Your morning jolt: Barack Obama down to 38 percent in Georgia
When she was in town last week, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, declared that her party wouldn’t concede any territory in next year’s presidential contest.
But according to a poll released Thursday by InsiderAdvantage and Channel 2 Action News, to declare Georgia in competition would be something of a stretch – at least for now.
While he won 47 percent of the vote in Georgia in 2008, President Barack Obama’s current fan base is 38 percent, according to the survey. And 54 percent of voters said they would vote for any Republican – from Mitt Romney to Michele Bachmann, and anyone in between.
Writes IA’s Matt Towery:
Independent voters support any GOP nominee over Obama by a 49%-to-38% margin. Democrats are at a 79% support level for the president, with Republicans at nearly 90% for any GOP nominee.
***
The 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas for an Illinois seat in the U.S. Senate are famous for crystallizing the arguments behind the Civil War.
Speeches were carried in newspapers across the country. Thousands flocked to hear the pair. And didn’t pay a dime for the entertainment.
The Nov. 5 attempt by Georgia GOP presidential candidates Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich to recreate this style of discourse earned these paragraphs in today’s Wall Street Journal:
The verbiage may be weightier, but so will the entry fee.
Bleacher seating at the Gingrich/Cain debate, hosted by the Texas Tea Party Patriots at the Woodlands Resort in Houston, costs a cool $200. The next step up, the $500 ticket, gets you “prime seating” and a ticket to the “Nite Cap party after the Debate,” says the group’s website. And for the really high rollers, $1,000 will get you “the best seating in the house for the debate” and “a professional picture taken with the candidates.”
Rumors that Matthew Brady will be resurrected to record the event have been proven unfounded.
***
Last week, a U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Coweta County, weary of the constant fund-raising that a seat in Congress requires, told supporters and lobbyist friends in an e-mail that he would try an experiment – one large fund-raiser a quarter, rather than four or five small one.
Westmoreland got into some hot water by including some paragraphs that guaranteed contributors face-time with the congressman. Even so, his letter has prompted a discussion. At least on the liberal side of D.C. From the National Journal:
Following a controversial proposal from Rep. Lynn Westmoreland to reduce the number of fundraisers he throws, the Progressive Policy Institute has come out with its own idea to slow the fundraising carousel — a “fundraising quiet period.”
In a policy brief released today, PPI executive director Lindsay Mark Lewis calls for banning fundraising for House members until the second session of Congress and making senators wait until year five of their terms before raising money. He argues that it would relieve legislators from constantly thinking about their next elections and improve relationships on the Hill.
The ban would be enforced by ethics rules and would be constitutional, Lewis argues, because it does not curtail anyone’s ability to contribute, but only limits lawmakers’ ability to accept donations. The ban would also have the practical effect of moving primaries until later in the year to give lawmakers more time to fundraise.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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162 comments Add your comment
Sammy
October 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
You do know that while the national debt is growing larger under Obama, it is mostly because of Bush policies, right? Unpaid prescription drug program, Iraq, Afghanistan, and tax cuts are adding more to our debt everyday than a onetime stimulus bill did that saved countless jobs. Obama should have let the tax cuts expire on everyone. I am nowhere near the top one percent, but I do not believe our debt should shoot up any higher.
Chuck Doberman
October 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
“If you want our country in bankruptcy, vote for Obama. People of Georgia are smart enough to know that. Except for a few Democrats”
Ah yes, that would explain Ga having the largest desparity regarding wages in the nation, piss-poor education and crumbling outdated infrastructure… cause folks “round here is so bright.
Here’s a quicker easier way to bankrupt the country:
Elect whatever puppet the GOP nominates, let him continue the assault on our working class people to the point where THEY are bankrupt = the death of the American Dream and our present way of life. Without the middle-class your wealthy idols will be toast as well if they stay, which they won’t. Those that can afford moving out of the country will at that point, simply to escape the poverty and subsequent anarchy
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
I don’t know why Georgians hate Obama, he’s quite a Republican.
td
October 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
Chuck Doberman
October 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
Are you upset about wages people make in the private sector or are you upset about our budgets and spending? If am not totally sure what you want changed but let me guess.
You want the government to raise taxes on the rich because you are poor?
You want to have government controls on wages so that the government decides what someone should make?
You want the government to spend more on education, welfare programs and provide free healthcare to everyone?
td
October 28th, 2011
12:37 pm
Chuck Doberman
October 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
Please define working class person? What do they do for a living? What are there wages?
Old Democrat
October 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
Obama won before without Georgia and he will win again. Therefore, there is no reason for anybody to vote either Democrat or Republican since it won’t matter. True?
Shine
October 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
A note to all any GOP voters. Obama will win the electoral college and none of your votes will count.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
>> Don’t reply to td, you only legitimize him if you do. <<
td
October 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
Shine
October 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
A note to all any GOP voters. Obama will win the electoral college and none of your votes will count.
So untrue. If Obama wins then the record will show that 16 votes were cast for the Republican nominee, none of the Democratic votes will be recorded as a vote for Obama.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
>> For real do not reply to td, if everyone ignores him he will go away <<
honested
October 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
How long have repugs had a stranglehold on GA Government?
What has been the direction on employment, household wealth, educational achievement during that time?
Do you dislike the President so much because you are confused about the definition of PROGRESS?
td
October 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
>> Don’t reply to td, you only legitimize him if you do. <<
Please point out anything I have said that is untrue? What is wrong are you not man enough to handle the truth? Do you not have a big enough set to debate your philosopy or do you have the intellectual capibility to debate it?
honested
October 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
In the General Election there will likely be two candidates for each Congressional seat and most seats for the General Assembly.
If you would like to see the ‘bullet to the bottom effect’ turn around, pick the candidate with a ‘D’ by his or her name in all of the above categories.
Then, regardless of electoral votes, you will have voted to end the madness.
joe
October 28th, 2011
12:49 pm
38…..and falling!!! Anyone but Obama in 2012.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
lol it’s funny when Democrats pretend their politicians are any better than Republicans
Truth be...
October 28th, 2011
12:51 pm
td
They can’t attack your message, so all they can do is attack you personally.Typical.
Teddy Roosevelt
October 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
honested do you actually believe that we are making PROGRESS, or is that just another talking point like HOPE and CHANGE that mean absolutely nothing?
Bert
October 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Seeing as how you have the fringe left upset with Obama, independents upset, and the Republicans have no love for the man, it is not rocket science to figure out this 38% is about right. I’m waiting for an ad to go up saying “I am the 38% that still thinks the man in bed with Wall Street is still about Main Street. I am the 38% who think the man against war and nationbuilding is not really escalating wars in Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Uganda, and now placing a Predator base in Ethiopia.” So on and so forth. This guy is a joke. His own party that controls the Senate is not even on board with him. All he can do is divide America. He’s a student of Alinsky that agitates and provokes division, bitterness, distrust, hatred. He pits sides against each other. He makes cute speeches and then sits back and watches the bitterness fester. This man is counter to everything he ran on in 2008 and is doing more to provoke a fractured society than any other president. Get a grip America. This guy put small holes in the side of the ship and is watching it sink. We’re too busy fighting with each other to realize it.
Shine
October 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
td…yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
td
October 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
Old Democrat
October 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
Obama won before without Georgia and he will win again. Therefore, there is no reason for anybody to vote either Democrat or Republican since it won’t matter. True?
Obama could win again. It is a little to early to make tat prediction one way or the other. It all depends on the economy, if the African Americans and the youth are as motivated to come and vote for him again, how motivated the Tea Party and the social conservatives are to get to the polls and the most important thing is if the white suburban women believe he could really make changes in the next 4 years or if it will be 4 more years of gridlock knowing that the Republicans will not only control the house but also the Senate ofter next year?
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:55 pm
>> Casual reminder: DON’T REPLY TO TD <<
Shine
October 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
GOPers in Ga is mad the Iraq invasion is all but kapoot and they may have to get a real job now rather than living off them military provided contracts. LMAO! Defense Budget cuts will put a stop to some of the 700 billion welfare going to Republicans!! LMAO!
Bert
October 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
honested – do you really think trading one evil for another will ‘end the madness’? America did that in 2006 and it got us deeper in the hole. We tried that again in 2010. Your suggestion is not only behind the times but proven failure. Next bright idea?
Teddy Roosevelt
October 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Shine are you trying to mock someone or really just that illiterate?
Truth be...
October 28th, 2011
12:59 pm
“…Budget cuts will put a stop to some of the 700 billion welfare going to Republicans!!…”
As opposed to the “not so shovel ready” $800 Billion Stimulus boondoggle.
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:00 pm
Shine – I hate to break it to you but some of those big government defense contracts go to some of the bluest areas of the country. Again, ignorance is bliss with someone on the Left. The contracts don’t end because BOTH sides are cashing in on them. But people like you who are so blinded by your partisan hate care not to see your own side is corrupt and digging into the cookie jar as well.
Charles
October 28th, 2011
1:02 pm
Obama is useless because he will not seriously attack the problems we face. What he is doing now is not leading but trying to convince us we should give him another four years. If he is successful, America will experience a lost decade with nothing to show for Obama’s time in office but a broken economy and a nation in decline.
+++++++
From their graves in hell I think that Mommar, Osama bin Laden, and Anwar al-Awlaki would beg to differ. My guess is that before it’s all over there will be plenty more things to add to this President’s plus column in spite of constant Republican opposition and their desire to make him a one-term President.
oldfart
October 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
The Democrats are missing the boat on a golden opportunity to exploit a chink in the Republican armor.
● The Republicans were foolish enough to jump on the Bush Federal teat for HOT lanes as a source of revenue that doesn’t have the outward appearance of raising taxes.
● They were foolish enough to start it in the mostly tacit Republican stronghold of Gwinnett County.
● They were foolish enough to use a lane of I85 that had already been paid for by the taxpayers for another purpose.
● They were foolish enough to openly admit that the HOT lane “solution” for metro Atlanta with an ultimate cost of 16 to 30 BILLION dollars is not going to diminish overall traffic congestion one iota.
● They were foolish to settle on a Jannine Miller et al inspired “electronic barrier” solution that is guaranteed to increase overall traffic congestion and will in the end require a bureaucracy the size of Rhode Island to administer.
● They were foolish enough to renege on campaign promises and continue the GA400 toll so that Gena Evans’ little splinter fiefdom called SRTA will keep its cash cow for the little day to day incidentals. Butter and egg money don’t you know.
● They are foolish enough to think that Gwinnett taxpayers having been treated to the HOT lane “service” will go to the polls and approve TSPLOST for what they claim is relief for the metro area’s traffic congestion. This is akin to the prostitute paying the john for the servicing.
There is a real grass roots movement afoot in Gwinnett and it is not just from the fringe elements. It is from the previous Republican base. Sure they are hoping that the clamor will die down. Deal attempted to mollify by slashing prices to loss leader status before darting off to China and usage will increase out of necessity by some. The hope is that the uproar will die and the cattle will go back to lowing.
The rest of you should take heed. Are you waiting for your own ox to be gored? Wait until this fiasco hits I75 from Cobb? 285? 400 out of Forsyth? The Connector? I’ll say it again. Democrats you are missing a golden opportunity here. People who label themselves true fiscal conservatives, where are you?
The most equitable road use tax is the Motor Fuel Excise Tax plain and simple. Want to drive a guzzling SUV? That is how you pay for the privilege. Not driving down a lane that you are using for pennies on the dollar vs its real cost to all of us. Nor is it equitable to add a 1¢ sales tax across the board on items totally unrelated to transportation. Of course, nor is it equitable to use a GDOT that in its entire history has not been equitable in its distribution of the fruits of those taxes to the area where they are the most heavily collected but we will leave that alone for now.
Sammy
October 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
@Bert
Maybe you should do some reading on why we sent troops into Uganda, and see how big “joke” he really is for doing that. Do you really have any clue why we are there without going to google?
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
Charles – are you seriously crediting Obama for Gaddafi? Wow. The streak of ignorance is overwhelming on this topic today. Obama was along for the ride on that deal. France of all countries took the lead. Obama wanted a pass but knew he needed to save face. He jumped in the back seat in case things went badly.
As for Osama and al Awlaki, it didn’t take a genius to say ‘go’ for both of them. In fact it would have been stupid to say anything else. And I do think it funny that Mr. No Nation Building/Come Back Home only has foreign policy for positives. He came in on helping the home front – he failed there and Mr. Nobel Peace Prize has dead people and regime toppling to his credit. Fitting that Obama has the Bush Doctrine as the only thing going for him. If he wants to run on touting the Bush Doctrine, by all means….proceed.
Walking Dead: Georgians would rather vote for a Zombie than Obama - The Floridan: Local, state, and national news, entertainment, and politics.
October 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
[...] via Your morning jolt: Barack Obama down to 38 percent in Georgia | Political Insider. [...]
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Sammy – actually I have a far more in depth knowledge of the situation than I would bet you do. But for the guy who is all about getting out of the nation building experience, this is far peculiar. Bush was ‘evil’ for toppling tyrants while the poor here suffered. How many billions will be spent on this operation? Or the escalation in Pakistan? Or the escalation in Somalia? Or building military bases in Ethiopia? For a guy who said this would not happen under his watch, he sure is lying…or stupid.
I know you are trying to make him ‘noble’ for doing this…but look at the pattern. More and more nations are being added here. While some troops come home, he keeps sending them elsewhere. More and more funds go to these other nations. While cuts come here and the income levels here split even more, your guy keeps spending billions doing what he said he would not do. Hope and change seems to work better overseas rather than here. While Libyans are dancing and rejoicing, Americans are losing their homes and jobs. How’s that working for you?
Southern Comfort
October 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
The part about the fundraising quiet period that bothers me is I think it unfairly punishes the incumbent. While he cannot raise money during those periods there is nothing stopping his opponent from raising funds for his campaign.
There’s an easy way around that. Just go with 100% public-funded campaigns. You can take care of a few issues with one remedy. Public funding only will remove outside money that tends to corrupt politicians and do away with the “pay to play” type cronyism that we see. By using public money, the candidate is given a set amount and has to show budgeting skills to run an effective campaign on a set budget. Also, by having a set budget, you can set a time limit for campaigns which would do away with the 2 year campaigns that we are blasted with now. That would leave the incumbent with more time to do their actual job as opposed to campaigning.
honested
October 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
bert and teddy r.,
My question was essentially about GA politics.
What party has been in control of the continuous downward spiral on most every metric of civilization since 2003?
Is it not madness to give them a free pass and put them back in control again?
findog
October 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
Those who don’t like td’s daily education service announcement do not understand marketing
He hopes to turn any moderate or liberal thinking of voting for the president into the Vogons after being hit with by the depressed robot with the empathy gun; too depressed to go out and vote
td
October 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
If one is half as intelligent as me, then they will understand how important it is for GOP members to wear dirty underwear over their heads for an entire week. They already sniff poop all day anyways, so why not contribute dirty underwear so that they can put over their heads. Do not forget to poke little holes for breathing and seeing. To start this movement, I will be at Woodruff Park today collecting underwear until 4 p.m. Hope to see y’all there!!!
Shine
October 28th, 2011
1:25 pm
Bert Bert Bert, wasnt talking about the rest of the country. Was talking about Ga. I guess the Republican voters here who have been living the life on them military contracts can always pick blueberries next year.. LMAO! Imagine if a base or two closes and we dont have these outsiders who call military base home screwing elections up for the locals. LMAO!!
honested
October 28th, 2011
1:25 pm
oldfart,
But gee do we have a lot of large new empty roads to nowhere south of Macon.
Routing metro area traffic to them has proven to be a bit difficult.
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:27 pm
honested – you’re a little shortsighted if you are stuck on state politics don’t you think? Your standard applies to national politics just as much. Or are you just stuck on the standard only applying to certain political parties? I would hope you would apply the standard across the board. Let’s look at city politics as well. Who has run the city of Atlanta since the Dark Ages? Perhaps the people there need to apply your standard as well. Perhaps DeKalb County government as well?
honested
October 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Shine,
I almost forgot how much money our two otherwise invisible Senators bring to the state,…….to build unbelievably expensive aircraft……that don’t now and never likely will have a mission.
What an odd way to build ‘national security’.
Truth be...
October 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Td is a fag, but you gotta love him. It is only important to abolish his kind from local politics. Otherwise, society needs a laughing stock. The more power he gets, the more hateful his messages are going to be, and the more tyranny he will wreak on the average man. Hitler was the same exact way which leaves me wondering…. COULD IT BE?!?! TD IS THE GHOST OF Führer!!!???NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
td
October 28th, 2011
1:29 pm
If one is half as intelligent as me, then they will understand how important it is for GOP members to wear dirty underwear over their heads for an entire week. They already sniff poop all day anyways, so why not contribute dirty underwear so that they can put over their heads. Do not forget to poke little holes for breathing and seeing. To start this movement, I will be at Woodruff Park today collecting underwear until 4 p.m. Hope to see y’all there!!!
DHD
October 28th, 2011
1:31 pm
Seriously? 38% of the people are that ignorant? Wow. I bet most everyone of them went to a government school.
Shine
October 28th, 2011
1:31 pm
honestead, dont forget how much the state gopers gave these deadbeat plane makers in tax breaks either……
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:33 pm
Shine – ahhh. Like honested, you apply a standard to just certain people and not across the board. Sort of the do as I say not as I do mentality. Maybe you’ll look a little closer at the voting record of the Democrat Congressmen in this state regarding defense spending as well. I know Marshall, Bishop, and Barrow by themselves had a cozy relationship on the defense contract/budget side. You’re a fool if you think Republican voters are the only ones benefitting from defense spending. Step foot inside a plant or a base and talk to some people. People from all walks of life live off of this spending. It does help to get out of Mama’s basement to see the real world before making off base (no pun intended) claims.
Bert
October 28th, 2011
1:34 pm
Again, because Bishop, Marshall, and Barrow NEVER voted for any of these defense bills and spending.
findog
October 28th, 2011
1:35 pm
td, at 38 percent the president is already over 75 percent of the way toward getting that 16 votes
of course the preachers have not brow beat the flock to vote for the GOP nominee yet
wonder how that is going to work with Romney
Centrist, you’re right – let’s talk tax reform in Georgia. We should adopt Cain’s 9-9-9 plan, 9% on general sales, 9% on gas, 9% kickback to the politically connected. It’s simple, it’s balanced, and it’s a proven winner with the GOP electorate who decide everything in Georgia…
Shine
October 28th, 2011
1:36 pm
Berty, no doubt they vote for it. Just funny how the so called “we serious about spending cuts” bunch (price, kingston, etc) cant get enough of that outrageous defense(offense) budget. while whining about this and that they slap themselves on the back for voting for 700 billion plus of idiotic spending every year.
Shine
October 28th, 2011
1:39 pm
Ole Shameless and Isukson voted to keep that millionaire farm subsidy flowing. Should be outlawed completely not just with some millionaire cap. Supply and demand and capitalism and all that jazz ya know?
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
1:41 pm
>> STOP REPLYING TO TD YALL <<