Fresh Loaf

‘Our friend at Peach Pundit, Erick? What’s Erick’s last name? He criticized the gang or some of his people did, because we don’t talk enough about local politics and we’re not specific enough. And you know he closed up his shop Tuesday for Thanksgiving and we’re here talking politics. I want him to know that.’

– Georgia Gang’s Dick Williams, as quoted by GriftDrift. Peach Pundit was, in fact, regularly updated during the holiday week.

—–

A local television news investigation last week uncovered the names of more than one hundred Georgia law enforcement officials who have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). WGCL-TV found evidence that these officers sought — and in many cases received — special treatment.Offenders included both low and high-ranking officers.

– An excerpt from a disturbing story at TheNewspaper.com, quoting a WGCL-TV CBS-46 story, as quoted by Jeff Emanuel at Peach Pundit.

—–

“The state is being governed through the prism of a Republican primary,” he said. “When that happens, some of the more radical ideas become viable.”

-- AJC.com’s Political Insider, quoting state Sen. David Adelman, D-Atlanta. Adelman was apparently referring to the Glenn Tax.

Bookmark It

Reverend Joe Beasley twice calls Senator David Shafer a “race man” and accuses him of trying to get the City of Atlanta abolished when Maynard Jackson was elected Mayor (in the early 1970s when Shafer would have been in elemetary [sic] school). You can hear it here.

— Erick at Peach Pundit, on WABE-FM (90.1) series “Saving Grady” about Grady Hospital.

Note, Beasley doesn’t explicitly accuse Shafer of trying to abolish Atlanta. Instead, he seems to conflate Shafer with state legislators of the early 1970s.

Whether he’s actually accusing Shafer of being the Doogie Howser of legislative racism is beside the point. Beasley is clearly trying to short-circuit a serious discussion about Shafer’s legislation by calling him a racist.

Incidentally, Beasley also calls Maynard Jackson “the first mayor of the city of Atlanta.”

—–

Hey, it’s raining outside

— Mel at Blog For Democracy helpfully notes that it’s raining outside — as opposed to inside. Thanks, Sonny.

—–

I suppose some Democrats are going to say, “Clinton managed to balance the budget and create a surplus.” Clinton deserves some credit, but the Republican controlled Congress deserves just as much recognition for their part, like I said above…Congress holds the purse.

— Jason Pye accuses AJC columnist Jay Bookman of intellectual dishonesty for saying Democrats are more fiscally conservative than Republicans.

In the same post, Pye praises President Reagan for cutting federal spending, never mentioning that Democrats controlled the House of Representatives during Reagan’s two terms.

Either they “hold the purse” or they don’t.

Bookmark It

We live in an old house that still has a 5 gallon toilet. But you know what? I replaced mine in my bathroom (separate bathrooms: the key to a long and happy marriage) with a 1 gallon toilet and I like it soooo much better. The water jets out with more force, fills up quicker, and I think does a better job.But my plumber loves the 5 gallon one. He tells me you can still get them in Canada.

— Erick at PeachPundit discussing the benefits of separate bathrooms, low-flow toilets, and why Canada is not just cheap drugs, funny accents and Dave Coulier.

If I promise to support Glenn’s tax pony, will he grow back his mustachio? Because he would be taxed if his barber shaved it off for him.

— Flack Attack at Tondee’s Tavern poses a question to state House Speaker Glenn Richardson about the new website advertising the speaker’s pet project, the GREAT tax plan. The site, FA says, is paid for with taxpayer dollars.

You know, I thought we’d hit the bottom of the barrel in politics with the year of the outing of the gay Republicans–Mark Foley having dirty IMs with male teenage pages, Larry Craig trying to get gloryholed in an airport bathroom, etc. but the truth is we apparently have seen absolutely nothing yet. The Australians have actually shocked me in a way I never thought possible with the scandal that is sweeping their Parliament.

— Sara at Going Through the Motions catches us up on the latest scandal keeping all of the Land Down Under atwitter — a politician caught on videotape eating his earwax.

Bookmark It

But I like my long, water wasting hot showers

– Erick at Peach Pundit on a proposal by Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Decatur) to require water-saving plumbing fixtures in homes

I feel his pain. Listening to my favorite radio program in the shower is one my favorite ways to relax. Damn you, drought! Damn you, local leaders who don’t know the meaning of planning! Damn you, mussels.

—–

I have a big problem. I care too much.

– EskimoKiss has a big problem. EskimoKiss cares too much.

—–

Too bad his dimwitted principal doesn’t get it. Pitts seized 500 undistributed copies of the school paper and, according to the AJC, told the student journalists he wanted more “positive and uplifting stories.”

– ATLMalcontent berates East Coweta High School Principal Derek Pitts for confiscating copies of the school’s student newspaper. Pitts was upset about a satirical essay in the paper by student Justin Jones.

Bookmark It

Sen. Eric Johnson, the General Assembly’s Senate president pro tem, has a nifty way of looking at things. Be it abortion, health care, or even rape, the architect-cum-politico has a way with words that rivals even the most knuckleheaded of legislators.

“Since it went into effect in May of 2005, the [state Department of Human Resources] reports that between 32,500 and 40,500 women have talked to their doctors about an abortion. After that conversation and the information provided to them by this law, approximately 10,000 chose to carry their babies to term. In addition, 2,300 minors considered terminating their pregnancy and only 500 did so. So we saved about 11,800 babies so far. Pretty neat, huh?”

— Johnson displays subjective mathematic skills on an Oct. 13 PeachPundit.com post about the “success” of a new law that requires women seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours and be informed of the procedure’s “medical risks … and status of the life in their womb” prior to receiving one.

“Just thinking out loud, we ought to look at — what if Grady ceased to exist? Maybe something better would come along. I think the burden’s on them to convince those that they want to receive funding from that the problems are being resolved. Otherwise, we might just test the capacity of other health care providers in the region.”

— Johnson’s comments during a Sept. 25 press conference on the prospect of losing Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the largest public health systems in the country and home to the state’s only poison center.

“It’s a rape in my mind.”

Johnson’s Feb. 16 explanation to CNN anchor Rick Sanchez on why he said Genarlow Wilson raped an unconscious girl at a party when, after viewing a video of the incident, the jury and prosecutors said the girl was conscious and the sex consensual.

Bookmark It

Instead, how about “The City Too Busy to Cut a Deadweight Marketing Initiative from its Budget”?

— Rusty the Radical Georgia Moderate on “City lights, Southern nights,” the slogan reportedly replacing “Every day is an opening day” as Atlanta’s new municipal marketing theme

—–

Atlanta abandons slogan, resurrects Glen Campbell’s career

— When ATLMalcontent heard the slogan, he thought of a Glen Campbell song. When I heard it, I thought of a porn store.

—–

The Dumbest Thing Ever Said

— memberg at Peach Pundit on Brand Atlanta Executive Director Melinda Ennis-Roughton’s description of Atlanta as “New York with Southern manners and charm”

—–

New York with Southern manners and charm? I grew up here. This is not New York, Southern manners are getting rarer and rarer and all the charm is being bulldozed and replaced by McMansions. Which, of course, have lawns we can’t water.

— Danny G at AdPulp on the Atlanta/New York comparison.

Bookmark It

If Nancy Pelosi proposed we get rid of all state taxes and have the US House of Representatives decide how much of that revenue the state of Georgia got we would be up in arms. This nation was built on the premise of the government that is closest to the people works the best. We can point to plenty of examples where centralization has reduced local control (US Dept. of Education), why do we want to do that here in Georgia?

— Chris Farris at Peach Pundit, arguing against state Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson’s tax proposal. CL’s Scott Henry wrote about the speaker’s plan last month.

—–

I live on one of the two lakes that are important indicators for the water supply. Folks, “we ain’t got no water up here”.

— Stevie at Metroblogging Atlanta on the metro area’s dwindling water supply. CL’s John Sugg addresses the problem at length in his current column.

—–

This is not the state being paternalistic, overbearing or unreasonable. It is simply good stewardship. The ball is now in Grady’s court to show otherwise.

— GriftDrift digs into the Grady mess.

I went to Grady’s emergency ward for the first time on Saturday evening to visit a friend who’d been in a car accident. I didn’t realize you have to go through metal detectors to get into the emergency room. I appreciate and understand why, but it’s still pretty depressing to ponder.

Bookmark It

With so many bloggers noting the 40th anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, I figure I might as well throw in my 2 cents.

Or, more accurately, artist Matthew Diffee’s 2 cents.

Bookmark It

Below are some of my favorite blog comments from recent days:

What we are suggesting is that they have to make the case to YOU for the spending. Putting the power of the spending in the hands of the true local control, the taxpayer.

— State Rep. Earl Erhart, R-Powder Springs, attempts a “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” when he suggests that a state tax system overhaul proposed by Speaker Glenn Richardson puts power in the hands of local taxpayers. In fact, the plan would increase the power of state representatives at the expense of local government.

—–

Since Myron can’t put more than 8 words together on the fly or get someone to answer the questions for him without reinforcing our assessment of his ineptitude, he commissioned the flyer to talk for him without any chance for rebuttal.

— South Fulton Guy is clearly not a fan of Fulton County Sheriff Myron Freeman. This comment appeared under a post by Andre Walker at Georgia Politics Unfiltered about a newsletter Freeman mailed out to Fulton County residents.

—–

I’ve lived in a city with laissez fair zoning codes. It’s name is Houston, and it is a disgusting but excellent example of the failure of developers and businesses to properly grow a city and create an inviting, satisfying living environment.

— Steven P. Faust, commenting on Fresh Loaf, about a proposed high-rise development in Piedmont Park

Bookmark It

Peach Pundit, the Macon-based political website that recently took a CL Best of honor, has posted most interesting, if somewhat premature, poll results for the 2010 governor’s race. Conducted by Landmark Communications, an outfit run by local GOP consultant Mark Rountree, the poll measures only the appeal of Republican candidates among Republican voters. But, let’s face it: Can anyone imagine Georgia’s next governor not being a Republican?

Anyway, on to the results: If the GOP primary were held today, Casey Cagle would win the nomination without a runoff, with 51 percent of the vote. Pretty impressive numbers by the lite guv, another CL Best of winner. Following distantly are self-promoting Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, with 21 percent; new Secretary of State Karen Handel, with 13 percent; and U.S. Rep. Lynn “10 Commandments” Westmoreland, with 10 percent. The big news is the guy who comes in dead last. That’s right, it’s the property-tax avenger, House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who could not even muster a 4.5 percent showing among the 850 Republicans polled.

The most conspicuous omission is that of Sen. Johnny Isakson, but Landmark explains that he was left off the list because his candidacy would likely scare away several of the other possible contenders, skewing the poll results. Good point.

So far, Peach Pundit is the only place online we’ve spotted the Landmark poll.

Bookmark It

… Heath Garrett has left Johnny Isakson’s office for a consulting firm. I’m in D.C. and *every* single person has said Heath is headed off to set up shop for Isakson ‘10, the Gubernatorial run.

— Erick at Peach Pundit on speculation that Sen. Johnny Isakson will run for governor in 2010

how can anybody use THE HOLOCAUST as a vehicle to make a point about mexican chicken farmers? …

— The Arc of Time on AJC.com comments comparing an accused Lawrenceville Nazi with Latin Americans working in the U.S. illegally

I’ve often wondered if it would be an interesting social project to create a kind of kink think tank a la the above groups. The kinky version would judge all vanilla people by the ones who commit immoral acts. Following the formulae so cynically employed in the CWA and the CL’s own political propaganda, it would earnestly point out that engaging in missionary position fucking obviously can turn vanillas into sociopaths….

— Dr. Gloria Brame at Inside the Mind of Gloria Brame imagines what would happen if people with conventional sex lives were slandered the same way people with unconventional sex lives regularly are.

Incidentally, the CL she refers to above is the Catholic League.

Bookmark It

Delta says it has purchased two new 777s for the trip from ATL to Shanghai. No word on if they’ll be painted with lead paint or employ Christian slave labor from Chinese work camps.

— Erick at Peach Pundit abdicates his Crown Room Club privileges with this comment about the just-announced nonstop Delta flight from Atlanta to Shanghai.

—–

Is anyone else just completely embarrassed by our president? I mean, that speech yesterday was just a complete hypocritical slap in the face of the rest of the world; not to mention a complete “out of left field moment” at times (BURMA? REALLY? WTF?!).

— Duane Moody is embarrassed because, among other things, President Bush mentioned Burma during his speech to the United Nations.

—–

Join the MurrFurs as we take on the “USS Republic Klingons” in their second annual Bowling Challenge!

— atlanta_furs cordially invites you to the Furries vs. Klingons bowling tournament on Saturday.

Do yourself a favor and follow the link.

Bookmark It

For those of us watching the race for the next Georgia Department of Transportation commissioner, the resourceful Erick at the delightful Peach Pundit tosses some insider gossip into the muck. It reads more like a fourth-grader’s birthday party, but whatever.

A little bird lands upon his windowsill and whispers …

The Governor does not have the votes for Gena Abraham and Vance Smith does not have the votes either. [Ed’s Note: Remember, Cagle and Perdue like Abraham and Richardson likes Smith]

DOT Board members are very nervous. They do not want to piss off the Governor, but they don’t want to piss off the Speaker either. They’re all pretty pissed off that they’re getting caught in the crossfire between the legislature and Governor.

One guy said, “What in the hell does the Speaker’s tax plan have to do with the DOT Commissioner?�