Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 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 in Georgia, 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 been a part of every unpopular compromise with the Democrats in the past few years — from immigration to energy. Being on the ballot in 2010, you’d think he would have learned from Saxby Chambliss’s mistakes.
Isakson has just become more beatable. Now the Democrats just need to find a credible challenger.
He is beatable
TxCon Thursday, March 26th at 8:19AM EDT (link)so maybe the GOP needs to find a credible challenger. You would think he would have learned from Saxby. Why is it that GOP voters vote for the establishment candidate far too often in the primary’s? Herman Cain was a solid choice in 2004 and would be again in 2010.
Exactly
Naqamel Thursday, March 26th at 8:41AM EDT (link)And while we’re at it - let’s find a credible GOP challenger to John McCain in Arizona in 2010.
Kay “Bailout” Hutchison is probably gone in 2010, too. Living in Texas I hope the next Senator is more like Cornyn (who isn’t perfect) and less like the pro-choice, pro-bailout KBH.
In Texas
TxCon Thursday, March 26th at 9:03AM EDT (link)I hope Michael Williams gets the nomination to replace KBH for Senate.
In Texas
TxCon Thursday, March 26th at 9:03AM EDT (link)I hope Michael Williams gets the nomination to replace KBH for Senate.
I'm all for Michael Williams
EzOnTheEyez Thursday, March 26th at 1:00PM EDT (link)I think he would be a terrific senator.
cain
humboldt Thursday, March 26th at 9:43AM EDT (link)I like Herman Cain but can’t think of any reason he would do any better running this time around. Anyone have ideas about how he could raise the money from a business community that loves Johnny Isakson or find popular support against a guy with 60% percent approval ratings. And if he did, and he did win a primary, do you think the Democrats would consider their chances better or worse going against an idealogue with little name ID and no elected experience or against an incumbent US Senator with high approval ratings and a killer fundraising and constituency service operation?
Just asking.
He is beatable
TxCon Thursday, March 26th at 8:19AM EDT (link)so maybe the GOP needs to find a credible challenger. You would think he would have learned from Saxby. Why is it that GOP voters vote for the establishment candidate far too often in the primary’s? Herman Cain was a solid choice in 2004 and would be again in 2010.
c'mon
humboldt Thursday, March 26th at 8:20AM EDT (link)are we REALLY going to start going after our own because they think it’ll be nice to have kids help out at a soup kitchen or community clean up every now and then?
Do you really think these scary Washington bureaucrats (who may or may not be approving a broad long list of approved charitable activities) are going to be forcing little Suzy into needle sterilization programs for gay homeless illegal immigrants with AIDS? I mean, c’mon.
We need to hold our guys accountable no doubt about it, but beating up one of the most conservative members of the Senate for supporting giving local schools the ability to decide if occassional community service is part of the curriculum? And let’s not pretend that the current schools system is a rigorous college prep lab or something.
13th Amendment expressly forbids this
Naqamel Thursday, March 26th at 8:45AM EDT (link)are we REALLY going to start going after our own because they think it’ll be nice to have kids help out at a soup kitchen or community clean up every now and then?
Yes, and we absolutely should. Voting for a proposal that is clearly mandatory involuntary servitude and therefore unconstitutional via the 13th Amendment is a HUGE PROBLEM.
By the way - there’s a provision that would prohibit kids in the program from attending religious services while in the program - a clear violation of 1st Amendment rights.
If you aren’t going to draw the line and fight for your rights, and demand that your representatives fight for your rights, then you deserve the coming fascist American Government under B. Hussein Obama.
HR 1388 Is Far More Insidious Than You Think
rcov092 Thursday, March 26th at 10:02AM EDT (link)suggest that you read and look for the terms “cadres” “uniforms” and “camps”. Also note the provisions to look at making this “mandatory”. Then remember and investigate hwo early communist and socialist regimes seek to insert themselves into assuming control over the youth.
“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”
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Da, Komrade
olsmithie Thursday, March 26th at 10:18AM EDT (link)Early published goals of the communists in America included taking over the education system. (See NEA)
Soviet leaders bragged about if they could capture the minds of one generation, they sould take America.
I’ll try to dig the list from my files and publish it again here.
It is like a checklist of Demoncrat objectives over the years.
The Hilter (did I say that?) youth corps is the next logical progression of the process.
Regards
olsmithie
mom2oneson Thursday, March 26th at 11:53AM EDT (link)Please post when you can! I would love to read that. I read Blumenfeld’s books several years ago.
mandatory community service != volunteerism
The_Gadfly Thursday, March 26th at 11:08AM EDT (link)If it isn’t done a voluntary basis it isn’t volunteerism. Case closed.
And anybody who tries to murder our language that way deserves to be publicly castigated in the strongest possible terms, and I don’t care which side of the aisle their supporters claim they are on.
We’ve been called racists enough now that it shouldn’t bother us any more.
-AChance, http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/11/03/what-men-may-do-we-have-done/#comment-24463
If NY23 was a beat down for Conservatives, what do you call what happened to Progressives in NJ and VA?
inspired by ColdWarrior, http://www.redstate.com/hooah_mac/2009/11/04/ny-23-the-agony-of-defeat-not-so-much/#comment-156
Why should children be forced to work at a soup kitchen
mom2oneson Thursday, March 26th at 11:38AM EDT (link)I’ve lived in a homeless shelter and 100% of the men there were criminals from another state, no id, no documentation. This was a “family” shelter so they allowed men with families there. They basically leave the state to run from the law. No way would I let my daughter volunteer at one of those places, not in 1000 years, that is one battle I would pick even if she was heck bent on it. Also many people that get degrees in social sciences and work in these fields do not have a good healthy view of families. I would not want my child to be around people like that, especially a teen that will have a family of their own soon.
Now I always speak out against stereotypes of homeless that they are dangerous, that isn’t true, many in big cities are vets, most are children, but I found from *my* experience that many of the younger adult able bodied males that are at the social service type of places are criminals from another state.
So many social problems are from moral problems, why should children be forced to spend their time picking up the pieces. There is very little volunteer work that actually builds the community these days, most of it is “fixing” preventable problems.
Besides the whole idea of children belonging to parents and not the state, I believe this will be dangerous in many ways for the children involved.
I’ve said this before but I think it’s relevant again, they do these type of things on the poor first and then spread them to mainstream. I’m thinking about jobcore here, where the kids go away and learn a skill that could be learned in any vo-tech school.
That's not the problem.
aesthete Thursday, March 26th at 2:13PM EDT (link)The problem is not what it is that children are being forced to do, but that they are being forced to do it. For instance, I think that tithing, and helping out in your church, are good ideas. However, I don NOT want to see the government force citizens to do either of these things, because that implies that citizens are nothing more than the handmaidens of bureaucracy, and not actual individuals who have the freedom to say, “thanks, but no thanks.” I can’t believe that there are people who don’t get this concept.
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
I agree
mom2oneson Thursday, March 26th at 7:22PM EDT (link)the problem is with forcing them. I was responding to the post about suze giving out needles. I was trying to say apart from the issue of who children belong too, even at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter they could be around not nice people.
That's a good point from the technocratic/practical angle
aesthete Thursday, March 26th at 10:18PM EDT (link)I’ve worked with both churches, and religiously-based groups, and with secular charities, and I can tell you, religious groups are much more likely to be more child- and youth- friendly venues than secular charities. For one thing, you get quite a different crowd w/each one; in religiously-based charities and activities, you mostly get older people and adults in their 40’s w/kids–a fairly good environment for a child or teenage-old person. OTOH, you get lots, and I mean LOTS, of college yuppies who want to “change the world” in secular charities, and so you get a lot of sex-themed conversation, as well as a liberal (but uncreative) use of choice 4-letter words. Besides that, usually the heads of these little groups are either a) aging hippies, b) lawyers and young professionals, or c) “community organizers”. Therefore you get fairly inundated in the liberal mindset whenever you’re around these groups.
Almost as bad, these groups tend to be fairly ineffective long-term; religiously-based groups tend to offer more post-activity help, such as job training, referrals to Alcoholics Anonymous and the like, and, of course, offer the spiritual cure for what ails them. Secular groups, OTOH, are forced to rely on huge group activites that are organized monthly, or maybe quarterly, as they simply don’t have (or haven’t invested the time in creating) the infrastructure and personnel to suppor such things. That’s why you’ll see massive volunteer armies for their causes, but precious little to show in terms of results.
On top of all that, these groups are really much more careless with the few kids and youths who volunteer, with minimal efforts made to protect them. Again, mostly due to demographics: most of these people are well-intended, but are single and haven’t worked w/kids enough to develop the sense that parents and the elderly w/children have.
Again, this is a huge generalization, and there are exceptions, but all of the secular groups I’ve worked with have had one or all of these traits.
I hope that the morons who signed off on this bill realize that they’ve severly hampered the ability of charity work to have any sort of long-lasting effect.
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
you are so right
mom2oneson Thursday, March 26th at 11:39PM EDT (link)I wrote about that in the octuplet mom diary, I wish they had more grandma/emtpy nest types working as social workers, especially with new mothers, or situations where there are children, instead they have women that have no idea what a family is about and usually a distorted view of it.
You really hit the nail on the head, I believe the people in charge and other youth will be a danger to the youths there.
Seconded!
papalee Thursday, March 26th at 8:21AM EDT (link)I hope someone notifies Herman.
What I don't understand is
The_Gadfly Thursday, March 26th at 11:12AM EDT (link)why the chowderheads that are the nominal leaders of the Republican party still don’t get this. These are the kinds of things that dishearten the base. And then, even though the base mopily turns out on election day, the squishes in the middle don’t turn out to vote for the squish who is running. Primarily because they don’t really want to vote for a squish, they want to be popular with the rest of their neighbors and be seen to have been voting for the popular guy who was running.
We’ve been called racists enough now that it shouldn’t bother us any more.
-AChance, http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/11/03/what-men-may-do-we-have-done/#comment-24463
If NY23 was a beat down for Conservatives, what do you call what happened to Progressives in NJ and VA?
inspired by ColdWarrior, http://www.redstate.com/hooah_mac/2009/11/04/ny-23-the-agony-of-defeat-not-so-much/#comment-156
Did Isakson have lunch with Collins and Snowe?
Marcus_Traianus Thursday, March 26th at 11:24AM EDT (link)How could any American support the dismantling of our democracy by invoking compulsory service?
Uniform, oaths and compelling citizens to participate in activities are hallmarks of a Marxist society. Is that what Isakson, et al supports?
Any person knowledgable in history realizes this is how the Hitler Youth and the Communist Youth League of Kampuchea were created. Is that the vision of “change” we have heard so much about? What’s next, concentration/reeducation camps for debtors and tax cheats?
This is clearly a continuation of the Democrat Party Statists attempt to brainwash our children and indoctrinate our culture.
Isakson, Collins, Snowe, et al are nothing but collaborators.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
Did Isakson have lunch with Collins and Snowe?
Marcus_Traianus Thursday, March 26th at 11:24AM EDT (link)How could any American support the dismantling of our democracy by invoking compulsory service?
Uniform, oaths and compelling citizens to participate in activities are hallmarks of a Marxist society. Is that what Isakson, et al supports?
Any person knowledgable in history realizes this is how the Hitler Youth and the Communist Youth League of Kampuchea were created. Is that the vision of “change” we have heard so much about? What’s next, concentration/reeducation camps for debtors and tax cheats?
This is clearly a continuation of the Democrat Party Statists attempt to brainwash our children and indoctrinate our culture.
Isakson, Collins, Snowe, et al are nothing but collaborators.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
Firefox!!!
$peciallist Thursday, March 26th at 11:34AM EDT (link)np
Firefox not the corporate standard $peciallist
Marcus_Traianus Thursday, March 26th at 7:51PM EDT (link)They keep us under close observation
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
really?
humboldt Thursday, March 26th at 12:03PM EDT (link)With all of the fear about oaths and uniforms and common purpose and hysteria of communist infiltration of young people and comparisons to Hitler Youth, I can’t understand how the Boy Scouts stay in business.
Moron
Kyle-MI Thursday, March 26th at 12:14PM EDT (link)Because the boy scouts are not compulsory.
boy scouts are private not for the gov nt
mom2oneson Thursday, March 26th at 12:14PM EDT (link)nt
Did you just compare the Boy Scouts to Hitler Youth?
Marcus_Traianus Thursday, March 26th at 8:00PM EDT (link)Oh, you tried to phrase it carefully- but that’s probably purely accidental.
Now, I know a little about Communism, Marxism, The Hitler Youth and CYLK. But that’s me. Care to share what you meant and how this program in structure and intent is different?
It would help you from receiving a permanent label, oh like, troll or moby.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
Just Called Isaakson's Office
palinchick Thursday, March 26th at 11:50AM EDT (link)I have been very disturbed about the Serve America Act and am so glad I have found out that MY SENATOR is speaking out in favor of it! I just called his office (a regular routine these days) and voice my displeasure and said I would NOT be voting for him in the next election if he votes in favor of it. Don’t know what good it will do…. but at least know I know what kind of conservative HE AIN’T!
Just Called Isaakson's Office
palinchick Thursday, March 26th at 11:50AM EDT (link)I have been very disturbed about the Serve America Act and am so glad I have found out that MY SENATOR is speaking out in favor of it! I just called his office (a regular routine these days) and voice my displeasure and said I would NOT be voting for him in the next election if he votes in favor of it. Don’t know what good it will do…. but at least know I know what kind of conservative HE AIN’T!
here is the bill text
humboldt Thursday, March 26th at 12:35PM EDT (link)http://s3.amazonaws.com/files.bethechangeinc.org/1137/S._3487__Kennedy-Hatch__Bill_Text.pdf
The relevant section is the first one which applies to school aged children.
The bill establishes grants that non-profits may apply for in order to partner with low performing schools to get students involved in community service activities.
I don’t see anything even remotely mandating community service in schools - much less uniforms, oaths or pledging allegience to a meglomaniacal dictator.
Can we all take a deep breath here and relax?
Perhaps Newt or Paul Broun?
EzOnTheEyez Thursday, March 26th at 1:04PM EDT (link)Perhaps Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun or some more conservative state officeholder can knock Isakson off in the primary much like the Utah Attorney General looks poised to knock off Bob Bennett.
"Rock the boat" Johnny is a JOKE
AHALgal Thursday, March 26th at 3:48PM EDT (link)Coming from a conservative Georgian living just a few miles from Isakson’s ashtray-full home I can tell you from here that he is going to get challenged.
It’s time for everyone’s least favorite chain-smoking GOP GA Senator to retire.
His support of HR 1388 - the Brownshirt Bill - is just further evidence that Johnny never stopped being a Democrat, even after officially switching parties.
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Then how the heck
TxCon Thursday, March 26th at 4:04PM EDT (link)did he win the primary in 2004?
He won the 2004 primary
AHALgal Thursday, March 26th at 4:13PM EDT (link)because he had the business community behind him and name recognition. Zell Miller was finishing out the term vacated by the death of Paul Coverdell. When Zell decided to retire after his own term, Johnny had the Cobb GOP machine behind him.
Nobody knew his challengers in that primary. A lot has changed since then. Herman Cain is a well-known radio host, the GOP House delegation is omnipresent on local news, and now Johnny’s record shows him to be an opportunist RINO on many issues.
Join the RedState Strike Force
Heck, I'll run
Wing Zero Thursday, March 26th at 5:44PM EDT (link)I live in VA now, but I’m a native Georgian and only left when I joined the Air Force.
The slide this nation is in sickens me. I’m not turning over my Daughter to the state to be raised. I know what’s best for her, and I’m not going to let her be sent off to some reeducation camp where she’s going to come back and ask me why I don’t do more to save the planet, or do something worse like those actions out of Hitlers Germany, or the Soviet Union.
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
Heck, I'll run
Wing Zero Thursday, March 26th at 5:44PM EDT (link)I live in VA now, but I’m a native Georgian and only left when I joined the Air Force.
The slide this nation is in sickens me. I’m not turning over my Daughter to the state to be raised. I know what’s best for her, and I’m not going to let her be sent off to some reeducation camp where she’s going to come back and ask me why I don’t do more to save the planet, or do something worse like those actions out of Hitlers Germany, or the Soviet Union.
1-21-09 - We are so screwd
I am so upset that BOTH of our Senators Johnny and Saxby voted for this!!!
Elizabeth Christian Friday, March 27th at 3:32AM EDT (link)We worked hard to get Saxby reelected in the runoff trying to keep the dems from having a 60 vote filibuster proof Senate. But then there was Collins, Snowe, and Specter!!! Now I find out that BOTH Georgia Senators have voted for this bill which may try and force my son, brothers, and sister into this type of mandatory volunteering (can you say oxymoron?)!!!
I agree that a lot more people know Herman Cain and I hope he challenges Isakson because I ignored my gut feeling and better judgment by working hard for Saxby (not because of Saxby but for the Nation in trying to stop the filibuster proof Senate) but I will NOT do this again for Isakson. I am sick of these politicians going to D.C. and forgetting about Georgia, playing BFF with the liberals!!! It makes me sick and the only way to change this cycle of abuse to the taxpayers is to get rid of ALL of the abusers from both sides of the aisle!!! But when we get ready to get rid of one we must have a viable candidate who is CONSERVATIVE!!! I love the idea of Herman Cain being our Senator and I would work hard for him if he runs (I hope he does) ; )
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
~Benjamin Franklin