House leaders try to squash ethics reform
Here’s how the scenario was supposed to play out:
State Rep. Tommy Smith, a Republican from Nicholls in southeast Georgia, was supposed to go to the House well Tuesday to announce introduction of a long-awaited ethics-reform bill, which includes a $100 gift limit. Smith planned to use the occasion to invite fellow legislators to come to his desk on the House floor to sign on as co-sponsors of the legislation.
Never happened.
Despite a strong lobbying effort from the Tea Party and other conservative grassroots groups in favor of the bill, not a single one of Smith’s fellow Republicans was willing to defy House Speaker David Ralston by publicly supporting the legislation.
As a result, the public signing ceremony was canceled and the legislation was introduced later in the day without fanfare and with only one solitary Republican, Smith, listed as sponsor.
Officially, only one Democrat — state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver of Decatur — is listed as a co-sponsor, but there’s a story there as well.
Apparently, more than a few House Democrats had volunteered to sign onto the bill. However, supporters understood that a long list of Democratic co-sponsors could do them more harm than good by making it easier to portray the bill as partisan legislation. So Oliver’s name is the only one listed.
And yes, that’s ridiculous in light of the strong support expressed for the bill by Tea Party groups, Georgia Right to Life, the Eagle Forum and the Christian Coalition, among others. But political attacks don’t have to be factual to be effective.
(In the nonpartisan spirit in which this legislation was crafted, I should acknowledge that it is easier for Democrats to embrace such legislation. As the party out of power, they are not generally the target of lobbyist courting and thus have less to lose by a gift limit).
In another sign of just how strongly Ralston opposes the bill, the speaker did not assign it to any of the committees of usual jurisdiction. He didn’t give it to the Ethics Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee or either of the two judiciary committees, where the bill could at least theoretically be given a hearing on its merits.
Taking no chances whatsoever, he assigned it to the House Rules Committee, which will never hold a hearing on its merits and where such bills are kept under lock and key, never to be heard from again.
In other words, it doesn’t matter to Ralston that 72 percent of Georgians and 82 percent of Republicans have told pollsters that they support a gift limit. It doesn’t matter that legislators in every surrounding state have imposed gift limits or outright bans on themselves, often after a major scandal has shamed them into it. It doesn’t matter that an impressive bipartisan coalition of groups have joined together to champion the reform.
What matters is that our elected leaders have decided that they like accepting gifts. They believe as a result of their wonderfulness they are entitled to be showered with trips, meals, parties, golf outings, etc. And they’re pretty much defying the people of Georgia to do anything about it.
So … whatcha gonna do about it?
P.S. A list of Georgia House members is available here.
– Jay Bookman
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151 comments Add your comment
Cobb Mom
January 26th, 2012
6:59 am
It’s lovely to hope that Ralston’s constituents will not re-elect him based on this alone, at face value makes him look corrupt. BUT, having the speaker as your representative is a guarantee of getting goodies in your district. Too bad that greed among the populace will win out over values and the greater good.
Bruno
January 26th, 2012
7:02 am
Good work, Jay.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
7:02 am
“So … whatcha gonna do about it?”
well, I’m sure some are going to comment, anonymously, on a democrat blog…and probably use some witty term like the “conned” or “repugnican”…it takes a village, jay, and you sir, are their “Big Toe”.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
7:04 am
oh, and I agree with your column.
Normal
January 26th, 2012
7:08 am
What do you expect them to do? They don’t want to kill the golden goose, now do they?
USinUK
January 26th, 2012
7:09 am
LOVE Mary Margaret Oliver … thought she rocked the joint when I worked there, glad she’s still working hard for the people of the Great State of Georgia.
John
January 26th, 2012
7:14 am
Jay, you are not hating on the Tea Party as usual. Why the change?
Jay
January 26th, 2012
7:15 am
John, I’ve never hated on them. When I’ve strongly disagreed with them, I’ve said so. When I agree with them, I’ll say that too.
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2012
7:16 am
Granny Godzilla, if you’re around for this–you asked what kind of response I got from the six individuals I’d politely emailed with specific pleas to address this issue? To whom I’d said in essence, “both left-leaning and right-leaning columnists from the AJC agree that this is a sensible approach to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest and restore some faith among voters in the integrity of our legislative process?”
The answer is: nothin’. Not one reply. Not even an auto-reply to acknowledge receipt.
Guess we’ve gotta call them and annoy the people who answer their phones if we’re going to get noticed. What a pain.
Jack
January 26th, 2012
7:19 am
“…greed among the populace…”: You have hit the nail right on its little old head. Greed is the reason for our present “economic downturn” as it’s called.
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2012
7:20 am
ty, may I ask what you have done, so far?
I’m going to have a pretty full plate today but during their office hours, if I can nip away and make a call or three today during a break, I will. How about you?
ragnar danneskjold
January 26th, 2012
7:24 am
Not an issue that I care about. GA has too many laws on the books already.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
7:25 am
sfd,
sure, as I’ve recently relocated to TX(meaning I don’t live in Georgia anymore, and these people don’t represent me), I’ve done nothing but contribute a little snark here on the blog.
Normal
January 26th, 2012
7:26 am
ragnar doesn’t care about ethics? Hmmmm…
Aquagirl
January 26th, 2012
7:28 am
Wow, that went over like a lead balloon. Congrats to those who joined Jay in his tilting at windmills.Y’all feel better?
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2012
7:28 am
I don’t live in Georgia anymore, and these people don’t represent me
fair enough. You and Paul have your hands full with your own Lone Star schmuckery.
All u need is love
January 26th, 2012
7:29 am
Was that last line a nod to Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straits?
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
7:30 am
sfd,
you’re right about that.
Normal
January 26th, 2012
7:32 am
Attitudes like ragnar’s are what got us into this pickle. Sure we already have laws on the books, but doesn’t it bother you just a little that they are being ignored best case or subverted worst case?
What does that tell you about your personal ethics?
Jay
January 26th, 2012
7:32 am
Aqua, the situation looks considerably better in the Senate, and if a good-government bill can be passed in that chamber, it increases the pressure on the House considerably.
Ayn Rant
January 26th, 2012
7:32 am
Politicians are, by nature, ethically challenged. They have to lie and cheat to get elected.
Asking a politican to become ethical is like asking him to give up campaign funds and political favors.
Aren’t campaign contributions just legalized bribes? Aren’t a politican’s requests for campaign funds and favors just legalized extortion? Are the hordes of lobbyists that swarm around the Capitol when the Legislature is in session just “concerned citizens”?
Aquagirl
January 26th, 2012
7:44 am
and if a good-government bill can be passed in that chamber, it increases the pressure on the House considerably
We tried campaign finance reform at the national level and now Newt is getting $5 million checks. This is the same Newt who screwed up his own announcement entering the race because he traveled on a corporate-paid plane. The same Newt who made obscene amounts of money as a historian. And the same Newt who is stomping Romney by sheer populism. People obviously don’t have a problem with bought and paid for politicians.
Ban $50 lunches and the rich will find another way to give politicians money for re-election, “fact-finding” missions or whatever.
Stupid sheeple voters = unethical representatives. Pimp any law you like, the results will be the same.
5-0
January 26th, 2012
7:51 am
Dear Aquagirl,
The $5 million check was not to Newt. It was to an unaffiliated group who supports him. There is a difference….
Obscene amounts of money? He wrote books and people bought them….People hired him for his knowledge. You make it sound like a rich uncle gave him gov’t contracts.
Misty Fyed
January 26th, 2012
7:54 am
The problem is most people don’t pay attention to State and Local politics below the level of Governor. Most people I know can’t name their representatives. Every few years they vote simply by looking for who has the R or the D by their name. the pols know this. That’s why so many simply change party when the wind blows the other direction confident that nobody really notices. We can change all this but only when enough people really care enough to scare the politicians by betting involved.
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2012
7:59 am
People hired him for his knowledge.
For his knowledge? Not for his influence? That’s your assertion? Ok.
I have a Champions of Free Enterprise Award I’d love to give you.
(Mind you, this award’s going to involve a bit of shipping and handling… around 500 ought to cover it.)
Mary Elizabeth
January 26th, 2012
8:00 am
I will call members of of the General Assembly to urge passage of the Ethics Reform Bill –
RIGHT AFTER I urge them to stop the passage of House Resolution 1162, sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R – Milton), which is in response to the Supreme Court ruling last year that rendered the state Charter School Commission unconstitutional; essentially the state had no right to approve special charter schools that move local public education dollars without local board of education approval.
The proposed amendment allows special charter schools to petition the state for charter status and access local school dollars. This resolution was introduced yesterday at the State Capitol in concert with School Choice Day.
IF PASSED HR 1162 WOULD ALTER THE CONSTITUTION AND ALLOW PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT OPERATE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO SYPHON LOCAL TAX DOLLARS WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERSIGHT, WITHOUT ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND WITHOUT EDUCATOR CRITERIA CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
(Thomas Jefferson would be appalled because, in my opinion, this resolution is a strong attempt by the Republican majority legislators to further dismantle public schools, of which Jefferson was a strong supporter. The resolution leads to private sector control over the education of Georgia’s students – not a healthy proposition in that students could be used for profit and/or for propaganda. Jefferson felt that public schools, paid for by taxes on all citizens to educate ALL young citizens, were the foundation of our Democratic Republic because public schools would not be controlled by special interests. Jefferson wanted no limits placed on the freedom of thought. Public schools are not bought by anyone. Public schools belong to the public. Improve them; don’t dismantle them. I support charter schools that are allowed by Local School Board approval, but I do not support charter schools that are allowed by this Statewide Charter School Commission.)
Here is how HR1162 would read, if on the ballot in November. I wonder how many other Republican majority state General Assemblies are pushing a similar resolution, and I wonder what ideological forces might be behind this effort to dismantle public education?
Below is the language of that Resolution. The words sound innocuous. Don’t be fooled.
============================================
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended for the purpose of raising student achievement by allowing state and local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?” YES or NO
================================================
STATUS: This resolution was just put on the agenda to be heard in the House Education Committee today (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m. in Room 506 in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB). This bill is expected to move through committee today.
Hopefully it will not. When you call to support the ethics reform bill, also voice disapproval of Resolution 1162. Thank you.
Atlanta Mom
January 26th, 2012
8:01 am
As Gomer Pyle would say:
Surprise, surprise
Aquagirl
January 26th, 2012
8:02 am
The $5 million check was not to Newt. It was to an unaffiliated group who supports him.
The end result is the same. You want to pretend the accounting shuffle makes a difference, enjoy your delusion. BTW—unlatching your lips from Newt’s backside might get a little oxygen to your brain and change your thought process.
ragnar danneskjold
January 26th, 2012
8:02 am
Sorry my attitude distresses you leftists. You magnify the urgency of government in our lives, and I regard government control of our lives as a cancer, to be excised, not a growth to be cultivated and managed.
USinUK
January 26th, 2012
8:05 am
“and I regard government control of our lives as a cancer, to be excised, not a growth to be cultivated and managed”
ohsweetjeebus … my eyeballs just rolled so far back in my head, I could see most of my major organs …
Fly-on-the-Wall
January 26th, 2012
8:06 am
It’s a sad state of affairs but something I think most people have just come to accept. A friend of mine told me once about a saying his grandfather had – ‘If you vote out the current office holders you’ll just be replacing the old crooks with new crooks”
I’ll place a call but with the full knowledge that it will not change one thing.
DannyX
January 26th, 2012
8:10 am
This really shows just how weak the Tea Party is in Georgia. They made a lot of noise going after Obama on the national level yet they have absolutely no influence over the Good Ol’ Boys here at home.
RIP Tea Party.
Fly-on-the-Wall
January 26th, 2012
8:10 am
Mary E. – thanks for the update. Privatization will be the ruin of this nation.
Normal
January 26th, 2012
8:11 am
I think I finally have ragnar figured out…he’s an anarchist…
md
January 26th, 2012
8:13 am
Although I have no use for any type of gifts for favors….I think this Ga issue is a drop in the bucket compared to the insider trading issues going on in Congress.
Do folks know it is illegal to bribe a misfit with say 20k in cash, but not illegal to offer access to an IPO where they would stand to gain 5x that amount…..or that plenty of misfits are cashing in on legislation they pedal/support knowing that the same legislation will have huge impacts on the associated industries and then buy/sell stock in those industries accordingly……
We are being played……..and it isn’t restricted to one side. I’ll give Obama credit for mentioning it, but I think that was more like closing down the lottery after having the winning ticket.
Guy Incognito
January 26th, 2012
8:13 am
Thanx for the #’s Jay. I will be calling.
Bud Wiser
January 26th, 2012
8:13 am
This is yet another reason that government, as essentially a part-time job, can be bought at any level locally through internationally, because of its very structure.
I say pay politicians like athletes, in the millions, and eradicate ALL donations, gifts, and PACs. If the job is so damned good that they want re-elected then let them use their own money, or let whatever comes into DC at the IRS with those $1 ‘contributions’(split 435 ways) that are checkoffs on everyone’s tax forms be their sole sources of re-election campaign coffers.
Come to think of it……. if they can only use that, then perhaps they’d devote more attention to revising the tax code to make it more ‘fair’ and inclusive by having the 50% that currently pay NO income taxes join the party!
Thank you thank you, no need for applause, I already know that is a brilliant idea.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 26th, 2012
8:26 am
The session is not over yet. Keeping the pressure on over and over again is about the only thing that works….
godless heathen
January 26th, 2012
8:27 am
I’ll continue to support the limit on lobbyists’ gifts, but you got to admit that rags has a point. The reason that the lobbyists have incentives to influence the politcos is that government is primarily in the business of picking winners and losers and so if you want to be on the winning side of government’s largess you have to grease the wheels.
Mary Elizabeth
January 26th, 2012
8:29 am
Fly-on-the-Wall @ 8:10 am
“Mary E. – thanks for the update. Privatization will be the ruin of this nation.”
=======================================
Thank you for your voiced support. I just placed my 8 am post on Kyle Wingfield’s blog, also.
You are right privatization will be the ruin of this nation. There must be balance between the private and public sectors in our nation. The business sector should be private. Education MUST remain public, including public charter schools that are public institutions in reality, not in name only, controlled by private interests and private money.
Just observe the lack of quality and success of Florida’s schools once they dismantled public schools. Improve public schools; don’t dismantle them by legislators who are often pawns of higher wealth and power interests, and are not educators, nor do they understand education with the depth of educators.
Thomas
January 26th, 2012
8:29 am
How about a some heavy public rebuke of Hatfield and the judge “ordering” Obama to court. What a great city and state but sometimes we keep getting pulled into the dark ages by our lack of leadership.
Mick
January 26th, 2012
8:35 am
off topic
“Had the Denver Broncos made the Super Bowl, Kornegay said, there would have been a legion of insomniac oddsmakers in Nevada, their dreams haunted by visions of fans in Tim Tebow jerseys lining up to cash gargantuan winning tickets.
The Broncos’ odds were as high as 5,000 to 1 in some places — that’s a $100,000 payout on a $20 bet — and Kornegay said he took numerous bets on them.
“If the Broncos were in the Super Bowl, the lights would definitely be dimmer around this place,” he said. “I’m not even sure we’d be talking right now.”
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
8:36 am
Let’s annoy the crap out of them. I just called the speaker’s office and the girl that answered already was sounding annoyed that I was calling questioning his decisions.
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
8:37 am
Aquagirl 8:02,
Sort of like Bozo getting down on his knees before the SEIU or that 28M dollar contribution to his 2008 campaign. I am not sure what he had his lips around but the payday was not bad.
md
January 26th, 2012
8:38 am
Want an eye opener? Take the time to watch this 60 minutes clip….and as I said, both groups of misfits are playing this game. If nothing else, jump to the 14 min mark and listen to the bit on “political intel”…..ex-misfits patrolling the halls listening for insider info which in turn gets passed on to insiders on “the Street”.
There might be a very good reason the misfits seem to be leaving DC with much more money than when they arrived:
http://www.newsytype.com/13487-congressional-insider-trading/
Adam
January 26th, 2012
8:40 am
But political attacks don’t have to be factual to be effective.
As we well know by now.
stephen
January 26th, 2012
8:40 am
ragnar says Georgia has too many laws on the books already and he doesn’t care? I can think of a better example of, “we get the government we deserve.” Politicians love silence and indifference from their constituents nearly as much as they love gifts. Stay quiet Georgia. Anyway, they’ll probably do the right thing next time.
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
8:41 am
Representative Wilkinson’s office says he hasn’t had time to form an opinion on it yet cause it was only introduced yesterday. They said he’ll call me back. I’m calling BS on both of those.
Adam
January 26th, 2012
8:42 am
Where are the people who say Jay never says anything good about Republicans?
Adam
January 26th, 2012
8:44 am
stephen: Stay quiet Georgia.
It’s fine to talk about this stuff in quiet rooms….
Adam
January 26th, 2012
8:45 am
Heck where are the “How come you’re not writing a story on ______, Jay?” people?
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
8:45 am
Adam, 8:42,
When forced to do the obvious to avoid looking like a dufus, there is little choice.
Adam
January 26th, 2012
8:46 am
Likely excuse kayaker. I wonder if you think the same of when he says something good about Democrats.
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
8:48 am
Adam, 8:46,
Nope.
Curious Observer
January 26th, 2012
8:49 am
I think I finally have ragnar figured out…he’s an anarchist
There’s little difference between modern conservative Republicans, libertarians, and anarchists, Normal. What they have in common is a hatred of government—unless that government supports their side. Anarchists are essentially amoral. They can go to either extreme—from fighting on the side of the leftists in the Spanish civil war to advocating the destruction of entire parts of federal government today. People like Ragnar don’t bother me. Rather, I get bothered when such people are given power over our lives. That’s why this year’s elections are important.
Aquagirl
January 26th, 2012
8:50 am
Sort of like….
……Aaaaand somebody needs their Adderall because they can’t stay on topic.
Barack Obama is the president. If you enjoy the idea of sucking, there’s something for your bitter, dried up, obsessively hateful lips. Mmmmmm! How’s that for breakfast? Better yet, the Republicans are imploding so you can get another four years of your daily Barack allowance. Right down your throat, as you cons are so fond of saying.
You want to use somebody’s post as a lame segue to your daily can’t-contain-yourself anger, you might wanna pick someone else. You don’t want attention that badly.
Tancred
January 26th, 2012
8:54 am
“…because public schools would not be controlled by special interests.”
Hello Mary Elizabeth.
The “public” schools are already controlled by special interests; they are called weatlthy parents, and they live in nice suburbs with nice “public” schools. The poor parents (or in most cases, parent) live in poor neighborhoods with crappy schools. This defacto segregation leads to a two-tier public school system that is a mockery of the Jeffersonian Ideal of having every child eductated to the same level. That said, considering the behavior and “quality” of urban public servants, it’s doubtful that more money will solve the problem.
Basically, I agree with you, but this country is becoming more and more a two-class society, and those of the upper class believe they got there through their own hard work and brilliance; those at the bottom feel it’s more important to have the trappings of “success” (money, clothes, bling, etc.)than any kind of meaningful education. Is there a middle road? I don’t know.
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
8:58 am
Great picture of Jan Brewer with her finger in the middle of Bozo’s chest, lecturing him on border security. Even invited him to tour the border with her and what does he do?….. walk away in mid-sentence. Sort of like his confrontation with Bebe. Any doubt about Bozo’s stand on border security? He doesn’t have one.
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
9:01 am
Jay, are there provisions in state law to recall men like Ralston?
Because unlike rags, many of us are concerned about the imperious criminals who run this state and would like to do something about helping them seek employment in the private sector…
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2012
9:03 am
K 71
Looks like Jan Brewers behaviour was modeled on that of Hilly Holbrook.
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
9:04 am
AmVet – Probably has to go through his district? Just guessing, cause I don’t know for sure, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Gotta say, those NE Georgia Republicans seem much more corrupt than your average politician (Ralston and Deal), wonder what they’re teaching up there.
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
9:05 am
Speaking of that unusual conglomeration of differing interests that supporting reigning in these pigs at the trough, Ralph Nader has penned a very interesting article on the emerging alliance between progressives and libertarians on a wide variety of issues.
Count me in on anything that helps break up the self-serving incumbency protection rackets of our hyper-corrupt duopoly.
Peter
January 26th, 2012
9:06 am
” Too many laws on the books ” Great stuff…… we don’t need no stinking ethic’s !
Not when the GOP is in charge !
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
9:07 am
I’m thinking that term limits are a great idea. Of course, we would probably just end up with more lobbiests but term limits would be a start.
Daedalus
January 26th, 2012
9:09 am
Actually Ragnar, I don’t think anyone really cares what you think or say…
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
9:10 am
(ir), after much vacillating over the years, I believe that term limits is an idea whose time has come.
Now, for a variety of corrupted reasons, it is virtually impossible to get rid of these permanent parasites, frauds and sell outs.
Ennis Eaton
January 26th, 2012
9:13 am
Jay…… I can’t help it, I need a better platform. Please help me. The guvment has gone and done it. They have declared tomato paste a vegatable. Yea, Yea, I know… It’s made from tomatoes and tomatoes are a vegatable, but wasn’t this issue made a laughingstock years ago??? Or is tomatoe paste different from Ketchup?? I mean except for consistancy.
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:16 am
Granny, Granny, Granny, 9:03,
What an absolutely stupid comparison. If you are implying that Brewer is a racist like Hilly, you are so far off the mark. She wants the border of her state secured. The Federal government is tasked, by law, to do this. They haven’t. She is wondering when Bozo and his goons are going to start enforcing the law and sealing our borders. By all counts, that will never happen while Bozo is president. To imply that Brewer has racial overtones in her conflict with your president is ridiculous. Is everything about race?
Mary Elizabeth
January 26th, 2012
9:17 am
Thanking Jay Bookman, in advance, for these remarks of mine, which I just posted on Kyle Wingfield’s blog, regarding public education. There will be no further posts by me – on this thread – on education, because this thread is about ethics reform. Thank you, again, for the indulgence of this important educational message, shared.
========================================
“Mary Elizabeth
January 26th, 2012
9:11 am
GeeMac @ 8:34 am
Thank you for your excellent post at 8:34 related to poor educational results and poverty, as well as the ultimate result of what a State Charter School Commission might create in Georgia. I am a white senior citizen, who well remembers racially segregated schools in Georgia and the spiritual and moral abyss that these segregated schools created for all Georgians. Now, with privileged charter schools, we could recreate another segregated society, but one now segregated by wealth and class, rather than by race. Is this what we are about as Georgians?
I see a beautiful vision whereby Local School Board’s would establish REAL public charter schools that are allowed to innovate and find more successful ways of targeting and individualizing instruction than mainstream public schools have been able to accomplish. Then, these locally ordained public charter schools would share and coordinate their findings with mainstream public schools for ALL of the public, not just the elite few, which the State Charter School Commission may inadvertently create.
Those with money, power, and time advocate for charter schools established by the State Charter School Commission. I advocate for ALL of those less fortunate families and children who are working so hard just to survive that they have no voice and may not even be aware, as you and I do, of what will be changing in their lives for the worst, if we do not speak up for them. There will ALWAYS be some form of public schools in Georgia because some parents simply will not be able to afford the money and time for private transportation to charter schools, nor be able to afford charter schools, even with vouchers. I speak for those children and those parents. If we deplete public monies for State Mandated Charter Schools, which end up being privately maintained or sponsored, we will have depleted resources from the remaining public schools that will continue to try to educate these less fortunate children.”
Mick
January 26th, 2012
9:18 am
yaker
You really are a pickle, jan brewer is a moron. Your hatred of this president is quite ugly and banal. Netanyahoo is not some great leader, he wouldn’t be bupkis without the US, and he knows it, apparently you have no clue…
Talking Head
January 26th, 2012
9:19 am
It’s a whole lot easier talking the talk, than walking the walk.
You would be amazed to know what the power of money holds once you’re in a position of authority.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
9:20 am
Way to go Jan Brewer!!!!! Classic picture, I’ll have to make a copy and frame it for my office. I’m sure urkle was so upset last night that he threw a hissy fit and me-shell had to rock him to sleep. Poor baby.
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
9:23 am
The ODS crowd will do damn near anything to deflect away from the topic at hand, huh?
As long as the state and federal pigs have an R after their name, they are in the rags camp of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
And nary a one of them will address the fact that corruption, from our shameful governor on down, has gone UP since the GOP took over state governance.
You’re doing a heckuva job, connies…
Mick
January 26th, 2012
9:23 am
Joe, joe, not you too? Let’s look at this on the surface? What exactly did the previous president do about our borders? We had more illegals enter this country than ever, they looked the other way. That picture might have carried more weight (no pun intended) if it were chris christie, but c’mon jan brewer? That’s not really someone to admire…
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2012
9:27 am
k71
I beleive that for Jan Brewer it is all about race.
Oh and I would suggest you do a little homework on the current situation
on the border and the moves the Obama Administration has made.
It is only fair and balanced to give credit where credit is due.
Oh and – You are the admitted racist on the blog….Remember?
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:27 am
Not long now before Bozo and his lovely wife are off the public dole and out of government housing. He is so incapable of doing his job that he just walks away from those who would criticize him. The supreme arrogant narcissist with his chin in the air. November cannot come soon enough.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
9:28 am
amvet,
works both ways…point out obama is “bought and paid for” too, and the former “speak truth to power”ers start yelling about “hate”.
Doggone/GA
January 26th, 2012
9:28 am
“It’s made from tomatoes and tomatoes are a vegatable,”
actually, tomatoes are a fruit
Mick
January 26th, 2012
9:29 am
Joe the plumber, yaker
Got a great picture to recommend – Machete. It’s far out ridiculous but it does have an interesting perspective from the other side. If you don’t like violence, action, and gore, take a pass…
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
9:29 am
mick, it goes much deeper than what the last President did. What the last President didn’t do was have DOJ sue a state over enacting laws that mirror existing Federal laws, didn’t sic the DOJ on a sheriff who has more illegal alien arrests than anyone else because he upholds his oath of office, didn’t disrespect or dismiss a sitting Gov. at the White House. Barry has egged this on as much as she has.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
9:30 am
“I beleive that for Jan Brewer it is all about race.”
shocker…of course you believe that…it’s a gag reflex.
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:33 am
Granny,
So Brewer is a racist for her criticism of this clown. That seems to sort of fit a pattern….. those who criticize are automatically labeled as racists. Our borders are like a sieve with no rhyme nor reason about immigration policy. It’s as though it doesn’t even exist. There are portions along the border in Arizona where signs are erected warning Americans to avoid American soil because of the danger of drug gangs and illegals crossing our border. And what does Holder and Bozo do about it? Not a damn thing. And Brewer is pissed…. really pissed…. and she has every right to be.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
9:34 am
mick, great movie, I caught it not long ago on one of the pay channels, Tarantino doing what he does best, besides even us old coots like looking at Jessica Alba, Mrs. Joe even told me if she ever followed me home we could keep her as long as she cooks and cleans.
Mick
January 26th, 2012
9:35 am
joe
My sister lives in scottsdale, I understand your point but that is just about it, brewer is a one issue governor. Remember, we get all of cuba, central america and south america pouring into south florida. The cubans are the golden children who can legally stay if they make it to land. Unbelievably ridiculous and unfair, especially if you are haitian – boom, deported immediately. We as a country have immigration issues. Personally, I think we should have a moritorium for at least a year and come up with some kind of policy. All these repubs down here right now pandering to the cubans, it’s a joke and they want to strengthen a failed policy of 50 years! Aye jos mios…
Normal
January 26th, 2012
9:36 am
I’m not sure about Jan Brewer but I do believe that the border/immigration situation could hide racism under that banner…just a thought.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
9:37 am
kayaker, don’t worry about it. Don’t you know if you don’t like barry then you are a racist….period. It’s true, I’m such a racist against my own family that I have to sit at a seperate table for family reunions and cookouts. It’s not easy standing up for what you believe nowadays…..lol
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2012
9:37 am
K71
do the research, until then talk to the hand.
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2012
9:38 am
A lack of ethics from our Georgia Republicans, save one, is a small price for all these groups to pay, right. I mean, they got their small government and lower taxes and right to life and jobs and family values, right, and all they had to give up was ethics.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
9:40 am
Mick, I too have family in Arizona and visit there every year or so, my son is stationed at DMAFB in Tucson and it is crazy what I hear from him down there.
The hate is so funny to watch
January 26th, 2012
9:42 am
“The supreme arrogant narcissist with his chin in the air.”
Project much?
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2012
9:43 am
one more thought on Jan Brewer boorish behavior…
can we just stop for a minute and think about what would be said
if the positions in the photo were reversed?
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
9:43 am
The Obama administration has increased deportations of “those people”…maybe this situation could “hide racism under that banner”…just a thought.
JOE Cool
January 26th, 2012
9:44 am
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:27 am
You got 5 more years buddy!!
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:46 am
Normal, 9:36,
I don’t want any of them here unless they enter legally….. cubans, latios, Germans, Italians… you name it. None of them. This has less to so with race and more to do with upholding our laws. Bush did a crappy job, so did Clinton….. Reagan wasn’t much better. All have been complicit and I don’t forgive any of them. But to sue states that just want laws enforced, like Alabama, Arizona and South Carolina is bordering on the ridiculous. It’s not like these people are US citizens. They are here illegally and that is against our laws. Our federal government has dropped the ball for a long time now and it’s time to correct this mistake.
ty webb
January 26th, 2012
9:46 am
“can we just stop for a minute and think about what would be said
if the positions in the photo were reversed?”
well surely you’d be here calling obama a “sexist”…right?
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
9:47 am
AmVet – I agree, but those parasites are never going to vote to give themselves term limits. Anyone got any actual advice on how we could get this done?
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
January 26th, 2012
9:50 am
I am firing off a few emails. Does anybody know if this Bill has been assigned a number yet?
Thank you.
lynnie gal
January 26th, 2012
9:53 am
The TP needs to dust off their signs and make themselves useful down at the capitol, invading public hearings and shouting down legislators like they did during the effort to make health care available to Americans. If they can’t make their own chosen pay attention to their demands to stop feeding at the trough, they are dead in the water. Sorry for the cliche’s.
Libertarian
January 26th, 2012
9:54 am
“People obviously don’t have a problem with bought and paid for politicians.’
Like your boy Obama?….how much does he plan to spend on this year’s election?? $1 billion?? And he had the audacity to lecture congress about money playing too big of a part in politics. He ran the most expensive campaign in history and will do it again. Hypocrite.
Mick
January 26th, 2012
9:54 am
joe
By the way, love your description of obama as uerkel, that’s a lot more creative than the too simplistic obozo moniker…geez give it a rest…
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
9:59 am
lynnie gal – I’m sorry, I was under the impression that health care has been available to Americans (and non-Americans) for a long time. I didn’t realize that we didn’t have doctors offices, hospitals, clinics, and what not before Obama pushed through the health insurance bill. Man, was I missing something? How did I go to the doctor when I was younger?
JOE Cool
January 26th, 2012
10:00 am
Libertarian
January 26th, 2012
9:54 am
NO, theres a difference. He, as you say lectured them about unlimited monies being contributed from corporations.
Normal
January 26th, 2012
10:00 am
kayaker 71
January 26th, 2012
9:46 am
I can agree with that but all I said was racism CAN hide within the Immigration banner…
Doggone/GA
January 26th, 2012
10:01 am
“a lot more creative than the too simplistic obozo moniker”
Give ‘em credit where it’s due…at least no one has taken to calling him OBonzo…yet
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2012
10:02 am
Wow! Did anyone else see how Obama just completely lost it in that confrontation with Jan Brewer. She came up to him and asked him to kiss her boo-boo on her finger and he just went ballistic!
She did make it rather easy to figure out who’s version of the meeting with Obama, that Brewer lied about in her book, to believe.
mm
January 26th, 2012
10:02 am
“Sort of like Bozo getting down on his knees before the SEIU or that 28M dollar contribution to his 2008 campaign.”
Yeah, right. Geez.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
10:03 am
sorry mick, I never noticed the resemblance until barry was standing on the beach in Florida talking about kicking somebodys a$$, then it hit me, he is urkle all grown up. One of my plumbers even gave me an urkle figure for Christmas, he stands guard at the shop all night and we’ve had no breakins, and in this neighborhood with the price of cooper, that is saying something. It could be the german sheppards roaming the place but I think it’s urkle.
JOE Cool
January 26th, 2012
10:05 am
“Wow! Did anyone else see how Obama just completely lost it in that confrontation with Jan Brewer.”
He looked like he had that “Dayum, your breath stank” face going on.
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
10:06 am
Joe – Have you thought about Cane Corsos? I’ve heard they make excellent guard dogs. Then again, if you’re in a bad neighborhood, people might be just as interested in stealing them for fighting as they would be in stealing the copper…
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
January 26th, 2012
10:07 am
Focus people, Focus. Make sure you make at least 5 phone calls or emails on the Ethics Bill.
Just say:
“I am closely watching your vote on this matter……”
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
10:07 am
works both ways…point out obama is “bought and paid for” too…
I obviously concur.
OF COURSE, BHO is bought and paid for. To some extent or another, I believe that all politicians are. It is part and parcel of our system of governance.
And there was a time when it was under control. No more. Thanks to corporate personhood and legalized bribery.
As for BHO, I said so before he was even elected, that he was just another pro-war, turn a blind eye to white collar crime, status quo corporatist. What was hysterical was reading how the cons then – and now (???) – scream that he is an uber-liberal.
But that they misjudged him so absurdly is really just the second foot to fall after they deemed George a “true” conservative. (HUGE LOL!) So for those keeping count, that is two presidents in a row that the neo-cons have not even been in rifle range of assessing properly.
One caveat to the above indictment of Obama, it is likely little more that empty populist words, but that he is supposedly going after the heretofore untouchable banksters and Wall Street slime is encouraging. Thank you progressives and tough on crime OWSers and the vast percentage of Americans for pushing this issue so hard!
…and the former “speak truth to power”ers start yelling about “hate”.
Who cares? And frankly, irrelevant.
Reasoned criticism of BHO is fine by me. In fact it is more than fine by me. He deserves much of it. I have lambasted his policies, particularly the Bush continuance syndrome, regularly.
But the rabid, slobbering, irrational hatred of him and all things non-Republican that so many here puke up everyday? MUCH of which is fact free, concocted garbage not remotely connected to reality?
Or do really want to suggest that this childish animus – some of which is irrefutably racial in nature – does not exist here, by the droves?
It most certainly does. And is great entertainment, if you go for the juvenile angle…
Libertarian
January 26th, 2012
10:08 am
Of course YOU think there’s a difference. Here’s the text of his speech: “I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad — and it seems to get worse every year. Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let’s take some steps to fix that.”
Hmm….the corrosive influence of money in politics. Not saying I don’t agree with what he said, but…sorry….he’s a hypocrite.
Redneck
January 26th, 2012
10:08 am
What is the IRS look at gifts? Does Ralston have to pay taxes on that expensive vacation he took to Europe on the dime of the Lobbyists? At what tax rate? Wondering also does the State look at that as income? Just wondering out loud…
Mick
January 26th, 2012
10:09 am
joe
Too funny! Yeah, copper is the new gold I guess. All these foreclosed homes are getting raped from people going in and ripping out every piece of copper. Hey, in a roundabout way there going to need a plumber to repair it eventually. It’s a circular firing line…
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
10:11 am
Steve – Got it done. Like I said, around 8:30 the girl at he Speaker’s office was already sounding annoyed. Guess she didn’t expect to hear about how we’re all pissed and paying attention.
ByteMe
January 26th, 2012
10:12 am
Hey, Jay, how’s “Birther/Georgia” this morning? Any updates you can post? Did Kemp run away and hide once he found out that what he’s doing is not legal?
ByteMe
January 26th, 2012
10:13 am
irRational: disguise your voice, and do it again
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
10:14 am
Unfortunately, my voice can’t easily be disguised. There is WAY too much of that Northwest Georgia backwoods in it. Even after living in Atlanta for 9 years.
mm
January 26th, 2012
10:16 am
So Newt wants to build a base on the moon. He could really save some tax dollars if he decided to just visit his home planet.
ByteMe
January 26th, 2012
10:17 am
Unfortunately, my voice can’t easily be disguised.
Maybe I’ll call as Kermit T. Frog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz5ZHZD5kkw
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
10:18 am
Mick, it’s crazy, One of my guys was at a Wendys with the lunch crowd and had 6 sticks taken in about 5 minutes of parking. Yeah we’ve done alot of total repipes the last year or so of stripped homes and the two homes a partner and I just picked up at the Cobb County auction last month need all new piping as well as wiring. All a person can hope for is to get them repaired and someone living in them before they are hit again.
Irational, I have never heard of that breed but we paid a fortune for these two with training, but they have been trained not to eat anything but what they are given for dinner a certain location so we don’t have to fear poisoning, at least thats what we payed for, it hasn’t been tested yet.
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
10:19 am
What will be truly surprising to me is if this new found outrage by the right wing, about our corporate owned government/plutocracy, lasts even one day after a Republican is back in the West Wing.
I would wager the mortgage, it won’t…
barking frog
January 26th, 2012
10:21 am
Operation Tennessee Waltz ended in 2005 with the indictment
of seven state lawmakers, two ‘bagmen’ two county commissioners
and a former county administrator. Tennessee wrote ethics reform
law in 2006. Solution is simple.
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
10:23 am
Joe – Canes are an Italian Mastiff. So think Hooch from Turner and Hooch (well, technically he was a French Mastiff but they’re similar).
Joe Hussein Mama
January 26th, 2012
10:24 am
K71 — “Great picture of Jan Brewer with her finger in the middle of Bozo’s chest, lecturing him on border security. Even invited him to tour the border with her and what does he do?….. walk away in mid-sentence.”
If a Governor spoke to me like that, I’d do exactly the same thing.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
10:26 am
(ir)Rational; I just looked up a picture…wow, that dog would make my sheppards say …..damn, gotta go….lol
Quotemeister
January 26th, 2012
10:26 am
“How dare you…” Jan Brewer
“You know, some Neatsfoot oil would do wonders for your complexion.” Barack Obama
Welcome to the Occupation
January 26th, 2012
10:29 am
Jay: “In other words, it doesn’t matter to Ralston that 72 percent of Georgians and 82 percent of Republicans have told pollsters that they support a gift limit.”
Why would it matter? What, do you think we live in a democracy or something?
(ir)Rational
January 26th, 2012
10:30 am
Joe – When it comes to safety/protecting myself or my property, I tend to err on the side of “well, you can’t have TOO much, can you?” Plus, big dogs like that, even friendly, are a great deterrent against people doing things you don’t want them to do. We had a big Rottweiler/Black Lab mix when I was in middle and high school. Our house never got rolled because he greeted everybody at their car. Oddly, no one wanted to get out when he was thumping his tail against their door either. Friendly dog though.
SOUTHERN ATL
January 26th, 2012
10:30 am
Jay, thanks for the info. I am glad that the AJC does not give up on issues that effect the working class!
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2012
10:32 am
All a person can hope for is to get them repaired and someone living in them before they are hit again.
Semi-related, but one thing I will eagerly fault Obama for is fcrewing the pooch with the HAMP program. I’m actually amazed that conservatives don’t dump on him for that, given that it’s actually, you know, a legitimate knock at the guy’s record.
ByteMe
January 26th, 2012
10:34 am
If a Governor spoke to me like that, I’d do exactly the same thing.
I would have had the Secret Service pick her up and whisk her away without her feet ever touching the ground until she was outside the airport.
Of course, then the wingnuts would have made up fake poutrage about that as well.
AmVet
January 26th, 2012
10:35 am
It would seem that the southwest version of Georgia – Arizona – has two kinds of women politicians.
The beloved, extremely cool, reasonable, intelligent, fiscal conservative, moderate Democrat and fighter extraordinaire, Ms. Giffords.
And then there is the radical reactionary Ms. Brewer.
Alas, the differences are both stark and typical.
ByteMe
January 26th, 2012
10:38 am
“You know, some Neatsfoot oil would do wonders for your complexion.” Barack Obama
Linseed oil. Works really well on old cracked baseball gloves.
USinUK
January 26th, 2012
10:41 am
“If a Governor spoke to me like that, I’d do exactly the same thing.”
that’s how you handle people with an over-inflated sense of self-importance.
Joe The Plumber too.
January 26th, 2012
10:43 am
Linseed oil. Works really well on old cracked baseball gloves…….so thats what me-shell wears huh? That would explain the shine under the camera lights, thanks byteme.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 26th, 2012
10:48 am
ByteMe — “I would have had the Secret Service pick her up and whisk her away without her feet ever touching the ground until she was outside the airport.”
“Of course, then the wingnuts would have made up fake poutrage about that as well.”
I’d have walked away from her *despite* the fact that I’m not the President. If you’re not my mom or if your name doesn’t appear on my paychecks, you don’t speak to me like that.
If you *are* my mom, I’m going to tell you to lower your voice and stop talking to me like that or I’ll walk away.
And if you *are* the person who signs my paychecks and you don’t have a damn good reason for speaking to me that way in public, then you won’t have me as an employee any longer after that display of unprofessionalism.
It’s a simple policy. Praise and reward in public, berate and punish in private. It works well in the military and it works just fine elsewhere, too. The fact that Brewer chose to act like that in public speaks a *lot* worse of her than walking away speaks ill of the President. IMO, walking away was the only responsible and decorous option he had.
Adam
January 26th, 2012
11:07 am
Libertarian: Not saying I don’t agree with what he said, but…sorry….he’s a hypocrite.
Myth #2
Adam
January 26th, 2012
11:09 am
ByteMe: I would have had the Secret Service pick her up and whisk her away without her feet ever touching the ground until she was outside the airport.
If Obama had responded in any way other than the way he did the entire news media would be all over it. You know, the “liberal media” that is always “protecting” him.
Ivan Cohen
January 26th, 2012
11:16 am
Apparently some elected officials are for sale, henceforth the gifts from lobbyists. Whether it’s the State Capitol or the Nation’s Capitol. Governor George Wallace said it best “not a dimes’ worth of difference between the two of them”. Laws on the books are worthless without enforcement. When agencies which are supposed to do the enforcing get castrated due to lack of funding. Everybody comes out a loser.
Ed
January 26th, 2012
11:37 am
For anyone interested, the bill is HB798 and it can be found here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20112012/HB/798
Ed
January 26th, 2012
11:39 am
the note attached to the “First Readers” page says: “substantially revise.” I’ll bet.
Georgia Legislative Action | The Evil Eyebrow
January 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
[...] I was hoping to tell you about HB 798 and its fanfare, however I’ll just let Jay Bookman do it for me. [...]
David Green
January 26th, 2012
7:53 pm
The problem is that while ralston, deal and the rest are moral perverts {defined as those who pervert morality to justify their own immorality} they were elected by those who claim {FALSELY} to be god fearing christians. Hence our govt. is as morally corrupt and perverted as those who put them into power.
franklin
January 27th, 2012
9:35 am
Support ethics reform please. Legislative report card going out on Golden Isles legislators coming out in March and more to follow.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003230877193
Morning Reads for Friday, January 27, 2012 — Peach Pundit
January 27th, 2012
10:46 am
[...] Bookman attributes the lack of co-signers for ethics reform to pressure from leadership. Kyle Wingfield believes ethics reform will enhance public [...]
truth
January 27th, 2012
12:11 pm
Why am I not surprised at Ralston’s actions? I applaud Tommy Smith for making an attempt.
My Representative says, “We already have enough ethics.”
By the numbers: Why ethics reform makes sense in Georgia | Kyle Wingfield
January 27th, 2012
6:01 pm
[...] House leaders try to squash ethics reform [...]
Morning Reads for Friday, January 27, 2012
January 27th, 2012
7:06 pm
[...] Bookman attributes the lack of co-signers for ethics reform to pressure from leadership. Kyle Wingfield believes ethics reform will enhance public [...]
veritas
January 28th, 2012
10:36 am
Mr. Bookman. Do you have any facts to support your fictional soliloquy? It is laughable how you claim to know why there weren’t any more democratic sponsors and let them off the hook. Do you have any proof that Ralston kept republicans from signing it? Have anyone told you that, even off the record? Maybe the whole thing is just a bad idea. Do what few readers you have the courtesy of citing your sources. And, when did you start caring about the Tea Party agenda? Your selfish motives are transparent. Conservatives beware of this trojan horse.
Show the Speaker whose boss |
February 1st, 2012
11:00 pm
[...] and co-sign the bill. The logic just doesn’t make any sense because the AJC recently found that 82% of Republican citizens said that they support a lobbyist gift limit. William Perry, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, confessed, “Essentially there’s [...]