Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > October > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMysterious memo emerges in Senate race
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It is the fate of most Libertarian candidates to be ignored.
That may not be the fate of Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate here in Georgia.
In fact, if you believe a leaked memo attributed to McLaughlin & Associates, a national Republican polling and research firm with offices in Virgnia and New York, Buckley may be about to hit the big time, drawing the kind of attention that only the big boys get.
In polls, Buckley has been drawing 2 to 6 percent of the vote in a Senate race that has gotten a lot closer in recent weeks. Under Georgia law, which requires the winning candidate to get a majority of the votes, that would probably be enough to force the race into a runoff Dec. 2.
That possibility has drawn a lot of attention, not just here in Georgia but nationally as well. With Democrats within reach of 60 Senate seats, the magic number needed to prevent filibusters, the seat now held by Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss has become a critical hold for the GOP. And typically, incumbents drawn into a runoff don’t do well.
According to the suspicious three-page memo Page 1 | Page2 | Page 3., faxed anonymously to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, McLaughlin & Associates supposedly conducted a series of polls immediately after debates among the three candidates.
“There is an alarming shift in key demographic segments that do not bode well for the Senator,” the memo states. “Our data indicates that support among the 35-50 and 50-65 white male segment is softening. It also appears that they [are] trending towards the Libertarian candidate.”
The memo, on what purports to be McLaughlin & Associates letterhead, was allegedly written by Brian Larkin, director of qualitative research at McLaughlin. When contacted at his office in New York Tuesday, Larkin denied any knowledge or involvement. When I mentioned I had the alleged memo in my hand, on McLaughlin letterhead with his name as its author, the phone went silent for a few moments. Larkin then asked for my phone number and promised to return the call.
Ten minutes later, he called and again denied his company had conducted any polling in the Georgia race. Later that afternoon, company CEO and founder John McLaughlin called to strongly reiterate that claim, calling the memo a forgery.
Given its unknown source, we decided not to report on the memo unless we could tie down some loose ends. That decision changed when McLaughlin called late Wednesday morning to say he had leaked “to some of my media friends that somebody is trying to do this as a dirty trick,” and that other reporters may contact us for information on the story.
Now, somebody peddling phony poll numbers seems small potatoes as a dirty trick. What makes the memo potentially incendiary is not the numbers, but the narrative that follows:
“Based on the results of our Hyper-Local polling combined with the intelligence gathered from the media sweep, we believe the runoff is unavoidable,” the memo states. “Our gravest concern is that in the post-election runoff environment, the democratic opponent will emerge as ‘the reasonable choice’. That combined with what is certain to be a monumental democratic ‘get out the vote’ campaign in the wake of an Obama victory spells real trouble for the client.
“Steve, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss your client’s situation with KR. He is as alarmed as we are due to the implications on the national scene. As you are no doubt aware, your client’s seat might well be number 60 if we can’t turn this thing around. “To avoid this messy situation, we recommend the following actions:
“Dispatch an action team to conduct the neglected opposition research on the Libertarian candidate. Our operatives will leave no stone unturned. A complete review of his income tax records, marriage records, student records and criminal records as well as detailed financial information must be obtained ASAP.
“Since the Libertarian candidate has utilized AM Talk Radio for the majority of his negative efforts, this would be the venue to launch the client’s counterassault. Radio ads must be prepared detailing some of the Libertarian party’s controversial stands on the issues such as drug law, gay marriage and abortion.
“A major effort must be made in the blogosphere to ridicule the Libertarian candidate from as many sources and directions as possible. Attacks must be made from the right and the left, spurious claims should be made while hiding under the cloak of anonymity the internet affords.
In closing, please have the contract signed and returned with payment in full.” On its website, McLaughlin lists the National Republican Senatorial Committee as a client, and describes Larkin as a former NRSC employee. The committee, chaired by Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, is dedicated to electing and re-electing Republicans to the Senate.
However, McLaughlin says his company has done no work for the committee this election cycle. “This is bizarre,” he said, “a total invention, although somebody clearly went through a lot of trouble.” He said he may refer the matter to law enforcement.
Buckley said he has no idea whether the memo is legitimate, although “I suspected that if I became a threat they would try to dig up some dirt on me.”
“I’m not an angel but there’s nothing in my past I’m worried about.”
“I know from Republicans that a lot of them are getting behind me,” Buckley said. “A lot more would be if they weren’t so worried about the 60-vote thing.”
If he is able to push the race into a runoff, Buckley said, he plans to require Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin to make a signed public commitment of fiscal responsibility in return for his endorsement.
This has already been a strange election season. But come Nov. 5, it would become stranger still should a Georgia Libertarian become kingmaker of the U.S. Senate, his influence critical in determining whether Democrats make it to 60 seats.
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Comments
By ByteMe
October 29, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I don’t get it.
Let’s assume it’s a Democratic dirty trick to make it seem like there’s more support for Buckley than there really is. Who really benefits from a runoff? Not Martin. He can’t win a runoff without a serious GOTV effort and he doesn’t have the resources for that and the Democrats probably won’t either. Chambliss just has to rally his base down in South Georgia and he’ll win.
Let’s assume it’s a Republican dirty trick. Unless the numbers for Chambliss really are softening and the fake memo gets used as a wake-up call for the RSCC to fork over some more money for Chambliss’ campaign, I don’t see a reason for this. And it’s not like they’re going to do that without call McLaughlin, so it doesn’t seem realistic.
Perhaps it’s just a prank on the newspaper to get it to report on something that’s bogus and cause it to lose credibility late in the election cycle. Seems childish, but there are a lot of childish people out there who might try it just to see if it could work.
Wonder who else got the memo or something like it in another state for another race…?
By Greg Mendel
October 29, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
This sounds like claptrap to me. Even from Axis Saxby. The “memo” reads like the script from “Plan 9 From Outer Space.”
But, so does Saxby’s campaign material.
By John McLaughlin
October 29, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Jay, I told you this memo was a total forgery and you practically printed it verbatim? Why? I think a sense of fairness and honesty to the voters would have been not to reprint something that you now know for certain is a lie. Obviously you have allowed the AJC to be used. No one else found this to be worthy of repeating. Hopefully this is the last we will see of it. John McLaughlin
By professional skeptic
October 29, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
Rovian tactics at their best. God bless the anonymous faxer!
By JAY BOOKMAN
October 29, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
We thought of that, Byte, which is why we treated it with such caution.
But on your other point — if this race does go into a post-election day runoff, Martin’s campaign won’t have to worry a bit about resources. To the contrary, it would be swamped by both money and people. Georgia would become the focus of the nation politically, with both parties throwing everything at the race.
I’d say Martin would be the favorite in a runoff, particularly if Obama wins. President-elect Obama would spend a lot of time down here getting out the vote, which is always the trick in a runoff.
By Lord Help Us
October 29, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
How did John M. know what it said, verbatim, if he didn’t write it???
There are unanswered questions here (I learned that line from Hannity last night…).
By Roseann Gerson
October 29, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
EXTEND VOTING HOURS: per local NPR station just now, all Karen Handle has to do is as Justice Department for “pre-clearance” and then she can extend polling hours and also have weekend voting.” Sent at 5:07 PM on Wednesday Steve: call them and tell them this IS how she can do something to HELP Georgia’s voters, not IGNORE their needs by wrongly saying she can’t do anything. Sent at 5:13 PM on Wednesday
By ByteMe
October 29, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
So you’re thinking this is a Democratic dirty trick? Seems hard to imagine. First you’d have to print it without checking its authenticity. Then Martin would still need to have the voters buy into the argument that a vote for Buckley is a vote against Chambliss instead of a vote against Martin.
It just seems really convoluted and Jim Martin’s campaign seems anything but convoluted. Maybe it really is a Republican dirty trick to make it seem like a Democratic dirty trick, but even that seems more convoluted than necessary.
By ByteMe
October 29, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Lord Help Us: the links to the entire memo are in the article. He really did publish it verbatim.
By TW
October 29, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
With McCain attacking our progressive tax system and thus confirming his detachment from reality, he has made it very hard on the incumbent GOP in the Senate. It’s a wonder Buckley hasn’t gathered more than just six percent of the disgruntled Republican Vote.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
Oh, O.K. I changed my mind and will now vote for Saxby.
Thanks for the heads up.
By professional skeptic
October 29, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Regardless of the memo’s authenticity, its contents serve as a warning to the Dems and the Libertarians to expect ANYTHING during the final days of their campaigns. Republicans have swift-boated before and are likely to swift-boat again. It’s their nature to do so, especially in a desperate situation. Let’s not forget the underhanded ad campaign that got Saxby into office in the first place.
By Swami Dave
October 29, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Until more facts come out, I am going to refrain from knee-jerk reactions and I commend that it appears you are doing the same.
If it is verified, it probably highlights concerns state-wide and nationally of the importance of the Georgia Senate race. If it is indeed a forgery, it highlights the lengths that some parties (internal or external) to the race will go to in their attempts to influence it.
To your point though, if the race does indeed go to a runoff (and it represents the last tide wall to a 60-vote filibuster-proof Senate majority), Georgia will be the “Florida” or “Ohio” story of the 2008 election.
We only think this race has been ugly up until now. We will be ground zero to a political war zone!
-Swami Dave
By sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
John McLaughlin
Now you know. Bookman is above nothing. He is a pretextual fibber and a Barack/Martin waterboy.
By Lord Help Us
October 29, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
I know ByteME…sigh. I was watching Fox News today and noticed that even unsubstantiated smears (or previously refuted ones) continue to get repeated…ad nauseam.
I am SURE that John M. and his ilk would NEVER perpetuate something they knew was false or misleading…
By I already voted for Martin
October 29, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
This is obviously bogus. The only potential beneficiary of this hoax that I can see would be the Libertarian candiate, but I have a very hard time believing that even a rogue Libertarian would dream this up.
The biggest victim of this being published it would appear to be Mr. McLaughlin’s reputation. (He obviously was forwarded a copy of it for review by Bookman prior to publishing so that’s how he knows it is verbatim).
I don’t blame him for being angry.
By Taxpayer
October 29, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
Saxby has some serious strikes against him and he knows it. Look forward to even more under-handed, cowardly tricks from Saxby and his “associates” between now and election day and if it goes to a runoff, Saxby will have even bolder distortions all lined up and waiting to sling at anyone that gets in his way. Just look at how he distorted the facts to make that statement about Martin voting for the biggest tax increase as one prime example. Saxby clearly brings new meaning to phrases such as “How low can you go!” I wouldn’t waste my spit on Saxby Chambliss but I will proudly take the time to get out and vote against him in this election as well as in a runoff if need be.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
If you open the dictionary and look up the word “gullible,” there you will find a picture of the AJC.
Just this morning, these fools found a carpet shop that was displaying it’s normal everyday “going out of business sale” sign in the window and they used it as a half a page expose on the impending collapse of the US economy.
So naive thee Urinal is.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 29, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Hey Jay, how do you feel about the LA Times not releasing their tape? Be honest. If you had it, would you release it or hide it under your pillow?
By Greg Mendel
October 29, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
“Let’s not forget the underhanded ad campaign that got Saxby into office in the first place.”
I haven’t. And, judging by the polls, plenty of others remember. He deserves a deferment from service in the Senate.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
But who is the "McCain aide" who is saying this? It turns out the aide quoted in the headline is never named. The article begins with the sweeping statement that with the election imminent, "long-brewing tensions between GOP vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin and key aides to Sen. John McCain have become so intense they are spilling out in public"--but according to whom? Well, apparently it's not so public that anyone doing the spilling is willing to be named. So CNN wraps up that bold intro with: "Sources say." The next paragraph mentions "Several McCain advisers"--unnamed--"who have become increasingly frustrated with what one aide"--unnamed--"described as Palin 'going rogue.' " So the quote in the headline is from an unnamed source >who is one of <several unnamed advisers, rounding out a picture attributed to unnamed sources (plural). It gets better. Briefly, there is "A Palin associate"--unnamed--offering a defense of Palin. Then the criticisms resume, with the article citing: "McCain sources"--unnnamed --"A Second McCain source"--unnnamed (and not clear if this second source is one of the previous plural McCain sources, or an independently consulted unnamed source). That "second McCain source" is quoted for two full paragraphs, taking nasty swipes at Palin, but the source remains anonymous.By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 5:35 PM
She has publicly bucked the campaign from the beginning.
By sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Jim Martin is a liar. So is the democrat group that is running the anti FairTax ads. And most Georgians know it.
In fact, that ad is so outrageous it could make a lot of Georgians angry enough to vote against Martin simply because of it.
Most Georgia voters know how the FairTax works and they know that ad is beyond decency.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Horsey: You libs used to say that McCain publicly bucked Bush, what has happened to that?
By Midori
October 29, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Question for Andy — do you even have a job?
Is that why you’re always so nasty and bitter?
By AmVet
October 29, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
Go ahead!
Throw your vote away on one of the two party candidates!!!
No matter how that scumbag Chambliss is sent packing, the only thing that really matters is that he is.
By RW-(the original)
October 29, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
Jay B,
If there’s a runoff with the Dems sitting on 59 there won’t be any problem with the Republicans getting out the vote either, but shouldn’t you be shooting for 61 so you can boot Liebs and still have 60?
By Midori
October 29, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Question for Andy — do you even have a job?
Is that why you’re always so nasty and bitter?
By GodHatesTrash
October 29, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
To understand what the Georgia GOP is doing with regard to the Senate race there, one needs to remember the 14 secret words sacred to all Georgia GOP leaders:
“We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”
Once revealed, the reason for this memo becomes clear…
A big 88 shout out to the rightwingnuts, btw.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
i r o diM: If I didn’t have a job that would mean I was an Oblahma supporter and you would swoon over everything I said.
Duh.
By Midori
October 29, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
well Andy,
I think that as a Bush supporter and a McCain supporter, you represent their “base”
Bitter, angry, ignorant and mad at the world.
Don’t worry — we will drag you into the next century even if we have to put up with your kicking and screaming.
Another question: why in the world would you assume Obama supporters are jobless?
I suspect that, much like me, the other Obama supporters on this blog are gainfully employed.
Your rants make no sense what so ever.
By AmVet
October 29, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
I remember how many Democrats were completed PO’d at Slick Willy and his cigar shenanigans, saying it cost Al Gore the White House.
It will be both interesting and hysterical to see what the “faithful” and Bush apologists in the “base” think in the upcoming months about BushCo so poisoning the Republican well, that they may well be emasculated for years.
Drink deep neo-cons and pray for rain…
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
The race tightened again to 3 points Wednesday, a margin IBD/TIPP has shown for six days and to which other polls appear to be migrating. For example, the Rasmussen and Gallup polls, each of which had Obama up 5 points two days ago, now have him at 3. Obama still leads by 5 to 6 points among Independents, but 18% of them remain undecided.
Now that^^ was nasty, yes, but bitter?
By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 6:05 PM
McCain wasn’t part of the Bush “team.”
He put Palin on the ticket and she owes him the respect not to diss him or his campaign in public.
By Paul
October 29, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
professional skeptic 5:22
[[expect ANYTHING during the final days of their campaigns. Republicans have swift-boated before and are likely to swift-boat again. It’s their nature to do so, especially in a desperate situation.]]
Something Democrats have learned to do very well too,it seems. Witness the response to “Joe the Plumber” - not addressing the implications of tax reform but going for the personal attacks “he’s not a real plumber, he owes taxes” - none of which has anything to do with the merits of Obama’s tax plan. Or witness the all-too-common tactic of avoiding tough questions by attacking the questioner. Biden just did it. Obama spokesman Bill Burton tried it with Megyn Kelly, unsuccessfully.
Link: Megyn Kelly goes off on Bill Burton, Obama spokesman, over ‘redistribution’ constroversy
RW-(the original)
I thought the Dems had booted Liebermann. You know, in the spirit of not marching in lockstep.
By AmVet
October 29, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Slick Willy, apparently he is going to campaign like the professional mofo politician he is the next few days on behalf of Senator Obama.
And that is even MORE bad news for the neo-cons down ticket from the RINO.
But where is our Hero of the Texas ANG these days?
Hmmmmm….
Maybe I’ve missed him, but I haven’t seen even once on the campaign trail.
He must be busy plotting the invasion/occupation of Iran.
By Midori
October 29, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Now that^^ was nasty, yes, but bitter?
but they weren’t your words now, were they?
I saw nothing nasty or bitter in that snippet you just cut and pasted.
By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 6:05 PM
There’s one thing wrong with the Fair Tax.
It ain’t fair! Its appeal is its simplicity. That’s how it should be presented.
I won’t buy a new car now because of the 7% tax. I sure as heck don’t want to be paying 23% more with money taken out of savings that has already been taxed.
By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
GEORGIA CHANGED TO TOSS UP.
By getalife
October 29, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Ah yes, Obama’s October surprise are the Clintons.
Watching the big dog speak in Penn. and he is pumped up.
Move over big dog, there is a new dog moving in.
][ Clinton fist pound.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
Ahahahahaha:
Found in a rundown Boston slum: Barack Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango-TimesOnLine
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Hold up you libs, now don’t go attacking the poor woman, she probably has no idea, do show some mercy please.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
By Paul
October 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
getalife
Letterman had Pres Clinton on the other night - rerun from a bit ago, Sept I believe. Watching him, I still maintain, especially as time has put things into perspective, that if the Constitution permitted, he could win again. Easily.
By Midori
October 29, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this
Andy,
what is so funny about this poor woman being in a slum?
and why would anyone of us here attack her for it?
By AJC/DNC Management
October 29, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
KKKlinton’s reemergence from the world’s brothels and entrance into the Oblahmasan kkkampaign couldn’t be of better timing.
He is the kiss of death.
Just ask his “wife.”
By Redistributed wealth by any other name
October 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
Yes, let’s bring up that socialist tax, the FairTax[tm]. A topic that Jay just loves to talk about. What better way to redistribute the wealth and keep the poor on the hook to the government for a lifetime. Once a month, every month, the poor, the disabled, the jobless, everyone will be collecting their cut — their prebate check — from the government. Where will the money for these prebate checks come from though. Why, it will come from tax payers, of course, and those that buy the most will still pay the most in taxes and those would be the wealthy and the hard working people. Where will that money, those collected taxes, end up, once a month, every month. In the hands of everyone and the poorest amongst us will have received the most relative to the amount of taxes paid in. Sound familiar. The next thing you know someone will say something stupid like “…but, it will be different this time…” and I’ve got a deal for you, the deal of a lifetime, trust me. HaHaHaHaHa….
By Midori
October 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
Andy,
I think you are another Tim McVeigh in training.
Bill Clinton is a credible, popular and much loved president.
You’re not qualified to handle his jock strap.
By AJC/DNC and RW's Daddy
October 29, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
I learned that line from Hannity last night…
The Devil Incarnate. I passed through the crappy local radio station channel that has him on in the afternoon and this guy was screeching like a crazed loon. He never mentioned anythying about his candidate but every democrat in site had five or more adjectives in front of his name. Don’t think I’ve ever heard him so scared, except when he heard Rush was going to have to give up his meds.
RB, You give even Gwinnett a bad name.
Andy does not like jobs. They get in the way of his daily blog poop.
By Paul
October 29, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Management
He sure seems to connect with a lot of people.
Then again, just after posting that I downloaded a long-sought track of “Rasputin” by Boney M. Fantastic group. Then read your reference to Hillary. LOL!
Here’s a youtube version - and, ahem, I am not saying there are any similarities between Rasputin and Bill. Now between those in the royalty and what they wanted done, and from the farright….
Link: Rasputin
By Taxpayer
October 29, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
So, when is Saxby scheduled to give that deposition regarding his cowardly behavior during his questioning of that guy at Imperial Sugar. I hope that lawyer nails Saxby but good.
By AmVet
October 29, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
I heard someone once say:
Clinton betrayed his wife.
Bush betrayed his country.
By SOUTHERN ATL
October 29, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
JAY…HERE I GO AGAIN…
On November 4, 2008, the Congress in Washington D.C. will come to order…
They will ask “SENATOR SAXBY CHAMBLISS” to stand…..speeches will be made…followed by applauses…and a song will be dedicated… here is it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3YSHwJ_SAA&feature=related
No matter what trickery is being played….THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA HAVE…
BARACK OBAMA AND JOHN MARTIN…”On Their Mind” ….to turn this Great State BLUE!!!
By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
AmVet
October 29, 2008 7:19 PM
Clinton got caught with his zipper open.
Bush got caught with his pants down around his ankles.
By sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
TN GELDING
The worry about old geezers (who the younger work force is supporting BTW) having to take after tax money out of their savings to pay for things is legitimate.
But it is a concern that can be addressed when the FairTax goes to write up in the house.
The pluses by far outweigh the minuses unless you are totally ignorant of the legislation (which I can see some on this board are).
But the LIAR JIM MARTIN continues to run ads that LIE about the FairTax and most Georgia voters are aware of that fact.
By sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Why Obama and ACORN fear Anita MonCrief
{Although Senator Barack Obama has been allied with a succession of far left individuals over the years, that is only half the story. There are, after all, some honest and decent people on the left. But these have not been the ones that Obama has been allied with — allied, not merely ‘associated’ with.](http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/gaynor/081028)
By sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
try again
here
By Skellatina
October 29, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
I was enjoying my merlot and tiramisu until I heard the words “you gotta read this.” Now, stomach turning I’m sorry I read such a poor example of journalism.
Please. Change the color of the STATE from red to blue? No, I think we need to change the color of journalism from YELLOW to black & white.
There are no good journalists anymore. It’s any story from any source, fact or fiction as long as it sells.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” -Thomas Jefferson
By TN Gelding
October 29, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
sunshine and thunder
October 29, 2008 9:18 PM
We did the same when we were younger.
We retired early because of Social Security and pension averaging. Truth is, we would have been better off to continue working for 5 more years and not have Social Security.
The younger folks will have saving instruments their entire working careers we didn’t. Oh, I forgot, half of it just evaporated, but they’ll have plenty of time to recover.
I have a little different version of a consumption tax that I like better than the Fair Tax. Mine keeps the payroll tax and only taxes retail sales, instead of any transaction. Also I would bring the states into the process to decide what retail sales, if any, to exempt and might even have a revenue sharing function to give them a percentage of what they collect in lieu of other federal programs. That way each state would be paying its own way.
The current system is just too complicated and costly to comply with. Not to mention time consuming.
By Sissy Saxby
October 30, 2008 3:28 AM | Link to this
Mr. Buckley, get ready for the Sissy Saxby Slime Machine.
By Saxby Chambliss Thief
October 30, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this
Where Saxby gets his money,, Guess why he voted for the $700,000,000,000.00 Wall Street Bail out and added $153,000,000,000.00 of PORK for the LOBBYIST.. Fire Saxby NOW, Fire SAXBY Here, Pay less
Finance/Insur/RealEst $1,352,121… Agribusiness $1,390,331 …Communic/Electronics $271,104… Construction $318,237… Defense $146,650… Energy/Nat Resource $286,055… Health $475,759 …Lawyers & Lobbyists $652,285… Transportation $251,500… Misc Business $682,499… Labor $16,000… Ideology/Single-Issue $491,240… Other $601,332
By Darth Sidney Marcus
October 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
I know who faxed it! I’m not telling.
By Millie Randolf
October 30, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
By knowingly printing an obviously faked memo, Jay Bookman has opened up the AJC to legal action.
Even someone with an IQ above plant life (or on the AJC editorial board) would recognize the ludicrous nature of the memo. “Hyper-Local polling”?! What exactly is that?
If it was faxed, it is easily traceable. Bookman decided not to do even a modicum of research. Irresponsible.
I hope this costs Bookman his job. It should.
By Ryan
October 30, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
““Since the Libertarian candidate has utilized AM Talk Radio for the majority of his negative efforts, this would be the venue to launch the client’s counterassault.”
Jay,
One thing for sure is that, assuming that this memo is real, is that they won’t have to worry about getting Neal Boortz to take all the cheap shots necessary to smear Buckley.
Buckely doesn’t support the “fair tax”.
Real or not, whoever wrote this knew what he/she was doing.
By ccyr
November 9, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
This memo is a complete and utter fabrication. Maybe Bookman will have a similar fate as Dan Rather did when he published a complete and utter fabrication.
By ccyr
November 9, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
The memo is dated October 28, 2008 and indicates that it is to be sent federal express. Bookman’s article is dated October 29, 2008 in the afternoon. Also, it indicates that the firm has not yet started work for the “client.” Anybody who knows anything about campaigns knows that opp research can’t be completed and turned into running ads between October 29th and November 4th. Phony.