FReepMail me if you want to be ON or OFF this list
Go Herman Go! Pray for Herman Cain!
Click Here for the Herman Cain for US Senate Web Site
Posted on 02/12/2004 12:06:26 PM PST by ibackmac
Shipp: To win, Isakson should follow opponent's lead and start rabble-rousing
If Johnny Isakson wants to win a U.S. Senate seat, he should come out solidly in favor of a constitutional amendment against baring breasts during halftime shows at the Super Bowl.
Bill Shipp
more Shipp columns www.billshipp.com Such an idea is absurd, you say. Not at all. Congressman Isakson is in danger of becoming a bore. He needs an injection of pep - a sexy crusade against lewdness that everyone can endorse - to enliven his Senate bid. In this age of Michael and Janet Jackson, Debbie Norville and the rudeness-rules No-Spin Zone, the old political phrases - ''fiscal responsibility,'' ''a secure America,'' ''government accountability'' - do not entice, which is to say they do not work. A candidate needs TV grabbers - an over-the-top constitutional change, for instance - to get folks talking, juices flowing and partisan engines purring. Besides, constitutional amendments are in vogue. Consider the current crop of pending changes to our bedrock law. Among them: 1. authority to post the Ten Commandments in courthouses, 2.prohibition against all abortions, 3. prohibition against some abortions, 4. several definitions of marriage, 5. at least six differently worded bans on same-sex weddings, 6. guarantees of a flat tax, 7. mandates for a balanced budget and 8. provisions for giving more tax money to tax-exempt churches. Whether any of these proposed constitutional changes has the slightest chance of ratification is not important. Gaining voters' attention and firing up the electorate - that's what matters. So far, Isakson has devoted his early campaign sorties to the long-term dangers of the multitrillion-dollar deficit, needed federal budget reforms, immigration problems and the continued loss of jobs. He also promises to try to keep Georgia military bases from closing. Talk about yawners. Isakson needs hotter, more passionate campaign consultants in his corner - experts who know what the morality-inspired, MTV-mesmerized masses yearn to hear. Isakson's No. 1 opponent, Mac Collins, understands how to keep Republican primary voters interested and buzzing. He doesn't waste time on defending his record as a six-term congressman or explaining precisely why the very important House Ways and Means Committee (of which he is a member) has failed to address several vital economic matters. Instead, Collins has flooded the Internet with two-minute commercials and news releases slamming Isakson as the pro-abortion candidate for the Senate. Collins has even resurrected old TV footage of Isakson's wife and daughter agreeing with Johnny. (Why didn't Isakson think of that? Imagine the stir he could cause with a clip of both his wife and adolescent child nodding in agreement with something he said. He could become the envy of husbands and fathers everywhere.) In a recent appearance with Isakson before the Georgia Christian Coalition, Collins was a model of decorum and restraint. A stranger would be hard put to believe that the agreeable Collins, seated next to Isakson, had any relationship to the rabble outside, wearing Collins buttons and handing out reams of red-headlined anti-abortion leaflets, slamming Isakson as a deceitful, pro-baby-killing monster. ''Johnny ought to take Mac with him everywhere he goes,'' said one observer of the joint appearance. ''They get along so well together. Mac makes Johnny look and sound like Ronald Reagan.'' That must be a joke, right? Neither candidate rates a ''Great Communicator'' medal. Collins will surely improve as the campaign drones on. Perhaps the Rev. Herman Cain, a Senate candidate with considerable oratory talents as well as a breathtaking $700,000 campaign debt, will grow tired of the monotonous political gig and return to his former love, making millions in the pizza business. With Cain out of the picture and off the stage, the theatrically challenged Isakson and Collins could breathe easier and resume their polite discussions of the real issues, on which they rarely disagree. To be fair, Collins has been a competent congressman and has not entirely ignored his main duties in favor of discussing abortion. Just the other day, he put out a press release recounting his committee confrontation with Treasury Secretary John Snow in which Collins declared (in bold-face type): ''I want to see a budget that carries more job opportunities for the workers of our country. We have the best workforce in the world, and they deserve a level playing field in order to compete.'' How Secretary Snow responded to the hardly earthshaking demand for job opportunities as well as a return to that well-worn level playing field was not known. Collins didn't dwell on the topic and quickly returned to his e-mail barrage on the abortion matter. ''I have a 100 percent rating from the Christian Coalition and zero-percent rating from Planned Parenthood,'' he declared, as a hundred thousand more American jobs went to Asia and a million more infants starved in Africa. Come to think of it, that amendment to ban bare boobs during intermissions seems increasingly germane to modern American politics. Why not try it, Johnny? Anything goes these days, if it's entertaining. Bill Shipp is editor of Bill Shipp's Georgia, a weekly newsletter on government and business. Send mail to P.O. Box 440755, Kennesaw, GA 30160 or e-mail: bshipp@bellsouth.net.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, February 11, 2004.
What has Debbie Norville done recently to get herself into this select class of exotica?
It does sound like he's getting scared his boy Johnny I. can be defeated in the primary, which is good news for all of us.
I don't see what ibackmac's comment is based on, though.
He has more contributors, has raised more money and has more money on hand than Collins.
Now, I like Mac, but I prefer Cain, and I don't think y'all should be treating him as the enemy.
Mac Collins and Herman Cain are both very conservative, with VERY similar ideologies; you really can't go wrong with those two. There's quite a bit of time before the primary to see which one strikes your fancy. And if no candidate gets 50% in the first round (which appears likely) there will be a runoff, probably Isakson vs. Cain/Collins, where the choice will be easy.
andy1114's "Collins is definately the most conservative" assertion is totally baseless; he's a Collins partisan who's just woofing it up.
I am not sure how you personally define "most conservative", but I feel like the way to be sure is when there's a proven record of conservative action and votes. With Cain, we have very impressive speeches and positions that are terrific, but with Collins, we have over 12 years of votes to look at. I am personally more comfortable going with someone I know for sure has put his conservative principles in action, and that would be Collins. Also, I had never heard of Cain as doing anything to change the way things are when it comes to issues like abortion or tax policy until he announced for Senate. I along with many others have been working for years trying to bring about change by writing letters, making phone calls, joining political action committees on these issues. We'd like to have someone represent us who has also been working hard at these things over the course of time, not just recently announcing their interest in them. I'm glad Cain supports all these things, but I prefer a seasoned leader like Collins who has not only supported them all along but has also been doing something about it. Cain likes to say that he's the best one for the job in part because he's never held public office and that the other two candidates aren't as good because they are already in office, but he hasn't said that he would limit his time in the Senate to 1 term. If being in office is a bad thing and renders the office-holder unable to do a good job, it seems like Cain would apply the same reasoning to himself. Also, I think it's a mistake to presume that things happen overnight in Washington. Take Rick Santorum and the partial-birth abortion ban. For years he has worked to move that through the Senate and gain this victory for the unborn. But he couldn't do it alone. It took his tireless efforts along with getting more conservatives in the Senate to get it through finally, which is one reason Collins wants to be in the Senate, to help build the conservative majority so the Senate will stop holding up good legislation coming from the House. Just a thought. Anyway, I am going with Collins because of his experience and his record, which I have taken a lot of time to research.
Probably for the same reasons I don't, one of which is that andy here and ibackmac both joined FR on exactly the same day.
BTW...Collins is my rep, but I'm voting for Cain.
FReepMail me if you want to be ON or OFF this list
Go Herman Go! Pray for Herman Cain!
Click Here for the Herman Cain for US Senate Web Site
Collins is conservative and a wonderful person. You cannot qualify the statement that he is the most conservative. Cain is the only leader in this race and will boldly assert his influence.
If Collins is such an activist and conservative what happened to the contract with America? Is Newt the only Georgian who had the fortitude to push a conservative agenda? And, why would he be any different in the Senate?
Cain already in 7 months has changed the political landscape, empowering conservative activists.
Money or no money, he is getting the job done.
Rick Santorum is no Herman Cain. I doubt Cain would ever be stumping for Spector.
Bump for Herman!
The Good Sunday School Teacher did a little Rabble Rousing on his own Friday. He supplied an fully stocked open bar and hired a band and partied all night. His partygoers crashed Cain's celebration wanting to meet Steve Forbes and were upset when they found Forbes had already left. The worthless ingrates.
Personal Note From Herman Cain
5/17/04 | Herman Cain
Posted on 05/17/2004 8:25:30 PM PDT by Maurice1962
A personal note from Herman Cain
Dear fellow Georgians,
This past Saturday morning I was honored to address the Georgia GOP State Convention in Columbus. The energy and excitement that was felt at the convention is proof that Georgians are ready to believe in the promise of a better America.
The United States is being challenged by the war on terror, the war on our moral foundation and the war on our economic infrastructure. But America is still the greatest country in the world because of the bold leadership of the past and the American Dream that is still alive today.
In 1994 we had a vision for a better America and a desire to "restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives." Ten years later the Republican Revolution that was started right here in Georgia has stalled because too many members of Congress, like my opponent Rep. Isakson, are more concerned with positionship rather than leadership.
I am the only candidate for the U.S. Senate with the bold leadership and passion for change. I have been working on replacing the federal tax code for 10 years and am the only candidate who has the depth of understanding to provide the necessary leadership in the U.S. Senate to make it happen. I am also firm in my belief that life begins at conception and will do everything I can to protect the lives of the unborn.
As I told the GOP delegates at the State Convention, “If you want someone who will show up and vote and not rock the boat, that's Rep. Isakson. If you want someone who will rock the boat then drive the boat, I’m your man.”
July 20th offers the opportunity to bring bold new leadership that will transform the way the United States Senate works.
Under my “Contract with Georgia,” I will restart the Republican Revolution that pledged "the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money."
On the first day of the 109th Congress, I will immediately begin working on the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
FIRST, Shut down the IRS and replace it with the Fair Tax;
SECOND, Implement mandatory spending caps on all discretionary spending to balance the federal budget;
THIRD, Protect life which begins at conception;
FOURTH, Restructure Social Security so that we continue to provide for our Nation's seniors that are approaching retirement age, but allow for younger taxpayers to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts;
FIFTH, Further delay BRAC so that we can focus on winning the war on terrorism and determine how each military base can better continue the fight to defend America;
SIXTH, Totally restructure how Medicare is being delivered in order to achieve greater heath care affordability and accessibility for all Americans;
SEVENTH, Fight to protect the definition of marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman;
EIGHTH, Fight to end the Cloture Rule in the United States Senate so that President George W. Bush's conservative judges can be confirmed;
NINTH, Fight to protect our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms;
TENTH, Ensure that our Religious Liberties are not compromised.
It is time to bring back the ideas born under the Republican Revolution. People need to be shown that government is not the answer, government is the problem. We need to remind America that the Republican party stands for fiscal conservatism, strong moral values and commitment to pushing our Nation forward. This is a new time, a new day and this is the dawn of a new Republican Party. This is just the beginning. It is morning again here in Georgia.
Sincerely,
Herman Cain Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.