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In the Penal Colony
Cynthia McKinney won the Green Party's presidential nomination yesterday, bringing the number of former Georgia congressbeings in the race to two:
Comments to "In the Penal Colony":
Let no one say there's no choices in this election: A quasi-communist, a lefty posing as a centrist, a left-centrist posing as a centrist, an alleged ex-conservative running as a right-lib, whoever the Constitution party nominates, and a has-been who hates Corvairs.
shrike | July 13, 2008, 2:46pm | #
As a Georgian, I offer our great state as home to the nuttiest group of politicians in the USA.Lest ye forget, we also claim Lester Maddox, Newt Gingrich, Zell Miller, Ben Jones (of Starsky and Hutch), Larry McDonald (died on KAL 007 - the McCarthy of the 80's) - there were others I have suffocated in memory.
SIV | July 13, 2008, 2:55pm | #
Ben Jones was Cooter in The Dukes of HazzardJohn C Jackson Cosmos | July 13, 2008, 2:55pm | #
Starsky and Hutch? You were joking, right?Don't you know what show Cooter was on?
shrike | July 13, 2008, 2:57pm | #
thanks, mng.oops. Ben Jones was 'Cooter' on Dukes of Hazzard before he was elected to Congress.
My ectasy flashback kicked in.
J sub D | July 13, 2008, 3:02pm | #
The Green party needs to repackage themselves. A new, more accurate name is obviously in order.I nominate the "Off Our Meds" party for truth in advertising reasons.
Anybody got a better one?
SIV | July 13, 2008, 3:02pm | #
Billy McKinney has a rather thin wiki bio.Interestingly, he always got an A+ rating from the NRA (while his daughter got a "F").
He literally threatened "to cut" people on a regular basis so he probably had a good rating from the National Razor Association as well.
I'm proud of Georgia's colorful political figures. Shrike left out (among others) the late great Hosea Williams.
shrike | July 13, 2008, 3:02pm | #
Don't you know what show Cooter was on?You caught my error. The "Cooter" bit made him a shoo-in amongst the electorate here.
This is the state where Larry Flynt was on trial for obscenity - then shot by a redneck on the courthouse steps.
Larry is still a "great American"!
shrike | July 13, 2008, 3:10pm | #
yes, Hosea is a good one.And two-term mayor of Atlanta, Bill Campbell, is still in federal prison.
Yes, Georgia! We're the fucking Peach State!
SIV | July 13, 2008, 3:13pm | #
I early voted in the Primary on Friday.Democrat ballot-thank God for open primary States!(I was able to vote the Republican ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary for Ron Paul back on Super Tuesday).I voted for Joe Bembry, who once served felony time for standing up for private property rights by smashing the windows of a county zoning inspectors car with a rifle while 2 inspectors cowered in fear inside. Bembry is running for DeKalb County CEO as a replacement for the US Senate Candidate Vernon Jones, who once responded to a rape charge against him with the defense of "It wasn't rape, it was three-way sex gone bad"
GA politics rules!
SIV | July 13, 2008, 3:20pm | #
Weigel gonna "liveblog" our Primary?It has at least one contest of libertarian interest, the 10th District Republican Primary race.
robc | July 13, 2008, 3:20pm | #
After seeing the photo of Barr petting UGA (instead of kicking it in the head), Im not sure I can vote for him anymore.THWG
robc | July 13, 2008, 3:21pm | #
strike,Ben Jones (of Starsky and Hutch)
Are you 12? There is only one reasonable Ben Jones reference - Cooter.
robc | July 13, 2008, 3:22pm | #
I see that everyone else beat me to the Cooter bit. I dont see how piling on hurts any, that was a major gaffe.Don't forget Maynard Jackson, who managed to get his name attached to Hartsfield International Airport for no good reason (sorry, being the first < insert group, etc. here > to attain a high political position does not count, especially if you egregiously abuse said position).
robc | July 13, 2008, 3:24pm | #
Which Atlanta politician was it that during a governor election in late 80s/early 90s (when I lived there) that had the "**** fo guvna" signs all over town?madmikefisk | July 13, 2008, 3:34pm | #
Don't forget Maynard Jackson, who managed to get his name attached to Hartsfield International Airport for no good reason (sorry, being the first < insert group, etc. here > to attain a high political position does not count, especially if you egregiously abuse said position).It does when said group exerts its will on Atlanta politics in the way that it does. :)
Franklin Harris | July 13, 2008, 3:35pm | #
It's no wonder the Natural Law Party just gave up and dissolved. I mean, seriously, how are they supposed to top Cynthia McKinney's inspired looniness.Franklin Harris | July 13, 2008, 3:36pm | #
I see that everyone else beat me to the Cooter bit. I dont see how piling on hurts any, that was a major gaffe.Not knowing what TV show Cooter was on is even worse than thinking "there is no Soviet domination in Poland" in 1976.
Andrew | July 13, 2008, 3:41pm | #
Let no one say there's no choices in this election: A quasi-communist, a lefty posing as a centrist, a left-centrist posing as a centrist, an alleged ex-conservative running as a right-lib, whoever the Constitution party nominates, and a has-been who hates Corvairs.McCain/Obama, McCain, Obama, McCain, to be determined, and Nader?
SIV | July 13, 2008, 3:43pm | #
Jesse Walker,Georgia was not established, nor did it serve, as penal colony for debtors or convicts.I will refrain from challenging you to a duel.
Lamar | July 13, 2008, 4:06pm | #
"I nominate the "Off Our Meds" party for truth in advertising reasons.Anybody got a better one?"
I think the Green Party is a perfectly good name, assuming you roll your eyes and casually simulate jacking off whenever you say it.
tzaraat | July 13, 2008, 4:29pm | #
@madmikefisk:It does when said group exerts its will on Atlanta politics in the way that it does. :)
Well, maybe there is a more thematically appropriate landmark on which we could confer his name. I personally like the Rev. Hosea Williams' Bail Bonding. Since there is no going back to HIA, we'll just have to think of the airport as being named after 2 Atlanta mayors who were significant in their own ways.
As an Atlantan I was impressed that the Feds managed to convict Bill Campbell. That man pulled out every trick in the book to try to get free. I wish the Feds the best of luck convicting Shirley's Franklin's son-in-law in connection with the Black Mafia Family.
Is there a reason she's holding two yellow objects, or is that just one of the other things about her?
Art-P.O.G. | July 13, 2008, 4:39pm | #
Is there a reason she's holding two yellow objects, or is that just one of the other things about her?mmm...caption contest.
Wow! SIV is right! There was a proposal for a debtors colony in Georgia, but it was never executed. What a waste of a great Kafka reference.
Art-P.O.G. | July 13, 2008, 5:18pm | #
It looks like Barr is about to slip UGA some tongue. Ewwwww...bigbigslacker | July 13, 2008, 5:58pm | #
McKinney has no chance. I heard the Republicans are going to make race an issue this year.Caption Contest | July 13, 2008, 6:10pm | #
Invited to a Congressional hearing on "Yellowcake," Ms. McKinney thought it proper to bring the "Yellowsoda" and a bag of "Yellowchips."John C. Randolph | July 13, 2008, 6:18pm | #
Well, I guess the greens decided to go for laughs this time. Maybe they'll nominate Ilona Staller next time.-jcr
Jim Walsh | July 13, 2008, 6:19pm | #
Larry McDonald (died on KAL 007 - the McCarthy of the 80's)Whatever happened to his wife...I remember right after the KAL007 shootdown when she said (with a perfectly straight face, mind you) that the Russkies shot down that plane just to put her husband out of commission...
SIV | July 13, 2008, 6:58pm | #
They don't make Democrats like Larry McDonald anymore.JW | July 13, 2008, 7:07pm | #
mmm...caption contest."I tried to stick the object in my left hand into the round hole first. Strangely, that did not succeed. I shall now crush the object in my right hand against my forehead."
"The woman claiming to be from housekeeping had these 2 unknown devices in her hands when she entered my office to kill me."
David E. Gallaher | July 13, 2008, 7:30pm | #
Do you think Cynthia McKinney would consider a Playboy spread?I'm reminded of one recently by Shari Belefonte. I bought that issue, and still enjoy it. She was dyn-o-mite!
Brian Courts | July 13, 2008, 7:31pm | #
Whatever happened to his wife...I remember right after the KAL007 shootdown when she said (with a perfectly straight face, mind you) that the Russkies shot down that plane just to put her husband out of commission...Jim Walsh,
I see from his wiki entry that she lost her bid to replace him in the special election held after his death. Apparently she wasn't the only one making such absurd claims as I noticed a reference to this quote from Jerry Falwell in The Washington Post.
There is a real question in my mind that the Soviets may have actually murdered 269 passengers and crew on the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in order to kill Larry McDonald.
David E. Gallaher | July 13, 2008, 7:33pm | #
My caption suggestion:"You'll stop paying the elbow tax
when you start cleaning with Ajax!"
John C. Randolph | July 13, 2008, 8:02pm | #
Do you think Cynthia McKinney would consider a Playboy spread?Playboy's been in a pretty sharp decline lately. Something like that might sink them for good.
-jcr
Dan Clore | July 13, 2008, 9:39pm | #
Something I've written before:In a study that ranked congress-critters by their degree of libertarianness, Ron Paul predictably topped the list, but other Republicans are few and far between until you reach the bottom. Democrats identified with the "left" wing of the Democratic Party, such as Dennis Kucinich, ranked near the top of the list. Independent "socialist" Bernard Sanders also scored near the top of the list.
Another who scored near the top of the list is Cynthia McKinney, who was booted out of the Democratic Party. She is now running for president with the Green Party.
(The study is available here: http://tinyurl.com/3oenjh )
I would say that Cynthia McKinney is probably the best choice for libertarians in the 2008 presidential election.
Readers might want to check out a brief article I wrote on who libertarians should vote for in the 2008 presidential election:
http://tinyurl.com/3l6tds
Guy Montag | July 13, 2008, 9:52pm | #
Awsome! My election entertainment prayers have been answered!Thank goodness for the Constitution the two Georgians can not merge their campaigns.
Please, npbody tell that woman that we landed humans on the Moon rather than Mars!
Perhaps she can get Pat Buchanan for a running mate?
SIV | July 13, 2008, 10:11pm | #
Please, npbody tell that woman that we landed humans on the Moon rather than Mars!
What? Do they all look alike to you?
Rep.Sheila Jackson Lee of TX is the one who thinks we landed on Mars.
Cynthia is the one who cuts sugar cane in Cuba and beat on a Capial security guard
SIV | July 13, 2008, 10:15pm | #
I would say that Cynthia McKinney is probably the best choice for libertarians in the 2008 presidential election.The H&R blog comments do draw a lot of lunatics.
Add Dan Clore to the list.
GILMORE | July 13, 2008, 10:45pm | #
I would say that Cynthia McKinney is probably the best choice for libertarians in the 2008 presidential election....
...
i think i get it. You've confused "libertarian" with "lunatic fringe". It happens all the time. It's kind of a drag.
KenK | July 13, 2008, 11:47pm | #
Red Green would have made a MUCH better candidate for the Green Party.His show is off the air so Red should be available.
Bramblyspam | July 14, 2008, 5:50am | #
This talk of Georgia politicians reminds me of the 1991 gubernatorial election in Louisiana... you know, the one won by the highly corrupt (and since jailed) Edwin Edwards. His opponent in the runoff? None other than David Duke.That election gave rise to the classic bumper sticker, "Vote for the crook. It's important."
Guy Montag | July 14, 2008, 6:34am | #
SIV,The reason she should be told is so that she does not make the same mistake as her Leftie friend.
Is the whole world an excuse for racism accusations to you?
Perhaps the first plank in Ms. McKinney can propose a solution to the Fannie/Freddie issue, like the federal government taking over all of the property they have mortgages on and create affordable housing with it.
Lost_In_Translation | July 14, 2008, 8:27am | #
robc,To Hell with Bob Barr? Georgia, my adoptive state.
racist | July 14, 2008, 9:37am | #
Oh my gawd, they're both nigs!economist | July 14, 2008, 9:44am | #
Newt wasn't insane when he first became Speaker of the House.However, Zell Miller always had a few problems. He also convinced me to sit out the 2004 election. When a party has an insane member of its opposite give the keynote address at its convention, you know they have problems.
Citizen Nothing | July 14, 2008, 10:24am | #
Nice nasty anti-Barr article at the American Spectator here: http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13508(I'm still voting for the guy.)
the innominate one | July 14, 2008, 10:57am | #
SIV, just because Georgia didn't originate as a penal colony doesn't mean that living there isn't a punishment.B | July 14, 2008, 11:01am | #
robc--Right there with you on THWG, but don't take it out on Uga. It's not his fault he's used as the mascot for evil.
Butts Wagner | July 14, 2008, 11:33am | #
After seeing the photo of Barr petting UGA (instead of kicking it in the head), Im not sure I can vote for him anymore.THWG
Is that the UGA who just died? Maybe Barr slowly poisoned that damn dog. One can dare to dream.
Georgia Tech Student | July 14, 2008, 12:38pm | #
But if I had a son sir,I'll tell you what he'd do,
He'd yell "TO HELL WITH GEORGIA"
Like his daddy used to do.
thoreau | July 14, 2008, 12:50pm | #
So, I'm assuming that Georgia will indeed be a swing state then, with the winner likely to poll below 50% thanks to third party candidates.This will be an interesting election to watch.
Kwix | July 14, 2008, 1:26pm | #
If McKinney gets any debate time at all I will have to agree with you. I'd love to see her slap Bill Maher.
This will be an interesting election to watch.
the innominate one | July 14, 2008, 4:06pm | #
I'd rather see her and Maher bump uglies.