Both Rep. Paul Broun and Sen. Johnny Isakson oppose using part of the $700 billion Congress appropriated in September to free up credit markets on bridge loans to domestic automakers. But they oppose it for very different reasons.

“I voted ‘no’ on this legislation because I believe the best way to bailout the auto industry is by allowing the free-market to operate completely free of any federal regulatory involvement in the automotive marketplace,” Broun said in a press release today. “I would also urge the manufacturers to reopen or build new factories in the South, and I urge Congress to promote innovation through tax cuts and credits. In fact, I believe it’s time to bailout the taxpayers and small businesses with tax-cuts and deregulation.

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

The pundits say Barack Obama has the presidential election on lockdown. Polls show Obama up by as many as 11 points, a lead that continues to widen as the economy flushes further down the crapper. More importantly, John McCain will have to run the toss-up state table to win the Electoral College. Republicans are starting to panic.

Not so fast, says Sen. Johnny Isakson. Don’t write off McCain just yet.

Following Wednesday night’s Senate vote to pass a revised bailout bill, twinsies Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss sent out separate (?!?!?) press releases defending their votes and urging their counterparts in the House to follow their lead.

“Today, I had a significant choice to make between two very different courses of action – do nothing at all or do what I truly believe is best for America,” Chambliss said. “I believe to the core of my being that doing nothing will devastate our economy, destroy the financial security of millions of Americans and could possibly force our nation into a depression. I just as strongly believe the bill as it has been negotiated, and that I just voted for, will provide stability during this crisis and will begin to turn our economy around.”

The EPA is lifting environmental restrictions on gas sold in metro Athens and Atlanta in hopes that refineries will send us more if they’re not limited to the low-sulfur variety.

The ploy will only work if distributors do, in fact, decide to send more gas this way, and filling station owners say they don’t know when that will happen. Even if it does, shortages will continue until hurricane damage at Gulf Coast refineries is repaired and they’re back running at full capacity.

We’re at the mercy of the oil companies. And this afternoon, our Siamese-twin senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, jointly pleaded with distributors to send us more gas within 24 to 48 hours.

Good morning, all.

If I’ve found one thing to be true, it’s that stuff happens. And happens. And happens.

Seriously, I’m not an obsessive collector (outside of my St. Louis Cardinals baseball cards), a hoarder or overly sentimental. I’m careful with our money, never one to buy much on a whim or because I was told to do so by a commercial during “Lost”. But despite all that, I somehow have collected a lot of stuff in my life. Glad to know I’m not alone.

Don’t know if you’ve stumbled across this or not, but a small Internet-only film called “The Story of Stuff” has been gaining momentum for months now. It’s a charming short film of 20 minutes which examines, well, where all our stuff comes from and where it goes. Take a few moments off to watch it here. A related chunk: