[sigh]
I hardly know where to begin. This diary intended to evoke pity for those of us living in Georgia under the state’s overwhelmingly Republican "leadership":
Gov. Sonny Purdue (National Governors Association, executive committee member); Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, blockers of stimulus legislation; Casey Cagle, John Oxendine; Senate 33 (Rep), 23 (D); House 101 (Rep), 79 (D). [Shout out for Congressman Lewis.]
Our fearless Republican leaders who are for "Go Fish," widening concealed weapons allowances, and maintaining state-wide blue laws, but against seat belts and funds from the stimulus package. I can't get to them all in one diary, it's already gotten too big. If you can't make your way through the whole diary, make sure you page down for the hilarious ending.
Because this juicy bit came up.
Remember Karen Handel, the Republican Secretary of State of Georgia? The one who did everything she could to undermine last fall's elections, including the run-off Senate race between Jim Martin (D) and Saxby Chambliss (Rep): purging of voter rolls under claims of voter fraud; mishandling absentee ballots; refusing to extend hours at polling places where lines were hundreds of people long; required photo ID to cast a ballot. Just to name a few. (See my diary, Mickey Mouse didn’t vote in GA, but my cat did.)
Guess what?
Karen Handel has announcedher candidacy for Governor of Georgia!
Sec. of State Handel announces run for governor (AP 1/12/09)
Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel says she is entering the race to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2010. ... She made the comments on the eve of the legislative session. A former chairwoman of the Fulton County Commission, she enters what is shaping up as a crowded Republican field.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle ["First Republican ever elected to the state’s second highest office"] and state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine ["Leading the Republican Revolution in Georgia"] are also running and have already established sizable campaign war chests.
David Poythress, a former commander of the Georgia National Guard, is the only Democrat to enter the race so far. House Minority Leader DuBose Porter said he’ll announce his intentions after the legislative session.
Elections in Georgia are scary and inexplicable. In the US Senate run-off between Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin (we still appreciate Daily Kos' contributions of countless hours and donations), this is what Martin lost to:
Recent legislation:
Sponsored by Saxby Chambliss:
- Sponsored S. 296: Fair Tax Act of 2009 (co-sponsored with Sen Thomas Coburn (R-OK), Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen John Isakson (R-GA)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
- Sponsored S. Res. 15: (Co-sponsored with Sen Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen Jefferson Sessions (R-AL), Sen John Isakson (R-GA), Sen Thad Cochran (R-MS), but also Sen Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
A resolution acknowledging the lifelong service of Griffin Boyette Bell, a legal icon, to the State of Georgia and to the United States.
Them thar's some real important stuff! But wait -- check out our other senator!
Recent legislation sponsored by Johnny Isakson:
- S. 169: Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act(co-sponsored with 10 other Rs)
...to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government.
- Ummmmm...there is no number 2.
And oh yeah, descrying the stimulus bill as typically irresponsible economic policies that the majority is forcing down the throats of the poor, overpowered Republican minority. These guys take the cake, right?
Maybe not. Mounting suspicions augmented by recent news have led me to conclude that the biggest, scariest Georgia Republican Clown of all is our governor, Sonny Perdue.
An articlein Forbes names Atlanta the "third emptiest city in US" (after Las Vegas, Detroit). Across the state, budgets for education, police and fire fighters have been demolished, and crime is growing exponentially as furloughs and firings are implemented.
But what does Sonny do?* Join his fellow Southern Republican governors Jindal (LA), Sanford (SC), and Barbour (MS), who won’t accept economic stimulus funds either out of principle or because "it might hurt their states in the long term."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/22/09)
WASHINGTON [National Governors Association meeting] - Georgia may end up turning down hundreds of millions of dollars in federal economic stimulus money because it might not be in the state’s long-term interest to accept it...Perdue said his office is still reviewing the funding requirements ... "Some of it is very helpful, and some of it we’re still analyzing ... "It’s not a matter of turning [the money] down, but some of could cost more to use it than you would get." ... Georgia is expected to get about $220 million in federal aid to bolster its unemployment insurance program.
Some canard those Republican governors have come up with, that "accepting that money could force the state to change its unemployment laws — and ultimately force the state to raise unemployment taxes to pay for it." As if the draconian policies of the Georgia Department of Human Resources are already so helpful to those in need, let alone the precipitous ranks joining them.
Frankly, I think these Republicans are playing "before I said yes, I said no."
Hmmmm... remind you of anyone?
Paid for with a $500,000 federal grant designed to encourage people to eat Alaska salmon.
To fund his baby, Sonny did what any Republican would do: demand six percent budget cuts across the board – taking money from schools, health programs and veterans’ benefits – while exempting the Go Fish project from the cuts. For more info, read ‘Go Fish’ project goes ahead — despite huge cuts elsewhere: Governor’s $23 million fishing tourism center in Perry is criticized, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10/26/08).
Perdue has been working hard to get recognized among his fellow Republicans. His key projects have included laws to carry concealed guns into restaurants, bars and parking lots; refusing up to $4.6 million from the federal government because a state-wide seat belt law would be inconvenient for farmers and anyone else who drives a pickup truck; organizing a prayer meet for rain during last summer’s drought; and maintaining those crucial blue laws. He was also a bit sidetracked about thislittle matter.
Perdue’s $21 million loan raises questions: Governor invokes right to keep details private
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1/18/09)
Gov. Sonny Perdue faces a personal financial challenge this winter that rivals state government’s budget crisis: repaying a $21 million loan that comes due March 1. Perdue and his two agricultural businesses borrowed the money last September, just as tight credit markets escalated the nation’s economic downturn. Perdue won’t say in detail why he took out the loan, or how he plans to pay it off.
GO FISH
Considered the centerpiece (and pet project number one) of Sonny’s 2007 legislative agenda is his Go Fish Georgia Initiative. About $14 million of the approved $19 million was designated for the Go Fish Center. The rest of the cost for the center is being raised from local governments and other sources...
"...[GFGI is] a program that will boost economic development and tourism across the state, was recently identified in the Governor's FY08 budget and FY 07 Supplemental budget package proposal. This program will make Georgia more competitive by improving the quality of fishing in Georgia waters, improving access to water bodies for fishing in Georgia and increasing participation through active promotion and marketing of Georgia's exceptional fishing resources."
Some of the key elements of the Go Fish Georgia Initiative include the development of the Georgia Bass Trail, a visitor and education center strategically located in the state and a technologically advanced warm water fish hatchery. The Georgia Bass Trail would include 15-sites on Georgia's major rivers and reservoirs. In addition to mega-ramps capable of handling hundreds of boats for fishing tournaments, these sites would include large parking areas, restrooms and facilities to host tournament recognition events."
Perdue was born in the city of Perry and grew up in the small unincorporated town of Bonaire in Houston County. The Go Fish Center is being built in Perry -- just down the road from Sonny’s home.
BLUE LAWS
Georgia is one of three states in the country with a total ban on Sunday sales [Connecticut and Indiana]. It's legal to buy drinks in a "restaurant" on Sundays, and in sports venues. But in the true Republican spirit of reducing the size of our government -- while sticking their noses into our personal lives -- the ruling Republicans continue to oppose allowing communities to vote whether they want Sunday sales of alcohol. Note that they’re not supporting statewide laws to sell alcohol on Sundays, but that they’re depriving communities of the right to vote.
Despite public sentiment, Sundays likely to stay dry for now: Election-year politics gets in the way of letting voters decide on alcohol sales.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/12/08)
Two-thirds of Georgians [65 percent] who answered a recent poll [in the Atlanta Journal Constitution] said they want the right to vote on allowing stores to sell beer, wine and booze on Sunday....Senate leaders have signaled that they won't even hold a committee hearing on the issue, despite a fresh push by lobbyists and groups backing Sunday sales....Cagle, the Senate president, isn't budging. "At this time, there simply has not been any kind of broad expression of support for a vote on Sunday sales this year from Senate members or from the citizens of our state..."
...[r]eligious conservatives have strongly opposed such sales, saying alcohol shouldn't be peddled on the Christian sabbath...[last session, the bill] was stalled by Cagle and other Senate leaders. This year, with every lawmaker up for re-election and many Republicans reluctant to go against religious conservatives, the measure may again go nowhere. Critics of the bill say convenience and grocery store lobbyists are merely resurrecting the issue this session to make it look to the people who pay them that they're moving the issue forward without any chance of it winning legislative approval...
...lawmakers who oppose Sunday sales often cite religious objections...GOP lawmakers support issues like Sunday sales at their political peril.
"There doesn't seem to be a compelling reason to chip away at the Sabbath," Johnson said. ...The evangelical Christian voters are probably the largest single group turning out in the Republican primary."
... [Governor] Perdue — a religious conservative who doesn't drink — is the stumbling block. Perdue all but threatened to veto the bill, saying Georgians should show better "time management" if they want to purchase alcoholic beverages by buying them on other days of the week. "The Senate saw no reason to pass a bill the governor was going to veto and irritate one faction of the [Republican] party without getting any benefit for the other faction, the free-market side," Farris said.
Guess what? Blue laws update: Sunday sales vote delayed The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/25/09)
"The Christian Coalition of Georgia, which opposes the bill, has said it would include the issue in its political scorecard that goes out to voters.
Supporters of the bill had hoped to get it approved Wednesday to set up a Senate floor vote. But only two senators showed up for the committee meeting, not enough to provide a quorum."
HERE'S THE REALLY GOOD PART - ENJOY LAUGHING YOURSELF SILLY!!
Sadie Fields, chair of the Georgia Christian Alliance, gave her usual – talk about canards! – Republican and Christian right’s talking points in an AJC Op-Ed. [I wish I could post the entire piece here -- it's is too delicious to leave anything out -- but in view of copyright laws, I can't. Please take a minute to read the whole article.]
Community votes on Sunday alcohol sales: CON: Safety, families worth more than cash
By SADIE FIELDS
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
... Do we really want to make Sundays a free-for-all when it comes to the sale of wine, alcohol and hard liquor?
The Georgia Senate ... would allow our communities to legalize the sales of beer, wine and hard liquor on the first day of the week — Sunday.
...[harm] inflicted on so many innocent Georgians by making an endless supply of alcohol available... it will cost lives...and tear apart families...
[Facts:] increased number of crash fatalities directly to the lifting of the ban on Sunday alcohol sales. It’s one thing to have a few drinks at a football game or a restaurant, which is currently permitted in our state...It’s certainly different when you can load up a case of beer and hit the road — and the statistics prove it.
... when blue laws are repealed, especially concerning the sale of alcohol, church attendance falls 15 percent and church donations fall 25 percent... worshipping together is one of the best ways to maintain the family bond. ...those who attended church and stopped after the ban was lifted on Sundays had greater increase of substance abuse.
...Despite projections that legalizing Sunday sales...could bring almost $5 million in taxes...one has to wonder if it would be worth the trade-off. ...those crash victims would wind up the burden of state and local taxpayers whether through Medicaid or other entitlement programs paid for by taxpayer dollars. I dare say that could exceed the $5 million in new state taxes.
...[if] we should legalize Sunday alcohol sales, then we would also legalize and tax prostitution, illegal drugs and gambling.
In our lightning-speed world of BlackBerrys, instant messaging and extended work weeks, it seems to me we also need to maintain public policy that keeps families healthy and together — not tears them apart.
Actually, it might be funnier if she wasn't so influential in Georgia government.
And it will be much scarier if Karen Handel follows in the footsteps of Sonny Perdue.
[sigh]
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*Georgians will no doubt get the "Honey-do" joke.