Yes, Cynthia, thanks for helping us keep things in perspective. He still is part of voter suppression tactics. We must continually be able to separate issues, but I too am glad he recorded this rant.
Exactly. Like the sayings go, "Even a broken clock is right twice a day..." and "The enemy of my enemy is my friend..." What he did was laudable, but never forget, he has been instrumental in GOP voter suppression tactics in GA throughout Kemp's term. Just ask Stacey Abrams. In another 18 months GA will be holding its primaries for the '22 election, which will more than likely pit Kemp against Abrams once again. And the Senate seat currently being contested by Warnock and Loeffler will be up for grabs in a proper election, with primaries and all. The thought of non-stop political ads on TV and everywhere AGAIN fills most Georgians with total dread, but it'll be interesting to see if there are any Republicans who want to go up against Kemp, and to see if Trump might have any effect on the '22 races. Again, Raffensperger was in the right here, but don't let that fool you. He's still a Georgia Republican.
I'd like everyone's opinion about the fact that Stacey Abrams sister, a judge, refused to allow Raffensperger to purge thousands of voters from the list just recently. I have read only one article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution complaining that she acted improperly, since she's Stacey's sister. I'm not questioning the propriety of her ruling, but wonder why the Republicans are not being more vocal. Thoughts? Is the 2022 election too close for Kemp's comfort, in view of the fact that he maintained his Secretary of State position while managing to keep Stacey from winning? and Stacey's apparent plan to run in '22?
Bruce, I'm with you about the nauseating political ads - especially the one where Perdue is commenting on a clip of AOC explaining that if the Democrats win the runoff they won't have to compromise. Perdue looks incredulous and says "no compromise? Is that what you want? They'll be in total control, take away your healthcare, spread their socialist agenda, pack the Supreme Court. . . ." I guess he isn't aware that the Republicans have had 10 years of total control, haven't compromised, tried to decimate the ACA, and have a conservative super majority in the Supreme Court that has precipitated talk by Democrats of enlarging it.
That Perdue ad is the one with the AOC clip that looks so obviously spliced to make her appear to say: "We win the elections in Georgia *splice* so we don't have to *splice* negotiate..." I would dearly love to know what she ACTUALLY said. Perdue's ads are especially odious. A writer friend of mine perfectly describes Perdue's manner of speaking as "oleaginous" (oily, smarmy, glib, etc.). I love it. Both Perdue and Loeffler's ads have been disproved and had tons of holes shot in them as to their truth/accuracy, but their campaigns and the PACs are still running them non-stop on our airwaves. Polls, which I now take with a grain of salt, show the Democrats up by around 7 percentage points in both races. That doesn't assure me, given the pollsters' dismal success rate in the general election. It remains to be seen how the 3,000,000+ voters who've already voted actually voted.
I genuinely believe ANYTHING can happen now, because no one can predict what exactly will happen now as a result of the past 48 hours. What will all this mean for Republicans in Georgia? It's a total crap-shoot. I'm expecting a nail-biter, and I expect whoever loses will contest the results. This is far from over.
I think 2022's races will be interesting to watch. Kemp and Abrams will be probably in for a rematch. However, depending on how Kemp comes through all this, there might be one or more Republicans who may take him on in the primary. Lurking over ALL this is Doug Collins. He is not going anywhere, and he is itching to get back into any form of power. A real over-ambitious, power-hungry SOB, in my opinion. Abrams only has here eyes on the governorship, as she has made very clear. She was close in 2018 and she might just get it if she gets everybody out to vote AND Republicans don't succeed in repressing too many votes. As I've said, Georgia may be the "canary in the coal mine" for Republicans as to what could happen nationally, and it has them deeply worried. As to Trump's effect? That remains to be seen. All I know is, I am TIRED of being at the epicentre of America's politics as we've been for the past couple of months!! Somebody else, PLEASE?!?
Bruce, I'm beyond fatigued! These ads can't bring votes from anyone other than their base. The Democrats' ads are much better, and often quite funny. No question that voter suppression will continue to be an issue, but Stacey Abrams is all over it. I got a call from a FairFight volunteer in California, following up on my response to a survey regarding my voting experience in this race. I had said that I was very pleased with every aspect of the experience, and that I'd been in line for about 45 minutes. The woman asked if I'd object to her contending that I had waited too long, but I was ambivalent. While Cobb County's decision to reduce the number of polling places was suspect, Gwinnett County, where I live, made all locations available. My point is that FairFight is doing everything possible to force the state to up their game. That is encouraging.
You're right, scary Doug Collins remains a threat to be dealt with, and I agree that he is lurking, waiting to seize any opportunity. It will continue to be challenging here, but is looking more hopeful than years ago, when someone at Costco commented on the Kerry sticker on my car, and we agreed that we were probably the only two Democrats in Gwinnett County.
"...we agreed that we were probably the only two Democrats in Gwinnett County." Not anymore!! Gwinnett is turning into a Democrat stronghold. I live in Hall, which continues to be virulently red. Democrats are scarce as hen's teeth up here. But, I saw a map somewhere (I think NYT) that showed the demographic shifts in the past 30 years or so. It was interesting to note how the counties surrounding the 5-county core of Atlanta had gradually shifted from red to blue. Places like Forsyth and Bartow had shifted dramatically. It wasn't so long ago ('80s) that Forsyth was pretty much all white (it, Habersham and White counties were very proudly ALL white for years when I was growing up) and they hosted KKK marches. Growing up I remember seeing in Cumming a large sign that said "N***er, don't let the sun set on YOU!" Yup, saw it with my own eyes. It has totally changed 180 degrees. As I said, I think the change that has gone on, and continues to go on, in GA (urban vs rural) may be a microcosm of what is happening in some places nationwide. I basically left the state in 1976 when I went to the Midwest to get my masters degree, then to San Francisco from '85-'88, then to Europe for 18 years. I came back to the state in 2004/05 and the changes were palpable.
Exactly. This is a man with both a history and a planned future of voter suppression. I'm grateful he has what it takes to stand up to Trump on behalf of the election results. That is far too rare. It doesn't change what else he does. Really, most of us are a mix of good and bad.
For one thing, he admits to voting for Trump in 2020. It's a measure of how far the bar has been lowered that we're cheering for people like him, Romney, Murkowski, Collins, etc., just for occasionally doing their job.
Yep- I just read that there all kinds of measures continue to be taken/are in place to suppress the GA vote tomorrow. Like you said Cynthia... he did the right thing in this situation...standing up to the criminal actions of the current president.
In light of tp's Sat. phone call, Republican congressional members contesting the presidential election results and GA elected officials, must turn their ship around immediately and publicly admit they've been wrong. Oh, dear Jiminy Cricket, sing your song again loudly for all to hear! "Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide"
Jiminy! The problem with the the trumplican GOP and supporters is that you have to have a conscience to begin with to steer your rudder. If you have no conscience, you flounder around on the ocean and are easy bait for a macho, daddy-type shark to "save" you and tell you what to think. With no real internal rudder, you become a perfect target to be sucked into their brainwashing/propaganda vortex. They do not want you to be virtuous or think critically. And one would think, with all these so-called GOP Christians and evangelicals, a very simple conscience trigger such as " What Would Jesus Do?" would help them grok something they must have learned in church. Jiminy Christus. (sorry, I promise to go to sleep soon).
The Golden Rule appears to be the simplest of all decision-making tools and should serve the benevolent narcissist in most of us.
Well, David Worley, GA election board member is requesting a probe into the call. He is the sole dem on the board. His name might need to be repeated as well...
And Raffensperger is quoted on MSN as saying Trump could be investigated for the call. I'll give Raffensperger an attaboy for his pushback at Trump, but his actions don't qualify him for hero status - he is still willing to suppress voters.
He did the right thing at a critical moment, it may cost him is political career, but new doors will open for this man. No real opportunities for the sycophants. "Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change." RFK
GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has saved our republic for now. Say his name. Brad Raffensperger-
He’s not as good as we’re giving him credit for... but he did the right thing here....
Yes, Cynthia, thanks for helping us keep things in perspective. He still is part of voter suppression tactics. We must continually be able to separate issues, but I too am glad he recorded this rant.
Exactly. Like the sayings go, "Even a broken clock is right twice a day..." and "The enemy of my enemy is my friend..." What he did was laudable, but never forget, he has been instrumental in GOP voter suppression tactics in GA throughout Kemp's term. Just ask Stacey Abrams. In another 18 months GA will be holding its primaries for the '22 election, which will more than likely pit Kemp against Abrams once again. And the Senate seat currently being contested by Warnock and Loeffler will be up for grabs in a proper election, with primaries and all. The thought of non-stop political ads on TV and everywhere AGAIN fills most Georgians with total dread, but it'll be interesting to see if there are any Republicans who want to go up against Kemp, and to see if Trump might have any effect on the '22 races. Again, Raffensperger was in the right here, but don't let that fool you. He's still a Georgia Republican.
I'd like everyone's opinion about the fact that Stacey Abrams sister, a judge, refused to allow Raffensperger to purge thousands of voters from the list just recently. I have read only one article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution complaining that she acted improperly, since she's Stacey's sister. I'm not questioning the propriety of her ruling, but wonder why the Republicans are not being more vocal. Thoughts? Is the 2022 election too close for Kemp's comfort, in view of the fact that he maintained his Secretary of State position while managing to keep Stacey from winning? and Stacey's apparent plan to run in '22?
Bruce, I'm with you about the nauseating political ads - especially the one where Perdue is commenting on a clip of AOC explaining that if the Democrats win the runoff they won't have to compromise. Perdue looks incredulous and says "no compromise? Is that what you want? They'll be in total control, take away your healthcare, spread their socialist agenda, pack the Supreme Court. . . ." I guess he isn't aware that the Republicans have had 10 years of total control, haven't compromised, tried to decimate the ACA, and have a conservative super majority in the Supreme Court that has precipitated talk by Democrats of enlarging it.
That Perdue ad is the one with the AOC clip that looks so obviously spliced to make her appear to say: "We win the elections in Georgia *splice* so we don't have to *splice* negotiate..." I would dearly love to know what she ACTUALLY said. Perdue's ads are especially odious. A writer friend of mine perfectly describes Perdue's manner of speaking as "oleaginous" (oily, smarmy, glib, etc.). I love it. Both Perdue and Loeffler's ads have been disproved and had tons of holes shot in them as to their truth/accuracy, but their campaigns and the PACs are still running them non-stop on our airwaves. Polls, which I now take with a grain of salt, show the Democrats up by around 7 percentage points in both races. That doesn't assure me, given the pollsters' dismal success rate in the general election. It remains to be seen how the 3,000,000+ voters who've already voted actually voted.
I genuinely believe ANYTHING can happen now, because no one can predict what exactly will happen now as a result of the past 48 hours. What will all this mean for Republicans in Georgia? It's a total crap-shoot. I'm expecting a nail-biter, and I expect whoever loses will contest the results. This is far from over.
I think 2022's races will be interesting to watch. Kemp and Abrams will be probably in for a rematch. However, depending on how Kemp comes through all this, there might be one or more Republicans who may take him on in the primary. Lurking over ALL this is Doug Collins. He is not going anywhere, and he is itching to get back into any form of power. A real over-ambitious, power-hungry SOB, in my opinion. Abrams only has here eyes on the governorship, as she has made very clear. She was close in 2018 and she might just get it if she gets everybody out to vote AND Republicans don't succeed in repressing too many votes. As I've said, Georgia may be the "canary in the coal mine" for Republicans as to what could happen nationally, and it has them deeply worried. As to Trump's effect? That remains to be seen. All I know is, I am TIRED of being at the epicentre of America's politics as we've been for the past couple of months!! Somebody else, PLEASE?!?
Bruce, I'm beyond fatigued! These ads can't bring votes from anyone other than their base. The Democrats' ads are much better, and often quite funny. No question that voter suppression will continue to be an issue, but Stacey Abrams is all over it. I got a call from a FairFight volunteer in California, following up on my response to a survey regarding my voting experience in this race. I had said that I was very pleased with every aspect of the experience, and that I'd been in line for about 45 minutes. The woman asked if I'd object to her contending that I had waited too long, but I was ambivalent. While Cobb County's decision to reduce the number of polling places was suspect, Gwinnett County, where I live, made all locations available. My point is that FairFight is doing everything possible to force the state to up their game. That is encouraging.
You're right, scary Doug Collins remains a threat to be dealt with, and I agree that he is lurking, waiting to seize any opportunity. It will continue to be challenging here, but is looking more hopeful than years ago, when someone at Costco commented on the Kerry sticker on my car, and we agreed that we were probably the only two Democrats in Gwinnett County.
"...we agreed that we were probably the only two Democrats in Gwinnett County." Not anymore!! Gwinnett is turning into a Democrat stronghold. I live in Hall, which continues to be virulently red. Democrats are scarce as hen's teeth up here. But, I saw a map somewhere (I think NYT) that showed the demographic shifts in the past 30 years or so. It was interesting to note how the counties surrounding the 5-county core of Atlanta had gradually shifted from red to blue. Places like Forsyth and Bartow had shifted dramatically. It wasn't so long ago ('80s) that Forsyth was pretty much all white (it, Habersham and White counties were very proudly ALL white for years when I was growing up) and they hosted KKK marches. Growing up I remember seeing in Cumming a large sign that said "N***er, don't let the sun set on YOU!" Yup, saw it with my own eyes. It has totally changed 180 degrees. As I said, I think the change that has gone on, and continues to go on, in GA (urban vs rural) may be a microcosm of what is happening in some places nationwide. I basically left the state in 1976 when I went to the Midwest to get my masters degree, then to San Francisco from '85-'88, then to Europe for 18 years. I came back to the state in 2004/05 and the changes were palpable.
Thanks for the levity in the first sentence. I needed that!
Exactly. This is a man with both a history and a planned future of voter suppression. I'm grateful he has what it takes to stand up to Trump on behalf of the election results. That is far too rare. It doesn't change what else he does. Really, most of us are a mix of good and bad.
For one thing, he admits to voting for Trump in 2020. It's a measure of how far the bar has been lowered that we're cheering for people like him, Romney, Murkowski, Collins, etc., just for occasionally doing their job.
Yep- I just read that there all kinds of measures continue to be taken/are in place to suppress the GA vote tomorrow. Like you said Cynthia... he did the right thing in this situation...standing up to the criminal actions of the current president.
In light of tp's Sat. phone call, Republican congressional members contesting the presidential election results and GA elected officials, must turn their ship around immediately and publicly admit they've been wrong. Oh, dear Jiminy Cricket, sing your song again loudly for all to hear! "Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide"
https://youtu.be/DOZzNOkcEgM
Jiminy! The problem with the the trumplican GOP and supporters is that you have to have a conscience to begin with to steer your rudder. If you have no conscience, you flounder around on the ocean and are easy bait for a macho, daddy-type shark to "save" you and tell you what to think. With no real internal rudder, you become a perfect target to be sucked into their brainwashing/propaganda vortex. They do not want you to be virtuous or think critically. And one would think, with all these so-called GOP Christians and evangelicals, a very simple conscience trigger such as " What Would Jesus Do?" would help them grok something they must have learned in church. Jiminy Christus. (sorry, I promise to go to sleep soon).
The Golden Rule appears to be the simplest of all decision-making tools and should serve the benevolent narcissist in most of us.
Thank you, Penelope. I should have been in bed an hour ago, but here I am. Glad, because your post is perfect to end the day with.
Well, David Worley, GA election board member is requesting a probe into the call. He is the sole dem on the board. His name might need to be repeated as well...
..And Worley made this criminal probe request to Raffensburger!
And Raffensperger is quoted on MSN as saying Trump could be investigated for the call. I'll give Raffensperger an attaboy for his pushback at Trump, but his actions don't qualify him for hero status - he is still willing to suppress voters.
He did the right thing at a critical moment, it may cost him is political career, but new doors will open for this man. No real opportunities for the sycophants. "Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change." RFK
I’m sure saying his name— my new superhero Brad Raffensperger!