Georgia Republicans believe themselves invulnerable
In politics as in sports, it’s dangerous to get cocky.
And Georgia Republicans have gotten cocky. They have come to feel invulnerable and complacent, convinced that their constituents’ intense dislike of Democratic policies at the national level has given them a free hand to do as they wish here in Georgia, without consequence or backlash.
Ethical missteps, bad judgment, failure to govern — they believe that none of it matters as long as those magic words “Barack Obama” retain the power to distract and anger Georgia voters.
Want proof? Let’s review events just from the first eight months of 2011.
The year kicked off with the revelation that House Speaker David Ralston had taken his family and staff on a $17,000, all-expense paid holiday trip to Europe, courtesy of lobbyists for a high-speed rail company. In our much-reviled Congress, such behavior would result in severe censure or even removal from office, but here in Georgia it barely raised an eyebrow. In fact, Ralston continues to argue that limits on lobbyist gifts to politicians are not necessary given the fine, upstanding character of those we elect to public office.
There were also no repercussions when the chairman of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, Jack Murphy of Cumming, was sued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for being grossly negligent in his role as a director of a failed bank in Alpharetta. Murphy is now barred from involvement in any FDIC-insured institution, but inexplicably, he has been allowed by his fellow Republicans to retain his role overseeing the state’s banking industry.
Murphy’s counterpart in the state House, Banks and Banking Committee chair Greg Morris, was also fined $5,000 this year by the FDIC for violating regulations as a director of an Ailey bank. He too has been allowed to stay in his leadership role overseeing Georgia’s deeply troubled banking industry.
Not surprisingly, neither Morris nor Murphy has shown interest in investigating why Georgia continues to lead the nation in bank failures or whether the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, charged with regulating state-chartered banks, failed in its duties. Given that 17 of the nation’s 68 bank failures in 2011 have occurred here in Georgia, costing the FDIC a total of $1.549 billion so far this year, their studied avoidance of the problem is appalling.
But again, they feel no public pressure to do better, so why should they?
Then there was the scandal in June, when the executive secretary of the state ethics commission was given her walking papers and her sole investigator stripped of her job. Those events occurred immediately after the two sought to subpoena records from the 2010 campaign of Gov. Nathan Deal. Again, there were no repercussions. Overall, GOP leaders have slashed the commission’s budget by 42 percent since 2008, even as they have burdened the agency with new record-keeping duties. They have also stripped the agency of rule-making powers available to almost every other agency in state government, all the while claiming to be horrified at alleged abuses of power in Washington.
I haven’t even mentioned the coup against Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle by his fellow Republicans in the state Senate, which basically left that body rudderless, or the embarrassing financial shenanigans of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers and his business partner, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, or the continuing efforts of GOP legislators to empower themselves at the expense of local government officials. And who knows what the rest of the year will bring?
Once politicians feel themselves unaccountable, there’s no telling what they might do.
– Jay Bookman
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1,210 comments Add your comment
tireofit
August 23rd, 2011
12:52 pm
WOODSTOCK MIKE
August 23rd, 2011
12:25 pm
Housing sales for 2011 are the worst numbers that have ever been recorded in history. For minorities the new home start numbers are even worse. Democratic response….
“It’s George Bush’s fault”
++++
Hard to argue with the truth!
mm
August 23rd, 2011
12:53 pm
It’s speaks volumes about the mentality of the wingnuts on this blob. Notice the blog names: BillyBob, Uncle Jed, etc.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
12:55 pm
It amazes me Americans do not want to hold them accountable for a better future for their children.
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
12:58 pm
Left wing management
August 23rd, 2011
12:38 pm
I’m just not buying it.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Is that because you’ve asked around and gotten conflicting information or is it because you have chosen to “just not buy it”?
So, are you saying the skyrocketing gap between corporate management earnings and worker wages (counting benefits, which are under attack on all sides) doesn’t bother you:? Why is that?
++++++++++++++++++++
I would prefer to examine individual sitautions to be sure I fully understood the dynamics in play rather than make knee-jerk assumptions typically based upon news tidbits that we all know are foisted in ways supportive of a viewpoint, in most cases. Notwithstanding, I have no real problem with “corporate management” earning at significantly higher levels of compensation. In my experience in such roles, there exists a much higher degree of job volatility; responsibilty; stress; and accountability. Those positions merit higher compensation packages.
mm
August 23rd, 2011
1:00 pm
DawgDad,
“So, mm, you want Government to point a gun at my head and create DEMAND?”
That is the most ignorant post I’ve seen lately, although it does mirror the way righties try to fight logic with stupidity.
First of all, do you actually think that YOU being a republican makes you a job creator? LOL
Demand occurs when consumers have money in their pockets. Not when millionaires have money in their pockets. There are approximately 200,000 millionaires in this country. The rest of our population is struggling to make ends meet. The millionaires are sitting on mountains of cash. The rest of the population has no cash.
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:00 pm
Say it ain’t so, Joe!!!
Joe Biden: What we ended up doing is setting up a system whereby we did cut by $1.2 trillion upfront, the deficit over the next 10 years. And we set up a group of senators that have to come up with another $1.2 to $1.7 trillion in savings or automatically there will be cuts that go into effect in January to get those savings. So the savings will be accomplished. But as I was talking to some of your leaders, you share a similar concern here in China. You have no safety net. Your policy has been one which I fully understand — I’m not second-guessing — of one child per family. The result being that you’re in a position where one wage earner will be taking care of four retired people. Not sustainable.
So hopefully we can act in a way on a problem that’s much less severe than yours, and maybe we can learn together from how we can do that.
Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2011/08/20110821131809su0.2135279.html#ixzz1VsHAqLrw
Hard to comprehend was Joe’s sayin’. Is he advocating one child per family in the U.S. or is he saying we need more young people to sustain our entitlement programs?
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:01 pm
Anybody on the left talking about Maxine Waters husband getting government loans to bail out his failed bank? How about Nancy Pelosi’s husband making millions off of government business? How about Obama getting his home for half price from a known criminal? How about Dick Durbin geting a sweetheart deal from Countrywide? How about the Clintons receiving special and illegal treatment on the White Water scandal? Remember Herman Talmadge and his magic coat? How about president Clinton firing the white house travel staff, some who had worked there for thirty years, so he could hire a political contrbutor? (Then after unjustly firing them had the IRS investigate them in an attempt to find a reason for the firing) How about Obama just this past Friday violating federal law for political gain? How about Clinton firing 2000 federal prosecutors to stall the investigation and prosecution of Dan Rostenkowski? What about Hilliary getting a 5 million dollar advance for a book that everyone knew wouldn’t sell? I could go on and on. But what’s the point. You have to actually be insane to believe one party is more corrupt than the other.
mm
August 23rd, 2011
1:04 pm
I see Paul Ryan decided not to run for Prez. He’s got more sense than the rest of the GOP field combined. Now it’s on the next great white hope, Christie.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:05 pm
MR,
Thanks for proving my point.
I am shocked, shocked I say you deflected blame to the dems.
So, what do you propose to stop corruption?
key and Paul can chime in on this one too.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:05 pm
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:00 pm
I am confused about the “up front” quote since not a penney was cut at this time.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:08 pm
getalife – Bosch
[[Paul
August 23rd, 2011
12:08 pm
[[getalife
August 23rd, 2011
12:01 pm
kay,
Deflection and no personal responsibility.
Figures.
getalife you really are a bit of a retard, you know?]]
wasn’t me.
If we’ve a new blogger who picked the same moniker, I’ll let it pass. Otherwise, I’ll see if AJC’ll send him to Elba.
So, Paul at 12:08. You new here?
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:09 pm
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:05 pm
I am still waiting for some one to tell me what happened to the TARP funds and the Stimulous funds that were left over? Obama’s pocket?
Left wing management
August 23rd, 2011
1:09 pm
Thomas: “Absolutely not in the majority of business which is in fact small and mid size. Confidence as to buying and hiring are the main drivers.”
I think that’s what I said, no? I said the main driver is consumer confidence, i.e. aggregate demand. Consumers aren’t spending. Hence no need for companies – unless you’re multlinational and doing business in emerging markets – to hire/expand.
“But the gap you speak of plays no part in the decision making of the small to mid size company.”
The gap I’m speaking of — betw corporate earnings and worker wages – is an issue of social justice. But ultimately it has real economic consequences too. Impoverished populations don’t provide for lucrative markets.
DawgDag: We’re not all that far apart here, in one sense. The stop-gap stimulus programs of Bush/Obama were pitiful, just a pittance of what was needed. Don’t stick a few dollars in people’s pockets, give them a job, even if it’s relatively low-paying. But more than that what they need is serious forgiven debt. Get them out of their mortgages. As for the other part of your response — reversing off-shoring — for that we need a manufacturing policy. But we can’t have that without a political consensus with the will to challenge vested interests who are really just fine with the status quo.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
1:09 pm
Mighty Righty
You forgot about the “W”’s.
Don’t you care?
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:10 pm
@@
Seems to me VP Biden was using diplomatic-speak to take a swipe at the Chinese, telling them that for all their recent criticism of the US, they’re in a worse long-term situation.
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:11 pm
New national debt data: It’s growing about $3 million a minute, even during his vacation
Numbers with that many digits are hard to grasp, even for a Harvard head. So, let’s put it another way:
One billion seconds ago Bill Clinton was nearing the end of his two terms and George W. Bush’s baseball collection was still on the shelves in the Austin governor’s office.
The nation’s debt increased $4.9 trillion under President Bush too, btw. But it took him 2,648 days to do it. Obama will surpass that sum during this term.
Obama is saying yes, we can get control of the national debt. But ominously every time he says that he adds that trillions of dollars in infrastructure repairs are badly needed across the country. And with interest rates so low, according to the thinking on Obama’s planet, now is an excellent time to borrow even more money.
So, it looks like not too long before Americans learn what comes after 1,000 trillions.
It’s quadrillion. But for Bernanke’s sake, please don’t tell anyone in Washington.
Cute!
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:12 pm
Paul,
My first thought was is that Paul calling me a retard?
I apologize for calling you out.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
getalife
No need to apologize. You could only go with the data you had.
Big difference between you and other bloggers – you get new information, you change your mind. And you apologize, even when you weren’t solely responsible.
Thanks.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
MR,
Have you researched your question or just blame the President in a knee jerk reaction?
The facts show where the money went but you will ignore it.
Midori
August 23rd, 2011
1:15 pm
Paul – for the record, I knew that wasn’t you who called Getalife a retard.
You have more class than that. And a better vocabulary.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:17 pm
Paul,
I should have known it was out of your character.
Lets see if a con will admit stealing your name and calling me a retard before Jay bans them.
Take some personal responsibility for this action con.
Who did it?
Man up and admit it.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:18 pm
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
1:09 pm
In case you didn’t understand, my post was about Democrats. But feel free to point out any Bush corruption, if you know of any. I don’t so help me out. I really can’t think of any.
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2011
1:20 pm
(Oft topic.)
A bit of history from Gallup, posted without comment.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/149114/Obama-Close-Race-Against-Romney-Perry-Bachmann-Paul.aspx
——
In August 1999, Texas Gov. George W. Bush led Vice President Al Gore by 55% to 41% in a Gallup trial heat poll. That race ended up in a virtual dead heat, with Gore ultimately winning slightly more of the national popular vote than Bush.
In August 1995, Kansas Sen. Bob Dole was slightly ahead of President Bill Clinton in a Gallup poll, 48% to 46%. On Election Day 1996, Clinton beat Dole by eight points.
In August 1983, President Ronald Reagan was ahead of Democrat Walter Mondale by only one point, 44% to 43%. Reagan went on to beat Mondale in a 59% to 41% landslide in the November 1984 election.
In August 1979, incumbent President Jimmy Carter was tied with former California Gov. Reagan — each getting 45% of the vote. Reagan ultimately defeated Carter by 10 points.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:20 pm
Midori
Thanks.
getalife
I’ve asked he be sent to Elba. I doubt he’ll man up. Courage and responsibility are unknown concepts.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:20 pm
MR,
Did you steal Paul’s name and call me a retard?
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
1:23 pm
Uncle Jed — “In my experience in such roles, there exists a much higher degree of job volatility; responsibilty; stress; and accountability. Those positions merit higher compensation packages.”
I fail to see how golden parachutes and sky-high compensation packages are justifiable in the cases of CEOs who have flown their companies into the ground or who needed government bailouts to stay in business.
I also don’t have a problem with reasonable compensation for corporate executives, but I don’t think that a very large proportion of those executives are reasonably compensated.
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
1:25 pm
LWM – “But more than that what they need is serious forgiven debt.”
_______________________________________________________
That certainly teaches financial responsibility…so the more irresponsible the debt the bigger the reward?
I might go for better or longer terms but forgive the debt?…No!
You borrowed it, you pay it back…It’s just how I was raised
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
1:25 pm
Mighty Righty
So was mine…..too funny.
did it part your hair when it went over your head?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:26 pm
RB,
Was it you?
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
1:26 pm
mm
August 23rd, 2011
12:45 pm
+++++++++++++
With how many business owners did you have the discussion I mentioned? You declare BS, but you may be basing your declaration on DA. (let’s just go with “didn’t ask”).
You see, there actually is some demand and subsequent hiring, albeit weak. My point, which I think you and others may have missed in haste, was that permanent/full-time (benefits) employment is just way down the crapper. Some companies are growing, but not hiring robustly. There are cases where owners and their families are working more hours to cover the need and as I said, they are relying on part-time and contract employees. These don’t have much, if any effect on the labor statistics.
Peter
August 23rd, 2011
1:27 pm
WOW ……. WOODSTOCK MIKE…….. Typically you have more then just the Blah Blah you posted today….must be a lazy day !
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:28 pm
kay, jed, jm?
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
1:28 pm
Joe Mama – “I fail to see how golden parachutes and sky-high compensation packages are justifiable in the cases of CEOs who have flown their companies into the ground or who needed government bailouts to stay in business.”
__________________________________________
I’m sure those are the terms of the contract…is it smart…Don’t know, but they have a contract which should be honored…
stands for decibels
August 23rd, 2011
1:28 pm
That certainly teaches financial responsibility…so the more irresponsible the debt the bigger the reward?
That’s been the message we’ve been sending to the banksters for the past three years, yep.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:29 pm
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
I don’t have proof of Obama’s dishonesty or for that matter believe he embezzeled. That did get your attention though. But, there is in fact money unaccounted for and he is the man in charge and is therefore responsible.
Spade is a spade
August 23rd, 2011
1:30 pm
Good to see the Repubs are catching up to the Dems in shenanigans. A balanced ticket. Vote Libertarian, you wont’ find too many of them being greased by lobbyists as Dems/Repubs are.
Mr. Bookman, I must ask…how did you write about Dems for how they ran everything prior to the 2000s? Human rights abuses aside, didn’t they have a few ethical lapses while running this wonderful state for 140 years after they lost the war to keep humans in slavery?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:30 pm
MR,
Did you steal Paul’s name?
Left wing management
August 23rd, 2011
1:31 pm
Schrodinger’s cat: “That certainly teaches financial responsibility…so the more irresponsible the debt the bigger the reward?
I might go for better or longer terms but forgive the debt?…No!
You borrowed it, you pay it back…It’s just how I was raised”
Responsibility only has a bite if you’re a regular citizen. After the tightened bankruptcy laws of several years back it’s now vastly easier for a corporation to dump its debt (send its debtors packing) and start over than it is for the average citizen.
But hey, that’s business as usual in the plutocracy.
Soothsayer
August 23rd, 2011
1:32 pm
Poll: Americans blame Bush for bad economy by wide margin
By a wide margin, more Americans blame former President George W. Bush for the national economic outlook than they do President Barack Obama, according to a new poll.
Numbers out of Quinnipiac University Thursday morning [July 27, 2011] indicated that 54 percent of Americans say Bush is to blame for exploding the federal deficit and swelling unemployment, whereas just 27 percent believe it is President Obama’s fault.
Those figures are bad news for Republicans, who are hoping to hang the nation’s poor economic state around the president to defeat him in 2012.
By and large, Americans told Quinnipiac that they trust Obama on the economy more than congressional Republicans, despite a growing dissatisfaction. Fourty-five percent also said they trust the president to help the U.S. economy, versus 38 percent who believe Republicans could do a better job.
It’s amazing how the public “get’s it,” but the Righties on this blog crow and strut. I wouldn’t be measuring the White House for those drapes just yet.
Adam
August 23rd, 2011
1:32 pm
Uncle Jed: I refuse to accept the premise that only folks earning less than $106k spend money.
Not what I said, and not what I meant to imply. However, you can certainly agree that MOST of the people who make less than that DO spend money, even if they’re not the only ones. And if you rely on actual data, the further up you go in income levels, the less money is spent and the more money is saved.
However, if more liquid assets in the economy create activity, a point on which we agree, then why not infuse the economy with more, and not less?
For the same reason you don’t flood any market with anything. It has to be done reasonably.
I would submit that lower taxes and regulatory certainty do more to help create jobs than $600 bucks in someone’s wallet or a nominal rollback in the payroll tax.
They don’t. The evidence on that has been clear for some time now.
The way it gets played is that the poor hourly sob is getting screwed by the evil corporations and the fat cats (anyone earning more than the oppressed) aren’t paying their “fair” share, thus meaning the little guy is carrying the burden of supporting the society and government functions. That is simply poppycock.
The fact that this particular argument doesn’t hold water does NOT mean that those who have more than they ever have, and are NOT in a bad position, should pay less to the government, or that because this argument is false, the opposite muist be true and it’s really the poor that’s not paying their fair share. Those two suggestions I just mentioned are ACTUAL class warfare.
If you know some small business owners (that covers some sizable entities), ask them if they are comfortable with hiring right now.
Non-sequiter. Taxes would have to be cut so low that they account for hiring at least one person, part time. No tax cuts have ever done that for a small business. Small business owners are not comfortable hiring for reasons other than taxes and regulation. Those two things have nothing to do with the hiring decisions of a small business.
Talking Head: The only true way to increase revenues is for the economy to start growing again. Having better than sub 3% GDP growth for starters…
I disagree. I think that will increase revenue, yes, but it’s not the only way to increase revenue, and does nothing for the short term.
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:34 pm
Paul:
Seems to me VP Biden was using diplomatic-speak to take a swipe at the Chinese
You bustin’ at the “seems” with speculation.
For all his faults, I still like Joe. Not an elitist bone in his body.
=============================
I was visiting Michael Tomasky’s blog. Low and behold, self-proclaimed leftists were calling for Jon Huntsman to challenge Obama in the primaries. Why? Because he’s willing to compromise and embraces cap and trade.
I guess they’re willing to overlook this:
It’s not completely implausible, and it does provide the occasion to make a point that needs making from time to time in this poisonous political culture. I enjoy political combat as much as the next guy, but I really do wish that there were more than three or four Republican moderates out there. Huntsman is hardly even a moderate—his beliefs on taxation, for example, are a long way from progressive. As Utah governor, he replaced six state income-tax brackets ranging from 2.3 to 7 percent with one rate of 5 percent, meaning that he lowered taxes on higher-income Utahans and raised taxes on lower-income residents. And he has said he wants a federal flat tax, which would almost surely end up starving the government of even more money and would by its nature be regressive. A man who grew up in the comfort provided by his father’s successful vision for egg cartons isn’t suddenly going to turn into Bob Reich.
Remember: at the recent Fox News debate, when the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they would oppose a long-term budget deal that cut $10 for every single dollar it raised in revenue, Huntsman’s hand shot up just like Mitt Romney’s and Newt Gingrich’s did. There are some forms of standing out he is clearly not willing to do, and let’s keep focused on those, because liberals are too easily won over (as he surely knows) by Republicans who sound reasonable on cultural issues.
Huntsman was Ambassador to China, and yet, he still embraces cap & trade. It’s a lost cause.
Diplomacy AND compromise are highly overrated.
Huntsman to challenge Obama? I say go for it.
schnirt
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
1:34 pm
“After the tightened bankruptcy laws of several years back it’s now vastly easier for a corporation to dump its debt (send its debtors packing) and start over than it is for the average citizen. ”
=======================================
The actions or inactions of others have no bearing on my personal accountability or integrity…I make that decision/choice..If I borrowed it and promised to pay it back…guess what?..I will
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:35 pm
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:20 pm
Didn’t steal his name but then can’t disagree with him/her either.
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
1:36 pm
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
1:23 pm
++++++++++++
Not attempting to parse words or divert in any way, as I feel I have addressed queries to my post, but I see a notable distinction between CEO’s and corporate managament. I would agree that some of the CEO packages clearly should raise eyebrows, but as another poster noted, there are usually contractual arrangements dealing with CEO compensation. Fair enough?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:37 pm
Paul,
You are right.
The coward will not step up.
I am sure he or she will be outed soon so he or she should go ahead and admit it.
Apologize and not get banned.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:38 pm
MR,
I feel the same way about you.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:39 pm
@@
you write “Hard to comprehend was Joe’s sayin’. Is he advocating one child per family in the U.S. or is he saying we need more young people to sustain our entitlement programs?”
then when you get someone’s opinion on what VP Biden meant, your response is “You bustin’ at the “seems” with speculation.”
o-kaaaaay……….
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:40 pm
Getalife:
Lets see if a con will admit stealing your name and calling me a retard before Jay bans them.
PoliFore never liked you. He’s no con…a namejacker?
Ooohhh yeah!
Left wing management
August 23rd, 2011
1:41 pm
By the way, dB, I love how that one suggestion — forgiving of debts — almost more than any other, gets howls of protest from the promoters of personal responsibility.
As thought the entire system as it now exists is not based on the systematic removal of “moral hazard” from the highest places and its transfer to the backs of ordinary taxpayers and consumers.
By the way, it occurs to me that the progressives / liberals are missing a huge avenue not turning this into a watchword: contra Citizens United! If corporations are people, then ALL people need the same access to bankruptcy that corporations do.
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
1:41 pm
Jay @11:24 am
And this is proof, to a degree, that the tax code (i.e., the Obama née Bush tax cuts) are not *the* problem. Tax revenues in 2007 reached all-time highs in absolute dollars and were strong at 18.5% GDP, all this under virtually the identical tax code as we had in 2010 which led to 14.9% GDP (down about half-a-trillion dollars from 2007 in absolute terms).
Changing the tax code (increasing rates) doesn’t fix the economy or necessarily bring in more revenue (and almost certainly won’t bring in as much as promised by a static model). But fixing the economy will bring in more revenue.
Of course, there’s not enough revenue to be had to satisfy the gaping maw of Government at this point, it seems.
captguitarman
August 23rd, 2011
1:41 pm
Great column, Jay. There you have Georgia’s cards right there on the table. Read ‘em and weep, Georgia. This is similar to a post I made a few days ago, but worth repeating. During the King Roy years that featured a Dem controlled state house (terrified of the inevitable Pub onslaught they saw in their rear view mirrors) created the “elephant ears” district that neutralized the huge Pub presence in North Georgia, and a 300 mile long “snake” district in central Georgia that did the same thing. It was infuriating and as a cocky Dem legislator wagged, “Political down to your toenails.” I was naieve for me to think then that once the Pubs gained power, they would govern with a much more noble and high-minded purpose — with the intention of moving the entire state of Georgia and and the lives of all of its citizens, regardless of party affiliation, forward. Like I said, I was naieve. I guess it will take Reconstruction politics another several decades to finally dissipate here, as Georgia, once a leading New South falls further behind while better governed neighboring states move ahead. Obviously, the most important thing now is exacting revenge, Karma, pay backs. And reaping the spoils of victory as now “bullet proof” legislators and executive and administrative types demonstrate their now unlimited power to do whatever they want to do. The really sad thing is in these tough times, blowing the opportunity to establish a new and more modern and progressive political order for Georgia (and I don’t mean “progressive” in the sense that the liberals, who have wrongly highjacked that word, now apply it to themselves — so they don’t have to refer to themselves as liberals in public). Nope. What we have here is Georgia politics – down to its toe nails – in which the only change from the King Roy years has been to remove all Dem baseball caps, t-shirts, lapel pins, bumper stickers, etc. and replace them with Pub baseball caps, t-shirts, lapel pins, and bumper stickers. Other than that, it’s still ‘jes good ol’ boys and good ol’ gals doin’ bidness.
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
1:42 pm
S. Cat — “I’m sure those are the terms of the contract…is it smart…Don’t know, but they have a contract which should be honored…”
I daresay that many of our contributors here would have no problem disposing of a *union* contract. One wonders how an argument defending the inviolability of executive employment contracts could stand together with an argument demanding the severability of union employment contracts.
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:42 pm
“Don’t know, but they have a contract which should be honored…”
as go unions
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:42 pm
@@,
pf was banned.
I am guessing it was jm because he thought it was funny.
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:43 pm
Oops! “Don’t know, but they have a contract which should be honored…”
as DO unions
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:43 pm
Paul:
I wasn’t looking for an opinion, just thinking out loud.
Don’t be so sensitive.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:43 pm
@@
“Huntsman was Ambassador to China, and yet, he still embraces cap & trade.”
I believe you may call it parsing, or minutiae, or hair-splitting, but ’still’ means now. Present tense.
He does not now support cap n trade.
Did (past tense). Not still (present tense). Will? (future tense) who knows?
“So cap-and-trade is not something that is viable today,” Huntsman told Fox News.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/167925-huntsman-cap-and-trade-at-odds-with-todays-reality
Left wing management
August 23rd, 2011
1:44 pm
Schrodingers cat: “The actions or inactions of others have no bearing on my personal accountability or integrity…I make that decision/choice..If I borrowed it and promised to pay it back…guess what?..I will”
Then that’s to your credit. But your personal sense of responsibility is not really at issue. What I’m arguing is that the moral hazard of the system at large has in recent years been systematically transferred to the backs of the less privileged, less well-connected.
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
1:44 pm
Uncle Jed — “Not attempting to parse words or divert in any way, as I feel I have addressed queries to my post, but I see a notable distinction between CEO’s and corporate managament. I would agree that some of the CEO packages clearly should raise eyebrows, but as another poster noted, there are usually contractual arrangements dealing with CEO compensation. Fair enough?”
I appreciate your willingness to engage me on this topic in a polite and collegial way.
Perhaps you’d see my immediately previous post, addressed to S. Cat, please?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:46 pm
@@,
I am sensitive.
Your thoughts on a con stealing Paul’s name and calling me a retard?
I thought you did not like that word yet you say nothing.
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:46 pm
@@
“I wasn’t looking for an opinion, just thinking out loud.”
You post on a public blog but aren’t looking for anyone to respond?!!?
Have you tried Microsoft Word? Temp folders?
Adam
August 23rd, 2011
1:46 pm
As for CEO salaries and packages, the Nintendo 3DS undersold, and in order to compensate for the loss of revenue, the CEO took a 50% pay cut.
WHAAAAAAT? Yes, personal responsibility for your company. The CEO at Nintendo knows what it means. Apparently CEOs in this country don’t.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
1:48 pm
Left Wing Management
Now there’s an idea.
If corporations are people, the people are corporations.
The Family G, Inc.
I want tax breaks for when we build our new retirement home.
(Getting ready for the counties to fight over us!)
I want to depreciate my washer, dryer, cars, trucks, mowers, etc….all equipment required to run my corporation.
I want to deduct the salaries paid to the CFO and CEO (Me and Mr G)
I want to drop unlimited cash on candidates.
I only want to pay 15% tax on all our income.
I want to right off capital losses.
I want to deduct entertaining costs and travel costs and gift costs.
I wanna be a coporation!
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:48 pm
Will it pass, will it pass?
“Members of the Georgia House who are delinquent in paying ethics fines would be stripped of their committee assignments under a proposal by Republican leadership”
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/lawmakers-who-dont-pay-1132959.html
John Galt
August 23rd, 2011
1:49 pm
The GOP’s behavior has been poor, and it needs to be cleaned up. The fact that it is no where near the ethics swamp of Tom Murphey’s and Terry Coleman’s legislatures is not an acceptable excuse for it.
However, despite the lapses that Jay loves to recall they ARE pretty much invincible, which speaks even more poorly of the dems than the GOP-
Paul
August 23rd, 2011
1:50 pm
Granny 1:48
I like it when I read original ideas.
Way to go!
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:50 pm
Latest Gallop Poll
Presidential Job ApprovalObama’s Weekly Job Approval at 40%, Lowest of Administration
Obama drops to 39% Aug. 11-13, lowest three-day average to date
August 15, 2011
President Obama’s job approval rating dropped to 40% during the week spanning Aug. 8-14, the lowest weekly average of his administration. Obama’s three-day average fell to a new low of 39% for Aug. 11-13, marking the first time this average has been below 40% since he took office.
Steve - B.
August 23rd, 2011
1:50 pm
Doggone/GA @ 1:48
There you go. The Republicans are pushing for accountability. I guess Jay scared them.
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:51 pm
“I like it when I read original ideas.
Way to go”
It caught my eye too!
Anne
August 23rd, 2011
1:51 pm
They are full of themselves, they promise you the moon to get elected. I for one will vote against every single one of them. Retired so I have all the time in the world to campaign against them.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
1:51 pm
Paul
I am an IDEA Granny to be sure…..
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:51 pm
“The Republicans are pushing for accountability”
Well…let’s say they’re suggesting it. It still remains to be seen if they’ll actually PASS the darn thing.
Mary Elizabeth
August 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
Mighty Righty@ 1:01
Your mentioned 7 individuals, some of whom did nothing illegal. Be that as it may, no one is saying that there is not individual corruption in society-at-large, including within all political parties.
However, the below statement, from the article above, does not simply address individual corruption; it also poses a very relevant question that causes citizens to wonder about possible corruption of the banking industry, itself, in Georgia. That sweeping possibility is even more disturbing to consider, although no corruption in the public’s interest should be overlooked:
————————
“Not surprisingly, neither Morris nor Murphy has shown interest in investigating why Georgia continues to lead the nation in bank failures or whether the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, charged with regulating state-chartered banks, failed in its duties. Given that 17 of the nation’s 68 bank failures in 2011 have occurred here in Georgia, costing the FDIC a total of $1.549 billion so far this year, their studied avoidance of the problem is appalling.”
Steve - B.
August 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
Granny – I am sure you have plenty of deductions when you file your taxes.
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
LMW
contracts usually have limits and when those limits are reached, they can be renegotiated…What you had in the past doesn’t matter…If the firm/corp lowers compensation…the CEO’s and unions have the same choice…accept the new contract or look for work elsewhere….but to riot and carry on because the new package isn’t as good as the old one is stupid and nonproductive
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:53 pm
“but to riot and carry on because the new package isn’t as good as the old one is stupid and nonproductive”
when has that happened?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:53 pm
@@,
Crickets…….
Very disappointed in you.
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:54 pm
“I am sure you have plenty of deductions when you file your taxes.”
Not a given. I don’t know about Granny, but the only one *I* get is my personal deduction. There are NO others that I can use.
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
1:55 pm
Bosch 11:57 am: correct me if I’m wrong, the only new spending we have since Clinton is the new Medicare entitlement plan passed under Bush and paying off the wars. We haven’t added any real new spending since then. The increase in spending has been due to paying on the debt interest.
Well, there was $870B or so in stimulus funding, plus TARP. Medicare Doc fix got put off again, so that’s what $250B? Mr Obama and Democratic Congress didn’t expire the Bush tax cuts when they were set to expire (and you guys count foregoing revenue as an expenditure, right?). There’s also Mr. Obama’s making work pay tax credits, and the “temporary” suspension of part of SS taxes. Several programs have been expanded in scope and spending levels (e.g. new SNAP program, also SCHIP expanded to what 300% poverty line?). And we’ve not yet begun to pay for “Obamacare” as it is commonly called (although we have started collecting some of the taxes from it).
@@
August 23rd, 2011
1:55 pm
Getalife:
PoliFore returned last night. jm’s on today. I don’t think they’re the same person but what do I know?
Retard? jay’s team loves the word…who am I to deny them their pleasures?
Paul:
There’s one thing about my husband that I do not like. He’s always in debate mode. Only thing that’ll dissuade him is when I go into dessert mode.
I’m off to Azerbaijan. Iran’s issuing warnings.
Steve - B.
August 23rd, 2011
1:56 pm
Doggone/GA
No Charitable contributions? I am surprised by that.
mm
August 23rd, 2011
1:57 pm
@@,
New national debt data: It’s growing about $3 million a minute, even during Congress’ vacation
There, fixed your typo.
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
1:59 pm
@@,
Again, very disappointed.
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
1:59 pm
Bosch @11:57: “The increase in spending has been due to paying on the debt interest.”
Well that’s also a part of it, but we’ve been rolling over Treasuries into all-time low rates for new notes. I mean, part of what we’ve been doing is issuing low-rate T-bills to replace higher-rate T-bills that have been maturing, so interest rates on the debt are really at or close to all-time lows. However, since the debt itself is at all-time highs, the amount of interest being paid is a problem.
Seems to me that is prime indicator that the first rule of holes needs to be obeyed as the first step to solving the problem.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
1:59 pm
LWM-I must be priviledged and well connected because no one has transferred anything to my back. How about your back? Has anyone transferred something to your back?
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
2:00 pm
Aquagirl @11:51 am: Thanks for clarifying.
@@
August 23rd, 2011
2:01 pm
Getalife:
Do you really want a woman fighting your battles for you?
Wouldn’t wanna ruin your stud status.
(ISH)
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:02 pm
Just sayin’ Dog….maybe no rioting (stateside) but certainly a lot of carrying-on
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:02 pm
No @@,
I thought you would fight using that word because of your job.
I was wrong and disappointed in you.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:05 pm
Steve B
So damn what?
I should have all the same rights and priveleges as a corporation.
I call for a new ERAfPwaC….Equal Rights Amendment for People who are
Corporations!
I really could stand to depreciate the old hot tub….the pump is starting to sound like a Harley.
Midori
August 23rd, 2011
2:07 pm
my granddaughter just called me — they had an earthquake in DC
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:08 pm
I should have all the same rights and priveleges (sic) as a corporation.
Why?
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
2:09 pm
S. Cat — “If the firm/corp lowers compensation…the CEO’s and unions have the same choice…accept the new contract or look for work elsewhere….”
Examples of CEOs being faced with that decision, please?
Examples of US CEOs pay being reduced, please?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:09 pm
Midori,
5.8 in Virginia.
They thought it was bomb in DC.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:10 pm
pentagon being evacuated….
JOE C00L
August 23rd, 2011
2:10 pm
“Granny – I am sure you have plenty of deductions when you file your taxes.”
but, but, but, i thought liberals dont pay taxes….
silly me
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:11 pm
Sorry Joe, I don’t have time to be your research assistant, but to think it hasn’t happened is foolhardy
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:12 pm
Mr. Cat
Why?
Cuz people are corporations and so I am a coporation.
Turn about is fair play.
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
2:13 pm
S. Cat — “Why?”
Because the Constitution protects *my* rights. The last time I checked, there was nothing in it about protecting the rights of corporations.
If there’s a cogent and Constitutionally-supported case to be made for the rights of corporations to supersede the rights of individuals, I haven’t heard it yet. And I remain skeptical that it exists.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:13 pm
Oooooooo a blog mystery AND an earthquake at the Pentagon. Fun day indeed!
Paul,
I totally thought it was you who called getalife a retard. The Magic Calendar never lies.