Sonny Purdue

The democrats have this impression that every republican is this rambling idiot trying to pander to the 'common man'. The current president really helps enforce that stereotype. Not all republicans are like that just like not all democrats want to tax 90% from the rich and give it all to the poor.

Man does Sonny Purdue enforce that George Bush stereotype though. The Governor of Georgia is a complete fucking idiot. This is a man who essentially got elected on the platform of changing the state flag. The flag was changed from the 'stars and bars' flag to an all blue field with the state seal. Now I understand that the stars and bars is part of the culture in the south. If the state flag was the stars and bars since Georgia was readmitted to the union I'd have no problem with it currently being the state flag. That isn't the case though. The flag was changed during the civil rights movement as an attempt to say fuck you to the black community. The Civil War wasn't fought entirely over slaves rights. Remembering the heritage of a state that includes a Civil War is fine. Having a state flag that was installed as a sign of racism however is a load of shit.

Perdue ran on the platform of changing it back or at least to something that included the stars and bars. He probably had other things in his election platform but based on his commercials all I know that he wanted to do was change the flag. Again I'm okay with the stars and bars on the flag for the right reason. I'm not so okay with government being focused on changing the flag. I'm sure there are other things that elected officials should focus on. That is pandering at its highest form.

Pandering works so Perdue is in office which is just great for the citizens of Georgia. Since he's been governor he's done some great things.

During the Katrina fuel crisis, which only was high prices and two to three days of a shortage, he closed schools for two days. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative is awful but it is brilliant compared to Purdue's "Every Child Left Behind." Education is about the most important this a government does. I think maybe if we needed to save gas we could you know, stop working on roads for two days or close certain goverment offices.

The Southeast has been in a huge drought for almost five years. This year isn't so bad, in fact NC is almost up for the year. The drought was really bad in 06 and near devestating in 07. Most of the states that are affected, NC, SC, AL, parts of TN, and parts of FL started installing certain conservation measures back in 05. They really stepped up in 06. The governor of Alabama and Florida, plus the Army Corps of Engineers and the US government urged Georgia to implement conservation measures in 2005 and 2006. The Chatahoochie river basin supplies a lot of water for Alabama and Florida. Purdue didn't start putting conservation measures into place until late 2006.

In 2007 he of coursed pandered and tried to appear dramatic. He threated to use the GA National Guard to sieze Lake Lanier's damn (the damn the controls the water for the Chatahoochie) because the Army Corps of Engineers was to him releasing too much water. The river supplies water to Alabama, north Florida, and PLACES IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. Purdue wanted the water for Atlanta and the surrounding areas. Obviously the governor of Alabama and Florida weren't too happy. Purdue's response was essentially the water is in Georgia so it was for the Georgians.

That isn't his most well known drought solution though. Purdue's best was his statewide prayer day. He actually set up a prayer day in Georgia to pray for water. He is sensationalism and pandering at its best. Don't actually have a real, proactive plan, just blame others and use theatrics to deflect the blame.

Purdue's most recent exploits are just as stupid. Currently TN, AL, SC, NC, and GA are having a huge gas shortage. I'm surprised it isn't being covered hardly at all in the national news. Hell the local news is somewhat avoiding it. In NC it is annoying more than anything else. Gas is here, it's just expensive and you have to look for it sometimes. Most stations don't run out for more than two days in a row. Most of the troubled states are simliar to NC.

Not Georgia though, they have it much worse. The shortage is caused by Ike forcing the refinery that feeds this area being turned off. Then the pipeline that supplies here was also turned off. Apparently turning it off caused it to break or something and it is causing delays. One of the ways a state can avoid huge issues is to petition the EPA to suspend some of its restrictions for a short time. This can make it easier to get gas. Every state but Georgia did that almost immediately. Sure residents of Charlotte probably don't notice but I know residents in Atlanta that have it much worse.

With the largest population center in the troubled area Purdue should lead the charge, not react 10 days later. Of course now he's threating to sue the EPA. He's also petitioning the President to release oil for the SPR. Oil isn't the problem you dolt. The shortage has a light at the end of the tunnel, it should be fixed within the next 7 to 10 days. To release oil from the SPR wouldn't have any effect on supply for four to six weeks. React late and use theatrics to deflect blame to others. President Bush is an idiot and has a horrible approval rating. Now the citizens of Georgia will blame paying $0.75 more than Florida for gas or not finding any at all on the President.

What an idiot. Every time I see a story with Sonny Purdue's name in it I'm so glad I don't live in Georgia anymore.