Political Insider

By Tony

August 11, 2006 6:20 PM | Link to this

And we just thought you two created issues and let us little peons fight it out gladiator style while you went about your business. Now we know you’re watching, we’ll have to put on our Oscar performance faces.

By Blog Dawg

August 11, 2006 7:13 PM | Link to this

I want to formally start a petition to get Cynthia McKinney’s name on the November Ballot as an independent………WHOSE WITH ME? LETS DO IT!!!!!!

By Common Sense

August 11, 2006 7:54 PM | Link to this

Was everyone as happy as I was to see Cynthia McKinney get b*** slapped by Hank Johnson on Tuesday night? Wow isn’t that what she did to that Senate security guy? Oh and I think Maurice Claret was auditioning to be one of McKinney’s body guards the other night with his mobile arsonal. Gotta love Atlanta politics.

By Draft McKinney

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

If Cynthia can get her name on the ballot as an Independent that would be the easiest, otherwise, we will have to encourage voters to support her as a write-in candidate.

I am sure it will take an education effort for people to approach poll workers to say they want to write in a name. IT CAN BE DONE!

By Hunter

August 12, 2006 4:09 AM | Link to this

Cynthia McKinney aint no independent…she’s a bitter democrackkk who LOST her station in life…and she would NEVER make it as an independent…she’s too dependent on the party that takes her for granted…lol…

STRIVE to be SMARTER than a DEMOCRACKKK !!!

By Draft McKinney

August 12, 2006 8:39 AM | Link to this

Of course, Cynthia is an Independent! She is free from the influence of ANY party. She may have Democrat leanings…but, she is far more independent in her thoughts, words, and votes. Cynthia is not in a box. One Independent is far different than another of the same name…no cookie cutter political party for Independents.

Only one out of 5 voters even spoke on July 18. The small group we heard from on Aug. 8 were not all Democrats. It ain’t over till it’s over. I am writing-in Cynthia McKinney!

By Ed

August 12, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

Dear Draft - The reason you like Cynthia is the point why people did not vote for her. Yes she is controversial, yes she is outspoken, yes she’s is got attitude. If you put her in private business she would be totally ineffective. You put her in politics and she has no friends, allies or backers in her own party which makes her totally ineffective. You have to work with people to get things done in any business. This is why she does not get her views taken seriously. A good listener separates the words from the person and determines how relevant the message is. If you do that with Cynthia it makes it clear that she has “shock value” but nothing else. This definitely came out in her debates. People realized that she has no real agenda. You can applaud her for being independent but understand does not know how to work the system to actually make a difference.

By Sharee

August 12, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

I currently live in Washington state but have been keeping an eye on Cynthia McKinney’s outcome because I am a native Georgian. It was an embarrassment for me as a native of Georgia to see someone that represented my state to act like a blooming idiot on more than one occassion. She does not need to be re-elected and thank goodness someone put her in her place. She’s a prime candidate for someone that got a little big for their britches and now thinks that someone owes her and that she should still run. She needed to be thrown out when she hit that security guard but of course she wasn’t. Isn’t that how it always works. Now is Georgia’s chance to make things right and get someone in there that knows what the heck they are doing and to make a difference for the people of Georgia. It should be about the people. Not about Cynthia.

By GaNeoCon

August 12, 2006 8:24 PM | Link to this

All I’ve read here is a bunch of commie that want to kill America with their crap ideas on voting. Our system was a based on 0ne Person One Vote not this eurotrash idea of voting for each person. There has to be a clear winner and that is 50% or more of the votes. If not, then a runoff is needed otherwise the minority NOT THE MAJORITY will dominate elections. The will of the majority must prevail. If you can’t get this concept, then move to France where pansy-assed ideas are welcomed with open arms.

By GodHatesTrash

August 13, 2006 12:12 AM | Link to this

Sheree, your native state will always be a national embarassment - folks here can’t even say “thank Gawd for Mississippi”.

Georgia is a state chock full of a-holes. And trash.

And, while you can take the trash out of Georgia, you can’t take the trash out of a native Georgian.

By GodHatesTrash

August 13, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

GA neo-KKKon, what the hell do you know about France? I bet you’ve never been out of Ty Ty.

Trash.

By MBW

August 13, 2006 10:50 PM | Link to this

To all of the Cynthia defenders:

A few Republicans crossing over does not explain the 18 point loss she got handed by Hank Johnson.

Face it, people do not like her…it was time for her to go and the people came out and spoke.

It’s about time we had someone to represent EVERYONE in the district.

By Debbie

August 14, 2006 8:34 AM | Link to this

Of course, Jim. I always behave or I am, at the very least, careful :) I am headed home Tuesday to Louisiana to see my family for a week. Will bring you back some pralines.

I received an email from friends in San Diego saying way to go about the defeat of Cynthia McKinney. It seems she was reviled nation wide.

Hank received 50% of the African American vote. It was a coalition of the fed up that ousted McKinney.

Cynthia’s arrogance was her ultimate demise. IE:Slapping a Security Guard.

Hank’s voting record probably will not differ from Cynthia’s that much, but he will be much more humble and less controversial. Since the Democratic leadership will not shun Hank as they did Cynthia, Hank might bring home more money for the 4th.

By CynicalGeek

August 14, 2006 9:00 AM | Link to this

Draft McKinney, She is out of options for this session. See: http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2006/08/lets-put-this-rumor-to-rest.html

-CG-

By Tony

August 14, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

Hmmm…bring home more money. Good attitude Debbie. We love bringing home more pork don’t we?

By Debbie

August 14, 2006 7:15 PM | Link to this

Not all Katrina victims were victims or all that innocent…New Orleans was well known for letting violent criminals back out on the streets because of overcrowding in the jails…They would just trust them to show up for their court date…

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/08/14/D8JGBLB80.html

Katrina Victims Blamed for Houston Crime Aug 14 2:02 PM US/Eastern Email this story

By PAUL J. WEBER Associated Press Writer

HOUSTON

A letter to inmate No. 1352951 and a cell phone bill for $76.63, both found in a soggy New Orleans duplex ruined by Hurricane Katrina, led Louisiana bounty hunter James Martin to Texas.

Again.

It marked the seventh time since Katrina that Martin, whose pursuit of bail jumpers often begins with clues salvaged from abandoned New Orleans homes, has followed a trail to Texas.

“I don’t think Texas really knows what they got,” Martin said.

Katrina sent a lot of bad guys to Texas, as Houston is finding out.

Houston took in 150,000 evacuees _ the most of any U.S. city _ after Katrina struck on Aug. 29. Houston police believe the evacuees are partly responsible for a nearly 17.5 percent increase in homicides so far this year over the same period in 2005.

About 21 percent of Houston’s 232 homicides through July 25 involved an evacuee as either a suspect or a victim, according to police, who attribute much of the bloodshed to fighting among rival New Orleans gang members.

“New Orleans allowed a lot of these guys to stay on the street for whatever reason or be picked up and released after 60 days,” said Capt. Dale Brown, who oversees Houston’s homicide division. “Texas law, I don’t want to say it’s tougher, but we take these offenses very seriously.”

Judge Robert Eckels, chief executive of Harris County, which includes Houston, said Katrina evacuees arrested in the Houston have cost the county’s criminal justice system more than $18 million. In June, Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent $19.5 million to Houston to help pay for additional officers and overtime to police the city after Katrina.

The police and the Harris County sheriff’s department said they have no figures on how many Katrina evacuees have been arrested. Houston police said misdemeanor and felony arrests overall actually dropped last fall from the same period a year earlier. But the sheriff’s department reported a 41 percent increase in felony arrests in November from the year before.

“I think some saw (Katrina) as an opportunity,” Martin’s bounty- hunting partner, Michael Wright, said of evacuees who fled New Orleans with criminal records. “No one knows who they are over here.”

Katrina evacuees received fair warning when they arrived in Houston. Days after the storm, Mayor Bill White went on television, flanked by Houston police, and welcomed Katrina’s bedraggled survivors with a stern warning that a jail cell was waiting for anyone who crossed the line.

Evacuee Vincent Wilson, a leader of the Katrina Survivors Association, was impressed. He said that in New Orleans before Katrina, “everyone knows that if the jail’s crowded you get a slap on the hand and get released.”

Eckels predicted the county’s worst guests will go home once their federal assistance dries up. And if many choose to stick around, the county will be ready: “We don’t put up with it here. If you break the law, you’re going to be prosecuted.”

By Jimbo

August 15, 2006 7:56 AM | Link to this

I received an email from the Georgia Republican Party stating they had setup satellite offices in different parts of the state. Only in rare cases does it appear they are using county GOP headquarters.

They appear to be usurping the local GOP parties.

They appear to have forgotten one of the GOP principles that the best government is the one closest to the people. Another principle is local empowerment. The Georgia GOP looks as though it has forgotten many GOP principles.

Would not a better use of the money be for the Georgia GOP to utilize their local parties and not try to take over? Is this a power grab?

I would urge them to remember what happened in 1861 when Federal Troops marched into the southern states…

By FalconsFan

August 15, 2006 9:02 AM | Link to this

For lack of a more appropriate forum to post this question and information, I will see what responses and comments I get here.

My source is cnn.com/headlinenews/glennbeck/archives

Last evening (Aug. 14) I was channel surfing and the announcer (Glenn Beck) showned a picture of arab/muslim women holding up signs declaring their support for the Hezbolla fighters.

(This didn’t strike me as anything of interest until the announcer stated that this was a ralley held in Deerborn Michigan recently with over 10,000 supporters attending)

Now this caught my attention. I couldn’t BELIEVE I hadn’t heard about this on other news channel.

I must say that it frightens me (more then a little) to think of the censorship issue here from real issues and threats we have here in the U.S. and I will (even more so) stay diligent and steadfast on alternative news sources as this story (I believe)should have been reported and shown to be Headline News to more then a viewing audience of the Glenn Beck Show.

Here is the story:

BECK: I want you to take a look at this picture. Oh, OK, thats great. Thats probably something right out of Lebanon, right? Sorry. It`s from Dearborn, Michigan. Over 35 percent of the population is Arab-American. A few weeks ago, over 10,000 residents turned out in the streets for a pro- Hezbollah rally.

You probably never heard word about it. You know why? Because the media is so frickinworried about being politically correct or, worse, theyre afraid. Dearborn has been connected to untraceable cell phone stories the last couple of weeks. It`s also believed to be the place from where — remember when they were pointing the lasers into the cockpits of planes? Yes, Dearborn.

If you ask the leaders of Dearborn, theyre going to tell you that most of the residents are pro-American and antiterrorism. Great. But even if that is true -- and I have no doubt that it is -- how can they stop the bad seeds from developing? How do you stop young Muslims who grow up in this culture from trying to mimic the terrorist acts carried out by the very people theyre taught to look up to and support?

Those who rallied openly in support of Hezbollah have shown me and you their true colors. They are Arab first and American second. And someday soon, the war of Islam versus the West is going to force them to choose sides. And unfortunately, I believe that, for some of them, the choice has already been made. And we, my friend, are the enemy.

Barbara Newman is a terrorism expert, coauthor of “Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah and Terrorists on American Soil.”

Barbara, I feel like a nut job. Tell me I`m wrong.

BARBARA NEWMAN, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Youre not wrong. We are softies. They are here. What you didnt say about Dearborn is the population is mostly Shiites, maybe from the same villages as the Hezbollah in Lebanon. When they say that Hezbollah is their army, their shield, they completely dis-identify with the United States of America.

And you said “if they had to choose,” they have chosen. They have chosen. There have been many incidents where the FBI has brought charges against them. It`s just never picked up in the media.

BECK: Barbara, why is that? I mean, I honestly — I found this story last week. And I stood in the news room and I said, “Who`s seen this footage?” And everybody said no. And I said this is criminal.

NEWMAN: Because our whole society is too politically correct. The prosecutors in Detroit were telling me of a case where they have a guy hard, shipping military equipment back to Hezbollah. And they brought him to court, and the judge required no bond, thinking that they were targeting a Muslim.

You know, the justice system is wrong. We just do not recognize the threat, and it has happened here savagely for years.

BECK: Barbara, tell me — I want to get through a couple of points. Tell me quickly if I`m right or wrong on a couple of things.

One, I believe that were just waiting for a few cards to be played and the Islamic extremist world is going to start uniting and playing cards. It doesnt matter if you`re in Al Qaeda or what. I mean, all of these opportunists are going to come and band together.

Tell me, am I wrong? The future we will see, war in the streets here in America. Europe you`ll see war in the streets because these cells are - - sleeper cells will be activated?

NEWMAN: Youre right. Ill tell you what a national security high official told me recently. He said that Muslim extremism was becoming a mass movement, not a fringe movement, a mass movement like communism.

BECK: So how do you defeat it? Let`s not talk about globally. Here in America, how do you stop this stuff?

NEWMAN: The Patriot Act, the NSA wiretapping, profiling. After all, who`s doing these things?

BECK: Well, wait a minute. Hang on just a second. Let`s look at the people they arrested in London last week. Some of them are white.

NEWMAN: They had converted.

BECK: Yes, so you`re saying profile Islam?

NEWMAN: Thats exactly right. And look for connections among friends, between and among. Thats why the NSA thing was so important. You have to see who these people are speaking to.

BECK: These guys, the wife said to the Associated Press, oh, gee, theyre just fundraising. Youre only targeting them because theyre Arabs. Tell me the cell phone thing. You buy into this? Weve got a thousand cell phones where we discarded all of the chargers and we`re selling them?

NEWMAN: No, because this has happened over and over and over again. The risk that it could not be something legitimate is something we cannot afford to take.

BECK: Yes. Barbara, thank you so much. We`ll have you on again.

Finally, I do understand the RIGHTs afforded to any group to assemble peacefully, after all, next to Freedom of Speech it’s one of the greatest privileges of living in the United States we have. My beef is with the networks NOT reporting this story. Wimps and shame on them.

With that said, I prayed longer last night then usual for safety and peace in a country I so love.

FF

By Jimbo

August 15, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

I live in Hall County and attended the illegal immigration hearing in Gainesville yesterday. Very informative.

Something needs to be done. Illegal immigrants are a burden to the taxpayers!!

By Rawena

August 15, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

I sometimes wonder how the people living on the American continent would have reacted differently if they could have seen the future in 1492.

By disgusted republican

August 16, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

Governor Perdoofu$$ has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar. When are we as republicans going to learn not to use political office for personal gain. This Florida land deal stinks. Why didn’t the governor invest in Georgia? Is it because he was trying to hide this deal? The average voter in Georgia could not pull off such a deal. Whitewater was a bump in the road and Perdofu$$ land deal is a big pothole.

By Edward

August 16, 2006 3:40 PM | Link to this

Disneygate is going to ruin Perdue’s career. Guess dumping Ralph Reed wasn’t enough to get rid of the GOP’s ethics woes….

By RALPH

August 16, 2006 4:11 PM | Link to this

Don’t these politicans know that these shady dealings are going to come out. I have seen the ads “sonny did”, now we know what Sonny did.

By Joseph

August 16, 2006 4:13 PM | Link to this

It appears that nothing has changed, just a different crowd doing it to us

By GodHatesTrash

August 16, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this

The Georgia GOP is nothing but cheap money-grubbing w******* and w*******’ sons.

Trash.

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 7:40 AM | Link to this

Perdue did nothing wrong. He purchased the land at fair market value and probably overpaid a little.

An ethics compaint has been filed against Mark Taylor for illegal contributions.

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 7:42 AM | Link to this

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/August/GiulianiIdeology.htm

31% of Republican voters see Giuliani as conservative vs 19% that see McCain as conservative.

Go Rudy 2008!!!!

Middle of Road by Most 36% View Former NYC Mayor as Moderate August 15, 2006

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani With the fifth anniversary of 9/11 upon us, memories of that tragic event are returning to the forefront of public consciousness. Among the many haunting images of that day and those that followed, one unmistakable individual stood out. Whether he was walking the city streets in the hours after the attack, encouraging rescue workers in the rubble or reassuring the public via his daily briefings, if there was any calm to be found in the storm of September 11th, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was it.

Though he’s since returned to private life, he never seems to be out of the public eye. Whether he will make a return to political life with a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination remains to be seen.

The latest Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 36% of Americans classify Giuliani as a political moderate. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say conservative and 15% liberal. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure.

These survey results place Giuliani three points to the left of the political center.

The political center is calculated by subtracting the number of liberals from the number of conservatives among the general public (35% conservative, 18% liberal for a net +17). For Giuliani, 29% conservative minus 15% liberal equals a net plus 14. The plus 14 reading for Giuliani is 3 points away from the plus 17 reading for the general public.

While most candidates want to be as close to the political center as possible, Giuliani may seek the nomination of a party that is to the right of the political center. Among his own party ranks, 43% consider Giuliani moderate, 31% conservative and 13% liberal. However, many pundits believe perceptions of the Mayor will shift as Republican primary voters learn more about his views on abortion and other issues.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, current frontrunner for the 2008 GOP presidential nod, is seen by 46% of Republicans as moderate. Nineteen percent (19%) say he’s conservative and 19% liberal.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady—and Giuliani’s “would-have-been� opponent in his abandoned 2002 U.S. Senate race—places 55 points to the left of center.

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 7:47 AM | Link to this

Debbie: You posted for Ralph Reed and now for Perdoofu$$. Don’t you realize that crooks are in both parties? Perdoofu$$ helped do in Reed and yet you want to side with Perdoofu$$. Maybe you need to learn to read and think before you post.

By debbie

August 17, 2006 8:03 AM | Link to this

What is wrong or illegal about buying property for investment and paying the fair market price?

I have read and know what is going on. Maybe you need to learn to read and think before you post.

By Blue

August 17, 2006 8:52 AM | Link to this

You Republicans and your situational ethics are hysterical.

I am a proud liberal, BUT the fact that President Clinton did commit perjury in the Lewinsky affair still exists and I admit that his personal behavior is/was less than stellar.

By debbie

August 17, 2006 9:06 AM | Link to this

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=66726

GOP activist files broad ethics complaint against Taylor, Cox

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

A GOP activist filed a broad complaint for alleged campaign disclosure law violations Monday against Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and Secretary of State Cathy Cox, the two top Democrats vying to challenge Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue for re-election next year.

The complaint, filed with the State Ethics Commission, claims that campaign reports filed by the two state officials in connection with their previous campaigns contained errors or omitted details required by disclosure rules.

The complaint was filed by Buzz Brockway, a former chairman of the Gwinnett County Republican Party. He was assisted by Robert Highsmith, a lawyer who previously served as Perdue’s legal adviser and was a member of the ethics commission in 2002.

Perdue, himself, has been the subject of Ethics Commission action. The panel fined him $1,900 in June and ordered him to repay more than $18,000 in campaign contributions, most of that to his wife, Mary, for using her company’s airplane in his 2002 campaign.

The complaint against Perdue originated with Democrats.

“We really ought to be subjecting everyone to equal amounts of scrutiny,” Highsmith said Monday after filing the complaint against Democrats Taylor and Cox. “We need to apply that scrutiny equally across the board.”

Spokesmen for both Democratic candidates called the complaint a political ploy.

“Perdue’s team is determined to make our government as partisan as possible,” said Cox spokesman Morton Brilliant.

A Taylor spokesman, Rick Dent, said, “There is only one candidate for governor who has been found guilty of breaking the state ethics laws: Sonny Perdue. This is the Republicans’ lame attempt to cover up Perdue’s ethical problems, and it won’t work.”

Nick Ayers, a Perdue spokesman, replied, “Our campaign is going to be about issues and ideas. We’ll leave the finger pointing to the Democrats.”

Among other specific complaints, the GOP activist charged that Cox made a $50,000 TV buy late in her 1998 campaign but failed to report it until 14 months later in violation of disclosure rules.

Among the complaints against Taylor was that he listed numerous expenditures as “field expenses” without saying specifically what they were. “It’s not clear where the money went,” said Highsmith.

Dick Pettys has covered Georgia government and politics since 1970

By Tony

August 17, 2006 9:22 AM | Link to this

So let me see. Perdue is deep in ethics charges and now he sends Buzz to try to dig up something on an opponent and a ‘coulda been’ opponent.

And let’s see. A guy gives a couple hundred thousand to Perdue and the party, then Perdue appoints him to a state board. Then the same guy helps Perdue buy some land he will make a killing off of. As someone on another board said…follow the money. And there’s a nice little path of quid pro quo. I wonder what was next on this list of paybacks. What was Perdue going to do in return?

And Debbie, it’s quite humorous to see such an anti-gay person like you so pro-Giuliani. It shows you’re either changing your stripes or just solidifies the point of you being a hypocrite. How’s Ralph doing? He getting ready to run Giuliani’s southern campaign?

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 9:37 AM | Link to this

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/0817edethics.html

Two sides of ethics line Perdue’s land purchase in Florida violates no laws, but donations to Taylor campaign raise eyebrows

Published on: 08/17/06

Not surprisingly, ethics have become a central issue in the campaign for governor between GOP incumbent Sonny Perdue and his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, with charges of impropriety raised against both.

Of the two, the allegations against Taylor seem the more serious and well-documented. The lieutenant governor has clearly violated the spirit of state ethics law and perhaps the rules as well by accepting $40,000 in campaign contributions from multiple businesses owned by a Columbus car dealer. Taylor should immediately return $35,000 in excess donations.

On the other hand, while Perdue’s purchase of land in Florida from a campaign contributor may fall short of the ideal performance by an elected official — particularly someone who has made government ethics an issue and understands the importance of appearance — it does not appear to violate any laws.

In Taylor’s case, the argument that he violated the limit on campaign donations is compelling. Revisions in state law that took effect Jan. 9 prohibit businesses controlled or owned by one person from giving more than $5,000 combined for a primary and another $5,000 for a general election. Business owners apparently can personally donate another $5,000 in each race.

Taylor’s supporters contend that the $40,000 in primary race donations from the auto dealerships were proper because they were made Dec. 15, 2005, before the revised campaign law became effective.

However, that argument is disingenuous.

While specific language limiting contributions from affiliated businesses did disappear from the state books after a 2001 update of ethics law, state Ethics Commission regulations forbidding such contributions did not.

In 2002, for example, the Ethics Commission used those rules in determining that Perdue had exceeded the limit on donations from affiliated corporations in his first campaign for governor. He voluntarily returned the excess funds, and Taylor should do the same.

Perdue’s more recent dealings with a campaign contributor are eye-catching but hardly sinister, based on available evidence.

In 2004, Perdue bought undeveloped land in Florida from Stan Thomas, a Newnan developer. Thomas is a major campaign contributor to Perdue and the state Republican Party, and was appointed by Perdue to the board that oversees Georgia’s economic development agency.

Perdue paid $2 million for the land, which is near Walt Disney World and therefore has the potential to make the governor some money in the future. Perdue, however, appears to be more concerned about what it will spare him now in taxes.

Perdue told Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter James Salzer that after he and his sister sold some inherited land, he wanted to invest in similar property so he could defer federal taxes on gains from the land sale. Perdue said he asked Thomas to find some property to buy.

The governor also said he chose to buy property out of state to avoid being accused of trying to benefit from state spending on highways and the like.

Perdue appears to have done his homework before shelling out $2 million. In accepting $40,000, Taylor seems to have either failed to do his homework, or ignored what he read.

— David McNaughton, for the editorial board

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 9:37 AM | Link to this

Governor Perdoofu$$ is involved in a shady land deal and Debbie defends the whole transaction. Logical and intelligent thought has never been an obstacle for Debbie. Wake up, Perdoofu$$ has sold out and taken our party down with his land deals for personal profit. We need HONEST republicans not shills like Perdoofu$$.

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 9:45 AM | Link to this

disgusted Republicans, Perdue is the nominee. Your choice for Governor is either Perdue or Mark Taylor.

Tell me how it was shady. It was legal and above board.

I bet you supported Perdue’s opponent in the GOP Primary for Governor. I know you supported Cagle for Lt. Governor…

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this

Debbie: I voted for Perdoofu$$ and Cagle. Reed would have destroyed the party because of his shady dealings and now Perdoofu$$ is doing the same. You want to rely on legalistics once again, just as you did with Reed. Wake up. The public is smarter than you think. If you are so blind as not to see the appearence of wrongdoing by Perdoofu$$ there is no hope for you. As I said “logical and intelligent thought has never been an obstacle” for you.

By RALPH

August 17, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

Why didn’t the Governor put his holdings in a blind trust? All the other governors did.

By Disgusted American

August 17, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

disgusted Republican, I believe you are a disgusted Democrat because your party is a disgrace. Most Democratic officials I know have committed a crime and should be in prison. If you check hard enought Bobby Kahn will not be Lily White?

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

Why hasn’t Taylor given back the illegal contributions he received?

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

Disgusted American: You can think whatever you wish. Wrongdoers should be held accountable no matter what political party they may be affilated with. You are one of those who would vote for satan if he ran as a republican. I voted for Perdoofu$$ because I thought he wasn’t one of the insiders. He got elected and became one of them. Why would you defend any candidate that uses his office for personal gain?

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

Disgusted Republican, you admitted voting for Cagle and he increased his wealth while in office so stop being a hypocrite.

Perdue’s land deal was strictly above board.

By Sonny

August 17, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

I vote for democrats more often than for republicans. Isn’t our present Governor the only Governor to be found guilty of ethics violations? If Taylor is found guilty of taking illegal contributions then the ethics commission should punish him. What does Taylor and his contributions have to do with the Governor selling his office for his own profit?

By Bryant

August 17, 2006 11:44 AM | Link to this

There was no “shady” land deal. The Governor has never tried to cover anything up nor has he had anything to cover up. He and his sister inherited property. As in all cases when you inherit something jointly, it has to be sold if you are to split it up accurately. From the sale of that property he had to either re-invest the money or pay heavy taxes. What would you idiots do? It sounds to me as though he made a good decision in purchasing the land he did in Orlando. Just because you are in public office doesn’t mean you let your own personal life or finances go. He will not be governor forever and has the right to plan for his own future.

He is an honest, ethical man. The Georgia Democrapic party is sensationalizing something that doesn’t exist. Continue to support your governor because he has been a good one. He has served the people well of Georgia. He should not be scrutinized for doing something any one of us would have done. He did the smart thing to keep from having to pay heavy taxes to the IRS. I dare any of you to say that you do not look for ways to keep your money instead of giving to the IRS!

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

Debbie: Cagle didn’t appoint anybody to a board and get rewarded with a sweetheart deal. You still think Reed is a saint when the whole world sees him for what he is. Perdoofu$$ is cut from the same cloth and will suffer because of his greed, just like Reed.

By Bryant

August 17, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

Dear disgusted republican, the only problem with your writings is that the governor did nothing illegal. His land deal was on the up and up. All he is truely guilty of is being good with his own finances.

By RALPH

August 17, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this

BRYANT: it is just a coincidence that Perdue’s wealth has increased three fold after he took office and a coindence that he purchased land next to Disney World from a man he appointed to a state board. If Perdue is ethical and honest why did the ethics board find him guilty?

By Bryant

August 17, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

RALPH: When you have a few million in the bank and you inherit a few million, they tend to make a few million more when invested properly. That is what people who have common sense do. And by the way, no ethics board has found Purdue guilty of any thing.

By Debbie

August 17, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

disgusted, Can you please explain how you consider it to be a sweetheart deal when Perdue paid FAIR MARKET value for the property?

By RALPH

August 17, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

BRYANT: why did Perdue pay a fine to the ethics commission?

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

Debbie: How do we know he paid fair market value? This appears to be like the ENRON officers cutting sweetheart deals. Ask your buddy Ralph Reed about what people think about this. It stinks to high heaven.

By David Franklin

August 17, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

It is ubelievable that a Governor I had so much respect for did not place his financial assests in a BLIND TRUST like all recent Governors of Georgia have—particularly those Perdue is singling out in his TV ads for deficit spending and not wanting to go back there.

By disguested American

August 17, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

disg. Republican; I have voted for Democrats in the past, but the last 5 to 10 years the Democratic party of old is gone and the new party is a joke. I don’t agree with everything the Republicans do but I don’t cut my country down in time of war and agree with the enemy as Democrats do just because they hate BUSH. I’m a army Vet. 66-70 I support my country and president in time of war no matter if its CLINTON OR BUSH……get the point?

By Bryant

August 17, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

RALPH: Again, you are mistaken about the truth. The only ethics charges brough against the governor were back in early 2005 by the Democratic party, whom at the time had nothing else to rally their supporters with. The governor made a formal appology to the Georgia ethics committee but admitted no wrong doing nor was he fined anything. The ethics committee could find nothing illegal so all charges were dropped. The matter we are discussing today has not been sent to the ethics committee and legislators have already been quick to point out that once again he has done nothing illegal.

By RALPH

August 17, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

BRYANT: I don’t know of many Georgians with a few million in the bank. The millionair will forgive the governor but the hard working men and women of this state won’t. A family that struggles to make ends meet won’t understand the governor of Georgia investing in Florida real estate and at the same time telling us how he has improoved the economy in Georgia. When my wife and I went to the grocery store last night the cashier, who knows I am a republican, was asking me about the land deal. This thing is bigger than you think.

By Bryant

August 17, 2006 1:00 PM | Link to this

RALPH: I know many Georgians with a few million in bank. Unfortunaetly, I am not one of them. I do not hold it against them though because they were smart enough or blessed enough to have made their fortunes.

The Land deal was on the front of the AJC yesterday so I am sure many people are aware of the current situation. Just because the check out lady asked you about it doesn’t mean it is some big scandal out there.

I will continue to support Governor Purdue. The alternatives that will run against him do not offer anything other than political rhetoric. About all they offer is Bush bashing but that is another subject for another day.

By Tony

August 17, 2006 1:11 PM | Link to this

Let me see here…..Debbie accuses Cagle of using his office to better himself financially but goes to bat for Perdue for doing the same. Hey Debbie, why is it you slam one guy for doing something and praise the other guy for essentially doing the same thing?

Cagle never broke any laws but somehow he was evil. Perdue doesn’t and he’s your buddy? SOmething doesn’t add up here with your logic.

By disgusted republican

August 17, 2006 1:31 PM | Link to this

disgusted american: thank you for your service to this nation. As a vet you know that you faught to defend freedom, icluding the freedom to disagree with those in office. I don’t know why you would deny me this freedom. GET THE POINT>

By former Perdue supporter

August 17, 2006 1:41 PM | Link to this

I wish I had not have voted for Sonny in the primary. The land deal; the trooper scandal; ethics violations; lying about the flag. I feel as though I have been taken to the cleaners.

By Justin

August 17, 2006 3:12 PM | Link to this

Mike King’s column today brings up the idea of eliminating primary run-offs. I see that one person here thinks it’s un-American, even though an overwhelming majority of states do not use them in elections. I think there are good reasons for doing away with them altogether: (1) the cost of run-off elections for people concerned about government waste, (2) the break up of the monoply that the two major parties have, by allowing third party and independents a chance to claim victory the first time and (3) in conjuction with what Mike said about run-offs drawing more attention and money from people who don’t live in the district and also are not actual members of the political party involved in the contest, it keeps primary elections closer to the intent of having party members choose the best candidate for a general election.

I agree that primary losers should be allowed to run as independents, so long as they qualify as such by the designated time.

By SlowDownCowboy

August 18, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

Say it ain’t so, Andy! Why would you make such remarks? If those comments had ever been made about african-americans, you woulda been the first to stand up in indignation!

By MC

August 18, 2006 6:14 PM | Link to this

Seeing as there is no particular topic for discussion, I thought I might post this.

Yes, I made it and mean it.

By Rawena

August 19, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this

No Debbie for several days? What’s wrong? Get bit by a snake at church or something?

Please post something, I need a good laugh.

By Rickster

August 19, 2006 7:58 PM | Link to this

Andy Young + Mark Taylor = anti-labor and anti-small business.

By Ed

August 20, 2006 7:39 PM | Link to this

Andy has been hanging around Cynthia M. for too long and he has been brainwashed. Seriously, how sad to see someone who has fought for civil rights all of these years bash others right to improve their lives and pursue the American Dream. According to Andy they apparently aren’t the right color. He now is in the same category as Jesse Jackson after he was caught womanizing and holding companies hostage. Zero influence and zero clout.

By Rawena

August 21, 2006 8:57 AM | Link to this

It’s sort of wierd that the more liberal — well less conservative — candidate this year is Perdue.

By rugby_fan

August 21, 2006 1:12 PM | Link to this

Most Democratic officials I know have committed a crime and should be in prison

Well let us know who they are! Illegal activity should be punished.

By Blog Dawg

August 22, 2006 7:35 AM | Link to this

Whenever Dean or Kerry speak, Bush’s polls soar!!

Cant we get those two to shut up and go away? Gadzooks!

Bush’s latest pronouncement about why we need to stay in Iraq proves that you dont have to make sense to get good polls, you just have to be forceful in your opinion. Americans like forceful conviction.

Bush contradicted himself thrice on Monday about 911, Iraq, and the war on terror. I wont quote him, you can read it in the AJC yourselves.

Where’s the forceful conviction concerning the WMDs in Iran? He hiding the real reason we are in Iraq. Gee, I cant imagine what that reason is….nothing comes to mind….I dont know…could it be……OIL???

By Debbie

August 22, 2006 8:20 AM | Link to this

disgusted Republican, if you bother to read the news accounts about the land deal, you will read that they say it appears it was bought at fair market value. Now, don’t you think they would have jumped all over it if Perdue received a “special deal?”

Tony, did Perdue increase his wealth 900%?

Blog dawg, Whether you like it or not, Dean and Kerry are spokespersons for the national Democratic party and they wi ll not go away.

The Democratic Party is controlled by the extreme left wing.

I can tell you,as a Republican, that Dean, Kerry, Kennedy and Pelosi are my favorite Democrats:)

By disgusted republican

August 22, 2006 9:05 AM | Link to this

Debbie Have you ever supported a winning candidate?

By debbie

August 22, 2006 9:34 AM | Link to this

As a matter of fact the only candidate that I supported in the primary that lost was Reed. Everyone else I supported won. Any further questions?

By Loren Collins

August 22, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

“I want to formally start a petition to get Cynthia McKinney’s name on the November Ballot as an independent……WHOSE WITH ME? LETS DO IT!!!!!!”

I would advice you to save your efforts. The deadline for filing a petition to be on the November ballot as an independent was July 11.

Ms. McKinney is also ineligible to run as a write-in under OCGA 21-2-133. Georgia law prohibits primary candidates from running as write-ins in the general election.

By Philly

August 22, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

I received this in an email today. Impressive.

BUCKLEY FOR GEORGIA

Primary beliefs of Allen Buckley concerning government:
• The private sector is more efficient than public sector
• Separation of church and state • Competition is good • Government should exist only to serve the people, by handling things of common benefit that cannot be done efficiently on an individual basis (e.g., police services) • Eminent domain needs to be restricted to traditional government needs • Open government is essential • Entitlements are not good • Parents should be responsible for taking care of their children • Protection of the environment • A reasonable immigration policy should be enforced, primarily by significantly penalizing employers that hire illegal immigrants • Fiscal responsibility is a MUST Education proposal, in a nutshell:

Gradually substantially reduce individual income taxes, while requiring parents to gradually pay for a significant part of the cost of public education, with economic incentives (i.e. reduced costs) for parents to participate and children to endeavor to learn; provide tax credits for part of the cost of private school and potentially all of the costs of home schooling; tie the HOPE scholarship to performance on a thorough examination; eventually test schools and adjust the money allocated to the schools based on school performance (i.e. better schools cost less); and decentralize the school system as much as possible. The details are provided on the website.

Website: www.buckleyforgeorgia.com Address: P.O. Box 7073, Atlanta, Georgia 30357

By Blue in Georgia

August 22, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

A Libertarian with “Protection of the enviroment” as a plank?

Very interesting. I would like to find out more about him as I have no interest whatsoever in the big guy.

By Cleangovtup

August 22, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

Should there be a citizens petition drive to get the following two items on the electorial ballot? These would be yes and no questions on amending the charters in Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Cobb, and Cherokee County, plus the City of Atlanta charter.

By Blog Dawg

August 22, 2006 8:40 PM | Link to this

Debbie, we liberals have no leader, and I have very real fear that Newt is going to be our next prez. Then I go to Canada or Mexico. I can’t stand Newt. I will not be an American if he is prez. Wont do it. Not gonna do it. nah gah dah.

PS. Do you have either a sombrero or a gortex winter jacket depending on which way I flee? (that I can borrow)

I’m liberal so I’m lazy and have no money and I live on free government cheese and stuff.

By Tony

August 22, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

Debbie what does the percentage matter? I mean principles are principles right? Are yours weighted?

By MFEM

August 25, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

Anyone who’s stupid enough to vote for McKinney as an independent, Democrat or even anything else deserves her as their representative.