do the right thing. And then they hit a big wall of re-election and the pettiness of politics. In the end, politics gets in the way of the business of people.
Kevin Costner
well said.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:33 am
Anyone that doesn’t understand that we all have to start paying more taxes just isn’t thinking. Too many of us, myself included, aren’t paying anything.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
7:34 am
GA Unemployment numbers are higher due to the Obama administrations inadequacy.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:34 am
Tn,
I like this one the best…
In our daily life, we encounter people who are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together.
Margaret J. Wheatley
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
7:35 am
Cut these silly govt services, entitlements…
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:35 am
TnG – and, on the flipside, anyone who doesn’t understand that cuts have to be made across the board (including the DoD) is in a state of denial, as well.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:35 am
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
7:34 am
BS…Prove it.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:35 am
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:33 am
And he had the equipment for the oil spill.
Have a great day in the UK! I’ve been missing you guys and gals.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:36 am
“GA Unemployment numbers are higher due to the Obama administrations inadequacy.”
that doesn’t even make sense. are you saying that Obama has specifically targeted GA for higher unemployment?
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:37 am
TnG – glad to see you back!
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:38 am
To make it right, EVERYBODY has to sux it up a little and have to pay a little more. Just think of it as the patriotic thing to do.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:38 am
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:35 am
True, but have you heard one political leader call for cutting the Pentagon’s budget by a significant amount? Freezing spending would accomplish the goal elsewhere. It has to be done over time to avoid another recession.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:41 am
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:38 am
Amen! But they’d rather stick a flag on their foreign-made vehicle as they vacation on the Mediterranean.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:42 am
TnG … well, Gates did back in May …
meanwhile …. I’m just waiting for our “cut entitlements” crowd to show their bile over this:
“BAGHDAD — Because of poor record-keeping and lax oversight, the Department of Defense cannot account for how it spent $2.6 billion that belonged to the Iraqi government, according to the inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. ”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/26/AR2010072605535.html?hpid=moreheadlines
g’head. dazzle me.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:43 am
Be nice! I’m off to conquer the world!
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:43 am
USinUK,
From below…the reason I was late yesterday was because I refused to pay emergency room fees so I waited to go to urgent care. Turns out I have a cracked bone in my right foot, a dislocated right thumb and sprained wrist (right one too). Good thing I’m left handed (go figure)
By the way, I chortled at that one too, happens to me all the time when I nap on the couch…
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
7:43 am
Joe at 7:29am… please tell me all of the taxes the republicans running GA lowered this past session.
Time for that morning run… that should give you enough to come up with your list.
stands for decibels
July 27th, 2010
7:44 am
a vote for a Republican as an act of rebellion against Washington
Oh goodie, that farm-fresh refrain–our seat of government is EVIL.
Do other countries have to deal with this crap, year in and year out? Do the English pols run against London? the French pols bash Paris? do the Swiss diss Bern?
Do their voters call these pols “imbeciles” and tell them to go pound salt, and vote for those politicians who don’t indulge in this childish wedge-messaging? Please tell me they do.
TnGelding
July 27th, 2010
7:46 am
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:42 am
True, but he’s a bureaucrat, not a politician.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:46 am
Normal – OUCH!!! I hope they gave you some good meds! moving forward, tell the grandkid – you put it in the tree, you get it back out!
dB – ” Do the English pols run against London?” yes. despite the northward flow of £££.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:47 am
as for me … I’m with TBogg, “Personally I’m waiting on an internal document dump from a Halliburton/KBR or Blackwater/Xe wherein we find that they have been slipping the insurgents a little cash and some weaponry just to grease the wheels of the profiteering gravy train. It’ll probably be listed as a “marketing expenses” like giving out those little sample packs of cigarettes.”
http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2010/07/25/massive-wikileak-document-dump-to-spawn-sarah-palin-facebook-outrage-post-as-soon-as-someone-writes-it-for-her/
stands for decibels
July 27th, 2010
7:50 am
we find that they have been slipping the insurgents a little cash and some weaponry
Indirectly, we already do of course–the country’s GDP is essentially composed of military and support services these days.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:54 am
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:46 am
Well, you see, we had a problem there…. I was perfectly willing to hold the ladder and catch him if he fell, but if you had seen the look his Nana gave me…well, let’s just say there was an artic wind blowin’ trough.
One thing I have to say about the whole episode…I fell about fifteen/twenty feet and landed in an English Ivy patch. I also passed out for a few seconds as the air was knocked out of me. The last thing I heard was…”Cooool, Grandpa”. At least he didn’t want me to do it again….his Nana would probably have made me…
larry
July 27th, 2010
7:55 am
If i was Barnes’ campign manager……………I would start running Bush/Cheney ads against Handel/Deal.
Wasnt Handel a cheerleader in high school? Like Bush?
And the Cheney/ Deal comparison would fit to a tee.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:57 am
Normal – I bet the little man also got a kick out of the fact that his grandpa made that comic “oof” sound when he landed, too!
but, I’m afraid to ask how the cat was involved.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:02 am
USinUK,
Aaahhh, the cat. Never saw it before, but I suspect it was stalking something. If I ever see it again though, I just might find out if cats really do taste like chicken.
stands for decibels
July 27th, 2010
8:02 am
”Cooool, Grandpa”.
Really should be on the short list of Things To Put On One’s Tombstone.
TaxPayer
July 27th, 2010
8:07 am
GA Unemployment numbers are higher due to the Obama administrations inadequacy.
There’s your sign.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:08 am
Taxpayer – 8:07 – so … what has Sonny been doing these last 8 years? praying for rain???
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:09 am
“what has Sonny been doing these last 8 years? praying for rain???”
Well…give him credit, it seems to have worked!
Finn McCool
July 27th, 2010
8:10 am
The party has held the governor’s office for the last eight years and for most of that time it has controlled the Legislature as well. Yet in all that time, it has made little progress in addressing critical state challenges such as unemployment, transportation, education and the water war with Florida and Alabama, among others.
Do nothing…unless it involves voting their buddies tax breaks. So sad so sad.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:12 am
Larry, I like the way you think!
But Democrats always will try to appeal to ones intellect by asking questions like, “Are you better off now and before the GOP took over?”
“Has your education system improved?” “Has your personal wellfare improved?” “Are your children getting the proper healthcare they need?”
But the average Georgian is angry and doesn’t want to listen to reason or appeals to their intelect…it hurts their head. They would rather blame authority…and this is what Georgia Republicans are really good at. They can deflect what is really their fault and make it seem like it’s somebody else’s fault. They do dance a mean sidestep…
Finn McCool
July 27th, 2010
8:13 am
BP’s Hayward is being shipped off to Siberia? Is that a figure of speech or is he really going?
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:13 am
You forgot Finn, about the huge tax break the govenor signed for himself. I didnt know you could do that and still hold elective office.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:14 am
When will people undersdand that Bush and Cheney are no longer in office, Oblunder has been in office how long now and is rapidly destroying this country.
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:14 am
“BP’s Hayward is being shipped off to Siberia? Is that a figure of speech or is he really going”
I think it’s a joke, based on the truth…yesterday they were saying he’s taking an assignment in Russia (which I took to be Moscow, but I didn’t hear the full report)
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:16 am
Doggone – too well – friends are still living at their mother’s because their home was badly flooded.
fortunately, that awful big government that everyone despises knocked down a few houses and created a flood plain/retention pool next door to my best friend in Brookhaven … that action actually saved dozens of houses further downstream.
but, of course, government never does anything right and business would have been just as happy to have taken care of that.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:17 am
Yeah, i know how Georgian republicans are. Lived here all my life with the exception of two years in North Carolina.
The republian mantra…………distort and divide. If you have the stories lately, Deal and Handel, have been arguing about abortion, instead of jobs.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:17 am
larry – good grief – that sounds a LOT like Silvio Berlusconi who made certain illegal acts legal, retrospectively, so that he could avoid prison.
Sonny. Silvio. who knew?
stands for decibels
July 27th, 2010
8:19 am
but, of course, government never does anything right and business would have been just as happy to have taken care of that.
because, you see, government is populated by exoskeleton alien life forms programmed to destroy this country…
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:20 am
“Doggone – too well”
Yeah…well…after nearly 3 years of dought, and my property is surrounded by undeveloped, heavily tree laden properties – drought scares me a LOT more than rain. The threat of a forest fire was very sobering, but then I don’t live in a flood plain. In fact, I’m almost 1500 feet above Atlanta.
Which reminds me of a story. When I first moved into N.GA I didn’t usually listen to the radio or watch TV. At one point, my first year here, they had a severe rain warning in my area and were telling people that if their well-head was underwater to not drink the water. So my Mother called me to let me know.
Since I live on the side of a steep hill, and as I said I’m so high above Atlanta…I just told her “If MY well-heard goes underwater, you better hope your Ark doesn’t leak!”
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:21 am
dB – unless they’re republican.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:21 am
Yep, postive job growth in the privite sector is really destroying this country. If i were the president , i would give the speech in front of a huge banner showing the graph shaped like a bikini. Jobs are being created, not as fast as people would like or need. But we stopped losing jobs months ago.
Gale
July 27th, 2010
8:22 am
If we could keep Georgians focused on the real issues; water, jobs transportation to name a few, we might get good governance. As long as money flows in response to abortion, gay marriage, whatever, then we get the best liar/rabble rouser elected to office.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:24 am
Doggone –
– when I first moved here, we were in a drought followed by horrible flooding the following year –
http://www.greatdreams.com/weather/070723_UK_under_water.jpg
like you, we live at the top of a VERY high hill – I took one look at the flooding and told my husband that, no matter where we move, we will NEVER live in a valley!
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:25 am
Poor Barnes…being linked to Obama, directly or indirectly, is like having an anvil tied around ones neck and tossed into a deep quiet river.
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:25 am
“As long as money flows in response to abortion, gay marriage”
Yep, and don’t EVEN ask: with the R’s in power in Washington for 6 years, and in power in GA for 8 years…how’s that workin’ for ya? Because you’ll wait a LONG time for an answer!
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:26 am
Obama has become a huge liability for the Dems…kinda like Carter!!
YEA BABY!!
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:26 am
“no matter where we move, we will NEVER live in a valley!”
I’m with you on that! And I have an addtional rule that I will not live in a house that is lower then the road. There’s a house near me that has the ROOF line BELOW our street. I can just envision waking up one day to find a car on your roof!
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:27 am
Gale 8:22 sounds like you’re describing Oblamer.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:27 am
Poor Handel/Deal…..being linked to Bush/Cheney , directly or indirectly , is like having an anvil tied around ones neck and tossed into a deep quiet river.
All those typos. Fixed them for ya. Your welcome.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:28 am
“I can just envision waking up one day to find a car on your roof!”
Or a Big-Wheel.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:28 am
Gale
July 27th, 2010
8:22 am
Exactly! And that is what the Groegia GOP does best!
alot
July 27th, 2010
8:29 am
joe matarotz -
Good luck getting a democrat to pay more taxes. They rail against tax cuts but I have yet to meet any democrat that paid more taxes than what they were responsible for. funny how they always skip that box that says that you can pay more taxes. they only do it if everyone does it. doesnt sound like doing what is right. sounds like they want every lemming to jump off the cliff with them.
if you want higher taxes, you dont need congress to enact it. you can pay more.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Uh uncle larry…Bush/Cheney is old news and the link you propose is grasping at straws. Good luck with all of that.
Perhaps Barnes should offer to share his make-up kaboodle with Mr Oblunder.
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Granny Godzilla – “That’s only only fair. Handal and Deal have running mates named Bush and Cheney.”
This horse is way past dead. Give it a rest. Time for you and Olbermann to let go. Breathe deep and count to 3.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Handel/Deal………………………. Bush/Cheney
Ya’ll dance the “deficits don’t matter until we get out of office ” dance.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Outhouse,
I think The Democrats have one major advantage…You are linked to the GOP. Keep blogging friend, you are helping more than you know…
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Larry say after me Bush and Cheney are no longer in office…Bush and Cheney are no longer in office Oblamer has been in office for over EIGHTEEN MONTHS and yet unemployment is of no concern of his.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:31 am
Doggone – seriously! I know exactly what you’re talking about and have often thought the same (either a car is going to wind up on the roof, or after a bad rain, the house is going to be 500′ further down the hill)
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
July 27th, 2010
8:31 am
Well, it’s downright unSouthren to vote for a Democrat. So when the Handel woman or Deal win the runoff, I’ll just hold my nose and vote for the winner. One’s a gay-lover and the other’s a outright crook, but they got the R after their name. Besides, we got enough water and the schools will just waste the money on teaching and junk like that. And I wouldn’t pay a plug nickle to help Atlanta out. The roads up my way is pretty good.
What we need is another Tax Cut. It’s for sure we won’t get one from Barnes.
Have a good day everybody.
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:31 am
“Bush and Cheney are no longer in office ”
Neither is Abraham Lincoln, but his legacy…and their’s…live on.
Scout
July 27th, 2010
8:32 am
Jay:
Even Granny in her first post lays it out like it is. Isn’t it a little hypocritical to state otherwise?
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning ?
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:32 am
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
8:30 am
Dead horse only to the ones who want to pretend it never happened…
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:34 am
Bush./Cheney may be old news but we keep suffering for their mistakes , especially deregulation or not enforcing the regulations like they should.
I didnt know i had two nephews ? I thought i only had one and he’s 15 !!
Maybe i need to have a talk with my sister.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:35 am
Ahhh…seeing the Dems running about like headless baby chicks is so refreshing. Their day of reckoning is coming…
jt
July 27th, 2010
8:36 am
This has got to be a big blow for the federosexual© crowd. ( all wealth flows from Washington, intentions are better than results, gimmee, etc……….).
By smoozing President Obama, Barnes could have had Bernake firing the ole printing presses up for a few billion federal dollars for “people movers” throughout the metro area. Instead, he’s busy. IMHO, he’s a coward.
Quite indicative.
President Reagan had DEMOCRAT governors vying for his time. Even democrat CANDIDATES.
Oh well ……………………….lawyers.
TaxPayer
July 27th, 2010
8:38 am
Georgia’s Republicans do want politicians to appeal to their intellect. So, dumb it down. And remember to use lots of fear and hate in any exchange. Also, keep in mind that they do not know the difference between weather and climate or degrees F versus degrees C, etc.
FrankLeeDarling
July 27th, 2010
8:39 am
If only the Bush Cheney era was REALLY gone,but we are stuck with a bunch of their hacks and residual meme’s.The Georgia GOP Is a rerun of Bush Cheney policies,A re gifting if you will.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:40 am
Yes…keep reaching into the hate/fear bag o tricks…that should work!
Barnes may want to separate himself from OBumbler, and rightly so, however that probably will not work…seems no win situation for Barnes.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:41 am
wow. so a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in a RED state doesn’t want to be seen with a Democratic president that the GOP and GOP-media calls socialist.
… and the shock-factor in this equation is … what???
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:41 am
“Yes…keep reaching into the hate/fear bag o tricks…that should work!”
to what are you referring?
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:42 am
Wasnt it Barnes who gave us property owners a tax cut throught the govenors exemption program ?
And lets see………….. who was going after it 2 days after he entered the office
And who finally got it last year, rising taxes for all the Georgia’s property owners?
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:42 am
Doggone, Lincoln was a republican and you Liberals berated him while he was in office’ threatened impeachment, criticized him, and now you want to ride his legacy, such a hypocrite.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
8:43 am
Gale: “As long as money flows in response to abortion, gay marriage, whatever, then we get the best liar/rabble rouser elected to office.”
Oh come on… even though Handel and Deal are focusing the majority of their time on those two very important issues… abortion and gay issues are SO 2000 and 2004… it’s time to debate and talk about SERIOUS issues that face all Georgians…. like if Obama was born in the USA or not and who will pass a law that will force him to be “born again” here in GA… delivered personally by Broun who will then fill in his LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE and then have it posted in the lower left hand corner of Fox News 24/7 until the 2012 elections.
Call it like it is.
July 27th, 2010
8:43 am
“Jay” how about doing a piece on what Barnes has been doing these last 8 years since he got the boot. Did he take his legal skills and fight the good fight, or did he follow the money? There’s a lot to be said on what a man does when the lime light is not on him. I sent the same request to Cynthia and the AJC editors, and havent heard anything yet.
*Has Barnes done something the AJC doesnt wont to be heard or known?
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:44 am
“all of Georgia’s property owners “
Richie
July 27th, 2010
8:44 am
The Roy Boy is in south ga trying but will not do well.Dems always lie when they open their mouth.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:45 am
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:42 am
WHAT??? Do explain what you are trying to say, please?
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:45 am
Ugh!!! Saul , you had to mention Broun. Easy stomach……….easy.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:46 am
That wasnt rain yesterday my friends. That was the collective democratic crocodile tears just flowing and flowing. The Dems know OBlunder is gonna cost em and cost em dearly.
Oh ya…it was all punch and cookies for awhile but no longer….
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
8:46 am
call it … ummmm … it’s called the Internet … a simple google search told me that he worked for Legal Aid for 6 months before starting his own law firm with his daughter and a friend.
Google.
it’s your friend.
SKB
July 27th, 2010
8:48 am
The rednecks of GA will surely vote for Handal and Deal. Watch our education come to a complete end with these idiots. I hate living here so much…
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:48 am
Russell Edwards for 10th Congressional District !!!!!
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:51 am
Ah yes…the days of “living large” and spend, spend spend are shortly grinding to a halt. If one listens carefully one can hear the liberal machinery breaking down while the company Pres – OBlunder – sits in his office eating, drinking and telling everyone “Alls Well”.
Tee hee.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:51 am
Mentioning President Lincoln brought this to mind…
http://www.history.com/topics/lincoln-donner-party
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
8:51 am
“Do explain what you are trying to say, please?”
Normal…shhh…we’re keeping it quiet that Lincoln actually helped to found the Republican party and that at the time, the Republican’s were the more liberal party and Democrats the conservative party. Wouldn’t want DT’s head to explode, you know! (or maybe I should say we don’t want DT to get the dt’s!
)
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:52 am
Ya…its tough huh SKB? Well CA needs someone just like you…perhaps you might think about joining up with CA.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:53 am
Normal I was responding to doggone 8:31, trying to ride the legacy of a past president in a poor attempt to justify an earlier comment.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
8:53 am
DEEP THROAT: “EIGHTEEN MONTHS and yet unemployment is of no concern of his”
Really?
While you sift through the fog… tell me this… what was Unemployment when the late great talking bobble head Reagan took office… then tell me what it was 18 months after he took office:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/pop-quiz-under-reagan-wha_b_341348.html
Reagan inherited an unemployment rate of 7.6%, no wars,……..a right wing clamoring for increased defense spending (that helps domestic employment), no retiring baby boomers actually taking down social security funds…..
To answer the pop quiz: the unemployment rate under Reagan went from 7.6% to 9.7-9.8% in the summer after his inaugural, and remained at that level for two years, before it began to decline in the summer of 1983. In “Obama-time”, that would be the equivalent of the summer of 2011. Moreover, the economy did not begin improving until the Spring, 1983, in “Obama-time” that is Spring, 2011.”
Seems like Reagan did a GREAT job “creating jobs” during his first two years….RIGHT righties?
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:53 am
I hate living here so much…
SKB, i love my state despite all its faults. I hate that its led by a bunch of idiots who’s worried about stuff like implanting microchips in the brain, peoples ability to pick up roadkill and take it with them and installing new boat ramps when we are cutting education funds.
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
8:54 am
Normal-
Not pretending it never happened but thanks for the breaking news. Maybe you should take the advice of one of your fav organizations and MOVE ON. Every adminstration leaves their wake. Deal with it but don’t keep obsessing about it unless you have perfected the flux capacitor in your DeLorean. Obsession may not be healthy. It sure hasn’t helped Olbermann’s or AJC’s ratings and subscriptions, respectively.
larry
July 27th, 2010
8:56 am
SKB………..we also need a govenor who cares about his state more than his own private interests.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:56 am
Outhouse 8:46 some of them are still drinking the Koolade.
jt
July 27th, 2010
8:56 am
Presidents don’t “create” jobs.
Good Presidents have the intelligence to just get out of the way.
Obama is a slow learner. What do you expect from a Haaaaarvad lawyer.?
Normal
July 27th, 2010
8:57 am
Today, 36 years ago…another great day in Republican history…
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
8:58 am
Riding along with Capt Obama is kinda like being on the SS Poseidon. The trip was all fun n games for awhile until the Tsunami blitzkrieg occured. Then all the rats went scurrying to and fro.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
8:59 am
SKB 8;48 YOU ARE EXCUSED , YOU MAY LEAVE.
justine
July 27th, 2010
8:59 am
I have lived in the same house for 14 years and in my previous one 16. I have had the same telephone numbers for all of that time. In all of those years and with the same telephone number for almost 30 years, no one has ever polled me. Not once has my telephone rang and someone asked my opinion for any of these so called political polls. In other words I believe they poll who they want to poll.
The biggest problem with US politics is no one, politicians, reporters or voters ask the important questions. No individual congress person can change the law on abortion or take away gay rights. So time talking about this is wasted time. I want to know their exact plan for bringing more of our tax dollars back to the state. I want to know what they are planning to do about the lack of jobs and how they will bring them. And I want to know if they will stop giving tax dollars to businesses who say they are going to bring jobs but the jobless rate continues to grow.
In other words I want real answers to real issues.
larry
July 27th, 2010
9:00 am
” Im not a crook” , i can still see his jaws flapping. LOL !!
Normal
July 27th, 2010
9:00 am
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
8:54 am
Just keep closing your eyes real tight and putting your fingers in your ears and saying over and over again…lalalalalalalalalala…and YOU can keep avoiding reality.
Know Thy Facts
July 27th, 2010
9:02 am
Larry and others – “We keep suffering from their mistakes” (Bush and Cheney),
Unless I missed something in 7th grade History, the President does not write laws, Congress does. Contrary to what many believe, the President of the United States does not have that much power and the VP even less! Blame the US Congress, which has been under control of the Democrats, for current problems!
larry
July 27th, 2010
9:03 am
Im out until later…………………….. I am not a crook …. Still see Rich Little doing a spot on impression of him.
LOL !!!
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
9:04 am
“President does not write laws,”
But the President has to sign them before they become law, so the decision is ultimately the Presidents…and, therefore, so is the responsibility. The only time it is SOLELY the fault of Congress is if Congress votes to override a Presidential veto.
Pope UGA XXIII
July 27th, 2010
9:06 am
Most people with an IQ above room temperature will agree that
the Washington leadership, Obama AND Bush, along with their
congressional cohorts have seriously damaged this country – quite
possibly beyond repair.
What I’m interested in hearing Barnes respond to is just how much
of the current lunacy in Washington he supports. The same goes for
Deal & Handel. I have no interest in seeing anyone from either party
in the Governor’s office who doesn’t understand the common sense
notion of not spending what you cannot reasonably expect to pay for.
See Governor Christie in New Jersey as a good example of what is
needed in Georgia.
My suspicion is that either of the Republicans would do a better
job that Roy Barnes who can only get elected if he reverses previous
stands taken that the Georgia teachers opposed.
TaxPayer
July 27th, 2010
9:07 am
Let’s see, Georgia has higher unemployment than the national average. Georgia also has the most failed banks of any state. Georgia is waaaay down there in the rankings on education. The real estate foreclosures are off the charts here in Georgia. Taxes on individuals have not dropped over time (and being unemployed does not count). De-regulation has only brought more death and destruction… Georgia GOP — this is your life. Georgia’s Party of No is actually saying to Obama, “NO! Don’t stop giving us that fed money!”
mm
July 27th, 2010
9:07 am
Taxes are the lowest they’ve been in 50 years.
So will one of you wingnuts please tell me how low taxes need to be before you are happy?
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:08 am
To all liberals the year is 2010, your precious Oblamer is in office, Lincoln, Reagan and Bush are no longer in office, live in the present, live for the future. Why are Liberals so backthinking people ?
Peadwg
July 27th, 2010
9:09 am
With Obama’s approval so low I think it’s a great strategy by the GOP to paint Barnes to be just like Obama. It’ll probably work out pretty well.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:10 am
Larry: “Ugh!!! Saul , you had to mention Broun. Easy stomach……….easy.”
ya….isn’t he something for ALL Georgians to be proud of when representing us on the national level?
TGT
July 27th, 2010
9:11 am
Giving Barnes a little campaign advice Jay? He needs it: about 280,000 more votes cast in the republican primary for governor in Georgia than in the democrat one = Barnes is toast. (He knows it too: he sounds more like a conservative than a liberal.)
For that matter, according to the latest polls, republicans stand to make HUGE gains in governors races across the country. RCP no-toss-ups summary has the republicans owning 34 states and Dems 15 (independents 1).
The states are a great barometer for the federal govt. The biggest reason for this political turn (towards the GOP) in the states is the desperate financial crisis that many states, especially “blue” ones, find themselves in. Despite Jay’s assessment of Georgia, the fact is it is the states that have been in liberal hands that are in the worst financial condition:
http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/25/democratic-states-bad-financial-shape-personal-finance-blue.html
And given that DC is firmly in the hands of liberals as well, people all across the country have seen enough. That is why we have the rise in the TEA parties, the backlash against Obamacare, etc. The Dems are in for a political bloodbath at every level and Georgia will be no exception.
kayaker 71
July 27th, 2010
9:12 am
Love it when Democratic candidates shun Bozo when he wants to “help them in their campaign”. These guys/gals are not stupid. They want to stay as far from this disaster as they can.
TaxPayer
July 27th, 2010
9:15 am
All Barnes has to do to win over Georgia’s rural teachers is start off his speeches with phrases like, “Don’t you just love that Glenn Beck!” They’ll melt in your hands.
Richard
July 27th, 2010
9:16 am
Jay, when McCain was linked to Bush it was simply smart politics. The GOP is doing the same here.
As for Barnes, riding the coattails of a democrat in a red state would be dumb whether that democrat is doing a good job or not. That’s simply reality.
Bill
July 27th, 2010
9:17 am
Nice comment Jay – let’s blame unemployment on the Ga education system rather than:
1. Kids who fail to go to school
2. Teen pregnacies
3. Gangs in schools
4. Forcing Gov institutions to loan morgage money to people too stupid to read a contract and could ill afford the payments in the first place
5. Bush – Chaney – economic policies (just what was that policy again? Oh yeh, run up a deficit – seems like Obama is a steriod clone of that policy)
Diehard
July 27th, 2010
9:21 am
Rahm Emanuel is the love child of Jay Bookman and Cynthia Tucker.
StJ
July 27th, 2010
9:22 am
“Republicans plan to make the 2010 elections a referendum on Washington in general and Obama in particular, even in races such as governor that have little or nothing to do with the federal government.”
But it has EVERYTHING to do with the liberal Democrat mindset/agenda whose ultimate goal is permanent power and absolute control of the people. After all, the Constitution as written is terribly obsolete.
@@
July 27th, 2010
9:22 am
Democratic nominee for governor is scheduled to be campaigning that day among the good people of South Georgia
Good people? As opposed to the ignorant, white, trailer trash OTHER people? Democrats are GOOD? Republicans are BAD?
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
9:24 am
Ya…use the Glenn Beck scare tactic. Thats a real election winner!
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
9:27 am
Of course the GOP will try to pair Barnes and Obama – which makes absolutely no sense — because they want to distract from the fact that the GOP in this state have ruined it. It’s the old “look, pretty, shiny” routine.
And the sad part is, that it works — because of the rabid ignorant people who keep voting in these ignorant rabid imbeciles.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
9:29 am
So Barnes previously holding the office of Guber makes him and his voters ignorant rabid imbeciles?
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:30 am
Borsch we see what happens when the ignorant vote, just look at Oblamer.
Big D
July 27th, 2010
9:31 am
Liberals can’t get off that stupid argument of “I don’t mind paying more taxes” well you know what… conservatives don’t mind either. Conservatives are just smart enough to try and plug all the entitlement holes that all the money is flowing back out of. Jay,you talk about painting Barnes with an Obama crayon, but liberals keep painting a conservative congress with a “heartless crayon” because they don’t want to keep putting more holes in the federal bucket. We have lost TRILLIONS to OBAMA’S NEW ( not Bush) programs and NOBODY can logically tell you where it went. We will only start to see accountability when we balance the power in Congress this year.
lmno
July 27th, 2010
9:31 am
A lot of GOP Candidates are running against Obama. It doesn’t make sense that the guy running for a State Representative in Coooterville, GA should say he will end “Obamacare” but they are doing it and people are dumb enough to buy it.
Even the the two GOP Governor Candidates are running on National Platforms, arguing over who hates abortion more, as if the GA Governor has any say on that issue.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Democracy simply does not work”- Kent Brockman
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:32 am
Bosch – where ya been??? we were worried that the puppies were holding you hostage. s’everything okay with you and yours?
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
9:33 am
If I had been absolutely oblivious and unethical enough to have EVER voted for the Worst Administration in American History EVEN ONCE, I too would be playing that sophomoric card of “But they’ve been out of office 18 months!!!”.
According to Republilogic, these head in the sand (or is it up the ___?) neo-cons, must believe that everything was hunky dory in Europe on May 9, 1945.
Though you are exceptionally talented at it, wake up conned. The BushCo Cabal and his corporate overseers inflicted such massive death, damage and destruction on this nation, it will take ten years or more to recover. And even if a Republican gains the White House in 2012 or 2016, everybody with a clue will still acknowledge it, except you blind mice…
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
9:33 am
Shut up Outhouse.
JohnnyReb
July 27th, 2010
9:33 am
“The GOP has been particularly apathetic, and at times even antagonistic, toward metro Atlanta, an attitude that has allowed other metro regions to emerge as competitors.”
One has to look no further than the latest flap at the airport where city official under the table “deals” cost taxpayers millions, or the “book” deal in Dekalb, to see why most Georgians (GOP) have little support for Atlanta metro. Something like those embarrassments has occurred for as long as I can remember (and that’s a long time). No, we can’t divest ourselves of Atlanta, Fulton and Dekalb Counties, but it sure is a nice day dream sometimes.
The local government problems in Atlanta and surrounding metro counties is not a GOP problem. Citizens in those districts need to elect officials that will fix the problems, those could be GOP candidates, and once their is evidence of actual change you might see the rest of the state start giving Atlanta more support. Change in Atlanta, Fulton and Dekalb, however, are likely a day dream also.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:33 am
“Conservatives are just smart enough to try and plug all the entitlement holes that all the money is flowing back out of. ”
just like they did between 2000 and 2007, when they ran the table.
oh. wait …
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
9:34 am
mmm hmmm and if the people of Cooterville were voting in favor of Dem policies Im sure they would be the most highly educated of the entire State…perhaps ever the Nation.
Nice try and thanks for playing.
NEXT!
Normal
July 27th, 2010
9:37 am
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:30 am
I guess you voted too?
Soothsayer
July 27th, 2010
9:39 am
[T]he only problem Republicans ever had with George W. Bush was his low approval rating. They always loved his policies and his governing style — and they want them back. In recent weeks, G.O.P. leaders have come out for a complete return to the Bush agenda, including tax breaks for the rich and financial deregulation. They’ve even resurrected the plan to cut future Social Security benefits.
But they have a problem: how can they embrace President Bush’s policies, given his record? After all, Mr. Bush’s two signature initiatives were tax cuts and the invasion of Iraq; both, in the eyes of the public, were abject failures. Tax cuts never yielded the promised prosperity, but along with other policies — especially the unfunded war in Iraq — they converted a budget surplus into a persistent deficit. Meanwhile, the W.M.D. we invaded Iraq to eliminate turned out not to exist, and by 2008 a majority of the public believed not just that the invasion was a mistake but that the Bush administration deliberately misled the nation into war. What’s a Republican to do?
Let’s see how closely aligned the Republican candidates are to George Bush come November.
Joe
July 27th, 2010
9:39 am
WOW! US in UK is a woman. I totally had this person imagined in my mind as a guy from Atlanta who now has a British accent. Funny how your mind works
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:39 am
Hmmmm…. so I post a link showing DEEP THROAT how the great REAGAN actually was no better at creating jobs in his first 18 months compared to Obama… and in typical republican fashion… he simply responds that he’s focusing ONLY on Obama (or something along those lines in his simplistic manner)… yet he fails to respond due to not having ANYTHING to show just HOW or WHAT republicans could be doing a better job…or just what it is that they propose to do in the future to CREATE more jobs.
Cut more taxes? The Bush tax cuts are STILL CURRENTLY in place. How many jobs have they created?
Normal
July 27th, 2010
9:41 am
Funny how your mind works
yeah, like a car, you have to take it out for a spin every now and then or it gets rusty…
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:43 am
Normal, I did vote, I did not drink the koolade that put Oblamer in office. How much koolade have you drank, can yo see clearly now ?
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:43 am
Joe – nope. no british accent. I can’t even bring myself to say “cheers”, I still say an American “thanks”
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:44 am
SAUL GET IT IN YOUR HEAD , ITS 2010
Moderate
July 27th, 2010
9:44 am
Let’s see…..Barnes wants to (1) add more teachers (2) pay them significantly more and (3) not bankrupt the state and counties. I want to know how. Sounds like Obama magic to me.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:44 am
Soothsayer @ 9:39am
Good points and good post.
It’s ALL going to be about “tax cuts” to create more jobs…and all one will have to do is show those tax cuts…and the millions of jobs LOST during the period they were in effect.
Time for them to go back to the drawing board… (they always can focus on what Handel and Deal are: Abortions and gays)…
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
9:45 am
“Let’s see how closely aligned the Republican candidates are to George Bush come November.”
Soothsayer, despite the clueless BushCo faithful, it was OBVIOUS to the rest of the nation, that other than McCain and Paul, those other eight candidates in 2008 were to a man, neo-Bush stooges. None, was significantly different and all were laughably unelectable.
But man, was it good spectacle…
Soothsayer
July 27th, 2010
9:45 am
We interrupt the George Bush reputation rehabilitation tour for this brief reminder:
“For most of the past 70 years, the U.S. economy has grown at a steady clip, generating perpetually higher incomes and wealth for American households. But since 2000, the story is starkly different.
The past decade was the worst for the U.S. economy in modern times, a sharp reversal from a long period of prosperity that is leading economists and policymakers to fundamentally rethink the underpinnings of the nation’s growth.
It was, according to a wide range of data, a lost decade for American workers. The decade began in a moment of triumphalism — there was a current of thought among economists in 1999 that recessions were a thing of the past. By the end, there were two, bookends to a debt-driven expansion that was neither robust nor sustainable.”
Just in case you forgot: By nearly any conceivable measure, the George W. Bush administration (2000-08) economic performance was the worst of any President since Hoover.
See, we need to get rid of Obama and return to the “good ole days” under Bush.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:45 am
Deep – 9:44 – but, why don’t you answer Saul’s legitimate questions in his 9:39?
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:45 am
DEEP THROAT: Caps key “locked”???…maybe it’s “stuck” in place… Gee….I wonder why!
Paulo977
July 27th, 2010
9:46 am
USinUK @7:3am…. I am afraid that is the extent of majority Georgian ‘thinking skill’…This is a red state and of course a democratic president has to be the reason for unemploment here . As to the present governor’s role in the situation is not even ‘covertly’ considered !!! For cryng out loud , Georgians are struggling to cope with health care costs and still want the health care bill repealed!!!!
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:47 am
UsinUK… it’s always easy to avoid those questions. Perhaps DEEP will FINALLY lavish us with just WHAT we should be doing to “create” jobs that Obama is NOT doing.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:48 am
Paulo – “As to the present governor’s role in the situation is not even ‘covertly’ considered !!!”
the Republican governor, the Republican state house OR the Republican state senate.
JohnnyReb
July 27th, 2010
9:48 am
If you guys on the Left would read or watch something other than legacy media that is in Obama’s pocket, you would know that the number one reason businesses are not hiring is the Obama big government, spread the wealth, agenda. Time after time Fox News has interviews with small business owners who state same. Too much uncertainty with health care, now financial regulations, and the possibility of tax hikes. They are holding their money with hopes of staying in business. I think denial is one of the steps toward healing, so perhaps there is hope for you when you finally realize the Bamster fixes have made things worse.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:49 am
Paulo977 : “For cryng out loud , Georgians are struggling to cope with health care costs and still want the health care bill repealed!!!!”
Yup…but don’t you dare TOUCH those “socialist” items they embrace like Medicare or Medicaid… let alone the king of ALL “socialist” programs we have here: Social Security.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:49 am
Saul – 9:47 – not holding my breath.
Joe
July 27th, 2010
9:49 am
well, I do want to compliment you on your writing style. It is only your comments that I look for thruout this messiness we live with in GA. Are you sure we couldn’t get you to come back to the states and play a little politics? I know it would mean leaving the Sheppherd’s pie behind but think of the joy you’d get by humiliating all the good ol’ boys!!!
Big D
July 27th, 2010
9:49 am
U,U…can we just ONCE stay in the NOW. You guys want to call us “Birthers” you are undeniably “BLAMERS” .
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
9:49 am
Hi USinUK,
The puppies are good, they are getting a little more rowdy, but I haven’t been around because my mom passed away. I’m trying for a little familiar surrounding today whilst I catch up on some work.
squire
July 27th, 2010
9:50 am
Sonny Lied!
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:51 am
JohnnyReb… perhaps they should interview my wife. She owns a small business…and she’s been hiring. Her numbers are up over 40% compared to last year (month to month)… The stock market is up over 30% since Obama took office. Not a bad return if one invested in the dow on Jan. 20th 2009. Damn good one if you ask me.
Curious Observer
July 27th, 2010
9:52 am
It strikes me that the run-up to the 2010 elections is the closest thing to propaganda I’ve seen in my lifetime. We hear cries of “Socialism!”, and yet I’ve seen nothing that even faintly resembles a socialistic movement. Take the health law, for example. How, exactly, is leaving the insurance system in the hands of private enterprise while the federal government helps the poor and uninsurable obtain the insurance any different from any previous assistance provided by the federal government? Ditto for the so-called bank bail-outs. What was the alternative? Doing nothing and allowing the entire banking system to collapse?
The Republicans have certainly whipped up a lot of fervor, and they’ll most certainly do well this year. They’ve succeeded in shifting blame for the economic disaster their own stewardship created. They may even be able to benefit from the inevitable recovery from their own disaster. Yet, their campaign is based on instilling a false hope in the voting public. In another year or so, the public will come to recognize that there is no magic bullet. By then, the public will be stuck in the warfare and stalemate created by a Democratic executive and a Republican legislature. It will be a stalemate even worse than the one we have now.
Soothsayer
July 27th, 2010
9:53 am
Anybody notice the big, giant, humongous thing that could be trimmed from this budget? Hint: it’s at the top right.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:55 am
Curious Observer @ 9:52am… great post. Instead of anyone answering your questions…perhaps you’ll get called a few names instead.
“The Republicans have certainly whipped up a lot of fervor, and they’ll most certainly do well this year. They’ve succeeded in shifting blame for the economic disaster their own stewardship created.”
Oh but don’t you realize…they’re DIFFERENT now. Even though the only “solution” I hear is the same ol’ thang: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts… those very same one’s which have NOT yet expired and have created NO jobs. In fact…they COST us jobs and ADDED to the deficit.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
9:55 am
USUK unlike you backward thinking Liberals I cannot go back in time. Its 2010, no past president can change what is taking place today, Oblamer is the president whose policies affect our lives today, Heck I can not even see into the future, but my actions may help influence the future, and I will do all within my rights to see our country and state come back to the people. You Liberals continue living the past.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:57 am
Soothsayer,
Common… that’s like asking someone to not bring their loaded weapon into a bar here in GA.
Maybe it should be renamed in the post “Iraqi Invasion” world to the “OFFENSE BUDGET”….
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:57 am
Deep… got that key fixed huh? Good!
Anyway…answer the question…just WHAT should we be doing to “create” jobs?
Ready?
GO!
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
9:58 am
I’m thinking DT is a graduate of the LA school of blog replies
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
9:58 am
Bosch, my most sincere condolences. Best wishes.
Intown
July 27th, 2010
9:58 am
Dems better turn out for Barnes. This is their last best shot at the Governor’s Mansion for a LOOOONG time.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
9:59 am
ohmygod, Bosch – I’m so very sorry to hear about your mom! oh, my sweet friend – know that I’m keeping you and your family in my thoughts and sending you big hugs.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
9:59 am
Bosch…sorry about the loss of your Mom. My condolences as well.
Soothsayer
July 27th, 2010
10:00 am
DEEP THROAT: Obama inherited an economy that resulted from over 30 years of Republican policies: deficit spending, globalization, offshore outsourcing, deindustrialization. Now, you want to demonize him because he doesn’t have a magic wand to “fix” it. You see, demonizing Obama is easier than admitting that the policies of your own party are what got us into this mess.
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:01 am
Deep Throat,
“Oblamer is the president whose policies affect our lives today”
And it doesn’t occur to you that policies that were put into effect us years ago, still effect us today? Policies don’t change with each new administration or each new election, you do know that right?
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
10:02 am
USinUK, your post reminded me of this, which I just received in an email earlier today.
For you brother Bosch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN8CKwdosjE
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:02 am
Deep – “backward thinking Liberals”
blahblahblah … here’s an idea. rather than sling poo, why don’t you just answer the question?? what should Obama be doing to create jobs?
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
10:03 am
Bosch – my condolences on your loss. I know what it’s like to lose your Mom.
JohnnyReb
July 27th, 2010
10:03 am
Saul, my wife also owns a small business and her year over year is up 45%. However, a large portion of that came from two competing businesses in the same area going TU. Plus, if we had to depend on income from the business, it would not be a pretty story. Instead, she has rolled all the profits back into the business. We are optimistic, but the economy has to improve and people have more discretionary income if our investment is to ever be worth it. As to hiring, we have found that people want a job but they don’t want the standard starting pay for retail which is just above minimum wage. Some think they should be paid commensurate with their skills, but their skills are not retail.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
Joe – thanks for the kind words (there are far better writers than I am, though) … as far as moving back to GA, I don’t know that I could cope with the summers, anymore! our avg temp here is usually between 75-80 in the summer … I think 103 would melt me!
I will be making my annual pilgrimmage in late September, though, to see my fambly and friends – huzzah!
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
USinUK, AmVet, and Saul – thanks. Having your mom die, really, truly, absolutely sucks.
Outhouse GoKart
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
Just for fun…
Article shows pix of The Goron estate…looks almost big enough to hold his huge ego.
So, Who Will Keep Al Gore’s Brand New $9-Million Mansion In Southern California?
http://www.businessinsider.com/al-gore-mansion-2010-6
Baby's Daddy
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
Roy got to stay away from Obama if he wanna win. Best to pretend Obama got leprosy and stay da hell away–not mention his name. Better he sit down and eat grits with Jimmy Carter than be caught in a phot with Obama.
Pennsylvanian
July 27th, 2010
10:06 am
Pity poor King Rat. He might have had a shot against Oxendine. Hell, I would have voted for King Rat over Oxendine. But now we have the Dems scared silly that Handel will win, and Palin will be launched into superstar status as the GOP power player. She will use that status and media visibility to drag Obama’s pathetic record in front of the voters from Nov ‘10 to Nov ‘12.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:06 am
Bosch – “Policies don’t change with each new administration or each new election, you do know that right”
and it’s not like the marketplace zeroes out every January 20th so that you can judge each president’s economy on its own merit.
Oblamer
July 27th, 2010
10:08 am
funny. GOP covers and wins in a landslide. May common sense conservatism like Marco Rubio be the future over this devilish democratic leadership…calling evil good and good evil..
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:08 am
Bosch – been there. know that. wish I could say that it gets easier – it doesn’t. I miss my mom every flippin’ day (it’ll be 17 years this October) – you just learn how to fold the pain into your daily life. “sucks” doesn’t even begin.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:08 am
Bosch,
Just read about your loss. Mom’s are special people. Angels on earth. My heart breaks for you. Here comes some good vibes…I hope they help.
uhoh
July 27th, 2010
10:10 am
I’d much prefer a “do nothing” legislature than a “let’s see what boneheaded stuff we can pass” legislature. See: US House of Representatives, circa now.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
10:11 am
You liberal dummies, If business was not scared of what Oblunder will take away from them perhaps they would be more apt to hire. Oblunder is pro union as is Barnes, unions do not work they hurt business.
Call it like it is.
July 27th, 2010
10:11 am
“US in UK”
What is this google you speak of? and do you apparently get all of your information from this source? I mean you telling me Barnes is a lawyer, wow what insight, does Jay pay you for this vast amount of knowledge you bring to the table?
“Jay” once again the question for you is what has Barnes done as a lawyer for the past 8 years. Who has he represented? Big money or the little guy. I’m sure everybody on this site would like to know.
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:12 am
Good God, AmVet, are you trying to kill me? That song gets me choked up on any given Tuesday.
And thanks too Doggone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
USinUK,
“and it’s not like the marketplace zeroes out every January 20th so that you can judge each president’s economy on its own merit.”
Do you think that’s really what the wingnut problem is? Do you really think they believe that? Maybe you should have told them that a long time ago.
Soothsayer
July 27th, 2010
10:13 am
Internet trolls, also known as “paid posters” or “paid bloggers,” are increasingly being employed by private corporations as well, often for marketing purposes. In fact, it is a rapidly growing industry.
Trolls use a wide variety of strategies, some of which are unique to the internet, here are just a few:
1) Make outrageous comments designed to distract or frustrate:
2) Pose as a supporter of the truth, then make comments that discredit the movement.
3) Dominate Discussions: Trolls often interject themselves into productive web discussions in order to throw them off course and frustrate the people involved.
4) Prewritten Responses: Many trolls are supplied with a list or database with pre-planned talking points designed as generalized and deceptive responses to honest arguments.
5) False Association: For example: calling those against the Federal Reserve “conspiracy theorists” or “lunatics”.
6) False Moderation: Pretending to be the “voice of reason” in an argument with obvious and defined sides in an attempt to move people away from what is clearly true into a “grey area” where the truth becomes “relative.”
7) Straw Man Arguments: A very common technique. The troll will accuse his opposition of subscribing to a certain point of view, even if he does not, and then attacks that point of view.
Do you see any of these here today?
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
10:14 am
(La de da la de da) – my eyes are closed. Everything’s going to okay.
“These future deficits are driven almost exclusively by rising spending. President Obama’s budget would push inflation-adjusted federal spending past $36,000 per household by 2020—$12,000 above the level that prevailed under President Bush. Even President Obama’s enormous and anti-growth $3 trillion tax increase proposal won’t stop this spending spree from pushing the national debt to economically dangerous levels.
The Mid-Session Budget Review also confirms the failure of Obama’s economic agenda. The President concedes that the unemployment rate will remain at nearly 10 percent this year and not revert to pre-recession levels until 2016—and even that is based on the same optimistic Keynesian economic models that claim the stimulus created or saved 3 million jobs. If this is economic policy success, one wonders how failure would look.”
Now that’s a future and a REALITY to look forward to, no?
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:14 am
uhoh
July 27th, 2010
10:10 am
…and I’d like to see a legislature that works together and do what’s good for the majority of the people instead of just what’s good for the wealthy minority…silly me.
godless heathen
July 27th, 2010
10:16 am
Bosch – My condolences. You never get used to a world without your mother in it.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:17 am
Gammer
July 27th, 2010
10:14 am
You ever wonder what today might have looked like if nothing was done at all?
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
10:17 am
Sorry Bosch! (And a virtual hug.)
I too loved Deep’s observation about backward-thinking liberals. Project much, reactionaries?
Isn’t it enormous fun how the Tweedledee and Tweedledum parties have reversed roles?
Remember when we had endless years of GOP presidents who were as bad or worse that BHO and all the Dems could do was trot out an endless litany of non-electable jokes?
To that changed end, I predict that the GOP slate is 2010 is going to be another hysterical collection of political misfits to rival Tancredo, Thompson, Romney, Brownback, Giuliani, Keyes, Huckabee and Hunter.
And the Uppity Muslim juggernaut does his GOP-lite thing and gets re-elected with ease in spite of a poor performance in his first term.
And the endless summer of neo-con discontent rolls on.
Good times…
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
10:18 am
Soothsayer I do not want to fall for the Liberals trap of going back in time, but you said Oblamer inheritted THIRTY YEARS OF REPUBLICAN POLICIES. Does your backward thinking only work when Republicans were in office. What was Clinton or Carter ?
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:18 am
Bosch – 10:12 – “Do you think that’s really what the wingnut problem is? Do you really think they believe that? Maybe you should have told them that a long time ago.”
I know … you can keep posting this until you are blue in the fingers, but they still seem to insist that unemployment was a new thing that started in January 2009
http://www.pensitoreview.com/Wordpress/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/chart-job-growth-bush-obama.jpg
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:18 am
JohnnyReb,
My wife too has rolled much of what her store makes into expanding. She just moved her store and literally doubled the size of it. I posted not so long ago what she pays… ($12 an hour for full time retail staff)… more for assistant managers… and she had MANY who came from other fields looking for work. She has people walking into her store every single day looking for a job. Since the “products” she sells are kind of “specialized” and do take some serious product knowledge and training… most don’t qualify. Most of her recent hires were customers of hers. The largest group (by classification) that she gets when people fill out applications are those who had ties to the real estate industry. Nobody can deny that MANY if not MOST of the jobs lost here in GA had ties to real estate…from former agents, builders, subcontractors, mortgage brokers, etc and those who worked in manufacturing of building products (or the selling of those same products)… our local economy was heavily weighed down with ties to both commercial and residential building. Sad thing is…I STILL see many who feel that they ONLY way out of this economy is to start building again and kick start that industry again. My only hope is that people learn from their past mistakes. Yet history shows us (like the many who win and lose in the stock market)…that when the next “boom” starts… people will always look for the quick buck and jump right back on the same bandwagon.
Jefferson
July 27th, 2010
10:19 am
If you don’t like the President, its your own fault — you could have voted for Hillary, as that was the only other chance for somebody else, so blame yourself or enjoy the ride.
Curious Observer
July 27th, 2010
10:19 am
…and I’d like to see a legislature that works together and do what’s good for the majority of the people instead of just what’s good for the wealthy minority…silly me.
Rest assured that so long as corporations and the wealthy donate to political campaigns, what’s good for the wealthy minority will continue to be the order of business in the legislative halls.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:21 am
Call it – “What is this google you speak of?”
give it a try sometime …
I was able to find this http://www.barneslawgroup.com/
that might give you an idea of some of his clients
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:21 am
USinUK: Bosch – “been there. know that. wish I could say that it gets easier – it doesn’t. I miss my mom every flippin’ day (it’ll be 17 years this October) – you just learn how to fold the pain into your daily life. “sucks” doesn’t even begin.”
Been there with my father…and no it does not get easier… most of all when you really had an AWESOME parent. I know my own father was just that.
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:21 am
AmVet,
And yet, we are backwards. Sometimes I have trouble keeping up — he’s weak, ineffectual, and the worst president evah, but he’s somehow made all these policies that have managed to ruin the entire universe in 18 months.
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
Normal and godless heathen — thanks too.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
Normal – “You ever wonder what today might have looked like if nothing was done at all?”
so, the banks would have failed and the financial markets tanked and we would all be back to trading beads and wampum … you make that sound like a bad thing!
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:23 am
Bosch – get Starbuck and Apollo and give them a good belly rub (or just rub their ears) … puppy therapy – you can’t beat it!
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
10:24 am
Rest assured that so long as corporations and the wealthy donate to political campaigns, what’s good for the wealthy minority will continue to be the order of business in the legislative halls.
Curious, I was just about to post this…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Here’s something Target Corp. isn’t advertising in its Sunday circular: The discount retailer is now a major donor to a group backing the Republican candidate for Minnesota governor.
And that’s not sitting well with every Target shopper.
Under new laws allowing corporations to spend company money on election campaigns, the Minneapolis-based chain gave $150,000 to a Republican-friendly political fund staffed by insiders from departing GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s administration. The group, MN Forward, is running TV ads supporting state legislator Tom Emmer, the presumptive GOP nominee.
Electronic retailer Best Buy Co., another major Minnesota-based corporation, gave $100,000 to the group, according to an MN Forward report made public Tuesday.
The corporate money has been flowing since the U.S. Supreme Court threw out parts of a 63-year-old law that prohibited companies and unions from donating to campaigns for or against candidates. The decision, which came earlier this year, changed rules in about half the states. But the change is so new that experts don’t have a good handle on the likely impact nationally.
Mr. Oxendine
July 27th, 2010
10:25 am
Awwww Barnes, quit being a scared! You and Obama can be in the same vicinity on Monday … what, you’re afraid you might get “peppered”???
SKB
July 27th, 2010
10:26 am
Whos is Obama?
I thought Glenn Beck was running this country?
luangtom
July 27th, 2010
10:26 am
People, neither side is without negative press in its closet. Get over it. Yer living in a dream world thinking one party or the other is without corruption, problems and bad blood in its ranks. Get over it. Barnes may be wise in distancing himself from Obama. Who knows? The ballots will tell. King Roy has his own legacy to live down.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:27 am
“what, you’re afraid you might get “peppered”???”
he’s hunting with Dick Cheney?
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
10:30 am
“I thought Glenn Beck was running this country?”
It depends on who you ask. I would suppose Michael Steele’s answer would be HeadRush Limburger…
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:30 am
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
and
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:27 am
Hunting with Dick…talk about your missed opportunity…
Big D
July 27th, 2010
10:31 am
USinUK,
What should Obama do to create jobs. Facts first; the Government cannot create jobs, it can create programs that employ people to come to work each day, get a check and ( this is the important part) not create a PROFIT. Without profit you must use other peoples money to pay said people, this creates a negative bottom line.
On Really creating jobs; You must first establish an atmosphere where companies and people with the means to invest feel comfortable risking capitol. These people have the money, will always have the money and all the demonizing you wish to throw at them they will still have the money…they are smart. So, the trick is to make these bad rich people and corporations expand to the point that they need to hire people to work for them to create that evil profit to pay them with. Said people hired will pay taxes to the Government. Said owners and and shareholders will pay more taxes also.
If we lower taxes creating more growth it follows a tried and true method of growth, make little on a lot of people working in lieu of trying to make a lot on a few rich people as Obama and the congress is trying to do.
We can give deferred future tax intensives to start up companies from the state and federal level to get manufacturing going again in this country. I travel around the country and see many once thriving communities that have turning into ghost towns when manufacturing left to go overseas.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:31 am
“he’s hunting with Dick Cheney?”
Huh? Darth Vader is out of his Iron Lung?
Dick really should get into acting… I see a VERY lucrative career for him playing villains. Must be something about that crooked smile/smirk of his.
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
10:35 am
Saul and Obozo can play the Joker, hahaha
Doggone/GA
July 27th, 2010
10:35 am
“If we lower taxes creating more growth ”
The past administration, aided and abetted by a same-party Congress lowered taxes…the economy TANKED…unemployement went UP.
And all ya got is more “lower taxes”?
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:37 am
Big D: “If we lower taxes creating more growth it follows a tried and true method of growth”
We DID lower taxes…just HOW many jobs did those cuts create?
Let me ask…WHAT led us out of the Great Depression…lowering taxes or MASSIVE “government” spending? Did we cut taxes while at war? Or…were taxes higher back then while we spent ourselves into oblivion funding the war? Did our nation sink or swim once we came out of the war? What were the highest tax rates AFTER the war (for the wealthiest Americans)?
(which at that time also increased our deficit…all of which was being paid back until Reagan got in office)…
So once again…we have someone saying “cut taxes” to create jobs….yet by the end of 2008…feel free to also explain just HOW MANY JOBS the tax cuts put in place ended up actually creating.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:37 am
Deep… you were MUCH more effective when your caps key was locked.
Scout
July 27th, 2010
10:40 am
You libs. don’t fret, we’ll still be able to come up with a photo for the campaign on what it would have looked like if they had been together ………………….
Del
July 27th, 2010
10:40 am
Bosch,
Sorry for your loss. The fond memories keeps them alive and eases the sorrow.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:41 am
Off topic, I know, but Jesus H. Christ! This is our National Cemetary. America’s Heros rest here! “heartbreaking incompetence”
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/07/ap_military_arlington_cemetery_mccaskill_072610/
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
10:41 am
Saul at least I am not backward thinking.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:44 am
I often wonder…if Bush and Co would have said in the lead up to the Iraq invasion/war…. we need to RAISE taxes to PAY for this war… just how many of the cheerleaders slapping those tacky ribbons on their SUV’s would have said: “sure…it’s the “patriotic” thing to do..to FUND the war”…
Wanna start a war? Come up with a plan FIRST to PAY for it. Cutting taxes while spending a trillion + dollars… yup now THAT was the “patriotic” thing to do. Anyone recall during WWII the war bonds being sold? How people were told to pull up their boot straps and do with “less” so we could finance the war? I mean…I was not born…but history sure has lots and lots of news reels, old advertisements, etc… telling and asking people to help “pay” for the war.
My guess… the “cheerleaders” just may not have been so gung ho on Iraq if they were told they’d have to foot the bill. Either way…we’re all paying for it NOW.
Matti
July 27th, 2010
10:44 am
The Georgia GOP and Nathan Deal think you’re stupid!!! Can you believe that TV spot?
Kids: “Grandpa, why do you want to be Governor?”
Deal: “Because the folks up in Washington D.C are spending too much money, and I want to fight back.”
Whaaaaaa? Seriously? Raise your hand if you think that even remotely resembles the Governor’s job description. He wants to collect a paycheck for doing what what Rep. Tom Price already does for us: Expend all his efforts every day dissing the President and scaring people that the socialists are about to take all their money and give their names to the “death panels” unless the GOP re-takes Congress and the White House — while IGNORING his actual job description.
I know we’re lagging in education, and our State legislature tries to fix that by continuing to cut the education budget, but c’mon… Do we really look THAT stupid?
JohnnyReb
July 27th, 2010
10:45 am
Saul, it sounds like your business is larger than ours. We are not at the 12 bucks an hour level across the board, but we did just give two employees raises, and we have one who will go to 12 in October. I agree with your housing remarks. Affects go all the wasy down the chain from developer, general contractor, subs, real estate agents, gov inspectors, etc. All those people enjoyed an aritifical boom that will take years to recover, and some have no other marketable skills that will generate a comparable income. Good luck; you know how brutal retail can be, I’m not sure anyone who has not experienced it knows that.
popeye
July 27th, 2010
10:45 am
“Do you see any of these here today?”
Soothsayer….Not really, but on almost any given night there is one who fits almost every one of those points….Guess who?
DEEP THROAT
July 27th, 2010
10:46 am
Saul say with me its 2010,its 2010, come on you can do it. Its 2010.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
Deep: “Saul at least I am not backward thinking.”
Who told you that? I guess “history” teaches us NOTHING right? Sheesh Deep! I was taught to “learn” from our past mistakes.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
Big D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps
This is what President Obama should have done from the start. He should have done as FDR did. Working people are happy people and the CCC was a good thing for our country.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
Big D – “If we lower taxes creating more growth it follows a tried and true method of growth, make little on a lot of people working in lieu of trying to make a lot on a few rich people as Obama and the congress is trying to do.”
ah, yes … tax cuts … the answer to all life’s ills …
I’d be fine with tax cuts for all jobs created IN the US and removed from their outsourced offices.
as has been pointed out, the Busch tax cuts are still in effect … can you feel the stimulation?
and stop assuming that all liberals think rich people are bad – I can’t speak for anyone else, but I don’t. I have no problem with rich folks, investors, CEOs, etc.
TGT
July 27th, 2010
10:49 am
Speaking of Reagan vs Obama:
Obama says the economy is headed in the right direction; jobs are being created, not lost, and he is doing everything possible to revive the “worst economy since the Great Depression.” Most of the national press has been remarkably accepting of this narrative — even if the president has been vague, at best, about when we might finally see an uptick in economic growth and job creation.
But in another economic time, President Ronald Reagan’s economic recovery program took 17 months to take hold. It took from the time Congress passed his tax cuts, in August 1981, until the recession he inherited finally ended in January 1983.
Unemployment hit a high of 10.8 percent in December 1982. But then economic growth spiked, and the unemployment rate began a long, steady decline throughout the 1980s. It was obvious the program was working when people stopped calling it “Reaganomics.”
Tax cuts were a part of Reagan’s effort to cut the size and scope of government to fight economic stagnation. “Government is not the solution,” Reagan said in his remarkably clear inaugural address. “It is the problem.”
In addition to tax cuts, Reagan reduced domestic discretionary spending and streamlined regulations to make them less of a burden on businesses seeking to create jobs. He believed that government should give individuals and businesses the proper incentives to grow and expand and not inhibit the private sector with high taxes and cumbersome regulations.
Reagan faced obstacles that Obama did not. The House he had to work with was always controlled by Democrats. More ominously, inflation was running at double-digit rates, and it took nearly a year for the Federal Reserve to squeeze those pressures out of the system.
Regardless, in the end, Reagan’s program worked. The turnaround began 17 months later.
Fast-forward to today. The Obama administration says that government-directed investment, via huge spending increases, can revive the economy. It’s now stimulus plus 17. Is there a turnaround in sight?
Apparently not. Obama’s own budget estimates, released just last week, project trillion-dollar deficits, anemic economic growth coming out of a recession and unemployment near 9 percent for 2011 and 8 percent for 2012.
You have to go back to the 1930s to find a period in which unemployment has been so high for so long. This economic record would make former President Jimmy Carter blush.
Yet Obama continues to get a pass on his version of recent economic events. He has said that he inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression. He didn’t. The economies inherited by both President Gerald Ford in 1974 and Reagan in 1981 were far worse.
Obama has said the stimulus has saved 3 million jobs. It hasn’t. We have nearly that many fewer jobs than before the stimulus was passed in February 2009, and the unemployment rate is 1½ percentage points higher than what he claimed would be the high point once his program was enacted.
Obama has said he is doing all he can to revive the economy. Actually, he’s doing too much. The economic uncertainty that his “historic” health care and budget bills have created is doing more to hold back economic growth than anything else. Companies are hoarding cash rather than invest in Obama’s uncertain economic climate.
As a result, the recovery is anemic by historic standards.
So we have two historic presidents. Both inherited bad economies. One cut spending and taxes, and then, 17 months later, the economy boomed. The other increased taxes and spending. It’s now 17 months later.
Mr. President, we’re waiting.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40242_Page2.html#ixzz0utVcQLch
@@
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
Internet trolls, Soothsayer? Too funny!
And in summation?
Sometimes, these strategies are used by average people with serious personality issues.
Like sockpuppets who have ongoing conversations with themselves?
That IS weird!
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
“Saul at least I am not backward thinking”
shorter Deep: poo! poo! poo! but, sadly, nothing of substance.
Dirty Dawg
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
Sadly, Roy is having to ‘orchestrate’ around the prevailing attitudes, misguided as they are, about Obama in an effort to win over what is obviously a preponderance of ‘right-leaning’, shallow-thinking, voters that have ‘emerged’ across this state. My guess is that there will be plenty of opportunities for him to take advantage of Obama’s first two years before November, and more than enough idiotic Georgia Republicans continuing to ’skin their ignorance’ between now and then for him to get that ‘other’ four years that was stolen from him by Diebold and a right-wing power base that will do anything to grab power in order to ‘raid the treasury’. Then you’ll see just what an ‘effective’ Governor is capable of when he’s not a ‘goober’.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
10:51 am
Johnny…trust me…I offer my advice to her when asked…but I stay out of it! I’m no “retail” kinda guy myself. I mean… just drag me to a mall… I have about a 20 minute attention span when dragged into one. Thank god/allah whomever for now having the internet on our phones! It’s pretty much the only way I can survive in one of those places!
Bosch
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
USinUK,
It’s weird how animals know things – the puppies have been following me around more than usual and if I sit down they want to sit next to me and they put there heads in my lap — and every now and then they’ll look up and lick my face.
Del,
Thanks — to me that’s part of eternal life – the good memories.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, up until a few days ago, blogging and working at the same time were second nature, but apparently, my ADD brain is having to rewire itself. So, thanks for the well wishes, and I’m signing off to concentrate on the things I have to do to get paid.
Later gators.
Kamchak
July 27th, 2010
10:56 am
Bosch
My condolences as well.
Matti
July 27th, 2010
11:00 am
Bosch,
I’m so sorry.
wyme1002
July 27th, 2010
11:00 am
johnny reb….If you are serious about an opening in your wife’s retail shop give me a shout at
wyme1002@yahoo.com. I am retired, and have several sources of income so money is not
my motivator. I have no criminal record, no traffic record, excellent credit, and don’t do drugs.
look forward to hearing from you.
SOUTHERN ATL
July 27th, 2010
11:01 am
The current Perdue Administration has created a considerable amount of damage to this state that will be felt for many years to come. Roy Barnes will have his hands full with very “limited resources”. Now is NOT the time for the Democratic Party to stand idle and wait for the outcome of Handel and Deal. We need a spark that will motivate the Democratic voters on the importance of this election!!
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:02 am
TGT: “Unemployment hit a high of 10.8 percent in December 1982. But then economic growth spiked, and the unemployment rate began a long, steady decline throughout the 1980s. It was obvious the program was working when people stopped calling it “Reaganomics.”
Ah…but at the END of 12 years of Reagonomics…just WHAT did we end up with? A RECESSION. Yeah…things cycled… but 8 years of Reagan created 16 million jobs… Bush1 continued those policies and lost 4 million of those.
Clinton… added 22 million jobs during his 8 years… longest economic expansion is US history. (but I’ll guess you’ll say it was the Republicans who created those jobs…right???)…
http://zfacts.com/p/868.html
“The debt grew rapidly during World War II, but its growth during peace-time prosperity starting in 1982 was without precedent.”
TGT….also…what wars (multiple) did Reagan inherit? In actuality… he was the FIRST President post WWII that stopped paying down the debt incured during WWII…Clinton started paying it back down…and then W. Bush…well he went right back down again by not paying back that debt.
@@
July 27th, 2010
11:03 am
I have a quick question, then I’m out. It’s about the EBT (?) cards here in Georgia.
I’m waiting in line at the grocery store and some lady is behind me wanting to know if she can run her EBT card thru on my transaction. I’m not knowledgeable about the things…she said she needed cash for gas. What was she trying to do?
How could she use her card on my transaction? I asked her if she was planning on buying my groceries? She got all pithy with me…went to the next register and got some guy to let her run it thru on his transaction.
Is that legal?
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
11:11 am
Saul … “what wars (multiple) did Reagan inherit?”
hello muddah …
hello faddah …
here I am at …
Camp Granada …
(okay … so it was in 1983 … and it wasn’t inherited … but it was HUGE!!! with HUGE impact!!!)
The Thin Guy
July 27th, 2010
11:11 am
To be fair about it (an unheard of concept for this blog) King Roy has two positive accomplishments in life. First, he appointed Zell Miller to the senate for which all Americans sincerely thank him. Second, as a barrister he successfully represented some guy in Buckhead with a chicken fetish. If he regains his throne then chickens have a friend in the Governor’s Mansion. Once his opponent is determined look for the Ls to be slapped on him: Liberal, Lawyer, Labor, Lackey, Lackluster, Looney, Loser, and, if possible, Lesbian. Maybe he can get his friend Horseface to sail his new $ 7 million yacht from where it’s parked in Rhode Island to the East Coast of Georgia. Then King Roy, King Øbungle, and King Horseface can campaign across the state as The Three Kings from A Far Left Side of the Political Spectrum. JB could be their Court Jester (naw, that would require a sense of humor).
Disgusted
July 27th, 2010
11:15 am
@@:Is that legal?
I know nothing about EBTs, but here’s what I found during a search. It’s apparently strictly illegal if the EBT cardholder is trying to obtain cash from another customer in exchange for paying for his groceries. If the EBT card provides both food stamp and cash welfare benefits, it appears to be legal. My questions are, why would somebody be willing to pay for somebody else’s groceries in order to get cash back, and why wouldn’t the person simply swipe the card separately if GA provides welfare benefits on an EBT card?
Can you get cash back at the grocery store from SNAP/food stamp benefits?
No. You can only receive cash back if you have both cash welfare (TAFDC) benefits and SNAP/food stamp benefits on your card. If you want to use your cash welfare benefits to buy food or get cash back, you have to swipe your EBT card in the machine a second time.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:17 am
“(okay … so it was in 1983 … and it wasn’t inherited … but it was HUGE!!! with HUGE impact!!!)”
Okay…to be honest…I still feel MUCH SAFER these days knowing that the worst of our nation’s medical students have a school they can get into when all the others turn them down.
popeye
July 27th, 2010
11:18 am
@@ … Something similar happened to me at Kroger. Some guy walks up to me and says he needs gas money…and all he has are food stamps, and could he pay for my groceries, and I would pay him back in cash.
I informed him I was paying with a debit card, and he immediately went and hit on somebody else!
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:20 am
Thin: 4 years of Roy… GA better or worse? 7 years of Sonny and republican control… GA better or worse? Hey…at least Sonny has a few more months to “finish” what he started.
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
11:20 am
Saul – and it revived that classic song … clouds and linings …
godless heathen
July 27th, 2010
11:20 am
“How could she use her card on my transaction? I asked her if she was planning on buying my groceries? She got all pithy with me…went to the next register and got some guy to let her run it thru on his transaction.”
She wanted to have the State buy your groceries with her card and then you pay cash to her for the groceries.
“Is that legal?”
Nope.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:22 am
popeye…. that’s the very reason why when I was living in NYC…any homeless person that asked me for money for “food”… I’d give them some or buy them some if they were serious… those that refused… well I knew they only wanted $ for booze, butts, or drugs.
@@
July 27th, 2010
11:23 am
Disgusted:
If you want to use your cash welfare benefits to buy food or get cash back, you have to swipe your EBT card in the machine a second time.
Thanks! Let me see if I understand this. If she had one of the TAFDC and SNAP benefits cards, she wouldn’t have needed to run it thru on my transaction? She simply could have bought a food item and run it thru a second time for cash?
Heck! if she hadn’t got all pithy with me, I’da given her a coupl’a bucks for gas.
Kevin
July 27th, 2010
11:23 am
For all you liberal elites living insider the perimenter who are always on here complaining about how how backwards Ga. is, and how much you hate living here. And how it’s only the rednecks that keep conservatives in office. Very simple. As the late great Lewis Grizzard said, ” Delta is ready when you are to take you back home to NYC, Chicago, or wherever it is you want to go” just make sure you but a one way ticket and don’t come back.Of course, i’m sure lots of you ‘intellectuals” prob. don’t even know who Grizzard was.
lynn ehrlicher
July 27th, 2010
11:24 am
I think Barnes can beat either Republican candidate–He can point to the imbeciles that have been running this state for the last decade and how sorry it’s become since republicans wrested power ,while the two repubs argue over whether a woman should have the legal right to abortion for incest or rape. Please, give me a break!
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:24 am
USinUK: “Saul – and it revived that classic song … clouds and linings …”
@@
July 27th, 2010
11:28 am
heathen:
She wanted to have the State buy your groceries with her card and then you pay cash to her for the groceries.
Possibly. After she got all pithy, she asked if I was paying cash for my groceries. The answer was no, I’m using my debit card.
Like I said, I know nothing about these things.
Disgusted
July 27th, 2010
11:30 am
If she had one of the TAFDC and SNAP benefits cards, she wouldn’t have needed to run it thru on my transaction? She simply could have bought a food item and run it thru a second time for cash?
You got it. And don’t it make you feel good that this woman has a car that needs gas and that it’s so important to her that she’s willing to trade her grocery benefits for your cash to get it?
WhoKnew50
July 27th, 2010
11:30 am
Funny how Bookman cites these polls; how many minorities were polled since you wanted to break it down about white people? Polls are designed to give the pollster a justification for their views as is this one. Handel and Deal won’t have to pay for advertising seeing as their spokespersons are AJC i.e, Bookman, ABC, NBC and CBS. The obvious bias is so clear even Stevie Wonder can see thru it. However if Barnes wants to play right into the Repubs/Bookman’s playbook then by all means stay as far away from President Obama as you can and watch your chances disappear. Funny how Bookman ignores the fact that research shows President Obama has accomplished more in his first 2 years than any President in history but lets just keep stoking the flames of discontent..makes better reading and more hits..
@@
July 27th, 2010
11:33 am
Thanks for all your responses. It helps to be informed.
Disgusted:
I just hope she doesn’t have kids at home waiting for dinner. I do know that the amount on the card is a monthly allotment. Gas won’t feed a hungry child.
Scout
July 27th, 2010
11:37 am
Bosch:
I saw some of the other posts so I went back to see what had happened. I lost my Dad last year so my sincere condolences on the loss of your Mother. Time is a great healer but the bond will always be there.
Big D
July 27th, 2010
11:38 am
Saul, UU,
It has and always will be the left that calls the “well to do bad people” you can go into your state of denial of you wish. If you had thought about what I said in my post about the loss of manufacturing you would have seen the correlation to creating more tax revenues with more people working. You both based your assumptions a continuing model of very little manufacturing. The stats you presented for post WWII was based almost entirely on manufacturing. We have been sending the sector of our economy off shore for 30 years and my position is to make feasible to bring it back
Kevin
July 27th, 2010
11:41 am
Who Knew: you can’t really believe that the mainstream media, including this newspaper, are going to be mouthpieces for Handel or Deal? That’s so asinine it’s funny. And I don’t think you will make it as a pol. consultant. Run w Obama? That worked so well for Corzine in NJ, Deeds in Va.(both states he carried) I’m sure it will play well here in Ga. I will agree though obama has done more harm to the country in his first 2 yrs than any other Pres. Ans sense i believe that’s what he set out to accomplish. you are right.
AmVet
July 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Yep, the luster on the neo-con (bowel) movement has faded deeply over the past five or six years.
That misused mantra of “I am a conservative!!” is as transparently useless as could be to the thinking American. It means nothing. And as hijacked by the fake conservatives, it never did. Only their desperate sheeple in the “base” still swallow that silly nonsense, hook, line and sinker.
They are spendthrifts and fiscal liberals. In fact they are utterly fiscally irresponsible. And i wrote eric Johnson a couple of weeks ago in response to his idiotic promise to eliminate corporate income taxes in Georgia. (I asked him just how much corporate welfare is enough?) They are war-first, pro-crime, pro corporate personhood. And work against working-class Americans.
So now the ongoing hemorrhaging is so bad, a washed up, repudiated Dem candidate for governor is a viable challenger only because of the pathetic state of neo-conservative candidates here. EVEN in the epitome of pathetic neo-conservatism – Georgia.
A Dixiefied version of Sarah BarraClueless and one of the dirtiest, most corrupt legislators in the entire United States Congress? These are the GOP options?? Farcical.
You’re doing a heckuva job, connies…
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
11:54 am
test
Tillie
July 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Barnes has been funding leftist causes for years… It’s only fair.
Remember his tortured gerrymandering that destroyed black representation in favor of the democrats?
If Roy does not run with Obama, he dang sure can’t run without him
Jay
July 27th, 2010
1:24 pm
Kayaker, the federal government this year is expected to collect 14.8 percent of GDP as revenue, compared to 18.5 percent in 2007. Yet you and others squeal like pigs being sent to the slaughter because you believe the baloney you’re fed.
And Obama’s fault, don’t claim these people pay nothing. That is absolutely false. They pay Social Security and Medicare which amounts to roughly 12 percent of their gross incomes, and those taxes function today just as the income tax does, except that they constitute a surtax on the working and middle classes that the rich are largely exempt from paying.
Jay
July 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
Alabama, does the CBO study you cite include FICA and Medicare taxes? The verbiage about income tax suggests it does not, and if not the progressivity you note would be reduced considerably.
Scout
July 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
“Oh, what tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive.”
“And so he bowed.”
Scout
July 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
Jay ………….. Better change the thread. Only four posts since noon and two of them are yours.
Just sayin ………….
Scout
July 27th, 2010
2:49 pm
O.K. I’ll make it five since noon.
Legend of Len Barker
July 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
Kevin, the amazing thing is that while Grizzard was pretty conservative (and a big fan of Limbaugh – of course Grizzard also died in 1994), he had empathy.
He didn’t want to see anyone suffer and have to live like he and his mother did after his father abandoned them. He’d give to people on the streets if he thought they needed it. He also could be the perpetual optimist. No matter how many times his father disappointed him, he’d do what he could for him. He gave him money. Often. Even to the chagrin of his first wife.
I’ve thought about Grizzard a good bit lately. Wondering his reaction to today’s world. I could see him being wary of immigrants, but I honestly don’t know how much else he’d buy into. Something tells me he’d support universal health care, as he came from humble beginnings and from a mother who’d wait with him in a dental office in Hogansville for nine hours just to safe five bucks.
Lewis moved to Chicago, thinking he needed to be big-time. Everything he wanted was right here. I understand the sentiment. I don’t want to leave Georgia. Everything I want is here. It’s just that the politics have gone crazy and have taken a lot of normally rational people along with it. In 2008, I watched my coworkers steadily lose their minds with every new chain email received. Ones that could be proven wrong in two minutes. A group of them got together one morning. One declared that anyone voting for Obama was un-Christian. It was at that point that I realized it was over. I couldn’t view these people the same way again. It wasn’t about a mere difference in opinion. It had gotten to them.
Soames
July 27th, 2010
8:31 pm
Palin? Who gives a crap what the former governor of Alaska thinks…
This is the best you could do today Jaybird?
ODDOWL
July 28th, 2010
2:50 am
The runoff election between Deal and Handel will provide the Democrats with an opportunity to inject some skullduggery into the Republican’s choice for Governor. All the Democrat voters who didn’t vote in the July 20th primary are now eligible to vote in the Republican runoff. Nearly 75% of registered Democrats didn’t vote in the Democrat primary. However Democrat voters will have a major problem deciding which one of these incompetent Republican candidates would be the most vulnerable against Gov. Roy Barnes. Handel or Deal ??? We Dems are going to have some fun with this one.
JeffyW
July 29th, 2010
9:42 am
This election will be between the Haves, and not the Have Not’s, but the Will Not’s. Since the Haves are taking it on the chin since day one of the Obama administration, I’m counting on a Republican run. BTW, if you have a job making over 50K, you’re a Have.
calvin
July 29th, 2010
11:57 am
GOP PLAYS Phantom non-sensical politics! Great, just what are unemployed workers need you guys playing around. Instead of solving problems. Also I am still waiting for a RECAP OF THE SENATE RACE.
LOVE TO SEE SOME KIND OF INFORMATION ON MICHAEL THURMOND, OR IS THE AJC IN THE ;POCKET OF JONNNNIE BAD BOY ISSAKSON. VOTING NO ON EVERYTHING. WE MUST HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE COME NOVEMBER.
COLD CALLING POLLS IS NOT GOING TO WORK ANYMORE. TOO MANY OUTLETS FOR US TO SHARE INFORMATION!!!
Roy B
August 1st, 2010
12:11 pm
Roy Barnes will be Obama / Biden’s operative in Georgia, instituting the “hope and change” mandate and giveaways! It’s good for the obama camp to have their man running things in the state. Yes we can!
The Man
August 1st, 2010
1:56 pm
I got a letter from the Georgia Democratic Party wanting money. Judging from what Mr Bookman said. I think he got one too.
Joe
August 1st, 2010
3:04 pm
Again Jay, like most libs, needs a simple explanation for everything. So I’ll explain it for you Jay so you can understand it. Barnes is a demoncrat. Obama is the leader of the demoncrat part. Hence the reason they are intertwined. Demoncrats in general are a party of liberals now and that will also be exploited. There’s no such thing as a blue dog demoncrat or a conservative demoncrat anymore. It’s the party of the far left and that point is easily proven by its leadership… Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Barnes, Baker, Porter, so on and so on….
Tommy Maddox
August 1st, 2010
3:17 pm
What Jay?
Never seen this done before? What a joke!!!
Sarah
August 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
Red panties are falling from the sky!
Uh… sorry, I’m in the wrong blog.
John Radney
August 1st, 2010
5:48 pm
Lord forgive me but I hate all democrats.
joe
August 1st, 2010
6:17 pm
Why on Earth would we wanna elect a man who was horrible as our Gov in the past…any why on Earth would anyone want to vote for Barry again. Both are horrible…give ‘em the boot!
william
August 1st, 2010
6:46 pm
SKB i got ur answer. Just move.
uhoh
August 1st, 2010
7:57 pm
Let’s simplify this:
Barnes and Obama are both Democrats, right.
Barnes = Obama.
56% oppose Obamacare, Probably higher than that.
37% like Obama, but it’s still early and last I looked he hasn’t followed rule#1 of how to get out of hole.
Too soon to say “the party is over” but I believe that “the party is over.”
Not Surprised
August 1st, 2010
8:32 pm
To win an election in Ga; I love Jesus and Guns, and I don’t like colored people.
tiredofotall
August 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
since there is no such thing as “God” – his endorsement of a political candidate means nothing.