Jay Bookman

By Tom

December 3, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this

Most of the people who are asking “where is the change?” are the ones who were party to the right wing propaganda during the campaign. Many of them claimed that Obama would bring socialism, radical Islam, and the end of the world as we know it. Now that he is proposing sensible solutions and making sensible appointments, they are actually disappointed because they want him to fail. They need to grow up and put country first.

By Joey

December 3, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this

Jay: I do not understand why it surprises you that President Bush and his appointees are cooperating with P-E Obama and his appointees. That is exactly what President Bush instructed them to do.

Has your 8+ years of writing “I hate Bush”, “Bush is not legitiment”, “Bush is dumn”, Bush is _ and a _” made you incapable of observing Bush’s behavior and recognizing grace and etiquette?

Jay, grow up! Behave like you want Republicans to behave.

By SPARE CHANGE you can believe in! (Mad As Zell)

December 3, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this

Good MOURNING Jay,

Saxby WINS! Saxby WiNS!

What? No obsessive blog to drool over Gov. Palin? I guess the restraining order finally kicked in.

Of course you, as an “unbiased” and “moderate” journalist think highly of Obama’s much-promised SPARE CHANGE. When the little girls on the left aren’t endlessly busy fervently and eagerly kissing the backside of the Ayatollah Husseini they’re desperately trying to brainwash the American people into being as creepily obsessed with the Messiah as they on the far, far, far, far, (etc.) left. Sorry, but America just doesn’t share the Euro-Afro Liberal Trash obsession with kissing the feet of the Ayatollah Husseini and blindly following him into Islamofacist-Marxist-Pacifist rule. Soft power, yeah, soft as ice cream. We’re supposed to kill terrorists not sleep with them.

By Tall

December 3, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

Mr Bookman:

Is there anything you don’t know. Why didn’t you do the White House a favor and publish “Fighting a War in Iraq for Dummies.” With your wisdom and oversight, this would have been over long ago. But then, you wouldn’t have anything to write about.

By spankmonkey

December 3, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this

idiots.

Enjoy your teeny tiny itty bitty little victory there. Ya, wink wink, you barely managed to keep a conservative in his comfy position of power in one of the most backwards “conservative” states in the union.

HUGE victory there, way to begin the “rebuilding” of the republican party, by re-electing the same ole same ole…hahahahaha…

By ByteMe

December 3, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this

Competence + Vision = Change You Can Believe In.

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this

The Republican base jumping with joy over their ability to get Saxby re-elected to the Senate so he can represent their interests and philosophies in Washington for six more years. That is just so cute.

By Leni

December 3, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

I guess the Martin supporters did not return from safari at the Long Island Walmart in time to vote.

I would have preferred Vernon Jones to the two candidates in the runoff. At least he would have provided some fun. And he’s surely smarter than the stupid cypher the 5th district voters keep sending to congress.

By BDAtlanta

December 3, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

What is really shameful is that people re-elected a draft dodger who portrayed Max Cleland as unpatriotic.

If you think the Democrats can’t convince two GOP senators to cross the line on every Senate vote, prepare yourself to be disappointed.

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 3, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

Before Spankmonkey, or any other folk on my side of the aisle, posts another sour-grapes-y “teeny tiny victory” contributions I’d suggest you head over to Nate’s joint and have a learning moment about last night if you haven’t already.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

So not only is Pres-elect Obama a pragmatist, so too, it seems, are top members of the Bush Administration. So much so that some are staying on in the Obama Administration.

Seems to me things are developing nicely.

I do wonder, based upon the change we’ve seen (retention of Bush people, not moving on rescinding top-tier tax cuts, along with assorted signals that it’s not open season for ultralib dogma) if the farleft will turn on the Obama Administration (similar to that episode when the Social Values Moral Majority Christians turned on the Bush Administration “you used us to get elected, then you sweet-talked us but did bupkus”) or will they fade quietly into the background.

Just like they did over Iraq.

That, too, would be a nice change.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

G’morning, DB Gwinnettian

Glad you’re back. The other day I stated it seems Mr. Wilson and Mr. Corn, two days after Novak’s article, were the first to assert Ms Plame was ‘covert.’ You characterized that as ‘weak.’

I’m always on the lookout for new information. Perhaps you have a ‘strong’ source or description of who was first, in the public forum, to describe Ms Plame, not just as an Agency operative, or agent, but with status and duties best described as ‘covert’?

By Suffering Cats

December 3, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

Jay, has it ever occurred to you that Bush is a centrist and this fact makes the transition much easier? Besides, regardless of what you think of his record, the man is honorable and a gentlemen and behaves accordingly.

Would you be happier if Bush and his staff acted like a bunch of high school sophomores as did the outgoing Clinton administration in 2000?

I’m not an Obama fan, but I’m guessing that he will reciprocate the kindness he is receiving if and when he hands off to an incoming Republican administration.

By spankmonkey

December 3, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

What’s your point?

I especially liked this line:

“But if the Republicans have realized that it doesn’t help their cause to constantly be behaving like a*****, then bully for them.”

Anyway, sour grapes? I don’t think so. I could care less about Saxby winning or losing this one. Personally I don’t want either party to have a super majority. I’d actually prefer McCain (with a normal person as VP) in office with a democratically controlled congress in place.

I was responding to Zell’s post more than anything, no sour grapes here…

What you ALL don’t seem to realize is that it’s all cyclical, ebb and flow, etc… Yeah Dems won big last cycle and this one. It won’t last. Let the political machine spend the next 4 or years tearing down the current administration, and it’s time for the opposition party to come “out of the woods” and rule for a while.

So do a victory dance, tell yourselves that this is the way it is for a long time to come. But it’s not. Conservatives will have the power again eventually.

By AJC/DNC Management

December 3, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

This is “change?”

For example, Obama and his nominees have stressed the importance of “soft power” — diplomacy, outreach, and other ways of winning hearts and minds — rather than relying so heavily on hard military power.

You mean like not invading Iran or Syria but instead talking to them?

Geez, I mean really, Bushie and his “kneejerk” military reaction better hurry it up and start bombing Iran, what, with only 6 weeks left to go?

You liberals are pimping Bush’s success and you need to be careful, now that the credible threat of military action has been removed, it’s going to be hard to blame him when Tel Aviv glows in the dark.

But go ahead on and stick your necks out.

By Ray

December 3, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Black turnout went from 35% in the general election to about 20% in the runoff. If Martin would have been black, he would be a senator now. Blind loyalty?….. could race play a part in this? Nah, what was I thinking?

By Booger

December 3, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Ray, why are you always injecting race into everything?

By Mike

December 3, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

LOL. And Bush gets no credit for bringing Gates in? That decision doesn’t reflect on his judgment as well as it does for Obama?

Bookman’s partisanship has made him unable to see how twisted his logic has become. Who cares anyway? He demonstrates day after day that he will mindlessly and reflexively attack Republicans every day and mindlessly and reflexively praise Democrats. There is an archive of this one-sided partisanship and if anyone wants to point out any exceptions, I’d love to see it.

By Ray

December 3, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Booger,

Because it’s the reason that Buckwheat won. It’s the reason that Martin lost. Look at the people on the podium with Martin during his speeches one day before the election. He’s pandering so hard for the black vote that he might as well say, “Wasssssup”. The black voting bloc was the main impetus to this whole election. Think it’s not important? Then keep your head in the sand. DC voters voted for Buckwheat 82% to 13%. That’s not an important demographic? I am only emphasizing that race played a huge and deciding factor in this election. Even you ought to be able to see that.

By "The Corporal"

December 3, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

To Jay

winning the hearts and minds

You’re giving me flashbacks !

To Taxpayer

From yesterday:

I respectfully continue to disagree.

1) Our fight is not in the name of God. It’s the name of the United States (and the free, civilized world) vs. an evil counterfeit aspect of a religion. It must be called what it is.

2) You brought up how you thought Jesus would feel but then you ignore the quote I gave you of what he said on that very subject to religious leaders of His day (“you are of your father the devil”).

By AmVet

December 3, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Jay, has it ever occurred to you that Bush is a centrist…

???????????

“Republicans still know how to win an election,” Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan told hundreds of Chambliss supporters at the Cobb Energy Centre.

Yep, where there is a significant percentage of poorly educated white trash, Stars & Bars waving racists and Christofascists, the frauds in the GOP, will continue to do well.

But virtually NOWHERE else outside of the Moron Belt.

“You have delivered a message that a balance in government in Washington is necessary and that’s not only what the people of Georgia want, it’s what the people of America want.”

How did our yellow neo-con determine that? The rest of this country certainly would NEVER vote for the POS.

Perhaps Socialist Saxby has a bailout in store for you and me…

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 3, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Paul, good morning back at you.

What seemed weak to me, but which I had not time nor inclination to describe way back yesterday around noonish, was splitting hairs over who might or might not have been first revealed to have uttered the (apparently magic) word “covert” first. It was as if you were deliberately a) missing the point of my use of Joe Wilson as example, and b) soliciting support from the “Joe Wilson outed his own wife” cult.

If neither a) nor b) are close to the mark, then my bad.

By Booger

December 3, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

“Buckwheat,” Ray?

Really?

“Buckwheat?”

And then the Republicans complain that they can’t make inroads among black voters. I wonder why that is….

By AJC/DNC Management

December 3, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Here’s a “change” you can count on-

In the 1980s, Reaganomics produced $200 billion deficits “as far as the eye can see,” the saying went. But the Left, as represented by the so-called Mainstream Media (what now should be called the party-controlled press), pounded away day after day for years about the supposed horrors of those Reagan deficits and the certain calamities they would produce.

Now President-elect Barack Obama is reportedly preparing a budget with a deficit of $1 trillion. While the weak economy is reducing federal revenues, the enormous, unprecedented size of that deficit is primarily due to the Obama/Democrat stimulus package of $500 billion or even $800 billion, according to some reports. Expect to hear from the party-controlled press how that trillion dollar deficit is now all good and wonderful.-AmSpec

So much goony propaganda to out, how will we ever keep track of it all?

By the way, where will all the “harmless” little darlings from Gitmo be sent?

By Soixante huitard

December 3, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Ray: … could race play a part in this? Nah, what was I thinking?

Still wrestling with a little race obsession there, Ray?

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

If I were to make comments along the line that black voters came out in force to vote for Obama and a key reason was because he is black and here’s some data to back it up, that’s just making a point about black turnout. Then again, if I interjected descriptors such as “Buckwheat” into the sentences, then I could be emphasizing deep-rooted animosities toward blacks — much like a racist would be expected to do. Anyone ought to be able to see that — even a racist. Then again….

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

“Jay, has it ever occurred to you that Bush is a centrist and this fact makes the transition much easier?”

SPEWWWWWWWWW……………..sputter, sputter, choke, choke, oh dammit! My keyboard.

Cough, cough. Hack, hack (oh, there goes part of my lung - and milk through the nose).

Whew. What a way to start off the morning.

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

Saxby Chambliss and his backward, neo-con, narrow view ways of the world ideas are insignificant, and he will be insignificant upon his return to Washington.

I’m not surprised in the least that he won. Simply disappointed that the electorate of this State has not progressed past the insignificant neo-con ways.

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

ByteMe,

Your equation earlier speaks worlds.

AND

Luckovich’s cartoon is hilarious today as always!

By Paul

December 3, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

DB

I try to not deliberately miss points. Nor do I hold that truth is determined by majority vote.

Plame case seemed highly political to me. “covert” wasn’t a hang-up. According to statute, people can be prosecuted for revealing identity of person with covert status. There does not exist provision for prosecuting those who say “Hey, Steve works at the Agency.”

Novak said she was an ‘operative’ - a nonstatus term covering a wide range of people. My point was, it seems the first time a possible law violation occurred was in the Wilson/Corn exchange.

I was listening to NPR the other day when Plame was interviewed for her book release. She made regular reference to Bush/Novak et al ‘outing’ her as a ‘covert’ agent.

But I’ve never, ever heard such a reference.

Splitting hairs? Maybe to some. But to me, the difference between a statement that’ll send you to prison and a statement that’ll get you castigated for poor judgment is pretty big.

And I’m still - I was going to say ‘shocked’ but I guess it’s really ‘not surprised’ - the Democratic Congress has not introduced any legislation to correct the shortcomings that did not lead to any convictions.

Unless there was never a problem in the first place.

Hello, AmVet

The ‘centrist’ comment caught my eye, too. Good example of ‘listen to what I say but don’t look at the record.’

Given economic results, I’ll take a lib like Clinton over a centrist like Bush any day.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Paul,

Your “far-left” turning on Obama analysis -

Your forgetting. Things are so askewed now, that I’m considered “far left” yet I’m quite the centrist, as are most Americans.

We all want pretty much the same thing - border protection, national security, fiscal responsibility, yada yada yada.

The cultish, insignificant right of the country - you know, those who call Obama a Marxist in an attempt to scare up those too stupid to see Obama’s pragmatism - or even know what the hell that means, are being shown by Obama’s actions what it means to be a centrist - or rather just competent at something. Like ByteMe said earlier - that’s the real change here.

By getalife

December 3, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

THE BAILOUT “IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO AMERICAN TAXPAYERS”

Well, that is not change but even the RW radicals are tired of war and know we can’t afford it.

By Ray

December 3, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Booger,

Where’s your sense of humor? This is mild compared to what all of you libs have called the evil Bush over the last couple of years. Ever remember the hate filled posts from Trash and his ilk about McCain’s age?….. “He’s so old that”….. and we can’t forget Taxpayer’s, Midori’s and Mrs G, now can we? You have called Bush and his administration by so many degrading and idiotic names that calling The Annointed One, Buckwheat, is a compliment.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Hey Bosch -

[[Hack, hack (oh, there goes part of my lung - and milk through the nose)]]

Taking recycling to new heights, you tree-hugging hippie lib?

:-)

I agree with most people wanting pretty much the same thing - I just wish those people who want to be left alone to do what they want would let other people alone to do what they want.

My references to the farfarleft are - well, you refer to the farright crowd, maybe the wayfarright crowd - just go to the other end of the spectrum. The guys who banished Lieberman for taking an opposing position, for instance. That’s who I mean - not ‘liberals’ or ‘progressives’ or anything more than one click left of center.

Your last paragraph - I still hope Obama gets the party leadership to take a pragmatic shift. Maybe not back to when the Pelosis and Rockefellers, after being briefed on the waterboarding that had been done but was not repeated after, asked “are you sure that’s enough? Can you do anything tougher?” pragmatism. But not to the ideological pandering that had them later say “I was shocked, I tell you, shocked when I discovered what these evil people were doing.”

I just read Vince Flynn’s latest book. Can you tell?

By Change

December 3, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Ray,

Buckwheat was with your old lady while you were in line at the polls. He watched the results last night with your sister.

By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr

December 3, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Jay, the issue isn’t really “soft power” vs., for lack of better phrase, “unilateral action.” It is when does “soft power” turn to unilateral action. Let’s see what PEOTUS does when the dictator on the other side of the desk has disregarded 17 or so “lines in the sand” drawn by the United Nations or the international community. I think IRAQ would turned out a little differently had SH heeded international mandates. For now, let’s give PEOTUS the benefit of the doubt, but, Jay, you and the others shouldn’t get too giddy because, as PEOTUS himself has said, “It is jes wordts.”

On another front, if nothing else, Bush has proven himself to be a true gentlemen (which see introduction of WJC at Clinton Library. As a gentlemen, he and his team will work to ensure a smooth transition for the nation. No declasse stealing “w” off keyboards as the Dems would do and have done.

By AmVet

December 3, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Saxby Chambliss and his backward, neo-con, narrow view ways of the world ideas are insignificant, and he will be insignificant upon his return to Washington.

Agreed, Bosch. They’ll probably stick him a corner somewhere (with a pointed hat) and tell him to STFU for awhile. And try not to keep screwing up almost everything he touches, like his master W did.

Paul, always good to see you here. That inane “centrist” reference only confirms what you have postulated here for months - 20% of all people will believe ANYTHING.

By "The Corporal"

December 3, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Today’s headline said:

Bill Clinton open to an Obama job.

How about Ambassador to Hollywood?

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 3, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Paul @ 9.06, thanks for the rebuttal; I’ve no issue with anyone who wishes to ski off-piste and into the legal and security backcountry, so to speak.

Spankmonkey, I’m not a divided-gov’t-is-ideal kinda guy, but I can see your point; I’ll just add that the definition of “conservative” has shifted quite a lot over the decades, and by the time conservatives can re-claim two of three branches (I would assert they control, and will continue to control for the foreseeable future, the SCOTUS) it may have changed yet again.

By Booger

December 3, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

I’d pit my sense of humor against your sense of decency any day, Ray.

Let me make another point too, and then I got to go: A lot of conservatives get upset when their movement is slandered as racist, and guess I understand that. But you non-racist conservatives could do yourselves a big favor by condemning “Buckwheat Ray” and others like him and not leaving the job to liberals.

But by and large you don’t. You sit in silence, as you have on this board, and your silence becomes your acceptance.

By Morningstar

December 3, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

(((And Robert Gates, who replaced Donald Rumsfeld at the Defense Department and injected some much-needed sanity into our military policy)))

The experienced, heavy hitters Pres. Elect Obama has appointed is evidence that Obama is not the radical, extremist, socialist, fire eating Muslin the crazies projected. Appointees thus far are diverse, experienced people who will bring much to the table. No blah, blah, blahs here. There is HOPE for the country.

@@ from yesterday 12/2 @ 2:33PM ((There are federal laws that address))

You are correct. Thank the Lord for the FLSA signed into law under FDR in 1938. Laws enforcing minimum wage, child labor, overtime pay etc. etc. have been a salvation of the American worker. This is a subject I know A LOT about, and I’ll say no more.

Most of these laws have received a lot of flack, such as the FMLA. That went over like a f@r* in church for some folks. Anyhoo, I maintain that employees did NOT create labor unions. Employers created labor unions by their crass treatment of employees.

I’ve never said the labor unions didn’t need to be brought to task for some of their alleged activities. Time will tell.

As an American who cares about those who still need to work, I’m hoping the decision(s) made with regards to the bailouts will benefit most Americans. Time will tell.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Paul,

I do like trees, they are nice to sit under, and I often hug them when I’m hiking just for fun because I know no one is watching.

Another pragmatic change I’d like to see is the elimination in the use of labels, because it’s painfully obvious to me they aren’t real, but some people just can’t get beyond them.

For example, we see it here all the time in phrases such as:

“You libs just don’t get it, do you?” or one of my personal favorites when criticizing anything to do with money, “you’re just jealous of rich people” or “poor people are losers and take all our money.”

Yeah, love that, do you think that will change? Nah, didn’t think so.

Anywho, tangent, I don’t think we can take the “politics” out of the “politicians” that’s for sure, but we can cut through the bullsh!t from both sides. I think that’s what Obama is doing, or at least trying.

And the press can help too. I’ve gotten really irritated with reporters lately (shocking, I know) who bring up things said during the campaign and try to apply it in some kind of “well, you said this during the campaign” - like what Hillary said about Obama during the primary campaign and the media trying to use that to question his appointment of her as Sec. of State. That’s just plain retarded. Although I think it’s rather absurd, it shows campaigns and the mentality surrounding them for what they are.

I don’t know who Vince Flynn is - I’m a stupid liberal, remember?

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

AmVet,

Yeap. LOL! Can’t you just see Saxby the Dunce spewing his crap and everyone looking at him like he’s got horns growing out of his head. I think I’ll hold on to that image for a while.

Insignificant indeed.

By Morningstar

December 3, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

(((Bush a centrist)))))

I forgot to comment on this earlier, but OHMYGOSH.

Ray @8:50AM. Have you taken a good look at the populous of rural Georgia?

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Corporal,

1) You say we are not fighting in the name of God yet that does not mesh with “words” I have heard from many preachers in their praise of Bush and others as doing God’s work and that Democrats are evil. The least you could do is support efforts to get these Churches to start paying taxes because they certainly do not deserve an exemption if they are going to support a political party from the pulpit. I do agree that we can call what terrorists (who kill people) do what it is and that is murder and we do not HAVE to hunt down murderers in the name of religion even if particular terrorists choose to try and link their efforts to religion. In fact, it is the wrong thing to do because interjecting a religion into the issue of globally agreeing that murder is wrong and that it needs to be fought against opens the door to some people opposing a global fight against murderers if those murderers claim that their religion justifies their actions.

2) My point with bringing up Jesus in my comment was that I believe that, in general, Jesus would want us to not be judgmental, to not cast the first stone, to turn the other cheek, etc. At least that was the message that I received in my earlier years in Church. I was avoiding specific quotes because it’s too easy to take things out of context and, from my perspective, your quote doesn’t really contribute to the general thought that I was trying to convey. Were you trying to make some point that I missed?

By Morningstar

December 3, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

I don’t know what happened at 9:56AM, but here’s the addition.

Much of the population of rural Georgia is redneck and white. Check the election results by county. By ‘redneck’ unlike some folks’ observations, I mean a mindset. I’m not talkin about their economic or educational status. It’s a mindset.

I’ve been reading some about ‘liberal’ vs. ‘conservative’ thinking, and how it may be predisposed, perhaps the location of the stars at birth. Interesting. Nuff said. Off to do some work.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer,

I’ve always held the belief that the commandment about not using the Lord’s name in vain is not about saying “Oh my God” but rather, for example saying it’s God’s will to fight a war, or saying you are a “Christian” business as a marketing tool.

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Bosch,

I agree.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

DB

Many of my posts aren’t ‘rebuttals’ - I view a lot of this as tossing out ideas and seeing what strengths and weaknesses are exposed. As far as ‘backcountry’ - it is a bit more indepth than many care to go - but in an area where accusations are made where a person’s liberty could be forfeit - I kinda think it’s worth being indepth.

Bosch

yeah, good luck with the labels ideal. The other part of that, responses aren’t made on the topic or policy - it’s personalized with the ‘you.’ Rule of Thumb: if that’s the response, there is no response.

I think your comment about the press is another example of “gotcha’ politics. I’d love to hear a politician ask the reporter “don’t you know the difference between things said during a campaign and things said after?” All this effort to show a ‘gotcha’ - how much better to put their time into some real reporting.

Vince Flynn is an author who couldn’t get published, so he self-published and became a top seller. Current-day political fiction. First book was ‘Term Limits’ - his latest is Extreme Measures and deals with real-world situations. Library’ll have’em.

By "The Corporal"

December 3, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

To Taxpayer

1) As my dad always said we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

P.S. Our early preachers preached against the excesses of the Crown which was indeed political speech from the pulpit and I’m glad they did.

2) Yes. My point was Jesus called it like it was (and is). The truth* hurts sometimes but it must be spoken.

By leni

December 3, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Luckovich has been depicting Bush as a tiny chimp for years and others he disagrees with as slimy, less than human creatures. Wonder how he sees himself.

On another issue: who decreed that speaking truth to power is the privilege of just one group?

Guess Ol’ Saxby done stumped the band again.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Paul,

As I’ve said before, I think one of the worst things to ever happen to this country are the 24/7 news channels.

And the journalists professors in this country: what the hell are they teaching? Not journalism anymore, that’s for sure.

Vince Flynn - got cha. I need a new good book, I read all my books during the Thanksgiving holidays.

You’d laugh your a* off if I told you the last book I read. OMG, I’m so embarrassed for myself as a grown up and all. The sad part is that I liked it!

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Corporal,

Disagree it is then. By the way, our early preachers and their churches were not seeking Fed or State tax exempt status at the time. Further, I don’t care if they preach politics. I do care if they do it tax-free. Finally, the truth is still unchanged — a killer is a killer and there is no need to interject religion in the course of bringing a killer to justice as long as we can all agree that killing is wrong and will not be tolerated in our society.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Paul,

Speaking of real journalists, Christianne Amampour (prrrrrrrr). I turn into mush just listening to her speak. I don’t even know what she’s saying half the time. She could be talking about how she was abducted by space aliens and her tours of the planet Zook and I’d be like, “Oh, that’s fascinating.”

By @@

December 3, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

With the Bush administration in its waning days, its own top national security people are publicly embracing positions much closer to those of Barack Obama than to George W. Bush.

jay, must I keep doing your research for you?

While “the last six months” might allow you to give ALL credit to Obama”, the “or so” (4/22/07) would indicate that George Bush deserves some of that credit as well. But we all know how reluctant you are to give Bush ANY CREDIT AT ALL.

Washington Post: Make No Mistake: This Is War — By Michael Chertoff — Sunday, April 22, 2007

That radical Islamist fanatics have not yet achieved all the elements of state power should not blind us to the global threat they pose. This globalized war has theaters from traditional battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq to the streets and alleys of cities where al-Qaeda-trained killers lurk. Moreover, this war cannot be won by arms alone; “soft” power matters. In these ways, our current struggle resembles the Cold War. As with the Cold War, we must respond globally. As with the Cold War, ideas matter as much as armaments. And as with the Cold War, this war requires our patience and resolve.

patience and resolve.

Why I do believe it was Bush that coined the phrase patience and resolve.

Patience is not something that you liberals are well-versed in. Doesn’t serve their personal/political revolution.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Bosch

Had the same opinion. Then I read an account by Col David Hackworth (died a few years back, was the highest-decorated living veteran and a big critic of ‘Perfumed Prince’ military leaders) during Desert Storm where she came to Hack for an interview and in effect wanted Hack to turn over all the material he’d been investigating. He told her to get out of her hotel room and get to the front lines. She had a “don’t you know who I am” attitude.

But it’s kinda like with Nicole Kidman. Watch a movie like Moulin Rouge and go “wow.” Hear her interviewed and I feel creepy. So I go with the movie personna. Like with Christianne.

Where’s Mrs. G been?

Hey, here’s a thought. The one Islamist terrorist who was captured in India. Gave up lots of information. So: if that attack had been in America and the info given up, any terrorists subsequently captured would file for release as the information was obtained through rights violations. Fruit of the poisoned tree, so to speak. And the terrorist would have to be let go, also.

Like I’ve said, we need a third system of justice.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

@@

Two days in a row. Good for you.

By GOP is gone

December 3, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Ray, If you must continue to keep referring to President Obama by an “Our Gang” character could you not at least pick one that actually matches his style a little, say like “Stymie”? That supreme racist label seems to be fitting just right about now.

Intelligent conservative writers and pundits are all praising Obama’s choices so far. Jeez, even Limbaugh liked Clinton for SOS. I know the possible 3% raise in taxes will just tip you over into needing welfare, but please try to take it for the team.

I have been really getting a chuckle out of Bush’s exit interviews on ABC. I could come up with a few single adjectives to describe his presidency but “joyous” would not be included.

By Taxpayer

December 3, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

The patience and resolve of the American people has resulted in a shift of power over the last two elections away from the wrong policies and ideals of the Republican party. Now, we will need more patience, for our new administration will have its hands full, come January, when it is allowed to officially start fixing the mess wrought on us by Bush and the Republican party. I believe that Obama has the resolve needed to deal with the enormity of this Republican party calamity though.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

Paul,

India attack. Well, we know how I feel about murderers, but I think he’d be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, like he should be.

By Mort Merkel

December 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

True, Jay. And, who are we in an arms race with? The U.S. could have kept ordering F-15s, F-14s and F-16s and remained ahead of the world in capability today and probably another 15 years from now.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Bosch

But: there are those who say “grant full US Constitutional rights to captured terrorists.” I will grant they don’t say at which point that’d take effect, but say at the time of capture.

I’d hazard a guess the Indian authorities didn’t ask him “would you please like to tell us who trained you, who financed you, where did you train, who were your accomplices and what other attacks are planned? You don’t want to say? Okay. We’re done.”

But back to the US - if all protections and procedures weren’t followed (advisement of rights, access to a lawyer, warrants executed to search areas he said were living areas) he’d walk. As would those he’d fingered.

So there’d never be a trial.

And that’s a problem.

By GodHatesTrash

December 3, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Yesterday’s runoff is further proof that backwoods bigots and dimwits don’t like Obama.

Like, duh.

Georgia - still a national embarrassment.

By Mrs.Godzilla

December 3, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Howdy All…

Very sad news. God has decided that now is not the right time for me to be a Grandma. We are all brokenhearted and keeping our ‘Zillette comfortable and loved.

Renovation 3/4 done. Mr. G due home in 8 days and now we all have the flu.

While things are in major flux in Godzilla world - I feel secure in knowing President Elect Obama has got my back.

Y’all take care.

By no to nannystate

December 3, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Dear ‘GodHatesTrash’

I’m not a backwoods bigot nor a dimwit. I like Obama and his decisions so far.. I just don’t like his party. Not all conservatives are ‘Trash’ anymore than all liberals are ‘Socialists’.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Mrs. Godzilla

So sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself and your family, okay?

By RW-(the original)

December 3, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Jay B.,

Were you daydreaming about your next hit on Governor Palin when you put this piece together today?

Generally when one wants to buttress a premise that the Bush people are coming around to Obama’s way of thinking they wouldn’t use the fact that Gates has felt this way all along as an example. That’s really more of an example that Bush changed course and Obama has come to embrace that course.

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Mrs. G., my sympathies. Take care of yourself.

By @@

December 3, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

And another thing, jay! You make it sound as though Gates has signed on to Obama’s Iraq withdrawal proposal.

Mr. Gates also said he is now comfortable with President-elect Barack Obama’s call for U.S. combat forces to leave Iraq by the middle of 2010, after earlier questioning Mr. Obama’s withdrawal timeline during the presidential campaign.

Tuesday UPI (and various other sites) — While supporting the Obama’s withdrawal plan in broad terms, Gates stopped short during a news conference Tuesday of endorsing Obama’s campaign pledge of withdrawing all troops within 16 months, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

It was Gates who acknowledged Obama’s flexibility on the issue of Iraq.

Where do you field your information, shortstop?

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Paul,

I’m sure the Indian authorities DID NOT politely ask Mr. Terrorist those questions, nor do I think the U.S. should either, to be quite honest.

I don’t have a problem with roughing up a terrorist - just don’t get caught ;-)

Sometimes, there are times when you turn the surveillance cameras off in the interrogation room - wink, wink. Woops, my finger just happened to slip and turn the camera off. Sorry.

In Mr. Terrorist in India’s case, considering he was caught on tape, I don’t have a problem with the eye for an eye rule. Same goes with Brian Nichols.

But, as a general rule, information or data received through torture (or pain in general) is not reliable.

Also, there are precedence for prosecuting non-U.S. citizens for crime committed in this country - remember the 20th hijacker? He’s still rotting in jail.

By mike hussein smith

December 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Ray — YOU DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.

By dtryes

December 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Remember how the new Bush administration was greeted by Democrats in 2001? Remember how they fought all of his appointments and then criticized him for not discovering a terrorist attack that was years in planning? Republicans have a little more class.

By tcoach

December 3, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

God Hates trash, What is it about yesterday’s runoff results that lead you to draw the conclusion that the vote was racially motivated. Please explain.

By Bosch

December 3, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Mrs. G.,

Holy crap, sorry to hear that. My sympathies. Been there, it sucks, big time. Hang in there, it will happen when the planets align themselves correctly and the time is right!

Hug from Bosch.

By mike hussein smith

December 3, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Mrs. G, we are missing you, but you should tend your own garden while the rest of us try to stem the tide of rising stupidity on the right.

dtrye — You’re damn right Democrats gave Bush a cold welcome in 2001, but it was richly deserved. He became president even though he had lost the election and his lack of knowledge/vision were rejected by more voters than the number who wanted a brain-addled ex-junkie with a record of business failures to run the country.

By dtryes

December 3, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

mike hussein smith - You need to take a civics class and pay special attention to how we elect our Presidents. The rest of your comments don’t deserve any response other than to guess that you are a brain-addled junkie. Have a merry Christmas.

By mike hussein smith

December 3, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

*re-sent to correct Bush’s drug of choice.

dtrye — You’re damn right Democrats gave Bush a cold welcome in 2001, but it was richly deserved. He became president even though he had lost the election and his lack of knowledge/vision were rejected by more voters than the number who wanted a brain-addled ex-cokehead with a record of business failures to run the country.

By bubbatech02

December 3, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

Mike H. Smith- sir, you are an idiot

brain-addled (both Bush and Obama went to Harvard, one thanks to affirmative action and the other thanks to money)

ex-junkie (Bush-alcohol, Obama - cocaine)

with a record of business failures (Bush - oil company was profitable until oil dropped out because of Carter, latest busines venture was a share of the rangers ballclub which he bought for 800k and sold a couple of years later for several million; Barack- no business experience at all)

Idiot.

By willibkind

December 3, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Yeah Mrs. G get well soon and I hope Mr. G doent bring anything home either.

Bush did win the election! Those who said he did not are liars and are refusing to accept the truth. I hope you can get Bush off your mind long enough to see that the messiah does declare himself a god.

By willibkind

December 3, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Yeah Mrs. G get well soon and I hope Mr. G doent bring anything home either.

Bush did win the election! Those who said he did not are liars and are refusing to accept the truth. I hope you can get Bush off your mind long enough to see that the messiah does declare himself a god.

By mike hussein smith

December 3, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

dtrye: I am well aware of how our political/government system works and I know that Al Gore received a majority of the votes cast for the two leading contenders in 2000. And that Bush didn’t have enough electoral votes to claim the presidency until the mostly GOP-appointed Supreme Court shut down the vote count in Florida and decreed that the office was his.

Bubbatech02 — The fact that GWBush was allowed into Harvard and Yale as a favor to his powerful father is meaningless. And your claim that Obama was allowed into Harvard merely as an affirmative action candidate is just that —a claim. Do you really think every minority student allowed into Harvard is there because of affirmative action? And, yes, he does have experience running an enterprise — in his case, the Harvard Law Review — and he gets glowing reviews from both conservatives and liberals who worked for him as editors. But you only have to listen to the two men speaking to know which one actually got an Ivy education.

By Sam

December 3, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Dick Cheney was the biggest mistake. It took W way too long to realize what that jackazz was doing to his presidency.

By "The Corporal"

December 3, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

To Taxpayer.

I would agree with you on the tax-exempt thing except that most if not all other tax-exempt organizations are involved in politics. Churches, etc. should not be singled out. All or nothing.

By the way, there was no income tax at the time of our founding so your analogy does not hold true. Besides, the separation of church and state meant no state sponsored/supported denomination as all the colonies had previously done.

The largest church in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War met in the U.S. Capitol.

By williebkind

December 3, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

By mike hussein smith

Note 1: Yeah like the liberal judge Marshall did not make law! He was the supreme court at one time—remember? It is not the first time the supreme court was involved with such matters. You just remember Bush!

What is an Ivy league education? Is math different? Did Harvard make Bill O’reilly the BILL O’REILLY? Did Rush L. go to an Ivy league college? How about Boone T. Pickens? Wow, college educated people is the reason our economy is the shape it is in now. You liberals run the colleges. You even have the audacity to stop freedom of speech and expression—unless it is a liberal. Besides the Ivy thing is a class thing and not an education thing. It is getting the passport to success in lieu of getting your ticket punched in attending a regular college. It has nothing to do with education! Just look at the American scores. Yep, I attended college so I am granted a good job in a good neighborhood with outstanding benefits. I attended college.

I can not blame one person with just a high school diploma or AA. Nope, I can not think of anyone.

By Phil

December 3, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

Last poster: you attended college? Please don’t name it because you would embarrass the faculty—“Wow, college educated people IS (IS???) the reason our economy is the shape it is in now.” IS??????

By williebkind

December 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

Phil: If the definition of ‘is’ is ‘is’ then what’s your problem? Thanks for english lesson! Do you do math too?

By Razmus

December 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Jay, it isn’t that the conservatives are wrong asking “where’s the change”. It is just that you leftist are so ready and willing to accept anything that Obama does or says. Let’s face it, what you are going to end up with is a Clinton/Bush amalgam of a White House. Where Obama fits in, I don’t know. I do know this, ALL of these people are selling out the future of this country one trillion dollars at the time. They are actually encouraging people to go in debt. As Obama put it, “go out and buy a computer”. Yea, that is going to get us a long way. Stick it on the plastic. The only way back to a stable economy is through saving. Obama is going to come after your money people. He is already looking at ways to whittle money out of existing 401’s.

By GATORBOY

December 3, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

starting 1/20 Bookman won’t have anything to write about. I am always assumed at the self importance he, Cynthia and the AJC editoral have for themselves. Is that why they continue to lose readers?

By bill

December 3, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

Republicans are very sick people, filled with hate and fear…thank God they are a toothless minority. The world is safer this way.

By Paul

December 3, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

bill

Fine example of irony -

By GodHatesTrash

December 5, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

Thirty years of naked butt pyramids and underwear on their heads

Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch!