Isakson Hacks Off the GOP Base Again

March 25, 2009 19:17 pm

by Erick · 79 comments

Isakson took to the floor of the United States Senate and extolled the virtues of the “Serve America Act,” which many on the right view as a compulsory service bill. Among the objections are that

the legislation will, in many circumstances, force our children to participate in charitable activity as part of school – and that activity may well be chosen by or approved by a bureaucrat. The bill causes a federally chartered, Washington-based institution to, essentially, pick priorities and winners and losers in the charitable universe – undoubtedly putting many charities at a significant disadvantage.

Isakson speaking out on this is going to royally hack off the Republican base, perhaps even more so than Saxby did. This is a “hill to die on” piece of legislation for many conservatives and libertarians.

Already radio host Mark Levin is on offense against Isakson. It’s only a matter of time before Limbaugh, Hannity, and local radio hosts in Georgia go after him.

Isakson has just become more beatable.

{ 79 comments }

Red Phillips March 25, 2009 at 7:29 pm

Isakson desperately needs a primary challenger. Any rumors?

Howard Roark March 25, 2009 at 7:31 pm

I am sick of Johnny and Saxby!

JT March 25, 2009 at 7:32 pm

So just when DO we learn that compulsory service is not service at all, and is worse than useless as a teaching tool?

Doug Deal March 25, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio Chris Farris?

Doug Deal March 25, 2009 at 7:34 pm

JT,

I believe the real word for it is slavery.

bowersville March 25, 2009 at 7:37 pm

I’m sick of Johnny and Saxby, but what do we do? It’s too late to work on Saxby, but let’s go to work on Johnny.

Dark Knight Begins March 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm

Erick, I hate it for you, Icarus, and the other GOPers here, but your boys KEEP making my job that much easier – and that aint good for y’all.

Well, I don’t REALLY hate it for you. As I’ve said, overall I hope you fail just as much as we both hope Obama fails.

But I still feel bad for you.

John Konop March 25, 2009 at 8:02 pm

I have news with everything going on this will not be an issue. The issues will be pocket book related. The GOP will have to come up with real solutions on heath-care, jobs, education and social security.

The Rush crowd pulling fire alarms will help the Dems. The GOP should read the story about crying wolf. The GOP needs to focus on real pocket book issues instead of becoming the party of firing up the base while alienating the majority.

Senator Johnny Isakson is a very bright and classy leader who could bring back the GOP with a real message and a plan. I realize his classy style does not help ratings for the Rush crowd but it is in the best interest of our country.

seenbetrdayz March 25, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Hang on while the shock wears off.

seenbetrdayz March 25, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Okay, I’m better now.

bluemcduff March 25, 2009 at 8:04 pm

I think that those Isakson and Chambliss have been in office too long–why have they forgotten how to be conservatives and go wobbly when we need them to stand strong?

I’m with Red–who’s looking to primary Isakson because he’s a hell of a long way from being rock-the-boat Johnny he used to be.

seenbetrdayz March 25, 2009 at 8:13 pm

I have news with everything going on this will not be an issue. The issues will be pocket book related. The GOP will have to come up with real solutions on heath-care, jobs, education and social security.

Sure, why would this be anything to get worked up about?:

When you’ve saddled the younger generation with a debt they’ll never be able to pay off (nor will their children, or their children’s children), commiting them to serve in state-managed feel-good vote-buying programs does seem like a moot issue.

It would be much easier though if we stopped giving out kids those old fashioned things called ‘names.’ Maybe we could just tattoo some bar codes on them and give them serial numbers. We could spend less time reading “baby name” books and more time on those pocketbook issues (a.k.a.: burdening our posterity with more debt).

seenbetrdayz March 25, 2009 at 8:14 pm

our* kids

VeryFast March 25, 2009 at 8:28 pm

I think that those Isakson and Chambliss have been in office too long–why have they forgotten how to be conservatives and go wobbly when we need them to stand strong?

I agree, Isakson must go.

jenny March 25, 2009 at 8:40 pm

I’m shocked. Really shocked. All this time I thought I-sick-sin was a real limited government, limited taxation, proconstitution Senator. Wow. I feel stunned.

NOT!!

Honey, maybe you should run for his seat. I think that Jon Hodges would be a most excellent addition to the Senate in Washington.

Jon Hodges March 25, 2009 at 8:40 pm

This is so surprising. iSICKson acting like the liberal that he is.

Konop said:
“Senator Johnny Isakson is a very bright and classy leader who could bring back the GOP with a real message and a plan. I realize his classy style does not help ratings for the Rush crowd but it is in the best interest of our country.”

Dude, he is a tyrant. He is as classy as Tom Daschle, and Suxby combined. We need a Senator that will actually uphold their oath of office to DEFEND the Constitution.

Icarus, to the bar.

Red Phillips March 25, 2009 at 8:49 pm

“I think that Jon Hodges would be a most excellent addition to the Senate in Washington.”

I’d vote for that.

jenny March 25, 2009 at 8:58 pm

Sweet, honey. 1 vote down. 2 million to go. :-) Too bad the kids aren’t older. Our family could deliver another 8.

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:15 pm

Jon,

You strike me as more of the quiet type of guy. Nothing against you, but I suspect Isakson would be quite a bit MORE intimidated if he had to face Jenny in a primary.

I think the entry fee to qualify is around $4000. The pay-off is $182,700 per year if you get elected.

Harry March 25, 2009 at 9:22 pm

Bill, maybe you should consider.

jenny March 25, 2009 at 9:22 pm

Mmmmm.

Jon- 1 vote
Jenny-1 vote

Anyone else? Bueller, Bueller?

Jon Hodges March 25, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Bill,
In fact I am the out going one of us. Jenny would rather be up in the bedroom away from the rest of humanity (our children = the rest of humanity).

Granted she is tenacious. I have a more sales-like approach. But that does not mean that I am not as tenacious, I just make you fell like I am not as mean. :-)

Everyone tends to think that I am more reasonable, but the reality is that Jenny and I are of the same mind.

atlantaman March 25, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Seems like the Hitler youth. Will they be pledging allegiance to Obama every morning, before their forced labor charity?

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:39 pm

Jon,

My first encounter with you was NOT hearing you proclaim in quite the loud voice in a roomful of convention delegates last year something about pre-natal murder. That was Jenny. :-)

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:40 pm

Harry,

No, trust me, Jenny’s more the one than I would be.

jenny March 25, 2009 at 9:41 pm

I confess. It’s true. I’d rather live a life of seclusion in the Appalachian Mountains, in a little stone house, with plenty of goats and a big garden. The kids can come along, too. :-)

But since I can’t have that, there is a certain joy in rabble rousing at political events.

jenny March 25, 2009 at 9:43 pm

Bill, are you offering to be my campaign director? That would be pretty awesome. And if I make it, you would have to come up to Washington to be my Chief of Staff.

tocallaghan March 25, 2009 at 9:43 pm

I haven’t read the bill and will with hold all judgment before I do so, but if this bill in any way forces American youth to serve the community, it will take me a long time to forgive Isakson.

I am a 17 year old high school student currently working on my Eagle Scout Project. I worked for free last summer at a charity that helps students from 7 grade to 12th grade from low income levels succeed in school with a success rate of 85% going on to college. I am active in my church and serve the less fortunate in the Atlanta community.

If anyone tries to force me to serve it is not service, but slavery. It is not American apprecitation, but a new form of fascism. But evenbefore Isakson was allowed to speak in support of the bill, I would like to ask him how he serves his country today or what he has done before to serve his country with out his service increasing his own personal power? Why should only America’s youth be encouraged or forced by the govrnment to serve. If it is so important to the man, why doesn’t he come back to Atlanta on the weekends, go down to Woodruff Park and feed the homeless. I guess his 6 figure salary from the tax payers exempts him from such things.

O, but its okay, all those guys up in Washington are doing way to good of job for them to stop their work.

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:44 pm

Jenny,

Are you Ellie Mae from The Beverly Hillbillies? ;-)

jenny March 25, 2009 at 9:46 pm

Have you been rifling through my closet again? You gotta love those shorts and blouses.

No, really. I’m not that cute. I prefer loose overalls and boots.

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:48 pm

Jenny,

If I was your campaign director, your candidacy would be termed the Oddest Campaign due to the far opposite ends of the spectrum you and are on the pro-life issue.

Although…I kinda hear the theme music to The Odd Couple in my head as I envision this. On second thought, let’s just write a screen play instead called The Odd Campaigners. I KNOW there’s some sit-com material in your life of 6 kids and a crockpot. ;-)

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:49 pm

“No, really. I’m not that cute. I prefer loose overalls and boots.”

So did Ellie Mae, as I recall….

Bill Simon March 25, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Or, maybe The Odd Lobbyist instead….hmm…

griftdrift March 26, 2009 at 12:01 am

Putting Levin and Libertarian in the same sentence is an abomination.

Buddha the Magnificent March 26, 2009 at 5:54 am

JOHNNY, ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US

VeryFast March 26, 2009 at 7:16 am

I think the entry fee to qualify is around $4000. The pay-off is $182,700 per year if you get elected.

PLUS Great benefits.

NorthGeorgiaGirl March 26, 2009 at 7:19 am

I read some portions of this bill to my 12 year old daughter yesterday…she immediately said, “That sounds just like the Hitler youth.” She studied it last year here in our little home academy and even she is smart enough to figure out it is a bad idea. Incidentally, I already wrote to both senators yesterday morning before I knew that good ole Johnny was in support of a companion bill. We seriously need someone to run against him.

Forced volunteerism is just another term for indentured servitude.

griftdrift March 26, 2009 at 8:36 am

Are you coordinating with Utah to primary Orrin Hatch?

Chris March 26, 2009 at 8:58 am

Just for the record, I want Johnny to fail. And not just because I’m considering a run against him. I want him to fail so that someone else will run against him.

IndyInjun March 26, 2009 at 9:06 am

Senator Johnny Isakson is a very bright and classy leader

Translation – Johnny is a SLICK POLITICIAN, but since I am supporting him I will call the slickness “bright.”

Yeah and so is a fresh dung heap glistening in the sun.

IndyInjun March 26, 2009 at 9:08 am

I want him to fail so that someone else will run against him.

Someone will.

Rogue109 March 26, 2009 at 10:03 am

Senator Johnny Isakson is a very bright and classy leader who could bring back the GOP with a real message and a plan.

You stay classy, Socialist America!

Brave New World March 26, 2009 at 10:46 am

Paul Broun

Progressive Dem March 26, 2009 at 11:07 am

“Isakson has just become more beatable.”

Name one person who can beat him?

DonnaC March 26, 2009 at 11:12 am

First, is this the same as the “National Service Re-authorization Act?” Apparently this, either one or both, are being argued in the Senate now. I urge everyone to go to Senator Jim DeMint’s blog and listen to his remarks, on the Senate floor, regarding the National Service Re-authorization Act–it will make you want to move to South Carolina (oops, forgot about Lindsey Graham…).

I shot off a note to Isakson a few minutes ago and assured him that everyone within my, however be it, small circle of influence will know about this issue and sent a copy to everyone on my e-mail list.

I just can’t believe they’re so insulated, up there in the Beltway, that they have no idea how angry everyone is!

What about Herman Cain? Does anyone have any feelings about a candidacy for him?

Know Nothing March 26, 2009 at 11:21 am

Seriously, who can beat him?

Odds of the 2010 Senate Race:

Isakson 1:25000
The Field: 1,000,00:1

True Grit March 26, 2009 at 11:36 am

Herman’s about the only one who could beat him in a primary battle…..

What’s the party going to do if Cain isn’t interested? Run Guy Milner again?

True Grit March 26, 2009 at 11:38 am

Maybe Bo Calloway?

Doug Deal March 26, 2009 at 11:45 am

If Herman runs, I would have a $1,000 check waiting for him, even though my wife will likely kill me.

Icarus March 26, 2009 at 11:57 am

Only if she gets to you first, Doug.

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