Political Insider

By Marcie

July 1, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

Every chance he gets, Cagle attacks the environment. He is the one who submitted the bill to grade over small streams and drainage ditches that we need to filter ground water although 85 environmental groups in Georgia were against it. Small streams also run into large streams. He also was behind a bill to allow rendering plants to stink up the neighborhood. Typical dancing with the ones who brought him. He’s bad either way on the 1956 Flag, for it and then against it.

I agree Reed is also a stinker, but Cagle is just kind of creepy to me.

By Dave

July 2, 2006 01:47 AM | Link to this

They’re all serious politicians, so they’re all creepy and, to some degree, making deals with the devil. The creepiest thing of all is that they manage to sleep at night.

By Debbie

July 2, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this

Cagle has distorted Reed’s connection to Enron and Abramoff.

Cagle just kept slamming Reed and his campaign strategy is basically ,Hey I am not Ralph Reed.

Voters are finding out Cagle is ethically challenged and was a hypocrite pointing the finger at Reed. Stay tuned for the ads…

Voters will have also have to wonder if Reed did the things Cagle and the press accuses him of, why does people like Zell Miller, Rudy Giuliani, Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, Sean Miller and numerous others stand behind Reed and strongly support him?

By Debbie

July 2, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

I am sick and tired of Republicans getting elected to office then when they take office they lose their backbone. They just want to try to get along and not make anyone angry and they compromise with Democrats when they should stand their ground. Example of these types of leaders are John McCain and Bill Frist. If you want that type of leader then you need to vote for Casey Cagle.

There is a big difference in trying to build a consensus and yielding to pressure when things get tough.

Reed has proven that he will stand his ground when things get tough. Look at everything that has been thrown his way the past year and he is still standing strong.

I don’t agree with Reed on every issue but then again I did not agree with Reagan on every issue and I think he was one of the greatest presidents this nation has ever had. He had great leadership abilities. How many men would have had the guts to walk away from the bargaining table with the Russians? He was soundly criticized for that, but it worked. How may leaders would have stood at the Berlin Wall and say tear this wall down?

I see that type of leadership abilites in Reed..

When Reagan ran in both 1976 and in 1980, political pundits said Reagan was too conservative and too polarizing and would hurt the GOP. Pundits were wrong then and they are wrong now about Reed.

By regularjoe

July 2, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

Reed and Cagle are going after each other hard. It dirties them both up. Cagle as the unknown should, more than Reed, clean up his act.

Debbie, you metioned Reed’s endorsements as support for Reed. Usually endorsements mean nothing except a politician is friends with another. You have to look beyond that. Also, comparing him to Ronald Reagan as a leader? Please convince me with some examples.

By deegee

July 2, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

There is a greater percentage of people undecided than committed to either one of them. This will be a hold-your-nose vote for the Republican flock.

By Debbie

July 2, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

Ronald Reagan was photogenic and had charisma. Reagan knew how to connect with people.

Reagan stood strong in his convictions and would not waver, even when he was facing criticism from all directions. He would not let adversity deter him from staying the course.

Reagan was attacked by the press and left wingers almost constantly.

Reed stands his ground and does not waver from his convictions. That is why the far left wing liberal 527 groups connected to George Soros and Air America are sending out emails against Reed and have ran radio ads against Reed. They see Reed as a threat to their liberal ideology. They know he does not waver. Reed is under attack constantly and the press distorts facts as they did with Reagan in Iran-Contra.

Reed has charisma and connects with people and is very photogenic.

Zell Miller also endorsed Sonny Perdue.

All those mentioned above have endorsed Reed also appeared at fundraisers for him and vouched for his character. They have put their reputations on the line for Reed.

By Tater Tate

July 2, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this

I can’t get over the fact that Cagle made a $1,000 campaign contribution to Mark Taylor and I bet other Republican primary voters will have a problem with that too.

Plus I am angry that Cagle has simply joined in with the liberal media in attacking Reed using guilt by association. Cagle should have drawn a contrast between his positions and those of Reed, but instead he has joined in the liberal media attack on Reed.

Reed may not be perfect, but he has done a lot for Republicans, for our state, and for President Bush. He has done nothing to deserve Cagle’s attacks and joining in with the liberal media.

So my vote is with Reed.

By regularjoe

July 2, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this

“Reed has charisma and connects with people and is very photogenic.”

A lot of people are charismatic, connect with people and are very photogenic. That is not leadership. You can be boring, shy and ugly and still be a good leader.

Sonny Perdue endorsed a long time county commissioner in Gwinnett county. The commissioner went down in flames. Sometimes endorsements can hurt a politician if the voters believe the endorsers are just trying to get an old buddy in office. Also, just because you choose one politician over another doesn’t mean you are putting your reputation on the line.

By Bo

July 2, 2006 05:07 PM | Link to this

How about some news on the Sec. of State race Republican primary; Baily, Handel, Martin or Stephens?

By Debbie

July 2, 2006 05:28 PM | Link to this

Reed has leadership qualities. Bush had Reed as his Southeastern Regional Chairman in 2004. W had full confidence in Reed’s abilities to make sure Florida went in the Bush columna and that Bush carried the South.

Leadership is standing your ground even when it difficult to do so. Cagle failed that test under the Barnes Administration. He was afraid to cross Barnes. He even voted with Barnes and 27 Democrats against a GOP sponsored drivers license bill that would have identified non citizens. And then there is the Taylor contribution.. was so frightened of what woluld happen after the 1998 election.

Reed has stood his ground no matter what like Reagan did.

By Tater Tate

July 2, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this

Zell Miller has endorsed three Republicans:

Sonny Perdue for Governor Ralph Reed for Lt. Governor Bill Stephens for Sec. of State

That’s good enough for me.

They’ll all have my vote. Zell Miller is today more conservative than most Republican elected officials.

By UGA 72

July 2, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this

Amazing that Ralph’s friends could take the time off from helping him spend his gambling money to write all these glowing tributes to a man who has soul, he sold that along with his principles to the highest bidder.

I know next to nothing about Casey Cagle, I do know he isn’t owned by anyone else, and he doesn’t owe anyone else. In a race against Ralph “I’ll take money from anyone” Reed, that is enough.

Before you get all caught up in Zell Millers endorsements, he endorsed Roy Barnes 4 years ago and Big Boy Taylor too. I wonder how Mark Taylor lost that endorsement while doing nothing for 4 years?

By Debbie

July 3, 2006 08:09 AM | Link to this

Ralph was not aware he was taking gambling money. Apparently facts don’t mean a thing to you or your kind. If you even bothered to read the report it clearly shows Abramoff laundered the money.

Ralph did not sell his soul. He fought a casino from opening. He would have sold his soul had he helped a casino open but he did not. People like you constantly attacked Reagan, too and you attack W.

Casey Cagle is owned by State Sen. David Shaffer, and bankers and the drive for wealth.

By Josh

July 3, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this

Tater Tate, It’s always nice to see people do their homework and understand the platforms and how people are going to have a positive impact on the office that they are running for. That’s the apporach I use, not x endorsed someone so they have my vote.

By Jason

July 3, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

Integrity?

Ralph Reed?

That’s laughable. Remember this is the same scum bag who masterminded and carried out the push poll about McCain having a “child of a different race” in the 2000 South Carolina primary.

Real Christian like there Ralph.

God help our state if this spineless rat wins.

By debbie

July 3, 2006 09:29 AM | Link to this

Integirty? Casey Cagle? This is the same guy that doanted $ 1,000 to Mark Taylor and lied about the reason. This is the same guy that managed to go form renting tuxedos to Bank President in four years while serving on the Senate Banking Committee and increse his wealth 900% durig the same time period. This is the guy that deliberatly l ied on financial disclosur form to puff up his contributions. This is the same guy that helped kill tort reform in 2004 while accepting donations from trial attorneys…

The candidate that is spineless in this race is Casey Cagle. If you are a John McCain fan, then Cagle is your candidate because they are a lot alike. They don’t like to make waves and they don’t like to make anyone mad.

By debbie

July 3, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

For Bo: Insider Advantage Poll SOS

Got an anonymous tip that said it is of 500 likely GOP voters and shows:

Charlie Bailey - 15%

Karen Handel - 33%

Eric Martin - 1%

Bill Stephens - 13%

Don’t Know/Undecided - 38%

By GrassRootsGuy

July 3, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

Mr. Reed has incredible integrity and has been consistent in the views and issues he has supported throughout his career.

There are those who are jealous of anyone who has business sucess, or makes a good living. They hate ceos because of their large salaries even though they create corporations that employ many.

And they hate political leaders like Ralph Reed because they are effective and they get things done. Sure he may use “secular” or “business” approaches and he may do things behind the sceens, which media hate because they cannot use their influence as well to stop conservatives, but that is simply too bad.

Reed will win because Republicans know him and trust him. He is effective and he will help us implement our agenda, unlike other RINOS like Cagle and Shafer, and sadly perhaps Speaker Richardson, who simply are “Rs” who want to run the state and enjoy the power and the money just like the Democrats did for more than 100 years.

By formerstephensguy

July 3, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

Stephens should drop out. He has no credibility.

By toggle

July 3, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

I think Debbie is really one of Ralph Reed’s aliases. I have never seen a bigger apologist … make that sycophant.

Come on … the guy ain’t that clean.

By Curious Observer

July 3, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this

Even after observing more than five decades of Georgia politics, I find it hard to believe that an ethically challenged skunk like Reed could win the primary or even be considered a serious candidate. Apparently, the fundamentalists are willing to overlook any of the sins of people who espouse their positions. BTW, which job is this Debbie hoping to secure from Reed if he wins? Surely she cannot be serious in her support otherwise.

By Karla Stuckey

July 3, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

This just in from the Reed campaign. This one is going to boil before the 18th.

CAGLE DID NOT PAY HIS PAYROLL TAXES

Casey Cagle Chaired Senate Finance Committee, Oversaw Georgia Tax Laws, But Avoided Paying Payroll Taxes on His Own Employees

Monday, June 3, 2006

Casey Cagle chaired the powerful Senate Finance Committee and oversaw Georgia’s tax laws, but official state records show that Cagle did not pay the payroll taxes, including federal and Georgia income and FICA withholding taxes, on employees as the law required. Casey Cagle’s 2001-04 state Senate re-election campaigns and his Lt. Governor campaign paid $35,892.50 to individuals listed as campaign employees.1 However, records show that withholding taxes on these employees were not paid.2

The IRS makes clear its instructions to employers. Employers must withhold, deposit, report, and pay the following taxes: federal and state income tax, and Social Security and Medicare tax (FICA).3

Political campaign committees are not exempt. Campaign committees must withhold income and FICA taxes from their employees’ paychecks.

Casey Cagle’s 2001-2004 Senate campaigns and his Lt. Governor campaign paid $35,892.50 to various employees. Campaigns are required to file quarterly expenditures with the Election Division of the Secretary of State’s office.4 Those records show payments were made by Cagle to individuals listed as “campaign staff,” “payroll,” or “contract labor” on campaign disclosure reports.5

Cagle did not pay taxes on these employees. Federal income and FICA taxes are remitted to the federal government by a Form 941 payment to a bank. Georgia income taxes are remitted directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue. Cagle’s state Senate campaign-finance reports show no such payments.6 His Lt. Governor reports show no payments for portions of wages paid. To fail to pay withholding taxes on employees violates federal and state law.

Elected officials should abide by the laws they pass for everyone else. By failing to pay the payroll taxes on employees, Casey Cagle violated the laws that he oversaw on hard-working Georgia taxpayers.

By Debbie

July 3, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/campaign_disclosures/disclosure.htm

Check out the info in the email yourself. It is true.

By Rawena

July 3, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

Hey Debbie, what village did you leave? Oh they just called — they want their idiot back.

By Debbie

July 3, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

Well, Rawena are you going back?