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DEL.ICIO.USDon’t you hate it when they give you what you want before you even ask for it?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a sign that the general election is nearly upon us, the state Democratic party this morning called on U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss to return $10,000 he’s received from his recently indicted Republican colleague Ted Stevens of Alaska.
“Senator Stevens’ indictment puts every penny he has raised or contributed under a cloud of suspicion,” pronounced chairman Jane Kidd.
In an even bigger sign that the general election is nearly upon us, the Chambliss campaign said the matter has already been taken care of.
Yesterday, 24 hours after charges were leveled against the longest-serving U.S. senator, the Chambliss campaign wrote two checks — $5,000 to Camp Sunshine, which offers a summer vacation to kids with cancer, and another $5,000 to the Georgia chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
“Always one step behind, aren’t they?” said Chambliss spokesman Michelle Grasso.
But Martin Matheny, spokesman for the Democratic party, was not to be denied his pound of flesh. “Sorry, I guess we’re so used to Senator Chambliss taking care of his friends on the Republican side that when he does the right thing for once, we’re all a little surprised,” he said.
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Comments
By Mableton Mom
July 31, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Yes they are always a step behind…
1) Oppose all efforts to expand our domestic supply of oil.
2) Oppose the surge, even while the results show it is actually working.
3) Oppose efforts to secure the borders and enforce our laws.
4) Lose both U.S. Senate Seats, Governor, Lt. Gov., Secretary of State, majorities in both House and Senate, and even a PSC seat.
5) Put forward nominees for the U.S. Senate in 2008 that lack the skills necessary to serve in this critically important body.
The Georgia Democrat Party, always a step behind.
By The Love Hack
July 31, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
I wish Chambliss would stop being so good to us.
We’ve got our minds right, boss chambliss, we’ve got our minds right.
By VJones08
July 31, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Speaking of the failures of the Georgia Democratic Party, I wish they would recognize that Vernon Jones is going to win this Election!
Martin and Co. continue to distort the truth, and make up lies to try and overcome the clearly better qualified candidate.
http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2008/07/jim-martin-for-senate-tommy-irvin.html
By The Love Hack
July 31, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Nothing can stop the Vernon Express.
By Mike K.
July 31, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Mableton Mom:
After this last General Assembly session, I wouldn’t get too excited about the state Republicans either, although I do agree with some of your points about the Dems.
By VJ will lose
July 31, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
I would like to point out a few things.
Vernon Jones is going to lose. Virtually all of the people who supported Cardwell, Knight and Lanier will vote for Jim Martin. Rev. Lowery’s endorsement should help Martin reduce Vernon Jones numbers enough in the African American community to allow Martin to win by double digits. BTW VJONES 08( I’m sure you’re either Vernon or one of his staffers) You’re guy VJ is running at below 30% against Saxby, whereas Martin is running above 40%. It’s an uphill battle for both, but VJ would underperform Barack Obama by an enormous margin, whereas, Martin would be able to ride the wave. Obama could proudly campaign with Jim Martin, but he would avoid VJ like the plague and VJ would hurt Obama in Georgia statewide.
Mableton mom you’re right the Democrats haven’t done so well in Georgia as of late. Of course, to completely blame the Democratic Party of Georgia is a little bit of an overstatement. They haven’t been perfect and we have had some lousy candidates, but Georgia turned red due to national trends and the popularity of the GOP brand in Georgia more than any specific mistakes by the Democratic Party of Georgia. Democrats could have had perfect candidates with huge war chests and still lost most of those offices between 2002 and 2006.
Mableton Mom You mentioned border security. The last time I checked George Bush and the Republicans controlled both houses of congress between 2002 and 2006. Democrats didn’t filibuster any immigration bills or border security bills during this period. BTW, Republicans want to have it both ways on immigration. The corporate wing of the GOP loves illegal immigration because they can treat the workers like s**, pay them sub-standard wages without benefits and avoid unionization. If it makes you feel good about yourself and the GOP you can blame the Democrats all you want for our immigration crisis, but in reality GOP interest groups are the ones tearing each other apart over this.
Increasing Domestic drilling. News flash our domestic producers don’t give us a hometown discount. They aren’t drilling everywhere they can because they don’t want to increase the supply. Even if all of the areas they wanted to drill in now were in full production gas would not be significantly cheaper than it is now. I can understand why the GOP in Georgia and nationwide want to give the oil companies whatever they want. The tens of millions of dollars of the oil companies have used to buy GOP lawmakers, the Cato Institute and the Heritage foundation has helped create an echo chamber of false information that resonates nationwide. Big oil loves Saxby and company and he loves them more than he loves average folks in Georgia.
By Frustrated Democratic yet again
July 31, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
This is another sign of incompetence from the Democratic Party of Georgia and Jane Kidd and her failed leadership.
Maybe this is what you get when the communication director and political director don’t have college degrees?
Can we throw them out yet?
By Churchill
July 31, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
As I always say: “Never underestimate the Democrat ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
By The Truth Comes Out
July 31, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Churchill you will like this,
The Democratic Party still hasn’t learned the most important quality in a political candidate. This quality was so eloquently stated by the late Tim Russert’s father, Big Russ. If the candidate is a “phony,” he doesn’t stand a chance. The Democratic Party led by left wing liberals Dean, Pelosi and Reed have really outdone themselves this time with their nominee. Barack Obama is simply not qualified to be President of the United States. He was a community organizer, state senator for a couple of years and spent 144 days as a US Senator before he decided to run for President. He has never run a business, led any coalitions across party lines, sponsored any meaningful legislation or made a difficult political decision in his life. His whole candicy was based on an anti-war speech he made at an anti-war rally in a liberal section of Chicago in 2002 long before he was running for the US Senate. It was before he had any access to the intelligence reports Congress almost unanimously based their decision on. It would have been irresponsible at the time to vote against the war based on the intelligence reports. Why Hilliary didn’t go after that fact more when it was clear the surge was working in early 2008 is probably a question she is asking herself as she ponders her political future this summer. He grew up mostly in Hawaii, spent a lot of time at law school and is basically a diversity lawyer. Of course, the Obama campaign has to cover up these inconvenient facts by simply blaming everything know to man on George Bush and John McCain. The candidate of hope has been reduced to saying any fact brought up about him is a distraction and of course the media will take him at his word. His friend, Deval Patrick got elected Massachusetts Governor the same way. He was a diversity lawyer running with a message of hope. They also have the same campaign manager who has run a brilliant scripted campaign and are 3 ½ months away from getting away with it again. Just ask the people of Massachusetts what a disaster the first two years of Patrick’s administration have been. Straight out of the McGovern, Dukakis, Kerry playbook, Obama has literally switched every position he took in the primary to the middle in the past few weeks. It was a brilliant plan by the campaign to do this in early July when no one is really paying attention to politics. The mainstream media let it go. The ad Obama runs about sponsoring legislation to put people off Welfare to work is a complete fabrication. It is a great ad, unfortunately he voted against the bill twice. How on earth the McCain campaign could let that go is beyond me. The one thing the Obama campaign will not be able to do is cover up the fact that he will say or do anything to get elected President. His core beliefs are left of center, however; he is trying to act now as a centrist. The people will see thru this as they did with Kerry four years ago. His switches on Rev Wright, gun control, NAFTA, FISA, Iraq, Iran, Taxes, Energy will simply not be ignored by the American people. The current polls show the race statistically even. Obama should be up 15-20 points in the polls right now. The fact the race is even shows the weakness in his candicy. Politicians always think they can change positions and sneak it by when Americans aren’t looking. I am here to predict that the fact Obama has switched all his core beliefs will be seen by the American people as someone who has no core beliefs, an empty suit and a person that doesn’t share their values. Although it is a Democrat year for a variety of reasons, a “Phony” as Big Russ stated can be seen a mile away and will not be elected President. Congrats Democrats!! You blew it again. Hope? Change? You better hope you stop seeing just one thing dumbocrats and find the facts and vote accordingly!
By JerryT
July 31, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Just for you Mom: 1) If we are going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing domestic energy sources that won’t be available for years, why don’t we spend it developing something that is renewable and clean? 2) The surge may be working in the sense that it can temporarily reduce the violence in Iraq, but as long as we think of this as a military battle that can be “won” or “lost” by shooting, we are unlikely to actually “win” anything. 3) Not sure who you are referring to that opposes efforts to enforce the laws. it seems it’s the big corporations who don’t want us to throw out all the immigrants. Check with your masters on this one. You might have missed a memo. 4) Yeah, that Sec. of State race was the worst. Now we have our own Katherine Harris. That PSC thing isn’t over yet. Evidence building that Handel is using her office to rig things in favor of her Party. Fits right in with the long history of rampant Republican corruption. 5) And how exactly is Saxby qualified? Friend of Abramoff, hypocritical schlepper of unfulfilled Contract with America (balanced budgets, term limits, etc.), draft dodger, author of the most disgusting campaign ad ever… I guess we judge “necessary skills” differently.
By Crystal
July 31, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
The 7- 10 year cry of the Democrat party with regard to off shore drilling is bogus. It will be 2-4 years until we get some oil off shore, not all of it will be tapped by then, but some will start flowing earlier than the liberals claim. Also, when word that Bush lifted the Presidential ban on off shore drilling prices went down. The media ignored, but it is true. I am so sick of the “No we Can’t” chant of the left.
By JerryT
July 31, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
It’s the right that doesn’t want to try to end this destructive addiction to oil. It doesn’t matter how much we drill, the rest of the world will always have more. Republicans are so connected to corporate quarterly profits the only way they would see a strategic plan is if it appeared in the cup holder of their Hummer.
By Crystal
July 31, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
It is not destructive. If you liberals have your way, then the fuel our economy needs to operate will run dry. Personally, I believe that is precisely what the leftist want. They want to see American taken down a notch. That’s why they refuse to support exploiting our own resources here at home. Over 70% of the country wants to drill. This is our issue and the democrats that run congress just gave the right a huge gift for this political season. I cannot wait to see the ads that show Pelosi and Reid refusing to addresses the issue, rather choosing to go on vacation.
By Blah Blah Blah....
July 31, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Crystal,
The Republicans argument about drilling is just as dishonest as their rhetoric in the led up to Iraq. They know good and well they are giving Americans a false sense of hope about the benefits domestic oil drilling. They just figure if they say it enough people might believe it and also it gives “last hangers on” of Bush/Delay/Rove politics something to b*** about.
Can you or one of your fellow kool-laid drinkers answer the following questions?
Do you think the fact the GOP has received tens of millions of dollars from big oil over past few decades has any effect on their positions?
Do you think Saxby deserves the tens of thousands of dollars he’s gotten from big oil?
Do you trust the oil companies to give you accurate information?
Do you honestly think Oil companies would increase production just to be nice, even it lowered worldwide prices and cut into their bottom line?
Do you trust scientists and geologists who had their funding paid for by the oil companies, the heritage foundation or the cato institure? (I’m sure that doesn’t bias their studies on the effects of domestic drillion or global warming)
Big Oil companies are are hurt by oil production increase!!!!!!!!!!
Are you aware that oil companies don’t give us a home team discount just because the oil is drilled in American territory?
By Ich bin ein Beginner
July 31, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
they are giving Americans a false sense of hope about the benefits domestic oil drilling.
What are the benefits of NOT drilling?
By Crystal
July 31, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
It will make us feel better, Ich bin ein Beginner. You see Obama said that all we had to do was get tunes-up for our cars and check our tire pressure. If we all do that, tons of oil will instantly be released by the oil fairy on to the market. I will be magical. I believe in hope, change, and the energy fairy, just like Obama.
By Blah Blah Blah
July 31, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
I don’t think they would drill if given the chance. There is a ton of oil in Alaska and in the Gulf they’re not drilling right now.
You and your ilk don’t seem get it. The domestic Oil companies don’t give us a hometown discount.
The Oil companies don’t have any incentive to increase production in areas where they already have the right to drill.
Big oil doesn’t want to incrase supply because it’s not in their best interests.
By The Truth Comes Out
July 31, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Great question Ich bin ein Beginner. 13 yeras ago when a Republican dominated House and Senate voted for domestic drilling Dumbocrat Billary Clinton vetoed it saying that we wouldnt see any benifit from it for at least ten years. Well guess what Billary it is 13 years later there is a Dumborcrat controlled House and Senate and gas is $4.00 a gallon. To make matters worse I heard NObama say the same thing about domestic drilling a few weeks ago, that it was only a long term solution. Well NObama lets just put it on the back burner again so that fuel will cost us $25.00 or more a gallon in 10 years! And you Dumbocrats want to blame the fuel crisis on Republicans?! Uninitiated uninformed Dumbocrats sicken me!
By The Truth Comes Out
July 31, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
If there is no benefit to domestic drilling why is China set up 50 miles outside the international waters boundry of the USA prepared to suck OUR oil right out from under us? You people probably didnt know that so I can understand you being against it and standing with NObama. I can tell by most of your statements as well as your loyalty to him that you are uninformed so I am just trying to help.
By Blah Blah Blah
July 31, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Our government can’t force oil companies to put more oil on the market.
They have plenty oil they could drill for right now if they wanted to.
They have a shortage of rigs because they don’t have incentive to put more oil on the market.
I have said this three times, the oil companies don’t give us a hometown discount. We get our oil at the worldwide price.
If it makes you all feel better blame Democrats for high oil prices.
It’s not like SUV’s, oil speculation, and the failure of the Bush administration or the Gingrich congress in the 90’s to pass higher milage standards had anything to do with this crisis.
I’m sorry that yall can’t afford to fill up your gas guzzlers and commute 3 hours a day round trip by yourself. (GRTA park and ride is an option)
Republicans in Georgia are arch enemies of rail and anything that would reduce gas consumption. GRTA asked for an additional 13 million from the state and got turned down, but they did set aside 7 million dollars for a horse barn in Sonny Perdue’s hometown.
According to Forbes Magazine Atlanta has the worst commute in the country. They calculate this by including air quality into the misery index.
Atlanta’s traffic crisis is damaging the health of our citizens. Yall can dismiss global warming all you want, but the localized effects of traffic problem is indisputable. The smog is heavy, asthma cases are on the rise and commuters wallets are get hit hard by gas prices.
The thing is
By SC
July 31, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
I think you’d really enjoy this video of Ted Stevens’ wiretapped phone call:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nHR-E_tZTE
By JerryT
July 31, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
If becoming a responsible member of the world community is the same as ‘taken down a notch”, then sign me up. We can’t continue to just go take whatever we want because we are able.
There’s 40-50 years of oil even if we don’t drill anything new. Plenty of time to start the transition to something else. New drilling only adds a few of years to the whole cycle. We will STILL have to transition to something else anyway. Let’s do it!
Benefits of not drilling: - Create thousands of jobs building a new alternative energy infrastructure. - Less pollution (which also equals less cost cleaning things up all the time). - Even less dependence on foreign countries than drilling for oil. - Become a world leader again in science research and technology.