Fresh Loaf

Ah, Bobby Franklin.

Even among his fellow Republican House members, the mere mention of the East Cobb lawmaker’s name reliably elicits a smile and shake of the head, usually followed by a comment along the lines of, “Bless his heart” or “You know, he’s actually a nice person.”

After all, what can you really say about a guy who’s bat-shit crazy — and, astoundingly enough, only seems to be getting crazier?

We thought Rep. Franklin had reached the lunatic fringe way back in aught-deuce, when he proposed a bill that called for women seeking an abortion to first obtain a “death warrant” from a Superior Court judge.

Since then, he’s predictably written other loony legislation to prevent abortions and expand gun rights, but this year…oooh, boy. Let’s just say ol’ Bobby’s gone off the rails on a crazy train.

First, he pre-filed a full dozen bills for the 2010 General Assembly. Four are standard Glenn Beck-ish measures aimed at limiting the power of the tyrannical, Obama-led federal government. One would prohibit government workers from taking photographs of private property without a search warrant. Another argues for a common-law “right” to drive a car. Two others would allow families to forgo vaccinations and pasteurized milk.

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Rep. Paul "Nutter" Broun

By all accounts, last night’s town hall meeting on health care reform in Clarkston, hosted by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-DeKalb, proceeded very amiably. (Presumably, young Tom Wheatley will be posting his account soon.)

According to the AJC:

Johnson set the tone for the evening when, from the stage, he said, “We are here to have an open and respectful dialogue.”

In the main auditorium that held 500 people, applause for health care reform clearly outweighed any boos or jeers. Some people attributed that to the demographic of this area.

Some people said there are numerous people in this area who live on the margins and need universal health care.

But among the 1,000 people in a nearby gymnasium where there was a close-circuit feed and among the more than 500 people milling outside, there were active, respectful debates.

Respectful. Civil. And clearly weighted in favor of health care reform. Keep in mind this was in suburban DeKalb.

Over in suburban Augusta, however, with U.S. Rep Paul Broun, R-Fruitloop, setting the tone, it was a different scene, according to the Augusta Chronicle:

Dr. Broun called the pending Democratic legislation an “abomination” and “a stinking rotten fish” and said Democratic efforts are the “steamroll of socialism.” He did offer up his own idea for reform, including a Medicare health savings account that would follow the beneficiaries, allowing them to spend what Medicare would have spent on them in their own way.

“America is mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore,” said Joyce Jamison of Evans.

The crowds at the Columbia County Board of Education building — organizers had to add a second event to accommodate the hundreds of people initially turned away — egged him on.

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