Fresh Loaf

How kooky is today’s GOP? It’s off the deep end — and swimming for open sea.

What other conclusion are we to draw from U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal’s decision last week to solidify his Republican bona fides by casting his lot with the birthers?

Deal has long been the most level-headed of Georgia’s GOP congressmen. But these days, rational behavior and reasonable positions don’t win Republican primaries — just ask Dierdre Scozzafava of New York’s House District 23. If you want to compete with the likes of John Oxendine — Deal’s opponent for governor — you best be prepared to board the crazy train.

As the Tea Parties prove, this is a national phenomenon, but it’s doubly disturbing in a red state like Georgia, where most of the top elected officials are Republicans who now feel pressure to act like loons. (And then there’s Rep. Paul Broun, who really is a loon.)

In other words the GOP’s “big tent” is being reduced to a padded cell.

Lest you think this is more liberal whining, the purpose of this post is to draw your attention to an interesting blog item on the increasingly conservative Peach Pundit:

The real news here is that Deal has done what no other candidate in this race has been able to do thus far: He has taken a position so “out there” that Ox has been able to take a stance that makes him seem sensible and sane.

However, the comments suggest that not everyone on the right sees sanity the same way.

Bookmark It

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-IrrationalFearVille, spends his time drafting bills about the country’s pressing issues.

Via the AJC:

- U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, a conservative Republican from Athens, filed a bill that would cut public funding of schools that allow children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in any language except English. Another Broun bill would designate 2010 as the National Year of the Bible. Yet another would prohibit honor guards at veterans’ funerals unless they’re allowed to offer the option of a religious-based recitation during the folding of the American flag.

Broun called in to Glenn Beck’s radio show this morning. The congressman said he “praises God” for the host’s service and his efforts to warn Americans about “steamrollin’ socialism.”

This is why Georgians can’t have nice things.

Bookmark It

The U.S. House narrowly passed the cap-and-trade bill late Friday, and it didn’t take long for Georgia’s own Congressman Paul Broun, R-Flat Earth, to be singled out as the nuttiest of the naysayers.

Why, you ask? Because of statements like this, made from the well:

“The idea of human-induced global climate change is one of the greatest hoaxes perpetrated out of the scientific community.”

So, Nobel Prize-winning economist and NYT columnist Paul Krugman, what was your take on Broun’s remarks?

(more…)

Bookmark It

What can Broun do for us? He can start by saying fewer shockingly stupid things.

In the race between Paul Broun and Lynn Westmoreland to be Georgia’s Dumbassiest Congressman, Paul Broun just pulled way ahead.

In an interview Monday with the Associated Press, Broun compared President-elect Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.

Broun cited a July speech by Obama that has circulated on the Internet in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.

“That’s exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it’s exactly what the Soviet Union did,” Broun said. “When he’s proposing to have a national security force that’s answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he’s showing me signs of being Marxist.”

[. . .]

“We can’t be lulled into complacency,” Broun said. “You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I’m not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I’m saying is there is the potential.

I love that bit at the end. I’m not comparing him to Hitler, except for the two times I just compared him to Hitler.

The powerful civilian “force” to which Broun refers is Obama’s proposed expansion of federally-funded Americorps-type public service programs. As Obama proposes, they would perform such Nazi-like functions as giving tuition vouchers to college students who tutor school children, feed the homeless and assist the elderly.

Helping kids learn algebra. Starting WWII and the Holocaust. Pretty much the same thing, right? I can see why Broun is so confused.

Incidentally, one of the Obama plan’s inspirations is FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps, which during the Great Depression built several popular parks in Georgia, including a very nice one in Broun’s district.

In case you don’t remember FDR, Paul, he was President when we beat Hitler.

Bookmark It

Are you a U.S. Congressman who’s careless with your spending? Gov. Sonny Perdue understands and he wants to help. But if you’re a city or county, well, in that case, you were reckless and had it coming.

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun recently made the news thanks to a congressional report that says the Republican congressman’s office had blown more than 80 percent of its annual budget, mostly on mailings to his constituents. (Broun blamed the spree on a former chief of staff.) Enter normally fiscal-minded Perdue, who’s agreed to attend an fundraiser tomorrow for the cash-strapped representative.

But Perdue’s not so forgiving when it comes to local governments. The governor raised the ire of many — Decatur in particular was aflame on the webz last week — when he criticized them for overspending in light of the state’s estimated $1.6 billion shortfall.

While the state is making spending cuts, Perdue said local governments “have never approached it from the standpoint that they have to tighten their belts.”

Congressman overspending = rest your head on my shoulder. Local governments “overspending” = you should know better.

Does Perdue have time on his schedule to host a bake sale for the estimated 661 county and city governments in Georgia?

(Hat tip to Peach Pundit and Decatur Metro for links, inspiration)

Bookmark It

RUNSOFF: Jim Martin and Vernon Jones will face off in a runoff Aug. 5 to determine who faces Saxby Chambliss in November; Burrell Ellis and Stan Watson will also have a runoff in the DeKalb CEO race; the Fulton County sheriff’s race will be running off to decide whether incumbent Myron Freeman or retired FBI agent Ted Jackson will face Republican Michael Rary in November.

INCUMBENTS: U.S Reps. John Lewis, John Barrow and Paul Broun all fended off their challengers to retain their seats in Congress.

CITI TREND: Dunwoody becomes the latest north Atlanta community to catch city fever.

GWINNETTIANS: Less opposed to MARTA than they used to be.

ALL-STAR GAME: American League wins its 12th straight in the longest All-Star Game in major-league history.

Bookmark It

10th Congressional District Republican incumbent Rep. Paul Broun is loud and proud when it comes to Jesus. Last year he promised to subject all legislation that passes his desk to a Biblical test

Yesterday, Broun pushed his overbearing Jesusness to new levels of stupidity when he accused his opponent, State Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, of not being a real Christian.

From Mary Ellen Cheatham at Georgia Public Broadcasting:

“It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t understand redemption and salvation and a changed life in accepting Jesus as lord and savior,” Broun says of state Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) in an interview which aired Thursday on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s WACG 90.7 FM in Augusta. “It’s not about religion but about a relationship with Jesus.”

Doesn’t understand redemption, salvation or accepting Jesus as lord and savior? Ouch! This Barry Fleming must be a tree-humping druid or something.

Fleming’s campaign web site:

Barry is an active member of Harlem Baptist Church where he has served as chairman of the Board of Deacons and chairman of his church’s finance committee.

As of this afternoon, Jesus has not endorsed either candidate. If and when he does, CL’s Voter Guide will let you know.

Bookmark It

A pointless, brutal war and serial violations of the Geneva Conventions are apparently not the only things staining the honor of U.S. military personnel.

According to Rep. Paul Broun, R-Georgia, government-assisted masturbation (in the form of pornographic magazine sales at military facilities) is “denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad.”

To protect America’s servicemen and women from rubbing one out on Uncle Sam, Broun has proposed something called the Military Honor and Decency Act.

Broun ’splains:

“As a Marine, I am deeply concerned for the welfare of our troops and their mission,” said Broun. “Allowing the sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by: escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes; feeding a base addiction; eroding the family as the primary building block of society; and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad. Our troops should not see their honor sullied so that the moguls behind magazines like Playboy and Penthouse can profit. The ‘Military Honor and Decency Act’ will right a bureaucratic–and moral–wrong.”

Idiotic, yes, but it’s also kind of sweet. The poor Congressman thinks our troops still get their porn from magazines.

(Tip of the jimmy hat to Erick at Peach Pundit for bringing it to my attention and brownsox at Daily Kos for reminding me today that it was brought to my attention.)

Bookmark It

The knock against Paul Broun, when he first began gaining on state Sen. Jim Whitehead for the GOP nomination in the 10th District congressional race earlier this year, was that he was a wing-nut social conservative who wouldn’t play ball in the compromise-fraught world of politics.

Not even four months in office, Broun seems intent on proving his critics right. His very first Capitol vote was to prohibit the feds from busting pot-smokers in states with medical marijuana laws. The move could be interpreted as a Libertarian throat-clearing, considering all six other Georgia Republicans voted the other way.

Broun continues to step out on the narrow end of the limb. This week, he introduced a bill to ban abortion. That’s right, his “Sanctity of Human Life Act” declares that fertilized ova are entitled to the constitutional promise of life, liberty, etc. Quoth Broun in a statement:

It is only right that we recognize these unborn children as “persons” and provide them with the protections of the 14th amendment.

Now, there may be plenty of conservative politicians who want to end abortion, but the savvy ones realize that the majority of Americans prefer the status quo. Plus, putting this desire in the form of a bill effectively IDs any congressman as a fringe-dweller.
That could explain why Rep. Broun has been such a sorry fundraiser so far. He’ll need to defend his post in next year’s elections, but the incumbent is already far behind his GOP challenger, state Rep. Barry Fleming of Augusta.

According to the most recent campaign disclosures, filed in October, Broun has $34,800 cash on hand, compared to Fleming’s bankroll of $269,000. Perhaps even more telling is the fact that the congressman is still carrying $293,000 in debt from his razor-thin win over Whitehead. That figure includes a $124,000 loan the wealthy Broun made to himself, but, jeez — when you’re starting a short, tough primary race six figures in the hole, that ain’t good.

Now, Brounians would note that their man had a similar financial disadvantage in his last race, but the difference is that Whitehead was a bonehead campaigner who thumbed his nose at Athens voters. Unless Fleming takes a dump in the UGA hedges, this time next year we’ll be calling him congressman.

Bookmark It

On his very first morning as the newest member of Congress, Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens, managed to piss off a goodly number of his conservative constituents by being the only Georgia Republican to vote in favor of allowing medical marijuana use.

The Democrat-backed measure would have prevented the feds from busting pot clinics in California and 11 other states that have legalized doctor-prescribed spliffs. Broun joined home-state Dems Sanford Bishop, Hank Johnson, John Lewis and David Scott. Harshing the buzz were nay-voting GOPers Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston, John Linder, Tom Price and Lynn Westmoreland, who were joined by Democrat John Barrow of Augusta.

Democrat Jim Marshall of Macon didn’t vote. Perhaps he was out back having a smoke.

At any rate, the measure failed 262-165. It’s worth noting that Broun is a medical doctor, but then so are Gingrey and Price.

Medical marijuana has been a controversial issue in Congress ever since 1981, when the very first federal legalization bill was introduced by — trivia alert! — another Georgia Republican. That’s right, it was a young Newt Gingrich who first proposed letting doctors make reefer-als. Just a reminder of how the political world has turned.

Bookmark It

Congratulations to Paul Broun. I’m eating crow for breakfast this morning, as I (like most others) predicted a Whitehead cakewalk.

— Jeff Emanuel at Peach Pundit, on Paul Broun’s surprising victory over Jim Whitehead in yesterday’s 10th congressional district special election.

Perhaps Broun can now use his power as a congressman to launch a federal investigation to determine how many guns Jim Whitehead owns.

—–

I like the Falcons, and I am sorry Vick chose this path, but he did. Now, the bill has come due.

— Aging Hipster on the federal indictment yesterday of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (aka Ookie and Ron Mexico.)

Who’d have thunk Marcus Vick would turn out to be the good son?

—–

I think that I get my feelings hurt, or am disappointed, because I expect too much. Is it possible, that I put too much thought, guilt, worry, or anxiety into relationships, so much so, that I inadvertently cause the situation to go all weird? I wouldn’t think that this would be the case, because if it were, it would be the standard; and it isn’t.

I mean, I really don’t think that I do any of this outwardly, or even on purpose, but for whatever reason, I feel like there must be something that I do that makes people change. It is the only solution that I can come up with, although, it is really the only one that I can truly substantiate if it is reality. Again, I probably am over-analyzing things, but what if I am not? What if there is something that I do, something small, that causes these changes in my relationships with other people?

— Duane Moody wonders whether he’s at least partly responsible for some of his personal relationships going “all weird.”

Bookmark It

This is fantastic news, though obviously not a final determination as to whether the execution will proceed but merely a little more time and hopefully a fresh look at the new evidence.

-Sara at Going Through The Motions, after hearing that the state Parole Board granted a 90-day stay of execution to Troy Anthony Davis. Several witnesses in the case have recanted testimony that helped convict Davis.

—–

He Needs to Die.

-Erick at Peach Pundit is seemingly undisturbed about the possible killing of an innocent man by the state of Georgia. Aren’t conservatives supposed to be for limited government?

—–

I’m picking Whitehead to win with at least 65%.

-Jason Pye, on today’s 10th Congressional District special election. The candidates are Paul “I endorse myself” Broun and Jim “Seal the Canadian border” Whitehead.

Bookmark It

During Monday’s candidates debate, 10th Congressional District candidate Paul Broun accused his opponent, Jim Whitehead, of telling the Georgia Sport Shooting Association that he doesn’t own any guns. Broun also implied he has been endorsed by the GSSA.

Today, Jeff Emanuel at Peach Pundit noted that the GSSA lists Broun as its president.

Broun’s campaign manager Joshua Evans confirms that Broun has indeed secured the endorsement of the organization whose website lists him as its president. He says, however, that he believes Broun has stepped down from the position.

That this is a campaign issue at all is insane.

Bookmark It

Streaming video of last night’s 10th Congressional District debate between candidates Jim Whitehead and Paul Broun is now available, courtesy of Atlanta Press Club.

Broun and Whitehead were shockingly petty and inarticulate. Watching and listening to these two people embarrasses me as a Georgian and as an American. I’d vote for a leaky Magic 8-Ball before I’d vote for either of these two.

(more…)

Bookmark It

I don’t think I’ve ever felt more embarrassed to be a Georgian than I was watching last night’s televised debate between 10th Congressional District candidates Jim Whitehead and Paul Broun.

Among the lowlights:

1) In an attempt to neutralize Whitehead’s pro-gun cred, Broun said that someone told him that Whitehead didn’t actually own a gun. Asinine.

2) Whitehead referred to the concentration of high-tech businesses in northern California as “Silicone” Valley.

The Atlanta Press Club will post video of the debate later today, at which point I’ll moan more extensively.

Bookmark It