Your morning jolt: Tom Graves and the photo op of a lifetime
By a crass, realpolitik measure, this weekend’s giant anti-spending protest in Washington had one sure winner: Tom Graves.
The state House member from Ranger was one of a handful of elected officials who were offered speaking slots. Graves is also one of umpteen Republicans now running to replace Nathan Deal in Congress.
Standing out has a problem _ but it is less of one now. Nothing raises name ID like leading tens of thousands of people in a chant of “Don’t tread on me.” Graves already has the video on his Web site:
Tom speaking at the Taxpayer March on Washington from Tom Graves on Vimeo.
My AJC colleague Bob Keefe in Washington has the details of the event here. But there a some Republicans worried that all the shouting is driving their party to the fringes. The Los Angeles Times this morning has a piece that leads on David Frum, one of the more vocal critics and a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush:
“Like all conservatives, I am concerned about this administration’s accumulation of economic power,” Frum said. “Still, you have to be aware that there’s a line where legitimate concerns begin to collapse into paranoid fantasy.”
Frum and other establishment Republicans have spoken out in recent days against the influence of what they view as their party’s fringe elements.
Some are pressuring the Republican National Committee and other mainstream GOP groups to cut ties with WorldNetDaily.com, which reports some of the allegations. Its articles are cited by websites and pundits on the right. More than any other group, critics say, WorldNetDaily sets the conservative fringe agenda.
Over the weekend, at a gathering of black lawmakers in Savannah, Democratic candidates for governor argued about the best way to refuse money they’re unlikely to get.
According to Larry Peterson at the Savannah Morning News, Barnes _ likely to have the most money of the four candidates by the end of this year _ said he would spurn campaign contributions from lobbyists:
“I challenge everybody to do that,” said Barnes, adding that he’s “appalled at special interests that are taking over this state.”
“Don’t take anything from them,” he said of lobbyists. “Don’t even take a meal from them. If you like some of them and want to go out, pay for it.”
But Attorney General Thurbert Baker and state House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter disagreed.
Baker said lobbyists’ largesse is an issue that “needs to be considered” but “is just one piece of the puzzle. He insisted that public financing of election campaigns “is the solution.”
“That’s where the energy needs to be placed,” Baker said, saying it offers “the opportunity to equalize the process.”
Porter agreed.
“I think it would be a great help,” he said. “That way, you could talk about the issues rather than spend so much time raising money.”
He balked at refusing all lobbyists’ money, adding that he takes “small donations” from “a lot of different people,” including lobbyists for public interest groups such as the AARP.
While you ponder that, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:
Nahmias adds conservative voice to Georgia’s high court Legislature slashes watchdog agency. State tax collections plummeted in August. Atlanta’s crime key issue at mayoral debate. FBI report: In metro area, violent crime down. Do moot council races diminish mayoral campaign? No stimulus money to remove sunken ships off Georgia coast. Georgia crafting swine flu vaccine plan. Economic downturn provides a breather for preservationists.
Some opinion:
Going abroad? Bob Barr advises that you leave the laptop. Cynthia Tucker says another culture war awaits over immigration reform. Kyle Wingfield on Obama’s health-care ‘trust’ fund.
From elsewhere in Georgia:
Augusta Chronicle: Perdue keeps state flight costs down.
And beyond:
NYT: China moves to retaliate against U.S. tire tariff. WSJ: In op-ed piece, Lindsey Graham, and John McCain argue for decisive force in Afghanistan. WP: New poll says health care reform opposition is high but easing.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
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21 comments Add your comment
TRUTH
September 14th, 2009
10:12 am
When Roy was governoror he was special interest chosen one, where do you think all the campaign donations came from? The donation fairy?
9th District Mom
September 14th, 2009
10:14 am
Tom also won the straw poll up in Blairsville by a huge margin!
GoOx
September 14th, 2009
10:17 am
Deal, Real, Steal took less than 40% of the straw poll votes in his home district. My man Ox had a strong showing.
Interesting Point
September 14th, 2009
10:23 am
I think that is interesting that the Republican party is worried that the tea parties, the protesting of the Czars, and the worry over the POTUS speaking to children is going to drive their party to the fringes. If they republicans are being honest with themselves, they saw this happening during their convention last year. It was overwhelmingly old, white, men. In my opinion, the only reason this concern is creeping up now is because now the republicans are aware that they are outnumbered if they only rely on this demographic.
Yet, if you even bring up race as an issue, the republicans/conservatives immediately dismiss any racist claim. Sure, maybe it isn’t the hardcore KKK/Hitler type racism, but there are racial undertones. To dismiss them only exacerbates the issue. I mean, the republican rebuttal was from the Strom Thurmond Room. What kind of message are minorities to take from that? Everything that they are railing against Obama about – taxes and spending, appointment of czars and speaking to school children are all a part of being the POUTS and wasn’t a problem just one short year ago. It does leave people to wonder, why the suddent outrage and disgust over policies that have BEEN in affect? It just seems more racist than political at this point.
Jeff
September 14th, 2009
10:23 am
GoOx:
Yeah, your guy’s “strong” showing was only 3 votes more than the guy many pundits expect to place DEAD LAST.
On topic:
Jim, I take it you were referring to WND’s more appropriate name, WorldNUTDaily? Seriously, if I see something come across the stream from them, I wait for a report from ANYWHERE else before I even bother glancing at it.
Chris Mathews is covered in his own spittle
September 14th, 2009
11:04 am
Frum is a Rockefeller Republican. No one, I mean no one listens to him… kinda like that paranoid little man Scott McClellan. The libs hate the fact that the right is organizing. They can protest whatever they want all the time, but let a group of republicans do it and they are automatically racist. No one buys this argument. You libs are sowing the seeds are their own defeat. I say let them. As far as the Czars are concerned, it is not the right that appoints these sketchy characters. Obama has himself to blame. If he appoints leftist and wackos he cannot get angry when they are exposed. Perhaps, the President needs to go back to hiding his liberalism. Hey, it worked during the campaign. Peace.
Rarl Kove
September 14th, 2009
11:21 am
The only “Republicans” that are worried about the Tea Parties are the liberal Repukes. Most Americans and Republicans have soured on Obama. Don’t believe me? Look at the polls. Obama’s approval numbers have fallen faster than any other President in hisotry. Facts do not lie; libs do.
ladyliberty
September 14th, 2009
12:45 pm
Ditto Rarl Kove. Interesting point makes so many nonsensical child like claims, it’s not worth refuting.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 14th, 2009
1:27 pm
The “Republicans” are now frantically regrouping as they’ve been organized enough to have yet avoided punishment for finance of Hitler, McCarthyism, the assassinations of Kennedy and King, and 9/11.
Wised up, to a degree, the People made a true American elect in Barack Obama, and Rome’s “Fifth Column” is desperately trying to keep him off-balance to regain political “legitimacy”…through racists like whitetrash draft-dodger Joe Wilson, and pederast draft-dodger Rush Limbaugh’s channeling Father Coughlin.
Neo-Con Frum is a de facto fascist – read of his veneration of The State’s sovereignty over The People – in diametric opposition to the Whig Utopian Ideals enshrined by America’s Founders in The Creed’s three Mottoes. Thankfully he’s Canadian, but was probably Bush’s intermediary to Netanyahu’s other PNAC false Jews in the Mossad who helped physically commit 9/11.
Under the Vatican-banker Rockefeller “umbrella,” along with Frum, whose newspaper column is also carried in Italy, is our own Ms. Tucker, likewise a member of Rockefellers’ “bi-partisan” false-elite clearinghouse, the Council on Foreign Relations.
It is Rome’s directives she “channels” on the topic of illegal immigration, the published means by which “the real Anti-Christ” intends to repeal the American Revolution’s Novus Ordo Seclorem – The New Secular Order which still poses a terminal threat to the Old Sectarian Order of Monarchy and Popery, as outlined by Our Founders. What is Rockefeller, whose wealth is built on the unredressed murder and arson which created Big Oil, but a monarch? It is not a coincidence that Rockefeller is also Rome’s banker in America, overseeing the largest cash-flow in history, and guiding the unconstitutional Federal Reserve, though JFK removed it from our necks for a time.
The CFR, doing Rome’s and Rockefellers’ work, cares not what color its collaborators’ skin, look at Andrew Young. The false-elite cares about cash-flow, material wealth, and political hegemony of the “Pseudo Aristoi.” This is why they oppose Obama – a True American.
Those who support illegal immigration, amnesty, and citizenship for Rome’s minions – purposefully pushed here for the published, enunciated goal of taking over America from those who “stole” it (Viz. “The National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry”), is the same sectarian faction which wants to enslave women’s bodies, minds, and their reproductive rights; denies the patently obvious fact that Bush committed 9/11; and, thinks we should still be in Vietnam, after Hitler’s financier, and Knight of Malta, Prescott Bush’s son, and hireling Richard Nixon, killed John and Martin to put us there with the help of a treasonous element of the Roman Catholic CIA at Dallas.
The above anonymous traitors are yet gaslighting us with the lies we should all expect from a pack of draft-dodging pederasts and closet-queens.
Why should we believe President Obama instead of the faceless assassins of the characters and lives of those whose grace and patriotism is manifest? Because G-d is still in Heaven and intends that we sweep evil from our land.
Healthcare is a G-d given obligation if we believe, as did The Founders, that American Exceptionalism is to be achieved and maintained.
America is G-d’s Country or we are damned.
Should we be slaves to the corrupt rich, pedophile priesthood, and assassins, as is most of the rest of the world?
No, by G-d, let us be American instead, to live and to die by The Creed: Of Many, ONE!
Those not for The People are Enemy of The People and shall no longer be permitted to feed of our substance, to send us to die for lies, and to mock G-d with their abominations.
Death for Treason
Annuit Coeptis
Pope Juan Busho Clintano XXXXXXXXVI, via Rome and Will Jones' dental work
September 14th, 2009
1:47 pm
Complete nonsensical jibber-jabber nonsense from Willie J. Will, you are being watched. Only you and a few know the truth. You are making us nervous. Will Jones you are getting too close. The last laugh is on you… we have researched and Obama is related to the Rockefellers. Yes it is true. Booga, booga. Booga, booga.
Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST
September 14th, 2009
2:05 pm
Rarl Kove 11:21 am
I thought you were on Saxby’s side, now you are throwing rocks at him because he is a big spending, big government, pro amnesty LIBERAL. Are you a Republican or not?
TRUTH
September 14th, 2009
2:11 pm
John Linder is Georgia’s richest congressman.
http://innovation.cqpolitics.com/cq-rollcall/richest_members_of_congress_2008
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 14th, 2009
2:21 pm
John Linder – dental school draft-dodger.
Matilda
September 14th, 2009
2:22 pm
TRUTH, Nu-UHHH! Linder is 39th with a net worth of 6.8 mil, but TOM PRICE (6th!) is 34th with a net worth of 7.15 mil! Price wins! MY greedy Autocrat is richer than YOUR greedy Autocrat! heh… (Nobody touches Kerry, though, because his b—h own ketchup….)
herb$, the true herbman
September 14th, 2009
3:22 pm
Geez, can’t beat that will jones craps. Makes me want to go out and shoot my mama. How does an idiot and a complete moron get to post here? Please explain, in your expert opinion.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 14th, 2009
8:08 pm
“herb$, the true herbman’s” posting here proves moron deniers of the Truth are welcome to exercise Free Speech in America’s New Jerusalem, Atlanta. That the Truth is also permitted shall be a blessing to The Sisters’ families forever.
Will Jones is the affirmative action retard poster of the Universe
September 15th, 2009
7:07 am
I think they call it “diversity.” Although Will Jones is obviously nuts, he has a “right” to expose us to his lunacy. Ya know, like how the feminist movement gave ugly women access to the mainstream.
The Rational Mind
September 15th, 2009
12:33 pm
Will Jonnes, ATL is more like Khartoum than Jerusalem. Jerusalem has hope, after all. An even more appropriate comparison would be ATL is the new Albany, GA. Both once great cities. Now mere shadows of wha they used to be.
cletus T Rockafella
September 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
There is NO question will jones is a communist who truly HATES this nation. It is sad to watch people degrade themselves to any extent, merely to express an opinion they should have kept to themselves.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 15th, 2009
8:16 pm
cletus T Rockafella: Satan’s “spokesmodel.” Be accursed.
Pope Juan Busho Clintano XXVII, Via Rome, Italy and Will Jones dental work
September 16th, 2009
7:38 am
We are watching you Will Jones.