Your morning jolt: The lions and lambs of Georgia politics on one team
You know that the metro Atlanta effort to pass next year’s transit sales tax struck something of a sandbar earlier this month, when the campaign’s top political strategist, Glenn Totten, abandoned the project. Possibly with some encouragement.
A retooling is underway. Right now, Paul Bennecke, the former political director for the Republican Governors Association, is the only name of note attached to that campaign effort, which is being financed by the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
An overlapping $3 million statewide effort – remember that counties will be grouped into a dozen regional tax conclaves – is being underwritten by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, which on Wednesday announced one of the most carefully balanced political teams we’ve ever seen.
Talk about your lions and lambs bedding down together:
– Heath Garrett, principal political strategist with the Stephens and Schriefer Group, is a former chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson;
– Chris Carpenter, the campaign manager for Roy Barnes’ 2010 gubernatorial campaign and founder of the Peachtree Battle Group;
– Chip Lake, a political consultant with Glendale Strategies, was only recently chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland;
– And Cabral Franklin, the son of the late political strategist David Franklin and former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin. Cabral Franklin was involved in the state Democratic party’s 2010 turnout effort directed at African-Americans.
But wait – there’s more. The statewide operation, aimed at second-tier cities such as Savannah, Valdosta, Macon and Columbus, will have two pollsters.
One is John McLaughlin, CEO and partner of McLaughlin & Associates, who just happened to handle polling for Republican candidate Nathan Deal last year.
The other pollster is Cornell Belcher, president of Brilliant Corners Research and Strategies, who ran numbers for Kasim Reed during his 2009 race for mayor of Atlanta – and, in 2008, some guy named Obama.
***
Iowa may have its fried butter on a stick, but Georgia has something better: eggsicles. Here’s a snap of Robert Howell, president of the Georgia Egg Commission, hawking the latest trend in on-the-go dining at the state Capitol. Patent pending.
***
Researchers now understand why the center does not hold in American politics. Because extremism is cheaper.
In a just released paper, the Progressive Policy Institute took a liberal look at the situation. Among the findings:
Blue Dogs, New Democrats and their opponents spent an average of $3.3 million on their campaigns, compared to an average of $1.6 million spent by candidates and opponents in Progressive Caucus districts. Not only did moderate candidates spend more to defend their seats, they faced better-financed challengers.
This probably comes as no surprise to U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Savannah, the last white Democrat from the Deep South in Congress. And no doubt we would see the same dynamic on the conservative side.
***
Over at Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Kyle Kondik has this interesting thought about Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s suggestion that Federal Reserve head Ben Bernanke might deserve a necktie party:
Effectively threatening violence against the chairman of the Federal Reserve drew a rebuke from Bush political svengali Karl Rove and others. Even Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, newly minted as the chairman of the Republican Governors Association thanks to former Chairman Perry’s presidential bid, said that he “might have said it a little bit differently.”
Perry’s Federal Reserve comments are notable for another reason: They are the clearest signal that the campaign of this race’s forgotten man, Ron Paul, might be having its desired effect: bringing the longtime congressman’s ideas on monetary policy and maybe — maybe — his dovish stance on war and peace closer to the mainstream.
In Concord, N.H., on Wednesday, Paul himself was thinking the same thing. From Politico.com:
“Now they have this other governor, I can’t remember his name,” Paul joked. “He realizes that talking about the Fed is good, too. But I’ll tell you what, he makes me sound like a moderate. I have never once said Bernanke has committed treason. But I have suggested very strongly that the Federal Reserve system and all the members have been counterfeiters for a long time.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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88 comments Add your comment
Centrist
August 18th, 2011
10:22 am
Typical liberal hyperbole concerning a Republican. Perry’s “treasonous” remark about printing more money was not literal – but the left is trying to make it sound “violent” calling for his execution.
Note – I don’t support Perry, but like to expose the liberal media for what it is.
Rule .303
August 18th, 2011
10:37 am
Wait. What? Karl Rove is a liberal? A world turned upside down indeed.
Pompano
August 18th, 2011
10:40 am
Just as we’ve been saying – the T-Splost is just a big cokie-jar for the politically connected. Notice that the Chamber of Commerce has stacked a team with individuals accustomed to living off the tax-payers.
And the hand-outs begin…
td
August 18th, 2011
10:45 am
The democratic controlled media (ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, Washington Post, NY Times, AJC) are making consorted effort to dig up and Bash every single Republican candidate. Between this tactic and Obama trying to make it look like the Tea Party has total control of the legislative agenda. One can see where next years Presidential election is going to be run on. Here is the Democratic themes:
1: Republican candidate: Far right wing zealot, racist that only care about the rich.
2: All our economic failures are due to the Tea party not cooperating or compromising.
Obama and the Dems are going to make next years election totally negative (may end up being the worst since Andrew Jackson). It is the only way he has a chance to win. He can not run on his record, the economy or foreign policy.
td
August 18th, 2011
10:47 am
Rule .303
August 18th, 2011
10:37 am
Wait. What? Karl Rove is a liberal? A world turned upside down indeed.
Rove has a personal vendetta against Perry. He will try to do everything now to not let him get the nomination but if Perry gets the nomination then Rove will be working hard to get the socialist out of the White house.
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
11:01 am
“Typical liberal hyperbole concerning a Republican.”
Don’t be such a crybaby Centrist. A lot of hyperbole as Jim pointed out is coming from prominent Republicans. What exactly are you uncovering?
Hyperbole is what Perry does, it’s the essence of who he is. Always has been. He likes to stir crowds of people into a frenzy. He’s good at it too. When he was a cheerleader in college he was one of the best. He wasn’t head cheerleader but many said he was qualified to be head cheerleader. He wasn’t a college cheerleader so he could meet chicks, Texas A&M only has boy cheerleaders. He was a cheerleader because he dedicated to hyperbole, its what cheering is all about. He wears very flamboyant suits because it matches his personality.
Hyperbole is what Perry is all about. Perry says Texas is leaving the USA. Hyperbole. Perry says “We got spirit, yes we do, we got spirit, how about you?” More hyperbole.
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:04 am
td
Give it a rest. All ‘parry’ will provide is humor until he goes the way of trump, pawlenty, newt, cain, bachman, et.al.
Like it or not, Americans tend not to elect reactionary extremists.
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:07 am
As for T-Splost, isn’t it a shame that the General Assembly and the Governor could not in good faith put forth a STATE WIDE Transportation Plan that obviously started with the existing transit hub and grew to connect the cities and commerce hubs currently only accessible by road?
I realize sonny wasted a lot of money building huge roads to nowhere in deep rural GA and that money won’t be coming back. Still at some point the present and future transportation needs of the population centers in this State must be addressed as adults.
Young Lady
August 18th, 2011
11:10 am
-”But I have suggested very strongly that the Federal Reserve system and all the members have been counterfeiters for a long time.”
Wait…did he just imply that the Federal Reserve is printing money? Wow. Also how can a government ‘counterfeit’ their own money. I think this qualifies as a special level of gaffe. The concern would be hyperinflation actually, not counterfeiting.
So I’m thinking we might need to start actively explaining that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Dept. (The one that mints money) are seperate entities. This is getting rather silly.
History Will Teach Us if We will Learn
August 18th, 2011
11:11 am
To td:
A point of spelling/grammer when referring to the Democratically controlled media, capital “D” for the Democratic Party; lower case “d” for democratic people or groups speaking of democratic ideals. Example: Jim Galloway of the AJC’s Political Insider has a democratic representation of views in the comments to his blog. He has a balanced number of Democrats, Republican, Tea Party, Libertarian, Socialists, and Communists crackpots commenting of various subjects.
Cliff
August 18th, 2011
11:18 am
I don’t think the media has to expend much effort to “dig up and bash” the Republican candidates. The candidates are doing a pretty good job of it themselves every time they open their mouths. When the governor of the second largest state holds a public forum to which he has invited the press, makes a statement about the Fed chair and uses the word “treason”, do you expect any journalist, conservative or liberal, to just let something like that slide? “Oh, it’s nothing … cranky old man Perry hasn’t had his Cheerios yet.”
td
August 18th, 2011
11:25 am
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:04 am
td
Give it a rest. All ‘parry’ will provide is humor until he goes the way of trump, pawlenty, newt, cain, bachman, et.al.
Like it or not, Americans tend not to elect reactionary extremists
I did not say I was going to support Perry. I am just pointing out the Democratic strategy. Same as they did to Palin in 08, have dome to Bachmann, Newt, Cain and Trump. They only one they have left a little a lone is Romney because he is the one they really want to run against (McCain light).
Obama is far more extreme of the left then any of these candidates are on the right (remember he had a 100% voting approval from the progressives as a Senator). Perry was a Democrat 20 years ago so he is not to extreme.
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:28 am
td
Apparently you have absolutely no experience whatsoever with anyone or anything that could be considered ‘extreme Left’. Attaching that monicker to the President proves it.
td
August 18th, 2011
11:28 am
History Will Teach Us if We will Learn
August 18th, 2011
11:11 am
I thought this was a blog and not a doctoral thesis? I guess if you can not cognitively defend your personal philosophy then you attack the other side. Typical liberal.
td
August 18th, 2011
11:34 am
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:28 am
td
Apparently you have absolutely no experience whatsoever with anyone or anything that could be considered ‘extreme Left’. Attaching that monicker to the President proves it
I have in the past and currently interact with more people on the far left then you know in the center (You thin Centrist is on the far right). Obama described himself in his own book as a progressive that believes in Social Justice and redistribution of Wealth. If those are not tenets of the extreme Nancy Pelosi left then please explain what is? Personally I think he is a Socialist at best and maybe even has communist leanings.
honested
August 18th, 2011
11:42 am
td, I regularly bring tears to the eyes of extremist wrong wing nuts.
On another note, our vaunted State House of Representatives just passed the ill conceived and unworkable Tax Overhaul. If you are in the top 2% (a recurring theme) you get a tax break. Everyone else will get to pay more. After starting with a broad base of consumption taxes including labor related taxation, the wise legislators decided to exempt everything but automobile service and repair labor operations. Since those operations don’t represent nearly enough annual commerce to make up the difference in the tax giveaway, count on all types of automobile service and repair to get much, much more expensive.
Call your Senators NOW before this abomination sneaks through the Senate.
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
11:48 am
“If those are not tenets of the extreme Nancy Pelosi left then please explain what is?”
This is where you start getting all crazy with hyperbole. Nancy Pelosi represents a liberal district that has amazing wealth. Giant new worldwide corporations are springing up all over that area.
What exactly has she done to stifle all of these capitalist giants?
How does her district compare to the Georgia Republican districts???
findog
August 18th, 2011
12:00 pm
td, please define “dig up”
it appears to me that if people are throwing things that the digging part has already occurred
Amazing
August 18th, 2011
12:02 pm
TD
I guess Fox, NY Post, WSJ and the Koch brothers are unbiased because they bash the left and every Democratic candidate and idea. How quickly we forget some of the ugly and personal attacks on the President from these outlets. I am not talking about policy disagreements but the mean spirited personal attacks. It is not wise to throw stones when you live in a glass house! By the way, even Karl Rove called Perry’s comments out of line.
findog
August 18th, 2011
12:12 pm
td, Saying a republican from any southern state was a democrat 20 years ago does not equate to them being even remotely like minded to current democrats. Most of Georgia’s republicans were democrats, they only change party affiliation to get elected. Has Rick had a major change of heart that caused the change? It’s not like a father of three coming out of the closet…
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
12:13 pm
Has anyone dug up Obama’s real birth certificate? Is he wearing his flag pin? Has he done any terrorist fist bumps lately? Is he a Muslim? Socialist? Communist? A cheerleader?
Levondia
August 18th, 2011
12:25 pm
“…is being financed by the Metro Atlanta Chamber…is being underwritten by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce,…”
So the same Chambers of Commerce that hyped then tried to hide Beverly Hall’s doings, and that fight every attempt to enforce the immigration laws, are now promoting the transit sales tax? That is all I need to know.
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
12:39 pm
Amazing-
Attacks on Obama are worse than say Bush? You are kidding, right? Where are the anti-war protesters? Where is Code Pink, et al. Obama’s war policies are equal to or worse than Bush, yet not a peep the far left. You forget history to easy my friend.
What a Group!
August 18th, 2011
12:48 pm
Reminds me of the Watergate burglars and plumbers.
History Will Teach Us if We will Learn
August 18th, 2011
12:50 pm
td you said, “I guess if you can not cognitively defend your personal philosophy then you attack the other side.”
I was cognitively defending my personal philosophy of using correct terminology when making a statement. The misuse of the word democratic automatically made your statement wrong. The correct use would have made your belief accurate though not necessarily factual. Your use of glittering generalities such as calling people who disagree with your terminology liberal is also wrong. I think the media that is actually controlled by the Democratic Party is biased.
The truth is now and always has been in the eye of the beholder, cognitively speaking.
td
August 18th, 2011
12:59 pm
findog
August 18th, 2011
12:12 pm
td, Saying a republican from any southern state was a democrat 20 years ago does not equate to them being even remotely like minded to current democrats. Most of Georgia’s republicans were democrats, they only change party affiliation to get elected. Has Rick had a major change of heart that caused the change? It’s not like a father of three coming out of the closet…
No the Democratic party went so far to the left that most southern Democrats were forced to change parties. “I did not leave the Democratic party it left me” Zell Miller.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:04 pm
History Will Teach Us if We will Learn
August 18th, 2011
12:50 pm
“I think the media that is actually controlled by the Democratic Party is biased”
Proven fact that 95% of all on air journalist donated campaign contributions in 2008 to only Democrats. The numbers are even greater in the print media and the 10 largest newspapers in the country. These are facts look them up.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:12 pm
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
12:13 pm
Has anyone dug up Obama’s real birth certificate?
Not yet but I heard Trump is spending a lot of money to find out.
“Is he wearing his flag pin?”
I have not noticed lately but it sure showed his unpatriotic feeling of this country.
“Has he done any terrorist fist bumps lately?”
I am sure he has not since they are not called terrorist any longer unless you belong to the Tea Party.
“Is he a Muslim?”
No but that church he belongs to is just about as bad.
“Socialist?”
Absolutely.
“Communist?”
A good lean in that direction.
“A cheerleader?”
We do not know because none of his HS or college records have ever been released.
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
Good times, good times, Retired Soldier,
Remember when Hillary murdered 146 people? What about the Purple Teletubby? Bill Clinton had big liberal government PBS create a gay Teletubby that subliminally taught children to accept homosexuality, now look, 20 years later, the kids could care less. (Btw, there was a secret Black Teletubby also, our now adult children were subliminally programmed to vote for Obama.)
Oh, how about the rumor that George W Bush was a college cheerleader!
Bob
August 18th, 2011
1:17 pm
As I read these blog, I think most of you are intelligent, positive thinkers, and have some really good ideas. The central theme is that almost all of you distrust professional politicians and their ability to effectively run our government(s)…I agree. Since we have enough laws, and we should enforce them or strike them from the books, maybe it’s time to outsource the adm/operations of our government(s) to American companies that spcialize in running big businesses? I bet they would be run fairly, efficiently, and effectively. Afterall, the United States in the largest business in the world; simply take politics (ie greed, corruption, croneyism, and incompetence) out. Just my opinion.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:18 pm
Amazing
August 18th, 2011
12:02 pm
TD
I guess Fox, NY Post, WSJ and the Koch brothers are unbiased because they bash the left and every Democratic candidate and idea
Fox is “fair and balanced” and watched more then CNN and MSNBC combined. The NY post is conservative but is it one of the 10 largest papers in the country? The WSJ is pretty balanced and in the middle but when you compare it to the NY times I guess you would call it far right wing. The Koch bothers are Libertarians that hates communism with a every bit of their existence. This President is closer to that philosophy then any President we have ever had.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:20 pm
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
“Remember when Hillary murdered 146 people?”
I only see one and that was Vince Foster when he was going to go public about their affair.
GaBlue
August 18th, 2011
1:22 pm
td: “No the Democratic party went so far to the left that most southern Democrats were forced to change parties. “I did not leave the Democratic party it left me” Zell Miller.”
Dude… stop it. Seriously. If you want to yammer about beliefs and positions, why don’t you STICK TO YOUR OWN and leave us out of it, mmmmm-kay? THANKYEWSOMUCH!
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
td, Google “how many people did Hillary murder”
Its pretty funny.
RGB
August 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
Danny must be experiencing “feelings” when thinking about Governor Perry being a cheerleader. This is consistent with being a member of the Democrat constituency.
But I like the photos of Perry at the LaRue tactical range firing an assortment of weapons including AR15s.
I contrast this with the ones of Obama riding a girl’s bicycle and wearing a wimpy, geeky helmet and the one of him sucking on an ice cream cone. I’ll bet Iran is terrified when the girl bike-riding leader of the free world tells that terrorist nation to back off the nukes.
brad
August 18th, 2011
1:29 pm
Uh, td, if the “liberal media” is so adroit at selecting GOP candidates and engineering their defeat (your 11:25), how in the world did Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 get elected?
td
August 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
GaBlue
August 18th, 2011
1:22 pm
Please put my quote into context. If Miller’s quote is not true then tell us why so many Southern Democrats switched to the Republican party? Lets forget about Politicians for a minute. When I grew up in the 70’s and early 80’s. We lived in what you might call as a blue collar lower middle class neighborhood in Cobb county. My Parents, grandparents, all the neighbors and all the members of my small southern Baptist church were Democrats. By Reagen’s second re election most were Republicans and by GWB’s election every single one of them were Republicans. Why? What changed?
brad
August 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
She’s only killed 46? What a disappointment.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:37 pm
brad
August 18th, 2011
1:29 pm
Uh, td, if the “liberal media” is so adroit at selecting GOP candidates and engineering their defeat (your 11:25), how in the world did Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 get elected?
The media use to be non political for the most part and just aired what happened. Reagan was just a great politician and Carter was way to left for the country. Bush 1 was elected due to Reagan. They tried to take out GWB (remember Dan Rather getting busted) and then Gore tried to steal the election.
td
August 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
DannyX
August 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
td, Google “how many people did Hillary murder”
Its pretty funny.
Google how GWB brought down the twin towers.
honested
August 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
td
Nothing changed in the minds of your family.
The ‘dixiecrats’ had to change party since Democratic Party policies expanded the concept of civilization beyond those in the house and those in the field.
Nixon knew how to draw on the fear and bigotry of the perpetually narrow minded and voila, instant republicans.
brad
August 18th, 2011
1:39 pm
td…What changed? The explanation lies in the answer to a different question: paranoia, nature or nurture?
clem
August 18th, 2011
1:44 pm
repub congressmen have to be most corrupt group ever:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/18/298485/exclusive-goldman-sachs-vp-changed-his-name-now-advances-goldman-lobbying-interests-as-a-top-staffer-to-darrell-issa/
Ol' Timer
August 18th, 2011
1:55 pm
@td — Ol’ td reminds me of a preacher I once listened to. He didn’t have much to say but he kept saying it over and over again. Seems like the preacher was in love with the sound of his own voice.
It seems like sometimes the American people haven’t got much sense, but when push comes to shove they usually make the right decision. And, I’m betting they’ll see the Tea Party agenda for what it is a run like hell in the opposite direction come November 2011.
It’s going to take more than a bunch of red meat rhetoric.
These ol’ boys are empty as a goard when it comes to a plan. All they’ve got is the same ol’ failed cut taxes and the benefits will trickle down and bless everyone sermon and, just like that ol’ preacher, they keep saying it over and over and over trying to convince themselves that they’ve got something to say.
But they do love to hear themselves saying it!
Amen and Halledamnlujah!
GaBlue
August 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
td,
I am from Atlanta as well, from a large family of educated white Democrats who have been here for many generations. The progressive-minded among us remained Democrats. The few in my family who did switch their preference to (R) are the ones still steeped in the traditions and mindsets that MOST of us are happy DIED with our great grandparents. The politicians who changed parties probably did so for a variety of reasons, though I suspect many of them did so simply to save their political careers and the personal financial benefits they reap from their posistions. You have your own reasons for the way you vote, and I have mine.
Despite “news” reports of our demise, people like me are not going away. State your point, or back the *bleep* off, but don’t pretend you speak with any authority whatsoever about us. You DON’T.
Ol' Timer
August 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
Make that November 2012. Whoop!
td
August 18th, 2011
2:10 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
td
Nothing changed in the minds of your family.
The ‘dixiecrats’ had to change party since Democratic Party policies expanded the concept of civilization beyond those in the house and those in the field.
Nixon knew how to draw on the fear and bigotry of the perpetually narrow minded and voila, instant republicans
I watched Rep. Allan West this morning say it better than I ever could. Just go an listen my friend if you want the truth.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/18/gop-rep-west-urges-black-voters-to-follow-underground-railroad-away-from/
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:13 pm
td
Allan West, now there is a legend in his own mind. A man with nothing on his side but ego and bluster claiming to have the imprimatur of Harriett Tubman.
Harriett Tubman put her life on the line to free people.
Congressman west puts nothing on the line to enslave them to the dollar.
Is that what passes for ‘leadership’ in your household?
td
August 18th, 2011
2:14 pm
Allen West last night on O’Reilly:
“You have this 21st-century plantation that has been out there. Where the Democrat Party has forever taken the black vote for granted and you have established certain black leaders who are nothing more than the overseers of that plantation. And now the people on that plantation are upset because they’ve been disregarded, disrespected and their concerns are not cared about,” West said.
“So I’m here as the modern-day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the underground railroad away from that plantation into a sense of sensibility.”
West said Democrats’ “social welfare policies” have failed
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/18/gop-rep-west-urges-black-voters-to-follow-underground-railroad-away-from/#ixzz1VPCnqKAG
Alabama Communist
August 18th, 2011
2:16 pm
More Breaking News On Perry trying to hang the head of the Federal Reserve System…..A deep secret source within the Perry campaign said today. ” That Bilderburg Rick was just kidding and frankly was trying to get a date with Big Ben about his cross dressing Republician agenda..”
td
August 18th, 2011
2:20 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:13 pm
td
Allan West, now there is a legend in his own mind. A man with nothing on his side but ego and bluster claiming to have the imprimatur of Harriett Tubman.
Harriett Tubman put her life on the line to free people.
Congressman west puts nothing on the line to enslave them to the dollar.
Is that what passes for ‘leadership’ in your household
I think Rep West put his life on the line for more than 20 years serving our nation in the military. If I am not mistaken was he not a front line commander in one of the Gulf wars? I think he has earned the right to say what is on his mind.
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:22 pm
td
Let him say what is on his mind.
Let the weak minded adhere to it as if it were a fact.
Let the majority of people ignore it as hogwash.
td
August 18th, 2011
2:26 pm
Ol’ Timer
August 18th, 2011
1:55 pm
Personal responsibility, hard work, less government intervention, lower taxes more of the free enterprise system. Those are the tried and true convictions of the successful so they need to be repeated over and over again because some people are so hard headed that it takes a while for them to see the truth.
td
August 18th, 2011
2:30 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:22 pm
td
Let him say what is on his mind.
Let the weak minded adhere to it as if it were a fact.
Let the majority of people ignore it as hogwash.
I see a theme starting with your post: Libs are smart, know what is best for the masses and anyone that does not agree is “weak minded” and should be ignored.
I do not think this is the first time I have heard an intelligent, self made African American make a similar argument. When you have blinders on my friend then it is hard to see the evidence in front of you. West speaks the truth.
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:33 pm
td
So if west is the new messiah, why is it he is only attracting the same small minority as call themselves tea whatevers?
Ol' Timer
August 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
Allen West will say anythin or do anything to make the six o’clock news. I bet he’d do a pole dance in Five Points if he thought Fox News would be there.
Allen West doesn’t even live in the district he represents — but in the district of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat.
Yes sir. Not the brightest bulb in the lamp.
td
August 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
2:33 pm
td
So if west is the new messiah, why is it he is only attracting the same small minority as call themselves tea whatevers?
Who said he is a messiah? He is a African American conservative that has impeccable credentials and can speak the truth to the African American community without being called a racist. These are the same truths that most conservatives know but can not say and that the elitist liberal white plantation owners will do everything possible to keep from the African American community.
GaBlue
August 18th, 2011
3:00 pm
td: “These are the same truths that most conservatives know but can not say and that the elitist liberal white plantation owners will do everything possible to keep from the African American community.”
Umm… Whaaa? “Elitist liberal white plantation owners who will…” Is there one next door to you or something? Did he threaten to kill you if you “say” it? Are you afraid to repeat his name and that’s why it’s a big secret?
Liberal Conservative
August 18th, 2011
3:02 pm
Let’s hope that Paul Bennecke is more honest and capable than his wife, Jen Bennecke. Ms. Bennecke resigned (read that – fired) as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office for Children and Families earlier this month in the wake of an extensive performance audit ordered by the Georgia General Assembly.
Here’s what Tom Crawford had to say:
The head of the Governor’s Office of Children and Families (GOCF) has resigned and the agency is now the subject of a state audit, which could result in a major restructuring of the office.
Jen Bennecke, who had served as GOCF’s executive director since the agency was created by then-governor Sonny Perdue in 2008, has stepped down from the position and been replaced by Katie Jo Ballard.
Bennecke resigned several weeks after state Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to state Auditor Russell Hinton asking for an audit of GOCF with an eye towards possibly folding the office into another state agency.
“To that end, a formal scrutiny of the performance and expenditures (of GOCF), including Children’s Trust Fund revenues, for consideration of any potential, future merger is requested,” England said in the letter to Hinton. Hinton’s office confirmed that the audit is now underway.
“Let’s look at it and get an impartial view from the state auditor,” England said of the requested audit. “We need to make sure the dollars are being spent wisely.”
Perdue created GOCF in 2008 by merging the Children’s Trust Fund Commission with the Children and Youth Coordinating Council (CYCC), and appointed Bennecke as the executive director.
She was retained when Gov. Nathan Deal succeeded Perdue and the governor’s office proposed that Family Connections, a statewide public-private effort to provide community services for families, be merged into GOCF.
Lawmakers resisted that proposal from the governor, however, and raised a series of questions about the management of GOCF. Legislators said they were not happy with the answers they were getting from Bennecke.
“She did not endear herself to legislators,” England said diplomatically.
After the reviews of GOCF are completed, the agency may find itself folded into Family Connections, rather than vice versa.
“It’s time to look at the functions of GOCF and decide whether or not it serves a good purpose,” said Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur). “It may be an agency that isn’t fulfilling a mission.”
Double Zero Eight
August 18th, 2011
3:13 pm
Politicians don’t have the guts to do their jobs. That is the real
reason for the referendum. There are inherent flaws in how the
counties are grouped. Forsyth County residents can vote against
their regional tax, and enjoy the benefits of zipping down 400 into
Buckhead or downrtown Atlanta, if the 10 county “so called Atlanta
Region passes its tax.
Double Zero Eight
August 18th, 2011
3:14 pm
Spelled “downtown” incorrectly in previous post.
td
August 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
Ol’ Timer
August 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
You are so right. This sounds like a man that is not very bright:
Congressman Allen West (FL-22) proudly and humbly serves the constituents of Florida’s 22nd district, encompassing parts of beautiful Broward and Palm Beach Counties along South Florida’s coastline. Patriotism is in Congressman West’s blood. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, in the same neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr once preached, West is the third of four generations of military servicemen in his family. Before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, West served as a Field Artillery Officer in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.
In 2004, when it was time to retire from service, West brought his wife and two young daughters to South Florida, where he taught high school for one year. He then returned to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan army.
In November of 2010, Congressman West was honored to be able to continue his oath of service to his country when he was elected to be a Representative in the United States Congress.
Congressman West received his Bachelors degree from University of Tennessee and Masters degree from Kansas State University, both in political science. He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations.
In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Assault School. He proudly wears the Army Master parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Navy/Marine Corps parachutist insignia, Italian parachutist wings, and German proficiency badge (Bronze award).
heartofdarkness
August 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
Fact of the matter is, we need better people running for office. People who can draw on their experiences in some field other than fund raising, who can agree on a path for the country which is likely to improve our competitiveness for the next fifty years, and who can explain to the country that we all will need to make sacrifices, if we are to bequeath to future generations, the promise we inherited, in short, we need adults to return to the room. Demographic trends and economic momentum may work against us in the near term, but America has the traditions and institutions that allow for broadest base of support for productive policies that augment the common good.
honested
August 18th, 2011
4:04 pm
td
Your record is broken.
I don’t care what west’s cv includes.
His public pronouncements and public positions are those of someone for whom I would never have any interest whatsoever in voting for.
You can keep parroting the same nonsense as you seem not to comprehend the similarity of opinion by many respondents.
honested
August 18th, 2011
4:07 pm
heart,
Agreed!
Unfortunately too many politicians are too lazy to walk neighborhoods, knock on doors, attend community association meetings and PTA meetings. The almighty dollar makes their voice so much easier to hear and if they are willing to sell out to the appropriate commercial interests, the dollars will flow.
The current majority in the General Assembly seems to view concepts like ‘augmenting the common good’ as ‘dangerously socialist.
clem
August 18th, 2011
4:07 pm
especially for you tea party folks that think we don’t need to watch over capitalism:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/is-the-sec-covering-up-wall-street-crimes-20110817
you might want to read about mr. perry too
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
4:31 pm
heart-
You are exactly correct. There are solutions that will solve the current problems our nation faces, but some of them reduce political power of the elected officals, i.e. the Fair Tax, or they are opposed because they don’t redesign the concept that of equal oppertunity to what many want today, equal outcomes.
honested
August 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
retired,
As for the misnamed ‘fair tax’ should such an abomination take hold, would YOU support:
1-Eliminate the exemption on taxation for real property transfers?
2-Tax all business purchases equal to individual purchases with the only exemption being for raw materials to be used in generating value added final products?
3-Tax all ’securities’ transactions each and every time they are traded?
For starters.
yuzeyurbrane
August 18th, 2011
4:37 pm
The Fed was effectively started by that prominent Marxist, J.P. Morgan. More importantly, is it true that Perry is the long lost son of the Lone Ranger?
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
4:52 pm
honested-
1. Only the sale of new homes would be taxed.
2. no
3. no
If that was done it would no longer be the Fair Tax, it would be the tax according to honestead.
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
4:54 pm
yuzeybrane-
Is it true Biden is the long lost son of Darth Vader?
honested
August 18th, 2011
5:02 pm
retired
So you support a myth and not a ‘fair tax’.
td
August 18th, 2011
5:13 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
4:04 pm
td
Your record is broken.
I don’t care what west’s cv includes.
His public pronouncements and public positions are those of someone for whom I would never have any interest whatsoever in voting for.
You can keep parroting the same nonsense as you seem not to comprehend the similarity of opinion by many respondents.
You do not seem to understand that I am not responding to you for the purpose of changing your mind. You are lost and are more than likely will never change. My responses are to the middle of the road reader to show how weak and useless your philosophy is so they can come to the light and out of the dark.
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
5:16 pm
honestead-
Not sure whay your mean. The current Fair Tax proposal does tax new construction, not the sale of an exiting home. If that is what you mean myth, you are incorrect.
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
5:17 pm
exsisting that is
honested
August 18th, 2011
5:39 pm
retired
If it is a consumption tax, why start with any artificial exemptions for any kind of ‘consumption’.
This is why the plan has no chance. The harebrained idea of a do-nothing former congressman and an aging talk show host. Not an effective way to craft legislation.
So much for the nonsense about ‘protecting power’.
honested
August 18th, 2011
5:39 pm
td
Better keep some extra batteries for that sad little flashlight.
RetiredSoldier
August 18th, 2011
5:45 pm
honested-
Open your eyes, how is the current system working for you? You love the IRS, fine. You like tax cheats, fine. You like the underground economy not paying, fine. You like politicans picking winners and losers, fine. Finally, you like billions and billions of dollars parked off shore that would “come home” under the Fair Tax, right on brother. Give me a better solution.
Ghost Rider
August 18th, 2011
5:51 pm
Ol’ Timer:
“@td — Ol’ td reminds me of a preacher I once listened to. He didn’t have much to say but he kept saying it over and over again.”
Sort of like you?
honested
August 18th, 2011
5:51 pm
retired
Fine then, fix the system with some simple steps:
-Redact all ‘loopholes’, special exemptions and deductions added back since 1987 for Corporate Taxes
-Return the top marginal tax rates to 1999 levels.
-Tax all increases in annual wealth equally, eliminating the nonsense ‘capital gains’ rates.
-For payroll taxes, eliminate the artificial ‘ceilings’ in FICA and Medicare.
-Apply ‘tarrifs’ to the products sold in the United States for artificially ‘offshore’ companies (increase dramatically the restrictions for ‘offshore’ determination).
I want to tax appropriately, not invent a new system for a different group to avoid taxation.
td
August 18th, 2011
5:54 pm
RetiredSoldier
Honested likes government control of the money. He likes the government picking winners and losers. He likes the government welfare state that zaps the life out of the citizen by making them feel hopeless. He wants the government to take care of people from birth to grave.
td
August 18th, 2011
5:56 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
5:51 pm
More money for the government to waste and spend on their redistribution schemes.
honested
August 18th, 2011
6:02 pm
td
Like an all consuming out-of-control Military Industrial Complex?
Building aircraft that don’t have a mission with a spare engine?
There is a lot of wasteful spending that needs to stop.
honested
August 18th, 2011
6:05 pm
A quick off-topic reference to the ever faulty ‘free market’.
Ballot results were released today showing that by a margin of 94%, Allstate Insurance Agents have elected to form a UNION.
I am not a union member and my business is not union, but I can certainly understand why those who work for a business model that has no function other than to decrease the value of premiums ‘invested’ would need protection from the same parasitic model.
Bob
August 18th, 2011
6:13 pm
Great strides toward financial stability can easily be made by having ALL gov’t workers (including congress) pay into and be covered by FICA and medicare, and term limits. Folks, it’s not rocket science.
td
August 18th, 2011
6:41 pm
honested
August 18th, 2011
6:02 pm
Yes like that 25% of Medicare fraud in Florida or the 25% of Medicaid fraud in Calf or the 30% of Food stamp fraud in the entire US.
The vast majority of Federal programs are full of waste, fraud and abuse. For this reason alone they should be either should be eliminated, sent back to the states or privatized.
double
August 18th, 2011
10:26 pm
TD @5;13 Do you mean like a moth to a flame?
honested
August 18th, 2011
10:51 pm
td,
You did not mention the entire Military Budget waste.
Why?