President Barack Obama’s meeting with House Republicans today quickly turned ugly, as Obama accused the GOP of obstructing and demonizing his policies, while Republicans insisted the president wasn’t listening to them.

“What happens is that you guys don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me,” Obama said, according to The Politico. "The fact of the matter is, many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable with your own base, with your own party because what you've been telling your constituents is, ‘This guy's doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America.' ''

And who would say a thing like that? Maybe this guy.

President Obama proposes moving 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan. You’re a Republican congressman. One of your party’s hallmarks is strong national defense. Yet you’re completely politically invested in stalling this president’s agenda. What do you do?

Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens, rejects Obama's middle way. He says come heavy or don’t come at all.

“I believe we must give our troops everything they need to win in Afghanistan so that we can bring them home in victory,” Broun said in a statment released just prior to Obama's speech tonight. “If there isn’t a commitment to that, we should bring them home right now.

So remember like three years ago, when the Islamic world got their collective panties in a twist when a Danish newspaper cartoon was printed in a bunch of other papers? I am sure you do … there were riots everywhere.

I remember having mixed feelings on the subject.
1. As a journalist, I am all about freedom of the press. A freedom that lacks in many free counties actually. So I supported the newspapers’ RIGHT to publish said cartoon. Not that it was right to publish it, but that they had the opportunity to do so.
2. As an American, I couldn’t understand why we were dragged into the matter. I know a ton of Danish flags were burned, but I remember seeing some American ones, too. Must have just been excess anger directed toward President Bush.
3. As a non-religious person, it astounded me to see how religious Muslim people reacted. That my friends, is passion. Right or wrong, they are passionate about their beliefs. And I just can’t see Christians getting THAT upset if there was a less than flattering picture of Jesus out there somewhere. Oh wait, that's already been done … (I heart the Buddy Christ by the way)

* Powerful stuff: Tuesday's historic inaugural festivities were impressive -- the number of people, the program, the dignitaries and Obama's speech. As powerful as the speech was, though, it likely won't be one of those memorable for the ages except in its context of history.
* Establishing turf?: Was Chief Justice John Roberts trying to spray his scent when he messed up the oath of office ritual with Obama? His face did'nt look that friendly whe he administered the oath and then cut Obama off his recitation. Was he establishing his turf here or was it simply a nervous mistake?
* Not so poetic moment: The poem by Elizabeth Alexander didn't seem to match the occasion. Perhaps it was simply Alexander's delivery, but it just wasn't very evocative. She's no Maya Angelou. Nice try though.

The blog’s been slow over the holidays, but it’s about to pick back up again. The state legislature convenes Monday, and Congress is already back in session. You know what that means … In the Loop’s favorite, Rep. Paul Broun, R-Athens.

Broun wasted little time kicking off the new year in style, re-introducing his Sanctity of Human Life Act, a legislative attempt to circumvent Roe v. Wade by declaring that life begins at fertilization and unborn fetuses – feti? – are legally people who are protected by the 14th Amendment.

“God cannot and will not continue to bless America while we’re killing these unborn babies,” Broun said in a speech on the House floor.

The bill stands about as much chance of passing as Broun serving on the Supreme Court, but there it is. Check that one off the list of campaign promises.

Since Jim Galloway is on vacation, you’ll all have to make do with me.

No Drama Obama, no drama for Georgia

President-elect Obama appointed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture today. Rep. Sanford Bishop had been mentioned for the role. This means two things: still no Southerners in Obama’s cabinet and no special election for us. Boo!

Drill there, drill later

Barack Obama didn’t win the presidency on Nov. 4. He actually won it today.

Electors gathered in state capitols across the country today to vote for president. You see, voters don’t elect the president; we vote for a slate of obscure people who serve as electors who make the choice for us. They’re the Electoral College, a constitutional anachronism originally put into place because the Founding Fathers didn’t quite trust We the People.

First of all, is anyone else creeped out just a little bit by this photo? Actually, let me rephrase. Is anyone else majorly creeped out by this photo?

Yeah me too … looks like they are about to makeout or something. ::shudders::

Two days after calling President-elect Obama a "Marxist" at a Rotary Club meeting in Augusta, Broun, R-Athens, is at it again.

Citing a story that’s made the rounds on far-right-wing Web sites, Broun told the Associated Press today that our next president “might be planning to form a Gestapo-like security force so he can rule as a dictator.”

“It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he’s the one who proposed this national security force,” Broun said. “I’m just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may — may not, I hope not — but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism.”

Apparently early voting is the new black. Who knew? My co-worker Erin and I tried to go vote early at the Classic Center, but when we got there the line was so long we didn’t. I know that sounds bad, but we were on the clock when we went over and didn’t think Jason would like two of his copy editors gone for like an hour (or more, we didn’t get a time estimate).

But worry not dear readers, I am off of work for the majority of Tuesday and plan to go then.