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
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:08 pm
bman
snark plugs.
Mama Says
July 11th, 2012
10:11 pm
It’s one of those fact things
They BOTH suck
July 11th, 2012
10:12 pm
Sky about to fall out over here
Big thunder
bman
July 11th, 2012
10:12 pm
Frog .. .. Are you in marketing and sales? You really do come up with some clever lines !!!
JamVet
July 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Chairman Ann is the neocon’s Chairman Mao.
What a buncha commies!
bman,
frog is the amphibian bomb on Jay’s blog!
One funnyassed dude, thats fo sho…
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
bman
no. just a semi-erudite twit.
Mama Says
July 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
josef,
I know you didn’t just compare illegal immigration to slavery did you ?
One was I humane brutal kidnapping into servitude the other is a response to criminals. Make no mistake that’s exactly what illegals are, criminals, that what people who violate the law are called.
Erwin's cat
July 11th, 2012
10:16 pm
to Bro…aka Super Super
http://vimeo.com/38899453
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:19 pm
mama need to meet some of those “criminals”.
Just good hard working people looking for a better life.
Erwin's cat
July 11th, 2012
10:20 pm
a lil background Super
http://vimeo.com/38899453
Mama Says
July 11th, 2012
10:21 pm
I have and Yes they are. But you confuse good people and law breakers. If you ever lose your ID to an illegal you will change your mind about illegals
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
JamVet
Thanks for your support.
Mama Says
July 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
Getalife,
If that is your standard shouldn’t you allow 90% of those incarcerated, the benefit of the doubt and let them out.
bman
July 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
Janvet … You’re in the top 3 when it comes to snappy lines !!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:24 pm
I sure know which department’s officer I would want backing me up !!!
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/good-cop-bad-cop-police-193551343.html
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:25 pm
MAMA
Yep. Sure did. Cleaned up and sanitized for the 21st Century. Subservient work force scared to death of the paddyrollers. Same tune, different dance.Shuck and jive to a mariachi beat…
FROG
Why be so modest…you are a wordsmith’s wordsmith…
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:26 pm
Mama says
“If you ever lose
your ID to an illegal you will
change your mind about
illegals”
…..
If ever lose your ID to
anybody you will change
your mind about anybodys.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
mama,
Yes, most are prisoners of the drug war.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:29 pm
josef
wow. ever seen a frog
blush? not a pretty sight.
Jm (LL)
July 11th, 2012
10:32 pm
why is everyone talking like getalife? or frog?
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:32 pm
I have seen a frog pee on my hand.
Who checked the Indian’s papers?
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
MAMA
Mine was usurped. What do you want to know about coming back from Central America in the 80s and New Orleans customs wanting to know about you and your time in Utah? Granted I had been there as a tourist several years back, and foreign territory it may have seemed, I didn’t have to clear customs there.
Jm (LL)
July 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
“Frog is the amphibian bomb”
I hope not. I haven’t liked frog guts since 7th grade biology class.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
jm,
Frog started it.
If you lick the frog, you hullucinate.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
getalife
i’m sorry. i was probably
drunk.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:37 pm
getalife
yes. i started the licking
rumor. multiple dividends.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
frog,
I sent it to Florida to be tested.
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
Guy walks into the doctor’s office. Takes off his hat and there’s a frog sitting there. Doc says to the man, what can I do for you? Frog says, not him, me. Can you get this wart off my ass….
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
Jm
you were not supposed to
eat the guts. did you lick
the frog?
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
josef:
http://news.yahoo.com/hoard-gold-coins-found-israel-crusades-114326841.html
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
FROG
@ 10:37
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
“Pluck your magic twanger froggie”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZazW9Ja1k
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
Excuse me: “Plunk”
Jm (LL)
July 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
frog 10:37 – I did not lick the frog
clearly a mistake…
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:43 pm
getalife
bad move ..it will get you denied benefits.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:45 pm
frog,
It was your pee.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
“Pluck your magic twanger
froggie”
………..
i’m afraid i’ll go blind.
i already wear glasses.
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:47 pm
SCOUT
Them’s mine! Belonged to Great whatever Grandpappy Amlaric!
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:48 pm
getalife
i know. your benefits will
be denied. unless you
applied in my name. that
will get you incarcerated.
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:49 pm
getalife
Doing what with that frog? I keep tellin’ ya, Mec, best leave them Boudreaux gals alone!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:50 pm
josef:
Get a good lawyer ………………..
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:50 pm
Jm
“Jm (LL)
July 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
frog 10:37 – I did not lick the
frog
clearly a mistake…
…….
I’ll give you a second chance
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
July 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
Tex Ritter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFJLbMVgS-E
getalife
July 11th, 2012
10:53 pm
frog,
Thank goodness we don’t live in Florida.
Good place to spend a week on the beach.
josef
July 11th, 2012
10:55 pm
Scout
Ooops…make that great whatever grandpappy Amalric…Granny’s gray ghost just slapped me! Now, you know I got the lawyers!
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
getalife
i do live in florida. in the
winter.
G Mare
July 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
I am stealing this from USinUK, I think: OY TO THE VEY. People, we are a nation of immigrants! The only NATIVES here are the people who were here then. And we all know what happened to them! I think what we all might want to think about is WHO ARE THE REAL ILLEGALS HERE! Yeah, I get the this land is my land rhetoric, but if you are not a “native Amrican,” this land is NOT your’s! Am I glad that it is now my land? Yes. If my forebears had not come here from Germany back in the day, I hope I would have stood up for the Jews. I am grateful that I didn’t have to make that choice.
My point here is this: we can not, must not, ever judge who is “other.”
Jm (LL)
July 11th, 2012
10:58 pm
FL is good in the winter. too many palm trees though (if you’re from GA)
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:03 pm
Jm
i don’t like palm trees.
i don’t like trees close to
my house or power lines.
if everyone was like me millions
of dollars would be saved
from bad weather.
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:04 pm
South Florida has too many leaping lizards. Never saw one till I got there.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:06 pm
Oscar
Got them where i live 30
miles northwest of Tampa.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:09 pm
Oscar
now i understand Robin’s
“Leapin lizards Batman!”
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:11 pm
I think Little Orphan Annie used to say “Leaping Lizards” or maybe I just have her confused with Robin. Easy mistake to make.
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
barking frog
__________
I saw them in Fort Myers.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
Yes
Too many palm trees and too many lizards
The geckos are cute tho
And the taxes are sweet
Frog, I can probably set you up with a gecko or two if you want
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:15 pm
Too many snowbirds in the winter. Traffic is a mess. Too humid in the summer. Will be under water in another 100 years.
Josef
July 11th, 2012
11:15 pm
Frog
Obviously you’re not a tree frog…
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Oscar
Yes
Only the very old should buy FL property
It will all be underwater soon
Literally
Josef
July 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Jm
Set him up with a gekko ? You in the insurance bidness with Thulsa?
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:19 pm
“Set him up with a gekko ? You in the insurance bidness with Thulsa?”
Definitely not
Geckos are on every street corner down here
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
It also has spiders and snake.
I don’t like spiders and snakes.
– Little Orphan Annie
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:21 pm
Oscar
he may have stolen it from
annie or vice versa or i may
be mistaken..
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:21 pm
Caught a 4 inch wooly spider 2 weeks ago in the bedroom
Don’t know how a bugger that big got in
Glad the wifey didn’t see it
Oscar
July 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Looking for some future beachfront property near Waycross. Buy now and get in while the price is low.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Jm
no gekkos. too many lot
lizards when trucking.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:25 pm
josef
no. i’m a bush frog.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:26 pm
Oscar
I’ve said that for years
Great grand kids will be rich
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/electric-rates-not-falling-1476432.html
Btw, not a shocker as the federal analyst says
Tons of new capital being deployed into new power plants to replace Obama killed power plants
Which more than offsets the natural gas and coal price declines
Reporters are so dumb…..
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:27 pm
Jm
7 ft above sea level. i’ll sell
at 3.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:28 pm
“”It’s caused us to scratch our heads,” says Tyler Hodge, an analyst at the Energy Department who studies electricity prices.”
Because you’re not too bright Mr Hodge….
Thulsa Doom
July 11th, 2012
11:29 pm
But I thought the Libs loved themselves some regulation. And isn’t it the liberals who have all this faith that new regulations can be managed quite well by government? What happened to your faith in regulation and govt management and can do? too funny.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:29 pm
Frog
Good call
Josef
July 11th, 2012
11:29 pm
Jm
If it was a bugger got in you better be glad the wifey didn’t know….you a pillow biter too…oy, they’re everywhere.
Frog.
You’re on a roll !
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:31 pm
“— In many states, retail electricity rates are set by regulators every few years. As a result, lower power costs haven’t yet made their way to customers.
— Utilities often lock in their costs for natural gas and other fuels years in advance. That helps protect customers when fuel prices spike, but it prevents customers from reaping the benefits of a price drop.
— The cost of actually delivering electricity, which accounts for 40 percent of a customer’s bill on average, has been rising fast. That has eaten up any potential savings from the production of electricity.”
3 reasons cited. All of them wrong. Reporter loses.
getalife
July 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
Young folks should take trips to Florida to party before we lose that State.
We had a blast in Florida.
barking frog
July 11th, 2012
11:34 pm
josef
Frog.
You’re on a roll !
………..
I better get off. getalife
will think it’s a po boy.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:36 pm
Josef “pillow biter”?
Thulsa – there are some industries that need to be regulated, but there are only two good examples
1. They’re a natural monopoly or
2. The transaction cost in correcting market failure is to small to justify individual litigation or resolution and the guilty party is ambiguous
Examples
1. Power transmission
2. Environmental pollution
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:37 pm
“You’re on a roll !
………..
I better get off. getalife
will think it’s a po boy.”
Budumpching
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
“We had a blast in Florida.”
I won’t miss it
GA will be overrun with evacuating yanks
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
“We had a blast in Florida.”
I won’t miss it
GA will be overrun with evacuating yanks
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
Double post. Oops
You haven’t been drinking too much
Or maybe you have
Thulsa Doom
July 11th, 2012
11:41 pm
Jm,
Glad to see you understand the concept of market failure. Few people do, especially on here. Good info on the power business also.
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:45 pm
Doom
Most liberals have a hammer and all they see are nails
Poor carpenters they are
Sometimes a nail is needed
Sometimes not
Josef
July 11th, 2012
11:47 pm
Jm
Pillow biter was from last night…I guess you weren’t here..
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:48 pm
Josef…. Nope fraid not
Jm
July 11th, 2012
11:50 pm
Ok party over
Cheerio
getalife
July 12th, 2012
12:46 am
Taste like chicken.
One more term will recover all the jobs you lost cons.
Stay home.
ken
July 12th, 2012
12:50 am
Gee wiz, don’t you people have a safety deposit box that you keep your family’s valuables in ? Only pennies per day.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 12th, 2012
6:12 am
I’m just old enough to remember how, during the 1990s, when a certain man from Arkansas was in the WH, that Newt and his cabal would hoot and holler at this kind of thing, calling it an “Unfunded Mandate” and, woebetide anyone who disagreed with them …
funny how the pendulum swings …
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
July 12th, 2012
6:20 am
Good morning all y’all…
The thought process of the right wing pundit…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/07/10/political-pictures-gpoh/
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
July 12th, 2012
6:26 am
JOSEF,
For when you get here…
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederacy-signs-treaties-with-choctaw-and-chickasaw-tribes
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 12th, 2012
6:26 am
Normal –
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/07/11/political-pictures-paddle-harder/
this is the one that got me laughing this morning … (they’re just misunderstood!!!)
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 12th, 2012
6:32 am
Normal – TBogg has a great post about Mittens Meets the NAACP
http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2012/07/11/r-money-iz-in-the-hizzouse/
MiltonMan
July 12th, 2012
6:45 am
Yet you libs just love ObamaCare. Just wait until you stand in line at the doctors office once this garbage takes full affect.
Bottom Line: All your important papers (SS Card, Birth certificate, passport, DD Form 214, etc.) should be kept in a safety deposit box, safe, etc. It is not that difficult. Also, Jay you sound lazy. It is pretty easy to apply for a replacement SS card.
Also, I guess you libs have forgotten that it was none other than your reject Roy Barnes who removed DMV offices from the Kroger stores in the state.
A Simple Man
July 12th, 2012
6:46 am
I was unaware of this issue. I renewed my license by mail back in April so haven’t noticed this recent change. I am a strong state’s rights supporter and will be calling to voice my displeasure with this situation.
Still doesn’t change the fact that asking for an id before allowing someone to vote is a perfectly good thing to do.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
July 12th, 2012
6:50 am
“Yet you libs just love ObamaCare. Just wait until you stand in line at the doctors office once this garbage takes full affect.”
oooooooooooooo!!!! death panels!!!! booga booga!!!
(Milton Man has obviously never had to wait 3 months to schedule a pap smear)
MiltonMan
July 12th, 2012
6:53 am
“Milton Man has obviously never had to wait 3 months to schedule a pap smear”
Yes all that garbage that you libs spew out about “War on Women”. The wife was able to schedule one and have the test the follwoing day. Our primary care doc has sent us an email that his office was going private which suits me just fine.
TaxPayer
July 12th, 2012
7:01 am
“But I hope people understand this, your friends who like Obamacare, you remind them of this, if they want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy-more free stuff. But don’t forget nothing is really free.” – The Mitt, It fits almost like a glove except it doesn’t.
Is The Mitt actually NIF incognito.
MiltonMan
July 12th, 2012
7:05 am
Does the drunken Jesse Jackson Jr., whose camp says he is in “rehab” because of exhaustion, get to use ObamaCare to take care of his drinking problem?
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
July 12th, 2012
7:05 am
MiltonMan
If I were you, I’d call that Doctor of yours for some Prozac…you need to relax.
—————————–
ALSO…
I just sent in a donation to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee just to get this bumper sticker…I’ll be glad to get you one too…
Dear John Boehner:
It’s Constitutional.
GET OVER IT!
Madmax
July 12th, 2012
7:06 am
Taxpayer – I think Romney showed who he is yesterday, and it wasn’t bad. He told them what they didn’t want to hear – kind of refreshing comparison from the other guy who panders to every group he talks to and tries to create fear.