Peace in the Middle East? (Re-Redux)

Ed Kilgore (posting at TPM) has also commented on the recent developments in Lebanon in he context of the Bush Doctrine.

Peace in the Middle East? (Redux)

Kevin Drum presents even more analysis about the so-called Bush Doctrine and whether or not it is behind the recent developts in the Middle East.

Lamers Under the Gold Dome

Oy. This is one of the lamest things that I've ever read.

Thrilled by Jamie Foxx’s Oscar win for his performance in “Ray,” the Georgia House is hoping the actor will visit the Capitol and re-enact a 1979 visit by Ray Charles.

A resolution introduced Thursday congratulates Foxx for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of the Albany, Ga., native and invites him to the chamber to be honored in person.

Cato On Gov. Sonny Perdue

It's not looking good. Some excerpts (promptly posted from the Democratic Party of Georgia:

• “The freshman class governors with the worst records on tax policy are James Mc-Greevey of New Jersey, Bob Riley of Alabama, Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania, and Sonny Perdue of Georgia. Within a month of his inauguration after beating tax-cutting Democratic governor Roy Barnes in the general election—and after pledging during the campaign not to raise taxes—Republican Sonny Perdue proposed one of the largest tax increases in Georgia history. It included increases in cigarette and alcohol taxes and various fees. Although he eventually backed off from a plan to raise property taxes in the state, his overall tax record has been a disappointment.” [Page 6]


• “Republican governors have been just as inclined to raise taxes as Democratic governors have. Republican governors who either proposed or enacted tax increases include Bob Riley of Alabama, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, Kenny Guinn of Nevada, Bob Taft of Ohio, and George Pataki of New York.” [Page 11]


• Perdue is listed as 4th worst freshman Governor with regards to Revenue and Tax Rate Variables; received “F” grade [Page 23]


• Perdue is listed as 3rd worst freshman Governor in revenue restraint [Page 25]


• Perdue is listed as 5th biggest tax hiker among freshman Governors [Page 25]


• “In 2003 Sonny Perdue was inaugurated as the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction after beating tax-cutting Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes (who scored a B on the 2002 report card) by running on a pledge to not raise taxes. However, 48 hours later, Perdue proposed one of the largest tax increases in Georgia history. It consisted of increases in taxes on wine, liquor, and beer; a nearly fivefold increase in the cigarette tax (from 12 cents per pack to 58 cents); and reversing a property tax cut in place since early in Barnes’s term. It was a bigger tax increase than even the divided legislature wanted to pass. The legislature sent to the governor a 2004 budget that raised cigarette taxes by only 25 cents and killed the rest of the tax package. In fact, the legislature made the property tax cut program permanent.” [Page 34]

For more, go here.