November 11, 2009
Just saw this in the Gainesville Times:
It’s hard to believe this could be in the United States of America.
No sir what is hard to beleive is that you can write, but can’t read. You can either like what the House did to healthcare or you can hate what the House did to health care, but lying about it is unAmerican.
I love America!
November 11, 2009
All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all
November 10, 2009
Conservatives have too much money to spend. So they spend it complaining about how they have no money. All their money goes to taxes.
A good example of this exercise in irony is the traveling tea party that rolled into and out of Atlanta this week. The story in the AJC includes some great irony. The Tea Party was timed and carefully orchestrated to be a PR event. At the PR event, some infamous state legislators were going to speak to the conservative throngs. Or at least the ones with enough money to protest being taxed into poverty.
The irony? They forgot to bring a podium. A national tour to demonstrate that our government is incompetent leaves home without a podium? And hasn’t fixed that little problem after weeks on the road? Well, God bless them. (more…)
November 9, 2009
We used to see these signs at various public works projects. Some cities and counties still post notices to remind citizens and voter that taxes go to work. However the AJC wrote another story on how your tax dollars are working … on the wrong pet projects.
Mostly these articles in the AJC have focused on ‘user fees,’ a GOP tool. This particular tool is part of the GOP’s market theory of government. Government in this theory is for sale, not the usual for sale to the highest bidder. Each government service is for sale for anyone that ‘wants’ to use the service. (more…)
November 9, 2009
First of all, I am not a proponent of Nationalized Healthcare, the public option, or any other healthcare mandate, but I also cannot stand to listen to hypocrisy and misinformation like that of Nathan Deal’s ilk.
So Mr. Deal you got questions, I got answers.
Here is Mr. Deal’s objection to the healthcare bill passed Saturday: (My answers or comments are in red.)
“I rise in opposition to this bill and I express three major concern.
“First of all, I raise a question. The question is, what authority in the United States Constitution gives this Congress the right to mandate that every citizen must purchase a health insurance policy, and upon failing to do so shall be fined and possibly imprisoned? (sic) I think the answer to that question is – there is no such constitutional authority.
Nope the answer to that question is the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. (more…)
November 9, 2009
Remembering A Friend – And In Doing So, The Key Founding Principle Of Our Country
by Icarus on November 8, 2009
I first met Mark when he was still in high school. His family were recent immigrants to the United States and shared a mutual friend of the family. They operated a restaurant in my hometown, and were finally ready to step up to their part of the American dream and purchase their first house. Our friend had referred them to my father to act as their realtor, and I assisted him in the transaction.
At age 15, Mark understood the housing market and business transactions better than most twice his age. It became clear when showing homes that he would actually been the deciding force in which home was purchased, and I quickly learned to make sure he understood and was pleased with the implications of each potential home. It was truly a special day when the family closed on their first home, and the celebration afterward with a large extended family was one to behold.
It was shortly after this time that I made my one and only run for public office, and Mark volunteered for my campaign, doing whatever was asked of him and initiating other tasks in his spare time. He loved his new home country, and seemed to understand and appreciate both the benefits and responsibilities of being an American better than many of us who inherited our citizenship. He took his entry level participation in politics seriously, but did so with an infectious enthusiasm that made all of us who came in contact with him appreciate our own country of birth even more.
Like most immigrants from his country, Mark’s family was quite religious, but my town didn’t have a Catholic parish for them to worship in. They chose a parish on the other side of Atlanta to worship with, because they had a long term plan to open a new parish within a few miles of their new home. The only time the family was not at the restaurant, they were usually involved some activity related to their congregation. Between his school schedule, work, and church, I understood how valuable the time he donated to my campaign, and later others, was. But he loved America, appreciated the Republican approach to freedoms within limited government, and wanted to do his part as a good citizen.
I made a point to eat lunch in Mark’s restaurant a few days after 9/11. Though he was in school, his mother had time to sit and talk with me on that rather sad day. I was especially interested in their perspective as “new” Americans, and wanted to make sure they were holding up well under the circumstances, though I still wasn’t sure many of us “old” Americans were holding up that well, either. She told me how much they remained proud to be here in this country, and to have been allowed to be a part of it. She spoke of how many others had been checking on the family during this time, reassuring them that everything was going to be O.K. It was a brief time, you may remember, when we were all Americans. There were no Republicans, there were no Democrats.
Before I left, I asked her if there was anything she needed. She told me that she had been searching for an American Flag to fly in front of the Restaurant, but all the stores had sold out. I told her I would see what I could do. It took about three days and a search committee of about 10 of my fellow Kiwanians, but she received a large flag that flew in front of her restaurant for years after.
I was able to work on a few campaigns with Mark before he went off to college. Through his hard work, good grades, and community activities, he was able to receive a scholarship to the University of Southern California. We traded the occasional note and visited when he came home during breaks. He maintained his enthusiasm and love of country. And I looked forward to him coming home after a summer foreign exchange trip to finish out a primary campaign which I was working on.
I stopped by the restaurant after the town’s 4th of July Parade and saw the sign on the door. As I looked closer and was realizing it wasn’t just a standard “Closed for the Holiday” sign, Mark’s father walked up behind me. The look on his face and the posture of his body instantly connected with the words “family emergency” on the sign. A proud man who rarely showed emotion, he instantly broke down as he tried to explain to me that Mark’s body was being flown into Atlanta that afternoon. He had drowned on the last day of his trip. He asked if there was any way I would be able to attend the funeral with the family that afternoon.
I agreed to go without hesitation, despite the campaign activities that were planned for the rest of the day. A grieving father’s personal request trumps parades and BBQ’s any day. But I didn’t understand why the funeral was that afternoon when he was not even home yet.
And this is where I should explain that Mark’s name was not Mark, but Mohammed, and his family was not Catholic, but Muslim. Muslim custom is that a person is buried before sundown, and thus he would be taken directly from his plane to the family’s mosque for a funeral service, then directly to the cemetery for burial. It is the only time I have ever been in a mosque, but I can attest that grief looks the same no matter the type of house of worship. (more…)
November 6, 2009
The rumor didn’t start here but on another blog, NorthGeorgiaDemocrats.
I’m the only Democratic Candidate. Nathan Deal’s chief of staff has convinced me to run by raising $4,000 to kick-start my fund-raising. Congressman Deal will soon come out with a stinging endorsement of my character and qualifications. I am working closely with secret Republican operatives to use Deal’s congressional email account to bolster my name recognition in the district. I’ve been using back door sources to get a lucrative contract with the State of Georgia. But I’ve been unable to find K.C. Cagle in a dark alley to finalize the deal. (more…)
November 5, 2009
Going Through The Motions makes a long overdue appearance. Check it out.
November 5, 2009
I will point out that last time Glenn suffered a medical issue, he worked for CNN. And explained on air why his horrible treatment at the hands of his insurance company was why the system was completely broken, and desperately needed to be fixed.
Of course, that’s because he worked for CNN at the time. Now he works for Fox, so we have the best health care system in the world and any attempts to improve it are socialist.
November 5, 2009
Tragically apropos after the news that Beck’s appendix valiantly tried to kill him.
November 5, 2009
…My thoughts and prayers are with the brave appendix, who gave it’s life in a attempt make the world a better place.
November 4, 2009
The GOP continues to bash public schools and Georgia State Schools in their continuing efforts to destroy ‘American Socialism.’
Public funding of local school systems is socialist, if not outright communism. But, so are public law enforcement, fire protection, and paved roads. But public schools have more direct tax supports than the cops. So it’s easier to attack school taxes and school systems. If the issue is taxes and socialism. Today the AJC has a story on how a local school is providing expensive MacBook laptops to students.
The question isn’t why doesn’t your child have a laptop or a voucher to a private school that does provide the tools needed for a proper education? (more…)
November 4, 2009
Top ten reasons Kasim Reed will be the next President of Atlanta.
10. Mary Norwood.
9. Mrs. Reed, a real hotty.
8. The city loses the memory cards from a dozen voting machines.
7. Kasim Reed’s Fantasy Football team is beating Norwoods.
6. Reed never attended a GOP convention that he liked.
5. The Democratic Party of Georgia’s State Committee Members unite to back Norwood. That ought to be reasons 5 – 1 all by itself. Judging by the Atlanta lefty blogs, the Committee members have never picked a winner in a state party election.
4. Did I mention Kasim Reeds wife is a hotty?
3. Norwood drops out of the race and throws her support to Newt. Just to be nice to Norwood, I capitalized newt.
2. Pro-Life supporters send out a mailer supporting Mary Norwood as the candidate most likely to understand women’s reproductive needs.
1. Just like President Barrack Obama, Kasim Reed engaged in the most important political decisions early in life. Following the lead of JFK, who was the first Democrat to use the TV as the most important media source in elections. Kasim Reed married a hottie.
Those are the top ten reason Reed will send Mary Norwood back to the GOP conventions, where she can’t get a date and just won’t like being a wall flower.
Did I mention Kasim Reed married a hottie?
November 4, 2009
Voters might be that bored.
413 votes in one ward and 139 in the other ward with a contested outcome. That would be about 1 percent of the total population in Gainesville. The system has over 5,200 students.
More people turn out for an Elephants football game. Imagine the entire football season being decided by the voting at the first game. Or any game being decided by a vote by the home team crowd. (more…)
November 3, 2009
The Berlin Wall rose in 1961 and fell in 1989. The wall completely encircled one city, West Berlin. West Berlin with 2 million inhabitants became a political island almost immediately after the 1945 surrender of Nazi Germany. In 1948 the Berlin Blockade, actual isolation of the city by Russia, could only be broken by the airlift of foods and supplies by the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several other countries.
But the wall fell from within, not with the help of these other countries. That’s what Gorbachev has always said. He repeated that today in Moscow.
November 3, 2009
Yes, Virginia, there is a Democratic Party in North Georgia. A small handful of them will be meeting today in Dahlonega. After all the hard work by former 9th District Chair, Bob Barton, a skeleton crew throughout the 9th District is redefining the Democratic Party. That isn’t enough.
The 9th hasn’t had a successful showing against Congressman Deal. (more…)
November 2, 2009
Wow! That may be my longest post title yet.
So for those of you who don’t like inside baseball politics just ignore this one, but since many of you have goaded me about it being over a week since my last post ignore it out your own peril.
Steve Gooch will be the next District 9 Transportation Board Member and that is a bad thing. Mr. Gooch is a nice guy. He has some leadership experience, but he has no idea of what it will take to cut transportation deals for our area. Mr. Gooch’s claims to fame are his time spent on the corrupt Lumpkin County Board of Commission (A Commission of One), and running against Amos Anderson for State Representative. IMHO, one of the most defunct campaigns of all times.
So why did he get elected. One reason: The sheer disgust for the Hall County delegation. Supposedly, the Hall County delegation, made up of Carl Rogers, James Mills, Doug Collins, and Lee Hawkins, were strong supporters of Mr. Stacey Reese. If you haven’t guessed it, I am also a fan of Mr. Reese even though he is a Republican. This support alone should have gotten Mr. Reese 4 votes, but James Mills can’t be trusted. Carl has been going all over the 9th district pimping Mr. Reese to every representative. Along comes Mr. Gooch who was nominated by Amos Amerson, and that is about the sum of Mr. Gooches political support. BTW, Gooch challenged Amerson last year saying that Mr. Amerson was too closely aligned with the Speaker of the House, Mr. Richardson. These two can’t be that close. Mr. Gooch wins because Mr. Reece too closely aligned himself with three of the most hated men in Georgia politics.
With the exception of Carl Rogers, Collins and Mills have managed to alienate the entire General Assembly. Collins did this by being an absolute novice in leadership skills, and Mills by lying about almost every issue other than abortion. Interesting note about Rev. Collins is that he served a South Hall church, but yet represents a North Hall district. If you wondering why, just go ask the people of Chicopee Baptist Church. Mr. Mills of course has been kicked out of his megachurch, Blackshear Place Baptist, and has been relegated to the back pew at Hopewell Baptist Church.
What does all of this mean? Well, you can forget road improvements in our neck of the woods. Don’t believe me? Just listen to this ringing endorsement:
He’s got a large learning curve… He promised and he’ll have to deliver.” Carl Rogers, House District 26.
November 2, 2009
CIT collapsed today into bankruptcy. Few people know the name or the service provided. Today’s service, bankruptcy, was delivered to stockholders. Stockholders just lost all their money.
Among those stockholders? You. (more…)
November 2, 2009
At a college level discussion of Afghanistan, a well educated Senior advocated for ‘nuking’ Mecca. The nuke Mecca theme was picked up by several people at the little informal forum. A simple solution for the next terrorist attack. The US makes it known that if one more American dies at the hand of an Islamist extremist, Mecca bcomes a smooth piece of glass that glows in the desert night. Compliments of a nuclear blast. The perfect and painless solution to Islamic terrorism. And a sympton of our culture. We want a pain free solution to all of our problems. (more…)
October 30, 2009
She runs the state Democratic Party.
Andre thinks the Party Chair doesn’t have any right to decision making. And he’s not the only loser in the last intra party election with an agenda for internal power. (more…)
October 30, 2009
Some blogs never accept a comment from a reader. Readers on some blogs may comment only after registering with the specific blog.
Then there’s the censorship of certain blogs that accept comments from registered users. (more…)
October 30, 2009
Candidate Obama promised change. A good change is happening in the House of Representatives. The Democratic Leadership has been investigating ethical ‘lapses’ by members. These investigations cover more Democratic members than Republicans.
Sadly, the internal report was leaked or stolen. Stolen may be more accurate. A junior staffer using a home computer had the files taken through peer to peer software. Whatever peer to peer software might be. (more…)
October 30, 2009
The AJC has a very good story about the water wars.
The governor’s renewed request came after federal lawmakers from Georgia, Alabama and Florida emerged from a closed-door meeting Wednesday and expressed frustration that the governors from their three states aren’t working quickly enough toward a local settlement. The congressmen agreed to draft a joint letter to the governors urging them to meet as soon as possible to begin negotiating an agreement.
“I’m calling on all of Congress to recognize that water supply is a real 21st century need throughout our nation,” Perdue told reporters.
Now we are blaming Congress. Congress is screeching “It’s not our fault!” If only the pile of paper memo’s, drafted letters, and transferred blame were water.
October 29, 2009
Must be a very good reason for Representative Deal to conduct another negotiation behind closed doors. It worked so well when meeting privately with K.C. Cagle in the Governor’s Conference Room. The private conference got Deal a new deal on his private business contract with the state. So naturally Deal meets in private to discuss the water wars. (more…)
October 29, 2009
No magic left in the house that Ruth built. Maybe the Yanks will have better luck hitting the ball on Halloween evening. But I don’t think they have a ghost of a chance. But I hate the Phils, too. Must be a matter of team spirits haunting me.
