How Democrats can avoid the next fight over the Ga. flag
Is it possible for the upraised middle finger wielded by so many of you in metro Atlanta’s traffic lanes to become — in say, the next 100 years or so — a greeting of welcome and brotherhood?
Your answer to the question, believe it or not, could determine what kind of future Democrats have in Georgia. At least in the near term.
At the state Capitol, we are on the verge of yet another culture war over our state flag. Early this month, while they were emasculating Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle in Macon, Senate Republicans took a spare moment to declare that all members of that chamber will be required to recite a daily pledge of allegiance to the Georgia flag.
The 1879 Georgia flag
The author of the proposal, state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, said he had no intention of igniting a debate over state sovereignty. But inside and outside the Senate, those who would like to see the federal government shrink to its 19th-century waistline will certainly see it as a sign of favor.
Two important Senate Democrats, both African-American, are having none of it. “An abomination,” said Minority Leader Robert Brown of Macon.
“I think what is being done here is symbolically saying we are somehow not a part of that country that remains America,” Brown said.
The 1956 Georgia flag
Emanuel Jones of Decatur, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, thinks likewise.
But two other Senate Democrats, both white, said they would have no problem with a pledge of allegiance to the state flag — and we will get to their reasons in a bit.
Last Monday, the executive committee of the state Democratic Party held its post-disaster assessment of the November elections.
About 30 attended in person, including many of those on the statewide ballot. An additional dozen or so listened in via a conference call.
It was not a happy group.
African-Americans, the unquestioned base of the Democratic Party, spoke of being underappreciated. White Democrats from rural Georgia complained about being ignored.
Many pointed that, even though Roy Barnes, the nominee for governor, had a desperate need for female voters, little support was offered to the party’s most prominent female candidates — Carol Porter, the candidate for lieutenant governor; Georganna Sinkfield, secretary of state; and Mary Squires, insurance commissioner.
The 2001 Georgia flag
Georgia Democrats are fractured and demoralized, and they will spend the next two months searching for new leadership and a new direction. A racially tinged fight over the state flag and the Tenth Amendment when the General Assembly convenes in January would come at exactly the wrong time.
It doesn’t necessarily have to happen. Those who forget history aren’t just condemned to repeat it — they are eternally destined to get angry at the wrong things.
The current flag of Georgia was, in fact, patterned after the first national flag of the Confederacy. A state version of the Stars and Bars was adopted in 1879, not long after the departure of the federal troops who had occupied Georgia since the end of the Civil War.
It was indeed a middle-fingered salute. Similar gestures came from other Southern states.
But in Georgia, the power of the insult diminished over the next seven decades — to the point that a new middle finger was required in 1956 during the South’s fight to preserve segregation. Georgia’s all-white Legislature adopted a new flag featuring the inflammatory Confederate battle emblem.
With the adoption of the ‘56 flag, the old flag assumed a new meaning. State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, D-Atlanta, an African-American, began to advocate a return to the Stars and Bars — to the point that white legislators began referring to the first flag of the Confederacy as the “black” flag.
This is why Barnes pleased very few when, as governor, he finally brought the ‘56 flag down in 2001, replacing it with a blue banner.
Barnes lost his 2002 re-election bid to Sonny Perdue — who promised a vote on the ‘56 flag and its Confederate battle emblem.
The 2003 fight to sabotage the new governor’s pledge could be called the last great Democratic victory in the state Capitol. The most influential but silent figure behind the effort was Jimmy Carter — one of the few times the former president ever inserted himself into state affairs.
The 2003 Georgia flag
Carter insisted on a return to the Stars and Bars flag — the middle finger of 1879 and the “black” flag of the 1980s. State Rep. Bobby Franklin, a Cobb County Republican, produced an initial design. State Sen. George Hooks, a Democrat from Americus and occupant of Carter’s old Senate seat, perfected it.
African-American lawmakers lined up in support. Kasim Reed, the future mayor of Atlanta, engineered the new flag’s passage in the Senate. Terry Coleman, the last Democratic speaker and a Carter protégé, cast the deciding vote in the House.
Hooks is still in the Senate and has declared that he’s eager to lead the first pledge to the state flag. State Sen. Jason Carter, D-Decatur, who was elected this spring and is the grandson of the former president, says he will recite the words gladly.
If Democrats want to avoid a damaging split, they will have to reframe the situation handed them by the GOP.
Yes, the notion of sending even a subtle signal of rebellion would be unacceptable to most Georgians. As Barnes noted during his campaign, the Yankees do have nuclear weapons now.
But the idea of watching Republicans swear daily fealty to Jimmy Carter’s flag — this is something that people might pay to see.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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169 comments Add your comment
first or second
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
first, second…who cares?
antoscarp
November 20th, 2010
3:21 pm
The 1956 flag, sans that dumb looking state seal would look pretty cool.
Maxine
November 20th, 2010
3:38 pm
Both sides should just grow up and get over it!!
Alabama Communist
November 20th, 2010
3:45 pm
How Democrats can avoid the next fight over the Georgia flag* Story
Simple! Raise a white flag and say you are surrendering, but their legal loophole will be that they are Jevovah Witness’s and cannot pledge to any Pagan Republican Tea Party New World Order flag………
Skip
November 20th, 2010
3:51 pm
I’m with Maxine on this one.
wild one 13
November 20th, 2010
4:00 pm
Enter your comments here
wild one 13
November 20th, 2010
4:05 pm
As a long time state employee of Ga I can say that this is what is wrong with Ga. The idiots in Atlanta have their priorities screwed up, and fail the citizens of this state daily with thier childish and selfish behavior.
DannyX
November 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
Hi everyone, I’m a good faithful Republican from Cobb County. I am a faithful voter. I once walked for miles barefoot in the snow just to vote in a Streets and Sewers Commissioner run-off.
Anyway I’m excited for the future. I’ve been here 8 years now. I’m from New York City. Us Republicans in Georgia can’t wait for the Republicans to get started on their Georgia agenda.
Transportation, education, water, ethics reform. I was stuck in traffic the other day thinking how lucky my great great grand kids might be to not be stuck in such a mess. We have the leadership in place to make that happen.
Stuck in traffic, I too dreamed of sitting down with the Ports Authority to discuss future business. I wondered where I could find a Georgia Website that listed all of the great no-bid contracts. I thought as a Republican I had a great chance of someday landing an Atlanta Gas Light short-skirted lobbyist girlfriend. Then I honked at the guy trying to cut-in in front of me. Then I though fondly at the McRib return. Yummy. Then I was happy, only 5 miles left. I’d be home in an hour!
There is a sickness in GA
November 20th, 2010
4:15 pm
Ugh, why is this still a story. If you don’t want to pledge allegiance to the GA flag then just exit the room when the pledge is taking place. This is a non-issue, stirred up by people to piss Democrats off. Just don’t take the bate.
Craig
November 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
Even if he had no intention of doing so, good job to Senator Jeff Mullis. He has the party obsessed with race talking about race during their first post-mortem meeting.
And these are the guys who are going to bring the Dems back to prominence in GA? People who cant even get past race to make a pledge to their state?
poof!!!
November 20th, 2010
5:02 pm
It’s changed why go back and mess with that mess. Georgia
Asheville Dawg
November 20th, 2010
5:10 pm
I pledge allegiance to whatever flag we fly this day!
big johnson
November 20th, 2010
5:15 pm
Who gives a rats ass about the state flag? Again we’re going through this bs? here’s an idea, Put all this irrelavent garbage aside and work on fixing this economic situation in georgia. Oh, wait, we have a new governor who can’t even keep his own house in order. this state rules!!!
Mark
November 20th, 2010
5:16 pm
Are we still having this redneck conversation? Yikes! We have bigger issues folks and we already settled the flag issue acouple of years ago. No wonder young people are leaving this brain-dead graveyard.
REPUBLICANS ARE FULL OF IT
November 20th, 2010
5:20 pm
THE FLAG IS NOT AN ISSUE FACING THIS STATE. THE REPUBLICANS ARE SO FREAKING STUPID. TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, AND WATER – THOSE ARE THE ISSUES. IF THEY ARE FOR SMALLER GOVERNMENT LIKE THEY SAY, STICK TO THE BASICS – LIKE TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, AND WATER!!! NOW THEY HAVE THE POWER THEY SO DESPERATELY WANTED, SO LET’S SEE IF THEY DO ANYTHING (and they probably won’t do a damned thing)…
pragmatic
November 20th, 2010
5:25 pm
Democrats are suppose to be the liberal party but re pretty narrow minded. Everything they say comes out “This is racist” after trying for a while to please them because these liberals only see one side of any debate.
iRun
November 20th, 2010
6:16 pm
When will people stop worshiping the State?
Wadley Wrens
November 20th, 2010
6:30 pm
While they’re at it, they need to move the state capitol back to Louisville, where not as many prostitutes and lobbyists will be eager to go to seduce them while the egomaniacs should be working for us.
WOW
November 20th, 2010
6:45 pm
Yep Georgia and the nation keep handing the republicans ice cream.And they keep dropping it in the sand.Forget this crazy flag mess and start creating jobs like you campaign on.JOBS,JOBS JOBS..
Confederate Losers
November 20th, 2010
7:05 pm
They won’t be creating any jobs if they put the confederate flag back on the state flag, that’s for sure.
snd
November 20th, 2010
7:36 pm
DannyX..where have you been? The Repubs have been in charge in Georgia for 8 YEARS ALREADY AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION!
getoverit
November 20th, 2010
7:39 pm
If the democrats try to start another fight, they might as well leave Atlanta and Washington now, because they will all get their tails kicked in 2012!! This state and country have bigger problems that need solving now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Will
November 20th, 2010
7:50 pm
Let’s be absolutely clear about this: I am native born Georgia country boy who served his country in the United States Army.
Will
November 20th, 2010
7:53 pm
Let’s be absolutely clear about this. I am a Georgia born country boy who served his country in the United States Army. I pledge allegiance to NO FLAG but the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.
If the republican seccessionists in the General Assembly wish to take our beloved state out of our grand republic, I stand with the United States of America.
DPG WHO?
November 20th, 2010
7:59 pm
So, the Democrats got together on a conference call and still came up with nothing. No new leaders, no new ideas and still got their fingers up their butts wondering what happened this month. ITS THE GEORGIA DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP! IT SUCKS! And, it will continue to suck if the folks in charge now don’t step aside and let this younger generation put it back on track. KIDD, BARNES, BAKER, THURMOND, PORTER, ALL OF THEM ARE SORRY LEADERS!
dawgs88
November 20th, 2010
8:14 pm
I’d pledge allegiance to our state flag anyday over that crappy U.S. flag. I’m a native Georgian, and my family has been here since the 1750’s, and we didn’t own slaves like the other 90% of the southern white population, To all of you who have moved (INVADED) this state over the last 20 years or so, if you don’t like it Delta is ready when you are!!!!! American by birth, Southern by the grace of God! The elected representatives of GEORGIA should pledge their allegiance to the state they represent.
Independent
November 20th, 2010
8:21 pm
I’ve been here three years in Georgia. I have seen no changes, rising debt and a state congress so unlawful you could put them all in jail. This state is Republican and they will cheat, lie, steal, and just about anything to keep it. They have close door meetings, engage in afterhour love affairs with lobbyist men and women. They always bring up something in state leg instead of jobs, ethics, economy, transportation, healthcare. We need more watchdogs, media, bloggers, organizations that speakout about them. They always says we are fine and moving on or the Gov steps in and helps them. They will cover each other, stick together even when its criminal then use the state to cover it up and move on. The only way to beat them is get new Democratic leadership.
Independent
November 20th, 2010
8:26 pm
If you take Georgia you take the GOP. Invite all Democrates and Independent to Georgia, family, illegals, and foreigners tell them to make this a news home for two years. Register them as a voter and populate anywhere. The more democrats in this state the more voting power we have. If we take Georgia we break the Republicans. Move 5,000,000 democrats to Georgia within 5 years. We can do it.
bigdawg
November 20th, 2010
8:28 pm
Okay, Dawgs88, you’re a loonie! My family has been in America since 1655 on my father’s distaff side. Therefore, I have you beat by 100 years.
This is AMERICA! Our boys and girls aren’t fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else for the state of Georgia!
Try being an American. If you wish not to, Delta is ready when you are!
bigdawg
November 20th, 2010
8:29 pm
Independent: HOOAH!
wild one 13
November 20th, 2010
8:32 pm
dawgs88, if you think 90% of whites owned slaves you need to go back to school and take some history classes.
Reggie
November 20th, 2010
8:38 pm
Bassakwards!!! How about jobs! education( or we still 49th or 50th/) Ignorant necks!!!
Ben Thinken
November 20th, 2010
8:39 pm
This whole Georgia flag thing has been going on since I was 60 years younger. Every few years someone decides to have it changed.
The biggest chapter in its history was when Gov. Barnes decided to change it to suit his taste. His goal was to remove the stars and bars on it, even though it represented the state’s history, to cater to the leaders of a minority voting bloc. It was soon replaced by another Governor.
To have one that keeps being replaced makes no more sense than not having one.
Bobby
November 20th, 2010
8:39 pm
The current State Flag as well as the ‘56 are both acceptable to this liberal Southern Georgia Democrat. Barnes tablecloth is not and was not. By stabbing Georgia residents in the back, whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy, Barnes and his Black co-horts have probably ensured Republicans will run this state for several decades. Thanks to the manner in which the ‘56 Flag was torn down by the Democrats they will not be in power in this State for many, many years, if ever. Sometimes you sow what you reap.
ROBOCOP
November 20th, 2010
8:47 pm
Will, I’m with you. I’m not a native Georgian, but I too served honorably and proudly in the USAF during the Vietnam War, and I pledge my allegiance to the flag oi this nation. This group of idiots are going to to continue to ruin state government and life in Georgia while they get caught up in these stupid and silly issues. If they want Georgia to secede from the union, that’ll be just fine with me. They don’t have enough money to fight a war with the United States of America.
Rick
November 20th, 2010
8:50 pm
I like the rewriting of history in this article. The 1950’s was about the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. The flag during the civil war was the first flag after the US flag in the 2001 with a blue or red background. Only our state government could honor the people who took us into the Civil War, but not the men who fought in it. The St. Andrews Cross was a battle flag because of problems with the National flag. Before 1868 we were a citizen of the state not the US. We are citizens of the US by the 14 amendment ratified in 1868.
killerj
November 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
Oh bonnie blue put a foot in a dem,s ass.
HL
November 20th, 2010
9:29 pm
At this point, I don’t care if the Republicans worship Baal, as long as they start creating jobs. If the GA flag wasn’t changed, Atlanta would be a ghost town rather than a convention center. The good news, I guess is that Arthur Blank wouldn’t be seeking money for a new stadium. Former Governor Barnes might come across as arrogant but it was out of necessity.
Travis McGee
November 20th, 2010
9:32 pm
Ignorance knows no bounds and in Georgia is, indeed, boundless!
Chuck
November 20th, 2010
9:43 pm
Nobody is advocating a pledge to the state flag, it is a salute.
” I salute the Georgia flag and the principles for which it stands, wisdom, justice and moderation”.
I would still like a vote on the 1956 flag that was promised.
cs
November 20th, 2010
9:46 pm
Pledge to the state, yes. Pledge to the Ga Gop knife in the back rag? I’d rather eat dirt. I would like to give credit to white trash like Jimmy Carter and the whining “base” of the democratic party for me becoming a fultime anti- democrat voter and voice in the wilderness aginst their worthless agenda.
pn
November 20th, 2010
9:53 pm
The unemployment rate is still 10%.
Put that on a flag and wave it under their noses at the legislature.
cs
November 20th, 2010
10:03 pm
Imagine that. Unemplyment at 10% and the flag got changed. This was supposed to bring jobs jobs jobs. Imagine that, the flag changed and neither UGA or Tech has a football national trophy since. The 56 flag was supposedly the reason for that.Btw, yankess aint the only one’s with nukes. Thay all over Dixie and in submarines right her in South Ga.
Dave
November 20th, 2010
10:20 pm
Poor poor black democrats, they’ve got to cut the spending and free give-a-ways to the deadbeats! Sorry Tyrone, there ain’t no money tree!!! It got brought down with the flag! Oh, sorry Ty, I still fly mine.
To RoboCop
November 20th, 2010
10:27 pm
And the federal goverment does??? They’d have to borrow it from the Chinese!!! And hopefully the military could spend some of it before that muslim obamination can give it away to the lowlifes, illegals, and deadbeats!!!!! Georgia, SUCEED!!! We’ll only be following Arizona’s lead!!!!!
rooster
November 20th, 2010
10:41 pm
No one is suggesting a return the the ‘56 flag. All they are calling for is a pledge to the state flag in addition the pledge to the U.S. flag. Not necessary but also not harmful. What’s not to like about legislators reciting the great motto of this state, “wisdom, justice, moderation,” as a daily reminder of the virtues to which they should aspire? It does not diminish the pledge to the U.S. flag. It just acknowledges that the legislature has a specific obligation to the people of Georgia.
It doesn’t make sense to fight it. You can’t make a reasonable case against it. But as Senator Brown has demonstrated, you can make yourself look awkward in the attempt. We need Democrats in the legislature to constitute a credible and respected counterweight to the Republican majority on substantive policy issues. That’s hard to do when others think you’re inclined to oppose for opposition’s sake. And this is exactly the impression given by quibbling over an innocuous bit of ceremony.
cs
November 20th, 2010
10:55 pm
We need Democrats in the legislature to constitute a credible and respected counterweight to the Republican majority on substantive policy issues
Better import some from out of state then. Ga is loaded with loony tunes democrats.
cs
November 20th, 2010
11:00 pm
here’s an example of looney tunes…..
Sen. Mary Squires (D-Norcross), who is white, made a tearful speech from the floor of the Senate while referring to a discussion she had with her 9-year-old son about the effort to change the Georgia flag. During the conversation, her son asked if Perdue hated black people because of his effort to have a voter referendum on the state flag.
After the speech, Squires, accompanied by Regina Thomas (D-Savannah), marched into Perdue’s office and waited there before spending several minutes with him discussing the matter.
After the meeting, Squires said the governor defended his position.
“The governor told me he is not wrong,” she said. “And that I don’t know him and that essentially he is not concerned about the children of this state and what the children of this state see coming from his office and coming from this legislature.”
had another from savannah who got on the floor and claimed to be able to talk (and listen i reckon) to dead people.
Keith
November 20th, 2010
11:23 pm
Go study your history folks! The Founders considered us citizens of our individual states first and foremost. The federal citizenship was second. When the Civil War broke out many who supported keeping the Union together fought for the Confederacy, and many who supported the Southern States’ right to secede fought for the Union. Why? These people’s loyalty was first and foremost to their home state. Lincoln asked Lee to command the Union Army, and though he was against secession, Lee told him he could not abandon Virginia.
Martha
November 20th, 2010
11:27 pm
Come on you people in the legislature, don’t you have more important things to work on instead of that stupid flag. What about the education, jobs and the budget. I am so sick and tired of elected officials in the capitol using their offices for their on personal gains and any dumb personal issue they feel like bringing up instead of doing what they are elected to do, Quit wasting the taxpayers’ time on things that are not important to the majority of us and do what you were elected to do if you know how.
cs
November 20th, 2010
11:54 pm
What about the education you ask Martha?
number 10 of the The Communist Manifesto
10.Free education for all children in public schools.
Business Man
November 21st, 2010
12:15 am
There you go again Jim, kicking the fire ant hill. It is a non-issue and you know it. I remember when you used to be a serious politcal reporter. Try to go back.
Rule .303
November 21st, 2010
12:34 am
Seriously? This is really old news…I mean like 2002. Even the flaggers don’t care anymore. Jumbo G, you’ve lost it.
mike
November 21st, 2010
2:28 am
While education in this state is near the bottom when compared to the rest of this country, and the economy is in the pits, the best thing those goobers elected is to bring up pledging to a stupid flag. You dumb red necks should be proud of yourselves for looking like a bunch of morons. But when you grow up under the education system here in Georgia this is what you get. Politicians who are illiterate or crooks and take your pick on those two.
JuneBaby
November 21st, 2010
2:33 am
Enter your comments here
JuneBaby
November 21st, 2010
2:48 am
“I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag Of The United States Of America, And To The Republic For Which It Stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty And Justice For All.” That is the only pledge to a flag that i will ever make. I will neither pledge to, or salute the Ga State Flag, as long as the current party of morons, along with the imbeciles who elected them constitute the power structure in this state. I will never vote to secede from the United States Of America, and will oppose any faction that does. If This State trys to leave the Union, then i promise to take up arms, if asked, on behalf of the union in opposition. 150 yrs of history repeating itself!!!!!
Native Georgian
November 21st, 2010
5:33 am
Jim: Must be s slow time for important political items.
The way you wrote this makes it seem to me as if you are
trying to stir up unwanted controversy. No one has
yet proposed a change of the state flag. The proposal is to pledge alligence to the flag at the start of official state government secessions. If a legislator wishes not to do this, they can simply remain silent.
light on policy
November 21st, 2010
6:39 am
As a practical matter, what would seccession look like for Georgia’s economy? Who or what would back our currency given the bank failures of this state and FDIC takeovers?
light on policy
November 21st, 2010
6:43 am
Regardless of political affiliation, it should be a scary thought for Nathan Deal to be involved in signing fiscal policy. The good news is that all our seniors won’t have to worry about Federal SSI. The tea partiers would have their wish
Keep doing this GOP
November 21st, 2010
6:56 am
But………..but……….. we have to legislate important issues like people putting microchips into and on their bodies and making sure if you run over it , you can bring it home.
And there are posters who say there is loonie Democrats ?
Selah
November 21st, 2010
6:59 am
“Wisdom, Justice, Moderation”. We cant possibly embrace such notions. What an outrage! What a plot to take us back to slavery! This must be about race, right? Everything is about race.
Yankee in Gooberville
November 21st, 2010
7:01 am
A new golden calf for the pagan idolatry of the idiot right wing
Bill Campbell
November 21st, 2010
7:20 am
The rest of the Democrats will get the boot in 2012!
Omarish Yahirash
November 21st, 2010
7:22 am
The only good Yankees are those in the graveyard!
riff-raff
November 21st, 2010
7:59 am
We pay these dumbasses to go to Atlanta do this?We need to clean all of them out.
An American Patriot
November 21st, 2010
8:27 am
Save your Confederate Money Boys, “The South’s Gonna Rise Again”. Yankees, go home…..Blacks, take the chip off your shoulder, we didn’t sell you into slavery, your own people (Blacks) did…..go spit on their graves.
Tom
November 21st, 2010
8:51 am
Hey Jim, Tell us just what the Pledge to the Ga flag says? You forgot that! Man,is it sometrhing terrible?
Freedom Fries
November 21st, 2010
9:15 am
How much all of you posters want to bet that 80 percent of all the work in the 40 day legislative session will be over drawing district maps? The other 20 percent will be deciding what state agencies will lay off employees in order to balance the budget.
One Party Rule
November 21st, 2010
9:17 am
Remember, during the upcoming legislative session, one party rules the entire state Capitol. Instead of fighting Democrats, the GOP will be in-fighting over district maps.
Sea Worthy
November 21st, 2010
9:27 am
“The idiots in Atlanta…” That says it all!
NB Forrest
November 21st, 2010
9:40 am
The flag issue is over! Barnes defeat means the end of the war. Symbolically we lost but realistically we won. Our enemies are now in the minority party and they can whine all they want while we run the State. Nice to have them put in their place……
Dohickey
November 21st, 2010
10:00 am
A bigger and more important story is how the GOP is giving each other huge raises with our tax dollars while the state suffers.
the mehlman rings twice
November 21st, 2010
10:04 am
Right Dohickey! After reading what Sonny Perdue just did why not change the flag to a big white banner with a big green dollar sign in the middle of it?
the mehlman rings twice
November 21st, 2010
10:08 am
light on policy @ 6:39 am
Excellent point! Also notice that most of the bank failures are in rural areas, areas not controlled by “those idiots in Atlanta”?
Wendy Breeze
November 21st, 2010
10:19 am
I’m sorry, but WTF does the GA flag have to do with ANY issue in Georgia today? I’m so sick and tired of all these arrogant a-hole politicians, GOP and DEM, coming up with BS distraction after BS distraction to keep us arguing among ourselves while they rape and pillage the state and country.
I just read this morning that the govenor’s staff just received raises?! While the state and school systems are lying off people, these SOBs feel they are justified in getting a raise?
I don’t have a solution, but I’m smart enough to know the answer sure as hell doesn’t lie within the Republican or Democrat parties. How much longer can we allow this crap to continue?
Wendy Breeze
November 21st, 2010
10:20 am
sorry…but I meant ‘laying off’
Wendy Breeze
November 21st, 2010
10:23 am
Dohickey you’re part of the problem, too, you dummass. It’s not only the Republicans giving their staff raises…..Read something other than the funny pages, dummass. Across the country, they, Democrat and Republicans alike, are handing out raises like candy while their states suffer.
DLink
November 21st, 2010
10:34 am
Just a question, where is all that money going from the GA 400 toll now that 400 is paid for? Seriously, argue flags, and mysterious pledges all ya want. WHERE’S OUR MONEY GOING?
Russ 555
November 21st, 2010
10:42 am
Dumb idea. Very dumb. Why am I not surprised?
Biff Jones
November 21st, 2010
10:55 am
America’s new politically correct pandemic that will lead to our destruction . “Kissing the Black and Brown Ass”.
Stanford
November 21st, 2010
11:12 am
The GA flag facts come to one simple FACT – Sonny Lied!
You should be accustomed to republican lies; that’s all they do.
The Flaggers have turned into ‘Baggers, but they are still being manipulated by their rich republican sponsors. The GOP uses their hate, fear and ignorance to trick them into voting against their own best interest. The republicans will continue to drag up these phony issues because they have nothing else to offer the middle class; they will continue to be the party of the rich, for the rich.
Tax cuts will be paid for with a return to middle class taxes on food and drugs, new hidden fees and cuts in essential services. Our highways are jammed with traffic, bridges are crumbling and our teachers, firefighters and police officers are being laid off. We’ve had more than eight years of republican dominated government at the state, county and city levels; we are deeper in debt with no end in sight or any plan for the future except to continuing the divisive GOP polices to put the burden on working families and the blame on someone else.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
11:26 am
The Georgia Republican Party was given a huge mandate. The voters have spoken.
The anti-Tea Party one party rule Republicans that run this state have been told to carry on.
Ethics? Who needs them said the voter.
Transportation? Its just not important.
Education? Why bother?
Water? Whatever.
Bank failures? The Fed will bail them out.
No lets get down to the business of the People. Word on the street is that Deal wants Hartsfield/Jackson Airport in state control during his first term. He’s said to be very jealous of Sonny’s new roads and Port Authority jobs program awaiting the current governor.
Deal wants H. Jackson Airport in state control so he can lay the groundwork for the start-up of “DanD Airlines” (Deal and Daughter Airlines.)
A vote for Deal was also a vote for DanD Airlines.
It’s called a mandate Democrats, get over it.
yuzeyurbrain
November 21st, 2010
11:32 am
Democrats get over it. The election is over and you lost. Now don’t take the bait for every trivial act of stupidity that the Republicans dangle before you in an attempt to keep their Tea Party base distracted. Save your ammo for important things. The salute to the Ga. flag ain’t one of them. Be patient. Remember, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The Republicans will overplay their hand and it is only then that the people of Georgia will reject them.
BeamMeUp, Scottie
November 21st, 2010
11:52 am
I am fully convinced that these people (the GA legislators) are all in it for the contacts and the money. If you want to know why I feel this way, just spend a little time watching them on GPBS. We have the morning prayer, the pledge to the flag, the morning preacher (and his sermon), the morning doctor, and his/her speech, the………it goes on, and on…….and they just keep adding things!
They work three months of the year – 3 hours a day, usually 3 or 4 days a week (until the end of the Session), in a Capitol 10 feet deep in lobbyists – who have PREPRINTED slips of paper to call the person out of the Chamber – while in Session. They have Secretaries passing out these slips of paper to Pages, who take them into the Chamber – where the Legislator reads them and checks off a box, telling the Lobbyist if they can get up and come out of the Session! Do you think there is anything important going on behind those Chamber doors???? Looks like to me that the Lobbyist in the hall has the power! And when these people that ran for office are not in the Capitol, they are running to breakfast, lunch, dinner, receptions, etc. by these same people that packed the halls. (Yes, I know, they do have Committee meetings that do some work, but my opinion is that there is a lot more eating, drinking, and partying than working.)
We can talk about education, transportation, and water all day long, as long as we don’t pass anything that will interfere with my BAR-B-Q!
Native Georgian
November 21st, 2010
12:04 pm
Let’s put it to a statewide public vote and see how quickly the prior state flag flies again. This is one of the reason that Barnes lost the governor’s race no matter how much the liberal AJC and its followers deride the majority of Georgia citizens their choice. The 1956 flag is the one we grew up with and it’s the one we want. Get over it already; the South is Southern.
On a related note, it’s nice to see you “progressives”, socialists, democrats and liberals squirm. You may have 30% of the US population on your side and control of the white house and senate now, but we are not going to give up the fight easily. Eventually you too will get hit in the pocketbook and start to look at things rationally. There is no free lunch, and you are the minority!
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
12:27 pm
Native Georgian is exactly right.
The Tea Party is not welcome in Georgia.
The Georgia Christian Coalition of Good Ol’ Boy Republicans will crush you. Save your rhetoric for Obama and the Democrats.
You Tea Party radicals better not come here talking about “We the People” and stuff.
Our Governor will be expected to haul in big bucks from DC like our current Gov has done. In fact Sonny fired off a letter on behalf of ALL Republican Governors demanding more federal dollars.
Our politicians are career politicians. Get over it Tea Party. And we make our Republican leaders rich. Its an entitlement.
Give up our meal ticket lobby friends? Get lost.
There will also be more Georgia Power give-aways, and short skirted Atlanta Gas Light lobbyists.
There will also be Atlanta Gas Light give-aways- and short skirted Georgia Power lobbyists.
Get this through your thick skull Tea Party People, you are not welcome here.
We don’t want your kind around here!!
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
12:39 pm
Hey Tea Party…..
Keep your hands off my Government Football!!!!!!
Go Bulldogs!
Cardinal Sin
November 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
Let’s vote on it and how ever it turns out, oh well!
Enough Said!
stephen
November 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
This is what happens when you elect a bunch of fourth graders to offic. I remember as a child learning the three words set into the state seal and appearing on the flag. Anybody out there in the legislature know all three? Yeah, i didn’t think so.
Would it be too much to ask them to deal with some of the problems that actally effect the citizens of the state?
Hector
November 21st, 2010
2:10 pm
Why can’t we vote on it!!!!
midtownguy
November 21st, 2010
2:15 pm
My Georgia Tech friends don’t like the “UGA Arch” on the current flag, go back to the 1879 one.
I mean, football is THE most important thing in this state, right? I mean Mark RIcht’s performance as coach is much more important that the silly Governor. He gets a lot more hits on the Sports blogs that the Governor does here.
We have better things to concentrate on, like catching up with Florida, Alabama, Auburn and now even South Carolina for Pete’s sake! We are surrounded by Crystal Footballs yet we don’t have ANY. I say lets furlough more state employees so we can pay more for a new football coach.
Ben Thinken
November 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
If someone were to write an article in the AJC suggesting that ice is cold it would quickly turn into a Democrat vs Republican issue.
PR
November 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
Who the hells cares about the state flag? The state has more important issues than the stupid flag. Georgia’s leaders need to get their heads out of their butts and start addressing important issues not the G*d Damn flag. No wonder this state is screwed up!
Ima
November 21st, 2010
2:23 pm
I suggest that the state flag be replaced by a solid red one with a big black G in the center.
The Government is the problem...
November 21st, 2010
2:27 pm
Yeah, if they drop all those college football programs, then maybe they’d have enough money to pave something outside of 285. I wonder how much tax payers money is wasted there each year? Who really has time to watch any ’sport’s’ anyway? Judging by the girth of the average american, I’d say plenty of people… Go Dawgs, give me a break. I’m no huge fan of any of the current parties, but eh dems are just that, dim.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
Breaking NEWS…
Gov Sonny Perdue has fired University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt and has named himself as Richt replacement.
“I was out of a job anyway and it was time for Richt to go. I have always dreamed of being a head football coach. I actually have experience, I did play a head coach in a Hollywood movie,” said Perdue.
Perdue, who is term-limited and can’t run again defended the once proud socialist football program. “Sick ‘em, woof,woof,woof,” he growled.
Coach Perdue will takeover after the last game.
lacy
November 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
No wonder our state is screwed up!! Our legislators are dealing with the state flag and other such petty issues, and Perdue is giving his staff huge raises while the state suffers economically. Come on, you rednecks in the legislature, do something about job creation, the economy, education, transportation, and water ; and for God’s sake, don’t worry about Martians implanting chips in our brains. We already dealt with that last time!!
CobbGOPer
November 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
They’ll have everybody screaming about the flag as cover, so Raw Deal’s army of lobbyists can complete their hostile takeover of the state government without all the scrutiny, and ensure fat pockets for themselves in perpetuity.
Chuck Allison
November 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
Jim Galloway, I have noticed that you never, ever seem to have anything to write about. If I were you, I would try to write an intelligent article so your boss won’t realize that you are having this difficulty and let you go.
Real American
November 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
They need to find out where Obama put all our guns so we can get them back.
midtownguy
November 21st, 2010
2:57 pm
Sonny as head football coach at UGA might not be a bad idea. He would run it just like he did State Government. Hire some good assistant coaches then sit back and do nothing except collect his paycheck and pray for victory.
DannyX
November 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
So true midtownguy.
Of course there would be the recruiting trips too. Sonny will travel the earth looking to score young recruits. China, Cuba, Russia, Israel, France, Thailand, Belize, Italy,Taiwan, and Hong Kong too.
All those places and dozens more have hidden football talent just waiting to be discovered. We’ll end up with a lot of place kickers, but so what.
Bring back some prize recruits Sonny!
Its up….. And the kick is good, woofwoofwoof.
missmollie
November 21st, 2010
3:21 pm
Georgia has a beautiful flag now, voted on by the Legislature…leave
it be. If you still want to fly the stars and bars go to an army surplus store and buy one and mount on your wall in your basement and
you won’t have to worry about being politically incorrect or hurting
anyone’s feelings. Buy you a CD or tape of Dixie and play it in your auto with your windows rolled up… PEACE!!!
DogGoneLiberal
November 21st, 2010
3:58 pm
Why bring this bull#h*T up again. The discussion has been done, get over it black and white people, there are other things like jobs and the economy we need to focus on beside a flag. Black people, stop trying to punish whites for their ancestors transgressions and white people this is not the post civil war south and all people have human rights, equal protection under the civil, moral and God’s law.
Gator Guy
November 21st, 2010
4:05 pm
Typical. Whenever one side takes control, they spend their term antagonizing the other side and getting absolutely nothing done. If you elect democrats, you get taxed to death. If you elect republicans, you essentially allow a corporate takeover of government. Our political culture has eroded so much that you either elect the lesser of the two evils, or you simply elect the other side every other time to bring things back to the miserable status quo after each side goes too far during their times of power. The political party has become more important to elected officials than the country, and that in essence, is why we continue to fail.
Liberal/Conservative
November 21st, 2010
4:12 pm
Who the hell cares?
Alex
November 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
@Independent: 5 million Dems in GA in 5 years? Good idea! You’d only need 1 million… or just register all the illegals in Dalton, Cobb County and Gwinnet County.
As for changing the flag, I can’t think of a WORSE or more POORLY TIMED idea. You ignorant Georgians better look around. You may not have a source of water after a while. The traffic is nuts as is the pollution. Your kids remain dumb with the next bunch being even dumber… the flag? Seriously. You all should just jump in front of a MARTA train if the flag is your number one concern.
A huge problem in Georgia is that the Georgia Democratic Party is apparently doing an absolutely crappy job of outreach. Seriously, how hard is it to convince those poor and no-toothed southern Georgians that the Democratic Party is trying to pass healthcare reform to help YOU? Instead of advocating for splitting up Fulton County, they need to go to the poor and show them how they are helping them. No poor person with a brain would ever vote for a pro-business conservative party unless they just hated minorities to an extreme. There is enough business and money in Georgia to engineer a blue wave crush.
double
November 21st, 2010
4:31 pm
Perdue and Irving very free with tax payer money.How much longer we permit this.Seems like the flag question is little compared with these raises.May be standard practice,but with economy as is think some responsibility should be shown.
the mehlman rings twice
November 21st, 2010
4:55 pm
On November 2nd the voters of GA sent a clear message and now Sonny just sent a clear message back to us.
Bobby
November 21st, 2010
5:07 pm
I pledge allegiance to the Confederate Flag with affection, reverance and undying remembrance. Those of you opposed to the public flying of the Confederate Flag and/or the playing of “Dixie” in public can move up North where you belong. Georgia wouldn’t be in such dire staits if we didn’t have to worry about so much political correctness.
UGA75
November 21st, 2010
5:09 pm
I am a disabled Vietnam Vet and have no problem honoring the original constitution which clearly stated we are first citizens of our state, then the nation. Our problems are largely created by the massive Federal Government, huge tax burden, and sending jobs overseas through programs like cap and trade. I agree with most everyone else here who says everyone’s priority should be jobs, smaller government (state and nationally), and hopefully improving our education system. If the legislators will do what they were elected to do they can do a Black power salute, wave the flag of their choice while saluting it or not, or just quietly do their job while ignoring those around them promoting idiocy.
TruthBe
November 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
The current Flag is fine and if they want to put the very honorable “Bars and Stars” back on the Flag that is fine too. But they should also get rid of all of the racist black give aways too. Georgia should be for all of it’s Citizens not just for the racist black politicans downtown. Black Politicans ONLY care about blacks and black issues period. Just look at Rep.John Lewis, Robert Brown, Emanuel Jones, and Mayor Reed.
TurthBeNot
November 21st, 2010
5:30 pm
TruthBe. Georiga is a one party GOP state now except for a couple of municipalities. So, with 90 percent under one party rule, you are going to single out a tiny group of minority lawmakers? Quit playing the victim card. You can’t control an entire state capitol, most counties, etc and still be a victim.
James Dean
November 21st, 2010
5:40 pm
You know, if we put all the controversy aside, I think most of us could say objectively (from an aesthetic perspective) that the 1956 flag is the only halfway decent looking one from that bunch…
James Dean
November 21st, 2010
5:41 pm
2001 looks terrible with an all-blue background, and 2003 is poorly proportioned. Then again, we all have better things to worry about. At least, we should.
Cardinal Sin
November 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
I say vote on it as most in GA want the 1956 flag but voting would make too much sense as we have to appease to the PC and the offended.
Enough Said!
Name (required)
November 21st, 2010
7:10 pm
Great, let’s get all the inbreds riled up over the redneck flag all over again.
Aren’t there important issues we should be focusing on rather than the ugly ’stars and bars’?
Winfield J. Abbe
November 21st, 2010
7:22 pm
Many posters above have basically said this: Mr. Perdue promised a public vote on the flag. He lied and failed to provide the citizens that opportunity for purely politically correct reasons. So far he got away with it. The lie is what is more important than the flag itself. A sitting governor lied to citzens. He also lied about the taxes when GA 400 was paid for. He also acted hypocritically when he claims to want to save money for the state but gives his cronies soft jobs in the state while others are being put out of their homes and jobs onto the street. Mr. Perdue also sold out the citizens of Georgia by wasting millions of dollars on a wasteful program at UGA when the Medical College of Georgia was in the position to use the money more effectively and efficiently. Mr. Perdue also stacked the Board of Regents with 12 out of the 18 members from UGA or cronies of them. This is why they recently approved the unnecessary and inefficient and foolish engineering school there. Do not keep blaming Republicans for all this: Remember, Mr. Perdue was a former democrat and largely responsible for the natural gas mess in Georgia too.
I still have a bumper sticker on my truck: “Let US Vote” with a picture of the beautiful stars and bars”.
How about it you politically correct cowards in the Legislature? Let us vote and also pass a new law providing for the public initiative in Georgia. Then perhaps citizens can get some badly needed changes in the corrupt government of Georgia for a change.
However, one must give credit to Mr. Perdue for obtaining the KIA plant on Southwest Georgia. However, he paid dearly for it.
the mehlman rings twice
November 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
Bobby,
You must be a victim of Zell’s lottery funded education system. If all us Northerners left do you think we would take our money with us? We certainly would not leave it they Georgia banks owned by Deal’s friends. Anyway, without northern money Georgia and most other southern state would have to fund their own welfare, namely, these rural grannies who collect their husband’s pensions and use their Social Security checks to go gamble in Biloxi. No more farm subsidies, no more rural extension services, etc.
sweettea-ga
November 21st, 2010
7:36 pm
I pledge my allegiance to the flag of the United States of America not an individual state. I am proud to be a native Georgian. That said, we need real leadership to help create jobs, build new infrastructure, improve education and a myriad of other issues that need attention. This flag “controversy is just pure worthless political posturing.
Winfield J. Abbe
November 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
I am not even from Georgia, but I love the song “Dixie”, and if some of you politically correct citzens don’t stand up and defend your great history and heritage, you are going to wake up one morning observing these do gooders tearing down your priceless monuments on Main Street in every town and county of this state, and it will all be “legalized” in some law passed while you were not looking over the shoulder of the politically correct cowards elected to the Georgia Legislature..
tom
November 21st, 2010
7:40 pm
Listen up-can’t you see and hear. We just had an election and the people of the great State of Georgia have spoken with their vote. The Republicans will run the State and not the Demorats. Georgians know who is needed in office to keep this a very PROgressive State.
Are they perfect? No. But their success rate is very high. I am proud to be a Georgian.
the mehlman rings twice
November 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
TruthBe@5:21
How about we get rid of white giveaways also, like sweetheart loans (even for daughters and son-in-laws), probation instead of jail, job entitlements, etc. We need to start with these politicans who only care about white issues like loyalty oaths, sleeping with lobbyists (and mother-in-laws), fantasy sporting goods stores.
brian
November 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Its a piece of cloth nothing more nothing less. The only flag that matters is the us flag!!!!! Why is this an issue? I left this state because I could not go to work and keep a job because three companys i went to work for went under. Write your rep and tell them this is not the way to be re-elected.
GOPHOMIE
November 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Who gives a $#!T about that stupid flag? Let’s just let it go and focus our energy and resources to creating jobs. Ya know, that stuff that actually MATTERS in our world today?
cs
November 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!LET US VOTE!!
Kerry Craig Walker
November 21st, 2010
8:42 pm
Gov. Sonny Perdue let all of the people of Ga down when he did not allow the vote to take place….maybe we should have left the flag alone…this governor is a bit corrupted…but why should we put so much weight on a flag?…Gov. Perdue also covered up for the actions of Detective Preston Peavy when he attempted to frame me for crimes I did not commit…in fact, yes it’s true…I was the victim for God’s sake…search: kerry walker story
Sierra
November 21st, 2010
8:52 pm
The current GA flag looks like something the United Nations would design. It tries to appease everyone and pleases no one.
Rarely agree with the black Dems but I do on the pledge of allegiance issue. What about the state of Georgia deserves my allegiance? We are consistently near the bottom of almost every bad statistic you ever hear about: personal bankruptcy filings, school test scores, school dropouts, teen pregnancy, on and on. And we just elected a governor who will probably be imprisoned before his term is even up.
V. Johnson
November 21st, 2010
9:08 pm
It’s about jobs, stupid!
ryan
November 21st, 2010
9:21 pm
Yea why bring this to a vote people are loosing their homes because of the housing market Georgia loosing more small banks its the economy stupid this is worst than Harry Reid bringing up dream act
Political Mongrel
November 21st, 2010
9:28 pm
@Keith: Study history yourself. The founders were split between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. They were not universally in favor of state before nation. Just the ones you like.
4T9ers
November 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
It’s time for both parties to stfu…..we need people with real back bone in office.
Dave
November 21st, 2010
10:37 pm
Here’s a simple solution for the state flag: solid blue rectangular flag, with the state seal in white in the middle, similar to our very first state flag. Plain and simple, the best way to go. Nobody gets hurts, and everybody’s happy (well, most everybody anyway…). I wish we’d all get past this flag garbage, and concentrate on the things that really matter. And this is coming from a white conservative.
JLD
November 21st, 2010
10:41 pm
The confederate flag is a battle flag…………..the south isn’t going to rise again, the war is over and you lost!!!! Now if you want this thing to be flown to show what losers southerners are then keep flying the dam thing on the back of you pickup and your trailer.
Steve
November 21st, 2010
10:44 pm
The Dixiecrats are back in Georgia! They call themselves Republicans now.
Tom
November 21st, 2010
11:09 pm
Aren’t there more important things to cover this upcoming session?
Umm I don’t know, maybe JOBS???? Keep the current flag and don’t give the Dems something to complain about.
While yes the Confederate flag is from history, its also a sign that Georgia has not moved on. Its obvious enough all around our state. It is 2010 people!!!! Not 1861!!!
Georgia will NEVER prosper. You either have rich white kids who have never worked a day in their life; (most of them are lobbyists at the Capitol) or you have a bunch of rednecks with trash in their front yard. The middle class in Georgia is pretty much non-existent.
cs
November 21st, 2010
11:09 pm
Such fear liberals and whiners and yankee transplants have of our beloved Battleflag and Real State Flag, the one and only 1956. It is hillarious how they come on here and call us names and how backward we are. Home must not be all its cooked up to be for these idiots or they would have stayed their arses there.
Bill Orvis White
November 21st, 2010
11:48 pm
It’s pride, not hate – pure and simple. The politically correct crowd under King Roy and Jimmah Carter stirred this thing up and wasted taxpayer and legislature time. Sonny was handed this disaster which made him look bad. It’s not Sonny’s fault – look to the liberals who created this disaster.
In the end, the correct flag is the Confederate design because it is a symbol of independence. Again, if we had The Southern Coalition of the United States, all of these great Southern states could legally have the Confederate emblem on them.
No, you far lefties, this isn’t about being pro-slavery. The Civil War was about saying no to a huge centralized government that was telling these great states to do trade their way.
A new Southern Coaltion would be about operating under a pro-independence model. What is pro-independence? Pro-independence means that we get to make our own decisions on health care, education, the environment, jobs, religion and a dedication to a culture of life.
For far too long, we have taken marching orders from Liberal Washington whereby “leaders” like Hussein Obama, Wiccan Pelosi, Brain-Damaged Reid and Bawny Frank shoved secular progressive ideals down our throats.
We in great states like Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida and Tennessee need to stand up to installed-leaders who mock the values that we care about. I left out North Carolina because they went all liberal on the South with their public transportation and voting for Hussein Obama in 2008. Maybe they’ll change back to the right side in 2012.
We all have to remember that Hussein Obama is the worst and most incompetent president ever. Lil Hussein has a combination of Jimmah, FDR and Wilson mixed into one horrible stew. The result has left this country in its worst shape ever.
Amen,
Bill
Steve
November 22nd, 2010
12:05 am
What’s wrong with the flag we’ve got now, and why is this a focus? With all the controversy of the last flag vote, can’t we put the issue of a flag behind us? There are far worse things that we need to focus on than a silly flag, for crying out loud. The one we have now is not offensive in any way, shape or form. It if is, then get over it, and get out of the way, you silly backwards thinking idiots. There’s work to be done, and not on a stupid flag.
Bro
November 22nd, 2010
4:01 am
I suggest a flag with a marijuana leaf with Sambo running around it.
tim
November 22nd, 2010
7:39 am
The fact that Georgia is preoccupied with the stae flag explains why we have som much unemployment. Get your priorities straight and do some work. Georgia has had numerous flags and each meaing less than the one before. Ask most other staes they couldn’t tell you what there flag looks like they don’t care.
SuSu
November 22nd, 2010
8:01 am
This controversy is not a surprise in a state which requires all state employees to sign a Loyalty Oath before being hired. This Oath, dating back to 1953-54, is fallout from the McCarthy era and states that you will not seek to overthrow the State of Georgia government. Ignoring the fact that our state is one of the top 5 which needs overthrowing, the cost of collecting and maintaining these arcane documents makes me shriek in horror. Because we have an overabundance of politicians with not a single LEADER to be seen, this practice will continue until the stars cease to shine.
As a retired state employee I gladly state if I knew of a reasonable way to run the General Assembly out of town I would be at the front of the line to do so. They and our outgoing and incoming governors are the weakest group of pseudo “leaders” we have ever had. If they think they have a mandate to rule they need to consider the large numbers of people who did not vote FOR them but AGAINST someone else.
You do NOT have my oath to do anything other than to work for a better slate of candidates in 2012.
missmollie
November 22nd, 2010
8:02 am
If you really want to blame someone, blame Roy Barnes and Bill Clinton.
Clinton gave Barnes a citation for being responsible for removing the stars and bars. You might blame Jimmy Carter too??? You know what he stands for…Don’t blame Sonny, the entire Legislature voted for the
present, dignified, and beautiful flag…Let’s let it rest…
RainbowMittens
November 22nd, 2010
8:09 am
It is the height of idiocy to waste precious time and tax dollars on something so stupid. I have zero respect for either side for messing with this stupid issue. Quit wasting our time and money you dumb clucks!
missmollie
November 22nd, 2010
8:19 am
I try not to call an idiot a idiot even if he is an idiot. Expand your vocabulary and you want have to use idiot or stupid. “Poor judgment”, “no class”, “not very smart”, “not all his/her knives in the drawer”, and “not all his/her oars in the water”, “not very intelligent” to mention a few…
Danzy
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 am
The Republican party controlled the White House for 20 out the past 30 years. 1980-1992 (Reagan & Bush Sr). and from 2000-2008 (GW Bush). Pretty obvious who screwed things up, seeing how the GOP has ran the country the majority of the past three decades (1980-2010) Facts speak for themselves.
ROBOCOP
November 22nd, 2010
8:56 am
What this all boils down to in the end is a bunch of folks who have passed down from one generation to another their response to a civil war they lost almost 150 years ago. They would love a return to the good old days — including keeping one group of human beings under their control. They know they can’t afford to secede from these United States, but they want to promote a notion of being protectors of the Tenth Amendment. They’re a bunch of bigots who can’t get over the fact their great grandparents got their butts whipped trying to break away from the states in order to maintain a system of human bondage to make $$$$ at someone else’s expense. If they had any real morals, they’d move on to the real issues affecting this state.
ROBOCOP
November 22nd, 2010
9:02 am
Bill Orvis White
It’s guys like you who are the radicals. Yeah, sure — a set of states which just happen to be the same ones in the original list of traitors who want to have their cake and eat it, too: Southern Coalition of Independent States.
Go see psychiatrist. It won’t happen in your life time, you traitor.
The Centrist
November 22nd, 2010
9:17 am
After being elected time-and-time again as a Southern Republican, if they make a policy mess of things they are called a RINO. If they put some race-baited issue on the table, we are reminded that they are a former Democrat?
catlady
November 22nd, 2010
9:21 am
Well, with Nathan Deal as Governor and the other idiots in “leadership” of state government, I say we go with a white flag imprinted with the words, “Your slogan can go here for $10M.”
Patrick
November 22nd, 2010
9:37 am
Does anyone else remeber the outcome the last time Georgia suported secession?
Scott
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 am
As a 55 year old Georgian, who grew up with the 56 flag from grade school thru college. I found it insulting for the legislature to change it for a minority group of people. I did’nt really mind changing it, what I minded was the manner in which it was changed. Sonny should have given us the vote to either stay with the 56 flag, or to change it to another design.
Robert
November 22nd, 2010
9:53 am
Could the Republican legislators get back to the important issues, like Ed Setzler’s getting government out of our butts? “Microchips are like little beepers. Just imagine, if you will, having a beeper in your rectum or genital area, the most sensitive area of your body. And your beeper numbers displayed on billboards throughout the city. All done without your permission.”
Sorry, TSA, this lawmaker was way ahead of you.
droopydawg
November 22nd, 2010
9:56 am
This is such a moronic waste of time and outrage.
An American Patriot
November 22nd, 2010
9:57 am
Real American
November 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
They need to find out where Obama put all our guns so we can get them back.
Folks, this is gonna blow your socks off……during the Korean Conflict, the USA gave S. Korea nearly 700,000 M1 Carbines (that’s right, GAVE). Ever since, they’ve been sitting in a warehouse in S.Korea……now S. Korea comes back and wants to SELL (that right, SELL) them back to us. Our glorious POTUS is considering buying them back AND MELTING THEM DOWN SO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA CAN’T GET THEIR HANDS ON THEM. This is another one of his GUN CONTROL ideas. We should all be outraged by this attempt at Gun Control.
BE objective
November 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
Easy solution- If you don’t like the flag or what you perceive it represents, during the pledge, just omit part about the flag, and say “I pledge allegiance…to moderation, justice, and wisdom.” (if i got those three things right….) you can also turn in a 90 degree direction away from the flag, indicating reform. the Dem party can publicize this as an official response, for unity.
cs
November 22nd, 2010
11:04 am
We got banana republic type government concerning our state flag from 2001 to present and yall expect better now while leaving that alone? It reminds me of a former associate acroos the county line here. After working our rears off getting Roy Barnes threw out of office, she had the nerve to tell me we should let the flag go. We had more important things to worry about. Needless to say we dont associate anymore and I pretty much seen to it the little tea party thing they started (even tried to get me involved) didnt amount to chit.
Hollis
November 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Bring back the ‘56 flag and have the Redcoat Band at UGA play Dixie!!! It’s time we get nature back in order!!
Capitol Avenue Cal
November 22nd, 2010
11:12 am
It doesn’t matter if you call them Democrats or Republicans, these silly effs who operate in the Georgia General Assembly are an embarassment to all of us. This has been going on for all of my 64 years, and I am so sick of their nonesense. Why do we have such idiots in the Georgia legislature? Where is it dictated that we must suffer these fools? God help us all.
Real American
November 22nd, 2010
11:17 am
First Obama took our guns, now he’s after our flag? Wear the rebel flag proudly, what better way is there to celebrate the beat down we took.
US Grant
November 22nd, 2010
11:32 am
Celebrating a “beat down” is weird. The only others I know of who do this are the Serbs who celebrate a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Turks in 1389 at Kosovo.
“Uncle Billy” Sherman administered a severe beating to the Rebs. I doubt if they want another one.
Hollis
November 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
US grant…go North young man, go North!!!!
ROBOCOP
November 22nd, 2010
12:02 pm
Capital Avenue Cal
The reason we have such idiots in the General Assembly is because even bigger idiots vote for them and put them there.
Captain Midnight
November 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
While it’s true that nothing positive happened under the 1956 flag;
After all,we didn’t host the 1996 Olympic games (we just imagined that).
We didn’t host the 1988 Democratic (no-less)National convention.
We didn’t host the 1972 MLB All star game.
We didn’t host the 2000 NFL Superbowl.
We didn’t host multiple World series .Oh yea, we didn’t send a man to the White house under that flag either.
Those things never happened. Couldn’t have happened under that racist flag. It was all a dream.
Captain Midnight
November 22nd, 2010
12:48 pm
Oh, I almost forgot,the NBA All-star game wasn’t held here in 1978 either. Couldn’t have, we still flew the 1956 flag. Never happened..
Uncle Jessie
November 22nd, 2010
3:03 pm
Daisy Duke loves to jump into Gen. Lee wit our flag on top, dont need to say no more. Yee Haw
Richard Parrilla
November 22nd, 2010
3:43 pm
The only thing anyone should pledge their allegiance to is whoever they call their creator. These flags represent mere pieces of land that can mean anything to anyone as far as I’m concerned. None of us really own any of this land outside of the system we humans have created. I seriously wish these hyperpatriotic dipsticks would stop putting a piece of land they happen to be on before their maker.
missmollie
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
Have a Happy Thanksgiving you all and especially Jim G, Karen H.,
Governor Perdue and Mary, Jason A. Houton County Judge elect, and Austin Scott and Vivien, Reps Willie Talton and Larry O’Neal..
missmollie
November 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
My Deepest Sympathy to Ms Carol Porter in losing her illustrious
Mother.