Political Insider

By formerstephensguy

July 4, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this

Handel has now who straw polls in Gwinnett & Cobb, and she in Monday’s Insider Advantage Poll Handel took 33%, Bailey 15%, and in third place a state senator with 13%.

I’d go more with the IA poll than two straw polls. Stephens must be having a cow with two weeks left. He was and should be the front runner and he’s in third.

Can’t wait to see the fireworks he throws-up over the next two weeks. The real interesting part, will be how much bull he makes up about Handel.

By Debbie

July 5, 2006 06:13 AM | Link to this

There were over 1075 in attendance. Reed won the straw poll by 28%. So much for pundits that say Reed is losing his base. There were people there from many of the largest churches in the area supporting Reed. Reed no longer just has Christian Conservative votes, he has successfully reached out and moderate-conservatives are going his way because of his leadership abilities.

Both Cagle and Reed supporters were used in every step of the voting process, including counting the votes.

Reed and Cagle both agressively pursued voters. Cagle had people in attendance all the way from Macon.

Reed and Handel continue to stay ahead in the polls despite the negative campaigns their opponents are running against them. Voters know the negative ads are not true and seem to be rebelling against them.

Black continues to pick up support despite the fact the State Senators endorsed Kemp. Black is a very hard campaigner and has the support of some in the AG business that have helped propel Irvin to victory in the past.

By Former Cagle Guy

July 5, 2006 07:49 AM | Link to this

Glad to see that the liberal media inspired attacks on Reed, which Cagle has counted on and used, are not working.

Republican primary voters don’t care about Indian casinos or the fact that money from gaming was used to stop the further growth of casino gamblinging.

They do care about Casey Cagle’s $1,000 contribution to liberal Mark Taylor.

More importantly they are not going to allow the liberal media to pick our nominees. We will do that on July 18 when we reject Cagle’s negative campaign of smear tactics and guilt by association and elect someone who has, perhaps more than any other Georgian, contributed enormously to our being a majority.

Ralph Reed wins-06

By Howard

July 5, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this

I think the State Senators that sent that letter asking Reed to step down and not run is causing a backlash against Stephens and Kemp. It angered voters a great deal and they may ending up regretting that letter…

By Sane Republican

July 5, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this

What really cracks me up is that crazy Debbie and her gang of loons padded the LG results to help Ralph, but FORGOT to pad anything else!

Does anyone really thing that hundreds fewer people voted for Gov and SOS than LG? No wonder Anthony Scott just reported percentages.

This is the last year that any credible candidate attends any event related to the Cobb GOP. What a freakshow.

By Debbie

July 5, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

Sane Republican, you know full well that is not true. Put up or shut up. typical Cagle supporter, you don’t care about the truth and just like to spread false innuendo. You are a very poor loser and I would advise you to get used to losing.

There were 454 votes cast on question one on the poll. That means voters had to skip over races and turn over to the backside to vote on the questions.

There were BOTH Cagle and Reed supporters involved in EVERY aspect of the voting, including counting. I will be more than happy to produce names if necessary. Voters received a voting slip when they purchased or turned in their tickets. Voters then took their voting slip and received a ballot. Once voters turned in their ballots, their finger was then placed on a stamp pad with purple ink to show they had voted and to show a sign of support with the Iraqis.

The Presidential race and questions were on the back of the ballot.

In fact, there were shenigans that went on involving State Senate candidate Cindye Coates and her signs being removed by Cagle workers and replaced with Cagle signs. I understand she has photos.

Straw Poll totals: Gov Perdue 311 McBerry 40 Lt Gov Reed 333 Cagle 190 SOS Handel 172 Stephens 144 Bailey 30 AG Black 265 Kemp 105 Greer 10 Strickland 20 PSC Eaton 192 Parkman 85 Labor Brown 230 Scheid 52 School Super Cox 234 Carter 77 PSC Weiss 235 Nickle 61

President George Allen 59 Bill Frist 11 Newt Gingrich 132 Rudy Giuliani 73 Mitt Romney 35 John McCain 31

Questions Do you support the Guest Worker Program for illegal aliens? Y 168 No 286 Do you think SPLOSTs should only be held in general elections so as to maximize voter participation? Y 289 No 59 Do you support the Fair Tax Plan? Y 315 No 33 Do you think the Cobb School term of office should be decreased from 4 years to 2 years to insure accountability? Y 175 No 158

By Longpoddle

July 5, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

The Cobb GOP BBQ was a big success. Hats off to Scott J., Debbie E., ASH and co. Over 1,000 in attendance, well-organized and well-served (though Williamsons’ ran out of sweet tea…which speaks more than anything to the strong turn-out!) Most surprising vote outcome: Reed over Cagle by 28%. Surprise was the STRENGTH of this outcome given the effort put forth by the Caglers. Loyalists aside, there were far more Ralphers than Caglers in attendance…and with SUCH a large showing, hard to discount the value of this outcome. Lots of voters expressed their early PREFERENCE…and that’s what straw polls are for. Ralphers handed out balloons, footballs and ‘comped’ anyone who signed the Reed guest list. Caglers offered an offensive dude dressed as a placard-carrying poker dealer trying to position Reed as a ‘bad bet’. Hmmmm. Time for a tactical review? A couple of other heady outcomes…one for Karen Handel (pulling WAY ahead and presenting herself well despite obvious sinus problems), Gary Black (no surprise)…and Chuck Eaton, who’d make a darn good Public Service Commissioner. Best Cobb GOP event I’ve attended in quite a while. Oh, one last thing: I see some comments posted here about vote-counting concerns w/ the straw poll. HA! And I say HA! to you again. The Towery voting crew was cordoned off like a museum exhibit, watched like hawks by loyalists on the ‘other side of the cord’ and counted…then re-counted until they could hold off the results no longer. HUNDREDS stayed until after 3PM for the results (though the sweet tea was LONG GONE by then!).

By Bull Moose

July 5, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

Listen, I know what I am talking about when it comes to campaigns. Some people say I am “in over my head.” While it is just my patented strategy of a campaigning “a mile-wide and an inch deep.”

Yesterday was a great day, for barbeque that is. Even though both of my clients got hosed, that was some good eating. I eat a lot, and if you know me then you understand one meal equal four trips to the buffet. I’m just glad they didn’t make me pay extra.

By Tony

July 5, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Debbie,

You truly are the most sleazy person I’ve met in politics. You tell other people to provide proof before making claims but yet you make this allegation and offer nothing….Cagle’s people replacing signs? To practice what you preach, why don’t you put up or shut up? Your sleaze and scum are stinking the place up. You can’t even live by your own hypocritical double standards.

By formerstephensguy

July 5, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Tony, That was over the top..

By Philly

July 5, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Tony, you are the one that stinks up this board. You can’t debate in an adult manner. You resort to name calling like a child having a temper tantrum. You are disgusting…

You are the one that makes constant allegations without providing proof.

Grow up and get a life!!!!

By Darrell

July 5, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Get used to it FSG, it was a lot worse than this when Ralph ran against Sheafer for State GOP Chair. I’d say the same group is involved here. Smells just the same. After July 18th we can wipe it off our shoes and get down to the business of November elections.

By Van

July 5, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this

What I do not understand is why people get upset over polls?

A poll is a collection of opinions of those queried. The poll means just as much as the EPA ratings on a new car - next to nothing. Of course, the AJC does produce news articles based on nothing but poll numbers, acting like a poll result is news.

If people base their voting on what the polls say, then maybe they should not vote at all.

By Happy 4th, Yall!

July 5, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this

Hey folks, Ralph Reed is dirty. He’s been dirty since the day he was born. He was a lobbyist, is a lobbyist and will always be a lobbyist. What a hideous representative of the Christian Coalition- an organization I once appreciated, but now am wary of due to simply due to Reed’s involvement.

Whether you are undecided, on the fence, or even deciding whether to go vote or abstain… Cagle is the way to go on this one.

Go check out this link: http://politicalvine.com/politicalrumors/rumors/are-you-supporting-ralph-reed-or-on-the-fence-consider-this/

Whether you are a diehard supporter or a fence-sitter on the Casey Cagle vs. Ralph Reed race, you should ask yourself the question of WHY are all these folks who worked for Reed in the past now working for or supporting the candidate opposing Ralph?

Specifically:

Joel McElhannon - General Consultant

Jay Williams - Direct Mail Consultant

Elizabeth Dewberry - Campaign Manager

Clint Austin (a person who was loyal to the hilt with Ralph until recently)…no position with the campaign, but, from what I understand, a $10,000 contributor to Cagle

Emily Echols Morton - Used to work for Reed at the party when he was chairman…now listed as a Host for a fundraiser for Casey Cagle this Saturday

These folks are known to be SOLID conservatives in the GOP party. They worked directly for and learned from Ralph Reed….and, yet, the thing they fear most right now is seeing Ralph Reed get elected.

Could it possibly be that they know him for the sleazy, crooked businessman that he is (because they were forced to witness it while working for him) and do not want that type of person elected?

By thoughtful

July 5, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this

Let’s think about what Ralph Reed has done lately:

1.Ducking interviews: Ralph continues to hide from public scrutiny, meeting only with carefully selected audiences. He even refuses to meet with reporters from conservative and evangelical publications (Source: World magazine, The Weekly Standard).

2) Hiding his Schedule: The only public event currently posted on the “calendar” section of Ralph’s website is a fundraising reception from Tuesday November 8th of last year. Voters seeking to speak with Ralph Reed personally are then forced to play detective to find out where he will appear in public (Source: www.ralphreed.com).

3) Refusing to Comment: Ralph continues to refuse on the record interviews with most mainstream journalists and reporters from conservative and evangelical publications. In fact, Ralph has “declined to comment” or “refused to elaborate” literally dozens of times in the past year. And, in dozens more cases, he has only allowed a staffer to read a prepared statement into the phone (Source: Lexis-Nexis).

4) Citing Imaginary “Ethical” Issues: In response to a question from the Associated Press, Reed campaign spokesman Jared Thomas said that it “would be unethical for Reed to violate the privacy of his contracts and disclose the specific work he did for clients.” Although no such limitations exist, Ralph is using them to avoid even saying who he has worked for (Source: Associated Press, May 3, 2006).

5) Refusing to Release Tax Returns: In response to a request from the media, Ralph Reed refused to make his tax returns available for review — as Governor Sonny Perdue has done and as Casey Cagle has offered to do — saying “state personal financial disclosure records are enough.” (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 5, 2006).

By Rod

July 5, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

We have new poll results just in - here they are:

Debbie and Tony are both pathetic, whinny cry-babies. This is reported on 100% of the votes.

Debbie and Tony, we will be happy to provide you with full disclosure and proof and soon as you send in the $200 S/H charge.

By Tommie Batson

July 5, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

I was at the event in Cobb. I found a couple of the Cagle workers to be rude and frankly doing him more harm than good. They were belligerant to a couple of people in front of me who said they were supporting Reed. I went around them to keep from having to deal with them.

I did not want to wear a Cagle sticker after witnessing that.

Some people get to worked up at these events. Yes, I plan to vote for Reed, but having pushy young men intimidate you at a 4th of July barbeque is just too much.

By wow

July 5, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

Debbie disgusts me. Cagle’s people replacing signs?

Let me tell you all a little story, and by story, I mean the TRUTH. I am now a homeowner in Fulton county. I just registered to vote here for the first time. I have been a Georgia voter for a long years, just not in this area. (Buck/Springs area.)

I asked the Cagle campaign for some yard signs. I put up two and took one to my parents who asked for one also.

THE NEXT DAY, ONE OF MY CAGLE SIGNS HAD BEEN STOLEN- OFF OF MY PROPERTY. A Ralph Reed sign was put up in my yard, next to the one Cagle sign they left. And before you blame the neighbors for taking the other, they were also Cagle supporters.

Dirty is as dirty does. And Ralph and his clan are dirty.

Give me my Cagle sign back, you scoundrels. And if you want yours back, I believe it is in a landfill somewhere by now.

By CatFight

July 5, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

Having a straw poll to determine reality is foolish. Nevertheless, I don’t know how accurate a straw poll is under ideal situations to begin with. None of them are scientific. So what’s your point? If there is any validity to straw polls, it is they determine organizational strength- which means the anybody polled at the BBQ belonged to a campaign.

Ask the average Georgia voter- who was not in attendance at the Marrietta BBQ (who was probably at the pool, with families and friends at their own house, or on a lake somewhere) and they will say Casey Cagle gets their vote.

Straw polls like the one on Tuesday have no official standing — or effect. For an ‘educated’ voter, there could be no worse a method of selection than a straw poll. In order to validate the polls, would there have to be at least 100 ‘average’ citizens of no campaign affiliation, 50% women, 50% men, as well as an additional 100 members of “various associations”,etc., to assuage the public that you were not intentionally skewing the results?

I sincerely doubt that you could quickly put together any group for the purposes of the media that would be timely enough, large enough and “pure” enough to give your statistical sampling validity under close scrutiny.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Happy, quoting from Bill Simon’s rag is not doing your candidate Cagle any good. Simon constantly attacks GOP elected officials and the fact he supports Cagle is one of the reasons I chose to support Reed. Simon is in favor of gay marriage, does not believe in displaying the Ten Commandments, in other words he worships the ACLU.

Wow, I suggest your get your facts straight. I heard Coates telling someone that Cagle campaign workers replaced her signs with those of Cagle’s and that she has photos taken with a cell phone. She said she went to Cagle and is giving him the chance to make thing right. People that stayed until the end were talking about this so it is not a big secret.

thoughtful, what about Cagle serving on the State Senate Banking Committee and passing legsilation that benefitted him directly? I have a real problem with the fact he went from renting tuxedos to bank president in four years. The average citizen could not have accomplished that…

By Philly

July 5, 2006 10:59 AM | Link to this

Thoughtful, you are a Cagle campaign staffer so stop your lies. Tell me are you jerm? It was very highly publicized Reed was going to be at the Gwinnett Wild Bill’s event and the Cobb GOP BBQ.

You in the Cagle campaign are getting desparate. Tell me is Cagle really running out of money?….

By Michae C

July 5, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this

Lets face it we all like our guy, wheter it is Ralph or Casey. But as for rudeness goes Tommie let me be the first to apologise if you found some Cagle supporters rude. I found most Reed supporters rude as well. Placing Cagle stickers on their butts. Moving signs along the road leading to the event in front of Casey’s.

Especialy Reed himself. who said in his speech that one of his qualifications is that he is “skinny”. An obvious jab at Mark Taylor. It was classless and silly.

A straw poll is what it is. The only one that counts is the one on July 18th. Interesting that Debbie claims supporters from both sides were involved in the counting. Debbie please produce the names. I sure did see alot of white t-shirts conducting the poll. Which was not under the most secure conditions. I had to ask the lady collecting ballots what the purple stamp was for. Her answer, to show support for the people of Iraq, not to validate who has voted and who has not.

By Bosox

July 5, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Eh, this is getting too dirty for me. Mud-slingers unite! hahahah… I’m am sticking with the lesser of two evils. Cagle gets my vote. Reed can’t cover his a$$ fast enough. And Philly, why have a “real problem with the fact he went from renting tuxedos to bank president in four years”?
It’s called ambition and intelligence— and I would support a guy that worked his way up. Example: I got promoted three times in one year. It took me two years in entirety to go from an intern to a deparment manager in a very high-tech medical environment, making 36K more than I started out making. And there was nothing illegal about it. I guess you just made your point Philly, that Cagle is a hard worker that moves up the legit route, versus having Enron pay for it.

By wow

July 5, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

Thanks Philly, but I do have my facts straight. Considering, it’s a first hand account that HAPPENED TO ME.

MY CAGLE SIGN HAD BEEN STOLEN- OFF OF MY OWN PROPERTY. A Ralph Reed sign was put up in my yard in place of it.

I was told that Reed would get dirty if he got backed into a corner and his clan just proved it.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Michael, I can tell you some names of people I know are supporting Cagle that were part of the process. I also saw someone with a Cagle t shirt and someone with a Reed shirt on counting the votes. The only white t shirt I saw was the one Reed supporter. The Cagle person had a red Cagle t shirt on. The rest did not.

Both Cagle and Reed workers were ther monitoring the process.

Funny I did not see the white t shirts you are speaking of involved with the voting process. Are you sure you were even there? You can check with others that were there and they will tell you the same thing. See the post above by longpoddle.

I did say one chunky Cagle supporter perching at the front voting desk calling people on his cell phone and asking them to come vote. I think his name was Brian. Other Cagle staff were with him.

When someone voted they had purple ink put on their fingers. Easy way to determine who had and had not voted.

I heard the Cagle workers had removed the Reed signs and put them up somewhere else.

Linda T, Sallye and Herb B, Randy S, Billy and Joe D, C Chatwood. Randy S was at the front desk and helped give out ballots.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

Bosox, the problem was during that time Cagle served on the Senate Banking Committee and was supposed to be a servant of the taxpayers. He increased his wealth 900% in that same time frame. Cagle passed and introduced legislation that directly benefitted him and his industry. He did not abstain from voting as he should have.

Were you in the private sector or a public servant?

Give Enron a rest. Reed did nothing wrong and was cleared. You Cagle staffers keep beating a dead horse…

By That's Hilarious

July 5, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

Sure does sound like “Philly” is someone on the Reed campaign!

Tell your boss he sure is paying you a lot to go check out website blogs and post nonsense instead of doing real work.

But then again, I guess I should congratulate you on finding a cushy job that Reed is willing to throw money at… guess this is a sign of things to come if he is elected??

By HelpABrothaOut

July 5, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

“Convicted Enron founder Kenneth Lay reportedly found dead of a heart attack at his Colorado vacation home”

This is sad and ironic all at once. But I guess it makes Ralph Reed ECSTATIC!! One less person to testify against him. HA!

By Philly

July 5, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this

I am a teacher and am not employed with the Reed Campaign in any way. In fact, I am not even on their steering commitee.

I am sick of you Cagle people distorting facts.

Help, I guess you liberals will say that Kenneth Lay was able to escape justice…and Dick Cheney and Haliburton helped him do it…

By Mike E

July 5, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

Has anybody noticed the obvious fraud committed at the Cobb County straw poll that Reed’s minions are touting to the world? Someone added more than a hundred ballots to the Lt. Gov. race.

Here’s the breakdown by number of votes cast for each contested race: Governor - 351 Lt. Gov. - 523 Sec of State - 346 Ag Comm - 400 PSC - 277 Labor - 282 School Super - 311 Other PSC - 296 Pres of the US - 341 Question #1 - 454 Question #2 = 348 Question #3 - 348 Question #4 - 333

Based on the foregoing, Reed’s people would have us believe that more than a hundred votes were cast for him above and beyond all the other races. Come-on now.

A total of 341 voted their presidential preference. And 351 voted their preference for governor. And the hotly contested race for Sec of State had only 346 total votes cast. So can someone explain how the Reed-Cagle race gets 523 votes?

And look at the four questions section where the highly contentious illegal alien question managed to pull in 454 votes, while the other three questions got only 348 or 333.

Something is fishy here. Reed’s people obviously tried to pad the numbers. Did they come in and only vote in the Lt. Gov. race? Were all of the other races and questions meaningless? If so, what kind of Republican are they? More likely the box was stuffed after votes were cast. Not hard to do when you once ran the statewide Republican Party, as Reed once did. Did his minions in Cobb. Co. stuff it for him?

The numbers for Reed just don’t add up. Maybe I’m missing something here. If so, I know the good folks here will set me straight.

By Limey

July 5, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

There once was a man named Ralph Reed Enron’s favorite, he did a few dirty deeds Reed huffed, puffed, and pouted, But at election-time he was outed And Cagle became the champion steed!

By Limey

July 5, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

There once was a man named Ralph Reed

Enron’s favorite, he did a few dirty deeds

Reed huffed, puffed, and pouted,

But at election-time he was outed

And Cagle became the champion steed!

By Philly

July 5, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this

Michael E, you are just a sore loser. Typical Cagle staffer . How do you figure over 100 votes were added? There were over a thousand that attended the BBQ. Obviously there were a good many that did not vote. Some did not vote on every office. I can tell you that I did not. I was in a hurry and just wanted to make sure my vote was cast for Reed.

You ignore the facts that Cagle people were assisting in this effort and would have sounded an alarm if anything went wrong. What is the matter is your boss Casey upset because you failed in your job yesterday?

Show your evidence of wrong doing or shut the hell up.

By Mike E

July 5, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Philly, insults from the likes of you are not an answer to my question regarding why so many “extra” votes ended up in the Lt. Gov. race. I find it difficult to believe that people came in and only voted in that one race when there were a dozen other races and questions on the printed ballot. It looks like someone bussed in those folks if, in fact, they voted that way. Frankly, I don’t think it went down that way.

Some have reported there were more than a thousand in attendance. They are all die-hard Republicans would wouldn’t pass up a chance to cast they straw vote for governor, president, and others on the ballot coming up in less than 2 weeks. Why did most of the races average 350 votes and the Reed-Cagle race draw 523? Did all these Reed supporters not vote for the other candidates/issues? Why not? Why only vote for Reed? Were they paid to do so? Or are they too ignorant to make informed choices about the other candidates and issues? Or too immature?

I will not “shut the hell up” until this race is over, and, I suppose, neither will you. So please tone down the harshness and deal with the issues.

By Tony

July 5, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

I now see where Reed has failed to pay those same payroll taxes as well…seems he can accuse someone of doing something while exempting himself. Same with Howard, Philly, Debbie and the rest of the Ralphites. They come on here and copy and paste the ‘master’s message’ and then make absurd claims. Funny how Ralph cannot even hold up to his OWN standards for others.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

Cagle bought in folks from Macon to vote for him.

Both campaigns bought in people to vote for them. They were the only ones going after votes. You are really making yourself look foolish and hurting Cagle so keep it up. I saw people with both campaigns said their names were on a list kept at the door.

In the Gwinnett Straw poll, there were over 200-300 in attendance that did not vote and Cobb’s event was larger. Tell me, did you attend the Cobb BBQ? I was there.

By Limerics Abound!

July 5, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

There once was a pinhead named Philly

Who supported Reed willy-nilly

But Pinhead Philly did cry

When Reed kissed Lt. Gov. goodbye

By Mike E

July 5, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Philly wrote earlier “I have a real problem with the fact he [Cagle] went from renting tuxedos to bank president in four years. The average citizen could not have accomplished that…”

I agree Philly. Cagle is no average citizen. He is a successful bisinessman who became a state senator and is about to become the state’s lieutenant governor. Average citizens don’t usually accomplish such feats. Only the above-average or extraordinary.

While Reed was asking Abramoff to help him “hump” for corporate clients, Cagle was simply being successful in business and politics.

I don’t accept your premise that Cagle went from renting tuxedos to bank president in four years, but assuming he did there is a plausible explanation. The bankers in his community saw him as a rising star and brought him on board to improve the bank’s reputation and standing. If you believe Cagle improperly used his senate position to further his banking career, please cite the specific legislation so I can check it out. Otherwise, you are simply spouting lines from the Reed campaign.

Where’s the Beef, Philly?

By Debbie

July 5, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

I saw his report in December list payroll taxes to the Georgia Dept. of Revenue.

http://www.sos.state.ga.us

I did not check the one filed in March because the web site was extremely slow pulling up the info and I am not sure if the payroll taxes were due at that time.

By Common Sense

July 5, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this

I was at the Cobb Straw Poll. I know the people who counted the votes. They are all my neighbors and I have asked them all if they had a favorite in the Lt. Gov. race and they were all undecided!!!!! Now they did not have a reason to manipulate the votes because they do not care who is on the ballot as long as they have an (R) beside their name!!!! I, on the other hand came to see who was supporting Ralph Reed and the most respectable people in the COBB GOP seemed to be REED suppoters. Seemed the REED campaign had the most class. I would say REED is the next Lt. Gov. of Georgia. He is the grassroots king and that is the old fashion way of campaigning. That is how decent folks do it. REED will be a breath of fresh air to the state. We are blessed to have REED! He is smart. He is well connected on a national level and he has my vote!

By Tony

July 5, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

So Debbie you are out here making claims without looking into the whole story? Reed’s out there making claims without making sure he himself hasn’t done the same thing? Sounds very irresponsible for a businessman…kind of like how he made those deals with Norquist and Abramoff. Making such claims without checking yourself for compliance sounds like poor traits for someone seeking leadership positions.

By Debbie

July 5, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

Legislation regarding banking that Cagle either voted on or introduced.

(Senate Vote 27, SB 19, 2-2-99; S.V. 227, SB 230, 3-9-99; S.V. 475, 3-24-99; S.V. 264, SR 241, 3-15-99; S.V. 269, HB 297, 3-15-99; S.V. 918, HB 1231, 3-13-00 ; S.V. 717, HB 272, 2-23-00; S.V. 1048, HB 656, 3-16-00; S.V. 922, HB 1364, 3-13-00; S.V.1069, HB 1257, 3-20-00; S.V. 177, SB 70, 3-6-01; S.V. 178, 3-6-01; S.V. 211, SB 25, 3-7-01; S.V. 365, HB 191, 3-19-01; S.V. 555, SB 353, 2-6-02; S.V. 1111, 4-12-02; S.V. 20, SB 53, 2-12-03; S.V. 130, 3-6-03; S.V. 233, SB 157, 4-7-03; S.V. 853, 3-4-04; S.V. 80, SB 78, 3-3-03; S.V. 414, HB 506, 4-17-03; S.V. 568, HB 385, 4-25-03; S.V. 662, SB 405, 2-2-04; S.V. 1028, HB 1258, 3-24-04; S.V. 1027, 3-24-04; S.V. 59, SB 82, 2-14-05; S.V. 95, SB 100, 2-22-05; S.V. 287, 3-17-05; S.V. 207, SB 127, 3-11-05; S.V. 504, 3-31-05; S.V. 436, HB 59, 3-29-05; S.V. 437, 3-29-05) )

From the June 13th edition of Savannah Now:

Local News Web posted Saturday, June 10, 2006

Cagle: Everybody does it

E-mail story

Print story

Your opinion

Ralph Reed’s latest campaign broadside may say a lot about Casey Cagle.

Or it may merely say something about the way we do politics in Georgia.

Either way, it’s not pretty.

Reed, battling Cagle for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, accuses Cagle of using his state Senate perch to feather his banking nest.

Reed’s campaign says Cagle served on a banking committee, authored five bills on banking and voted 33 times on legislation affecting banking.

All the while, the campaign said, the Chestnut Mountain lawmaker served on the board or as chairman of a bank or the holding company that owned it.

Among the bills Reed says Cagle voted on were ones that let banks sell insurance, securities and corporate bonds.

Reed’s campaign cites Cagle’s official economic interest statements, which show that his bank holdings increased from $50,000 in 1998 to $450,000 at the end of 2005.

Reed campaign manager Jared Thomas noted that Cagle has said he sets “a fairly high standard” for himself.

That standard, Thomas said, “apparently includes personally benefiting from his public service.”

Cagle has denied profiting from his Senate service.

But his campaign’s response to Reed’s charges is - to say the least - interesting. While calling accusations “frivolous,” Brad Alexander, Cagle’s campaign manager, makes no attempt to refute their specifics.

Instead, Alexander essentially uses the “everybody-does-it” defense.

Alexander begins by rebutting a charge Reed didn’t actually make.

“You falsely charge that ethics rules are violated when a legislator serves on a community bank board and votes on financial services issues,” he responds.

The Reed salvo made no reference to rules violations but alluded to a smell test it says Cagle imposed on himself and then flunked.

That aside, Alexander goes on to remind Thomas “that Georgia has a citizen Legislature; farmers help set agriculture policy, doctors craft health care laws and businessmen update commercial codes.”

The alternative, which he invites Reed to propose, is a full-time “California-style” legislature.

“In reality,” Alexander argues, “that is the only way to ensure that no one who serves in the Legislature has a job outside the Legislature.”

Thomas wouldn’t take the bait.

He said Reed agrees that Georgia shouldn’t have a full-time Legislature.

“But we’re not talking about farmers writing laws about farming,” Thomas said. “This is a fellow who started a bank, got on a committee that regulated banking and had a direct impact on his bank. And he profited.”

It’s not obvious who’s right.

Cagle is correct in noting that many Georgia legislators are active on committees and in legislation affecting their businesses and professions.

Rep. Tom Bordeaux, D-Savannah, a trial lawyer, used to chair the House Judiciary Committee, which had life-and-death authority over bills affecting trial lawyers.

Reps. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, and Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, are pharmacists and members of a pharmacy caucus active on bills involving the industry.

Carter is secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, a medical administrator.

The list goes on.

Yet the number of Cagle fingerprints on bills regarding matters that affect his business interests seems above average.

If, as Alexander implies, it isn’t, maybe we need to rethink the way we do things in Atlanta.

Probably with good reason, almost no one wants to go the California route. And, sure, the Legislature revised ethics laws last year. But, if Cagle’s practices are indeed the norm, maybe it’s not too early to go back to the well.

Bill Bozarth, director of the Common Cause Georgia political ethics watchdogs group, thinks so.

Bozarth’s not willing to single out Cagle for condemnation.

“He’s doing what a lot of people do to some extent,” he said. “But this shows the need for requirements for people to recuse themselves on these sorts of bills. … And we need some kind of an enforcement procedure.”

In the meantime, Alexander wants us to judge Cagle by the standard of current criminal law rather than the senator’s own “fairly high” standard. Or perhaps he thinks they’re one and the same.

“If you believe …. a legislator acted in violation of the law,” he told Thomas, “… sign an actual complaint, put a stamp on it and mail it to the Attorney General.”

Thomas said Reed won’t do that.

“We’re going to pursue it, but with the voters.”

Given that we’re really talking about politics, not the law, that seems an appropriate forum.

But, whatever we think of Cagle’s conduct, Bozarth has a point.

We need to think about the bigger picture.

By Can't WeAllJust Get Along

July 5, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

Hello Guys and Dolls, Welcome to the Republican forum. A forum of good people who all agree on one thing: the next Lt. Gov. of Georgia should be a Republican.

Now, this is where it gets tricky. In supporting one candidate and bashing the other, they have managed to divide the Republican party into a he said-she said, he paid taxes/he committed crimes issue.

After the primary, as long as somebody is standing up there with a big fat R on on their shirt and by their name, I am cool with that.

My preference? Honestly? The guy that doesn’t put really bad hair dye in his hair to cover the grays.

I have met both candidates- and one looks like he has Botoxed his forehead, dyed his hair as dark brown as possible to get rid of the greys -and he wouldn’t look me in the eye when he shook my hand. (Granted, I am petite, but don’t look over my head for somebody more important to talk to while I am in front of you.)

The other guy ain’t that much of a looker, but at least he stopped to talk to me and kept a conversation going, like I was important or something.

By Firm Grasp on Reality

July 5, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Its a straw poll folks, nothing to get excited about. Second, its the Lt. Governor’s position. The one that the Repubs stripped of power a few years ago when they took over the senate.

Third, its the only state wide office in Georgia that would allow someone to maintain an outside job…such as a sudden rise to the bank presidency or lucrative ties to Indian casino money.

Also, many countries around the world use purple ink in elections. Those include Mexico, Iraq, India, etc. So, yeah, way to show solidarity with Iraq, India, Mexico, etc. More mindless rhetoric from the other party of big government.

Cagle and Reed will both work to increase the size of government in Georgia.

By Rod

July 5, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

I was totally and completely undecided about this race until I read all of your comments. Sounds like both Reed and Cagle are unethical crooks. Thanks bloggers - you’ve persuaded me to vote for the Democratic candidate (whoever that is). At least there’s a chance the person has integrity - your candidates obviously do not.

By Rod

July 5, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this

I was totally and completely undecided about this race until I read all of your comments. Sounds like both Reed and Cagle are unethical crooks. Thanks bloggers - you’ve persuaded me to vote for the Democratic candidate (whoever that is). At least there’s a chance the person has integrity - your candidates obviously do not.

By Tony

July 5, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

Notice Debbie dodges my challenge and carries on spouting Reed propaganda. She and all of Reed’s people cannot think for themselves. It is Big Brother and GroupThink there at Reed HQ.

Is this truly what we want for GA?

By Concerned Taxpayer

July 5, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

Do you really believe that there was padding of votes for Reed going on because more people voted in the LG race? The comments on this blog are almost exclusively on the LG race. There is simply more interest in that race and both sides of the race organized their supporters to get there and vote. Many did not take the time to vote in other races since the LG race was their only interest. I was there and observed the counting and Cagle and Reed people both counted. It was fair. The Cagle people are sure losers. The straw poll just reflects the results of the other polls out this past week. Ralph is leading in the race and is most popular with the activists in the party that know both candidates best.

By Nick

July 5, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this

That’s it, I’m voting for the candidate the steals the least amount of yard signs! Issues and matters of importance concerning the future of our state be damned!

By Richard

July 5, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this

I agree with Rod’s comments. I, too was completely undecided about this race until I read all of the back-biting comments listed above. Sounds like both Reed and Cagle are unethical and mean-spirited crooks. Thanks guys - you’ve talked me into voting for the Democratic candidate (whoever that is). You’ve shown that the Georgia Republican party can’t even agree how to count 1,000 pieces of paper - how are they going to run a state? At least there’s a chance the Democratic candidate has integrity - your Republican candidates obviously do not.

By Concerned Taxpayer

July 5, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

Cindye Coates, candidate for State House in Cobb, personally told me that she personally observed and photographed Cagle volunteers pulling up her signs and replace them with their own signs. Although, you can not blame the candidate for all their volunteer’s and staff’s actions, I would like to see Cagle disavow these actions and take disciplinary action. If he doesn’t then he is implicity condoning such actions. It makes no sense to alienate a fellow candidate in a local race. Much of what the Cagle campaign makes no sense. Obviously their vicious and false negative campaign is backfiring and their actions are increasingly desparate.

By Concerned Taxpayer

July 5, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this

Cindye Coates, candidate for State House in Cobb, personally told me that she personally observed and photographed Cagle volunteers pulling up her signs and replace them with their own signs. Although, you can not blame the candidate for all their volunteer’s and staff’s actions, I would like to see Cagle disavow these actions and take disciplinary action. If he doesn’t then he is implicity condoning such actions. It makes no sense to alienate a fellow candidate in a local race. Much of what the Cagle campaign makes no sense. Obviously their vicious and false negative campaign is backfiring and their actions are increasingly desparate.

By Rod

July 5, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this

What a bunch of liars. Candidates (and their people) may pull up other’s signs, but they’re not going to replace them with their own. The homeowner would just complain and immediately remove them.

Stop lying you bunch of vermin.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Hey rod genius, it was not at people’s homes.

By Rod

July 5, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this

Philly, you’re the one who earlier stated: “You resort to name calling like a child having a temper tantrum. You are disgusting… You are the one that makes constant allegations without providing proof.”

THen you went out and insulted everyone calling them names and making up accusations. Get a clue, you’re an a$$.

By Tony

July 5, 2006 04:31 PM | Link to this

Now we have Concerned Taxpayer sounding awfully a lot like Debbie making baseless claims. Hey Concerned Taxpayer, that is referred to as hearsay and we still have yet to see those photographs.

Perhaps she will publish those photos and prove this was a Cagle supporter? Such a candidate going out making such claims without backing the claim up proves she’s a kneejerk blowhard that makes claims and has nothing substantive to prove that claim. Opportunist who just wants to whine about people she disagrees with. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Cindye sounds like Cynthia McKinney.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

And you, Tony, sound an awful like Bill Simon of the Political Vine. The man that is in favor of gay marriage and loves the ACLU..

By Tony

July 5, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this

Ahhh…comments from Philly. Nice try but you’re a little off. I do have to say being compared to Bill is far better than being lumped together with a group of people professing to be devout Christians but stoop to negative name-calling, lying, slandering, and defending a man who does the same if not worse.

Honestly how can you defend a man caught exploiting Christians for his own gain? He exploited and lied to his own clients. His followers do nothing but copy and paste what he wants them to say. And the things he alleges his opponent did, he himself has done. All around Ralph is showing himself as an inept businessman and campaigner. His followers are showing themselves to be mindless liars. Seeing how half of Reed’s former people have jumped ship, I’d say people have seen the writing on the wall. Ralphie’s star is fading. Funny that it’s from his own doing.

By Philly

July 5, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

The straw poll yesterday did not seem to indicate Reed’s supporters were jumping ship.

YOU are the liar..Reed did not exploit Christians andlie to his own clients. Just bs being spread by Cagle supporters such as yourself

By Tony

July 5, 2006 07:52 PM | Link to this

Philly,

You are very amusing. You keep fooling yourself that I am a Cagle supporter. You keep drinking the Kool Aid and believing that all you want.

As to Reed exploiting Christians and lying to them, I challenge you to go over to AL and ask those people he ‘represented’ there how they feel about their former contractor. They’d laugh you out of the state and tell you that you’ve been duped. They might even call you a fool if you still defended Reed to them. Go ahead Philly. Seek the truth.

And if you think a straw poll is an accurate gauge of who will win the election you need a good schooling in campaigns and politics. So just keep being delusional. It will get you far in life.

By Georgia Boy

July 6, 2006 12:05 AM | Link to this

I was in attendence at the BBQ, and it went pretty well…I was at the Fulton GOP BBQ a few weeks ago, and that was much better organized…but it went pretty well. I was just going to say that I can not see how anybody can take that straw poll seriously, they voted for Newt Gingrich for President..that is laughable to me. It is clear that the hard core party activists are behind Ralph Reed because they have known him so long, and they have a tendency to ignore oposing view-points and/or facts that they don’t want to hear (if you know what I mean). The average Georgia Republican voter is nothing like the hard core activists…they will not support an un-ethical candidate. Cagle has done a superb job getting his message across to the average Georgian, with a blitz of TV adds and signs all over the state (while Mr. Reed has flagged Cobb and Paulding but ignored the rest of the state). Mark my words, the nation will be shocked on July 18th and I cant wait to see the look on certain peoples faces.

By Georgia Boy

July 6, 2006 12:10 AM | Link to this

The results of the Straw Poll at the SRLC in Memphis (which I went to) had Bill Frist as the 2008 front runner, and I don’t know anybody who seriously thinks he is the front runner. Let alone Newt won the other day in Cobb, these straw polls are a joke and Reed and Handel have really looked foolish by flaunting the results…both of them will see how “innacurate” that straw poll was come July 18th.

By Debbie

July 6, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this

Georgia boy, if voters will not support an unethical candidate then Cagles does not have a pray. Reed is a businessman and conducted his business the way he saw fit. No laws were broken and his clients were happy with his work. Cagle made his fortune while serving the taxpayers and passing legislation that financially benefitted him. Cagle served himself instead of the taxpayers.

Tony, you are telling an outright lie about folks in Alabama not liking Reed. The Chrtistian Coalition does not have hard feelings for Reed and you know it. I know folks in Alabama… Don’t even lie and say you are not a Cagle supporter. Typical Cagle campaign bs. You blast Reed all the time and defend Cagle, no brainer..

July 18th will produce Reed, Handel, Black as winners.

By Tina

July 6, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this

GeorgiaBoy, I receive all of Handel’s e-updates. In every one she notes that it’s the vote on 7/18 that counts. The poll that’s much more interesting is the IA poll that has a state senator in 3rd place behind Bailey, Handel has more than a 2-1 lead of Bailey. I am not suggesting that polls win elections, but she is looking like the strongest candidate right now.

By Howard

July 6, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

The mudslinging is backfiring on Cagle and Stephens. The letter the State Senators sent out urging Reed to back out of the race is backfiring against the “Senate Mafia”. I will not support any State Senators in statewide races, nor will I vote for John Wiles.

By Tony

July 6, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

I am telling an outright lie? Funny how what you say and reality are two different things. I called two people I am related to who were very involved in that issue and both say “Do NOT vote for Reed because he lied and deceived us!”.

And I am not a Cagle supporter. I just like to shine a little light on the hypocrisy of Reed. Cagle’s not the one out there trying to portray himself as the left hand of God and then lying and deceiving Christians who he was supposed to represent. You see I’ve had a problem for years watching Ralph say one thing and doing another. I’ve seen him waste some of the best people in the world all because he saw them as a threat to his power. I have a problem with someone who wants the top seat so bad they will do whatever it takes and destroy whoever it takes to get there. Someone who wants this that bad is clearly someone who doesn’t need to be there.

I am not a Cagle defender. I just hold you and Ralphie to your own standard. You come here telling people to prove things and put up or shut up but your Ralphites then spew such baseless allegations yourself. You truly cannot even abide by your own standards. And seeing Ralph surround himself with such types shows what he is. He likes mindless followers who defend him at all costs and repeat everything he tells them to. If elected, he will only bring that following and ethics to office.

By Debbie

July 6, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

Tell me did you talk to John Giles in Alabama to get his input?

By Debbie

July 6, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

Tony, you are such a liar about the Christian Coalition in Alabama.

Read this letter from the then chairman in 2005.

http://www.reedfacts.com/gambling/2005/10/bob-russells-response.asp

By Howard

July 6, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Tony is a Cagle supporter and I have come to expect dishonesty from the Cagle people. Tony says he does not support Cagle, but all he does is bash Ralph and never anyone else. Quit your dishonesty.

Really doesn’t sound like the Alabama CC is upset with Reed, now does it Tony?

By Tony

July 6, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

Howard and Debbie,

You are so gullible. You still think I am a Cagle supporter. As I said, tack that together with the rest of the fluff you believe. Keep believing that along with Reed.

And nice letter. Good to see it was over a year ago with much more updated info proving the opposite. Try getting the same letter from Bob or any of the other leadership over there now. I’d like to see a polling of their leadership and membership to see just how they feel as a whole.

As I said, I’ve recently spoken (repeat recently - much more than the 1 yr old letter you have) to several CC members in AL who say the opposite.

So I guess that letter proves absolutely nothing. Debbie and Howard, try updating your info and proving your statements. Honestly goes a long way in defending a liar.

Howard all you have to do is read my post above. Just because I shine the light on a crook trying to portray himself as some moral and ethical man does not make me a Cagle supporter. Read the post Howard. Like I said, I haven’t seen Cagle come out and pretend to be something he’s not. I haven’t seen years of dishonesty and destruction from Cagle that I’ve seen from Reed. I don’t see Cagle’s staff running off to join Ralph’s. I don’t see a man professing to be a Christian rewarding his people with high dollar tickets to Madonna concerts either. Or employ staffers who tell about committing adultery on an Atlanta radio station. I can go on and on all day about how Ralphie is. I can see from the people he associates with and he employs what kind of person he is. If he left it at all of that behavior, I’d leave it to just another guy running for public office. But when this person goes out and professes to be something greater and moral and ethical, I feel the need to point out that he is far from the image he professed. I mean saying he grew up in Toccoa for crying out loud. He can’t even be honest about his own origins. He’s a flatout liar. Yes, politicians are in general but Ralph has just continued to act as if he were not and actually whiter than snow. THAT is why he does not deserve the office he’s running for….along with numerous other items too many to list.