Is Georgia’s economic decline cause for action?
NOTE: This column has been updated with new state-level unemployment numbers for August, released at 10 a.m. by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since 2002, median household income in Georgia has fallen by 14.4 percent. While the national unemployment rate has fallen to 8.1 percent, here in Georgia it stands at 9.2 percent, unchanged since January. It is significantly higher than in Alabama, Florida or Tennessee.
In fact, Georgia’s unemployment rate has now exceeded the national average every month for the last five years, a string of 61 months that shows no sign of ending soon.
And while I don’t have numbers to support it, the data cited above and anecdotal evidence suggest that ambitious, educated young Georgians are today being forced to look outside their state to pursue their dreams. We have long been a net importer of young talent to help drive the Georgia economy; there’s good reason to believe that we have now become a net exporter.
So it seems fair to ask: What’s the plan?
The trends are all in the wrong direction, and as a state and as a metropolitan area we are underperforming the nation and many of our peers. So where’s the plan to reverse those trends? Where’s the vision?
Ten years ago this fall, Sonny Perdue became the first Republican elected governor of this state since Reconstruction. In his eight years in office, he was content to act as a caretaker, more interested in leveraging his office into personal business success than in undertaking any major initiatives. The state Legislature and much of the state’s business community seemed perfectly content to follow his lack of leadership.
Gov. Nathan Deal, elected in 2010, has been more pro-active than Perdue and to his credit took a risk in backing the proposed transportation sales-tax referendum across the state. But since the defeat of that proposal Deal has all but washed his hands of the transportation crisis that continues to threaten economic development. Unless I’ve missed it, there is no sense of urgency, vision or direction coming out of the governor’s office. Like Perdue, he is perfectly comfortable trying to advance the economic interests of individual Georgians, such as the campaign contributor to whom he steered a $4.8 million grant to drill a well at state expense. But a more broad-based prosperity program is apparently not in the works.
Part of it is undoubtedly ideology. Deal, Perdue and their fellow Republicans distrust an activist government (although again, it is interesting to note the occasions in which they manage to set that distrust aside). That ideology also instructs them to put great faith in the power of repeated tax cuts and less aggressive enforcement of regulation to draw growth.
That philosophy has had its impact. Taxes are lower. Per student, inflation-adjusted state spending on education is down 14.8 percent since 2008, the seventh-biggest drop in the country. We have little money to spend on transportation, and the Ogeechee River suffered the biggest fishkill in state history last year, and state officials have yet to act decisively against the culprit.
But after almost a decade of talk about the economic nirvana such a strategy would produce in Georgia, it seems fair to ask: Is it working? Is it — dare we ask — actually counterproductive in a modern economy? And even if we set that politically volatile question aside, is it time for this state’s elected leadership to take an active role in trying to reverse its economic decline, or is the passive attitude of the last 10 years the best we can do?
– Jay Bookman
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512 comments Add your comment
barking frog
September 21st, 2012
10:13 am
Granny Godzilla
Romney is proud of them
making him number 2.
barking frog
September 21st, 2012
10:15 am
First on third. Who’s on first?
getalife
September 21st, 2012
10:15 am
I think the leader of Israel is to blame.
Runs his mouth to our President and warmongering with Iran at the wrong time.
If you care about Israel, blame their leader.
Partisay
September 21st, 2012
10:16 am
Thulsa…didn’t think you would actually answer the question that was asked.
“He had time for the pirate in 09 but not this year…” That’s not what Fox said that morning.
You have no opinion on the dishonesty of Fox & Friends?
Wow…what a surprise.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
September 21st, 2012
10:17 am
Willie lynch: Remember their slogan in 2008? “Country First!” They must have meant some other country.
Your comments reminded me of something………Oh yeah that’s right, the republican, “Contract With America” Here are some highlights…………:
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
* FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress; [Ironic isn’t it?]
* SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
* THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
* FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
* FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
* SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
* SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
* EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. [Ironic!]
2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT:
3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT
4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT)
5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief.
6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT:
7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT:
8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT
10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators.
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
Oh the irony! It hurts……..it just hurts……………
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:17 am
“It’s time to let other players participate in the moribund dance known as the Mid-East Peace Process.”
willie lynch,
Who are these other players? Seriously. Who else wields the type of influence and diplomacy that we do between the Israelis and the Arabs?
And I don’t think Netanyahu is asking for too much. A half a day or a one day sitdown to discuss some pretty hot events in the most volatile region of the world seems wise to me.
And if a shooting war takes place because we just ignored everything then what’s going to happen to the price of oil? Are Dems and their constituents looking forward to $5-$10 a gallon gas? It would be a devastating blow to our already fragile economy, it could trigger another recession, and once again would hurt poor and middle class people the most.
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:18 am
…college graduates have an unemployment rate of a little over 4%
No, it is actually 5.2%.
And even so, the corporate destruction of capitalism is taking a huge toll…
About 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed, the highest share in at least 11 years. In 2000, the share was at a low of 41 percent, before the dot-com bust erased job gains for college graduates in the telecommunications and IT fields.
Out of the 1.5 million who languished in the job market, about half were underemployed, an increase from the previous year.
You’re doing a heckuva job Titans of Industry…
Mary Elizabeth
September 21st, 2012
10:20 am
I agree with this article except for the final few words: “. . .or is the passive attitude (of Georgia’s leadership) of the last 10 years the best we can do?”
——————————————————————————————-
I believe that the Republican leadership of Georgia has been not been passive at all, but has, in fact, been quite active in following the national Republican ideological agenda in Georgia. For example, I would encourage all readers to check out Jim Galloway’s “Political Insider” column on the poll taken to assess the charter school movement in Georgia (Sept. 19, 2012).
Galloway says in his opening line, “The forces behind Georgia’s charter school amendment to the state constitution are out with a new poll this morning that shows voters still comfortably in favor of the measure.”
As the last poster on that thread, I suggested that readers to check out information about this polling group at this link: http://www.mclaughlinonline.com/5
There, readers will learn that this is a Republican polling group, not a non-partisan one. On the polling group’s website are these words “The Washington Times cites McLaughlin and Associates as one of the best Republican polling firms.” The clients of this group include Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, the Republican National Committee, the Republican Governor’s Association, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, Republican Senators Toomey, Lugar, Shelby, Sessions, among others Republican senators. The CEO and Partner John McLaughlin writes on the “Home Page” of this website that his firm had been “working with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to help him win a majority in Congress.”
This polling group, evidently then, acts to help clients win elections, not to simply give them polling results. Moreover, in previewing the questions that this polling group submitted to Georgians on the constitutional amendment, I found the questions to be quite leading in promoting the value of this constitutional amendment. That is my opinion. And, it is, also, my opinion that the Republican leaders in Georgia have not been “passive” in governing Georgia. It appears that they have, in fact, been actively engaged in establishing within Georgia policies that are very similar to those advocated by national Republican ideologues of power and influence. Furthermore, I believe that their efforts, in this ideological direction, have caused the relatively poor results in Georgia, that are mentioned in the above article.
getalife
September 21st, 2012
10:20 am
I case you missed the big news yesterday. the surge troops in Afghanistan are coming home.
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:21 am
Partisay,
So Fox made a mistake, got it wrong, and had to try to laugh away their gaffe. Sooo….. Are you that consumed with Fox news? Did you have this kind of outrage when Dan Rather and 60 minutes got it wrong with bogus documents about W’s guard service? Something tells me your outrage is somewhat selective.
Matti
September 21st, 2012
10:23 am
The Georgia GOP has been winning the propaganda war for more than a decade. That’s the only thing you can legitimately put in their “win” column. (Certainly not our economy or education!) The majority of Georgians believe whatever they’re shoveling, no matter how much it stinks. The majority of Georgians will not bother themselves to fact check anything.
Now, it would be patently unfair to simply blame the Georgia GOP (who gets shiz tons of money from outside the state, to be sure.) BLAME THE DEMOCRATS too. The Georgia Democrats are too busy squabbling amongst themselves to fight the propaganda war. The National Democrats don’t give us any money at all besides paying a couple of state-level salaries. Oh sure, they call us asking for money all the time — money they will not spend here. (Zip, zilch, notta.) Meanwhile, the propaganda machines crank out the rhetoric of (a) hate those who are different, and (b) the POOR people took all your money!
And the dipshizzes swallow it whole, wipe their mouths and ask for more. DEMOCRATS, where the *bleep* ARE you? Yeah, I didn’t see you at the meeting last week. Why is that? Why don’t you get off your sorry behinds, stop blaming the Rethuglies, and start fighting back for a change?
Ivan
September 21st, 2012
10:23 am
“barking frog
September 21st, 2012
9:49 am
williebkind
“the mating ritual
of some frog in the desert.”
……….
you might be surprised how
important that is to some
of us..
_________
Ok now that was funny.
getalife
September 21st, 2012
10:24 am
fox is romney headquarters. Even mcconnell’s wife is part of the campaign. They will still lose.
Darwin
September 21st, 2012
10:25 am
Apparently the people of Georgia are content.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
10:26 am
Thulsa
Correct it’s 2012….and early next year is 2013.
Read better.
Putting Bibi in his place is masterful judgement.
skydog
September 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Israel is like building in the Mississippi delta or building on beach front property.
We can`t stop you, but your stuff will get washed away.
zeke
September 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Not to burst your liberal bubble, but, DEMOCRATS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO ANYTHING! First and foremost, Georgia, mainly Atlanta have got to move away from policies of anything black for black sake and move toward policies that will benefit ALL Georgians! Throwing dollar after dollar at schools will do nothing to increase education or students performance on standard tests! The remedies are still not clearly defined, but, more and more government spending of confiscated money from taxpayers is not the answer!
Mighty Righty
September 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Below is an explanation from the Daily Caller regarding July unemployment that explains quite well why the problems in Georgia are caused by the economic policies or lack threof by Obama rather than the Republican government in Georgia.
President Obama’s policies have been devastating to minority communities and to the most vulnerable in our society. America is suffering through the longest period of high unemployment since the Great Depression: Unemployment has been stuck over 8 percent for almost three-and-a-half years under Obama, after averaging only 5.3 percent under President George W. Bush. Minority communities have been hit much harder: African-American unemployment is 14.4 percent, and black youth unemployment is an obscene 44.2 percent. Latino unemployment is 11 percent. I recited these figures recently to a gathering of Pacific Islanders in Nevada, which is being crushed by the highest unemployment rate and worst housing crisis in the country. They didn’t need to hear these numbers to know that their community is hurting. If you had tried to tell these folks, three-and-a-half years into the Obama presidency, that their ongoing misery was President Bush’s fault, they would rightly have considered that to be an insult to their intelligence.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/24/obamas-sense-of-fairness-is-unfair-to-minorities/#ixzz2776XXOSI
Aquagirl
September 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Did you have this kind of outrage when Dan Rather and 60 minutes got it wrong with bogus documents about W’s guard service?
Yes, people were pretty outraged, CBS fired several executives and Dan Rather “retired” shortly afterwards. Hell, the whole show was canceled.
I look forward to Faux expressing their outrage in the same manner.
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:31 am
If there was a Darwin Award for US states, Georgia would be in the running for number one.
The Deal administration stinks on ice and Georgia is falling further and further and further behind those segments of an educated, enlightened nation.
And the rubes here talk about what?
The Uppity Kenyan Marxist without a Birth Certificate.
We are screwed…
Erwin's cat
September 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Matti – 7th nationally in quality of education isn’t a win?
Robert Lee
September 21st, 2012
10:32 am
Its kind of funny, if you beleive the Repubs then you’d think that Obama would be lagging by 20 or 30 points in the polls, and Romney would be looking like a saviour for America. But the truth is that Obama is either leading or even in the polls, which leads me to ask this question, How can that be?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 21st, 2012
10:35 am
We need more undocumented workers to do the jobs Americans don’t want to do. Oh, and they should be unionized so they can keep wages up.
DannyX
September 21st, 2012
10:36 am
“But the truth is that Obama is either leading or even in the polls, which leads me to ask this question, How can that be?”
Automated Stock Answer Reply:
Liberal media
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 21st, 2012
10:36 am
Aquagirl, well I am sure that with all the daily “corrections” from Faux on their morning show and false claims that they will have the integrity to cancel them. It is so commonplace now on that show that in the SNL parady last night the “corrections” at end included: “Rocky never fought Lassie,” and “Benedict Arnold was not a character from ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’” “Parsley is not one or the Spice Girls” “LOBOR is not a giant praying mantis”…. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ryan/snl-election-special-scorecard_b_1902196.html
dee
September 21st, 2012
10:38 am
I too moved to Georgia over 23 years ago…the state was booming beyond comprehension…the head hunters would leave messages on your voicemail almost begging to hire you…other than widespread city, state, and county (i.e., Gwinnett County) government corruption, where “is” the leadership?; where “are” the plans for reform?; is there anyone left to trust who can responsibly take care of our interests? Just like the federal government, elected officials MUST compromise and agree to disagree to jump start the economy in Georgia. The states which are doing well have Republican governors with a Democrat congress and are doing well, i.e., Ohio, Virginia, etc. Here’s how to get started: 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:38 am
Righty, an op ed piece by a Bush administration hack, who worked under the gawdawful Gale Norton is credible???
And John and Sarah, would have reduced unemployment in those communities???
Man, talk about a willful suspension of disbelief…
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:39 am
“His poll numbers at home are in the 30’s and there appears to be an excellent chance that he’ll be forced to move up parliamentary elections from 2015 to early next year.”
“Thulsa
Correct it’s 2012….and early next year is 2013.
Read better.”
Granny,
I read just fine. And according to your own post the next elections are 2015 which is what I am going by. You noted that there “appears to be an excellent chance” of him moving up parliamentary elections to early next year. Maybe. Maybe not. Point is that its a hypothetical that we don’t know for sure and can’t see into the future with clarity and predict.
“Putting Bibi in his place is masterful judgement.”
How??? In what way, shape, or form is a personal slight a masterful judgment? Is Obama so thin skinned that he is going to run U.S. foreign policy based on personal likes and dislikes and getting his feelings hurt because the men don’t personally like each other? Is he that petty? Considering what’s at stake what we need is leadership- not a guy who is so small that he’s going to ignore our best friend in the most volatile region of the world just as that region is heating up.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 21st, 2012
10:39 am
Cons got any new videos from 1998 they want to spring on us this morning?
I’m skeered just hinkin’ about it…
Williebkind
September 21st, 2012
10:40 am
Granny Godzilla – Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
10:07 am
There was a willibemusen poll that showed Mitt Romney 65% to Obama 12% with 23% not home during the pole. Rumor has it they were out getting their new master card for their unemployment checks.
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:41 am
Oh, and Righty.
The Daily Caller?
It was founded by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Republican politician Neil Patel, former adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney.
It appears to be the political equivalent of the National Enquirer…
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 21st, 2012
10:42 am
Want to see a REAL War on a Woman?
.
Wait until you see what the progs do to Monica Lewinsky.
.
NO ONE talks smack about their Vice-God’s husband.
.
LOL
mississippi
September 21st, 2012
10:42 am
Congrats to Zeke for being the most honest about the Republicans’ real problem.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
10:42 am
Thulsa
Why do you and the Republicans prefer being Israels bee-yotch?
It’s pretty sad really.
Mighty Righty
September 21st, 2012
10:43 am
Mary Elizabeth
September 21st, 2012
10:20 am
I am confused about your point. Do you expect Republicnas to favor Democrat policies? I vote for Republicans becuase they favor most of the ideas I like. I assume you vote Democrat for the same reasons.
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:43 am
Aquagirl,
The guy had to walk it back and come back and state that the pic was from 2009. Though he tried to laugh off the gaffe the damage was done with his admission that the pic was from 3 years ago. They gave the admission that the photo was from 3 years ago. What else do you guys want from them? And though they were wrong at that point it doesn’t change the point that he’s got time for Letterman, the view, jayzee and beyonce, “The pimp with the Limp”, fundraisers, etc. He’s got time for all that but not for our closest ally in the Middle East.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
10:46 am
Oh and Thulsa
read my post again….
look for the 3 words “early next year”
duh.
Mary Elizabeth
September 21st, 2012
10:46 am
About The Daily Caller. from Wikipedia:
“While the site states it is neutral in regard to ideology, some observers have commented that it is influenced by the libertarian views and right-wing leanings of its founders.”
“Founded by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Republican politician Neil Patel, former adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney. . .”
“Opinion contributors have included conservatives Newt Gingrich, Andrew Breitbart, S.E. Cupp, conservative-turned-liberal Arianna Huffington, and Fox News contributors Juan Williams and Lanny Davis.”
“In an interview with Politico, Carlson said that The Daily Caller will not be tied to ideology but rather will be ‘breaking stories of importance’. In a Washington Post article, Carlson said ‘We’re not enforcing any kind of ideological orthodoxy on anyone. ‘ “
DannyX
September 21st, 2012
10:46 am
Today’s missing from Drudge headline:
JUST IN…BREAKING…
RASMUSSEN: Baldwin (D) 49% Thompson (R) 46%
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 21st, 2012
10:47 am
He’s got time for all that but not for our closest ally in the Middle East.
Poppycock nonsense without proof.
Jim163
September 21st, 2012
10:47 am
Maybe Georgia’s unemployment rate is higher then our neighbors because we have a labor higher participation rate, or haven’t figured out how to manipulate it yet.
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:48 am
What will be absolutely hysterical, will be the “disappearance” of willibekind and numerous other neocon bloggers and the “appearance” of a multitude of new neocon bloggers on November 7, 2012!
Here’s to cutting and running, blogging style!
TaxPayer
September 21st, 2012
10:48 am
It’s not a lack of content delivery problem afflicting Georgia’s students, it’s a lack of content absorption and subsequent demonstration of said absorption, as measured by standardized retention rate tests, by said students that is the problem. Well, that and dropout rates, etc.
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
10:49 am
What a difference in tone and substance since 2004:
Unemployment rates were lower than a year earlier in 46 states, higher
in 3 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 1 state.
Washington recorded the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease
(-2.1 percentage points), followed by Vermont (-1.7 points) and Kentucky
and North Carolina (-1.6 points each). Twelve additional states had over-
the-year rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point. No state posted
an unemployment rate increase from September 2003 larger than 0.3 percentage
point. The District of Columbia had a rate increase of 1.1 percentage points
over the year.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/history/laus_10222004.txt
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:49 am
Thulsa
“Why do you and the Republicans prefer being Israels bee-yotch?
It’s pretty sad really.”
Insults aside I would hardly call us Israel’s bee-yotch. Israel has long been our ally and long been the only stable and advanced democracy in the Middle East and a very loyal friend. Unlike the Arabs they don’t kill our ambassadors, bomb and or attack our various embassies, and commit various other terrorist bombings against us including 9/11 and too many terrorist attacks to really go into. I’m disappointed that that even has to be explained to you.
Fred ™
September 21st, 2012
10:49 am
zeke
September 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Not to burst your liberal bubble, but, DEMOCRATS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO ANYTHING! First and foremost, Georgia, mainly Atlanta have got to move away from policies of anything black for black sake and move toward policies that will benefit ALL Georgians! Throwing dollar after dollar at schools will do nothing to increase education or students performance on standard tests! The remedies are still not clearly defined, but, more and more government spending of confiscated money from taxpayers is not the answer!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mighty Righty
September 21st, 2012
10:28 am
Below is an explanation from the Daily Caller regarding July unemployment that explains quite well why the problems in Georgia are caused by the economic policies or lack threof by Obama rather than the Republican government in Georgia.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is proof positive that you just can’t cure stupid. No matter what proof you give these idiot republicans that their cut taxes and shovel all money to the rich policies don’t work, the brain dead will come up with responses like these. We have had 10 years of complete Republican dominance in Georgia politics and these folks can’t see the policies aren’t working and things are getting worse. Yet Mighty Righty says blame Obama? Really?
This is why things will never get better. There are too many people that are too stupid to think for themselves and fail to see that the talk show hosts aren’t giving them truth, they are giving them self serving propaganda. Even the dumbest of dogs will learn if you rub it’s nose in it’s crap enough times, but these people don’t. It’s really really sad, but there is nothing to be done about it.
Their stupidity unfortunately is dragging us ALL down. They ignore Sonny’s crooked land deals. They ignore Nathan’s stealing and payoffs. They ignore Balfour’s dirty dealings. Our education system is in the toilet and their solution is a double secret commission to steal what’s left of local school money and give it to their buddies under the guise of “charter schools” since they have already stolen all they can and run the schools into the ground. Yet folks like those quoted above give them a free pass. All the Republicans have to do is holler, “I love Jesus and abortion is murder” and all is forgiven. Hell they can even date their mistresses in public and take them to the church’s where they are pontificating professing their great faith. it’s disgusting, but like I said, you just can’t cure stupid. How people can continue to listen to the lies and support this I will never be able to figure out.
And to think, I once thought no one could be dumber than a Dade County Democrat. Boy was I ever wrong………….
JamVet
September 21st, 2012
10:50 am
Want to see a REAL War on a Woman?
Sure!
The sluts, prostitutes and FemiNazis deserve it!
skydog
September 21st, 2012
10:50 am
Ga. is in far worse shape than most of y`all know.
I have relatives down in Calhoun, Baker, and Dougherty Counties who believe that anyone who lives above Macon is a Yankee.
Yeah, yeah, sticks and stones will break my bones………….
But, they vote using this logic. If the Yankees want anything, vote the opposite way. Issues don`t matter.
Only time will cure this kind of stupidity.
Ivan
September 21st, 2012
10:50 am
Thulsa
Why do you and the Republicans prefer being Israels bee-yotch?
It’s pretty sad really.”
Saw another documentary recently on the atrocities being done in Syria, Iran, etc…
Can’t say I’ve heard about Israel killing school children and dumping them in mass graves. All because their parents had voices against their current government.
You’re right Granny. We should just cut all ties to the only ally the U.S has in striving for peace
Eff the kids.
Ben Shockley
September 21st, 2012
10:51 am
Electing Democrats and raising taxes on the rich would have on the right track in no time.
the cat
September 21st, 2012
10:52 am
Fred-standing ovation from me!!!
Erwin's cat
September 21st, 2012
10:52 am
Poppycock …
had to look up it’s origins….appears to be Dutch related but originated in the USA
rough translation…..”Doll Poop”
the cat
September 21st, 2012
10:53 am
Ben S.-so glad you have seen the light.
Ben Shockley
September 21st, 2012
10:53 am
There’s no problem in the entire known universe that can’t be solved quickly by raising taxes on the rich.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
September 21st, 2012
10:53 am
williebeblind: You liberals are good at math or so you say. so why dont you count the minorities in Ga. find what percentage is on the government dole and see if 47% is actually a low number. Yes, this also has a great deal to do with low education standards and results. First you must be honest with yourself and then be honest with others.
That is so sad. I bet you thought you said something insightful or even smart. Fact is- you didn’t. Sad.
Aquagirl: Just think, in 2007 folks in the middle of nowhere would have been deprived of $800 fishing poles. We should be grateful for the smart business providers presence
Hiyah AQG!! You’re on a roll again today!!
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:54 am
He’s got time for all that but not for our closest ally in the Middle East.
Poppycock nonsense without proof.- keep up
How is it not true? Letterman, fundraisers, the Pimp with the Limp. Are you saying that these events haven’t happened or aren’t actually scheduled? And did you not see a few weeks ago where the administration were saying that they couldn’t fit Bibi into the president’s schedule? How is it poppycock?
Ben Shockley
September 21st, 2012
10:54 am
Raising taxes on the rich gives me a tingly sensation up my leg.
Mary Elizabeth
September 21st, 2012
10:54 am
If the below words are from “The Daily Caller,” then I must disagree with founder Tucker Carlson’s remarks that The Daily Caller is not a partisan publication and that it is “not enforcing any kind of ideological orthodoxy on anyone.” See below and judge for yourself.
————————————————-
“President Obama’s policies have been devastating to minority communities and to the most vulnerable in our society. America is suffering through the longest period of high unemployment since the Great Depression: Unemployment has been stuck over 8 percent for almost three-and-a-half years under Obama, after averaging only 5.3 percent under President George W. Bush.”
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 21st, 2012
10:54 am
I read somewhere where……………….the biggest Recipient of Stolen Federal funds and the Democratic stronghold of Detroit Michigan has………………
.
stopped reporting the un-employment rate.
.
They only report the employment rate……………..and it now stands at 11.5%.
.
lol
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
10:55 am
Ben,
please tell us how raising taxes would make a difference. The Federal government has not had a shortage of funds to spend, as evidenced by the ever increasing deficit.
Lower interest rates?
More food stamps?
More medicare? Medicaid?
Explain the connection to us.
Stonethrower
September 21st, 2012
10:55 am
What is going on with this “Obama is going to change the American flag on Nov 7″ my fellow employees who are Fox News followers are ranting and raving about.
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:55 am
“There’s no problem in the entire known universe that can’t be solved quickly by raising taxes on the rich.”
Or a big new gubment program.
Mighty Righty
September 21st, 2012
10:56 am
Harry Truman, Democrat president along with a Democrat controlled House and Senate helped estabblish the state of Israel. Since then, for more than 50 years every U.S. President including every Democrat along with Democrat controlled House and Senate have pledged to defend Israel against its enemies with our treasure and blood until the election of Barack Obama. With Obama in the White House spending more time playing golf, vacationing, appearing on late night TV than he does doing his job,we do not know what our policy is. You libs that prefer to hide your head in the sand and blame Republicans for the mess in the middle east might want to ask what Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, and Clinton and umoteen congresses and senates were thinking.
SBinf
September 21st, 2012
10:56 am
Let’s face it, without Atlanta and it’s economic engine, the state of Georgia would be Mississippi….and yet, we’re stuck with the small town bumpkins telling the rest of us how to live.
TaxPayer
September 21st, 2012
10:57 am
Total Returns: 4,589,611
Returns With Income Tax Liability: 2,639,561
Returns With No Income Tax Liability: 1,950,050
Nonpayers: 42.5%
Georgia is home to nearly 2 million households that pay no income tax. This puts it near the top of the list of states where the 47 percent reside.
“Georgia is number two for returns with no taxable income,” Kasprak said. “It’s also fourth for returns receiving the refundable child tax credit.”
Now let’s hear it from the kayakers about the demographics of those people comprising that 42.5%.
Thulsa Doom
September 21st, 2012
10:57 am
“Raising taxes on the rich gives me a tingly sensation up my leg.”
Could be worse. I hear it sexually arouses liberal politicians.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 21st, 2012
10:57 am
The real “War on Women” was against those ladies that had the guts to come forward on Clinton starting with the time he was Governor. They were attacked unmercifully.
But ………….. if you accuse Herman Cain ………. well, you must be a saint.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 21st, 2012
10:58 am
Ben, did you ever get back to us on those MARTA salaries. Senior Digits keeps asking.
Fred ™
September 21st, 2012
10:58 am
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
10:55 am
Ben,
please tell us how raising taxes would make a difference. The Federal government has not had a shortage of funds to spend, as evidenced by the ever increasing deficit.
Lower interest rates?
More food stamps?
More medicare? Medicaid?
Explain the connection to us.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Too funny, Dumber is talking to Dumb. He doesn’t see that Ben is trying to be sarcastically “funny.” We now have a right wing fanatical nut job trying to argue with an equally right wing fanatical nut job.
The rest of us were smart enough to just ignore Troll Shockley lol.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 21st, 2012
10:59 am
Alraight all you NASCAR fans out there did you see where they are raising the speed limit on I-285 to 65 mph?
Now ………. since most officers allow 10 mph over the posted limit before they stop you that means instead of the 65 mph we now have, that the average will soon be 75 mph which means many will be doing 80 + with “relative” impunity.
Get ready !
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
11:00 am
Ivan
Show me where I said what you claim and you win a prize!
Mr Silly Pants.
Here’s the deal….
Radical right wing religious nutjobs – Christian, Muslim, Jewish – whatever flavor you name – are not the best choices for national leadership positions.
Thulsa
You can explain your point of view all day long, but it remains
truly bizarre.
Really.
the cat
September 21st, 2012
11:00 am
I think Ben S. must have had one of the Calista “specials” or someone is jacking his name. He is making too much sense.
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:01 am
Fred,
The only dumb folks are the ones who support raising taxes on the rich as the cure.
But thanks for playing.
Welcome to the Occupation
September 21st, 2012
11:01 am
zeke: “Throwing dollar after dollar at schools will do nothing to increase education or students performance on standard tests! The remedies are still not clearly defined, but, more and more government spending of confiscated money from taxpayers is not the answer”
zeke, how much longer do you have to chat before the 3rd period bell? Just let me know and I’ll try to tailor the length of my responses according to your availability.
Your high school geek assumption about taxes as “confiscation”, based on a crude Randianism and which sadly has now seeped well beyond the high school walls and infects large parts of our entire adult political discourse, must be exposed for what it is: a laughable misunderstanding of the nature of what taxes are and what the public is. To put it simply: confiscation always exists from the beginning and precedes any distribution of wealth through taxation and public spending.
Am I going too fast, zeke?
barking frog
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
Ben Shockley
September 21st, 2012
10:53 am
There’s no problem in the
entire known universe that
can’t be solved quickly by
raising taxes on the rich.
……
I believe that should be
lowering taxes on the rich.
Fred ™
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
the cat: Thank you.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
They were attacked unmercifully.
You mean like the right attacked those who accused Cain? Or like Anita Hill being attacked? Yep, there were extreme failures in the past… and it seems that you continue to use them to excuse present acts.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
I wonder if this will cause more “hurt feelings” ?
Headline (ABC): “NYC Subway Ads Call for Defeat of Jihad ‘Savages’”
“In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man”
“SUPPORT ISRAEL – DEFEAT JIHAD”
http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-subway-ads-call-defeat-jihad-savages-161817278–abc-news-topstories.html
Joe Hussein Mama
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
Doom — ” I would hardly call us Israel’s bee-yotch. Israel has long been our ally and long been the only stable and advanced democracy in the Middle East and a very loyal friend.”
I imagine that three billion dollars a year in foreign aid, plus plenty of discounts on military hardware and access to US intelligence assets buys a lot of loyalty.
“Unlike the Arabs they don’t kill our ambassadors, bomb and or attack our various embassies, and commit various other terrorist bombings against us including 9/11 and too many terrorist attacks to really go into. I’m disappointed that that even has to be explained to you.”
Ahem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident
Regnad Kcin
September 21st, 2012
11:02 am
” Israel has long been our ally and long been the only stable and advanced democracy in the Middle East and a very loyal friend. Unlike the Arabs they don’t kill our ambassadors, bomb and or attack our various embassies, and commit various other terrorist bombings against us including 9/11 and too many terrorist attacks to really go into”
Mr. Doom – you seem to have a VERY low standard for “friendship”. How would our lives be different if the US decided to care more about the US than about Israel?
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:04 am
“Georgia is home to nearly 2 million households that pay no income tax. This puts it near the top of the list of states where the 47 percent reside. ”
You need to go back and look that the policies of that democrat turned republican governor named Perdue that actively recruited retiring seniors to relocate here. That has played a part in those numbers.
Fred ™
September 21st, 2012
11:04 am
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:01 am
Fred,
The only dumb folks are the ones who support raising taxes on the rich as the cure.
But thanks for playing.
+++++++++++++++++
Stick with Shockley, he’s more to your “intellectual” level. Ya’ll can toss talk radio bumper sticker phases at each other all day, fooling yourselves that you have actually said something.
moonbat betty (I got the crabs at Bookman's blog)
September 21st, 2012
11:05 am
It will take at least 50 years to undo the 150 years of damage done to GA by dems.
Ivan
September 21st, 2012
11:05 am
“Show me where I said what you claim and you win a prize!
Mr Silly Pants.
Here’s the deal….
Radical right wing religious nutjobs – Christian, Muslim, Jewish – whatever flavor you name – are not the best choices for national leadership positions.”
aaaaaannnd deflection! Have a good day Mrs. G =)
Mighty Righty
September 21st, 2012
11:05 am
Mary Elizabeth
You are saying “facts” are partisan! I usually take your opinions seriously.
getalife
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Mayor Reed is acting to stop ther gop cuts in cities.
Imagine if the leader of Israel insulted w and tried to get on our elections against him.
The cons would declare war on Israel.
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Fred,
You said so much. Thanks again!
Robert Lee
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Thulsa, jsut because Obama did not meet with Bibi and kiss his ass, all the sudden he does not support Israel? Please provide a link to show us when this was announced?
Being supportive does not entail kissing ass.
stands for decibels
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Ben S. must have had one of the Calista “specials”
heh.
Oh, and Scout?
Listen to this, please, before you shoot your yap about them Mooselumbz.
http://www.npr.org/2012/09/19/161168231/debunking-the-myth-of-the-muslim-tide
Rightwing Troll
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
10 years wingnut leadership = higher unemployment
Oh well at least we can Go Fish… I’d stop by Wilder Outdoors and gear up, but they seem to have gone bankrupt… like wingnut’s morals…
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
11:07 am
Mighty Righty
Every President INCLUDING President Obama “have pledged to defend Israel against its enemies”….
You may get your jockey pants in a wad over BiBi, but I’ll take thos guys opinion over yours any day of the week and twice on Sundays:
July 30th, 2012
04:08 PM ET
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53 days ago
Ehud Barak sings praises of Obama administration
Posted by
CNN’s Dana Davidsen
(CNN) – Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak said the Obama White House has been the most supportive administration throughout the two countries’ diplomatic relations on matters of Israeli security, in an interview to air Monday on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”
Barak -also a former prime minister of Israel – said that though historically administrations from both political parties have supported the Jewish state President Obama’s support, security-wise, is unparalleled.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
“I think that from my point of view as defense minister they are extremely good, extremely deep and profound. I can see long years, um, administrations of both sides of political aisle deeply supporting the state of Israeli and I believe that reflects a profound feeling among the American people,” said Barak. “But I should tell you honestly that this administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past.”
Asked by Blitzer if the president has been more supportive than previous administrations’ Barak said, “In terms of the support for our security, the cooperation of our intelligence, the sharing of sorts in a very open way even when there are differences which are not simple sometimes, I’ve found their support for our defense very stable.”
Pressed if the Obama administration has been the most supportive ever, throughout history of U.S.-Israeli relations, Barak affirmed, saying that from his recollection of President Carter forward – “the defense relation between Israel and the United States are extremely stable and good.”
Barak continued, “It doesn’t mean that we agree on everything, it’s very well known that differences between our government and the American administration about peace process about other issues, but I believe that in regard to world turmoil, in regard to Hezbollah, in regard to what happens in Syria, in regard to Iran, we basically – basically agree on the diagnosis. We don’t agree on the prognosis on some of the issues.”
Barak’s comments come as presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney departs the country as part of a three-country tour that took him from London to Israel and now Poland as he campaigns for the presidency on foreign soil.
Fred ™
September 21st, 2012
11:08 am
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Fred,
You said so much. Thanks again!
+++++++++++++++
I keep it short use little words and type slow when I’m talking to you so you can keep up. You are welcome.
moonbat betty: love your new modifier after your handle .
stands for decibels
September 21st, 2012
11:08 am
Speaking of Callista specials, Obama could provide one to Bibi live on pay-per-view and our local conservatives would probably just grouse about his technique.
Rightwing Troll
September 21st, 2012
11:08 am
Is Scout hiding under the bed because of them mooslums again???
I promise they won’t enact Sharia law Scout… you can come on out of there…
Obambarrassment
September 21st, 2012
11:08 am
ATTENTION ATTENTION
Big Bookman Lie of the Day Award!
Since the Great Recession techically ended in June 2009, the national economy has added 2.8 million jobs; in Georgia, we’ve added a grand total of 60,000.
2 million at best. Don’t take my word for it:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_07022009.pdf
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_09072012.pdf
Table A: Summary Data
Employment Status, Row 4, Employed.
To say “technically ended” is entirely correct. Feels like a recovery to no one I know outside the Washington press corps.
getalife
September 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Perhaps rand is right. Israel gets the most foreign welfare so they should prove they are a good ally.
What has Israel done for America?
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 21st, 2012
11:09 am
Ivan
Actually…you lied and then deflected.
That is if facts matter.
Mr Silly Pants
EJ Moosa
September 21st, 2012
11:10 am
” keep it short use little words and type slow when I’m talking to you so you can keep up. You are welcome.”
We have to go backwards t keep up with you Fred.
But thanks for trying.
Michael
September 21st, 2012
11:10 am
Spending on education is an investment, not redistribution. that lack of understanding is part of the problem in Georgia. It costs $10-15,000 per year to educate a student. It costs $100-150,000 per year to incarcerate a prisoner. The longer a student stays in school, the less likely he is to become a prisoner. Accordingly, the return on investment in education is extremely high. But, there has been a boom in building private prisons, and that reflects our values and poor choices in investments.
Last year the vegetable crop production was hurt by lack of labor. When the housing market rebounds, construction in Georgia will be hurt by lack of the same labor. Many of the folks who picked the vegetables and built the houses are sitting in the private prisons. Again, poor investment decisions.
Walmart depends on the state of Georgia to provide health insurance for many of its employees. Gerogia’s attitude might give us a problem even with Walmart. Also, the employees at the Georgia ports can choose to live in SC or Georgia. Which of these states is capable of making a smart decision for those potential employees?
Obambarrassment
September 21st, 2012
11:11 am
The problem with Georgia’s economy is that it was overbuilt and full of builders and construction companies that did work all over the country. Since that segment of the economy was hardest hit, Georgia is lucky that it hasn’t suffered more than it has.
What we don’t need is a Democrat in charge.