Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > July > 21 > Entry

State would be broke if Richardson had his way

By Jay Bookman | Monday, July 21, 2008, 07:53 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The effects of a struggling economy are beginning to hit state government, with Gov. Sonny Perdue announcing that he will be forced to dip into reserves to offset a $600 million shortfall.

Dire as that sounds, though, things could be worse. Last spring, House Speaker Glenn Richardson tried to raid Georgia’s rainy day fund to finance election-year tax cuts. Had he succeeded, the state’s reserves would have been cut in half, and today we’d be a lot closer to a budgetary crisis.

Richardson pushed that plan even though an economic slowdown already loomed on the horizon. He was more intent on getting his proposal passed — and in claiming credit for the feat — than in the impact his proposal might actually have on the people of Georgia. And when he lost, his petulant and angry reaction — striking out at Perdue and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle — proved an embarrassment to his party if not to himself.

He is, after all, not a man easily embarrassed.

His party, though, may finally have had enough. A small group of GOP legislators has come out to oppose Richardson’s re-election as speaker, rallying behind state Rep. David Ralston of Blue Ridge as a candidate to replace him.

Ralston, an attorney and chair of the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee, is a respected legislator, and he has taken a courageous and necessary step in agreeing to lead the rebellion against Richardson.

However, Ralston has had some embarrassing personal tax problems, and the small coalition of GOP legislators rallying around him seems motivated more by anger and disgust with Richardson than by fervent support for Ralston as speaker.

Given the way these things work, it’s possible that neither Ralston nor Richardson will be the speaker when the House reconvenes in January. Ralston is taking the early risk, but should the intraparty rebellion against Richardson gather support over the summer, a more prominent member of the House Republican leadership — say, Mark Burkhalter of Alpharetta — could step into the fray, bringing enough votes to put the effort over the top and crown himself speaker.

If that happens, Richardson would have no one to blame but himself. Some speakers see themselves as defenders of the House, wielding immense power behind the scenes but seldom using the post to push major initiatives or give themselves a high profile. That’s the type who tend to last a long time in the job, as the late Tom Murphy did.

Murphy certainly had an ego, and he liked to wield power, but he always treated the House as more important than he was, and his members appreciated it.

Richardson, by contrast, is closer to the Newt Gingrich model. He has treated the House and the Republican caucus as tools to satisfy his own ego and ambitions. He doesn’t see himself serving the needs of the House; he believes the House should serve the needs of Glenn Richardson.

That attitude was on full display last session in the tax-reform fight. Richardson proposed to abolish local property taxes and replace them with revenue from a new state sales tax, a move that would have stripped local officials of control over their own budgets.

By pushing the idea so hard, Richardson forced House members to take a stance against their mayors, county commissioners and school boards back home.

And why? For no apparent reason other than Richardson’s own glory. The idea itself was terrible policy.

At the end of the session, after it had become clear that he had lost, Richardson made a promise that he wouldn’t be giving up.

“I’m going to start again with it next year, the very first thing out of the gate,” he said.

The 2009 General Assembly convenes in less than five months. If I had to bet, I’d bet Richardson will once again be wielding the gavel in the House. But it’s far from guaranteed.

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Comments

By N-GA

July 21, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Except for the land deal, Sonny has served Georgians well. Richardson is a math-challenged idiot who puts self ahead of all else. I hope his colleagues see that and take appropriate action.

He!!, I hope his constituents see that and elect someone else. Small chance of that happening.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

When tax revenues fell, as they always do from time to time, the dimwitocrats in Atlanta cut essential services while the Repugs in Georgia government withdrew money from their savings, money put aside for just this reason, who do you think kookman is whining about this morning?

Last spring, House Speaker Glenn Richardson tried to raid Georgia’s rainy day fund to finance election-year tax cuts. Had he succeeded, the state’s reserves would have been cut in half, and today we’d be a lot closer to a budgetary crisis.

Typical.

~~~~~

Oh well, so much for ethanol:

Price rise for food may curb cocaine-Urinal/PMS

Just as soon as the libs in Hollywood get word of this, look out for the dimwitocrat switchboards to light up.

~~~~~

You feel like there is something missing here?:

9 adulterers face death by stoning-Urinal/DNC

Face stoning where, Alabama?

Or maybe at the White House?

By the way, that reminds me, will Lord High Dimwit be stopping by to see Iran on his Grandest World Tour?

~~~~~

The anti American propaganda machinery, fresh off it’s major defeat in Iraq, has stepped right into the fighting in Afghanistan, whining and moaning without even missing a beat:

U.S.-led troops and Afghan forces killed nine Afghan police Sunday in Farah province in western Afghanistan near the Iranian border, calling in airstrikes and fighting on the ground for four hours after each side mistook the other for militants, Afghan officials said.

Only the negative found in the pages of thee Doom and Gloom.

~~~~~

History-minded Germans point out that the Siegessaule was erected to commemorate Prussia’s 19th-century victories over Austria, France and Denmark. Furthermore, the current location of the monument was chosen by none other than Adolf Hitler, as part of his ambitious plans for the architectural renovation of the German capital.

Team Obama’s difficulty in finding a suitable site for his Berlin speech is unlikely to get much attention from the TV news anchors traveling with the candidate this week. Yet it highlights the fundamental problem of Obama overseas excursion: It is a purely symbolic gesture from a campaign that increasingly seems more interested in symbols than substance.

~~~~~

The anchor blessing defines the trip as a Major Event and — much like a “Saturday Night Live” skit in February that depicted a press corps fawning over Obama — raises anew the issue of fairness in campaign coverage.

The news media have devoted significantly more attention to the Democrat since Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her campaign and left a two-person contest for the presidency between Obama and Republican John McCain, according to research conducted by the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Can you say as-s kissers?

By Traci

July 21, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Sonny has done a decent job. Other than the DFAC - mess - I’d vote for him.

By Taxpayer

July 21, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Good morning Mr. Bookman and may I say that you have certainly picked a mighty fine topic to start off the day. I think it fairly GREAT of you to focus on an ego so large that it just cannot help but fall prey to any in search of an easy target. After all, Cagle, for example, would never bare himself — although a risque silhouette may do as an attention getter on occasion — by forwarding an alternative tax cutting plan out of fear of being upended in the popularity polls. As for Perdue, I’ll give him credit for acting more like a fiscal conservative than his cohorts but he still does enjoy preying on an unsuspecting populace from time to time as well.

Please don’t misunderstand my rantings though for I have no use for the likes of a Richardson in government. I agree fully with your assessment of the politician but I also think that he has company under the gold — company that is fully capable of rivaling his swelled dome.

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Nine dead Afghani policemen.

Jay, how come you big bad newspaper folk can’t find the “happy” in that?

How about a story about that big gerbil funeral last week, and how some people deal with profound loss in their lives?

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Why does that pooch duhng keep tearing up the neighbor’s newpaper and chasing the paperboy on his bicycle? it’s the spin? The wheels going round and round too much for the mutt?

What is wrong with that pup? What, does he think he’s some sort of Citizen Kane? Not so much Rosebud as Blowspud?

Obama 08: America takes over.

By Maniac is accurate

July 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Glenn RIchardson is a egomaniacal maniac who is in love with splashy BIG ideas that are also spectacularly BAD ones. And then, like the juvenile he is, lashes out at the grownups who point it out and don’t play along.

Sonny Puredoo is a liar. I can never forgive him for the just-for-me tax break. Lying about his knowledge of it just made the deed much worse. To me, this action is unconscionable and ought to be criminal. Hey Mary, that’s what’s a shame. PAY IT BACK SONNY!

(I realize I may be spelling challenged this morning. Mea culpa and pass the coffee.)

By MC

July 21, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

If the voters did the right thing they would vote Glenn Richardson out…period. The guy had a sexual relationship with a lobbyist that had an interest in legislation before the legislature. Then Richardson manages to totally circumvent normal procedure to hide the extent of this activity by having a law partner/judge seal/hide the details of his divorce from the eyes of the voting public. It amazes me that voters STILL will vote for a piece of trash like Richardson. Makes me question their morals and ethics as well.

By Jim

July 21, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Richardson is a pompous embarrassment. Can he not just resign and go into permanent hibernation in wherever he is from?!

By Taxpayer

July 21, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Personally, if us lowly taxpayers were actually given the choice, I would vote for the guy with the well-pressed blue jeans for House Speaker. Heck, I’d vote for him to be governor simply because he isn’t scared to stand out from the stalwarts of pomp and make a Georgia-grown fashion statement. On second thought though, pressing blue jeans! I mean, really. There needs to be an exception in the rules that does not require blue jeans to be pressed.

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Well, MC, the majority of Georgia voters operate without ethical or moral restraint. After all, they’ve twice voted for a homicidal sociopath for President. They are a pack of hyenas. It is the rule of the mob in Georgia.

By Eric1

July 21, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Hey ajc/dnc, Lord High Dimwit will be in Atlanta tomorrow. Maybe you can run out see him as he’s wisked away in that bullet proof stretch limo.

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

I liked Bookman’s Shecky Green story yesterday. Wow. I never liked Green’s act, but the story is gold.

I never liked Hacket either. Hacket was the worst joke stealer in history. Even worse than Jack Benny or Robin Williams.

There’s two schools of thought on stealing jokes. One, like Rosie O’donald, think that jokes are simply songs that can be sung by anyone, and your own personality makes them your own material, too bad the writer gets nothing.

Another school, the Larry David School, think that originality is 99% of funny. And that a comic should have to write too.

Material is very rare. The problem is that once a writer enjoys even a little success, he stops writing, and starts hacking his own material and others’ in order to satisfy the next deadline.

Comedy suffers my friend, as you know. No, the only way to stay fresh is never sell out. never. Shine shoes. Wait tables. Deliver pizzas. Anything but sell out. Otherwise you’ll have a nice house and a foxy wife but you will stink. (and your wife stays hot for ten minutes after you marry her, it’s not worth it). Four walls is nice.

Sooner or later, all women turn into aunt bea. All women. Sooner or later, all homes need gay-designer makeovers. Then watch your fat wife spend all that money.

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

I’m sure Andi/duh is not allowed within a mile of a presidential motorcade.

Any looney tunes list the Secret Service keeps, s/he’s on it.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the offer, Eric, but I’ve heard every thing I needed to hear from Lord High Dimwit:

“We can safely redeploy our combat brigades at a pace that would remove them in 16 months.” But he added, cryptically, “We’ll keep a residual force” for “targeting any remnants of al-Qaida,” “protecting” remaining U.S. troops and officials, and training Iraqi security forces provided they “make political progress.”

“Ich bin ein NeoKKKon, uh, duh”

By Believer

July 21, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

After those stirring words, how can one not feel for the messiah — the forgotten messiah, that is. So, this evening I ask that the forgotten messiah’s wife turn off the lights and feel her way around. Grope, if need be. Go ahead, make his day. He may even get a few laughs out of it the next time he’s on stage.

Wow. This is good stuff. I better get me a whole stack of napkins.

Just kidding.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

On Thursday, former U. S. vice-president Al Gore delivered a major address calling on his country to abandon all fossil fuels within 10 years. By 2018, U. S. electricity and fuel should come entirely from “renewable energy and truly clean, carbon-free sources,” he said. Tickets to the event encouraged attendees to “please use public transit, bicycling or other climate-friendly means” to reach the lecture hall.

So how did Mr. Gore and his retinue arrive? In two Lincoln Town Cars and a full-sized SUV that sat idling with the air conditioners blasting while the Gore party was inside.

You can’t make this^^ up.

Also, after last summer’s record melt in the Arctic, this summer’s melt in Antarctica was the smallest on record. And NASA satellites have found that Arctic Sea ice coverage this year is more than one million square kilo-metres greater than last year’s, greater than the average of the last three years and 10-20 centmetres thicker than in 2007. According to observations by the Danish Meteorological Institute, we “have to go back 15 years to find ice expansion so far south.”

Can you say junk science?

By Midori

July 21, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

does anyone know what in the blue blazes Andy is talking about?

This Richardson thing reminds me of when Tom Delay pulled a coup on Newt Gingrich.

Must be a Republican thing…..

By Believer

July 21, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Yet another Heinrich maneuver from “Management”.

By catlady

July 21, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

Neither of the possible Speakers is adequate. We all know about Richardson’s morals. Wait till you hear about Ralston’s.

Hopefully someone else will step up to the plate.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Speaking of strange and out of control government, Team Barry has issued a dress code for the female reporters that he apparently thinks work for him now.

First, wouldn’t women traveling to the Middle East already understand at least some of this, especially the journalists? This gives more than just a faint whiff of paternalism, lecturing professionals about how they should comport themselves. All appearances to the contrary, the media entourage does not work for Team Obama. One might think that the women of the press would get offended by treating them like schoolchildren or idiots.

And some of this is downright strange, especially in Israel. Israeli women don’t wear nail polish and open-toed shoes? Apparently, they don’t like jewelry, either. Do they care if women wear stockings or not, and why should the Obama campaign care?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too bad the Richardson tax cut didn’t go through so that instead of having a huge slush fund the state could have gotten serious about cutting waste. They could have saved a big chunk of that money by simply firing state workers that spend their days blogging.

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Relax, my friends from across the comedy aisle of funny on the left and not funny on the right. What profit a man to be the last comic standing yet suffer the loss of his fool?

It reminds me of a Para-parable, the quasi-pre-parables that never quite measure up to the real Parables of the Real Messiah, the Christ, but upon which the real parables were modeled. The para-parables from the forgotten messiah were loved by the pre-christians and the forgotten messiah was a d-list celeb in the halcyon days BC.

Para-parable #45

The Jester

King Herod was entertaining some Philistines when they grew tired of the dancing girls and demanded something else. Herod clapped for the court jester, who ran out into the celebration and opened with a sure fire joke that killed in kiosks along the Appian Way just weeks before. (That’s how he had made it to Herod’s). But his opening bombed. And he was soon hearing crickets and chirps from imaginary insects that only court jesters can hear. Precious seconds were clicking away, as one bit after another failed to get anything. Even participants of an orgy, which had broken out earlier when the dancing girls were on, were embarrassed and began to disentangle…..

Panicked, the jester reached into his memory for some standard repertoire stuff only hacks would use. It killed! “To cross the road!” BWAAAAA!!! “I dont mind you schtupping my wife, but do you gotta use my rear end as a scoreboard?” BWAAAAAAA!!! “Nah, you wont see nuthin’, your balls’ll be in the way.” BWAAAAAAA!!!

It was a roaring success and Herod announced he was the new permanent MC of all the orgies, dinners, and celebrations for the next year.

But then, Herod, with a new appreciation for comedy, visited a few kiosks along the Appian Way where jester after jester was doing the same hack material (to no laughs) that his new MC had used to big laughs. Herod, in fact, laughed alone at an old joke that only drew “you suck” from the crowd. When the crowd turned to inspect Herod, (in disquise), he pretended he had coughed, not laughed, and pointed at his throat and said, “Fig pollen”. Herod escaped and was furious. He realized he’d been tricked, not only by his new MC, but by the Phillistines who apparently laugh at anything. Herod declared war on the Phillistines, and beheaded his new MC.

And so I say unto you this day. Dont hack, so that ye shall not be hacked.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told “Good Morning America” that he was glad Obama was in Iraq and insisted the trip will give his Democratic rival an opportunity to see the success of the surge strategy.

“He’ll be able to have the opportunity to see the success of the surge. It is a success. This is the same strategy that he voted against, railed against,” McCain told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer.

“He should admit he was wrong about the surge,” McCain later added.

Weasel your way out of that.

By Abomi Nation

July 21, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Lol, that same John McCain said in that same GMA interview…..

“I think it’s serious… . It’s a serious situation, but there’s a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I’m afraid it’s a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border,”

Just what we need, another President without a clue. No wonder Obama draws the crowds. McCain=Bush.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown thinks Barack Obama has the right approach on counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki thinks Obama has the right approach on Iraq. The Bush administration seems to think Obama has the right approach on Iran. And none other than John McCain thinks Obama has the right approach on Afghanistan.

The conventional wisdom has told us for a year and a half that Obama’s biggest weakness is background on foreign policy and national security. But if that’s the case, why is everyone following this guy’s lead?

More here

Weasel your way outa’ that!

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

“He’ll be able to have the opportunity to see the success of the surge. It is a success. This is the same strategy that he voted against, railed against,” McCain told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer.

For Andi/duh, here’s what constitutes a resounding success: only 4000 Americans dead, 40,000 wounded, a few hundred thousand dead and maimed Iraqi civilians, millions of refugees, tens of billions of dollars down a rathole…

but not a single dead gerbil…

By N-GA

July 21, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Let me see now. The White House can establish guidelines for attire, and can remind people how to comport themselves at state dinners and other functions. But if Obama’s team does it in order to avoid problems, it’s an issue.

I understand…it’s the WHITE House.

By Midori

July 21, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Hi Mrs. G :)

So very, very nice to see you :)

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

After six years of ignoring Afghanistan, things have gotten bad enough to force American officials to pay attention. For the past two months, U.S. casualties in Afghanistan have been higher than in Iraq. And on July 13, Afghanistan definitely got everybody’s attention when nine U.S. troops were killed in what Wikipedia is now officially calling “The Battle of Wanat.” Three days after the battle, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the U.S.-dominated military force running the country, announced it’s abandoning Wanat completely.

Let’s start with a close-up of the battle, then zoom out to the overall situation in Afghanistan.

More Here

By Believer

July 21, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Something that I can agree with RW on:

“They could have saved a big chunk of that money by simply firing state workers that spend their days blogging.”

As for Richardson’s efforts:

Calling the “GREAT” Plan a tax cut would be really pushing the envelope. A tax shift or even more tax shifting would be more descriptive. Here’s some components of a better GREAT plan for you:

1) Require all Georgia residents between the ages of 18 and 65 to participate in the Georgia Lottery a minimum of once per month. A one dollar purchase is all that is required. Also, limit lottery purchases for persons identified as having families to feed — Yes, there apparently are some people out there that need to have their little hands whacked with the ruler when they are bad. A product of Georgia’s Education system? Yes, even including classroom time. Then, pay the lottery employees using a pay scale that more closely reflects the pay of the lottery participants since there will be a captive audience and no need for the clever thought processes — and corresponding pay scales — of those currently in charge. The lottery winners could keep their money and pay income taxes on it or contribute it for certain uses and receive a tax deduction/credit.

2) Initiate a one-cent state-wide SPLOST and use the proceeds to offset property taxes for property assessments up to $250,000 (or other suitable amount) of full market value for the taxpayer’s primary residence.

3) Merge counties for a final count of half the current number and cut the combined government workforces by a minimum of 33% starting with County Commissioners, County Managers, and County Planners (or similar positions). These counties will be amazed at their new-found ability to get more done at a fraction of the old cost.

Of course, making changes like these would take real leadership and a genuine desire to reduce the magnitude of government. Not much chance of that happening with these so-called Republicans in “charge”.

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

What is the mission of US troops in Iraq?

Not one of you have a clue. If only you knew how pathetic that is.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Midori

Always a pleasure to hear from ya’

By Bud Wiser

July 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

“”From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That’s how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln , FDR , JFK and Ronald Reagan. 143 days. I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that.”

-Cindy McCain”

OBummer is dreaming. He is going to get waxed in November.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Believer,

I’m all for the merging counties idea and I’m a big fan of funding government through sales taxes. By the way, the L in SPLOST stands for local.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

HEY BUD

* Since you got sold to Belgium your accuracy has headed south…..that was a quote from Cheri Jacobus*

does anybody think Cindy McCain really knows what’s in her fridge anyway? wait, make that fridges’ in her 10 homes?

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Mrs. G,

Are you bolding everything in a feeble cry for attention or as a warning to those of us that don’t dwell in the fever swamps to scroll on by?

By Hillbilly Deluxe

July 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

I’m no fan of Glenn Richardson for sure but to say that Tom Murphy wasn’t petty and vindictive? Sheesh we saw the guy in action for 30 years.

By TPA

July 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

AJC/DNC Mgmt,

Too bad you got caught in deep, ice-free water on this one: some of us on this blog actually read Danish. The Danish Meteorological Institute has never said anything like what you’re quoting!

In fact, they sent out a press release in June stating that 2008 is likely to be another record year in terms of melting ice in the Arctic.

The world is a small place. Best advice? Stick to the truth and you won’t get caught lying…

By DeKalb Voter

July 21, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

I still can’t stop laughing at the idiot John Lewis and his so called acceptance speech after he won his seat again (surprise!)and he made a comment that his number one goal now is to stop the war in Iraq and all the killing of Americans there. The next story was five males being shot in one apartment complex, yep….in Lewis’s domain. Can someone..anyone…loan this dumazz a brain….and a translator. Yep, he’s an Obama supporter.

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

that’s a fine bit o’thinkin’ RW. We appreciate that you are new to blogging, because all new bloggers who learn to link cant stop linking. It’s a phase we all go through, so we’ll just wait for you to grow up, but blog on, and know that one day, you’ll be read when you stop hacking rushannity and coulter.

And so I say to you this day: “Troll not that ye not be trolled”.

RW is new because he wouldn’t dare answer the question about “What is the mission of US troops in Iraq”.

He wont answer because he’s afraid he’ll expose himself as the twin-lipped meat thermometer he truly is if he answers wrongly, which he will.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Good morning Polly, you may go now.

By Believer

July 21, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Right on, RW. However, I do not care to go for a complete shift to sales tax. I think it should be a blend of property, consumption and income taxation. As for the “L” I know what it stands for. “Really, I DO”, Believer said in a voice that feebly attempted to emulate an 1860’s Southern drawl even though Believer’s lineage can be traced back to well before that era in Georgia’s history. Probably a result of hanging around these danged Yankees all my life.

By hillbilly ragger

July 21, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

HD-lux @ 11.45, I’m woefully uninformed on the history of the GA state house, so I’m sitting this one out. Just wondering, do you have any examples of Tom Murphy’s “petty and vindictive” side to counter Bookman’s thesis?

(Thanks for staying on topic. Pity others can’t.)

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Believer,

Just trying to differentiate that state wide wouldn’t be local, nor in your scenario would it be optional. I hate giving politicians too many venues of taxation to screw us with. They’ll always distract us with one and raise the others.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

**RW are you whining because you don’t like bold face type or because you can’t argue the point?”

By mike hussein smith

July 21, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

But Glenn is petty, vindictive and stupid. His next GREAT plan probably will be shutting down the schools.

By Steve

July 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

I have yet to meet a credible politician. Sonny is pretty much the perfect politician. He stabbed education in the back, made a laughing stock of Georgia with his pray for rain attempt and is all for tacing the stew of virtually everything. I wonder his stance on the Congress proposal to raise the gas tax to appease the road construction workers. I have yet to see anything positive that helps the average person. I also think it might be time for a complete cleaning out of government - all of it. Anyone associated with politics be gone and start over. Newbies can’t screw it up as bad as the current politicians have so why not give them a chance? Call it the Broom Brigade approach - sweep out the old.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Mrs. G,

You may not have noticed, but the topic is essentially the funding of state and local government and the state the topic is revolving around is Georgia. Have you no respect for Bookman’s choice of topics?

By Road Scholar

July 21, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

AJC/DNC Management: I wonder if Obama will have the large contingent of troops, all the heavy armor, an the helicopters overhead as when McCain visited a marketplace and declared all was safe and peaceful? Will the outcome be the same, if so?

And Bud Wiser: And just how many days did Shrub have in the Congress before he decided to run for Prez? Also, how many companies did Shrub run aground before settling in on destroying the US economy?

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

All for an exorcism of RW(the aboriginal) say “AYE”!!!

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Ralph Nader treads into the third-party territory of Bob Barr on Friday for a rally and press conference in Athens. It’s a 5 p.m. gig at Master’s Hall on the University of Georgia campus.

By Peter

July 21, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Hey By Bud Wiser………..

“143 days. I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that.””

Looks like you have zero idea how long food takes to spoil……

More spin………..

How long was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in office before taking over California’s Governorship ?

We have already seen what Bush did with lots of years of Public service………

He established ………………

“The Bush Terrorist Protection Program for Bin Laden! “

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

As usual, RWnut, it was your pal with the dead furry friend that hijacked the blog with its usual cut and paste kkkrap.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

By TPA July 21, 2008 11:45 AM AJC/DNC Mgmt, Too bad you got caught in deep, ice-free water on this one: some of us on this blog actually read Danish. The Danish Meteorological Institute has never said anything like what you’re quoting! In fact, they sent out a press release in June stating that 2008 is likely to be another record year in terms of melting ice in the Arctic.

So dim, so naive:

By AJC/DNC Management July 21, 2008 10:05 AM Also, after last summer’s record melt in the Arctic, this summer’s melt in Antarctica was the smallest on record.

By A_SS_Democrat

July 21, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Jay, I hope you’re right that the House Republicans will see the error of their leader’s massive ego and do something about it. However, I don’t believe nor trust they will do anything. What’s scary about one of your suggested replacements, Mark Burkhalter, is that he has an ego, too. While Burkhalter’s ego is not as overbearing as Richardson’s, I believe it will also get in the way of getting anything constructive done. The best bet is for the Democratic Party to take over the House again. And, clone Tom Murphy if that were possible. Too many leaders today are more about themselves than about what’s good for the people, state and country.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

If you’re in this White House, you want another Republican administration to follow. You don’t want a Democratic administration coming in there while the evidence is still fresh, so to speak.

Ya think?

more here

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Remember, the entire premise of John McCain’s campaign pitch is that he has an unrivaled expertise in foreign policy…..McCain expresses concern over Iraq-Pakistan border — which doesn’t exist

more here

By Midori

July 21, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

good stuff there Mrs. G!!!

keep it coming.

it’s dern sure more informative than that crap andy posts!!

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Midori

For you anything….except my secret recipe for depleted uranium tipped cannolis!

By swolf4810

July 21, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

A spotted skunk carrying an umbrella would make a better Speaker of the House of The Great State of Georgia than Glenn Richardson. He’s petty, vindictive, a bully…and dumb as a rock. …And those are his good points.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

I bet Midori did find that 12:45 from IN THE NEWZILLA informative.

My taxpayer savings plan also applies to Federal government workers that spend their day blogging.

Later!

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

*10 Days That Shook The World - Obama in Iraq *

more here

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

RW posts

My taxpayer savings plan also applies to Federal government workers that spend their day blogging.

does that apply to media employees as well?

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

An editorial written by Republican presidential hopeful McCain has been rejected by the NEW YORK TIMES — less than a week after the paper published an essay written by Obama, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

*’It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama’s piece,’ NYT Op-Ed editor David Shipley explained in an email late Friday to McCain’s staff. ‘I’m not going to be able to accept this piece as currently written.’ *

‘The Obama piece worked for me because it offered new information (it appeared before his speech); while Senator Obama discussed Senator McCain, he also went into detail about his own plans.’

Shipley continues: ‘It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama’s piece. To that end, the article would have to articulate, in concrete terms, how Senator McCain defines victory in Iraq.

More here

By Midori

July 21, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

he’s such a hypocritical idiot, Mrs. G.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Midori

as we both know…..he is multiple hypocritical idiots!

By Midori

July 21, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

and a snivelling coward to boot!!

notice how he always posts those “parting shots” before fleeing?

By Pam is a lying HO

July 21, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Well, Sonny certainly is far more honest than that stinking crook Roy Barnyard, imho…who stole 100 million dollars plus from Medicaid for his fellow crooked lawyers (out of state at that!) in an effort to cheat the feds out of their 20% odd state cost share….Then the thief stole millions from the Ga 400 toll road authority for his equally slimy, stinking pals who built Atlantic station, may it sink into the earth….I will them all illwill…cancer, stroke, heart attack…worthless crooked politicians and lawyers, they should all be tared and feathered, and hung…imho : Meanwhile on Roy the Idoits watch, Pam was practicing law without a law degree…Rotten Dummycrat crooks all stick together

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Midori

Only RW has left the building, I’m pretty sure he’s left his mutiple personalities behind!

By Believer

July 21, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

“By Mrs. Godzilla July 21, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this “…does that apply to media employees as well?”

A media employee that does not communicate effectively — what a waste of good media! I say “Blog Away!”

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Now, Midori, perhaps there is another big hamster funeral today.

It’s no fun dealing with the passing of intimate friends.

By @@

July 21, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

So our conservative Governor Perdue, during times of economic drought, is able to dip into his rainy-day fund. By golly, he is a Republican. It’s what is commonly known as financial planning.

Now who’s this other guy, Richardson who tried to spend taxpayers’ money to secure elections?

He sounds like a democrat.

By Midori

July 21, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

LOL, GHT!!

What’s the deal with the hamsters? :)

By @@

July 21, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

What’s the deal with the hamsters?

Do tell GHT ‘cause those are the kind of things Midori loves to fantasize about.

By rightytighty

July 21, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

A trust fund of tax payers money!? What a perverse idea!!

By Midori

July 21, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

wrong again, smog for brains.

I happen to be a cat person.

I’ve always known this about you — you just love to see your words in print.

Never mind that they are breathtakingly silly.

It’s the ink that counts.

By Peter

July 21, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Hey By @@…………WRONG……….”So our conservative Governor Perdue, during times of economic drought, is able to dip into his rainy-day fund. By golly, he is a Republican. It’s what is commonly known as financial planning.”

The Governor is running the state in the RED, then taking saved money and spending it since his budget is NOT working !

Kind of like BUSH…….. run the country into debt…….then borrow……..

Typical REPUBLICAN ECONOMICS !

Maybe he should “PRAY” for more money…… should be like Pennies from Heaven……..or did I mean RAIN ?

HA HA HA……..

By Taxpayer

July 21, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

I suppose one could also posit that a rainy day fund is not truly a rainy day fund if one never has a rainy day. With that i mind, perhaps Perdue’s prayers have indeed been answered. After all, God does surely work in mysterious ways. Anyway, I’m a Believer.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

does that apply to media employees as well? —In The Newzilla

of course not, silly, unless the media group you’re speaking of is taxpayer funded. Do you understand the difference between government and private enterprise? Now if it was an employee of mine the policy would be to fire them.

Only RW has left the building, I’m pretty sure he’s left his mutiple personalities behind!

As always the AJC in general and Jay Bookman in particular has my standing permission to confirm or deny your delusions.

By Mrs. Godzilla

July 21, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

RW

I see you didn’t get the dig…..

ah well.

By TPA

July 21, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

AJC/DNC,

Now you’re actually misrepresenting your own post:

As you stated at 10:05 (AFTER the little snippet you so conveniently quoted):

“And NASA satellites have found that Arctic Sea ice coverage this year is more than one million square kilo-metres greater than last year’s, greater than the average of the last three years and 10-20 centmetres thicker than in 2007. According to observations by the Danish Meteorological Institute, we “have to go back 15 years to find ice expansion so far south.”

Does ice in Antarctica expand South?

Thanks for the kind words, by the way. Given the source, they’re a badge of honor…

And sorry all, for the digression. But lies are lies and must be confronted, no matter what the debate topic.

By RW-(the original)

July 21, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

It must have been a pretty pathetic dig. Then again you always have claimed to know all there is to know about me, but to paraphrase the late, great Ronald Reagan, so much of what you know just isn’t so.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Gerbil Boy: Obsess much?

~~~~~

TPA: Maybe you need to sit down or perhaps come out of the Sun, you seem to be awfully confused.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Hitchens has absolutely no clue:

Vestigial eyes, for example, are clear evidence that these cave salamanders must have had ancestors who were different from them—had eyes, in this case. That is evolution. Why on earth would God create a salamander with vestiges of eyes? If he wanted to create blind salamanders, why not just create blind salamanders? Why give them dummy eyes that don’t work and that look as though they were inherited from sighted ancestors? Maybe your point is a little different from this, in which case I don’t think I have seen it written down before.

Maybe the salamander’s eye has atrophied, much like Midori’s brain, from non use?

Hold it right there, says Ann Coulter in her ridiculous book Godless: The Church of Liberalism. “The interesting question is not: How did a primitive eye become a complex eye? The interesting question is: How did the ‘light-sensitive cells’ come to exist in the first place?”

Again, missing the point entirely, Who created the first primitive eye?

Is it really that hard to understand?

By @@

July 21, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

The sum total of your posts thus far Midori.

does anyone know what in the blue blazes Andy is talking about?

This Richardson thing reminds me of when Tom Delay pulled a coup on Newt Gingrich.

Must be a Republican thing…..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Mrs. G :)

So very, very nice to see you :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

good stuff there Mrs. G!!!

keep it coming.

it’s dern sure more informative than that crap andy posts!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

he’s such a hypocritical idiot, Mrs. G

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and a snivelling coward to boot!!

notice how he always posts those “parting shots” before fleeing?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOL, GHT!!

What’s the deal with the hamsters?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve always known this about you — you just love to see your words in print.

Never mind that they are breathtakingly silly.

It’s the ink that counts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do Midori’s posts rate way up there on the silly meter?

I’m casting my vote right here, right now

You’re right Dori girl…….it is the ink that counts.

Now, did you happen to catch Putin’s recent move on the global chessboard? Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine.

It’ll be fascinating to see where he goes from here.

Will Angela Merkel have regrets? Will Ukraine?

As the World Churns, Midori could learn, but she’d rather fixate on hamsters/gerbils……….

whatever?

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

I am the forgotten messiah. You people simply forgot me, that all, but I’m still here, and that reminds me of a para-parable about Obama.

Later, maybe. I forgot it. I am the forgetful messiah, and you better remember me!

By Midori

July 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

you really don’t want to go there, do you?

By @@

July 20, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this&

RW’s 5:12!

O-:

M

G-OBAMA

G-OBAMA

G-OBAMA

Unbelievable!

Unbelieveable?? Yes, Yes it is.

I rest my case.

I have to do my taxes.

Later simp.

By @@

July 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Weekends are meant for fun Midori.

Regardless of what you say, you never rest your case.

You’re embittered, angry and obsessed seven days a week.

I can only imagine…..

By Tom

July 21, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

Ahh, the chickenhawk hate-mongers are out here this day. Look at them! Do you need wonder any more?

Midori dear, these are the ‘little men” whom, I think, Gary has spoken of in the past. Woman-haters with castration complexes. The only thing they can half-way control is a woman and the poor family dog. Weak, weak little boys. When I was just a kid, we called them, “LITTLE Wee-Wee Guys.” Now here they are - all grown up.

By Maniac is accurate

July 21, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

The John Marshall law school is out of business? Whaddya know, I just got a J.D. from there. When’s the next bar exam?

By Believer

July 21, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Well, Mr. Bookman. I would venture a guess that this topic has run out of steam. It has digressed into a talk about little people.

By Paul

July 21, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

Mr. Bookman

After reading through the comments, culminating with the 4:41, is the new standard “no standards”?

By @@

July 21, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Melba…..is that you at 4:41?

Sorry folks. Just a little parting shot. (ISH)

By getalife "whiners"

July 21, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

“We have a lot of work to do. It’s a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq-Pakistan border”

Um, will somebody give the old guy a map. Not only does the mentally unstable, tortured old coot have no idea about the economy, he has no idea about foreign country locations.

This should not even be close.

Geez.

By Believer

July 21, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Wow. You should apologize for that one, @@.

By The Forgotten Messiah

July 21, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

Obama 08: America takes over.

McCain 08: A Bedpan for a Deadpan.

Osama 08: He sure hopes Obama dont gitz elected cause then Al Queda’ll have to surrender. Obama’s leadership is too much for any enemy of the USA. There’s something irresistible about a country that has good leadership.

Bush 08: Lady Liberty cries at night.

By GodHatesTrash

July 21, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

You know, Tom, if being tortured and beaten for five years qualifies one to be President, then why not RW’s wife?

By Hillbilly Deluxe

July 21, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

H Ragger @12:03

I can’t quote you chapter and verse right off the top of my head but any house member who crossed Speaker Tom found himself kicked off all committees and moved to the nether reaches of the Capitol. He was legendary for not letting any Republican sponsored bills get out of committee…True until the later years there were very few Republicans in the House. (We very quickly went from a one party Democratic state to a one party Republican state).

Tom also pushed a bill thru the legislature that gave Defense Attorneys more jury strikes than Prosecutors….It was either 2-1 or 1.5-1, sorry I don’t remember. And Mr. Murphy was a trial lawyer.

He also had some legendary clashes with Zell Miller. He and Zell were a whole lot alike in a lot of ways actually.

Jay might not agree with this but that’s ok. I have however lived here all my life and seen a lot.

By @@

July 21, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Wow. You should apologize for that one, @@.

Why? It was directed at Obama.

By Steve

July 21, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Sonny the idjit wants to cut each sate agency 3 1/2%. Why not leave the agency budgets alone and cut the politicians totally? If no one were in office they would do a better job than what we got or what we have to choose from. YES, that includes Obama (Hillary Jr) and McCain (Bush Jr).

By @@

July 21, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

make that wasn’t directed at Obama.

By AJC/DNC Management

July 21, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Hey, check it out, Code Pinko is about to be tossed over the side:

Early Sunday, Mr. Dabbagh issued a statement casting doubt on the rendering of Mr. Maliki’s interview with the