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Tag Archive for 'Republican'

Counting It Down! GriftDrift on the Election!

Once again James Williams (GriftDrift) and I, engage in vain musings about the ups and downs of politics, national and state. If our predictions turn out to be correct, America will be as surprised as we are! But there is hope, hope this will all be over in 12 days.

Summarizing an interview with James is like walking through a chicken coop, there is just too much stuff out there to see it all. Thus, I suggest you listen to this one, if you really want to get the flavor of James’ keen insight into all things political. Me? I am just there for the ride, mostly.

We do cover the implosion of the McCain/Palin campaign, if it can still be called a campaign. It’s just too bad that somewhere between this year and last year, McCain lost his mind. The interview with Brian Williams ought to be interesting.

And then there is the Georgia political scene with hints of a massive voter turnout. Everyone reports that early voting lines are heavy and seem to favor the Democrats. Obama has a chance to carry Georgia, but McCain still leads in the polls. The question is how accurate are the polls this year? It may all depend on voter turnout and the under 30 voters. At least Georgia is not a “red” state. On most maps we are now pink, which doesn’t exactly please any of us.

James thinks Jim Martin has a slightly better chance to beat Saxby Chambliss than Obama has to carry the state. James commented on Martin’s aggressive campaigning this time around, something that he has not been know for. According to Pollster.com, it is dead even. It is just too close to call.

And then there are 3 Congressional races: Jim Marshall (D), the incumbent, went out on a limb when he voted for the baleout. His opponent, Rick Goddard (R), made it a big issue in their debate. James attributes Marshall’s vote on the baleout as a vote of consceince, something he thought was best for the country even though he might suffer for it in the election. I regret that I was not able to get interviews with either Marshall or Goddard.

In the 10th we have Republican incumbent Paul Broun, whom James believes will win against his Democratic challenger, Bobby Saxon. I interviewed both Broun and Saxon. Broun is a sound bite Republican, who does not, in my opinion, understand the function of government.

James did not have much to say about the 12th Congressional District. He believes that John Barrow, the Democratic incumbent (who voted against the baleout), will prevail over challenger John Stone in a “not as close as last time” race.

There is plenty more in the interview, but in an effort to get this posted timely, I will just have to let you listen for yourself.

 
 James Williams, GriftDrift Blogger [30:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (248)

Allen Buckley, Candidate for U. S. Senate (GA)

Allen Buckley is a Libertarian running for U.S. Senate from Georgia. Sometimes Libertarians can go too far with the idea that things work better without government. While this is true in many instances, things work better without corporate greed and influence. That is what makes government necessary because nothing other than government can make the playing field level.

But, for what it is worth, when it comes to our economic woes, social security reform, health care insurance, everyone needs to give Allen a listen. As a CPA and an attorney, I think Allen understands both the law and balancing the books and he offers some interesting proposals to solve some of America’s most difficult problems.

One thing I like about Allen is that he doesn’t deal in soundbites. (How I hate people that answer questions in soundbites.) I have no doubt that Allen has a passionate concern for the economic future of America. When our elected officials have more concern for our economic future than getting re-elected, we might actually get some of these long term problems solved.

Allen took on Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin recently at the debate in Perry, GA. Allen has no hesitation to call Chambliss a liar. According to Allen, Chambliss lies everytime he tells audiences that the Fair Tax is a viable solution to all our tax propblems. The Fair Tax is a sales tax on everything (or virtually everything) at a rate that brings in enough tax revenue to pay for government program. The rate is very much in dispute. Allen points out that the proposal Chambliss supports calls for an unrealistically low tax rate that even the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform considers to be about half the tax rate that would actually be necessary.

Allen says Chambliss is fiscally irresponsible, having voted for all the deficit spending federal budgets proposed during his time in the Senate. He is especially critical of Chambliss’ support for unrestrained, uncontrolled farm subsidies.

As for the difference between Democrats and Republicans, it is just a question of who gets the tax cuts, the wealthy (Republican) or the middle class (Democrat).

While Allen thinks the baleout of Wall Street and the banks is not a good idea, he makes it clear that $700 or $800 billion is not our biggest problem. He sounds the alarm loud and clear that if we do not resolve the social security and medicare budgetary problems in the next decade or so, we will simply get to the point that our debts bring government to a standstill.

If you think a vote for Allen is a wasted vote because a Libertarian may not win, Allen points out that if you really want change in Washington, a vote him is definitely a vote for change.

 
 Allen Buckley, Candidate, U.S. Senate GA [31:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (235)

SNL Does it Again! But Was it With McCain’s Approval?

What’s In Your @#$@#$ Wallet???????

If you are definitely voting for McCain, if you are even considering voting for McCain, you really ought to think about the economy. Why is the American economy experiencing the worst losses in half a century? Forget corporate greed. Forget corporate arrogance. Forget million dollar, billion dollar, bonuses for corporate executives managing failing companies. All that doesn’t explain why the largest insurance company in the world, AIG, needs (and gets) an $85 billion dollar baleout. Some of that is my damn money, my tax money, my “cut my taxes” tax money.

By the way, if you go to the AIG website, you will see their motto: “The Strength to be There.” Give me a break!

Why? Republican policies. Republican policies of doing away with government regulations because it is killing small businesses. Republican policies of false, hypocritical faith in the “free market.” They believe the free market solves all problems. Republicans deny to their last sorry breath that there is any evil in the free market. @#$@#% the free market. It works until its excesses and abuses catch up with it and then we (working people) pay for it.

Everyone in America had better thank whatever God they believe in that we are going to baleout these sorry sacks of feces, because if we didn’t, you just wouldn’t like the world you live (exist) in.

Republicans love unregulated business because it makes them tons of money, but it also allows business to put the dollar (the love of which I have heard is the root of all evil) ahead of wise business decisions. The corporations that are doing this are not the small business down the street skimming a few bucks out of the cash register. These corporations are multinational, have more money than any individual can even dream about, and are powerful enough to put you out of a job or a mortgage or a home when they risk your financial security so they can make another dollar.

If you think this election is about abortion, you are a moron. If you think it is about morality (gay marriage) in government, you are a fool. You should look in your investment portfolio, your wallet or more importantly, your employer’s wallet, and see which you love the most: your morals or your financial future.

If you vote Republican in November, I sincerely hope you reap what you sow.

No, I don’t think the Democrats are going to miraculously change all of this overnight. They are not going to eliminate waste and corruption. They are not going to solve all our problems. But if there is one damn thing the Democrats understand, it is corporate power. If there is one thing the damn Democrats know how to do, it is regular the s*** out of business. And by god, I am ready for a little of that with these bastards!

By the way, I didn’t lose a dime! I wouldn’t put my money in the stock market if you guaranteed me a 50% return.

Bobby Saxon, Candidate for Congress, GA 10th

Bobby Saxon is a Democrat trying to unseat a sitting Republican Congressman, Paul Broun, who was elected last year to fill the unexpired term of Charles Norwood. Bobby is a veteran of Iraq and believes Broun has abandoned our veterans when he voted against the new veterans bill.

According to Bobby, Broun has disappointed many Republicans, particularly farmers, with his votes on such things as the farm bill (which he voted against).

He also voted against increased funding for Peach Care health insurance for kids.

Why? Paul has declared himself against anything that costs more money–except apparently the Iraq War.

Apparently, for this same reason Broun thinks Social Security is unconstitutional.

Bobby points out that Paul voted against The Safe Act, one of only two Congressmen to vote against it. The bill required internet providers to report child pornographers.

Bobby told me something surprising: there are 4000 oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Broun is a big supporter of DRILL, DRILL, DRILL. The only problem is that drilling offshore or in Alaska NWR, it isn’t going to resolve the current price of oil or get us very far in achieving oil independence. Bobby doesn’t oppose drilling and exploration, but points out that is just a small part of the energy problem. It is the long term solution of alternative and renewable sources of energy that we need to develop from solar to nuclear.

Bobby points out that Broun is a former lobbyist, whose conservative mantel opposes federal regulation of business and things that cost money, but who wants that same federal government to regulate our private and social lives.

Bobby describes himself as a moderate, conservative Democrat with common sense. He hopes to get the voters of the 10th send common sense to Washington.

The most disturbing thing that Bobby told me is that Broun has refused to debate him, even though Broun chastised his Republican opponent for refusing to debate. I tell you, when elected representatives won’t face their opponents in a debate, there is something wrong. Talk about elitist, now that is the epitome of elitism.
VOTE NOVEMBER 4TH!!!

 
 Bobby Saxon, Candidate, Congress GA 10th [30:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (416)

Rep. Jeff Lewis (R-15), Chairman House Energy Committee

Jeff Lewis is Chairmen of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. While the committee has a broad range of jurisdiction, this interview focused on energy. You may have heard of the ethanol plants being built in Georgia. The one in Camilla uses corn and the one in Treutlen County uses wood chips (pine trees). According to Lewis, it takes about 1 to 1.5 gallons of energy to produce one gallon of ethanol using corn. Wood chips take less energy to produce the same gallon of ethanol.

Georgia has more pine trees than any other state in the Union. If wood chips can be utiltized to produce ethanol efficiently, such plants could represent an economic boost to the state in the future.

When it comes to generating electricity, it is anticipated that in the next 10 to 15 years Georgia will need another 22 to 25 thousand additional megawatts of electricty per day. That could mean as many as twenty new power plants. That’s a lot of power plants! You may not realize it, but new power plants are being built all the time. While the Public Service Commission has responsibility to approve the construction of a new plant, the Energy Committee has the responsibility to set the guidelines by which new plants are considered and authorized.

You will not believe the number of power plants in Georgia, and most of them are not owned by Georgia Power. Many companies and cities apparently generate some amount of electricity.

The decision that is on the horizen is whether or not to change that focus from coal or natural gas plants to nuclear plants. A nuclear plant generates 1000 to 1500 megawatts of electricity. It can take 12 to 15 years to plan, permit and build a nuclear plant. The Energy Committee could increase electricity production in Georgia by shortening the time required to permit a new plant.

I get the impression from Jeff that nuclear power is coming, it is just a matter of when. The “Three Mile Island” incident in 1979 resulted in a virtual moratorium in the construction of nuclear generating plants. According to Jeff, nuclear power is the most efficient and cost effective energy source. He believes the issue of disposing of nuclear waste is being dealt with.

While the US obtains almost 20% of its electricity from nuclear power, Europe relies heavily on nuclear energy: France 80%, Italy and Spain 60%, and England 50%. Here’s a list of European countries with nuclear power plants.

Jeff also mentioned a new generating plant to be located in Clay County, which will generate 250 megawatts by burning “biomass,” such as peanut shells and pecan hulls. The Committee approved a sales tax exemption for the plant so that it did not have to pay sales tax on the raw products it buys to generate electricity. This incentive was necessary to convince the plant to locate in Georgia, rather than Florida or Alabama who were also competing to get it.

I also asked Jeff about comments attributed to him when the Committee met in August in which he expressed doubts as to whether or not global warming is real, and if real, to what extent do humans contribute to or cause it. Jeff took a lot of heat for those comments.

Like a lot of people, I believe global warming is real and that human generated greenhouse gases contribute to it, but the truth is, my opinion means absolutely nothing.

The concern is that while other states have passed laws setting goals for energy efficiency and emission standards, Jeff and other Georgia legislators apparently don’t believe that such measures are necessary. Jeff doesn’t want to do anything to handicap the state’s economy, when its competitors around the globe may not be doing likewise. He says that he and other legislators are educating themselves so that if and when they have to make substantive decisions for or against global warming, they can make the best decision for Georgia.

I think that global warming is an issue that is too big for individual states to resolve. This issue requires and demands leadership on a national scale. Without that kind of leadership, there will only be a continued unresolved controversy. It is just like the water problem we are now dealing with in Georgia. State leaders have known this problem was approaching for years and did nothing, primarily because to do something is to limit growth or spend a lot of money. Just like water, states will never effectively deal with the economic aspects of global warming until some crisis in the air or water quality exists. Just like water, that could be too late.

Jeff indicated that the Committee is not presently expected to consider any specific legislation during the ‘08 session.

 
 Rep. Jeff Lewis, (R-15), Chairman, House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee [30:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (684)

Joe Seehusen, Deputy Campaign Manager, Tells Me About Ron Paul!

He raised $4 million in campaign contributions in one day. He’s a Republican Congressman from Texas, but he would end the Iraq War quicker than any Democrat–or Republican. He carries a copy of the US Constitution in his pocket. He answers questions whether you like it or not. He thinks most of the federal agencies are illegal and should be abolished. He believes the States ought to have to fix their own problems, keep their own money and be responsible to their own people, not beholden to the money dispensers in Washington. His concept of government is not what we were taught in 10th grade civics. It is different, maybe even radical, and Ron Paul scares a lot of people because if he were elected and had his way, two things would happen: (1) all those power brokers in and out of government would experience what many average Americans experience everyday: unemployment and uncertainty about paying the mortgage by the 10th of the month, and (2) “we the people” would have to grow up and govern ourselves on a local level and could no longer blame Washington for our problems.

Or at least that is what Joe Seehusen, Deputy Campaign Manager for Ron Paul for President, told me. My thanks to Joe for the interview. While I won’t hold Ron Paul personally responsible for everything and anything Joe said, as Deputy Campaign Manager, I assume his answers reflect generally the attitude and approach of Ron Paul. For that reason, I will talk about Ron Paul, not Joe. Sorry, Joe, but I guess that just goes with the job.

While Ron Paul is elected as a Republican, he is a Libertarian if he is anything. And I don’t say that with any degree of criticism. Trained as an obstetrician, he is known as “Dr. No” because of his consistent votes against things like the “Bridge to NoWhere.”

Ron Paul (and Joe) believes in the Constitution like the religious right believes in the Bible. He is dead serious about restoring the power to the States, and in doing so, gutting the federal government. The problem with Ron Paul is he thinks we Americans are capable of governing ourselves, that instead of griping and moaning and being thankful there is someone else to blame, we could actually deal with most of our problems on a state by state basis.

While Ron Paul has recently gotten a boost, he is still in single digits in the polls. I don’t think he has a chance to win the election, but in many ways I wish he did. If he were in the lead, maybe it would prove to us that we really do want a candidate to tell us the truth, not just what we want to hear.

Take campaign finance. Most of us believe there is too much money in politics. We don’t like the power that lobbyists exert over the people that are supposed to be doing what is best for us. Most of us would probably support laws that restrict the influence of money. Ron Paul, however, thinks differently, radically different. I would say even refreshingly different. Joe would not represent himself as speaking for Ron Paul on this issue, so I have to say this is what Joe thought the answer to the problem is. The answer is to take away the power of the politicians to give the lobbyist what they want. If there are no federal agencies regulating business activities, if Congress isn’t passing budgets to spend trillions of our dollars, the things that lobbyist go to Washington for won’t exist. Now, that is a radically different way to look at the problem.

I feel about Ron Paul like I feel about ending the war in Iraq. I am ready to end the war tomorrow. I agree that I don’t know what would happen as the result of an immediate pullout, but I am willing to deal with whatever that brings rather than staying there another day. I truly wish we, as a nation, had the courage to elect someone like Ron Paul. I think he scares us because his ideas are radical, they are not what we are accustomed to. But, I know we would survive, and we just might be the better for it.

And why could Ron Paul raise $4 million in one day? Because there are a lot of people in this country that are not opposed to revolution, who are not married to the old ideas about government and how it should be run. They are growing in numbers and impatience. It is just a matter of time. It may be 2008. It may be 2012.

We may not elect Ron Paul next year, but I am confident that America is lost unless and until we grasp a radical new concept of government. That new concept may not be 100% Ron Paul or 100% Democrat or 100% Republican, but whatever it is, we need it to survive.

 
 Joe Seehusen, Deputy Campaign Manager, Ron Paul for President [30:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (431)

Erickson Mixes It Up!

Erick just returned from a Values Voters Summit in DC last weekend. I didn’t know that when I asked for the interview, but it did prompt a question or two. Like, does the religious right have the influence in politics that it had 4 years ago? The answer is interesting.

The first thing Erick told me was that some Republicans are mad at him for getting Democrats elected. That’s good! We need more bipartisanship. I assume Erick was referring to his support of Robert Reichert, a Democrat, in the mayoral race in Macon. Believe it or not, I worked for Robert’s law firm in 1979-1981 when his father was the Senior Partner–before Robert went to law school even.

Fred Thompson: Fred made a better non-candidate than candidate. Erick’s information is that the Thompson campaign is in the “play it safe mode.”

Mike Huckabee: Huckabee was a close second to Romney in the Values Voters’ straw poll. According to Erick, many of the Republicans who are focused on value issues are not happy with Thompson and are turning to Huckabee. However, Huckabee scares the business community to death because of his fiscal policies.

The 2008 election may determine whether or not the grand coalition put together by Ronald Reagan of business and religious interests can survive the ideological failures of the Bush administration. According to Erick, the fiscal conservatives (I guess the ones that are tired of deficit spending to finance the Iraq War rather than the ones who want tax cuts.) are ready to jump from the GOP and support Hillary. Now that’s a thought to ponder!

Apparently, the business interests believe the social conservatives have gotten more for their dollar since 2000. As Erick says, the fiscal conservatives got the tax cuts, and the social guys got everything else. I am not sure two Supreme Court appointments, a partial birth abortion ban and a stem cell veto are enough to represent everything else.

Another interesting thing is Erick’s statement that the conservative right is shifting its focus from abortion to gay rights, particularly gay marriage. Since abortions are decreasing and polls suggest people are less likely to support a total ban on abortion, gay rights and gay marriage are the new frontier.

Erick suggests that while Christian leaders, like Chuck Colson and James Dobson, don’t necessarily agree with the shift in focus, there is a growing appreciation within the Christian community that legislating morals may not be a good thing, particularly if you cease to be the party in power. While legislating morals is a dangerous practice, I am not sure I can see this shift in Georgia.

Erick thinks that while Christian influence on a national level is decreasing, it is still strong on the state level.

We discussed briefly the proposed constitutional amendment to define life that may come to a vote in the 2008 legislature. Erick has seen the definition of “life,” which apparently says that life begins at conception and ends at natural death. (Is death by execution a “natural” death?) The interesting thing is that Erick says the National Right to Life and Americans United for Life oppose the Georgia amendment. The consensus is that it is unconstitutional and a waste of taxpayers’ money to even put it on the ballot. Now, does anyone want to bet whether or not they (the Republican leaders of Georgia) go ahead and waste out time and money?

Rudy Giuliani: I had never heard there was an “Italian vote,” but Erick says there is a big one and it could make the difference if the final match is Hillary versus Giuliani. The Italian vote generally splits 55/45 Democrat, but with Rudy it splits 85/15 Rudy. If the final duel is between two New Yorkers, Erick says Hillary will have a harder time in the South than Giuliani because she has to also overcome the “woman” factor. Maybe, maybe not.

And what issues will the 2008 election turn on? I wasn’t surprised to hear that the usual domestic issues from healthcare to the deficit would be significant, but I almost fell over when Erick told me that big business CEOs were now primarily supporting Democratic candidates because they want big government to take some of the big issues off their shoulders, such as health care. Make it a government program! Who cares, just get it off the bottom line of the profit and loss statement. I guess that makes sense, but I just don’t see the CEO of Walmart as a Democrat.

Opposing the Democratic CEOs are the Republican Entrepreneurs, those who still think the private sector can deal with most of these problems. What problems? I guess like Blackwater solving the problem of not enough troops on the ground.

I guess only time will tell if Erick’s observations about trends prove correct, but it is always a pleasure to get his viewpoint. We did agree on one thing: No one wants another Bush!

 
 Erick Erickson, Republican Commentator [31:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (659)

Erickson on the War: An Endeavor We Needed to Take!

I always enjoy talking with Erick Erickson, even though we differ on some, maybe many, things. I think one reason is that Erick is not a right-winger, but more of a libertarian-a virtual Democrat!

More importantly, Erick does disagree with his party on certain issues and policies. I think all Americans, specifically our elected politicians, should disagree with their party on something. Had such independence of thought existed in Washington for the first 6 years of the Bush presidency, we probably wouldn’t be in Iraq today and Congress wouldn’t have an approval rating in the twenties!

However, when it comes to the War in Iraq, I just don’t understand how someone as smart as Erick still supports a failed policy, much less believes it was a good idea in the beginning. We knew, Cheney knew, Bush’s father knew, everyone knew in the first Iraq War not to go to Baghdad. Nothing changed that justified jumping into that tar pit in 2003. Face it, we have made a mess in Iraq. You can say the surge succeeded, but who cares? This isn’t about a 6 month effort! This is about year after year in Iraq. Decades in Iraq. Life after America life. Bush won’t leave because he is incapable of admitting he was wrong–from the beginning. As for me, I am not willing to pay the cost of Bush’s ignorance and Cheney’s conniving another single day.

The outcome is always going to be the same: When we leave, hell will break loose in Iraq. The factions in Iraq want civil war or they don’t. All we did by eliminating Saddam, was make it possible, indeed imperative, that the people of Iraq (the good, bad and ugly tribal powers and religious factions) make a decision as to whether or not they want to build a country or destroy themselves. They might as well make that decision tomorrow. Postponing that decision is not worth one more American life. Warning: When all this proves to be true, I will say “I told you so!”

Erick also comments on Fred Thompson’s candidacy. He calls Thompson a “leave me the heck alone” Republican. Fred is definitely Eric’s preference for the No. 1 job. However, according to Erick, Rudy has an advantage in that the guy ahead in the polls and in the money at this point in the campaign is historically the winner of the nomination.

Believe it or not, Erick likes Joe Biden on the Democratic side. But he still thinks Hillary will be the nominee, historically speaking, and that a Democrat will be elected.

I still support John Edwards.

On the Speaker’s property tax reform proposal, Erick isn’t particularly opposed to doing away with the property tax, he just doesn’t trust the people at the state level to handle the money fairly. He doesn’t think Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will end up supporting the Speaker’s tax reform proposal.

And finally, Erick and I did find agreement on immigration. Build the fence and enforce the law! According to Erick, it is mainly a matter of votes, Hispanic votes. I think it is a matter of money: cheap labor.

Last but not least, we both agree that this new presidential primary schedule is simply nuts. I think America would be well served if it returned to the kind of politics where the party nominee was actually chosen at the convention, not 5 months before.

 
 Eric Erickson, Republican Strategist and Blogger [26:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (414)

The Shelbinator on Romney!

The Shelbinator’s video post on Mitt Romney’s recent visit to Atlanta, via the Varsity, is worth a look.

I enjoyed the comments by the Shelbinator himself, interspersed with Romney’s stump speech, not because they were an expose’ on Romney, but because they demonstrate how void of meaning most political campaigning really is. I am sure that the same kind of criticism could be leveled at just about any politician and his campaign speeches, Democrat of Republican.

Would we be better citizens and voters if we all constructed this kind of video in our brains when politicians talk? My point is not that politicians talk nonsense, although many and most of them do and all of them do at times. My point is that, sadly, their nonsense satisfies us. We prefer the sound bites to real discussions of real issues. We pick the guy we like, and stick with him through thick and thin and war and deficits and only after 5 or 6 years do we ask ourselves: “Why didn’t he know who the president of that country was?”