Dekalb County Young Democrats
About the Author
DNC Group page for the Dekalb County Young Democrats. Our main website is located at www.dekalbyd.com
I'm no fan of Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and his politics, but the way the GOP is falling all over themselves to replace him before the pool man has finished dying is disgusting.
Hudgens Get Out of the Gate A Bit Too Early : Online Athens
When There's Nothing To Talk About, Don't: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From the mouth of Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) at last week's Atlanta Stonewall Democrats Luncheon when asked what could GLBT Democrats expect from the new Democratic Congress.
1. No more Federal Marriage Amendment (sometimes referred to by its achronym "FMA"), the new Congress has much more important things on its agenda like raising the minimum wage and toughening Ethics laws.
2. Re-Passage of the Federal Hates Crimes legislatiion with transgenger inclusion/gender identity/expression. This is a huge win for our community especially now that our trans brothers & sisters have been added to the protection.
3. Re-engagement on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, while the Act will include sexual orientation, there will be no provision for transgender :-(, small moves I guess, I'm just glad they'll actually be talking about it again.
I'm a big fan of no more than 3 goals or objectives, especially for a 2-year Congress, and I'll be extremely happy if the 3 things above come completely true and very happy if 1 or 2 get accomplished.
1. No more Federal Marriage Amendment (sometimes referred to by its achronym "FMA"), the new Congress has much more important things on its agenda like raising the minimum wage and toughening Ethics laws.
2. Re-Passage of the Federal Hates Crimes legislatiion with transgenger inclusion/gender identity/expression. This is a huge win for our community especially now that our trans brothers & sisters have been added to the protection.
3. Re-engagement on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, while the Act will include sexual orientation, there will be no provision for transgender :-(, small moves I guess, I'm just glad they'll actually be talking about it again.
I'm a big fan of no more than 3 goals or objectives, especially for a 2-year Congress, and I'll be extremely happy if the 3 things above come completely true and very happy if 1 or 2 get accomplished.
Our recent elections have pointed out a failed policy and method of operation in our southern states. Being from a southern state and operating in politics here as I do, a glaring policy problem is presenting itself.
Since the Civil Rights era and the advent of LBJ into the presidency, Southern Democrats have always seemed to run on a "we're not he DC Democrats" platform. A few minor ommissions in that policy would be the support of Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter for President, although most southern Democrats retracted any support after the southerners respective elections.
This policy of distancing from the national party worked favorably for Democratic candidates in the South for a number of years depending upon the state. In Georgia, the Democratic reign lasted until 2002 when Governor Roy Barnes and Senator Max Cleland were both deposed (some would argue it started with Wyche Fowler's loss in the 90's).
Instead of turning some of the policy around and reworking this distancing problem, maybe finding a new message & grounding with the national Democratic Party, Democrats continued their distancing operation, evidenced most recently by the nomination of Lt Gov Mark Taylor for the the Governorship, and maybe more by lack of support for the first African-American candidate and woman for US Senate in 2004.
In 2006, this distancing policy completely backfired on most Southern Democrats who found themselves completely outside of the national mainstream of Democratic support. And while not all Southern states were in this category, Florida for example did alright thanks to Rep. Foley, Georgia certainly was. No DCCC money, no national politicians of major stature flying in to make appearance for federal or gubernatorial candidates, and no media attention whatsoever.
The GOP ran the game here in 2006, and all this talk about no incumbents lost is crap when you consider that the state Democratic party didn't have any resources or mobilization of any measurable sort and the GOP did.
Had Georgia Democrats had mobilization and resources and both candidates and a party that were not only riding the national wave, but helping push it, things might have looked differently on November 8th.
In 2008 and 2010, Georgia Democrats have got to "come out of the closet" in support of national Democrats. It may not be popular in every election, but we only stand to continue losing if we keep making the same mistakes over and over.
What are some ways southern Democrats can end the division?
Since the Civil Rights era and the advent of LBJ into the presidency, Southern Democrats have always seemed to run on a "we're not he DC Democrats" platform. A few minor ommissions in that policy would be the support of Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter for President, although most southern Democrats retracted any support after the southerners respective elections.
This policy of distancing from the national party worked favorably for Democratic candidates in the South for a number of years depending upon the state. In Georgia, the Democratic reign lasted until 2002 when Governor Roy Barnes and Senator Max Cleland were both deposed (some would argue it started with Wyche Fowler's loss in the 90's).
Instead of turning some of the policy around and reworking this distancing problem, maybe finding a new message & grounding with the national Democratic Party, Democrats continued their distancing operation, evidenced most recently by the nomination of Lt Gov Mark Taylor for the the Governorship, and maybe more by lack of support for the first African-American candidate and woman for US Senate in 2004.
In 2006, this distancing policy completely backfired on most Southern Democrats who found themselves completely outside of the national mainstream of Democratic support. And while not all Southern states were in this category, Florida for example did alright thanks to Rep. Foley, Georgia certainly was. No DCCC money, no national politicians of major stature flying in to make appearance for federal or gubernatorial candidates, and no media attention whatsoever.
The GOP ran the game here in 2006, and all this talk about no incumbents lost is crap when you consider that the state Democratic party didn't have any resources or mobilization of any measurable sort and the GOP did.
Had Georgia Democrats had mobilization and resources and both candidates and a party that were not only riding the national wave, but helping push it, things might have looked differently on November 8th.
In 2008 and 2010, Georgia Democrats have got to "come out of the closet" in support of national Democrats. It may not be popular in every election, but we only stand to continue losing if we keep making the same mistakes over and over.
What are some ways southern Democrats can end the division?
Okay, so now that we only have 23 months to the next major race in Georgia politics, the next questions are, who should run in 2008? who will run in 2008 but shouldn't?
1. Vernon Jones? Definitely should not. Not sure we have another more controversial elected official in our state. As an 8 year head of Dekalb County, i'm sure he would get some favorite son support in a primary, but the GOP would slaughter him in a general election.
2. Denise Majette? Definitely not. Maybe this time God won't tell her to run. Just say no Nicie.
3. Congressman Jim Marshall? Probably should. How many years can the DCCC, DNC and others afford to spend 5 million every 2 years defending this seat? Marshall's politics are not always to my personal liking, but I'd take him over Saxby "i'm a complete useless tool" Chambliss anyday. Makes more sense to spread the 5 million out over 6 years instead of 2.
4. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin? Probably should not. It would mean vacating her post as mayor a full year or more early triggering a special election. I'm a bit biased on this and would like shirles to stay until 2009.
5. Former Gov. Roy Barnes? No way. It's time to shut the door on old-boy Georgia politics.
6. Your pic...who?
1. Vernon Jones? Definitely should not. Not sure we have another more controversial elected official in our state. As an 8 year head of Dekalb County, i'm sure he would get some favorite son support in a primary, but the GOP would slaughter him in a general election.
2. Denise Majette? Definitely not. Maybe this time God won't tell her to run. Just say no Nicie.
3. Congressman Jim Marshall? Probably should. How many years can the DCCC, DNC and others afford to spend 5 million every 2 years defending this seat? Marshall's politics are not always to my personal liking, but I'd take him over Saxby "i'm a complete useless tool" Chambliss anyday. Makes more sense to spread the 5 million out over 6 years instead of 2.
4. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin? Probably should not. It would mean vacating her post as mayor a full year or more early triggering a special election. I'm a bit biased on this and would like shirles to stay until 2009.
5. Former Gov. Roy Barnes? No way. It's time to shut the door on old-boy Georgia politics.
6. Your pic...who?
Former Senator John Edwards (D-NC) was in Atlanta yesterday making two stops promoting his new book, Home.
Both the stops at the Georgia Tech campus and at the Carter Center later Friday evening were very well attending with easily more than 200 people at each. Edwards made opening remarks and then followed with questions and answers. As he spoke and answered questions two things seemes very apparent.
1. Edwards is much more relaxed and comfortable in his own skin as a politician/celebrity in front of an audience. The over-urgency that marked most of his 2004 appearances is gone, replaced by a subtle confidence and relaxation that seems very natural and authentic.
This reminded me much of Al Gore's post-2004 appearances promoting An Inconvenient Truth.
2. The senator spends a lot of time talking globally. His trips to Africa, the experiences there, his serving on the Russia-US Relations study committee. It would definitely appear he is beefing up the foreign travel/experience credentials.
Mix this in with his already well-versed knowledge of poverty issues in America and he may have a much more appealing populist message ahead of him.
If he can successfully integrate this new globalism approach into his older Two Americas speech path, he may well have a new populist approach for the American people that is reminiscent of Bobby Kennedy or Harry Truman.
Both the stops at the Georgia Tech campus and at the Carter Center later Friday evening were very well attending with easily more than 200 people at each. Edwards made opening remarks and then followed with questions and answers. As he spoke and answered questions two things seemes very apparent.
1. Edwards is much more relaxed and comfortable in his own skin as a politician/celebrity in front of an audience. The over-urgency that marked most of his 2004 appearances is gone, replaced by a subtle confidence and relaxation that seems very natural and authentic.
This reminded me much of Al Gore's post-2004 appearances promoting An Inconvenient Truth.
2. The senator spends a lot of time talking globally. His trips to Africa, the experiences there, his serving on the Russia-US Relations study committee. It would definitely appear he is beefing up the foreign travel/experience credentials.
Mix this in with his already well-versed knowledge of poverty issues in America and he may have a much more appealing populist message ahead of him.
If he can successfully integrate this new globalism approach into his older Two Americas speech path, he may well have a new populist approach for the American people that is reminiscent of Bobby Kennedy or Harry Truman.
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