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.
It looks like Mac's staff has finally discovered FR. "andy here and ibackmac both joined FR on exactly the same day" (VigilantCitizen)
iback, and andy, y'all just keep scratching each other's backs and back mac all you want. Contrary to Bill Shipp's observation, Mac is NOT Johnny's major opponent in this race. That would be Herman Cain. Also contrary to Bill Shipp, Isakson may soon find himself #2 in this race behind Herman Cain.
For those of you who are researching Mac's record, Mac is my Representative. He has voted right a large majority of the time. But, for the record he has NOT been able to build coalitions (like Newt did). He voted against NAFTA, but we got it any way. He voted against GATT, but we got it anyway. He has voted pro-life, but very little has changed to save the lives of the unborn.
Bold leadership is what we need.
Herman Cain is the MAN we need.
If it is becoming a two man race, it is between Cain and Isakson with Isakson looking over his shoulder and hearing the turning of wagon wheels.
"Them that's goin' get on the wagon. Them that ain't, get outta the way."
Thank you Mac, for stepping aside to let us pass.
Go! Cain Go!!!
Point well-taken, I wasn't trying to compare Santorum in every aspect to Cain or Collins (I am sure Mac wouldn't be stumping for RINO Spector either), just to point out that legislation doesn't happen overnight, and it's wrong to assume that just because a legislator hasn't been able to see every aspect of his platform enacted into law, he therefore shouldn't be in office. If Cain is elected, I am sure he will find that bringing about needed changes isn't automatic and requires lots of time and also requires like-minded legislators in office with you from elsewhere around the country. What I like about Collins is that he is familiar with the process and has proven his leadership ability to craft legislation and get it through.
Did anyone else notice how old this article was? Just typical of Mac Collins people bringing up OLD stuff.
"Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, February 11, 2004."
THREE MONTHS OLD! A lot has happened in three months my friend. Cain has matched Isakson in donations in the last quarter! Cain is now being attacked by Isakson on TV commercials. What does that say?
Let me clarify something - a Mac Collins supporter told me to go to this story today (he didn't know who I supported). He said "this story will show you the best conservative candidate". It didn't. Are Mac Collins people really using three month old articles now to show who is the top 2 candidates?
Shipp's senility is finally catching up with him....
Whew....it sure seems that way!
From cainforsenate.com:
Cain was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) in 1988. While serving as Chairman, he developed the organization into a pro-business voice through national debates and speeches concerning healthcare reform, employment policies and taxation. Following this experience, he was appointed to serve on the Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission.
Cain is former Chairman and President of the Tax Leadership Council of Americans for Fair Taxation
Now that you know Herman Cain has been working for conservative policy changes for years, I assume you will support him?
Thanks for the information. I stand corrected when it comes to the tax issues. I wasn't aware of Cain's efforts in this regard, and I applaud him for that and hope he is able to continue those efforts. However, I still plan to support Collins because of his longer track record when it comes to legislation not only on this but also on social issues like abortion, which is of primary importance to me given that how we treat the unborn must be highest priority. I was excited to see today Collins was endorsed by National Right to Life.
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