Who’s ultimately at fault in Balfour ethics case?
Maybe it’s different in your line of work, or at your place of employment, but I suspect that if I had been caught filing multiple expense forms for trips that I had not taken, requesting compensation I had not earned, the punishment would be pretty severe.
For one thing, it would suggest that I could not be trusted to tell the truth, which in my line of work and many others is a fairly important job requirement.
State Sen. Don Balfour, a Gwinnett County Republican and the powerful chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, filed multiple expense reports claiming to have been working for the state and traveling for the state when in fact he had not done so. We know that he had not done so because we also have lobbyist disclosure forms that contradict forms filed and signed by Balfour, documenting the fact that on multiple days in which he claimed to have been at the Capitol working, he wasn’t even in Georgia but was being wined and dined out of state.
On Thursday, after meeting in closed-door sessions with Balfour and his attorney, the Senate Ethics Committee fined the chairman $5,000 for those transgressions and demanded that he pay an additional $350 in restitution. (Balfour had earlier repaid the state $800.) As of today, Balfour retains his chairmanship, and there is no sign yet that his leadership post will be challenged. That’s not surprising in a chamber in which the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee is being sued for gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty by the FDIC for his role as director of a failed bank, yet retains his influential role over the Georgia banking industry.
I wonder: What would have happened had Balfour’s secretary at the Capitol filed multiple false expense account reports from the state?
We do know that back in the late ’90s, then-Sen. Ralph David Abernathy was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to serve a year in jail for filing false expense and per diem accounts. If Balfour did not consciously set out to cheat the state, at the very least he filed reports with a cavalier disregard for whether he deserved the compensation.
(To be clear, I don’t think Balfour’s case rises — or stoops — to the level of the Abernathy case, because Abernathy’s behavior was more egregious. Among other things, Abernathy had tried to bribe a former assistant to lie on his behalf.)
But here’s the thing. It’s easy and unfortunately justified to question the kid-glove treatment that Balfour has received from his Senate peers. However, the facts of this case have been well documented for quite a while now. And just last month, Balfour easily defeated two challengers for his seat in the Republican primary. He faces a Democratic challenger in November, but given the nature of his district and his huge campaign chest — it is good to be Rules chair — his re-election is quite likely.
While laws are necessary, they reflect but do not establish a state’s ethical culture. Neither do fellow politicians. In the end, that has to be the function of voters. Our leaders will rise or fall to meet whatever standards of behavior that we require of them, and clearly, they continue to do so.
– Jay Bookman
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232 comments Add your comment
Ronald Reagan Parkway
August 17th, 2012
8:48 am
Lately Gwinnett County seems to have a lot of ethics issues going on. It is very puzzling to see the politiciansthere struggling with integrity!
JKL2
August 17th, 2012
8:52 am
-Who’s ultimately at fault in Balfour ethics case?
Bush. It’s always Bush’s fault.
Doggone/GA
August 17th, 2012
8:52 am
“While laws are necessary, they reflect but do not establish a state’s ethical culture.”
Certainly. Laws do not prevent unethical behavior. All they can do is codify the punishment.
George P. Burdell
August 17th, 2012
8:53 am
I agree Jay but good luck getting the voters to be the ethics police. We elected a governor that has had a questionable ethical history primarily on the fact that he took a stronger stand on pro-life to wipe out his main competition in the primary. I used to cringe when I’d see some of the stuff going on when the Dems held all the power in Georgia, but the Republicans have been every bit as bad.
Fearful!
August 17th, 2012
8:56 am
That is the problem. The voters of each district keep electing the same fools, even after they have been found not trustworthy. We only have ourselves to blame. I am not in the district, but what are the chances of any democrat, no matter how good he/she might be, of beating Balfour? None.
Welcome to the Occupation
August 17th, 2012
8:58 am
Morning wages slaves! How goes it?
Cosby
August 17th, 2012
9:00 am
no one is at fault..it is the standard operating procedure of politicians – republicans, democrats, independents. And the voting public keeps putting them back in office. Ever wonder why millions are spent on the Presidential race for a job that pays $250,000 per year. Ever wonder why those that go to public office, leave 4 or 5 times as wealthy as they were when they first were voted in. Talk about the 1%, see most of your state and federal politicians. there seems to be no accountability once one gets into office. And then there are the judges…ever wonder why once a judge is elected they never have any competition in an election. The next time you vote, check the unopposed and most will be judges – jobs for life with no accountability. Time for a “CHANGE” and not what we got the last time.
southpaw
August 17th, 2012
9:01 am
“Who’s ultimately at fault in Balfour ethics case?”
To anyone who believes in individual responsibility, Balfour himself is at fault. What should happen to him as a result is a harder question. Any idea whether he could be prosecuted for fraud?
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
9:01 am
And the Democrats keep electing those stalwart politicians like Maxine Waters, that dude that thinks Guam is sinking, Bwarny Fwank, Je$$ie Jackson Jr, Shelia Jackson Lee and a host of others that really add to the dialog of responsible legislators. What makes you think that electing these dudes is just a Republican thing?
Oscar
August 17th, 2012
9:01 am
You can’t legislate morality.
Tom Murphy
Doggone/GA
August 17th, 2012
9:02 am
” And the voting public keeps putting them back in office”
I think, too many times, it comes down to something resembling “Better the devil you know…”
Welcome to the Occupation
August 17th, 2012
9:02 am
Maybe it’s different in your line of work, or at your place of employment, but I suspect that if I had been caught filing multiple expense forms for trips that I had not taken, requesting compensation I had not earned, the punishment would be pretty severe.
Jay, you’re obviously taking this royalty thing too hard! What DON’T you get about this? It’s for your BENEFIT to be part of the underling class. And besides, it’s just how things ARE, man!! Make peace with your masters and you’ll have lots less stress in your life – I promise!
Uh Oh
August 17th, 2012
9:04 am
jkl2
If your so called hour early is spent wasting time and using tax payers computers, no need to brag
And no one is fooled about you being early. You are just wasting taxpayer money. That is what you do, besides belly aching about tax payer money being wasted. Which you admitted you do.
Oh JKL2. you are a nice one
Peadawg
August 17th, 2012
9:04 am
Balfour should be fired, voted out, impeached, whatever. Period.
Thulsa Doom- "exalted board leader"
August 17th, 2012
9:04 am
Shameful. If the man had an ounce of decency he would resign. Sounds like on the state level that its just a good ole boys club like on the national level where they cover for each other. I suspect if he’s being re-elected that most people just don’t know about this theft or attempted theft. At least that’s what I call it when you’re basically just trying to steal money from the taxpayers. I don’t think people pay much attention to politics at the local level. Probably should though given this situation and others just like it.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:05 am
“we also have lobbyist disclosure forms that contradict forms filed and signed by Balfour, documenting the fact that on multiple days in which he claimed to have been at the Capitol working, he wasn’t even in Georgia but was being wined and dined out of state.”
But Jay, if he was with lobbyists he was on state business. And nothing says ‘in Georgia’ has to be physical… he was in a ‘Georgia state of mind’ when he was with the lobbyists, right?
So no harm, no foul.
//sarc//
Sad commentary on the voters and the leaders, isn’t it?
Jay, as I’ve contemplated what end-runs can be done around the legislature to implement truly effective ethics laws I need one thing cleared up: does Georgia have a method for citizens to get proposal put directly on the ballot in such a manner they can’t be torpedoed by the state bureaucracy?
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
9:06 am
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
9:01 am
You forgot that we are living in and referring to “Georgia” politicians” right now!
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
August 17th, 2012
9:06 am
“And the Democrats keep electing those stalwart politicians like Maxine Waters, that dude that thinks Guam is sinking, Bwarny Fwank, Je$$ie Jackson Jr, Shelia Jackson Lee and a host of others that really add to the dialog of responsible legislators. What makes you think that electing these dudes is just a Republican thing?”
CLASSIC! Diversion at its best. Well done Kayaker!
Here we go!
August 17th, 2012
9:06 am
Never said this was just a republican thing. It goes on all sides. My point was if you do not live in the district, how can you effect change? All of us could flood the opposing candidate with money, but that might not force a change and it would take money away from my own district. So what is the answer?
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:07 am
Oh, and to answer the question:
““Who’s ultimately at fault in Balfour ethics case?”
It’s Balfour. Doesn’t matter what the law doesn’t say, doesn’t matter the excuses others make for him. He is responsible for himself. If he had a shred of honor he’d resign.
But he doesn’t, so he won’t.
Thulsa Doom- "exalted board leader"
August 17th, 2012
9:09 am
kayaker71,
I would imagine most people in Gwinnett just don’t know about this. If the majority of the voters did know I would have a hard time seeing him get re-elected.
An observer
August 17th, 2012
9:10 am
It is the difference in behavior between bosses and employees. Unfortunately, in Georgia, we often do not have a choice between candidates on a ballot.
Here we go!
August 17th, 2012
9:12 am
This has to be decided by the Gwinetians. They are the only ones, with the exception of Balfour, that can do something. The poster above that said he should resign is absolutely correct, but that is not going to happen and we all know it. The party in charge could make him resign, but we all know that will not happen too, and given this situation, it IS a republican thing.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
9:12 am
K71 — “And the Democrats keep electing those stalwart politicians like Maxine Waters, that dude that thinks Guam is sinking, Bwarny Fwank, Je$$ie Jackson Jr, Shelia Jackson Lee and a host of others that really add to the dialog of responsible legislators.”
Ah. Tu Quoque raises its ugly and illogical head again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque
“What makes you think that electing these dudes is just a Republican thing?”
Nobody said it was. No commentor said it was and Jay didn’t say it was.
Is it possible for you to show just a *scrap* of honesty and character by not making such things up?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 17th, 2012
9:13 am
$5000 probably barely covered the costs of investigation and time. Sickening. Should be 10x that at least.
Ben
August 17th, 2012
9:13 am
Balfour is a punk. I’m tired of corrupt politicians, no matter their party. I’m tired of public employees stealing money (Beltline, I’m looking at you!), I’m tired of rewarding failure and punishing success. I wish there was a way to end corruption. Don’t tell me ‘take the money out of politics” because you can’t. Not without stepping on a lot of rights that should not be abridged.
Agnes
August 17th, 2012
9:14 am
@paul – sorry paul, its not only Balfour who is responsible. Its the voters. They keep sending him back. This year they have a chance to kick Balfour’s behind. Balfour has a Democratic challenger. His name is Scott Drake. If you want to send a message to Balfour, vote for Balfour’s challenger, Scott Drake
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
9:14 am
Doom — “I would imagine most people in Gwinnett just don’t know about this. If the majority of the voters did know I would have a hard time seeing him get re-elected.”
I appreciate your fair-mindedness about this, Doom. As far as I’m concerned, Balfour’s party is beside the point. It’s his unethical conduct that makes him unfit for office IMO.
skipper
August 17th, 2012
9:15 am
Maybe he needs to move and run for a school-board position on APS…….sounds like he would fit right in!
p.s. Good tunes comin’ our way today, Jay?
Gordon
August 17th, 2012
9:15 am
Throw the Book(man) at him!
Seriously, it is hard to understand why he retained his position.
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
9:17 am
….and our elected officials are wondering why the TSPLOST failed? How can you trust them if they are only concerned about them$elves??
Jay
August 17th, 2012
9:17 am
Paul, the answer to your question is no. Georgia law offers no mechanism for putting items before the voters other than through legislative action.
The exception is purely advisory ballot questions that political parties can pose to their members on the primary ballot. This year, for example, both Democrats and Republicans asked primary voters whether they support limits on lobbyist gifts, and the overwhelming response was hell, yes.
But again, that’s purely advisory.
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
9:18 am
Jay
Don’t know if you got my question from yesterday or not, but thanks for giving the contrast between Balfour and Abernathy. I wasn’t in Georgia in the 1990’s, so I have no idea of how that case transpired.
That said, the fault lies with the voters of Georgia. They elected the foxes to guard the henhouse when Democrats were in charge, and now they’re doing the same with the Republicans. I seriously doubt that the demographics have changed to the point that all the old Democratic voters have been replaced by new GOP voters. Many of the current GOP voters were likely former Democratic voters just as some of the current GOP elected officials were former Democratic elected officials.
Until the voters realize that they have the power to enforce ethics rules more than any committee could ever do, nothing will change. While aq committee can fine someone, and even remove them from a chairman position, the voters can permanently remove that elected official from office, never to serve again. As long as you have voters who think like this: “no one is at fault..it is the standard operating procedure of politicians – republicans, democrats, independents. And the voting public keeps putting them back in office.”, nothing will change and the good citizens of Georgia will be robbed of the opportunity to really prosper as a state.
Mike
August 17th, 2012
9:18 am
They are politicians y’all…why are we surprised? Politician = SCUM.
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
9:20 am
I would imagine most people in Gwinnett just don’t know about this. If the majority of the voters did know I would have a hard time seeing him get re-elected.
^^^This!!!
Oscar
August 17th, 2012
9:22 am
I voted to outlaw gifts from lobbyists, and found out later we are the only state in the sourtheast that does not have such a law, although some states allow limited lunches. I think it’s a shame we don’ have such a law and suggest everyone contact their representatives and senators to get one passed next session.
Thulsa Doom- "exalted board leader"
August 17th, 2012
9:23 am
“It’s his unethical conduct that makes him unfit for office IMO.”
Joe Mama,
Yep. He’s a thief in my book. Anyone who steals or attempts to steal via fraudulent expense reports is a thief. Plain and simple. And if it was all accidental then it that case it would be gross incompetence which would just be another reason for being shytecanned.
I’m out. Ya’ll have fun. On a side note I hope this man reads the article and realizes people know now what kind of dishonorable man he is.
Georgia on my mind...
August 17th, 2012
9:24 am
and the WAR continues….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kH_EZF0XqM&feature=related
Thulsa Doom- "exalted board leader"
August 17th, 2012
9:25 am
Bro,
This is the first I’ve heard about this in the news. Some other local stuff is covered extensively like the sheriff’s race down in Clayton but I doubt many people know about this. Expense reports doesn’t seem juicy enough to make much news even if it was theft or attempted theft in Doomy’s book.
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
9:25 am
On a side note I hope this man reads the article and realizes people know now what kind of dishonorable man he is.
He probably already knows that, the question is, does he really care? As long as he’s allowed to get away with it, why should he care? This case is no different than Ralston’s vacation planner getting a $300 fine for his European vacation.
St Simons - he-ne-ha
August 17th, 2012
9:27 am
Some slime goes beyond D or R, I hope we can all agree on that
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:28 am
Agnes
“sorry paul, its not only Balfour who is responsible”
I didn’t mean ’solely.’
I meant ‘ultimately.’
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
9:28 am
Doom
I heard about it a while back. I think the AJC or WSB did some investigative reporting on it. I think there was a major attempt at trying to squash it, but that ultimately failed. I tend to pay more attention to state and local issues as opposed to federal issues, but that’s just me. As with my 9:25 statement, I doubt many people here knew that Ralston’s train adventure from last year had already resulted in the lobbyist being fined and the ethics complaint squashed.
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
9:28 am
Someone from Georgia? How about that stalwart defender of the faith, Cynthia McKinney from the 4th district? Or that dude that replaced her, Hank Johnson. Man, you Democrats ought to be really proud of these two. And those people in the 4th district will no doubt re-elect someone that thinks that Guam is tipping over. If he just keeps his wits about him and doesn’t slap a guard around, he just might have a career in the House.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:29 am
“But again, that’s purely advisory.”
Thanks, Jay.
It’s obvious what Georgia legislators think of unsolicited advice.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
9:29 am
Doom — “Yep. He’s a thief in my book. Anyone who steals or attempts to steal via fraudulent expense reports is a thief. Plain and simple. And if it was all accidental then it that case it would be gross incompetence which would just be another reason for being shytecanned.”
Agree. If I’d done that when I was still consulting, I’d have lost my job. I knew a lady who *did* lose her consulting job for some kind of hijinks involving her airline tickets. I never heard the details, but one of the admins at the home office told me that she was somehow rebooking tickets into lower fare classes — after our travel agent had already booked flights for her — and she was pocketing the difference. We were sternly warned not to try it ourselves.
“On a side note I hope this man reads the article and realizes people know now what kind of dishonorable man he is.”
Yes. This. Absolutely.
AngryRedMarsWoman
August 17th, 2012
9:30 am
“Who’s ultimately at fault in Balfour ethics case?”
1. His employers….the People…the voters who keep on putting him into office. Be they ignorant or lazy…or seriously want a character like this to represent him. Consider that in the private sector there are also a lot of people of questionable ethics in position of authority because their employers have determined that whatever they do “right” for the company outweighs the bad stuff.
2. His fellow Senators who allow members like him to continue to chair committees….or even be appointed to one. Membership on a committee should be an honor bestowed upon members who deserve it.
3. Ultimately, ALL OF US…for allowing the birth and rise of the political class to happen in the first place. We have allowed “them” to turn politics into a career rather than an aspiration to take a little time to do your part and then return to regular life. They have turned elections into silly sideshows that no sane normal person would get involved in. The don’t do anything that does not further their own personal agenda. We the people have relinquished all control. We deserve what we get.
Matti
August 17th, 2012
9:35 am
But.. but… but… He’s got an R by his name! That means he’s NOT one of those Godless Democrats, so we have to vote for him! If he stole money, well then.. Jesus forgives him because he’s got an R by his name! We’re Georgia voters! We know all we need to know. He’s got an R by his name so we have to vote for him!
Thomas Heyward Jr.
August 17th, 2012
9:36 am
Balfour will be elected………………..as per Diebold’s paperless trail.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:37 am
kayaker 71
A question you don’t have to answer.
Did that tactic work for you in the military?
“Chief, did your unit get written up by the IG for not following regulations in doing XYZ?”
“Look, colonel, that other unit had more and worse writeups than any unit in the command!”
“Oh, thanks for that insight, Chief. I guess I don’t need to ask you anything else.”
Thomas Heyward Jr.
August 17th, 2012
9:37 am
Ditto Obama……………….sadly.
the cat
August 17th, 2012
9:37 am
agreed Matti-and he is probably a deacon or elder in his baptist church
ragnar danneskjold
August 17th, 2012
9:38 am
Fair and balanced, agree.
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
9:39 am
Matti, 9:35,
The same applies to someone with a D behind his/her name. Mindless voters on both sides re-elect politicians like Hank Johnson and Nancy Pelosi with regularity. It has nothing to do with Republicans. They will be mindless voters no matter their affiliation.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
9:39 am
A. R. M. Woman — “3. Ultimately, ALL OF US…for allowing the birth and rise of the political class to happen in the first place. We have allowed “them” to turn politics into a career rather than an aspiration to take a little time to do your part and then return to regular life. They have turned elections into silly sideshows that no sane normal person would get involved in. The don’t do anything that does not further their own personal agenda. We the people have relinquished all control. We deserve what we get.”
I think there’s something to what you say. We just don’t *do* anything to the lawmakers who lie to us and who screw us over. We’ve allowed them and businesses to start dictating the way things are, and so they’ve gotten accustomed to that.
Some of our conservative friends won’t like this, but I used to work with a French fellow who told me that the French government is somewhat *afraid* of the French people. They have a leadership class over there (apparently there is some sort of school or academy that is basically a gateway to jobs and leadership positions in government), but the people still demonstrate and sometimes even riot when the government pizzes them off.
I certainly don’t endorse or support rioting, but maybe what’s needed is for We The People to do a little pushing back from time to time. Mr. Balfour probably needs a good dose of that his ownself.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 17th, 2012
9:39 am
Well, haul, haul, haul. Lug, lug, lug. Fridays are always the same. And all so you
drunksfine folks can swap weird music tonight while getting your buzz on.Anyhow, seems to me this fellow filed all those phony expense reports for the same reason Willy Sutton robbed banks. Because that’s where the money is. I don’t see why folks are so all worked up about a legislater stealing. It’s what legislaters do. Dog bites man. Man steals from man. Nothing new here. Move on.
Have a good Friday everybody. Hard to beleive we’re only a day away from the annual Redneck Scramble up at Countryland Golf Club. I can’t hardly wait.
Paul
August 17th, 2012
9:41 am
RC
“the annual Redneck Scramble up at Countryland Golf Club.”
Scrambled Rednecks?
You have an interesting brunch at that golf club, RC.
Off to the gym -
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 17th, 2012
9:43 am
Pool your money and put up some billboards in Gwinnett describing this guy’s action.
GT
August 17th, 2012
9:43 am
The Republicans have found ways to protect themselves by gerrymandering and pocketing their support in areas that give them immunity to the laws and ethics of this state and country. The gorilla warfare in the congress is obstructionist elected in minority causes that hold the rest of their party and the country hostage to ultimatums of lower credit ratings and unpaid bills until they get their way. You have this nomadic herd of unethical law breakers who are terrorists in the true sense who are above the will of the people and welfare of this country. Ryan running should open some of this for discussion, since he is one of them.
The feds should audit this man’s tax returns and they should find undeclared income even if he is caught and fined by the one party system we call Georgia. He received this money, like Pete Rose received money for signing autographs and never reported it. Went to jail for two years if I remember right.
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
9:47 am
Paul, 9:37,
No, that doesn’t work very well in the military and I don’t recall every participating in things of that sort. However, the criticism in the military of someone not doing their job is gender blind, political affiliation blind and about as fair as it can get. I just don’t like the hypocrisy. Democratic talking heads, like Bookman, continually publish threads that criticize the Republican party while ignoring equally egregious things that happen on the other side of the isle. Today’s thread is an excellent example of telling only half of the story while ignoring those things that you want to leave out.
ClydeFrog
August 17th, 2012
9:47 am
Another fine example of why I will not vote for one single tax increase (like TSPLOST) in this state until there is complete ethics overhaul AND it’s been demonstrated to have serious teeth.
I don’t trust one single scumbag we have in office, not one.
Welcome to the Occupation
August 17th, 2012
9:48 am
C’mon Jay, didn’t you get the memo?
Laws, they apply only to those with obscene amounts of money, and their minions in the bureaucracy!
Fearful!
August 17th, 2012
9:48 am
“Beltline cheif ousted” – this is how it should work
Welcome to the Occupation
August 17th, 2012
9:48 am
Meant to say of course Laws, they apply only to those who don’t have obscene amounts of money or are not among their minions in the bureaucracy!
Matti
August 17th, 2012
9:50 am
Joe Mama @ 9:39,
Good points. Not only do I think the occasional riot is appropriate, but I think the French had something there with their guillotine solution. Sure, it’s ugly and we like to think we’ve evolved beyond that sort of thing, but we haven’t. As a society, we’re only becoming more violent anyway.
When the ruling class includes life-long politicians who’ve never been poor and never actually built anything but their own political power saying it’s perfectly OKAY and downright American for poor people to suffer and die because they have no access to affordable health care, or to force a woman to have a baby she cannot feed, and then refuse to help her feed it, then THEY have ordained and established guillotine-level ugly, and should be subjected to it as well. You may call me a dreamer….
the cat
August 17th, 2012
9:50 am
So the beltline chief was ousted according to the AJC ticker. Careful-he will wind up on some Republican’s staff. Ralphie Reed’s maybe?
Steve Atl
August 17th, 2012
9:52 am
O Wise one…Mr. Bookman,
Any pearls of Wisdom on why GM is going bankrupt again after Obama “saved” the auto industry?
Popcorn please…
DannyX
August 17th, 2012
9:52 am
“And the Democrats keep electing those stalwart politicians like Maxine Waters, that dude that thinks Guam is sinking, Bwarny Fwank, Je$$ie Jackson Jr, Shelia Jackson Lee and a host of others that really add to the dialog of responsible legislators.”
Kayaker is right on the money here. There are scary blacks and gays in OUR government. If Republicans just sit around doing nothing THEY win.
We need to show the country where we stand. Its important that we elect people here that share our family values, we can’t let them win. Republicans have a proud 10 year history in this state and are starting new traditions.
Thank you Republicans for going to war for our values. Thank you Linda Schrenko, Glenn Richardson, Don Balfour, Chip Rogers, Tom Graves, Sonny Perdue, Nathan Deal, David Ralston. Good luck Ralph Reed!
Don’t let them win!
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
9:53 am
Matti
August 17th, 2012
9:50 am
well said.
the cat
August 17th, 2012
9:55 am
Dannyx-cons don’t “get” sarcasm but I do. Excellent!
Moderate Lin
August 17th, 2012
9:56 am
For one thing, it would suggest that I could not be trusted to tell the truth, which in my line of work and many others is a fairly important job requirement.
Politifact:
Obama has told 111 Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire statements
Romney has told 67 Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire statements
Well it is not a requirement in politics.
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
9:58 am
Moderate Lin
August 17th, 2012
9:56 am
How do we know how many lies Romney is telling if we can not see his tax returns?
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
10:03 am
DannyX — “Thank you Republicans for going to war for our values. Thank you Linda Schrenko, Glenn Richardson, Don Balfour, Chip Rogers, Tom Graves, Sonny Perdue, Nathan Deal, David Ralston. Good luck Ralph Reed!”
“Don’t let them win!”
Ambrose Bierce would be proud of you.
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
10:04 am
Danny X,9:52
It has nothing to do with “scary blacks and gays”, just incompetent politicians. They abound in every walk of life, in every party and in every state legislature in the land. Some are Democrats, some are Republicans and neither party has a lock on competency. If you think that in the 130 years that the Democrats controlled most everything that happened in GA, that equally egregious things didn’t happen then, you are living in liberal fantasy land. Just like I told Paul, I just don’t like the hypocrisy.
Moderate Lin
August 17th, 2012
10:05 am
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
9:58 am
Moderate Lin
August 17th, 2012
9:56 am
How do we know how many lies Romney is telling if we can not see his tax returns?
++++++
The point of my statement is that BOTH sides are lying. Why doesn’t Obama release his transcripts? Why did Obama claim executive privilege in fast n furious?
I am holding both sides accountable for their false statements you appear to only one side.
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
August 17th, 2012
10:05 am
From the AJC this morning……
“The embattled leader of Atlanta’s ambitious Beltline project is leaving the organization amid a swirl of questions about his agency’s use of taxpayer-funded credit cards to pay for expenses with little link to redevelopment work.”
But somehow the pondscum Balfour keeps his job? And even avoids prosecution?
Matti
August 17th, 2012
10:07 am
Want to know why we won’t see Rmoney’s 2009 tax returns? AMNESTY. That year, Americans who had deliberately stashed money overseas to avoid their tax liability were granted amnesty to repatriate the funds and pay the taxes without going to prison for tax evasion as our laws prescribe.
Of course it would be embarrassing to have to explain that in a pre-election prime-time interview. (AWWWWK-ward!) Hence, “There’s nothing to see here, folks. Move it on along, now.” Laws aren’t for everybody, you know.
Hamilton
August 17th, 2012
10:08 am
The Georgia electorate is afflicted with a troublesome blindness when it come to judging the character of candidates. I don’t have the numbers, but I suspect polls reflect that Congress has a very low approval rating among Georgians. But how many incumbents will return to Washington for the next session? Similarly, the general assembly has, in the minds of many, done a poor job over the last several years and mainly have shifted costs of services to the local jurisdictions so it can claim fiscal austerity. We’ll see few new faces in the gold dome next year.
resno2
August 17th, 2012
10:09 am
just think… had he been a rep from Atlanta, they might have named a street after him.
sam
August 17th, 2012
10:10 am
lets see now, why do suppose the guys would be treating him with kid gloves for filing false expense reports..hmmmm…you dont suppose they all file false expense reports do you? no, that cant be it.
Jay
August 17th, 2012
10:12 am
Steve ATL asks:
“Any pearls of Wisdom on why GM is going bankrupt again after Obama “saved” the auto industry?
Popcorn please…”
Still more evidence of the gullibility of many on the right. GM is going bankrupt? Seriously?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
“Aug. 2, DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors Co posted a higher-than-expected second-quarter profit as it managed to hold prices steady in Europe despite the weak economy, and shifted some costs in North America to the third quarter….
GM’s net income attributable to common shareholders in the quarter fell 41 percent to $1.49 billion, or 90 cents a share, from $2.52 billion, or $1.54 a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had expected 74 cents a share.”
Second-quarter profits of $1.5 billion, outperforming analyst expectations by 16 cents a share, do not suggest a company going bankrupt to any mind that is not sincerely wishing for the collapse of a major U.S. company that employs tens of thousands of fellow Americans.
Why you would be cheering for such an outcome — and what it says about those who do so — I’ll leave for another day.
As the story quoted above points out — http://news.yahoo.com/gm-posts-stronger-expected-second-quarter-profit-114919709–business.html — GM does face challenges, particularly in Europe, where it does a lot of business and where the economy is a major mess. But it is managing that challenge better than many experts had expected.
It is also true that GM’s stock price has fallen some 35 percent since its post-bankruptcy IPO. In comparison, the stock price for Facebook has fallen 48 percent since its IPO. Is Facebook also going bankrupt? Is that too an outcome for which you are cheering? (I’d further note that Facebook has never reported a profit, while again, GM’s profit in the second quarter alone was $1.5 billion.)
So Steve ATL … how are you enjoying that popcorn?
And how would you like a little crow to be served alongside said popcorn? You can surely provide your own whine with which to wash it down.
Matti
August 17th, 2012
10:13 am
kayaker: “If you think that in the 130 years that the Democrats controlled most everything that happened in GA, that equally egregious things didn’t happen then, you are living in liberal fantasy land.”
You’re not from around here, are you? The Dems who controlled everything for 130 years weren’t liberal. But.. when the Dems at the national level started becoming more liberal, the Repubs swooped in with the Southern Strategy and scooped them up. Many of our R’s used to be D’s and they’ve always been the conservative “I got mine, scroo y’all!” kind of leaders. Liberal fantasies are illegal in Georgia. You’re not really so dense that you didn’t know that, right?
Mike
August 17th, 2012
10:14 am
Kayaker, he mentions Abernathy and his antics in the article. Go back and read it again.
Hourglass
August 17th, 2012
10:14 am
I am holding both sides accountable for their false statements you appear to only one side
_____
not being one sided just feel as if the tax returns would reveal more about howhe as a politician can manuever the system that he vows to protect!
Mike
August 17th, 2012
10:17 am
I bought two new Chevy’s this year… I am a patriot, yes I am !
Seriously.. I did, and i purchased them to help my country. Anyone who hopes GM fails, is not an American in my book.
Jhunt163
August 17th, 2012
10:19 am
I am sure that if Facebook was given $90 billion they would devise a way to make a profit.
kayaker 71
August 17th, 2012
10:20 am
GM’s debt is off the wall and will probably never be returned to the American taxpayer. What did the GAO say about the debt?….. something like 25B still owed to make the company solvent. They can have all the profitable quarters that they want but they are still operating on borrowed money and under control of Bozo’s major donor, the automobile unions who own the majority share in the company. Compare them with Ford and Government Motors turns into a joke. Bozo didn’t save anything but union jobs. Until GM pays off their debt to the American taxpayer and their share price reachs the mid fifties, they are just another propped up company controlled by cronies of the government. Nothing more.
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
10:20 am
I just don’t like the hypocrisy. Democratic talking heads, like Bookman, continually publish threads that criticize the Republican party while ignoring equally egregious things that happen on the other side of the isle.
Do you not understand your hypocrisy as well? Any attempt to discuss any state GOP issue is met with but… but.. but… Democrats… If you can’t bring yourself to find fault with the party that you champion, how can you call someone else out for the same thing? I have seen Bookman call Democrats out for something they’ve done wrong. There are only a few conservative posters here who have responded in kind and called out GOP misdeeds.
That’s just my view though. Personally, I think they’re all crooked.
Scott Fresno
August 17th, 2012
10:20 am
“Maybe it’s different in your line of work, or at your place of employment, but I suspect that if I had been caught filing multiple expense forms for trips that I had not taken, requesting compensation I had not earned, the punishment would be pretty severe.”
Doesn’t Balfour work as an executive at Waffle House? I wonder what their policy is for false expense reports?
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
10:22 am
K71 – ” If you can’t bring yourself to find fault with the party that you champion, how can you call someone else out for the same thing? I have seen Bookman call Democrats out for something they’ve done wrong. There are only a few conservative posters here who have responded in kind and called out GOP misdeeds.”
Ayup.
The fact that Doom’s showing more character and honesty on this than K71 is should tell you something.
Fuzzy Was He
August 17th, 2012
10:22 am
I would say that Ralston needed to give Balfour a firm slap… on the wrist but I think they’d both just get a rise out of it. Can’t we just all get along and blame this on Obama too.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 17th, 2012
10:22 am
Correction to above — I should have indicated than I was quoting Brosephus, not K71.
Mea culpa.
Old Goober
August 17th, 2012
10:23 am
Anyone who hopes GM fails, is not an American in my book.
Good for you, Mike. The person you’re referring to is an American only for convenience. He’s so blinded by hatred for unions that he’d willingly see tens of thousands of people thrown out of work in order to inflict his hate. We have, unfortunately, an abundance of such partisans, people who rejoice in the miseries of others for the sake of seeing their ideology triumph, people who are estatic when the news of another bleak jobs report appears. These sickos are all around us.
USMC
August 17th, 2012
10:24 am
“For one thing, it would suggest that I could not be trusted to tell the truth, which in my line of work and many others is a fairly important job requirement.”–JAY BOOKMAN
….which you, Jay Bookman, fall short of on a daily basis, but who’s counting as long as the Party Line/propaganda gets “splattered” on the newspaper and online…
AngryRedMarsWoman
August 17th, 2012
10:25 am
Danny X @ 9:52am. Come on, you know it isn’t about being black or gay or female or whatever….it is about being incompetent and being a member of a particular group/class/whatever should not give an elected official a pass if he/she is unethical or incompetent. As a matter of fact, I expect more from those folks. Old white guys have been messing up politics for long that it is almost expected…other groups have fought so hard to get into politics that when I see one of them messing it up I think to myself “that is seriously the best female [gay, black, whatever] they could find to put into office?” Represent.
Brosephus™ - 2012 Winner of the Firm Grasp of the Obvious Award©
August 17th, 2012
10:25 am
JHM
You have to learn how to read Doom. He’s already stated he enjoys being an ass. However, when the rubber hits the road, he’s a pretty stand up guy in my book. Most times, I’d rather engage him than most any other conservative poster here because I know he’s going to actually debate for the most part.
USMC
August 17th, 2012
10:27 am
Romney’s Bain saved site of Obamas’ first kiss… LOL!
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/16/romneys-bain-saved-site-of-obamas-first-kiss/#ixzz23oVT135B
How Ironic!
H. J. Pennypacker
August 17th, 2012
10:27 am
O Wise one…Mr. Bookman,
Any pearls of Wisdom on why GM is going bankrupt again after Obama “saved” the auto industry?
Popcorn please…
GM’s Last Twelve Months of cash flow was $12.55 billion while its debt obligations is $14.8B. Having a debt to cashflow ratio of 1.18 is extremely conservative and no where near bankruptcy.
And Kayaker, the US government bail out funds were provided in exchange for equity, not debt so your comment about GM’s debt being “off the wall” is misinformed.
It is sad to see conservatives pull against GM in order to score points against our President.
Jay
August 17th, 2012
10:27 am
“Compare (GM) with Ford and Government Motors turns into a joke.”
Kayaker, you are truly hopeless.
“DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Motor Company said on Wednesday that its second-quarter profit dropped 57 percent on slower sales and wider losses in its troubled European operations.
Ford said it earned $1 billion in the quarter, compared to $2.4 billion in the same period last year. While its core North American business continued to perform well, Ford reported a loss of $404 million in Europe and now expects to lose more than $1 billion there this year.”
weetamoe
August 17th, 2012
10:31 am
Does Gwinnett have a daily or weekly newspaper? If so, someone is not doing his job. Does Rick Badie live in or report on Gwinnett? In any case, Gwinnett voters should thank Mr Bookman for doing what all too often most AJC employees fail to do.