Political Insider

By Bell Bottom Boy

August 9, 2006 12:56 AM | Link to this

Thank the Lord, Mrs. BuckWheat won’t be an embarassing acting after tomorrow. What an unfortunate embarassment to the Metro Atlanta, our counties, Georgia, and the nation! Go away, shut up, and sit down Cynthia! Bye, Bye, Wah, Wah, stolen election my eye. Your impudent mouth an attitude cost you this election. We sincerely hope you do not get a chance to return to embarass us any more. The News Media should put on a full scale moratorium on covering anything you say and do from here on out. Good Ridence!

By Rick

August 9, 2006 4:51 AM | Link to this

Thank God and the local voters for removing Cythnia McKinney from office. What an embarrassment!

By Redwing

August 9, 2006 6:43 AM | Link to this

Congratulations Hank Johnson. You took on a political machine, forced a run off, then whipped a spoiled brat. You made Georgia proud.

By Blue in Georgia

August 9, 2006 6:49 AM | Link to this

Way to go Ned Lamont! True Blue!

By Debbie

August 9, 2006 7:29 AM | Link to this

I don’t know if I would go that far considering the overwhelming majority of Reed supporters voted for Handel and Black.

Those supporters are angry at the State Senators.

Both Handel and Black are great candidates and will win in November.

Last night’s results were also a condemnation by the voters of the negative campaigns run by Stephens and Kemp.

That anger will continue on to November, considering rumors that Cagle and his supporters in the state senate have threatened State Senators that supported Reed. The Reed supporters in the state senate have been reportedly told their legislation will not make it out of committee. Wrong move, if it is true, on the part of Cagle and his supporters to continue the “war”.

By Reality Sandwich

August 9, 2006 7:52 AM | Link to this

These little victories for cooler heads are a nice pause that refreshes. Congrats, Mr. Johnson.

However, lets just hope that Hezbollah is an Iranian Loose Cannon which Iran didn’t understand how dangerous it was, and that Iran regrets ever having heard the word Hezbollah. Why invest all that money in infrastructure just to destroy it? Why invest all that time in becoming Lebanon, just to become persona non grata?

None of it makes any sense. I hope cooler heads are prevailing in Iran also, and this whole damn thing can blow over, and then we can go back to arguing when to pull out of Iraq. I cant believe that seems like the good old days.

By Silver

August 9, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

As to growth of moderate candidates. Note in most cases this was in the run-off. If moderate candidates are the goal, then a change in the method of gerrymander is necessary.

My vote has not been bought, it was traded. My Republican vote in the 4th was traded to the 5th, while other 4th Republicans were traded to the 6th. A direct result of the Majette win with Republican votes. The quid quo pro was to add more Dem votes in the 4th from the Southern and Eastern boundaries of the 4th. That guarantees a Dem 4th and dilutes my vote in the 5th.

If we want rational governance rather than political extremes in DC then we need to lessen the games played in Gerrymanders.

By TiftDawg

August 9, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

Gary Black’s win does NOT represent a trend toward moderates because Kemp’s supporters labeled him a “liberal”; it represents the selection of the most qualified candidate, perhaps with Gary’s supporters more motivated by the lie that he is a liberal.

I see Black as a conservative whose pragmatism requires him to deal with the current system; if that makes him a moderate, then I, as big an ideologue as there is, am a moderate too.

By Debbie

August 9, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

The truth is all four candidates in the runoff were conservatives not moderates. Black was just as conservative as Kemp but Gary had vastly much more experience in Agriculture.

Karen is also conservative even though she served as chairman of the Fulton County commission.

Voters were also turned off by the negative campaigning that Stephens and Kemp did.

By Tony

August 9, 2006 1:07 PM | Link to this

Tell me how do you figure Black is a conservative. What gives you that idea? He gave to Zell when Zell was helping Max Cleland and praising John Kerry. He voted in several Democratic elections when there was no need to. His platform calls for more government involvement in agriculture. He conveniently comes into the picture when it was beneficial for him to run for office. He has no legislative or government experience to show a voting record. Honestly how can you say Black is a conservative?

Debbie, you never answer my repeated questions on where Black’s strong conservative credentials are. Can you answer or are you going to dodge and dance around the question like you’ve done every other I’ve asked you.

By debbie

August 9, 2006 1:42 PM | Link to this

From: “OpinionJournal’s Political Diary” politicaldiary@oj1.opinionjournal.com
Subject: OpinionJournal’s Political Diary

August 9, 2006

In today’s Political Diary:

Night of the Long Knives

As a rule, incumbent members of Congress almost never lose primaries. In the last decade, a total of only 15 have been defeated and nine of those came in the redistricting year of 2002.

That makes last night’s defeat of three incumbents remarkable. It would be hard to find three more different members of Congress than mild-mannered Joe Lieberman, fiery Cynthia McKinney and gruff GOP Rep. Joe Schwarz of Michigan. But all went down to defeat against challengers who were given little or no chance only months ago.

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that just 55% of voters support their local members of Congress, the lowest such finding in that poll since 1994, when Republicans took control of Congress. Back then, it was a reaction against the campus-style liberalism of the Clinton administration that fueled voter anger. Now there is a general concern about the competence of Republican governance, supplemented with conservative disenchantment over excessive federal spending.

That conservative anger came bubbling to the surface last night as former state Rep. Tim Walberg upset freshman Congressman Joe Schwarz by 53% to 47% in a tumultuous GOP primary in rural Michigan. Mr. Schwarz, who served as John McCain’s 2000 chairman in Michigan, was attacked for supporting Congressional earmarks, the Beltway term of art for pork barrel projects, and for refusing to back restrictions on the government’s power of eminent domain. The National Taxpayers Union rated him in the bottom 4% of House Republicans for fiscal conservatism. Social conservative groups also pilloried him for his moderate views on gay marriage and abortion.

The clear institutional winner from last night’s results was the free-market group Club for Growth. It raised over $600,000 from Club members for the Walberg campaign and also spent over $500,000 on independent expenditure ads zinging Mr. Schwarz for his liberal record on economic issues.

In his concession speech, Mr. Schwarz boasted that he had been unwilling to change his beliefs, acknowledging that “pandering [to arch-conservatives] would have been easy.” But the thousands of voters who ousted him from office last night weren’t arch-conservatives. They were a coalition of parents who felt he was indifferent or hostile to their values and taxpayers who were tired of having one of the state’s premiere tax hikers represent them in Congress.

Mr. Schwarz’s mistake was that he thought he could represent outstate Michigan as if he were representing suburban Connecticut. Last night’s primary results are as much of a wakeup call for moderate Republicans in conservative districts as Joe Lieberman’s loss was for moderate Democrats who find themselves targeted by the Lamont Left.

By Debbie

August 9, 2006 1:44 PM | Link to this

Tony, get over it. Your man Kemp got his tail whipped really hard. Gary won by 20%.

By Tony

August 9, 2006 2:03 PM | Link to this

See Debbie…you just can’t answer a simple question. Quite amusing that someone in a party leadership position cannot even come up with credible info on a candidate they support. Honestly Debbie, who does your candidate selection for you? Do you flip a coin? Because you sure cannot come up with reasons why a candidate is electable, conservative, etc.

You keep coming on here spouting your hate and nastiness but cannot back up simple concepts of why you say or do certain things. I truly think you are a robot. You cannot answer anything on your own and you can only repeat what others say. Are you independent and free thinking? I mean come up with something a little more brainy and intelligent than ‘get over it’. I didn’t see that stopping you from whining like a baby about Reed when he was defeated and outraised by an unknown.

By Jimmy Jams

August 9, 2006 2:05 PM | Link to this

McKinney get caught saying ” I looses my check”.

By Jimmy Jams

August 9, 2006 2:05 PM | Link to this

McKinney gets caught saying ” I looses my check”.

By Ralph Kramden

August 9, 2006 6:12 PM | Link to this

What in the hell does being a “liberal” or a “conservative” have to do with being Agricultural Commissioner? Is one going to let a terminal milk cow die with “dignity?” And the other going to protect us from gay tomatoes? Politics has become more ridiculous every day. Joe Lieberman and Cynthia McKinney are both sore losers. As much as I despise Ralph Reed, he conceded and went on his way.

By debbie

August 9, 2006 6:29 PM | Link to this

Gary Black has been an active Republican for years. He was part of the Bush Cheney Farm team.

What has Kemp done except to be elected State Senator? Being state senator does not qualify you for Ag Commissioner. Service as a volunteer to the GOP does not qualify you for Agriculture Commissioner. Helping out GOP candidates does not qualify you for AG Commissioner. I wanted someone that could win in November.

I know that is a novel concept to you as you apperently believe that longtime volunteer service to the GOP qualifies you for elective office. But then again you are hypocritical in your view. You supported Handel for SOS and Charlie Bailey has put in much more time and service to the GOP …

I supported Gary because he has the support of those in the Ag business and he can beat Tommy Irvin. Gary had 25 years of experience serving the Agriculture community.

Many, many other GOP activists felt the same way as I did. Want me to start listing names?

Gary was the most qualified. He ran a clean campaign. 60% of the voters in the GOP Primary have spoken

By Ralph Kramden

August 9, 2006 7:30 PM | Link to this

Well, debbie. Answer my question, please. I’m glad your candidate won, really, because of the “robo-call” I got from his opponent, which had absolutely nothing to do with agriculture. Bush/Cheney farm team is not a high recommendation. I hope you have some mules bred and some wagons built, because that’s what it’s coming to, no matter who’s elected Ag Comm. Give me a good reason, and I’ll gladly vote Repub. for Ag comm. Otherwise, I’ll vote for Tommy Irvin.

By Tony

August 9, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this

Active Republican for how many years Debbie? How many years has he been active? Two? Since after all his participation in the Bush ‘farm team’ was in 2004. In 2001, we know he was chummy with Zell in his days of praising John Kerry and campaigning for Max Cleland. Even before that, Black was voting Democrat in a pretty Republican area.

Um, news flash Debbie…Handel has been around in the GOP with her name out there in elected office and working with Republicans for years NOT just when someone decides it’s convenient to run for office. So don’t even compare Handel and Black. Handel’s paid her dues and has worked hard in the party AND elected office. What has Black been elected for again? How long has he been participating in GOP politics?

Being a farmer doesn’t qualify you for Ag Commissioner either Debbie. Your logic is flawed. If it were, then there are a few thousand who are qualified. It takes more than a farmer to run a state agency with a huge budget. I guess a voter is a wonderful qualification for Secretary of State? Anything else needed for that position?

Debbie, honestly it is funny hearing you say many activists felt the same way and 60% have spoken….where was that same logic on July 19? I don’t recall hearing that same line of thinking from you on July 19th….why the sudden change of heart? Because you’re a hypocrite maybe?

I’m still waiting on STRONG Republican credentials AND still waiting to hear what the difference is between Black and Irvin. Because right now I see one in the same.

By Dave

August 10, 2006 12:18 AM | Link to this

As a Democrat, I’m very pleased with the slate of GA Democratic candidates. I think the state party did a good job and each candidate has a good chance in November. I ALSO think the Republicans nominated their best candidates as well. The state GOP knew they had to moderate this cycle and did just that. Man, I sure hope things don’t get nasty, but I know a few GA races - especially the big one - are bound to.

By Bell Bottom Boy

August 10, 2006 12:32 AM | Link to this

Yep, Bye Bye Ms. Buckwheat! Ought to be a song in there somewhere. Yeah, no more embarassment to Georgia and this nation. Now what’s scary about Ms. Buckwheat is her affliation with the “New” Black Panthers, and other extremist groups. Thank the Lord she’ll be out of official capacity in Washington. Hopefull the people of this state and nation have the smarts to NEVER let her get in a position of real influence again. She can run her impudent mouth all she wants as long as she’s not in OFFICE anywhere.

By Dan

August 14, 2006 6:48 PM | Link to this

Things are looking up for the Democrats. A lot nationally and even a bit in Georgia.

Now, if only there could be a Georgia version of Ned Lamont. (sigh)

By GLC

August 14, 2006 8:46 PM | Link to this

Things are indeed looking up for the Democrats. Voters have had enough of Republicans ducking responsibility, i.e., blaming Democrats for all of our problems despite being in charge of the White House, Congress, the Governor’s Office, the State House and Senate for the last five years? Voters are tired of having to stretch every dollar and will vote for a change in November.