The Biggest Lie Ever Told: The Republicans are for "Small" Government

The Republican Party touts itself as the advocate for small government and individual liberty. Well, that's the biggest lie ever told in Politics.

For all the talk about how Democrats are the party of Big Government, let's keep it real...The Republican Party also love Big Government. A few marginal party activists, like U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, or even Paul Broun of Georgia have championed limited government, even libertarian policies. But this is not at all the norm for the GOP nationally, state and local.

It has also supported government subsidies for religious institutions, government restrictions on immigration and free passage across international boundaries, government denial of collective bargaining rights for public sector workers and government interference with women’s right to abortion and doctors’ right to perform it. The Republicans has rallied around, (Guess what) government interference with the right of same-sex couples to marry, government provision of extraordinarily lengthy imprisonment for drug possession (for example, in the “war on drugs”) and numerous other nonviolent offenses, government interference with voting rights (such as “voter suppression” laws), and government restrictions on freedom of information.

Wait.....now there is plenty of GOP support for small government when it comes to cutting taxes on the wealthy, limiting regulation of big business, gutting environmental regulations, weakening legal protections for workers and minorities, and slashing government funding for public education, public health, and social welfare services. But there is a common thread to this kind of small government action. It is all designed to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyone else. (Look here in Georgia for example) Thus, the Republican Party opposes government alleviation of hunger through the distribution of food stamps, but supports government subsidies to corporations. I don't get it!

You can bet and you're already hearing it with this being the year that all 435 members of congress are up and many Senators face re-election and wanna be congressmen, women and senators are vying to occupy some of these seats, there will be plenty of rhetoric about freedom and limited government. But the party’s actual policies will reflect a very different agenda. For THOSE folks who can see beyond the deluge of SLICK campaign advertisements, it should be clear enough that the Republican Party’s claim to support small government  is a fraud, a scam, a outright lie! That claim is only an attractive mask, designed to disguise a party of privilege.

Georgia New Congressional Map: Barrow on the move.....AGAIN??? Bishop a lock! Scott more safer?

Today the New Georgia Congressional Map is out & with no surprise, Conservative Democrat John Barrow (D-Savannah) is on the move once again. Hos home of Chatham County is now occupied by Jack Kingston (R-Savannah). New counties in Barrow's district are Laurens, Coffee, Appling, Jeff Davis, Telfair, Wheeler, & republican south Columbia County.

Other Bluedog Sanford Bishop is made safer with the removal of Thomas County from his district. He now has Bibb County & much more of Muscogee County (Columbus) going into midtown Columbus.

Freshman Austin Scott is made safer by the removal of democratic Bibb County, but he has republican North Bibb County in the district. He takes in much of Kingston's western half of the district of Lowndes, Clinch, Lanier, Cook, Berrien, Atkinson, Echols, & he takes democratic Brooks County from Sanford Bishop.

Arch Conservative Paul Broun of Athens now has a much more competitive district for democrats to contend with. He takes Barrow & Walton Counties from Rob Woodall of the 7th CD, & he takes John Barrow democratic areas of Hancock, Baldwin, Taliaferro, Johnson, Warren, republican lean Glascock, Jefferson, Washington (Dem leaning counties) & Takes old portions of 8th CD Jasper, Butts, Newton & eastern Henry County.

The new 14th CD now hovers over NE Georgia, with Hall County the anchor county

Tom Price 6th CD now occupies Bartow County & snakes into north central Fulton County.

The other Districts are pratically the same Tom Graves now takes Floyd, Polk & Haralson Counties, as well as Paulding County.

What to make of this?

This opens the door for State Senator Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) to run for this seat. Based on the proposed district, it was drawn specifically for him. Greg Morris, (R-Vidalia), a former democrat who switched in 2006 could also be another possibility.

Bishop is less likely to received a challenge from a republican, but given the mrgin he won, its like he will receive another challenge.

Austin Scott must be happy camper right now. With Thomas County now included, the 8th appears to be much safer for him, but who knows? Although North Bibb is republican, there are democrats up there as well & could get a challenge from that portion of the county. Or it could come from Houston County or down somewhere in South Georgia.

Paul Broun is in a totally new district! If this stands, former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond would be the ideal candidate to run in this district. Its much more friendly for democrats.

The 12th & 10th CD in my opinion are tossup districts because they have been so altered by the ruling Georgia GOP.

My Own Version of Reapportionment: Georgia Style 2011

Here's what the districts would look like if I were redrawing the maps (Sorry I didn't include the Metro Atlanta Districts) If you are the democrats here in Georgia especially Barrow, Bishop, I would hope & pray that this version or something similar would be the end result after the special session. (Note: Clayton is still in Scott's District, not in Bishop's) In the 2nd, I included all of Muscogee County, as well as Upson comes into the fold. Tift, Cook are brought back into the district. The District will be knocking on the door of 50% African-American population. And it sets up nicely for Bishop's replacement when he decides to retire from congress. But it may spur more GOP candidates in running for this seat with the inclusion of Tift & Cook County, but Bishop represented these counties before & did very well in them

In the 8th, Tift (Scott's former home is now gone) & East Atlanta Republican Suburb of Walton County is brought in the 8th, all of Newton is now included as well & Lamar County is back as well. This district should help Scott in retaining the seat. Bibb County stays in the 8th. It belongs in Middle Georgia, not in a SW Georgia based district. The district remains a republican tilt district, but if the right democrat comes along, it can be won back by the dems.


In the 12th, Chatham is gone from the district & Greene, Morgan, & Putnam is brought into the district, all of Richmond Co is now included & Johnson Co is gone, making the district a Tossup/lean democratic district. And it will force Barrow to either run in the 1st (Jack Kingston) or relocate to Augusta. Remember, here in Georgia, a candidate does not have to reside in his or her district to run for congress, (Saxby Chambliss back in 1994 lived in the 2nd, but represented the old 3rd, now 8th District)

In the 3rd, Westmoreland District remains safe, no worries there for the GOP

In the 10th, Broun loses Greene, Morgan, & Putnam Counties, but that's offset with the inclusion of fast growing Barrow County. Its still safe for Broun for now!

Will GA Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens) be a target in 2012?

10th District congressman Paul Broun (R-Athens) practice a art that was so skillfully mastered by the likes of Gene Talmadge, Theodore Bilbo & other old time southern politicians:

Demagoguery!

This is one of the main reasons why democrats, Georgia & Washington Democrats ought to have a bullseye on the disgrace that is Paul Broun. Yes, I know the 10th is one of the reddest districts in the state, if not the country, but that doesn't mean majority of voters up there tolerate or support the demagogue tactics of that of Dr Paul Broun

Broun is skilled in that type of oratory, flattery, and invective, evasive in discussing vital issues, promising everything to everybody, appealing to the passions of those who are outside the mainstream rather than the reason of the public, and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices. History tells us that personal liberty is most often the demagogue's first victim, particularly when popular sentiment is whipped up against some internal or foreign enemy. In other words, liberty and demagogues cannot coexist.

He gained his seat in congress by appealing to people's emotions, instincts, and prejudices in a way that is considered manipulative and dangerous. This is a man that thinks Social Security is unconstitutional. This is a man who back in 2009 wrote a letter for a mailing by the American Conservative Union warning that if health care reform passes, “your doctor may be banned from giving you or your loved ones the life-saving care they need! He also said that President Obama "likely will move to ban gun ownership if he were to build a national police force, which is a classic case of a paranoid loon.

Y'all get the picture! The man has no business representing the great state of Georgia & the proud, independent nature of the 10th Congressional District.

Its time to find a credible challenger to put against Paul Broun next year. I'm going to say it again, but former State Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond is the "ONE" I'd be courting if I were Heath Shuler, one of the leaders of the Bluedog Coalition & the DCCC, as well as the Georgia Democratic Party. If not Thurmond, then I'd venture north to Union County & court young 32 year old Conservative Democrat Jack Lance who ran for HD 8 last year.

(GA-10) Thurmond v Broun in 2012?

DCCC: If you want Paul Broun gone, recruit Michael Thurmond

Paul Broun (R-Athens) have been not only an embarrassment to the great state of Georgia, but I'm sure the folks of the 10th Congressional District. Broun is by far the biggest conspiracy theorist in the entire congress. From using words like Marxist, Communist to describe the president to the United States to proposing legislation that seeks to withhold federal funds from any school which allows for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in any language other than English.

This is a man who said at a town event in Elbert Co that the federal government, through the Centers for Disease Control, would be calling Americans every single day to make sure they eat their fruits and vegetables. He also said at one point that Pres. Obama would try to create a national civilian security force that would trump local law enforcement and local laws. Broun also thinks Social Security is unconstitutional. Folks, I can't make this stuff up!!!!!!

Paul Broun is a poor man's Glenn Beck, the Fox News Personality. He's a self promoter & he's all about Paul Broun & nothing else. Remember he tried to run for congress once, here in the second district, but didn't manage to get out of the primary.

How long are the people of the 10th Congressional District going to put up with the non-sense of Paul Broun? When a constituent asked Broun who was going to kill, or assassinate Obama, Broun showed a lack of leadership on that matter, not coming out forcefully on that matter.

Yes the 10th is a conservative district, but has it gone to arch-conservative territory that it will put up with the joke that is Paul Broun? Its a largely rural district with Athens being the population center of the district, followed by Columbia/Northern Richmond County & a pretty sizable elderly voting population who could be in play with Broun's vote for the house Budget Plan by Paul Ryan, a Ohio Republican that will affect two things seniors care about deeply: Medicare & Medicaid.

There are some good democrats up in the 10th, but their lightweights. There was one middleweight, Bobby Saxon, a conservative democrat got 40% against Broun on a shoestring budget back in 2008 & a cruiser weight, Russell Edwards, a unabashed progressive ran a spirited campaign against Broun, but he was going against the red current that was sweeping the nation last year.

But democrats need a heavyweight & there's only one person that fits that bill: Michael Thurmond, a Athens Native who also represented a portion of Clarke County in the General Assembly back in 1986. Thurmond served over 12 years as State Labor Commissioner before running for the Senate in 2010.

I know many democrats were disappointed in Michael Thurmond's effort in the 2010 Senate race against Johnny Isakson, but I don't believe Michael Thurmond wants to go out like that. One thinks that Thurmond wants to avenge that loss & a run & a win against the most conservative member of the House of Representatives would be the antidote he needs. But for that to happen, the DCCC needs to pull the tail from between their legs & come to Georgia to make that happen.

Thurmond, a moderate would do very well in the conservative district against Paul Broun. Thurmond can wrap that Ryan Budget proposal around Broun's neck with his exceptional oratory skills, plus bring other crazy remarks Broun has made in the past. Now would Thurmond entertain such a run, no one knows. He may still have his eyes on the governorship in 2014, but if democrats are looking for that ONE candidate, then its "I Like Mike" Thurmond.

10th District: Russell Edwards (D-Athens) New Ad

10th Congressional District candidate Russell Edwards (D) Radio Ad against Paul Broun (R)

Can Russell Edwards take out Extremist Incumbent Paul Broun in Nov?

One race that has gone unnoticed here in the state is up in NE Georgia in the 10th Congressional District as Russell Edwards (D-Athens), a young moderate democrat who have waged a strong challenge to Incumbent Arch-Conservative Paul Broun (R-Athens).

The 10th is a conservative stronghold last represented by the late Charlie Norwood (R). The last democrat to hold that seat was Celete "Don" Johnson in 1992 before losing in 1994 due to his support of then president Bill Clinton's agenda.

The last democrat to run for that seat was Bobby Saxon, a conservative democrat who got 40% of the vote despite running on a shoe-string budget.

Edwards, a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law is a native of Fayette County Georgia wants to unseat Incumbent Paul Broun who has said repeatedly that social security is unconstitutional & needs to be eliminated. Broun has embraced the most "EXTREME" positions & views from supporting laws against efficient light bulbs, and sponsoring legislation to give human fertilized eggs the full legal protection afforded a person from the moment that a sperm penetrates the membrane of the egg cell. Paul Broun has shown that he is willing to take Republican ideology one step further, to embrace the most extreme positions, abandoning common sense for the sake of pandering to the fringe.

Broun in 2008 voted against H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act. Remember the deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota? H.R. 3999 was designed to help prevent that kind of disaster in the future, but Broun voted against it.

Voters have a alternative in Russell Edwards who wants to create jobs for the 10th by strengthening small businesses & to protect social security in which Paul Broun wants to privatize, support public schools & bring real, effective leadership to the district.

Broun has ducking & dodging debating Edwards on the issues in front of voters of the 10th District. Clearly he doesn't want to defend his controversial stances nor his views on issues ranging from social security to job creation. Given how Bobby Saxon took Broun to the woodshed in their one debate last year, I doubt he wants to go back down that road again in a debate with Russell Edwards.

Edwards have been traveling the district non-stop talking to business owners to teachers to seniors. Given the year democrats are facing right now, one can say Broun is the favorite, but who knows?

Surprising Fundraising Numbers for Russell Edwards (D-Athens)

The Campaign of 10th Congressional District candidate Russell Edwards (D-Athens) announced yesterday that they have raised $102,248.62 for their first fundraising quarter. That's more that they expected, but its a very impressive haul for a first time candidate running for office.

Says Edwards in a email to supporters:

I’m so grateful to have such wide-spread and strong support from throughout the District and across the country. This report shows voters are responding to my campaign to send responsible leadership to Congress. Frankly, many in our District are suffering, and our incumbent refuses to help. Together we will send responsible leadership to Congress that supports our community. Together we will win this race!
Thanks for supporting this campaign.

Edwards is challenging Arch-Conservative Paul Broun (R) for the 10th congressional seat in congress, who according to Congress.org, is ranked 431 out of 435 members of congress so that should tell you, as well as voters up in the 10th that Broun has absolutely no influence in congress whatsoever, he's basically a back-bencher, who only garner headlines by making outrageous, extremist comments instead of garnering headlines for something that will help our economy, or bring jobs to the district, or help our veterans. Its sad! Very sad!

One wonders will this haul convince the DCCC to put this race on the radar? It has a republican edge to it (The 10th does), but even among some republicans up there, he is not well liked, so its possible.