The Curious Case of the Silent Watchdog
To borrow from the great Sherlock Holmes, it is the curious case of a watchdog that should have barked, but for some reason hasn’t.
As many of you know, on July 1 the process of renewing your Georgia driver’s license became much more complicated and time-consuming, requiring among other things an official copy of your birth certificate, an official Social Security card and, if you’re a married woman, a copy of your marriage license to justify use of your married name rather than your birth name.
Digging up all that material can be a real chore — personally, I haven’t seen my Social Security card in years if not decades. And once you’ve gathered it all, you then have to run the gauntlet at the overwhelmed Department of Driver Services, where waits of four or five hours have become common. People are getting angry about the situation, and for good reason.
But here’s the thing: The changes aren’t Georgia’s idea, and in fact have been forced upon the state by new federal regulations. So why haven’t we heard state elected officials blaming the feds for “shoving this change down Georgia’s throat”? Why aren’t they deflecting public anger over long lines by redirecting it at Washington, which in truth is causing the problem in the first place?
It would be so easy, even a liberal could do it. You mention the Tenth Amendment, states’ rights and federal overregulation, then close with the fact that dictating how states issue driver’s licenses is not a power enumerated by the Constitution. Voila! Instant poutrage!
As it turns out, however, Gov. Nathan Deal has a very good reason for staying silent on the matter. Back in 2005, when the federal legislation in question was being passed into law, then U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal co-sponsored the measure.
And Republicans in general are muting their usual complaints because the REAL ID bill was a GOP initiative, part of their effort to prove that no measure was too extreme or intrusive if it could be excused as a counter-terror measure. In the House, for example, Republicans voted 219-8 in favor of the requirement, while Democrats voted 42-152 against it.
In other words, as Holmes so wisely surmised, the dog doesn’t bark at its own master.
– Jay Bookman
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518 comments Add your comment
Erwin's cat
July 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
Does a cat fear the catnip mouse?
a great slogan for the Felines United (FU) party!
East Cobb RINO, Inc (LLC)
July 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
I renewed online earlier this year and am good until 2020.
Brosephus™ (B)
July 11th, 2012
4:51 pm
td: And DFCS is not allowed to report illegals or potential fraudulent documents to the state of Federal authorities.
And? You’re the one that brought your wife and DFCS into the debate. To use one of the talking points that’s often cited here… The GOP has governed Georgia for how long? And how many times have they tried to change those rules? They seem to have no problem at cutting budgets or giving tax breaks, so why can’t they resolve that single issue?
skipper
July 11th, 2012
4:51 pm
Hey Jay,
Heard that if Scout Willis moves to Georgia, she will be the only driver allowed (forced, actually) to NOT have a picture on her license………….. but seriously, is this not crazy!!!!!!!!????
Jay
July 11th, 2012
4:52 pm
East Cobb, after 2014, or 2017 if you’re over 50, your current DL will no longer be accepted by the TSA at the airport.
TGT
July 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
Well, the GOP may be responsible for making it more difficult (one time only) to get a driver’ license (I don’t have to worry about it until 2019!), but they sure are better for business than the Dems:
9 of the top 10 business-friendly states are led by the GOP:
1.) TX
2.) UT
3.) VA
4.) NC
5.) ND
6.) NE
7.) SD
8.) CO
9.) GA
10.) WY
East Cobb RINO, Inc (LLC)
July 11th, 2012
4:55 pm
Bummer for me then Jay as I am a card carrying AARP member. But what will they accept?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
July 11th, 2012
4:57 pm
Scout (From Page 1): I would do that in a heartbeat if I knew only citizens and folks who had a little rudimentary knowledge of how our governments works were voting !!
OMG — seems Scout has been listening to that lunatic Bortz again, (as was I). Bortz was on this morning trying to advocate for only “smart” people being able to vote. He kept grouching about how all the “dumb” people and “lazy people who want gubmint handouts” got into this mess by voting Obama into office.
Then he went one step further by saying that the STATES should decide who should be able to vote and who shouldn’t.
So anyway, that’s how I found out what next week’s repuglican talking points are going to be. First I hear it on Bortz, (LimpBalls probably said it first — but I’d rather eat glass than listen to him); then in a few days you’re going to start hearing it everywhere.
A fine example is scout’s comment above.
pogo
July 11th, 2012
4:58 pm
This coming from a man (Jay) who supports the Obama admininstration and his trolish Home-Land Security director Napoletano who is doing things far more frightening and intrusive on our personnal rights and liberty in the name of “Home Land Security” than this bill ever will.
For that matter, if we have to produce these documents just to get a license then shouldn’t we have to produce them (or a drivers license) to vote? The validation of a persons right to vote in this country is far more important than a persons wish to drive a car, don’t you think? Of course large numbers of Obama’s base don’t even know who their parents are much less be able to get a birth certificate. And we all know that they probably won’t have a social security card because they are either illegal or have never worked. Or are they issuing them at birth nowadays?
Joe Hussein Mama
July 11th, 2012
4:59 pm
E. Cat — “a great slogan for the Felines United (FU) party!”
Indeed! I hadn’t considered that you might particularly enjoy that phrase!
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
July 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
Psssst TGT – All those Governors took Bail Out Money in order to balance their budgets…….
Sorry.
Jay
July 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
After reading Pogo, I have no idea why black and Hispanic voters might feel unwelcome in his chosen political party.
No idea whatsoever.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 11th, 2012
5:01 pm
D. DoRight — “OMG — seems Scout has been listening to that lunatic Bortz again, (as was I). Bortz was on this morning trying to advocate for only “smart” people being able to vote”
Mr. Boortz is no longer an issue. The day of he ACA decision, I heard him say that as soon as his retirement is done and his affairs are wrapped up, he and his wife are leaving the country.
One wonders if there’s anything we can do to help with that.
Joe Hussein Mama
July 11th, 2012
5:03 pm
Jay — “After reading Pogo, I have no idea why black and Hispanic voters might feel unwelcome in his chosen political party.”
Maybe they just haven’t had the benefit of Pogo’s message being brought to them in the places where they live.
Perhaps we could help Pogo arrange some personal speaking appearances in such neighborhoods. How about that, Pogo?
Moderate Line
July 11th, 2012
5:05 pm
This driver license issue brings up some key points. This is pretty much how the Canadian Health Care System works. Wait. Wait. Wait. Unless you are dying.
Also, the federal government has the right to come up with whatever requirements it wants for ID’s for flying under the interstate commerce act.
It is interesting to me how Republicans can come up with a new requirement but yet expect to cut funding at the same time.
East Cobb RINO, Inc (LLC)
July 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
debbie @ 4:57,
They are just getting their talking points from the RaangeRover lady at a recent Romney fundraiser in The Hamptons.
http://www.salon.com/2012/07/09/madam_range_rover_and_the_nails_ladies/
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
5:07 pm
pogo
Guess you have bigotry on everything. From your rhetoric to your potato salad.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
5:08 pm
JHM, it’s a reasonable request that I will consider.
But I think I may need a few mulligans!
(Jeez, Louise. All these damn blogging friends trying to help me clean up my act. LOL at me!)
Just checked, I’m good through 2016, so here’s to all of you Republicans standing in LONG lines for the next four years!
All hail Nathan Deal!
Jay
July 11th, 2012
5:09 pm
East Cobb, they’ll accept a passport, military ID or state-issued ID that meets REAL ID standards. That’s about it.
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
I just love it when two people I don’t much care for go at it…I don’t have to take sides and can just sit back and enjoy the school-girl cat fight…
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
DDR
Hey! How’s life…that was sure a long line at Whole Foods today, wasn’t it…?
godless heathen
July 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
Prior to these new laws all of the Drivers License Whatevers were closed on Mondays. And to meet the demand they are now open on…uh, uh.. you mean they are still closed on Mondays?
They are open on Saturdays so that Republicans can theirs without missing work.
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
BOTH
No IRISH potatoes in the salad! Only Idaho whites…
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
josef
Welcome to the Occupation
July 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
Absolute contempt of the ruling elite in this state for the citizenry. Bloated drawling pus-bags that pass for “leaders”.
TGT
July 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Psssst, Debbie: Apples and Oranges (if what you say is even true, evidence?). Pssst: The lib states took federal money as well, and yet…
Example: Texas, which, over the years has instituted a number of free-market economic reforms, leads the nation in net creation of jobs with 410,400 between May 2007 and May 2012. In the meantime, 41 states have yet to reach their pre-recession job levels. California, for instance, has lost 891,200 since the recession started in 2007.
Ahem
July 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Connect the dots, dolts. Deal = republican; republican = con; con = conservative; conservative = not liberal; Voila!!! It is Bush’s fault, right? Oh waterboy…
godless heathen
July 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
The REAL Deal Gov with the REAL ID Driver’s License program.
I’m out.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
No IRISH potatoes in the salad! Only Idaho whites…
Yukon golds.
Not as waxy as reds and not as mealy as Idahos
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
TGT
Texas is second in population, it would stand to reason, would it not, that it should rank pretty high in the “net creation of jobs?”
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:23 pm
K’CHAK
That was a joke to BOTH relative to pogo’s racist potato salad…
But, I agree with you on the choice for potato salad and the reasons why…and boil whole with the skins on for better flavor and consistency….
DannyX
July 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
Wow! Watch this blunder by the teleprompter candidate. “End of quote,” LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubsRRAADTg&feature=player_embedded
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
That was a joke to BOTH relative to pogo’s racist potato salad…
Yes, I understood that and yes leave the skins on, and no cut the potatoes in uniform pieces to insure even cooking.
TGT
July 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
No josef, it does not stand to reason. CA is more populous than TX, and yet trails in net job creation (in the given time period) by over 1.3 million.
hnbc
July 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
Just another one of Bush’s (or, probably Cheney’s) processes that will make us safer! NOT.
Actually, just another way to take away a few more liberties. Why did we rolled over and play dead every time Bush/Cheney said doing this or that or the other will make you safer. No it won’t.
We don’t live in a safe world. We’ve been very fortunate in the US that we’ve not had attack after attack that many other countries live with daily. Giving up our liberty is not gonna keep those attacks from happening if someone wants to come in and attack. Or, attack from inside. We probably have more to fear from home-grown terrorists than any outsiders.
Jay
July 11th, 2012
5:31 pm
In addition, a large percentage of jobs created in Texas have come because the state was wise enough under the leadership of Rick Perry to locate itself above huge reserves of oil and natural gas.
If that’s evidence of economic brilliance, the Iranians and Iraqis are freaking geniuses.
Jackie
July 11th, 2012
5:31 pm
Wonder if the motivation behind those laws were formulated with the thought in mind that all this would make us safer and/or give us the impression our elected representatives had “our” best interest at heart?
Joseph
July 11th, 2012
5:32 pm
DEAL with it libbies!!!! We have to deal with the intrusion of Obamacare. Ya’ll can DEAL with this…. I have no problem with it by the way….
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
5:35 pm
Jay at 5:31, hysterical how you always expose these Fox News talking points!
If they want a marriage license for Georgia women to drive, I think they should ask our GOP friends for proof of a vasectomy!
DannyX
July 11th, 2012
5:39 pm
Georgia Republicans? Economic brilliance? Gov DEAL with this…
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/news/economy/1106/gallery.states_by_gdp_slowest_growing_state_economies/10.html
tireofit
July 11th, 2012
5:39 pm
It must be confusing to be a republican!
Don't Forget
July 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
Scout, the Voting Rights Act? May not be in the constitution but it’s still the law of the land and certainly implies a general right to vote.
TGT
July 11th, 2012
5:44 pm
In addition, a large percentage of jobs created in Texas have come because the state was wise enough under the leadership of Rick Perry to locate itself above huge reserves of oil and natural gas.
Hey, at least they’re willing to go and get it. CA is rich with oil reserves as well (see fig. 9) (third behind TX and AK, with just over half as much as TX), and well, the numbers speak for themselves. As for all of those other GOP led states…
TGT
July 11th, 2012
5:46 pm
Is that hysterical JamVet? (Nothing I’ve mentioned comes from FOX. You really need to find another boogie man.)
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:47 pm
TGT
I am aware of that, and it speaks VERY poorly for California, but at the same time, it does not mean that Texas is doing any more than it should be…it doesn’t make it outstanding….North Dakota is number one, Texas fourth
http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/study-finds-n-d-first-in-job-growth/article_90d2407e-73d2-11e1-8331-0019bb2963f4.html
That’s the more rational look at the statistical breakdown…
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
5:47 pm
As for all of those other GOP led states…
US unemployment rate – 8.1%
Georgia unemployment rate – 9%
Yep, I’m convinced. Lets all go con!
poison pen
July 11th, 2012
5:48 pm
If your standing in line for 4 to 5 hours it’s because your in the line to the Womens John.
It’s interesting that 25% of Dems supported the id bill.
poison pen
July 11th, 2012
5:50 pm
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
5:35 pm
Jay at 5:31, hysterical how you always expose these Fox News talking points!
If they want a marriage license for Georgia women to drive, I think they should ask our GOP friends for proof of a vasectomy!
JamVet, I have one, would you like to see it?
DannyX
July 11th, 2012
5:51 pm
California? 10th fastest growing economy.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/news/economy/1206/gallery.fastest-growing-states/10.html
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:52 pm
K’Chak
Don’t cut the potatoes for mine, I don’t want that uniformity…some firm chunks, some to all but puree for the binding…skin while still whole and then with the whole boiled eggs, hand “smash-crumble” I like mine “chunky”
Don't Forget
July 11th, 2012
5:52 pm
Interesting. So 2 of the top 10 states for business are in the bottom 10 states for growth with one at the very bottom. Who’d a thunk it? “lol”
TM
July 11th, 2012
5:52 pm
Its now going to be harder to get a diver’s license than to get an Id to vote, Sounds like the government is trying to suppress the right to drive where is the ACLU
Don't Forget
July 11th, 2012
5:53 pm
Pogo – “We have met the enemy and he is us”
Brosephus™ (B)
July 11th, 2012
5:54 pm
Of course large numbers of Obama’s base don’t even know who their parents are much less be able to get a birth certificate. And we all know that they probably won’t have a social security card because they are either illegal or have never worked.
Just Damn… And to think the same poster will say all kinds of stupid sh*t about Jackson and/or Sharpton. Just Damn…
Jay
July 11th, 2012
5:55 pm
As for all of those other GOP led states…
You mean like Georgia, with its 8.9 percent unemployment rate?
“CA is rich with oil reserves as well .. with just over half as much as TX)”
So you’re saying the oil boom has had twice the positive impact on Texas as it has in California?
josef
July 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
TGT
More important is the unemployment rate….
Texas came in number 20 there…
http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm/
Brosephus™ (B)
July 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
Interesting. So 2 of the top 10 states for business are in the bottom 10 states for growth with one at the very bottom. Who’d a thunk it? “lol”
When you’re at the bottom, there’s only one direction to go.
willydoit?
July 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
“You got any ID??”
“Bout what?”
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
6:00 pm
Of course large numbers of Obama’s base don’t even know who their parents are much less be able to get a birth certificate. And we all know that they probably won’t have a social security card because they are either illegal or have never worked.
And we all know what’s in their shopping carts ’cause well, you just can’t keep your eyes on your own paper.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
6:03 pm
pen, is that your version of would you like to come over and see my etchings?
LOL!
Billybob
July 11th, 2012
6:03 pm
bookman and the leftists found a new boogeyman today people……wreaks of desparation, which is what hussein and his handlers are feeling at the moment…..proving who you are for a driver’s license or to vote is a price most citizens will pay……unless you are a democratic politician or liberal journalist beholdened to that political ilk…..it does a body good……nice day libs
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
Well well well
Appears that it isn’t just Obama who loves and uses the teleprompter……..
Let’s all watch how well Romney uses it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubsRRAADTg&feature=player_embedded
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
6:06 pm
Wreaks of desparation?
I don’t think that phrase means what you think it means.
Brosephus™ (B)
July 11th, 2012
6:08 pm
I don’t think that phrase means what you think it means.
I doubt he means to think.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
6:09 pm
WHAT?
Every politician of note since and including Ronald Reagan has used a teleprompter?
That’s it!
I’m moving to Singapore!
Seriously, the cons are so pathetically desperate that only in their demented parallel reality was it ever an issue..
There’s one reason above all others that President Obama uses a teleprompter in delivering most of his speeches: he’s good at it.
Ronald Reagan was the same way. He was more at ease in reading his speech off the dual screens of a teleprompter than looking up and down at a speech text on his lectern
Not so, George W. Bush. He often got that nervous, deer-in-the-headlights look when giving an address from a teleprompter. He would seem stiff and ill-at-ease. He did not convey a sense of understanding.
“He preferred using large index cards,” said his one-time White House Press Secretary Ari Fleisher, “plus I think he was just more comfortable with the cards.”
It’s definitely a finely honed skill to deliver a speech from a teleprompter (seen in the top right corner of the above picture from Mr. Obama’s speech today in Columbus, Ohio). It takes as much if not more focus or concentration than reading a paper copy.
LOL at George…
pogo
July 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
Around 40% of the US corn crop is now going to “green” ethanol production. The Midwest is in a terrible drought and projected corn production numbers from there are falling daily. Farmers have been getting rich and are getting subsidies to produce corn for ethanol instead of food. What do you think is going to happen to food prices and gasoline prices if the US corn production falls because of drought this year? And the government is now talking about increasing the ethanol content of gasoline to 15% instead of 10%. This is just another case of government intervention that is going to cost everyone of us dearly and on the world stage it will decrease the amount of food available for consumption.
And I see the AJC just put out an article about energy prices going up. Obama said that his energy policy would increase energy prices for the citizens of this country. By using his EPA as a bludgeon he is now forcing coal burning plants to shut down which will do nothing but increase the costs of cooling and heating our homes. At least in that one instance, Obama was truthful about the impact of his policies for Americans. His environmental policies are increasing the price of energy for the us and the cruel reality of his skewed and unreal liberal ideology are about to come home to every last one of us. Get ready to pay bigtime people.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
wreaks of desparation
Brilliant, billybob, brilliant!
At least you got the middle word right!!!
(Did you sleep through English class? LOL.)
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
The reign of Spain falls mainly on the plane.
Thomas
July 11th, 2012
6:16 pm
I agree fully with all of you.
Now- I would like everyone to vote yes that a fetus is a person on day 72 hour 3.
That LLCs and S Corps are persons and Corporations in green energy are persons day 72 hour 4
That Obamacare and Romneycare are actually the same bill
and lastly gays who marry should not suffer through any marriage penatly taxes
pls affirm
thank you
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
josef @ 5:56
That is not fair. You know you were not supposed to look at the entire picture. Just what was presented to you
How dare you think and not just take what was provided
td
July 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
Jay,
Get you PC fired up. I am about to give you a heads up for a weeks worth of material in the next couple weeks.
Just finished a Hart foundation poll. After taking this Democratic poll I can most confidently announce that within the next couple weeks the Obama Campaign will be trying to attack Romney for wanting to do away with Medicare and Social Security to balance the budget and give tax cuts to the rich.
TGT
July 11th, 2012
6:22 pm
Jay, you know exactly what I mean. I hold GOP led TX up as a job creator; you imply that it is due to their natural resources; I note that (liberal) CA has similar resources, yet stinks at job creation.
What I mean, of course, is that TX job creation may/may not be due to its natural resources, but even if it is, CA certainly has not taken the same advantages.
BTW: The metrics used to determine the best job creating states:
Cost of Doing Business (350)
Workforce (350)
Quality of Life (350)
Infrastructure & Transportation (325)
Economy (325)
Education (225)
Technology & Innovation (225)
Business Friendliness (200)
Access to Capital (100)
Cost of Living (50)
G Mare
July 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
Kam & Jam re reign on Spain:
Love from this English major.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
6:26 pm
…Romney for wanting to do away with Medicare and Social Security to balance the budget and give tax cuts to the rich.
Excellent.
And the truth shall set you free…
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
A federal regulation the lib ilks don’t like?
This is a first.
josef
July 11th, 2012
6:31 pm
BOTH
“How dare you think and not just take what was provided”
I keep trying…I’m getting better at it…
“Hello. My name is Josef. And I am a thinker. This is my 10th month of oblivion…”
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
Pogo, ethanol subsidies should be killed. Dead. Kaput.
Jay
July 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
“Pogo, ethanol subsidies should be killed. Dead. Kaput.”
Fine by me.
Jay
July 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
td, interestingly Hart also called ME yesterday, in my guise as Joe Citizen, but I had an appointment and couldn’t spend the time answering their questions.
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
td
No need to waste your time taking a survey to know that both sides will come with crap as the election draws near…….
Let me see: Gods, Guns, Gays, Abortion. Wonder if in some form or fashion will Republicans attempt to infuse these issues before the election?
History says they will and I do not need to take survey
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
carlosgvv
July 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
The Bush Depression is NOT at the level of the 1930’s Great Depression.
But it’s getting closer every day.
Martin the Calvinist
July 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
Thank the good Lord almighty I’m not a neo con, I’m for making sure that legal citizens only get driver’s licenses but seriously, can you say gov’t intrusion…..
I’m really beginning to believe Republicans don’t represent my ideals anymore…..
Democrats never have……
td
July 11th, 2012
6:47 pm
Jay
July 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
td, interestingly Hart also called ME yesterday, in my guise as Joe Citizen, but I had an appointment and couldn’t spend the time answering their questions.
It was a pretty long poll (took about 25 minutes). The first part was the usual questions about what statistical categories you fit in and who will you vote for and how likely are you to vote. It then switched to about 20 or 30 questions about Medicare and Social Security and how you about the programs, their future, who would do a better job protecting them and should they be changed.
Don't Forget
July 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
Pogo, if you don’t like ethanol subsidies, and I don’t either then you should write to Grover Norquist and tell him. You see, ole Grover originally didn’t like them either but he now says that since they are in place, removing them would be a tax hike and anyone voting for that would be violating their tax hike pledge.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 11th, 2012
6:51 pm
G Mare
Martin the Calvinist
July 11th, 2012
6:51 pm
What I agree with Jay on more than one topic, oh my what in the world is going on…..Yes, end all ethanol subsidies!
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
6:57 pm
“You see, ole Grover originally didn’t like them either but he now says that since they are in place, removing them would be a tax hike and anyone voting for that would be violating their tax hike pledge.”
Got link?
Mike
July 11th, 2012
7:05 pm
If you want a state ID card to for the purposes of voting, do you have to stand at the motor vehicle office, so under staffed right, there are 4 hour waits now?!!!!
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
7:06 pm
What would be interesting (and side-splittingly humorous) would be to see how many other MUCH BIGGER subsidies the fiscal conservatives (HUGE LOL) would also be in favor of eliminating.
The BIG FOUR: financial, utilities – gas & electric. telecommunications, and oil, gas & pipelines, accounting for 56% of all taxpayer funded subsidies.
BIG OIL alone gets a staggering $4Billion per year…
Don't Forget
July 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
Sink,
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is pushing a vote on an amendment Tuesday that would end ethanol subsidies and eliminate tariffs on foreign supplies of the biofuel. That would allow companies to use sugar-based Brazilian ethanol, which is cheaper than the domestic corn-based variety, though presents environmental challenges.
Ethanol is a key national issue for the GOP because of the importance of Iowa’s early caucus to the presidential primary. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman (R-Utah) is skipping the state, he has said, because his opposition to the subsidies is toxic in the state. The issue has split the Republican Party, with free market advocates and deficit hawks pushing for elimination of the subsidies and corn-state politicians fighting back.
The conservative power broker Grover Norquist has battled Coburn, arguing that ending the handouts is equivalent to increasing taxes, meaning that candidates who signed a no-new-taxes pledge would be breaking their word. He has charged that Coburn “lied his way into office.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/13/koch-brothers-ethanol-subsidies-grover-norquist_n_876430.html
I don’t make stuff up, sink.
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
7:09 pm
Got link?
Says the guy who has never, ever provided the very first one in his entire blogging life here!
Even though he’s been asked many times.
Absolutely friggin’ hysterical…
getalife
July 11th, 2012
7:09 pm
Did they end big oil welfare?
josef
July 11th, 2012
7:11 pm
I refuse to get a state ID card. The federal government of the United States of America gave me a passport promising their protection of me wherever in the world I might go. If that ain’t enough, then screw ‘em all and I’ll just stay home and cuss the whole d*mned lot…enough is enough.
My residency in Georgia? If my Atlanta Public Schools ID and tax receipts don’t establish that, then screw the lot of them.
The next thing you know, we’ll be being asked to show the papers of our great-grandparents to prove our “purity.”
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
7:12 pm
How about a quote, DF?
Huffpo spin don’t count.
Huffpo is a lib ilk commie lying’ rag.
But you knew that, but quoted it anyway.
Go figure.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
7:13 pm
Cities are going bankrupt while the gop vote for the thirty third time on a dog and pony show.
Vote out the gop.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
We have sugarcane farmers and we should make our own ethanol.
coburn is selling them out.
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
“Says the guy who has never, ever provided the very first one in his entire blogging life here!”
Sez Jammie.
I most often provide the quote, but….
Lie anyway.
Rightwing Troll
July 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
“And I see the AJC just put out an article about energy prices going up. Obama said that his energy policy would increase energy prices for the citizens of this country. ”
Just like the fact that Insurance costs have been rising since long before we elected a kenyan-marxist… so have energy prices. GA power charges us for the cost of plants yet to built… look to your elected state government for the cause, it’s not Obama’s fault Georgia elects and re-elects snake oil salesmen, scalawags, and scoundrels…
F. Sinkwich
July 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
“Cities are going bankrupt while the gop vote for the thirty third time…”
Please explain why the federal government should GAS.
Thanks.
G Mare
July 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
Josef @ 6:31