Why is Sonny popular while Congress sinks?
It comes down to basics. Most Americans are upset about out of control spending and immigration.
SPENDING
While Washington (Congress) has run up the debt to close to 9 trillion dollars, Sonny balanced a budget with a 600 million dollar shortfall in 2003. Also he has balanced the budget and ran surpluses every year. We can all argue if the surplus spending was right or wrong, but at the end of the day we are not in the RED!
IMMIGRATION
Sonny should send a big thank you note to State Senator Chip Rogers for driving through a get tough law on illegal immigration in Georgia. While Washington (Congress) has done nothing but give the American people lip service. The one bill they pass to build a fence to secure the boarders, we find out is a hoax.
I am not saying that in Georgia we do not have other issues. Yet in a time of both parties showing no leadership in the U.S. Congress on spending and immigration you have to give Sonny credit in our State.
Do you think this is why Sonny is way up in the polls?
October 10th, 2006 at 8:05 am
Not according to these recent polls:
http://graphics.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20061010_poll_results.pdf
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-09-poll_x.htm
Iraq is the largest issue. Perhaps Sonny’s popularity is due to the fact that he had nothing to do with Iraq?
October 10th, 2006 at 8:59 am
caroline,
That is a federal issue not a state issue. I do not think voters expect Sonny to do anything about the war.I was only looking at issues that are State and Federal.
October 10th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I got a big fold out letter that states Sonny’s position on same-sex marriage in a very plain way. As long as Sonny is in office, I feel like I have a giant stone wall guarding the insitution of marriage here in the state of Georgia.
However, there are some media outlets that move in subtle and unseen ways through the state. Last week on [Adult Swim], which is a late night block of shows on the Cartoon Network, the Squidbillies featured one of the main characters (which lampoon rural southerners) wearing a hat with a big southern cross on it with big bold letters stating “Sonny Lied”. I can only assume that was leveled at at 18-24 age bracket as some form of joke about the Georgia flag.
One thing I do know, Sonny is really working the values voters this time around. He’s got my vote!
October 10th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
James,
How does the Foley issue play with you. Do you think it will effect values voters?
October 10th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
caroline,
Why do you think Sunny is far ahead of Taylor?
October 10th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
JohnKonop,
I think there is a block of people out there with their head in their hands over the Foley issue. There is a minority of people that are trying to understand and feel compassion for the human behind the scandal. If you filter out the noise of the public, media and all the talking heads, Foley remains a person suffering under the yoke of sexual immorality.
I think this may negativly affect things in Foley’s district in the short term. If you’re asking about it’s impact on the nation, I think Values Voters will be energized by this and the social radicals on the left are and continue to scramble to do some damage control.
Watch for the social radicals and the leadership of the democratic party will try to deflect onto the house speaker and use this to continue to try to weaken the republican party by chopping the head off the body. It’s the same strategy they tried it with Bush but it’s taken 6 years for the “It’s Bush’s Fault” mantra to gain momentum. It worked with Delay and if the republicans can’t field strong leaders that are able to stand up to these attacks then we will become unfocused and factionalized and republican dominance in the political arean will weaken. Where is Newt Gingrich when you need him?
October 10th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
James
I am a Republican, But I have to say I think guys like Delay, Hastert… are what is wrong with the party. We need more Congressman like Ron Paul
to bring knew leadership to the GOP.
October 10th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
John Konop,
Sonny is ahead probably for a variety of reasons. James post above shows that GA (if he is representative) is very far out of the mainstream of American politics.
October 10th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
caroline
What are the main reasons Sunny is way up?
October 10th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
IMO, John, Sonny is up in the polls because he is a fundamentalist and there are lots of fundamentalists in GA. They like things like “sin taxes” etc. I’ve heard time and again how “gov. x” was going to lose or going to win. I’m waiting to see what happens.
October 10th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul#Gay_marriage_and_adoption
Isn’t Ron Paul a RINO?
October 10th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
James,
You are kidding!
October 10th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
caroline
What is your biggest issue with Sunny.
October 10th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Caroline,
I think most issues relating to religious morality are not by nature in the extreme of political thought. Our country, economy and our daily lives are steeped in religious tradition and morality. Sonny simply makes his position obvious on some of the very real threats to the fabric of society.
JohnKonop,
You just like Rep. Paul because he favors term limits. =D
For the record, he voted against H. J. Res. 88: Marriage Protection Amendment on Jul 18, 2006
October 10th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
James,
He is tough on pork spending,trade and immigration!
October 10th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
James,
Sorry, but I don’t think that having religion run the government or vice versa is a good idea. Look how it’s damaged religion.
John Konop,
My problem with Sonny is he does stupid stuff. Why call a tax on wine a “sin tax”? He’s saying that anyone who goes to church that serves wine at communion is a sinner. Has he appointed himself the lone arbiter of the bible? Does he claim to know the mind of God? This is what happens when you try to fuse religion and politics.He also seems to waste money because he can’t do something simple like bring state business to a close. The one you really should talk to is my husband. He was souring on the GOP due to W. but Sonny pushed him over the edge. He thinks Sonny is an embarrassment to the state. Of course, the good thing for him is that Sonny makes him laugh a lot!
October 10th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Caroline,
It’s not good for the state to become too dependant on “sin tax” a.k.a. “vice tax”. I should point out that there is a public interest in discouraging smoking in youth and in that context, taxation serves the state and the public health. The other thing I felt compelled to point out is that, from the perspective of a christian, all people are sinners by nature. If you want to know the mind of God, read the bible. The Word has been given to us all so we can grow spiritually.
As for reckless spending, I’m not big on government waste. I’m all for tigtening the borders and correcting trade imbalances (mostly with China). Pork barrel spending can have a major impact on local economies and puts food on the tables of American families. Can it be abused? Oh yes!
October 11th, 2006 at 9:35 am
James,
There is nothing in the bible about drinking wine being a sin. Sonny is implying that some people meet his definition of “sinners” while others do not. I’ve had it with the orwellian language manipulation. Can we not just call it an “alcohol tax” or a “wine tax” instead of a “sin tax”?
October 11th, 2006 at 10:35 am
I hope not I do like wine.
October 11th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Caroline,
Sure, labels are very important in the minds of voters. I think Sonny could be more sensitive with regards to the language he uses. I want to tell you though, I have this piece of mail from Sonny in my hands and the headline reads, “Mark Taylor - He put the interests of the radical homosexual lobby ahead of our Boy Scouts”.
That gets my attention. He’s speaking my language.
October 11th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
caroline,
James does have a very good point that our State should be dependant on sales of lottery tickets…. I do agree that if you add up the amount of money in verse the people it hurt it never adds up. Also it is poorest that get taking down the hardest.
October 11th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
sorry,
should not be dependant….
October 11th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
So I guess that Sonny really isn’t that far ahead in the polls. He’s having to pull out the ole gay boogey man huh? I knew Republicans were demoralized but I didn’t know they were that demoralized.
John,
It’s always something isn’t it?
October 11th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I think Sunny will win for the reasons I posted immigration and spending.I also yhink Taylor has run a bad campaign. The guy is very likable and has not played that card.
October 12th, 2006 at 4:15 am
Caroline,
Sonny has been a staunch supporter of the values voter from the beginning. It’s not a card to be played to get votes. It’s a serious issue that has been shoved into the public arena by shamless special interest groups. If you’re not familiar with the tactics used to advance the homophile movement, you may not be aware of how clear and present the danger is. On the other hand you may fall into the catagory of people who simply do not care about homosexual marriage. If you think it doesn’t affect you or your community or even your family you need to think about the extended consequenses. State sanctioned homosexual behavior and will impact the religious community as well as upset students in schools that will not honor the rights of religious families or even the impact on the religious in the workplace. It will have untold effects on these communities which will translate directly to the bottom line of the economy.
October 12th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
James,
You should read this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15228489/
Sonny has had 4 years to solve the “problem”. He wants to solve it piecemeal so he can jerk your chain every election year.
You are using the same arguemnt people used against desegregation: the neighborhood will go down etc.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Caroline,
This idea that conservatives are using christian voters smacks of liberal taint. Besides, if anyone is being used in this exchange it’s the elected official.
If you want to get to the heart of the argument against homosexual behavior, it’s not about marriage. Instead it’s about affirmation of a behavior that is morally corrupting, hedonistic at best, biblically prohibited and scientifically found to be a vector for the spread of a variety of disease. Psychologically speaking the behavior represents a malformation of gender identity and self image, much like anorexia or bulimia affects self perception of body image.
It goes deeper than the headlines. I think christians would rather minister to the homosexual population than fight them in the courts and on legal ground. Homosexualists struggle to justify and affirm their behavior to their families and to society (and even to themselves!). I suspect that most of the deeply driven homosexual marriage advocates have a private desire to go back to their parents and say something like “See! The state recongizes my homosexual relationship. Now if you don’t recognize my relationship and affirm my homosexual behavior, you’ll be in the wrong”.
October 13th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Do you know who James Kuo is? You really should know that he was the head of Bush’s faith based initiative.
Seriously, you sound like your main thing is fear. Fear of change or anything. Using junk science to try to make your case doesn’t help.
Polygamy is allowed in the bible. So is slavery. If you can’t use reason when you use the bible, then you are advocating for a society much like the Saudis and other radical fundamentalists exist in.
The problem is that people know it’s coming and they want to stop it. If you look at the polls, the younger people support it 2 to 1 so even if you “outlaw” it, it will be overturned later just like Jim Crow and everything else.
BTW, are you aware that MA has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country?
October 13th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Do you have any idea of the pain and suffering that is caused in families with children that “come out”? Do you have any clue of the real damage to the people, real people, who engage in homosexual behavior?
For some parents, it’s like their child has died but hasn’t been buried. They dishonor their families by living in excess and pursuing hedonism. The people who engage in homsoexual behavior take on a dramatically increased risk for STI’s including HIV/AIDS. The number of average sexual partners skyrockets and drug abuse and risky sexual practices have a startlingly high covariance!
You want to talk about junk science? There is no gay gene.
Polygamy in the bible? Jesus makes his message clear. One man, one woman, one marriage.
Don’t you see how foul it is to teach children about deviant sexual practices in the schools? We’re talking about primary school aged children here.
Jim Crow has nothing to do with homosexual behavior. You can’t choose not to be black or hispanic. A person can choose to not engage in homosexual behavior.
I would like to point out something to you and I hope that this is not lost on you.
HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts: An Epidemiologic Profile FY 2006
46% of cases in Boston were attributed to Homosexual contact. This is not junk science. The trend is upward. This is real. It’s not imagined.
You want fear? Talk to the straight spouse that finds out they are infected in the course of regular blood screening at the family doctor. It happened because they didn’t know their spouse was cheating on them with other men.
CDC: HIV/AIDS among Men Who Have Sex with Men
How about this as a reson not to advocate and affirm this behavior. There are compelling statistics for women too. This is part of the world that advocates of homosexual behavior don’t want to talk about. They want to talk about how much they are discriminated against because we will not affirm behavior that brings death.
This issue is the hill that many conservatives will die on. There is nothing you can say that I have not heard before in this fight. It’s your personal ignorance that does not allow you to see the end of the path that leaders in the democratic party have chosen to take.
October 14th, 2006 at 7:10 am
Have you considered that being in the closet is devastating to people. You are advocating dishonesty. Do you know any gay people? If you talk to them they have known that they are gay since they were children. I have heard the exact same argument you are making agains gay people used against blacks. Are you aware of the HIV rate in black americans? Due to that should we reinstate Jim Crow? Apparently you believe that we would be a better society if we became more like the Saudi’s.
Of course it’s devastating to families. The truth always is. Advocating for people to lie over many years will cause devastation. After all, you only can live a lie for so long. Sooner or later the truth will come out.
October 14th, 2006 at 7:26 am
btw, according to my concordance, the only thing jesus said about marriage is this:
At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:30
October 14th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Apparently you didn’t look at any of the statistical information, you certainly don’t understand the bible in context to this issue and you still are under the impression that race has something to do with sexual behavior. Your fundamental misunderstanding of the facts in this argument is disquieting.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
No I’m arguing that your reasoning is flawed. You are using the exact same reasoning that people have used against blacks.
That’s an exact quote from the bible.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I’m thinking that it’s your reasoning that is quite flawed. First of all, you can’t stop being black. I know for a fact that you can stop engaging in homosexual behavior. The bible does not associate sin with being a certain race.
Lastly, you need to talk to your pastor about marriage in the bible. While you have apparently read one verse of the bible, you still do not understand the issue at hand in context with biblical teaching.
You really need to get smarter on this issue, you’re almost making a mockery of yourself by sticking to your line of justification.
November 6th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
We all know Sonny aint do nothing for Georgia citizens. I recon he just got most geezers brainwashed and if y’all would just use ya commonsense we could end this Paine. I know he ballyhoo dat Sonny-Do list as if mean something, which it sure dont. Perdue just out to line his pocket like lowbrow back scratchers we got running our government. All Sonny at is a swindler; maybe not as cantankerous as a few of those in office, but by God at least they worth a dern! I recon’ we bout due for a change, and I cant say for certain Mark Taylor be the consummate professional we looking for, but I know its time we make a stand and stop Sonny from exacerbating the already poor state we in. We best have a Governor sending tax dollars to our once beautiful state and its hard working folk, not reaching his hand in our pockets and putting the money in his. The fact be that we, citizens of Georgia, must preform our civic duty and replace the half-beat phony and his gang of nit-wits currently holding office. I grown up in Georgia my whole life; I feel a love for this state; I recon I may not always know whats best for my state, but I know Sonny just aint it.
November 6th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Thomas
Welcome to the site!