[Preechr]

"While this is legal at the moment, it is something I feel raises some ethical questions..."

I agree. I personally think that we should only let actual people contribute to campaigns. I can accept lobby groups and PACS, though I don't particularly like them all that much (more accepting them as a necessary evil,) but I see a problem with the concentration of influence allowed by letting corporations and such essentially vote with their money. Citizens should be the only ones that influence the behavior of the officials elected to represent them. Let the companys fend for themselves until laws are broken.

"Why not use their money for a good cause, like rebuilding NYC..."

Because of the attitude of the benefactor. I support Rudy's action, even if it was only motivated by PR. We have money, and it was important that we spend it and whatever money we used to rebuild on proper terms, not letting the spirit of the effort be convoluted by statements designed to cast blame on innocent victims of a horrible crime.

"Furthermore, as the article above points out, McKinney was hardly pro-Saudi..."

That may well be. I personally wish that more coverage were dedicated to that, so I could determine its veracity. My impression of the woman is not very favorable, and I am free to assume, biased as I am by that, that she may have pressed for those investigations to infiltrate the process in order to favor the Saudis.

She has no effect on my life now, and I believe that when she did that effect was bad. I have no interest in delving into her life, political or otherwise, now. My general impression of her is that I don't want her representing me, which she never did anyway, and that I don't want her to be in charge of the direction we are moving in any way, other than in the capacity of showing me where the trouble spots lie."Not to throw out accusations, but I'd wager that this is a fairly borderline racist remark.

"Not to throw out accusations, but I'd wager that this is a fairly borderline racist remark..."

I live here. It's just how I see things as filtered through what I read and hear. If a district is predominantly black, how is it racist to say it is? My description of the white folks that live in her district couldn't be racist, because they are white, right? kinda j/k...

I don't like being called a racist, but you don't know yet just how NOT racist I am. Water off a duck's back, if ya knowhaddimasayin...

"(no pun intended)..."

None taken... haha... That was my impression. Maybe she didn't lose her base... or obviously she didn't, if your statement is correct. Then she fired up her opposition. Majette didn't really win on merit, IMO. She was just not Cindy the Commie...

"This is what happened to McKinney in her district, much as it did to Bob Barr in his district..."

Nope. Barr could have stayed in the district with his base but chose to run against an entrenched incumbent. I'm pissed at him for that decision, as I think we need him kinda, even though he's a racist sumbitch (against BLACKS, mind you,) and he could have won his seat back had he not decided to do more than get back in.

McKinney was obviously not hurt by redistricting, if it affected her at all (not willing to take the time to check it out, honestly.) As you said, she got more votes than ever before. The cross-over voting was limited, and curbed by last-minute shady practices by McKinney (calling registered Reps with a recording informing them that crossing over was a crime!) and has been determined to have had no influence on the result.

"Now her district had become more middle-class, more white, less Liberal..."

Just as Black, just as Liberal. We have ALL sorts of black people here... even *gasp* RICH ones! Seriously... Dekalb and Fulton Counties are predominantly Black and Liberal, and their is no traditional lines of income inequality doe to race or none of that other stuff you guys burned us down for before... Please leave us be... Most of the Racism talk we are constantly bombarded with anymore is widely regarded, by all races, as being financially influenced, not true signs of actual racism...

Atlanta is one of the most racially un-biased towns I've ever experienced... if anything, the city government is biased IN FAVOR OF black folks...

"But I digress.... "

Yes.... I'll not get into that here with you.... Run with that ball over on Newsfilter, whydontcha?

Don't worry... that's not a setup... there's a few people there that are DYING to have that discussion... they will take your side, if you present it well enough... I'd LOVE to see that discussion happen.

I'm all about the opinion expression stuff, y'know....

"but I disagree..."

I'm just not impressed, and I remember just getting sick of her constant soundbites. Maybe that was all part of a media conspiracy to give advantage to Republicans... for MANY MANY years before 2002... but I doubt it. She was a real wack job.

Again... just my opinion. Never voted for or against her...


...I think I addressed your points fully.

HAVE A NICE DAY.